1 . Recently, a special group of American athletes were invited to Poland to run in a 100-kilometer race. The endurance race was ________ interest to many people because the athletes were________. They had lost legs in accidents, were blind or had diseases that made their muscles very ________.

_____ their disabilities, most of the runners ________ it through the 25-hour race.

“Disabled people always ________ when we are asked why we are running such a long distance, and we smile because we________ the challenge,” said a blind runner.

The runners in Poland showed that there’s almost ________ that the disabled can’t do when they give their minds to it. There are about 37 million disabled people in the U. S. Just a decade ________, people thought they were beer off if they ________ home and did as little as possible.

That’s ________. Disabled athletes are challenging all ________and proving without questions that they can________in almost every sport. The disabled are taking part in running, golfing, skiing, bicycling, rock climbing and rafting. A_________woman ran in the Boston Marathon. Her husband ran in front of her and held a rope so she knew where to run.

In 1988, 376 disabled Americans competed in many ________ in a special division of the Seoul Olympics. These brave athletes are proving that the stereotype (偏见) that the disabled are inactive is out of________.

They have been helped by great ________in equipment. Wheelchairs weigh less than 5 kilograms now, compared with more than 20 kilograms a few years ago. Also,        ________________ legs are lighter and more comfortable.

Some people wonder if disabled athletes are ________ themselves too hard. But the athletes say they are________self-respect and independence.