1 . Feeling pressure from the Internet is nothing new for Lizzie Velasquez, an anti-bullying (霸凌) advocate, who found that browsing social media had a negative impact on her self-esteem.
In 2006, when she was just 17, a video calling her “The World’s Ugliest Woman” went viral on YouTube. It was a difficult period for her, who had been dealing with a lifetime of bullying due to a rare health condition. “I was diagnosed with neonatal progeroid syndrome (新生儿早衰症), which doesn’t allow me to gain weight and severely affects my eyes, my bones and my heart.”
Growing up, Velasquez says that she lived in two different worlds. At home, her family treated her just like everyone else. Her parents raised her to be optimistic and confident. Yet, things got hard when she started school. “I didn’t become aware of it until I entered this other world where I had to face the reality of, ‘I do not look like everybody else,’” says Velasquez.
As Velasquez transitioned into high school, she gained more understanding about her condition. This new level of self-acceptance inspired Velasquez to make new friends, join the cheerleading squad, and write for the school newspaper. She had started to feel gratitude for what she had accomplished, but then came the YouTube video, which threatened her already-shaky foundation. “To just see a video that says ‘the world’s ugliest woman,’ it felt like, within two seconds, everything that I had worked for up to that point was just sort of knocked over and done.” says Velasquez.
According to DoSomething. org, about 37 percent of teenagers have been bullied online. Among them, only one in 10 teen victims (受害者) will inform a parent or trusted adult of their abuse. But Velasquez did speak up. That moment of bullying inspired Velasquez to use her newfound platform for good. In 2013, she gave a TEDxAustin Women talk about her experiences, reaching millions with her uplifting messages about beauty and happiness.
“My mission is just to remind people that no matter how different you are, you are meant to be in this world. Your purpose in life is out there waiting for you,” says the motivational speaker.
1. What can we learn about Lizzie Velasquez?| A．She hasn’t received any support from her families. |
| B．She has been aware of her difference since she was born. |
| C．She has suffered from cyberbullying due to a rare disease. |
| D．She feels horrible every time she browses social media. |
| A．Velasquez’s efforts to establish confidence was destroyed by the video. |
| B．Velasquez’s status at school has been threatened because of the video. |
| C．Velasquez’s health- has been negatively affected after watching the video. |
| D．Velasquez’s achievement in high school became worthless due to the video. |
| A．To share her experience as a victim of online bullying. |
| B．To show people the importance of beauty and happiness. |
| C．To encourage people to enjoy life whatever their differences. |
| D．To gain fame through the newly established online platform. |
| A．The ugliest woman | B．A woman with a rare disease |
| C．The impact of cyberbullying | D．A fighter against cyberbullying |
| A．available | B．formal | C．incredible | D．regular |
| A．basis | B．honor | C．loss | D．occasion |
| A．balance | B．combine | C．devote | D．embrace |
| A．put on | B．took on | C．put up | D．took up |
| A．concerned | B．overcome | C．engaged | D．absorbed |
| A．awkward | B．remote | C．appealing | D．ideal |
| A．to some extent | B．to my heart’s content |
| C．in my own right | D．on the edge of my seat |
1. resolve—n.
2. forgive—n.
3. declaration—v.
4. accurate—n.
5. injure—n
6. loose—v.
7. relief—v.
8. independent—n.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
