1 . The showers couldn’t cloud high spirits at the Washington State School for the Blind’s annual track meet on Thursday in Vancouver, where more than a hundred students with visual impairments (损伤) competed in the running, jumping, throwing and more.
“This event allows students to participate with their equals,” said Jennifer Butcher, who’s worked as a fitness instructor at the school for 23 years. “A lot of times they can only compete against sighted students, so this gives them the opportunity to have a level playing field.”
On a typical track, lanes are divided by white lines painted onto the ground: a design that doesn’t account for those who are blind or visually impaired. The track at the Washington State School for the Blind features a built-in metal guide rail along the inside lane, as well as thin guide wires to separate lanes. As competitors launch from their starting spots, they’re able to alongside the guide wires, holding out their hands to help guide themselves along.
“I thought I did really well; the wires gave me confidence,” said Ryker Register, who had dominated his 50-meter heat just moments ago. Since he began to go blind at age 6, he’s been participating in similar running events on smaller scales. “It’s really cool seeing so many other blind people. This is more like a real track meet. It was cool hearing them announce my name,” he said, pointing to the nearby stand where announcers were stationed, playing music and providing live commentary on the various competition taking place throughout day.
“It’s a day of getting together and smiling too much,” said McCormick, the school’s headmaster. “We have high standards for accessibility,” he said, “Modeling that for parents is great; it’s a day without barriers. This really gives people an idea of what accessibility looks like if it’s thoughtfully planned.”
1. In what way was Thursday’s track meet special?| A．It allowed the blind to compete with the sighted. |
| B．It was targeted at students with impaired vision. |
| C．It was held on a high-level playing field. |
| D．It involved many fitness instructors. |
| A．White lines along the lane. | B．Guide rails on the ground. |
| C．Thin guide wires. | D．Separated lanes. |
| A．the large scale. | B．The intense competition. |
| C．The perfect sporting venues. | D．The professional commentary. |
| A．Parents should be models for their kids. |
| B．Accessibility is quite difficult to achieve. |
| C．The track meet leaves much to be desired. |
| D．His school offers students access-friendly facilities. |
