阅读理解。
A person who is deaf when he is born is usually dumb (哑的) as well. There may be nothing wrong
with his mouth and tongue, but he cannot speak. This is because he cannot hear people, so he has
nothing to imitate (模仿). He may try to make sounds himself, but cannot hear his own voice. However,
even though he finds it difficult to speak and cannot hear, he can learn to read. Nowadays such persons
can also be taught to speak because we have modern methods and equipment, but we did not have these
when Helen Keller was born.
Even with modern methods and equipment, however, it is not easy for deaf children to learn to speak,
though most of them succeed. When a child is deaf and blind as well, it becomes much more difficult,
though it is possible. Helen Keller was born in 1880. She became very ill at the age of nineteen months.
Medical knowledge was not as great then as it is now. She did not die but lost her sight and hearing. As
a result, she became dumb as well. Her parents did their best to teach her, but she couldn't speak by the
age of six.
Then, in 1887, a teacher, Miss Sullivan, came to live with her. Miss Sullivan herself had been blind.
She had been partly cured. Though she could not see very well, she was not blind. Helen was a difficult
pupil at first, but in a month Helen had learned how to understand signs and how to make them herself.
At last in spite of her great difficulties, Helen learned to read, write and speak, even though she was
deaf and blind. She even went to college and had full education. She wrote many books, and though other
people have written books about her, her own books are the ones that best explain how it feels to be deaf,
dumb and blind. Her best book is The Story of My Life. Perhaps you have read it. Though it was written
in 1902, it is still a very interesting book. Even if you have not read it, you may have heard of Helen Keller.
1. A person who is deaf at birth is also dumb because ______.
A. there's something wrong with his mouth and tongue
B. he cannot hear other people and he has nothing to imitate
C. he doesn't like to speak
D. he cannot hear his own voice
2. Deaf and dumb children can be taught to speak nowadays because _____.
A. we have modern methods and equipment
B. these children are eager to learn to speak
C. they can hear something
D. they have grown up
3. When Helen was nineteen months old, _____.
A. she died of illness
B. she was healthy
C. she was very ill
D. she began to learn to speak
4. How long did it take Keller to understand signs?
A. A few days.
B. Several years.
C. A moment.
D. A month.
