阅读理解。
Jackie Joyner-Kersee had a serious asthma attack while running a race at the 1994 U. S. Olympic Festival.
"I wasn't afraid of running; I was afraid I might die," said Joyner-Kersee. "I said 'Don't be afraid. . . just
hold on."
So, what is asthma? It's a health condition that causes difficulty in breathing. Although it comes and goes,
once you have asthma, you have it for a long time. Different treatments are used for asthma. There are very
strong drugs that can be taken for a long time with few side effects. Today, even people with serious asthma
can take part in sports.
Joyner-Kersee has had problems with asthma for many years. She said, "I didn't have this as a little girl.
It wasn't until I went to California that I noticed it, and then I didn't want to accept it. When I start feeling
good, I stop taking the medicine. It will be all right. . . . I hope. "
The race was supposed to start at.5:35 p. m. At 5:00, she began to have trouble breathing. She was
given a breathing test and treatment by a doctor. She said she thought about not running. She was out of
breath.
"It's just hard running with asthma," she said. "When I experienced this in practice. I couldn't breathe.
It was really hard for me. " She said the problem with asthma is that you don't know when it will happen.
She was fine when she arrived at the stadium. The breathing treatment helped her. Joyner-Kersee's experience
shows that medical treatment is important. First, if you think you have asthma, see a doctor. Asthma drugs
can protect your lungs. Second, pay attention to your health. Tell your doctor immediately if you wake up and
have trouble breathing. This means the condition is getting worse. Many people don't want to be known to
have asthma, and then they must go to the hospital.
Most importantly, remember that with asthma, you can have a normal life. You can even win an Olympic
gold medal.
1. Did Jackie Joyner-Kersee run at the 1994 U. S. Olympic Festival?
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2. What is asthma?
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3. When did Joyner-Kersee first find she had asthma?
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4. How can you tell your asthma is getting worse?
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5. What do you think is the writer's purpose of writing the passage?
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