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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND — An old postcard changed the lives of an eleven-year-old boy and
a very sick woman. The postcard had a picture of the steamship Titanic. The Titanic was the largest
ocean ship in the world. It hit an iceberg (冰山) and sank on April 14,1912. More than 1,500 of the
2,200 people on the ship were killed.
The postcard was passed from one person to another for more than 80 years: Then it appeared at
a card show for people who liked to collect post cards. An eleven-year-old boy, Joey Russell, came to
the show with his grandfather. His grandfather knew everything about the Titanic and its trip from
England to New York. " Let' s buy that postcard ," he told Joey. " It will be important someday."
Two years later, Joey's grandfather took him on a special trip. They went on a trip to the North
Atlantic Ocean to watch as workers pulled the Titanic up from the bottom(底)of the ocean. Joey put his
special postcard in his bag for the trip. On the ship, Joey met Edith Haisman. This woman was on the
Titanic when it sank. She was one of the people who were rescued. Joey pulled the postcard out of his
pocket. " Please sign this , Mrs. Haisman ." he said. She was happy to write her name on the back of
the postcard.
When Joey got home, he put the postcard away and forgot about it. Then Kate Shelley, one of
Joey 's friends , told him that her mother was very sick. She needed an operation , but there was a
problem. The operation was very expensive, and the family needed $80,000 to pay for it. Friends and
relatives tried to help. But where could they get so much money?
Then when Joey went to see the new movie " Titanic" , he had an idea. " Millions of people are
seeing this movie and reading about the Titanic ," Joey thought. He remembered the old postcard with
Edith Haisman 's signature on it. "Maybe I can sell it for some money. Then I can help Kate 's mom."
Joey told his mother and father about his idea to help Mrs. Shelley. His parents helped him try to sell
the postcard to the person who would pay the most money for it. Joey's story was on television and in
news papers. Joey and Kate even went to New York to be on a national TV show. After the show,
many people called in to offer money for the Titanic card. Someone bought it for $60,000.
Joey's kind heart and the old Titanic postcard worked together to save a woman' s life.
1. Joey Russell .
A. decided to buy the postcard at a shop
B. showed great interest in collecting postcards
C. took the postcard with him to see Mrs. Shelley
D. asked Mrs. Haisman to sign her name on his postcard
2. What does the underlined word " rescued" mean in the sentence?
A. Be made safe from danger.
B. Be on an ocean trip.
C. Be working on board.
D. Be asked to sell the postcard.
3. When did Joey Russell have the idea of selling his old postcard for money?
A. When Kate Shelley told him of her mother' s sickness.
B. When he went to see the new movie "Titanic".
C. When he was reading the new book of Titanic.
D. When he remembered Mrs. Haisman's signature on his card.
4. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The Titanic arrived in New York at the end of April, 1912.
B. At the age of 13, Joey Russell got Mrs. Haisman's signature.
C. Joey Russell sold out his postcards on a national TV show.
D. The Titanic card was sold to many people for $60,000.
5. Which of the following is NOT true about the old postcard?
A. The Titanic was the largest steamship in the world in 1912.
B. The steamship Titanic hit an iceberg and sank about a hundred years ago.
C. Over two thousand passengers were killed in the ocean accident.
D. More than eighty years had passed before the postcard belonged to Joey.
