An empowering project is offering kids who have spent a long time in the hospital the chance to show how heroic they truly are.
The For The Win Project is a series of superhero movie posters starring kids with serious medical conditions and illnesses. It's co-work between photographer Jaimie Trueblood and creative director Jesse Wilson. They bring cameras, costumes and lighting into Los Angeles-area hospitals to give these little patients their very own photo shoots.
Once they've finished the photography and design, Jaimie and Jesse print out full-size, movie theater quality posters and get signatures (签名) and videos from Hollywood stars like Stan Lee and Carrie Fisher.
For a little girl named Noah, who wanted to be Darth Vader for her poster, the creators arranged for a Darth Vader character to present the finished piece.
“One of the highlights of the evening was when we projected the celebrity videos,” Jaimie said. “There were many happy tears. Noah gave everyone tons of hugs (拥抱), but the moment I will always remember was when things were winding down, Noah grabbed my hand, looked up to me and said it was the most amazing night ever.”
“We want to remind these kids every time they look at their poster that inside them there's a hero with the strength to fight whatever battles they may face,” Jesse said.
Jaimie and Jesse drew inspiration for the project from the story of Batkid, as well as their own children. The creative director had a different opinion of life and people after going through some health problems, losing family members and watching his own son struggle to survive in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).
The photographer has spent years donating gifts and volunteering his time at children's hospitals in Los Angeles. “I try to keep in touch with as many families as I can, and one of them passed away this Thanksgiving. It was a reality check that really hurt, but gives us even more reason to do what we're doing and make these kids happy for whatever time they have left,” Jaimie said.
1.What do we know about the posters?
A. They are designed by kids.
B. They are made in Hollywood.
C. They look the same as film posters.
D. They have Jaimie and Jesse's signatures.
2.When Noah received her poster, she _____.
A. felt very happy and thankful
B. tried to fight back her tears
C. couldn't believe her eyes
D. couldn't control herself anymore
3.What can we infer from Jesse's experience?
A. He nearly lost his life.
B. He struggled to make a living.
C. He never got on with his family.
D. He has changed a lot from his past life.
The Living Statue
Every day, Maria Marks makes her living by dressing in an antique (古式的) wedding dress, covering her skin in white clown paint and standing completely still on a pedestal (基座) in London's Covent Garden until a coin is thrown into her hat. So, what exactly draws the crowd when Maria “performs”? “Well, people want me to prove that I'm human. They watch carefully to see if I will breathe,” Maria says.
The Magician
Thirty-one-year-old Matthew Tate has built up many impressive magic tricks to shock and thrill his audience. They watch wide-eyed and open-mouthed. At the end of my interview with Matthew, I ask him if he can tell me just one of his secrets. My question is met with a wide smile and, of course, complete silence!
The Actor
Michael Webster has been an actor in London for almost fifteen years. He tells me all about the ups and downs of a typical actor's life. “You always try to give a perfect performance, often under imperfect conditions. And then there is always the worry about where the next job will come from,” he explains. “But standing in front of an audience knowing that they expressly came to see me perform fills me with great joy!”
The Circus Performer
Twenty-year-old Chinese-born Zhao Jian tours the world as a hand balancer with a circus troupe (马戏班). She has to follow an exceptionally hard programme, waking at 5:30 in the morning each day to begin eight hours of physical exercises. “I practice a move over and over again before I'm ready to perform it. Then when I'm on stage I balance on one hand for six minutes, which needs unbelievable strength and patience,” Zhao says.
1.What attracts people to Maria Marks?
A. Her funny performance.
B. Her strange appearance.
C. Their interest in antique clothing.
D. Their uncertainty about her realness.
2.Who travels widely to perform?
A. Zhao Jian. B. Matthew Tate.
C. Michael Webster. D. Maria Marks.
One weekend at my parents’ house, my brother announced that he was thinking of taking part in the London Marathon. “How ____ it is to be able to do that! Last year I went to ____ a friend who was going to run a marathon and it was such an emotional event,” I said. “You should do it ____, then,” said my father. “You must be ___! I can’t run,” I answered. “It’s not that you can’t run,” he ____. “It’s that you don’t.”
I had always dreamed of being a runner. Although my ____ to be one of those women leaping through the park was strong, I was equally ____ that I wasn’t the sporty type. My belief had been ____ by my first attempt (尝试) at running. I didn’t ___ the end of my road. I wasn’t a runner, which made me ____.
But there was no ____ in my father’s voice, not a shadow (影子) of it. ____ it from someone else, so directly, made me realize that the only thing stopping me from ___ was myself. I began with a(n) ____ five-kilometre run around the park. I waited until after dark ____ no one I knew would see me, and I did it with a half-walk and half-run approach. Instead of being ashamed, I felt ____. Being flushed (脸红的) with pride I signed up for the London Marathon.
Slowly, I started ____ the amount of time and then distance. The ____ I felt about doing sport decreased (减轻), and so did my weight. But what was more ____ than the weight I was dropping was removing the self-doubt I had felt for years. As each week passed, I ____ myself with a little more confidence and self-respect.
1.A. easy B. tiring C. strange D. amazing
2.A. depend on B. cheer on C. agree on D. insist on
3.A. again B. instead C. too D. alone
4.A. joking B. listening C. hesitating D. lying
5.A. defended B. corrected C. repeated D. nodded
6.A. desire B. promise C. taste D. relief
7.A. doubtful B. unique C. sure D. glad
8.A. expressed B. shared C. shaken D. strengthened
9.A. observe B. reach C. change D. occupy
10.A. sad B. weak C. quiet D. shy
11.A. pity B. concern C. uncertainty D. fear
12.A. Separating B. Hearing C. Protecting D. Removing
13.A. concentrating B. chatting C. smiling D. running
14.A. slow B. fun C. open D. extra
15.A. but B. unless C. so D. though
16.A. embarrassed B. excited C. lucky D. sorry
17.A. putting up B. taking up C. looking up D. building up
18.A. panic B. danger C. patience D. glory
19.A. fortunate B. convenient C. important D. independent
20.A. carried B. understood C. introduced D. helped
The recent popularity of children’s books has made the public _____ that there’s a huge market out there.
A. aware B. concerned
C. fortunate D. hopeful
I don’t really mind you allowing Tom to leave the company at this key moment. The problem is _____ can be sent to replace him.
A. what B. who
C. that D. which
We have to hold the meeting in the small hall because the meeting room where we planned to hold the meeting _____.
A. is being decorated B. is decorating
C. will be decorated D. will decorate
