AlfredWilliamsattendsfirstgradetolearntoreadandwrite.ButWilliamsisnoordinaryfirstgrader.Heisover70yearsold!Heisfulfilling(完成)apromisetolearntoreadthathemadetohismotherandtohimselfmanyyearsago.WilliamsisnowatEdisonElementarySchoolinMissouri,USA.Andheismakinghisdreamcometrue—heisreadingbooks.
Bornin1937,Williamswasthefourthofninechildren.Attheageof8,hejoinedhisfatherinthefieldsandpickedcottonandvegetablesuntilsunseteveryday.Hisfamilywassopoorthathehadnoopportunitytolearntoread.Asaresult,Williamsmarried,hadchildrenandworkedhardtosupporthisfamily.Butheendedupwithnomoneyandinpoorhealth.Itwasthenthatherememberedhispromisetohismother.Heknewhehadtolearntoreadtomakehislifebetter.
Onedayin2005,Williamswaswalkinghisfriend'schildrentoschoolwhenhesawMaryWhite,ateacherattheschool.Sheseemedwarm-hearted,andhethoughtmaybeshecouldteachhimhowtoread.Soheaskedher,andsheagreedtotry.
Onhisfirstdayofschoolin2005,Williamswasn'tsureifhisclassmateswouldaccepthim,buttheydid.Andnowtheylovehim.Williamssays,“Itellthekidstheycanhaveanythingtheywantinlifeiftheystayinschool.”
ReadinghasgivenWilliamsasenseoffreedomandindependence.Nowhereadsnewspapers,magazinesandthesignsatsupermarkets.WilliamsplanstoearnhisGED(普通同等学历证书)inhisclass.Hebelieveshecanaccomplish(完成)thisgoal(目标)justlikeheachievedhisgoalofreadinghisfirstbook.Whenhefinishedhisfirstbook,Williamsproudlysaid,“I'llneverforgetit.Thatwaslikesayingtomymother,‘Ididit.IdidwhatIpromisedIwoulddo.Ilearnedtoread.’”
1.HowoldisAlfredwhenhebeginsschool?
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2.Whatishisdream?
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3.Whydidn'tAlfredgotoschoolwhenhewasyoung?
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4.Didhisclassmatesaccepthimonhisfirstdayofschool?
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5.Whatdidhepromisetohismother?
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6.HowdoesreadingmakeAlfredfeel?
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7.WhatdoyoulearnfromAlfred'sstory?
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