四、阅读短文,回答问题
As one of the most respected educators in China, Zhang Guimei has devoted(奉献)her life to helping girls in poor mountain areas achieve their dreams of receiving education. Born in Heilongjiang Province in 1957, she went to Yunnan at the age of 17 to work and help develop
the local areas and has been working in faraway villages for over 40 years.
In 1996, Ms Zhang voluntarily moved to Huaping County, a poor area in Lijiang. Seeing many girls being forced to marry early instead of studying, she felt deeply sad. She spent years raising money on the streets of Kunming during holidays, often facing misunderstanding, yet she never gave up. With the support of the government, Huaping Senior High School for Girls, China’s first free senior high school for poor girls, was finally founded in 2008.
The road of running the school was really tough. In the early days, 9 out of 17 teachers gave up, leaving only 6 Party member teachers. Ms Zhang, who suffered from several diseases, led them to stick to their goal and devote themselves to teaching. By 2025, the school had sent over 2,000 girls to universities. “A girl can influence three generations(代),” Ms Zhang once said. “My goal is to let them fly out of the mountains and change their own fates through education.”
Her selfless spirit has won her countless honours, including “Role Model of the Times” and the “July 1st Medal”. A graduate who returned to teach at her old school said, “Ms Zhang gave me a chance to see the wider world, and I want to pass on her love and kindness.”
Though Ms Zhang walks more slowly and her back is not as straight as before, she still keeps to her post and gets up early every morning to encourage her students with a loudspeaker.
1. When did Zhang Guimei go to Yunnan to help develop the local areas?
At the age of 17/In 1974.
2. What makes Huaping Senior High School for Girls special?
It's China's first free senior high school for poor girls.
3. What had the school achieved by 2025?
It had sent over 2,000 girls to universities.
4. What does the returning graduate want to do?
She wants to pass on Zhang Guimei's love and kindness.
5. What do you think of Zhang Guimei? And what can you learn from her?
She is a great, kind and hard-working teacher. From her, I learn that I should never give up when facing difficulties and try my best to help people in need.