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When some teenagers start a new school, they are usually nervous about being part of the group. This was exactly how it was for 15-year-old Sergio Peralta who started his school year.
It was a challenge for Sergio because he was trying to keep his
disability a secret from his new classmates. Born with a right hand that was not fully formed, Sergio got used to doing everything with his left hand, including writing. “As I was growing up, many people asked me what was wrong with my hand. So in the first days of school, I really felt like hiding my hand,” he said.
But Jeff Wilkins, a teacher in the school’s engineering programme, learnt about the boy’s right hand and thought Sergio’s classmates could do something. He asked them to think of a way to help. Then they
considered building a robotic hand. Leslie Jaramillio, a student, said that the project showed the spirit of the engineering programme. “I was introduced to them by the teacher. They ended up telling me that they could build me a
prosthetic hand, and I never expected it,” said Sergio.
The students decided to deal with the project at once. They chose one online model and worked on it with a printer. To make sure that the end product would actually work, they put the tool to the test with a game of catch. The game was something that Sergio wasn’t able to do one-handed. And with the robotic hand, Sergio could catch the ball.
Besides making the robotic hand, the classmates made friends with Sergio and helped him get used to the new school life in ways he never expected. “No one has ever offered me this tool. I’m really lucky to meet them,” Sergio said.
词汇
disability /ˌdɪsəˈbɪləti/ n. 缺陷,障碍
consider /kənˈsɪdə(r)/ v. 仔细考虑,细想
prosthetic /prɒsˈθetɪk/ adj. 假体,义肢
句型
1. To make sure that the end product would actually work, they put the tool to the test with a game of catch. 为了确保最终产品真的有用,他们用这个工具进行了一个接球游戏测试。
2. Besides making the robotic hand, the classmates made friends with Sergio and helped him get used to the new school life in ways he never expected. 除了制作机械手,同学们还和塞尔吉奥成为朋友,以他未曾预料的方式帮助他适应新的学校生活。
理解
1. Why did Sergio get used to doing everything with his left hand?
2. Have you ever been greatly moved by your classmates or friends? Share your story with us.
