Zhang Chaofan — A Beacon of Light
In 1992, Zhang Chaofan was born into a worker’s family in Changchun. She was born without her left forearm. Feeling "different" from others made little Chaofan feel very sad and quiet. It was her grandmother who brought light into her life. Her grandmother told her, “As long as you are optimistic, strong, and brave, I believe you can do just as well as other children.”
Zhang Chaofan made up her mind to use one hand to support her own sky. At the age of seven, she started learning short track speed skating. Since she had no left arm to help with swinging and balance, she fell down countless times every day. However, through hard work, she competed shoulder to shoulder with healthy children and won the championship in the junior speed skating group of her province.
In 2011, Zhang Chaofan achieved excellent results in the art major exams of Beijing Technology and Business University and was admitted to the School of Art and Media. When graduating, she gave up opportunities for postgraduate recommendation (direct admission to graduate school) and high-paying jobs. This decision came from something she heard while volunteering as a teacher in college. The children in the mountain area said she was their “Snow White.” Zhang recalled, “I was deeply moved because I used to be so timid and unbrave. But one day, I became a ray of light in the children’s hearts. I realized that my youth had meaning and value. From then on, I planted a dream of education and public welfare in my heart.”
Returning to her hometown of Changchun, Zhang Chaofan started the “Chaofan Public Welfare Dream Classroom.” Over ten years, she has sponsored more than 540 teenagers from poor families or with physical disabilities to learn skills. For her perseverance, Zhang has been awarded many honors, including National Moral Model, May Fourth Medal for Chinese Youth, and National March Eighth Red-Banner Pacesetter. In 2023, she started a new career. Through talent introduction programs, she joined the Youth League Committee of Changchun University of Science and Technology.
Reading Comprehension (阅读理解)
Choose the best answer for each question. (选择最佳答案。)
1. Why did Zhang Chaofan feel sad when she was young?
A. Because her family was very poor.
B. Because she lost her left forearm at birth.
C. Because she couldn't fit in with others due to her disability.
D. Because her grandmother didn't care about her.
2. What did Zhang Chaofan achieve in her speed skating career?
A. She won a national championship.
B. She competed equally with healthy kids and won a provincial prize.
C. She gave up skating because of too many falls.
D. She invented a special way to skate with one arm.
3. Why did Zhang Chaofan give up high-paying job offers after graduation?
A. She wanted to start her own business immediately.
B. She decided to pursue a master's degree abroad.
C. Her experience teaching in the mountains inspired her to follow an education dream.
D. She was not qualified for the jobs she was offered.
4. What does the phrase "a ray of light" (in Paragraph 3) most likely mean in this context?
A. A source of hope and inspiration.
B. A beautiful fairy tale character.
C. A natural phenomenon.
D. A physical light bulb.
5. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE about Zhang Chaofan?
A. She was born in Beijing and later moved to Changchun.
B. She only helps disabled students with their studies.
C. She received the May Fourth Medal for her contributions.
D. She worked as a teacher at Beijing Technology and Business University in 2023.
Answer Key (答案)
1. C
2. B
3. C
4. A
5. C
原文汉语版：
1992年,张超凡生在长春一个工人家庭,一出生就没有左前臂。"与众不同"让小超凡郁郁寡
欢,是奶奶让光照了进来。张超凡说:"当时奶
奶跟我说，只要我足够乐观、坚强、勇敢，她相信我也可以做得像其他孩子一样好。”
小超凡暗下决心,要用一只手撑起自己的天空。
7岁那年,张超凡开始挑战学习短道速滑。由于没有左前臂配合挥动、保持平衡，张超凡每天都要摔倒无数次。最终,张超凡和健全的小朋友并
肩赛场,荣获了全省速滑少儿组冠军。
2011年,张超凡在北京工商大学的艺术类招生
中取得优异成绩,考入艺术与传媒学院。但毕业
时,张超凡放弃了保研和高薪工作机会。这一切
都源自她大学支教时听到的一句话,"山区的孩
子说我是他们心中的白雪公主。我当时听完特别
感动，因为我小时候是那么怯懦不勇敢。但是有一天我竟然会成为孩子们心中的一道光。让我知道,原来我的青春是有意义和价值的,所以说从那开始,我就种下了自己的一颗教育梦,一颗公益梦。”
回到家乡长春后，张超凡开始创办"超凡公益梦想课堂"。十几年间,张超凡资助过540余名家庭特困、肢体残疾的青少年学习技能。张超凡自强不息，获得了全国道德模范、中国青年五四奖章、全国三八红旗手等荣誉。2023年,张超凡又开启了一段新的职业生涯。她通过人才引进来到长春理工大学团委工作。
