The blind climber

湖南 何高伦

It was a tough situation.At 8,700 meters above sea level,Zhang Hong and his team members faced a difficult decision.Based on the oxygen they had consumed,they might not have enough to reach the summit of Qomolangma.Should they press on or turn back?

Zhang's guide Chen Tao made a quick decision that he and the two photographers with the group could immediately withdraw and leave their oxygen tanks to Zhang to let him finish the climb to the summit of the mountain,known in the West as Mount Everest,along with three guides.

The wind was strong,and Zhang was terrified.The three guides didn't speak Chinese and their English instructions to Zhang were blown by the high wind.And there was additional difficulty for Zhang—he can't see.To walk on a path was often hard for Zhang.And there was no actual path on the mountain.Zhang had to follow the guides' directions precisely on every single step.The guides told him in which direction to go and the length of each step.But one mistake could cost his life.

Zhang continued his climb with one guide in front of him and two behind.After several more hours' climbing,the guide leading the way told Zhang that he was standing at the top of the mountain.At about 9 am Nepal time on May 24,Zhang reached the summit of Qomolangma,becoming the first visually impaired person from Asia ever to conquer the world's highest peak.

Before the climbing,Zhang trained on a daily basis through climbing stairs with a 30-kilogram load.He thought the training boring but said it was essential to build up his stamina.He also had to do more technical training including rock climbing and walking on snow or icy terrain (地形).Climbing on ice is one of the hardest challenges for Zhang.He had to learn how to kick the ice with his feet and to use the ice axe to support his weight.

Zhang hopes that his story may inspire others.“I've gained so much energy from my family and friends that I was able to conquer Qomolangma.Now I want to encourage other people with disabilities,”he says.

Reading Check

1.What problem did Zhang Hong and his team members face?

A.The weather was bad.

B.They were short of oxygen.

C.There was something wrong with their climbing shoes.

D.They had difficulty in communicating with each other.

2.What does the underlined word“decision”in paragraph 2 refer to?

A.Staying and waiting for help.

B.Taking photos along the way.

C.Finishing the climbing together.

D.Leaving the oxygen tanks to Zhang.

3.Which of the following can best describe Zhang's climbing?

A.Challenging but inspiring.

B.Boring but essential.

C.Expected and disappointing.

D.Smooth and relaxing.

4.What did Zhang do to climb Qomolangma?

A.He practiced his spoken English.

B.He invited his friends to join him.

C.He insisted on training.

D.He studied the icy route.

Language Study

Sentence for writing

“I've gained so much energy from my family and friends that I was able to conquer Qomolangma.Now I want to encourage other people with disabilities,”he says.“我从家人和朋友那里获得了如此多的能量，所以我才能征服珠穆朗玛峰。现在我想鼓励其他残障人士。”他说。

【信息提取】so...that...意为“如此……以至于……”。

【句式仿写】她说话轻得我几乎听不见。