下载掌阅APP，畅读海量书库
立即打开
One day, when Theodore Roosevelt was a boy, his father said to him: “You have a good mind, but you have not a good body. It is hard work to build up the body, but it is well worth doing.” And how young Theodore did build up his body, until he was as strong as other boys of his age, shows his great pluck and perseverance.
Much to his parents’ sorrow Theodore Roosevelt was born a weakling, and spent his childhood days in pain. Until he was twelve years old, a younger brother protected him and fought his battles for him. Sleepless nights and many attacks of illness had made him a timid boy, with no confidence in his own power to do things.
Shut off from the companionship of boys, he very early learned to depend upon the companionship of books. But books will not build up a weak body. So the young Theodore found to his sorrow and shame.
Once when his brother was not near to defend him, two younger boys challenged him to fight. It was not a case of two against one, as they came at him singly. It was a fair enough fight. But they tossed the young Theodore around almost as easily as the wind tosses a dry leaf. This so filled him with shame that he vowed he would make his muscles as strong and sound as his mind.
So he went to an old prize-fighter and asked him to give him boxing lessons. He took up wrestling, also, and began regular daily work in a gymnasium which his father fitted up for him.Fortunately for him, Theodore Roosevelt was the son of well-to-do parents, who were able to give him all the advantages and training that money could buy.
But money could not buy pluck and perseverance. These the boy supplied himself, until he grew from a weak, undersized boy to a strong, athletic young man.
After he left college he spent nearly two years on a ranch, where he led a life of toil, hardship, and danger. Each day he spent hours and hours in the saddle, rounding up the cattle with other cowboys. Often at night he slept out under the stars. Thus he overcame his handicap.
How different was the boyhood of Abraham Lincoln. Instead of being handicapped by illness, young Abe was a strong, healthy boy from birth. He rapidly grew into a stalwart young man, noted for miles and miles around his little backwoods cabin for his great strength and endurance. But he was born in such great poverty that during his boyhood and youth he had very little opportunity to go to school.
He could be spared from hard work on the farm for only a month or two each year. His poverty and his lack of schooling, however,did not keep him from learning. By spending his spare time reading all the good books he could borrow from his neighbors, he gradually educated himself. Young Abraham Lincoln fought for his mind as young Theodore Roosevelt fought for his muscles.
Pluck and perseverance are two weapons that will overcome any handicap.
handicap : a physical disability
sorrow : extreme sadness
companionship : extreme sadness
poverty : being extremely poor
A) Answer the following questions.
1) In what ways did Roosevelt try to make his body strong?
2) How did perseverance help him?
3) What does this story suggest about health?
4) How did Roosevelt overcome his handicap?
5) How was Lincoln’s handicap different from Roosevelt’s?
B) Mind and body—List five ways that you can strengthen your body and mind.
Body
1) _______________
2) _______________
3) _______________
4) _______________
5) _______________
Mind
1) _______________
2) _______________
3) _______________
4) _______________
5) _______________
C) Summary—Write a short summary of this story.