Soal dan Pembahasan TBI (Reading Comprehension) Bagian 40

COURAGEOUS COED

       Never say “no” to Emma Flores. It isn’t her vocabulary. People have been trying to say no to Emma since she was crippled by polio at age 11. “No, you can’t get out of bed… No, you can’t go to  school….”.  But  Emma always  said,  “Yes,  I can”. People began to believe her. A great number of believers, in fact, were present when Emma received her diploma from college. Now 22, the pretty brunette with brown eyes can walk but  will  never  here  the  use  of  her  arms  and hands. She is  thankful to  her  schoolmates for making it possible for her to live her by day life at college. Teams of girls helped he get up in the morning and dress, carried her books, fed her each mouthful of food and even tucked her into bet at night – the bed ext to respirator1  which hums and sighs all night long, doing Emma’s breathing for her while she sleeps. The girls washed out Emma’s things, ironed her blouses, help her shop and gave her rides.

       Emma did all the rest. She learned to write with her feet, grasping the pencil between twotoes. That’s how she took notes in class. She typed her report, using a pencil held in each foot to strike the keys. Earning A’s and B’s, she majored in languages and added to the money she received from a scholarship by tutoring other students.

       She put worry out of her life. Although she depends on other, she doesn’t give it much thought. “ I just walk into the cafetaria, “Emma said,  not  knowing  from  one  meal  to  the  next who’s going to help me. But somebody does. I don’t worry about it”.

       Emma treats the use of her feet like a rare gift. “I really enjoy using my feet”, she said. “I have a ball. I learned to paint with water colors and when I want the colors to run together I have to hold up the paper and shake with both feet . It ’s a riot”.

       Althought Emma doesn’t need a respirator in the day time, she must have one at night, so she takes a portable machine with her when she travels.  During  her  vacation  she  flew  to  New York alone, to visit a friend, and this summer she plans to take a trip to Mexico.

       Emma is native of Mexicalli, where her parents still live. She was one of many Mexican children stricken by a polio at time when doctors there could not even identify it. Her father was told that Emma would be bedridden the rest of her life. Her refused to accept to verdict.

       With nothing but determination on his side, he tried in every way to help his daughte. After a series  of  operations,  Emma  progressed  from getting about with a wheelchair, to braces2, to walking on her own.

       While other students were getting graduation presents, Emma was giving one-art scrapbook  she  had  carefully and  painfully put together for her friend, Sandy Mclntyre, “The girl who helped me the most”.

       She use magazine cut outs to illustrate carefully lettered quotations about life and love. The book ends with these words: “Thank you for life, thank you for grace, thank you lord.

1. respirator : a device to aid breathing

2. braces : support for a week part of the body