Lots of people make it as their aim to get to the top of Mount Everest. Mark is one of them. The difference between Mark and other climbers is that he lost both his legs when climbing. New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mount Cook. He was caught in a big ice hole and he had to have his legs cut below the knees after he was saved. But that couldn’t make Mark lose heart, who has become the first person with man-made legs to reach the top of Mount Everest.

From the top of the world’s highest mountain, Mark called his wife to say he made it. His wife, Anne got the phone when she was sleeping. She couldn’t hear him clearly on the phone. She was unable to say when he reached the top but thought it was around mid-day. She also said his “legs” didn’t work well sometimes, so her husband was carrying a spare leg and repair tools.

Mark used to be a mountain guide before his accident. He said it was not important that no one like him had ever reached the 8850-meter mountain.

“I’m not doing this to be the first. I have been climbing most of my life and I just feel Mount Everest is really a great aim. I want to send a message that I can do-anything better.”

1.What was the difference between Mark and other climbers?

    A. He went mountain-climbing with his wife.

    B. He climbed mountains with man-made legs.

    C. He was the first to climb Mount Everest.

    D. He was the best guide of the world.

2.Mark’s wife thought is was ________ on Mount Everest when Mark reached its top.

    A. noon         B. morning      C. mid-night        D. evening

3.Which of the following is the correct order in Mark’s story?

    a. Losing both of his legs.

    b. Working as a mountain guide.

    c. Falling into an ice hole on Mount Cook.

    d. Reaching the top of Mount Everest.

    A. c a b d          B. c a d b          C. b c a d          D. b a c d

4. Mark’s story makes us believe that he is a _________ man.

    A. polite           B. brave            C. kind         D. clever

5. Mark told us that he cared much about __________.

    A. being the first  B. climbing higher  C. keeping healthy  D. being a guide