This 11-year-old student brings joy to seniors one wish at a time

遼寧錦州市錦州中學 李宏嬌

遼寧錦州市錦州中學 李宏嬌

“If you could have any three things, what would you want?” Eleven-year-old Ruby Kate Chitsey loves asking that question, but it's not a game she plays at recess（休息）.She asks it at nursing homes in the Harrison where she lives.Even more amazingly, she then sets out to make the residents' wishes come true.

Last May, Ruby Kate noticed a resident named Pearl staring out a window.She seemed sad.“What are you looking at?” Ruby Kate asked.Pearl said she was watching her dog being led away by his new owner after a visit.Pearl didn't know when she would see her dog again.

Ruby Kate and her mother, Amanda asked around and discovered that the nursing home didn't allow residents to have dogs and Pearl couldn't afford to pay anyone to look after hers.The Chitseys also learned that many nursing home residents are unable to afford even the smallest luxuries.So Ruby Kate decided to do something about it.

She started by asking residents what three things they wanted most in the world.At first, Amanda doubted whether people would ask for cars and other things an 11-year-old wouldn't be able to provide.Instead, they asked for chocolate bars, McDonald's fries, and even just a prayer.

“It broke me as a human,” Amanda said.“We left the nursing home that day and went straightto a store and bought as many items as we could.” Using their own money, the Chitseys granted the wishes of about 100 people in three months.Then they started asking for donations.

The good people of Harrison responded enthusiastically so that Amanda set up a GoFundMe page, Three Wishes for Ruby's Residents, hoping to collect $5,000.And, they hit their goal in a month.

Ruby Kate says, “I consider kindness to be my hobby, and I'm not the only youngster with a hobby of kindness.” At one New York high school, students turned a single dollar into a truly inspirational act of kindness.

Reading Check

1.Why does Ruby Kate want to help the nursing home residents?

A.It brings her material rewards.

B.It gives her a sense of duty.

C.It enables Pearl to keep her dog continually.

D.It helps many residents cover basic expenses.

2.What was Ruby Kate's mother's initial attitude towards her daughter's activity according to Para.4?

A.She was supportive of it.

B.She was uncertain about it.

C.She was tired of it.

D.She was nervous about it.

3.What is the purpose of setting up the GoFundMe page?

A.To strengthen neighbors' relationships.

B.To sharpen Ruby Kate's social skills.

C.To raise more money to help the residents.

D.To link community activities with school education.

4.Which of the following words can best describe Ruby Kate?

A.Humorous.B.Calm.

C.Caring.D.Demanding.

Language Study

介紹“夢想成真”的多種表達

1.achieve/realize/accomplish/go for one's dream

May you achieve your dream! 祝你夢想成真！

2.one's dream comes true

May all your dreams come true! 祝你夢想成真！