About 6 months ago, I joined a gym. Every morning, one personal trainer works out there while my little group does our workout. He follows his routine with such a quiet determination that he makes it look very easy; I know how hard he is working. When I am tempted to whine and quit, I watch him push himself to his own limits, and I find myself motivated to work harder and without complaint.
A couple of weeks ago, I was watching him do chin-ups. He made them look effortless. I broke away from my group and asked him if I could have a chin-up. I had never tried that before, but he just made it look so easy. He eagerly stepped aside and encouraged me to step up to the bar. I pulled myself up without thinking...once...then twice. That was all I had in me — I had no strength left. I told him that was all I had, so he stepped up behind me and pushed me up for a third and fourth pull. It felt so good. I felt strong and I smiled from ear to ear.
The next day when I finished my workout, I asked him to spot me. I did two, again. I thought it was pathetic (可悲的) that I could only do two. But when I came to the gym at the end of the week, he was standing there just shaking his head. When I asked him what was up, he said he was impressed with my chin-ups. He told me that when they were training firefighters, men were required to do 5 chin-ups, and women were required to do 1 or 2. He explained that most people couldn’t do them at all, and that he was impressed that I could. He further told me that if I practiced every day, I would be doing 5 or 6 in no time. At this point I should probably add that I am 50 years old and I am female.
It was because he told me I could that I just jumped in and gave it a try, and I did it! I didn’t see it as a great accomplishment, because I didn’t realize that it was difficult and it became my goal to get stronger. No one told me I couldn’t do it; instead, I was encouraged to try. Now I’ve learned how important it is to support others in our endeavors and to let them know that we believe they can do it.
I personally want to be like my trainer; standing there behind the people that I love, encouraging them, believing in them and being ready to catch them when they get tired. I will be the one that is there on the second and third day making sure they try again, because I know they can.
The writer worked harder probably because .
A.she had a strong determination |
B.she wanted to become successful |
C.she was encouraged by the trainer |
D.she liked to do chin-ups very much |
The writer was happy when .
A.she did the first two chin-ups |
B.she helped the trainer out of trouble |
C.she saw the trainer doing chin-ups easily |
D.she did more chin-ups with the trainer’s help |
In the trainer’s opinion, the writer .
A.didn’t work hard at practice |
B.could only do 1 or 2 chin-ups |
C.was too old to do any chin-ups |
D.could do as many chin-ups as male firefighters |
What did the trainer probably say when the writer tried to have a chin-up?
A.You can do it! |
B.It’s nothing for you. |
C.You’d better give it up. |
D.I’m afraid you can’t. |
The writer would like to be a person .
A.who can gain great achievements |
B.who can encourage and help others |
C.who probably never feels tired at all |
D.who enjoys standing behind others |