This is a tale of two friends—one is blind, the other has no arms. On their own, the two are “disabled”. But together, they are a powerful team that has changed part of their village in North China’s Hebei Province into a rich, green forest. Meet 53-year-old Jia Haixia and Jia Wenqi! 

Their story began in 2000, when Haixia, who was already blind in his right eye, lost his left one after an illness. Wenqi lost his arms in an accident when he was just three. Neither could find a job, so the two decided to team up. They rented some poor land and began to plant trees. In return, the local officials paid them a small fee. 

Haixia and Wenqi never imagined that they would end up creating an environmental paradise. Their forest now has over 10,000 trees, hundreds of birds and many other wild animals. In addition, it saves the village from river flooding during the rainy season. 

When the friends work together, they focus on their strengths not their disabilities. Their day begins at 7 a.m. when the sightless Haixia carries Wenqi across the river to get to their worksite. Since they cannot afford to buy young trees to plant, the two use branches from existing trees. Haixia climbs to the tree-top and with Wenqi’s direction, selects the perfect branch. He then digs a hole and carefully plants it. Finally Wenqi waters the area. 

Though hard-working, the men don’t make much money. But as Wenqi puts it, “We stand on our own feet, so the fruits of our work taste sweeter.” Neither Haixia nor Wenqi cares about money. Together, they already have everything they need—a perfect pair of eyes, two strong hands, and the best friendship in the world! 

1.Why did Haixia and Wenqi start working together?

A Haixia needed someone to help him.

B They both needed a way to make money.

C They wanted to improve the environment.

D They were required to do so by local offcials.

解析：选B。B 【细节理解题。】文章第二段， “Their story began…”，可知他们是一个powerful team。首先介绍他们身体的残缺，关键句：Neither could find a job, so the two decided to team up.这句话的so是关键字，从而从不能找到工作而组队这个细节推理出，they both needed a way to make money，故本题选B。

2.Haixia and Wenqi’s forest has helped the village by______ .

A stopping floods in the rainy season

B increasing the number of tourists

C making the villagers richer

D providing more farmland

解析：选A。A 【细节理解题】根据文章第三段最后一句“it saves the village from river flooding during the rainy season”，他们帮助村民阻止雨季中的洪灾，故选A。

3.Why do Haixia and Wenqi plant tree branches?

A They are easy to get.

B They do not cost money.

C They can grow very quickly.

D They are preferred by animals.

解析：选B。B 【细节理解题】根据文章第四段第三句 “Since they cannot afford to buy young trees to plant, the two use branches from existing trees.”，关键字since，原因状语从句，表明他们使用树枝的原因是不需要花钱。故选B。

4.In paragraph 5, when Wenqi says “We stand on our own feet, so the fruits of our work taste sweeter”, he means that “______”.

A they hope to make the forest even better

B the fruits from their trees are very sweet

C they are proud not to depend on others

D they are able to do any difficult work

解析：选C。C 【推理判断题】根据文章第五段开头“Though hard-working, the men don’t make much money. But as Wenqi puts it,”，尽管努力工作，他们没有挣太多的钱。但是Wenqi解释道…。说明自己能够独立，故选C。

5.What can we learn from this story?

A Never give up and you will succeed.

B We should help the disabled to work.

C Try your best when facing difficulties.

D We can achieve more with teamwork.

解析：选D。D 【主旨大意题。】主旨题通常从首尾段看出，尤其最后段的感叹句强调了作者的情感，表明是他们的团队精神让他们能够创造出更多的成果。