An inspirational teenager who battled bullies, faced family deaths and supported her dad through his fight against alcoholism has not held her back. Chloe Veitch has endured one blow after another. The youngster was bullied at Clacton Coastal Academy, while outside school she was helping her dad overcome drink and drug problems. Chloe, 16, of Stanley Road, Clacton, also had to deal with her relatives dying within six months of each other last year. But she has come through the tough time and is now up for an Essex Young People of the Year award.

The teen has excelled at school since moving into the academy’s Inner College, being taught separately from the main school to escape bullying. But she also had a lot to deal with outside school, including supporting dad Darren as he struggled with a long-term drink and drugs problem. Chloe encouraged him to finally get clean. 

In April 2014, Darren’s son David, from a previous relationship, died after struggling with a drinking problem. Six months later his sister—Chloe’s auntie Debbie—died after a long battle with cancer. Chloe and Debbie were close and the death hit her hard, but she still supported the rest of the family and made sure her dad did not break down.

Macheala says the experiences have been hard on Chloe—but she has used them to help and inspire others at home and at school. Mum Machaela said: “Last year was very, very tough for all of us, but Chloe supported us. She has been through so much and has had to grow up quicker than she needed to all, went to school and worked hard. She is a kind person and would help anyone.”

Chloe was nominated for a prestigious prize at the Essex Young People of the Year Awards by her teacher Steve Clark after refusing to let the dark experiences damage her life. She now uses her experience to talk to other year groups and troublemakers at school to help them concentrate on their work. She will start sixth form later this year and wants to become a lawyer. Chloe said: “With everything my dad has been through and as a family, I have always tried to think about the upside. I have tried to learn from his mistakes and know I don’t have to make them too. I am now focused on my future and am trying to have a good career.”

The Essex awards, which reward the selfless, were founded by Tony Gearing. He said: “Chloe has experienced more sadness and challenges than most of us would know in a lifetime. But she seems to have overcome them with her positive view of life to inspire others, including her family and fellow students.”

本时文内容由奇速英语国际教育研究院原创编写，禁止复制和任何商业用途，版权所有，侵权必究！

1.Which of the following is the closest in meaning to “Chloe encouraged him to finally get clean”? ( Paragraph 3 )

A Chloe chose to study in the main school lecture.

B Chloe helped her father avoid the bully quickly.

C Chloe persuaded her father to give up bad habits.

D Chloe made friends with her father to comfort him.

解析：选C。C。推理判断题。根据第二段第二句的...including supporting dad Darren as he struggled with a long-term drink and drugs problem可知，Chloe的爸爸有酗酒和吸毒的问题，在她的帮助下父亲变得“clean”了，这说明她帮助自己的父亲改正了坏习惯。

2.Who died in Chloe Veitch’s family?

A Her father and her mother.

B Her father and her uncle.

C Her brother and her mother.

D Her aunt and her brother.

解析：选D。D。细节理解题。根据文章第三段第一、二句的In April 2014, Darren’s son David, from a previous relationship, died after struggling with a drinking problem. Six months later his sister – Chloe’s auntie Debbie – died after a long battle with cancer.可知是他爸爸的儿子也就是Chloe的兄弟和阿姨去世了。

3.How did Macheala feel when she talked about her daughter’s experiences?

A Proud and thankful.

B Confident and anxious.

C Hateful and worried.

D Interested and confused.

解析：选A。A。推理判断题。根据第四段第一句的...but she has used them to help and inspire others at home and at school可知，母亲为自己的女儿感到骄傲；而下面的“Last year was very, very tough for all of us, but Chloe supported us可推知母亲对女儿很是感谢。

4.Why was Chloe nominated for the Essex Young People?

A Because she is a student with positive character.

B Because she grows up quicker than her classmates.

C Because she studies at Clacton Coastal Academy.

D Because she can concentrate on her own study.

解析：选A。A。推理判断题。根据第五段第一句的after refusing to let the dark experiences damage her life可以得知她没有让生活的阴影影响她的生活，反而还积极地去帮助他人，因此她被提名是因为她有着积极的人格魅力。

5.What is the message Tony Gearing wanted to convey in the last paragraph?

A Chloe has many experiences.

B Chloe should get a lot of help.

C Chloe is living an unhappy life.

D Chloe deserves to get the awards.

解析：选D。D。推理判断题。从文章最后一段第一句的The Essex awards, which reward the selfless, were founded by Tony Gearing可知该奖项设立的目的是奖励那些无私的人，而后面Tony说的话就说明了Chloe是这样的人，因此他暗含的意思是说她应该得奖。