Spark Study Buddy (Explorer): Boy in China gives own lunches to mentally impaired mother
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The story of a boy who offered his own free lunches to his mentally impaired mother, eating classmates’ leftovers himself, has touched hearts in China.
Photo: SCMP composite/DouyinContent provided by British Council
[1] Millions in China were deeply touched by a 12-year-old boy who ate his classmates’ leftovers so he could save his lunch for his mother, who has a mental disability. Li Shibo is a Primary Two student from a rural area in central China’s Henan province. His teacher found him giving his canteen lunch to his mother, who was waiting for him outside the school gate.
[2] The teacher, surnamed Wang, noted that he did not see Shibo when afternoon class began on October 14. After searching for him, he witnessed an emotional scene. Shibo was watching his mother from the other side of the steel gate as she enjoyed his lunch, occasionally fixing her hair.
[3] Shibo almost ran away when he saw his teacher. He was afraid he would be punished for giving away the school’s free lunch. Instead, Wang praised him for his kindness. Wang recorded the moment on video and shared it on Douyin, which received an overwhelmingly positive response. In another video, Shibo is seen collecting leftover food from his classmates. He said he only needed some water for lunch because “I am still young”.
[4] A local disabled persons federation told the Chinese media outlet Jimu News that Shibo also has a minor mental disability. He lives with his mother, his elder sister – who also has a mental disability – and their bedridden grandmother. Shibo’s father passed away in a car accident several years ago.
[5] The family receives subsistence allowances from the government and is supported by Shibo’s uncle and aunt. Local authorities stated that they provide the family with free meals. Thousands visited Wang’s Douyin account, eager to donate money and essential goods to the boy’s family.
[6] Parcels ordered online by kind-hearted individuals from across the nation nearly filled Shibo’s village home. Volunteers who visited had to request that donors hold back their contributions. The local civil affairs bureau also announced they would visit the family and explore additional ways to assist them.
Source: South China Morning Post, October 29
Questions
1. Why did Li Shibo save his lunch, according to paragraph 1?
___________________________________________________
2. In paragraph 3, whose leftover food did Shibo collect?
A. his mother’s
B. Wang’s
C. his classmates’
D. no one’s
3. How did Wang feel when he saw what Shibo was doing?
A. touched
B. angry
C. confused
D. worried
4. Based on paragraph 4, what happened to Shibo’s father?
__________________________________________________
5. Circle the correct answers for each sentence below. (3 marks)
(i) Shibo’s mother cannot take care of herself (because / because of) she has a mental disability.
(ii) Shibo’s teacher praised him (because / because of) his kind act.
(iii) Many people want to help Shibo (because / because of) his heartwarming story.
6. Arrange the words below to form a grammatically correct sentence. Begin the sentence with a capital letter and end with a full stop.
he / Li Shibo / water / said / for / only / he / needed / lunch / still / because / was / young
Answers
1. To give it to his mother.
2. C
3. A
4. He passed away in a car accident several years ago.
5. (i) because; (ii) because of; (iii) because of
6. Li Shibo said he only needed water for lunch because he was still young.