未分类题As long as people have been on the earth, there have been explorers. There was always another river to cross, a mountain to climb, or an ocean to sail. Who would have thought that Matthew Henson, a poor black youth, would become a key figure in helping Robert Peary reach the North Pole?Matthew was born in Maryland on August 8, 1866. When he was about eight years old, his father died and left him with his stepmother, Nellie. She would often beat him and his brothers and sisters. When he was eleven, he finally ran away from home. Making his way to Washington D.C, he was taken in by Janey Moore. She took care of him and gave him a job. Soon one of the local sailors filled his mind with stories of sea adventures, and Matthew became a sailor.When he was twelve, Matthew became a cabin boy for Captain Childs on the ship Katie Hines. Capt. Childs took an interest in Matthew; teaching him about literature, math, and how to navigate on the sea. They stayed together until 1885, when Captain Childs died. Matthew drifted from city to city, doing odd jobs for two years before returning to Washington D.C.In 1887, Matt was hired to be a servant to Robert Peary on a surveying trip to South America. Once they were at sea, Peary quickly learned that Matt was an experienced seaman who could easily do many odd tasks. He realized Matthew Henson was far more valuable as part of the survey team than as a servant.Their first job together was in Nicaragua. When they returned in 1890, Peary found a job for Matt as an errand boy in his office. The next year, when Peary was planning a trip to Greenland, Matt volunteered to go along. During another Greenland trip from 1893 to 1895, Peary named Cape Henson in honor of Matthew. Then in 1906, he named a bay in the Canadian North West Territories in his honor as well.Matthew had a great talent for being able to communicate with the native people or Inuit of the North. He was able to gain their trust and learn a great deal from them. They taught him how to survive in the arctic, build snow houses, and drive sleds pulled by huskies. They taught him how to find food in the snowy wilds and safely cross-dangerous new ice. Matthew in turn taught Peary, who might not have been successful without his friend.66、Why did Matthew run away from home?A、He wanted to be an explorerB、He wanted to be a scientistC、His stepmother beat himD、He wanted to become a sailor67、What did Matt work as on the Katie Hines?A、A seamanB、A servantC、A member of surveying teamD、The captain68、Why was Matt more important as a member of the survey team rather than as a servant?A、Because he could do many odd tasks that a servant couldn’tB、Because Matthew was a scientistC、Because Matthew could not do the job well of a servantD、Because Matthew was an odd seaman69、Matt Henson’s first survey trip was to ().A、NicaraguaB、ParaguayC、PanamaD、Canada70、Which of the following is TRUE?A、Peary would be successful even without Matthew’s helpB、Matthew came from a wealthy familyC、There are limitless areas on the earth for people to exploreD、Matthew was the first person who reached the North Pole
