“Papa” makes quilts to wrap people in need with love

江西 劉群芳

題材生活 新聞體裁 文章詞數(shù) 建議用時313 7分鐘

難詞探意

1.veteran /'vet?r?n/ n.老兵

2.batch /b?t?/ n.一批

3.refugee /,refju'd?i?/ n.難民；避難者

4.fabric /'f?br?k/ n.織物；布

For 15 years, Brent Rushton—warmly known as “Papa”—has pieced together beautiful quilts to donate.“I've given them to the Road Home shelters and theveterans,” said Rushton.His latestbatchof masterpieces is going torefugees.“Most of them come in with no belongings, except the clothes that are on them,” explained Rushton.

One year he made a quilt for the Festival of Trees, which sold for $3,000.He gives quilts away to family, friends, and neighbors, too.“I spent the first 75 years of my life being mean, so all of a sudden I decided I'd better turn over a new leaf,” laughed Rushton.

He says he's probably made between 200 and 300 quilts over the years.That's a lot of time spent in his shop—which was originally designed for wood working.He used to spend 12 hours a day there making quilts.“I'm down to about six hours a day these days,” Rushton said.But he doesn't mind at all.“I'd go nuts if I didn't have something to do,” he said.“And it happens that this interests me.”The 80-year-old says he doesn't show much emotion, but he does like the way it feels when he finds out one of his quilts has made an impact on someone.“I feel pretty good about helping somebody get a smile on their face,” he said.Rushton has received some donated fabric, but buys most of the supplies himself.Mountain America Credit Union donated $500 to Rushton to help him keep making the beautiful quilts.

These quilts are the source of emotional and spiritual support for Rushton.They not only wrap people in need with love but also offer a chance for Rushton to connect him with the outside world in a loving way, which defines a meaningful and rewarding life.

Reading Check

1.Who may receive a quilt from Rushton?

A.Tom, an engineer.

B.John, a doctor.

C.Jack, an elderly solider.

D.Tony, a college student.

2.What can we know about Rushton?

A.He lives near a refuge.

B.He has been generous all his life.

C.He makes all the quilts to make a living.

D.He buys most of the materials to make quilts.

3.What was Rushton's shop initially used for?

A.Making quilts.

B.Wood working.

C.Selling farbric.

D.Clothing recycling.

4.How does Rushton feel about making quilts for people in need?

A.Meaningful.B.Doubtful.

C.Worried.D.Mixed.

Language Study

Sentence for writing

I'd go nuts if I didn't have something to do.如果我無事可做，我會發(fā)瘋的。

【信息提取】該句中if條件句是對現(xiàn)在情況的虛擬假設(shè)，與現(xiàn)在的事實相反，主句謂語動詞用would do，從句謂語動詞用一般過去式did。

【句式仿寫】如果我是你，我會告訴她真相。