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Heman Bekele was born in Africa. He remembers seeing people in Africa working in the hot sun without protection for their skin. That made them vulnerable to skin cancer, a disease caused by too much exposure (暴露) to the sun. Treating cancer usually costs a lot. Heman wondered if there was a cheaper way for people to begin to treat the disease. He thought of adding a skin-cancer medicine to a bar of soap. “What is one thing that everyone can use?” Heman thought. “Everyone uses soap and water for cleaning. So soap would probably be the best choice.”

Heman needed help to bring his idea to life. In 2023, he came across the 3M challenge. He sent a video explaining what he had in mind. Soon, he received an invitation to the company’s headquarters (总部). He spoke in front of the judges. That day, he was named the winner. His prize: $25,000. His achievement: inventing a soap that could one day treat and prevent some forms of skin cancer.

Since then, Heman has been working on developing his idea. Adult experts are guiding him. One is Deborah Isabelle. “I got really lucky,” she says. “Last year I worked with Heman. He’s an incredible, passionate, very inspiring young man.”

It could take years before the soap is available for purchase (购买). But the 10th grader is determined. Over the summer, he spent every weekday in the lab. “It’s absolutely wonderful to think that one day, my bar of soap will be able to have a direct influence on somebody else’s life.”

1.1.What does the underlined word “vulnerable” mean?

A Weak.

B Safe.

C Normal.

D Brave.

解析：选A。A 词义猜测题。根据划线单词前文的“working in the hot sun without protection for their skin”和后文的“a disease caused by too much exposure to the sun”可知，过度暴露在阳光下容易患皮肤癌。故选A。

2.2.Why did Heman think of the idea of using soap?

A It’s an expensive way.

B It’s a cheap way.

C It’s a clean way.

D It’s a successful way.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第一段后半部分的“a cheaper way”“everyone can use”可知，治疗皮肤癌花费很贵，希曼在寻找一种大家都可以用的便宜的治疗方法。所以他想到了人们在日常生活中都会用到的肥皂。故选B。

3.3.What does the company 3M bring to Heman?

A Support.

B Medicine.

C An idea.

D A position.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据题目定位到第二段，根据第二段第一句“Heman needed help to bring his idea to life.”以及后文的描述可知，3M公司给了希曼他需要的帮助和支持。故选A。

4.4.What does Deborah Isabelle think of Heman?

A He’s lucky.

B He’s brave.

C He’s lonely.

D He’s great.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据倒数第二段关键词句“I got really lucky”可知，黛博拉·伊莎贝尔认为自己曾和他共事是非常幸运的。并结合后面的“He’s an incredible, passionate, very inspiring young man.”他是一个不可思议的、充满激情的、非常鼓舞人心的年轻人。由此可知，她对他的评价非常高，认为他非常棒。故选D。

5.5.Which words can describe Heman?

A Humorous and funny.

B Outgoing and friendly.

C Hard-working and kind-hearted.

D Responsible and active.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题。根据全文内容，希曼希望让普通人也能治疗皮肤癌可知他很善良，以及后文的整个暑假都在实验室可知他很努力。故选C。