When Heman Bekele was 6, he got a chemistry set for Christmas. He used it to mix up “potions (魔水).” Back then, only his parents paid attention. Now, in 2024, at 15, Heman is used to a lot more people watching his work.
In October 2023, 3M and Discovery Education named Heman the winner of their Young Scientist Challenge. His prize: $25,000. His accomplishment: inventing a soap that could one day treat and prevent some forms of skin cancer.
It could take years before the soap is available for purchase. But Heman, a 10th grader at Woodson High, is determined. Over the summer, he spent every weekday in a lab at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. When he goes back to school this fall, he’ll be at the lab less often. But he’ll keep adhering to make his dream a reality.
Heman 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 to the sun. Skin-cancer treatments typically cost about $40,000. Heman wondered if there was a more affordable way for people to begin to treat the disease. He thought of adding a skin-cancer medicine called imiquimod to a bar of soap. “What is one thing that everyone can use?” Heman recalls thinking. “Everyone uses soap and water for cleaning. So soap would probably be the best option.”
Heman needed help to bring his idea to life. In 2023, he came across the 3M challenge and submitted a video explaining what he had in mind. Soon, he received an invitation to the company’s headquarters. He spoke in front of a panel of judges. That day, he was named the winner. 
Since then, Heman has been working on developing his idea. Adult experts are guiding him. One is Deborah Isabelle, a mentor from 3M. “I got really lucky,” she says. “Last year was my first year participating as a mentor in the Young Scientist Challenge, and I was paired with Heman. He’s an incredible, passionate, very inspiring young man.”

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1.1.How does the author start the passage?

A By presenting some facts.

B By listing some evidence.

C By comparing different views.

D By stating real experiences.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据第一段的“When Heman Bekele was 6”可知，作者以希曼·贝克勒小时候的经历开始本文。故选D。

2.2.What does the underlined part “adhering to” mean in Para. 3?

A Thinking about.

B Striving to.

C Depending on.

D Giving up.

解析：选B。B 词义猜测题。根据第三段第二句的“But Heman, a 10th grader at Woodson High, is determined.”可知希曼下定了决心，虽然今年秋天回学校时，他去实验室的次数会减少，但是他会“坚持”努力去实现梦想。故选B。

3.3.What’s the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A Heman invented a new type of soap that prevents skin cancer.

B Many people in Africa are vulnerable to skin cancer due to sun exposure.

C The cost of skin-cancer treatments is extremely high for many.

D What inspired Heman to develop a soap to treat skin cancer more affordably.

解析：选D。D 段落大意题。根据该段中的“Heman wondered if there was a more affordable way for people to begin to treat the disease.”并结合全段内容可知，该段主要讲述了希曼是如何想到要发明一种可以治疗癌症的肥皂的。故选D。

4.4.Which of the following sentences is Deborah Isabelle’s attitude towards Heman?

A She spoke highly of him.

B She was surprised at him.

C She thought he was lucky.

D She considered him a great help.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“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，黛博拉·伊莎贝尔对他的评价非常高。故选A。