These days, photos of a 31-year-old man carrying his mother on his back at Tiananmen Square became popular on social media, drawing praise from millions around the country. The man was Xiao Ma, and he has been carrying his mother for years and documenting their travels through short videos posted on Douyin.

    Xiao Ma was just eight years old when his mother was involved in a terrible car accident that caused her to be unable to move. His mother was later diagnosed with cerebral atrophy (脑萎缩), as a result of the car accident.

    Growing up, he worked in the fields picking cotton, was an apprentice in various fields and opened his own restaurant in Xinjiang. Most of the money he made went towards his mother’s recovery, and his hard work seemed to pay off, as his mother was slowly able to leave the bed to sit in a wheelchair and even take a few small steps. However, a few years ago, Xiao Ma got the terrible news that his mother’s cerebral atrophy was progressing. That’s when he decided to make the best of the time he had left with her.

    Instead of focusing on his business, Xiao Ma decided to sell his house and his car so he could take his mother on trips around China. They have visited several places in Xinjiang, including Tianshan Mountain and Tianchi Lake, as well as Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall. The elderly woman can no longer speak, but she always smiles when they travel, which brings joy to her loving son, who recalls how sad she used to be when confined to her bed.

    “Love doesn’t wait, filial piety (孝道) is never late, and action is the best answer,” Xiao Ma said. “My mother carried me when I was a child, and now I carry her.”

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1.1. How has Xiao Ma been documenting his travels with Mom?

A By writing blogs.

B By posting videos online.

C By keeping diaries.

D By writing postcards.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第一段的“he has been carrying his mother for years and documenting their travels through short videos posted on Douyin”可知，他多年来一直背着母亲旅行，并在抖音上发布短视频记录他们的旅程。故选B。

2.2. Which word can describe Xiao Ma’s life as a child?

A Boring.

B Funny.

C Rich.

D Hard.

解析：选D。推理判断题。根据第二、三段内容可知，8岁时，小马的母亲因车祸导致脑萎缩偏瘫在床。多年来，他一边努力养活自己，一边照顾妈妈，因此可推测，他成长的经历是很不容易的。故选D。

3.3. Why did Xiao Ma sell his house and car?

A To start a new business.

B To pay for his mother’s medical treatment.

C To travel around China with his mother.

D To make his mother’s life easier.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据第四段的“Instead of focusing on his business, Xiao Ma decided to sell his house and his car so he could take his mother on trips around China.”小马决定不再专注于他的生意，而是卖掉了房子和车子，以便带着母亲在中国旅行。由此可知，小马卖房卖车是为了带着母亲环游中国。故选C。

4.4. What can we infer about Xiao Ma’s mother from the passage?

A She was always happy and smiling.

B She was able to walk a few steps before.

C She was delighted when she was traveling with her son.

D She was able to speak and communicate normally.

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据第四段的“The elderly woman can no longer speak, but she always smiles when they travel, which brings joy to her loving son, who recalls how sad she used to be when confined to her bed.”这位老妇人已经不能说话了，但当他们旅行时，她总是微笑着，这足以让她可爱的儿子快乐，儿子回忆起她过去被困在床上时是多么悲伤。由此可推测，小马的母亲和儿子一起旅行时很快乐。故选C。