Most 10-year-olds spend free time playing video games, but Ernesto Gael Hernandez from Brownsville, Texas, is busy running his own 3D printing business every day.

What started as a fun way to make personal keychains (钥匙扣) for classmates has quickly grown into a successful small business. In his home workshop, Ernesto spends his days designing and printing colorful objects—keychains, bottle openers, and toys that help people with nervousness and stress. He wakes up early to set the printers working before school or football practice.

The idea began a few months ago when Ernesto told his mom he wanted to start 3D printing. Instead of    ▲   , she encouraged him to save chore money for it. After saving $500, he bought his first printer and set up Prestige 3D Labs. He taught himself to create designs by watching YouTube lessons and soon found there was a strong need for his products.

Business has grown quickly. Ernesto has made around $1,500 and partnered with a local clothing store called Jungle to sell his products. Now three printers run every day to keep up with orders from across the Rio Grande Valley.

For Ernesto’s mom, the business is more than a way for her son to make money—it’s valuable quality time that they spend together. She knows balancing school, football, and business is stressful, but it teaches Ernesto time management. She believes the experience will benefit him for a lifetime.

While Ernesto enjoys success over the years, his motivation (动机) is simple and heartfelt. “I just like doing it because I want to afford a house for my mom,” Ernesto said.

1.1.What led Ernesto to start his printing business?

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解析：选He wanted to make personal keychains for his classmates.。类型：细节理解简答。 定位原文第 2 段：What started as a fun way to make personal keychains for classmates has quickly grown into a successful small business. 正是为同学制作钥匙扣这个想法，开启了他的创业。

2.2.Fill in the ▲ in Paragraph 3 with proper words.

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解析：选buying it for him。类型：短文挖空填词。 句意：Ernesto 想做 3D 打印。妈妈没有直接给他买打印机，而是鼓励他做家务攒钱。instead of 后面接动名词。合理答案：buying the printer for him /giving him the printer。

3.3.Where are Ernesto’s orders from?

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解析：选His orders are from across the Rio Grande Valley.。类型：细节理解简答。 定位原文第 4 段：Now three printers run every day to keep up with orders from across the Rio Grande Valley. 订单来自里奥格兰德河谷各地。

4.4.Why does Ernesto enjoy his printing business?

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解析：选Because he wants to afford a house for his mom.。类型：细节理解简答。 定位原文最后一段 “I just like doing it because I want to afford a house for my mom,”。这是他坚持做这份生意的原因。

5.5. If Ernesto meets difficulties in balancing school, football, and business in life, please comfort him with two sentences according to his mom’s ideas. ①__________________________________________________________________________________________ ②__________________________________________________________________________________________

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解析：选① It teaches you time management and this experience will benefit you for a lifetime. ② It’s valuable quality time, and you can learn a lot from this experience.。① It teaches you time management and this experience will benefit you for a lifetime. ② It’s valuable quality time, and you can learn a lot from this experience. 解析 类型：开放表达题。 题干要求依据妈妈的想法写两句安慰的话。妈妈观点：虽然压力大，但可以学会时间管理，这段经历终身受益，也是珍贵的亲子时光。句子符合原文观点，语法正确即可。