Caroline Solomon was on her high school's swim team. But at times she could not go into the creek（小溪）near her home. It was simply too polluted. "I decided I wanted to do something about it，"she recalls. So she studied environmental science and public policy at Harvard University in Cambridge. Later，she went to graduate school. Some of her classes could be challenging，though，since she couldn't hear her teachers. "I've been deaf since I was 15 months old，"Solomon notes.

Today she teaches biology at Gallaudet University in Washington，DC. She has no trouble communicating with her students. They，too，are primarily deaf or hard of hearing. That's why all classes at Gallaudet are taught in American Sign Language. Solomon also has an active life outside the classroom. She especially enjoys hiking，biking and other activities with her family.

Her research takes her to the Anacostia River. "It is very close to Gallaudet，and I easily bring my students there，"she says. Water running through local forests and marshes drains into this river，so does water running off urban streets，golf courses and industrial sites." The river's watershed（流域）kind of concentrates all the things that happen when humans mess with the natural landscape，"she explains. Not surprisingly，this river has developed a reputation for being quite polluted.

Solomon has been focusing on how pollutants affect tiny organisms that form the base of the river's food web. "I am now looking at the bacteria population，" she says，"to see what types there are."

Solomon wants to see more students who are deaf or have other disabilities make a difference in environmental science and other fields. As she often says, "If I can do it, you can do it."

   “We've been good friends for so many years. And I don't think you _______ to do that…” I said to myself,looking at Jack, my friend who was running across the _______ field.

How I _______ I could join them! But it is impossible because of the pain in my left foot, _______ by Jack.

I first met Jack in a football match in the elementary school. When my team looked as if we were beaten,Jack, who was watching, volunteered to join us. He was so _______ and skilled that we won. _______ , Jack and I often _______ together and became best friends.

But something happened before an important football match between Class 6 and my class. My class had so many good players that we had to _______ the best ones. Jack and I were in the same team. The match was close in the first half. I saw my chance and was ready to score a goal. Suddenly, Jack slid to stop the ball ,but _______ me in my left foot. I knew I had lost the ____________ to score and was carried off the field. But what really hurt me was that Jack didn't apologize to me. And when some of my teammates said he did it on purpose to ____________ me from scoring,I felt even ____________ .

Now I stand here, with tears in my eyes. I don't want to ____________ those words but I don't know how to persuade myself they are ____________ . Then everything changes when Jack scores and wins! How excited I am!

While I am still ____________ in excitement, someone pats my shoulder. It is Jack, with a smile on his face. “I'm sorry that you cannot join in because of my ____________ . But you see, Jason, we ____________ them! No matter whether you joined in or not, you've made a ____________ . Come on. Let's celebrate!” Suddenly, I am ____________ by the players. The sunshine is so bright that I close my eyes. Riding high above my teammates, I feel so happy. And I know the ____________ between Jack and me will last forever.

   Trekking (徒步旅行) 500 miles across Spain is no easy task for anyone, but for the wheelchair user Justin Skeesuck, achieving the dream seemed nearly impossible. However, Skeesuck’s lifelong best friend, Patrick Gray, simply didn’t accept that idea. He said, “We’ve done everything together so far. Why don’t we have one more adventure?”

That’s exactly what he did — pushing Skeesuck across northern Spain’s Camino de Santiago. Though Skeesuck has a muscle disease similar to ALS (肌萎缩侧索硬化) and high blood pressure, he first got the idea to go on the journey after he watched a travel show about the trail. He said, “I knew immediately since my heart was just telling me, ‘You need to do this.’”

With Gray on board and the blessings of their family, the two best friends from Idaho set off to make Skeesuck’s dream of going for the journey a reality. However, neither Gray nor Skeesuck realized how physically and emotionally arduous the trip would be. Not only did they have a strict time limit — about six weeks to get from start to finish, but they also faced extremely difficult obstacles (障碍). With Gray pushing Skeesuck in a three-wheel wheelchair, the pair crossed mountains, rivers and a desert. “I’ve never been that physically exhausted in my entire life,” Gray said. The pair came across countless kind people during their trip who were eager to help them finish their journey, but they refused their help with gentle words. 34 days later, the two best friends finished their journey, realizing a dream that helped them learn about themselves and others. “The adventure has taught me for sure that when you do something with faith, and never give up, amazing things can really happen,” Skeesuck said.

Gray recorded their incredible trip in a book — “I’ll Push You: A Journey of 500 Miles, Two Best Friends and One Wheelchair”, which would be published soon. Skeesuck and Gray are also working on a children’s book that will tell the story of their adventure. They hope that the book will give kids strength when they deal with difficulties.