A
American track and field athlete Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee once said,“Age is no barrier. It's a limitation you put on your mind.” And 50-year-old Indian Lakyntiew Syiemlieh stands an evidence for this saying. She recently cleared her Class 12 board exams. Lakyntiew,who has four children and two grandchildren, decided to go after her higher secondary education over three decades after dropping out of school. Earlier this year, she was one of the 24,267 students who appeared for the state board's Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate(HSSLC) exam. Lakyntiew took part in the exams for the arts stream and had chosen subjects like Khasi,English, Political Science, Economics, and Education as her areas of specialization.
On July 13,2020,when the results were announced, she was excited. “Though I only got the third division(分段)，my children were still so excited that they started shouting, hugging, and kissing me when the results were declared,"said Lakyntiew.
In fact,the grandmother of two has expressed her interest in pursuing(追求) higher studies in the field of local language. Lakyntiew took up a distance education course offered by a university in 2015. She stopped going to school because mathematics was too difficult for her to understand. She was offered a job to teach in a preschool in 2008, and that was the beginning of her love for re-learning.
Being the oldest student in the class, most of Lakyntiew's classmates called her as "Mei”, which means “mother” in the local language. Besides concentrating on academics,she also participated in after-class activities like field trips, dance competitions, and singing challenges, among others.
Age is not a problem when one is in search of education. Lakyntiew Syiemlieh is an example for everybody,and especially for those who give up studies midway.
21．When did Lakyntiew probably drop out of school?
A．In 2008. B．In 1998. C．In 1988. D．In 1968.
22．Which of the following caused Lakyntiew to stop going to school?
A．Her family was too poor to afford her education.
B．She had too much difficulty in learning one subject.
C．She was offered so good a job that she couldn't refuse.
D．She had many children to raise and had no time to study.
23．Which can best describe Lakyntiew's performance at school?
A．Independent. B．Reasonable. C．Outstanding. D．Active.
24．What can we learn from Lakyntiew's story?
A．Live and learn. B．Hard work pays off.
C．Many hands make light work. D．Education is the key to success.
