About Team Hoyt
The Early Years
Rick was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt. As a result of oxygen
deprivation to Rick’s brain at the time of his birth, Rick was diagnosed as a
spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. The doctors advised Dick and Judy
to institutionalize Rick because there was no chance of him recovering,
and little hope for Rick to live a “normal” life. This was just the beginning
of Dick and Judy’s quest for Rick’s inclusion in the community.
Dick and Judy soon realized that though Rick couldn’t walk or speak, he
was quite astute and his eyes would follow them around the room. They
fought to integrate Rick into the public school system, pushing
administrators to see beyond Rick’s physical limitations.
Dick Hoyt pushing his son, With $5,000 in 1972 and a skilled group of engineers at Tufts
Rick, in their first Boston University, an interactive computer was built for Rick. This computer
Marathon (1981). consisted of a cursor being used to highlight every letter of the alphabet.
Once the letter Rick wanted was highlighted, he was able to select it by just a simple tap with his head
against a head piece attached to his wheelchair. When the computer was originally first brought home,
Rick surprised everyone with his first words. Instead of saying, “Hi, Mom,” or “Hi, Dad,” Rick’s first
“spoken” words were: “Go, Bruins!”. The Boston Bruins were in the Stanley Cup finals that season. It was
clear from that moment on that Rick loved sports and followed the game just like anyone else.
In 1975, at the age of 13, Rick was finally admitted into public school. After high school, Rick attended
Boston University, and he graduated with a degree in Special Education in 1993.
The Beginning of Team Hoyt
In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a
Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Far from being a long-distance runner, Dick
agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles. That night, Rick told his father,
“Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.”
This realization was just the beginning of what would become over 1,000 races completed, including
marathons, duathlons and triathlons (6 of them being Ironman competitions).
Rick was once asked, if he could give his father one thing, what would it be? Rick responded,
“The thing I’d most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once.”
Which proverb can express the main value of the story? Write the answer in your notebook.
a. Bad things never walk alone. (Chinese proverb)
b. A man may be his own ruin. (Irish proverb)
c. I am because you are. (African proverb)
READING FOR DETAILED COMPREHENSION
1. Replace the icons ✪ with words from the text to complete the sentences below. Write the answers
in your notebook.
a. Rick Hoyt was born with spastic quadriplegia and ✪ palsy. Therefore, he cannot ✪ or speak.
b. With the help of a ✪, Rick said his first words: “Go, Bruins!”.
c. Rick attended Boston University where he majored in ✪ in 1993.
d. Team Hoyt has participated in different types of races: ✪, ✪ and ✪.
2. Write T (True) or F (False) for each statement. Then, correct the false statements with a fragment
from the text. Write the answers in your notebook.
a. The doctors believed Rick Hoyt had great chances of recovery.
b. Rick was a very clever child despite his physical limitations.
c. Rick’s father used to be a long-distance runner.
d. When Rick and his father run together, it seems to Rick that he is not physically challenged.
3. What made Rick ask his father to participate in a benefit race? Write the answer in your notebook.
a. He wanted to show people he was a
normal person despite his paralysis.
b. He wanted to help a hockey player who
had been paralyzed in an accident.
c. He wanted to be the first person in a
wheelchair to participate in a
marathon.
Soluções para a tarefa
Para responder as questões é necessário compreender o texto.
Basicamente trata-se da história de Rick, que após complicações durante o parto foi diagnosticado com paralisia cerebral. Os médicos disseram que ele não tinha chances de se recuperar e viver uma vida normal. Assim começou a busca de seus pais para integra-lo a sociedade.
Dick e Judy perceberam que Rick não podia falar ou andar, mas seu olhar era atento e os seguia para todo lado. Na universidade de Boston foi construído um robô para Rick, no qual ele poderia selecionar as letras do alfabeto que queria para formar palavras. Suas primeiras palavras foram "Vai, Bruins!" indicando que como qualquer outro garoto ele era fã de esportes.
Com 13 anos entrou para escolha publica, e se graduou em Educação Especial em 1993. Em 1997 Rick e seu pai participaram de uma maratona de 5 milhas, nesse dia Rick disse "Pai, quando estou correndo, parece que não sou deficiente" e está realização foi a primeira de mais de 1000 corridas completadas.
1- A primeira é sobre qual provérbio se adequa mais ao tema do texto
c. I am because you are. (African proverb)
Significa: Eu sou porque você é.
1. Substituir nos espaços as palavras que faltam a partir das informações do texto
a. Rick Hoyt was born with spastic quadriplegia and CEREBRAL palsy. Therefore, he cannot WALK or speak.
b. With the help of a COMPUTER, Rick said his first words: “Go, Bruins!”.
c. Rick attended Boston University where he majored in SPECIAL EDUCATION in 1993.
d. Team Hoyt has participated in different types of races: MARATHONS, DUATHLONS and TRIATHLONS.
2. Escrever verdadeiro ou falso para as afirmações
A. FALSE
B. TRUE
C. FALSE
D. FALSE
3. O que o fez correr a maratona beneficente
a. He wanted to show people he was a
normal person despite his paralysis.
Resposta:
A resposta da 3 é a b.
Explicação: Há uma parte do texto que a danivitorialinda2013 não escreveu, que é: "In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident."