A

Laura Sides was a psychology major at the University of Nottingham in 2004. She first noticed signs of her dad’s developing dementia(³Õ´ô) when she moved to Nottingham. She said, “Dad was a doctor, so he knew exactly what was happening to him, but people try to hide it when they are ill. Then, I came home for my 21st birthday and arranged to meet him, but he never showed up as he’d forgotten. That’s when I knew something serious was happening.”

So, aged 21, she decided to leave university and look after him herself. She lived close by, popping in every day to make sure he was eating, and that the house was tidy, before heading off to her work.

Besides challenging moments, there were times when looking after her dad was a pure joy. “We’d wake up. I’d ask him what he wanted to do that day, and however ridiculous the adventure, off we’d go.”

Sadly, in 2009, 5 years later, Laura lost her father. Before he died, Laura went to a hospital appointment with him, where doctors mentioned that his form of Alzheimer’s was genetic, meaning there was a fifty-­fifty chance that she had inherited it. For several years Laura agonised over whether to be tested, finally finding out in August 2017 that she has the APP gene, meaning that, like him, she will develop the condition within a decade.

At first, she struggled, feeling as if she lacked purpose. Then, during a sleepless night in the summer of 2018, she decided at around 2 am. to enter the 2019 London Marathon sponsored by the charities Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK.

She hoped to start the conversation around early­onset Alzheimer’s and to encourage people to talk about it more openly. “I remember when Dad was ill, people wouldn’t know how to react and it all felt very hidden away, but I want to be honest and open.” She added, “The more information we can get, the less of a taboo(¼É»ä) this will feel. That said, the support I’ve received so far after going public has been amazing—that’s what is carrying me through.”

21£®Laura noticed her father’s dementia when ________.

A£®her father told her his condition in person

B£®people nearby informed her of her father’s condition

C£®her father forgot his own birthday party

D£®her father forgot to attend her 21-­year-­old birthday party

22£®The underlined word “agonised” in paragraph 4 probably means “________”£®

A£®excited          B£®struggled     C£®shocked       D£®delighted

23£®Laura started the open talk in the hope of ________.

A£®getting people to talk about Alzheimer’s openly

B£®earning some money to help treat her Alzheimer’s

C£®making herself stronger to fight against Alzheimer’s

D£®raising funds for charities Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK