There are only 11 documented cases of congenital aglossia（先天性無(wú)舌）in the world．Despite being born without a tongue，I can speak and swallow and taste just like anyone else．I was born in 1969，in the days before ultrasound scans（超聲波檢查）．Everything was normal and there was nothing to suggest that I'd be different．But when I was born，Mum found that there was something wrong with my mouth．The doctor saw the base of my tongue and told her，"Oh，she just has a small tongue．She'll be fine．"
   Later，doctors told my parents I wouldn't be able to talk or that my speech would be very limited．I'm sure that was hard for them to hear．But they were only 22 and I'm not sure how seriously they took it．I was their first and only child，and the best thing they ever did was treat me as if there was nothing wrong．Mum told me when I was older that she came home from a doctor's appointment and cried，because she worried I wouldn't have a normal life or be happy．
   I also have a small jaw（下巴）．It's related，because there is no tongue to fill out the space．People are able to see that，rather than the fact that I don't have a tongue．I went to see a plastic surgeon（整形醫(yī)生）when I was 10，who suggested making a false tongue．But I was more interested in having my jaw filled out．But when I was 18 the surgeon said he advised me not to do that in case it affected my speech．I thought，"I don't care．I just want to be pretty，" but it was the right decision．
   I'm able to taste the full range of flavors．I can eat everything．I've never had any anger about being born this way．Over the years，I've learned to get used to it，which hasn't always been easy．I'd love to think I offer hope to others in this situation，to parents or children born like me．

（1）According to the passage，the author

D

D

．
A．was diagnosed to have no tongue as a newborn baby
B．has had no sense of taste since she was born
C．was found different before she was born
D．has lived a normal life even without a tongue
（2）What can we learn from the third paragraph？

A

A

A．The author's parents love her very much．
B．The author couldn't accept the truth．
C．The author's parents planned to have another child．
D．The author lost the ability to speak．
（3）Why did the author want to fill out her jaw？

A

A

A．She wanted to become beautiful．
B．She wanted to improve her speech．
C．She didn't want others to know she had no tongue．
D．She wanted to make it possible to have a false tongue．
（4）What is the author's purpose in sharing her experience？

D

D

A．To describe what a hard life she has had．
B．To provide some useful ways to deal with difficulties．
C．To show that she has a strong heart．
D．To encourage people like her to face life positively．