Study Buddy (Explorer): Frugal elderly couple in China move hearts with US$1.4 million donation to hometown

[2] Ma Xu, 90, and her husband, Yan Xueyong, live in Hubei province in central China. They are originally from Mulan county in Heilongjiang province in northeast China.

[3] Ma was one of the first female paratroopers in China, and her husband is also a former paratrooper. Ma met Yan during her military service. In 2018, they decided to give back to their hometown by donating their life savings to Mulan county to sponsor the education of local children, Xinhua News reported.

[4] In a video report, the couple are seen sitting at a counter in a bank branch in their old military uniforms as they discuss making the donation.

[5] The initial donation was 3 million yuan. But bank staff were concerned about how big the donation was, and they called the police to stop the couple from falling victim to a suspected scam. When the officers arrived, they soon verified that the couple genuinely desired to donate their savings.

[6] Ma was born into a poor family, and before achieving her dream of becoming a paratrooper in 1962, she was a soldier in the People’s Liberation Army, local outlet Guangming News reported.

[7] After they married, the couple devoted themselves to scientific research for the military and invented a protective ankle cover for troops as well as an oxygen supply vest.

[8] They saved much of the money earned during their military careers and the income from their inventions by spending frugally. They live in a shabby bungalow, wear shoes worth just 15 yuan and use old flip phones bought more than a decade ago. “Only when children receive a good education will our hometown develop,” Ma told Guangming News.

[9] The couple has won widespread respect and admiration on mainland social media. “Hats off to them! They are ordinary heroes,” said one person. Another person said: “It’s so touching. They show the beauty of selflessness in the world.”
Source: South China Morning Post, September 26

1. In paragraph 1, what two things show that the couple are careful with their money? (2 marks)

2. Based on paragraphs 2 and 3, decide whether the following statements are True, False or the information is Not Given. (4 marks)
(i) Ma Xu and her husband are the same age as each other.
(ii) Ma is trained to jump from planes using a parachute.
(iii) Ma and Yan were born in Hubei province.
(iv) The couple decided to donate their money to help children who don’t have a home.

3. Where would the couple’s hometown be located?

4. In paragraph 5, the bank staff were worried that ...
A. the money was illegal.
B. the couple were scam victims.
C. Ma and her husband were scammers.
D. none of the above

5. Find a word in paragraph 5 to means “checked that something is true or accurate”.

6. What did Ma do before she became a paratrooper according to paragraph 6?

7. According to paragraph 7, what did Ma and her husband invent?

8. According to paragraph 8, the couple lived a frugal lifestyle by ...
A. using old phones.
B. wearing cheap shoes.
C. staying in an old house.
D. all of the above

9. How have netizens reacted according to paragraph 9?

1. They did not buy new clothes for decades, and they wear shoes that are worth only 15 yuan.
2. (i) NG; (ii) T; (iii) F; (iv) F
3. in Mulan county
4. B
5. verified
6. She was a soldier in the People’s Liberation Army.
7. They invented a protective ankle cover for troops and an oxygen supply vest.
8. D
9. They praised the couple. (accept other similar answers)