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Examinees get cracking in quake zone

By Ma Wei in Chongqing and Wang Xu in Deyang (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-04 15:28

Wang Li, an 18-year-old student from Dongqi Middle School in Hanwang county of Deyang, Sichuan province, sat for the national college entrance examination in a hospital Thursday.

High school students on their way to the national college entrance exam in Mianzhu, Sichuan province, July 3, 2008. More than 120,000 students in Sichuan and Gansu provinces have started taking the exam, postponed for nearly a month because of the May 12 quake. [China Daily]

She took the papers in a wheelchair because her left leg was amputated in the 8-magnitude quake that hit the province on May 12.

Wang said she could handle the tests.

"Well, I was strong enough to survive the quake, so I believe I am also strong enough to face the exams," she said.

"I will try my best."

Two of Wang's schoolmates, both 18 and victims of the quake, accompanied her in taking the exam in Xinqiao Hospital in Chongqing municipality. The quake left Peng Li with leg fractures, and Zhao Sili suffered similar injuries.

The trio was part of more than 120,000 students in Sichuan who had their entrance exams postponed for almost a month because of the quake.

Hanwang itself was one of the worst hit areas of the quake.

Sitting in bed, Peng told China Daily she would study nursing at the Third Military Medical University in Chongqing if she did well in the three-day exam, considered by many as a life-changing event for high school students nationwide.

"I suffered a lot in the quake so I know how to treat people who are in my situation," she said, adding that taking the test was the best way for her to recover from the trauma of the disaster.

Peng said she would not give up, even though the disaster had totally disrupted her studies.

Two proctors, both high school teachers from the trio's hometown of Deyang, have been assigned to the girls for the duration of the exam.

Their main responsibility is to offer assistance such as emergency aid, said an official from the Deyang's College Enrolment Commission Office.

Although the girls looked tired and said little after the first round of the exam yesterday that lasted for nearly three hours, Peng remained undaunted.

"I feel OK. So many people have helped me," she said.

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