In one way of thinking, failure is a part of life. In another way, failure may be a way towards success. The “spider story” is often told. Robert Bruce, leader of the Scots in the 13th century, was hiding in a cave from the English. He watched a spider spinning a web（蜘蛛织网）. The spider tried to reach across a rough place in the rock. He tried six times without success. On the seventh time he made it and went on to spin his web. Bruce is said to have taken heart and to have gone on to defeat the English… Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, made hundreds of models that failed before he found the right way to make one.
So what? First, always think about your failure. What caused it? Were conditions right? Were you in top from yourself? What can you change so things will go right next time?
Second, is the goal（目标）you’re trying to reach the right one? Try to do some thinking about what your real goals may be. Think about his question, “If I do succeed in this, where will it get me?” This may help you prevent failure in things you shouldn’t be doing anyway.
The third thing to bear in mind about failure is that it’s a part of life. Learn to “live with yourself” even though you may have failed. Remember, “You can’t win them all.”
1.This passage deals with two sides of failure. In paragraph 1, the author talks mainly about __ .
A. the value of failure
B. how people would fail
C. famous failures
D. the cause of failure
2.The underlined phrase “made it” means ______ .
A. succeeded
B. failed
C. gave
D. got
3.The lesson the spider taught Robert Bruce seems ______ .
A. productive
B. straight forward
C. sorrowful
D. deep
4.The author tells you to do all things except ______ .
A. The think about the cause of your failure
B. to check out whether your goals are right for you
C. to consider failure as a part or life
D. to bear in mind that you will never fail in your life
5.Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Bruce and Edison were successful examples.
B. Failure may be regarded as a way toward success.
C. Edison learned a lot from the lesson the spider taught Robert Bruce.
D. One may often raise a question whether his goals are worth attempting.
The greatest recent changes have been in the lives of women, during the twentieth century there was an unusual shortening of the time of a woman’s life spent in caring for children. A woman marrying at the end of the 19th century would probably have been in her middle twenties, and would be likely to have seven or eight children, of whom four or five lived till they were five years old. By the time the youngest was fifteen, the mother would have been in her early fifties and would expect to live a further twenty years, during which custom, chance and health made it unusual for her to get paid work. Today women marry younger and have fewer children. Usually a woman’s youngest child will be fifteen when she is forty five and is likely to take paid work until retirement at sixty. Even while she has the care of children, her work is lightened by household appliances （家用电器）and convenience foods.
This important change in women’s way of life has only recently begun to have its full effect on women’s economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity and most of them took a full time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age, and though women tend to marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Very many more afterwards, return to full or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with both husband and wife accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfaction of family life, and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money and running the home, according to the abilities and interest of each them.
1.According to the passage, around the year1990 most women married .
A. at about twenty five
B. in their early fifties
C. as soon as possible after they were fifteen
D. at any age from fifteen to forty five
2. We are told that in an average family about1990 .
A. many children died before they were five
B. the youngest child would be fifteen
C. seven of eight children lived to be more than five
D. four of five children died when they were five.
3.When she was over fifty, the late 19th century mother .
A. would expect to work until she died
B. was usually expected to take up paid employment
C. would be healthy enough to take up paid employment.
D. was unlikely to find a job.
4.Many girls, the passage says, are now likely to .
A. marry so that they can get a job
B. Leave school as soon as they can
C. give up their jobs for good after they are married
D. continue working until they are going to have a baby
5.According to the passage, it is now quite usual for women to .
A. stay at hone after leaving school
B. marry men younger than themselves
C. start working again later in life
D. Marry while still at school
When I smoked with my family, I would feel so 36 and good that nothing else in the world seemed so 37 . I thought that smoking weed (烟草) was okay since many of my family members and people at my school smoked. 38 ever happened to them. 39 I started smoking weed a lot more during lunch and after school. I never thought 40 of it. At that time I just wanted to smoke. Then I began to 41 in school. I would 42 classes, come home late and spend all my money. I would spend 43 8 to 18 dollars a day. I never thought 44 that marijuana (大麻) had a bad effect on those things. Maybe my coming to class high (神智恍惚) was the reason why I was failing or coming home late. As I continued to smoke marijuana, I began to notice that I would always have the strong desire to smoke and that I would get 45 cigarettes if I smoked those, but I don’t. 46 I have learned more about marijuana, I have 47 the amount of marijuana that I use. I don’t want marijuana to be the most important in my life. I’m not smoking every day, and not spending as much money. Since I have 48 on my habit, I am 49 more money. I’m ready to go back to school and do good, so that I can make myself 50 . Everyone is always saying how weed 51 your mind and how it solves problems. I think it only brings more 52 . Marijuana is not good for your body or your brain. I’m not trying to tell you not to smoke, I’m just letting you know that marijuana can be 53 to your health, and 54 it may cause some long term negative (负面的) effects. Help yourself now, before it is too late. I don’t want to lecture anyone, just 55 my experience with you.
1. A. worried B. relaxed C. disappointed D. moved
2.A. important B. common C. interesting D. funny
3.A. something B. Everything C. Nothing D. Anything
4.A. By the way B. Now and then C. In my opinion D. For a time
5. A. too much B. a little C. too often D. any more
6.A. get ahead B. fall behind C. come across D. make up
7.A. give B. have C. attend D. cut
8.A. at least B. at most C. no more than D. as little as
9.A. once B. twice C. again D. further
10. A. used to B. paid for C. lost in D. ready for
11.A. as if B. Even if C. Now that D. As long as
12. A. reduced B. increased C. bought D. continued
13. A. broken down B. cut down C. turned off D. cut off
14. A. wasting B. spending C. making D. saving
15.A. less B. more C. better D. worse
16. A. excites B. fills C. repairs D. destroys
17. A. problems B. pleasure C. convenience D. excitements
18. A. helpful B. useful C. dangerous D. strange
19.A. in the beginning B. in the distance C. in the long run D. in the past
20.A. tell B. explain C. regret D. share
This is a mobile phone. It can be used as a small TV, too.
A. no more than B. no less than C. more than D. less than
good and sweet, this kind of pear was soon sold out in the market.
A. Tasted B. tasting C. Having been tasted D. Being tasted
Jack was failure as a leader, but he achieved great success in writing.
A. a; a B. a; / C. /; a D. /; /
