Question

    A friend of mine, in response to a conversation we were having about the injustices of life, asked me the question, “Who said life was going to be fair, or that it was even meant to be fair?” Her question was a good one. It reminded me of something I was taught as a youngster: life isn’t fair. It’s a disappointment, but it’s absolutely true. One of the mistakes many of us make is that we feel sorry for ourselves, or for others, thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be. It’s not and it won’t be.

One of the nice things about surrendering (屈从) to the fact that life isn’t fair is that it keeps us from feeling sorry for ourselves by encouraging us to do the very best we can with what we have. We know it’s not “life’s job” to make everything perfect, it’s our own challenge. Surrendering to this fact also keeps us from feeling sorry for others because we are reminded that everyone is dealt in different hand; everyone has unique strengths and problems in the process of growing up, facing the reality and making decisions; and everyone has those times that they feel unfairly treated.

The fact that life isn’t fair doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything in our power to improve our own lives or the world as a whole. To the contrary, it suggests that we should. When we don’t recognize or admit that life isn’t fair, we tend to feel pity for others and for ourselves. Pity, of course, is a self-defeating emotion that does nothing for anyone, except to make everyone feel worse than they already do. When we do recognize that life isn’t fair, however, we feel sympathy for others and for ourselves. And sympathy is a heartfelt emotion that delivers loving-kindness to everyone it touches. The next time you find yourself thinking about the injustices of the world, try reminding yourself of this very basic fact. You may be surprised that it can make you out of self-pity and into helpful action.

1.The writer may agree with the fact that ________.

A.life is meant to be fair B.people feel sorry only for ourselves

C.life isn’t fair D.someday life will be fair

2.What makes everything perfect?

A.Our own challenge. B.Unique strengths.

C.Unfair treatment. D.Our duty.

3.Facing the fact, people are advised to ________.

A.feel pity for others and for themselves

B.make brave decisions

C.do everything in their power to improve their lives

D.give up their unique strengths

4.In the last paragraph, the underlined word “it” refers to ________.

A.justices of the world B.this very basic fact

C.loving-kindness D.self-defeating emotion

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】

本文是议论文，作者认为我们要接受生活不公平的事实，没有必要为自己和他人的不公平感到遗憾。尽管生活不公平，我们还是应该尽一切努力来改善我们自己的生活。

1.细节理解题。根据 “One of the mistakes many of us make is that …thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be. It’s not and it won’t be” 可知，很多人错误地认为生活应该是公平的，或者总有一天它会是公平的。作者认为生活不会是公平的，将来也不会公平。故选C项。

2.细节理解题。根据第2段“We know it’s not “life’s job” to make everything perfect, it’s our own challenge”可知，作者认为让每件事都变得完美不是“生活的事”，而是我们自己的挑战（让每件事都变得完美）。故选A项。

3.细节理解题。根据第3段“The fact that life isn’t fair doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything in our power to improve our own lives or the world as a whole. To the contrary, it suggests that we should（生活不公平的事实并不意味着我们不应该尽一切努力来改善我们自己的生活或整个世界。 相反，它表明我们应该）”可知，作者认为，尽管生活不公平， 我们还是应该尽一切努力来改善他们自己的生活。故选C项。

4.词义猜测题。根据第三段中“The next time you find yourself thinking about the injustices of the world, try reminding yourself of this very basic fact. You may be surprised that it can make you out of self-pity and into helpful action”可知，作者认为提醒自己生活不公平的事实，能够能让我们摆脱自怜，并采取有帮助的行动。it指代的是上一句中的“this very basic fact”。故选B项。