While I was in 9th grade, I built a circuit (电路装置) for the traffic system of our city. After getting the first prize, I got this valuable advice from my father: “Do whatever interests you, and don’t let the work challenge you, make sure you are challenging that work.”
I have always preferred the projects which are challenging and related to real life problems. I clearly remember building a shipping program several years ago. I divided the whole project into several small sections. When I understood it clearly, I used my brainstorming skill on it, and gave some basic ideas. Then I asked my professor for help before jumping into coding (编码). At first, I did not know how to ask questions correctly and always asked the question “How do I do it?” As I kept working and discussed with my professor, I became more comfortable and those “how” questions soon turned into “what if I do this and that” types of questions.
It took me four days to write the code. The desire to solve the problem kept me sleepless all nights brainstorming in even greater details. Every time I saw my program running smoothly, I exploded with joy. I still remember the last day of my work. I was getting some problem and didn’t know what to do. At that moment, a man came in to clean. He had headphones, and he was dancing while cleaning the room. Seeing this, I burst out laughing. That moment calmed me. I regained energy and interest and started to work again, and soon I fixed the problem.
My success in the project proved that breaking up a large problem into small parts could help find a possible solution. Discussing the problem with others was also very beneficial. Now I have gained the confidence to attempt any kind of project.
1.According to the passage, the writer was interested in ______.
A. developing traffic systems B. doing challenging projects
C. winning great prizes D. writing different codes
2. The writer asked the question “how do I do it” at first because ______.
A. he had no clear idea about his program B. he was too shy to express himself
C. he wanted to be understood easily D. he preferred this kind of question
3. We learn from the passage that the writer’s shipping program ______.
A. would benefit people a lot B. was done together with others
C. was difficult and needed patience D. cost much money and energy
4. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Do It Yourself B. No Pains, No Gains
C. Learning with Interest D. Practice Makes Perfect
Some years ago I heard Salome Bey sing for the first time. The moment was exciting. Salome’s 36 filled the room and brought the theater to life. I was so 37 that I decided to write an article about her.
I 38 Salome Bey, telling her I was from Essence magazine, and that I wanted to meet her to talk about her career. She 39 and told me to come to her studio next Tuesday. When I hung up, I was scared out of my mind. I 40 I was lying. I was not a writer at all and hadn’t even written a grocery list.
I interviewed Salome Bey the next Tuesday. I sat there 41 , taking notes and asking questions that all began with, “Can you tell me…” I soon realized that 42 Salome Bey was one thing, but writing a story was just impossible. The 43 was almost unbearable. I 44 for days with draft after draft（草稿）. Finally I put my article into a large envelope and dropped it into a mailbox.
It didn’t take long. My article 45 . How stupid of me! I thought. How could I 46 in a world of professional writers? Knowing I couldn’t 47 the refusal letter, I threw the unopened envelope into a drawer.
Five years later, while 48 my apartment, I came across the unopened envelope. This time I opened it and read the editor’s letter in 49 :
Dear Ms Profit,
Your story on Salome Bey is nice. Yet we need some 50 materials. Please add those and return the article immediately. We would like to 51 your story soon.
Shocked, it took me a long time to 52 . Fear of refusal cost me dearly. I lost at least five hundred dollars. More importantly, I lost years of 53 writing. Today, I have become a full-time writer. Looking back on this 54 , I learned a very important lesson: You can’t 55 to doubt yourself.
1. A. joy B. voice C. speech D. smile
2. A. proud B. active C. satisfied D. moved
3. A. visited B. ordered C. phoned D. interviewed
4. A. agreed B. refused C. hesitated D. paused
5. A. admitted B. discovered C. explained D. knew
6. A. seriously B. patiently C. nervously D. quietly
7. A. blaming B. fooling C. inviting D. urging
8. A. hardship B. failure C. comment D. pressure
9.A. struggled B. painted C. wore D. kept
10. A. disappeared B. returned C. spread D. improved
11.A. compare B. board C. survive D. compete
12.A. ignore B. deliver C. face D. receive
13. A. decorating B. repairing C. cleaning D. leaving
14. A. disbelief B. anxiety C. horror D. panic
15. A. subjective B. related C. private D. reliable
16.A. broadcast B. create C. publish D. judge
17. A. recover B. prepare C. escape D. concentrate
18. A. steady B. endless C. typical D. enjoyable
19. A. experience B. success C. benefit D. accident
20.A. attempt B. afford C. expect D. pretend
I tried every means to reach my goal but failed. So sad ______ that I almost lost heart.
A. I did feel B. did I feel C. felt I D. I felt
Slavery in America after the Civil War in the 19th century.
A. had been abolished B. abolished C. was abolished D. is abolished
35.I tried every means to reach my goal but failed. So sad ______ that I almost lost heart.
A. I did feel B. did I feel C. felt I D. I felt
—Can I pay by credit card?
—Yes, _________.
A. with pleasure B. take care C. no problem D. don’t mention it
Let’s go to cinema----that’ll take your mind off the problem for while.
A. the; the B. the; a C. a; the D. a ; a
