Question

Mark,a young person,tells me he wants to be a writer.I always encourage such people,but I also explain that there’s a big difference between “being a writer” and writing.In most cases these people are dreaming of wealth and fame,not the long hours alone at a typewriter (打字机).“You’ve got to want to write,” I say to them,“not want to be a writer.”

The reality is that writing is a lonely,private and poor-paying affair.For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded (报答).When I left a 20-year job in the U.S.Coast Guard to become a writer,I had no hopes at all.

What I did have was a friend who found me my room in a New York apartment building.It didn’t even matter that it was cold and had no bathroom.I immediately bought a used typewriter and felt like a real writer.

After a year or so,however,I still hadn’t got a break and began to doubt (怀疑)myself.It was so hard to sell a story that barely made enough to eat.But I knew I wanted to write.I had dreamed about it for years.I wasn’t going to be one of those people who die wondering “what if”.

I would keep putting my dream to the test—even though it meant living with uncertainty (不确定)and fear of failure.This is the shadowland of hope,and anyone with a dream must learn to live there.

1.According to the author’s idea,writing is .

A. enjoyable    B. interesting    C. lonely    D. boring

2.When the author left his 20-year job,he .

A. felt sad    B. lost his heart    C. felt unforgettable    D. found himself

3.When the author went to the New York apartment building,.

A. there was almost nothing there    B. there was everything there

C. the author was pleased with it    D. the author was so happy

4.What does the underlined word “shadowland” probably mean in Chinese?

A. 点点希望    B. 夺目强光    C. 人生低谷    D. 虚幻境界

5.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. Tell us to study hard.    B. Let us dream of succeeding.

C. Let us do something that we can’t accept.    D. Hold on to your dream even if you meet difficulties.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.D

5.D

【解析】本文讲述了作者成功路上的艰辛，告诫那些想成为作家的年轻人：写作是一项孤单寂寞而又收入微薄的工作，在数千名渴望成功的作家中,能获得命运垂青只是寥寥数人而已。

1.C

细节理解题。根据The reality is that writing is a lonely,private and poor-paying affair.可知作者认为写作是一个孤独，私人的低报酬的事，故选C。

2.B

推理判断题。根据When I left a 20-year job in the U.S.Coast Guard to become a writer,I had no hopes at all.可知当作者离开了做了20年的工作时，觉得没有希望了，气馁了，故选B。

3.A

推理判断题。根据What I did have was a friend who found me my room in a New York apartment building.It didn’t even matter that it was cold and had no bathroom.可知当作者去纽约的公寓时，那里几乎什么都没有，故选A。

4.D

词义猜测题。根据上文I would keep putting my dream to the test—even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure．This is the shadow land of hope，可以判断“shadow land ”指的是成功之前的艰辛和一切不确定性的虚幻境况，所以D选项正确。

5.D

概括归纳题。根据文章开头提出I always encourage such people，but I also explain that there's a big difference between “being a writer” and writing．然后讲述自己成功的艰辛，因此本文主要告诫想要成为作家的年轻人们即使遇到困难，也要坚持自己的梦想，故选D。