In one way of thinking, failure is 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 making a web(网). The spider tried to reach across a rough place in the rock. He tried six times. On the seventh time he made it and went on to make his web. Bruce is said to have been encouraged by this 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. Once he was asked why he kept on trying to make a new type of battery when he had failed so often, he replied, “Failure? I have no failure. Now I know 50,000 ways it won’t work.”
So what? First, always think about your failure. What caused it? Were conditions right? Were you in top form yourself? What can you change so things will go right next time?
Second, is the goal you’re trying to reach the right one? Try to do some thinking about what your real goals may be. Think about this 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 keep in mind about failure is that it’s a part of life. Learn to “live with yourself” even though you may have failed.
1.This passage deals with _____.
A. failure and success
B. two sides of failure
C. the “spider-story”
D. the invention of light bulb
2.In the first paragraph the writer tells mainly about _____.
A. the value of failure B. how people fail
C. famous failures D. how not to fail
3.The thing the writer does not tell you to do to deal with failure is _____.
A. check out your goals to see if they are right for you
B. think about failure as part of your life
C. think about failure to find out what went wrong
D. keep away from things that are beyond you
4. Even if we have failed we should _____.
A. learn to forget it B. learn to remember it
C. learn to enjoy it D. learn to accept it
Tom 9-3-2006 4:38 pm. | I disagree with Jim. Andy sounds like every other singer. His voice is nothing special. On the other hand, Jacky’s voice is unique, and his songs are so romantic! |
Linda 9-10-2006 8:54 pm. | I think they’re about the same. But Andy is a better actor. I’ve seen almost all of his movies. Remember the one where he was an airplane pilot, and his plane crashed near a farm? I love that movie! |
John 9-16-2006 10:25 pm. | I also think Jacky is a better singer. I prefer his Cantonese songs. Maybe they sound better because Cantonese is his first language. |
Tom 10-2-2006 10:12 am. | I agree. Jacky’s Cantonese songs are better than his Mandarin songs. (Though, I still like all his songs!) |
Even though it was only October, my students were already whispering about Christmas plans. With each passing day everyone became more anxious waiting for the final school bell. Upon its ____everyone would run for their coats and go home, everyone except David.
David was a small boy in ragged(衣衫褴褛的) clothes. I had often wondered what kind of home life David had, and what kind of mother could send her son to school____so inappropriately(不适当的) for the cold winter months, without a coat, boots, or gloves. But something made David ____. I can still remember he was always ____ a smile and willing to help. He always ____after school to straighten chairs and mop the floor. We never talked much. He would just smile and ask what else he could do, then thank me for letting him stay and slowly_____home.
Weeks passed and most of my students were _____ about the coming Christmas until the last day of school before the holiday break. I smiled in relief as the last of them hurried out the _____. Turning around I saw David ______standing by my desk.
“I have something for you,” he said and pulled a small box from behind his back. _____it to me, he said anxiously “Open it”. I took the box from him, thanked him and slowly unwrapped it. I lifted the lid. But to my ____, I saw nothing. I looked at David’s smiling face and back into the box and said, “The box is nice, David, but it’ s___”
“Oh, no, it isn’t.” said David, “It’s full of love. My mum told me before she died that love was something you couldn’t see or touch unless you know it’s there.”
Tears filled my eyes ______ I looked at the proud dirty face that I had rarely given_____to. After that Christmas, David and I became good friends and I never forgot the meaning ___ the little empty box set on my desk.
1.A. warning B. ringing C. calling D. yelling
2.A. talked B. did C. said D. dressed
3.A. popular B. upset C. special D. funny
4.A. expressing B. delivering C. wearing D. sharing
5.A. practised B. wandered C. studied D. stayed
6.A. aim at B. turn to C. put off D. head for
7.A. upset B. excited C. moved D. satisfied
8.A. classroom B. school C. home D. window
9.A. weakly B. sadly C. quietly D. helplessly
10.A. Holding B. Handing C. Sending D. Leaving
11.A. delight B. expectation C. appreciation D. surprise
12.A. cheap B. empty C. useless D. improper
13.A. as B. until C. because D. though
14.A. advice B. support C. attention D. command
15.A. from B. behind C. over D. towards
It is the third time that he ______ the first prize in the competition.
A. wins B. won C. has won D. to win
We have not fallen in love ____ each other, but only get ____ well with each other. Don’t be surprised.
A. for; to B. on; on
C. beside; off D. with; along
She always come to our help when we get into trouble ____ she is very busy.
A. since B. once
C. even if D. so that
