Question

Around four years ago, I received a call from the principal of our school as to the “Parents View” talk the next morning. He asked me to speak to the group. After the call, my whole body became feverish and panicky. The time from his call to the next morning seemed like years. The whole night, I could not sleep with many ominous apprehensions in mind. One of them was to call the principal with regret and tell him that I could not come. Finally, I gathered some courage. I thought, “If I miss this opportunity, surely the school will never invite me again to any of their programs.”

I reached the school in time. Before my turn came, my whole body was trembling. When my turn came and I started speaking, my heartbeat increased and my mouth went dry. I wasn’t even able to read the written speech properly. I was not aware of where I was standing and what I was reading. That was the day when I realized my biggest weakness­-- Public Speaking.

After my speech, I met with the principal and explained what happened to me. He told me that this happens to everyone. Even great speakers, faced the same things when they started. He suggested that I come again next time.

Around one month later, I was invited to refer to a topic on Motivation. This time I was feeling comfortable. My speech was appreciated by the principal as well as the teachers, because I was able to get my idea across to them. They encouraged and praised my efforts.

After delivering it successfully, I became more confident. I said to myself, “If I can speak in front of such a learned audience, like the principal who educates others, I can now speak in front of others too.”

I started delivering lectures in my plant, on various topics like Self Motivation, Personality Development, Personal Excellence, Spoken English and Presentation Skills. This has become a passion for me. I learned that everything is possible if we have the courage to take the first step.

1. Which of the following is the hest title for the passage?

A. Practice Makes a Man a Better Speechmaker

B. Public Speaking Makes a Man Embarrassed.

C. Principal Provides the Best Chances.

D. Spoken English Develops in Malting Speeches.

2.The author had bad feelings before the speech because______.

A. he disliked the idea of giving a lecture

B. he feared he couldn't perform it properly

C. he regretted accepting the invitation

D. he had got a high fever before that

3.What does the underlined part “ominous apprehensions” in the first paragraph mean?

A. unlucky opportunities     B. curious views

C. negative ideas           D. happy comments

4.What can we conclude from the passage?

A. Nothing is to be got without pains but poverty.

B. Knowledge makes humble, ignorance makes proud.

C. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

D. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.C

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：当你站在讲台上，所有的目光都集中于你，你会感到掌心出汗，喉咙发干，开始说话时大脑一片空白，害怕在公开场合演讲是一种常见的心理，作者用自己的体会告诉我们一个道理“圣人的境界，也是自凡夫起步”。

1.A考查主旨要义。作者在文章中说道，作为家长代表在学校作报告使得自己逐渐克服了在众人面前讲话的紧张感，成为了一个善于言谈的人，后来多次在工厂为人演讲，所以A正确。

2.B考查推理判断。根据文章第一段的The time from his call to the next morning seemed like years和 I gathered some courage可知，作者不是不想去完成校长交给自己的任务，而是担心自己做不好，因此B选项正确。

3.C考查推理判断。根据后文的 One of them was to call the principal with regret and tell him that I could not come这个句子可知这时我脑海里有很多消极的念头，故选C。

4.This has become a passion for me. I learned that everything is possible if we have the courage to take the first step.可知如果我们有勇气迈出第一步，一切皆有可能，由此可知C（千里之行，始于足下）正确。

考点：考查生活故事类短文阅读