Question

Many 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. “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. When I left a 20-year career in the U.S. Coat Guard to become a freelance writer, I had no hope at all．What I did have was a friend who found me a 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 gotten a break and began to doubt myself．It was so hard to sell a story that I hardly made enough to eat．But I knew I wanted to write，l 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 and fear of failure．This is the shadow land of hope，and anyone with a dream must learn to live there．

1.The purpose of the passage is to          ．

A．warn young people of the hardships that a successful writer has to experience

B．advise young people to give up their idea of becoming a professional writer

C．show young people it's unrealistic for a writer to seek wealth and fame

D．encourage young people to be a writer over a long period of time

2.What can be concluded from the passage?

A．Real writers often find their work interesting and rewarding．

B．A writer's success depends on luck rather than on effort．

C．Famous writers usually live in poverty．

D．The chances for a writer to become successful are little．

3.Why did the author begin to doubt himself after the first year of his writing career?

A．He wasn't able to produce a single book．

B．He hadn't seen a change for the better．

C．He wasn't able to have a rest for a whole year．

D．He found his dream would never come true．

4.“…people who die wondering，what if?” refers to “those          ”．

A．who think too much of the dark side of life

B．who regret giving up their career halfway

C．who think a lot without making a decision

D．who are full of imagination even upon death

5.“shadow land” in the last sentence means          ．

A．the wonderland one often dreams about

B．the bright future that one is looking forward to

C．the state of uncertainty before one's final goal is reached

D．a world that exists only in one's imagination

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.A

2.D

3.B

4.B

5.C

【解析】

試題分析：做為一個成名的作家，作者在本文中講述了自己成功路上的艱辛，告誡那些想成為作家的年輕人：寫作是一項孤單寂寞而又收入微薄的工作，在數千名渴望成功的作家中,能獲得命運垂青只是寥寥數人而已。

1.A推理判斷題。文章開頭提出I always encourage such people，but I also explain that there's a big difference between “being a writer” and writing．然后講述自己成功的艱辛，由此判斷作者的目的就是要告誡想要成為作家的年輕人們成功是要歷經艱辛磨難的，所以A選項正確。

2.D推理判斷題。根據文章第二段For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded.可知靠寫作而成功的人是很少的，所以答案選D。

3.B細節理解題。根據文章第三段After a year or so．However, I still hadn't gotten a break and began to doubt myself可知經過一年努力后，作者也沒時來運轉，所以B選項正確。

4.B細節理解題。根據上文But I knew I wanted to write，l had dreamed about it for years可知盡管境遇艱難，作者依然堅持，由此推斷他不想做空想家，也不想成為那些半途而廢的人，由此判斷B選項正確。

5.C詞義猜測題。根據上文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，可以判斷“shadow land ”指的是成功之前的艱辛和一切不確定性狀況，所以C選項正確。

考點：考查故事類短文閱讀。