A
Many of the world’s most people were once successful failures. Here are the stories of a few of them.
Abraham Lincoln(1809-1865)
Abraham Lincoln was one of America’s greatest leaders, taking the country through the Civil War(from 1860 to 1865). However, his life was never easy. He started numerous businesses that failed, he went bankrupt twice, and was defeated in 26 campaigns for public office. He later said, “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.”
Vincent Van Gogh(1853-1890)
Van Gogh is one of the most famous and influential painters in the history of Western Art. He’s renowned for paintings such as The Starry Night. The potato Eaters and Sunflowers. However, during his lifetime, Van Gogh sold only one painting for a very small amount of money. Despite this, he carried on painting, something even going without food so he could complete his collection of over 800 known works.
Albert Einstein(1879-1955)
Albert Einstein won the Noble Prize in Physics in 1921. However, he wasn’t always considered a “genius”. He didn’t speak until he was four, and couldn’t read until he was seven. His teachers and parents thought he as slow, so he was expelled from school and couldn’t get into the Zurich Polytechnic School. He later famously said, “Success is failure in progress.”
Stephen King(born 1947)
Stephen King is one of the best-selling authors of all time, but his first book, Carrie, was rejected by about 30 publishers. Eventually, Stephen threw it in the bin, but his wife fished it out and encouraged him to resubmit it, which he did…successfully this time!
1. Which statement is true about Abraham Lincoln?
A. He led the American War of Independence
B. He never succeeded in his business
C. He was full of courage and perseverance
D. He is the greatest president of the United States
2. Who became famous all over the world after his death?
A. Albert Einstein B. Vincent Van Gogh
C. Albert Einstein D. Stephen King
3. What was the most likely reason for Albert Einstein’s dropping out of school?
A. He was too slow to learn B. He couldn’t speak or read
C. His teacher thought he was stupid D. He didn’t obey the school rules
4. What do these people have in common?
A. They are all Americans
B. They are known for their writings
C. They were born in the same century
D. They all suffered failure before they succeeded
【分析】這篇文章屬于應(yīng)用文，介紹了在成功之前都遭遇了失敗的幾個(gè)名人的例子。
【1題詳解】
細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由Abraham Lincoln部分“However, his life was never easy. He started numerous businesses that failed, he went bankrupt twice, and was defeated in 26 campaigns for public office. He later said, “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.””（然而，他的生活從來(lái)都不輕松。他開(kāi)創(chuàng)了許多失敗的企業(yè)，兩次破產(chǎn)，并在26次競(jìng)選公職中失敗。他后來(lái)說(shuō)：“我最關(guān)心的不是你是否失敗，而是你是否滿足于你的失敗。”）可知，亞伯拉罕·林肯充滿勇氣和堅(jiān)持不懈，故選C。
【2題詳解】
細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由Vincent Van Gogh部分“However, during his lifetime, Van Gogh sold only one painting for a very small amount of money. ”（然而，在梵高的有生之年，他只以很少的錢賣出了一幅畫(huà)。）可知，梵高是在去世之后才聞名于全世界的，故選B。
【3題詳解】
細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由Albert Einstein部分“His teachers and parents thought he as slow, so he was expelled from school and couldn’t get into the Zurich Polytechnic School.”（他的老師和父母都認(rèn)為他很笨，所以他被學(xué)校勸退，無(wú)法進(jìn)入蘇黎世理工學(xué)院。）可知，愛(ài)因斯坦被勸退的原因是老師認(rèn)為他很笨，故選C。
【4題詳解】
細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由第一段“Many of the world’s most people were once successful failures. Here are the stories of a few of them.”（世界上大多數(shù)人在成功前都經(jīng)歷過(guò)失敗。以下是其中一些人的故事。）可知，這些人們的共同之處在于他們?cè)诔晒χ岸冀?jīng)歷過(guò)失敗，故選D。
