13．When I was nine years old I lived in a small town．I found an ad for selling greeting cards in the back of a children's magazine．I thought to myself I could do this．I begged my mother to let me send for the kit （配件）．Two weeks later the kit arrived．The next three hours later，I returned home with no card and a pocket full of money shouting，"Mama，all the people couldn't wait to buy my cards!"A salesperson was born．
When I was twelve years old，my father took me to see Zig Ziegler．I remember sitting in the dark hall listening to Mr．Ziegler raise everyone's spirits up to ceiling．I left there feeling like I could do anything．When we got to the car，I turned to my father and said，"Dad，I want to make people feel like that．"My father asked me what I meant．"I want to be a motivational speaker just like Mr．Ziegler，"I replied．A dream was born．
Recently，I began pursuing my dream of motivating （inspire） others．I realized that everything I had accomplished-the graduate degree，the successful sales career，speaking appointments，training and managing for a major fortune 100company as a senior manager-had prepared me for this moment．I told my boss who was a great leader I would leave the company though I might not reach such a height in career．He told me to proceed and he believed I would succeed．
Having made that decision，I was immediately tested．One week after I gave notice，my husband was laid off from his job．We had recently bought a new home and needed both incomes to make the monthly mortgage （抵押） payment and now we were done to no income．I even planned to turn back to my former company，knowing they wanted me to stay but I was certain that if I went back，I would never leave．I decided I still wanted to move forward rather than end up with a mouth full of"if only"s later on．A motivational speaker was born．
When I held fast to my dream，even during the tough times，the miracles（奇迹）really began to happen．In a short time period my husband found a better job．We didn't miss a mortgage payment．And I was able to book several speaking appointments with new clients （客户）．I discovered the incredible power of dreams．I loved my old job，my workmates and the company I left，but it was time to get on with my dream．To celebrate my success I had a local artist paint my new office as a garden．At the top of one wall she marked，"The world always makes way for the dreamer．"
21．Why was the kit sent for？A
A．Selling greeting cards．
B．Collecting greeting cards．
C．Buying greeting cards．
D．Sending greeting cards．
22．When did the author decide to become a motivational speaker？D
A．After buying a new home by mortgage．
B．After giving notice to leave her secure position in the company．
C．After finding a job in a major fortune 100company．
D．After listening to Mr．Ziegler's inspiring speech．
23．What does the underlined sentence mean in the last paragraph？A
A．Carry on with your dreams and you will be successful．
B．Risk everything you have for a dream and you will succeed．
C．The world belongs to dreamers．
D．Everyone will find their dreams．
分析 本文属于说明文阅读，作者通过这篇文章主要向我们描述了作者追逐梦想达到成功的经历，作者在立志成为一名演说家之后毅然放弃了自己优越的工作，熬过最艰难的时期，最终实现了自己的梦想．
解答 21．A．细节理解题．根据文章第一段"The next three hours later，I returned home with no card and a pocket full of money shouting，"Mama，all the people couldn't wait to buy my cards!"A salesperson was born"可知作者的工具包用来收集贺卡方便售卖了；故选A．
22．D．细节理解题．根据文章第二段：I want to be a motivational speaker just like Mr．Ziegler，"I replied．A dream was born可知作者决定要成为一名励志演说家在听了Mr．Ziegler的演讲之后；故选D．
23．A．句意理解题．根据文章最后一段"To celebrate my success I had a local artist paint my new office as a garden．At the top of one wall she marked，"The world always makes way for the dreamer"为了庆祝我的成功，我请当地一位艺术家将我的新办公室漆成一个花园，在一面墙的她明显的顶部，"这个世界永远属于追梦的人；可知句意为继续你的梦想，你就会成功；故选A．
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力，做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句，和题干进行比较，再做出正确的选择．在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实，要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断．
