Writing being largely a self-taught occupation, texts on how to get about it —though great in number— seldom are of much use.
You try, and fail.Then try again, and perhaps fail not quite so grievously.Until at last, if you have some gift for it, the failures become less frequent, or at any rate less noticeable.
It is this ability to conceal one’s defects(瑕疵)that passes, finally, for accomplishment.
Along the way there are the discouragements of unkind criticism, outright rejection, nagging insecurity and irregular inability to meet debts.
It is uncommon, therefore, to come across a book containing advice of much practical value for anyone toying with the dangerous idea of staring on a writing life.
A friend recently loaned me such a book, however — one I wish I’d had the luck to read years ago, and which I would commend to any young person bent on making a career of words.It is the autobiography of the English novelist Anthony Trollope, first published in 1883, the year after his death.
Needing some means to support himself, Trollope at age 19 signed on as a junior clerk in the British postal service.He was at his desk at 5:30 each morning to write for three hours.And he remained in the mail service 33 years, long after reputation and prosperity had come to him.
Now, what of his advice?
1.For safety’s sake, arm yourself with some other skills, some other line of work to fall back on.That way, failure at writing, though the disappointment may be keen, will not mean utter ruin.
2.Do not depend overly much on inspiration.Writing is a craft, which Trollope compared to the craft of shoemaking.The shoemaker who has just turned out one pair of his work sets to work immediately on the next pair.
3.Have a story to tell, but, more important than that, people it with characters who will speak and move as living creatures in the reader’s mind.Without memorable characters, story alone is nothing.
4.Meet your deadlines.Life is endlessly “painful and troublesome” for writers who can’t finish their work on time.
5.Do not be inflated by praise.And, above all, do not be crushed by criticism.
6.Understand the risks of writing for a living.“The career, when successful, is pleasant enough certainly; but when unsuccessful, it is of all careers the most painful.”
1.This passage mainly discusses _____.
A.the difficulties and risks of making a career of words
B.the uselessness of instructions in writing manuals
C.the autobiography of the 19th century English novelist Anthony Trollope
D.sound advice provided in a Trollope’s autobiography
2.From the context we can figure out that the phrase “pass for” in Paragraph 3 means _____.
A.focus on B.be regarded as C.be equal to D.lie in
3.According to the author, writing _____.
A.is basically a self-taught occupation and few instructions are of much practical use
B.is a “trial and error” process and it does not count whether you have the gift or not
C.for a living is the most pleasant of all careers, full of praise and enjoyment
D.sometimes provides good hopes of winning public praise and escaping poverty
4.From the passage we may infer that the author is most probably _____.
A.an instructor of writing B.a writer
C.an educator D.a publisher
科目:高中英语 来源:常州高级中学英语高考模拟试题 题型:050
阅读理解
Suppose a key man in your firm had just met with a terrible accident. The doctor tells you that this man upon whom you depend for directing sales, checking your books or for performing some other important roles, will be laid up for months. You'd have to replace him, wouldn't you? And probably at a pay about equal to his?
Then you'd be faced with double paying for one job because stopping the pay of an injured man would simply be out of the question.
You can prevent this kind of unproductive outgo on your payroll by providing your key man with Traveler Business Accident Insurance.
This insurance provides total medical expense and a weekly income in case a key man is disabled for some time. Should the disability prove everlasting, an income for life is certainty. Why not make out a list of your key men now? Then get together with Travelers Insurance Company, and let us tell you how little it costs to apply this much needed protection to your business.
Write and we'll serve you!
1.The above is most probably ________.
[ ]
2.What is really true according to the above?
[ ]
A.Travelers Insurance Company provides services of accident insurance.
B.An important person of the firm has just had an accident.
C.Traveler Business Accident Insurance will protect the important person from accidents.
D.Unfortunately the important person has become disabled.
3.Whom might the writing be mainly for?
[ ]
4.Why would the pay be doubled?
[ ]
A.Because two persons are doing the same job.
B.Because the important job is worth double pay.
C.Because the injured person should be paid.
D.Because the double pay is for two persons.
5.Travelers Insurance Company ________ for a person insured.
[ ]
A.will pay for all the cost of treatment
B.will pay the weekly income or even that of lifetime
C.won't get much from the firm
D.will provide everlasting pension as well as medical expense
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科目:高中英语 来源:内蒙古元宝山区第二中学2010届高三第三次模拟试题(英语) 题型:阅读理解
(B)
Suppose a key man in your firm had just met with a terrible accident.The doctor tell you that this man upon whom you depend for directing sales, checking your books or for performing some other important roles, will be laid up for months, You’d have to replace him, wouldn’t you? And probably at a pay about equal to his ?
Then you’d be faced with double paying for one job because stopping the pay of an injured man would simply be out of the question.
You can prevent this kind of unproductive outgo on your payroll by providing your key man with the protection of Travelers Business Accident Insurance!
This insurance provides total medical expense and a weekly income in case a key man is disabled for some time.Should the disability prove everlasting, an income for life is certainty.Why not make out a list of your key men now? Then get together with Travelers Insurance Company, and let us tell you how little it costs to apply this much needed protection to your business.
Write and we'll serve you!
59.The above is most probably________.
A.a report B.a letter C.an announcement D.an advertisement
60.Whom might the writing be mainly for?
A.An important person in a firm. B.An employee of a firm.
C.The boss of a company. D.Readers of a newspaper.
61.Why would the pay be doubled?
A.Because two persons are doing one job of the same.
B.Because the important job is worth double pay.
C.Because it is necessary that the injured person should be paid.
D.Because the double pay is for two persons.
62.Travelers Insurance Company ________ for a person insured.
A.will pay for all the cost of treatment
B.will pay the weekly income or even that of lifetime
C.won’t get much from the firm
D.will provide everlasting pension as well as medical expense
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科目:高中英语 来源:2013届江西省九江一中高三第一次月考英语试卷(带解析) 题型:阅读理解
Suppose a key man in your firm had just met with a terrible accident. The doctor tell you that this man upon whom you depend for directing sales, checking your books or for performing some other important roles, will be laid up for months, You’d have to replace him, wouldn’t you? And probably at a pay about equal to his ?
Then you’d be faced with double paying for one job because stopping the pay of an injured man would simply be out of the question.
You can prevent this kind of unproductive outgo on your payroll by providing your key man with the protection of Travelers Business Accident Insurance!
This insurance provides total medical expense and a weekly income in case a key man is disabled for some time. Should the disability prove everlasting, an income for life is certainty. Why not make out a list of your key men now? Then get together with Travelers Insurance Company, and let us tell you how little it costs to apply this much needed protection to your business.
Write and we'll serve you!
【小题1】The above is most probably________.
A.a report | B.a letter |
C.an announcement | D.an advertisement |
A.Travelers Insurance Company provides services of accident insurance. |
B.An important person of the firm has just had an accident. |
C.Accident Insurance will protect the important person from accident. |
D.Unfortunately the important person has become disabled. |
A.An important person in a firm. |
B.An employee of a firm. |
C.The boss of a company. |
D.Readers of a newspaper. |
A.Because two persons are doing one job of the same. |
B.Because the important job is worth double pay. |
C.Because it is necessary that the injured person should be paid. |
D.Because the double pay is for two persons. |
A.will pay for all the cost of treatment and the lifelong income |
B.will pay the weekly income or even that of lifetime |
C.won’t get much from the firm |
D.will provide everlasting pension as well as medical expense |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Suppose a key man in your firm had just met with a terrible accident.The doctor tell you that this man upon whom you depend for directing sales, checking your books or for performing some other important roles, will be laid up for months, You’d have to replace him, wouldn’t you? And probably at a pay about equal to his ?
Then you would be faced with double paying for one job because stopping the pay of an injured man would simply be out of the question.
You can prevent this kind of unproductive outgo on your payroll by providing your key man with the protection of Travelers Business Accident Insurance!
This insurance provides total medical expense and a weekly income in case a key man is disabled for some time.Should the disability prove everlasting, an income for life is certainty.Why not make out a list of your key men now? Then get together with Travelers Insurance Company, and let us tell you how little it costs to apply this much needed protection to your business.
Write and we'll serve you!
59.The above is most probably________.
A.a report B.a letter C.an announcement D.an advertisement
60.Whom might the writing be mainly for?
A.An important person in a firm. B.An employee of a firm.
C.The boss of a company. D.Readers of a newspaper.
61.Why would the pay be doubled?
A.Because two persons are doing one job of the same.
B.Because the important job is worth double pay.
C.Because it is necessary that the injured person should be paid.
D.Because the double pay is for two persons.
62.Travelers Insurance Company ________ for a person insured.
A.will pay for all the cost of treatment
B.will pay the weekly income or even that of lifetime
C.won’t get much from the firm
D.will provide everlasting pension as well as medical expense
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科目:高中英语 来源:0128 月考题 题型:阅读理解
Elizabeth and I are 18 now, and about to graduate. I think about our elementary-school friendship, but
some memories have blurred (模糊).What happened that day in the fifth grade when Beth suddenly stopped
speaking to me? Does she know that I've been thinking about her for seven years? If only we could go back,
and discover what ended our relationship.
I have to speak with Beth. I see her sometimes, and find out school is"fine". It's not the same. It never
will be. Someone says that she's Liz now. What happened to Beth?
I can't call her. Should I write? What if she doesn't answer me?
How will I know what she's thinking?
Yes, I'll write her a letter. These things are easier to express in writing." Be-," no," Li-," no," Elizabeth,"
I begin. The words flow freely, as seven year old memories are reborn. I ask her all the questions that have
been left unanswered in my mind, and pray she will answer. I seal my thoughts in the perfect white envelope,
and imagine Beth looking into her mailbox. Will she know why I'm writing? Maybe she once thought of writing
the same letter.
As the mailman takes my envelope from me forever, I wonder if I've made the right decision. Do I have the
right to force myself into Beth's life again? Am I simply part of the past? I have taken the first step. Beth has
control of the situation now.
One day has passed. Are my words lying on the bottom of the post office floor?
Two days are gone. I'm lost in thought and don't even hear the phone ting.
"Hello? It's Elizabeth."
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