When middle-aged Alex quit his job and made up his mind to become a self-employed writer, no one could tell for sure whether he would succeed or not．He found a cold storage room in a building, set up a used typewriter and settled down to work．
After a year or so, however, Alex began to doubt himself．He found it was difficult to earn his living by selling what he wrote．But Alex determined to put his dream to the test—even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure．This is the shadowland （虚幻世界） of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there．
One day Alex got a call, "We need an assistant, and we're paying $ 6,000 a year．" $ 6,000 was real money in 1960．It would enable Alex to get a nice apartment, a used car and more．Besides, he could write in his spare time．As the dollars were dancing in Alex's head, something cleared his senses．He had dreamed of being a writer ?full time．"Thanks, but no," Alex said firmly and swiftly, "I'm going to stick it out and write．"
After Alex got off the phone, he pulled out everything he had: two cans of vegetables and 18 cents．Alex put the cans and cents into a paper bag, saying to himself," There's everything you've made of yourself so far．I'm not sure I ever felt so low．"
Finally his work was published in 1970．Instantly he had the kind of fame and success that few writers ever experience．The shadows had turned into focus of attention．
Then one day, Alex found a box filled with things he had owned years before．Inside was a paper bag with two cans and 18 cents．Suddenly he pictured himself working in that cold storage room．It reminds Alex, and anyone with a dream, of the courage and persistence （坚毅） it takes to stay the course （持续到底） in the shadowland．
【小题1】Why did Alex give up his job?

A．Because he didn't like the working conditions．

B．Because he couldn't earn enough to make a living．

C．Because he wanted to be a full-time writer．

D．Because he felt he had no potential in his job．

【小题2】What did Alex express when he answered the call?

A．He refused the job offer．

B．He was willing to give them a hand．

C．He expected them to pay him more money．

D．He would write in his spare time．

【小题3】What kind of person is Alex?

A．Determined．	B．Modest．
C．Shy．	D．Brave．

【小题4】Which of the following can summarize the passage best?

A．Look before you leap．

B．Two heads are better, than one．

C．Hold on to your dream, and it will come true．

D．A bird in hand is worth two in the bush．

When middle-aged Alex quit his job and made up his mind to become a self-employed writer， no one could tell for sure whether he would succeed or not. He found a cold storage room in a building, set up a used typewriter and settled down to work.

After a year or so, however, Alex began to doubt himself. He found it was difficult to earn his living by selling what he wrote. But Alex determined to put his dream to the test—even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure. This is the shadowland (虚幻世界) of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there.

One day Alex got a call,“We need an assistant, and we’re paying $6,000 a year.” $6,000 was real money in 1960. It would enable Alex to get a nice apartment ,a used car and more. Besides, he could write in his spare time. As the dollars were dancing in Alex’s head, something cleared his senses. He had dreamed of being a writer--full time. “Thanks, but no,” Alex said firmly and swiftly, “I’m going to stick it out and write.”

After Alex got off the phone, he pulled out everything he had: two cans of vegetables and 18 cents. Alex put the cans and cents into a paper bag, saying to himself, “There’s everything you’ve made of yourself so far. I’m not sure I ever felt so low.”

Finally his work was published in 1970.Instantly he had the kind of fame and success that few writers ever experience. The shadows had turned into focus of attention.

Then one day, Alex found a box filled with things he had owned years before. Inside was a paper bag with two cans and 18 cents. Suddenly he pictured himself working in that cold storage room. It reminds Alex, and anyone with a dream, of the courage and persistence(坚毅) it takes to stay the course(持续到底) in the shadowland.

1.Why did Alex give up his job?

A．Because he didn’t like the working conditions.

B．Because he couldn’t earn enough to make a living.

C．Because he wanted to be a full-time writer.

D．Because he felt he had no potential in his job.

2.What did Alex express when he answered the call?

A．He refused the job offer.

B．He was willing to give them a hand.

C．He expected them to pay him more money.

D．He would write in his spare time.

3.What kind of person is Alex?

A．determined        B．modest           C．shy              D．brave

4.Which of the following can summarize the passage best?

A．Look before you leap

B．Two heads are better than one.

C．Hold on to your dream, and it will come true.

D．A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

 

When middle-aged Alex quit his job and made up his mind to become a self-employed writer, no one could tell for sure whether he would succeed or not．He found a cold storage room in a building, set up a used typewriter and settled down to work．

After a year or so, however, Alex began to doubt himself．He found it was difficult to earn his living by selling what he wrote．But Alex determined to put his dream to the test—even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure．This is the shadowland （虚幻世界） of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there．

One day Alex got a call, "We need an assistant, and we're paying $ 6,000 a year．" $ 6,000 was real money in 1960．It would enable Alex to get a nice apartment, a used car and more．Besides, he could write in his spare time．As the dollars were dancing in Alex's head, something cleared his senses．He had dreamed of being a writer ?full time．"Thanks, but no," Alex said firmly and swiftly, "I'm going to stick it out and write．"

After Alex got off the phone, he pulled out everything he had: two cans of vegetables and 18 cents．Alex put the cans and cents into a paper bag, saying to himself," There's everything you've made of yourself so far．I'm not sure I ever felt so low．"

Finally his work was published in 1970．Instantly he had the kind of fame and success that few writers ever experience．The shadows had turned into focus of attention．

Then one day, Alex found a box filled with things he had owned years before．Inside was a paper bag with two cans and 18 cents．Suddenly he pictured himself working in that cold storage room．It reminds Alex, and anyone with a dream, of the courage and persistence （坚毅） it takes to stay the course （持续到底） in the shadowland．

1.Why did Alex give up his job?

A．Because he didn't like the working conditions．

B．Because he couldn't earn enough to make a living．

C．Because he wanted to be a full-time writer．

D．Because he felt he had no potential in his job．

2.What did Alex express when he answered the call?

A．He refused the job offer．

B．He was willing to give them a hand．

C．He expected them to pay him more money．

D．He would write in his spare time．

3.What kind of person is Alex?

A．Determined．	B．Modest．
C．Shy．	D．Brave．

4.Which of the following can summarize the passage best?

A．Look before you leap．

B．Two heads are better, than one．

C．Hold on to your dream, and it will come true．

D．A bird in hand is worth two in the bush．

 

补全对话（共5小题，每小题1分，满分5分）

A. For every writer kissed by fortune, there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded. B. What I did have was a friend who found me in my room in a New York apartment building. C. This is the shadow land of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there. D. In most cases these people are dreaming of wealth and fame, not the long hours alone at a typewriter. E. It was so hard to sell a story that barely made enough to eat.

 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".(61)________ "You've got to want to write," I say to them, "not want to be awriter."

The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poorly-paid affair. (62)________ When I left a 20-year job in the US Coast Guard to become a writer, I had no hopes at all. (63)________ . 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.(64)________ But I knew I wanted to write. I 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. (65)________ .

 

Last year my wife and I spent a most interesting month in Turkey. Before we left, we were reminded of the difficulties of driving in Turkey. We certainly did not find this to be the case and, except for a few places in faraway mountain areas, the roads were wide, and well-paved (铺设). We drove for 12 days along the Western Coast of Turkey and had no problems at all. We found the Turkish drivers to be very polite and well educated. We also found that eating lunch in the smaller towns was difficult, so we picnicked almost every day.

The following day after our arrival was Turkey’s Children’s Day, started by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Ataturk loved children and he often said: “Children are a new beginning of tomorrow.” He even dedicated (奉献) the day 23rd of April to the children which today is celebrated as Children’s Day as well as the date when the Republic of Turkey was founded.

On that day certain children are picked to take over the places of the government, and a lucky kid will be the president of Turkey for a whole day. He can decide what’s going to happen and whether or not he is going to have the president next to him. There are a very large number of possibilities of things he can do but some shops aren’t open because they are celebrating the day as well.

All in all, it was a more enjoyable trip. I would recommend (推荐) a trip to Turkey to anyone with an adventurous (冒险的) spirit!

Before the author and his wife went on a trip to Turkey, they were told that ________.

A. it was difficult to travel in Turkey 

B. it was not easy to drive in Turkey

C. the streets in Turkey were dangerous 

D. there were many mountainous roads

Which of the following is TRUE, according to the first paragraph?

A. Places in mountain areas were difficult to reach.

B. The couple drove for 12 days during their journey.

C. The Turkish drivers had good manners.

D. It was difficult to eat meals in Turkey.

The underlined word “He” in Paragraph 3 refers to ________.

A. every one of us                                    B. the government

C. the president of Turkey                        D. the lucky child

What can be inferred from the passage?

A. The couple had no difficulty making their way in Turkey.

B. Turkey’s National Day falls on the 22nd of April.

C. The author joined in celebrating Children’s Day.

D. On Turkey’s Children’s Day everyone had holidays.

What does the author think of the trip to Turkey?

A. Interesting and dangerous.            B. Difficult and expensive.

C. Enjoyable and exciting.               D. Boring and adventurous.