Success is often measured by the ability to overcome adversity（逆境）. But it is often the belief of others that gives us the courage（勇气）to try.
J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series, began writing at age 6. Her good friend-Sean became the first person to encourage her and help her build the confidence that one day she would be a very good writer.
“He was the first person with whom I really discussed my serious ambition（志向） to be a writer. He was also the only person who thought I was bound to（注定）be a success at it, which meant much more to me than I ever told him at the time.”
Though there were many difficulties, Rowling continued her writing, particularly fantasy stories. But it wasn't until l990 that she first came up with the idea about Harry Potter. As she recalls（回忆）, it was on a long train journey from London to Manchester that “the idea of Harry Potter simply fell into my head. To my great disappointment, I didn't have a pen with me, and I was too shy to ask anybody if I could borrow one. I think, now, that this was probably a good thing, because I simply sat and thought, for four (delayed train) hours, and all the details came up in my brain, and this thin, black-haired, bespectacled（戴眼镜的）boy who didn't know he was a wizard became more and more real to me.”
That same year, her mother died after a ten-year fight with serious diseases, which deeply affected her writing. She went on to marry and had a daughter, but separated from her husband shortly afterwards.
During this time, Rowling was diagnosed with depression（诊断患有抑郁症）. Unemployed, she finished her first novel in area cafes, where she could get her daughter to fall asleep. After being refused by l2 publishing houses, the first Harry Potter novel was sold to a small British publishing house.
Now with seven books that have sold nearly 400 million copies in 64 languages, J. K. Rowling is the highest earning novelist in history. And it all began with her friend’s encouragement as well as her ambition to write.
【小题1】 Who believed J. K. Rowling was to be a good writer?

When we talk about stars ,especially women stars ,it seems that they are always young, pretty and own charming body shapes. But recently a Britain's Got Talent（英国达人）star Susan Boyle has changed our views absolutely.
Simon Cowell ,one of the judges of the talent show spoke of his shock over Ms Boyle's voice. "This lady camp up ,and I'm thinking, 'This will take five seconds and I can go to have a cup of tea'. That changed when she began to sing I Dreamed to Dream from Les Miserables. She knew we were going to have that reaction and just to see that look of satisfaction on her face through -it was one of my favorite moments," Cowell said.
The performance was posted on line and before long, the 47-year-old Scottish woman has been famous all over the world.
Speaking from her home in Scotland, Ms Boyle said that she hasn't thought of changing her appearance. She said that her friend helped her with make-up. "I mean, that's hardly a makeover," she added.Ms Boyle also spoke of the reason she first began to explore her vocal talents, "I was kind of slow at school, so getting like singing was a good way of hiding behind that and thus it built my confidence."
【小题1】Susan Boyle is _________

“The first and best of victories is for a man to conquer himself; to be conquered by himself is, of all things, the most shameful,” says Plato．Self-control is at the root of all the advantages．Let a man give in to his impulses （冲动） and feelings, and from that moment he gives up his moral （道德上的） freedom．
A single angry word has lost many a friend．When Socrates（苏格拉底） found in himself any temper or anger, he would check it by speaking low in order to control himself．If you are conscious of being angry, keep your mouth shut so that you can hold back rising anger．Many a person has dropped dead in great anger．Fits of anger bring fits of disease．“Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad．” “Keep cool”, says George Herbert, “for fierceness （狂怒） makes error a fault．”
To be angry with a weak man is to prove that you are not strong yourself．“Anger,” says Pythagoras, “brings with folly（愚蠢） and ends with regret．” You must measure the strength of a man by the power of the feelings he conquers, not by the power of those which conquer him．
Self-control is man’s last greatest victory．
If a man lacks self-control he seems to lack everything．Without it he can have no patience, no power to manage himself; he can have no self-confidence, for he will always be controlled by his strongest feeling．If he lacks self-control, the very backbone and nerve（勇气） are lacking also．
59．What does the reader learn from the first paragraph?
A．The greatest victory for a man is to conquer everything except himself．
B．One’s moral freedom is based on the control of himself．[来源:学|科|网]
C．To control oneself is the most difficult in one’s life．
D．If a person is too stubborn, he will feel most shameful．
60．What is the correct interpretation of “Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad” ?
A．If the gods want to kill you, they make you crazy first．
B．If you always lose your temper, you will soon be finished．
C．If you cannot control yourself, you will become crazy．
D．If you are mad, you will be punished by the gods．
61．If a man lacks self-control, he lacks all of the following EXCEPT _______．
A．the very backbone and nerve
B．the patience and power to control himself
C．strong feelings
D．self-confidence
62．The author’s main purpose in writing this article is to _______．
A．explain that self-control is the key to success
B．teach people how to control everything in order to make a great success
C．distinguish all kinds of self-control and suggest ways for keeping it
D．advise people not to lose temper so as to make and keep more friends

It was the first snow of winter—an exciting day for every child but not for most teachers． Up until now, I had been old enough to dress myself, but today I would need some help．Miss Finlayson, my kindergarten teacher, had been through first snow days many times, but I think she must still remember this one．
I managed to get into my wool snow trousers． But I struggled on my jacket because it didn't fit well．It was a hand-me-down from my brother, and it made me wonder why I had to wear his ugly clothes． At least my hat and scarf were mine, and they were quite pretty． Finally it was time to have Miss Finlayson help me with my boots(靴子）．
In her calm, motherly voice she said, "By the end of winter, you will all be able to put on your own boots．” I didn't realize at time that this was more a statement of hope than of confidence（信心）．
I handed her my boots and stuck out my foot． Like most children, I expected grown-ups to do all the work． After much pushing, she managed to get the first one into place and then, with a sigh（叹气）worked the second one on too．
I said, "They're on the wrong feet．”
She struggled to get the boots off and went through the joyless task of putting them on again．
"They're my brother's boots, you know," I said． "I hate them"．
Somehow, from long years of practice, she managed to act as though I wasn't an annoying（烦人的）little girl． She pushed and pushed, gently this time． With a greater sigh, seeing the end of her struggle with me，she asked, "Now, where are your mittens（连指手套）？’’
I looked into her eyes and said, "I didn't want to lose them, so I hid them in the toes of my boots．”
【小题1】The little girl was more satisfied with her＿．

Americans All
Type: Musical Running Time: 50 Minutes
This is a musical play set in a high school classroom that will teach you the importance of staying in school. This fun and entertaining musical experience will appeal to anyone. It has a positive message that will be well received by students as well as their teachers and parents. Almost all of the roles can be played either by males or females. The dialogue teaches values, ethics and how to be the best you can be. The lyrics (歌词) and music flow non-stop with piano accompaniment (伴奏).
A Mother in My Head
Type: Short Play Running Time: 45 Minutes
Where does motherly advice and direction begin and where does it end? Or does it ever end? This fast-paced play follows the lives of two young people as they begin their careers, meet, and fall in love, each coached in every step of the way by the "mothers in their heads". The on-stage presence of the mothers provides an interaction (相互交流) between characters that is thoroughly enjoyable.
One of Our Clowns Is Missing
Type: Short Play Running Time: 30 Minutes
Adapted from the full-length play One of Our Clowns Is Missing by Robert Frankel, this play will bring the audience to cheers, tears, and applause. Sandy lacks self-esteem (自尊), but after meeting a group of characters that turn her life around, she regains her confidence and makes a new start.
My Fed Ex Christmas Request
Type: Short Play Running Time: 10 Minutes
Nicky is naughty every year so instead of getting toys under his Christmas tree, Santa has been leaving him a lump (块) of coal in his stocking year after year. Well, Nicky has finally had it with being labeled as naughty by Santa and decides to pack himself in a FedEx box and ship it to the North Pole. He’s going to defend his case face to face with Santa. This comedy shows us what happens when Nicky decides he’s not going to take it anymore!
【小题1】To encourage their children to stay in school, parents should take their children to see __________.