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 (虛幻世界) 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(堅(jiān)毅) it takes to stay the course(持續(xù)到底) in the shadowland.
小題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.
小題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.
小題3:What kind of person is Alex?
A．determinedB．modestC．shyD．brave
小題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.

小題1:C
小題2:A
小題3:A
小題4:C

試題分析：文章主要講述了Alex為了實(shí)現(xiàn)自己做作家的夢(mèng)而進(jìn)行的努力，最后取得成功的故事。
小題1:細(xì)節(jié)題。根據(jù)第一段第一句When middle-aged Alex quit his job and made up his mind to become a self-employed writer，和第三段可知答案是C。
小題2:事實(shí)判斷題。根據(jù)第三段：“Thanks but no,” Alex said firmly and swiftly ,“I’m going to stick it out and write.”可知答案為A。。
小題3:推理判斷題。根據(jù)全文尤其是最后一段可知他是有決心的人，答案是A。。
小題4:主旨大意題。根據(jù)全文尤其是倒數(shù)第二段可知答案 選C.
點(diǎn)評(píng)：對(duì)于細(xì)節(jié)考查較多，要求考生抓住文章脈絡(luò)和中心思想。閱讀可以先讀題目再讀文章，這樣可以提高閱讀的效率和解題的速度。
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A．observedB．watchedC．noticedD．caught
小題2:
A．onB．a(chǎn)tC．overD．a(chǎn)gainst
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A．passionB．interestC．hobbiesD．emotions
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A．for the momentB．a(chǎn)t the moment
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小題12:
A．musicB．meC．the pianoD．vitamins
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A．knowledgeB．a(chǎn)ttitudeC．mindD．a(chǎn)bility
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A．SinceB．AsC．WhileD．Because
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A．takingB．makingC．havingD．moving
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A．thankB．praiseC．a(chǎn)dmireD．respect
小題17:
A．get onB．get upC．get offD．get down
小題18:
A．quicklyB．calmlyC．happilyD．slowly
小題19:
A．a(chǎn)pprovalB．a(chǎn)ppreciationC．joyD．thanks
小題20:
A．heartB．worldC．soulD．dream

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