阅读理解
I told my friend Graham that I often cycle the two miles from my house to the town centre but
unfortunately there is a big hill on the route. He replied, "You mean fortunately." He explained that
I should be glad of the extra exercise that the hill provided.
My attitude to the hill has now changed. I used to grumble as I approached it but now I tell
myself the following. This hill will exercise my heart and lungs. It will help me to lose weight and get
fit. It will mean that I live longer. This hill is my friend. Finally as I wend my way up the incline I
console myself with the thought of all those silly people who pay money to go to a gym and sit on
stationery exercise bicycles when I can get the same value for free. I have a smug smile of satisfaction
as I reach the top of the hill.
Problems are there to be faced and overcome. Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person
to gain a University degree. Her activism and writing proved inspirational. She wrote, "Character
cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul
be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved."
One of the main determinants of success in life is our attitude towards adversity. From time to
time we all face hardships, problems, accidents, afflictions and difficulties. Some are of our making
but many confront us through no fault of our own. Whilst we cannot choose the adversity we can
choose our attitude towards it.
The biographies of great people are littered with examples of how they took these kinds of steps
to overcome the difficulties they faced. The common thread is that they did not become defeatist or
depressed. They chose their attitude. They chose to be positive. They took on the challenge. They won.
1. Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?
A. Attitude makes difference
B. Well begun is half done.
C. The early bird gets the worm.
D. Easier said than done.
2. From Helen Keller's example we can infer that__________.
A. Great people are born to be great and successful
B. Life is hard and difficult so we have to give up
C. We cannot achieve anything with an easy life
D. Practice makes people successful and powerful
3. What do you think the author is most likely to suggest if he/she continues to write?
A. Some examples of our daily life.
B. His stories of overcoming difficulties.
C. Stories of some unlucky great people.
D. Some examples of his friend Graham.
4. The underlined word "adversity " in the fourth paragraph probably NOT refers to ______.
A. problems
B. difficulties
C. hardships
D. advertisements
