Optimism is the art of always seeing the glass half full (1) half empty, finding something positive in even the most (2) of situations and last but not least the ability to expect the best even if the chances are (3) . It enables you to try new things, deal with failure as a learning experience (4) a stopping point. In general optimism gives you a reason to live. The world would be a better place if it was full of optimism, (5) unfortunately the trend in today’s youth is (6) the opposite way. Today it is (7) to be pessimistic. One could spend hours discussing how we arrived at this point, (8) our youth refuses to smell the roses and instead prefers to (9) themselves on their own pessimistic (10) .
Optimism is not an (11) gift but rather a learned behavior (12) . Like most behaviors optimism is best learned by watching examples, (13) you. The first step in creating a generation of people with a positive outlook on life, is to (14) life on the bright side yourself. (15) it would be wrong to (16) your child from all negativity, it is important that you are not the (17) of doubts and worries. Finding something positive in a negative situation needs to be (18) Show how to make the best of things by always (19) the positive, by encouraging your child after a(n) (20) and by explaining over and over that failure is just a part of progress.
20（）
A.obstruction
B.impediment
C.disappointment
D.hindrance
参考答案：C
解析：
此题考上下文意思上的连贯性和一致性。承接前半句Show how to make the best of things by always pointing out tile positive，by encouraging your child after a(n)______and by explaining over and over that failure is just a part of progress.“通过指出事情积极的一面。通过在孩子______后，鼓励他们，反复解释失败只不过是进步的一部分，来展现如何才能使事情做得最好。”[C]disappointment“扫兴，沮丧，失望”；其他三个选项的意思都是“障碍(物)”。显然，题句说的是孩子们遇到挫折后的一种心理状态，所以只能选disappointment才讲得通。从用法上来说，英语一般不说after an obstruction/impediment/a hindrance。