The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poorly-paid affair. For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded. When I left a 20-year career in the US Coast Guard to become a freelance (自由职业) writer, I had no prospects at all. What I did have was a friend who found me a room in a New York apartment building. It didn’t even matter and felt like a genuine writer. After a year or so, however, I still hadn’t gotten a break and began to doubt myself. It was so hard to sell a story that I barely made enough to eat. 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. This is the shadow land of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there.
31. The word “prospects” (para.2) is closest in meaning to . A) rich resource B) reasonable hopes C) strong desires D) enormous advantages
32. The writer mentions his 20-year career in the US Coast Guard in order to show . A) his regret at leaving the army
在当今社会,学历是能力的敲门砖!学历是人的第二张身份证,是最快速有效判断一个人学习能力和文化素质的凭证! 名牌大学业余读，工作学习两不误！
B) his determination to realize his dream C) his disappointment with the army life D) his excitement with the new life in the big city
33. The writer would use all the following words to describe his life as a writer, except .
A) failure B) loneliness C) wealth D) hard work
34. What is the main idea of the passage? A) One may become a writer if he loves writing. B) One may become a writer if he keeps on writing. C) One will surely become a writer if he works hard. D) One will surely become a writer if he learns to write. 35. Who do you think most likely wrote this passage?
A) A poor dreamer. B) A successful writer. C) A journal editor. D) A literature professor. Passage Four
在当今社会,学历是能力的敲门砖!学历是人的第二张身份证,是最快速有效判断一个人学习能力和文化素质的凭证! 名牌大学业余读，工作学习两不误！
Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.
Nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. This surprising statistic makes many people think twice before tying a knot (结). This statistic also makes one wonder what cause a marriage to succeed. My parents have been married for thirty-three years, and though they’ve had their ups and downs, they have had a wonderful relationship. Why has their marriage succeeded?
My parents have always expressed their love for each other. Throughout their courtship (求婚) they did many wonderful things for each other: buying flowers, writing letters, and sending surprises. They’ve continued these practices throughout their marriage as ways of showing love.
Another quality of my parents’ marriage is that they are flexible about their demands and expectations of each other. When I was four, Dad was laid off from his job. As a result, Mom entered the workforce. Although Dad was soon rehired, Mom enjoyed her job so much that she decided to keep it. Dad was a bit surprised, but he could see that it made her happy. If problems arose because of the time demands of their jobs, they worked through these problems—together.
在当今社会,学历是能力的敲门砖!学历是人的第二张身份证,是最快速有效判断一个人学习能力和文化素质的凭证! 名牌大学业余读，工作学习两不误！
My parents remain committed (忠诚的) to each other, even during difficult times. Early in their marriage, Dad was sent overseas as a communications specialist. He wrote home every now and then, but he didn’t see Mom for nine months. Mom was home alone. Sometimes her single coworkers would encourage her to go out with them and have a good time. When I asked her why she didn’t, she told me that she had made a commitment to my father and she was living by that commitment. When they were reunited, they had nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to be angry with each other about. I have come to believe that their absolute commitment to each other is, more than anything else, what has caused their marriage to work.
I once heard someone say that marriage isn’t a fifty-fifty deal. It’s ninety-ten on both sides. Could that be the secret of a successful marriage? It seems to describe the one my parents have. 36. According to the passage, people tend to hesitate before they .
A) get married B) start courtship C) get a divorce D) look at the statistic
在当今社会,学历是能力的敲门砖!学历是人的第二张身份证,是最快速有效判断一个人学习能力和文化素质的凭证! 名牌大学业余读，工作学习两不误！
37. What is the key factor that contribute to the successful marriage of the author’s parents?
A) Their loyalty toward each other. B) Their common interests and attitudes towards life.
C) Their readiness to express their love for each other. D) Their capability to deal with their jobs and family life.
38. When the father got hired in the job again, the mother . A) did not quit her job B) entered the workforce too C) was laid off from her job D) returned home to raise the kids 39. Why didn’t the mother go out to enjoy herself while the father was away from home?
A) She couldn’t spare any time. B) She was fed up with betrayal of any kind.
C) She preferred to stay on her own. D) She lived up to her commitment to the father.
40. What is the secret of a successful marriage according to the author?
在当今社会,学历是能力的敲门砖!学历是人的第二张身份证,是最快速有效判断一个人学习能力和文化素质的凭证! 名牌大学业余读，工作学习两不误！