A. Importance of Learning from Failure        B. Quality Shared by Most Innovators        C. Edison’s Innovation        D. Edison’s Comment on Failure        E. Contributions Made by Innovators        F. Successful Innovators

Even Intelligent People Can Fail

_________

The unusual things about the innovators (创新者) who succeeded in making our modern world is how often they failed. Turn on a light, take a photograph, watch TV, search the web, jet across the Pacific Ocean, talk on a cell-phone. The innovators who left us these things had to find the way to success through a maze (错综复杂) of wrong turns.

_________

We have just celebrated the 125th anniversary of American innovator Thomas Edison’s success in heating a thin line to white, hot heat for 14 hours in his lab in New Jersey, US. He did that on October 22, 1879, and followed up a month later by keeping a thread of common cardboard alight (点亮着的) in an airless space for 45 hours. Three years later he went on to light up half a square mile of downtown Manhattan, even though only one of the six power plants in his design worked when he turned it on, on September 4, 1882.

________

“Many of life’s failures,” Edison said, “are because that people did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Before that magical moment in October 1879, Edison had worked out no fewer than 3,000 theories about electric light. But in only two cases did his experiments work.

________

No one likes failure, but the smart innovators learn from it. Mark Gumz, the head of a camera maker, attributes some of the company’s successes in technology to understanding failure. His popular phrase is：“You only fail when you quit.”

_________

Over two centuries, the most common quality of the innovators has been persistence (坚忍不拔). That is another way of saying they had the emotional ability to keep on with what they were doing. Walt Disney, the founder of Disneyland, was so penniless after a series of financial failures that he was left shoeless in his office because he could not afford the $1.50 to get his shoes from the repair shop. Pioneering car maker Henry Ford failed with one company and was forced out of another before he developed the Model T Car.

 

A. Importance of Learning from Failure B. Quality Shared by Most Innovators C. Edison’s Innovation D. Edison’s Comment on Failure E. Contributions Made by Innovators F. Successful Innovators

 

Even Intelligent People Can Fail

1._________

The unusual things about the innovators (创新者) who succeeded in making our modern world is how often they failed. Turn on a light, take a photograph, watch TV, search the web, jet across the Pacific Ocean, talk on a cell-phone. The innovators who left us these things had to find the way to success through a maze (错综复杂) of wrong turns.

2._________

We have just celebrated the 125th anniversary of American innovator Thomas Edison’s success in heating a thin line to white, hot heat for 14 hours in his lab in New Jersey, US. He did that on October 22, 1879, and followed up a month later by keeping a thread of common cardboard alight (点亮着的) in an airless space for 45 hours. Three years later he went on to light up half a square mile of downtown Manhattan, even though only one of the six power plants in his design worked when he turned it on, on September 4, 1882.

3.________

“Many of life’s failures,” Edison said, “are because that people did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Before that magical moment in October 1879, Edison had worked out no fewer than 3,000 theories about electric light. But in only two cases did his experiments work.

4.________

No one likes failure, but the smart innovators learn from it. Mark Gumz, the head of a camera maker, attributes some of the company’s successes in technology to understanding failure. His popular phrase is：“You only fail when you quit.”

5._________

Over two centuries, the most common quality of the innovators has been persistence (坚忍不拔). That is another way of saying they had the emotional ability to keep on with what they were doing. Walt Disney, the founder of Disneyland, was so penniless after a series of financial failures that he was left shoeless in his office because he could not afford the $1.50 to get his shoes from the repair shop. Pioneering car maker Henry Ford failed with one company and was forced out of another before he developed the Model T Car.

 

Lang Lang is a world?class young pianist who grew up in Shenyang. He went to a piano school in Beijing when he was just eight. “You need __1__，” his father said. “But if you don't work hard, no fortune will come.”

What made him sad was __2 his piano teacher in Beijing didn't like him. “You have no talent (天赋). You will never be a pianist.” __3__ a nine?year?old boy, Lang Lang was badly __4__. He decided that he didn't want to be a __5__ any more. For the next two weeks, he didn't touch the piano, __6__， his father didn't push, but waited.

Luckily, the day came when his teacher asked him to __7__ some holiday songs. He didn't want to, but as he placed his fingers on the piano keys, he __8__ that he could show others that he had talent __9__. That day he told his father __10__ he had been waiting to hear—that he wanted to study with a new teacher. __11__ that point on, everything turned around.

He started __12__ competitions (比赛). In the 1994 International Young Pianists Competition, when it was __13__ that Lang Lang had won, he was too __14__ to hold back his tears. Soon __15__ was clear that he couldn't stay in China forever—he had to play on the world's big __16__. In 1997 Lang Lang __17__ again, this time to Philadelphia, U．S. There he spent two years practicing, and by 1999 he had worked hard enough for fortune to take over. After his __18__ performance at Chicago's Ravinia Festival, gigs (特邀演出) in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall started __19__. Lang Lang finally worked to reach the place where fortune spots (发现) him, and lets him __20__.

1．A.exercise 　　　　　　 B．fortune

　 C．knowledge 　　　 D．wealth

2．A.whether 　　　　　 B．why

　 C．when 　　　　　 D．that

3．A.Like 　　　　　　　　 B．With

　 C．To 　　　　　　 D．As

4．A.hurt 　　　　　　　　 B．weakened

　 C．ruined 　　　　　　 D．frightened

5．A.singer 　　　　　 B．pianist

　 C．conductor 　　　 D．player

6．A.Hopefully 　　　　 B．Patiently

　 C．Wisely 　　　　　　 D．Painfully

7．A.play 　　　　　　　　 B．sing

　 C．write 　　　　　 D．study

8．A.seemed 　　　　　 B．admitted

　 C．noticed 　　　　　　 D．realized

9．A.in all 　　　　　　　 B．above all

　 C．after all 　　　　　 D．at all

10．A.that 　　　　　　　 B．what

　 C．which 　　　　　 D．when

11．A.From 　　　　　　 B．At

　 C．Since 　　　　　 D．After

12．A.receiving 　　　　　 B．accepting

　 C．winning 　 　　　　　 D．beating

13．A.told 　　　　　　　 B．mentioned

　 C．announced 　　　 D．recognized

14．A.excited 　　　　　　 B．encouraged

　 C．shocked 　　　　　　 D．satisfied

15．A.this 　　　　　　　 B．it

　 C．that 　　　　　 D．what

16．A.concerts 　　　　　 B．tours

　 C．competitions 　　　 D．stages

17．A.started 　　　　　　 B．left

　 C．moved 　　　　　 D．performed

18．A.successful 　　　　 B．cheerful

　 C．respectful 　　　　 D．meaningful

19．A.pulling 　　　　　　 B．breaking

　 C．falling 　　　　　　 D．pouring

20．A.brighten 　　　　　 B．shine

　 C．admire 　　　　　　 D．develop

 

Lang Lang is a world-class young pianist who grew up in Shenyang．He went to a piano school in Beijing when he was just eight．“You need 1  ．” his father said．“But if you don’t work hard, no fortune will come．”

What made him said was   2   his piano teacher in Beijing didn’t like him．“You have no talent（天赋）．You will never be a pianist．”   3   a nine-year-old boy, Lang Lang was badly   4   He decided that he didn’t want to be a   5   any more．For the next two weeks, he didn’t touch the piano． 6   , his father didn’t push, but waited．

Luckily, the day came when his teacher asked him to   7   some holiday songs．He didn’t want to, but as he placed his fingers on the piano keys, he   8   that he could show others that he had talent   9   ．That day he told his father   10   he had been waiting to hear---that he wanted to study with a new teacher． 11   that point on, everything turned around!

He started   12   competitions（比赛）．In the 1994 International Young Pianists Competition, when it was   13   that Lang Lang had won, he was too   14   to hold back his tears．Soon   15   was clear that he couldn’t stay in China forever---he had to play on the world big   16   ．In 1997 Lang Lang   17   again, this time to Philadelphia, U．S．There he spent two years practicing, and by 1999 he had worked hard enough for fortune to take over．After his   18   performance at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival, gigs（特邀演出）in Lincoln’s Center and Carnegie Hall started   19   , Lang Lang finally worked to reach the place where fortune spots（发现）him, and lets him   20  ．

1．A．exercise                 B．fortune                C．knowledge           D．wealth

2．A．whether                 B．why                 C．when                D．that

3．A．Like                    B．With                 C．To                      D．As

4．A．hurt                    B．weakened            C．ruined               D．frightened

5．A．singer                 B．pianist               C．conductor            D．player

6．A．Hopefully                B．Patiently             C．Wisely                D．Painfully

7．A．play                    B．sing                C．write                 D．study

8．A．seemed              B．admitted               C．noticed                 D．realized

9．A．in all                   B．above all             C．after all              D．at all

10．A．that                  B．what               C．which                D．when

11．A．From                 B．As                  C．Since                D．After

12．A．receiving              B．accepting            C．winning              D．beating

13．A．told                  B．mentioned           C．announced            D．recognized

14．A．excited                B．encouraged          C．shocked              D．satisfied

15．A．this                   B．it                   C．that                 D．what

16．A．concerts              B．tours               C．competitions          D．stages

17．A．started                B．left                 C．moved               D．performed

18．A．successful             B．cheerful            C．respectful            D．meaningful

19．A．pulling                B．breaking            C．falling                D．pouring

20．A．brighten               B．shine               C．admire               D．develop

 

       “Dad! He took a book without paying!” I yelled．

       My father looked surprised．Before the boy could say anything, his mother grabbed his arm and shook it．“Is it true? You stole? Tell me!”

       Everyone was quiet．The boy began to cry, and he nodded his head．He pulled out the comic book （漫画书） from under his shirt．

       “Oh, Mr．Kim．I am sorry! My Ted made a big mistake!” Mrs．Diaz told my father．She tried to take the comic book, but Ted wouldn’t let go．

       “It’s OK．He can keep it,” my father said with a smile．

       “Oh no,” Mrs．Diaz said．“Let me pay right now ．．．” She dug in her purse．“How much?”

       “Three seventy-five．”

       Mrs．Diaz’s eyes widened, and she dug deeper．I saw her mouth make a small line．“Three seventy-five?” she asked．

       “It’s OK．You can pay later,” my father said．

       “No,” Mrs．Diaz said．She kept looking in her purse．“I have money here．”

       I felt bad for yelling, for I realized that Ted had tried to steal the comic book because he didn’t have the money．Maybe the boy could have a job, I thought．

       I had an idea．

       “What if he worked with me?” I asked．They turned to me．

       I said, “He can work with me to pay for the comic book．”

       “Good,” my father said smiling at me．Mrs．Diaz nodded．She turned to her son, “You hear? You will work and buy the comic book!”

       “Yes, Mama,” Ted said, hanging his head．

       As they left, Ted looked back, and though he still seemed sad, he stuck out （伸出） his tongue at me．

       Ted has been working here for two weeks．He has paid for the comic book, but my father says he is such a good worker that he can work with me as long as he wants．We are friends now．

1.Where did the story most probably take place?

       A．In a classroom．                                 B．In a supermarket．

      C．At a bookstore．                               D．At a library．

2.By saying “but Ted wouldn’t let go” in Paragraph 4, the author means Ted ______．

       A．took the book by mistake                 B．wanted to keep the book

       C．didn’t want to go home                       D．didn’t think he was wrong

3.From the underlined sentences in the eighth paragraph, we may infer that Mrs．Diaz ______．

       A．didn’t think her son stole the book       

       B．had been out of work for a long time

       C．forgot to take money with her that day

       D．couldn’t afford to pay for the book

4.In the last paragraph, what does the author mainly tell?

       A．His idea was successful．               B．Ted didn’t like the job．

       C．He liked Ted very much．                D．Ted was a naughty boy．