In one way of thinking, failure is part of life. In another way, failure may be a way towards success. The “spider-story” is often told. Robert Bruce, leader of the Scots in the 13th century, was hiding in a cave from the English. He watched a spider making a web(网). The spider tried to reach across a rough place in the rock. He tried six times. On the seventh time he made it and went on to make his web. Bruce is said to have been encouraged by this and to have gone on to defeat the English. Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, made hundreds of models that failed before he found the right way to make one. Once he was asked why he kept on trying to make a new type of battery when he had failed so often, he replied, “Failure? I have no failure. Now I know 50,000 ways it won’t work.”

   So what? First, always think about your failure. What caused it? Were conditions right? Were you in top form yourself? What can you change so things will go right next time?

   Second, is the goal you’re trying to reach the right one? Try to do some thinking about what your real goals may be. Think about this question, “If I do succeed in this, where will it get me?” This may help you prevent failure in things you shouldn’t be doing anyway.

   The third thing to keep in mind about failure is that it’s a part of life. Learn to “live with yourself” even though you may have failed.

56. This passage deals with _____.

  A. failure and success     B. two sides of failure

  C. the “spider-story”   D. the invention of light bulb

57. In the first paragraph the writer tells mainly about _____.

  A. the value of failure  B. how people fail

  C. famous failures      D. how not to fail

58. The thing the writer does not tell you to do to deal with failure is _____.

  A. check out your goals to see if they are right for you

  B. think about failure as part of your life

  C. think about failure to find out what went wrong

  D. keep away from things that are beyond you

59. Even if we have failed we should _____.

  A. learn to forget it   B. learn to remember it

  C. learn to enjoy it   D. learn to accept it

（2011·江西卷）D

Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.

     Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup(基因构成) as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.

Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.

    Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潜在的) resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副产品)  of technological developments in the space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.

While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.

While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.

71. Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph1?

       A. To express his doubts.

       B. To compare different ideas.

       C. To introduce points for discussion.

       D. To describe the conditions on Earth.

72. What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph2?

       A. Humans are nature-born to do so.

       B. Humans have the tendency to fight.

       C. Humans may find new sources of food.

       D. Humans don’t like to stay in the same place.

73. The underlined word“spin-offs” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to______.

       A. survival chances                                          B. potential resources

       C. unexpected benefits                               D. physical possessions

74. What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?

       A. O       ur genetic makeup.                             B. Resources on the earth..

       C. The adaptive ability of humans.              D. By-products in space exploration.

75. Which of the statements can best sum un the passage?

       A. Space exploration has created many wonders.

       B. Space exploration provided the best value for money.

       C. Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth.

Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.

     Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup(基因构成) as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.

Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.

    Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潜在的) resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副产品)  of technological developments in the space.

While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.

While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.

1.Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph 1?

    A. To express his doubts.                       B. To compare different ideas.

    C. To introduce points for discussion.          D. To describe the conditions on Earth.

2. What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph 2?

    A. Humans are nature-born to do so.

    B. Humans have the tendency to fight.

    C. Humans may find new sources of food.

    D. Humans don’t like to stay in the same place.

3.The underlined word “spin-offs” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to______.

    A. survival chances                     B. unexpected benefits

    C. potential resources                  D. physical possessions

4.What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?

    A. The adaptive ability of humans.                  B. Resources on the earth..

    C. Our genetic makeup.                      D. By-products in space exploration.

5.Which of the statements can best sum up the passage?

    A. Space exploration has created many wonders.

    B. Space exploration provided the best value for money.

C. Space exploration can benefit science and technology.

    D. Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth.

Why should mankind explore space?  Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth?  These are questions that,  understandably,  are very often asked.

Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup(基因构成) as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains,  and on into all possible areas and environments?  The wider the spread of a species,  the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.

Nearly every successful civilization has explored,  because by doing so,  any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge,  we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge,  we can lessen its effects.

Exploration also allows minerals and other potential(潜在的）resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them,  they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction,  in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products(副产品）of technological developments in the space industry!

While many resources are spent on what seems a small return,  the exploration of space allows creative,  brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works,  it also holds dangers. The danger exists,  but knowledge can help human beings to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space,  the chance to save ourselves might not exist.

While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different,  but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.

56. Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph 1?

A. To express his doubts.

B. To compare different ideas.

C. To introduce points for discussion.

D. To describe the conditions on Earth.

57. What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph 2?

A. Humans are nature-born to do so.

B. Humans have the tendency to fight.

C. Humans may find new sources of food.

D. Humans don’t like to stay in the same place.

58. The underlined word “spin-offs” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to­­_______ .

A. survival chances

B. potential resources

C. unexpected benefits

D. physical possessions

59. What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?

A. Our genetic make up.

B. Resources on the earth.

C. The adaptive ability of humans.

D. By-products in space exploration.

60. Which of the statements can best sum up the passage? 

A. Space exploration has created many wonders.

B. Space exploration provides the best value for money.

C. Space exploration can benefit science and technology.

D. Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth.