A
Many of the world’s most people were once successful failures. Here are the stories of a few of them.
Abraham Lincoln(1809-1865)
Abraham Lincoln was one of America’s greatest leaders, taking the country through the Civil War(from 1860 to 1865). However, his life was never easy. He started numerous businesses that failed, he went bankrupt twice, and was defeated in 26 campaigns for public office. He later said, “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.”
Vincent Van Gogh(1853-1890)
Van Gogh is one of the most famous and influential painters in the history of Western Art. He’s renowned for paintings such as The Starry Night. The potato Eaters and Sunflowers. However, during his lifetime, Van Gogh sold only one painting for a very small amount of money. Despite this, he carried on painting, something even going without food so he could complete his collection of over 800 known works.
Albert Einstein(1879-1955)
Albert Einstein won the Noble Prize in Physics in 1921. However, he wasn’t always considered a “genius”. He didn’t speak until he was four, and couldn’t read until he was seven. His teachers and parents thought he as slow, so he was expelled from school and couldn’t get into the Zurich Polytechnic School. He later famously said, “Success is failure in progress.”
Stephen King(born 1947)
Stephen King is one of the best-selling authors of all time, but his first book, Carrie, was rejected by about 30 publishers. Eventually, Stephen threw it in the bin, but his wife fished it out and encouraged him to resubmit it, which he did…successfully this time!
1. Which statement is true about Abraham Lincoln?
A. He led the American War of Independence
B. He never succeeded in his business
C. He was full of courage and perseverance
D. He is the greatest president of the United States
2. Who became famous all over the world after his death?
A. Albert Einstein B. Vincent Van Gogh
C. Albert Einstein D. Stephen King
3. What was the most likely reason for Albert Einstein’s dropping out of school?
A. He was too slow to learn B. He couldn’t speak or read
C. His teacher thought he was stupid D. He didn’t obey the school rules
4. What do these people have in common?
A. They are all Americans
B. They are known for their writings
C. They were born in the same century
D. They all suffered failure before they succeeded
【分析】这篇文章属于应用文，介绍了在成功之前都遭遇了失败的几个名人的例子。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。由Abraham Lincoln部分“However, his life was never easy. He started numerous businesses that failed, he went bankrupt twice, and was defeated in 26 campaigns for public office. He later said, “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.””（然而，他的生活从来都不轻松。他开创了许多失败的企业，两次破产，并在26次竞选公职中失败。他后来说：“我最关心的不是你是否失败，而是你是否满足于你的失败。”）可知，亚伯拉罕·林肯充满勇气和坚持不懈，故选C。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。由Vincent Van Gogh部分“However, during his lifetime, Van Gogh sold only one painting for a very small amount of money. ”（然而，在梵高的有生之年，他只以很少的钱卖出了一幅画。）可知，梵高是在去世之后才闻名于全世界的，故选B。
【3题详解】
细节理解题。由Albert Einstein部分“His teachers and parents thought he as slow, so he was expelled from school and couldn’t get into the Zurich Polytechnic School.”（他的老师和父母都认为他很笨，所以他被学校劝退，无法进入苏黎世理工学院。）可知，爱因斯坦被劝退的原因是老师认为他很笨，故选C。
【4题详解】
细节理解题。由第一段“Many of the world’s most people were once successful failures. Here are the stories of a few of them.”（世界上大多数人在成功前都经历过失败。以下是其中一些人的故事。）可知，这些人们的共同之处在于他们在成功之前都经历过失败，故选D。
