高考英语快速阅读训练（II）

(A)

How to Solve Personal Problems

By Robert Millward

Some people who find themselves unable to solve a problem react（反应） by just giving up. But it is not good to escape from problems by giving up or by making excuses for failures. You may be sure that all young people go through the same difficult process that you are going through： meeting new situations， developing new skills， and testing their abilities.

If you are unhappy about something， face it. Try to state the problem in a few words， so that you will know exactly what you are up against. Then see if you can “put your finger” on the cause of your unhappiness.

In many cases， we only “think” there is no solution to a particular problem. But often we can overcome the problem and achieve the goal by making a direct attack.

For example， a boy wanted to be a debater（辩论家）. When he tried out for the debating team as a freshman， the coach thought he was hopeless. He was shy； he had a high-pitched voice； and his posture（体态） was poor. Although he was given little hope of success， he took advantage of every opportunity to debate. He studied successful speakers and sized up his own weaknesses and assets. Then he spent many hours learning all the facts on the topics for debate， and worked at developing good posture and at speaking clearly. By his junior year， he made the school debating team， and in his senior year he was on the winning team in his state. He achieved his goal because he had made a direct attack upon his problem.

Although direct attack is often the best way to meet problems， we have to be realistic in judging situations. Sometimes it is necessary to change either the tactics（策略） or the goal.

A boy who wants to be a GREat football player may be too light and not quite fast  enough for football. In this situation， becoming a great football player may be an unreasonable goal for him. However， he may become outstanding in tennis or golf， and satisfy his desire to take part in sports.

A girl who has plain features may decide that she cannot win popularity with her face， and so she may try to develop an interesting personality， which eventually will get her much further. In this situation， she must change her method of achieving her goal.

So， although direct attack is often the best way to handle problems， it is important to study the situation and make a wise decision about what to do.

（Words：425；Minutes：7’）

1.What is the main idea discussed in the first paragraph? 

 A.Giving up a puzzling problem.
 B.Escaping from problems by making excuses for failures.
 C.Going through the same difficult process.
 D.Testing people’s abilities.

2.The phrase“are up against” in the second  paragraph   could   best   be   replaced   by    “____”.

 A.are fond of    B.are faced with     C.met with      D.looked at

3.By taking example from the boy who wanted to be a debater， the author means
  ______.

 A.you are going through new situations， developing new skills， and testing their abilities
 B.we can overcome the problem and achieve the goal by making a direct attack
 C.it is necessary to change either the tactics or the goal
 D.it is important to study the situation and make a wise decision about what  to do

4.Which of the following is the topic sentence of the text? 

 A.It is not good to escape from problems by giving up or by making excuses for failures.
 B.If you are unhappy about something，face it， and try to state the problem in a few words.
 C.Although direct attack is often the best way to meet problems， we have to be realistic in judging situations.
 D.Although direct attack is often the best way to handle problems， it is important to study the situation and make a wise decision about what to do.

（B）

Four Freedoms
By Franklin Roosevelt

In the future days， which we seek to make secure， we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.

The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world.
The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—everywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want—which， translated into world terms， means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peace time life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear—which， translated into world terms， means a world-wide reduction of armaments（军备） to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit（犯错误） an act of physical agGREssion against any neighbor—anywhere in the world.

That is no vision of a distant millennium（一千年）. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb.

Since the beginning of our American history we have been engaged in change—in a perpetual（永久的） peaceful revolution—a revolution which goes on steadily， quietly adjusting itself to changing conditions—without the concentration camp or the quicklime in the ditch. The world order which we seek is the cooperation of free countries， working together in a friendly， civilized society.

This nation has placed its destiny in the hands and heads and hearts of its millions of free men and women； and its faith in freedom under the guidance of God. Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere. Our support goes to those who struggle to gain those rights or keep them. Our strength is in our unity of purpose.
To that high concept there can be no end save victory.

（Words：320；Minutes：6’）

 A.we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms
 B.we will secure to every nation a healthy peace time life for its inhabitants
 C.no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical agGREssion against any neighbor
 D.the supremacy of human rights everywhere

key: CBBD  DAD