《2025年综合素质随堂反馈九年级英语下册译林版常州专版》

After years of learning about human nature, I have decided that two qualities make a difference between people of great achievements and common people — curiosity and discontent (不满足). I have never known an excellent man who didn't have either. And I have never known a common man who had both.
Together, these deep human urges (驱策力) matter much more than ambition (雄心). Galileo (伽利略) was not only ambitious when he dropped objects of different weights from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and timed their fall to the ground. Like Galileo, all the great names in history were curious and asked in discontent, “Why? Why? Why?”
Luckily, curiosity and discontent don't have to be learned. We are born with them and need only to recapture (回忆) them. “The great man,” said Mencius, “is he who does not lose his child's heart.” Yet most of us do lose it. We stop asking questions. We stop challenging customs. We just follow the crowd.
Most of us meet new people, and new ideas, with hesitation (犹豫). But once having met and liked them, we may think how terrible it is if we have missed the chance. We will probably have to force ourselves to waken our curiosity and discontent and keep them awake.
How should you start? First, stay modest. I think of one friend who couldn't plant flowers well. She was curious about how the experts (专家) did it. Now, she is one of the experts.
The way to begin is to answer your own excuses. You haven't any special ability? Most people don't; there are only a few geniuses (天才). You haven't any time? That's good, because it's always the people with no time who get things done. Harriet Stowe, mother of six, wrote parts of Uncle Tom's Cabin while cooking. You're too old? Remember that Thomas Costain was 57 when he published his first novel, and that Grandma Moses showed her first pictures when she was 78.
However you start, remember there is no better time to start than right now, for you'll never be more alive than you are at this moment.
(　　　) 1. The writer writes Paragraph 1 to ________.
A. present his idea B. compare (对比) different people
C. reach a conclusion D. show the importance of success
(　　　) 2. What does the example of Galileo tell us?
A. Scientists all have great ambitions.
B. Experiments (实验) lead to the finding of truth.
C. Creativity comes from challenging customs.
D. Greatness comes from curiosity and discontent.
(　　　) 3. What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?
A. Getting success helps you become an expert.
B. The geniuses usually get things done easily.
C. Short of talent and time is no reason for taking no action.
D. You should remain modest after making achievements.

答案： 1-3 ADC