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問題詳情：

After years of observing human nature, I have decided that two qualities make the difference between men of great achievement and men of average performance curiosity and discontent. I have never known an outstanding man who lacked either. And I have never known an average man who had both. The two belong together.

Together, these deep human urges (驅策力) count for much more that ambition. Galileo was not merely ambitious when he dropped objects of varying weights from the Leaning Tower at 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?”

Fortunately, curiosity and discontent don’t have to be learned. We are born with them and need only recapture them.

“The great man,” said Mencius (孟子), “is he who does not lose his child’s heart.” Yet most of us do lose it. We stop asking questions. We stop challenging custom. We just follow the crowd. And the crowd desires restful average. It encourages us to occupy our own little corner, to avoid foolish leaps into the dark, to be satisfied.

Most of us meet new people, and new ideas, with hesitation. But once having met and liked them, we think how terrible it would have been, had we missed the chance. We will probably have to force ourselves to waken our curiosity and discontent and keep them awake.

How should you start? Modestly, so as not to become discouraged. I think of one friend who couldn’t arrange flowers to satisfy herself. She was curious about how the experts did it. How she is one of the experts, writing books on flower arrangement.

One 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. 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.

51. In writing Paragraph 1, the author aims to ________.

A. propose a definition

B. make a comparison

C. reach a conclusion

D. present an argument

52. What does the example of Galileo tell us?

A. Trial and error leads to the finding of truth.

B. Scientists tend to be curious and ambitious.

C. Creativity results from challenging authority.

D. Greatness comes from a lasting desire to explore.

53. What can you do to recapture curiosity and discontent?

A. Observe the unknown around you.

B. Develop a questioning mind.

C. Lead a life of adventure.

D. Follow the fashion.

54. What can we learn from Paragraphs 6 and 7?

A. Gaining success helps you become an expert.

B. The genius tends to get things done creatively.

C. Lack of talent and time is no reason for taking no action.

D. You should remain modest when approaching perfection.

55. What could be the best tile or the passage?

A. Curious Minds Never Feel Contented

B. Reflections on Human Nature

C. The Keys to Achievement

D. Never Too Late to Learn

【回答】

51. D    52. D    53. B    54. C    55. C

【解析】

本文是一篇議論文。文章論述了獲得成就的兩個關鍵因素——好奇心和不滿足。

【51題詳解】

推理判斷題。根據第一段內容After years of observing human nature, I have decided that two qualities make the difference between men of great achievement and men of average performance curiosity and discontent. I have never known an outstanding man who lacked either. And I have never known an average man who had both. The two belong together.可知，作者經過多年對人*的觀察，認爲成就非凡的人和平庸的人的區別在於好奇心和不滿足，而且兩者是相輔相成的。由此推知，作者寫第一段的目的是提出一個論點。故選D。

【52題詳解】

推理判斷題。根據第二段中的Like Galileo, all the great names in history were curious and asked in discontent, “Why? Why? Why?”可知，像伽利略一樣，歷史上所有的偉人都感到好奇，並不滿地問：“爲什麼？爲什麼？爲什麼？”由此推知，伽利略的例子告訴我們，偉大來自於持久的探索慾望。故選D。

【53題詳解】

細節理解題。根據第二段中的Like Galileo, all the great names in history were curious and asked in discontent, “Why? Why? Why?”及第四段中的“The great man,” said Mencius (孟子), “is he who does not lose his child’s heart.” Yet most of us do lose it. We stop asking questions. We stop challenging custom. We just follow the crowd.可知，歷史上所有的偉人都感到好奇，並不滿地問：“爲什麼？爲什麼？爲什麼？”孟子認爲“不失去孩子的心，就是偉大的人。”然而，我們大多數人確實失去了它。我們不再問問題。我們不再挑戰習俗。我們只是隨大流。由此可知，你可以透過培養了一個善於提問的頭腦，來重新獲得好奇心和不滿。故選B。

【54題詳解】

推理判斷題。根據第六段中的How she is one of the experts, writing books on flower arrangement.及第七段中的You haven’t any special ability? Most people don’t; there are only a few geniuses. You haven’t any time? That’s good, because it’s always the people with no time who get things done.以及列舉了Thomas Costain在57歲時出版了他的第一部小說，Grandma Moses在78歲時展示了她的第一批照片。由此可知，這兩段想告訴我們“缺乏天賦和時間不是不採取行動的理由”。故選C。

【55題詳解】

主旨大意題。根據第一段內容After years of observing human nature, I have decided that two qualities make the difference between men of great achievement and men of average performance curiosity and discontent. I have never known an outstanding man who lacked either. And I have never known an average man who had both. The two belong together.及下文論述可知，本文主要論述了獲得成就的兩個關鍵因素——好奇心和不滿足。由此可知，C項The Keys to Achievement(成就的關鍵)適合做本文最佳標題。故選C。

知識點：人生百味類閱讀

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