The adolescent girl from Tennessee was standing on the stage of a drama summer camp in New York. But the girl didn't feel joyful. She was not the leggy, attrac?tive Hollywood type. In fact, she described herself as stupid.
This girl was Reese Witherspoon, who had wanted to be a country singer and admired and respected Dolly Parton very much.
That day at the end of the camp her coaches told her to forget about singing. They suggested she think about another career. She took their words to heart. After all,why shouldn't she believe the professionals?
But back at home in Nashville, her mother―a fun?ny, happy, optimistic woman—wouldn't let her feel de?pressed. Her father, a physician, encouraged her to achieve in school. So she worked hard at everything and was accepted into Stanford University.
And at 19, she got a part in a low-budget movie called Freeway, which prepared for her role in the mov?ie Pleasantville. But her big break came with Legally Blonde.
"If you can't sing and you aren't charming, play to your strengths. If you're going to make it in this busi?ness, better focus on what you're good at,"she told the interviewer later.
And then came the offer that took her back to her Nashville—playing the wife of a country star Johnny Cash,a singing role.
All of a sudden the old fears learned on that sum?mer stage were back. She was so nervous on the stage. But she didn't give up on the movie or herself. She spent 6 months taking singing lessons again. She learned to play the autoharp. And the hard work built up her confi?dence.
Last March, Reese Witherspoon walked up on an?other stage, the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, and ac?cepted the Oscar as Best Actress for her heartbreaking, heart-warming singing role as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line.
1. Why was Reese Witherspoon sad that day?
A.The experts advised her to give up singing.
B.Dolly Parton told her to leave the stage.
C.The coaches described her as foolish.
D.The professionals considered her ignorant.
2.What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?
A.Reese was an optimistic girl.
B.Her parents supported her a lot.
C.Her parents were disappointed with her.
D.Reese blamed herself all day long.
3.How did Reese succeed in playing the singing role?
A.She did her best to make herself leggy and at?tractive.
B.She tried hard to forget about that summer stage.
C.She practised autoharp lessons for more than 6 months.
D.She regained her confidence through hard work.
4.What can we learn from Reese's experience?
A.Two heads are better than one.
B.When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
C.Where there is a will, there is a way.
D.Hope for the best,and prepare for the worst.