Most parents work hard at either preventing failure or protecting their children from the knowledge that they have failed．One way is to lower standards．A mother describes her child's hand-made table as perfect, even though it doesn't stand still．Another way is to shift（转移）blame．If John fails science，his teacher is unfair or stupid．

The trouble with failure-prevention devices is that they leave a child unequipped for life in the real world．The young need to learn that no one can be best at everything，no one can win all the time—and that it's possible to enjoy a game even when they don't win．A child who's not invited to a birthday party，who doesn't make the honor roll on the baseball team，feels terrible，of course．But parents should not offer a quick consolation（安慰），prize or say，“It doesn't matter．because it does．The young should be allowed to experience disappointment—and be helped to master it．

Failure is never pleasurable．It hurts grown-ups and children alike．But it can make a positive（有益的）contribution to your life once you learn to use it．Step one is to ask “Why did I fail？”

Don't blame someone else．Ask yourself what you did wrong，how you can improve．If someone else can help，don't be shy about inquiring（咨询）．Success，which encourages repetition of old behavior，is not nearly as good a teacher as failure．You can learn from a bad party how to give a good one，from an ill-chosen first house what to look for in a second ．Even a failure that seems definitive can prompt fresh thinking，a change of direction．After 12 years of studying ballet a friend of mine auditioned（面试）for a professional company．She was turned down．“Would further training help？she asked．The ballet master shook his head．“You will never b
e a dancer，” he said，“you haven't the body for it．”?

In such cases，the way to use failure is to take stock（鉴定）bravely asking．“What have I left？What else can I do？My friend put away her shoes and moved into dance treatment center，a field where she's both able and useful．Failure frees one to take risks because there's less to lose．Often there is recovery（恢复）of energy ─ a way to find new possibilities．

1．The second paragraph tells us ____ ．

A．how a mother praised her children

B．two ways of failure prevention most parents used when their children fail

C．how to shift（转移）blame

D．parents should blame their children at the proper time．

2．According to the author，what should a child know in the real world？

A．He should be equipped for life．

B．No one can be best all the time at everything．

C．No parents should offer quick consolations．

D．He can get pleasure from failure as well as success．

3．The underlined word “prompt” in the fifth paragraph can be best replaced by“____”．?

A．improve B．prevent C．continue D．cause

4．From the passage we know that ____ can affect one's life greatly once he learns to use it．

A．success B．disappointment C．failure D．value

Why are so many people so afraid of failure？Quite simply because no one tells us how to fail so that failure becomes an experience that will lead to growth．We forget that failure is part of the human condition and that every person has the right to fail．

Most parents work hard at either preventing failure or protecting their children from the knowledge that they have failed．One way is to lower standards．A mother describes her child's hand-made table as perfect, even though it doesn't stand still．Another way is to shift（转移）blame．If John fails science，his teacher is unfair or stupid．

The trouble with failure-prevention devices is that they leave a child unequipped for life in the real world．The young need to learn that no one can be best at everything，no one can win all the time—and that it's possible to enjoy a game even when they don't win．A child who's not invited to a birthday party，who doesn't make the honor roll on the baseball team，feels terrible，of course．But parents should not offer a quick consolation（安慰），prize or say，“It doesn't matter．because it does．The young should be allowed to experience disappointment—and be helped to master it．

Failure is never pleasurable．It hurts grown-ups and children alike．But it can make a positive（有益的）contribution to your life once you learn to use it．Step one is to ask “Why did I fail？”

Don't blame someone else．Ask yourself what you did wrong，how you can improve．If someone else can help，don't be shy about inquiring（咨询）．Success，which encourages repetition of old behavior，is not nearly as good a teacher as failure．You can learn from a bad party how to give a good one，from an ill-chosen first house what to look for in a second ．Even a failure that seems definitive can prompt fresh thinking，a change of direction．After 12 years of studying ballet a friend of mine auditioned（面试）for a professional company．She was turned down．“Would further training help？she asked．The ballet master shook his head．“You will never be a dancer，” he said，“you haven't the body for it．”?

In such cases，the way to use failure is to take stock（鉴定）bravely asking．“What have I left？What else can I do？My friend put away her shoes and moved into dance treatment center，a field where she's both able and useful．Failure frees one to take risks because there's less to lose．Often there is recovery（恢复）of energy ─ a way to find new possibilities．

1．The second paragraph tells us ____ ．

A．how a mother praised her children

B．two ways of failure prevention most parents used when their children fail

C．how to shift（转移）blame

D．parents should blame their children at the proper time．

2．According to the author，what should a child know in the real world？

A．He should be equipped for life．

B．No one can be best all the time at everything．

C．No parents should offer quick consolations．

D．He can get pleasure from failure as well as success．

3．The underlined word “prompt” in the fifth paragraph can be best replaced by“____”．?

A．improve B．prevent C．continue D．cause

4．From the passage we know that ____ can affect one's life greatly once he learns to use it．

A．success B．disappointment C．failure D．value

American cities are similar to other cities around the world. In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture. American cities are changing, just as American society is changing.
After World War II, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased. Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts（转移）to and from the city reflect the changing values of American society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents（居民）became wealthier. They had more children so they needed more space. They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs（郊区）。
Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in the 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into the city. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers.
This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s , many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these same people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.
Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying . Some city residents now see a bright, new future. Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure: many dying cities are alive again.
【小题1】What does the author think of cities all over the world?

       American cities are similar to other cities around the world; In every country. Cities reflect the values of the culture. American cities are changing， just as American society is changing.

       After Wolld Wa Ⅱ,the population of most large American cities decreased; bowever. The populaton In omthe Sun Belt cities increased. Los Angeles and Houston are eitit where populatfon shife（转移）to and from the oity reflect the changing values of Amorican society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s,city residents（居民）became wealthier. They had more children so they needed more space, They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs（郊区）.

       Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in the 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into city. They prefer the city to the burbs because their jobs are there; or they jus enjoy the excitement and possibii that the city offers.

       his  people     shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poot people  must leave  their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these same people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.

Only a few years ago, people though that the older  American cities were dying. Some city residents now see a bright,  new fiture,  Others see only problems and comfiels the thing is sure many dying cities are alive again.

1. What does the author  think of cities all over the world?

A. They are alive.                        B. They are hopeless.

C. They are similar.                            D. They are different.

2.Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War Ⅱ?

A. Because older American cities were dying.

B. Because they were richer and needed more space.

C. Because cities contained the wont pare of society.

D. Because they could hardly afford a live in the city.

3. According to the 4th paragraph, a great many poor people in American cities_________.

A. are faced with housing problems

B. are forced to move to the suburbs

C. want to sell their buildings

D. need more money for daily expenses

4. We ear comude  from the text that ________.

A. American cities are changing far the worse

B. people have different views on American cities

C. many people are now moving from American cities

D. the population is decreasing in older American cities

American cities are similar to other cities around the world. In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture. American cities are changing, just as American society is changing.

　　After World War II, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased. Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts(转移) to and from the city reflect the changing values of American society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents (居民) became wealthier. They had more children so they needed more space. They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs(郊区).

Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into the city. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers.

This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.

     Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying. Some city residents now see a bright, new future .Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure：many dying cities are alive again.

What does the author think of cities all over the world ?

   A. They are alive .    B. They are hopeless.   C. They are similar      D. They are different.

Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War Ⅱ?

   A. Because older American cities were dying.

   B. Because they were richer and needed more space.

   C. Because cities contained the worst parts of society.

   D. Because they could hardly afford to live in the city.

According to the 4^th paragragh, a great many poor people in American cities ______. 

   A. are faced with housing problems       B. are faced to move to the suburbs

   C. want to sell their buildings            D. need more money for daily expenses

We can conclude from the text that ______.

   A. American cities are changing for the worse   B. people have different views on American cities

   C. many people are now moving from American cities D. the population is decreasing in older American cities