（天津市蓟县下营中学2010届高三第一次模拟）

A

Pete Rose, the famous baseball player, whom I have never met, taught me something so valuable that changed my life. Pete was being interviewed in spring training the year he was about to break Ty Cobb’s all-time hits record. One reporter asked, “Pete, you only need 78 hits to break the record. How many at-bats（轮到击球）do you think you’ll need to get the 78 hits?” Without hesitation, Pete said, “78.” The reporter yelled back, “Ah, come on, Pete. You don’t expect to get 78 hits in 78 at-bats, do you?”

Mr. Rose calmly shared his rule in life with all the reporters who were anxiously awaiting his reply. “Every time I step up to the plate, I expect to get a hit! If I don’t expect to get a hit, I have no right to step in the batter’s box in the first place! If I go up hoping to get a hit, then I probably don’t have a prayer of getting a hit. It is the positive expectation that has gotten me all of the hits in the first place.”

When I thought about Pete Rose’s rule and how it was applied to everyday life, I felt a little embarrassed. As a business person, I was hoping to make my sales meet the quotas（定额）. As a father, I was hoping to be a good dad. As a married man, I was hoping to be a good husband.

The truth was that I was an adequate salesperson, I was not so bad as a father, and I was an okay husband. I immediately decided that being okay was not enough! I wanted to be a great salesperson, a great father and a great husband. I changed my attitude to one of positive expectations, and the results were amazing. I was fortunate enough to in a few sales trips, I won Coach of the Year in my son’s baseball league, and I share a loving relationship with my wife! Thanks, Mr. Rose!

36. Which of the following sayings can most appropriately be used to describe Mr. Rose’s rule?

A. He who doesn’t want to be a general can’t be a good soldier.

B. Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.

C. If you work hard enough, your dreams will come true.

D. Rome was not built in one day.

37. What can be inferred about Pete Rose from the passage?

A. He was generous to share all his rules with everyone.

B. He got all the hits he wanted because of good luck.

C. He set himself a goal of being the best.

D. He liked to dream of something impossible.

38. By saying “I was an adequate salesperson”（Para. 3）the writer probably means “______”.

A. he could make adequate money as a salesperson

B. he didn’t do an excellent job as a salesperson

C. he was good enough to be a salesperson

D. he knew how to sell goods in a proper way

39. Which of the following is NOT a role of the writer?

A. A teammate of Rose.                         B. A salesman.

C. A father.                                  D. A baseball coach.

40. Why does the writer thank Mr. Rose at the end of the passage?

A. Because Mr. Rose showed him how to be a successful salesperson.

B. Because Mr. Rose taught him to face life with positive expectation.

C. Because Mr. Rose trained him to win Coach of the Year for his son.

D. Because Mr. Rose gave him advice on managing a happy family.