Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
With those bom with natural talents, it feels as if they excel without really trying. But what about those of us who don't have a natural talent? We've been told all our lives that if you work hard, you too can succeed. But with the release of Angela Duckworth's Grit, we are given a new key to success.
“As much as talent counts, effort counts twice,“ says Duckworth in Grit. She introduces a new concept that talent may be overrated, and if you want real success, what you need is grit, the perfect combination of passion and persistence. Even if you have natural talent, ifs nothing without grit.
Duckworth says grit is the difference between success and failure. A person who has grit is more likely to succeed than a person who does not. When we think about attaining success——whether it's landing that job or learning that new skill- our thoughts are immediately burdened by all the things we must first learn. If you want that new job, you have to learn the job skills, then the interview skills, then the dress part- and you must be perfect at all of them. Grit is different because it tells us that perfection isn't the goal.
Grit lifts the unreasonable expectations off our shoulders. Grit tells us that the door is open wider than we first thought possible. Grit allows us to redefine our goals. Think about it: whafs something you've always wanted to do, but gave up because you "don't have the skills for it"? Whafs something you love but aren't good at?
The real workings of grit are to have sustainable passion and continue to try. Effort means more than your natural ability. Even if you haven, t mastered a skill, grit tells you that you can still succeed if you can transform your passion into action. In a way, Duckworth is giving new hope to people who have shut the doors on their dreams. She is saying it is possible that you can accomplish anything. If at first you fail, then try one more time with grit.
51. What does the passage say about people born with natural talents?
A) They seem to outdo others without hard work.
B) They appear to know all the secrets to success.
C) They feel it only too logical to succeed.
D) They are bound to excel effortlessly.
52. What does Duckworth say about talent?
A) It is a new concept much too overrated.
B) It proves necessary for big achievements.
C) It plays a lesser role in one's success.
D) It is a guarantee for real success in life.
53. What does the passage say about people thinking of attaining success?
A) They are puzzled how to present their best to the employer.
B) They are burdened by their expectation of perfection.
C) They will try hard to land a job that fits their skills best.
D) They will find themselves lacking in all the skills they need.
54. How does the author think grit can be helpful to us?
A) It allows us to know what we are good at. C) It focuses our attention on what we do.
B) It opens our eyes to new opportunities. D) It lets us reconsider the goals to achieve.
55. What message does Duckworth try to convey in her book Grit?
A) We should perfect ourselves to ensure success.
B) We should stay persistent even in face of failures.
C) We can never master a skill without constant practice.
D) We can never expect to reach our goals without passion.
答案解析：
由题干中的关键词“people born with natural talents”定位到第一段第一句“With those bom with natural talents, it feels as if they excel without really trying.”，意思是那些天生有天赋的人似乎不用真正努力就能出类拔萃，也就是不用努力工作就能超越别人，所以选A。
由题干中的关键词“Duckworth say about talent”定位到第二段“She introduces a new concept that talent may be overrated, and if you want real success, what you need is grit, the perfect combination of passion and persistence.”，即Duckworth提出天赋可能被高估了，想要真正的成功需要的是毅力，说明天赋在成功中作用较小，所以选C。
由题干中的关键词“people thinking of attaining success”定位到第三段“When we think about attaining success——whether it's landing that job or learning that new skill - our thoughts are immediately burdened by all the things we must first learn.”以及“Grit is different because it tells us that perfection isn't the goal.”，说明人们在考虑获得成功时会被对完美的期望所困扰，所以选B。
由题干中的关键词“grit can be helpful to us”定位到第四段“Grit allows us to redefine our goals.”，即毅力让我们重新定义目标，也就是让我们重新考虑要实现的目标，所以选D。
由题干中的关键词“message...Duckworth...in her book Grit”定位到最后一段“Even if you haven't mastered a skill, grit tells you that you can still succeed if you can transform your passion into action. In a way, Duckworth is giving new hope to people who have shut the doors on their dreams. She is saying it is possible that you can accomplish anything. If at first you fail, then try one more time with grit.”，说明Duckworth想传达的是即使面对失败也要保持坚持，所以选B。
