Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people，but I also explain that there's a big difference between “being a writer” and writing．In most cases these people are dreaming of wealth and fame, not the long hours alone at a typewriter. “You've got to want to write, ”I say to them, “not want to be a writer”．
The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poor-paying affair. For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded. When I left a 20-year career in the U.S. Coat Guard to bee a freelance writer, I had no hope at all．What I did have was a friend who found me a room in a New York apartment building．It didn't even matter that it was cold and had no bathroom．I immediately bought a used typewriter and felt like a real writer．
After a year or so．However, I still hadn't gotten a break and began to doubt myself．It was so hard to sell a story that I hardly made enough to eat．But I knew I wanted to write，l had dreamed about it for years．I wasn't going to be one of those people who die wondering, what if? I would keep putting my dream to the test—even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure．This is the shadow land of hope，and anyone with a dream must learn to live there．
【小题1】The purpose of the passage is to ．A．warn young people of the hardships that a successful writer has to experienceB．advise young people to give up their idea of being a professional writerC．show young people it's unrealistic for a writer to seek wealth and fameD．encourage young people to be a writer over a long period of time【小题2】What can be concluded from the passage?A．Real writers often find their work interesting and rewarding．B．A writer's success depends on luck rather than on effort．C．Famous writers usually live in poverty．D．The chances for a writer to bee successful are little．【小题3】Why did the author begin to doubt himself after the first year of his writing career?A．He wasn't able to produce a single book．B．He hadn't seen a change for the better．C．He wasn't able to have a rest for a whole year．D．He found his dream would never e true．【小题4】“…people who die wondering，what if?” refers to “those ”．A．who think too much of the dark side of lifeB．who regret giving up their career halfwayC．who think a lot without making a decisionD．who are full of imagination even upon death【小题5】“shadow land” in the last sentence means ．A．the wonderland one often dreams aboutB．the bright future that one is looking forward toC．the state of uncertainty before one's final goal is reached D．a world that exists only in one's imaginationA
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(答案→)A
解析：做为一个成名的作家，作者在本文中讲述了自己成功路上的艰辛，告诫那些想成为作家的年轻人：写作是一项孤单寂寞而又收入微薄的工作，在数千名渴望成功的作家中,能获得命运垂青只是寥寥数人而已。
【小题1】A推理判断题。文章开头提出I always encourage such people，but I also explain that there's a big difference between “being a writer” and writing．然后讲述自己成功的艰辛，由此判断作者的目的就是要告诫想要成为作家的年轻人们成功是要历经艰辛磨难的，所以A选项正确。
【小题2】D推理判断题。根据文章第二段For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded.可知靠写作而成功的人是很少的，所以答案选D。
【小题3】B细节理解题。根据文章第三段After a year or so．However, I still hadn't gotten a break and began to doubt myself可知经过一年努力后，作者也没时来运转，所以B选项正确。
【小题4】B细节理解题。根据上文But I knew I wanted to write，l had dreamed about it for years可知尽管境遇艰难，作者依然坚持，由此推断他不想做空想家，也不想成为那些半途而废的人，由此判断B选项正确。
【小题5】C词义猜测题。根据上文I would keep putting my dream to the test—even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure．This is the shadow land of hope，可以判断“shadow land ”指的是成功之前的艰辛和一切不确定性状况，所以C选项正确。