Growing up on a tobacco farm, Emma Avery was used to hard times. When she was seven, her family’s farmhouse burned to the ground. Her father made a temporary (临时的) shelter, where eight people had to sleep in two beds. As soon as Emma and her four brothers and two sisters were big enough, they were out in the fields.
Emma would find her fort in school, even as a C student, thanks to one teacher. When she moved on to middle school, Emma was alarmingly far behind her classmates. She kept her head down, trying not to be noticed, struggling to catch up, and feeling like an outsider.
Then one day, when Emma was 16, a teacher named Mr. Potts changed everything. Looking his students in the eye, Mr. Potts said, Being a C student does not mean you do not have a valuable contribution to make. Some of you have to work in the fields in the evening and do not have time to study. But if you do your best, you have a gift to give.
The teacher’s words made Emma believe she could do well, and she worked harder. In the end she won a scholarship to St. Paul’s College, graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1967, and got a job in the public-school system. Then, at George Washington University, she received a master’s in education in 1970, and afterwards in the same year she married Ron Smothers.
Over the next six years, Emma taught in public schools in Miami. In 1976, after saving $10,000, she opened her first restaurant in Los Angeles. Eventually Emma stopped teaching, and her business expanded (扩展) to six restaurants.
In gratitude (感激) for what she has been able to achieve, Emma donates a lot. She has no idea how much money she’s given away. She says, Those I want to help are the C students who just need help, direction and confidence.
【小题1】The first paragraph serves to show that Emma .A．was poor and had no time to studyB．was born on a tobacco farmC．was sad to lose her houseD．was kind enough to help support the family【小题2】From the text we learn that Emma .A．won a scholarship to George Washington UniversityB．was unsuccessful as a businesswomanC．was thankful to Mr. PottsD．disliked teaching, and gave up the job【小题3】From the second paragraph we can infer that Emma was .A．unintelligent B．unconfidentC．hard-workingD．Considerate【小题4】The text mainly wants to tell us .A．confidence is the first step to successB．memory of the past is the teacher of the futureC．something attempted, something doneD．nothing is impossible to a willing heartA
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(答案→)A
解析：本文讲述了Emma成功的故事，关键在于老师对她的鼓励，让她有了自信心，能够发挥自己的才干，取得了很大的成功。
【小题1】A 段落大意题。根据文章第一段Growing up on a tobacco farm, Emma Avery was used to hard times. When she was seven, her family’s farmhouse burned to the ground. Her father made a temporary (临时的) shelter, where eight people had to sleep in two beds. As soon as Emma and her four brothers and two sisters were big enough, they were out in the fields.可知她出生贫寒，很早就要到地里干活，没有时间去学习。故A正确。
【小题2】C 推理题。根据第三段内容，尤其是文章第4段第一句The teacher’s words made Emma believe she could do well, and she worked harder.可知老师的鼓励，让她有了信心，努力学习。所以她对这位老师很感激。故C正确。
【小题3】B 推理题。根据第二段最后2行. She kept her head down, trying not to be noticed, struggling to catch up, and feeling like an outsider.说明她没有自信，很自卑。故B正确。
【小题4】A 主旨大意题。本文讲述了Emma成功的故事，关键在于老师对她的鼓励，让她有了自信心，能够发挥自己的才干，取得了很大的成功。故A项符合。