我的暑假第十五天：(3)Mark, a young person, tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people, but I also explain that theres 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. “Youve 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(報(bào)答). When I left a 20-year job in the U. S. Coast Guard to become a writer, I had no hopes at all. What I did have was a friend who found me my room in a New York apartment building. It didnt 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 hadnt got a break and began to doubt myself. It was so hard to sell a story that barely made enough to eat. But I knew I wanted to write. I had dreamed about it for years. I wasnt 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.1. The passage is meant to _.A. warn young people of the hardship that a successful writer has to experienceB. advise young people to give up their idea of becoming a professional writerC. show young people its unrealistic for writers to seek wealth and fameD. encourage young people to seek good jobs2. What can be concluded from the passage?A. Real writers often find their work interesting and rewarding.B. A writers success depends on luck rather than on effort.C. Famous writers usually live in poverty.D. The chances for a writer to become successful are small3. Why did the author begin to doubt himself after the first year of his writing work?A. He wasnt able to produce a single book.B. He hadnt seen a change for the better.C. He wasnt able to have a rest for a whole year.D. He found his dream would never come true.4. “Shadow land” in the last sentence refers to _.A. the wonderland one often dreams aboutB. the bright future that one is looking forward toC. a world that exists only in ones imaginationD. the state of uncertainty before ones final goal is reached(4)In Britain in the 1890s there was a postcard “craze(熱潮)”. People formed clubs and collected and exchanged postcards. Even Queen Victoria had her own private collection.When Edward was the king, the British had a cheap and good postal system. If anyone wanted to tell a friend that they were coming for tea in the afternoon, they would send a postcard in the morning. “Drop me a card” was as common then as “give me a ring” as now.In 1902 an important step was taken. The government said that half of the side that was used for the address on the postcard could be used for messages, and the whole of the other side could be used for a picture. It was then that the simple postcard, as we know now, was created.1. In Britain in the 1890s, _.A. people were interested in sending cardsB. people were interested in playing cardsC. people were interested in collecting postcardsD. people were interested in buying postcards2. “Give me a ring” in the passage means _.A. send me a gold ringB. send me a cardC. give me a telephone callD. give me a bell ring3. Which statement is TRUE?A. Postcards were not used in the 19th century.B. It was not until 1902 that the simple postcard as we know was created.C. Postcards were used only for collection in the 1890s.D. There was no message on the old postcard.4. Choose the best title for the passage.A. Postcards Old and NewB. Postcard Clubs in the 1890sC. Creation of the Present PostcardD. Postal System in Britain