Life Is a Test. It Is Only a Test
One of my favorite posters1 says, “ Life is a test. It is only a test. Had this been a real life you would have been instructed where to go and what to do.” Whenever I think of this humorous bit of wisdom2, it reminds me to not take my life so seriously.
When you look at life and its many challenges as a test, or series of tests, you begin to see each issue you face as an opportunity to grow, a chance to discover more about life. Whether you're being bombarded（攻击；质问） with problems,responsibilities,even insurmountable（不能克服的，不能超越的） difficulties, when looked at as a test, you always have a chance to succeed, in the sense of rising above that which is challenging you. If, on the other hand, you see each new issue you face as a serious battle that must be won in order to survive, you're probably in for a very rocky6 journey. The only time you're likely to be happy is when everything is working out just right. And we all know how often that happens.
As an experiment, see if you can apply this idea to something you are forced to deal with. Perhaps you have much pressure from your parents or you have a demanding7 boss. See if you can redefine the issue you face from being a “ problem” to being a test. Rather than8 struggling with your issue, see if there is something you can learn from it. Ask yourself, “ Why is this an issue in my life? What would it mean and what would be involved to rise above it? Could I possibly look at this issue any differently? Can I see it as a test of some kind?”
If you give this strategy a try you may be surprised at your changed responses. It has become far more acceptable to me to accept things as they are.
Questions 1 to 5 are based on the passage above.
1.According to the passage,what is the author's attitude towards life?
A.He takes his life seriously.
B.He considers life as test.
C.He knows where to go and what to do.
B.He thinks life is full of humorous wisdom.
2.When you begin to consider life as a test,you will find _____.
A.you are bombarded with problems and responsibilities
B.the result of the test is so good that you are delighted
C.you have many opportunities to grow
D.you have to go to school to take tests everyday
3.Which of the following statement is TRUE according to the author?
A.When you look at life as a test,you have a chance to overcome problems you face.
B.When you take life seriously,you are more likely to succeed and become happy.
C.When you see each problem as a serious battle,you have more chance to survive.
D.When everything is working out just right,you can know how often it happens.
4.It is implied from the passage that you'd better look at life as a test when_____.
A.you try to get the meaning of the poster
B.your parents give you much pressure
C.you are carrying out an experiment
D.you are in a rocky journey
5.Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
A.My Favorite Poster
B.Take Life Seriously、
C.Face Challenge of Life
D.Life Is Only A Test
文章精要
议论文。本文作者建议人们将生活看成一个测验，以更好地应对生活中的种种困难和挫折。
斟词酌句
demanding adj.过分要求的，苛求的
*To be a CEO of a big company is a real demanding job. 当大公司的执行总裁真的是一件费力的工作。
指点迷津
1.Had this been a real life you would have been instructed where to go and what to do. 本句用了虚拟语气，表示与过去事实相反。句中省略了连词if。在书面语中条件从句可以不用连词if，只须将谓语中的过去式had移至主语之前即可。
2.Whether you're being bombarded with (problems,responsibilities,even insurmountable difficulties), when looked at as a test, you always have a chance to succeed, in the sense of rising above that [which is challenging you].本句的主干是you always have a chance to succeed。whether和when分别引导让步和时间状语从句。注意looked在此处是一个省略用法，相当于they are looked。方括号里的从句是that的定语。句中“in the sense of”表示“从某种意义上来说(你总有机会成功)”。
试题精析
1.选B。本题为观点态度推断题。文中第一段第一句说作者“最喜欢的标语上写着：生活是个测验”，这句话暗示了作者的生活态度。
2.选C。本题为主要细节正误题。第二段第一句说“you begin to see each issue you face as an opportunity to grow”，选项C与其意思一致。
3.选A。本题为文章细节正误题。第二段第二句“……in the sense of rising above that which is challenging you”中的“rise above”与A选项中的“overcome”相呼应。
4.选D。本题为主要细节正误题。A选项与题干无关;B选项过于牵强;C选项在文中并无相应论述;从第三段第二句“Perhaps you have much pressure from your parents……”可知，D选项正确
5.选D。本题为主旨归纳题。A选项只在文章开头出现，后面就未再提及;B选项与原文意思相反;C选项和D选项相比，后者更加切题。
生活是个测验 仅仅是个测验
我喜欢的一幅招贴画上面写有，“生活是个测验。仅仅是个测验。你要是真能直面人生，你便早会被告知何去何从。”每当我想起这颇有点幽默的人生哲理，它便提醒我不要把我的生活看得那么严肃。
当你把生活及其中的诸多挑战看成一个测验，或一系列测验，你便会将你面对的每一问题看作一次成长的机会，看作一次更深刻地发现生活的机会。不管你是否深陷种种问题、责任，甚至是不可逾越的障碍的围攻而不能自拔，当你将这一切视之为测验，你总有机会获胜——就是说你能超越挑战。但另一方面，如果你视你面临的每一新问题为一场严肃的、为了生存你必需赢得的战斗，那你恐怕就踏上了一个十分艰辛的旅程。你惟一的快乐时光便是一切都顺顺当当尽如人意。但我们都知道一切尽如人意的概率是多么得低。
作为试验，看看你能否把这一概念应用到你必须应付的某件事情中。也许你感觉有来自父母的很大压力，或者你有一位要求甚高的老板。看看你能否将你面临的“问题”重新定义为“测验”。与其和你的问题搏斗，不如看看你能从中学到点什么。问问自己，“为什么这成了我生活中的一个问题?它意味着什么，超越它我需要做些什么?我能否换个角度看看这问题?我能否视之为某种测验?”
如果你试着用一用这一策略，你会惊奇地发现你对它的反应全变了。你会渐渐学会按照事情的本来面目接受它们。
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