We all often deal with people who complain about the failures and troubles of their daily lives. Life __1__ to be one big problem for them. I would like to think it __2__ unusual. If there were no problems in your job, then your __3__ would hire a less capable person than you to do the things that don't __4__ much thought. In the business world, those who are able to solve difficult problems are the ones who are the most __5__ to the employer.
Many times the problems or challenges we face __6__ us to grow and become more capable. The runner who __7__ for the mile run in the Olympics by running downhill will have no chance of winning the medal __8__. The runner who trains by running uphill is far more likely to __9__ the speed and endurance needed to win the medal.
The __10__ thing that ever happened to boxer Gene Tunney was that he __11__ both hands in the ring. His manager felt that he could __12__ again punch hard enough to be the heavyweight champion. __13__， Tunney decided that he would become a scientific boxer and win the title as a boxer, not a slugger (重击者). __14__ historians will tell you that he developed into one of the best boxers who ever fought. They will __15__ tell you that as a puncher, he would not have had a chance __16__ Jack Dempsey. Jack was considered by many to be the hardest __17__ in heavyweight history. Tunney would never have been a champion __18__ he had not had the problem of his broken hands.
The __19__ time you meet with a difficult climb, obstacle, or problem, you should __20__ and say, “Here's my chance to grow.”
1．A.seems B．pretends
C．agrees D．hopes
答案：A 文章首句说到我们常常会碰到一些抱怨失败和日常生活中的困难的人，此处表示“生活对他们来说好像(seems)是一个大难题”。
2．A.something B．everything
C．nothing D．anything
答案：C 下文中的“If there were no problems ... your __3__ would hire a less capable person ...”说明，作者认为生活中有困难没什么(nothing)不正常。
3．A.teacher B．employer
C．father D．doctor
答案：B 结合下文中的“those who are able to solve difficult problems are the ones who are the most __5__ to the employer”可知，这里指雇主(employer)。
4．A.give B．receive
C．offer D．need
答案：D 根据上文中的“a less capable person”可知，此处指那些不需要(need)动太多脑筋的事情。
5．A.famous B．valuable
C．strange D．difficult
答案：B 根据常识可知，对雇主来说能解决难度大的问题的人是最有价值的(valuable)人。
6．A.allow B．warn
C．force D．order
答案：C 根据常识可知，很多时候，我们所面临的困难和挑战会迫使(force)我们成长，并促使我们提高能力。
7．A.trains B．leaves
C．looks D．waits
答案：A 由下文中的“The runner who trains by running uphill ...”可知此处应用trains。
8．A.in all B．after all
C．above all D．at all
答案：D 训练时沿着山坡往下跑的跑步者是根本没有赢得奖牌的机会的。at all与前面的否定词no连用表示“根本不”。故选D。in all “总共”；after all “毕竟”；above all “最重要的是”，均不符合语境。
9．A.beat B．stop
C．lose D．develop
答案：D 沿着山坡往上跑的跑步者更有可能培养(develop)出赢得奖牌所需的速度和耐力。beat “打败”；stop “停止”；lose “失去”，均不符合语境。
10．A.worst B．best
C．easiest D．fastest
答案：B 由下文中的“Tunney would never have been a champion __18__ he had not had the problem of his broken hands.”可知，设空处应填best(最好的)。此处是作者对腾尼拳击生涯的积极评价。
11．A.held B．raised
C．broke D．touched
答案：C 由下文中的“he had not had the problem of his broken hands”可知选C。
12．A.never B．always
C．often D．hardly
答案：A 此处表示“主教练认为他再也不能(never)获得重量级拳击的冠军了”。
13．A.Unfortunately B．Besides
C．Instead D．Therefore
答案：C 虽然主教练对他成为重量级冠军不抱什么希望，但腾尼反而决定成为一名技术型的拳击手。C项Instead(相反)符合语境。
14．A.Swimming B．Boxing
C．Running D．Skating
答案：B 上下文谈到的是有关拳击的训练和比赛，由此可知，此处指拳击(boxing)方面的历史学家。
15．A.still B．already
C．even D．also
答案：D 此处表示“他们也(also)会告诉你……”，故选D。
16．A.against B．for
C．on D．with
答案：A against在此表示“与……对抗”。
17．A.worker B．student
C．hitter D．trainer
答案：C 由下文中的“in heavyweight history”可知，杰克·登普西也是拳击手(hitter)。
18．A.unless B．if
C．because D．so
答案：B 如果(if)他的手没出问题的话，他是不会成为冠军的。because和so均表示因果关系，不符合语境；unless与not相冲突，故排除。
19．A.first B．other
C．last D．next
答案：D The next time(下次)相当于连词，引导时间状语从句。
20．A.smile B．withdraw
C．change D．speak
答案：A 联系全文的意思可知，我们要微笑(smile)着面对困难，勇敢地接受挑战，从而实现成长。
