I grew up in a middle－class neighborhood. It’s not famous for producing success stories, or CEOs. My childhood was fairly free and uncared－for. My parents only cared about partying and themselves, which left me to figure out life on my own.
Being fairly successful now and living in a much better neighborhood, I still think about the days of working to buy my own school lunch. Even though growing up privileged(享有特权的) would have been great, there are so many things I wouldn’t trade from growing up poor.
You had to learn to survive on your own. Your neighborhood was rough and full of people looking to take advantage of you. These experiences have made you stronger. You observe your environment, keep up your guard at any time, and learn to trust your courage. A Harvard education is an amazing thing, but street smarts will give you something that you can never learn from books.
When you have nothing, your dreams fill the emptiness. You desire success, money, power, happiness, etc. You grew up watching rich people on TV and wanting to be someone like them. These dreams lead to passion, goals, and achievements. Even if you never make millions, you fulfill your dreams by doing better than your parents did, and going further in your career.
From a very young age, you had to learn to budget for gas, food, weekend money, and clothes. You had to work harder for everything in your life, so you appreciated it more and it has taught you that work ethic(职业道德) is usually not a natural, but a learned thing. It’s hard to teach. When the privileged ones quit for the day, you didn’t, because for you there was no fall back plan or safety net. At the end of the day, you’ll do what it takes to survive.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇夹叙夹议文。作者介绍了自己的生活经历，出身贫寒让他更加独立，并帮助他获得成功。
1．What do we know about the author’s parents?
A．They lived a happy life.
B．They were not responsible.
C．They often held parties at home.
D．They trained the author to be independent.
B 解析：推理判断题。根据文中第一段最后一句话可知， 作者的父母只管他们自己的生活。
2．What can we infer about the author from Paragraph 2?
A．He is disappointed with his present life.
B．He envies those growing up privileged.
C．He values his early experiences.
D．He prefers a poor life.
C 解析：推理判断题。根据文中第二段...there are so many things I wouldn’t trade from growing up poor可知，作者早期的生活虽然辛苦，但是他很珍惜那段生活经历。
3．What did the author get from his early life?
A．The way to be rich.
B．The tips on working hard.
C．The dream to be successful.
D．The skills to be a street leader.
C 解析：细节理解题。根据文中第四段的内容可知，当你一无所有时，你要拥有梦想，梦想会填补你的空虚，这些梦想也会让你有激情、有目标并且有所成就。
4．Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A．Your Early Life Affects You a Lot
B．It Takes Poor People More to Succeed
C．You Should Be Grateful for What You Have
D．Growing up Poor Takes You Further in Your Life
D 解析：标题归纳题。综合全文，作者以自己的经历告诉我们，出身贫寒让他学会了很多，也帮助他在成功路上走得更远。
