A
The other day I heard a few local musicians talking, “I hate all the pianos in this town and I hate that rubbish they play on the radio. They cannot even understand rhythm (韵律). ”“Nobody wants to pay musicians anything. I’m sick of all the people who want you to play without paying you. ” One younger musician said, “There are a couple of clubs who want me to play for a few nights a month, and I’m trying to find other places to play. I’m also planning to join in several summer festivals this year. ”I really liked what the younger musician said so I made friends with him.
Attitudes are important. Whether they’re positive or negative (消极的), they’re all rubbing off on you. If you’re around people who are always complaining (抱怨) others, it is possible that you will start doing the same as well. If you spend lots of time with people who don’t support your dreams, it is time to take a look at the people you call “friends”.
There is an easy exercise you can try. Make a list of the people who you often stay with, and simply stop spending time with the negative people on your list. Set a new standard for yourself and don’t become friends with people who fall below that standard. The choice is always yours to make. Of course, this exercise is entirely different from making friends only for the good of oneself. We really should try to help and spend time with those who are working towards a goal or dream.
【语篇概述】本文说的是交友的问题。近朱者赤, 近墨者黑, 故不可与有负能量的人为友。
21. Why did the author want to make friends with the younger musician?
A. He is more active than the others.
B. He can earn more than the others.
C. He has more things to do than the others.
D. His attitude is more positive than the others.
【解析】选D。推理判断题。与前面的几句话相比, 这位青年音乐家的态度积极上进, 和他交朋友不会产生消极的影响。另外, 作者在下文中谈到的不要和消极的人为友是提示。
22. The underlined part “they’re all rubbing off on you” in Paragraph 2 means ______.
A. they’ll push you ahead
B. they’ll have an influence on you
C. they’ll keep you from moving on
D. they’ll help you realize your dreams
【解析】选B。句意猜测题。根据后面的解释If you’re around people who are always complaining others, it is possible that you will start doing the same as well. 可知身边的人会对你产生很大的影响。
23. By doing the exercise mentioned in Paragraph 3, you can ______.
A. make the right kind of friends
B. improve your ability to make friends
C. develop a better relationship with your friends
D. make some new friends with the same interests as you
【解析】选A。推理判断题。立下交友的标准, 就会找到符合你标准的恰当的人交朋友。
24. We can get the following information from the passage EXCEPT ______.
A. the younger musician is a positive person and would be a good friend
B. one will start complaining if one spends too much time with negative people
C. the exercise can help you keep close to really helpful friends
D. one should avoid making friends with people who have lots of difficulties
【解析】选D。推理判断题。四个选项, 唯有选项D文中没提到。