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原创： 中小学英语桥

【原题复现】

In December 2017, I attended a conference. Five successful women delivered speeches on the topic“Bouncing Back after Setbacks.” As I sat there listening to their many personal and professional mistakes and setbacks, I felt fortunate that I hadn’t made that many mistakes in my own life.

Those women had lost thousands in investments, started companies but failed, sold companies that later ended up being worth millions, and lost partners in the name of business.Despite knowing that they had, in fact, bounced back and were again doing very well, I was starting to feel sorry for them.

Then, as if someone whispered in my ear, I heard the words:“Don’t be so proud of yourself. You haven’t made any mistakes because you haven’t lived at all. Look how boring your life is.” Whose voice was this, and how dare it speak to me like that?

I think, for the first time, I heard my own heart speak. It shook me to my core, and it took all I had to keep from crying. I started thinking of the mistakes I had made. The voice was right. There weren’t many at all. I had followed a straight path for 38 years. I went to school, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees with honors, and stayed at every job I’d had far longer than it was professionally beneficial for me to do so.In fact, at 38, I had only had three jobs.“The devil(魔鬼) you know is better than the one you don’t ” was my motto.

A quick review of my life made me realize that it was the actions I hadn’t taken that I was suddenly regretting. I hadn’t studied abroad. I hadn’t risked love. In fact, I was perpetually single. I hadn’t started a business. I hadn’t traveled enough. I had said “no”far more than “yes”.

The voice that whispered to me continued to the New Year. It was like it laughed at me. The thought of turning forty frightened me. It’s one thing to be unhappy and unsettled in your twenties, and perhaps even in one’s thirties. But was I going to start a new decade with the same boredom? I needed something to pick me up, some activity I couldlook forward to.

51.How did the author feel when first hearing stories from the 5 speakers? A.Regretful. B.Surprised. C.Lucky. D.Guilty.

52.The author felt like crying during the conference because she realized _______ .

A.shehadn’t lived her life to the fullest

B.she was deeply touched by the women

C.she had nothing to be proud of in her life

D.she had made a lotof mistakes in her life

53.What does the underlined sentencein Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A.The familiar devil is more frightening.

B.Saying “no” is better than saying “yes”.

C.It's better to stay within the comfort zone.

D.You'd better change your job more frequently.

54.From the passage, we can learn that the author ___ .

A.felafraid of ageing

B. traveled abroad a lot

C.was married in her thirties

D.decided to do something new

【中英文对照】

In December 2017, I attended a conference. Five successful women delivered speeches on the topic "Bouncing Back after Setbacks". As I sat there listening to their many personal and professional mistakes and setbacks,I felt fortunate that I hadn't made that many mistakes in my own life.

2017年的12月份，在我出席过的一次会议上，五位成功女性就“受挫之后，东山再起”发表了主题演讲。坐在那里聆听到她们遭受过个人或职业上多次的失误与挫折，我好庆幸，有生之年从没尝过犯那么多错误的滋味。

Those women had lost thousands in investments, started companies but failed, sold companies that later ended up being worth millions, and lost partners in the name of business. Despite knowing that they had, in fact, bounced back and were again doing very well, I was starting to feel sorry for them.

那些女性曾经屡遭不幸：有的投资失败损失上万，有的创办公司却败北而终，有的把经营价值几百万的公司甩手，有的生意中失去贸易伙伴。我虽然也清楚她们现实中已经东山再起，工作继而有条不紊，但对她们的遭遇不禁深感同情。

Then, as if someone whispered in my ear, I heard the words:“Don't be so proud of yourself. You haven't made any mistakes because you haven't lived at all. Look how boring your life is.” Whose voice was this, and how dare it speak to me like that?

突然，好像有人在我耳边低语，只听得：“不要觉得自己了不起。你没是没犯过错，因为你根本没有活出味道来。看看你生活有多么乏味。”这是谁的声音？它怎么竟敢跟那样说我？

I think, for the first time, I heard my own heart speak. It shook me to my core, and it took all I had to keep from crying. I started thinking of the mistakes I had made. The voice was right. There weren't many at all. I had followed a straight path for 38 years. I went to school, earned bachelor's and master's degrees with honors, and stayed at every job I'd had far longer than it was professionally beneficial for me to do so. In fact, at 38, I had only had three jobs.“The devil you know is better than the one you don't ” was my motto.

我想，这还是我第一次听到自己的内心，这不禁震撼到我认知的防线，我用尽浑身解数止住了哭声。我开始思考曾犯过的错误。那个声音是对的。我求知求学、荣获学士和硕士学位，而后参加工作，我向来没有过职业危机，但每个工作岗位都坚持太久。其实，到38岁的时候，我仅仅换过三次岗位。“你认识的魔鬼要好于你不认识魔鬼”是我的人生座右铭。

A quick review of my life made me realize that it was the actions I hadn't taken that I was suddenly regretting. I hadn't studied abroad. I hadn't risked love. In fact, I was perpetually single. I hadn't started a business. I hadn't traveled enough. I had said “no” far more than “yes”.

匆匆回眸自己的生活令我意识到：如果让我说对过去有何遗憾，那就是缺乏行动力。我没有异国求学的经历。我没有大胆去爱过。事实上我一直还是单身。我没有创过业。我旅游还不够多。我一味拒绝，远远超出接受。

The voice that whispered to me continued to the New Year. It was like it laughed at me. The thought of turning forty frightened me. It’s one thing to be unhappy and unsettled in your twenties, and perhaps even in one’s thirties. But was I going to start a new decade with the same boredom? I needed something to pick me up, some activity I could look forward to.

那低语音一直萦绕在耳边，直到新年都没有褪去，它好像在嘲笑我。突然一想即将步入不惑之年。如果说二十多岁，甚至三十多岁的年龄没有幸福安稳的日子还无所谓。那我还准备平平淡淡无聊地度过下一个十年吗？我需要某种可以让我振作起来的东西，它可能是我可以企及的某种行动力。

【参考答案】

51. C 52. A 53. C 54. D