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（攻擊；質問） 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
議論文。本文作者建議人們將生活看成一個測驗，以更好地應對生活中的種種困難和挫折。
斟詞酌句
demanding adj.過分要求的，苛求的
*To be a CEO of a big company is a real demanding job. 當大公司的執行總裁真的是一件費力的工作。
指點迷津
1.Had this been a real life you would have been instructed where to go and what to do. 本句用了虛擬語氣，表示與過去事實相反。句中省略了連詞if。在書面語中條件從句可以不用連詞if，只須將謂語中的過去式had移至主語之前即可。
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分別引導讓步和時間狀語從句。注意looked在此處是一個省略用法，相當于they are looked。方括號里的從句是that的定語。句中“in the sense of”表示“從某種意義上來說(你總有機會成功)”。
試題精析
1.選B。本題為觀點態度推斷題。文中第一段第一句說作者“最喜歡的標語上寫著：生活是個測驗”，這句話暗示了作者的生活態度。
2.選C。本題為主要細節正誤題。第二段第一句說“you begin to see each issue you face as an opportunity to grow”，選項C與其意思一致。
3.選A。本題為文章細節正誤題。第二段第二句“……in the sense of rising above that which is challenging you”中的“rise above”與A選項中的“overcome”相呼應。
4.選D。本題為主要細節正誤題。A選項與題干無關;B選項過于牽強;C選項在文中并無相應論述;從第三段第二句“Perhaps you have much pressure from your parents……”可知，D選項正確
5.選D。本題為主旨歸納題。A選項只在文章開頭出現，后面就未再提及;B選項與原文意思相反;C選項和D選項相比，后者更加切題。
生活是個測驗 僅僅是個測驗
我喜歡的一幅招貼畫上面寫有，“生活是個測驗。僅僅是個測驗。你要是真能直面人生，你便早會被告知何去何從。”每當我想起這頗有點幽默的人生哲理，它便提醒我不要把我的生活看得那么嚴肅。
當你把生活及其中的諸多挑戰看成一個測驗，或一系列測驗，你便會將你面對的每一問題看作一次成長的機會，看作一次更深刻地發現生活的機會。不管你是否深陷種種問題、責任，甚至是不可逾越的障礙的圍攻而不能自拔，當你將這一切視之為測驗，你總有機會獲勝——就是說你能超越挑戰。但另一方面，如果你視你面臨的每一新問題為一場嚴肅的、為了生存你必需贏得的戰斗，那你恐怕就踏上了一個十分艱辛的旅程。你惟一的快樂時光便是一切都順順當當盡如人意。但我們都知道一切盡如人意的概率是多么得低。
作為試驗，看看你能否把這一概念應用到你必須應付的某件事情中。也許你感覺有來自父母的很大壓力，或者你有一位要求甚高的老板。看看你能否將你面臨的“問題”重新定義為“測驗”。與其和你的問題搏斗，不如看看你能從中學到點什么。問問自己，“為什么這成了我生活中的一個問題?它意味著什么，超越它我需要做些什么?我能否換個角度看看這問題?我能否視之為某種測驗?”
如果你試著用一用這一策略，你會驚奇地發現你對它的反應全變了。你會漸漸學會按照事情的本來面目接受它們。
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