There on the book’s cover was a beagle which looked identical to my dog. I ran my fingers over the picture of the dog on the cover. My eyes ran across the title, Amos, the Beagle with a Plan. Unknowingly, I had read the title. Without opening the book, I borrowed it from the library for the summer.

Under the shade of a bush, I started to read about Amos. I read very, very slowly with difficulty. Though pages were turned slowly, I got the main idea of the story about a dog who, like mine, had been separated from his family and who finally found his way back home. That dog was my dog, and I was the little boy in the book. At the end of the story, my mind continued the final scene of reunion, on and on, until my own lost dog and I were, in my mind, running together.

        My mother’s call returned me to the real world. I suddenly realized something: I had read a book, and I had loved reading that book. Everyone knew I could not read. But I had read it. Books could be incredibly wonderful and I was going to read them.

        I never told my mother about my “miraculous” (奇迹般地) experience that summer, but she saw a slow but remarkable improvement in my classroom performance during the next year. And years later, she was proud that her son had read thousands of books, was awarded a PhD in literature, and authored his own books, articles, poetry and fiction. The power of the words has held.

46. The author’s mother told him to borrow a book in order to_____.

A. encourage him to do more walking

B. let him spend a meaningful summer

C. help cure him of his reading problem

D. make him learn more about weapons

47. The book caught the author’s eye because_____.

A. it contained pretty pictures of animals

B. it reminded him of his own dog

C. he found its title easy to understand

D. he liked children’s stories very much

48. Why could the author manage to read the book through?

  A. He was forced by his mother to read it.

B. He identified with the story in the book.

C. The book told the story of his pet dog.

D. The happy ending of the story attracted him.

49. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A. The author has become a successful writer.

B. The author’s mother read the same book.

C. The author’s mother rewarded him with books.

D. The author has had happy summers ever since.

50. Which one could be the best title of the passage?

A. The Charm of a Book                                     B. Mum’s Strict Order

C. Reunion with My Beagle                               D. My Passion for Reading

D

        Once when I was facing a decision that involved high risk, I went to a friend. He looked at me for a moment, and then wrote a sentence containing the best advice I’ve ever had: Be bold and brave — and mighty (强大的) forces will come to your aid.

Those words made me see clearly that when I had fallen short in the past, it was seldom because I had tried and failed. It was usually because I had let fear of failure stop me from trying at all. On the other hand, whenever I had plunged into deep water, forced by courage or circumstance, I had always been able to swim until I got my feet on the ground again.

Boldness means a decision to bite off more than you can eat. And there is nothing mysterious about the mighty forces. They are potential powers we possess: energy, skill, sound judgment, creative ideas — even physical strength greater than most of us realize.

        Admittedly, those mighty forces are spiritual ones. But they are more important than physical ones. A college classmate of mine, Tim, was an excellent football player, even though he weighed much less than the average player. “In one game I suddenly found myself confronting a huge player, who had nothing but me between him and our goal line,” said Tim. “I was so frightened that I closed my eyes and desperately threw myself at that guy like a bullet — and stopped him cold.”

        Boldness — a willingness to extend yourself to the extreme—is not one that can be acquired overnight. But it can be taught to children and developed in adults. Confidence builds up. Surely, there will be setbacks (挫折) and disappointments in life; boldness in itself is no guarantee of success. But the person who tries to do something and fails is a lot better off than the person who tries to do nothing and succeeds.

        So, always try to live a little bit beyond your abilities—and you’ll find your abilities are greater than you ever dreamed.

51. Why was the author sometimes unable to reach his goal in the past?

A. He faced huge risks.

B. He lacked mighty forces.

C. Fear prevented him from trying.

D. Failure blocked his way to success.

52. What is the implied meaning of the underlined part?

A. Swallow more than you can digest.

B. Act slightly above your abilities.

C. Develop more mysterious powers.

D. Learn to make creative decisions.

53. What was especially important for Tim’s successful defense in the football game?

A. His physical strength.