(2020·太原高三一调)“Everything happens for the best，” my mother said each time I faced disappointment or even depression.“If you carry on, one day, something good will happen.And you'll realize that it wouldn't have happened if not for that previous disappointment.”
Mother was right, but I didn't realize that until I graduated from college in 1932.I had decided to try for a job in radio and then work my way up to be a sports announcer.I hitchhiked (搭顺风车) to Chicago and knocked on the door of every station — and got turned down every time.In one studio, a kind lady told me that in most cases, big stations couldn't risk hiring an inexperienced person.“Go out in the remote areas and find a small station that'll give you a chance，” she said.I went back home to Dixon, Illinois.
While there were no radio­announcing jobs in Dixon, my father said Montgomery Ward had opened a store and wanted a local athlete to manage its sports department.Since Dixon was where I had played high school football, I applied.The job sounded just right for me.
But I wasn't hired.My disappointment must have shown.“Everything happens for the best.” Mom reminded me.Dad offered me the car to hunt for jobs.I tried WOC Radio in Davenport, Iowa.The program director, a wonderful Scotsman named Peter MacArthur, told me they had already hired an announcer.
As I left his office, my frustration boiled_over.I asked aloud, “How can a fellow get to be a sports announcer if he can't get a job in a radio station？” I was waiting for the elevator when I heard MacArthur calling, “What was that you said about sports? Do you know anything about football？” Then he stood me before a microphone and asked me to broadcast an imaginary game.The preceding autumn, my team had won a game in the last 20 seconds with a 65­yard run.I did a 15­minute boost to that play, and Peter told me I would be broadcasting Saturday's game!
On my way home, as I have had many times since, I thought of my mother's words, “If you carry on, one day, something good will happen.It wouldn't have happened if not for that previous disappointment.”
语篇解读：本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲了作者想要成为一名体育播音员，去应聘时，四处碰壁。最终，Peter MacArthur能够识别出作者作为体育播音员的天赋，作者实现了自己的梦想。
4．Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A．The author graduated from college in the 1930s.
B．The author's dream job was a sports announcer.
C．The author was refused by every radio station across the country.
D．The author was considered unqualified because of his lack of experience.
解析：选C　细节理解题。根据第二段中“I hitchhiked (搭顺风车) to Chicago and knocked on the door of every station — and got turned down every time.”可知，作者被芝加哥城市的每一个广播电台而不是全国的每一家广播电台拒绝，故选C。
5．What does the underlined phrase “boil over” in paragraph 5 most probably mean?
A．To pass on some evil emotions.
B．To become overwhelming.
C．To be turned into calmness.
D．To break down.
解析：选B　词义猜测题。根据第五段中“I asked aloud, ‘How can a fellow get to be a sports announcer if he can't get a job in a radio station？’”可知，这里意思是当我离开他的办公室，我被挫折感淹没。boil over的意思是淹没，故选B。
6．What can be inferred from the passage?
A．The author was given a car by his father after he failed his first­ever job interview.
B．The author's mom always advised him to learn from his failures.
C．Peter MacArthur, the program director of WOC Radio, turned down the author for his lack of flexibility.
D．Peter MacArthur was able to recognize the talent of the author as a sports announcer.
解析：选D　推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中“I did a 15­minute boost to that play, and Peter told me I would be broadcasting Saturday's game！”可推知Peter MacArthur能够识别出作者作为体育播音员的天赋，故选D。
7．What lesson can be drawn from the author's experience in the passage?
A．When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
B．Practice makes perfect.
C．No pain, no gain.
D．The early bird catches the worm.
解析：选C　推理判断题。本文主要讲了作者想要成为一名体育播音员，去应聘时，四处碰壁。最终，Peter MacArthur能够识别出作者作为体育播音员的天赋，作者实现了自己的梦想。由此推断出从作者的经历中，我们学到了“没有付出，就没有收获。”这个道理，故选C。