Reading comprehension There are two passages followed by several multiple choice questions. Read the passages and choose the best answer to each question. Passage 1 I’m a confident writer. I’ve been doing this long enough that I know my strengths and my limitations. I’ve had enough feedback to understand that I’m an effective communicator- when I use the written word. I’m not able to edit. I’m afraid of being trapped in a corner without being able to talk my way out. Basically I’m scared to speak. It would be easy to simply refuse the opportunities that come my way. When somebody asks me to speak in front of a group, I could say “no”. When radio and television stations call for an interview, I could say “no”. But for the past two years, I’ve been following my own policy to say “yes” to new opportunities so long as they don’t violate my personal code of conduct. My goal is to continually improve myself. One way to do that is to do the things that scare me, to take them on as challenges, and to learn from them-even if I fail. In mid-November, a local station asked me to appear on live television. “I realize it’s short notice,” the producer wrote, “but we’d love to have you on the show if you’re available tonight.” It’s one thing to say that you want to overcome your fears, but it ’ s another thing to actually do it. I remembered my disastrous( 糟糕的 ) interview with a Seattle radio station in early 2007. I thought about recent taped television interviews that I had hated. I was afraid of what might happen. But I also thought about the things that had gone right, I thought of how my speaking skills had improved over the past year. In addition, I have always been told to think big since nobody will believe in you until you believe in yourself. So when the television producer asked if I wanted to appear in his show, I thought bid. “ Sure, ” I said. “ I ’ ll do it. ” I acted confident, but on the inside I was frightened. What I needed were techniques to boost ( 增强 )my confidence and to overcome my fear. Remember those times when you feel that your ideas aren’t good enough, or people are putting down on your good ideas, or you are getting fired—these are the same ideas that you are going to be celebrated for 30 years later. 1. The author is less confident in speaking because_______. A he has several successful public speaking experiences in the past B he has not much time to prepare or to formulate his thoughts when speaking C he doesn’t want to answer unexpected questions from the audience D they wanted to occupy the whole North America 2. The author did not refuse the invitation to appear on live television because_______. A he did not know how to refuse B the producer was considerate C it would build up his reputation D he tried to improve himself 3. What does the author intend to tell us by describing how he accepts the invitation of the local television station? A Success starts from failure and experience is helpful. B Practice makes perfect and improvement can be achieved. C Fear is real and courage is needed to overcome fear. D He believed in himself so that others believe in him. 4 What does the phrase "put down" (Line2, Paragraph 6) possibly mean in the passage? A To look down upon. B To criticize. C To keep in mind. D To write down. 5 Which of the following best states the author’s purpose of writing this passage? A To explicate how confidence can be built by overcoming our own limitations. B To show that speaking is more challenging so that we need more practice. C To persuade us to seize every opportunity to practice our speaking skills. D To illustrate helpful techniques in speaking with his own experiences.