第十六章单元测试
I had failed again． It was the day of the big marathon．I had decided three years ago to train for the half-marathon event and take home a medal.There I sat, in front of my TV, while I watched others cross the finish line． It was just another in a long string (串) of failures． I had never met a single weight loss or fitness goal and I was majoring in the art of failing．
We are a family of exploration and often plan active vacations．It seemed that on every vacation I was the one who couldn't go the distance． Each time I urged (催促) my family, "Go on without me． Bring me lots of pictures and videos． I'll be fine just sitting here taking in the view． " I lied． Sick of being left behind, I decided that it would never happen again． Sure I was in my 50s, but surely there was still hope for me． I always spent weeks walking to prepare for our active vacations． I had lost weight many times． I just always seemed to fail to get where I needed to be．
But this time I would do something different． I was going to walk a half marathon． Surely I would lose weight and get in shape if I could complete over 12 miles in four hours． Besides, this would be training． Training sounded cooler than diet and exercise． I was revved up and ready to go． I bought the proper gear (装备) , checked out what type of drinks would be handed out at the marathon and prepared a lot． I had a plan!
Now two years later, there I sat, watching thousands of people of all ages succeed where I had failed． I walked out, angry with myself, sat down and had myself a pity party． I was a master at the art of pity parties, having a great deal of experience in holding them． What was my problem? Where was I going wrong? I stopped and considered each failure, one by one． I made some very interesting discoveries．
I had failed to climb to the top of that Mayan pyramid, but I did climb it and stood on those ancient stones． I had failed to meet a single weight loss goal and yet I had lost 43 pounds． I couldn't walk 12 miles in four hours, but I could walk 12 miles．
All my failures were sounding like a success story． This time I was giving thanks． I was thankful that I had been given the spirit of failure because failure meant that I was trying, that I didn't give up． I decided that I would be crossing the finish line next year．
More than three dozen billionaires, including well-known philanthropist (慈善家) David Rockefeller, have promised at least half of their fortunes to charity, joining a programme that Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett started in June to encourage other wealthy people to give.
The pledge is currently worth about $ 150 billion, but the programme predicts it will eventually be worth $ 600 billion.
"During even the Depression's worst years, my parents gave money - about 8% of their annual income of $ 2200," said Lorry Lokey, one of the donors, on the website of the programme, the Giving Pledge, "I remember saying to my mother that we can't afford that. But she said we have to share with others."
The pledge has been a matter of some debate in philanthropic and non-profit circles, with some experts dismissing it as mere publicity and others predicting that it would produce a flood of new money to support non-profit groups.
Buffett said the real value of the pledge was found in the example it set and in the sentiments (情感) expressed in the letters posted on the website.
Buffett and Gates will hold several dinners later this year to recruit more billionaires, and members of the Giving Pledge will meet annually to discuss their philanthropy.
The pair are due to meet some wealthiest people in China next month and India in March.
"We hope this catches fire in some other countries," Buffett said, "If they want to take what we think is a good idea and run with it, we will be cheering."
Buffett said the number of people who had agreed to sign on was at the high end of his expectations. He said some people who declined to sign the pledge were planning to give away most of their wealth but did not want to draw attention to those plans.
Energy tycoon (大亨) Pickens, who is worth about $ 1 billion, said in his Giving Pledge letter: "I've long stated that I enjoy making money, and I enjoy giving it away. I'm not a big fan of inherited wealth. It generally does more harm than good."
答案:这篇文章主要讲述了一位作者在尝试参加马拉松比赛时的失败经历，以及他从这些失败中获得的启示和成长。以下是对文章中可能涉及的阅读理解和完型填空问题的答案： 1. **阅读理解问题：** 作者为什么在电视前观看马拉松比赛？ - 答案：因为作者在三年前决定训练参加半程马拉松并赢得奖牌，但最终失败了。 2. **阅读理解问题：** 作者在主动度假时通常会遇到什么问题？ - 答案：作者在主动度假时通常无法走完全程，需要家人把她留在后面，而家人则带着照片和视频回来。 3. **阅读理解问题：** 作者为什么决定参加马拉松训练？ - 答案：作者希望通过完成超过12英里的训练来减肥和健身，并认为这比仅仅说“节食和锻炼”听起来更酷。 4. **阅读理解问题：** 作者在参加马拉松后有什么发现？ - 答案：作者发现即使没有达到目标，比如爬到玛雅金字塔的顶部、达到体重减轻的目标或在四小时内走完12英里，但他仍然取得了成就，比如爬上了金字塔、减轻了43磅体重、至少走完了12英里。 5. **完型填空问题：** 作者如何对待自己的失败？ - 答案：作者开始反思每次失败的原因，发现每个失败实际上都是成功的一部分，因为他一直在尝试，没有放弃。最后，他决定明年会参加马拉松比赛并成功到达终点线。 通过这些问题的回答，我们可以看到作者从失败中学到了坚持和努力的重要性，并且能够以积极的态度看待自己的努力和进步。
