US president Barack Obama told students that it takes hard work in school to prepare for a rewarding career in his “back to school” speech, 36 last Tuesday in Virginia, US. Here is excerpt （节选）from his speech:
I know that sometimes, you get the 37 that you can be rich and successful without any hard work – 38 your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things. But the truth is, being successful is 39 .You won’t love every subject you study. Not every homework assignment will seem completely important to your life right this minute. And you may not succeed at 40 the first time you try.
That’s OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most 41 .JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was 42 12 times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was 43 his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said. “I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
These people succeeded because they understand that you can’t let your failures 44 you. No one’s 45 being good at things; you become good at things through hard work.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of 46 . It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new.
And even when you’re 47 , even when you’re discouraged, and when you feel like other people have given up on yourself, you won’t give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
36. A. addressed B. claimed C. delivered D. announced
37.A. feelings B. definition C. concept D. sense
38. A. that B. which C. what D. whatever
39. A. inaccessible B. hard C. rough D. unavailable
40.A, anything B. everything C. nothing D. something
41. A. effort B. attempts C. failures D. successes
42. A. denied B. turned away C. declined D. rejected
43. A. cut from B. cut off C. cut down D. cut in
44. A. confirm B. define C. identify D. prove
45. A. brought up B. raised C. fed D. born
46. A. strength B. courage C. weakness D. perseverance
47. A. struggling B. fighting C. trying D. succeeding