B
Last month, I finally got the chance to take part in a painting competition. I had been looking forward to it for a long time. It took me hours to practise every day. On the day of the competition, I was full of confidence.
I took all my painting tools with me, carefully chose my colours
and started to paint a beautiful landscape. Everything seemed to be going according to the plan. The vivid greens of trees and the soft blues of the sky were coming together beautifully on the paper. But then, disaster struck! Just as I was adding the finishing touches, some paint was dropped on my work. I froze in fear. For a moment, I just looked at the mess, not knowing what to do. Everything was over! I thought my chance to win was completely gone. I almost wanted to give up.
However, after a few seconds, I took a long, deep breath and forced myself to think differently. Instead of focusing on the mistake itself, I made up my mind to smile at it. I couldn't let this small accident destroy my work. Then I started to face the situation calmly and thought of a way to turn the dropped paint into part of the picture. With some creative thinking, I added a flowing river to the landscape right where the paint was dropped. I spent the next few minutes carefully mixing the colours and adding some details to make the river look as natural as possible.
When the results came out, I could hardly believe my ears. I was excited to hear my name called for the second-prize winner. As I walked up to the stage to receive my award, a sense of pride and thankfulness washed over me.
What an unforgettable and valuable experience!
(
B
)29. How did the writer prepare for the painting competition?
A. By reading books about painting.
B. By practising for hours every day.
C. By buying expensive painting tools.
D. By visiting famous landscapes.
(
C
)30. What happened during the competition?
A. The writer was frozen with cold.
B. The writer’s painting tools were broken.
C. The writer dropped paint on his work.
D. The writer forgot to take his painting tools.
(
C
)31. How did the writer feel at first when he looked at the mess?
A. Calm.
B. Excited.
C. Worried.
D. Amazed.
(
D
)32. What lesson may the writer learn from the experience?
A. Practice makes perfect.
B. All things are difficult in the beginning.
C. It never rains but it pours.
D. An active mind finds chance in everything.
C 核心素养 思维品质
Have you ever failed a test and thought “I’m just not good at this subject”? Or have you faced a difficult task and said “I can’t do this”? If so, you might be using a “fixed mindset”. But there is another way of thinking that can help you learn and grow: it’s called a “growth mindset”.
What is the difference?
People with a fixed mindset believe that their basic abilities, like their intelligence or talent for sports, are fixed traits. They think they are born with a certain amount, and that’s it. Therefore, they often want to appear smart and avoid challenges where they might fail. For them, failure means they are not smart or good enough.
On the other hand, people with a growth mindset believe that their abilities can be developed through hard work, good strategies, and help from others. They see challenges as opportunities to learn. They understand that not being able to do something now doesn’t mean they will never be able to do it. This is the power of adding the word “yet” to your thoughts. “I can’t solve this math problem” becomes “I haven’t learned how to solve this math problem yet”.
How does a growth mindset help?
This way of thinking changes how you react to difficulties. A student with a growth mindset who fails a test might think, “I need to try a different way of studying or ask my teacher for help.” They see effort as the path to getting better. Because they are not afraid to try hard things, their abilities actually grow over time. They build greater confidence because they have seen themselves improve through practice.
Can you change your mindset?
The good news is that mindsets are not fixed; you can change yours. It starts with paying attention to your inner voice. When you hear yourself saying “I can’t”, add that magic word “yet”. Celebrate the process of learning, not just the final result. Praise yourself and others for effort and strategies, not just for being “smart”. When you face a setback, instead of giving up, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this? What strategy can I try next?”
Scientists have found that when students learn about the growth mindset, their grades often improve. More importantly, they become more motivated and resilient. Adopting a growth mindset doesn’t mean you will be good at everything. It means you believe you can get better at anything with time and effort. This powerful idea can unlock your potential and help you on your journey of learning.
(
B
)33. According to the passage, how would a person with a growth mindset most likely react to a challenge?
A. They would avoid it to prevent failure.
B. They would see it as a chance to learn something new.
C. They would believe it proves their lack of ability.
D. They would feel upset and give up quickly.
(
C
)34. Which of the following statements would a person with a growth mindset most likely agree with?
A. If you’re not good at something, it’s better to focus on what you do well.
B. Asking for help means you probably lack natural ability.
C. A lack of ability at present is no guarantee of permanent limitation.
D. Effort is mainly useful for people who aren’t naturally smart.
(
B
)35. What is the main purpose of Paragraph 5?
A. To explain why some people are born smarter than others.
B. To provide practical advice on developing a growth mindset.
C. To list the disadvantages of having a fixed mindset.
D. To show the scientific research behind different mindsets.
(
C
)36. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. The Importance of High Intelligence
B. Learning to Celebrate Your Successes
C. How Your Thinking Can Help You Grow
D. Why Failure Is Always a Bad Thing
D
