The motivation to succeed comes from the burning desire to achieve a purpose. Napoleon Hill wrote, “whatever the mind of man can conceive (设想) and believe, the mind can achieve.”
A young man asked Socrates （苏格拉底） the secrets to success. Socrates told the young man to meet him near the river the next morning. When they meet, Socrates asked the young man to walk with him towards the river. When the water got up to their necks, Socrates took the young man by surprise and pressed him into the water. The boy struggled（挣扎） to get out but Socrates was strong and kept him there until the boy stared turning blue. Socrates pulled his head out of the water and the first thing the young man did was to gasp（大口喘气） and take a deep breath of air. Socrates asked, “What did you want the most when you were there?” the boy replied. “Air.” Socrates said,“ That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air, then you will get it. There is no other secret.”
A burning desire is the starting point of all accomplishment(成就). Just like a small fire cannot give much heat, a weak desire cannot produce great results.
小题1:What do you need to succeed according to this passage?
| A．A burning desire. | B．A good motivation. |
| C．Secrets to success | D．A good accomplishment |
小题2:Why did the young man go to Socrates?
| A．Because he wanted to dive. |
| B．Because he wanted to succeed. |
| C．Because he was a friend of his. |
| D．Because he wanted get some skills. |
小题3:How did the young man go down under the water?
| A．He tried to get some secret things Socrates put there. |
| B．He wanted to make Socrates believe he could succeed. |
| C．He was made and kept there by Socrates |
| D．Socrates didn’t like him and tried to kill him. |
小题4:Why did Socrates do and say that to the young man?
| A．Because he wanted him to know if he could swim well. |
| B．Because the young man was too foolish to understand him. |
| C．Because the young man made him angry. |
| D．Because he wanted him to understand what he needed for success. |
小题5:Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．A weak desire cannot take you to success. |
| B．A burning desire can make you succeed anytime. |
| C．The secret to success is to take a deep breath under the water. |
| D．Socrates is the only one who knows the secret to success. |
