One of the most inspiring quotes I ever heard was by Brian Tracy．He said："The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people fail many more times than unsuccessful people．"I personally experienced the wisdom of that understanding right after my first book was published．Like many authors，I expected hundreds of bookstore customers lining up for me to sign copies for them．I'm afraid to say，it didn't quite happen like that．
My first signing was arranged at the largest bookstore in the city．Filled with anticipation，I was put into a private signing room in the beautiful store．Despite a nice sign placed outside the room exhibiting images of both me and my book，not a single customer entered the room．As each minute passed，I became increasingly anxious．
Do they not like the title？I wondered．Do they not like the book cover？
After 90 minutes of this torture，I was absolutely distraught．
For the four years writing the book，I had felt a sense of mission and purpose like never before in my life．Working a full 8-hour day in my clinic，I had to get into bed by 9：30pm every day，so I could wake up at 5：30 in the morning and have two hours of writing before heading into my clinic．Before I ever began each writing session，I would close my eyes for 10 minutes and then whisper，"Please grant me the words to touch just one person's life．"
Now，sitting there alone at my first book signing，I wondered if my entire life wasn't just a big joke．At that moment，just when I couldn't feel any worse，a middle-aged couple walked into the room．I managed to hide my emotions and introduced myself and my book．There was something different about the way they were looking at me that I couldn't quite identify．But I didn't know what else to say．The couple turned to each other，and the husband nodded to his wife．She then told me，"I think we'll get the book．"My heart began to pound．But I realized the woman was trying to say something else．
"The reason we're buying it，"she said hesitantly，"is because our son committed suicide two years ago．Maybe your story will help us get over it．"
At that moment，I knew if I never sold another copy of the book，my four years of writing it had served its purpose．Although I would have many more challenging years until my book caught on and sold well，this couple's story was all the motivation I needed at that point to keep me moving ahead．Thanks to them，I would come to the realization that the greatest of lives are made all in the same way：One challenge…one hurdle…one step…and one small victory at a time．

（1）The writer quotes Brian Tracy to emphasize the importance of

D

D

．
A．conscience
B．success
C．confidence
D．perseverance
（2）The word"distraught"（paragraph 4）probably means

C

C

．
A．bored and impatient
B．cheerful and proud
C．upset and disappointed
D．miserable and ashamed
（3）What can be inferred from paragraph 5？

C

C

A．The writer had to quit his job to make time for his writing．
B．The writer was not sure about the purpose of his writing at first．
C．The writing was completed with great self-discipline and efforts．
D．The process of writing the book was full of pains and frustration．
（4）By saying"my four years of writing it had served its purpose"，the author probably means that

C

C

．
A．he had succeeded in selling his first book to the couple
B．he had managed to touch someone's life with his book
C．he was quite satisfied with the feedback of his readers
D．he had found someone who appreciated his writing．