From composer, musician, and philanthropist (慈善家) Peter Buffett comes a warm, wise, and inspirational book that asks, “Which will you choose: the path of least resistance or the path of potentially greatest satisfaction?”
You may think that with a last name like this, Buffett has enjoyed a life of endless privilege. But the son of billionaire investor Warrant Buffet says that the only real inheritance handed down from his parents is a philosophy: Build your own path in life. It is a principle that has allowed him to follow his own passions, establish his own identity, and achieve his own successes.
In Life Is What You Made It, Buffett expounds on the strong set of values given to him by his trusting and broadminded mother, his hardworking and talented father, and the many life teachers he has met along the way.
Today’s society, Buffett assumes, has begun to replace a work ethic (准则), which enjoys what you do, with a wealth ethic, which honors the reward instead of the process. We confuse privilege with material wealth, character with external (外在的) recognition. Yet, by focusing more on substance and less on reward, we can open doors of opportunity and work hard toward a greater sense of achievement. In clear and brief terms, Buffett tells us a great truth: Life is random, neither fair nor unfair.
From there it becomes easy to recognize the equal dignity and value of every human life --- our circumstances may vary but our essence does not. We see that our journey in life rarely follows a straight line but is often met with false starts, crises, and mistakes. How we push through and insist on those challenging moments is where we begin to create the life of our dreams --- from discovering our vocations (使命感) to giving back to others.
Personal and instructive, Life Is What You Make It is about challenging your circumstances, taking control of your fate, and living your life to the fullest.
31. What is the purpose of the passage?
A.To describe a famous person. | B.To introduce a book. |
C.To talk about what life is about. | D.To discuss how to live a meaningful life. |
32. What can we infer about Peter Buffett?
A.His mother is a teacher. | B.In his mind, life is unfair. |
C.He achieved success by himself. | D.His father wrote the book Life Is What You Make It. |
33. What does the underlined phrase “expounds on” mean?
A.explains in detail | B.criticizes | C.argues against | D.disapproves of |
34. What is today’s society like according to Peter Buffett?
A.People are following their interests. |
B.People are seeking spiritual enjoyment. |
C.People pay more attention to the process. |
D.People focus more on the results. |
35. Which proverb can best express the main idea of the fifth paragraph?
A.Living without an aim is like sailing without a compass. |
B.Life is full of ups and downs. |
C.We should treasure every day of our life. |
D.Life isn’t about getting, it’s about giving. |