文章大意：本文是一篇议论文。文章主要讨论了探索莫扎特晚期绽放的艺术生涯，揭示追求激情与自我实现的重要性，即便面对社会对早期成功的推崇，通过长期不懈努力，智慧和创造力终将随年龄增长而显现。
3 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
A. excelled B. typically C. devote D. destination E. surely
F. barriers G. winding H. pursuing I. keys J. essentials K. productive |
The Art of Blooming Late
In his teens and early twenties, Mozart had to work as an organist and concertmaster in his native Salzburg to make ends meet. Underpaid and unfulfilled, he felt a(n) burning desire to 1 more time and energy to his art. So after a period of doubt and deliberation, that’s exactly what he did. He quit his job and embarked on what turned out to be the most 2 and creative period of his life.
Even if you never hope to reach Mozart’s level of mastery, you may consider how he removed all the 3 in his path to success. Maybe you’ve done everything right — 4 at school, worked hard, and landed a good, high-paying job-but you’re tired of being just like everyone else.
However, drafting a plan of action can be daunting. What, then, is holding you back? Rich Karlgaard, the publisher of Forbes magazine and author of Late Bloomers, argues that our cultures’ customs with early achievement discourages us from 5 our passions. Instead of having varied interests, studying widely, and taking our time — 6 to self-discovery-we’re encouraged to ace tests, become specialists right away, and pursue safe, stable, and profitable careers. As a result, most of us end up choosing professional excellence over personal fulfillment, and often we lose ourselves in the process.
To prompt a revolution in your own life, there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, it’s never too late to “become” yourself. Aristotle, for example, didn’t fully devote himself to writing and philosophy until he was nearly 50. There are also benefits to taking a long, 7 path to self-fulfillment. Remember that age 8 brings wisdom, resilience, self-knowledge, and creativity.
That said, once you’ve decided to embark on the journey, it may take years, if not longer, to reach your 9 . But as research has shown, small daily changes can have a compound effect and slowly but 10 lead you closer to the person you think you ought to be.
