20．阅读下列短文，从每题所给的（A、B、C和D）四个选项中选出最佳选项。 When a man was walking by some elephants, he suddenly stopped He wondered why these huge animals were being held only by a small rope tied to their front legs. No chains, no cages. It was clear that the elephants could break the rope at any time, but for sonic reason, they did not. He saw a trainer nearby and asked why the animals just stood there and didn't try to get away. \to keep them from running away. At that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break tile rope. They believe it can still hold them, so they never try to break free.\
The man was surprised. These animals could break flee whenever they wanted, but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were.
How many of us go through life like the elephants-holding onto the belief that we cannot do something simply because we failed at it once before?
Failure is a part of learning. If we failed once, it doesn't mean we can never succeed. If we try again and again, maybe we will succeed one day. So don't be afraid of failure and keep on trying. （1）Why did the elephants never try to break the rope after they grew up? A. Because they liked being tied. B. Because they were too weak to break it. C. Because they didn't want to break it. D. Because they thought they couldn't break it. （2）The underlined word \
A. left B. caught C. killed D. found （3）What does the writer want to tell us? A. Elephants should be set flee. B. Failure can help us succeed.
C. Never let failure stop you from trying again. D. People should look after the elephants well. 【答案】 （1）D （2）B （3）C
【解析】【分析】本文 主要介绍了一个男人看到大象被绳子绑住了一只脚而不逃走，由此引发对人生的思考。
（1）细节题。根据原文提到了 As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break tile rope. They believe it can still hold them, so they never try to break free. 可知大象小时候被绑住，长大了以后依然认为绳子可以拴住他们，故选D。
（2）推断题。根据原文提到了 because they believed they couldn't, 可知他们认为自己已经被这根绳子困住了，故选B。
（3）主旨大意题。根据原文提到了 If we failed once, it doesn't mean we can never succeed. If we try again and again, maybe we will succeed one day. 可知作者想告诉我们永远不要被困难打倒，坚强起来，故选C。
【点评】考查阅读理解。本文涉及细节题、推断题和主旨题三种常考题型，细节题要注意
从文中寻找答案；推断题需要联系上下文，推断出需要的信息；主旨题需要通读全文，了解大意之后找出中心思想。