My oldest son Henry has started to learn the cello (大提琴).Every night, he carefully gets his cello out of its case and begins practicing.I won't lie; it's not pretty.While he's getting better every day, he has a long way from becoming the next Yo?Yo Ma.
This led me to wonder what Yo?Yo Ma was like the first time he played the cello.Of course, we now know him as one of the most excellent artists in the world, but I'm sure that when he first tried, he wasn't much better than my son.I'm not suggesting that Henry is going to take the classical music world by storm one day.But he's got to start somewhere.
Michael Jordan wasn't born playing basketball, but I'm sure that he had to start somewhere.Warren Buffett wasn't born making great investment choices, but he had to start somewhere.J.K. Rowling wasn't born a writer, but she had to start somewhere.Bruce Springsteen wasn't born a songwriter and performer, but he had to start somewhere.Each of these individuals is now famous as being at the top of their occupation.But when they first started, their skills would have been disappointing and their potential unrealized.It has taken years of hard work to realize their undoubted talents.But they had to start somewhere.
I don't know what my kids are going to do with their lives, but they have a great opportunity to explore a wide range of experiences before focusing on one or two things that they can be crazy about and good at. It's_my_job_as_a_dad_to_encourage_them_not_to_be_put_off_by_their_bad_first_efforts. Because everyone has to start somewhere.
语篇解读：没有人生来就擅长某件事，都有一个开始的过程。
24.We know the author's son ________.
A.doesn't like playing the cello
B.cannot play the cello well now
C.has no gift for playing the cello
D.is sure to be the next Yo?Yo Ma
解析：选B　细节理解题。由第一段“Every night, he carefully gets his cello out of its case and begins practicing. I won't lie; it's not pretty.”可知，作者的儿子每晚都练习大提琴，但是演奏得还不是很好。
25.How is the third paragraph developed?
A.By giving examples.
B.By making comparisons.
C.By setting down general rules.
D.By presenting research findings.
解析：选A　篇章结构题。第三段以各个领域的佼佼者为例指出，没有人生来就是天才，所有人都是通过辛苦努力获得成功的。
26.What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?
A.The author will encourage his kids.
B.The author has no confidence in his kids.
C.The author is worried about his kids' bad first efforts.
D.The author will give his kids freedom to do what they want.
解析：选A　句意理解题。由画线句子中的“encourage them not to be put off by their bad first efforts”可知，作者会鼓励他的孩子们。
27.The text is meant to show that ________.
A.everyone has to start somewhere
B.people should do what they're good at
C.a gift is very important in one's success
D.everyone can realize their potential with practice
解析：选A　主旨大意题。由文章内容可知，作者主要想表明，没有人生来就擅长某件事，都有一个开始的过程。