I was about 30 years old and was working as a firefighter in the South Bronx Engine Co.82.On a restful Sunday,I was reading a copy of The New York Times.I read an article on the Book Review section which openly stated an untrue and unfair statement about an Irish poet William Butler Yeats.
As I read it,my blood began to boil. I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote out a letter of anger to the editor.Yeats had lived his life and written his poetry through the very essence of his Irish sensibility.It was offensive to describe him in the way that article did.I didn't know why I felt it my duty to safeguard the reputation of the world's greatest poet.I just knew that I had to write the letter.
After the letter got published,I received a letter from The New Yorker asking for an interview.When my article Fireman Smith appeared in the magazine,the editor of a large publishing firm called me asking if I was interested in writing a book about my life.I had little confidence to write a whole book,though the subject was worthy.I wrote Report from Engine Co.82 in six months.And it sold really well.In the years that followed,I wrote three more best-sellers.
Being a writer had been far from my expectations.How had it happened?I often found myself thinking about it.And my thoughts always came back to that letter to The New York Times.For me,the writing was a natural consequence of the passion I felt and the subjects represented the great values burning within me as I wrote.
(1)What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1 imply?
B
B
A.I felt puzzled when I read the article.
B.I felt angry at the statement in the article.
C.I became excited when I read about Yeats.
D.I was very proud of Yeats being a universal author.
(2)Why did the author write to the New York Times?
C
C
A.To present his love for literature.
B.To spread Irish culture to the world.
C.To protect the reputation of an Irish poet.
D.To express his expectation of being a writer.
(3)According to the author,what is the key to his success in writing?
C
C
A.His skills in arguing.
B.His educational background.
C.His passion for writing.
D.His experience as a firefighter.
(4)What is the best title of the passage?
B
B
A.My Journey to Be a Writer.
B.A Letter That Changed My Life.
C.How to Become a Great Author.
D.My Defense of Ireland's Greatest Poet.