After years of observing human nature, I have decided that two qualities make the difference between men of great achievement and men of average performance curiosity and discontent. I have never known an outstanding man who lacked either. And I have never known an average man who had both. The two belong together.
经过多年的观察人性，我得出结论，两个品质决定了伟大成就者与平庸表现者之间的差异——好奇心和不满。我从未见过一个杰出的人缺乏这两者。我也从未见过一个平庸的人同时拥有这两者。这两者是相辅相成的。

Together, these deep human urges（驱策力）count for much more than ambition. Galileo was not merely ambitious when he dropped objects of varying weights from the Leaning Tower at Pisa and timed their fall to the ground. Like Galileo, all the great names in history were curious and asked in discontent, “Why? Why? Why?”
这些深刻的人类驱动力，与野心相比，意义更为重大。当伽利略从比萨斜塔上扔下不同重量的物体，并计时它们落地时，他不仅仅是出于野心。就像伽利略一样，历史上所有伟大的人物都充满好奇心，不满地追问：“为什么？为什么？为什么？”

Fortunately, curiosity and discontent don’t have to be learned. We are born with them and need only recapture them.
幸运的是，好奇心和不满不需要学习。我们天生就拥有它们，只需要重新找回它们。

“The great man,” said Mencius（孟子）, “is he who does not lose his child’s heart. “Yet most of us do lose it. We stop asking questions. We stop challenging custom. We just follow the crowd. And the crowd desires only the calm and restful average. It encourages us to occupy our own little corner, to avoid foolish leaps into the dark, to be satisfied.
“伟人，”孟子说，“是那些没有失去童心的人。”然而，我们大多数人确实失去了它。我们停止提问。我们停止挑战习俗。我们只是随大流。而大众只渴望平静和安逸的平庸。它鼓励我们占据自己的小角落，避免愚蠢地跳入黑暗，满足于现状。

Most of us meet new people, and new ideas, with hesitation. But once having met and liked them, we think how terrible it would have been, had we missed the chance. We will probably have to force ourselves to waken our curiosity and discontent and keep them awake.
我们大多数人在遇到新人和新观念时都会犹豫。但一旦遇到并喜欢它们，我们会想，如果我们错过了这个机会，那该多可怕。我们可能不得不强迫自己唤醒好奇心和不满，并保持它们的清醒。

How should you start? Modestly, so as not to become discouraged. I think of one friend who couldn’t arrange flowers to satisfy herself. She was curious about how the experts did it. How she is one of the experts, writing books on flower arrangement.
你应该如何开始？谦虚一些，以免泄气。我想到了一个朋友，她无法安排花朵以满足自己。她对专家是如何做的感到好奇。现在她已经成为专家，撰写关于花卉布置的书籍。

One way to begin is to answer your own excuses. You haven’t any special ability? Most people don’t; there are only a few geniuses. You haven’t any time? That’s good, because it’s always the people with no time who get things done. Harriet Stowe, mother of six, wrote parts of Uncle Tom’s Cabin while cooking. You’re too old? Remember that Thomas Costain was 57 when he published his first novel, and that Grandma Moses showed her first pictures when she was 78.
开始的一种方法是回答你自己的借口。你没有特殊能力？大多数人也没有；天才寥寥无几。你没有时间？那太好了，因为总是那些没有时间的人完成了事情。哈丽雅特·斯托（Harriet Stowe）有六个孩子，她在做饭时写了《汤姆叔叔的小屋》的部分内容。你太老了？记住，托马斯·科斯汀（Thomas Costain）在57岁时出版了他的第一部小说，而摩西奶奶（Grandma Moses）在78岁时展示了她的第一批画作。

However you start, remember there is no better time to start than right now, for you’ll never be more alive than you are at this moment.
不管你如何开始，记住没有比现在更好的时间了，因为你永远不可能比此刻更有生命力。

1. In writing Paragraph 1, the author aims to __.
   A. propose a definition B. make a comparison
   C. reach a conclusion D. present an argument
   答案：D

2. What does the example of Galileo tell us?
   A. Trial and error leads to the finding of truth.
   B. Scientists tend to be curious and ambitious.
   C. Creativity results from challenging authority.
   D. Greatness comes from a lasting desire to explore.
   答案：D

3. What can you do to recapture curiosity and discontent?
   A. Observe the unknown around you. B. Develop a questioning mind.
   C. Lead a life of adventure. D. Follow the fashion.
   答案：B

4. What can we learn from Paragraphs 6 and 7?
   A. Gaining success helps you become an expert.
   B. The genius tends to get things done creatively.
   C. Lack of talent and time is no reason for taking no action.
   D. You should remain modest when approaching perfection.
   答案：C

5. What could be the best title or the passage?
   A. Curious Minds Never Feel Contented B. Reflections on Human Nature
   C. The Keys to Achievement D. Never Too Late to Learn
   答案：C