五、阅读短文,回答问题
In his lovely piece of writing Why Write, the writer Paul Auster shares a
story about growing up as an eight-year-old in New York City. He was crazy
about baseball, especially the New York Giants. The only thing he remembers
about attending his first baseball game is that he saw his hero Willie Mays after
the game. Young Auster gathered his courage and went close to his
hero. "Mr Mays," he said, "could I please have your autograph?"
"Sure, kid, sure," Mays replied kindly. "Have you got a pencil?"
Auster didn't have a pencil with him, neither did his father or his mother or anyone
else in his group.
Mays waited patiently, but when it became clear that no one there had anything to write with, he
said, "Sorry, kid. We've got no pencil. I can't give you my autograph."
From that day on, Auster made it a habit to never leave the house without a pencil in his
pocket. "It's not that I had any special plans for that pencil," Auster writes, "but I didn't want
to be unprepared. I had been caught empty-handed once, and I wasn't about to let it happen
again. The years have taught me this: If there's a pencil in your pocket, there's a good chance
that one day you'll feel like starting to use it. That's how I became a writer."
What is your pencil? What is so important that without it you feel unprepared? I know
some cartoonists always carry pens and paper and some photographers always have a camera in
their pockets. They are always prepared.
Pick your "pencil" and don't leave home without it.
1. To get Willie Mays' autograph, what did Auster need?
A pencil.
2. How old was Auster when the story happened?
Eight years old.
3. What habit did Auster form after that day?
Always taking a pencil with him when going outside./Never leaving the house without a pencil in his pocket.
4. What is Auster now?
A writer.
5. What do you think of Auster's habit?
I think it's helpful/it's a good idea.
