Directions: Some sentences have been removed in the following text. Choose the most suitable one from the list A-G to fit into each of the blanks. There are two extra choices which do not fit in any of the blanks.
1. ___________________ The common life of every day, with its cares, necessities, and duties, affords ample opportunity for acquiring experience of the best kind; and its most beaten paths provide the true worker with abundant scope for effort and room for self-improvement. The road of human welfare lies along the old highway of steadfast well-doing; and they who are the most persistent, and work in the truest spirit, will usually be the most successful.
Fortune has often been blamed for her blindness; but fortune is not so blind as men are. Those who look into practical life will find that fortune is usually on the side of the industrious, as the winds and waves are on the side of the best navigators.
2. ___________________
Genius may not be necessary, though even genius of the highest sort does not disdain the use of these ordinary qualities. The very greatest men have been among the least believers in the power of genius, and as worldly wise and persevering as successful men of the commoner sort. Some have even defined genius to be only common sense intensified.
3. ___________________ John Foster held it to be the strength of lighting one’s own fire. Buffon said of genius “it is patience”.
Newton’s was unquestionably a mind of the very highest order, and yet when asked by what means he had worked out his extraordinary discoveries, he modestly answered, “By always thinking into them.”
4. ___________________ Voltair held that it is only a very slight line of separation that divides the man of genius from of ordinary mould.
Locke believed that all men have an equal aptitude for genius, and that what some are able to effect, under the laws which regulated the operations of the intellect, must also be within the reach of others who, under like circumstances, apply themselves to like pursuit.
5. ___________________ Hence it happens that the men who have most moved to the world, have not been so much men of genius, strictly so called, as men of intense mediocre abilities, and untiring perseverance; not so often the gifted, or naturally bright and shining qualities, as those who have applied themselves diligently to their work, in whatsoever line that might lie.
A great point to be aimed at is to get the working quality well trained. When that is done, the race will be found comparatively easy. We must repeat and again repeat: facility will come with labor. Not even the simplest art can be accomplished without it; and what difficulties it is found capable of achieving!
A. A distinguished teacher and president of a college spoke of it as the power of making efforts.
B. It is indeed marvelous what continuous application will effect in the commonest of things.
C. The greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means, and the exercise of ordinary qualities.
D. D’lsraeli the elder held that the secret of success consisted in being master of your subject, such mastery being attainable only through continuous application and study.
E. The extraordinary results effected by dint of sheer industry and perseverance, have led many distinguished men to doubt whether the gift of genius be so exceptional an endowment as it is usually supposed to be.
F. Great results cannot be achieved at once; and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk, step by step.
G. In the pursuit of even the highest branches of human inquiry, commoner qualities are found the most useful—such as common sense, attention, application, and perseverance.
