Hubert Selby, Jr.
Many people assume that great writers either are born great or become great through many years of higher education. But this is not always the case. Some writers do not intend to become writers at all. They discover their talent by accident. This is what happened to Hubert Selby, Jr.
As a young man, Selby did not take an interest in writing. In fact, he did not even complete his high school education. Like his father before him, Selby joined the United States Merchant Marine at a very young age. He spent his teenage years working as a sailor. Had fate not intervened, Selby might have spent the rest of his adult life at sea. Instead, in 1947, at the age of nineteen, Selby fell victim to tuberculosis. Many of the other merchant mariners onboard Selby’s ship died as a result of this same illness. Indeed, when Selby was discharged from the Merchant Marine and sent back to America, his doctors warned him that he had little time left to live.
Despite these predictions, Selby survived. But his life as a sickly ex-mariner was tough. He was not physically healthy enough, or qualified enough, to get a decent job. He spent much of his twenties sick in bed.
Ten years after Selby caught tuberculosis, a childhood friend suggested that he try writing fiction. Considering that he was too unhealthy for other means of employment, Selby found that the idea made sense. Though Selby had no training or experience, he started writing short stories in 1958. Three years later, one of his short stories was published in a literary journal. And three years after that, a well-known New York publisher published Selby’s first novel.
By the mid-1960’s, Hubert Selby, Jr., was a literary phenomenon. Many writers praised his talent and his experimental writing style. Selby continued to write until his death in 2004. At the time of his death, he had lived about fifty-seven years longer than his doctors had predicted he would.
46. What happened immediately after Hubert Selby, Jr., caught tuberculosis?
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A.
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He was discharged from the Merchant Marine.
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B.
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His childhood friend suggested he write fiction.
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C.
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He started writing short stories in 1958.
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D.
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A New York publisher published his first novel.
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Perry needs to lower his monthly expenses, so he can pay off some debt. He decides to keep his DSL but cancel his landline phone with Bell Mead Phone Company. In place of a landline phone, he purchases VoIP with Victory Wireless. These changes will save him $35 a month. He will use the extra money to help pay off his credit card debt.
47. The technical term VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. VoIP allows a person to
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A.
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use video-conference software online.
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B.
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use an online telephone connection.
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C.
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use the Internet as a radio broadcaster.
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D.
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use the computer to record music.
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Technical Meanings
48. If someone has DSL, then that person has
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A.
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voice mail service.
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B.
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a house alarm service.
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C.
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a wireless phone.
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D.
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an Internet connection.
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