Zamperla is one of the world’s largest maker of attractions. We work with everyone, from small family parks to Disney. I lead a global team of 20 salespeople, and we do a lot of team selling. Let me tell you about my winding path.

When you’re young, you may put up posters of sports stars or musicians. I had amusement-park maps and posters of roller-coaster designers on my wall. I would draw coaster layouts for hours. It was a strange obsession, I know. I was a history major, which taught me writing and critical thinking — skills I use every day. After college, I wrote to every ride manufacturer and park I could find. I got nothing but rejection letters.

My first job was selling advertising for an industry weekly. I was painfully shy — I once hid under the dining-room table at my own third birthday. So talking to strangers was terrifying. But I forced myself to do it, and slowly I learned how sales actually works. That job lasted from 2001 to 2003.

Then I joined Ride Entertainment, a small company where I had to wear many hats: ride installation, contracts, marketing, even social media. Being at a small company meant I touched every part of the business. But sales and coasters were always my real interest. By 2020, I felt I had learned everything I could there. The same day I announced I was leaving, Zamperla called. They needed someone to build their roller-coaster division. It was risky — they weren’t known for great coasters. But I had spent nearly 20 years learning this industry inside and out, and I could see they were finally serious about investing. If we pulled it off, we could jump from a C-level maker to an A-level one.

I was that nerdy kid with coaster posters. Now I help design the rides that go on other kids’ walls. I hope my story helps you find your own path.

1.1. What did the author enjoy doing as a child?

A Playing music.

B Drawing rides.

C Selling tickets.

D Reading novels.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据第二段的“I would draw coaster layouts for hours.”可知，作者小时候会花很长时间画过山车设计图。选项B中的“Drawing rides”是对“draw coaster layouts”的同义转述，指画游乐设施。A项利用文中“musicians”一词张冠李戴；C项和D项在文中并未提及。故选B。

2.2. What does the underlined part “wear many hats” mean in Paragraph 4?

A Follow dress codes.

B Manage a sales team.

C Do different jobs.

D Travel for business.

解析：选C。C词义猜测题。第四段中的“wear many hats”后紧跟“ride installation, contracts, marketing, even social media”，列举了多种不同类型的工作，说明作者需要承担多项职责。因此，“wear many hats”意为从事多种不同的工作。A项是对短语的字面曲解；B项在文中未提及管理团队；D项不符合该处语境。故选C。

3.3. Why did the writer decide to join Zamperla in 2020?

A He needed safety.

B He disliked coasters.

C He wanted a new challenge.

D He saw a chance.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据第四段的“I could see they were finally serious about investing. If we pulled it off, we could jump from a C-level maker to an A-level one.”可推断，作者看出Zamperla决心投资，如果成功就能实现巨大跨越，因此他加入是因为看到了职业发展的机会。A项与文中“risky”矛盾；B项与作者对过山车的热爱相反；C项在文中无依据。故选D。

4.4. What is the main message of the text?

A Follow your passion.

B Avoid difficult sales.

C Study only history.

D Pick well-known firms.

解析：选A。A主旨大意题。全文讲述了作者从痴迷画过山车，到克服害羞、积累经验，最终凭借热爱进入Zamperla的故事。文章最后一句“I hope my story helps you find your own path.”点明主旨，希望读者也能追随内心的热爱，找到自己的道路。B项与作者主动从事销售的作为不符；C项和D项均以偏概全，不是文章的核心信息。故选A。