In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition . Some value it highly , believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity . Others say that competition is bad ; that it sets one person against another ; that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people .
I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth relied (依赖)on how well they performed at tennis and other skills . For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death affairs. In their single-minded pursuit ( 追求)of success , the development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten .
However ，while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed , others take an opposite attitude .In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players , they strongly blame competition . Among the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society . Teaching these young people . I often observe in them a desire to fail . They seem to seek failure by not trying to win or achieve success . By not trying , they always have an excuse : “I may have lost . but it doesn’t matter because I really didn’t try . “What is not usually admitted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot . Such a loss would be a measure of their worth . Clearly, this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves . Both are based on the mistaken belief that one’s self-respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others . Both are afraid of not being valued . Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve (缓解) can we discover a new meaning in competition .
1.What does this passage mainly talk about ?
A．Competition helps to set up self-respect .
B．Opinions about competition are different among people
C．Competition is harmful to personal quality development .
D．Failures are necessary experiences in competition
2.Why do some people favor competition according to the passage ?
A．It pushes society forward . B．It builds up a sense of duty .
C．It improves personal abilities . D．It encourages individual efforts
3.The underlined phrase “the most vocal” in Paragraph 3 means .
A．those who try their best to win
B．those who value competition most highly
C．those who are against competition most strongly
D．those who rely on others most for success
4.Which point of view may the author agree to ?
A．Every effort should be paid back .
B．Competition should be encouraged .
C．Winning should be a life-and-death matter .
D．Fear of failure should be removed in competition
LONDON—Archaeologists have discovered a smaller prehistoric(史前) site near Britain’s famous circle of standing stones at Stonehenge.
Researchers have named the site “Bluehenge” after the color of the 27 Welsh stones that were laid to make up a path. The stones have disappeared, but the path of holes remains.
The new circle, unearthed over the summer by researchers from Sheffield University, represents an important find, researchers said Saturday. The site is about a mile away from Stonehenge.
Bluehenge, about 80 miles southwest of London, is believed to date back to about the time Stonehenge was built, about 5,000 years ago.
Mike Parker Pearson of Sheffield University said he believed the path and stonehenge itself were linked to rituals(仪式) of life and death.
Mike Parker suggested that the ancient funerary rituals began at a different circle site known as “Wood-henge”, which represented the world of the living. The bodies of the dead were then brought down the River Avon to Bluehenge, which represented death, and were finally carried along a ceremonial route known as the Avenue to Stonehenge.
Bournemouth University Professor Tim Darvill, an expert on Stonehenge, told Britain’s Dail Mail that Bluehenge “adds to the richness” of the ancient site’s story.
“This henge is very important because it forms part of the picture of ceremonial monuments in the area and puts Stonehenge into context,” Darvill was quoted(引述) as saying. “It’s no longer Stonehenge standing alone, but it has to be seen in context with the landscape.”
1.How many henges are mentioned in this passage?
A．Two B．Three C．Four D．Five
2.Who believed the Stonehenge is related to ancient ritual of death?
A．Archaeologists from London B．Welsh researchers
C．Mike Parker Pearson D．Professor Tim Darvill
3.What does the underlined sentence “It’s no longer Stonehenge standing alone, but it has to be seen in context with the landscape.” in the last paragraph mean?
A．Stonehenge has noting to do with Bluehenge
B．Woodhenge represented the world of living in ancient times.
C．Bluehenge represented death
D．Stonehenge, Woodhenge and Bluehenge should be studied together
4.From the passage we can learn that ______.
A．researchers have named the site “Bluehenge,” because they have found blue huge stones there
B．funerary rituals were carried out along the path starting from Woodhenge, River Avon to Bluehenge, finally Stonehenge.
C．Bluehenge is 1 mile away from London
D．Bluehenge dates back to 2000 BC
Jane’s mother worked on the farm from dawn till dark, which just could make ends meet. To make Jane live a 36 life. Mother was very carful about spending money. 37 , Jane didn’t understand her. Every day Mother was busy with her 38 while Jane was studying at school, so they had little time to enjoy themselves.
One day, Mother realized Jane was unhappy and even 39 to her, so she decided to go 40 with Jane to make Jane happy.
On Sunday morning they went happily to the snowfield. Since they were 41 in white clothes, the manager advised them to buy ski clothes. He said 42 there was an accident, they might be easily 43 in their ski clothes. Mother couldn’t 44 them, so she refused.
Then they went skiing in their white clothes. They were skiing happily on the 45 when suddenly the snowfield began to 46 . It was the snowslide(雪崩). They ran a long way and 47 the snowslide finally, but they couldn’t find their way. Later, a helicopter was flying above, 48 people on it couldn’t see or hear them. Jane was 49 because she had hurt her head seriously and 50 dropped on the snow. Just then an idea struck Mother. She pierced (刺破) her wrist 51 and then bright red blood dropped down on the snowfield. A red SOS was on the snow. At last Jane 52 , but Mother died.
Every time I 53 the blood dropping onto the snowfield, I feel 54 . I believe anyone who hears the tragedy will 55 Mother for her selfless love to her daughter.
1.A. happy B. healthy C. busy D. meaningful
2.A. Moreover B. However C. Anyway D. Though
3.A. writing B. housework C. work D. research
4.A. unfriendly B. loyal C. kind D. cruel
5.A. skating B. dancing C. hiking D. skiing
6.A. all B. both C. either D. every
7.A. now that B. in case C. as though D. even if
8.A. searched B. examined C. found D. caught
9.A. pay B. manage C. afford D. stand
10.A. mountain B. farmland C. playground D. snowfield
11.A. change B. melt C. shake D. jump
12.A. escaped B. passed C. experienced D. overcame
13.A. but B. so C. since D. while
14.A. in despair B. in danger C. in peace D. in ruins
15.A. hair B. blood C. tears D. jewels
16.A. carefully B. slowly C. immediately D. hardly
17.A. cried B. died C. woke D. survived
18.A. find out B. think of C. suffer from D. come across
19.A. satisfied B. curious C. anxious D. painful
20.A. admire B. envy C. reward D. thank
The highway has been closed because of the heavy snow. Please find an ________ means of transport.
A. addictive B. active C. attractive D. alternative
Don't handle the vase as if it ________made of steel.
A. is B. were C. has been D. had been
— Is Paul playing both soccer and tennis for the school?
— He ______. But now he has given up playing tennis.
A. is B. has C. was D. had
