Question

    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 self­worth relied on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life­and­death affairs. In their single­minded pursuit 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 self­respect 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 can we discover a new meaning in competition.

1.What does this passage mainly talk about?

A.Competition helps to set up self­respect.

B.Opinions about competition are different among people.

C.Competition is harmful to personal quality development.

D.Failures are necessary experiences in competition.

2.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

3.What is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a “desire to fail”？

A.One's worth lies in his performance compared with others'.

B.One's success in competition needs great efforts.

C.One's achievement is determined by his particular skills.

D.One's success is based on how hard he has tried.

4.Which point of view may the author agree to?

A.Every effort should be paid back.

B.Fear of failure should be removed in competition.

C.Winning should be a life­and­death matter.

D.Competition should be encouraged.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.A

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇议论文。短文主要论述了对于竞争人们的不同观点。有些人支持竞争，他们觉得这样可以使社会进步；有些人反对竞争，他们觉得竞争给人与人之间带来不友好。作者建议我们正确理解竞争的意义。

1.主旨大意题。由第一段“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”可知，一些支持竞争的人认为，竞争对社会进步是有帮助的，推进社会的向前发展和繁荣。反对竞争的人认为，竞争会挑起人们之间的斗争，给人们之间带来不友好。所以这篇文章主要讲了人们对竞争的看法各不相同。故选B项。

2.词句猜测题。由第三段“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”可知，然而，当一些人似乎迷失在成功的欲望中，另一些人持相反的态度。在一个只重视赢家而不关注普通参与者的文化中，他们强烈谴责竞争。其中最强烈反对竞争的人是那些承受着来自父母或社会竞争压力的年轻人。所以通过上下文的语境可以判断出，第3段中带下划线的短语"the most vocal"是指最强烈反对竞争的人。故选C项。

3.细节理解题。由最后段“Both are based on the mistaken belief that one's self­respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others”可知，两者都是基于错误的信念，即一个人的自尊取决于一个人与他人相比的表现。所以真正的竞争者和那些“渴望失败”的人有相似的信念既一个人的价值在于与别人相比的表现。故选A项。

4.推理判断题。由最后段“Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve can we discover a new meaning in competition.”可知，只有当这种基本的、令人烦恼的恐惧消失时，我们才能在竞争中发现新的意义。所以通过关键词“ fear begins to dissolve，discover a new meaning”可以判断出，作者在对比了两种对于竞争的不同态度之后，作者认为在竞争中应该消除对失败的恐惧。故选B项。