C
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 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 can we discover a new meaning in competition.
46. 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.
47. 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 effects.
48. 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
49. 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 compeition 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.
50. 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.
It was on a warm day last summer. I was walking by the sea. The waves came and went. But I didn’t see them. I was lost in my thoughts.
A row of small holes soon caught my eyes. They lay in the sandy earth by the side of a road. In a minute I would have stepped on them.
What are these holes? I wondered. It had an answer soon. A fat, hairy insect crawled up from the earth. It had a wide tail. It was using the tail to dig in the ground.
The insect moved round and round in one spot(地点). Soon it had made another hole. When it was finished, the insect hid at the bottom. It covered its head with sand.
By now my thoughts of the early morning had gone. This new hole and the insect were all my world. So I sat quite still by the side of the road. And I waited.
As I watched, a small ant crossed the road. It passed my foot, a
nd then it crossed the sandy earth. In a little while it reached the edge of the hole. I saw it start to fall in. The ant tried to turn back. But it couldn’t.
And then I knew. I knew why the holes were there. For just then the fat insect came up out of the hole. It ate the ant who was trapped there.
Later I learned the insect’s name. It’s called ant lion. It digs holes to catch ants.
I’ll never forget that day. The holes looked so small to me. But to the ant and the ant lion they were the whole world.
I took my walks by the sea that summer. But I never aga
in learned as much as I did on the one. What did the ant lion use to dig holes?
| A.Its tail | B.Its feet. | C.Its head | D.Its whole body |
Why did the ant lion hide in the hole?
| A.To keep the sun away | B.So no one would catch it. |
| C.So the ant wouldn’t see it | D.To ke ep warm. |
Why did “I” sit down by the side of the road?
| A.To think | B.To eat her lunch |
| C.To watch the little holes | D.To catch ants. |
Why did the ant lion dig the holes?
| A.To play a game | B.To catch its food |
| C.To hide its eggs | D.To hide from its enemy |
Why did “I” never forget that day?
| A.Learned something | B.Had a nice time |
| C.Saw the ant lion whenever she took a walk | |
| D.Felt sorry for the ant. |
Dick was a twenty-year-old man. His father was a teacher and taught chemistry in a middle school and his mother worked in a shop. They lived a happy life until his parents died one night when suddenly an earthquake broke out. Luckily his sister took him to see their aunt in the city and they did not stay at home. Everything was destroyed in the earthquake and the two children got into trouble. Thanks to their aunt who was not rich enough, they grew up but they lived a ha
rd life. His sister was so sad that she became a nun(修女). After he finished middle school, he was introduced to an owner of a hotel and began to work there.
One day the young man fell to the ground while he was cleaning a window on the second floor. He was sent to the hospital and the doctor loo
ked him over. One of his legs was broken and he had to be in hospital. He said to the nur
se, “I’m a poor man, madam. Arrange a third-class ward(病房) for me, please.”
“Can’t anybody help you?”
“No, madam,” answered Dick. “I have only a sister. She’s a nun and she’s poor, too.”
“I don’t think so,” the nurse said angrily. “Nuns usually marry God. And God is the richest in the world, you know!”
“Well, then,” Dick said with a smile. “Please arrange a first-class ward for me and post the bill(账单) to my brother-in-law(姐夫).Dick’s parents died _____.
| A.in an accident | B.in the war | C.in the earthquake | D.from the disease |
Dick and his sister escaped from the earthquake because ____.
| A.they played outside | B.they were in a safe place |
| C.their parents saved them | D.the aunt saved them |
The sister and brother lived a hard life because ____.
| A.they lost all | B.they were too young |
| C.they were hurt in the earthquake | D.they had to look after themselves |
After Dick finished middle school, ____.
| A.he stayed at home | B.he began to look for a job |
| C.he broke his leg | D.he began to work in the hotel |
Which of the following is true?
| A.The nurse would arrange a third-class ward for Dick. |
B. The nurse would arrange a first-class ward for Dick. |
| C.The nurse would post Dick’s bill to God. |
| D.Dick had a rich brother-in-law. |
What does “getting along” with your teacher mean? “Getting along” means that both you and your teacher have a way of communicating and getting what you need from the relationship. In your teacher’s opinion, he or she wants to make sure that you are paying attention, being polite, and trying your best to learn. In your opinion, you want a teacher who is respectful to you, answers your questions, and tries to help you learn. You can get along and learn without being friends with your teacher, although it’s nice if that happens.
In every school, kids will say that some teachers are mean or strict, but don’t judge a teacher until you are in his or her class and can see for yourself. A strict teacher may be someone who feels strong about getting his or her job done — teaching you the subject you are supposed to learn. It’s also important to remember that making mistakes is a part of learning. By pointing out your mistakes and helping you correct them, a teacher is teaching you. Remember, in most cases, your teacher is on your side.
Even if a teacher isn’t your favorite, you can still have a successful relationship, especially if you carry out your responsibilities as a student. Here are some of those responsibilities:
●Attend class ready to learn. Be prepared for class with the right pencils and books.
●Listen carefully when your teacher is talking.
●Do your best, whether it’s classroom work, homework, or a test.The main idea of this passage is about _______.
| A.learning from your teacher |
| B.making friends with your teacher |
| C.getting along with your teacher |
| D.understanding your teacher |
If you get along with your teacher, _______.
| A.your teacher will have to answer your questions |
| B.both of you will benefit from the relationship |
| C.your teacher will have to be respectful to you |
| D.you will have to try your best to learn |
What does the underlined sentence in the second paragraph mean?
| A.Your teacher is teaching you to learn the subjects. |
| B.The teacher has the responsibility to be strict with students. |
| C.Pointing out your mistakes is also a way for a teacher to teach. |
| D.The teacher is there to help you. |
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the responsibility of a student?
| A.Learning by making mistakes. | B.Attending class ready to learn. |
| C.Listening to your teacher carefully. | D.Trying your best to learn. |
Washington, April 4----- The United States has more than 90 million families for the first time, but each contains fewer people on average than ever, the Census Bureau(统计局) reported today.
The 90,031,000 families in the United States averaged 2.64 members each as of last July 1.“The reason is, in effect, changes in the age structure,” explained Campbell Gibson, a population researcher for the bureau. Most Americans born in the great explosion of births are now in their 20’s and 30’s when they most likely to set up families, he said.
The fact that many are doing so increased the number of families from 80.4 million in 1980 t0 88.8 million in 1986 and past the 90 million mark last summer.
At the same time, the average number of people per family dropped from 2.75 in 1985 to 2.65 in 1986 and then to 2.64, Mr Gibson said.
By comparison, the 1970 Census found the average family contained 3.14 people. Families averaged more than four people in 1939 and more than five in 1880.
The growing number of ever---- smaller families is still going on, but Mr Gibson pointed out that family growth was not the same as population increase in the 1970’s.
The same age factors that are increasing the number of families also happened then, but in the 1970’s the proportion(比例) of families in each age group was also growing.
That hasn’t continued in the 1980’s for a number of possible reasons, Mr Gibson said. For example, in the 1980’s more young people have chosen to remain home with their parents instead of setting up housekeeping on their own, as many did in the 1970’s.
This could be caused by the increasing cost of housing, he said. Delays in marriage while young people go to work and school, have also been widely reported as a factor, but it was not the only factor for the family changes.The smaller figure of families reported here is _________.
| A.1980 | B.80,400,000 | C.2.64 | D.90 million |
What’s the reporter’s attitude towards the present situation?
A. People should get married at later age.
| A.reason | B.something that proves be true |
| C.advantage | D.something that helps to bring about a result |
Commonwealth Games gold winner Liam Killeen is one of England’s most successful Mountain Biking stars. Liam recently came third in the opening round of the World Cup Series.
Do you come from a sporty family?
NO, but my family have encouraged me and supported me from the beginning of my career.
Were there any sports you didn’t like playing at school?
I didn’t do much swimming or cricket. My school focused more on rugby and athletics including cross-country running which I really enjoyed.
How does it feel to represent England?
Good, and it’s a responsibility as well as an honor, whether representing England, as in the Commonwealth Games, or Great Britain as I did in the Athens Olympics (2004). I am proud to represent a nation that is generally well regarded by others.
Which other sports stars do you like?
Everyone who has made it to world class competition level has earned respect. I particularly admire Paula Radcliffe and Lance Armstrong.
What are your hopes for the future?
To have this season continue as successfully as it has started and make the podium in the World Cup in Fort William in May, and at the Mountain Bike World Championship on 27th August this year in New Zealand. In the longer term, to win a medal at the Olympics in Britain and to see more people racing and enjoying mountain biking.The passage is taken from .
| A.an interview between a reporter and Liam Killeen |
| B.a daily talk between Liam Killeen and his father |
| C.a book written by Liam Killeen |
| D.a speech made by Liam Killeen |
Liam Killeen won a gold medal in the .
| A.World Championships | B.World Cup |
| C.Commonwealth Games | D.Olympic Games |
.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A.Liam’s family enjoy sports very much. |
| B.Liam loves swimming and mountain biking |
| C.Liam took part in the Olympic Games in 2004 |
| D.Liam’s father also enjoys mountain biking very much |
From the passage we can infer that .
| A.Liam Killeen will win a gold medal in the Olympics in 2012 |
| B.Lance Armstrong is a world-class sports player |
| C.Liam Killeen has earned a lot of money |
| D.Liam has won many gold medals in world competitions |