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 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 theirsingle-minded 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 mistake 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 text mainly talk about?

A  Competition helps to set up self-respect.

B.  People hold different opinions about competition.

C.  Competition is harmful to personal quality development.

D.  Failures are necessary experience in competition.

2.Some people favor competition because they think it __.

A.  pushes society forward

B.  builds up a sense of pride

C.  improves social abilities

D.  develops people's relationship

3.The underlined phrase "the most vocal”in Paragraph 3 refers to those who

A.  try their best to win

B.  highly value competition

C.  are strongly against competition

D.  mostly rely on others for success

4.Which viewpoint does the author agree to?

A  Self-worth relys on winning.

B.  Competition leads to unfriendly relationship.

C.  Winning should be a life-and-death matter.

D.  Fear of failure should be removed in competition.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要讲述了人们对于竞争的不同的意见。一些高度评价竞争的人认为，竞争有利于社会进步和繁荣，其他的人认为竞争使人与人之间对抗，导致人们之间的不友好。我所教的孩子，他们认为他们的自我价值取决于他们在网球和其他东西上面的表现，而忽视其他的人类品质。然而也有一些人迷失在对成功的渴望中，他们指关注获胜者，而不在意其他的参与者，还有一些人由于不努力而失败。人们真正的问题在于他们把个人的自我认可建立在他们与他人的比较中，自己的表现如何。文章的最后提出，只有人们基本的烦恼的恐惧开始被缓解，我们才可以在竞争中发现新的意义。

1. modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition.意思是：在现代社会，对于竞争这里有很多不同的意见。而后文章提出人们对于竞争的积极和消极的态度。有人认为竞争促进社会进步，也有人认为竞争导致人们之间的对抗和不友好。故选B。

2. value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social-progress and prosperity. 意思是：一些人高度评价竞争，认为竞争对于社会进步和繁荣有责任。可知一些人支持竞争是因为他们认为竞争可以推动社会进步。故选A。

3. the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society. 意思是：最反对竞争的是年轻人，他们在父母和社会里承担着竞争压力。可知the most vocal是那些最反对竞争的人。故选C。

4. 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.意思是：两者都害怕不被评价。仅仅只有这种基本的和经常惹人烦恼的害怕开始缓解，我们才能发现在竞争中发现意义。可知：作者同意的做法是在竞争中把害怕失败的恐惧去掉。故选D。

考点：考查议论文阅读。