Personality is to a large extent inherent—A-type parents usually bring about A-type offspring. But the environment must also have a profound effect, since if competition is important to the parents; it is likely to become a major factor in the lives of their children.
One place where children soak up A-characteristics is school, which is, by its very nature, a highly competitive institution. Too many schools adopt the ‘win at all costs’ moral standard and measure their success by sporting achievements. The current passion for making children compete against their classmates or against the clock produces a two-layer system, in which competitive A types seem in some way better than their B-type fellows. Being too keen to win can have dangerous consequences: remember that Pheidippides, the first marathon runner, dropped dead seconds after saying: “Rejoice, we conquer!”
By far the worst form of competition in schools is the disproportionate emphasis on examinations. It is a rare school that allows pupils to concentrate on those things they do well. The merits of competition by examination are somewhat questionable, but competition in the certain knowledge of failure is positively harmful.
Obviously, it is neither practical nor desirable that all A youngsters change into B’s. The world needs types, and schools have an important duty to try to fit a child’s personality to his possible future employment. It is top management.
If the preoccupation of schools with academic work was lessened, more time might be spent teaching children surer values. Perhaps selection for the caring professions, especially medicine, could be made less by good grades in chemistry and more by such considerations as sensitivity and sympathy. It is surely a mistake to choose our doctors exclusively from A type stock. B’s are important and should be encouraged.
1. According to the passage, A-type individuals are usually _____.
2. The author is strongly opposed to the practice of examinations at schools because _____.
3. From the passage we can draw the conclusion that _____.
问题1选项
A.impatient
B.considerate
C.aggressive
D.agreeable
问题2选项
A.the pressure is too great on the students
B.some students are bound to fail
C.failure rates are too high
D.the results of exanimations are doubtful
问题3选项
A.the personality of a child is well established at birth
B.family influence dominates the shaping of one’s characteristics
C.the development of one’ s personality is due to multiple factors
D.B-type characteristics can find no place in competitive society
第1题:
【选项释义】
According to the passage, A-type individuals are usually _____. 根据这段文字，A型性格的人通常是_____。
A. impatient A. 急躁的
B. considerate B. 体贴的
C. aggressive C. 好斗的
D. agreeable D. 易相处的
【考查点】判断推理题。
【解题思路】根据第二段关键信息：One place where children soak up A-characteristics is school, which is, by its very nature, a highly competitive institution…competitive A types seem in some way better than their B-type fellows（孩子们吸收A型性格的一个地方就是学校，因为学校本身就是一个高度竞争的机构……好胜的A型性格的学生似乎在某种程度上比B型性格的学生更优秀），可知：A型性格的人是好胜、好竞争的，因此应选择与“competitive”相近的词，所以正确答案为C选项。
【干扰项排除】
A、B、D选项在原文均未提及，属于无中生有。
第2题:
【选项释义】
The author is strongly opposed to the practice of examinations at schools because _____. 作者强烈反对学校考试的做法，因为_____。
A. the pressure is too great on the students A. 学生的压力太大
B. some students are bound to fail B. 有些学生肯定会失败
C. failure rates are too high C. 不及格率太高
D. the results of exanimations are doubtful D. 考试结果令人怀疑
【考查点】判断推理题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词opposed to the practice of examinations可以确定答案所在区域为第三段。根据第三段信息：By far the worst form of competition in schools is the disproportionate emphasis on examinations. It is a rare school that allows pupils to concentrate on those things they do well. The merits of competition by examination are somewhat questionable, but competition in the certain knowledge of failure is positively harmful（到目前为止，学校中最糟糕的竞争形式是过分强调考试。很少有学校能让学生专注于自己擅长的事情。通过考试进行竞争的好处值得商榷，但在明知失败的情况下进行竞争则是有害的），可知：作者认为考试是很糟糕的竞争形式，并且指出在明知有失败的情况下竞争是有害的，由此可推断：作者强烈反对学校考试的做法，因为“有些学生肯定会失败”，所以正确答案为B选项。
【干扰项排除】
A、C、D选项在原文均未提及，属于无中生有。
第3题:
【选项释义】
From the passage we can draw the conclusion that _____. 从文章中我们可以得出_____。
A. the personality of a child is well established at birth A. 儿童的性格在出生时就已形成
B. family influence dominates the shaping of one’s characteristics B. 家庭影响对一个人性格的形成起主导作用
C. the development of one’ s personality is due to multiple factors C. 人的性格的发展是由多种因素造成的
D. B-type characteristics can find no place in competitive society D. B型性格在竞争激烈的社会中没有立足之地
【考查点】判断推理题。
【解题思路】根据第一段关键信息：Personality is to a large extent inherent—A-type parents usually bring about A-type offspring. But the environment must also have a profound effect（性格在很大程度上是与生俱来的——A型性格的父母通常会带来A型性格的后代。但是，环境也一定会产生深远的影响），可知对决定性格的有基因，还有环境，由此可推断：人的性格的发展是由多种因素造成的，所以正确答案为C选项。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“儿童的性格在出生时就已形成”，根据第一段第一句：Personality is to a large extent inherent（性格在很大程度上是与生俱来的），该选项属于曲解原文；
B选项“家庭影响对一个人性格的形成起主导作用”，原文并没有提到家庭对性格形成的影响，该选项属于无中生有；
D选项“B型性格在竞争激烈的社会中没有立足之地”，根据最后一段关键信息：It is surely a mistake to choose our doctors exclusively from A type stock. B’s are important and should be encouraged（只从A型人才中挑选医生肯定是错误的。B型人才也很重要，应该加以鼓励），可知该选项属于曲解原文。
