英语4四级CET-4-自主学习阅读31篇

Passage1

Whenonelooksbackuponthefifteenhundredyearsthatarethelifespan

oftheEnglishlanguage,heshouldbeabletonoticeanumberof

significanttruths.Thehistoryofourlanguagehasalwaysbeenahistory

ofconstantchange—attimesaslow,almostimperceptiblechange,at

othertimesaviolentcollisionbetweentwolanguages.Ourlanguagehas

alwaysbeenalivinggrowingorganism,ithasneverbeenstatic.Another

significanttruththatemergesfromsuchastudyisthatlanguageatall

timeshasbeenthepossessionnotofoneclassorgroupbutofmany.At

oneextremeithasbeenthepropertyofthecommon,ignorantfolk,who

haveuseditinthedailybusinessoftheirliving,muchastheyhaveused

theiranimalsorthekitchenpotsandpans.Attheotherextreme

ithasbeenthetreasureofthosewhohaverespecteditasaninstrument

andasignofcivilization,andwhohavestruggledbywritingitdownto

giveitsomepermanence,order,dignity,andifpossible,alittlebeauty.

Asweconsiderourchanginglanguage,weshouldnoteheretwo

developmentsthatareofspecialandimmediateimportancetous.Oneis

thatsincethetimeoftheAnglo-Saxonstherehasbeenanalmost

completereversalofthedifferentdevicesforshowingtherelationshipof

wordsinasentence.Anglo-Saxon(oldEnglish)wasalanguageofmany

inflections.ModemEnglishhasfewinflections.Wemustnowdepend

largelyonwordorderandfunctionwordstoconveythemeaningsthatthe

olderlanguagedidbymeansofchangesintheformsofwords.Function

words,youshouldunderstand,arewordssuchasprepositions,

conjunctions,andafewothersthatareusedprimarilytoshow

relationshipsamongotherwords.Afewinflections,however,have

survived.Andwhensomewordinflectionscomeintoconflictwithword

order,theremaybetroublefortheusersofthelanguage,asweshallsee

laterwhenweturnourattentiontosuchmatersasWHOorWHOMand

MEorI.Thesecondfactwemustconsideristhataslanguageitself

changes,ourattitudestowardlanguageformschangealso.Theeighteenth

century,forexample,producedfromvarioussourcesatendencytofixthe

languageintopatternsnotalwayssetinandgrew,untilatthepresenttime

thereisastrongtendencytorestudyandre-evaluatelanguagepracticesin

termsofthewaysinwhichpeoplespeakandwrite.

l.Incontrasttotheearlierlinguists,modernlinguiststendto.

A.attempttocontinuethestandardizationofthelanguage

B.evaluatelanguagepracticesintermsofcurrentspeechratherthan

standardsorproperpatterns

C.bemoreconcernedabouttheimprovementofthelanguagethan

itsanalysisorhistory

D.bemoreawareoftherulesofthelanguageusage

2.Choosetheappropriatemeaningfortheworduinflection”used

inline4ofparagraph2.

A.Changesintheformsofwords.

B.Changesinsentencestructures.

C.Changesinspellingrules.

D.Wordsthathavesimilarmeanings.

3.Whichofthefollowingstatementsisnotmentionedinthe

passage?

A.Itisgenerallybelievedthattheyear1500canbesetasthe

beginningofthemodernEnglishlanguage.

B.SomeotherlanguageshadgreatinfluenceontheEnglish

languageatsomestagesofitsdevelopment.

C.TheEnglishlanguagehasbeenandstillinastateofrelatively

constantchange.

D.Manyclassesorgroupshavecontributedtothedevelopmentof

theEnglishlanguage.

4.Theauthoroftheseparagraphsisprobablya(an).

A.historianB.philosopher

C.anthropologistD.linguist

5.Whichofthefollowingcanbebestusedasthetitleofthe

passage?

A.ThehistoryoftheEnglishlanguage.

B.OurchangingattitudetowardstheEnglishlanguage.

C.Ourchanginglanguage.

D.SomecharacteristicsofmodernEnglish.

Passage2

Cultureisoneofthemostchallengingelementsoftheinternationalmark

etplace.Thissystemoflearnedbehaviorpatternscharacteristicoftheme

mbersofagivensocietyisconstantlyshapedbyasetofdynamicvariable

s:language,religion,valuesandattitudes,mannersandcustoms,aesthetic

s,technology,education,andsocialinstitutions.

Tocopewiththissystem,aninternationalmanagerneedsbothfactualan

dinterpretiveknowledgeofculture.Tosomeextent,thefactualknowledg

ecanbelearned;itsinterpretationcomesonlythroughexperience.

Themostcomplicatedproblemsindealingwiththeculturalenvironment

stemfromthefactthatonecannotlearnculture—onehastoliveit.Twos

choolsofthoughtexistinthebusinessworldonhowtodealwithcultural

diversity.Oneisthatbusinessisbusinesstheworldaround,followingthe

modelofPepsiandMcDonald's.Insomecases,globalizationisafactof

life;however,culturaldifferencesarestillfarfromconverging.

Theotherschoolproposesthatcompaniesmusttailorbusinessapproache

stoindividualcultures.Settinguppoliciesandproceduresineachcountr

yhasbeencomparedtoanorgantransplant;thecriticalquestioncentersa

roundacceptanceorrejection.Themajorchallengetotheinternationalm

anageristomakesurethatrejectionisnotaresultofculturalmyopiaore

venblindness.

Fortuneexaminedtheinternationalperformanceofadozenlargecompan

iesthatearn20percentormoreoftheirrevenueoverseas.Theinternation

allysuccessfulcompaniesallshareanimportantquality:patience.Theyh

avenotrushedintosituationsbutratherbuilttheiroperationscarefullyby

followingthemostbasicbusinessprinciples.Theseprinciplesaretokno

wyouradversary,knowyouraudience,andknowyourcustomer.

6.Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingistrue?

A.Allinternationalmanagerscanlearnculture.

B.Businessdiversityisnotnecessary.

C.Viewsdifferonhowtotreatcultureinbusinessworld.

D.Mostpeopledonotknowforeignculturewell.

7.Accordingtotheauthor,themodelofPepsi.

A.isinlinewiththetheoriesoftheschooladvocatingthebusiness

isbusinesstheworldaround

B.isdifferentfromthemodelofMcDonald's

C.showsthereverseofglobalization

D.hasconvergedculturaldifferences

8.Thetwoschoolsofthought.

A.bothproposethatcompaniesshouldtailorbusinessapproachesto

individualcultures

B.bothadvocatethatdifferentpoliciesbesetupindifferent

countries

C.admittheexistenceofculturaldiversityinbusinessworld

D.BothAandB

9.Thisarticleissupposedtobemostusefulforthose.

A.whoareinterestedinresearchingthetopicofculturaldiversity

B.whohaveconnectionstomorethanonetypeofculture

C.whowanttotravelabroad

D.whowanttorunbusinessonInternationalScale

10.AccordingtoFortune,successfulinternationalcompanies.

A.earn20percentormoreoftheirrevenueoverseas

B.allhavethequalityofpatience

C.willfollowtheoverseaslocalcultures

D.adoptthepolicyofinternationalization

Passage3

Asregardssocialconventions,wemustsayawordaboutthewell-known

Englishclasssystem.ThisisanembarrassingsubjectforEnglishpeople,

andonetheytendtobeashamedof,thoughduringthepresentcentury

class-consciousnesshasgrownlessandless,andtheclasssystemless

rigid.Butitstillexistsbelowthesurface.Broadlyspeaking,itmeans

therearetwoclasses,theamiddleclassandtheuworkingclass(We

shallignoreforamomenttheold“upperclass”,includingthehereditary

aristocracy,sinceitisextremelysmallinnumbers;butsomeofits

membershavetherighttositintheHouseofLords,andsome

newspaperstakeasurprisinginterestintheirprivatelife.)Themiddle

classconsistschieflyofwell-to-dobusinessmenandprofessionalpeople

ofallkinds.Theworkingclassconsistschieflyofmanualandunskilled

workers.

Themostobviousdifferencebetweenthemisintheiraccent.

Middle-classpeopleuseslightlyvaryingkindsof“received

pronunciation“whichisthekindofEnglishspokenbyBBCannouncers

andtaughttooverseaspupils.Typicalworking-classpeoplespeakin

manydifferentlocalaccentswhicharegenerallyfelttoberatheruglyand

uneducated.OneofthebiggestbarriersofsocialequalityinEnglandis

thetwo-classeducationsystem.Tohavebeentoaso-called“public

school”immediatelymarksyououtasoneofthemiddleclass.The

middleclassestendtoliveamoreformallifethanworking-classpeople,

andareusuallymorecultured.Theirmiddaymealis“lunch“andthey

havearatherformaleveningmealcalled“dinner"，whereastheworking

man'sdinner,ifhisworkinghourspermit,isatmidday,andhissmaller,

late-eveningmealiscalledsupper.

Aswehavesaid,however,theclasssystemismuchlessrigidthanit

was,andforalongtimeithasbeengovernmentpolicytoreduceclass

distinctions.Working-classstudentsverycommonlyreceiveauniversity

educationandentertheprofessions,andworking-classincomeshave

grownsomuchrecentlythatthedistinctionsbetweenthetwoclassesare

becominglessandlessclear.However,regardlessofone'ssocialstatus,

certainstandardsofpolitenessareexpectedofeverybody,andawell-bred

personispolitetoeveryonehemeets,andtreatsalabourerwiththesame

respecthegivesanimportantbusinessman.Servilityinspiresboth

embarrassmentanddislike.Eventheword"sir”,exceptinschoolandin

certainoccupations(e.g.commerce,thearmyetc.)soundstooservileto

becommonlyused.

11.Themiddleclassmainlyreferstopeople.

A.whowerebomasaristocrat

B.whohavetherighttositintheHouseofLords

C.whospeakinmanydifferentlocalaccents

D.whoareprosperousbusinessmenorwhoworkinsome

professions

12.Themostobviousdifferencebetweentheworkingclassandthe

middleclassinEnglishistheir.

A.dressB.work

C.accentD.meal

13.Whyisn'ttheword"sir"commonlyusedinBritain?

A.Becauseitsoundstooservileandislikelytocause

embarrassment.

B.Becauseitcanonlybeusedinsomecertainoccupations.

C.Becauseitisanimpoliteword.

D.Becauseitshowsthatthespeakerisnotawell-bredperson.

14.The“upperclass“inEnglandtoday.

A.areextremelysmallinnumbersothatmediapaysnoattentionto

them

B.stillusesoldwordslike"Sir"intheireverydaylife

C.includesthehereditaryaristocracy

D.refersonlytotheroyalfamily

15.WhichofthefollowingisnottrueabouttheEnglishclass

system?

A.ItisanembarrassingsubjectforEnglishpeople.

B.Working-classstudentscannotreceiveauniversityeducation.

C.Theclasssystemismuchlessrigidthanitwas.

D.Theclasssystemstillexistsbelowthesurface.

Passage4

AmongthemorecolorfulcharactersofLeadville'sgoldenagewereH.A.

W.Taborandhissecondwife,ElizabethMcCourt,betterknownas

"BabyDoe”.TheirhistoryisfastbecomingoneofthelegendsoftheOld

West.HoraceAustinWarnerTaborwasaschoolteacherinVermont.

WithhisfirstwifeandtwochildrenheleftVermontbycoveredwagonin

1855tohomesteadinKansas.Perhapshedidnotfindfarmingtohis

liking,orperhapshewasluredbyrumorsoffortunestobemadein

Coloradomines.Atanyrate,afewyearslaterhemovedwesttothesmall

ColoradominingcampknownasCaliforniaGulch,whichhelater

renamedLeadvillewhenhebecameitsleadingcitizen.4tGreatdepositsof

leadaresuretobefoundhere.^^hesaid.

Asitturnedout,itwassilver,notlead,thatwastomakeLeadville's

fortuneandwealth.Taborknewlittleaboutmininghimself,soheopened

ageneralstore,whichsoldeverythingfrombootstosalt,flour,and

tobacco.Itwashiscustomto“grubstake“prospectiveminers,Inother

words,tosupplythemwithfoodandsupplies,or“grub”,whilethey

lookedforore,inreturnforwhichhewouldgetashareinthemineifone

wasdiscovered.Hedidthisforanumberofyears,butnoonethathe

aidedeverfoundanythingofvalue.

Finallyonedayintheyear1878,sothestorygoes,twominerscame

inandaskedfor"grub”.Taborhaddecidedtoquitsupplyingitbecause

hehadlosttoomuchmoneythatway.Thesewerepersistent,however,

andTaborwastoobusytoarguewiththem."Ohhelpyourself.One

moretimewon'tmakeanydifference/5Hesaidandwentonsellingshoes

andhatstoothercustomers,thetwominerstook$17worthofsupplies,in

returnforwhichtheygaveTaboraone-thirdinterestintheirfindings.

Theypickedabarrenplaceonthemountainsideandbegantodig.After

ninedaystheystruckarichveinofsilver.Taborboughtthesharesofthe

othertwomen,andsotheminebelongedtohimalone.Thismine,known

astheuPittsburghMine,nmade1300000forTaborinreturnforhis

$17investment.

LaterTaborboughttheMatchlessMineonanotherbarrenhillside

justoutsidethetownfor$117000.Thisturnedouttobeevenmore

fabulousthanthePittsburgh,yielding$35000worthofsilverperdayat

onetime.Leadvillegrew.Taborbecameitsfirstmayor,andlaterbecame

lieutenantgovernorofthestate.

16.LeadvillegotitsnameforthefollowingreasonsEXCEPT.

A.becauseTaborbecameitsleadingcitizen

B.becausegreatdepositsofleadisexpectedtobefoundthere

C.becauseitcouldbringgoodfortunetoTabor

D.becauseitwasrenamed

17.Theword“grubstake“inparagraph2means.

A.tosupplyminerswithfoodandsupplies

B.toopenageneralstore

C.todoone'scontributiontothedevelopmentofthemine

D.tosupplyminerswithfoodandsuppliesandinreturngetashare

inthemine,ifonewasdiscovered

18.Tabormadehisfirstfortune.

A.bysupplyingtwoprospectiveminersandgettinginreturna

one-thirdinterestinthefindings

B.becausehewaspersuadedbythetwominerstoquitsupplying

C.bybuyingthesharesoftheother

D.asalandspeculator

19.TheunderlyingreasonforTabor'slifecareeris.

A.purelyaccidental

B.basedontheanalysisofminer'sbeingverypoorandtheir

possibilityofdiscoveringprofitableminingsite

C.throughthehelpfromhissecondwife

D.heplannedwellandaccomplishedtargetsstepbystep

20.Ifthispassageisthefirstpartofanarticle,whomightbe

introducedinthefollowingpart?

A.Tabor'slife.

B.Tabor'ssecondwife,ElizabethMcCourt.

C.Othercolorfulcharacters.

D.Tabor'sothercareers.

Passage5

WhilethecitiesofChinahaveundergonemodernizationevidentinthe

risingtowersandbrightlightsthathaveawakenedthesleepingcountry,

thecountrysideremainslargelythesame.

Rectangularrowsofricefieldslitterthelandscapeseparatedbylong

lanesofwaterdesignedtoprovidetheconstantsupplyofwaterthatis

vitaltoproducingthecrop.Theexperienceisnotunlikedrivingthrough

theAmericanMidwest,onlyricenotcorndominatesthelandscape.

Fouryearsago,whenIlasttookthistrip,theroadsweredustand

telephonewiresdidnotrunparalleltothehighway.Bareroadshavebeen

replacedbysleek,newlypavedhighwaysrunningfromShanghaito

Nanking,tomysmaller,homecity,Wuhu.UnlikethechangesIhad

heardofandexpectedinShanghai,Wuhuwasmuchmoreofasurprise.

ThesmallcitywhereIwasbornhadgrownupasIhave.Therearelarge

high-risebuildings,eachringedwithsmallerbuildingsaroundit,manyof

theseapartmentcomplexes.LittleseemedfamiliarandIwonderwhatmy

grandparent'sflatbuiltofbrickandmortarhadbecome.

PerhapsIshouldn'thavebeensurprisedtofindoutthattheirhome

hadbeendemolishedandrebuiltasasixstoryapartmentcomplexaswell.

WalkinguptothesecondfloorIsawmygrandfather'sfacepeeringout

ofthescreendoor.Hebegantosmileashesawme,andsodidI.Their

homeisnownodifferentfromawesternapartment.Equippedwiththe

modernamenitiesofagasstove,atoilet,ashowerthiswasindeed

differentfromfouryearsago.

21.Accordingtotheauthor,dramaticchangestookplacein.

A.citiesbutnotcountrysideofChina

B.bothcitiesandcountrysideofChina

C.countrysidebutnotinlargecities

D.everywhere

22.Itcanbeinferredfromthesecondparagraphthat.

A.peasantsleadsimilarlifeallovertheworld

B.Chineseirrigatingsystemismoreimpressingthanthatin

America

C.peasantsinMidwestAmericaraisemorecornswhileChinese

peasantsraisemorerice

D.peasantsinMidwestAmericaraisemorericewhileChinese

peasantsraisemorecorn

23.TheauthorwastravelingtoWuhu.

A.inordertotakeastopduringthetripfromShanghaitoNanking

B.inordertofindsomeplacesimilartohishometown

C.inordertovisithisgrandparents

D.inordertofindoutchangesinsmallcities

24.Theauthor'sgrandparents.

A.liveintheirhouseofbrickandmortar

B.liveinanapartmentsimilartowesterners

C.ledatotallywesternizedlife

D.waspoorastheyalwayswere

35.Whichofthefollowingisthebesttitleforthispassage?

A.FlashbacktoChina

B.FromShanghaitoNanking

C.WuhuToday

D.BackWithMyGrandParents

Passage6

Today,therearemanyavenuesopentothosewhowishtocontinuetheir

education.However,nearlyallrequiresomebreakinone'scareerin

ordertoattendschoolfulltime.

Parttimeeducation,thatis,attendingschoolatnightorforone

weekendamonth,tendstodragtheprocessoutovertimeandputsthe

completionofadegreeprogramoutofreachofmanypeople.

Additionally,suchprogramsrequireafixedtimecommitmentwhichcan

alsoimpactnegativelyonone'scareerandfamilytime.

Ofthemanyapproachestoteachingandlearning,however,perhaps

themostflexibleandaccommodatingisthatcalleddistancelearning.

Distancelearningisaneducationalmethodwhichallowsthestudentsthe

flexibilitytostudyathisorherownpacetoachievetheacademicgoals

whicharesonecessaryintoday'sworld.Thetimerequiredtostudymay

besetasideatthestudent'sconveniencewithdueregardtoalllife'sother

requirements.Additionally,thestudentmayenrollindistancelearning

coursesfromvirtuallyanyplaceintheworld,whilecontinuingtopursue

theirchosencareer.Tutorialassistancemaybeavailableviaregular

airmail,telephone,facsimilemachine,teleconferencingandoverthe

Internet.

Gooddistancelearningprogramsarecharacterizedbytheinclusion

ofasubjectevaluationtoolwitheverysubject.Thisprecludesthe

requirementforastudenttotravelawayfromhometotakeatest.

Anothercharacteristicofagooddistancelearningprogramisthe

equivalenceofthedistancelearningcoursewiththesamesubject

materialsasthosestudentstakingthecourseonthehomecampus.The

resultantdiplomaordegreeshouldalsobethesamewhetherdistance

learningoron-campusstudyisemployed.Theindividualityofthe

professor/studentrelationshipisanothercharacteristicofagooddistance

learningprogram.Inthefinalanalysis,agooddistancelearningprogram

hasaplacenotonlyfortheindividualstudentbutalsothecorporationor

businessthatwantstoworkinpartnershipwiththeiremployeesforthe

educationalbenefit,professionaldevelopment,andbusinessgrowthofthe

organization.Sponsoringdistancelearningprogramsfortheiremployees

givesthebusinesstheadvantageofretainingcareer-mindedpeoplewhile

contributingtotheirpersonalandprofessionalgrowththrougheducation.

26.Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingisNOTa

disadvantageofparttimeeducation?

A.Itrequiressomebreakinone'scareer.

B.Ittendstolasttoolongformanypeopletocompleteadegree

program.

C.Itaffectsone'scareer.

D.Itgivesthestudentlesstimetosharewiththefamily.

27.WhichofthefollowingisNOTanadvantageofdistance

learning?

A.Thestudentmaychoosehisorherownpace.

B.Thestudentmaystudyatanytimetohisorherconvenience.

C.Theycanpursuetheirchosencareerwhilestudying.

D.Theirtutorialassistancecomesthroughregularairmail,telephone,

facsimilemachine,etc.

28.Whatbenefitwilldistancelearningprogrambringtoabusiness?

A.Recruitmentofmoretalentedpeople.

B.Goodimageofthebusiness.

C.Bettercooperationwithuniversities.

D.Furthertrainingofemployeesandbusinessgrowth.

29.Gooddistancelearningprogramhavethefollowing

characteristicEXCEPT.

A.distancelearningcourseisthesameasstudentstakingcoursesin

campus

B.theresultdiplomaordegreeshouldbesameasoncampusstudy

C.professor-studentrelationshipisstrictlyonetooneallthroughthe

course

D.includessubjectevaluationtool

30.Whatbenefitwilldistancelearningbringtoanemployeeofa

business?

A.Professionalgrowth.

B.Goodrelationshipwiththeemployer.

C.Goodimpressionontheemployer.

D.Highersalary.

Passage7

OneofthemostinterestingparadoxesinAmericatodayisthatHarvard

University,theoldestinstitutionofhigherlearningintheUnitedStates,is

nowengagedinaseriousdebateaboutwhatauniversityshouldbe,and

whetheritismeasuringup.

LiketheRomanCatholicChurchandotherancientinstitutions,itis

asking-stillinprivateratherthaninpublic-whetheritspastassumptions

aboutfaculty,authority,admissions,coursesofstudy,arereallyrelevant

totheproblemsofthe1990's.

ShouldHarvardoranyotheruniversitybeanintellectualsanctuary,

apartfromthepoliticalandsocialrevolutionoftheage,orshoulditbea

laboratoryforexperimentationwiththesepoliticalandsocialrevolutions;

orevenanengineoftherevolution?Thisiswhatisbeingdiscussed

privatelyinthebigclapboardhousesoffacultymembersaroundthe

HarvardYard.

TheissuewasdefinedbyWaiterLippmann,adistinguishedHarvard

graduate,severalyearsago."Iftheuniversitiesaretodotheirwork,“he

said,“theymustbeindependentandtheymustbedisinterested,•,They

areplacestowhichmencanturnforjudgementswhichareunbiasedby

partisanshipandspecialinterest.Obviously,themomenttheuniversities

fallunderpoliticalcontrol,orunderthecontrolofprivateinterests,orthe

momenttheythemselvestakeahandinpoliticsandtheleadershipof

government,theirvalueasindependentanddisinterestedsourcesof

judgementisimpaired.

ThisispartoftheargumentthatisgoingonatHarvardtoday.

Anotherpartistheargumentofthemilitantandevenmanymoderate

students:thatauniversityisthekeeperofouridealsandmorals,and

shouldnotbeudisinterested“butactivistinbringingthenation'sideals

andactionstogether.

Harvard'smenoftodayseemmoretroubledandlesssureabout

personal,politicalandacademicpurposethantheydidatthebeginning.

Theyarenotevenclearabouthowtheyshoulddebateandresolvetheir

problems,buttheyarestrugglingwiththemprivately,andhowtheycome

outisboundtoinfluenceAmericanuniversityandpoliticallifeinthe

1990's.

31.TheissuesinthedebateonHarvard'sgoalsarewhetherthe

universitiesshouldremainindependentofoursocietyanditsproblems,

andwhethertheyshould.

A.fightmilitarism

B.overcomethewidespreaddrugdependency

C.takeanactivepartinsolvingsociety'sills

D.supportouroldandestablishedinstitutions

32.Inregardtotheirgoalsandpurposesinlife,theauthorbelieves

thatHarvardmenarebecoming.

A.moresureaboutthem

B.lesssureaboutthem

C.morehopefulofreachingasatisfactoryanswer

D.completelydisillusionedaboutever

33.Theword“paradox“inparagraph1is.

A.aparentheticalexpression

B.adifficultpuzzle

C.anabnormalcondition

D.aself-contradiction

34.Theword“sanctuary“inparagraph3is.

A.aholyplacededicatedtoacertaingod

B.atempleornunneryofmiddleage

C.acertainplaceyoucanhideinandavoidmishaps

D.anacademyforintelligentpeople

35.Intheauthor'sjudgement,thefermentgoingonatHarvard.

A.isasadsymbolofourgeneralbewilderment

B.willsoonbeover,becausetimesareboundtochange

C.isofinterestmostlytoHarvardmenandtheirfriends

D.willinfluencefuturelifeinAmerica

Passage8

Personalityis,tolargeextent,inherent—A-typeparentsusually

bringaboutA-typeoffspring.Buttheenvironmentmustalsohavea

profoundeffect,sinceifcompetitionisimportanttotheparents,itis

likelytobecomeamajorfactorlivesoftheirchildren.

OneplacewherechildrensoakupAcharacteristicsisschool,which

is,byitsverynature,ahighlycompetitiveinstitution.Toomanyschools

adoptthe"winatallcosts"moralstandardandmeasuretheirsuccessby

sportingachievements.Thecurrentpassionformakingchildrencompete

againsttheirclassmatesoragainsttheclockproducesatwo-layersystem,

inwhichcompetitiveAtypesseeminsomewaybetterthantheirB-type

fellows.Beingtookeentowincanhavedangerousconsequences:

rememberthatPheidippides,thefirstmarathonrunner,droppeddead

secondsaftersaying:"Rejoice,weconquer!".

Byfartheworstformofcompetitioninschoolisthe

disproportionateemphasisonexaminations.Itisarareschoolthatallows

pupilstoconcentrateonthosethingstheydowell.Themeritsof

competitionbyexaminationaresomewhatquestionable,butcompetition

inthecertainknowledgeoffailureispositivelyharmful.

Obviously,itisneitherpracticalnordesirablethatallAyoungsters

changeinto'B's.Thewouldneedstypes,andschoolshaveanimportant

dutytotrytofitachild'spersonalitytohispossiblefutureemployment.It

istopmanagement.

36.Accordingtotheauthor,whatfactorscontributetothebuildingof

personality?

a.inheritance

b.inheritance,competitionandenvironment

c.competition

d.environment

37.Whichofthefollowingstatementsisnottrueaccordingtotheauthor

ofthepassage?

a.Schoolsusuallyadoptseverecompetitivepolicies.

b.Studentsareoftendividedbycompetitionresults.

c.Schoolisplacewherechildrencultivatetheircharacteristics.

d.Thestrongerdesireforwinning,thebetter.

38.Thephrase"soakup"isclosestinmeaningto.

a.pullup

b.takeup

c.takein

d.pullin

39.W