2011年英语六级辅导：阅读专项练习及详解(1)

　　Directions: Read the following passages carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest possible words (not exceeding 10 words).

 

　　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 fact or 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.

 

　　Questions:

 

　　1. Beside inherence, personality is also deeply effected by ______________________.

 

　　2. Person who has A characteristics is ______________________________________.

 

 

　　3. What was disagreed to in schools by the author? ______________________________.

 

　　4. Why is top management of school to fit a child’s personality_____________________.

 

　　5. According to the 5th Para., B’s characteristic is suggested to be ________________.

 

　　短文大意

 

　　这篇文章主要谈论的是人的性格的培养。作者指出，个性虽然在很大程度上是与生俱来的，但环境的作用也很重要。作者指出，因为学校崇尚“不惜一切代价取胜”的道德标准，而使学校成为培养A型性格的主要场所。作者批评了这种以考试作竞争的手段，因为这并不是学校的最高的办学宗旨。