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 (依赖) 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 sonic seem to be lost in die desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only die 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(缓解) can we discover a new meaning in competition.

1.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.

2.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

3.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.

　　The purpose of a letter of application is to help you to “sell” yourself. It should state　 36　 the job you want, and should tell what your abilities are and what you have　 37　 . It should be simple, human, personal and brief without　 38　 out any necessary fact.

　　In writing a letter of application, keep in　 39　 that the things a possible employer is most　

 40　 to want to know about are your qualifications（条件）, your achievements and your aims.The opening paragraph is perhaps the most important part.　41　 the first few sentences fail to　 42　 the reader’s attention, the rest of the letter may not be　 43　 at all. Try to key your opening remarks to the needs or interests of the employer not　 44　 your own need or desires. For example, instead of beginning with “I saw your　 45　 in today's paper. ”you might say“I have made a careful　 46　 of your advertising during the past six months” or “I have made a survey in my neighbourhood to find out how many housewives　 47　 your product and why they like it.”

　　Try to　 48　 generalities. Be clear about the kind of job for which you are now　 49　. College graduates looking for their first positions often ask“ What can I　 50　 in a letter? Employers want experience, which, naturally, no　 51　 has. ”The answer is that everything you have ever done is　 52　.

　　It is important to write a good strong closing for your letter.　53　 a specific request for an interview or give the possible employer something definite to do or expect. An excellent　54　 is to enclose（内附）a stamped, self - addressed envelope with your letter. That makes it　 55　 for a possible employer to get in touch with you.

　　36．A. clearly B. carefully C. obviously D. easily

　　37．A. found B. done C. known D. heard

　　38．A. sending B. taking C. leaving D. picking

　　39．A. brain B. sight C. order D. mind

　　40．A. probable B. possible C. likely D. able

　　41．A. While B. Although C. As D. If

　　42．A. pay B. win C. show D. fix

　　43．A. kept B. continued C. written D. read

　　44．A. to B. for C. into D. from

　　45．A. advertisement B. report

　　　　C. article  D. introduciton 

　　46．A. watch B. search C. study D. discussion

　　47．A. change B. make C. sell D. use．

　　48．A. avoid B. remember C. protect D. gain

　　49．A. losing B. applying C. preparing D. fitting

　　50．A. offer B. supply C. mean D. provide

　　51．A. worker B. beginner C. owner D. manager

　　52．A. success B. development C. practice D. experience

　　53．A. Make B. Ask C. State D. Get

　　54．A. result B. decision C. promise D. idea

　　55．A. happier B. easier C. cheaper D. safer

One night this summer, on my way home from work I decided to see a movie. I knew the theatre would be air­ conditioned and I couldn’t face my 36 apartment. Sitting in the theatre I had to 37 the opening between the two tall heads in front of me. I had to keep changing the　38　every time she leaned over to talk to him, 39　he leaned over to kiss her. Why do Americans display such　40 in a public place？I thought the movie would help improve my English, but as it 41 ,it was an Italian movie. 42 about an hour I decided to give up the movie and 43　my popcorn. I’ve never understood why they gave me so much popcorn！It tasted pretty good , 44. With time going by, I understood 45 of the romantic­ sounding Italians. I just heard the 46 of the popcorn chewed between my teeth. My thought started to 47.I remembered when I was in South Korea, I 48 to watch a host on TV frequently. He seemed like a good friend to me, until I saw him　49　on TV in New York speaking　50　English instead of perfect Korean. He didn’t　51　have a Korean accent！I felt like I had been betrayed (背叛)．
When our family moved to the United States six years ago, none of us spoke any English. 　52 we had picked up a few words, my mother suggested that we all should practise English at home. Everyone agreed, but our house became terribly　53 and we all seemed to avoid each other. When we couldn’t avoid seeing each other, our expressions were stiff (僵硬的)．Sitting at the dinner table we preferred silence to　54　a difficult language. Mother　55　to say something in English but it came out all wrong and we all burst into laughter and decided to forget it！We’ve been speaking Korean at home ever since.

Mr. Harris used to work in Dover, but then he changed his work, and he and his wife moved to another town. They did not have many friends there, but they soon met a lot of interesting people, and after a few weeks, they often went to dinner or to parties at other people's houses.

Then Mrs. Harris said to her husband, "We've been to a lot of other people's houses, and now we must invite them to our house, mustn't we?"

"Yes, certainly," answered her husband, "A big party will be the easiest thing, won't it? Then we can start to invite people to dinner in small numbers next month."

So Mrs. Harris said, "Yes, I'll invite all our friends here to a big party on 5th December."

"How many will that be?" Mr. Harris asked. "Don't invite too many."

Mrs. Harris was beginning to write the invitations when her husband saw that she was writing, "Party: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m."

"That isn't very nice, is it?" he said. "You're telling our guests that they must go at 8:30." So Mrs. Harris just wrote "Party: 6:30 p.m."

A lot of guests came, and they all had a good time, so they did not go home at 8:30. In fact they were still there at mid-night when the door bell rang and a policeman arrived. He said, "You must stop making a noise, because someone has complained(抱怨)."

Mr. Harris said he did not want to quarrel with the policeman, so everyone went home. They were sorry to have to go.

When Mr. and Mrs. Harris were alone again, she said to him. "That was a surprise, wasn't it? Who complained about the noise?"

"I did," Mr. Harris answered in a tired voice.

1.Why did Mr. Harris and his wife move to another town?

A．Mr. Harris changed his work.

B．They wanted to make some new friends.

C．They wanted to meet a lot of interesting people.

D．They enjoyed going to parties and visiting other people's houses.

2.What made Mr. and Mrs. Harris hold a party at their house?

A．It was easy to hold a big party at home.

B．They could ask people to dinner in small numbers.

C．They had gone to other people's parties many times.

D．They liked making friends with others.

3.How long would Mrs. Harris like the party to last?

A．From the morning till night.                B．About two hours.

C．About fourteen hours.                   D．Till midnight

4.When did the party end that evening?

A．At about 8:30.

B．About twelve o'clock..　　

C．When the policeman talked with Mr. Harris on the phone.

D．When someone telephoned the police station.

5.Why did Mr. Harris telephoned the policeman about the noise?

A．Because someone rang his door bell many times at mid-night.

B．He did not want his friends to stay late that night.

C．His friends had a good time that night and also feel tired.

D．Because he hated the noise.