In the 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 (繁荣). 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 their single-minded pursuit (追求) of success, the development of many other human qualities is really forgotten.

However, 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 notice that they have a desire to fail. They seem to choose 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.” They don’t believe that if they had really tried and lost, such a loss would prove 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(比较) 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.

What does this passage mainly talk about?

A. Competition helps set up self-respect.

B. Failures are necessary experiences in competition.

C. Competition is harmful to personal quality development.

D. Opinions about competition are different among people.

Why do some people value competition according to the passage?

A. It builds up a sense of duty.       B. It pushes society forward.

C. It improves personal abilities.     D. It encourages individual effects.

The underlined phrase “the most vocal” in Paragraph 3 refers to_______.

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

What is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a “desire to fail”?

A. One’s success is based on how hard he has tried.

B. One’s success in competition needs great efforts.

C. One’s achievement is determined by his particular skills.

D. One’s worth lies in his performance compared with others’.

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.

In the 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 (繁荣). 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 their single-minded pursuit (追求) of success, the development of many other human qualities is really forgotten.
However, 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 notice that they have a desire to fail. They seem to choose 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.” They don’t believe that if they had really tried and lost, such a loss would prove 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(比较) 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.
【小题1】What does this passage mainly talk about?

In the 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 (繁荣). 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 their single-minded pursuit (追求) of success, the development of many other human qualities is really forgotten.

However, 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 notice that they have a desire to fail. They seem to choose 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.” They don’t believe that if they had really tried and lost, such a loss would prove 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(比较) 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?

2.Why do some people value competition according to the passage?

3.The underlined phrase “the most vocal” in Paragraph 3 refers to_______.

4.What is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a “desire to fail”?

5.Which point of view may the author agree to?

In the 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 (繁荣). 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 their single-minded pursuit (追求) of success, the development of many other human qualities is really forgotten.
However, 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 notice that they have a desire to fail. They seem to choose 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.” They don’t believe that if they had really tried and lost, such a loss would prove 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(比较) 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. 1.

   What does this passage mainly talk about?

   1. A.
      Competition helps set up self-respect.
   2. B.
      Failures are necessary experiences in competition.
   3. C.
      Competition is harmful to personal quality development.
   4. D.
      Opinions about competition are different among people.
2. 2.

   Why do some people value competition according to the passage?

   1. A.
      It builds up a sense of duty.
   2. B.
      It pushes society forward.
   3. C.
      It improves personal abilities.
   4. D.
      It encourages individual effects.
3. 3.

   The underlined phrase “the most vocal” in Paragraph 3 refers to_______.

   1. A.
      those who try their best to win
   2. B.
      those who value competition most highly
   3. C.
      those who are against competition most strongly
   4. D.
      those who rely on others most for success
4. 4.

   What is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a “desire to fail”?

   1. A.
      One’s success is based on how hard he has tried.
   2. B.
      One’s success in competition needs great efforts.
   3. C.
      One’s achievement is determined by his particular skills.
   4. D.
      One’s worth lies in his performance compared with others’.
5. 5.

   Which point of view may the author agree to?

   1. A.
      Every effort should be paid back.
   2. B.
      Competition should be encouraged.
   3. C.
      Winning should be a life-and-death matter.
   4. D.
      Fear of failure should be removed in competition.

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.

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 their single-minded pursuit (追求) of success, the development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten.

However, some 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 them 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 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.

60. What does this passage mainly talk about?

A. Competition helps to set up self-respect in children.

B. Opinions about competition are different among people.

C. Competition is harmful to personal quality development.

D. Failures are necessary experience in competition.

61. Why do some people favor competition according to the passage?

A. It pushes society forward.                                   B. It builds up a sense of duty.

C. It improves personal abilities.                         D. It encourages individual efforts.

62. What is the similar mistaken belief of the true competitors and those with a “desire to fail”?

A. One’s worth lies in his performance compared with others.

B. One’s success in competition needs great efforts.

C. One’s achievement is determined by his skills.

D. One’s success is based on how hard he has tried.

63. Which point of view may the author agree to?

A. Every effort should be paid back in the end.

B. Competition should be encouraged anyway.

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

D. Fear of failure should be removed in competition.