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 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 all 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_______.
A.impatient B.considerate C.aggressive D.agreeable
2.The author is strongly opposed to the practice of examinations at schools because_______.
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 examinations are doubtful
3.The selection of medical professionals is currently based on_______.
A.candidates' sensitivity B.competitive spirit
C.academic achievements D.surer values
4.From the passage we can draw the conclusion that_______.
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
5.The best title for this article is "_______".
A.Personality Acquisition B.Effects of Environment
C.Competition in School D.Cooperation of Inherence and Environment
長難例句分析
［長難例句］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.
［結構分析］本句中，主干是The current passion... produces a two-layer system。主句中，for與后面的現(xiàn)在分詞短語構成介賓短語，作定語；in which引導的是非限制性定語從句，其中還有一個比較級better than。
［參考譯文］目前熱衷于讓孩子們與同學或與時間競爭產(chǎn)生了一種雙層機制，在這種體制中，競爭型的A型性格的孩子在某種程度上似乎比B型性格的學生表現(xiàn)要好。
全文參考譯文
性格在很大程度上是與生俱來的。A型性格的父母通常會有A型性格的后代，但是環(huán)境也必定有深遠的影響，因為如果競爭對父母來說很重要，那么競爭很可能成為孩子成長中的一個重要因素。
孩子形成A型性格的一個地方是學校，學校就其本質(zhì)而言是一個存在高度競爭的機構。有太多學校采納“不惜一切取得成功”作為道德標準，并用成績衡量孩子的成敗。目前熱衷于讓孩子們與同學或與時間競爭產(chǎn)生了一種雙層機制，在這種體制中，競爭型的A型性格的孩子在某種程度上似乎比B型性格的學生表現(xiàn)要好。太想獲勝可能導致危險的結局：記得第一個跑馬拉松的人費迪皮迪茲，說完“歡呼吧，我們勝利啦！”之后幾秒便倒地而亡。
到目前為止，學校里最嚴重的競爭形式就是不恰當?shù)貜娬{(diào)考試。讓學生集中精力做他們能做好的事，這類學校已很少見了。用考試來競爭的優(yōu)點有點令人質(zhì)疑，但明知會失敗卻還要競爭則是肯定有害的。
顯然，把所有A型性格的孩子變成B型性格的孩子既不現(xiàn)實，也不合理。世界需要各種性格的人，學校的一個重要職責就是使孩子的性格適合未來可能從事的職業(yè)。這是最佳管理模式。
如果學校對課業(yè)的重視減少一些，或許有更多的時間教孩子們一些更有價值的東西，也許對護理行業(yè)，特別是對醫(yī)學人員的選擇較少看重化學成績，更多考慮其敏感性及同情心會更合理一些。只從A型性格的人中挑選醫(yī)生肯定是個錯誤。B型性格的人同樣重要，應當受到鼓勵。
題目答案與解析
1.根據(jù)本文，A型性格的人通常是_________。
A.沒有耐心的 B.考慮周到的 C.有進取心的/好爭斗的 D.使人愉快的
【答案】C
【解析】從第二段第一句“孩子形成A型性格的一個地方是學校，學校就其本質(zhì)而言是一個存在高度競爭的機構”可知，C項為正確答案。
2.作者對學?？荚嚨淖龇◤娏曳磳Φ脑蚴莀________。
A.對學生壓力太大 B.一些學生必定會失?。ú患案瘢?/p>
C.不及格率太高 D.考試結果令人懷疑
【答案】B
【解析】本題問作者強烈反對學?？荚嚨淖龇ǖ脑?。參看第三段第三句“用考試來競爭的優(yōu)點有點令人質(zhì)疑，但明知會失敗卻還要競爭是肯定有害的”，即作者認為學校的考試是一種競爭，有人會成功，有人會失敗。這和B項一致。A項和C項在文中未提及。D項與第三段第三句“用考試來競爭的優(yōu)點有點令人質(zhì)疑”不一致。
3.目前醫(yī)學界人員的選擇是根據(jù)_________。
A.候選人的敏感性 B.競爭精神 C.學業(yè)成就 D.更高的價值
【答案】C
【解析】從最后一段第二句“也許對護理職業(yè)， 特別是對醫(yī)學界人員的選擇較少側重于化學成績，更多考慮其敏感性及同情心會更好一些”可知，C項為正確答案。
4.從文中我們能夠得出結論：______。
A.孩子的性格生來就已確定 B.家庭的影響對塑造孩子的性格起著重要的作用
C.一個人個性的發(fā)展受多種因素的影響 D.B型性格的人在社會競爭中無法立足
【答案】C
【解析】本題為推論題。本文主要談論了學校教育對學生性格形成的影響。綜觀全文我們知道，性格的發(fā)展是受先天和環(huán)境等多種因素影響的。C項為正確答案。
5.本文的最好標題是“________”。
A.人格形成 B.環(huán)境的作用 C.學校中的競爭 D.遺傳和環(huán)境的共同作用
【答案】D
【解析】文章的第一段講述了全文的主題思想。其余的選項其內(nèi)涵都過于狹窄。
