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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

长难例句分析

［长难例句］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.

［结构分析］本句中，主干是The current passion... produces a two-layer system。主句中，for与后面的现在分词短语构成介宾短语，作定语；in which引导的是非限制性定语从句，其中还有一个比较级better than。

［参考译文］目前热衷于让孩子们与同学或与时间竞争产生了一种双层机制，在这种体制中，竞争型的A型性格的孩子在某种程度上似乎比B型性格的学生表现要好。

全文参考译文

性格在很大程度上是与生俱来的。A型性格的父母通常会有A型性格的后代，但是环境也必定有深远的影响，因为如果竞争对父母来说很重要，那么竞争很可能成为孩子成长中的一个重要因素。

孩子形成A型性格的一个地方是学校，学校就其本质而言是一个存在高度竞争的机构。有太多学校采纳“不惜一切取得成功”作为道德标准，并用成绩衡量孩子的成败。目前热衷于让孩子们与同学或与时间竞争产生了一种双层机制，在这种体制中，竞争型的A型性格的孩子在某种程度上似乎比B型性格的学生表现要好。太想获胜可能导致危险的结局：记得第一个跑马拉松的人费迪皮迪兹，说完“欢呼吧，我们胜利啦！”之后几秒便倒地而亡。

到目前为止，学校里最严重的竞争形式就是不恰当地强调考试。让学生集中精力做他们能做好的事，这类学校已很少见了。用考试来竞争的优点有点令人质疑，但明知会失败却还要竞争则是肯定有害的。

显然，把所有A型性格的孩子变成B型性格的孩子既不现实，也不合理。世界需要各种性格的人，学校的一个重要职责就是使孩子的性格适合未来可能从事的职业。这是最佳管理模式。

如果学校对课业的重视减少一些，或许有更多的时间教孩子们一些更有价值的东西，也许对护理行业，特别是对医学人员的选择较少看重化学成绩，更多考虑其敏感性及同情心会更合理一些。只从A型性格的人中挑选医生肯定是个错误。B型性格的人同样重要，应当受到鼓励。

题目答案与解析

1.根据本文，A型性格的人通常是_________。

A.没有耐心的　B.考虑周到的　C.有进取心的/好争斗的　D.使人愉快的

【答案】C

【解析】从第二段第一句“孩子形成A型性格的一个地方是学校，学校就其本质而言是一个存在高度竞争的机构”可知，C项为正确答案。

2.作者对学校考试的做法强烈反对的原因是_________。

A.对学生压力太大　　　B.一些学生必定会失败（不及格）

C.不及格率太高　　　　D.考试结果令人怀疑

【答案】B

【解析】本题问作者强烈反对学校考试的做法的原因。参看第三段第三句“用考试来竞争的优点有点令人质疑，但明知会失败却还要竞争是肯定有害的”，即作者认为学校的考试是一种竞争，有人会成功，有人会失败。这和B项一致。A项和C项在文中未提及。D项与第三段第三句“用考试来竞争的优点有点令人质疑”不一致。

3.目前医学界人员的选择是根据_________。

A.候选人的敏感性　B.竞争精神　C.学业成就　D.更高的价值

【答案】C

【解析】从最后一段第二句“也许对护理职业， 特别是对医学界人员的选择较少侧重于化学成绩，更多考虑其敏感性及同情心会更好一些”可知，C项为正确答案。

4.从文中我们能够得出结论：______。

A.孩子的性格生来就已确定　　　　　　B.家庭的影响对塑造孩子的性格起着重要的作用

C.一个人个性的发展受多种因素的影响　D.B型性格的人在社会竞争中无法立足

【答案】C

【解析】本题为推论题。本文主要谈论了学校教育对学生性格形成的影响。综观全文我们知道，性格的发展是受先天和环境等多种因素影响的。C项为正确答案。

5.本文的最好标题是“________”。

A.人格形成　　B.环境的作用　C.学校中的竞争　D.遗传和环境的共同作用

【答案】D

【解析】文章的第一段讲述了全文的主题思想。其余的选项其内涵都过于狭窄。