Some value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity. Others say that competition is bad because it sets one person against another and it leads to unfriendly relationships 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 sadly forgotten.However, while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only the winners and pays no attention to the ordinary players, they strongly blame〔责备〕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.56. What does this passage mainly talk about?

阅读〔一共两节,满分是40分〕

第一节 阅读理解〔一共15小题,每一小题2分,满分是30分〕

A

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 because it sets one person against another and it leads to unfriendly relationships 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 sadly forgotten.

However, while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only the winners and pays no attention to the ordinary players, they strongly blame〔责备〕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.

56. 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

57. Why do some people favor competition according to passage?

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

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

58. 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

59. What is the similar 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 particular

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

60. 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.

B

Baths and bathing have long been considered of medical importance to man. In Greece there are the ruins(废墟) of a water system(系统) for baths built over 3,000 years ago. The Romans had warm public baths. In some baths, as many as 3,000 persons could bathe at the same time.

Treating disease by taking bathing has been popular for centuries. Modern medical bathing first became popular in Europe and by the late 1700's has also become popular in the United States.

For many years frequent(经常的) bathing was believed to be bad for one's health. Ordinary bathing just to keep clean was avoided(防止), and perfume was often used to cover up body smells!

By the 1700's doctors began to say that soap and water were good for health. They believed that it was good for people to be clean. Slowly, people began to bathe more frequently. During the Victorian Age of the late 19th century, taking a bath on Saturday night became common.

In the United States ordinary bathing was slow to become popular. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, many Americans were know as "The Great Unwashed!" In one American city, for example, a person was only allowed to take a bathe every thirty days! That was a law!

Frequency of bathing today is partly a matter of habit. People know that bathing for cleanliness is important to health, Doctors know that dirty bodies increase the chance of diseases. As a result, in the United States, people generally bathe often. Some people bath once a day at least. They consider a daily bath essential (=necessary) to good health.

61. A water system for baths was built by ____________over 3,000 years ago.

A. the Romans B. the Greeks C. the Americans D. the Europeans

62. Dirty bodies can ____________ .

A. ruin one's business B. cause disease

C. drive customers away D. cause good health

63. In the 18th century doctors believed that being clean was .

A. unimportant B. good for health C. harmful D. important

64. The underlined word perfume probably means ____________ .

A. a sweet smelling substance B. good health

C. a strange smelling substance D. large wealth

65. Which of the following gives the main idea of the passage?

A. Everybody in America takes a daily bath.

B. A bath a day keeps the doctor away.

C. Taking baths has become popular in the world.

D. Bathing has become easier and cheaper.

C

Hank Viscardi was born without legs. He had not legs but stumps(残肢) that could he fitted with a kind of special boots, People stared at him with cruel interest. Children laughed at him and called him 'Ape Man' (猿人) because his arms practically dragged on the ground.

Hank went to school like other boys. His grades were good and he needed only eight years to finish his schooling instead of the usual twelve. After graduating from school, he worked his way through college. He swept floors, waited on table, or worked in one of the college offices. During all this busy life, he had been moving around on his stumps. But one day the doctor told him even the stumps were not going to last much longer. He would soon have to use a wheel chair.

Hank felt himself got cold all over. However, the doctor said there was a chance that he could be fitted with artificial legs(假腿). Finally a leg maker was found and the day came when Hank stood up before the mirror, For the first time he saw himself as he has always wanted to be——a full five feet eight inches tall. By this time he was already 26 years old.

Hank had to learn to use his new legs. Again and again he marched the length of the room , and marched back again. There were times when he fell down on the floor, but he pulled himself up and went back to the endless marching. He went out on the street. He climbed stairs and learned to dance. He built a boat and learned to sail it.

When World War II came , he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job. He took the regular training. he marched and drilled along with the other soldiers. Few knew that he was legless. This was the true story of Hank Viscardi, a man without legs.

66. Children laughed at Hank and called him ‘Ape Man' because ______.

A. he didn't talk to them

B. he kept away from them

C. his arms touched the ground when he moved

D. he couldn't use his arms

67. It can be inferred from the story that five feet eight inches tall is ______.

A. an average height for a fully grown person B. too tall for an average person

C. too short for an average person D. none of the above

68. The sentence "he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job" implies that the Red Cross _____.

A. was only glad to give him a job

B. gave him a job because he was a good soldier

C. gave him a job after he talked to someone whom he knew in the organization

D. was not willing to give him a job at first

69. When Hank marched and drilled along with the other soldiers, he ______.

A. did everything the other soldiers did

B. did most of the things the other soldiers did

C. did some of the things the other soldiers did

D. took some special training

70. The writer suggests that Hank Viscardi _______.

A. had no friends B. never saw himself as different from others

C. was very shy D. was too proud to accept help from others

第二节 信息匹配〔一共5小题,每一小题2分,满分是10分〕

下面是一篇应用文及其应用场合的信息,请阅读以下应用文和相关信息,并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。

首先,请阅读下面材料:

A. Taking care of yourself is not being selfish. By caring enough to treat your body well, you will be in better shape to take care of those around you. No one can take care of your health except yourself.

B. Believe in yourself and your ability. Have a "can - do" attitude. Make a list of successful changes that you have made in the past. It is easier to achieve a goal when you are optimistic. Use humor and laugh off occasional lapses (过失). Have confidence that you can get back on track with

your healthy routine.

C. Seek out a friend or co - worker who will make you feel comfortable. You will find out making friends is a happy thing in the world. Regular phone calls, emails or visits over coffee could help you keep a good contact with them. Perhaps your cheerleader could become your exercise buddy(密友).

D. Reward yourself as you make simple changes that in the end will result in achieving your overall goal. Celebration is part of successful change. Create a list of incentives (动力) that will keep you motivated.

E. Adopt eating and physical activity habits that can become part of your lifestyle. Have a backup plan for those days when your plans to eat well and be active are challenged. If you can't walk due to the weather, have an exercise video to use. If you have no time to pack a healthy lunch, choose a small fast food sandwich and side salad.

F. Go on a trip. Work and family are two most important things in people's lives. People try to tackle the two things at once, but most of them fail. Just as an old saying goes: People who know how to rest know how to work. Go out with your family and have a good time.

请阅读以下个人信息,然后匹配信息:

71. Tommy, a computer engineer, doesn't believe his working capability (才能). Though he works hard, he never gets praise from his boss.

72. Jack dislikes going home after full day's work. He says that it makes him feel lonely.

73. Linda, a housewife, spends most of her time cooking and looking after babies. She is worn out now.

74. Bob, a businessman, doesn't care much about his success and has lost his struggling motivation (动力).

75. Cathy worked continuously for two weeks without rest. Now she is worried about her family, especially her five - year - old daughter.