2010年12月英语四六级考试阅读专项练习(22)

　　Passage 2

　　Personality is, to a large extent, inherent—A-type parents, usually bring about A-type children. But the environment must also have a __11__ effect, wince if competition is important to the parents it is likely to become a major__ 12__ 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 __13__ the " win at all costs" moral standard and measure their success by sporting achievements. The current __14__ 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 __15 __keen to win can have dangerous consequences: remember that Pheidippides, the first marathon runner, dropped dead seconds after saying; "cheers, we conquer!"

　　By far the worst form of competition in schools is the extreme__ 16__ on examinations. It is a rare school that allows pupils to __17__ on those things they do well. The merits of competition by examination are somewhat __18__ , but competition in the certain knowledge of failure is positively harmful.

　　Obviously, it is neither __19__ nor desirable that all A youngsters change into B's. The world needs types, and schools have an important duty to try to __20__ a child's personality to his possible future employment. It is top management.

　　A. enough B. fit C. emphasis D. practical

　　E. innumerable F. concentrate G. adopt H. questionable

　　I. profound J. factor K. too L. substance

　　M. passion N. emotion O. fix

　　Passage 3

　　The English policeman has several nicknames ( 绰号 ) but the most frequently used are "copper" and "bobby". The first name comes from the verb "to cop " (which is also slang ) , meaning " to take " or " to capture ", and the second comes from the first name of Sir Robert Peel, the nineteenth-century politician, who was the founder of the police force as we know it today. An early nickname for the policeman was "peeler", but this one has died out.

　　Whatever we may call them, the general opinion of the police seems to be a favorable one; except, of course, among the criminal part of the community where the police are given more derogatory nicknames which originated in America, such as "fuzz" or "pig". Visitors to England seem nearly always to be very impressed by the English police. It has, in fact, become a standing joke that the visitor to Britain, when asked for his views of the country, will always say, at some point or other, "I think your policemen are wonderful. "

　　Well, the British bobby may not always be wonderful but he is usually a very friendly and helpful sort of character. A music-hall song of some years ago was called "If You Want To Know The Time, Ask A Policeman". Nowadays, most people own watches but they still seem to find plenty of other questions to ask the policeman. In London, the policemen spend so much of their time directing visitors about the city that one wonders how they ever find time to do anything else!

　　Two things are immediately noticeable to the stranger when he sees an English policeman for the first time. The first is that he does not carry a pistol (手枪) and the second is that he wears a very distinctive type of headgear, the policeman's helmet. His helmet, together with his height, enable an English policeman to be seen from a considerable distance, a fact that is not without its usefulness. From time to time it is suggested that the policeman should be given a pistol and that his helmet should be taken from him, but both these suggestions are resisted by the majority of the public and the police themselves.

　　21. Nowadays British people call the policeman_______.

　　A. pig B. peeler

　　C. fuzz D. bobby

　　22. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

　　A. There are fewer criminals in America than in Britain.

　　B. The English police usually leave a deep impression on visitors.

　　C. The British bobby is friendly but not helpful.

　　D. The English police enjoy having pistols.

　　23. If you see an English policeman for the first time, you will probably notice at once that

　　A. he often tells people time B. he is usually very helpful

　　C. he has a helmet on his head D. he wears special clothes

　　24. That an English policeman can be seen from some distance is _______.

　　A. of some help to people B. of no help to people

　　C. very strange and funny D. a standing joke

　　25. Visitors praise the English police because_______.

　　A. they are armed with modern equipment

　　B. they obey orders

　　C. they are often given thanks by people

　　D. they are polite and helpful