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 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 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 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 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 can we discover a new meaning in competition.
【小题1】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
【小题2】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.
【小题3】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 skills.
D. One’s success is based on how hard he has tried.
【小题4】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.

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1 个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Magic Touch

From my hotel room window, I could see a large advertisement board with his face on it: Jason, the Great Magician.

I absent-mindedly turned the 56【小题1】 (page) of the phone book and came across a city map. Drinking my iced coffee, I ran my fingers along the streets 【小题2】 the hotel to the opera hall. Not more 【小题3】 a half-hour walk, I thought.

I looked 【小题4】 (quick) at the clock. The show starts in one hour, plenty of time! I drank the rest of my coffee and went to take a shower. Soon after, I was on my way to the show, 【小题5】(carry) a fancy black handbag and a happy smile.

The hall was dark when I came in; the show was about 【小题6】 (begin). I made my way backstage just 【小题7】 the great magician was putting on his top hat.

“Daddy, I’m so glad to see you,” I 【小题8】 (say) in a low voice. “I’m in town for the writer’s class, but I just couldn’t miss your show.” I gave him a quick hug and went back into the seating area, leaving him with a 【小题9】 (surprise) smile. I settled down in the darkness, and the curtains opened.

Magically, that show remains the Great Jason’s best 【小题10】 (perform) to this day.