单选题
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 sporting 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 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.
单选题
According to the passage, A-type individuals are usually______.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】解析：第二段首句，“one place where children soak up A characteristics is school…which isa highly competitive institution”。本段第三句再次提到“competitive A types”，这表明A型儿童的特征是“competitive(好竞争的)”。因此只要在选项中找到与“competitive”意义相近之词便可以了。A、B和D选项均与这一含义无关，故选C。
单选题
The author is strongly opposed to the practice of examinations at schools because______.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】解析：在第三段首句“学校最糟糕的竞争方式是对考试的过分重视”中，作者表示了对考试的否定态度：接着末句直接指出否定它的原因：“在明知有人考试会通不过的情况下(certain knowledge of failure)还要进行竞争，则肯定是有害的”，故选B。
单选题
The selection of medical professionals are currently based on______.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】解析：文章末段第二句作者提到“…selection for…medicine could be made less by goodgrades in chemistry and more by such considerations as sensitivity and sympathy，”即选择医疗护理人员时，应该多关注他们是否细心、是否有同情心，而少参照他们的化学成绩。这里grades有“成绩，分数”的意思。言下之意是当前考虑学业成绩过多。故选B。
单选题
From the passage we can draw the conclusion that______.