Personality is, to 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 school 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 Atype stock. B’s are important and should be encouraged.
According to the passage, A-type individuals are usually ________.
aggressive有攻击性的，好斗的。文章第一、二、三段都提到： A型性格的人在竞争的环境中成长，形成了他们的性格特征。第二段 第三句直接用competitive（争强好胜的，爱竞争的）一词描述A型性 格的人。A意为“缺乏耐心的、不耐心的”。这也许是他们有时候所表 现出的性格特征，但不是他们的一般性性格特征。B意为“体贴人 的，为人着想的”。D意为“和蔼的，易相处的，使人愉快的”。都不符 合A型人的性格特征。
The author is strongly opposed to the practice of examinations at schools because ________.
be bound to肯定、注定。问题中be opposed意为反对。第三段指 出，学校中最糟糕的竞争方式是极力强调考试，很少有学校让学生集 中精力做自己善于做的事情。通过考试来竞争有无益处是个值得探讨 的问题，但是，明知道自己会失败还去竞争的做法肯定是有害的。因 此答案为B。
The selection of medical professionals is currently based on ________.
原文最后一段指出，如果学校不过多地注重于学习结果，就可 以花更多的时间教些更有价值的东西。选择护理方面的人——尤其是 医疗护理人员——也许应该看他们是否心细、是否有同情心，而不应 看他们化学成绩如何。只从A型性格的人中选择医生的做法是不可取 的，B型性格的人也是社会所需要的，应该受到相应的鼓励。在这段 里。作者对现在人的培养及选择标准进行了批评。C意为“学习成绩 （或学术成就）”。
From the passage we can draw the conclusion that ________.
文章第一段指出，个性在很大程度上是先天形成的，但是，环 境对它也有深刻影响，环境包括社会、学校与家庭。本文主要谈论了 学校教育对学生的性格形成的影响。D意为“个性的发展受多种因素 的影响”。
The best title for this article is ________.
文章第一段指出，个性在很大程度上是先天形成的，但是，环 境对它也有深刻影响，接下来就开始阐述环境的具体影响，因此B项 为正确答案。