Question

Everyone knows that the Frenchmen are romantic, the Italians are fashionable and the Germans are serious. Are these just stereotypes or is there really such a thing as national character? And if there is, can it affect how a nation succeed or fail?

At least one group of people is certain that it can. A recent survey of the top 500 entrepreneurs in the UK found that 70% felt that their efforts were not appreciated by the British public. Britain is hostile to success, they said. It has a culture of jealousy. As a result, the survey said, entrepreneurs were “unloved, unwanted and misunderstood.” Jealousy is sometimes known as the “green – eyed monster” and the UK is its home.

Scientists at Warwich University in the UK recently tested this idea. They gathered a group of people together and gave each an imaginary amount of money. Some were given a little, others a great deal. Those given a little were given the chance to destroy the large amount of money given to others – but at the cost of losing their own. Two thirds of the people tested agreed to do this.

This seems to prove that the entrepreneurs were right to complain. But there is also conflicting evidence. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development recently reported that the UK is now the world’s fourth largest economy. That is not bad for people who are supposed to hate success. People in the UK also work longer hours than anyone else in Europe. So the British people are not lazy, either.

“It is not really success that the British dislike,” says Carey Cooper, a professor of management at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. “It’s people using their success in a way that seems proud or unfair or which separates them from their roots.”

Perhaps it is the entrepreneurs who are the problem. They set out to do things in their way. They work long hours. By their own efforts they become millionaires. But instead of being happy they complain that nobody loves them. It hardly seems worth following their example. If they were more friendly, people would like them more. And more people want to be like them.

1.Most entrepreneurs surveyed believe that        .

A．the British people hate success

B．the British people are hardworking

C．love of success is Britain’s national character

D．they are considered as “green – eyed monsters”

2.What does the result of the Warwich University’s test show.

A．Two thirds of the people tested didn’t love money.

B．Most people would rather fail than see others succeed.

C．An imaginary amount of money does not attract people.

D．Most people are willing to enjoy success with others.

3.The writer of the passage seems to suggest that         .

A．jealousy is Britain’s national character

B．British entrepreneurs are not fairly treated

C．the scientists at Warwich University did a successful test

D．the entrepreneurs in the UK do not behave properly

4.The best title for this article can be            .

A．Be More Modest and We Will Love You More

B．Proud Entrepreneurs

C．The Frenchmen are Romantic While The British are Hostile

D．Only Pains but No Gains

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.A

2.B

3.D

4.A

【解析】

試題分析：文章通過數據，事例，實驗證明英國人的仇富心理，但作者指出歸根結底是這些富人的趾高氣昂的態度是人們這么對待他們的。

1.細節題;從第二段的句子：Britain is hostile to success, they said.可知英國人是不喜歡成功的。選A

2.推理題：從第三段的句子：Those given a little were given the chance to destroy the large amount of money given to others – but at the cost of losing their own. Two thirds of the people tested agreed to do this.說明人們寧愿失去自己的很少的錢也要毀了別人大筆的錢。選B

3.推理題：從最后一段的句子：Perhaps it is the entrepreneurs who are the problem. 可知作者認為是英國的企業家行為不當。選D

4.主旨題：從文章最后一段的句子：If they were more friendly, people would like them more. And more people want to be like them.說明最佳的標題是A.

考點：考查社會現象類文章

點評：題目以推理題的考查為主，需要結合上下文提供的語境和信息進行簡單的概括和判斷。?不能只看句子表面意思。