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】

试题分析：文章通过数据，事例，实验证明英国人的仇富心理，但作者指出归根结底是这些富人的趾高气昂的态度是人们这么对待他们的。

1.细节题;从第二段的句子：Britain is hostile to success, they said.可知英国人是不喜欢成功的。选A

2.推理题：从第三段的句子：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.说明人们宁愿失去自己的很少的钱也要毁了别人大笔的钱。选B

3.推理题：从最后一段的句子：Perhaps it is the entrepreneurs who are the problem. 可知作者认为是英国的企业家行为不当。选D

4.主旨题：从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.说明最佳的标题是A.

考点：考查社会现象类文章

点评：题目以推理题的考查为主，需要结合上下文提供的语境和信息进行简单的概括和判断。?不能只看句子表面意思。