Question

Make Up Your Mind to Succeed

Kind-hearted parents have unknowingly left their children defenseless against failure. The generation born between 1980 and 2001 grew up playing sports where scores and performance were played down because “everyone’s winner.” And their report cards sounded more positive than ever before. As a result, Stanford University professor Carol Dweck, PhD, calls them “the overpraised generation. ”

Dweck has been studying how people deal with failure for 40 years. Her research has led her to find out two clearly different mind-sets that have a great effect on how we react to it. Here’s how they work:

A fixed mind-set is grounded in the belief that talent is genetic(遗传的) – you’re a born artist, point guard, or numbers person. The fixed mind-set believes he’s sure to succeed without much effort and regards failure as personal shame. When things get difficult, he’s quick to blame, lie, and even stay away from future difficulties.

On the other hand, a growth mind-set believes that no talent is entirely heaven-sent and that effort and learning make everything possible. Because the ego (自尊) isn’t on the line as much, the growth mind-set sees failure as a chance rather than shame. When faced with a difficulty, he’s quick to rethink, change and try again. In fact, he enjoys this experience.

We are all born with growth mind-sets. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to live in the world. But parents, teachers, and instructors often push us into fixed mind-sets by encouraging certain actions and misdirecting praise. Dweck’s book, Mind-set: The New Psychology of Success, and online instructional program explain this in depth. But she says there are many little things you can start doing today to make sure that your children, grandchildren and even you are never defeated by failure.

1.What does the author think about the present generation?

A. They don’t do well at school.

B. They are often misunderstood.

C. They are eager to win in sports.

D. They are given too much praise.

2.A fixed mind-set person is probably one who ___ .

A. doesn’t want to work hard

B. cares a lot about personal safety

C. cannot share his ideas with others

D. can succeed with the help of teachers

3.What does the growth mind-set believe?

A. Admitting failure is shameful.

B. Talent comes with one’s birth.

C. Scores should be highly valued.

D. Getting over difficulties is enjoyable.

4.What should parents do for their children based on Dweck’s study?

A. Encourage them to learn from failures.

B. Prevent them from making mistakes.

C. Guide them in doing little things.

D. Help them grow with praise.

Answer 1

1.D

2.A

3.D

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文是一篇科学调查报告。斯坦福大学教授Dweck经过40年的调查研究认为人们对待失败有两种不同的思维模式，这两种思维模式对我们如何对待失败有很大的影响。第一种是有固定思维模式的人，他们认为才能是天生的，成功不需要努力而失败是耻辱。他们逃避未来的困难。第二种是具有成长思维模式的人，他们认为才能不是天生的，努力和学习使一切成为可能。向失败学习并把它看作成长的经历。

1. Carol Dweck, PhD, calls them “the overpraised generation.”，Dweck教授称它们为“过度夸奖的一代”，可知：他们被表扬的太多了。故选 D。

2. fixed mind-set believes he’s sure to succeed without much effort and regards failure as personal shame.”固定思维模式相信不用太多的努力并且把失败当做是个人的耻辱他就一定会成功，可知，他相信成功但不想付出努力。 故选D。

3. growth mind-set sees failure as a chance rather than shame. When faced with a difficulty, he’s quick to rethink, change and try again. In fact, he enjoys this experience.（成长思维模式会把失败看做是一次机会而不是羞耻。当面对困难时，他会很快的重新考虑作出改变然后再次尝试。事实上，他享受这种经历。）”可知，克服困难的过程是享受的。故选 D。

4. she says there are many little things you can start doing today to make sure that your children, grandchildren and even you are never defeated by failure.（但是她说有许多小事你可以从今天开始做，比如一定要让你的孩子，孙子甚至是你都不要被困难打倒）”可知，家长应学会教孩子克服困难，从困难中学习经验。故选 A。

考点：考查科学性文章阅读。