In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity. Others say that competition is bad; that it sets one person against another; that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people.
I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth relied (依赖) on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death affairs. In their single-minded pursuit (追求) of success, the development, of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten.
However, while sonic seem to be lost in die desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only die winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players, they strongly blame competition. Among the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society. Teaching these young people, I often observe in them a desire to fail. They seem to seek failure by not trying to win or achieve success. By not trying, they always have an excuse: “I may have lost, but it doesn’t matter because I really didn’t try.” What is not usually admitted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot. Such a loss would be a measure of their worth. Clearly, this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves. Both are based on the mistaken-belief that one’s self-respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others. Both are afraid of not being valued. Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve(缓解) can we discover a new meaning in competition.
【小题1】What does this passage mainly talk about?

单词拼写(共8小题；每小题l分，满分7分)
【小题1】That professor has s______________ from cancer for almost one year.
【小题2】There were 2,000 people p____________ at the meeting yesterday.
【小题3】He p__________ to stay home rather than go camping, so we went without him.
【小题4】To tell you the truth, I’m d_________________ to leave my present work and set up a company of my own.
【小题5】The production plan was finished ahead of s_______________ after the staff worked day and night.
【小题6】He is a r_______________ boy so we can rely on him.
【小题7】J____________ from his appearance, the manager must be over fifty.

“Get out of the plane!” Justin shouted. Teddy and he dropped to the ground,….
When Kathy and Victor reached the edge of the grassland, flames(火焰)were shooting more than five meters into the air.
Kathy couldn’t believe what she was seeing. One glance told her they needed medical attention immediately. She questioned Justin, “ Is there anyone in the plane?”
“No,” he said.
“Where are you able to radio for help?”
“There was no time.”
“ I’m a distance runner.” Kathy said, “I’ll go for help.” Looking at the seriously injured men, she said, “It may take me several hours to get out.” She started out.
When she was 23, Kathy set a women’s-course record in a Marathon. She had run 42 kilometers. But now she was running the race of her life. She had nearly 30 kilometers of hard wilderness to cover to get help.
Kathy had been running for two hours. This was far back into the wilderness. The trail(小径) grew unclear. She stopped to take a quick compass(指南针) reading. She had run for more than 20 kilometers. Her heart fell, her muscle(肌肉) aching. Finally she saw her car in the distance.
She jumped into the car and sped away. She reached a holiday house and called the police.
During the wait she walked around, relaxing her legs and drinking water. It took almost two hours for a helicopter to reach her. They needed her for one more task.
【小题1】“Now, she was running the race of her life” means that ________________.

The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She   1    the driver and, using her hands to feel the   2    of the seats, walked down and found the   3    which the driver had told her was empty. Then she settled in.

It had been a year since Susan, 34,   4    a medical misdiagnosis (误诊), was suddenly thrown into a world of   5   . Mark, her husband, was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all his heart. He   6    her how to rely on her other   7   , specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and   8    to adapt herself to the new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could   9    for her, and save her a seat.

  10   , Susan decided that she was ready to try the   11    on her own. Monday morning, she said good-bye and for the first time, they went their   12    ways.

On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was   13    the bus, the driver said, “Boy, I   14    envy you.” Susan had no   15   what the driver was talking about, and asked, “What do you   16   ?”

The driver answered, “You know, every morning for the   17    week, a fine-looking gentleman   18    a military uniform has been standing across the corner   19    you as you get off the bus. He   20    you cross the street safely and he watches until you enter your office building. You are one lucky lady.”           

Tears of gratitude poured down Susan’s cheeks.     

1. A. thanked      B. asked       C. discovered               D. paid

2. A. location      B. shape       C. size               D. cost

3. A. ticket          B. bus          C. seat               D. bag

4. A. according to   B. instead of   C. thanks to          D. due to

5. A. anger           B. darkness     C. happiness            D. light

6. A. asked         B. encouraged   C. taught              D. praised

7. A. feelings       B. sights         C. senses          D. abilities

8. A. how          B. when        C. where           D. who

9. A. make out            B. watch out    C. find out         D. work out

10. A. Finally       B. Luckily         C. However        D. Besides

11. A. visit           B. trip            C. bus             D. work

12. A. opposite       B. separate        C. difficult         D. usual

13. A. getting on       B. getting in     C. getting off     D. getting up

14. A. must           B. may         C. will            D. do

15. A. idea            B. opinion       C. way          D. thought

16. A. want          B. mean         C. say            D. suggest

17. A. next           B. old             C. past         D. following

18. A. by          B. on              C. with         D. in

19. A. searching     B. watching       C. calling        D. noticing

20. A. looks out      B. takes up        C. believes in    D. makes sure

Motorists over the age of 75 face compulsory tests of their eyesight and ability to drive under proposals being considered by ministers．
The biggest overhaul of motoring law in a generation could also lead to all drivers having to give assurances（保证） of their fitness to get behind the wheel every 10 years．
Other changes under consideration include issuing（发放） daylight driving licenses for motorists with night blindness, together with stricter checks on all drivers whose medical condition brought a threat to other road users．
It is understood that the proposals will be part of a review of the law governing the medical fitness of drivers that will be announced publicly by the summer．
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is dealing with a rising number of motorists who are concerned that they have conditions---from failing eyesight to epilepsy---that could affect their driving．
In 2006, the DVLA dealt with 600,000 motorists whose physical ability to drive needed to be recertified（重新认证）, a 20 per cent rise on the previous year． With an ageing population, the biggest challenge is dealing with the rising number of elderly motorists． By 2021, there will be an estimated three million drivers over the age of 70 on Britain’s roads．
Drivers must renew their licenses at the age of 70 and every three years thereafter． The applicant is legally required to tell the DVLA of any conditions that could weaken their ability behind the wheel．
Ministers have ruled out a compulsory maximum age for driving but will instead rely on tightening up the checks on motorists over the age of 75． The most likely option would be tests to ensure motorists were fit to drive． They would include an eyesight test and a cognitive（认知） test that would prove a driver’s ability to react to road signs, driving conditions, pedestrians and vehicles．
However, checks are likely to be tightened at all ages． The strictest controls are expected to be imposed（强制） on motorists of any age who have had a heart attack or stroke． They could have to produce a doctor’s approval to resume（重新得到） driving． Anyone making a false declaration would be guilty of a criminal offence．
【小题1】 Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?