考研英语核心词汇速成胜经Unit 34
一、 真题文章（1995年text 4）
Personality is to a 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 schools 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 A 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 A-type stock. B's are important and should be encouraged.
二、 译文
性格从很大程度上来说是遗传的——A性格的父母通常养育的儿女也是A性格的。但是环境一定也起了很重要的作用，因为如果竞争对父母是重要的，那么竞争在子女的生活中也是一个重要的因素。
养成A类性格的地方之一就是学校，从本质上说，学校是一个高度竞争的机构。有太多的学校把“不惜一切赢取胜利”作为道德标准，并夸耀成就来衡量他们的胜利。现在，学校热情地鼓励孩子们和同学竞赛与时间赛跑，这就产生了一个两层系统，在这个系统里，其中有竞争意识的A性格学生似乎在很多方面都优于B性格的学生。但是，对胜利太热衷也会导致危险的结果：还记得第一个马拉松运动员Pheidippides，在说完“欢庆吧，我们胜利了！”之后，就倒下死掉了。
到目前为止，学校竞争中最糟糕的形式是对考试的过分强调。很少有学校允许学生专注于自己擅长的事情。用考试来竞争的优点在某种程度上是值得怀疑的，但是明知道会失败还要参加竞争，这对学生的影响是非常不好的。
显然，让A性格的年轻人全部转
责任编辑:zhaotingting
