Personality is to a large extent inherent. A-type parents usually (1) A-type offspring. But the environment must also have a profound effect (2) if competition is important to the parents, it is (3) to become a major factor in the lives of their children.
One place where children (4) A characteristics is school, which is, (5) its very nature, a highly competitive institution. Too many schools (6) the "win at all costs" moral standard and measure their success by sporting achievements. The current (7) for making children compete against their classmates or against the (8) produces a two-layer system, in which competitive A types seem in some way better than their B type fellows. Being too (9) to win can have dangerous consequences: remember that Pheidippides, the first marathon runner, (10) dead seconds after saying. "Rejoice, we conquer!"
(11) the worst form of competition in schools is the disproportionate emphasis on examinations. There is, for example, a (12) school that allows pupils to concentrate on those things they do well. The (13) of competition by examination are somewhat questionable, but competition in the certain (14) of failure is positively harmful.
(15) , it is neither practical nor desirable that all A youngsters change into B’s. The world needs types, and schools have an important duty to try to (16) a child’s personality to his possible future employment. It is top management.
If the preoccupation of schools with academic work was (17) , more time might be spent teaching children surer values. Perhaps selection (18) the caring professions, especially medicine, could be made less by good grades in chemistry and more by such (19) 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 (20) .

Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1.8（）

A:authority B:world C:nature D:clock

Which of the following best conveys the' idea that man has been careless and unconcerned in his relationship with nature

A:He has exploited the earth' s resources. B:He has shown little understanding of nature' s ways. C:He has abused the earth' s resources. D:He has not appreciated nature' s beauty and benefits sufficiently.

The element carbon is (widely) (found) (in nature) in many forms including both diamonds (as well as) coal.（　）

A:widely B:found C:in nature D:as well as

The "balance of nature" is not an empty phrase. Nature provides a population to occupy a suitable environment and cuts down surplus population to fit the available food supply. One means of reducing surplus population is predators(食肉动物); others are parasites (寄生虫) and diseases. Also, population density produces nervous disorders and even drives animals to mass migrations, like the lemmings (旅鼠) of Norway who plunge into (跳入) the sea.
That predators populations increase to control other animals has long been known. Many years ago, the Hudson’s Bay Company records revealed that the fox population went up and down about a year after the rabbit population had gone up and down.
Sometimes a situation occurs in which the predators population is reduced to a level below which nature can readily replace. On Valcour Island in Lake Champlain (New York) , a costly campaign resulted in the elimination of predatory animals only to have birds and small animals—including grouse (松鸡) and hares, popular game (猎物)—increase for four years afterward. Then lacking predator control, nature resorted to disease to cut down these populations.
Jamaica had an example of nature’s persistence in providing animals for existing habits. Sugar planters, about 75 years ago, imported mongooses to control rats. The mongooses killed off the rats and, with plentiful food, multiplied. Rats became scarce and the mongooses ate lambs, kids, puppies (小狗), and wildlife. Eventually, food became scarce and the mongoose’s population declined.

Implied but not stated: （　）

A:Sugar planters imported mongooses to control rats B:Man should never tamper (损害) with nature C:To upset the balance of nature can be troublesome D:Man has complete control over nature

John James Audubon was born in 1785 and died in 1851, but his name is still spoken every day. Andubon was a scientist who loved nature. He wanted to show people the importance of nature in their lives. He was especially interested in birds, and painted many pictures of them.
In 1905, the National Audubon Society was formed by people who were also interested in birds and wanted to continue Audubon’s nature studies. Even now, when people think of the Audubon Society, they usually think of birds. But the society does other things besides watching birds.
The members of the Society try to improve the environment as much as they can. They have helped pass many laws that protect birds and animals, and people, too. They taught young people how to protect their environment. They try to make their own communities cleaner, better places to live in.
John James Audubon knew that nature was important. He did not know how important his work would become.

What is important in people’s lives（　）

A:The earth. B:Birds. C:Scientists. D:The nature.

Passage Two

What is important in people’s lives

A:The earth. B:Birds. C:Scientists. D:The nature.

John James Audubon was born in 1785 and died in 1851, but his name is still spoken every day. Andubon was a scientist who loved nature. He wanted to show people the importance of nature in their lives. He was especially interested in birds, and painted many pictures of them.
In 1905, the National Audubon Society was formed by people who were also interested in birds and wanted to continue Audubon’s nature studies. Even now when people think of the Audubon Society, they usually think of birds. But the society does other things besides watching birds.
The members of the Society try to improve the environment as much as they can. They have helped pass many laws that protect birds and animals, and people, too. They taught young people how to protect their environment. They try to make their own communities cleaner, better places to live in.
John James Audubon knew that nature was important. He did not know how important his work would become.

What is important in people’s lives（）

A:The earth. B:Birds. C:Scientists. D:The nature.

In Dr. Baum's opinion, a true nature reserve ______.

A:could never survive in a modern age B:should provide building for human activities C:should be regarded as a place where nature is protected D:could provide special areas for tourist to enjoy

Although we all depend on the resources of nature for our survival ______.

A:industrial products are replacing all our natural resources B:it is only on islands that nature survives C:we have forgotten what our original countryside looked like D:we have allowed areas of countryside to be spoilt by industrial development