Question

【题目】Everyone has good days and bad days.

Sometimes, you feel as if you’re on top of the world and all the questions on your maths test might seem easy. But occasionally you feel horrible, and you lose things and cannot focus on our schoolwork.

For more than 20 years, scientists have suggested that high self-esteem(自尊) is the key to success.Now, new research shows that focusing just on building self-esteem may not be helpful. In some cases, having high self-esteem can make people less likeable or more upset when they fail in something.

“Forget about self-esteem,” says Jennifer Crocker, a psychologist at the University of Michigan, US. “It’s not the important thing.”

Feeling good

Crocker’s advice may sound a bit strange. After all, feeling good can be good for you.Studies show that people with high self-esteem are less likely to be depressed, anxious, shy, or lonely than those with low self-esteem.

However, after reviewing about 18,000 studies on self-esteem, Roy Baumeister, a psychologist at Florida State University, has found that building up your self-esteem will not necessarily make you a better person.

He believes that violent people often have the highest self-esteem of all. He also said:“ There’s no evidence that kids with high self-esteem do better in school.”

Problems

All types of people have problems. People with high self-esteem can have big egos(自我) that can make them less likeable, said Kathleen Vohs, a psychology professor at Columbia University.People with high self-esteem tend to think more of themselves, VOhs says. People with low self-esteem are more likely to rely on their friends when they need help.

What to do

Researchers say it is best to listen to and support other people. Find positive ways to contribute to society. If you fail in something, try to learn from the experience. “The best therapy(药方) is to recognize your faults,” Vohs says. “It’s OK to say, ‘I’ m not so good at that,’ and then move on.”

【1】 What does the underlined part “on top of the world” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A. Quite helpful. B. Extremely happy.

C. Very unlucky. D. Rather upset.

【2】 The conclusion drawn from the new research shows that high self-esteem_____.

A. is not important at all

B. makes people more likeable

C. helps you do better at school

D. may not be the key to success

【3】 Which of the following is TRUE according to Vohs?

A. Feeling good doesn’t mean you lead a happy life.

B. People with high self-esteem always seek others’ help.

C. People with high self-esteem tend to be selfish.

D. People with low self-esteem are often more popular.

【4】 We can infer from the text that the best therapy mentioned in the last paragraph is mainly for people_____.

A. with high self-esteem

B. with low self-esteem

C. who contribute significantly to society

D. who are in need of support

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】D

【3】C

【4】A

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要反驳了强大的自尊心是成功的关键这一论点。拥有强大的自尊心的人不一定比拥有弱小自尊心的人更优秀；自尊心过高的人容易自大，不招人喜欢，自尊心不高的人遇到问题时更喜欢求助于朋友；不管是哪类人，处理问题最好的方法应该是倾听和支持其他人。

【1】细节理解题。文中第二自然段“But occasionally you feel horrible,”意思是但有时你感到非常可怕，可知“on top of the world”的意思应该是与“horrible”相反，故选择B。

【2】细节理解题。第二自然段“Now, new research shows that focusing just on building self-esteem may not be helpful.”意思是现在，新的研究表明只注重加强自尊心可能是没有作用的。故选择D。

【3】推断分析题。第八自然段“People with high self-esteem tend to think more of themselves”意思是自尊心过高的人更多想到的是他们自己。可知自尊心过高的人是自私的。故选择C。

【4】推断分析题。第八自然段“People with high self-esteem tend to think more of themselves”提到自尊心过高的人更容易想到他们自己；“ What to do”部分第一句“it is best to listen to and support other people.”意思是最好的做法是倾听和支持其他人。可知这部分主要针对自尊心过高的人，故选择A。