Question

“Image is everything.” An entire industry has been built upon the assumption that image is everything, but when it comes down to it, an appealing image is not enough. If there is no substance（事实）behind the image, the product, service or person will fail eventually.

First of all, one should consider how important image is in the selling of products and services. Advertising agencies have raised the art of creating an image to a state of near perfection. Public concept of that product or service is certainly managed by the images created by the advertising agencies．But if the product or service does not live up to the image that was created, the customer will be very dissatisfied and possibly ask for their money back. For example, the Arthur Andersen accounting firm had spent decades building up an image of trustworthiness. But the recent scandal (丑闻) showed that behind that image, it cheated in business practices. Despite the previous positive image, the firm is being accused of criminal actions and it will probably not survive as a business unit. Although the image had been nearly perfect, the reality behind the image has led to the downfall of the world famous accounting firm.

Similarly, personal advisers can build up a public image for politicians and movie stars. Putting out positive news releases, making sure that only the best photographs are published, and ensuring that the person is seen in all the right places can build up a very positive image in the view of the general commons. But once again, history is filled with examples of both politicians and movie stars that fell from grace like the story of the Hollywood actor giving in to the pressures of fame and fortune. With people, just as with products and services, image is certainly important, but without positive substance behind the image, failure is close.

To summarize, it is clear that an appealing image is extremely important to success, whether that image is related to selling a product or service or to the “selling” of a person. But image is only half of the equation. What lies behind that image is every bit as important as the image itself —— the person or product must deliver on that image or there is little chance for long-term success.

1.The downfall of the Arthour Andersen accounting firm is due to ___________.

A. its dishonesty in business      B. its previous images

C. its bad management                  D. its poor service

2.Why did some famous people fall from grace?

A. Their images were not well built up.

B. They failed to live up to their images.

C. They felt much pressure from the public.

D. They paid little attention to fame and fortune.

3.The structure of the passage is ___________.

A: Argument     P: Point     C: Conclusion

 

4.The author tries to argue that ___________.

A. image creates everything

B. image is the key to success.

C. truth is unlikely ever to be equaled

D. truth and image are equally important

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.A

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：本文由“形象就是一切”引出，叙述了在产品和服务的推销以及个人方面形象都是很重要的。通过举例说明好的形象对于成功极其重要，但实际行为同样重要。

1.细节理解题。根据“But the recent scandal (丑闻) showed that behind that image, it cheated in business practices. Despite the previous positive image, the firm is being accused of criminal actions and it will probably not survive as a business unit.”可知这家会计事务所的垮台是由于商业诈骗。故选A。

2.细节理解题。根据“But once again, history is filled with examples of both politicians and movie stars that fell from grace like the story of the Hollywood actor giving in to the pressures of fame and fortune.”可知名人堕落是因为他们辜负了自己的形象。故选B。

3.细节理解题。纵观全文可以看出本文先提出论点，再举例论证，最后得出结论。故选A。

4.推理判断题。根据“But image is only half of the equation. What lies behind that image is every bit as important as the image itself —— the person or product must deliver on that image or there is little chance for long-term success.”可知作者试图证明真相和形象同样重要。故选D。

考点：社会现象类阅读。