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：文章大意：通过两个实例来证明形象并非一切。产品或人物形象及其背后的产品、服务或人是同等重要的。

1. A 细节理解题 根据第二段中But the recent scandal(丑闻) showed that behind that image, it cheated in business practices．表示：最近的丑闻表明：在那个（完美的）形象之后，它在商业活动中有欺诈行为。跟选项中的：dishonesty 一致。

2. B 细节理解题 根据第三段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．但是历史上有许多政治家和电影明星，像向名声和财富屈服的好莱坞演员的故事一样，误入歧途。（说明他们本身的行为和为他们精心打造的形象不符，导致失败。）

3. A 文章结构题 第一段；引出话题，提出观点；第二段用实例证明为销售产品或服务精心打造的形象，如果名不符实，最终会失败。第三段说明，为捧红某人而精心打造的形象，如果没有本人行为的支持，同样会以失败告终。最后一段总结，点题：形象及其背后的产品、服务或人是同等重要的。产品或人不履行其所塑造的形象的话，是不可能获得长久的成功的。

4.D 主旨大意题 根据首段If there is no substance（事实） behind the image, the product, service or person will fail eventually．如果所塑造的形象背后没有事实支持，产品、服务或人，最终会以失败告终。尾段：the person or product must deliver on that image or there is little chance for long-term success．产品或人不履行其所塑造的形象的话，是不可能获得长久的成功的。

考点：考查议论文阅读