1、 Exercises Reading Comprehension Reading Comprehension Structure of the Text Structure of the TextUnit 6:ExercisesExercises Vocabulary Vocabulary Cloze Cloze Translation Translation第1页Unit 6:Reading comprehensionReading comprehension1.1.At At the the very very beginning beginning of of the the artic
2、le,article,the the author author points points out:out:“ambition“ambition is is a a quality quality that that is is hard hard to to praise praise and and easy easy to to deplore”.deplore”.Why Why does does he he say say so?so?And And how how is is this this related related to to the the fact fact th
3、at that presently presently many many people people are are doubtful doubtful about about ambition?ambition?What What belief belief do do these these people people hold about ambition?hold about ambition?Because Because ambition ambition is is“an“an unrelenting unrelenting oppressor,oppressor,which
4、which robs robs us us of of time time and and peace peace of of mind”,mind”,meaning meaning that that ambition ambition can can mercilessly mercilessly cause cause people people much much distress distress and and suffering,suffering,driving driving them them to to work work overtime overtime with w
5、ith little little time time left left for for leisure leisure and and relaxation relaxation and and filling filling their their minds minds with with dissatisfaction,dissatisfaction,worry worry and and anxiety.anxiety.This This is is especially especially true true in in economically economically bo
6、oming booming periods periods such such as as the the present present when when there there are are more more opportunities opportunities alluring alluring people.people.As As a a result,result,presently presently many many people people are are doubtful doubtful about about ambition,ambition,believ
7、ing believing that that ambition ambition has has become become too too hard hard to to control control and and is is forcing forcing us us to to make make too too great great efforts efforts and and hold hold too strong desires which will finally destroy ourselves.too strong desires which will fina
8、lly destroy ourselves.ReferenceReferenceEx.I,pp.114115第2页Unit 6:Reading comprehensionReading comprehension2.2.In In paragraphs paragraphs 2 2 and and 3,3,the the author author cites cites some some examples examples to to show show that that ambition ambition is is not not merely merely the the purs
9、uit pursuit of of wealth,wealth,actually actually people people from from every every walk walk of of life life have have their their own own ambition ambition to to achieve.achieve.What What different different ambitions ambitions do do different different people people have?have?According Accordin
10、g to to the the author,author,which which of of them them is is most most commonly commonly shared shared by by people?people?And And what role does money play in its fulfillment?what role does money play in its fulfillment?第3页Unit 6:Reading comprehensionReading comprehensionThe author cites four ex
11、amples:The author cites four examples:1)Al Gores ambition is to be elected American president;1)Al Gores ambition is to be elected American president;2)2)Americas Americas computer computer moguls moguls ambition ambition is is to to control control the the nations nations cyberagenda;cyberagenda;3)
12、American football players ambition is to score a touchdown;3)American football players ambition is to score a touchdown;4)4)Most Most peoples peoples ambition ambition is is to to search search for for status status symbols symbols that that separate separate them them from from the the crowd.crowd.
13、The The last last one one is is most most commonly commonly shared shared by by people.people.Money Money is is not not the the only only way way but but surely surely the the most most common common way way to to realize realize this this ambition,ambition,as as it it can can easily easily change c
14、hange into into some some other other symbol symbol of of identity identity and and status,status,such such as as a a bigger bigger house,house,a a more more exotic exotic vacation,vacation,a a niftier niftier bike,bike,a a faster faster puter.ReferenceReference第4页Unit 6:Reading comprehensionReading
15、 comprehension3.3.In In paragraph paragraph 3,3,the the author author says says“One-upmanship“One-upmanship is is a a national national mania.”mania.”Do Do you you know know the the meaning meaning of of the the word word“one-“one-upmanship”?upmanship”?And And can can you you find find some some oth
16、er other expressions expressions in in the the article article which which have have similar similar meaning?meaning?Whats Whats the the relationship relationship between between one-upmanship one-upmanship and and all all the the above-mentioned above-mentioned examples examples of of ambition?ambi
17、tion?In In the the authors authors mind,mind,ambition ambition is is not not only only“a“a quest quest for riches”,then what is it?for riches”,then what is it?The The word word“one-upmanship”“one-upmanship”means means gaining gaining an an advantage advantage and and a a feeling feeling of of superi
18、ority superiority over over other other people.people.Expressions Expressions such such as as“outdo”,“outdo”,“excel”“excel”have have similar similar meaning.meaning.The The desire desire for for one-one-upmanship upmanship can can summarize summarize all all the the above-mentioned above-mentioned e
19、xamples examples of of ambition.ambition.In In the the authors authors mind,mind,ambition ambition is is a a quest quest for for one-one-upmanship to be better or more successful than other people.upmanship to be better or more successful than other people.ReferenceReference第5页Unit 6:Reading compreh
20、ensionReading comprehension4.4.In In the the sentence sentence“One-upmanship“One-upmanship is is a a national national mania.”,mania.”,the the word word“mania”“mania”is is also also a a deliberate deliberate choice choice on on the the part part of of the the author.author.What What image does it ev
21、oke in your mind?image does it evoke in your mind?The The word word“mania”“mania”originally originally refers refers to to a a mental mental illness illness in in which which somebody somebody has has an an obsession obsession about about something something that that makes makes them them extremely
22、 extremely anxious,anxious,violent violent or or confusedconfused(躁躁躁躁狂狂狂狂症症症症).Here Here it it means means an an extremely extremely strong strong desire desire or or enthusiasm enthusiasm for for something something shared shared by by a a lot lot of of people people at at the the same same time.t
23、ime.It It evokes evokes a a picture picture of of a a lot lot of of people people behaving behaving in in an an anxious,anxious,violent violent and and confused confused way way in order to surpass each other.in order to surpass each other.ReferenceReference第6页Unit 6:Reading comprehensionReading com
24、prehension5.5.In In paragraph paragraph 4,4,the the author author says says“the“the contest contest seems seems futile.”futile.”What What does does“the“the contest”contest”refer refer to?to?Why Why is is it it“futile”?“futile”?To To prove prove this this point,point,the the author author describes d
25、escribes a a paradoxical paradoxical phenomenon phenomenon in in todays todays society,society,that that is,is,although although peoples peoples income income is is rising,rising,they they still still have have to to work work hard hard only only to to be be able able to to make make ends ends meet.
26、meet.According According to to the the author,author,what what is is the the cause of this phenomenon?cause of this phenomenon?第7页Unit 6:Reading comprehensionReading comprehension “The“The contest”contest”refers refers to to the the consumption consumption competition competition the the competition
27、 competition for for one-upmanship one-upmanship in in the the search search for for status status symbols symbols that that separate separate one one from from the the crowd.crowd.It It is is“futile”“futile”because because there there is is no no chance chance of of winning winning it it since sinc
28、e material material pursuit pursuit is is endless.endless.The The cause cause of of this this paradoxical paradoxical phenomenon phenomenon is is that that“theyre“theyre running running in in the the pack pack with with everyone everyone else”,else”,that that is,is,people people are are not not simp
29、ly simply struggling struggling to to own own more more material material wealth,wealth,instead,instead,they they are are struggling struggling to to surpass surpass others others to to own own more more material material wealth wealth and and thus thus achieve achieve higher higher social social st
30、atus status than than others.others.They They not not only only have have to to possess possess widely widely owned owned consumer consumer products products in in order order not not to to be be considered considered a a crank crank or or a a pauper,pauper,but but also also have have to to buy buy
31、expensive expensive products products beyond beyond their their financial financial capacity capacity so so that that they they can can be be more more successful successful than than other other people people with with whom whom they they compare compare themselves.themselves.As As there there are
32、are always always more more fashionable fashionable and and more more expensive expensive luxuries luxuries coming coming out,out,their their material material desires desires seem seem infinite.infinite.Consequently,Consequently,their their rising rising incomes incomes often often cannot satisfy t
33、heir rising wants.cannot satisfy their rising wants.ReferenceReference第8页Unit 6:Reading comprehensionReading comprehension6.6.In In paragraph paragraph 6,6,the the author author lists lists three three negative negative impacts impacts of of playing playing the the futile futile contest contest of o
34、f competitive competitive consumption consumption on on people.people.What What are are they?they?What What statistics statistics and and examples examples does does the the author author quote quote to to illustrate these points?illustrate these points?The 3 negative impacts are:The 3 negative impa
35、cts are:1)1)Frustration Frustration is is preordained,preordained,which which is is proved proved by by the the result result of of a a Newsweek Newsweek Poll Poll that,that,despite despite the the booming booming economy,economy,adults adults found it more difficult to live the kind of life they wa
36、nt.found it more difficult to live the kind of life they want.2)2)The The stress stress can can lead lead to to tragedy,tragedy,which which is is illustrated illustrated by by Mark Mark Barton,Barton,a a day day trader trader who who murdered murdered 12 12 people people and and then then committed
37、suicide when he was disillusioned by stock mitted suicide when he was disillusioned by stock loss.3)3)People People routinely routinely try try to to beat beat the the system system through through get-rich-quick get-rich-quick schemes,schemes,which which is is indicated indicated by by the the popu
38、larity popularity of of legalized legalized gambling.gambling.ReferenceReference第9页Unit 6:Reading comprehensionReading comprehension7.7.Because Because of of those those negative negative effects effects of of ambition ambition on on people,people,ambition ambition has has gotten gotten many many en
39、emies.enemies.One One opinion opinion against against ambition ambition tells tells people people to to“subdue“subdue ambition”ambition”and and“Search“Search for for deeper deeper meaning meaning in in family,family,friends friends and and faith”,faith”,because because“Money“Money cannot cannot buy
40、buy happiness.”happiness.”But But does does the the survey survey result result cited cited in in paragraph 7 support this idea?paragraph 7 support this idea?No.No.The The 1998 1998 survey survey shows shows a a stronger stronger relation relation between between income income and and happiness happ
41、iness than than earlier earlier polls,polls,though though marriage marriage has has a a bigger bigger impact than income.impact than income.ReferenceReference第10页Unit 6:Reading comprehensionReading comprehension8.8.In In paragraph paragraph 8,8,it it is is said said that that Cornell Cornell Univers
42、ity University economist economist Robert Robert Frank Frank proposes proposes a a progressive progressive consumption consumption tax.tax.What What is is the the purpose of this proposal?purpose of this proposal?The The purpose purpose of of this this proposal proposal is is to to punish punish tho
43、se those extremely extremely ambitious ambitious people people and and protect protect people people against against excessive excessive spending spending on luxuries in pursuit of a feeling of superiority over others.on luxuries in pursuit of a feeling of superiority over others.ReferenceReference第
44、11页Unit 6:Reading comprehensionReading comprehension9.9.Does Does the the author author agree agree with with Robert Robert Franks Franks idea?idea?What What arguments arguments and and examples examples does does he he use use in in paragraphs paragraphs 9 9 and and 10 10 to to support support his
45、his own point of view?own point of view?No.No.In In Paragraph Paragraph 9,9,he he argues argues that that“Ambition“Ambition is is socially socially useful.useful.It It sustains sustains economic economic vitality.vitality.It It prods prods people people to to take take risks risks and and exert exer
46、t themselves.”themselves.”As As an an example example in in point,point,he he cites cites the the invention invention of of the the Internet Internet by by ambition-driven ambition-driven hardworking hardworking people,people,which which has has not not only only brought brought tremendous tremendou
47、s economic economic benefits benefits but but also also improved improved the the general general social social attitude.attitude.In In Paragraph Paragraph 10,10,he he argues argues that that people people“also“also venerate venerate ambition ambition as as opportunity.”opportunity.”For For instance
48、,instance,in in America America everyone everyone has has the the opportunity opportunity to to be be rich,rich,famous famous or or powerful powerful if if they they try try hard,hard,so so in in every every walk walk of of life life people people are are ambitious ambitious and and compete compete
49、ruthlessly ruthlessly to be outstanding.to be outstanding.ReferenceReference第12页Unit 6:Reading comprehensionReading comprehension10.10.In In the the last last paragraph,paragraph,the the author author comes comes to to the the conclusion:conclusion:“Ambition“Ambition is is bitter bitter as as often
50、often as as sweet;sweet;but but without without it,it,wed wed be be sunk.”sunk.”Explain Explain this this sentence.sentence.According According to to this this paragraph,paragraph,why why is is ambition often bitter?ambition often bitter?This This sentence sentence means:means:ambition ambition brin