考研英語：歷年真題閱讀要點之1995-Text 4

　　Personality is to a large extent inherent -- A-type parents usually bring about A-type offspring. But the environment must also have a profound effect, since if competition is important to the parents, it is likely to become a major factor in the lives of their children.

　　personality“個性，性格”;to a large extent“在很大程度上”;inherent“固有的，與生俱來的”;offspring“后代”;破折號后補充說明;接下來重點關(guān)注But轉(zhuǎn)折處，首段轉(zhuǎn)折往往與文章中心相關(guān);have a profound effect“有深遠的影響”;since“因為”;be important to“對...來說是重要的”;a major factor“重要因素”。

　　One place where children soak up A-characteristics is school, which is, by its very nature, a highly competitive institution. Too many schools adopt the “win at all costs” moral standard... The current passion for making children compete against their classmates or against... in some way better than their B-type fellows. Being too keen to win can have dangerous consequences: ... dropped dead seconds after saying: “Rejoice, we conquer!”;

　　where引導定語從句;soak up“吸收”;by its very nature“就其本質(zhì)而言”，充當插入語;adopt“采取”;at all costs“無論如何，不惜任何代價”;moral standard“道德標準”;passion for“對...的熱情”;compete against“與...競爭”;in some way“在某些方面，在某種程度上”;be keen to do“渴望，熱衷”;consequence“結(jié)果，后果”，也可以表示“影響”，exert far-reaching consequences“產(chǎn)生深遠影響”;drop dead“倒斃”;rejoice“高興，慶祝”。

　　By far the worst form of competition in schools is the disproportionate emphasis on examinations. It is a rare school that allows pupils to concentrate on those things they do well. The merits of competition by examination are somewhat questionable, but competition in the certain knowledge of failure is positively harmful.

　　disproportionate“不成比例的”;emphasis on“對...的強調(diào)”，emphasis的動詞形式emphasize;it is... that...強調(diào)句型;rare“杰出的”，也可以表示“稀有的”;concentrate on“全神貫注于”;merit“優(yōu)點”;questionable“有問題的”;positively“肯定地”。

　　Obviously, it is neither practical nor desirable that... to try to fit a child’s personality to his possible future employment.

　　it is neither practical nor desirable that ...“...既不實際也不可取”;fit...to...“使...適應...”;employment“職業(yè)”，動詞employ“雇傭”。