Despite immense differences in cultures, heroes around the world generally share a
number of characteristics that instruct and inspire people.
A hero does something worth talking about. A hero has a story of adventure to tell
and a community who will listen. But a hero goes beyond mere fame.
Heroes serve powers or principles larger than themselves. Like high-voltage
transformers, heroes take the energy of higher powers and step it down so that it can be
used by ordinary people.
The hero lives a life worthy of imitation. Those who imitate a genuine hero
experience life with new depth, enthusiasm, and meaning. A sure test for would-be
heroes is what or whom do they serve? What are they willing to live and die for? If the
answer or evidence suggests they serve only their own fame, they may be famous persons
but not heroes. Madonna and Michael Jackson are famous, but who would claim that
their fans find life more abundant?
Heroes are catalysts (催化剂) for change. They have a vision from the mountaintop.
They have the skill and the charm to move the masses. They create new possibilities.
Without Gandhi, India might still be part of the British Empire. Without Rosa Parks and
Martin Luther King, Jr., we might still have segregated (隔离的) buses, restaurants, and
parks. It may be possible for large-scale change to occur without leaders with magnetic
personalities, but the pace of change would be slow, the vision uncertain, and the
committee meetings endless.
11. Although heroes may come from different cultures, they ________.
A) generally possess certain inspiring characteristics
B) probably share some weaknesses of ordinary people
C) are often influenced by previous generations
D) all unknowingly attract a large number of fans
12. According to the passage, heroes are compared to high-voltage transformers in that
________.
A) they have a vision from the mountaintop
B) they have warm feelings and emotions
C) they can serve as concrete examples of noble principles
D) they can make people feel stronger and more confident
13. Madonna and Michael Jackson are not considered heroes because ________.
A) they are popular only among certain groups of people
B) their performances do not improve their fans morally
C) their primary concern is their own financial interests
D) they are not clear about the principles they should follow
14. Gandhi and Martin Luther King are typical examples of outstanding leaders who
________.
A) are good at demonstrating their charming characters
B) can move the masses with their forceful speeches
C) are capable of meeting all challenges and hardships
D) can provide an answer to the problems of their people
15. The author concludes that historical changes would ________.
A) be delayed without leaders with inspiring personal qualities
B) not happen without heroes making the necessary sacrifices
C) take place ff there were heroes to lead the people
D) produce leaders with attractive personalities
Passage Two
Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage.
According to a survey, which was based on the responses of over 188,000 students,
today’s traditional-age college freshmen are “more materialistic and less altruistic (利他主
义的)” than at any time in the 17 years of the poll.
Not surprising in these hard times, the student’s major objective “is to be financially
well off. Less important than ever is developing a meaningful philosophy of life.” It
follows then that today the most popular course is not literature or history but accounting.
Interest in teaching, social service and the “altruistic” fields is at a low. On the other
hand, enrollment in business programs, engineering and computer science is way up.
That’s no surprise either. A friend of mine (a sales representative for a chemical
company) was making twice the salary of her college instructors her first year on the
job—even before she completed her two-year associate degree.
While it’s true that we all need a career, it is equally true that our civilization has
accumulated an incredible amount of knowledge in fields far removed from our own and
that we are better for our understanding of these other contributions—be they scientific
or artistic. It is equally true that, in studying the diverse wisdom of others, we learn how
to think. More important, perhaps, education teaches us to see the connections between
things, as well as to see beyond our immediate needs.
Weekly we read of unions who went on strike for higher wages, only to drive their
employer out of business. No company; no job. How shortsighted in the long run!