問題詳情

Passage Two: Questions 38-43Indeed everyone，I would like to propose, has some sort of need to show off. No one’s completely immune. Although we’ve been taught that it’s bad to boast, that it’s trashy to toot our own horn, that nice people don’t strut their stuff, seek attention or name-drop, there are times when showing off may be forgivable and maybe even acceptable.But first let’s take a look at a showing off that is obnoxious, that’s not acceptable, that’s never nice. Like showoffs motivated by a fierce, Fm-gonna-blow-you-away competitiveness. And like narcissistic showoffs who are willing to do anything to be—and stay~the center of attention.Competitive showoff wants to be the best of every bunch. Competitive showoffs must outshine all others. Whatever is being discussed, they have more—expertise or money or even aggravation—and betterperiodontists or children marriages or recipes for pesto—and deeper—love of animals or concern for human suffering or orgasms. Competitive showoffs are people who reside in a permanent state of sibling rivalry, insisting on playing Hertz to everyone else’s Avis.Narcissistic showoffs, however, don’t bother to compete because they don’t even notice there’s anyone to compete with. They talk nonstop, they brag，they dance，they sometimes quote Homer in Greek，and they’ll even go stand on their head if attention should flag. Narcissistic showoffs want to be the star while everyone else is the audience. And yes, they are often adorable and charming and amusing—but only until around the age of six.Another group of showoffs—much more sympathetic types—are showoffs who are basically insecure. And while there is no easy way to distinguish the insecure from the narcissists andcompetitors, you may figure out which are which by whether you have the urge to reassure or to strangle them.Insecure showoffs show off because, as one close friend explained to me, “How will they know that I’m good unless I tell them about it?” And whatever the message—I’m smart, I’m a fine human being，I’m this incredibly passionate lover—showoffs have many different techniques for telling about it.Indeed, when we discover that the quiet mother of four with whom we’ve been talking intimately all evening has recently been elected to be the state senate—and she never even mentioned it!一we are filled with admiration, with astonishment, with awe.What self-restraint!For we know damn well—I certainly know~that if we’d be that lucky lady, we’d have worked out triumph into the conversation. As a matter of fact, I’d like to confess that the first time some poems of mine were published, I not only worked my triumph into every conversation for months, but I also called almost every human being I’d ever known to proclaim the glad tidings both local and long distance.I don’t intend to defend myself—I was showing off, I was bragging and I wasn’t the slightest bit shy or self-restrained，but a golden, glowing, glorious thing had happened in my life and I had an overwhelming need to exult. Exulting, however, may be a permissible form of showing off.Exulting is what my child does when he comes home with an Aon his history paper and wants to read me the masterpiece while I murmur appreciative comments at frequent intervals. Exulting is what my mother did when she took her first grandson to visit all her friends, and announced as she walked into the room, “Is he gorgeous? Is that a gorgeous baby? Is that the most gorgeous baby you ever saw?”Exulting is shamelessly shouting our talents or triumphs to the world. It’s saying: I’m taking a bow and I’d like to hear clapping. And I think if we don’t overdo it, and I think if we know when to quit，and I think if we don’t get addicted, and I think if we’re able to walk off the stage, then I think we’re allowed, from time to time, to exult.Though showing off can range from very gross to very subtle, and though the point of showing off is sometimes nasty, sometimes needy, sometimes nice, showoffs always run the risk of being thought immodest. Showing off is always a risk, whether we do it ourselves or whether somebody else doing it for us. Perhaps we ought to consider the words Lord Chesterfield wrote to his sons: “Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.”
38.What does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) People should have more self-restraint.
(B) Showing off can facilitate more attention.
(C) Showing off in a modest way is permissible.
(D) Modesty is the best policy.

參考答案

答案：B
難度：適中0.6
統計：A(1),B(3),C(1),D(0),E(0)

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