Passage 2

     Sport not only is physically challenging, but it can also be mentally challenging. Criticism fromcoaches, parents, and other teammates, as well as pressure to win can create an excessive amount ofanxiety or stress for young athletes (运动员). Stress can be physical, emotional, or psychological (心理上的), and research has indicated (暗示) that it can lead to bum out. Bum out has been described as dropping or quitting of an activity that was at one time enjoyable.

     The early years of development are critical years for learning about oneself. The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place. Young athletes can, for example, learn how to cooperatewith others, make friends, and gain other social skills that will be used throughout their lives. Coaches and parents should be aware, at all times, that their feedback to youngsters can greatly affect their children. Youngsters may take their parents' and coaches' criticisms to heart and find a flaw(缺陷) in themselves. 

     Coaches and parents should also be cautious (小心)that youth sport participation does not become work for children. The outcome of the game should not be more important than the process of learning the sport and other life lessons. In today's youth sport setting, young athletes may be worrying more about who will win instead of enjoying themselves and the sport. Following a game, many parents and coachesfocus on the outcome and find fault with youngsters' performances. Pos-hive (正面的) reinforcement (强化) should be provided regardless of the outcome. Research indicates that positive rein- forcement motivates and has a greater effect on learning than criticism. Again, criticism can create high levels of stress, which can lead to bum out.

1. An effective way to prevent the bum out of young athletes is_______.
    A. to reduce their mental stress
    B. to increase their sense of success
    C. to make sports less competitive
    D. to make sports more challenging
答案: A 指导：这是一篇探讨心理、教育问题的议论文。文章讨论了体育比赛对年轻人成长所起的作用以及父母、教练及运动员应该如何正确面对体育比赛，如何使年轻人通过参与竞技体育培养健康的心理，学习掌握成长中所需的技能。文章第一段第三句“．．．It can lead to burnout，”中，这里it 指代stress，既然burnout是由stress所导致，那么防止burnout 的办法自然就是减少压力。B、C、D三项恰恰都会增加运动员的精神压力，从而增加the burnout of young athletes。
2. According to the passage sport is positive for young people in that_______.
    A. it can help them learn more about society
    B. it enables them to find flaws in themselves
    C. it can provide them with valuable experiences
    D. it teaches them how to set realistic goals for themselves.
答案: C 指导：本题可采用排除法。B、D两项较易排除，选项A是干扰项。由文章第二段第二、三句"The sport settingis one where valuable experiences can take place．Young ath letesall，for example，learn how to cooperate with Others，make friends，and gain other social skills that will be used throunghouttheirlives"，比较A、C两项，C项更贴切，故选C项。
3. Many coaches and parents are in the habit of criticizing young athletes_______.
    A. believing that criticism is beneficial for their early development
    B. without realizing criticism may destroy their self-confidence
    C. in order to make them remember life's lessons
    D. so as to put more pressure on them
答案: B 指导：由文章第二段最后两句“Coaches and parents should如aware；atalltimes，that their feed back toyougsters can greatly affect their chdren．Youngsters may take thdir parents'and coaches criticisms to heart and find a flaw in themselves"可知选项B符合文意。
4. According to the passage parents and coaches should_______.
    A. pay more attention to letting children enjoy sports
    B. help children to win every game
    C. train children to cope with (应付) stress
    D. enable children to understand the positive aspect  of sports
答案: D 指导：B、C项易排除。关键在于对A、D两项的判断。本文的主旨是：家长、教练及年轻人应如何正确对待体育比赛；要注意比赛的过程而非结果，要认识到年轻人参加运动比赛是为了学习到宝贵的经验。A项“要注意让孩子享受运动的乐趣”与文章的主旨不符。根据第三段第二句，可知D项正确。