There are two basic ways to see growth: one as a product, the other as a process. People have generally viewed personal growth as an external result or product that can easily be identified and measured. The worker who gets a promotion, the student whose grades improve, the foreigner who learns a new language—all these are examples of people who have measurable results to show for their efforts.
By contrast, the process of personal growth is much more difficult to determine, since by definition it is a journey and not the specific signposts or landmarks along the way. The process is not the road itself, but rather the attitudes and feelings people have, their caution or courage, as they encounter new experiences and unexpected obstacles. In this process, the journey never really ends; there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept.
In order to grow, to travel new roads, people need to have a willingness to take risks, to confront the unknown, and to accept the possibility that they may "fail" at first. How we see ourselves as we try a new way of being is essential to our ability to grow. Do we perceive ourselves as quick and curious? If so, then we tend to take more chances and to be more open to unfamiliar experiences. Do we think we're shy and indecisive? Then our sense of timidity can cause us to hesitate, to move slowly, and not to take a step until we know the ground is safe. Do we think we're slow to adapt to change or that we're not smart enough to cope with a new challenge? Then we are likely to take a more passive role or not try at all.
These feelings of insecurity and self-doubt are both unavoidable and necessary if we are to change and grow. If we do not confront and overcome these internal fears and doubts, if we protect ourselves too much, then we cease to grow. We become trapped inside a shell of our own making.
1.A person is generally believed to achieve personal growth when_______.
A.he has given up his smoking habit
B.he has made great efforts in his work
C.he is keen on learning anything new
D.he has tried to determine where he is on his journey
2.In the author's eyes, one who views personal growth as a process would_______.
A.succeed in climbing up the social ladder
B.judge his ability to grow from his own achievements
C.face difficulties and take up challenges
D.aim high and reach his goal each time
3.When the author says "a new way of being" (Line 3, Para. 3) he is referring to_______.
A.a new approach to experiencing the world B.a new way of taking risks
C.a new method of perceiving ourselves D.a new system of adaptation to change
4.For personal growth, the author advocates all of the following EXCEPT_________.
A.curiosity about more chances B.promptness in self-adaptation
C.open-mindedness to new experiences D.avoidance of internal fears and doubts
5.Which statement is NOT the cause for the process of personal growth being difficult to define?
A.There are no obvious signposts or landmarks in the process
B.It includes the abstract things such as feeling and attitude etc rather than just a process
C.It is changing and developing constantly
D.There are always new ideas and new challenges appearing during the process
長難例句分析
［長難例句］If we do not confront and overcome these internal fears and doubts, if we protect ourselves too much, then we cease to grow.
［結(jié)構(gòu)分析］本句中，主干是we cease to grow。前面的兩個if引導(dǎo)的都是條件從句，它們之間是并列關(guān)系。
［參考譯文］如果我們不去面對、不去克服這些內(nèi)在的恐懼和疑慮，如果我們過分地保護(hù)自己，那么我們就會停止成長。
全文參考譯文
對于成長，人們有兩種基本看法：一種是看做結(jié)果，另一種是看做過程。人們通常把個人成長看做很容易識別和衡量的外在結(jié)果。工人獲得提升，學(xué)生升學(xué)，外國人掌握了一門新語言，這些都是付出之后，取得了可衡量的成績的例子。
相比之下，對個人成長過程的測定就難得多了。因為從定義上講，它是一次旅行，不是路上的某個路標(biāo)或里程碑。過程不是道路本身，而是當(dāng)人遇到新體驗或意料之外的障礙時所持的態(tài)度和情感，謹(jǐn)慎小心或者勇氣十足。在這個過程中，旅途從來沒有真正的盡頭；總有體驗這個世界的新方式、總有嘗試的新思路、總會接受新挑戰(zhàn)。
為了成長，為了探索新的道路，人們需樂于去冒險，去面對未知世界，去接受開始階段失敗的可能性。當(dāng)我們嘗試新的生存方式時，如何看待自己對我們能力的提高是很必要的。我們認(rèn)為自己反應(yīng)敏捷又好奇心強(qiáng)嗎？如果那樣，我們會抓住更多的機(jī)會，我們會更勇于面對陌生的經(jīng)歷。我們是否認(rèn)為自己害羞而優(yōu)柔寡斷呢？那么這種膽怯感會使我們猶豫不前、行動緩慢，直到我們確信安全，才會更進(jìn)一步。我們是否認(rèn)為自己適應(yīng)或改變得很慢，或是在應(yīng)對新的挑戰(zhàn)時不夠精明呢？那樣的話，我們可能會更加消極，或者根本不去嘗試。
我們要改變、要成長，不安全感、自我懷疑的感覺是不可避免的，也是必要的。如果我們不去面對、不去克服這些內(nèi)在的恐懼和疑慮，如果我們過分地保護(hù)自己，那么我們就會停止成長。我們就會作繭自縛。
題目答案與解析
1.一個人被認(rèn)為取得了個人成長，通?？芍竉________。
A.他克服掉了吸煙的習(xí)慣 B.他在工作中很努力
C.他渴望學(xué)習(xí)任何新的事物 D.他努力確定自己在人生道路上的位置
【答案】A
【解析】從第一段第二句“人們通常把個人成長看做很容易識別和衡量的外在結(jié)果”可知A項為正確答案。A項表達(dá)的內(nèi)容原文并未提到，但我們知道，戒煙是非常不易的，它需要堅定的決心與毅力。正像是一個學(xué)生要取得好成績必須作出努力，最后才能取得成功。
2.在作者的眼中，將個人成長視作一個過程的人會_________。
A.提高社會地位 B.判斷自己從個人成就中得到的能力
C.面對困難，迎接挑戰(zhàn) D.要求高，并且每次都實(shí)現(xiàn)自己的目標(biāo)
【答案】C
【解析】從第二段可以得出答案。C項為正確答案。A、B、D項均屬于結(jié)果。
3.當(dāng)作者說“為人處世的新方法”（第三段第三行）時，他指的是_________。
A.一種體驗世界的新的方法 B.一種冒險的新方法
C.一種自我感知的新方法 D.一種適應(yīng)改變的新方法
【答案】A
【解析】依據(jù)第二段最后一句 ...there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept，因而答案為A項。
4.為了個人成長，以下幾項除了_________ 之外作者都提倡。
A.對更多機(jī)會充滿好奇 B.自我適應(yīng)快
C.對新的經(jīng)歷能夠接受 D.回避內(nèi)心的恐懼和疑慮
【答案】D
【解析】從最后兩段可以得出正確答案。A、B、C項均可以從文章中找到，只有D選項沒有提及。
5.個人成長的過程很難描述，下列哪一項不是其原因？
A.這個過程中沒有明顯的標(biāo)志和里程碑。
B.這個過程包含很多抽象的東西，諸如感覺、態(tài)度等，而不僅僅是一個過程。
C.這個過程始終處在發(fā)展變化中。
D.在這個過程中總有新的觀念和新的挑戰(zhàn)出現(xiàn)。
【答案】D
【解析】其余選項都在文章中有所論及，也可以推理得出。唯有D選項顯得很絕對，跟文意不符。
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