Two-Layer System

Personality is to a large extent inherent. A-type parents usually bring about A-type___6___.Butthe environment must also have a ___7___ effect, since if competition is important to the parents, it is likely to become a major factor in the lives of their children.

One place where children soak up A-characteristics is school, which is, by its very nature, a highly competitive institution. 100 many schools ___8___ the"win at all costs"moral standard and measure their success by sporting ___9___. The current passion for making children compete against their classmates or against the clock produces a two-layer system, in which competitive A-types seem in some way better than their B-type fellows. Being too ___10___ to win can have dangerous consequences: remember that Pheidippides, the first marathon runner, dropped dead seconds after saying “Rejoice, we conquer! By far the worst form of ___11___ in schools is the disproportionate emphasis on examinations. The merits of competition by examination are somewhat questionable, but competition in the certain knowledge of ___12___ is positively harmful.

Obviously, it is neither practical nor ___13___ that all A youngsters change into B’s. The world needs types, and schools have an important duty to try to fit a child’s personality to his possible future employment. It is top management.

If the preoccupation of schools with ___14___ work was lessened, more time might be spent teaching children surer values. Perhaps selection for the caring professions, especially medicine, could be made less by good grades in chemistry and more by such considerations as sensitivity and sympathy. It is surely a mistake to choose our doctors ___15___ from A-type stock. B's are important and should be encouraged.

A

keen

B

Competition

C

profound

D

shallow

E

academic

F

achievements

G

did

H

offspring

I

exclusively

J

desirable

K

failure

L

adopt