I left school and university with my head packed full of knowledge; enough of it, anyway, to pass all the examinations that were put in my path. As a well-educated man I rather expected my work to be a piece of cake, something at which my intellect would allow me to excel without (undue) effort. It came as something of a shock, therefore, to encounter the world outside for the first time, and to realize that I was ill- equipped, not only for the necessary business of earning a living, but, more importantly, for coping with all the new decisions which came my way, in both life and work.
I was soon to discover that my mind had been trained to deal with closed problems, whereas most of what I now had to deal with were open- ended problems. “What is the cost of sales?” is a closed problem, one with a right or a wrong answer. “What should we do about it?” is an open problem, one with any number of possible answers, and I had no experience of taking (this type) of decision.
I had been educated in an individualist culture. My scores were mine. No one else into it, except as competitors in some imagines race. I was on my own in the learning game at school and university. Not so in my work, I soon realized. Being an individual star would not help me there if it was in a failing group. I
had discovered, rather later than most, the necessity of others.
So much of the content of what I had learned was irrelevant, while the process of learning it had (cultivated) a set of attitudes and behaviors which were directly opposed to what seemed to be needed in real life. Although I had studied philosophy, I hadn’t applied it to myself. It would be nice to think that our schools
today prepare people better for life and for work. The subjects may appear to be a little more relevant, but we are still left to learn about work at work, and about life by living it. I believe we could do more to make sure that the process of education had more in common with the processes of living and working as they
are today, so that the shock of reality is less cruel.
Question 10: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The necessity of being exposed to the harsh reality. B. The complexity of the world outside.
C. The urgent need for educational reforms. D. The gap between education and the real world.
Question 11: The word “undue” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. negligible B. inconsiderable C. extensive D. constant
Question 12: The word “this type” in paragraph 2 refers to _______.
A. the type with some possible answers B. the type related to the cost of sales
C. the type with a right answer D. the type with a wrong answer
Question 13: According to the passage, __________.
A. The author was ill- prepared for real- life experiences
B. The author found it necessary to view his colleagues as competitors
C. The author could deal with new decisions
D. The author realized the importance of individualism in his work
Question 14: The word “cultivated” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. changed B. developed C. weakened D. required
Question 15: Which of the following is NOT mentioned, according to the passage?
A. The author realized that he needed the company of his colleagues at work.
B. The author found that he should have taken advantage of his intellectual ability.
C. The author found that he had been trained to deal with problems in the wrong way.
D. The author expected to succeed by using the qualities his education had developed when leaving university.
Question 16: Which of the following can be inferred about the author’s thoughts from paragraph 4?
A. Students should be aware of applying philosophy to their life.
B. Relevance of learning contents has reduced the gap between school and work.
C. Work and life experience plays a little role in dealing with the harsh reality.
D. Today’s educational system does not give students a much better preparation.
Question 10: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The necessity of being exposed to the harsh reality. B. The complexity of the world outside.
C. The urgent need for educational reforms. D. The gap between education and the real world.
Question 11: The word “undue” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. negligible B. inconsiderable C. extensive D. constant
Question 12: The word “this type” in paragraph 2 refers to _______.
A. the type with some possible answers B. the type related to the cost of sales
C. the type with a right answer D. the type with a wrong answer
Question 13: According to the passage, __________.
A. The author was ill- prepared for real- life experiences
B. The author found it necessary to view his colleagues as competitors
C. The author could deal with new decisions
D. The author realized the importance of individualism in his work
Question 14: The word “cultivated” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. changed B. developed C. weakened D. required
Question 15: Which of the following is NOT mentioned, according to the passage?
A. The author realized that he needed the company of his colleagues at work.
B. The author found that he should have taken advantage of his intellectual ability.
C. The author found that he had been trained to deal with problems in the wrong way.
D. The author expected to succeed by using the qualities his education had developed when leaving university.
Question 16: Which of the following can be inferred about the author’s thoughts from paragraph 4?
A. Students should be aware of applying philosophy to their life.
B. Relevance of learning contents has reduced the gap between school and work.
C. Work and life experience plays a little role in dealing with the harsh reality.
D. Today’s educational system does not give students a much better preparation.