Make Up Your Mind to Succeed
Kind-hearted parents have unknowingly left their children defenseless against failure．The generation (age) born between 1980 and 2001 grew up playing sports where scores (marks) and performance (show) were played down because “everyone's winner.” And their report cards sounded more positive than ever before．As a result, Stanford University professor Carol Dweck, PhD, calls them “the overpraised generation.”
Dweck has been studying how people deal with failure for 40 years．Her research has led her to find out two clearly different mind-sets that have a great effect on how we react to it．Here's how they work:
A fixed mind-set is grounded in the belief that talent is genetic – you're a born artist, point guard, or numbers person．The fixed mind-set believes it's sure to succeed without much effort and regards failure as personal shame．When things get difficult, it's quick to blame (liability), lie, and even stay away from future difficulties.
On the other hand, a growth mind-set believes that no talent is entirely heaven-sent and that effort and learning make everything possible．Because the ego (自尊) isn't on the line as much, the growth mind-set sees failure as a chance rather than shame．When faced with a difficulty, it's quick to rethink, change and try again．In fact, it enjoys this experience.
We are all born with growth mind-sets．(Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to live in the world.) But parents, teachers, and instructors often push us into fixed mind-sets by encouraging certain actions and misdirecting praise．Dweck's book, Mind-set: The New Psychology of Success, and online instructional program explain this in depth．But she says there are many little things you can start doing today to make sure that your children, grandchildren and even you are never defeated by failure.
小题1:What does the author think about the present generation?
A．They don't do well at school.
B．They are often misunderstood.
C．They are eager to win in sports
D．They are given too much praise.小题2:A fixed mind-set person is probably one who ___ .
A．doesn't want to work hard
B．cares a lot about personal safety
C．cannot share his ideas with others
D．can succeed with the help of teachers小题3:What does the growth mind-set believe?
A．Admitting failure is shameful.
B．Talent comes with one's birth.
C．Getting over difficulties is enjoyable.
D．Scores should be highly valued.
小题1:D
小题2:A
小题3:C
题目分析：本文是一篇科学调查报告。斯坦福大学教授Dweck经过40年的调查研究认为人们对待失败有两种不同的思维模式，这两种思维模式对我们如何对待失败有很大的影响。第一种是有固定思维模式的人，他们认为才能是天生的，成功不需要努力而失败是耻辱。他们逃避未来的困难。第二种是具有成长思维模式的人，他们认为才能不是天生的，努力和学习使一切成为可能。向失败学习并把它看作成长的经历。
小题1:细节题。根据第一段最后一句As a result, Stanford University professor Carol Dweck, PhD, calls them “the overpraised generation.说明这是被过度表扬的一代，故D正确。
小题2: 细节题。根据第三段The fixed mind-set believes it’s sure to succeed without much effort and regards failure as personal shame. When things get difficult, it’s quick to blame, lie, and even stay away from future difficulties.说明他们认为不努力也能成功，故A正确。
小题3:推理题。根据第四段根据文章第四段中的“the growth mind-set sees failure as a chance rather than shame. When faced with a difficulty, it’s quick to rethink, change and try again. In fact, it enjoys this experience.”可知说明这样的人认为克服困难是令人愉快的。故C正确。