C
Do you often compare (对比) yourself to other people? Are you happy when you compare yourself to your friend? Comparisons can help to make decisions but they can also pull you into a comparison trap (陷阱). ①
Why is it so easy to compare yourself to others?
Whether it's how many points you've scored at football or how many books you've read, it's easy to compare yourself to someone else. Scientists say
it helps humans learn from each other, live happily together and achieve more. Comparing can be good for you, but it's not always helpful and you can find yourself stuck in a comparison trap. This is when you always compare yourself to others and base your feelings on how well they seem to be doing. ②
Can comparisons be good for you?
Becky is a child therapist (someone who helps children understand their feelings). She tells The Week Junior that comparisons can make us feel good and bad about ourselves. “Comparing up” means seeing someone doing better than you and using that to encourage yourself to aim higher and try harder. However, she says, “Sometimes it can make you feel rubbish about yourself and knock your confidence.” “Comparing down” is when you see someone who seems like they're not doing as well as you. “This might make you feel you're doing well,” says Becky, “but it can also stop you wanting to improve.” ③
Get away from the comparison trap.
“If your feelings depend on what other people are doing, stay with cheerleaders (啦啦队队长),” suggests Becky. Spend time with friends who make you confident rather than compare themselves to you. Find some people that make you laugh or show you lovely places. Finally, pay attention to your own achievements and how you can improve. ④
(
B
) 7. The underlined word “it” refers to “______”.
A. reading a lot of books
B. comparing yourself to others
C. scoring points at football
D. feeling good about yourself
(
D
) 8. Where can we put the following sentence?
Remember that the best person you can compare with is yourself.
A. ①
B. ②
C. ③
D. ④
(
B
) 9. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To help readers build up confidence again.
B. To advise readers not to compare to others.
C. To share different comparisons with readers.
D. To show readers the need to compare to others.
