Text 3
Great emotional and intellectual resources are demanded in quarrels; stamina helps, as does a capacity for obsession. But no one is born a good quarreler, the craft must be learned.
There are two generally recognized apprenticeships. First, and universally preferred, is likely to grow up failing to understand that quarrels, unlike arguments, are not about anything, least of all the pursuit of truth. The apparent subject of a quarrel is a mere pretext; the real business is the quarrel itself.
Essentially, adversaries in a quarrel age out to establish or rescue their dignity. Hence the elementary principle: anything may be said. The unschooled, may spend an hour with knocking heart, sifting the consequences of calling this old acquaintance a lying fraud.
Those who miss their first apprenticeship may care to enroll in the second, the bad marriage. This can be perilous for the neophyte; the mutual intimacy of spouses makes them at once more vulnerable and more dangerous in attack. Once sex is involved, the stakes are higher all round. And there is an unspoken rule that those who love, or have loved, one another are granted a license for unlimited beastliness such as is denied to mere sworn enemies. For all that some of our most tenacious black belt quarrelers have come to it late in life and mastered every throw.
A quarrel may last years. Among brooding types with time on their hands, like writers, half a lifetime is not uncommon. In its most refined form, a quarrel may consist of the participants not talking to each other. They will need to scheme laboriously to appear in public together to register their silence.
Brief, violent quarrels are also known as rows. In all cases the essential ingredient remains the same; the original cause must be forgotten as possible. From here on, dignity, pride, selfesteem, honor is quarrelling, like jealousy, is an ailconsuming business, virtually a profession. For the quarreler’s very selfhood is on the line. To lose an argument is a brief disappointment, much like losing a game of tennis; but to be crushed in a quarrel rather bite off your tongue and spread it at your opponent’s feet.
31. According to the passage, which is false?
[A] It is a good way to establish or rescue one’s dignity through quarrel.
[B] Quarrel is very different from argument.
[C] Spouses can benefit little from quarrel.
[D] Quarrel is not an instinct of human being.
32. What does the expression “rainy afternoon” (2nd paragraph) mean about brothers and sisters?
[A] Had to play at home. [B] Felt depressed.
[C] Were quarrelling. [D] Got the only chance to stay together.
33. The author implies that.
[A] an excellent quarreler must be trained through two phrases
[B] in people’s whole life, there are two periods full of quarreling
[C] quarrel is much like argument
[D] all people like quarreling
34.Which is the difference between a quarrel and an argument?
[A] A quarrel involves individual pride.
[B] A quarrel concerns strong points of view.
[C] An argument has wellestablished rules.
[D] An argument concerns trivial issues.
35. The author’s opinion is.
[A] objective [B] subjective [C] progressive [D] conservative
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