Like many of my generation, I have a weakness for hero worship. At some point, however, we all begin to question our heroes and our need for them. This leads us to ask: What is a hero? 
　　Despite immense differences in cultures, heroes around the world generally share a number of characteristics that instruct and inspire people. 
　　A hero does something worth talking about. A hero has a story of adventure to tell and a community who will listen. But a hero goes beyond mere fame. 
　　Heroes serve powers or principles larger than themselves. Like high-voltage transformers, heroes take the energy of higher powers and step it down so that it can be used by ordinary people. 
　　The hero lives a life worthy of imitation. Those who imitate a genuine hero experience life with new depth, enthusiasm, and meaning. A sure test for would-be heroes is what or whom do they serve? What are they willing to live and die for? If the answer or evidence suggests they serve only their own fame, they may be famous persons but not heroes. Madonna and Michael Jackson are famous, but who would claim that their fans find life more abundant? 
　　Heroes are catalysts (催化剂) for change. They have a vision from the mountaintop. They have the skill and the charm to move the masses. They create new possibilities. Without Gandhi, India might still be part of the British Empire. Without Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., we might still have segregated (隔离的) buses, restaurants, and parks. It may be possible for large-scale change to occur without leaders with magnetic personalities, but the pace of change would be slow, the vision uncertain, and the committee meetings endless. 

　　11. Although heroes may come from different cultures, they ________. 
　　A) generally possess certain inspiring characteristics 
　　B) probably share some weaknesses of ordinary people 
　　C) are often influenced by previous generations 
　　D) all unknowingly attract a large number of fans 

　　12. According to the passage, heroes are compared to high-voltage transformers in that ________. 
　　A) they have a vision from the mountaintop 
　　B) they have warm feelings and emotions 
　　C) they can serve as concrete examples of noble principles 
　　D) they can make people feel stronger and more confident 

　　13. Madonna and Michael Jackson are not considered heroes because ________. 
　　A) they are popular only among certain groups of people 
　　B) their performances do not improve their fans morally 
　　C) their primary concern is their own financial interests 
　　D) they are not clear about the principles they should follow 

　　14. Gandhi and Martin Luther King are typical examples of outstanding leaders who ________. 
　　A) are good at demonstrating their charming characters 
　　B) can move the masses with their forceful speeches 
　　C) are capable of meeting all challenges and hardships 
　　D) can provide an answer to the problems of their people
 
　　15. The author concludes that historical changes would ________. 
　　A) be delayed without leaders with inspiring personal qualities 
　　B) not happen without heroes making the necessary sacrifices 
　　C) take place ff there were heroes to lead the people 
　　D) produce leaders with attractive personalities

　　本文讲的内容是英雄。第一段最后一句话就提出了文章论述的核心：What is a hero，何谓英雄。而第二段马上表明作者要从哪个方面阐述什么是英雄的问题：共有特征（heroes around the world generally share a number of characteristics）。这些特征具有指导与激励人民的功用（instruct and inspire people）。后面的几段是对英雄特征的详细叙述。 
　　第三段简单地列举了几项英雄特征，比如历险故事（a story of adventure）、崇拜者等等。这应该只是一般人印象中的英雄，作者在段末指出英雄特征绝不仅仅是名声在外而已（a hero goes beyond mere fame），后面三段即是作者自己对英雄的真正理解。 
　　首先，英雄服务于高于其自身的权力或准则，如同高压变压器一样，把这些权力和准则的所带来的利益传递给普通民众（Heroes serve powers or principles larger than themselves. Like high-voltage transformers, heroes take the energy of higher powers and step it down so that it can be used by ordinary people）。 
　　其次，英雄的生活值得人们去仿效。仿效英雄的人们可以体验到更有深度、更有激情、更有意义的生活（Those who imitate a genuine hero experience life with new depth, enthusiasm, and meaning）。而模仿的关键就是服务于谁、为何而生为何而死（A sure test for would-be heroes is what or whom do they serve? What are they willing to live and die for?）。作者指出，如果只是为了自己的名声，则其充其量只能算为名人而非英雄。麦当娜和杰克逊都是名人，但他们的模仿者却没有因模仿而获得充实的生活 （who would claim that their fans find life more abundant?）。 
　　第三，英雄是变革的催化剂。之所以这么说，还是因为英雄的几点特征：目光深远（have a vision from the mountaintop），具备发动大众的技巧和魅力（have the skill and the charm to move the masses）。因为这几点，英雄可以给历史带来新的可能性。作者举出了几个历史上的英雄事例来说明这一观点，如印度的甘地、美国黑人运动领袖小马丁·路德·金等。作者最后指出，即使历史上没有出现这些人物，历史变革也有可能实现，但其过程就要缓慢、曲折得多，从反面证明英雄促进历史变革的鲜明特征。

　　答案：ACBBA