Passage23

A person may have an idea about himself that will prevent him from doing good work.He may have the idea that he is not capable of it .A child may think he is stupid because he does not understand how to make the most of his mental faculties,or he may accept another person's mistaken estimate of his ability.Older people may be handicapped by the mistaken belief that they are incapable of learning anything new because of their age.

A person who believes that he is incapable will not make areal effort, because he feels that it would be useless.He won't go at a job with the confidence necessary for success.He is therefore likely to fail, and the failure will strengthen his belief in his incompetence. Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this.When he was a small boy he got off to a poor start in arithmetic.His teacher got the idea that he had no ability in arithmetic, and told his parents what she thought in order that they would not expect too much of him.In this way, they too developed that idea, "Isn't it too bad that Alfred can't do arithmetic?"He accepted their mistaken estimate of his ability, felt that it was useless to try, and was very

poor at arithmetic, just as they expected.

One day Adler succeeded in solving a problem which none of the other students had been able to solve.This gave him confidence.He rejected the idea that he couldn't do arithmetic and was determined to show them that he would.His new found confidence stimulated him to attack arithmetic problems with a new spirit.He now worked with interest, determination, and purpose, and he soon became extraordinarily good at arithmetic.

This experience makes him realize that many people have more ability than they think they have, and that lack of success is as often the result of lack of knowledge of now to apply one's ability, lack of confidence, and lack of determination as it is the result of lack of ability.

1. According to the passage, which statement is NOT true?

   1. A child may accept another person's underestimate of his ability.

   2. He may think that he is too young to make the most of his mental faculties.

   3. A person may have the idea that he is incapable of doing good work.

   4. Some old people don't believe that they are capable of learning anything new.

2.A person who believes in his incompetence will . A)make no real efforts

1. fail to go at a job

2. show a complete lack of confidence.

3. all of the above.

1. As a boy, Alfred Adler was poor at arithmetic because .

   1. he lost his self-confidence

   2. he was mentally retarded

   3. his teacher had no confidence in herself

   4. his parents expected too much of him.

2. Which of the following is the most important factor to Adler's

   success?

   1. Spirit and experience B)Interest

C)Confidence and determination D)Purpose and knowledge

1. Adler's experience made him realize that .

   1. people are not as capable as they think

   2. people can be more capable than they think

   3. lack of knowledge leads to failure

   4. lack of ability results in lack of determination.