I was cycling one day and noticed a man in front of me, about 250 meters ahead. I could tell he was cycling a little slower than me and I decided to catch up with him.
I had about one kilometer to go on the road before turning off. So I started cycling faster and faster. After a few minutes I was only about 100 meters behind him, so I really picked up the pace(速度) and pushed myself.
Finally, I caught up with him and passed him by. I felt so good. “I win,” I thought. “Even though he didn’t even know we were racing.”
However, after I passed him, I was so focused on(集中注意力于) competing against him that I missed my turn. I went nearly six blocks past it and had to turn around and go back.
Isn’t it just like life? We often focus on competing with others, trying to show that we are better than them. We spend our time chasing after them and we miss out on our own paths in life.
The problem with unhealthy competition is that it’s a never-ending cycle. There will always be somebody ahead of you. So stay focused and live a healthy life. Run your own race and wish others well.
()1. The writer decided to when he noticed a man in front of him.
A. talk with the man
B. race against the man
C. make friends with the man
D. cycle slower than the man
()2. What happened to the writer when he passed the man?
A. He rode so fast that he fell off his bicycle.
B. He told the man that he was competing against him.
C. He passed the place he needed to turn.
D. He found himself lost after cycling six blocks and couldn’t find his way.
()3. The underlined phrase “chasing after” in Paragraph 5 means “”.
A. catching up with
B. getting on with
C. coming up with
D. taking care of
()4. What is the main idea of the story?
A. Competition is important in life.
B. Focus on your own race in life.
C. Always be clear of where you’re going.
D. Try to catch up with those ahead of you.

D
【短文大意】作者因为专心赶超前面的路人而错过了自己要转弯的路口。由此作者告诉人们：我们应该专注于自己的生活，走自己的路。
1. B 【解析】细节理解题。由第一段最后一句可知，作者想追赶上前面的人，即与他比赛。
2. C 【解析】细节理解题。根据第四段中的“I was so focused on competing against him that I missed my turn”可知，作者太集中注意力去赶超前面的人，却因此错过了应该转弯的地方。
3. A 【解析】词义猜测题。短文讲述了作者因为追赶前面的人而错过了应该转弯的路口，由此作者联想到这正如我们的生活，为了证明自己比别人更好，我们花费时间和精力赶超他人。由此可猜测，chase after 与 catch up with 同义，意为“赶上；追上”。
4. B 【解析】主旨大意题。短文最后两句是作者的感悟：我们应该专注于走自己的路。