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  3. One hundred years ago, people became famous for what they had achieved. Men like J. P. Morgan, E. H. Harriman and Jay Gould were

One hundred years ago, people became famous for what they had achieved. Men like J. P. Morgan, E. H. Harriman and Jay Gould were

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问题     One hundred years ago, people became famous for what they had achieved. Men like J. P. Morgan, E. H. Harriman and Jay Gould were all notable achievers. Their accomplishments are still evident in our own day. Today’s celebrities, however, often do not become known for any enduring achievement. The people we most admire today are usually those who are most highly publicized by the media. In 1981, a Gallup poll revealed that Nancy Reagan was the nation’s "most admired woman". The year before, that distinction went to President Carter’s wife, Rosalynn. In fact, the wife of the current president is always one of the nation’s most admired women. Today’s celebrities, as the writer Daniel Boorstin says, are "people well-known for their well-knownness. " To become such a celebrity, one needs luck, not accomplishment. As Boorstin says, "The hero was distinguished by his accomplishment; the celebrity by his image or trademark. The hero created himself; the celebrity is created by the media. The hero was a big man; the celebrity is a big name. "
    There is another distinction: heroes inspire respect; celebrities inspire envy. Few of us believe we could be another Jonas Salk or Eleanor Roosevelt, but we could be another TV star like Telly Savalas or Suzanne Somers. Except for the attention they get from the media, these people are exactly like us.
    Today an appearance on a television talk show is the ultimate proof of "making it" in America. Actually, the term "talk show" is misleading. Celebrities do not appear on such a program because of an actual desire—or ability—to talk, but simply to gain recognition, and prove, merely by showing up, that they are "somebody. " Being a guest on a talk show does not require qualities of wit, eloquence, brilliance, insight, or intelligence. Most hosts are grateful just to get someone who will fill the room with sound. One talk show coordinator comments, "We look for the guest who is sure to talk no matter what. Ten seconds of silence appears very awkward on television; thirty seconds is disastrous. A guest who’s got to stop to think about everything he says before he opens his mouth is a ratings nightmare. " This kind of attitude rewards smooth, insincere talk, and makes hesitancy look like stupidity. "We wouldn’t have used George Washington on our show," says one talent coordinator. "He might have been first in the hearts of his countrymen, but today he’d be dragging his bottom in the ratings. "
Celebrities inspire envy because
选项 A、they get attention from the media rather than the heroes.
B、common people believe that their position can be obtained.
C、they should not be respected for their achievements.
D、they are just TV stars like Telly or Suzanne.
答案B
解析 名人招人嫉妒的原因是[A]本应是英雄获得媒体的关注，但名人却获得了关注。[B]普通人认为名人的位置是可以获得的。[C]名人不应因为他们的成就而受到尊敬。[D]他们都是像特利或者苏珊娜这样的电视明星。根据题干中的关键部分Celebrities inspire envy可以在第二段中找到解答此题的相关信息。原文指出：英雄能激起崇敬，而名人却招人嫉妒，因为我们当中没有什么人会相信自己能同样做出英雄的事迹，但是我们能成为一个像特利·萨瓦拉斯或苏珊娜·萨默斯一样的电视明星。也就是说英雄成就卓然，所以得到崇敬，而如果我们有运气获得媒体的关注，也可以成名，所以人们对名人妒忌。这正是[B]的内容。
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