MCA Practice - The Value of Competition

What is a main idea of the article?

• A. Athletes grow up to be dependable citizens.
• B. Team sports help people communicate better.
• C. Students compete against each other.
• D. Organized activities teach people to work together.

Which phrase best replaces the word vie in paragraph 1?

• A. Ask permission
• B. Organize a race
• C. Challenge each other
• D. Plead with each other

What does collaboration mean in paragraph 2?

• A. Engaging in a contest against others
• B. Joining an organization in order to perform publicly
• C. Accepting responsibility for part of a task
• D. Assisting others to reach a common goal

How does the author best support the claim that playing sports has many desirable effects?

• A. By listing positive effects of good sportsmanship
• B. By referring to a survey of sports and values
• C. By explaining the importance of teamwork in sports
• D. By providing examples of people playing sports and games

Which sentence from the article provides the strongest evidence that excessive emphasis on winning has negative effects?

• A. “Some people argue that, despite its advantages, competition puts too much focus on winning.” (paragraph 5)
• B. “In addition, other studies show that competition erodes self-esteem.” (paragraph 5)
• C. “Winning needs to be just one aspect of an activity, not the main goal.” (paragraph 6)
• D. “Furthermore, losing should be viewed as an important opportunity.” (paragraph 6)

What is the purpose of the section “The Debate about Winning”?

• A. To discuss various elements of sportsmanship
• B. To examine opposing viewpoints
• C. To analyze the importance of failure
• D. To compare different activities

What is the function of the text box following paragraph 7?

• A. To define terms used in the passage
• B. To emphasize the benefits of competition
• C. To highlight steps to maintain the proper perspective
• D. To present additional information to supplement the passage

Which statement best summarizes the author’s perspective on winning?

• A. The primary goal of competition is victory.
• B. The way to benefit from sports is to triumph in competition.
• C. The process of preparing to compete is more important than the outcome.
• D. The main reason people stop competing is due to excessive pressure to succeed.

Which statement best summarizes the entire article?

• A. People acquire skills through athletic competition, but emphasizing winning can discourage participation in competitive sports.
• B. People face competitive situations every day, and participating in sports teaches the skills necessary to manage competition successfully.
• C. Participants can learn valuable skills from competition, and people can benefit from competition with a positive approach and a clear focus.
• D. Sports and other competitive activities teach people to be successful, and participating in sports can make people more civic minded.

Why did the author most likely write this article?

• A. To entertain readers with examples of competition
• B. To persuade readers to enjoy competitive sports
• C. To inform readers about the value of competing
• D. To describe various ways readers can compete