Sport is not only physically challenging, but it can also be mentally challenging. Criticism from coaches, parents, and other teammates, as well as pressure to win can create an excessive amount of anxiety or stress for young athletes(运动员). Stress can be physical, emotional, or psychological and research has indicated that it can lead to burnout. Burnout has been described as dropping or quitting of an activity that was at one time enjoyable. The early years of development are critical years for learning about oneself. The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place. Young athletes can, for example, learn how to cooperate with others, make friends, and gain other social skills that will be used throughout their lives. Coaches and parents should be aware, at all times, that their feedback to youngsters can greatly affect their children. Youngsters may take their parents' and coaches' criticisms to heart and find a flaw (缺陷) in themselves.Coaches and parents should also be cautious that youth sport participation does not become work for children. The outcome of the game should not be more important than the process of learning the sport and other life lessons. In today's youth sport setting. Young athletes may be worrying more about who will win instead of enjoying themselves and the sport. Following a game many parents and coaches focus on the outcome and find fault with youngsters' performances. Positive reinforcement should be provided regardless of the outcome. Research indicates that positive reinforcement motivates and has a greater effect on learning than criticism. Again, criticism can create high levels of stress, Which can lead to burnout.
16. An effective way to prevent the burnout of young athletes is
A)to reduce their mental stress B)to increase their sense of success
C)to make sports less competitive D)to make sports more challenging
[答案与分析]：A。 文中第一段告诉我们stress can be physical,emotional,or psychological, and research has indicated that it can lead to burnout.压力可能是生理上的，情绪上的或是心理上的，研究表明它可能导致崩溃。那么防止崩溃的有效方法当然是减少压力。
17. According to the passage sport is positive for young people in that .
A) it can help them learn more about society B) it enables them to find flaws in themselves
C) it can provide them with valuable experiences D) it teaches them how to set realistic goals for themselves
[答案与分析]：C。 文中第二段第二句及第三句：The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place.Young athletes can,for example,learn how to cooperate with others,make friends,and gain other social skills that will be used throughout their lives.运动是一个能产生有价值经历的地方。举例说，年轻的运动员们可以学习与他人合作，交朋友，学习使他们终生受益的社交技巧。
18. Many coaches and parents are in the habit of criticizing young athletes _ .
A)believing that criticism is beneficial for their early development
B)without realizing criticism may destroy their self confidence
C)in order to make them remember life's lessons D)so as to put more pressure on them
[答案与分析]：D。 文中第二段最后两句Coaches and parents should be aware,at all times,that their feedback to youngsters can greatly affect their children, Youngsters may take their parents'and coaches' criticisms to heart and find a flaw(缺陷)in themselves,练习和家长应该明白，在任何时候，他们对孩子们的反应能极大的影响他们。孩子们会把家长和教练的批评记在心头并找到自己的不足。意即教练和家长们在给孩子们以压力。
19. According to the passage parents and coaches should .
A)pay more attention to letting children enjoy sports B)help children to win every game
C)train children to cope with stress D)enable children to understand the positive aspect of sports
[答案与分析]：A 。通读全文，不难看出作者希望孩子们能从运动中得到乐趣。
20. The author's purpose in writing the passage is .
A)to teach young athletes how to avoid burnout
B)to persuade young children not to worry about criticism
C)to stress the importance of positive reinforcement to children
D)to discuss the skill of combining criticism with encouragement
[答案与分析]：C 。文章第三段最后三句明确地告诉我们作者的意图：Following a game,many parents and coaches focus on the outcome and find fault with youngsters' performances.Positive reinforcement should be provided regardless of the outcome.research indicates that positive reinforcement motivates and has a greater effect on learning than criticism.在比赛之后，很多家长只关心比赛结果，以及找出孩子们的不足之处。但不管结果如何，都应给予孩子们正面的鼓励。研究表明比起批评，正面的鼓励在学习中更有效。而且，批评能产生很大的压力，导致崩溃。
