Frankly, I very much appreciate myself. Yes, I admit I’m in many respects not as good as other people, but I don’t think I’m always not good. When I find what I’ve done or written is okay, I’ll remain pleased with myself for quite a few days, and in case I receive praise for it, I’ll even become so excited as to add a few words to glorify myself.
True, I’m not modest at all. People may call me conceited (自负的). But I think otherwise.
I also appreciate other people. I appreciate anything good. Isn’t it unfair to forget appreciating myself while appreciating others?
We Chinese generally tend to be modest, and we take pride in being so. For example, a Chinese will call his own wife zhuojing, meaning “my humble wife”, and his own writings zhuozuo, meaning “my poor writings”. But if you should call his wife a “rustic (乡巴佬的) woman” or his writings “trash”, he would, I’m sure, slap the table in a rage and declare he would make a clean break with you. As a matter of fact, there is probably no difference at all between what is said by him and you respectively.
I don’t think it’s wrong for you to freely praise yourself if you’re really worthy of praise. As we know, there is an old Chinese saying disparaging (蔑视的) a melon peddler(商贩), named Lao Wang, who keeps praising his own goods. Well, why can’t he praise his melons if they are really sweet and juicy?
Friends, Lao Wang sells melons for a living. How could he carry on business if he, by imitating the affectations of us intellectuals, were to show false modesty about his melons? He would sure enough die of starvation.
Self-appreciation is therefore key to professional dedication (贡献) and enjoyment of work. One will lose confidence in continuing with writing when he pauses to admire his own essays.
Needless to say, the same is true of those who make a living with their pen.
49. The best title for the passage would be __________.
A. On Self-Appreciation B. Types of Appreciation
C. Power of Appreciation D. Uses of Appreciation
50. The underlined word “zhuojing” in Paragraph 4 means _________.
A. wife high in position B. wife low in position
C. wise wife D. foolish wife
51. The writer points out with an example about an old Chinese saying that _________.
A. self-appreciation is also an active way of attitude to life and work
B. a false modesty will lose confidence in continuing with writing
C. one person pauses to admire his own essays without self-appreciation
D. one doesn’t praise his melons if his melons are really sweet and juicy
52. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. If I find what I’ve done or written is wrong, I’ll appreciate myself.
B. I never appreciate other people because I think others are foolish.
C. If you think poorly of your friend’s writings, perhaps he’ll be angry at you.
D. Lao Wang will die of starvation because he never praises his melons.