Like many of my generation, I have a weakness for hero worship. At some point, however, we

Like many of my generation, I have a weakness for hero worship. At some point, however, we all begin to question our heroes and our need for them. This leads us to ask: What is a hero?
Despite immense differences in cultures, heroes around the world generally share a number of characteristics that instruct and inspire people.
A hero does something worth talking about. A hero has a story of adventure to tell and munity who will listen. But a hero goes beyond mere fame.
Heroes serve powers or principles larger than themselves. Like high-voltage transformers, heroes take the energy of higher powers and step it down so that it can be used by ordinary people.
The hero lives a life worthy of imitation. Those who imitate a genuine hero experience life with new depth, enthusiasm, and meaning. A sure test for would-be heroes is what or whom do they serve? What are they willing to live and die for? If the answer or evidence suggests they serve only their own fame, they may be famous persons but not heroes. Madonna and Michael Jackson are famous, but who would claim that their fans find life more abundant?
Heroes are catalysts (催化剂) for change. They have a vision from the mountaintop. They have the skill and the charm to move the masses. They create new possibilities. Without Gandhi, India might still be part of the British Empire. Without Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., we might still have segregated (隔离的) buses, restaurants, and parks. It may be possible for large-scale change to occur without leaders with magnetic personalities, but the pace of change would be slow, the vision uncertain, and the mittee meetings endless.
【小题1】Although heroes may e from different cultures, they     .A．generally possess certain inspiring characteristicsB．probably share some weaknesses of ordinary peopleC．are often influenced by previous generationsD．all unknowingly attract a large number of fans【小题2】 According to the passage, heroes are pared to high-voltage transformers in that     .A．they have a vision from the mountaintopB．they have warm feelings and emotionsC．they can serve as concrete examples of noble principlesD．they can make people feel stronger and more confident【小题3】Madonna and Michael Jackson are not considered heroes because     .A．they are popular only among certain groups of peopleB．their performances do not improve their fans morallyC．their primary concern is their own financial interestsD．they are not clear about the principles they should follow【小题4】The author concludes that historical changes would     .A．be delayed without leaders with inspiring personal qualitiesB．not happen without heroes making the necessary sacrificesC．take place if there were heroes to lead the peopleD．produce leaders with attractive personalitiesA