In paragraph 9, the author talks about a kind of people who is competitive showoff. First, the author tells us what the competitive showoff is. Then the author sets an example to let us understand it more clearly.
In this paragraph, the author uses five ‘---‘, it is a dash, which is used in writing to separate two closely related parts of a sentence. Why does the author use it five times in a sentence? In my opinion, first, it is a long and nice sentence. Dash in here stand[s] for explanation. The relation of ‘more’, ‘better’ and ‘deeper’ is apposition. Then, the author sets examples about them. Such as the competitive showoffs have more expertise or money or even aggravation.
There is a sentence confused me. Which is ‘competitive showoffs are [is]people who reside in a permanent state of rivalry’. A phase—‘reside in’, which connects to something or somebody. It means ’if a power or quality resides in someone or something, they have that power or quality’. I don’t know what the meaning of ‘rivalry’ is. I look it up in dictionary. ‘Rivalry’ means ‘competition, the condition of being a rival or rivals’. The sentence means competitive showoffs will last for a long time or forever to compete with others. I agree with it. Because they want to outshine all others, they must compete with others and find their advantages or disadvantages. Then they will work hard to catch up with them. In my opinion, I like this way. If we always [often]compete with others, we will have an obvious improvement. I think the process is very important. On the other hand, we should look at the competitive showoff’s purpose to judge whether it is acceptable or unacceptable. I think the precondition should not hurt others. If I want to compete my English writing with others in order to improve My writing level. I think it is acceptable. Like the example in the paragraph, the second mother interrupts the first mother in order to show she got more beloved. I think it is unacceptable.
