While it is true that Americans believe climbing the educational ladder leads to success,

they are less certain that intellectual achievement is the only important factor leading to success. A competitive personality is seen as important to success, especially in men. The development of social and political skills is also considered to be very important.

To help Americans develop these other important skills, schools have added a large number of extracurricular(课程) activities to daily life at school. This is especially true of high schools and colleges and ex tends down into elementary schools as well.

Athletics, frequently called "competitive sports", are perhaps the most important of these activities. Football, basketball, and baseball teams are seen as very important in teaching students, particularly boys, the "winning spirit". At times, athletic teams seem to become more important to some students and their parents than the academic programs offered by the schools.

Americans believe that education is______.

A．the only way to success

B．the main purpose of the schools

C．just like climbing ladders

D．important to success