[辨析]compete, contest, rival 和 contend:

compete "竞争，比赛"，不直接跟宾语。

compete for 为争夺……而竞争; compete with/against与……竞争

contend "竞争，争夺"，与compete一样可表示比赛中的竞争，也不直接跟宾语，介词搭配也相同，但意义有同有异。

contend for = compete for 为争夺……而竞争

contend with/against：向……斗争，与某人竞争; Contending with difficulties 艰苦奋斗；contending for a prize 争取奖品

Contest "争夺，争辩"，可直接跟宾语；名词意为"争夺、比赛"rival"与……竞争，比得上"，可直接跟宾语；名词意为竞争对手。

contest a seat in Parliament 争取国会席次；Cricket can not rival football in excitement. 板球不如足球够刺激。

[典型考题]She and her sister are always attention. [B]

A. competing with B. competing for

C. competing in D. competed against

[试题解析]译文：她和她妹妹总是争宠。compete with/against 后常跟人，表示"与某人竞争"；compete in 意为"在某方面竞争" competing for为某事而争。