Question

A jobless man applied for the position of “office boy” at Microsoft. The HR manager interviewed him and then watched him cleaning the floor as a test.

“You are employed,” he said. “Give me your e-mail address and I’ll send you the application to fill in, as well as date when you may start.”

The man replied, “But I don’t have a computer, neither an e-mail.”

“I’m sorry,” said the HR manager. “If you don’t have an e-mail, that means you do not exist. And he who doesn’t exist cannot have the job. ”

The man left with no hope at all. He didn’t know what to do, with only ten dollars in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy 10kg tomatoes. He then sold the tomatoes from door to door. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his capital. He repeated the operation three times, and returned home happily with 60 dollars.

The man realized that he could survive in this way, and started to go every day earlier, and returned late. Thus, his money doubled or tripled every day. Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, and then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles. Five years later, the man is one of the biggest food retailers(零售商) in the US.

He started to plan his family’s future and decided to have a life insurance. He called an insurance broker(保险业经纪人) and chose a protection plan.

When the conversation was concluded the broker asked him his e-mail. The man replied, “I don’t have an e-mail.”

The broker answered curiously, “You don’t have an e-mail, and yet have succeeded to build an empire(帝国). Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an e-mail?” The man thought for a while and replied, “Yes, I’d be an office boy at Microsoft!”

1.Why can’t the man have the job at Microsoft?

A．Because he was lazy.                     B．Because he didn’t pass the test.

C．Because he didn’t have an e-mail.          D．Because he didn’t have a computer.

2.The underlined word “triple” can be replaced by ______.

A．become large      B．become 3 times     C．increase quickly    D．decrease quickly

3.The man can be described as _______.

A．helpful and grateful                     B．positive and generous

C．smart and hardworking                   D．stubborn and unselfish

4.Which proverb can best describe the story?

A．Misfortune may be an actual blessing.        B．Where there is a will, there is a way.

C．Accidents will happen.                    D．No pains , no gains.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.C

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：文章讲述了人没有得到工作，但是他是聪明的勤奋的，这件事促使使他努力勤奋最后取得成功，反映的主题是：塞翁失马焉知非福。

1.细节题：从第四段的句子：“I’m sorry,” said the HR manager. “If you don’t have an e-mail, that means you do not exist. And who doesn’t exist cannot have the job. ”可知是因为没有e-mail，这个人没有得到工作。选C

2.猜词题：单词出自his money doubled or tripled every day 从double翻倍，可以猜测这个单词是是翻三倍的意思。选B

3.从第五段第六段描写的内容可知这个人是聪明的勤奋的。选C

4.主旨题：从文章整体看，虽然因为没有e-mail这人没有得到工作，但正因为没有工作使他努力勤奋最后取得成功，正所谓：塞翁失马焉知非福，选A

考点：考查故事类短文