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 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 can survive in this way, and started to go every day earlier, and return 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 in the US.

He started to plan his family’s future and decided to have a life insurance. He called an insurance broker 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. 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.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A．The man is one of the biggest food retailers in the world.

B．The man didn’t give up though he failed the interview.

C．He started his career by selling tomatoes in the supermarket.

D．Those who have e-mails can work at Microsoft.

4.The man can be described as _______.

A．helpful and considerate                  B．positive and generous

C．smart and hardworking                   D．stubborn and unselfish

5.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.B

4.C

5.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述的这个男孩没有电子邮箱而失去了一份工作，但是他通过自己的努力实现了更大的成功，告诉我们塞翁失马，焉知非福。

1.C 细节题。根据文章第4段“If you don’t have an e-mail, that means you do not exist. And who doesn’t exist cannot have the job.可知没有电子邮箱是他失去这份工作的主要原因。故C正确。

2.B 推理题。根据本句Thus, his money doubled or tripled every day.可知tripled是与前面的double意思相近的词，也就是2倍或者三倍地增加。故B正确。

3.B 推理题。根据文章5,6段He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy 10kg tomatoes.和The man realized that he can survive in this way, and started to go every day earlier, and return late.可知他并没有因为面试失败而悲伤难过太久，反而想起别的方法来谋生。故B正确。

4.C 推理题。根据文章第5段这个男孩想起了零售西红柿的方法来挣钱，说明他很聪明。根据文章5,6段他挨家挨户地卖东西说明他很勤奋。故C正确。

5.A 主旨大意题。本文讲述的这个男孩没有电子邮箱而失去了一份工作，但是他通过自己的努力实现了更大的成功，告诉我们塞翁失马，焉知非福。故A正确。

考点：考察故事类短文阅读