When I was in college twenty-five years ago, I spent four summers working in 36 at a luxury hotel in downtown Chicago. 37 , I was a maid.
I did not enter the world of housekeeping enthusiastically. My friends had 38 jobs such as making ice cream, selling goods at the mall, or life guarding at the outdoor pool. I had been hoping to get a job as an office lady for a famous company: 39 pay, air-conditioned office, the gold standard for summer jobs, as most of us dreamed of. When that 40 , the only option left was to take a train ride downtown each morning to work as a maid.
It was tiring work, cleaning up to eighteen rooms a day. My 41 attitude reflected my disdain(鄙视) for cleaning toilets, 42 bed sheets, dusting, eight hours a day for the comfort of total strangers who 43 left a tip. I thought it was beneathme. My maid work was average 44 the day I was assigned to the eighteenth floor.
That was Lorena’s regular floor. The only time another maid set foot on it was on Lorena’s day off. If you left any water 45 on the mirror, or a hair on the bed, Lorena would hunt you down when she 46 , as I found out firsthand. She’d ended her lecture to me with “ 47 some pride in your work.”
She did. And so did Rosalie, Helen, Annette, and all the other experienced maids. Their devotion to doing a good job and their belief that their work was a 48 of their character stuck with me throughout my 49 career after graduation. I learned a lot from them during those four summers.
Not a week would go without one of them 50 some firm but friendly advice: “Where’s your commode brush? You don’t have one? How do you expect to get that bowl clean?”
Their pride in a job well done was reflected in how they treated 51 . They left the building at the end of the day in nice dresses and 52 makeup. They looked like they could have been attending an afternoon tea. And, 53 often, they were smiling and laughing, cheerfully greeting their co-workers a good evening. When you work with happiness and 54 , a job will be well done. I believe there is 55 in any job if you work hard and try your best.
1. A．cleaning B．housekeeping C．serving D．managing
2. A．In short B．In brief C．In other words D．On the other hand
3. A．winter B．summer C．awful D．permanent
4. A．extra B．poor C．average D．good
5. A．fell over B．fell through C．fell down D．fell off
6. A．negative B．right C．excellent D．casual
7. A．making B．spreading C．changing D．doing
8. A．frequently B．rarely C．occasionally D．willingly
9. A．when B．after C．until D．before
10. A．drops B．signs C．tracks D．marks
11. A．visited B．arrived C．left D．returned
12. A．take B．obtain C．reject D．make
13. A．reflection B．truth C．gratitude D．award
14. A．special B．general C．different D．professional
15. A．taking B．following C．offering D．refusing
16. A．others B．themselves C．customers D．co-workers
17. A．expensive B．cautious C．cheap D．careful
18. A．more B．least C．most D．less
19. A．frustration B．regret C．prejudice D．satisfaction
20. A．respect B．aspect C．challenge D．failure
-- I’m in preparationforthe examination and only sleep four hours a day for a fortnight.
-- _______. It is not preparation and worse still it will be bad for your health and study.
A．You needn’t have that B．That’s taking it a bit far
C．I wouldn’t say no D．I can’t agree more
_____your poor record in school , we think you should study harder.
A．In charge of B．In case of C．In spite of D．In view of
The young man, who had rushed into the fire to save the old man, _____ rewarding.
A．reserved B．deserved C．preserved D．deserted
One should stick to ______one has begun.
A．what B．where C．whatever D．no matter what
It’s because he is in a hopeless situation, ______we will keep a very close eye on, ______ he looks depressed.
A. where, that B. when, which C. that, why D which, that
