Question

When you need a job very much, you may end up taking one for which you are over qualified. Although you were initially grateful just to have the work, you now feel bored and depressed. Is there any way to change that?

Start by changing your opinion, says Caitlin Kelly, the author of Malled, a book based on her experience as a sales clerk after losing her job in journalism. “Don’t focus on what you’re not getting but what you are getting,” she says. “Be patient and work attentively with a wide range of people. It doesn’t matter what the job is –there are always things you can learn and skills you can develop.”

Hilary Pearl, the founder of a coaching firm, says, “Tell yourself the current situation isn’t the end of your career. Don’t overdramatize（过分夸大）the negative aspects but try to view the situation more philosophically: life has a series of stages, and this is one of them. Don’t forget to study even in the worst stage.”

Consider that because you’re overqualified, you may be able to learn or do things on the job that might not have been possible in a more demanding position, says Sarah Hathorn, the chief executive of Illustra Consulting. “You could spend your extra time in learning different aspects of the business and teaching others in the organization,” she says.

Is it possible to make your work more challenging, even if your job responsibilities aren’t likely to change?

Of course, you may seek tasks and responsibilities that force you to learn something new or to work harder. “You may be operating on autopilot（习惯性地）right now, but chances are that people above you are stressed,” Sarah Hathorn says. “Take things off your boss’s plate and let him know which projects or tasks you want to learn more about.”

Always express your request positively, saying that you love new challenges, rather than complaining that you’re bored and underused, says Ethun, the president of the Park Avenue Group. In your down time, educate yourself about the company and its industry. “Read corporate information, analyst reports and related news articles,” she says. “If your boss accepts your suggestions, it will make you a more valuable employee.”

1.According to Caitlin Kelly, ______.

A．one should be willing to do some small things

B．being a salesman is not as important as being a journalist

C．performing your regular duties well is important

D．doing a simple job well will bring you a sense of success

2.What Hilary Pearl intends to express is that ______.

A．work is just a stage of our whole life

B．the present job doesn’t matter to us in a long run

C．one should be satisfied with his present situation

D．one should look forward instead of complaining about the present situation

3.The underlined words “take things off your boss’s plate” mean______.

A．draw your boss’s attention               B．share your boss’s burdens

C．give your boss useful advice               D．ask your boss for a better position

4. What is the common view about careers of the people mentioned in this passage?

A．One should start his career from doing a simple job.

B．One should improve himself and help others as well.

C．One should keep learning new things to improve himself.

D．One should pay much attention to the relationship with the boss.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.B

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文叙述了当你想换一项工作时，短文给出了一些专家的建议，首先应该关注你已有的工作，不要只注意没有得到的工作，把自己本质的工作做好是最重要的；不要过分扩大的它的负面的作用，而要用哲学明智地去看待它；寻找工作机会时要迫使你去学习新东西，可以做别人做不了的事情，为老板减轻压力；要积极表达自己的请求,说你喜欢新的挑战,而不是抱怨说自己是心烦的和没有充分发挥自己的才能,在自己业余的时间要好好地学习提高自己的业务水平。

1.细节理解题。根据Don’t focus on what you’re not getting but what you are getting,把你的本质工作做好是最重要的，故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据life has a series of stages, and this is one of them. 故选D。

3.词义猜测题。根据let him know which projects or tasks you want to learn more about 你能与老板分担忧愁，故选B。

4.细节理解题。根据Don’t forget to study even in the worst stage 和In your down time, educate yourself about the company and its industry.可知一个人应该不断地学习来充实提高自己的业务技能，故选C。

考点：人生百味类短文阅读。