Question

Everyone wants some degree of success. Many people believe that they deserve success simply because they believe that they deserve success.

But there is a widespread belief that people who get on in life may be successful not because they deserve it, but because of influential (有影响的)  friends or the right background. Sometimes it may just be a comforting and harmless belief, while at the other extreme it can be very destructive. I once met a brilliant young engineer who worked in a chemical plant. Because of her knowledge and experience, she should have been promoted to Production Manager. Instead, the job went to a man who was totally unsuited for the post. Everyone knew that he only got it because he was politically acceptable to his superiors (上司). This injustice discouraged the young engineer and many of her colleagues. It also meant that the factory was much less efficient than it could have been.

　　　At the same time, we should not be pessimistic (悲观的). More and more the modern world depends on having people who are in the job because they are good enough, not just because their faces fit. There is a story of a factory owner who sent for an engineer to see to a machine which would not go. He examined it, then took out a hammer and tapped, once. The machine started up immediately. When he presented his bill, the owner protested, "This can't be right! $ 100 just for tapping a machine with a hammer?" The engineer wrote out a new bill: "For tapping a machine, $1; for knowing where to tap. $99."

1.The engineer at the chemical plant was not promoted because _____.

A. it was politically less good for the boss to accept her than the man

B. her boss did not think she had the fight qualifications for the job

C. the man who got the promotion was more experienced than she was

D. it is more difficult for a woman to get a promotion than for her male colleague

2.The engineer who repaired the machine was right in charging $ 100 because____.

A. he hit the machine to get it started again

B. the factory owner could not have repaired it himself

C. he was charging for his knowledge and expert skills

D. he was the only person who could find out what was wrong with it

3.What can we learn about the author's attitude toward the widespread belief that "people get on in life may be successful not because they deserve it"?

A. He quite agrees with it.

B. He doesn't express his opinion his opinion at it.

C. He completely disagrees with it.

D. He doesn't quite agree with it.

4.According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?

A. Having influential friends or right background seems helpful sometimes.

B. The engineer had good reason to overcharge the factory owner.

C. Not all those who are good in their jobs have the chance to be promoted.

D. Those who are good in their jobs are still largely needed by the modern society.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.B

【解析】

试题分析  作者用两个故事说明许多人们认为应当成功就一定成功这个公认的道理。

1.A细节题。根据第二段Everyone knew that he only got it because he was politically acceptable to his superiors 得知应该选 A项。此类题目要找准关键词，promoted所出现的位置，再根据题意进行判断。

2.C细节题。根据最后一段最后一句话For tapping a machine, $1; for knowing where to tap. $99.，可知为自己的专业知识而要的价钱，故选C项。

3.D细节题。根据第二段第一句话话中widespread belief ，说明这是个普遍的认知，而紧接下一句话提到Sometimes it may just be a comforting and harmless belief, while at the other extreme it can be very destructive，句子中的while表示转折，故表达作者是反对这个观点的。故选 D项。

4.B 细节题。在上一题中作者已经否定掉了这种观点，故A项是错误的。而C项的观点错在not all 上,故C项错误。而D项本文没有提到。故选择B项正确。

考点 故事类阅读