Question

A woman renewing her driver’s license at the County Clerk’s office was asked to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

“What I mean is,” explained the recorder, “do you have a job, or are you just a …”

“Of course I have a job,” said Emily. “I’m a mother.”

“We don’t list ‘mother’ as an occupation… ‘housewife’ covers it,” said the recorder.

One day I found myself in the same situation. The clerk was obviously a career woman, confident and possessed of a high sounding title．“What is your occupation?” she asked.

The words simply popped out. “I’m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.”

The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair.

I repeated the title slowly, and then I stared with wonder as my statement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

“Might I ask,” said the clerk with new interest, “Just what you do in this field?”

Without any trace of panic in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn’t）, in the lab and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?), and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most careers and rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.”

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and showed me out.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up (依托) by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants---ages 13, 7, and 3.

Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern．

I felt proud! I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable (不可缺少的) to mankind than “just another mother.”

Motherhood…What a glorious career! Especially when there’s a title on the door.

1.How did the female clerk feel at first when the author told her occupation?

A. curious           B. puzzled

C. indifferent       D. interested

2.How did the author feel when describing her job to the clerk?

A. calm     B. funny      C. worried      D. cool

3.Why did the woman clerk show more respect for the author?

A. Because the author cared little about rewards.

B. Because she admired the author’s research work in the lab.

C. Because she thought the author did admirable work.

D. Because the writer did something she had little knowledge of.

4.What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?

A. To show how you describe your job affects your feelings toward it.

B. To argue that motherhood is a worthy career and deserves respect.

C. To show that the author had a grander job than Emily.

D. To show that being a mother is hard and boring work.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文属于记叙文，介绍了作者眼里的家庭主妇这一职业的特点以及人们应该尊敬家庭主妇，因为这是一个光荣而又伟大的职业。

1.B 推理判断题。根据文章The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair.这位职员的手停了下来，并没有立刻写下我的职业。说明她很困惑，不知道我究竟是做什么工作的。故B正确。

2.A 推理判断题。根据Without any trace of panic in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn’t）, in the lab and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out).可知我在回答问题的时候，一点都不恐慌。说明我很镇定。故A正确。

3.C 推理判断题。根据文章倒数第七段的叙述和第六段There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and showed me out. 说明这位工作人员对我非常尊敬，因为她认为我的工作是非常有意义的。故C项正确。

4.

考点：考查记叙文阅读