Question

    There’s a small problem with a working holiday: working.

It seems like a fantastic idea. You picture yourself learning a foreign culture, meeting locals and making friends. What you don’t picture is the actual work.

Some people manage to keep a fine balance between working and holidaying. I’ve met plenty of working holidaymakers who are holding high-paying jobs that not only allow them to live in style, but that they also enjoy. Great.

For most working holidaymakers, however, that’s a daydream. You’re not working overseas to further your career — you’re working overseas to further your travelling expenses. And besides, most serious employers will take one look at that year-long visa (签证), and laugh you out of the building.

So you end up doing some of the jobs I’ve done.

Fruit picking. I did mine in the north of Scotland, which wasn’t satisfying, given it’s a place with a summer in name only.

Strawberries are a pain. It’s a case of bending your back for about eight hours straight. Lettuces aren’t much better. Again, more back bending.

Is picking fruit a nice way to spend a holiday? No.

So I became a line cook at a restaurant in Edinburgh. There, because there were no formal training systems in Scotland, I was handed a white jacket and referred to as a “chef (厨师)”. And as a “chef”, I would pull out boxes of frozen chicken tikka masala (冷冻香料烤鸡咖喱), putting them in the microwave until they were just so.

Again, not what you’d call a fun way to spend a holiday.

So when you’re planning a working holiday, it’s worth thinking about what you’re actually going to be doing, since that’s how you’ll spend your time while you’re away.

Is it going to be enjoyable? Will you be able to meet people, make friends? Is it going to allow you the time and money to do other things, see other places while you’re there?

Remember, it’s not a working holiday if you spend all your time working — it’s just work.

1.According to the author, what will happen to most working holidaymakers?

A.They will live in style.

B.They will enjoy their travelling.

C.They can get plenty of good work experience.

D.They may have difficulty finding a good job.

2.How does the author feel about his fruit picking experience?

A.Tiring.

B.Important.

C.Interesting.

D.Eye-opening.

3.What do we know about the author’s job as a line cook?

A.He was trained hard.

B.He found it very difficult.

C.He was doing nothing skilful.

D.He learned how to cook chicken.

4.What’s the author’s advice for those planning a working holiday?

A.To stick to their plan.

B.To know what to expect.

C.To be adventurous.

D.To be hard-working.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】

本文是议论文。作者结合自身经历，说明在国外打工度假，并不像大家想象中那般妙不可言。

1.

细节理解题。由第四段中的most serious employers will take one look at that year-long visa, and laugh you out of the building（大多数严肃的雇主会看一眼一年期的签证，然后笑着让你出去。）可知，对于打工度假者来说，找一份好工作没那么容易。故选D。

2.

细节理解题。由第七段中的Strawberries are a pain. It’s a case of bending your back for about eight hours straight. Lettuces aren’t much better. Again, more back bending.（摘草莓是一种痛苦。这是一种将你的背部弯曲8个小时的情况。生菜也好不到哪里去。再次，更多的背部弯曲。）可知，摘水果的工作很累人。故选A。

3.

推理判断题。由第九段可知，作者没有经过正规培训就上岗，而且工作就是And as a “chef”, I would pull out boxes of frozen chicken tikka masala (冷冻香料烤鸡咖喱), putting them in the microwave until they were just so.把冷冻香料烤鸡咖喱放进微波炉，由此推知，作者作为一线厨师所做的工作没有任何技术含量。故选C。

4.

推理判断题。由最后三段可知，作者奉劝计划打工度假的人们对自己未来所做的工作、所面临的问题要慎重考虑，做好充分的准备。since that’s how you’ll spend your time while you’re away.由于那将是你如何度过你的时间的方式。接下来倒数第二段都在问你将……。表示即将工作的你准备好了吗？最后一段记住：it’s not a working holiday if you spend all your time working — it’s just work.如果你花所有时间去工作，就不是工作度假了，这只是一份工作而已。故推出B选项To know what to expect.“要知道你的期待是……”。故选B。