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?” Coolly, 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 great career! Especially when there’s a title on the door. 小题1:What can we infer from the conversation between the woman and the recorder at the beginning of the passage?A.The woman felt ashamed to admit what her job was. | B.The recorder was impatient and rude. | C.The author was upset about the situation that mothers faced. | D.Motherhood was not recognized and respected as a job by society. | 小题2:How did the female clerk feel at first when the author told her occupation?A.curious | B.indifferent | C.puzzled | D.interested | 小题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. | 小题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. |
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