Question

Like lots of small-business owners, Lola Gonzalez had to decide to cut down her company’s nine-person staff (员工) when the economic recovery began to fail last spring. Unlike other companies, she picked an unlikely employee to lay off (解雇): herself.

         Her business began to have problems in 2008 after going through her books (账簿)

    One day, her husband, Marcos, told her she had to reduce her payroll（薪金总额）by one person. Gonzalez said at a meeting, “I want you all to know that I have to lay somebody off and it’s been a very difficult decision. And that person is me.” Employees first froze in amazement and then burst into laughter until they realized she was serious. Gonzalez ’s employees said they were grateful for her kindness.

         Her reason was simple. Although she ran the business and her employees did the legwork (跑腿), she thought she could find work more easily than her staff. Sure enough, she soon got a job as a social worker for a non-profit organization called Devereux Kids. She enjoys her social-worker job now, but the salary (薪水) cut has required some lifestyle changes. She and Marcos no longer eat out daily; they no longer pay for their son’s car and mobile phone, and they changed their car to a smaller one to save $300 a month.

         Her business has picked up a bit recently and Marcos has begun to work part-time at Gonzalez’s company. Gonzalez says she has no plan to return to work at her company until the economic situation becomes better, perhaps in a year. Her employees, however, will get Christmas bonuses (奖金) this year.

1.How many workers are there in Gonzalez’s company at present?

A. 8.                                      B. 9.                                      C. 10.                                    D. 11.

2.How did her employees feel at first when they heard Gonzalez’s decision?

A. Happy.          B. Grateful.                           C. Surprised.   D. Unbelievable.

3.After leaving her company, _____________.

A. Gonzalez sold her car and went to work by bus

B. Gonzalez always had meals in a restaurant

C. Gonzalez’s son helped her a lot

D. Gonzalez changed her lifestyle a lot

4.From the text, we can learn that ___________.

A. Gonzalez will not return to her company in future

B. Gonzalez’s business has improved a little lately

C. Gonzalez got her social-worker job with great difficulty

D. Marcos lost his job and had to work at Gonzalez’s company

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：文章介绍因为经济危机Gonzalez的公司需要解雇一个人，Lola Gonzalez的决定是自己离开公司，离开公司后，她的生活方式改变了，她的公司生意也有所好转。

1.细节题：从第一段的句子：Like lots of small-business owners, Lola Gonzalez had to decide to cut down her company’s nine-person staff (员工) when the economic recovery began to fail last spring. 可知Lola Gonzalez 现在有9个工人，选B

2.细节题：从第三段的句子：Employees first froze in amazement and then burst into laughter until they realized she was serious. 可知职员听到这个决定很惊讶。选C

3.细节题：从倒数第二段的句子：She enjoys her social-worker job now, but the salary (薪水) cut has required some lifestyle changes. She and Marcos no longer eat out daily; they no longer pay for their son’s car and mobile phone, and they changed their car to a smaller one to save $300 a month. 可知离开公司后，她的生活方式改变了，选D

4.细节题：从最后一段的句子;Her business has picked up a bit recently and Marcos has begun to work part-time at Gonzalez’s company. 可知最近她的公司生意有所好转。选B

考点：考查故事类短文