Motherhood is a career to respect

  A WOMAN renewing her driver’s license at the CountyClerk’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 (研究员) in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.”

  The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair.

  I repeated the title slowly, then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement (声明) was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

  “Might I ask,” said the clerk with interest, “just what you do in your 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 laboratory 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 the 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 (激励) 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.

How did the female clerk feel at first when the writer told her occupation?

  A. Cold-hearted.    B. Open-minded.

  C. Puzzled.       D. Interested.

How many children does the writer have?

  A. 3    B. 4    C. 7    D. 13

Why did the woman clerk show more respect to the writer?

  A. Because she thought the writer did admirable work.

  B. Because the writer cared little about rewards.

  C. Because the writer did something that she had little knowledge of.

  D. Because she admired the writer's research work.

What is the point of the article?

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

  B. To show that the writer had a grander job than Emily.

  C. To argue that motherhood is a worthy career.

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

任务型阅读(共10小题;每小题1分,满分10分)

It all began with ...

Orlando Bloom was not a “good” student in school. Because of dyslexia, a reading and writing disorder (障碍), he struggled in many courses.

But Bloom says the dyslexia gave him the encouragement to overcome (克服) his difficulties.

In an interview with the Telegraph, the 32-year-old said the condition turned him into an ambitious person. “Because of the dyslexia, I always thought I had to work twice as hard as everyone else just to go the same distance,” he said. “That gave me a real kick as a kid and a lot of encouragement later on. In one sense, I guess that I'm grateful (感激的).”

Bloom is always preparing it thoroughly(充分地) when it comes to an audition (试镜) for a part. Perhaps this is what won him his role in the Lord of the Rings, a highly successful film trilogy (三部曲). “I really prepared it thoroughly for the audition and it's paid off,” he said.

It was the beginning of a fame that led to even greater success as a movie actor. But unlike some young people who aim for fame and fortune, Bloom believed an acting career “has been fulfilling (实现) his childhood fantasies”.

“Aged 9, I had this girlfriend and we used to have running races in the park to see who would be her boyfriend for the day. I wanted to be like Superman and fly in and rescue her. Once I realized Superman was an actor, I thought, ‘That's for me''.”

Bloom has always played special characters, like a knight (骑士) and a prince. It's difficult to picture him in everyman roles.

In October, Bloom was named Goodwill Ambassador (亲善大使) for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). His first task will be to film a documentary about the importance of clean water supplies.

In fact, Bloom started work for the UNICEF in 2007. On his first visit to Nepal, he was asked by students to take a small part in a play they were performing on local radio.

Personal record of Orlando Bloom

When he was nine years old

He wanted to be like Superman and fly in and _____ (1) his girlfriend. That's why he became an _____ (2).

When he was a student at school

_____ (3) of dyslexia, Bloom _____ (4) in many courses, which _____ (5) him to work twice as hard as everyone else. In a sense, dyslexia _____ (6) him overcome his difficulties.

When he chose to be an actor

Bloom is always well _____ (7) for auditions. Perhaps this is _____ (8) won him his role in the Lord of the Rings.

In 2007

Bloom started work for the UNICEF.

In this October

Bloom was _____ (9) Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. His first task will be to

_____ (10) a documentary about the importance of clean water supplies.

My teenage son Karl became withdrawn after his father died.As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him.But the more I tried, the more he pulled away.When his report card arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six falling grades for the year.At this rate he would never graduate.I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him.Nothing worked.

One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and pleaded for help.“Please God, I can’t do anything more for my son. I’m at the end of my rope.I’m giving the whole thing up to you.”

I was at work when I got a phone call.A man introduced himself as the headmaster.“I want to talk to you about Karl’s absences.” Before he could say another word, I choked up and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger.“I love my son but I just don’t know what to do.I’ve tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked.It’s out of my hands.“For a moment there was silence on the other end of the line.The headmaster seriously said, “Thank you for your time”, and hung up.

Karl’s next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades.Finally, he even made the honor roll .In his fourth year, I attended a parent-teacher meeting with Karl.I noticed that his teachers were astonished at the way he had turned himself around.On our way home, he said, “Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?” I nodded.“That was me.I thought I’d play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you.That’s when I knew I had to make you proud.”

By saying “Karl became withdrawn”, the author means that the boy changed entirely and ______.

       A.preferred to stay alone at home             B.lost interest in any activity

       C.refused to talk to others                        D.began to dislike his mother

There was silence on the other end of the line because ______ .

       A.the speaker was too moved to say anything to the mother

       B.the speaker waited for the mother to finish speaking

       C.the speaker didn’t want the mother to recognize his voice

       D.the speaker was unable to interrupt the mother

The underlined sentence “…he even made the honor roll” means that “ ______ ”.

       A.he was even on the list to be praised at the parent-teacher meeting

       B.he was even on the list of students who made progress in grades

       C.he was even on the list of students who turned themselves around

       D.he was even on the list of the best students at school

What is the main idea of this passage ?

       A.Children in single-parent families often have mental problems.

       B.Mother’s love plays an important role in teenagers’ life.

       C.Being understood by parents is very important to teenagers.

       D.School education doesn’t work without full support from parents.

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网