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.

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

　　A. Cold-hearted.　　　　B. Open-minded.

　　C. Puzzled. 　　　　　　D. Interested.

2. How many children does the writer have?

　　A. 3　　　 B. 4 　　　C. 7　　　 D. 13

3.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.

4. 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.

　　As a third-year high school student, I feel that students today study English merely for the purpose of getting high scores in all sorts of so-called English exams. This phenomenon misleads students like my classmates into making a great effort to deal with English exams, not the rich language itself. Needless to say, it is unfortunate.

　　I started the voyage in the ocean of the English language at an early age. Being fed up with reciting each word taught in every class, I soon gained the idea that English was a bore! Luckily for me, under the vivid pen of Charlotte Bronte, the life of Jane Eyre touched me so much that I spent several sleepless nights to read the whole book. This marked the change of my attitude to-wards English from hating to loving. I began to be inspired by the wisdom of European and American literature written in English and was amazed by the beauty and richness of the language. As time went by, the more I read, the more I found English lovely. I could still remember one winter vacation when I raced into one school library to borrow my longed-for English novels. At night, when soft light spread on the pages, my expecting heart beat with the author's. I was so eager to get on with my reading that I could hardly sleep. My world had come alive! I was 16 at the time.

　　Now, I am often asked why I read so many“useless”things in English and how to study English well. My response would be,“Learn English as a language, not as an exam subject.”Then, I caught sight of disappointing eyes and doubts. Indeed, that's what I concluded from my study of the English language. Honestly, to me, English is truly a magic box that can grab my soul and absorb my entire mind. It's filled with wisdom and adventures which are hard to explain and share. I believe many people would agree with me and be sorry for the present situation of high school English teaching. So I'd like to call Upon English learners and friends to save our beloved English from being misconducted.

(1) What makes the author feel unsatisfied in studying English?

[　　]

A．The writer's starting learning English too early.

B．The incorrect aim of studying English.

C．The boring English.

D．The“useless”things on English.

(2) What brought the writer interest in English again?

[　　]

(3) When do you think the writer read the English literature?

[　　]

(4) Who does the writer think are to blame for the unfortunate English study?

[　　]

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　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.
【小题1】 How did the female clerk feel at first when the writer told her occupation?