Maxwell had not held a steady job in almost two years. Today was a big day, because he was going to a job interview that he felt good about. The secretary he had talked to on the phone sounded friendly and encouraging.

Maxwell was a typist. His fingers danced on the keyboard. However, his people skills were not nearly as good as his typing skills. Sometimes his mouth got in the way of his employment. At his last steady job, his boss had told him to start making coffee every morning. Maxwell laughed. “I’m not making coffee,” he said. “It’s not part of my job description.”

“Read the employee manual again,” his boss said. “Your job description is anything I say it is.”

“That’s a woman’s job,” said Maxwell. “Do it yourself.”

His boss was still yelling as Maxwell walked out of the building. He felt great about telling off the boss. A few days later, the reality of not having a job hit home. He had to pay the rent and utility bills, and he had to eat. What was he going to do?

He thought about apologizing and asking for his job back. But how would that look? Then again, who cares how it looks when you’re almost broke? After thinking about it for another week, he finally called his boss and apologized. His boss accepted his apology, but said that he had already hired a replacement.

Maxwell contacted a temporary job agency, which provided him enough occasional work to pay his bills. But none of the companies that he was sent to were hiring. So Maxwell was excited about finally getting an interview for a steady job.

Maxwell’s drive to the interview was disappointing. The traffic was congested and the neighborhood looked rough. It took him 45 minutes to get there. The building was covered with graffiti.(涂鸦)

The interview started 30 minutes late. Not bothering to apologize, the manager lit a cigarette and took a sip from his coffee cup. He leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on his desk. He asked Maxwell a lot of questions. Maxwell thought that each question was stupider than the preceding question. The final question was, “Where would you like to be 10 years from now?”

What does that have to do with typing? Maxwell wondered. Stupid questions from a rude man in a lousy neighborhood! Where would he like to be 10 years from now?

“Anywhere but this dump!” Maxwell said angrily, as he stood up and walked out.

51．Maxwell lost his last steady job because_________.

A. he was not a qualified typist.                

B. he couldn’t make coffee

C. he was not skillful enough in communicating with people.

D. he didn’t apologize in time.

52．The underlined word ‘congested’ most probably means _________.

A. too blocked or crowded                             

B. dangerous and poor

C. light and slow-moving                          

D. constant but fast-flowing

53．According to the passage, which statement is right about the job interview?

A. Maxwell was 30 minutes late.              

B. The manager got no manners in the interview.

C. The interviewer asked a lot of silly questions except the last one.

D. Maxwell misunderstood the interviewer’s questions.

54．After the interview, we can infer that _________.

A. Maxwell will celebrate his big day.

B. The manager will apologize to Maxwell.

C. Maxwell will finally get this post.    

D. Maxwell will have to find another job interview.

It’s only after three weeks into a new job that I made a serious mistake. My boss called it “extremely embarrassing” in a company-wide e-mail — which, 　 31　 , he wrote because he felt he needed to explain that what I did was something 　32　 in the company should ever do.

I wish I　 33　 give a good excuse for what I did. At the very least, I wish I could explain it somehow — 　 34　 it on youth, inexperience or ignorance. Unfortunately, I’m 　 35　 , experienced and I know better.

　 　 36　 I work with some very kind and compassionate(富于同情心的) people. For the past couple of days many of them have taken time to　 37　 by my desk and offer comfort, encouragement and support. Some have shared with me similar 　 38　 they have made. Evidently I’m not the only “ 　39　 ” person here.

One of the exchanges I had this week was with Lois, the much-honored, much-respected professional who 　 40　 the desk right next to mine. Lois was completely 　 41　 about her work, and to be honest I was a little nervous about how she would　 42　 to such an extremely embarrassing incident.

As I expected , Lois didn’t pass over the　 43　 when she saw me the next day. She mentioned it directly,　 44　 with empathetic consideration. She listened to my　 45　 . Just as I was ready to express my regrets, she brought my self-pity partly to a(n)　 46　 .

“It happened”, she said, “There’s nothing you can do to 　 47　 that. It happened. But it’s over now. It’s　 48　 . It’s in the past. You need to let it go, and move on.” And with that she returned her　 49　 to her work, as if to say, “We’re done here.”

I beat myself up for weeks. At such times I need to remember those　 50　 words: It’s over. It’s done. Let it go. And mostly, move on.

31. A. by the way B. in the way C. on the way D. to the way

32.　 A. someone B. anyone C. no one D. the one

33.　 A. should　　　　　　　 　　　 B. might　　　　　　　 　　　 C. will　　 　　　　 　　 D. could

34.　 A. fix　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. blame 　　　　　　　　　　 C. rely　　　　 　 　　　 D. put

35.　 A. outgoing　　　　　　　　　 B. old　　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. cheerful　　 　　　 D. energetic

36.　 A. Thankfully 　　　　　　 B. Naturally　 　　　　　　 C. Generally　 　 　　　 D. Hopefully

37.　 A. work 　　　　　　　　　　 B. stop　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. watch　　　 　 　　　 D. sit

38.　 A. decisions　 　　　　　　 B. troubles　　 　　　　　　 C. attempts　　 　 　　　 D. mistakes

39.　 A. annoying　 　　　　　　 B. confusing　 　　　　　　 C. embarrassing 　　　 D. puzzling

40.　 A. repairs B. wants C. works D. occupies

41.　 A. mad　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. serious　　　 　　　　　　 　 C. curious　　 　 　　　 D. hopeful

42.　 A. react　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. agree　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. turn　　　　 　　　 D. object

43.　 A. issue　　　　　　　　 　　　 B. outcome　　 　　　 　　　 C. criterion　　 　 　　　 D. message

44.　 A. for　　　　　　　　　 　　　 B. therefore　　　　　 　 C.　 but　 　　　 　 　　　 D. otherwise

45.　 A. challenge B. imagination C. conclusion D. explanation

46.　 A. order 　　　　　　　　　　 B. key　　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. end　　　 　　　 　　　 D. process

47.　 A. forget 　　　　　　　　　　 B. ruin　　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. prevent　　 　 　　　 D. change

48.　 A. broken　　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. done　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. lost　　　　 　 　　　 D. kept

49.　 A. attention　　 　　　　　　 B. skill　　 　　　　　　　　　　 C. patience　　 　 　　　 D. interest

50.　 A. sweet 　　　　　　　　　　 B. pleasant　　 　　　　　　 C. meaningful　 　 　　　 D. colorful

Participants in the program were 32 students identified ________ individual intelligence tests, group achievement test scores in math and science, and student interviews.

A. on the basis of B. in the course of C. in the shape of　　　　 D. in the name of

I can’t say I’m the best. I have only _________ made more efforts than others.

A. definitely                  B. relatively                   C. obviously                 D. certainly

I’ve got a bit of a headache. It’s nothing much, _________.

A. moreover                 B. besides                     C. though                     D. anyhow

When you are physically _________ to weather changes, maybe it’s a sign that you’re getting aged.     

       A. active                       B. sensitive                   C. flexible                     D. familiar

When the book was first _________, it was immediately well received by readers.

A. brought up               B. brought down           C. brought about           D. brought out

After _________ the luggage at the railway station, we left for the exhibition in a taxi.

A. claiming                   B. demanding                C. deserving                 D. obtaining

The moment I saw him, his name simply ________ me, and I stood there not knowing how to address him.

A. chokes                     B. escaped                    C. failed                       D. confused

In order to increase their vote, they _________ another candidate a traitor to the country.

A. announced               B. declared                   C. thought                    D. conquered