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.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　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.

I was unbelievably proud of my nine-year-old daughter, Emily.　31　to buy a mountain bike, she’d been saving her pocket money all year, as well as doing small jobs to earn extra money.  

　　By Thanksgiving, she had collected only $49. I said, “You　32　have your pick from my bicycle　 33　.” “Thanks, Daddy. But your bikes are so old.” She was right. All my girls’ bikes were 1950s models, not the kind a kid today would　34　choose.

　　As Christmas　35　near, Emily and I went bike shopping. As we left one store, she 　36　a Salvation Army（基督教慈善组织） volunteer standing next to a big pot.

“Can we give something, Daddy?” she asked. 　　

“Sorry, Em, I’m out of change.” I said.

　　Throughout December, Emily continued to 　37　hard. Then one day, she made a 　38　announcement. “You know all the money I’ve been saving?” she said hesitantly. “I’m going to give it to the poor people.” So one cold morning before Christmas, Emily handed her total savings of $58 to a volunteer who was really very　 39　.

    　40　by Emily’s selflessness, I decided to contribute　41　of my old bicycles to a car dealer who was collecting used bikes for poor children.　42　I selected a shiny model from my collection, however, it seemed as if a second bike took on a glow（发光）.Should I contribute two? No, one would be enough. But I couldn’t 　43　the feeling that I should give a second bike. When I later　 44　the bikes, the car dealer said, “You’re making two kids very　 45　, sir. Here are your tickets. For each bicycle contributed, we’re　46　away one chance to win a girls’ mountain bike.”

　　Why wasn’t I surprised when that second ticket proved to be the  47 ? I like to think it was God’s way of  48  a little girl for a sacrifice  49　her years while giving her dad a lesson in the  50　.

　    I was unbelievably proud of my nine-year-old daughter, Emily.　36　to buy a mountain bike, she’d been saving her pocket money all year, as well as doing small jobs to earn extra money.

　　By Thanksgiving, she had collected only $49. I said, “You　37　have your pick from my bicycle　 38　.” “Thanks, Daddy. But your bikes are so old.” She was right. All my girls’ bikes were 1950s models, not the kind a kid today would　39　choose.

　　As Christmas　40　near, Emily and I went bike shopping. As we left one store, she 　41　a Salvation Army volunteer standing next to a big pot.

“Can we give something, Daddy?” she asked. 　　

“Sorry, Em, I’m out of change.” I said.

　　Throughout December, Emily continued to 　42　hard. Then one day, she made a 　43　announcement. “You know all the money I’ve been saving?” she said hesitantly. “I’m going to give it to the poor people.” So one cold morning before Christmas, Emily handed her total savings of $58 to a volunteer who was really very　 44　.

    　45　by Emily’s selflessness, I decided to contribute　46　of my old bicycles to a car dealer who was collecting used bikes for poor children.　47　I selected a shiny model from my collection, however, it seemed as if a second bike took on a glow（发光）.Should I contribute two? No, one would be enough. But I couldn’t 　48　the feeling that I should give a second bike. When I later　 49　the bikes, the car dealer said, “You’re making two kids very　 50　, sir. Here are your tickets. For each bicycle contributed, we’re　51　away one chance to win a girls’ mountain bike.”

　　Why wasn’t I surprised when that second ticket proved to be the  52 ? I like to think it was God’s way of  53  a little girl for a sacrifice  54　her years while giving her dad a lesson in the  55　.