Question

One fine afternoon I was walking along Fifth Avenue when I remembered that it was necessary to buy a pair of socks. I turned into the first sock shop that caught my eye, and a boy clerk who could not have been more than 17 years old came forward.

“What can I do for you, sir?”

“I wish to buy a pair of socks.”

His eyes glowed. “Did you know that you had come into the best place in the world to buy socks?” I had not been aware of that.

“Come with me,” said the boy happily. He began to haul (用力拖) down from the shelves box after box.

“Hold on, boy, I am going to buy only one pair!”

“I know that,” said he, “but I want you to see how beautiful these are. Aren’t they wonderful?” There was on his face an expression of joy, as if he were showing to me the mysteries of his religion.

“My friend,” said I, “if this is not just the enthusiasm (热情) that comes from novelty (新鲜), if you can keep up this day after day, in ten years you will own every sock in the United States.”

In many shops the customer has to wait for someone to serve him. And when finally some clerk does notice you, you are made to feel as if you were disturbing him. He displays no interest either in you or in the goods he is paid to sell.

Yet possibly that very clerk who is now so cold began his career with enthusiasm. As time goes by, the enthusiasm is gradually gone; his only pleasures were found outside of working hours. He became a mechanical (机械的), not inspired, salesman.

I have observed such change in the lives of so many people in so many occupations that I have come to the conclusion that the fastest road to failure is to do things mechanically.

1.The writer was impressed by ________.

A. the boy’s young age

B. the way the boy served him

C. the beautiful socks in the shop

D. the boy’s selling skills

2.According to the writer, many shop clerks ________.

A. show no or little pleasure in serving their customers

B. have trouble in selling goods to their customers

C. become uninterested in their work because it’s hard

D. think it unnecessary to introduce their goods to the customer

3.The writer wrote this article to ________.

A. share an interesting shopping experience

B. tell a story of a successful young salesman

C. inspire people to go about their work with great interest

D. encourage sales people to become more creative in their work

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

【解析】

试题分析：文章讲述作者在一家袜店的经历，对于男职员的工作热情作者感到很惊讶，也感慨很多售货员当初也是充满热情的，后来热情逐渐消失，变成机械地应付差事，这会导致人生的失败。

1. 推理判断题。根据第七段中There was on his face an expression of joy, as if he were showing to me the mysteries of his religion.可知，是这个男孩为他服务的方式给他留下了深刻印象。故选B。

2. 推理判断题。根据倒数第三段In many shops the customer has to wait for someone to serve him. And when finally some clerk does notice you, you are made to feel as if you were disturbing him. He displays no interest either in you or in the goods he is paid to sell.可知，许多售货员在为顾客服务时没有或很少的乐趣。故选A。

3. 推理判断题。根据最后一段I have observed such change in the lives of so many people in so many occupations that I have come to the conclusion that the fastest road to failure is to do things mechanically.可知，作者得出结论认为机械地应付差事是离失败最近的路，所以作者在激发人们对他们的工作要有极大的兴趣，否则会导致失败。故选C。

【名师点评】文章故事线条清晰通过对话展现故事情节，还有作者的感想，侧重通过上下文信息考查考生的综合运用英语的能力，注重语篇的理解，学生平时要培养自己驾驭语篇的能力，培养自己根据语篇综合运用英语的能力，也注重对词义的辨析和语法的正确使用。

考点：考查人生感悟类阅读