Question

Like a lot of young people. Joanna Rakoff took the first job she was offered. She decided to work at one of New York’s oldest literary agencies. Yet she had no idea that it would be the first stepping stone on the way to becoming a writer, and later, the novelist she is today.

In the face of the ups and downs, she gave it her all. She can still remember that her boss was very challenging. “The thing that worked when my boss was being difficult was remembering it wasn’t personal. Usually, it’s not about you, it’s them,” she advises anyone in a similar situation.

Being a manager and editor herself later in her career also helped to make sense of what happened years before. “It’s really hard managing a lot of people. I had a lot more sympathy for my former boss after that. You don’t know everything that’s going on with them, and remember: they’re a person, too,” she says.

After only a year, Rakoff realized she was not “an agency person” as her manager had believed, but the seed had been planted. She left with dreams of becoming a writer and a real understanding of the world of glossy (亮丽光鲜的) magazines.

Rakoff rose from writing magazine articles to features editor, and later editor-in-chief. Dreams of one day writing fiction remained. “Writing pieces for magazines really helped me to become an author. It helped make writing less scary. When you write regularly and have deadlines, it really teaches you that sometimes you have to sit down and just do it,” she says.

With all the pressure on young people these days, it is important to remember you don’t have to be in the perfect job right away. What’s more, you don’t need to know what you want to be or do for a career as soon as you finish high school or college. Rakoff explains how many of her very successful friends found different paths toward becoming fiction writers. There is nothing wrong with having a job to keep you busy and pay the bills while you figure out your passions, she says.

1.When Joanna Rakoff was offered the first job. she       .

A. gave it up to seek for some better opportunities

B. left it at once because the boss was too demanding

C. agreed to work for the old literacy agency in New York

D. accepted it believing it would lead to her future success

2.How could Rakoff understand her boss in the literary agency?

A. She thought her boss was under great pressure.

B. She believed her boss expected her to work better.

C. She knew her colleagues were doing well enough.

D. She became a manager and editor herself later on.

3.Rakoff left the literary agency with the ambition of       .

A. working as a manager

B. writing for magazines

C. becoming a fiction writer

D. being an agency person

4.What can we learn from Rakoff’s experience?

A. The grass is always greener on the other side.

B. Keep on what you are doing until you succeed.

C. Land the best job as soon as you graduate from college.

D. A seemingly imperfect job may as well lead to success.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.C

4.D

【解析】本文主要讲了Joanna Rakoff从一开始只是为一家文学机构工作，最后成为著名的作家的过程。她的经历它告诉我们，看似不完美的工作也可能导致成功。

1.C

细节理解题。根据第一段She decided to work at one of New York’s oldest literary agencies.，可知，当Joanna Rakoff得到第一份工作时，她同意为纽约最古老的文学机构之一工作。故选C.

2.D

细节理解题。根据第三段Being a manager and editor herself later in her career also helped to make sense of what happened years before.可知，是在她后来成为了一名经理和编辑时，她才理解了她原来的文学公司的老板的。故选D.

3.C

细节理解题。根据第四段She left with dreams of becoming a writer and a real understanding of the world of glossy (亮丽光鲜的) magazines.可知，在Joanna Rakoff离开了文学机构时，她的野心是成为一名作家。故选C.

4.D

推理判断题。根据最后一段With all the pressure on young people these days, it is important to remember you don’t have to be in the perfect job right away.以及她的经历可以推断出，看似不完美的工作也可能导致成功。故选D.