2. 职称英语
  3. (1)Once across the river and into the wholesale district, she glanced about

(1)Once across the river and into the wholesale district, she glanced about

游客2023-11-26  22
问题     (1)Once across the river and into the wholesale district, she glanced about her for some likely door at which to apply. As she contemplated the wide windows and imposing signs, she became conscious of being gazed upon and understood for what she was—a wage-seeker. She had never done this thing before and lacked courage. To avoid conspicuity and a certain indefinable shame she felt at being caught spying about for some place where she might apply for a position, she quickened her steps and assumed an air of indifference supposedly common to one upon an errand. In this way she passed many manufacturing and wholesale houses without once glancing in. At last, after several blocks of walking, she felt that this would not do, and began to look about again, though without relaxing her pace. A little way on she saw a great door which for some reason attracted her attention. It was ornamented by a small brass sign, and seemed to be the entrance to a vast hive of six or seven floors. "Perhaps," she thought, "they may want someone" and crossed over to enter, screwing up her courage as she went. When she came within a score of feet of the desired goal, she observed a young gentleman in a grey clerk suit, fumbling his watch-chain and looking out. That he had anything to do with the concern she could not tell, but because he happened to be looking in her direction, her weakening heart misgave her and she hurried by, too overcome with shame to enter in. After several blocks of walking, in which the uproar of the streets and the novelty of the situation had time to wear away the effect of her first defeat, she again looked about. Over the way stood a great six-story structure labeled " Storm and King," which she viewed with rising hope. It was a wholesale dry goods concern and employed women. She could see them moving about now and then upon the upper floors. This place she decided to enter, no matter what. She crossed over and walked directly toward the entrance. As she did so two men came out and paused in the door. A telegraph messenger in blue dashed past her and up the few steps which graced the entrance and disappeared. Several pedestrians out of the hurrying throng which filled the sidewalks passed about her as she paused, hesitating. She looked helplessly around and then, seeing herself observed, retreated. It was too difficult a task. She could not go past them.
    (2)So severe a defeat told sadly upon her nerves. She could scarcely understand her weakness and yet she could not think of gazing inquiringly about upon the surrounding scene. Her feet carried her mechanically forward, every foot of her progress being a satisfactory portion of a flight which she gladly made. Block after block passed by. Upon street lamps at the various corners she read names such as Madison, Monroe, La Salle, Clark, Dearborn: and still she went, her feet beginning to tire upon the broad stone flagging. She was pleased in part that the streets were bright and clean. The morning sun shining down with steadily increasing warmth made the shady side of the streets pleasantly cool. She looked at the blue sky overhead with more realization of its charm than had ever come to her before.
    (3)Her cowardice began to trouble her in a way. She turned back along the street she had come, resolving to hunt up Storm and King and enter in. On the way she encountered a great wholesale shoe company, through the broad plate windows of which she saw an enclosed executive department, hidden by frosted glass. Without this enclosure, but just within the street entrance, sat a grey-haired gentleman at a small table, with a large open ledger of some kind before him. She walked by this institution several times hesitating, but finding herself unobserved she eventually gathered sufficient courage to falter past the screen door and stood humbly waiting.
    (4)"Well, young lady," observed the old gentleman, looking at her somewhat kindly—"what is it you wish?"
    (5)"I am, that is, do you—I mean, do you need any help?" she stammered.
    (6)"Not just at present," he answered smiling. "Not just at present. Come in sometime next week. Occasionally we need someone. "
    (7)She received the answer in silence and backed awkwardly out. The pleasant nature of her reception rather astonished her. She had expected that it would be more difficult, that something cold and harsh would be said—she knew not what. That she had not been put to shame and made to feel her unfortunate position seemed remarkable. She did not realize that it was just this which made her experience easy, but the result was the same. She felt greatly relieved.
    (8)Somewhat encouraged, she ventured into another large structure. It was a clothing company, and more people were in evidence.
    (9)An office boy approached her.
    (10)"Who is it you wish to see?" he asked.
    (11)"I want to see the manager," she returned.
    (12)He ran away and spoke to one of a group of three men who were conferring together. One broke off and came towards her.
    (13)"Well?" he said, coldly. The greeting drove all courage from her at once.
    (14)"Do you need any help?" she stammered.
    (15)"No," he replied abruptly and turned upon his heel.
    (16)She went foolishly out, the office boy deferentially swinging the door for her, and gladly sank into the obscuring crowd. It was a severe set-back to her recently pleased mental state. [br] Why didn’t she enter Storm and King the first time?
选项 A、She was too timid to enter the building.
B、Two men stopped her at the entrance.
C、Several pedestrians had found her strange.
D、The messenger had closed the door behind him.
答案 A
解析 推理判断题。根据题干关键词Storm and King定位至第一段倒数第十一句。该句之后的内容提到，她看到这家公司雇用女店员，本来觉得有希望，但看到门口有两个男人，还有个穿制服的邮差来送电报，门口熙熙攘攘，人流不断，又发现有人在打量她，于是就放弃了，感觉没法当着这些人的面走进这幢建筑。可见她是太过胆小而不敢走进去，这也可以从本段开头部分得到证实，故[A]为答案。[B]“两个男人在人口处拦住了她”是对第一段倒数第六句的误解，原文只说有两个男人在人口处站住了，并没有说拦住了她，故排除；倒数第四句说大街上行人穿梭，但并没有说这些行人是否觉得她奇怪，故排除[C]；倒数第五句提到的邮差只是从她旁边经过，并没有关上门，故排除[D]。
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