【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】Despite unemployment and the lost of her home, Andrea Clark considers herself a blessed and happy woman. Why the cheerful attitude? Her troubles have brought her closer to her family. Last year, Andrea’s husband, Rick, a miner in Nevada was laid off. Though Andrea kept her job as a school bus driver, she knew that they couldn’t pay their bill and support their youngest of five children, Zack, age nine, on one income. “At first their church helped out, but you can’t keep that up forever”, Andrea says. Then Michal, their eldest of her four adult children suggested they move in with his family. For almost three months, seven Clarks lived under one roof. Andrea, Rick and Zack stayed in the basement department, sharing laundry and single bathroom with Michal, his wife and their two children.
The change cut their expenditures in half, but the new living arrangement proved too challenging. When Andrea found a job with a school district closer to her mother’s home in west Jorden, Utah, the family decided to move on. Packing up again with no picnic, Zack had to switch schools for the second time and space is even tighter. Andrea says that the moves themselves are exhausting and Rick is still looking for a job.
The recession has certainly come with more problems than Andrea anticipated, but she remains unfailingly optimistic. She is excited to spend more time with her mother. Another plus, rents are lower in Utah than in Nevada. So Andrea thinks they’ll be able to save up and move out in less than 6 months.
【点评】
本文描写了Andrea一家在经历失业时依然乐观向上的积极状态。这从文章的首句Despite unemployment and the lost of her home, Andrea Clark considers herself a blessed and happy woman.和最后一段but she remains unfailingly optimistic.都能得到印证。Andrea的丈夫是内华达的矿工，去年失业，为了维持生计，他们先是和大儿子一家住在一起，后来又搬家到犹他州，她的丈夫还在继续找工作。但是经济衰退，并没有让Andrea消极，她觉得自己和家人的关系更紧密了并且相信自己能够度过难关。
关键词：lay off 解雇;expenditure n. 支出，花费;optimistic adj. 乐观的
What do we learn about Andrea’s husband?
[解析] 录音开始部分提到，Andrea的丈夫Rick是内华达州一名矿工，被解雇了，由此可知答案为A“他曾经是内华达州的一名矿工”。
[点睛] ①选项都与He有关，A、D涉及职业，注意抓听相关信息。②Rick失业了，且录音只提到要养最小的孩子Zac，排除B“他努力工作抚养5个孩子”：C张冠李戴，Andrea而不是Rick觉得自己很有福(blessed)；D“他过去是在当地的一所高中教书”是利用school这一字眼制造干扰。