阅读理解 It often happens that a number of applicants with almost identical qualifications and experience all apply for the same position. In their educational background, special skills and work experience, there is little, if anything, to choose between half a dozen candidates. How then does the employer make a choice? Usually on the basis of an interview. There are many arguments for and against the interview as a selection procedure. The main argument against it is that it results in a wholly subjective decision. As often as not, employers do not choose the best candidate, they choose the candidate who makes a good first impression on them. Some employers, of course, reply to this argument by saying that they have become so experienced in interviewing staff that they are able to make a sound assessment of each candidate''s likely performance. The main argument in favour of the interview—and it is, perhaps, a good argument—is that an employer is concerned not only with a candidate''s ability, but with the suitability of his or her personality for the particular work situation. Many employers, for example, will overlook occasional inefficiencies from their secretary provided she has a pleasant personality. It is perhaps true to say, therefore, that the real purpose of an interview is not to assess the assessable aspects of each candidate but to make a guess at the more intangible things, such as personality, character and social ability. Unfortunately, both for the employers and applicants for jobs, there are many people of great ability who simply do not interview well. There are also, of course, people who interview extremely well, but are later found to be very unsatisfactory employees. Candidates who interview well tend to be quietly confident, but never boastful; direct and straightforward in their questions and answers; cheerful and friendly, but never over-familiar; and sincerely enthusiastic and optimistic. Candidates who interview badly tend to be at either end of the spectrum of human behaviour. They are either very shy or over-confident. They show either a lack of enthusiasm or an excess of it. They either talk too little or never stop talking. They are either over-polite or rudely abrupt.
单选题 We can infer from the passage that an employer might tolerate his secretary''s occasional mistakes, if the latter is_______.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】本文主要讲述了性格与面试成败的关系。第三段最后一句Many employers,for example,will overlook occasional inefficiencies from their secretary provided she has a pleasant personality.其中的pleasant和B)中的cheerful意思相近。
单选题 What is the author''s attitude towards the interview as a selection procedure?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】文章把人们对面试所持的支持和反对的观点都罗列了出来,作者并未指明自已的态度倾向,所以作者的态度是客观的。
单选题 According to the passage, people argue over the interview as a selection procedure mainly because they have_______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】文章第二段提到反对面试的人认为:雇主在面试中选择不到最好的求职者,只是选择了留给雇主好印象的人,说明面试主观性太大;第三段是支持面试的人的观点,即雇主不只是关心求职者的能力,而且还应该关心求职者的性格等是否适合做这份工作。由此可见,人们争论的是雇主对求职者的选择有不同的标准。
单选题 The purpose of the last paragraph is to indicate_______.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】最后一段可以分为两部分,第一部分讲的是面试成功者的性格特点;第二部分讲的是面试表现不佳的人的性格特点。综合意思就是关于面试成功与否和性格的关系。