单选题 We unemployed share a social stigma (耻辱) similar to that of the rape victim. Whether consciously or subconsciously, much of the work-ethic driven public feels that you've somehow "asked for it". Secretly wanted to lose your job and "flirted (幻想)" with unemployment through your attitude- probably dressed in a way to invite it (left the vest unbuttoned on your three-piece suit).
But the worse of it isn't society's work-ethic morality; it's your own, which you never knew you had. You find out how much self-satisfaction was gained from even the most simple work-related task: a well-worded letter, a well-handled phone call, even a clean file. Being useful to yourself isn't enough.
But then almost everyone has heard about the need to be a useful member of society. What you didn't know about was the loneliness. You've spent your life almost constantly surrounded by people, in classes, in dorms and at work. To suddenly find yourself with only your cat to talk to all day distorts (歪曲) your sense of reality. You begin to worry that fights of fancy might become one way.
But you always were, and still are, stronger than that. You maintain balance and perspective, mainly through resorting frequently to sarcasm (嘲笑) and irreverence. Although something going wrong in any aspect of your life now seems to push you into temporary despair much more easily than before, you have some very important things to hang on to-- people who care, your sense of humor, your talents, your cat and your hopes.
And beyond that, you've gained something- a little more knowledge and a lot more compassion. You've learned the value of the routine you scorned and the importance of the job you took for granted. But most of all, you've learned what a "7.6 percent unemployment rate" really means.

单选题 What is the proper title for this passage?

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】文章的大意是：我们失业者在社会上所蒙受的耻辱和被强奸者所受的耻辱一样。许多深信努力工作是一种美德的公众自觉或不自觉地认为，不管怎么说“是你自找的”。你暗地里希望失业，并通过你的工作态度来同失业“调情”。但最糟糕的不是社会上的工作道德观，而是你自己的道德观。然而，以前你却从来没有意识到这一点。你发现即使最简单的与工作有关的事：一封措辞巧妙的信件，一个处理得当的电话，甚至是一份整理得简明扼要的卷宗，都会使你得到很大的自我满足。几乎所有的人都听说过要成为对社会有用的一员。而你所不知道的是当你不能成为对社会有用的一员时的那种孤独和寂寞。当你发现自己整天只能与猫谈话时，你的现实发生了扭曲。你用自嘲和玩世不恭的态度来掩饰你的脆弱。另外你也从失业获得了一些东西：见识略长，同情心大增。最为重要的是你懂得了“7.6%的失业率”实际上意味着什么?从这段文章大意来看，通篇讲的是失业者的感受，因此C项“失业的滋味”是文章的最佳标题。

单选题 According to the passage, it makes one feel ______ to be unemployed.

单选题 What does "You begin to worry that fights of fancy might become one way" mean?

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】You begin to worry that fights of fancy might become one way意思是“整日的胡思乱想会使你因此陷入不能自拔的境地”。换句话说，你将陷入不能面对现实的困境。C项是正确选择。A项“你会担心将永远不能再成为社会有用的一员”，B项“你会担心将永远找不到工作”，和D项“你将担心永远不能见到你的亲人”都与文章不相符。

单选题 What does "work-ethic" refer to?

单选题 Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】文章第二段的第一句话指出：最糟糕的不是社会的工作道德观，而是你自己的道德观，所以A项“失业最糟糕的是社会的工作道德观”是不符文意的。B项“失业给人们带来巨大的伤害”，C项“失业的人很容易情绪低落”，和D项“失业的人会珍视他们将得到的任何工作”都是文章所要表达的。