Statuses are marvelous human inventions that enable us to get along with one another and to determine where we “fit”in society．As we go about our everyday lives，we mentally attempt to place people in terms of their statuses．For example，we must judge whether the person in the library is a reader or a librarian，whether the telephone caller is a friend or a salesman，whether the unfamiliar person on our property is a thief or a meter reader，and so on．
The statuses we assume often vary with the people we encounter，and change throughout life．Most of us can，at very high speed，assume the statuses that various situations require．Much of social interaction consists of identifying and selecting among appropriate statuses and allowing other people to assume their statuses in relation to us．This means that we fit our actions to those of other people，based on a constant mental process of appraisal and interpretation．Although some of us find the task more difficult than others．most of us perform it rather effortlessly．
A status has been compared to ready－made clothes．Within certain limits the buyer can choose style and fabric．But an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince．We must choose from among the clothing presented by our society．Further more，our choice is limited to a size that will fit，as well as by our pocketbook．Having made a choice within these limits，we can have certain alterations made，but apart from minor adjustments．We tend to be limited to what the stores have on their racks．Statuses too come ready made，and the range of choice among them is limited．
小题1:In the first paragraph the writer tells us that statuses can help us_________．
A．protect ourselves in unfamiliar situations
B．make friends with other people
C．determine whether a person is fit for a certain job
D．behave appropriately in relation to other people小题2:According to the writer，people often assume different statuses ________．
A．in order to identify themselves with others
B．as the situation changes
C．in order to better identify others
D．as their mental processes change小题3:The underlined word“appraisal”in the 2nd paragraph most likely means_______．
A．judgment
B．appreciation
C．involvement
D．presentation小题4:In the last sentence of the second paragraph，“it”refers to“_________”．
A．identification of other people’s statuses
B．fitting our actions to those of other people appropriately
C．selecting one’s own statuses
D．constant mental process小题5:By saying that“an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince”，the writer means___________．
A．different people have different styles of clothes
B．ready－made clothes may need alterations
C．our choice of statuses is limited
D．statuses come ready made just like clothes
小题1:D
小题2:B
小题3:A
小题4:B
小题5:C
题目分析：
本文论述了身份在社会交往中的作用、身份认定随情况不同而变化以及人们的身份选择所受到的限制。
小题1:细节题。第一段Statuses are marvelous human inventions that enable us to get along with one another and to determine where we “fit”in society一句表明：身份或地位有助于人们认清相互关系、确定自己在社会中的位置，从而采取适合自己身份地位的行为方式。选择D项。
小题2:细节题。第二段The statuses we assume often vary with the people we encounter，and change throughout life 一句告诉读者：我们对自己身份的认定随我们面对的人士的不同而变化。故B项正确。
小题3:词义推断题。第二段Much of social interaction consists of identifying and selecting among appropriate statuses and allowing other people to assume their statuses in relation to us一段文字说的是，社会交往过程中，需要识别和选择合适身份、并让他人认定他们自己与我们相对应的身份。而这是一个解读和判断的过程，我们在该解读和判断的基础上调整我们自己的行为。故 A项正确。
小题4:细节题。第二段最后一句Although some of us find the task more difficult than others．most of us perform it rather effortlessly 中的it指的是从句中的task，也就是上文所说的 “根据解读和判断调整自己行为”。B项正确。
小题5:最后一段Statuses too come ready made，and the range of choice among them is limited是该段主题句，作者以挑选衣服作比喻，是为了说明我们的身份选择只能在一定范围内进行，因而是有限制的。C项正确。