A little boy went to a telephone booth (电话亭) at the cash counter of a store and made a phone call. The store owner looked at him and listened to the conversation.
Boy: “Lady, can you give me the job of cutting your lawn (草坪)?”
Woman (at the other end of the phone line): “No, thank you. I already have someone to cut my lawn.”
Boy: “Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price the person who cuts your lawn now.”
Woman: “I’m very satisfied with the person who cuts my lawn.”
Boy (with more perseverance 执着) : “Lady, I’ll even sweep the floor and the stairs of your house for free.”
Woman: “No, thank you.”
With a smile on his face, the little boy hung up the phone. The store owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.
Store owner: “Son... I like your attitude (态度). I like that positive (积极的) spirit and would like to offer you a job.”
Boy: “No, thanks.”
Store owner: “But you were really asking for one.”
Boy: “No, Sir. I was just checking my performance (表现) at the job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to.”
小题1:In fact, how many people are mentioned (提及) in the story? _____________.
A．2
B．3
C．4
D．5小题2:The boy said to the lady that he would even sweep her floor and stairs for free because ___________.
A．he wanted her to let him continue his job
B．he thought that the lady was too poor
C．the lady thought the money she paid the boy was too much
D．he wanted to know if he did his job well enough and couldn’t be replaced (取代) by others.小题3:Which is TRUE according to the story?
A．The boy was angry with the lady.
B．The store owner wasn’t kind-hearted.
C．The lady wanted to find another person to do the boy’s job.
D．The boy was happy to know that the lady was satisfied with his performance.小题4:The best title for the story is “_____________”.
A．Asking for a job
B．Self-appraisal (自我测评)
C．The lady and the boy
D．The boy and the store owner
小题1:B
小题2:D
小题3:D
小题4:B
题目分析：本文介绍一个小男孩儿在电话亭打电话，降低价格并且免费为雇主扫地，雇主都没有雇佣他。商店老板觉得他很执着，决定聘用他，但是被他拒绝，因为实际上他正在为雇主家工作，他只是想用这个办法来检测自己的工作被不被认可。
小题1:细节理解题。通过阅读可以知道，文中提到The store owner，boy，Woman (at the other end of the phone line)，而电话那边的女士所提到现在正在为她尖草坪的工人，实际上就是这个男孩儿。所以文中提到3个人。故选B。
小题2:细节理解题。根据原文最后一句I was just checking my performance (表现) at the job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to.可知这个男孩儿就是电话那头女士不愿意辞掉的工人，所以男孩儿甚至愿意提供免费扫地的服务来检测自己做的是不是足够好。故选D。
小题3:细节理解题。根据原文With a smile on his face, the little boy hung up the phone.这个男孩儿微笑地挂了电话。可知他知道雇主对他的工作非常满意，他很高兴。故选D。
小题4:细节理解题。根据原文I was just checking my performance at the job I already have.可知男孩儿用这样的办法来检测自己工作的好不好，所以题目可以叫作自我检测。故选B。