阅读理解。
A few days ago I asked my sons' governess (家庭女教师) Julia to come into my study. "Be seated, Julia,"
I said, "Let's settle our accounts. I guess you most likely need some money, but maybe you're too polite to
mention it. Now then, we agreed on thirty dollars a month..."
"Forty."
"No, thirty. I made a note of it. I always pay our governess thirty. Well, um, you've been here for two
months, so..."
"Two months and five days." Exactly two months. I made a special note of it. That means you have sixty
dollars coming to you. Take nine Sundays off... you know you didn't work with Tom on Sundays, you only
took walks. And three holidays..." Julia was biting her fingernail nervously, her face red, but, not a word.
"Three holidays, therefore take twelve dollars off your pay. Four days Tom was sick and there were no
lessons, as you were occupied only with Dick. Three days you had a toothache and my wife gave you
permission not to work after lunch. Twelve and seven makes nineteen. Take nineteen off... that 1eaves, hmm...
forty-one dollars. Correct?"
Julia's left eye reddened with tears welling up. Her chin trembled, and she coughed nervously and blew her
nose, but still not a word.
"Around New Year's Day you broke a teacup and a saucer; take two dollars off your pay. The cup cost
more, because it was a treasure of the family, but forget it. When didn't I take a loss! Then, due to your
neglect (疏忽), Tom climbed a tree and tore his jacket; take away ten. Also due to your carelessness the maid
stole Dick's shoes. You ought to watch everything! You get paid for it. So, that means five more dollars off.
The tenth of January I gave you ten dollars".
"You didn't." sobbed Julia.
"But I made a note of it."
"Well... if you say so."
"Take twenty-seven from forty-one, and that leaves fourteen."
Both her eyes were filled with tears. Beads of sweat stood on the thin pretty little nose. Poor girl!
"Only once was I given any money," she whispered, her voice trembling, "and that was by your wife.
Three dollars, nothing more."
"Real1y? You see now, and I didn't know that! Take three from fourteen and it leaves eleven. Here's your
money, my dear. Three, three, three, one and one. Here it is!"
I handed her eleven dollars. She took them and pocketed them.
"Merci (Thanks)," she whispered.
I jumped to my feet and started pacing the floor. I was overcome with anger. "For what, this merci"? I
asked.
"For the money".
"But you know I've cheated you-robbed you! I have actually stolen from you! Why this 'merci'?"
"In my other places they didn't give me anything at all."
"They didn't give you anything? No wonder! I played a little joke on you, a cruel lesson, just to teach you…I'm going to give you all the eighty dollars! Here they are in the envelope all ready for you…Is it really possible
to be so spineless (懦弱)? Why didn't you protest? Why were you silent? Is it possible in this world to be
without teeth and laws (爪)-to be such a fool?"
Embarrassed, she smiled. And I could read her expression, "It is possible".
I asked her pardon for the cruel lesson and, to her great surprise, gave her the eighty dollars. She
murmured her little "merci" several times and went out. I looked at her and thought, "How easy it is to crush
the weak in this World!"
1. While talking to Julia, the writer expected _____ from her. [ ]
A. a protest
B. gratitude
C. obedience
D. an explanation
2. What shocked the writer was Julia's _____. [ ]
A. nervousness in front of her boss
B. acceptance of injustice
C. shyness when talking about money
D. reluctance to express herself
3. The writer said, "Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws (爪)一to be such a fool?" He was
actually telling the governess _____. [ ]
A. to be more aggressive
B. to be more careful in her work
C. to protect her right
D. to live independently
4. From the story, we can know that Julia's employer was _____.[ ]
A. greedy but honest
B. ill tempered but warm-hearted
C. strict but forgiving
D. none of the above
