passage 2
A Pay Rise or Not?
Unless I get a rise, Ill have a talk with the boss, Henry Manley, George Strong said to himself. George liked his job and he liked the town he lived in, but his wife kept telling him that his pay was not enough to meet the needs of the family. That was why he was thinking of taking a job in Birmingham, a nearby city about 50 miles away. He had been offered a job in a factory there, and the pay was far better.
George lived in Wyeford, a medium-sized town. He really liked the place and didnt like the idea of moving somewhere else, but if he took the job in Birmingham, he would have to move his family there.
Henry Manley was the manager of a small company manufacturing electric motors. The company was in deep trouble because, among other reasons, the Japanese were selling such things at very low prices. As a result, Manley had to cut his won prices and profits as well. Otherwise he would not get any orders at all. Even then, orders were still not coming in fast enough, so that there was no money for raises(加工资) for his workers. Somehow, he had to struggle along and keep his best workers as well. Just then the phone rang.
His secretary told him that George Strong wanted to see him as soon as possible. Manley sighed again. He could guess what it was about. George Strong was a very young engineer. The company had no future unless it could attract and keep men like him. Manley rubbed his forehead (前额) : his problems seemed endless.
1. Henry Manley was already deeply in debt.
A. Right B.Wrong C. Not mentioned
2. The job that had been offered to George Strong in Birmingham paid better.
A. Right B.Wrong C. Not mentioned
3. If George Strong took the job in Birmingham, he would have to leave his family in Wysford. A. Right B.Wrong C. Not mentioned
4. Henry Manleys company was in deep trouble.
A. Right B.Wrong C. Not mentioned
5. Henry Manleys company was making enough profits to raise the workers wages.
A. Right B.Wrong C. Not mentioned
6. Henry Manley had no idea at all why George Strong wanted to see him.
A. Right B.Wrong C. Not mentioned
7. George Strong was a very creative engineer.
A. Right B.Wrong C. Not mentioned
答案与解析：
1．利用文章题目A Pay Rise or Not?抓住文章的中心Pay Rise，或借助文章第一句更进一步的体会文章中心：Unless I get a rise, Ill have a talk with the boss, Henry Manley, George Strong said to himself.
Speak/say to oneself自言自语
Comp: dress oneself穿衣
read oneself to sleep看书看睡着了
teach oneself自修
2．直接看问题解题。
1. Henry Manley was already deeply in debt.
A. Right B.Wrong C. Not mentioned
分析：利用题干中的黑体词作为线索词，这样在文章中找到答案相关句，判断问题句的说法与相关句的说法不相关（问题句的说法与相关句的说法并不矛盾，而从相关句中又推断不出问题句的说法），所以“没提到”是答案。
Unless I get a rise, Ill have a talk with the boss, Henry Manley, George Strong said to himself. ...(跳读)
Henry Manley was the manager of a small company manufacturing electric motors. The company was in deep trouble because,
a small company manufacturing electric motors = a small company which manufactures electric motors
补充：
in: prep. 在…之中
e.g. The roses are in flower now.
现在玫瑰正盛开。
in trouble/in danger/ in service/ in a hurry
2. The job that had been offered to George Strong in Birmingham paid better.
A. Right B.Wrong C. Not mentioned
分析： 利用题干中的黑体词作为答案线索词，这样在文章中找到答案相关句，
George liked his job and he liked the town he lived in, but his wife kept telling him that his pay was not enough to meet the needs of the family. That was why he was thinking of taking a job in Birmingham, a nearby city about 50 miles away. He had been offered a job in a factory there, and the pay was far better。