AfewmonthsagoIwaspickingupthechildrenatschool.EmilyanothermotherthatIknewwellrusheduptome.Shewasfilledwithanger.“DoyouknowwhatyouandIare?”shedemanded.BeforeIcouldanswershegaveoutthereasonforherquestion.Shehadjustreturnedfromrenewingherdriver’slicenseatagovernmentoffice.AskedbythewomanrecordertostateheroccupationEmilyhesitateduncertainhowtoclassifyherself.“WhatImeanis”explainedthewoman“doyouhaveajoborareyoujusta...?”“OfcourseIhaveajob”answeredEmily.“I’mamother.”“Wedon’tlist‘mother’asanoccupation...‘housewife’coversit”saidtherecorderemphatically(强调地).

IforgotallaboutherstoryuntilonedayIfoundmyselfinthesamesituation.ThistimeitwasatourownTownHall.Theclerkwasawoman.“Andwhatisyouroccupation?”sheasked.WhatmademesayitIdonotknow.Thewordssimplyjumpedout.“I’m...aResearchAssociateinthefieldofChildDevelopmentandHumanRelations.”Theclerkpausedherball-pointpenfrozeninmidairandlookedupasthoughshehadnotheardright.Irepeatedthetitleslowly.

“MightIask”saidtheclerkwithnewinterest“justwhatyoudoinyourfield?”CoollyIheardmyselfreply“Ihaveacontinuingprogramofresearchinthelaboratoryandinthefield.I’mworkingformymasters(thewholefamily)andalreadyhavefourcredits(alldaughters).Ioftenwork14hoursaday(24ismorelikeit).Butthejobismorechallengingthanmostjobsandtherewardsareinsatisfactionratherthanjustmoney.”

Therewasanincreasingnoteofrespectintheclerk’svoiceasshecompletedtheformstoodupandpersonallyshowedmeout.AsIdroveintoourdrivewayIwasgreetedbymylabassistants---ages137and3.AndupstairsIcouldhearournewexperimentalmodel(sixmonths)inthechild-developmentprogram.Ifeltsuccessful.

Motherhood...whatagloriouscareerespeciallywhenthereisatitleonthedoor.

12.Onhearingtheauthor’sansweratthetownhalltheclerkfelt______.

A.boredanddisappointed B.surprisedandcurious

C.satisfiedandexcited D.interestedandrespectful

13.Whatdoyouknowabouttheauthor’sfamily?

A.Herdaughtersare