My time as a nearly homeless person had given me new compassion(同情) for people in trouble. Instead of simply evicting(驱逐) everyone who couldn't pay，my apartment developed an awarding­ winning program which allowed them to work off their rents by providing needed services，such as cleaning，gardening or painting，somewhere in our apartment buildings.

　　I went onto have other corporate jobs，and I now live in my house. Whenever I see a person who needs help today，I wonder what his story is. And I try to offer him at least a warm cup of coffee or something to eat. Who knows，some day it might be me again. I'd like to think that someone would help me if they could.

语篇解读　本文属于记叙文。作者是一个失业的单身母亲，在人们的帮助和自身的努力下，她获得了工作，并得到提升。成功后她还经常帮助周围需要帮助的人。 　　

16．According to Paragraph 1，what happened to the author?

A．She was out of work.

B．She didn't have any food to eat.

C．She hurt herself falling off a ladder.

D．She couldn't afford to pay the rent.

答案　A

解析　推理判断题。根据第一段倒数第二句"I made one or two wrong assumptions about being able to find new employment."可知，作者失业了。故选A。

17．The author knocked on other people's doors in order to________.

A．borrow some money

B．seek some advice

C．ask for some basic necessities of life

D．complain about the difficulties she was going through

答案　B

解析　细节理解题。根据文章第二段第三、四句"More importantly，was there something these people could teach me about surviving until I could climb out of my difficult situation？I swallowed my pride and began to knock on doors."可知，作者敲其他人的门为了寻求建议。故选B。

18．The author was promoted to second assistant________.

A．because of her well designed calendar

B．because of her skill in dealing with people

C．because she was self­ motivated in the company

D．because she offered the executive assistant great help