Hunting for a job late last year, lawyer Gant Redmon stumbled across CareerBuilder, a job database on the Internet. He searched it with no success but was attracted by the site’s “personal search agent”. It’s an interactive feature that lets visitors key in job criteria such as location, title, and salary, then E-mails them when a matching position is posted in the database. Redmon chose the keywords legal, intellectual property, and Washington, D.C. Three weeks later, he got his first notification of an opening. “I struck gold,’ says Redmon, who E-mailed his resume to the employer and won a position as in-house counsel for a company.

With thousands of career-related sites on the Internet, finding promising openings can be time-consuming and inefficient. Search agents reduce the need for repeated visits to the databases. But although a search agent worked for Redmon, career experts see drawbacks. Narrowing your criteria, for example, may work against you: “Every time you answer a question you eliminate a possibility.” says one expert.

For any job search, you should start with a narrow concept — what you think you want to do — then broaden it. “None of these programs do that,” says another expert. “There’s no career counseling implicit in all of this.” Instead, the best strategy is to use the agent as a ki nd of tip service to keep abreast of jobs in a particular database; when you get E-mail, consider it a reminder to check the database again. “I would not rely on agents for finding everything that is added to a database that might interest me,” says the author of a job-searching guide.

Some sites design their agents to tempt job hunters to return. When CareerSite’s agent sends out messages to those who have signed up for its service, for example, it includes only three potential jobs — those it considers the best matches. There may be more matches in the database; job hunters will have to visit the site again to find them — and they do. “On the day after we send our messages, we see a sharp increase in our traffic,” says Seth Peets, vice president of marketing for CareerSite.

Even those who aren’t hunting for jobs may find search agents worthwhile. Some use them to keep a close watch on the demand for their line of work or gather information on compensation to arm themselves when negotiating for a raise. Although happily employed, Redmon maintains his agent at CareerBuilder. “You always keep your eyes open,” he says. Working with a personal search agent means having another set of eyes looking out for you.

21. How did Redmon find his job?

[A] By searching openings in a job database.

[B] By posting a matching position in a database

[C] By using a special service of a database

[D] By E-mailing his resume to a database.

22. Which of the following can be a disadvantage of search agents?

[A] Lack of counseling.

[B] Limited number of visits.

[C] Lower efficiency.

[D] Fewer successful matches.

23. The expression “tip service” (Line 3, Paragraph 3) most probably means

[A] advisory. [B] compensation. [C] interaction. [D] reminder.

24. Why does CareerSite’s agent offer each job hunter only three job options?

[A] To focus on better job matches.

[B] To attract more returning visits.

[C] To reserve space for more messages.

[D] To increase the rate of success.

25. Which of the following is true according to the text?

[A] Personal search agents are indispensable to job-hunters.

[B] Some sites keep E-mailing job seekers to trace their demands.

[C] Personal search agents are also helpful to those already employed.

[D] Some agents stop sending information to people once they are employed.

名师解析

21. How did Redmon find his job? Redmon 是如何找到工作的？

[A] By searching openings in a job database.

通过搜索工作数据库中的空缺职位。

[B] By posting a matching position in a database.

通过在数据库里面张贴匹配职位。

[C] By using a special service of a database.

通过使用某数据库的一项特别服务。

[D] By E-mailing his resume to a database.

通过将他的简历以电子邮件的方式寄给某数据库。

【答案】 C

【考点】 事实细节题。

【分析】 题干的关键信息就是“ Redmon ”，我们在第一段里面可以看见“ Redmon ”的内容。要答对本题，考生必须仔细查看究竟“ Redmon ”是怎样利用该数据库来找到工作的。在第一段里面，作者提到他使用了“个人搜索代理”，输入几个关键词，几个星期以后得到了职位空缺的通知，然后他又把他的履历寄给雇主，从而获得这份工作。整个过程就是这样的。 [A] 只反映了他整个求职过程的一部分。 [B] 故意颠倒了“ post ” ( 张贴 ) 这个动作的主语，张贴的人，要么是求职网，要么是寻人单位，却不是“ Redmon ”。选项 [D] 同样颠倒了主语，因为是数据库发电子邮件给“ Redmon ”而不是反过来。选项 [C] “通过使用某数据库的特别服务”虽然泛了一点，却是正确的，因为“个人搜索代理”正是这样的一个特殊服务。

22. Which of the following can be a disadvantage of search agents?

下列哪项可能是搜索代理的缺点？

[A] Lack of counseling. 缺少咨询。

[B] Limited number of visits. 限制访问次数。

[C] Lower efficiency. 效率更低下。

[D] Fewer successful matches. 匹配成功率更低。

【答案】 A

【考点】 事实细节题。

【分析】 第二段中的“ Search agents reduce the need for repeated visits to the databases. But although a search agent worked for Redmon, career experts see drawbacks. ”表明“搜索代理减少了重复访问数据库的需要，但是，职业专家也看到了缺点”。随后，文章提到，“对求职者而言，每缩小一次搜索条件，每回答一个这样的问题，就缩小了一次求得职业的可能性”。同时在第三段，作者还提到一个缺点，即“ There’s no career counseling implicit in all of this. ”这里的“ this ”指的就是“搜索代理”，也就是说，“搜索代理没有提供职业咨询”。因此选项 [A] 是符合的。 [B] 文章中没有提到，同时对网络公司而言也是不可能的，常识告诉我们，点击率是网站生存的基础。 [C] 是搜索代理可以避免的事情。 [D] 这一点文章中也没有提到。

23. The expression “tip service” (Line 3, Paragraph 3) most probably means

短语“ tip service ” ( 第三段第三行 ) 最可能的含义是

[A] advisory. 忠告

[B] compensation. 补偿，报酬

[C] interaction. 互动

[D] reminder. 提示

【答案】 D

【考点】 词义题。

【分析】 本题属于典型的词义题。此类题目的主要目的就是考查考生通过上下文来判断词义的能力。看原文“ Instead, the best strategy is to use the agent as a kind of tip service to keep abreast of jobs in a particular database; when you get E-mail, consider it a reminder to check the database again. ”即“相反，最好的策略就是将这种搜索代理作为一种‘ tip service ’来用，使自己能一直保持与某个特定数据库里面的工作的联系。当你收到电子邮件的时候，把它当成一个提示，该再次查查数据库了。”至此，考生应该能够理解“ tip service ”其实就是指的一种“提示服务”，也就是“ reminder ”。这道题目属于典型的可以从后文中找到解释的词义题。

24. Why does CareerSite’s agent offer each job hunter only three job options?

为什么 CarrerSite 的搜索代理只为每一位求职者提供三项工作选择？

[A] To focus on better job matches. 为了侧重于更好的相匹配的工作。

[B] To attract more returning visits. 为了吸引更多的人回访。

[C] To reserve space for more messages. 为了给更多的讯息留下空间。

[D] To increase the rate of success. 为了提高成功的几率。

【答案】 B

【考点】 事实细节题。

【分析】 第四段第一句“ Some sites design their agents to tempt job hunters to return. ”是本段的主题句，也可以说是本段的论点，后面的例子只是在证明这一点。阅读原文“ When CareerSite’s agent sends out messages to those who have signed up for its service, for example, it includes only three potential jobs — those it considers the best matches. There may be more matches in the database; job hunters will have to visit the site again to find them ”，我们就会发现，“ tempt ” ( 诱惑、吸引 ) 这个单词，以及后面的“ job hunters will have to visit the site again ”。都说明这样做的目的就是为了吸引更多的人来访问网站，所以，正确答案是选项 [B] 。

25. Which of the following is true according to the text?

根据本文，下面哪一项是正确的？

[A] Personal search agents are indispensable to job-hunters.

个人搜索代理对于求职者来说是不可缺少的。

[B] Some sites keep E-mailing job seekers to trace their demands.

一些网站不断给求职者发电子邮件以追踪它们的需求。

[C] Personal search agents are also helpful to those already employed.

个人搜索代理对于那些已经有工作的人来说也有用处。

[D] Some agents stop sending information to people once they are employed.

一些代理在人们找到工作后就停止给他们发送信息了。

【答案】 C

【考点】 事实细节题。

【分析】 第五段第一句“ Even those who aren’t hunting for jobs may find search agents worthwhile. ”的意思其实就和选项 [C] “个人搜索代理对于那些已经有工作的人来说也有用处”一个意思。选项 [A] 这种说法过于绝对，文中已经说过“个人搜索代理有其自己的缺点，最好只是把它当成一种提示服务”，这说明它不是不可或缺的。选项 [B] 说法刚好相反，应该是求职者利用搜索代理密切关注行业需求情况。选项 [D] 这种说法是和原文相反的，在找到工作后，人们仍然可以一直使用搜索代理。

难句解析 ：

1. It’s an interactive feature that lets visitors key in job criteria such as location, title, and salary, then E-mails them when a matching position is posted in the database.

【结构分析】 本句属于强调句，句子主干：“ It is(an interactive feature)that lets visitors key in… ”，强调主语“ an interactive feature ”。“ that ”后面连接两个并列的谓语动词结构：“ let sb. do sth. ”和“ E-mails ” , 这里“ email ”这个名词被活用为动词。“ such as… ”结构举例说明“ job criteria ”。“ when ”引导的时间状语从句修饰整个句子。

2. Instead, the best strategy is to use the agent as a kind of tip service to keep abreast of jobs in a particular database; when you get E-mail, consider it a reminder to check the database again.

【结构分析】 该句子分号前后是两个并列分句，后一分句对前一分句作进一步解释，而且后一分句也是猜测“ tip service ”的关键。前一分句的主干是“ the best strategy is to use the agent ”，“ as… ”介词短语结构意为 “ 当做 …… ” 。不定式结构“ to keep… ”表示目的。后一分句里面，“ when ”引导一个时间状语从句，“ consider ”后面接宾语“ it ”和宾语补足语“ a reminder ”，“ to check the database again ”是后置定语修饰“ reminder ”。

3. When CareerSite's agent sends out messages to those who have signed up for its service, for example, it includes only three potential jobs—those it considers the best matches.

【结构分析】 本句中“ when ”引导时间状语从句。整个复合句的主句是“ it includes only three potential jobs ”，破折号后是“ potential jobs ”的同位语，“ those ”后面接定语从句，该定语从句中的“ it ”回指“ CareerSite's agent ”。“ for example ”为插入语。

4. Some use them to keep a close watch on the demand for their line of work or gather information on compensation to arm themselves when negotiating for a raise.

【结构分析】 该句子的主干是“ Some use them ”，两个并列的不定式结构“ to keep…or(to)gather… ”在句子中做目的状语。在第二个目的状语中又含有一个表示目的的不定式短语“ to arm… ”，“ when ”加上现在分词形式作状语来修饰“ arm ” (vt. 武装 ) 。

全文翻译：

去年年末，甘特 · 雷德曼律师在找工作时偶然在网上发现职业资料库“职业建筑师”。他也在上面找了一下可是没有成功，但却被这个网址上的“个人搜索代理”所吸引。这项功能有个互动的特点，允许访问者自定求职要求，比如工作地点、职位和薪水等，当资料库里有与个人要求相匹配的工作岗位被公布出来时，它就会通过电子邮件通知求职者。雷德曼选择关键词“法律”、“知识产权”和“华盛顿特区”。过了三个星期，雷德曼接到第一份有职位空缺的通知。他说：“我挖到金子啦！”他把个人简历用电子邮件寄给了雇主，接着就得到了该公司法律顾问的职务。

因特网上与求职相关的网址数以千计，寻找可能的职业空缺费时、效率又低。有了搜索代理，就没那么多必要反复访问资料库了。不过，虽然搜索代理成功地为雷德曼找到了工作，就业专家却还是认为搜索代理仍有缺陷，比如缩小你的要求条件就有可能对你不利。一位专家说：“每回答一次问题，你就丧失一次机会。”

寻找任何职业，你都要从一个狭窄的概念开始，即你想干什么工作，然后再加以扩展。 “任何这些程序中都没有那种扩展功能”， 另一位专家说，“所有这一切都不包含职业咨询。”相反，最佳的策略是把代理当作一种提示服务来及时跟踪某一资料库里的工作岗位信息。当你收到电子邮件时，你就把它当作一种提醒再去查一查资料库。一位职业搜索指南的编者说：“我不会依赖代理去逐一寻找在数据库增加的每一项内容里可能令我感兴趣的东西。”

一些网站设计自己的代理诱惑寻职者成为回头客。比如，当求职网代理向注册服务的用户发送信息时，它只提供三个它认为最可能匹配的岗位。可能，在资料库里还有更多的匹配岗位；求职者于是只好再次访问这个网址来寻找——求职者的确会这么做。求职网销售副总裁塞思 · 皮茨说：“我们发送这些信息的当天访问量就急剧增长。”

即使非求职的人士也会发现搜索代理值得一览。有些人利用搜索代理密切地观察对于本行业的需求或搜集有关加薪的信息，以备增薪谈判时胸有成竹。雷德曼虽然已愉快就职，但他与“职业建筑师”网代理的联系依旧保持着。他说：“你要永远睁大眼睛。”使用个人搜索代理等于多一双眼睛替你在观察。