With the US economy slowing down, layoffs are everywhere. No industry is spared. If you end up having to start over, in addition to starting your job search, there are several things you should take care of to make your transition a smooth one.
First and foremost, clear up any misunderstanding about how and why you left your last job with your ex-boss. Whether you left voluntarily, were fired or were laid off due to budget cutbacks, make sure you both have the same explanation. Agree on job titles accordingly. Also ask for a reference if you think your ex-boss will offer one and you trust that he or she will speak honestly about your performance.
You should have a source of emergency cash that you can use in the interim. Don’t panic and liquidate your stocks and bonds just yet, be optimistic in your prospects while also be more frugal than usual. You should save money on not having to dry clean work clothes so often and eating less take-out lunches. Save money by not eating out at restaurants and watch videos rather than going to the movies every weekend. Mark a note of your job-hunting expenses, such as career counselor’ consulting fees and resume printing costs, and save the receipts. By next year’s tax-filing time, you could get deductions on your job-search expense (unless you left a job willingly or was a college graduate looking for your first job).
Most companies terminate your medical insurance coverage as soon as you stop working for them. But it doesn’t mean you have to forgo medical coverage altogether. There is something called Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) in the United States that legally protects an ex-employee’s right to stay in the company’s health care plan. However, the company will stop paying your premiums, and you will have to pay out of your pocket the expenses. This is still a good option compared to no health insurance at all.
Another important thing to take care of when you change jobs is your 401(k) account. A 401(k) is the retirement fund that most companies offer. It’s named after section 401(k) in the Internal Revenue Service’s policy documents. You put aside a percentage of your paycheck each pay period, and the money accumulated will be managed by the 401(k) fund manager your employer has hired and is invested in the stock market. You cannot withdraw money from this account until you reach this age, or you will incur penalties. When you leave a job, the money can sometimes be kept with your ex-employer for a while. It’s always a good idea to compare your new employer’s 401(k) plan with your old one. Every company offers different types of investment options, form overseas stocks to high-tech stocks and everything in between. If you don’t want to transfer the account to your new employer, you need to go to the human resources department and ask for forms that help you make the transition.
Don’t forget to ask for job leads from your ex-coworker. Even if you are leaving for a job in another industry, you never know what people they happen to know that can help with your job search. Keep in touch with the friends you have make at your old job. Remember to anchor yourself to people, not institutions, and you will find that any transition is made easier.
1. According to paragraph 1, in the United States, ______.
2. The word “interim” most probably means ______.
3. What’s the point of saving the receipts of job-searching expense?
4. COBRA ensures an ex-employee stay in the health care plan ______.
5. Which statement is true according to this passage?
问题1选项
A.most industries stay unaffected by global economic recession
B.each and every company spares no effort to survive the fierce competition
C.“compulsory redundancy” is going on in every industry
D.employees are laid off because they are not qualified for their jobs
问题2选项
A.interval
B.hard time
C.transitional period
D.emergency
问题3选项
A.To get reductions at tax-filing time.
B.To keep a record of one’s job-hunting experience.
C.To be aware of one’s expenditure and be frugal.
D.Because one’s ex-boss will reimburse the job-searching expense.
问题4选项
A.as long as the ex-employer continues to pay the premium
B.as long as the ex-employee continues to pay the premium
C.as long as the ex-employee finds a new job
D.as long as the ex-employee is called back to the company
问题5选项
A.401(k) account can be terminated by the employers anytime they want.
B.401(k) account can be withdrawn by the unemployed staff before their retirement.
C.401(k) fund is invested in international stock market only.
D.401(k) account can be transferred from one’s ex-employer to one’s new employer.
第1题:C
第2题:C
第3题:A
第4题:B
第5题:D
第1题:
【选项释义】
According to paragraph 1, in the United States, ______. 根据第一段,在美国,______。
A. most industries stay unaffected by global economic recession A. 大多数行业不受全球经济衰退的影响
B. each and every company spares no effort to survive the fierce competition B. 每家公司都不遗余力地在激烈的竞争中求生存
C. “compulsory redundancy” is going on in every industry C. 每个行业都在进行“强制裁员”
D. employees are laid off because they are not qualified for their jobs D. 员工被解雇是因为他们不能胜任他们的工作
【考查点】事实细节题
【解题思路】根据第一段的第一、二句:With the US economy slowing down, layoffs are everywhere. No industry is spared.(随着美国经济下跌,裁员到处可见。没有行业能够幸免。)可知选项C符合原文。
【干扰项排除】
A选项根据解析可知属于反向干扰;
B、D选项在文中没有提及,属于无中生有。
第2题:
【选项释义】
The word “interim” most probably means ______. “interim”这个词最有可能的意思是______。
A. interval A. 间隔
B. hard time B. 艰难的日子
C. transitional period C. 过渡时期
D. emergency D. 突发事件
【考查点】词汇推断题
【解题思路】根据题干定位到第三段:You should have a source of emergency cash that you can use in the interim. 根据上下文可推测,这是处于失业阶段,所以应该是处于过渡期。句意:你应该有个应急的现金资源以备在过渡期使用。选项C与之意思相近,所以正确。
【干扰项排除】A、B、D选项不能通过文章信息推理出来。
第3题:
【选项释义】
What’s the point of saving the receipts of job-searching expense? 保存求职费用的收据有什么意义呢?
A. To get reductions at tax-filing time. A. 在报税时获得减税。
B. To keep a record of one’s job-hunting experience. B. 记录自己的求职经历。
C. To be aware of one’s expenditure and be frugal. C. 注意自己的开支,保持节俭。
D. Because one’s ex-boss will reimburse the job-searching expense. D. 因为前老板会报销找工作的费用。
【考查点】事实细节题
【解题思路】根据第三段最后一句:By next year’s tax-filing time, you could get deductions on your job-search expense.(到明年报税的时候,你就可以从你的求职费用中扣除。)可知选项A符合原文。
【干扰项排除】B、C、D选项在文中没有提及,属于无中生有。
第4题:
【选项释义】
COBRA ensures an ex-employee stay in the health care plan ______. COBRA确保前雇员留在医疗保健计划______。
A.as long as the ex-employer continues to pay the premium A. 只要前雇主继续支付保险费
B.as long as the ex-employee continues to pay the premium B. 只要前雇员继续支付保费
C.as long as the ex-employee finds a new job C. 只要前雇员找到一份新工作
D.as long as the ex-employee is called back to the company D. 只要前雇员被召回公司
【考查点】事实细节题
【解题思路】根据第四段第三、四句:There is something called Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) in the United States that legally protects an ex-employee’s right to stay in the company’s health care plan. However, the company will stop paying your premiums, and you will have to pay out of your pocket the expenses.(美国有一项名为“综合预算协调法案”的法律,保护前雇员享受公司医保计划的权利。然而,公司将停止支付你的保费,你将不得不自掏腰包支付费用。)选项B正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项根据解析可知属于张冠李戴;
C、D在文中没有提及,属于无中生有。
第5题:
【选项释义】
Which statement is true according to this passage? 根据文章,哪个说法是真的?
A. 401(k) account can be terminated by the employers anytime they want. A. 雇主可以随时终止401(k)账户。
B. 401(k) account can be withdrawn by the unemployed staff before their retirement. B. 失业人员可以在退休前提取401(k)账户。
C. 401(k) fund is invested in international stock market only. C. 401(k)基金只投资于国际股票市场。
D. 401(k) account can be transferred from one’s ex-employer to one’s new employer. D. 401(k)账户可以从前雇主那里转移到新雇主那里。
【考查点】推理判断题
【解题思路】根据倒数第二段的最后一句:If you don’t want to transfer the account to your new employer, you need to go to the human resources department and ask for forms that help you make the transition.(如果你不想把这个账户转到你的新雇主那里,你需要去人力资源部索取一些表格来帮助你完成这个过渡。)由此可以推断,401(k)帐户可由前雇主转至新雇主。选项D符合原文。
【干扰项排除】
A、C选项在文中没有提及,属于无中生有;
B选项,文中提到:You cannot withdraw money from this account until you reach this age, or you will incur penalties.(在你达到这个年龄之前,你不能从这个账户里取钱,否则你会受到罚款。)可知失业人员在退休前不能从这个账户取款,属于反向干扰。