# File lib/active_record/base.rb, line 2126
      def attributes(options = nil)
        attributes = clone_attributes :read_attribute

        if options.nil?
          attributes
        else
          if except = options[:except]
            except = Array(except).collect { |attribute| attribute.to_s }
            except.each { |attribute_name| attributes.delete(attribute_name) }
            attributes
          elsif only = options[:only]
            only = Array(only).collect { |attribute| attribute.to_s }
            attributes.delete_if { |key, value| !only.include?(key) }
            attributes
          else
            raise ArgumentError, "Options does not specify :except or :only (#{options.keys.inspect})"
          end
        end
      end