Unemployment and economic need for work is higher among older women, especially minorities, than among younger white women. A national council reports these findings: though unemployed longer when seeking work, older women job-hunt harder, hold a job longer with less absenteeism (缺勤), perform as well or better, are more reliable, and are more willing to learn than men or younger women. Yet many older women earn poor pay and face a future of poverty in their retirement years. When "sexism meets ageism, poverty is no longer on the doorstep it moves in, " according to Tish Sommers, director of a special study on older women for the National Organization for Women.
Yet a 1981 report on the White House Conference on Aging shows that as a group, older Americans are the "wealthiest, best fed, best housed, healthiest, most self-reliant older population in our history. "This statement is small comfort to those living below the poverty line, but it does explode some of the old traditional beliefs and fears. Opportunities for moving in and up in a large company may shrink but many older people begin successful small businesses, volunteer in satisfying activities, and stay active for many years. They have few role models because in previous generations the life span was much shorter and expectations of life were fewer. They are ploughing new ground.
Employers are beginning to recognize that the mature person can bring a great deal of stability and responsibility to a position. One doesn't lose ability and experience on the eve of one's 65th or 70th birthday any more than one grows up instantly at age 21.
26. After the age of 40, _____.
(A) most workers are tired of their present jobs
(B) many workers tend to stick their present jobs
(C) people find their jobs more rewarding than before
(D) people still wish to hunt for more suitable jobs
27. From Heilman's remark, we can see that _____.
(A) full use has been made of the wisdom of older people
(B) the wisdom of older people is not valued by American society
(C) older people are no less intelligent than young people
(D) the wisdom of older people is of great value to American society
28. Tish Sommers argues that _____.
(A) older women find it hard to escape poverty
(B) older women usually perform better in their jobs
(C) the major cause of the poverty of older women is sexism
(D) more people have come to believe in sexism and ageism
29. According to the third paragraph, it can be seen that older Americans _____.
(A) have more job opportunities than young people
(B) live below the poverty line
(C) have new opportunities to remain active in society
(D) no longer believe in the promise of a happy life upon retirement
30. It can be concluded from the passage that the writer ______.
(A) calls attention to the living conditions of older Americans
(B) believes that value of older people is gaining increasing recognition
(C) attempts to justify the youth-oriented, throw-away culture of the United States
(D) argues people should not retire at the age of 65 or 70
Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage:
The most exciting kind of education is also the most personal. Nothing can exceed the joy of discovering for yourself something that is important to you! It may be an idea or a bit of information you come across accidentally-or a sudden insight, fitting together pieces of information or working through a problem. Such personal encounters are the "payoff" in education. A teacher may direct you to learning and even encourage you in it---but no teacher can make the excitement or the joy happen. That's up to you.
A research paper, assigned in a course and perhaps checked at various stages by an instructor, leads you beyond classroom, beyond the texts for classes and into a process where the joy of discovery and learning can come to you many times. Preparing the research paper is an active and individual process, and ideal learning process. It provides a structure within which you can make exciting discoveries, of knowledge and of self, that are basic to education. But the research paper also gives you a chance to individualize a school assignment, to suit a piece of work to your own interests and abilities, to show others what you can do. Writing a research paper is more than just a classroom exercise. It is an experience in searching out, understanding and synthesizing, which forms the basis of many skills applicable to both academic and nonacademic tasks. It is, in the fullest sense, a discovering, an education. So, to produce a good research paper is both a useful and a thoroughly satisfying experience!
To some, the thought of having to write an assigned number of pages, often more than ever produced before, is disconcerting. To others, the very idea of having to work independently is threatening. But there is no need to approach the research paper assignment with anxiety, and nobody should view the research paper as an obstacle to overcome. Instead, consider it a goal to accomplish, a goal within reach if you use the help this book can give you.
31. According to the writer, personal discoveries _____.
(A) will give one encouragement and direction
(B) are helpful in finding the right information
(C) are the most valuable part of one's personal education
(D) will help one to successfully complete school assignments
32. It can be inferred from the passage that writing a research paper gives one chances _____.
(A) to fully develop one's personal abilities
(B) to use the skills learnt in the classroom
(C) to prove that one is a productive writer
(D) to demonstrate how well one can accomplish school assignment
33. From the context, the word "disconcerting" (Para. 3, Line 2) most probably means _____.
(A) misleading
(B) embarrassing
(C) stimulating
(D) upsetting
34. The writer argues in the passage that _____.
(A) one should explore new areas in research
(B) one should trust one's own ability to meet course requirements
(C) one should consider research paper writing a pleasure, not a burden
(D) one should use all one's knowledge and skills when doing research
35. What will probably follow this passage?
(A) How to write a research paper.
(B) The importance of research in education.
(C) How to make new discoveries for oneself.
(D) The skill of putting pieces of information together.
Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:
In our culture, the sources of what we call a sense of "mastery" ---feeling important and worth-while-and the sources of what we call a sense "pleasure"-finding life enjoyable-are not always identical. Women often are told "You can't have it all." Sometimes what the speaker really is saying is :" You chose a career, so you can't expect to have closer relationships or a happy family life." or "You have a wonderful husband and children--What's all this about wanting a career?" But women need to understand and develop both aspects of well-being, if they are to feel good about themselves.
Our study shows that, for women, well-being has two dimensions. One is mastery, which includes self-esteem (自尊), a sense of control over your life, and low levels of anxiety and depression. Mastery is closely related to the "doing" side of life, to work and activity. Pleasure is the other dimensions, and it is composed of happiness, satisfaction and optimism (乐观). It is tied more closely to the "feeling" side of life. The two are independent of each other. A woman could be high in mastery and low in pleasure, and vice versa. For example, a woman who has a good job, but whose mother has just died, might be feeling very good about herself and in control of her work life, but the pleasure side could be damaged for a time. |
