Never in the history of Sierra Leone’s elections have women so actively engaged in politics or competed for parliamentary seats. In the past, women did the dancing and cooking for elections campaigning. In the May 14th elections, we saw over 168 women candidates competitive for President, Vice President and Parliamentary seats.

One would think that about 60% of these women would have emerged as winners. But it was not so, because of our cultural perception of women. We need to change our culture. Women could be active politicians. The Christians in their own way encouraged women to be preachers(传教士) but the Muslim leaders say women should not head for officiating(主持) prayers.

The same happens in certain parts of the country where women are not part of decision taken in male secret societies. This prevents them from achieving some of their goals. A senior head in one of the ministries told me that she was getting problems with some of her staff members especially the male staff. Most women that come from the Northern part of country experience such problems. Some men are saying that a woman cannot be their leader.

Some women are also prejudiced against their women folks. In the last elections, most woman did not support their colleagues. In some parts of the country, because they are not members of secret societies they were not allowed to contest for chieftaincies (酋长或首领的位置). However, Sierra Leones not withstanding the cultural prejudice against women has witnessed women occupying high public offices. They have been appointed to head certain areas.

Sierra Leone is moving from its past culture. We need a change in our culture. Women all over the world are recognized one way or the other as they are now involved in the use of technology. We now see women as air pilots, and they even attempt to go to travel in space.

In the past, women in Sierra Leone _______.

A.took active part in politics                     B.contested for parliamentary seats

C.danced and cooked for the election campaigning  D.shared the equal rights with men

About 60% of the women engaged in election would have succeeded if .       .

A.there were less prejudice against women          B.less Muslim leaders had objected

C.more women had been engaged in the election     D.more preachers had supported them

The author concludes that the women candidates can’t win the competitive vote because .      

A.women is more suitable for the dancing and cooking job

B.women candidates can’t get the support of their folks

C.women prejudice still exists in today’s society

D.women are not capable enough to be a chieftain

The main idea of the passage is .

A.the prejudice against women in various fields

B.women in Sierra Leone, striving for their political rights

C.women in Sierra Leone, challenge for men’s status

D.women in Sierra Leone, being involved in politics

For many men and women today ,the image that a watch communicates is more important  than the time it tells. “Complications”-----features that go beyond simple timekeeping-----are an important part of a watch’s image. Today’s watches offer a host of complications that suit almost  any personality. These features include altitude trackers ,compasses, lunar calendars, USB drivers ,and even devices that measure the effectiveness of golf swings!

Creativity is also a key element in today’s watches ,for men as well as women. The Japanese watchmaker Tokyoflash makes watches that don’t even look like watches .The company’s popular Shinshoku model uses different color lights to tell the time .It looks more like a futuristic bracelet than a watch .Another Japanese watchmaker , EleeNo, makes a “handless” watch .Using a ring of circles to keep time, this watch makes an excellent conversation piece.

    In the past, the image of a man’s watch was quite different from that of a woman’s. Men’s watches tend to be bolder, larger, and more complicated than women’s watches, which were more likely to look like jewelry. Today, the differences between men’s and women’s watches are disappearing. Watchmakers are adding diamonds to their fine watches for man. And for women, they’re designing larger watches that contain complications. For example, some women’s watches now have calendars that show the phrases of the moon. Others show the time in two different cities, a handy function for business travelers. However, women still pay more attention than most men to the external beauty of a watch. And unlike men, women are still more likely to purchase watches that suit particular items in their wardrobes.

According to the passage, one type of watch complications can show you ___________.

   A. appointments for the day            B. which direction is north

   C. how much weight you’ve put on      D. a list of telephone numbers

What is the true information about the watch made by EleeNo?

   A. It uses different hands to keep time.    B It’s rather popular

   C. It doesn’t look like a watch           D. It’s much fun to talk about

What is the main topic of this article?

   A. Why women are likely to buy more watches than men?

   B. The differences between men’s and women’s watches.

   C. Current trends in the watch industry.

   D. Useful tips for purchasing watches.


Findings from a new study were presented at a recent meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. Researchers in the United States studied one hundred thousand women during an eight-year period, beginning in nineteen ninety-four. All of the women were fifty years of age or older. The study was part of the Women’s Health Initiative organized by the National Institutes of Health.
The women were asked questions that measured their beliefs or ideas about the future. The researchers identified each woman’s personality eight years after gathering the information.
The study found that hopeful individuals were fourteen percent less likely than other women to have died from any cause. The hopeful women were also thirty percent less likely to have died from heart disease after the eight years.
Hilary Tindle from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania was the lead author of the report. She said the study confirmed earlier research that linked optimistic feelings to longer life.
The researchers also gathered information about people’s education, financial earnings, physical activity and use of alcohol or cigarettes. Independent of those things, the findings still showed that optimists had less of a chance of dying during the eight-year period.
Some women who answered the questions were found to be cynically hostile, or highly untrusting of others. These women were sixteen percent more likely to die than the others. They also were twenty-three percent more likely to die of cancer.
The study also found that women who were not optimistic were more likely to smoke and have high blood pressure or diabetes. They were also more likely not to exercise.
Professor Tindle says the study did not confirm whether optimism leads to healthier choices, or if it actually affects a person’s physical health. She also says the study does not prove that negative emotions or distrust lead to bad health effects and shorter life. Yet there does appear to be a link that calls for more research.
1. What’s the purpose of carrying out the study?
A. To gather information for the National Institutes of Health.
B. To find out the relationship between women’s personality and their health.
C. To decide who is more likely to enjoy happier life.
D. To identify each woman’s personality 8 years after gathering the information.
2. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. It’s uncertain whether optimism affects a person’s physical health.
B. Negative emotions do cause shorter life.
C. The connection between personality and health has been established.
D. The more optimistic you are, the longer life you may enjoy.
3. According to the passage, who is more likely to die of cancer?
A. A woman who has high blood pressure or diabetes.
B. A woman who doesn’t exercise.
C. A woman who has poor physical health.
D. A woman who always doubts what others say.
4. Which of the following is true?
A. American Psychosomatic Society organized the new study.
B. Women who were optimistic were less likely to smoke.
C. More questions were given than those measuring women’s beliefs or ideas.
D. Hopeful women were 16% less likely to die from heart disease.

Mini  Book  Excerpts(节选)

Biography

When Salinger learned that a car park was to be built on the land, the middle-aged writer was shocked and quickly bought the neighboring area to protect it… The townspeople never forgot the rescue and came to help their most famous neighbor.

J. D.  Salinger:A Life by Kenneth Slawenski(Random House,$27)

Mystery(疑案小说)

“You’re a smart boy. Benny’s death was no accident, and you’re the only one who saw it happen. Do you think the murderer should get away with it ? ” The boy was staring stubbornly (固执地;倔强地) at his lap again.

A thought suddenly occurred to Annika, “Did you …You recognized the man in the car, didn’t you?”

The boy hesitated, twisting his fingers, “Maybe,” he said quietly.

Red Wolf  by Liza Marklund(Atria Books, $25. 99)

Short Stories

She wants to say to him what she has learned, none of it in class: Some women are born stupid, and some women are too smart for their own good. Some women are born to give , and some women only know how to take. Some women learn who they want to be from their mothers, some who they don’t want to be. Some mothers suffer so their daughters won’t. Some mothers love so their daughters won’t.

You Are Free by Danzy Senna(Riverhead Books,$15)

Humor

Do your kids like to have fun? Come to Fun Times! Do you like to watch your kids having fun? Bring them to Fun Times! Fun Times!’s “amusement cycling” is the most fun you can have, legally, in the United States right now. Why spend thousands of dollars flying to Disney World when you can spend less than half of that within a day’s drive of most cities?

Happy: And Other Bad Thoughts by Larry Doyle(Ecco,$14. 99)

1.If the readers want to know about the life of Salinger , they should buy the book published by      .

A. Ecco            B.Random House     C.Riverhead Books    D.Atria Books

2.The book Happy :And Other Bad Thoughts is intended for                .

A.young children                         B.Disney World workers

C.middle school teachers                   D.parents with young children

3.Which book describes women with characters of their own?

A. You Are Free                      B. J. D. Salinger: A Life

C. Happy: And Other Bad Thoughts     D. Red Wolf

4.After finishing the book Red Wolf, the readers would learn that               .

A.the murderer got away with the crime

B.Benny died of an accident

C.the boy helped arrest the murderer

D.Annika carried out the crime

 

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