There have been great changes in the lives of women. During the twentieth century ,there was an unusual shortening of the time of a woman’s life spent in caring for children. A woman marrying at the end of the 19th century would probably have been in her middle twenties, and would be likely to have about eight children, of whom about five lived till they were five years old. By the time the youngest was fifteen, the mother would have been in her early fifties and would expect to live a further twenty years, during which custom, chance and health made it unusual for her to get paid work. Today women marry younger and have fewer children. Usually a woman’s youngest child will be fifteen when she is forty-five and is likely to take paid work until retirement at sixty. Even while she has the care of children, her work is lightened by household appliances(家用电器) and convenience(方便) foods.
This important change in women’s way of life has only recently begun to have its full effect on women’s economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity and most of them took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age, and though women tend to marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Very many more afterwards, return to full or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with both husband and wife accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfaction of family life, and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money and running the home, according to the abilities and interest of each them.
【小题1】Women marrying at the end of the 19th century ________.

A．would have fewer children than those today.

B．would have more children than those today.

C．lived as hard as those in the 20th century

D．lived more comfortably than those in the 20th century

There have been great changes in the lives of women. During the twentieth century ,there was an unusual shortening of the time of a woman’s life spent in caring for children. A woman marrying at the end of the 19th century would probably have been in her middle twenties, and would be likely to have about eight children, of whom about five lived till they were five years old. By the time the youngest was fifteen, the mother would have been in her early fifties and would expect to live a further twenty years, during which custom, chance and health made it unusual for her to get paid work. Today women marry younger and have fewer children. Usually a woman’s youngest child will be fifteen when she is forty-five and is likely to take paid work until retirement at sixty. Even while she has the care of children, her work is lightened by household appliances(家用电器) and convenience(方便) foods.

This important change in women’s way of life has only recently begun to have its full effect on women’s economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity and most of them took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age, and though women tend to marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Very many more afterwards, return to full or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with both husband and wife accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfaction of family life, and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money and running the home, according to the abilities and interest of each them.

1.Women marrying at the end of the 19th century ________.

A. would have fewer children than those today.

B. would have more children than those today.

C. lived as hard as those in the 20th century

D. lived more comfortably than those in the 20th century

2. According to the passage, a woman in the 19th century would likely to have about eight children and _______.

A. only about three of them could live more than five years old.

B. only about three of them could live for five years.

C. about eight children lived to be more than five years.

D. about eight children lived to be less than five years.

3. From the second paragraph, we know _______.

A. women today are not willing to run their home together with their husbands.

B. women today wouldn’t like to do any housework.

C. women today will return to work after they have their babies.

D. were unlikely to find jobs like the mothers before .

4.According to the passage, which of the following is right ?

A. in the past most women often stay at home after leaving school

B. women today like to marry men younger than themselves

C. women today are playing important parts in work and family life.

D. husbands today needn’t do any work at home.

There have been great changes in the lives of women. During the twentieth century ,there was an unusual shortening of the time of a woman’s life spent in caring for children. A woman marrying at the end of the 19th century would probably have been in her middle twenties, and would be likely to have about eight children, of whom about five lived till they were five years old. By the time the youngest was fifteen, the mother would have been in her early fifties and would expect to live a further twenty years, during which custom, chance and health made it unusual for her to get paid work. Today women marry younger and have fewer children. Usually a woman’s youngest child will be fifteen when she is forty-five and is likely to take paid work until retirement at sixty. Even while she has the care of children, her work is lightened by household appliances(家用电器) and convenience(方便) foods.

This important change in women’s way of life has only recently begun to have its full effect on women’s economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity and most of them took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age, and though women tend to marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Very many more afterwards, return to full or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with both husband and wife accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfaction of family life, and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money and running the home, according to the abilities and interest of each them.

45．Women marrying at the end of the 19th century ________.

A. would have fewer children than those today.

B. would have more children than those today.

C. lived as hard as those in the 20th century

D. lived more comfortably than those in the 20th century

46． According to the passage, a woman in the 19th century would likely to have about eight children and _______.

A. only about three of them could live more than five years old.

B. only about three of them could live for five years.

C. about eight children lived to be more than five years.

D. about eight children lived to be less than five years.

47． From the second paragraph, we know _______.

A. women today are not willing to run their home together with their husbands.

B. women today wouldn’t like to do any housework.

C. women today will return to work after they have their babies.

D. were unlikely to find jobs like the mothers before .

48．According to the passage, which of the following is right ?

A. in the past most women often stay at home after leaving school

B. women today like to marry men younger than themselves

C. women today are playing important parts in work and family life.

D. husbands today needn’t do any work at home.

In the past two years, his wife, Merlie, and their seven children have said “goodbye” to him four times, most recently last month. Each time it has been unnecessary.

  Mr. Smart had a hip (髋关节) replacement in February at the Burnie hospital but was rushed back two months later with internal bleeding.

  “The doctors couldn’t stop the bleeding,” Mrs. Smart said. Medical staff told Mrs. Smart to contact her family, which includes children in Western Australia. “It took two days for them to get here. We had to hope he hung on .” he did.

  “The doctors were there 24 hours a day and they stopped the bleeding. They brought him back,” Mrs. Smart said.

“I certainly believe in miracles because I’ve seen one happen, but it wouldn’t have happened if the doctors didn’t do what they did.”

  It was the second time Mrs. Smart thought she was losing her husband of 54 years. Two years ago, Mr. Smart was admitted to the Launceston General Hospital after a heart attack and a few days later with intense pain caused by a hemorrhage (出血). Again, the family was called to say goodbye---twice.

 “I was given a 50-50 chance of coming out of it, ” Mr. Smart said.

 Going through the ordeal (苦难，折磨) then was trying on the family, who had prepared themselves for the worst.

But to face the same situation only two years later was hard. The Smarts said the support they received at the Burnie hospital helped them through.

  And it seems the experience has also left an impression at the hospital. Mrs. Smart said when she rang recently and mentioned her husband’s name, the reply was “ah the miracle man”.

1.The first time Mrs. Smart and the children said goodbye to Mr. Smart was when he had     .

A. a hip replacement         B. internal bleeding

C. a heart attack             D. intense pain caused by a hemorrhage

2.When Mr. Smart was rushed back to the hospital with internal bleeding,        .

A. only his wife believed he could survive  

B. no one believed that he could survive

C. he had given up hope of recovering

D. it didn’t take the doctors long to stop the bleeding

3.The experience Mr. Smart had at the hospital could be that of       .

A. concern                   B. puzzle                C. fear                           D. wonder

4.The underlined phrase “hung on ”in the third paragraph can be replaced by         .

A. beat the pain                                              B. came back to life

C. lived through                                    D. make his fortune

5.What would be the best title for the passage?

A. The Miracle Man.            B. The Kind Doctors and Nurses.

C. A Devoted Wife.             D. A Great Family.