Pride and Prejudice for the Modern Woman
Let us imagine how Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's most famous work, might be updated, 200 years on.
Austen's popularity is rooted in her intelligence. But today she would certainly have had a very different life, as would her characters. Here's my own suggestion. . .
It is a truth finally and universally acknowledged that a single woman with brains deserves to have equal opportunities to men, however disadvantaged she may feel by sexism.
" My dear husband," said his hopeful wife one day, " have you heard that the local store, standing empty for so long, is taken over by a bright young businesswoman?"
Her dull and indifferent (漠不关心的) husband replied that he had not. "But it is, it is," she replied excitedly. Mr Dull-Husband made no reply.
"Don't you want to know her plans?" she cried with some impatience.
"Well, clearly you think it matters to your silly little head. .. so I'd better listen. "
"Well, my dear, the rumour (传言) is that she has already set up a string of successful businesses in northern England, though how a woman can know anything about that is beyond me. She will move in herself next month. " "What is her name?" "Bingley. "
"Is she married or single?"
"What a question! And none of your business. But her coming will be a fine thing for our five boys. " "How so? How can it possibly affect them? "
"My dear love; those lazy boys need something to wake them up. There are bound to be jobs going. "
" Is that her point in settling here? Surely as a woman she has simply taken a fancy to the place. "
" Nonsense, my love, how little you've noticed the world has changed. She's got a first-rate degree and some sort of business qualification, I'm told. She surely needs one of our boys! Perhaps you might give her a call. "
" Me? No. Perhaps you can take an interest. You still have your looks, after all. She may even offer you a job. " "Oh, that's not likely. These new chances belong to the younger generation. But now you mention it, I think I'll go along all the same. "
And Mrs Bennet went along. That was 10 years ago. She is now managing director of a FTSE-listed company.
... It would remain the case, of course, that Mrs Bennet would be one of very few women on the company board, that her salary would be lower than her male colleagues, her bonus of a more "female" dimension and her lifespan (年限) among the city's business leaders shorter than theirs. Still, she'd no doubt have enjoyed Davos—and might even have hobnobbed (攀谈) with influential figures.
【小题1】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

My name is Nick Vujicic, an Australian who was born without any limbs（四肢）. In recent years one of my most __1 __videos on YouTube shows my skateboarding, surfing, playing music, and best of all, __2 ___hugs from all fields of great people.
All in all, those are pretty ordinary __3 __that just about anyone can do, right? So _4 _do you think that video has been viewed millions of times? My theory is that people are __5 _to watch it because in spite of my physical limitations, I’m living __6 __I had no limits.
People often think someone __7 __a severe disability to be inactive, upset, maybe even crazy. But I’d like to __8 __them by showing that I lead a very adventurous and fruitful life
Among the hundreds of __9 _on that video, here’s one typical remark:“Seeing a guy like this being happy makes me wonder why I feel __10 _for myself sometimes －or feel not funny enough, or whatever. How can I __11 __think thoughts like that when this guy is living without limbs and still being happy!?”
I found happiness when I realized that imperfect __12 _I may be, I am the perfect Nick Vujicic. I’m designed __13 _God’s plan. That’s not to say that there isn’t __14 for improvement. I’m always trying to be better so I can better __15 _the world!
I do believe my life has no __16 _. I want you all to feel the same way about your life, no matter what your challenges may be. As we __17 _our journey together, please take a moment to __18 _about any limitations you’ve placed on your life. Now think about what __19 _would be like to be __20 _of those limitations. What would your life be if anything were possible?

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36－55各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项.
"Everything happens for the best." My mother said whenever I faced disappointment, "If you 36   one day something good will happen. And you'll realize that it wouldn't have happened if not for that previous   37 ."
Mother was right. After graduating from college I had decided to try for a job in   38  , then work my way up to   39  . I got   40  on the door of every station every time.
In one studio, a kind lady told me that big stations wouldn't   41  hiring an inexperienced person. "Go out in the sticks(边远地区) and find a   42  station that'll give you a chance." she said.
I thumbed(搭便车) home to Dixon, Illi.   43  there were no radio-announcing jobs in Dixon, my father said Montgomery Ward had opened a store and wanted a local   44  to manage   45  sports department. Since Dixon was where I had played high-school football, I  46  the post, but I wasn't hired.
My disappointment must have shown. "Everything happens for the best." Mom   47  me. I drove to Davenport, in Iowa. I   48  WOC Radio there. Peter Macarthur, the program director, told me they had already hired an announcer.
As I left his office, my frustration(挫折感)   49  over. I asked aloud. "How can a fellow get to be a sports announcer if he can't get a job in a radio station ?" I was waiting for the   50   when I heard Macarthur calling. "What was that you said about sports? Do you know anything about   51  ?" Then he stood me before a microphone and asked me to broadcast a(an)   52   game.
I remembered a game we had won. I did a 15-minute buildup to that play, and Peter told me I would   53  Saturday's game!
On my way home, I thought of my mother's words,   54  I have many times since, "If you … , one day something good will happen...."
I often wonder what my   55  might have been like if I'd gotten the job at Montgomery Ward.

"Everything happens for the best." my mother said whenever I felt disappointed. "  36 , and one day something good will happen. Then you'll realize it wouldn't have happened  37  the disappointment you had experienced  38 ." Mother was right,  39  I discovered after graduating from college, I had decided to try for a job  40  radio, then  41  my way up to a sports announcer. I hitchhiked (搭免费车) to Chicago and tried every station, but got  42 . In one studio, a kind lady told me big stations couldn't risk hiring inexperienced persons. "Try your luck in the  43 " she said.
I hitchhiked home to Dixon, Illinois, where there was no radio-announcing jobs. My father said a store wanted a local  44  to manage its sports department. Since Dixon was  45  I had played high school football, I  46 . The job sounded just  47  for me. But l wasn't hired.
My disappointment  48  have shown. "Everything harem for the best." Mother  49 . Then I tried WOC Radio in Davenport, Iowa. The program director, Peter MacArthur, told me they had already hired an announcer. As I left his office, my disappointment boiled  50 . I asked aloud. "How can a fellow become a sport announcer if he can't get a job in a radio station?"
I was waiting for the  51  when I heard MacArthur calling, "What was that you said about sports? You know something about football?" Then he  52  me before a  53  and asked me to broadcast a(n)  54  game.
On my way home, as I have many times  55 , I thought of my mother's words.

My name is Nick Vujicic, an Australian who was born without any limbs（四肢）. In recent years one of my most 1videos on YouTube shows my skateboarding, surfing, playing music, and best of all, 2hugs from all fields of great people.
All in all, those are pretty ordinary 3that just about anyone can do, right? So 4do you think that video has been viewed millions of times? My theory is that people are 5to watch it because in spite of my physical limitations, I’m living 6I had no limits.
People often think someone 7a severe disability to be inactive, upset, maybe even crazy. But I’d like to 8them by showing that I lead a very adventurous and fruitful life
Among the hundreds of 9on that video, here’s one typical remark:” seeing a guy like this being happy makes me wonder why I feel 10for myself sometimes -or feel not funny enough, or whatever. How can I 11think thoughts like that when this guy is living without limbs and still being happy!?”
I found happiness when I realized that imperfect 12I may be, I am the perfect Nick Vujicic. I’m designed 13God’s plan. That’s not to say that there isn’t 14for improvement. I’m always trying to be better so I can better 15the world!
I do believe my life has no 16. I want you all to feel the same way about your life, no matter what your challenges may be. As we 17our journey together, please take a moment to 18about any limitations you’ve placed on your life. Now think about what 19would be like to be 20of those limitations. What would your life be if anything were possible?

1. 1.
   1. A.
      disappointing
   2. B.
      unforgettable
   3. C.
      popular
   4. D.
      useful
2. 2.
   1. A.
      receiving
   2. B.
      collecting
   3. C.
      returning
   4. D.
      gathering
3. 3.
   1. A.
      sports
   2. B.
      activities
   3. C.
      affairs
   4. D.
      wonders
4. 4.
   1. A.
      how
   2. B.
      what
   3. C.
      when
   4. D.
      why
5. 5.
   1. A.
      drawn
   2. B.
      expected
   3. C.
      required
   4. D.
      ordered
6. 6.
   1. A.
      even though
   2. B.
      in case
   3. C.
      as though
   4. D.
      if only
7. 7.
   1. A.
      of
   2. B.
      from
   3. C.
      in
   4. D.
      with
8. 8.
   1. A.
      advise
   2. B.
      greet
   3. C.
      surprise
   4. D.
      please
9. 9.
   1. A.
      comments
   2. B.
      pictures
   3. C.
      replies
   4. D.
      statements
10. 10.
    1. A.
       nervous
    2. B.
       sorry
    3. C.
       eager
    4. D.
       desperate
11. 11.
    1. A.
       still
    2. B.
       ever
    3. C.
       also
    4. D.
       even
12. 12.
    1. A.
       if
    2. B.
       as
    3. C.
       while
    4. D.
       although
13. 13.
    1. A.
       according to
    2. B.
       thanks to
    3. C.
       owing to
    4. D.
       up to
14. 14.
    1. A.
       stage
    2. B.
       area
    3. C.
       place
    4. D.
       room
15. 15.
    1. A.
       protect
    2. B.
       rescue
    3. C.
       serve
    4. D.
       reserve
16. 16.
    1. A.
       challenges
    2. B.
       limits
    3. C.
       doubts
    4. D.
       endings
17. 17.
    1. A.
       finish
    2. B.
       continue
    3. C.
       start
    4. D.
       stop
18. 18.
    1. A.
       worry
    2. B.
       think
    3. C.
       care
    4. D.
       talk
19. 19.
    1. A.
       we
    2. B.
       one
    3. C.
       it
    4. D.
       you
20. 20.
    1. A.
       free
    2. B.
       short
    3. C.
       aware
    4. D.
       fond