I don't ever want to talk about being a woman scientist again.There was a time in my life when people asked constantly for stories about what it's like to work in a field dominated by men.I was never very good at telling those stories because truthfully I never found them interesting.What I do find interesting is the origin of the universe, the shape of space-time and the nature of black holes.
At 19, when I began studying astrophysics(天体物理学), it did not bother me in the least to be the only woman in the classroom.But while earning my Ph.D.at MIT and then as 3 post-doctor doing space research, the issue started to bother me.My every achievement-jobs, research papers, awards-was viewed through the lens of gender(性别)politics.So were my failures.Sometimes, when I was pushed into an argument on left brain versus(相对于)right brain, or nature versus nurture(培育), I would instantly fight fiercely on my behalf and all womankind.
Then one day a few years ago, out of my mouth came a sentence that would eventually become my reply to any and all provocations:I don't talk about that anymore.It took me 10 years to get back the confidence I had at 19 and to realize that I didn't want to deal with gender issues.Why should curing sexism be yet another terrible burden on every female scientist? After all, I don't study sociology or political theory.
Today I research and teach at Barnard, a women's college in New York City.Recently, someone asked me how many of the 45 students in my class were women.You cannot imagine my satisfaction at being able to answer:45.I know some of my students worry how they will manage their scientific research and a desire for children.And I don't dismiss those concerns.Still, I don't tell them "war" stories.Instead, I have given them this:the visual of their physics professor heavily pregnant doing physics experiments.And in turn they have given me the image of 45 women driven by a love of science.And that's a sight worth talking about.
(1)
From Paragraph 2, we can infer that people would attribute(归因于)the author's failures to _________.
[ ]
A.
the very fact that she is a woman
B.
her involvement in gender politics
C.
her over-confidence as a female astrophysicist
D.
the burden she bears in a male-dominated society
(2)
What did the author constantly fight against while doing her Ph.D.and post-doctoral research?
[ ]
A.
Lack of confidence in succeeding in space science.
B.
Unfair accusations from both inside and outside her circle.
C.
People's stereotyped attitude towards female scientists.
D.
Widespread misconceptions about nature and nurture
(3)
Why does the author feel great satisfaction when talking about her class?
[ ]
A.
Female students no longer have to worry about gender issues.
B.
Her students' performance has brought back her confidence.
C.
Her female students can do just as well as male students.
D.
More female students are pursuing science than before.
(4)
What does the image the author presents to her students suggest?
[ ]
A.
Women students needn't have the concerns of her generation.
B.
Women have more barriers on their way to academic success.
C.
Women can balance a career in science and having a family.
D.
Women now have fewer discrimination problems about science career.
A HOLIDAY jet pilot said that he would land and call the police after a woman refused to stop smoking.
He warned Maureen ,“Put that cigarette out, or I’ll land the plane and have you arrested.”
Maureen, 47, was so shocked she wrote to the airline’s chairman.But his reply was even ruder.
“You seem to think you have a God-given right to pollute your neighbors’ atmosphere,” wrote John Ferriday of Paramount Airways.
(a)Said Maureen,“I only found out about it when I was checking in.I’m a nervous flyer so I lit a cigarette during the flight.A stewardess asked me to put it out, but I said I wanted to carry on as there was no rule against smoking on the plane.”She was just finishing her cigarette when the pilot arrived.
(b) I have never seen such an unpleasant letter.She said,“I don’t think I’ll ever fly again.” But there was a funny side.Maureen explained,“We were offered duty-free cigarette from the stewardess on the plane!”
(c) Mr.Ferriday went on;“Believe me, you haven’t.Especially when you travel on my planes.”
(d)“He was loud and rude,” said Maureen.“He said if I lit another cigarette he would land the plane at Bordeaux and hand me to the French police.”
Maureen and her husband Michael were moved to Paramount flight just before they left Portugal.But they were not told of the company’ s no smoking policy.
Later, from her home in Birmingham, Maureen wrote to the company and received the rude reply.
(1)
The second half of the story has been in wrong order.(Parts a-d) Choose the rearranged order which you think is right.
[ ]
A.
a, c, b, d
B.
c, a, b, d
C.
c, a, d, b
D.
d, a, b, c
(2)
What was Maureen warned to do by the pilot?
[ ]
A.
The pilot said that she must throw her cigarette out of the plane, or he would get her off the plane.
B.
The pilot said she must stop smoking immediately; otherwise he would bring down the jet and hand her to the police.
C.
The pilot said that she couldn’t lit another cigarette after her first one.
D.
The pilot said that he would get her arrested by the police if she kept on smoking.
(3)
In the answer letter to Maureen, the airline’s chairman ________.
[ ]
A.
made an apology to her for his worker’s rudeness
B.
made sure that he would solve the problem
C.
said that she had the right to smoke on his plane because the right is given by God to everyone.
D.
actually completely agreed with what the pilot said
(4)
From the story we can see that the writer probably takes the side of ________.
[ ]
A.
the pilot
B.
the airline’s chairman
C.
the stewardess
D.
Maureen
阅读理解
One night when my wife was preparing dinner, our little son took a piece of paper to her which read:
For washing the car $5.00
For making my own bed this week $1.00
Going to the provision shop $0.50
Playing with little sister $0.25
Taking out the rubbish $1.00
Getting a good report card $5.00
And for sweeping the common corridor $2.00
Total $14.75
His mother looked at him standing there expecting payment.I could see a thousand memories flashed through her mind.So she picked up the pen and turning the paper over, this is what she wrote:
For nine months I carried you, growing inside me No Charge
For the nights I sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you No Charge
For the toys, food and clothes and wiping your nose No Charge
When you add it all up, the full cost of my love No Charge
Well, when he finished reading, he had big tears in his eyes.He looked at his mother and said,“Mummy, I love you.”Then he took the pen and in great big letters wrote on the“bill”“All paid.”
(1)
What's the best title for this passage?
[ ]
A.
Part-time Job
B.
Mother's Love, No Charge
C.
Payment for House Work
D.
Greedy Mother
(2)
The write wrote the passage in order to ________.
[ ]
A.
show that children should be paid for their housework
B.
show that children should not be paid for their housework
C.
show a clever way of teaching children
D.
tell children how to spend their spare time
(3)
How do you think of the mother in the passage?
[ ]
A.
Clever
B.
Greedy
C.
Cold-hearted
D.
Selfish
(4)
From the last passage we know that ________
[ ]
A.
the boy got all the money he wanted
B.
the mother was unwilling to give the money to the boy
C.
the boy realized that it was not right to ask for money for the housework
D.
the mother was angry with what the boy said
阅读理解
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel.Green said,“Clearly I am the most important.I am the sign of life and hope.I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves.Without me, all animals would 1 .”
Blue interrupted,“You only think about the 2 , but consider the sky and the sea. 3 the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea.Without my peace, you would all be 4 .”
Yellow chuckled(笑道),“You are all so serious.I bring laughter, fun, and 5 into the world.”
Orange started next to blow her trumpet,“I am the color of health and strength.I may be 6 , but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life.When I fill the sky 7 , my beauty is so striking that no one gives another 8 to any of you.”
Red could stand it 9 and he shouted out,“I am the ruler of all of you.I am the color of danger and of bravery.I am willing to 10 truth.I am also the color of passion and of love.”
Then came Purple and Indigo(深蓝)….
The colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own 11 .Their quarreling became louder and louder.Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder.Rain started to pour down 12 .The colors crouched(蜷缩)down 13 , drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor(叫嚷), rain began to speak,“You foolish colors, fighting 14 yourselves, each trying to dominate 15 .Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, 16 ?Join hands with 17 and come to me.”
Doing as they were told, the colors 18 and joined hands.They formed a colorful rainbow.From then on, whenever a good rain 19 the world, a rainbow appears in the sky.They remember to 20 one another.