41. In which situation is a man unlikely to become a full-time househusband?

A. He can earn enough money to keep family and has a good job prospects.

B. He can earn much less than his wife and will never get promoted.

C. His wife hates housework and is busy with her work outside.

D. His job can be done at home and he would like stay at home.

40. The reason for Yang Wenhui quitting his job is that ________.

A. it is too difficult for him to do it　 　　　 B. it is too boring for him to do it

C. he is too old to go on doing it 　　　　 D. his wife wanted him to quit it

39. The country whose situation is similar to that of Tuvalu is ______.

A. Australia 　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. New Zealand

C. the Maldives　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. the United States

　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　(B)

In a traditional Chinese family, women are expected to do the housekeeping and leave the “other business” to men. However, the appearance of the full-time “househusband” is changing traditional family.

A survey in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen shows that 22 percent, 73 percent, 34 percent and 32 percent of white-collar male workers, aged between 28 and 33, would be prepared to do the housekeeping if the conditions were right.

Yang Wenhui, 32 years old, worked at the office of a company prefer to quit the job. “My job was dull and steady. I was not promoted. My wife, in contrast, really likes her job. So, after our baby was born, I chose to stay at home and take care of the family while my wife works full-time outside the home,” said Yang.

Sociologists have found the full-time househusband emerges in three main situations.

Firstly, if the wife is ambitious, well-paid and has good job prospects, while her husband is paid poorly and has no job prospects, it makes economic sense for the woman to become the main income earner for the household. Secondly, if the wife is tired of household chores and eager to work outside the home, her husband may forfeit his job. Thirdly, if the husband can do his work at home, he may take this choice as it allows him more time to take care of the family.

Influenced by traditional ideas, some families with full-time househusbands prefer others not to know about their arrangement, concerned people would laugh at a husband with “no prospects” or wife who is “too strong”.

Zhou Wei said he has become usual to being a full-time househusband although his relatives doubted this when they gathered during the holidays. “A happy life is the most important thing, not other peoples’ opinions,” added Zhou.

38. Laupepa was not satisfied with the United States because it did not ______.

A. agree to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions　

B. sign an agreement with Tuvalu

C. allow Tuvaluans to move to the US　　

D. believe the problems facing Tuvalu were real

37. According to scientists, the direct cause of more and fiercer storms is ______.

A. greenhouse gas emissions in industrialized nations

B. higher surface water temperatures of the sea

C. continuous global warming　　　　　　　　　　

D. rising sea levels

36. The passage is mainly about _______.

A. rapid changes in earth’s temperature　　　　　　　 B. bad effects of global warming

C. moving of a country to a new place　　　　 D. reasons for lowland flooding

34. A. surprise　　　　　 　 B. disappointment 　　　　 C. entertainment　 　　　 D. interest

33. A. broadcast　　　　　 B. told　　　　　　 　　 C. repeated　　　　　 　 D. spread

32. A. satisfied　　　　　 　 B. moved　　　　 　　　 C. known　　　　　 　 D. expected