Question

Some futurologists have assumed that the vast upsurge(剧增)of women in the workforce may portend a rejection of marriage. Many women, according to this hypothesis, would rather work than marry. The converse(反面)of this concern is that the prospects of becoming a multi-paycheck household could encourage marriage. In the past, only the earnings and financial prospects of the man counted in the marriage decision. Now, however, the earning ability of a woman can make her more attractive as a marriage partner. Data show that economic downturns tend to putting off marriage because the parties cannot afford to establish a family or are concerned about rainy days ahead. As the economy comes to life, the number of marriages also rises.

The increase in divorce rates follows to the increase in women working outside the home. Yet, it may be wrong to jump to any simple cause-and-effect conclusions. The impact of a wife’s work on divorce is no less cloudy than its impact on marriage decisions. The realization that she can be a good provider may increase the chances that a working wife will choose divorce over an unsatisfactory marriage. But the reverse is equally plausible(似是而非的). Tensions grounded in financial problems often play a key role in ending a marriage. By raising a family’s standard of living, a working wife may strengthen her family’s financial and emotional stability.

Psychological factors also should be considered. For example, a wife blocked from a career outside the home may feel caged in the house. She may view her only choice as seeking a divorce. On the other hand, if she can find fulfillment through work outside the home, work and marriage can go together to create a stronger and more stable union.

Also, a major part of women’s inequality in marriage has been due to the fact that, in most cases, men have remained the main breadwinners. A working wife may rob a husband of being the master of the house. Depending upon how the couple reacts to these new conditions, it could create a stronger equal partnership or it could create new insecurities.

The word “portend” (Line 2, Para.1) is closest in meaning to“_____”.

    A. defy   B. signal   C. suffer from   D. result from

It is said in the passage that when the economy slides_____.

    A. men would choose working women as their marriage partners

    B. more women would get married to seek financial security

    C. even working women would worry about their marriages

    D. more people would prefer to remain single for the time being

If women find fulfillment through work outside the home,_____.

    A. they are more likely to dominate their marriage partners

    B. their husbands are expected to do more housework

    C. their marriage ties can be strengthened

    D. they tend to put their career before marriage

One reason why women with no career may seek a divorce is that_____.

    A. they feel that they have been robbed of their freedom

    B. they are afraid of being bossed around by their husbands

    C. they feel that their partners fail to live up to their expectations

    D. they tend to suspect their husbands? loyalty to their marriage

Which of the following statements can best summarize the authors view in the passage?

    A. The stability of marriage and the divorce rate may reflect the economic situation of the country.

    B. Even when economically independent, most women have to struggle for real equality in marriage.

    C. In order to secure their marriage women should work outside the home and remain independent

    D. The impact of the growing female workforce on marriage varies from case to case.

Answer 1

【小题1】B

【小题2】D

【小题3】C

【小题4】A

【小题5】D

解析:

本文是一篇对比文，特点是平行论述，没有主次之分，作者不发表态度和结论，一般两种观点的开头可当做文章主旨。

【小题1】 词义题。根据句意不难理解portend是预示的意思。signal也有显示的意思；defy不服从,反抗；suffer from忍受,遭受；result from由……产生。

【小题2】 细节题。题干的the economy slides等于原文的economic downturns。文中提到经济低迷时期人们倾向推迟婚姻，因为双方不能承担一个家庭或者担心更窘迫的日子。D符合原文意思。

【小题3】 细节题。第三段最后一句可知答案C正确。

【小题4】 细节题。第三段第二句提到不能外出工作的妇女会感到被关在笼子里，相当于A. they feel that they have been robbed of their freedom.她们感到被剥夺了自由。

【小题5】主旨题。用排除法解题。A因果颠倒，排除；B文章从未提及；C以偏盖全；只有D，女性的外出工作对婚姻的影响是一例与一例不一样的，才准确表达出文章的两种平行的相反观点。