17．Women are still underrepresented in top academic positions．One of the possible explanations for this is the increasing importance of obtaining research funding．Women are often less successful in this than men．Psychology researchers Dr．Romy van der Lee and professor Naomi Ellemers investigated whether this difference also occurs at the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research （NWO） and examined potential explanations．
The researchers were assigned by NWO to carry out this study as part of the broader evaluation of NWO's procedures and its gender diversity policy．The aim was to gain more insight into the causes of the differences in awarding rates for male and female applicants for research funding．The analysis addressed an important"talent programme"of NWO，the Veni grant．"Whoever receives this grant has a greater chance of obtaining an important appointment at a university，"says Naomi Ellemers．
Van der Lee and Ellemers investigated all the applications submitted by male and female researchers over a period of three years：a total of 2823applications．Under the direction of NWO these applications were assessed by scientific committees consisting of men and women．The results demonstrate that the awarding rates for female applicants （14.9%） are systematically lower than those for male applicants （17.7%）．"If we compare the proportion of women among the applicants with the proportion of women among those awarded funding，we see a loss of 4%，"said Ellemers．
The study reveals that women are less positively evaluated for their qualities as researcher than men are．"Interestingly the research proposals of women and men are evaluated equally positively．In other words，the reviewers see no difference in the quality of the proposals that men and women submit，"says Romy van der Lee．
In search for a possible cause for the differences in awarding rates and evaluations，the researchers also investigated the language use in the instructions and forms used to assess the quality of applications．This clearly revealed the occurrence of gendered language．The words that are used to indicate quality are frequently words that were established in previous research as referring mainly to the male gender stereotype （such as challenging and excellent）．Romy van der Lee explains："As a result，it appears that men more easily satisfy the assessment criteria，because these better fit the characteristics stereotypically associated with men．"
In response to the results of this research，NWO will devote more attention to the gender awareness of reviewers in its methods and procedures．It will also be investigated which changes to the assessment procedures and criteria can most strongly contribute to more equal chances for men and women to obtain research funding．This will include an examination of the language used by NWO．NWO chair Jos Engelens said，"The research has yielded valuable results and insights．Based on the recommendations made by the researchers we will therefore focus in the coming period on the development of evidence-based measures to reduce the difference in awarding rates．"
74．Van der Lee and Ellemers carried out the research to find out whetherB．
A．women are less successful than men in top academic positions
B．female applicants are at a disadvantage in getting research funding
C．NOW's procedures and gender diversity policy enhance fair play
D．there are equal chances for men and women to be admitted to a university
75．Van der Lee and Ellemers'study shows thatC．
A．grant receivers were more likely to get appointments at universities
B．men applicants for research funding outnumbered women applicants
C．the research proposals of women are equally treated with those of men
D．the reviewers have narrow，prejudiced conceptions of women candidates
76．What might be the main cause for the differences in awarding rates and evaluations？A
A．The words used in the instructions and forms．
B．The reviewers'preference to applications．
C．The methods and procedures for evaluation．
D．The vague and unclear assessment criteria．
77．What will NWO probably do next in response to the results of this research？D
A．Eliminate possibilities for difference in awarding rates．
B．Design a language examination for all the reviewers．
C．Emphasize the importance of gender awareness．
D．Improve the assessment procedures and criteria．
分析 本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了一项研究发现，女性比男性更难获得研究经费．这可能是学术界中优秀女性代表较少的原因．
解答 74．B．细节理解题．根据文章第二段"The aim was to gain more insight into the causes of the differences in awarding rates for male and female applicants for research funding．"可知，研究的目的是为了了解女性在申请研究经费方面是否处于劣势．故选B．
75．C．细节理解题．根据文章第四段的"Interestingly the research proposals of women and men are evaluated equally positively"可知，这项研究表明，女性和男性的研究计划是被平等处理的，故选C．
76．A．理解推理题．根据文章第五段的"In search for a possible cause for the differences in awarding rates and evaluations，the researchers also investigated the language use in the instructions and forms used to assess the quality of applications．This clearly revealed the occurrence of gendered language．"可知，导致获得研究经费的可能性不同的原因是，申请经费的说明和表格中使用的有性别偏向的词句，故选A．
77．D．细节理解题．根据文章最后一段的"It will also be investigated which changes to the assessment procedures and criteria can most strongly contribute to more equal chances for men and women to obtain research funding．"可知，NWO准备改进考量申请者的程序和标准，故选D．
点评 本类文章时代气息浓郁，但专业词语较多，增加了阅读难度．考生平时可以有意识地从报刊杂志上找一些较难的阅读材料来阅读，以培养自己迎难而上的心理素质．
