Sex prejudices are based on and justified by the ideology(意识形态) that biology is destiny. According to this ideology, basic biological and psychological differences exist between the sexes. These differences require each sex to play a separate role in social life. Women are the weaker sex both physically and emotionally. Thus, they are naturally suited, much more so than men, to the performance of domestic(家庭的) duties. A woman’s place, under normal circumstances, is within the protective environment of the home. Nature has determined that women play caretaker roles, such as wife and mother and homemaker. On the other hand, men are best suited to go out into the competitive world of work and politics, where serious responsibilities must be taken on. Men are to be the providers; women and children are “dependents”.
The ideology also holds that women who wish to work outside the household should naturally fill these jobs that are in line with the special capabilities of their sex. It is appropriate for women, not men, to be employed as nurses, social workers, elementary school teachers, house-hold helpers, clerks and secretaries. These positions are simply an extension of women’s domestic role. Informal distinctions between “women’s work” and “men’s work” in the labor force, according to the ideology, are simply a functional reflection of the basic differences between the sexes.
Finally, the ideology suggests that nature has worked her will in another significant way. For the human species to survive over time, its members must regularly reproduce. Thus, women must, whether at home or in the labor force, make the most of their physical appearances.
So goes the ideology. It is, of course, not true that basic biological and psychological differences between the sexes require each to play sex-defined roles in social life. There is enough evidence that sex roles vary from society to society, and those role differences that do exist are largely learned.
But to the degree people actually believe that biology is destiny and that nature intended for men and women to make different contributions to society, sex-defined roles will be seen as totally acceptable.According to the biology-is-destiny ideology, women_______.
A.cannot compete with men in any field |
B.are suited more to domestic jobs than men |
C.are sensitive enough to be a good caretaker |
D.are too weak to do any agricultural work at all |
Those who have prejudices against women think that_______.
A.women shouldn’t go out for work |
B.women should earn money to add the family income |
C.women going out for work should only do “women’s work” |
D.women should take jobs to drill the special capabilities of the sex |
The author thinks that the positions women hold outside_______.
A.are determined by what they are better suited to |
B.grow out of their household responsibilities |
C.represent their breakthrough of sex discrimination |
D.are physically and emotionally suitable to them |
What does the underlined sentence imply?
A.Sex roles are socially determined |
B.Sex roles are emotionally and physically determined |
C.Sex roles are biologically and psychologically determined |
D.Sex roles are determined by education people take |
Cambodians are continuing to mourn the death of King-Father Norodom Sihanouk, who died in Beijing this week. In an exclusive interview with CCTV, China’s ambassador to Cambodia, Pan Guangxue, says Sihanouk made indelible(不可磨灭的) contributions to Sino-Cambodian relations and his death will not affect the friendship between the two countries.
Since its founding, the People’s Republic of China has maintained close contact with Cambodia. Bilateral(双边的) trade volume has increased rapidly in recent years, from 200 million US dollars in 2002 to nearly 2.5 billion US dollars in 2011.
China is now not only Cambodia’s third largest trading partner, but for many years has been Cambodia’s number one investor. Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia’s “King-Father” pioneered the relationship.
Pan Guangxue said, “If we look back at previous decades, I think Sihanouk made the right choice, a choice good to Cambodian national development. It was because of his commitment to the development of Sino-Cambodia friendship that we’ve achieved what we have today.”
In 2010, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership, during its Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit to China.
And 2013 is set to be China-Cambodia Friendship Year.
Pan Guangxue said, “Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on many occasions that China does not tell Cambodia what to do or what not to do. China does not point fingers at Cambodia. I think this is a true evaluation of Sino-Cambodian relations. China pursues an independent peaceful foreign policy of non-alignment(不结盟) and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.”
The ambassador says Sihanouk’s death is a huge loss to both China and Cambodia, but that bilateral relations will not be affected.
Pan Guangxue said, “I believe the bilateral relationship will be sustained and grow even stronger.”
With both countries enjoying the benefits of the fruitful relationship, the governments of China and Cambodia have promised that Sihanouk’s legacy(遗产) will continue to be the foundation of even stronger ties.We can learn from the passage that Sihanouk ________.
A.is the present Cambodian Prime Minister |
B.went for an interview with CCTV the other day |
C.made the right choice to encourage investment in China |
D.had great influence on Sino-Cambodian relations |
The following facts can prove the good Sino-Cambodian relations EXCEPT that _______.
A.Sihanouk was committed to Cambodian national development |
B.the two countries has set 2013 to be China-Cambodia Friendship Year |
C.the two countries has established a comprehensive strategic partnership |
D.trade volume between the two countries has increased sharply in recent years |
What is Pan Guangxue’s opinion on Sihanouk’s death?
A.It will more or less damage the bilateral relationship. |
B.It will continue to be the foundation of even stronger ties. |
C.It means a huge loss for both countries in economy. |
D.It has very little negative effect on the bilateral relationship. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A.China-Cambodia Friendship Year |
B.China-Cambodia friendship to continue |
C.Sihanouk’s death—a great loss to Cambodia |
D.China’s peaceful foreign policy to continue |
Four simple keys to transform your life
The power of choice.
Every one of us makes countless choices every day. Every choice we make has an impact on our lives. Even insignificant choices can affect what we experience and how we feel. When hunger strikes, we can reach for a healthy, nutritious snack, or we can choose the sugar high of junk food. The more important the decision, the greater its effect. For instance, how do I act towards that person who treated me badly? Do I generally choose to be passive, or do I actively set clear intentions and create what I want in my life? Every choice we make, however big or small, affects us in some way.
How do you make choices?
If you are interested in living a richer, fuller life, there is a foundation upon which you can base all of your decisions which can make life better not only for you, but also for those around you. This foundation is to choose based on what’s best for all. Imagine a world where every parent, spouse(配偶), friend, teacher, businessperson, and politician truly did their best to choose what’s best for all involved in every decision they made. We would certainly live in a more caring, supportive world.
It’s the intention.
“But how do I know what is really best?” you might ask. The answer is simple. It doesn’t matter. What matters is not the choice you make, but rather the intention behind your choice. What matters is that whatever decision you make, you are clear in your intention of choosing based on what’s best for all. If it later turns out that you made what appears to have been a bad choice, there’s no need for guilt. Knowing that you did your best to choose with a sincere desire for what’s best for all, your conscience stays clear and open. This then allows you to more easily learn from your mistakes, and to live with a clear heart and mind.
What’s best for me, too!
Choosing what’s best does not mean you have to always sacrifice yourself for other. An overly(过度的) exhausted mother can lose her temper easily. Some time off for this mother might seem selfish, yet in the long run, it can help her to be a better mother to her children. So as we move through each day of our lives, let us remember to include ourselves as we do our best to choose what’s best for all.According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
A.Every one of us makes countless choices every day. |
B.Every choice, however big or small, has an influence on us. |
C.People act differently towards the person who treated them badly. |
D.People tend to reach for a junk snack when hunger strikes. |
How should we make choices?
A.To be interested in a richer, fuller life. |
B.To make life better for ourselves. |
C.To base our choices on what’s best for all. |
D.To imagine a world where everyone did their best. |
According to the author, what is really best?
A.The choice you make. | B.The intention behind your choice. |
C.The mistake you learn from. | D.The consequence of your choice. |
To choose what is best for us, we’d better ________.
A.try to be selfish all the time | B.sacrifice ourselves for others |
C.set aside some time for ourselves | D.control our temper before children |
These days, many passers-by always spot a beggar on the Jiaochangkou Street in Yuzhong District of Chongqing in southwest China.
The beggar’s name is Xia Haibo, and he was born in Meihe Village, Tianmen City of Hubei Province. Being 25 years old, he is quite a special beggar in some ways — he doesn’t beg on his knees, as other beggars do when begging. Rather, he often stands in the crowded street, either reading a book or thinking about something carefully. He also started a blog on the Internet which has been clicked more than 500,000 times. He likes reading — he has read many classical Chinese poems. He has kept writing and recently, he has planned to publish his writings.
In 1998, Xia entered Tianmen Middle School as the best student in his town. However, a year before he took the college entrance examination, he came down with a high fever and was later diagnosed (诊断) as having rheumatoid arthritis (类风湿性关节炎). In order to treat his disease, his father borrowed 60,000 yuan from relatives and friends. However, with this money, he didn’t recover from the disease. He did not want to become a burden (负担) to his family any more. So in July, 2006, he left his hometown and went to Wuhan to make a living by begging.
Begging has become a job to Xia now. However, he doesn’t plan to go on living like this. “By July 24, 2008, when I have been begging for two years, I will stop my begging life. I promise,” he said.
It is his plan that by using the money he “earns”, he will rent a small shop in his hometown and keep on writing in his spare time.
Right now, he is trying to finish a book of his own. The book, called Love Is With Me, tells about the people who helped him during his begging life. The underlined word “spot” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to “______”.
A.forgive | B.record | C.beat | D.notice |
When did Xia Haibo get the serious illness?
A.In 1998. | B.In 2001. | C.In 2000. | D.In 2006. |
How does Xia beg in the street?
A.He begs on his knees in the street. |
B.He writes Chinese poems for those who like poems. |
C.He reads or thinks while standing in the street. |
D.He teaches people how to surf the Internet. |
Which of the following is NOT true about Xia Haibo?
A.His dream is to have his book published. |
B.He will not stop begging until he earns enough money for his future life. |
C.He is writing a book to express his thanks to those who helped him. |
D.He will keep writing while running a small business. |
The life-long benefits of teaching children how to take care of their money make it well worth the effort. Children who are not taught these lessons pay the consequences for a life time. Some parents don’t teach children about money because they think they shouldn’t talk about money with children, don’t have the time, or think they don’t have enough money. Parents should take the time to teach children about money regardless of their income and should start when children are young.
Most people have strong feelings and opinions about money, based on childhood experiences and the values and beliefs of their families. Most often, these experiences, values, and beliefs are different for each parent. Parents should talk about these feelings and opinions and establish an unchanging approach(方式) to teaching children about money. This is important for the healthy development of children.
Here are some tips that parents can keep in mind as they begin teaching their children to manage money:
★ Guide and advise your children how to spend their money, rather than tell them what they can and cannot do.
★ Encourage and praise children rather than criticize their actions.
★ Allow children to learn by mistakes and by successes.
★ Be consistent(前后一致的) while taking children’s differences into consideration.
★ Include all family members in money management discussions, decision making, and activities that are suitable for their age. As children get older include them in discussions of limits and consequences.
★ Expect all family members to do some everyday chores based on their abilities without being paid.
★ Express your desire to have things you can’t afford. Children need to know that parents say “no” to themselves, too. It is _____ for parents to teach their children about money management in their childhood.
A.easy | B.useless | C.too early | D.beneficial |
15-year-old Harry isn’t good at managing his money. His mother is advised to _____.
A.explain to him how to manage his money better |
B.pay him more money to deal with his chores |
C.praise him for what he has done |
D.allow him to buy what he wants |
When parents discuss how to manage the family finances, they should _____.
A.include their children in the discussion |
B.express their desire to have some valuable things |
C.pay more attention to their children’s differences |
D.try to meet their older children’s needs first |
Dear Editor,
I have just returned home after studying for a year in Germany. But it seems that my parents don’t understand me now. They expect me to be the same person I was before I went abroad, but I’m not! Why can’t they let me be myself?
Jimmy
Hi, Jimmy,
As far as I know, people who have lived abroad often find that the adjustment (调整) to returning home is more difficult than their adjustment to living in a foreign culture. Why? We expect to have some problems when we go to a new place, speak a different language and learn the rules of a different culture ... But home? ... we know that place!
Your parents expect that the same person who boarded the airplane one year ago will be returning. Especially if they have never been abroad themselves, your parents probably won’t understand the changes that living abroad can cause in a person. On the other hand, you may have maintained (保持) an ideal mental image of your loved ones while abroad, an image that is broken into pieces when you return.
Remember you have been living a different lifestyle in your host country, and you have probably become very independent while staying there alone. Now that you’re home, you will be expected to conform (顺应) again to the lifestyle of your family. As a result, you may be upset about your parents’ involvement in your life.
Communication is the key to overcoming this problem. Tell your parents how you are feeling. Share with them information about cultural re-entry(重归), and ask them to be patient. This does not mean that you have to forget your experience and give up everything you’ve learned! Learn to find a balance between the old and new, just as you did when first adjusting to your host country’s culture.What is Jimmy’s main purpose in writing the letter?
A.To criticize his parents. |
B.To ask for advice about his studies. |
C.To complain about his parents. |
D.To ask for help. |
What does the editor think of Jimmy’s problem?
A.It’s unusual. | B.It’s normal. | C.It’s serious. | D.It’s interesting. |
The editor thinks that both Jimmy and his parents ______.
A.have changed in the past year |
B.have unrealistic expectations of each other |
C.need to behave like they did before |
D.need to find a balance between the good and bad |
The author suggests that ______ would help solve Jimmy’s problem.
A.patience and trust |
B.patience and politeness |
C.better communication between family members |
D.a deeper understanding of the host country’s culture |