廣東省梅州市公共英語五級(筆試)模擬考試(含答案)

廣東省梅州市公共英語五級(筆試)模擬考試(含答案)學(xué)校:________班級:________姓名:________考號:________

一、1.ListeningComprehension(15題)1.HowlongdidittakeforalettersentbyapostridertoreachtheaddresseebetweenNewYorkandBoston?

2.Calories,naturalfood,mountainsandthedistancefrommodemcitiesaretheonlycommonthingsinthethreeregions.

A.RightB.Wrong

3.Dr.MannisnowinCambridge,writingabookonthe______.

4.Accordingtothefigureoftheacademicyear1995/96,wheredothelargestnumberofforeignstudentscomefrom?

5.WhatjobdidDr.Hubercomparephysicsto?

6.Howlongdidittakeforchilipeppertobecomepopulararoundtheworld?

7.Thefrontdoortohishomedoesnotopenautomatically.

A.TrueB.Fasle

8.Canyougiveanexampleof"fillerwords"?

9.Whathasgivenwomenanindependenceinformingafamily?

10.Ourhumanfriendssometimesmaymakeusbored,butthefriendsinbooksmayalsobehurtbyus.

A.RightB.Wrong

11.Whatsuggestiondoesthemanthinkitisgood?

A.Trytogiveupsmoking.

B.Eatsweetseverydayinsteadofsmoking.

C.Trytogiveuponecigaretteeveryday.

D.Gotoahypnotist.

12.Whatwasthenamegiventothegenerationthatcameofageduringthe1960s?

13.PartA

Directions:Youwillhearatalk.Asyoulisten,answerQuestions1-10bycirclingTRUEorFALSE.YouwillhearthetalkONLYONCE.Younowhave1minutetoreadQuestions1-10.

聽力原文：DoItYourselfMagazineorganizesacompetitioneverysummertoelectthe“Handymanoftheyear”.ThewinnerofthisyeariSMr．RoyMiller.aSheffieldpostman.Ajournalistandaphotographerhavecometohishouse.ThejournalistisinterviewingMr.Millerforanarticleinthemagazine.

W：Well,I'mveryimpressedbyalltheworkyou'vedoneonyourhouse,Mr.Miller.Howlonghaveyoubeenworkingonit?

M：IfirstbecameinterestedinDo-it-Yourselfseveralyearsago.Yousee,mysonPaulisdisabled.He'sinawheel-chairandIjusthadtomakealterationstothehouse.Icouldn'taffordtopayworkmentodoit.Ihadtolearntodoitmyself.

W：Hadyouhadanyexperienceinthiskindofwork?Didyouhaveanypracticalskills?

M：No.1gotafewbooksfromthelibrarybuttheydidn'thelpverymuch.SoIdecidedtogotoeveningclassessothatIcouldlearnbasiccarpentryandelectricalwiring.

W：Whatsortofchangesdidyoumaketothehouse?

M：Firstofall,practicalthingstohelpPaul.Youneverreallyrealizetheproblemshandicappedpeoplehaveuntilitattacksyourownfamily.Mostgovernmentbuildings,forexample,havestepsuptothedoor.Theydon'tplanbuildingssothatdisabledpeoplecangetinandout.Weusedtoliveinaflat,andofcourse,itwastotallyunsuitable.Justimaginetheproblemsadisabledpersonwouldhaveinyourhouse.WeneededalargerhousewithwidecorridorssothatPaulcouldgetfromoneroomtoanother.Wedidn'thavemuchmoneyandwehadtobuythisone.It'soverninetyyearsoldanditwasinaverybadstateofrepair.

W：Wheredidyoubegin?

M：Theelectrical.IcompletelyrewiredthehousesothatPaulcouldreachalltheswitches.Ihadtolowerthelightswitchesandraisethepower-points.IwentontodothewholehousesothatPaulcouldreachthingsandgowhereheneeded.

W：Whatelsedidyoudo?

M：BythetimeI'dalteredeverythingforPaul,do-it-yourselfhadbecomeahobby.Ireallyenjoyeddoingthingswithmyhands.Look,Ieveninstalledsmoke-alarms.

W：Whatwasthepurposeofthat?

M：Iwasveryworriedaboutfire.Yousee,Paulcan'tmoveveryfast.Ifittedthemsothatwewouldhaveplentyofwarningiftherewereafire.Iputinacompleteburglar-alarmsystem.Ittookweeks．Thefrontdooropensautomatically.andI'mgoingtoputadeviceonPaul'swheelchairsothathe'llbeabletoopenandcloseitwhenhewants.

W：Whatareyouworkingonnow?

M：I'vejustfinishedthekitchen.I'vedesigneditsothathecanreacheverything.NowI'mbuildinganextensionsothatPaulwillhavealargeroomonthegroundfloorwherehecanwork.

W：There'sa$10,000prize.Howareyougoingtospendit?

M：IamgoingtostartmyownbusinesssothatIcanconvertordinaryhousesfordisabledpeople.IthinkI'vebecomeanexpertonthesubject.

ThoughPaulisdisabled,hemanagedtomovearoundinthehouse.

A.RightB.Wrong

14.Dr.WilsonissatisfiedwithWang'spastexperience.

A.RightB.Wrong

15.Chainsdon'tproducetheirowncoursebookmaterial.

A.RightB.Wrong

二、2.UseofEnglish(10題)16.

【C2】

17.

【C13】

18.

【C12】

19.RecentsurveysshowthatJapaneseyouthhavebecomea"MeGeneration"thatrejectstraditionalvalues.

"Around1980manyJapanese,【31】______youngpeopleabandonedthevaluesofeconomicsuccessandbegan【32】______fornewsetsofvaluesto【33】______themhappiness,"writessociologistYasuhiroinComparativeCivilizationsReview.Japaneseyouthareplacingmoreimportanceontheindividual'spursuitof【34】______andlessonthevaluesofwork,family,andsociety.

Japanesestudentsseemtobelosingpatiencewithwork,【35】______theircounterpartsintheUnitedStatesandKorea.Ina1993【36】______ofcollegestudentsinthethreecountries,only10%oftheJapaneseregarded【37】______asaprimaryvaluecomparedwith47%ofKoreanstudentsand27%ofAmericanstudents.Agreater【38】______ofJapaneseaged18—24alsopreferredeasyjobs【39】______heavyresponsibility.

TheyoungerJapaneseare.showinglessconcernforfamilyvaluesastheypursueaninnerworldofprivatesatisfaction.Datacollected【40】______theJapanesegovernmentin1993showsthatonly23%ofJapaneseyoutharethinkingaboutsupportingtheiragedparents,incontrast【41】______63%ofyoungAmericans.Itappearsthatmanyyounger-generationJapaneseare【42】______bothrespectfortheirparents【43】______asenseofresponsibilitytothefamily.AuthorYoshizakiattributesthechange【44】______Japaneseparents'over-indulgenceoftheirchildren,materialaffluence,andgrowing【45】______forprivatematters.

Theshift【46】______individualismamongJapaneseismostpronouncedamong【47】______veryyoung.

Accordingto1991data【48】______theBunkaCenterofJapan,50%ofJapaneseyouthaged16—19canbelabeled"self-centered"comparedwith33%among【49】______aged25-29.Toearntheself-centeredlabel,theyoungpeoplerespondedpositivelyto【50】______ideasas"Iwouldliketomakedecisionswithoutconsideringtraditionalvalues"and"Idon'twanttodoanythingIcan'tenjoydoing."

(31)

20.(46)

21.(38)

22.Psychologiststakecontrastiveviewsofhowexternalrewards，from【C1】______praisetocoldcash，affectmotivationandcreativity．Behaviorists，【C2】______researchtherelation【C3】______actionsandtheirconsequencesarguethatrewardsCanimproveperformanceatworkandschool．Cognitiveresearchers，whostudyvariousaspectsofmentallife，maintain【C4】______rewardsoftendestroycreativity【C5】______encouragingdependence【C6】______approvalandgiftsfromothers．

Thelatterviewhasgainedmanysupporters，especially【C7】______educators．Butthecarefuluseofsmallmonetaryrewardssparks【C8】______ingrade-schoolchildren，suggesting【C9】______properlypresentedinducementsindeedaidinventiveness，【C10】______toastudyintheJuneJournalofPersonalityandSocialPsychology．

“Ifkidsknowthey'reworkingfora【C11】______andcanfocus【C12】______arelativelychallengingtask，theyshowthemostcreativity”，saysRobertEisenbergeroftheUniversityofDelawareinNewark．“Butit'seasytokillcreativitybygivingrewardsfor【C13】______performanceorcreatingtoo【C14】______anticipationforrewards．”

Ateacher【C15】______continuallydrawsattentiontorewardsorwhohands【C16】______highgradesforordinaryachievementendsup【C17】______discouragedstudents，Eisenbergerholds．【C18】______anexampleofthelatterpoint，henotesgrowingeffortsatmajoruniversitiestotightengradingstandardsandrestorefailing【C19】______

Inearliergrades，theuseofso-calledtokeneconomies，in【C20】______studentshandlechallengingproblemsandreceiveperformance-basedpointstowardvaluedrewards，showspromiseinraisingeffortandcreativity，theDelawarepsychologistclaims．

【C1】

23.

【C6】

24.

【C8】

25.(45)

三、3.ReadingComprehension(15題)26.

Theword"deforestation"inParagraph3means______.

A.forestdamagecausedbypollution

B.movingpopulationfromforesttocities

C.thethreatofclimatechange

D.cuttinglargeareasoftrees

27.PartB

Directions:Inthefollowingarticlesomeparagraphshavebeenremoved.ForQuestions66-70,choosethemostsuitableparagraphfromthelistA-Ftofitintoeachofthenumberedgaps.Thereisoneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinanyofthegaps.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

Fromhervantagepointshewatchedthemaindoorsswingopenandthefirstarrivalspourin.Thosewhohadbeenattheheadofthelinepausedmomentarilyonentry,lookedaroundcuriously,thenquicklymovedforwardasothersbehindpressedin.Withinmomentsthecentralpublicareaofthebigbranchbankwasfilledwithachattering,noisycrowd.Thebuilding,relativelyquietlessthanaminuteearlier,hadbecomeaBabel.Edwinasawatallheavysetblackmanwavesomedollarbillsandannounceloudly,"Iwanttoputmymoneyinthebank."

66.______!

Itseemedasifthereportabouteveryonehavingcometoopenanaccounthadbeenaccurateafterall.

Edwinacouldseethebigmanleaningbackexpansively,stillholdinghisdollarbills.Hisvoicecutacrossthenoiseofotherconversationsandsheheardhimproclaim,"I'minnohurry.There'ssomethingI'dlikeyoutoexplain."

Twootherdeskswerequicklymannedbyotherclerks.Withequalspeed,longwidelinesofpeopleformedinfrontofthem.

Normally,threemembersofstaffwereampletohandlenewaccountbusiness,butobviouslyinadequatenow.EdwinacouldseeTottenhoeonthefarsideofthebankandcalledhimontheintercom.Sheinstructed,"Usemoredesksfornewaccountsandtakeallthestaffyoucansparetomanthem."

67.______

Tottenhoegrumbledinreply,"Yourealizewecan'tpossiblyprocessallthesepeopletoday,andhowevermanywedowilltieusupcompletely."

"I'vegotanidea,"Edwinasaid,"that'swhatsomeonehasinmind.Justhurrytheprocessingallyoucan."

68.______

First,anapplicationform.calledfordetailsofresidence,employment,socialsecurity,andfamilymatters.Aspecimensignaturewasobtained.Thenproofofidentitywasneeded.Afterthat,thenewaccountsclerkwouldtakealldocumentstoanofficerofthebankforapprovalandinitialing.Finally,asavingspassbookwasmadeoutoratemporarycheckbookissued.

Thereforethemostnewaccountsthatanybankemployeecouldopeninanhourwerefive,sothethreeclerkspresentlyworkingmighthandleasumofninetyinonebusinessday,iftheykeptgoingattopspeed,whichwasunlikely.

69.______

Stillthenoisewithinthebankincreased.Ithadbecomeanuproar.

Afurtherproblemwasthatthegrowingmassofarrivalsinthecentralpublicareaofthebankwaspreventingaccesstotellers'countersbyothercustomers.Edwinacouldseeafewofthemoutside,regardingthemillingscenewithconsternation.Whileshewatched,severalgaveupandwalkedaway.

Insidethebanksomeofthenewcomerswereengagingtellersinconversationandthetellers,havingnothingelsetodobecauseofthemelee,chattedback.Twoassistantmanagershadgonetothecentralfloorareaandweretryingtoconductthefloodofpeoplesoastoclearsomespaceatcounters.Theywerehavingsmallsuccess.

70.______

Shedecideditwastimeforherownintervention.

Edwinalefttheplatform.andafailed-offstaffareaand,withdifficulty,madeherwaythroughthemillingcrowdtothemainfrontdoor.

A.Yetsheknewhowevermuchtheyhurrieditwouldstilltaketentofifteenminutestoopenanysinglenewaccount.Italwaysdid.Thepaperworkrequiredthattime.

B.Butstillnohostilitywasevident.Everyoneinthenowjam-packedbankwhowasspokentobymembersofthestaffansweredpolitelyandwithasmile.Itseemed,Edwinathought,asifallwhowereherehadbeenbriefedtobe

28.WorldleadersmetrecentlyatUnitedNationsheadquartersinNewYorkCitytodiscusstheenvironmentalissuesraisedattheRioEarthSummitin1992．TheheadsofstateweresupposedtodecidewhatfurtherstepsshouldbetakentohaltthedeclineofEarth'slife-supportsystems．Infact，thismeetinghadmuchtheflavouroftheoriginalEarthSummit．Towit：emptypromises，hollowrhetoric，bickeringbetweenrichandpoor，andirrelevantinitiatives．ThinkU.S.Congressinslowmotion．

Almostobscuredbythistorporisthefactthattherehasbeensomeremarkableprogressoverthepastfiveyears—realchangesintheattitudeofordinarypeopleintheThirdWorldtowardfamilysizeandadawningrealisationthatenvironmentaldegradationandtheirownwell-beingareintimately，andinversely，linked．Almostnoneofthis，however,hasanythingtodowithwhatthebureaucratsaccomplishedinRio．

Oritdidn'taccomplish．OneitemontheagendaatRio，forexample，wasarenewedefforttosavetropicalforests．(ApreviousUN-sponsoredinitiativehadfallenapartwhenitbecameclearthatitactuallyhasteneddeforestation．)AfterRio，aUNworkinggroupcameupwithmorethan100recommendationsthathavesofargonenowhere．Oneproposedforestrypactwoulddolittlemorethanimmunizingwood-exportingnationsagainsttradesanctions．

AnefforttodraftanagreementonwhattodoabouttheclimatechangescausedbyCO2andothergreenhousegaseshasfaredevenworse．BlockedbytheBushAdministrationfromsettingmandatorylimits，theUNin1992calledonnationstovoluntarilyreduceemissionsto1990levels．Severalyearslater，it'sasifRiohadneverhappened．AnewclimatetreatyisscheduledtobesignedthisDecemberinKyoto，Japan，butgovernmentsstillcannotagreeontheselimits．Meanwhile，theU.S.produces7%moreCO2thanitdidin1990，andemissionsinthedevelopingworldhaverisenevenmoresharply．Noonewouldconfusethe“Rioprocess”withprogress．

Whilegovernmentshaveditheredatapacethatcouldmakedriftingcontinentsimpatient，peoplehaveacted．Birth-ratesaredroppingfasterthanexpected，notbecauseofRiobutbecausepoorpeoplearedecidingontheirowntoreducefamilysize．Anotherpositivedevelopmenthasbeenagrowingenvironmentalconsciousnessamongthepoor．FromslumdwellersinKarachi，Pakistan，tocolonistsinRondonia，Brazil，urbanpoorandruralpeasantsalikeseemtorealizethattheypaythebiggestpriceforpollutionanddeforestation．Thereiscauseforhopeaswellinthegrowingrecognitionamongbusinesspeoplethatitisnotintheirlong-terminteresttofightenvironmentalreforms．JohnBrowne，chiefexecutiveofBritishPetroleum，boldlyassertedinamajorspeechinMaythatthethreatofclimatechangecouldnolongerbeignored．

Thewriter'sgeneralattitudetowardstheworldleadersmeetingattheUNis______．

A.supportiveB.impartialC.criticalD.comedic

29.

Thephrase“talkingshop”(Line4,Para.6)probablymeans______．

A.talkingaboutshopping

B.discussingone'sworkwithcolleagues

C.exchangingpersonalnews

D.talkingwithfriendsinagroup

30.

Accordingtothepassage,thesolutionofferedbythetechnicianwas______.

A.effectiveB.economicalC.unpracticalD.unacceptable

31.(78)

32.PartC

Directions:Answerquestions71-80byreferringtothefollowinggames.

Note:AnswereachquestionbychoosingA,BorCandmarkitonANSWERSHEET1.Somechoicesmayberequiredmorethanonce.

Answerquestions71～80byreferringtothefollowinggames.

Note:AnswereachquestionbychoosingA,B,CorDandmarkitonANSWERSHEET1.Somechoicesmayberequiredmorethanonce.

A=BewitchedB=SavingPrivateRyanC=TeamAmerica:WorldPoliceD=Godfather

Whichmovie...

tellsthestoryaboutthelastgreatwar?71.______

illustrateshowviolencecandestroyahumansoul?72.______

describestheimageofAmericaasthedominatefigureintheworld?73.______

influencesmostmoviesconcerningthecriminalelementsnowadays?74.______

representsthetensionrelationbetweenAmericaandFrance?75.______

isconsideredasthetopfivemoviesallthetime?76.______

tellsthestoryaboutretrievingthelastoneoffourbrothersinthewar?77.______

describesthestoryofarealwitchwhowasaskedtoacttheroleofanimaginarywitchaccidentally?78.______

wassimplyregardedasamovieaboutgangstersonce?79.______

wasadaptedfromaclassicTVsituationcomedy?80.______

ABewitched

"Bewitched"isapainfullyembarrassingremakeoftheclassicTVsitcomthatranonABCfrom1964-1972.Theseries,abouta"mixed"marriagebetweenahigh-flyingsorceressandanearthboundmortal,boastssomeofthemostfamiliarandiconicimagesintelevisionhistory.

WriterNoraEphronhasover-thoughttheconcepttosuchanextentthatshehasmanagedtostripawaymostoftheelementsthatmadetheseriesworkinthefastplace.Themovieisn'ttechnicallya"remake"of"Bewitched"sincethewitchplayedbyNicoleKidmanisn'ttheSamanthaStevensoftheseriesbutratherasinglewomannamedIsabelBigelowwhogetstoplaySamanthaStephensonTV.It'sallverychicandcomplicated,yousee,butthestorygoessomethinglikethis.tiredofthelifeofinstantgratificationthatwitchcraftsoeasilyaffordsher,Isabelhasdecidedtostrikeoutonherownasatotallyself-reliantmortal,movingintoatracthomeintheSanFernandoValleyandvowingtogetthroughtheremainderofherdayswithoutthebenefitofwitchcraft.Oneafternoonwhileatabookstore,sheisspottedbyoneJackWyatt,apompous,self-centeredmovieactorwhosecareerandpersonallifehavebothbeeninthetankoflateandwhoishopingtoatleastjumpstarttheformerbytakingontheroleofDarrinStevensinanewversionoftheoldseries.OneglimpseofIsabel'snose-twitchingabilityconvinceshimthatthisnon-actresswouldbeperfectforthepart,sowewindup,intruePirandellianfashion,withafictionalTVwitchbeingplayedbyanhonest-to-Godreallifewitch.

BSavingPrivateRyan

WorldWarIIwasapivotaleventofthe20thcenturyandadefiningmomentforAmericaandtheworld.Itshiftedthebordersoftheglobe.Itforeverchangedthosewholivedthroughit,andshapedgenerationstocome.Ithasbeencalled"thelastgreatwar".

NothingcouldhavepreparedthesoldiersatOmahaBeachforthebattletheyareabouttowage.Filledwithhopeandresolve,noneofthemknowsiftheywillsurvivethesmallstripofbeachaheadofthem.AshiseyesscantheNormandycoast,CaptainJohnMiller(TOMHANKS)believesthatgettinghimselfandhismenpastthegauntletisthegreatestchallengehehasfacedinthewar.Buthismostdifficulttaskstillliesahead.

Evenasthealliedforcesbegintogetafootholda

33.Themanbehindthisnotion,JackMaple,isadandywhoaffectsdarkglasses,homburgs(翹邊帽)andtwo-toeshoes;yethehasbecomesomethingofalegendinAmerica'spolicedepartments.Forsomeyears,startinginNewYorkandmovingontohigh-crimespotssuchasNewOrleansandPhiladelphia,heandhisbusinesspartner,JohnLiederhavemarketedatwo-tiersystemforcuttingcrime.

First,policedepartmentshavetosortthemselvesout:rootoutcorruption,streamlinetheirbureaucracy,andmakemorecontactwiththepublic.Second,theyhavetoadoptacomputersystemcalledComstatwhichhelpsthemtoanalyzestatisticsofallmajorcrimes.Theseareconstantlykeyedintothecomputer,whichthendisplayswhereandwhentheyhaveoccurredonacolor-codedmap,enablingthepolicetomonitorcrimetrendsastheyhappenandtospothigh-crimeareas.InNewYork,Comstat'sstatisticalmapsareanalyzedeachweekatameetingofthecity'spolicechiefandprecinctcaptains.

MessrsMapleandLinder("specialistsincrime-reductionservices")havenodoubtthattheirsystemisamaincontributortothedropincrime.WhentheyintroduceditinNewOrleansinJanuary1997,violentcrimedroppedby22%inayear;whentheymerelystartedworkinginformallywiththepolicedepartmentinNewark,NewJersey,violentcrimefellby13%.Policedepartmentsarenowlininguptopayasmuchas$50,000amonthforthesetwomentoputthemstraight.

Probablyallthesenewpoliciesandbitsoftechnicalwizardry,addedtogether,havemadeabigdifferencetocrime.Butthereremainanomaliesthatcannotbeexplained,suchasthefactthatcrimeinWashingtonD.C.,hasfallenasfastasanywhere,althoughthepolicedepartmenthasbeencorruptandhopelessand,inlargestretchesofthecity,neitherpolicenorresidentsseemdisposedtofightthecriminalsintheirmidst.

Themoreimportantreasonforthefallincrimerates,manysay,isamuchlesssophisticatedone.Itisafactthatcrimerateshavedroppedastheimprisonmentratesoared.In1997thenationalincarcerationrate,at645per100000peoplewasmorethandoubletheratein1985,andthenumberofinmatesincityandcountyjailsroseby9.4%,almostdoubleitsannualaverageincreasesince1990.Surelysomecriminologistsargue,onesetoffiguresisthecauseoftheother.Itisprecisebecausemorepeoplearebeingsenttoprison,theyclaimthatcrimeratesarefalling.A1993studybytheNationalAcademyofSciencesactuallyconcludedthatthetriplingoftheprisonpopulationbetween1975and1989hadloweredviolentcrimeby10-15%.

Yetcauseandeffectmaynotbesoobviouslylinked.Tobeginwith,thesaleandpossessionofdrugsarenotcountedbytheFBIinitscrimeindex,whichislimitedtoviolentcrimesandcrimesagainstproperty.Yetdrugoffencesaccountformorethanathirdoftherecentincreaseinthenumberofthosejailed;since1980,theincarcerationratefordrugarrestshasincreasedby1000%.Andalthoughaboutthree-quartersofthosegoingtoprisonfordrugoffenceshavecommittedothercrimesaswell,thereisnotyetacrystal-clearconnectionbetweenfillingthejailswithdrug-pushersandadeclineintherateofviolentcrime.Again,thoughnationalfiguresaresuggestive,localonesdiverge:theplaceswherecrimehasdroppedmostsharply(suchasNewYorkCity)arenotalwaystheplaceswhereincarcerationhasrisenfastest.

JackMaplestartedhiscareerin______.

A.PhiladelphiaB.OregonC.NewOrleansD.NewYork

34.

Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingisnottrue?

A.SomeAmericanswouldnotacceptthevalueofconservationandenvironmentprotection,becausethisvaluewouldprobablymakethemunemployed.

B.ManyAmericanshavebeenusedtowasting,soitwillbedifficultforthemtoacceptthenewvalueofconservation.

C.SomeoldvaluesarestillhavingaverystronginfluenceonAmericanpeople,althoughtheyareharmfulinthisnewage.

D.MostAmericanshavefullyrealizedtheneedtoprotecttheenvironment,sotheyhavetakenmeasurestorecyclejunkedgoods.

35.

Whydoestheauthormentiongeneticengineeringandcomputerscience?

A.Tocomparethemwiththenewmaterials.

B.Toshowthesignificanceofthenewmaterialsonthefutureworld.

C.Tocomparethenewmaterialswiththem.

D.Toexplainhispoint.

36.(77)

37.Defendersofspecialprotectivelaborlegislationforwomenoftenmaintainthateliminatingsuchlawswoulddestroythefruitsofacentury-longstrugglefortheprotectionofwomenworkers.Evenabriefexaminationofthehistoricpracticeofcourtsandemployerswouldshowthatthefruitofsuchlawshasbeenbitter;theyare,inpractice,moreofacursethanablessing.

Sex-definedprotectivelawshaveoftenbeenbasedonstereotypicalassumptionsconcerningwomen'sneedsandabilities,andemployershavefrequentlyusedthemaslegalexcusesfordiscriminatingagainstwomen.AftertheSecondWorldWar,forexample,businessesandgovernmentsoughttopersuadewomentovacatejobsinfactories,thusmakingroominthelaborforceforreturningveterans.Therevivalorpassageofstatelawslimitingthedailyorweeklyworkhoursofwomenconvenientlyaccomplishedthis.Employershadonlytodeclarethatovertimehourswereanecessaryconditionofemploymentorpromotionintheirfactory,andwomencouldbequitelegallyfired,refusedjobs,orkeptatlowwagelevels,allinthenameof"protecting"theirhealth.Byvalidatingsuchlawswhentheyarechallengedbylawsuits,thecourtshavecolludedovertheyearsinestablishingdifferent,lessadvantageousemploymenttermsforwomenthanformen,thusreducingwomen'scompetitivenessonthejobmarket.Atthesametime,eventhemostwell-intentionedlawmakers,courts,andemployershaveoftenbeenblindtotherealneedsofwomen.Thelawmakersandthecourtscontinuetopermitemployerstoofferemployeehealthinsuranceplansthatcoverallknownhumanmedicaldisabilitiesexceptthoserelatingtopregnancyandchildbirth.

Finally,laborlawsprotectingonlyspecialgroupsareoftenineffectiveatprotectingtheworkerswhoareactuallyintheworkplace.Somechemicals,forexample,posereproductiverisksforwomenofchildbearingyears;manufacturersusingthechemicalscomplywithlawsprotectingwomenagainstthesehazardsbyrefusingtohirethem.Thusthesex-definedlegislationprotectsthehypotheticalfemaleworker,buthasnoeffectwhateveronthesafetyofanyactualemployee.Thehealthriskstomaleemployeesinsuchindustriescannotbenegligible,sincechemicalstoxicenoughtocausebirthdefectsinfetusesorsterilityinwomenarepresumablyharmfultothehumanmetabolism.Protectivelawsaimedatchangingproductionmaterialsortechniquesinordertoreducesuchhazardswouldbenefitallemployeeswithoutdiscriminatingagainstany.

Insum,protectivelaborlawsforwomenarediscriminatoryanddonotmeettheirintendedpurpose.Legislatorsshouldrecognizethatwomenareintheworkforcetostay,andthattheirneeds—goodhealthcare,adecentwage,andasafeworkplace—aretheneedsofallworkers.Lawsthatignorethesefactsviolatewomen'srightsforequalprotectioninemployment.

Accordingtotheauthor,whichofthefollowingresultedfromthepassageorrevivalofstatelawslimitingtheworkhoursofwomenworkers?

A.Womenworkerswerecompelledtoleavetheirjobsinfactories.

B.Manyemployershaddifficultyinprovidingjobsforreturningveterans.

C.Manyemployersfoundithardtoattractwomenworkers.

D.Thehealthofmostwomenfactoryworkersimproved.

38.(75)

39.(72)

40.(73)

四、閱讀