Passage FourWomen earn less than men do. For example, in 1998 the hourly wages of women in the U. S. were 26% less than those of men.The gap between male and female incomes varies with age. The gap between the labor incomes of young women and young menvar

题目

Passage Four

Women earn less than men do. For example, in 1998 the hourly wages of women in the U. S. were 26% less than those of men.

The gap between male and female incomes varies with age. The gap between the labor incomes of young women and young men

varies. It's also clear that jobs in which women are concentrated pay less. The larger the number of workers who are women in ran

industry, the lower the average wages.

Why do women earn less than men do? Can the differences be explained by the fact that women are looked

down upon? If so, the government has to intervene(干预), to force the employers to pay equal wages to equal jobs. However, there is no agreement among economists about the causes of

the gap. One view argues that women, on the average, have chosen low-paying jobs in which workers enjoy the freedom of entering and leaving the labor force, which reduces their years of experience relative

to men. Other people say the gap can also be explained by the difference in educational background.

Much of the gap, however, has not been fully explained. It might be the result of some prejudice (偏见) against women. It is this part that has produced calls for government action. What would happen if the government did intervene to

increase the wages paid to women? One possibility is that incomes for women as a group might actually decline (下降). An increase in wage decreases the quantity of labor imput demanded, resulting in decreased employment as the rate of hiring new

workers declines. The result will be a surplus 过剩) of labor. Those who can find jobs might be better off while those who had jobs

might find themselves out of work.

48. Some economists believe women earn less than men partly because______.

A. there are more than enough women in the labor force

B. women have more freedom in selecting jobs

C. women are only provided with low-paid jobs

D. women are less experienced than men


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1.Passage Four(36~40) One of Britain’s bravest women told yesterday how she helped to catch suspected (可疑的) police killer David Bieber—and was thanked with flowers by the police. It was also said that she could be in line for a share of up to the £30,000 reward money。Vicki Brown, 30, played a very important role in ending the nationwide manhunt. Vicki, who has worked at the Royal Hotel for four years, told of her terrible experience when she had to steal into Bieber’s bedroom and to watch him secretly. Then she waited alone for three hours while armed police prepared to storm the building。She said: “I was very nervous. But when I opened the hotel door and saw 20 armed policemen lined up in the car park I was so glad they were there. ”The alarm had been raised because Vicki became suspicious (怀疑) of the guest who checked in at 3 pm the day before New Year’s Eve with little luggage and wearing sunglasses and a hat pulled down over his face. She said: “He didn’t seem to want to talk too much and make any eye contact (接触). ” Vicki, the only employee on duty, called her boss Margaret, 64, and husband Stan McKale, 65, who phoned the police at 11 pm。Officers from Northumbria Police called Vicki at the hotel in Dunston, Gateshead, at about 11:30 pm to make sure that this was the wanted man. Then they kept in touch by phoning Vicki every 15 minutes。“It was about ten past two in the morning when the phone went again and a policeman said ’Would you go and make yourself known to the armed officers outside?’ My heart missed a beat. ”Vicki quietly showed eight armed officers through passages and staircases to the top floor room and handed over the key。“I realized that my bedroom window overlooks that part of the hotel, so I went to watch. I could not see into the man’s room, but I could see the passage. The police kept shouting at the man to come out with his hands showing. Then suddenly he must have come out because they shouted for him to lie down while he was handcuffed (带上手铐). ”第36题:The underlined phrase “be in line for” (paragraph 1) means 。A. get B. be paid C. ask for D. own

参考答案和解析
正确答案:D

此题为细节分析推论题。文章的第二段内可以找到句子:One viewwhich reduces their year of experience background。有一种观点认为是女性就业时,更倾向于选择自由性更强但报酬更低的行业,这也导致她们的工作经验不如男性。