考博英语（阅读理解）历年真题试卷汇编7(题后含答案及解析) 题型有： 3. Reading ComprehensionReading ComprehensionWe have known for a long time that the organization of any particular society is influenced by the definition of the sexes and the distinction drawn between them. But we have realized only recently that the identity of each sex is not so easy to pin down, and that definitions evolve in accordance with different types of culture known to us, that is, scientific discoveries and ideological revolutions. Our nature is not considered as immutable, either socially or biologically. As we approach the beginning of the 21st century, the substantial progress made in biology and genetics is radically challenging the roles, responsibilities and specific characteristics attributed to each sex, and yet, scarcely twenty years ago, these were thought to be “ beyond dispute”. We can safely say, with a few minor exceptions, that the definition of the sexes and their respective functions remained unchanged in the West from the beginning of the 19th century to the 1960s. The role distinction, raised in some cases to the status of uncompromising dualism on a strongly hierarchical model, lasted throughout this period, appealing for its justification to nature, religion and customs alleged to have existed since the dawn of time. The woman bore children and took care of the home. The man set out to conquer the world and was responsible for the survival of his family, by satisfying their needs in peacetime and going to war when necessary. The entire world order rested on the divergence of the sexes. Any overlapping or confusion between the roles was seen as a threat to the time-honored order of things. It was felt to be against nature, a deviation from the norm. Sex roles were determined according to the “place” appropriate to each. Women’s place was, first and foremost, in the home. The outside world, i.e. workshops, factories and business firms, belonged to men. This sex-based division of the world(private and public)gave rise to a strict dichotomy between the attitudes, which conferred on each is special identity. The woman, sequestered at home, “cared, nurtured and conserved. “ To do this, she had no need to be daring, ambitious, tough or competitive. The man, on the other hand, competing with his fellow men, was caught up every day in the struggle for survival, and hence developed those characteristics which were thought natural in a man. Today, many women go out to work, and their reasons for doing so have changed considerably. Besides the traditional financial incentives, we find ambition and personal fulfillment motivating those in the most favorable circumstances, and the wish to have a social life and to get out of their domestic isolation influencing others. Above all, for all women, work is invariably connected with the desire for independence.1．It is only in recent years that we have recognized that______.A．there is almost no clue to the identity of both sexesB．the role distinction between different sexes is conspicuousC．the different definitions of sexes bears on the development of cultureD．the progress of civilization greatly influences the role definitions of sexes正确答案：D解析：细节题。
根据文章第1段第2句可知，直到最近我们才意识到，性别的定义是很难确定(pin down)的，这与我们所知的不同文化类别，即科学发现和思想革命也息息相关。
故本题答案为D(文明的发展很大程度影响了对性别的定义)。
2．From paragraph 1 we can infer that it is now possible for women to embark on a career because______.A．the change in sex roles is out of the questionB．women’s lib has been going on for many yearsC．ideas about the roles of women have been changingD．the expansion of sciences scarcely remolds the women’s roles正确答案：C解析：推理题。
根据第1段第3、4句可知，我们不能认为自己在社会或生理的本性是不可改变的。
21世纪初，生物学和遗传学取得的巨大进步正在从根本上挑战性别角色、职责和特征，这些观点在十几年前可被认为是无可争辩的。
由此可知，妇女从事某种职业，是因为对女性性别角色的观念一直在改变。
故本题答案为C。
3．The author believes that sex discrimination in the West before the 1960s was______.A．preferableB．prevalentC．presumableD．precedent正确答案：B解析：细节题。
根据第2段第1句可知，我们非常肯定，从19世纪初到20世纪60年代，对男女性别的定义和他们各自的作用一直没什么变化，某些个例除外。
“妇女在家生儿育女，男人外出谋生养家，恪守职责。
和平时期，供养家庭，战争时期，奔赴疆场”。
由此可知，男女性别歧视在当时是普遍存在的现象。
故本题答案为B。
4．According to the 4th paragraph, the author seems to think that______.A．female passivity is naturalB．men and women are physically identicalC．men are born competitive and aggressiveD．some different sex identity is acquired正确答案：D解析：推理题。
根据第4段第1句可知，性别角色由各自适合的位置决定的。
女性的位置是家里，男性的位置是与同性竞争。
这种以性别为基础的(sex-based)世界观产生了两种非常不同的态度，从而赋予不同性别特有的特征。
因此，性别角色的特点不是与生俱来的，而是后天形成的。