A
You probably know who Marie Curie was, but you may not have heard of Rachel Carson. Of the outstanding ladies listed below, who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?
Jane Addams (1860－1935)
Anyone who has ever been helped by a social worker has Jane Addams to thank. Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She encouraged a sense of community (社区) by creating shelters and promoting education and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson (1907－1964)
If it weren’t for Rachel Carson, the environmental movement might not exist today. Her popular 1962 book SilentSpring raised awareness of the danger of pollution and the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and on the world's lakes and oceans.
Sandra Day O’Connor (1930－present)
When Sandra Day O'Connor finished third in her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work at a law firm because she was a woman. She became an Arizona state senator (参议员) and in 1981, the first woman to join the US Supreme Court. O'Connor gave the deciding vote in many important cases during her 24 years on the top court.
Rosa Parks (1913－2005)
On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks would not give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her simple act landed Parks in prison. But it also set off the Montgomery bus boycott. It lasted for more than a year, and kicked off the civil - rights movement. “The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” said Parks.
1. What was the reason for O’Connor’s being rejected by the law firm?
A. Her lack of proper training in law. B. Her little work experience in court.
C. The discrimination against women. D. The poor financial conditions.
2. Who made a great contribution to the equal rights of the citizens?
A. Jane Addams. B. Rachel Carson.
C. Sandra Day O'Connor. D. Rosa Parks.
3. What can we infer about the women mentioned in the text?
A. They are highly educated. B. They are truly creative.
C. They are pioneers. D. They are peace-lovers.
【答案】1. C 2. D 3. C
【解析】
这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了四位伟大又有影响力的女性，以及她们在各自领域的成就。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据Sandra Day O’Connor部分的“she could not find work at a law firm because she was a woman.”可知，因为是女性，她在律师事务所找不到工作。由此可知，桑德拉•戴•奥康纳被律师公司拒绝是因为对妇女的歧视。故选C。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据Rosa Parks部分的“Rosa Parks would not give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her simple act landed Parks in prison. But it also set off the Montgomery bus boycott. It lasted for more than a year, and kicked off the civil-rights movement.”可知，罗莎·帕克斯不会在公共汽车上给白人乘客让座。她的简单行为使帕克斯进了监狱。但这也引发了蒙哥马利的公车抵制运动。它持续了一年多，拉开了民权运动的序幕。由此可知，罗莎•帕克斯对美国民权运动做出了巨大的贡献。故选D。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章内容可知：珍妮•亚当斯是第一个获得诺贝尔和平奖的美国女性；雷切尔•卡森的作品《寂静的春天》提高了人们对污染的危险性和化学物质对人类和世界湖泊和海洋的危害性的认识；桑德拉•戴•奥康纳是美国首位联邦最高法院女法官；罗莎•帕克斯在公共汽车上拒绝为白人让座，拉开了民权运动的序幕。由此推知，文中提到的几位女性都是先锋人物。故选C。
