Feminist sociolinguists(社会语言学家),over the course of the last few decades,have conducted studies that they believe support the conclusion that women are routinely discriminated against in Endlish-speaking society.They point to the words used to describe women,as well as the words used to describe society as a whole,as indications that the English language ,and therefore the English-speaking culture,is slanted towards the advantage of males.
The words used to describe women are used as instrument by feminist sociolinguists to denote an inherent sexism in the English language.Word pairs such as master and mistress and sir and madam,they claim ,epitomize such sexism.All of the words in question once held positive connotations but,while the masculine (男性的)forms have retained their respectable associations,the feminine forms have undergone pejoration and now imply sexual promiscuity(混杂) and other negative characteristics.Feminist researchers assume that such pejoration indicate that the status of women in English-speaking society is relatively low.
These researchers also find fault with the use of masculine words to describe unisex entities .For example ,they feel that there is nothing inherently mainly about mankind, the best man for the job,or the common man.Similarly,the use of such constructions as the “the average students is worried about his grades” indicate to these researchers an inherent sexism in English that is reflective of the cultures in which they are produced .
Carolyn Jacobson ,author of Non-sexist Language has proposed a solution to this conundrum(难题).She advocates the elimination of all sexed words in favor of gender-neutral terms.No longer should we refer to actors and actresses or waiters and waitresses, as such dichotomies(男女有别) allow for the possibility of negative connotations being associated with the feminine designation.Likewise,she believes that phrases such as mankind should give way to human kind and that the use of the masculine pronoun as the default should be abandoned in favor of neutral constructions.Thus, when sexism is eliminated from the English language ,the culture will be more amenable to he deliverance of women as well .
1. The primary purpose of this passage is to_____
A compare and contrast ideology in various cultures B prove a commonly held belief to be wrong
C describe a problem and a possible solution D analyze the historical origins of a modern situation
2 According to the passage,gender-neutral constructions should be advocated because_____
A the elimination of sexism in the English language will precede the elimination of sexism in the culture
B they are more grammatically sound than sexed structures
C unisex terms are less awkward in casual speech D sex-specific terms always carry negative connotations
3 The author refers to mankind ,the best man for the job,and the common man in order to_____
A demonstrate the superiority of males in English-speaking society
B provide an example of speech that is slanted towards the advantage of males
C list the characteristics of the feminist socialinguist movement
D discount the notion that the English language discriminates against women
4 The word“perjoration most probably means_____
A negative connotation B positive connotation C sexual characteristic D respectable characteristic
5 In favor of gender-neutral terms,which of the following words can be used to describe unisex entities?
A mankind B chairperson C superman D dragon lady
答案:CABAB
There was on shop in the town of Mufulira, which was notorious for its color bar. It was a drugstore. While Europeans were served at the counter, a long line of Africans queued at the window and often not only were kept waiting but, when their turn came to be served, were rudely treated by the shop assistants. One day I was determined to make a public protest against this kind of thing, and many of the schoolboys in my class followed me to the store and waited outside to see what would happen when I went in.
I simply went into the shop and asked the manager politely for some medicine. As soon as he saw me standing in the place where only European customers were allowed to stand he shouted at me in a bastard language that is only used by an employed when speaking to his servants. I stood at the counter and politely requested in English that I should be served. The manager became exasperated and said to me in English, “If you stand there till Christmas I will never serve you.”
I went to the District commissioner's office. Fortunately the District Commissioner was out, for he was one of the old school; however, I saw a young District Officer who was a friend of mine. He was very concerned to hear my story and told me that if ever I wanted anything more from the drugstore all I had to do was come to him personally and he would buy my medicine for me. I protested that that was not good enough. I asked him to accompany me back to the store and to make a protest to the manager. This he did, and I well remember him saying to the manager, “Here is Mr. Kaunda who is a responsible member of the Urban Advisory Council, and you treat him like a common servant.” The manager of the drugstore apologized and said, “If only he had introduced himself and explained who he was, then, of course I should have given him proper service.”
I had to explain once again that he had missed my point. Why should I have to introduce myself every time I went into a store…any more than I should have to buy my medicine by going to a European friend? I want to prove that any man of any color, whatever his position, should have the right to go into any shop and buy what he wanted.
1.“Color bar” in the first paragraph comes closest in meaning to ___.
A.a bar which is painted in different colors. B.the fact that white and black customers are served separately.
C.a bar of chocolate having different colors. D.a counter where people of different colors are served with beer.
2.The writer was, at the time of the story, ___.
A.a black school teacher B.an African servant C.a black, but a friend of Europeans D.a rich black
3.The manager of the drugstore shouted at the writer in a bastard language because ___.
A.he hadn't learned to speak polite English. B.he thought the writer wouldn't understand English.
C.that was the usual language used by Europeans when speaking to Africans.
D.that was the only language he could speak when he was angry.
4.In the third paragraph,“he was one of the old school” means ___.
A.he believed in the age-old practice of racial discrimination. B.he was a very old man.
C.he graduated from an old,conservative school. D.he was in charge of an old school.
5.Why didn't the writer wait at the window of the drugstore like other black African?
A.Because he thought he was educated and should be treated differently.
B.Because he thought,being an important person,he should not be kept waiting.
C.Because he thought his white friends would help him out.
D.Because he wanted to protest against racial discrimination.
答案:BACAD
翻译
最近,中国政府决定将其工业升级,中国现在涉足建造高速列车、远洋船舶、机器人,甚至飞机。不久前,中国获得了再印度尼西亚(Indonesia)建造一条高铁的合同;中国还与马来西亚(Malaysia)签署了为其提供高速列车的合同。这证明人们信赖中国造产品。
中国造产品越来越受欢迎。中国为此付出了代价,但这确实有助于消除贫困,同时还为世界各地的人们提供了就业机会。这是一件好事,值得称赞。下次你去商店时,可能想看一看你所购商品的出产国名。很有可能这件商品是中国造的。
Recently, the Chinese government decided to upgrade its industry. China is now involved in the construction of high-speed trains, ocean-going vessels, robots, and even aircrafts. Not long ago, China obtained the contract for construction of a high-speed rail in Indonesia. It has also signed a contract with Malaysia to provide high-speed trains. This proves that people have faith in China-made products.
China-made products are gaining popularity, for which China has paid a price. However, it does contribute to the eradication of poverty and also, in the meantime, provide employment opportunities for people around the world. This is a good deed which is commendable. You may want to take a look at the purchased goods for the name of the producing country next time you go to the store. Most probably the product is made in China.
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