Question

Hi, everybody. On Friday, I had a discussion with working women in Rhode Island about the economic challenges they face in their own lives—challenges shared by many of you.

Thanks to the work we’ve all put in, our economy has come a long way these past six years. Over the past 55 months, our businesses have added 10.3 million new jobs. For the first time in six years, the unemployment rate is below 6 percent. And on Thursday, we learned that over the past six months, our economy has grown at its fastest pace since 2003.

But the gains of a growing economy aren’t yet felt by everyone. So we’ve got to harness（增强） this momentum（动力）, and make the right choices so that everyone who works hard can get ahead.

In recent weeks, I’ve talked about these choices, from raising the minimum wage to creating new jobs in construction and manufacturing. Today, I want to focus on what I discussed with those women — the choices we need to make to help more women get ahead in today’s economy.

Right now, women make up almost half of our workers. More women are their family’s main breadwinner than ever before. So the simple truth is, when women succeed, America succeeds. And we should be choosing policies that benefit women—because that benefits all of us.

Women deserve fair pay. Even though it’s 2014, there are women still earning less than men for doing the same work. We don’t have second-class citizens in this country—we shouldn’t in the workplace, either. So let’s make sure women earn equal pay for equal work, and have a fair shot at success.

Women deserve to be able to take time off to care for a new baby, an ailing parent, or take a sick day for themselves without running into hardship. So let’s make sure all Americans have access to paid family leave(带薪休假).

Pregnant workers deserve to be treated fairly. Even today, women can be fired for taking too many bathroom breaks, or forced on unpaid leave just for being pregnant. That’s wrong—and we have to choose policies that ensure pregnant workers are treated with dignity and respect.

New parents deserve quality, affordable childcare. There’s nothing like the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your kids are safe while you’re at work. And the benefits that children get out of early enrichment can pay off for a lifetime. But in many states, sending your kid to daycare costs more than sending them to a public university. So let’s start demanding Pre-K for our kids.

And when most low-wage workers are women, but Congress hasn’t passed a minimum wage increase in seven years, it’s long past time that women deserve a raise. About 28 million workers would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage to ten dollars and ten cents an hour. And more than half of those workers are women. The local businesses where these workers spend their money would benefit, too. So let’s do this -- let’s give America a raise.

All of these policies are common sense. All of them are within our reach. We’ve just got to speak up and choose them. Because they’ll build a stronger America for all of us.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

1.The underlined word “breadwinner” in Paragraph 5 probably means ___________.

A. the person who wins a lot of bread

B. the person who takes part in the competition

C. the person who earns the money to support the family

D. the person who makes policies

2. Which is the true fact according to the passage?

A. During the last half year, our economy has grown fastest since 2003.

B. All of us have felt the gains of a growing economy.

C. We have never fires any women because of her taking too many bathroom breaks.

D. The local businesses will not benefit a lot because of the increase in the minimum wage.

3.Which is NOT included in the new policies that would help women and working families get ahead?

A. Equal pay for equal work.

B. Increase access to high-quality child care and paid family leave.

C. Raise the minimum wage.

D. Get rid of racial discrimination.

4.The best title for this Weekly Address may be ___________.

A. Say no to sex discrimination.

B. It’s time to help women and working families.

C. Let’s build a stronger country.

D. Equal pay for equal work.

Answer 1

1. C

2. A

3. D

4. B

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲的是女性面临的经济困境，也是每个人所面临的困境；针对这些困境，美国政府也采取的相对应的政策，并且在过去的六年里有长足的进步；提出了为帮助更多女性在当今的经济发展中进步所需要采取的措施；同时呼吁美国实施这些政策，提高美国人的工资标准，建设一个更强大的美国。

1. 细节理解题。根据Right now, women make up almost half of our workers. More women are their family’s main breadwinner than ever before.中可知，女性现在在职场上和家庭中所占有的地位。故选C.

2. 细节推断题。由文中第二段And on Thursday, we learned that over the past six months, our economy has grown at its fastest pace since 2003. 中可知在星期四，我们会知道在过去的半年里，我们的经济增长速度是2003年来最快的；与A选项一致；

3. 细节推断题。在原文第六段中，说得是Women deserve fair pay.女性应该得到公正的报酬中可知A选项正确；根据文中So let’s make sure all Americans have access to paid family leave(带薪休假).和New parents deserve quality, affordable childcare.可知B选项正确；文中第四，十段也提到Raise the minimum wage.选项C正确；D选项在原文中并没有提到；故选D。

4.题4】 主旨大意题。本文多次提到美国女性所面临的困境和为帮助美国女性在当今的经济发展中所提出的措施。从全文大意中可知B选项正确。

考点：经济发展类阅读