15．LONDON（Reuters）-Oxford University has introduced confidence classes for female students to get them to compete for jobs in future and win chances to work in best companies．
They may be young and gifted，but research at the excellent institution has found that female undergraduates（大学生） are shying away from applying for jobs in banking，finance，management consultancy，engineering and resource management．Partly as a result，starting salaries for women when they graduate are on average￡2，000to￡3，000lower than their male peers．
"Women are earning less on leaving Oxford University．It is ridiculous，"said Jonathan Black，director of the Careers Service at the university．"We have high quality，high achieving students of both genders．But it appears that women are selecting lower-paid jobs．They accept more prejudice（偏见） in certain industries and are saying‘I won't struggle for that really high-paid job'．We are not trying to push loads of women but trying to say they should feel able to apply for these sorts of jobs．Men seem to have more self-confidence and see the bigger picture generally，even when their self-belief is not necessarily based on any greater academic advantage．"
The four-day programme at Oxford University will help 45female undergraduates improve their self-confidence and decision-making，think positively and build on their strengths．Confidence training will teach them how to deal with challenging situations．
Successful female employees from RBS（苏格兰皇家银行） and BP（英国石油公司），which are supporting the course，will talk about their lives and careers．RBS's involvement follows a promise by the bank to increase its national percentage of female graduate applications from 35percent to 50percent by 2014．
Sophie Kelley，20，studying law at Oxford University，is hoping the course will make her more confident in courses and interviews．"I am applying to London law firms for vacation schemes and it is so competitive，"she said．"The rejection letters don't give any real feedback（反馈的意见），so I'm expecting the programme might give me a hand and advice．"
24．Oxford University brings in confidence classes in order to helpC．
A．female undergraduates build on their strengths in daily life
B．male undergraduates make friends with females at the university
C．female undergraduates find higher-paid jobs with more confidence
D．female undergraduates fight against challenges in the face of danger
25．What is the worrying situation for female undergraduates？B
A．They are looked down upon by most companies．
B．Their opportunities are limited and their salaries are lower．
C．Fewer of them are admitted to Oxford University．
D．They are refused to work in banking and finance fields．
26．What can we learn from Paragraph 5？B
A．Females from RBS and BP are very successful．
B．RBS will create more job chances for female undergraduates in future．
C．RBS will be the only choice for female undergraduates．
D．All female undergraduates from Oxford University can apply for RBS．
27．What can we learn about Sophie Kelley？A
A．She hopes to benefit more from the programme．
B．She has been refused by the programme at Oxford University．
C．She feels the programme is ridiculous in modern society．
D．She isn't fit for the world of competition and challenges．
分析 牛津大学为了让在校的女大学生在将来进入社会后更有竞争力，开设了"自信课程"，帮助她们树立自信，这个活动也受到了一些公司的支持．
解答 24-27 CBBA
24．C 细节理解题．根据第一段Oxford University has introduced confidence classes for female students to get them to compete for jobs in future and win chances to work in best copmanies可知，牛津大学引进自信课程让女学生在未来竞争工作和在好公司赢得工作机会．故选C．
25．B 推理判断题．根据第二段第一句话的…shying away from applying for jobs in banking…和第二句话的…￡2，000 to￡3，000 lower than their male counterparts可知，说明女大学毕业生令人担心的情况是就业机会有限，工资低．故选B．
26．B 细节理解题．根据第五段RBS's involvement follows a promise by the bank to increase its national percentage of female graduate applications from 35percent to 50percent by 2014可知，RBS将承诺将女毕业生的申请由35%提高到50%．故选B．
27．A 推理判断题．文章最后一句话的…so I'm expecting the programme might give me a hand and advice可知，我期待着这个项目可能给我帮助和建议．故选A．
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