阅读理解
Rodney Mace, 35, is married with two young children, and is a part-time teacher of history, "I am
constantly surprised by other people's surprise, when they come to the house and see me cleaning a
floor or hanging out the washing. Their eyes open wide at the sight of it! Much of the comment comes
form men. But I am even more surprised at the number of women who comment too."
His wife Jane, an Oxford graduate in modern languages, has a demanding full-time job. She is director
of the Cambridge House literacy scheme(扫盲计划) for adults in South London. Her working week
involves several evenings and Saturdays, and at these times her husband is in charge of home and family.
Apart from this, they share household jobs and employ a child-minder for the afternoons. This enables
him to teach two days a week and to do what he considers his principal work: writing. He has written
several books and spends much of his time in the Museum Reading Room, cycling there from his home
in Brixton.
People ask the Maces if they think their children miss them. One can argue that satisfied parents
generally have satisfied children, but in any case the Maces are careful to spare time and energy to play
with their children. "And they have now developed relationships with other adults and children.
Before, Rodney Mace worked full-time and Jane only part-time. Then 18 months ago, the director
of the literacy scheme left. "It seems to me that Jane was very well suited to do this job. She was very
doubtful about it. But I asked her to apply. She did, and she got it." Jane Mace says that she needed
this encouragement, as so many women do.
Did his male ego(男性自我意识) suffer from the change-over? Nothing like that occurred. But he
still seems amazed at the way it changed his thinking. "I felt that we were finally going to be partners. I
felt enormous relief. I wasn't avoiding responsibility, but changing it. Our relationship is so much better
now. It has been a change for the good for both of us－think for all of us, in every aspect of our lives. I
cannot overemphasize(过高强调) that: in every aspect, I think it is necessary that the woman works.
The idea of equal partnership is an illusion if one partner doesn't work.
1.The article is about a couple whose married life is happier because _______.
A. they have a truly equal partnership
B. the husband enjoys staying at home
C. they earn more money
D. the wife has a full-time job
2.Jane finally decided to apply for her present job because ________.
A. she thought she had better qualification than others
B .her husband had persuaded her to
C. it was very well paid
D .some of her friends encouraged her to
3. It is implied in the passage that ________.
A. the Maces believe a good career is even more important that their family life
B. Rodney's children are quite happy with their position in the family
C. even capable women sometimes need encouragement from their families
D. the practice of sharing household jobs between husband and wife is common in London
4.We can infer from this passage that a change-over of roles in the family ________.
A. is quite necessary in modern life
B. is probably based on some practical reasons
C. aims mainly at a complete liberation of women
D. shows women are not necessarily inferior(低下) to men
5.Which of the following statements is true?
A. Most Englishmen think that a husband should do more housework than a wife.
B. In London the traditional idea about the sex role at home has been completely changed.
C. Many Englishmen and Englishwomen still believe that women are mainly in charge of
home and family.
D. English people believe that men should take more responsibilities for house work.
