It is not often realized that women held a high place in southern European societies in the 10 th and 11 th centuries. As wife, the woman was protected by the setting up of a dowry (嫁妆) or decimum. Admittedly, the purpose of this was to protect her against the risk of desertion (遗弃)，but in reality its function in the social and family life of the time was much more important. The decimum was the wife’s right to receive a tenth of all her husband’s property. The wife had the right to withhold consent, in all transactions the husband would make, And more than just a right: the documents showed that she enjoyed a real power of decision, equal to that of her husband. In no case did the documents indicate any degree of difference in the legal status of husband and wife.

The wife shared in the management of her husband’s personal property, but the opposite was not always true. Women seemed perfectly prepared to defend their own inheritance(遗产，继承物)against husbands who tried to exceed their rights, and on occasion they showed a fine fighting spirit. A case in point is that of Maria, Vivas, a Catalan woman of Barcelona. Having agreed with her husband Miro to sell a field she had inherited, for the needs of the household, she insisted on compensation. None being offered, she succeeded in dragging her husband to the scribe to have a contract duly drawn up assigning her a piece of land from Miro’s personal inheritance. The unfortunate husband was obliged to agree, as the contract says, “for the sake of peace.” Either through the dowry or through being hot-tempered, the Catalan wife knew how to win herself, within the context of the family, a powerful economic position.

1. A decimum was      .

A．the wife’s inheritance from her father

B．a gift of money to the new husband

C．a written contract

D．the wife’s right to receive one-tenth of her husband’s property

2. In the society described in the passage, the legal standing of the wife in marriage was      .

A．higher than that of her husband	B．lower than that of her husband
C．the same as that of her husband	D．higher than that of a single woman

3. What compensation did Maria Vivas get for the field?

A．Some of the land Miro had inherited.	B．A tenth of Miro’s land.
C．Money for household expenses.	D．Money from Miro’s inheritance.

4. Which of the following is Not mentioned as an effect of the dowry system?

A．The husband had to share the power of decision in marriage.

B．The wife was protested from desertion.

C．The wife gained a powerful economic position.

D．The husband was given control over his wife’s property.

 

三. 句型转换 ( 10分)

1. Canada is a country in which many cultures exist together.

Canada is ________ _________ _____________.

2. Rather than take the aeroplane all th way, they decided to fly from China to Vancouver and to take the train from west to east across Canada.

They ______ ______ fly from China to Vancouver and take the train from west to east across Canada in September than take the aeroplane all the way.

3. The school gave an order.  All the classrooms should be cleaned today.

The school gave an order _____ _____ _____ _____ _______ be cleaned today.

4. The fact that ocean ships can go there surprises many people.

Many people ________ _________ ________ the fact that ocean ships can go there.

5. His words made a strong impression on us.

We ________ deeply __________ ____________ his words.

 

It is not often realized that women held a high place in southern European societies in the 10 th and 11 th centuries. As wife, the woman was protected by the setting up of a dowry (嫁妆) or decimum. Admittedly, the purpose of this was to protect her against the risk of desertion (遗弃)，but in reality its function in the social and family life of the time was much more important. The decimum was the wife’s right to receive a tenth of all her husband’s property. The wife had the right to withhold consent, in all transactions the husband would make, And more than just a right: the documents showed that she enjoyed a real power of decision, equal to that of her husband. In no case did the documents indicate any degree of difference in the legal status of husband and wife.

The wife shared in the management of her husband’s personal property, but the opposite was not always true. Women seemed perfectly prepared to defend their own inheritance(遗产，继承物)against husbands who tried to exceed their rights, and on occasion they showed a fine fighting spirit. A case in point is that of Maria, Vivas, a Catalan woman of Barcelona. Having agreed with her husband Miro to sell a field she had inherited, for the needs of the household, she insisted on compensation. None being offered, she succeeded in dragging her husband to the scribe to have a contract duly drawn up assigning her a piece of land from Miro’s personal inheritance. The unfortunate husband was obliged to agree, as the contract says, “for the sake of peace.” Either through the dowry or through being hot-tempered, the Catalan wife knew how to win herself, within the context of the family, a powerful economic position.

A decimum was      .

       A. the wife’s inheritance from her father    

       B. a gift of money to the new husband 

       C. a written contract            

       D. the wife’s right to receive one-tenth of her husband’s property

In the society described in the passage, the legal standing of the wife in marriage was      .

       A. higher than that of her husband       B. lower than that of her husband

       C. the same as that of her husband D. higher than that of a single woman

What compensation did Maria Vivas get for the field?

       A. Some of the land Miro had inherited.      B. A tenth of Miro’s land.

       C. Money for household expenses.       D. Money from Miro’s inheritance.

Which of the following is Not mentioned as an effect of the dowry system?

       A. The husband had to share the power of decision in marriage.

       B. The wife was protested from desertion.

       C. The wife gained a powerful economic position.

       D. The husband was given control over his wife’s property.

If you walk slowly through downtown Helsinki during the day, taking in the splendid 19 th century buildings, white boats and noise of passing trams (有轨电车), you will start to understand why it is called a city of two colors: white and blue.

The sea is always present in Helsinki. When you take a walk over the great open space of the central square, you will hear seabirds screaming. When you take the tram, suddenly and unexpectedly, you are faced with a calm, shining blue sea. You may notice that people in Helsinki do not rush about as in other cities. Instead, they walk along the roads, politely letting other people by.

A usual way to see Helsinki for the first time is to start out by the boats. You will walk by the elderly women selling fish and vegetables in the market square and find yourself in front of a beautiful park. You may enjoy a pleasant walk in the park for a few hours and then take the tram. Trams are the perfect way to get around in Helsinki. Watching the old houses, parks, theatres, churches, shops, restaurants and people in the streets, you may have a slightly sad film feeling to it.

The pale summer nights are another wonder in the city. Following the waterfront（滨水区）of the city after sunset, you couldn’t help stopping and listening to the sweet silence, interrupted only by the screaming seabirds and leaving fishing boats.

However, in some way. Helsinki is also the most modern city in northern Europe. You will surely want to visit the white Glass Palace, the modern art museum, and all those extremely popular cafes and design stores.

Helsinki is called a city of two colors mainly because of the colors of its ________.

      A．19th century white buildings and boats

       B．19th century buildings and passing trams

      C．white roads and blue trams

      D．old buildings, boats and the sea

The best way to see most of Helsinki is to go ________.

      A．by boat    B．by bus     C．by tram    D．on foot

The 19th century buildings, the white Glass Palace and all those popular cafes and design shops show that Helsinki is _________.

      A．both western and eastern        B．both quiet and noisy

      C．both historical and modern     D．both old and new

This passage is most likely to be found in _________.

      A．a story-book          B．a geography textbook

      C．a research report    D．a travel magazine

It is not often realized that women held a high place in southern European societies in the 10 th and 11 th centuries. As wife, the woman was protected by the setting up of a dowry (嫁妆) or decimum. Admittedly, the purpose of this was to protect her against the risk of desertion (遗弃)，but in reality its function in the social and family life of the time was much more important. The decimum was the wife’s right to receive a tenth of all her husband’s property. The wife had the right to withhold consent, in all transactions the husband would make, And more than just a right: the documents showed that she enjoyed a real power of decision, equal to that of her husband. In no case did the documents indicate any degree of difference in the legal status of husband and wife.
The wife shared in the management of her husband’s personal property, but the opposite was not always true. Women seemed perfectly prepared to defend their own inheritance(遗产，继承物)against husbands who tried to exceed their rights, and on occasion they showed a fine fighting spirit. A case in point is that of Maria, Vivas, a Catalan woman of Barcelona. Having agreed with her husband Miro to sell a field she had inherited, for the needs of the household, she insisted on compensation. None being offered, she succeeded in dragging her husband to the scribe to have a contract duly drawn up assigning her a piece of land from Miro’s personal inheritance. The unfortunate husband was obliged to agree, as the contract says, “for the sake of peace.” Either through the dowry or through being hot-tempered, the Catalan wife knew how to win herself, within the context of the family, a powerful economic position.
【小题1】 A decimum was      .

A．the wife’s inheritance from her father

B．a gift of money to the new husband

C．a written contract

D．the wife’s right to receive one-tenth of her husband’s property

【小题2】 In the society described in the passage, the legal standing of the wife in marriage was      .

A．higher than that of her husband	B．lower than that of her husband
C．the same as that of her husband	D．higher than that of a single woman

【小题3】 What compensation did Maria Vivas get for the field?

A．Some of the land Miro had inherited.	B．A tenth of Miro’s land.
C．Money for household expenses.	D．Money from Miro’s inheritance.

【小题4】 Which of the following is Not mentioned as an effect of the dowry system?

A．The husband had to share the power of decision in marriage.

B．The wife was protested from desertion.

C．The wife gained a powerful economic position.

D．The husband was given control over his wife’s property.