During the twentieth century there has been a great change in the lives of women.  A woman marrying at the end of the nineteenth century would probably have been in her middle twenties, and would be likely to have seven or eight children, of whom four or five lived till they were five years old.  By the time the youngest was fifteen, the mother would have been in her early fifties and would expect to live a further twenty years, during which chance and health made it unusual for her to get paid work.  Today women marry younger and have fewer children.  Usually a woman's youngest child will be fifteen when she is forty-five and can be expected to live another thirty-five years and is likely to take paid work until sixty.

This important change in women's life has only recently begun to have its full effect on women's economic position.  Even a few years ago most girls left school and took a full-time job.  However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it.  Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age, and though women marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born.  Very many more afterwards return to full or part-time work.  Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with the husband accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfactions of family life.

46.  We are told that in a family in about 1900        .

A.  few children died before they were five

B.  seven or eight children lived to be more than five

C.  the youngest child would be fifteen

D.  four or five children died when they were five

47. One reason why the woman of today may take a job is that she         .

A.  is younger when her children are old enough to look after themselves

B.  does not like children herself

C.  needn't worry about food for her children

D.  can be free from family duties when she reaches sixty

48.  According to the passage, it is now quite usual for women to         .

A.  stay at home after leaving school   B.  marry men younger than themselves

C.  start working again later in life      D.  marry while still at school

49. Many girls are now likely to        .

A.  give up their jobs for good after they are married

B.  leave school as soon as they can

C.  marry so that they can get a job

D.  continue working until they are going to have a baby

50.  Now a husband probably        .

A.  plays a greater part in looking after the children

B.  helps his wife by doing more of the housework

C.  feels dissatisfied with his part in the family

D.  takes a part-time job so that he can help in the home

The greatest recent changes have been in the lives of women. During the twentieth century there was an unusual shortening of the time of a woman’s life spent in caring for children. A woman marrying at the end of the 19th century would probably have been in her middle twenties, and would be likely to have seven or eight children, of whom four or five lived till they were five years old .By the time the youngest was fifteen, the mother would have been in her early fifties and would expect to live a further twenty years, during which custom, chance and health made it unusual for her to get paid work, Today women marry younger and have fewer children Usually a woman’s youngest child will be fifteen when she is forty-five and is likely to take paid work until retirement at sixty even while she has the care of children, her work is lightened by household appliances (家用电器) and convenience foods.

This important change in women’s way of life has only recently begun to have its full effect on women’s economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity and most of them took a full-time job However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age, and though women tend to marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Very many more after wads, return to full or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with both husband and wife accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfaction of family life, and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money and running the home, according to the abilities and interest of each them.

1．According to the passage, around the year1990 most women married__________.

A．at about twenty-five                                    B．in their early fifties

C．as soon as possible after they were fifteen     D．at any age from fifteen to forty-five

2．When she was over fifty, the late 19th century mother__________.

A．would expect to work until she died

B．was usually expected to take up paid employment

C．would he healthy enough to take up paid employment.

D．was unlikely to find a job even if she now likely.

3．Many girls, the passage says, are now likely to__________.

A．marry so that they can get a job                  

B．Leave school as soon as they can

C．give up their jobs for good after they are married

D．continue working until they are going to have a baby

4．According to the passage, it is now quite usual for women to__________.

A．stay at home after leaving school                  B．marry men younger than themselves

C．start working again later in life                     D．Marry while still at school