Section C
Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D ). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.57、Questions 57-66 are based on the following passage.
If the average woman makes 77% of what a man makes for equal work, maybe she should only pay 77% for the purchases she makes as well.
That's the idea behind a six-week campaign pioneered by Lean In DC, the local chapter (分会) of Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In .movement. The group convinced about a dozen local businesses to offer 23% discounts to customers on Tuesday, which is Equal Pay Day, as a way of raising awareness of the gender pay gap and highlighting the differences that can exist between men's and women's paychecks.
Equal Pay Day marks the symbolic point in the year when women's earnings catch up with their male peers'--that is, a woman would have to work from January 1, 2013 until April 8, 2014 to make what a man made in 2013 alone.
"Hearing those same old numbers every year is bound to cause some fatigue," says Madeline Meth, 24, the Lean In group's founder and president, whose day job is in media relations at the Center for American Progress. "That was the idea behind trying to do something different to raise awareness."
These local DC businesses--such as Boundary Road, Pizzeria Paradiso and Uber--agreed to offer the discount, though some are only doing so during certain hours, for certain items or via online-only deals.And in an interesting twist (花招) , the discount will be offered to both women and men. "It helps to stress that 23 percent really makes a difference," Meth says. "In the end, equal pay is not just a women's issue.It's a family issue and an economic issue, too."
The idea originated from Meth and her seven-member board, who are mostly twenty-something young women trying to advance their careers by following Sandberg's manifesto (宣言) . Their group, an umbrella organization for D. C.-area Lean In "circles," hosts monthly discussions, trainings and networking opportunities, Six weeks ago, they shared their idea with the national organization, which put them in contact with a few other local groups around the country. As a result, a handful of businesses in San Francisco and New Haven, Connecticut will also be offering Equal Pay Day deals.
In addition to raising awareness about the gender pay gap, Meth said the campaign gave her and her young team the chance to practice their negotiating skills and get more comfortable with making requests from businesses and political leaders. For instance, after seeing a segment on the Today Show about Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, they decided to ask the congresswoman if she'd be willing to stop by the happy hour they coordinated for Tuesday evening at the Capitol Hill location of Hank's Oyster Bar.
What's the purpose of Lean In DC's campaign on Equal Pay Day?
A.To help young women advance their careers.
B.To celebrate that women's earnings catch up with men's.
C.To call attention to women,s being paid less than men.
D.To make a request for more discounts for female customers.
58、 What does Meth think about the "numbers" (Line 1, ParA) 4. ?
A.People care little about them.
B.They seem no longer effective.
C.They should be updated
D.Memorizing them is tiring.
59、 What can we learn about the businesses that offer Equal Pay Day deals?
A.Not all businesses offer the discount in a full scope.
B.Not many businesses support this campaign.
C.Their discount sales are only restricted to the DC areA)
D.These businesses are all local but famous ones.
60、 Which of the following statements is TRUE of the Lean In DC?
A.Its members are all young women in the workplace.
B.It initiated the discount sales on Equal Pay Day.
C.It started Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In movement.
D.It holds various regular activities both for men and women.
61、 What have Meth and her team benefited from the campaign?
A.They will have a chance to dine with a congresswoman.
B.They have learned how to make a discount from businesses.
C.They feel more comfortable and happy with themselves.
D.They have improved their social competence.
62、Questions62-71 are based on the following passage.
The U.S. isn't the only country with an expanding waistline (腰围) . A new study from the European Society of Cardiology predicts that rates of obesity will increase in almost all European countries by 2030. And Ireland comes in as the fattest country, with a 47% projected obesity rate for both men and women.
To be fair, everywhere people are expanding. The prevalence of obesity worldwide nearly doubled between 1980 and 2008, according to the World Health Organization (WHO. , and although the U.S. is still leading the pack with obesity at 34.9%, European countries aren't lagging far behind with rates at roughly 23% for women and 20% for men.
Presented by Dr. Laura Webber at the EuroPRevent congress in Amsterdam, the study takes into account all available data on body mass index and obesity/overweight trends in the WHO's 53 Euro-region countries.
In those countries the study revealed little evidence of any plateau (稳定期) . Even as England's rate of increase today is less steep than it has been historically, levels continue to rise and will be much higher in 2030 than they were in 1993.
Examining both overweight and obese rates combined, the numbers become even more shocking.The prevalence of overweight and obesity in males is set to reach 75% in the U.K. and 80% in the Czech Republic, Spain, and Poland . In Ireland, the projected rate is an enormous 90% for men and 84% for women.
Considering that's almost everybody, Dr. Webber's comment that these results may be underestimates is all the more concerning. She points to the poor data available from many countries contributing to less certain predictions. The study also does not take into account the significant increase in childhood weight and obesity issues across Europe, with one in three 11-year-olds overweight or obese, according to the WHO.
In accounting for differences in projected levels (the lowest found in Belgium at 44% and the Netherlands at 47%) the authors mention the potential effects of "economic positioning" and "type of market." Ireland and the U.K., where obesity rates are highest, have unregulated markets similar to the U.S. Giant food companies work collectively to maximize profit-encouraging over-consumption. In areas with more controlled market economies, like the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and Finland, obesity levels are lower.
However, obesity is a complex disease. "The United Nations has called for a whole-of-society approach to preventing obesity and related diseases," Dr. Webber said "Policies that reduce obesity are necessary to avoid premature mortality and prevent economic strain on already overburdened health systems. The WHO has put in place strategies that aim to guide countries towards reducing obesity through the promotion of physical activity and healthy diets."
What can we infer from the study from the European Society of Cardiology?
A. Ireland may exceed the U.S. to be the fattest country.
B. Europe will have a higher obesity rate than the U.S.
C. Obesity will grow fast only in developed countries.
D. Obesity will rise faster among men than among women.
63、 What is the obesity/overweight trend in the U.K. likely to be?
A. Its obesity rate will increase slower than its overweight rate.
B. It will have an obesity rate only next to Ireland
C. Its obesity rate will increase slower than Finland's.
D. Its obesity rate increases slower than in the past.
64、 What does the author think about the findings of the study?
A. Some predictions are unreliable due to the poor datA)
B. The findings are alarming since the real situation may be worse.
C. Some predictions are shocking for differences in projected levels.
D. The findings are incomplete for the lack of data on children.
65、 What is one possible reason for the obesity problem in some countries?
A. The foods produced by food companies arc unhealthy.
B. Governments fail to encourage more physical exercise.
C. The market behaviors of food companies are poorly regulated
D. People are unaware of the potential effects of obesity.
66、 What can be the best solution to the obesity problem?
A. Make necessary policies.
B. Rely on the WHO's strategies.
C. Have a healthy diet.
D. Exert all possible efforts.