The greatest recent changes have ,been in the lives of women ,During the twentieth century there was an unusual shortening1 of the time of a womans 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 id 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 retirement2 at sixty Even while she has the care of children ,her work is lightened3 by household appliances4 （家电）and convenience foods.
This important change in womens 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 leas until shortly5 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 e-qually in providing the money and running the home ,according6 to the abilities and inter-est 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．We are told that in an average family about1990 .
A．many children died before they were five
B．the youngest child would be fifteen
C．seven of eight children lived to be more than five
D．four of five children died when they were five.
3．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 employment7
C．would he healthy enough to take up paid employment.
D．was unlikely8 to find a job even if she now likely.
4．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
5．According to the passage ,it is now quite usual for women to .
A．stay at hone after leaving school
B．marry men younger than themselves
C．start working again later in life
D．Marry while still at school
KEY: 1－5 ADDDC
