A
Every March, the country celebrates the achievements of women in American history. Even though these achievements go back a long way, most schools didn’t start focusing on women pioneers and their achievements until recently. Today, most schools teach kids about the many contributions women have made to our country. How did this change come about?
On March 19, 1911, a German woman named Clara Zetkin organized the very first International Women’s Day. Inspired by American working women, the event took on the causes of peace in an effort to end World War I as well as women’s rights. However, people’s interest in International Women’s Day still dwindled over the years. It gained momentum (势头) again in the 1960’s when the women’s movement caused women to wonder why they weren’t included in the history books.
By the 1970s, more female historians began to look back at women’s contributions in history. In 1978, a California school district started Women’s History Week to promote the teaching of women’s history. School officials picked the week of March 8 to include International Women’s Day. It was so popular that, in 1981, Congress passed a resolution, making the week a celebration for the entire country. The concept of studying women’s history continued to grow in popularity. In 1987, a group of women asked Congress to expand the celebration. That same year, Congress declared the entire month of March National Women’s History Month.
Today, schools and communities across the country celebrate the month with special lessons and activities designed to teach the ways women have helped shape the US. The women who have worked hard to make Women’s History Month a reality would like to see women’s history studied all year, not just every March. In 1996, the National Women’s History Museum was founded. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the various historic contributions of women. The organization is working with Congress to open a permanent (永久的) museum site in Washington, D.C.
1. What was ignored in school education in the past according to the text?
A. Popularizing American history.
B. Introducing the history of WWI
C. Sharing Americans’ global contributions.
D. Teaching about American women’s achievements.
2. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “dwindled” in paragraph 2?
A. Started. B. Survived. C. Decreased. D. Completed.
3. What is mainly discussed in Paragraph 3?
A. How Women’s History Month became a reality.
B. How women were included in the history books.
C. Why women’s history should be taught at school.
D. Why women’s contributions should be honored in history.
【答案】1. D 2. C 3. A
【解析】
这是一篇夹叙夹议的文章。文章主要介绍了“妇女历史月”的由来以及现状。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据第一段Even though these achievements go back a long way, most schools didn’t start focusing on women pioneers and their achievements until recently.（尽管这些成就由来已久，但大多数学校直到最近才开始关注女性先锋及其成就。）由此可知，过去学校教育中忽略了教授美国女性的成就。故选D。
【2题详解】
词义猜测题。下文It gained momentum (势头) again in the 1960’s when the women’s movement caused women to wonder why they weren’t included in the history books.说20世纪60年代，当妇女运动使妇女们想知道为什么她们没有被载入史册时，它再次获得了动力。由此可知However, people’s interest in International Women’s Day still dwindled over the years.意思是然而，人们对国际妇女节的兴趣仍然逐年减少。“dwindled”意思是减少，A. Started.开始； B. Survived.幸存；C. Decreased.减少；D. Completed.完成，故选C。
【3题详解】
主旨大意题。That same year, Congress declared the entire month of March National Women’s History Month.（同年，国会宣布整个三月为全国妇女历史月）是第三段的主题句，结合第三段内容，可知这一段主要讲了妇女历史月是如何变成现实的，故选A。
