Women are on their way to holding more than half of all American jobs. The latest government report shows that their share of non-farm jobs nearly reached fifty percent in September, 2009. The job market continues to suffer the effects of last year's financial crash. On the one hand more women have entered the labor market over the years, and on the other hand the economic recession   has hit men harder than women. In October the unemployment rate for men was almost 11% compared to 8% for women. Industries that traditionally use lots of men have suffered deep cuts. For example, manufacturing   and building lost more jobs last month. But health care and temporary employment services have had job growth. Both of those industries employ high percentages of women. Thirty years ago, women earned sixty-two cents for every dollar that men earned. Now, for those who usually work full time, women earn about eighty percent of what men earn. And a recent study from the University of California, Davis, reveals that women hold fifty-one percent of well-paid management and professional jobs. Yet the study also shows that men still hold about nine out of every ten top positions at most companies. The results have remained largely unchanged for five years. Also, a new research paper in the journalSex Roleslooks at the experiences of women who are the main earners in their families. Rebecca Meisenbach at the University of Missouri in Columbia interviewed fifteen women. She found that they all value their independence and many enjoy having the power of control, though not all want it. But they even feel more pressure and worry. That is partly because of cultural expectations that working women should still take care of the children. Also, men who are not the main earners may feel threatened. Which of the following is a reason why women have a larger share of jobs? A) Women workers are paid less than men. B) More women now have higher education than men. C) The economic recession has affected men more than women. D) Industries that traditionally use lots of men now need more women.
C


Honesty,my mum always used to tell me,is the best policy.Of course,this didn't include her when she told me that if I didn't eat all my vegetables Father Christmas would find out and wouldn't give me any presents. But when it comes to medicine.I had assumed it was important to always be honest with my patients.After all,the doctor-patient relationship is based on trust,and therefore honesty is essential.Or so I thought. I had just started working in geriatrics .Mr. McMahon was brought in when his belly was found very swollen.I took a medical history from his daughter who'd accompanied him in the ambulance.She'd been his main carer for years.I stood looking at him as she gave a detailed history."Has he lost any weight recently?"I asked."Well,it's funny you should mention that,but yes."she said slowly.There was silence for a few moments."Why? What are you worried about?"she asked.I hesitated.She was obviously very involved in his care and it was only fair that I told her the truth."Well.we need to prove it's not cancer."I said and talked briefly about some of the tests I was going to order. Half an hour later, a nurse called me:"Mr. McMahon's daughter broke down--she said you told her he had cancer."My heart sank.By the time I arrived at the ward,my consultant was already there,explaining that we still had to run lots of tests and that it was by no means confirmed that he had cancer.I stood silently at the end of the bed.My consultant was obviously angry with me and as we left Mr. McMahon,she turned to me."Why on earth did you do that?"she asked in disbelief.I looked at her and bit my lip."She asked me what I was worried about and I told her."I said,hanging my head."And give her more to worry about?"replied my consultant."You don't say the word'cancer'until it's confirmed.Even if you suspect it,think very carefully before you tell people." As it turned out, it wasn't cancer.But I did learn that when someone is stressed and worried about their loved one they're sometimes selective in what they hear and as a... The author's consultant was angry with him because   _   . A) he told the daughter what he suspected B) he delayed running the necessary tests C) he failed to confirm the patient's disease D) he forgot what the consultant had advised
A


Q: For thousands of years humans have used herbs , roots, and other things from nature to cure disease. Scientists looking for new cures often visit traditional healers. They find out what plants are used in healing. Then they look at what the plant contains. They find the active ingredient , which is the chemical in the plant that works to heal. Many of the drugs we use, including aspirin, have come from these natural medicines. In recent years, many people in the US have taking what are legally known as dietary supplements . They may be vitamins or minerals. They may be herbs that help with health problems, such as depression. Some of them are teas. Others are capsules or tablets. They are sold in natural food stores, drug stores, and groceries. Most people think that because these products are natural they are also safe. This is not always true. There are many plants that are poisonous. There are others that have bad side effects. The New England Journal of Medicine publishes medical research. A recent edition called for the government to  _ dietary supplements. Several doctors wrote to the Journal and told of bad experiences people have had with dietary supplements. Dietary supplements aren't tested in the same way as drugs. There is not always proof that the supplement really does what it is supposed to do. There is also a problem with purity of the supplements. Supplements have been found to contain things that are bad for the body. For example, the California Department of Health found that of 260 herbs grown in China, one third contained heavy metals. These are minerals such as lead and mercury . They are very poisonous, even in tiny amounts. The scientists study the cures from the healers in order to   _  . A) find out if the plant is poisonous B) find out what in the plant works to cure disease C) look for aspirin in the plant D) make sure that the plant can cure disease
A: B


(Q).
For a stay-at-home mom, a computer with an Internet connection can truly be a lifeline . When diapers and baby talk become just too much, adult talk is just a click away. But for some moms, the attraction of the online world becomes too strong to resist  and instead of being an occasional thing, it becomes an addiction . Coleen Moore of the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery says she is seeing a growing number of young stay-at -home moms for whom blogs and social networking have become a passion, which will harm their real-world lives. Now, Internet addiction is not officially recognized as a mental disorder. But a recent survey showed 14 percent of Internet users find it hard to stay away from their computers for several days at a time, and that 8 percent use the Web to escape problems. Considering this, it is probably just a matter of time before it is. What drives a mom to the Internet is not different from what drives an alcoholic  to drink: an empty place that needs filling. "In addiction treatment, we talk about the fact that there's a void ,"says Moore. "Whatever that void may be -- whether it's emotional, spiritual, physical--we're trying to fill it." So, how can you find the void? A journal tracking when and why you go online and what you may be avoiding when you do so can be helpful in finding it out. But what makes Internet dependence special is the fact that usually it is not just a way to escape the tiring parenting or make a connection with others, but also a way to make a statement and be heard. If a mom wants to get rid of Internet addiction, she should   _  . A) talk to online friends B) try to fill the empty space in life C) create a new online name D) ask an alcoholic for some advice
(A).

B