阅读理解。
For the first time the workforce has seen more women than men-a historic decline (下降) caused by long-
term changes in women's roles and lots of job losses for men during this decline.
Women hold 50.83% of the nation's 132 million jobs this month and they're gaining the vast majority of jobs
in the few parts of the economy that are growing, according to the most recent numbers from Mr. Hartman, a
workforce researcher. That's a record high for a measure that's been growing steadily for decades and speeding
during the decline. At the current speed, women will become a majority of workers next two months.
According to the report, women have struggled long and hard to get to this point, and the change reflects the
growing importance of women as salary earners, but it doesn't show full equality, because women work fewer
hours than men and hold more part-time jobs and earn 77% of what men make on average. Men still control
higher-paying positions.
Women have been a growing share of the once heavily male labor force for nearly a century, recording
shocking increases in events such as World War II. This time, the improvement came from a sharp decline that
has been cruel on male-controlled professions such as construction and manufacturing.
The only growing parts of the economy like health care, education and government have traditionally hired
mostly women. This kind of control has increased in the past because the money added by government has been
usually directed to education, health care and state and local government offices.
The increased number in local government's 14.6 million-person workforce is especially remarkable. Cities,
schools, water authorities and other government offices have cut 86,000 men from payrolls (工资名单) during
the decline, while adding 167,000 women, according to the research report.
Equality in workforce numbers reflects a long-term cultural change, says Maureen Honey, author of a book
about the government's efforts to persuade women to work outside the home during World War II. "The image
that men have to be the bread winner has changed," Maureen Honey says.
1. What happens to the workforce during this decline?
A. Women take most jobs in the economy.
B. Men take up the most important jobs.
C. A large number of men got unemployed.
D. Women have got full equality as men.
2. What does Mr. Hartman think of women working fewer hours than men?
A. It's because women have to do part-time jobs.
B. It's due to men's control of higher-paying jobs.
C. It reflects women's-financial importance in family.
D. It shows women haven't got their equal share yet.
3. During World War II, the women workforce _____.
A. increased sharply and obviously
B. decreased suddenly and quickly
C. took over the male-controlled jobs
D. made a record-high employment rate
4. The passage mainly explains the point that _____.
A. equality in workforce number is a cultural issue
B. women will soon become a majority of workers
C. women should not be limited at their home
D. the decline has perfectly changed the workforce
