Question

    Face-book chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg and Anna Maria Chavez, chief of American Girl Scouts, are leading a campaign to discourage the use of the word "bossy". Does the term destroy the confidence of young girls?

The campaign claims that terms like "bossy" are improperly applied to females, preventing schoolgirls from seeing themselves as future "leaders". From its first application, the word has been definitely connected more with women than with men. It first appeared in 1882, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, mentioning "a lady manager who was extremely bossy". As late as 2008, the word appeared in reference to females four times more often than males, claim the Ban Bossy campaigners. "To me, the reference is always in association with women," says Helen Trim, director of Fresh Minds. "I have three brothers and my family still call me 'bossy' today. " Her father is the only other family member who could be considered in that way, says Trim, but nobody would ever call him so.

Some educators recommend that the word should be reclaimed, rather than banned. "But the thing with 'bossy' is that there’s an infantile(幼稚的) element to it, says Sara Mills, professor at Sheffield University. "You think of ' bossy 'as being like a little kid who's claiming more than he has the right to claim. "

It's not just "bossy"under fire. "Pushy" is another target. The implication is that women shouldn't present themselves as powerful and confident, Mills suggests, which some women are willing to listen to and accept. Trim points out that many modern female business role models are able to be bosses without being labeled 'bossy'. And she rarely, if ever, hears the word used within her company. But she says that the damage may be done much earlier in a woman's life. "It does come about from those early teenage years. "she says. "I think it’s impossible to ban a word, but if people are replacing it with words like 'confidence' or ‘assertiveness', we would all be in a much better place. "

1.More evidence is provided to show "bossy" is more applied to females by __________  .

A.the Oxford English Dictionary B.the Ban Bossy campaigners

C.Helen Trim at Fresh Minds D.some experts in education

2.Trim's family still consider her bossy because__________ .

A.she is expected to lead in her family B.she is the boss of her company

C.she is a powerful and confident female D.her father considers her that way

3.The underlined part "under fire” most probably means____________.

A.certainly replaced B.wrongly applied

C.strongly criticized D.eagerly expected

4.How does the author sound when referring to the campaign against "bossy"?

A.Objective. B.Angry.

C.Doubtful D.Optimistic.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.C

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇应用文。文章介绍了脸书的首席执行官等人发动一项运动不让人们使用bossy一词。

1.

细节理解题。由第二段As late as 2008, the word appeared in reference to females four times more often than males, claim the Ban Bossy campaigners 可知, the Ban Bossy campaigners声称，直到2008年，这个词出现在女性身上的频率是男性的四倍。所以the Ban Bossy campaigners 提供了更多的证据表明"bossy"一词更多地用于女性。故选B项。

2.

推理判断题。由第二段"I have three brothers and my family still call me 'bossy' today. " Her father is the only other family member who could be considered in that way, says Trim 和倒数第一段The implication is that women shouldn't present themselves as powerful and confident可知，Trim有三个兄弟，她的家人今天还叫她“专横”。特里姆说，她的父亲是唯一可以被这样看待的家庭成员。这句话的意思是，女性不应该表现得强大和自信。所以通过反向推理可以判断出，Trim的家人仍然认为她专横是因为她是一个强大而自信的女性。故选C项。

3.

词句猜测题。由倒数第二段和最后段“You think of ' bossy 'as being like a little kid who's claiming more than he has the right to claim. "It's not just "bossy" under fire. "Pushy" is another target ” 可知，你认为“专横”就像一个孩子，他要求的比他有权得到得要多。”“专横”不仅仅是遭到强烈批评的目标，“强人所难的”也是另一个遭到强力批评的目标。所以通过上下文语境可以判断出，under fire 的意思为强烈批评。故选C项。

4.

推理判断题。由文章最后I think it’s impossible to ban a word, but if people are replacing it with words like 'confidence' or assertiveness', we would all be in a much better place.可知，作者认为禁止一个词是不可能的，但如果人们用“自信”或“果断”之类的词来代替它，这会更好的。所以通过关键词“impossible to ban a word, 'confidence' or assertiveness”可以判断出，作者在提到反对“专横”的运动时的态度是客观的。故选A项。