Much of feminist thought has been about getting what men have traditionally had without examining the underlying assumption of whether it was worth having. Feminism never ended up with a life built around creative leisure, instead, women of talent and drive threw themselves into the labour pool, believing that work and its attendant income and power would affect the change of life and consciousness that would liberate them.
Can anything be done? Only if we''''re willing to change the way we''''ve been tricked into thinking. Most people now measure their lives primarily in units of currency--money saved and spent. I have a friend who''''ll travel halfway across London for a shoe sale, without factoring in how much of her precious time has been spent travelling. The most important truth I know is that ail we ever own is the time we were given on this earth. We need to seize it back. Now the future has arrived, and we have the means to do it--we just don''''t have the imagination.
1. Before the British were persuaded to realize themselves through hard work,
(A) they had little time left to themselves
(B) they had struggled hard for equal treatment
(C) they had enjoyed themselves more
(D) they had a strong desire to be set free from work
2. The sentence "Now Blair carries on the crusade" (para. 3) could be best illustrated by which of the following statements?
(A) Blair continues to promote the idea of achieving self-fulfillment through work.
(B) Blair opposes his people to be workaholic and has launched such a campaign.
(C) Blair sets a perfect example as a hard-working person for his people in the UK.
(D) Blair is most unwilling to have his people labouring as slaves.
3. What is the author''''s attitude towards women''''s joining the workforce?
(A) Supportive.
(B) Negative.
(C) Appreciative.
(D) Defensive.
4. What is the purpose of the author in mentioning her friend who travelled halfway across London for a shoe sale?
(A) To praise her friend for her persistence in pursuing what she wants.
(B) To introduce her friend to the general public.
(C) To give an urgent call for people to take life easy.
(D) To raise people''''s awareness as to how precious time is.
5. Which of the following is the most appropriate title for the passage?
(A) What''''s So Good about Hard Work?
(B) What''''d You Imagine for the Future?
(C) Work Makes Everyone Free,
(D)Seize Time Back for Your Own Sake.
Questions 6-10
"I delight in Buckingham Palace", said Queen Victoria, when she moved in three weeks after ascending to the throne. Today the 40-acre secluded garden contains specimen shrubs trees and a large lake. Eight to nine thousand people visit it during the annual garden parties.
It took George IV, on becoming King in 1820, and John Nash, Surveyor-general to George IV when he was Prince Regent, many years to turn the house into a sumptuous palace. Nash demolished the North and South wings and rebuilt them. He constructed Marble Arch as a grand entrance to the enlarged courtyard. As work continued, Nash let his costs run away with him. and Parliament complained. Joseph Hume, ml English politician and reformer fighting for financial retrenchment, said, "The Crown of England does not require such splendour. Foreign countries might indulge in frippery, but England ought to pride herself on her plainness and simplicity." Nevertheless, elegance reigned.
Queen Victoria was crowned in 1837. When she moved in, Buckingham Palace became, for the first time, the official London residence of Britain''''s sovereigns. There wasn''''t a room large enough for grand entertainments, so in 1853-55, Queen Victoria ordered the Ballroom built. 122 feet long, 60 feet wide and 45 feet high, it is, today, used for many events such as the State Banquet, the Diplomatic Reception, and memorial concerts. This is the site of Investitures, where the Queen (who was crowned in 1952) presents the recipients of British honours with their awards. During World War 11 a chapel, converted by Queen Victoria from Nash''''s conservatory, was bombed. Prince Philip oversaw its rebuilding as the Queen''''s Gallery, home to a rotating collection of art from the Royal Collection. The Gallery, currently in the process of renovation, will reopen in 2002 for the Queen''''s Golden Jubilee.
More than 600 rooms, including 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms comprise the castle''''s assets. But the "room" best known around the world is the Balcony where the Royal family'''' gathers on celebratory'''' and solemn occasions to be seen by'''' their subjects.
The Palace is more than a home for the Royals. It is the official administrative headquarters of the monarchy and contains the offices of their staff. It is the place where all Royal ceremonies and official banquets are held. Government ministers, top civil servants and heads of state visit to carry out their duties. It brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ''''working from home''''.
6. What was the result of Joseph Hume''''s fighting for financial retrenchment?
(A) He succeeded in cutting the budget of Nash''''s rebuilding work.
(B) His opposition turned out a failure and the palace was built with extravagance.
(C) He became Nash''''s strong opponent and they fought with each other since then.
(D) He came to fame as a well-known reformer for financial retrenchment.
7. According to the passage, which of the following are NOT supposed to be held in the Ballroom?
(A) Investitures.
(B) Government banquets.
(C) Religious services.
(D) Diplomatic receptions.
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