The London Stock Exchange has been famous as a place for men only, and women used to be strictly forbidden to enter. But the world is changing day by day, and even the Stock Exchange, which seemed to be a men's castle, is gradually opening its doors to the other sex. On 16th November 1971, a great decision was taken. The Stock Exchange Council (the body of men that administers the Stock Exchange) decided that women should be allowed onto the new trading floor when it opened in 1973. But the "castle" had not been completely conquered. The first girls to work in 'the House" were not brokers or jobbers. They were neither allowed to become partners in stock broking firms, nor to be authorized dealers in stocks and shares. They were simply junior clerks and telephone operators.
Women have been trying to get into the Stock Exchange for many years. Several votes have been taken in "The House" to see whether the members would be willing to allow women to become members, but the answer has always been "No". There have been three refusals of this kind since 1967. Now women are admitted, although in a very junior capacity. Two forms of jobbers made an application to the Stock Exchange Council to be allowed to employ girl clerks. Permission was finally given. A member of the Stock Exchange explained after this news had been given, "The new floor is going to be different from the old one. All the jobbers will have their own stands, with space for a telephone and typewriters, therefore there will have to be typists and telephone operators. So women must be allowed in." This decision did not mean a very great victory in the war for equal rights for women. However, it was a step in the right direction. The Chairman of the new building will eventually lead to women being allowed to have full membership of the Stock Exchange. It is only a matter of time; it must happen.
- The London Stock Exchange is famous_______
- for its favorable location
- for its policy of opening its doors to women
- because it has been a place for men only
- because women are now beginning to enter its doors to work
- Several votes have been taken in 'The House"________
- to see if women were willing to become members
- to decide when women would be allowed into "The House"
- to find out whether the members were willing to allow .women to become members
- to decide when to allow women onto the new trading floor
- Which of the following is true
- Since 1973 women have been allowed to work with the London Stock Exchange.
- Women have always been refused participation in stock trading.
- Women were never officially allowed to enter the Stock Exchange.
- Men have been trying to get into the Stock Exchange.
- What is this article about
- Women's place in society.
- How the London Stock Exchange functioned in 1971.
- How women have been struggling for full membership of the Stock Exchange.
- How women were gradually allowed to work in the Stock Exchange.
核心词汇注释
castle n．城堡
conquer vt．征服，战胜，占领，克服
broker n．掮客，经纪人
jobber n．临时工，做散工者；批发商；股票经纪人
dealer n．经销商，商人
share n．共享，参与；一份，部分，份额；参股
vt．分享，均分，共有，分配
vi．分享
vote n．投票，选举；选票，选举权；表决，得票数
vi．投票，选举
vt．投票选举，投票决定，公认，<口>建议，使投票
refusal n．拒绝，推却：优先取舍权，优先取舍的机会
junior n．年少者，晚辈；下级，(年龄、职位等)较低者；大学三年级学生
adj．年少的：下级的；后进的
membership n．成员资格，成员人数
长难句剖析
The London Stock Exchange has been famous as a place for men only，and women used to be strictly forbidden to enter．
[结构分析]本句是个并列句。在前面的分句中，be famous as的意思是“作为……而出名”。
[参考译文]伦敦证券交易所作为一个只为男人开放，而女人在过去决不允许进入的地方一直都很出名。
The stock Exchange Council (the body of men that administers the Stock Exchange) decided that women should be allowed onto the new trading floor when it opened in 1973．
[结构分析]本句主干是The Stock Exchange Council…decided that．…括号中内容是对主语的解释。that引导的宾语从句接在谓语动词decided后。在这个宾语从句中含有一个由when引导的时间状语从句。
[参考译文]证券交易委员会(一个管理证券交易的男性团体)做出一个重要决定，那就是1973年开市时女性应该被允许进入交易所。
全文参考译文
作为一个只为男人开放，而女人在过去决不允许进入的地方，伦敦证券交易所一直都很有名。但世界也在逐渐地变化，即使是证券交易所，一座男人们的城堡，也正渐渐向异性敞开大门。证券交易委员会（一个管理证券交易的男性团体）于1971年11月16日做出一个重要决定，那就是1973年开市时女性应该被允许进入交易所。但是这个“城堡”还没有被完全征服。第一批在交易所里工作的女孩不是经纪人或股票经纪人。她们即不能成为证券经纪公司有股东，也不能成为经授权的股票和证券交易商。她们只是低等职员和电话接线员。
多年以来，女性一直在努力进入证券交易所。交易所内举行了几次投票表决，来看看成员们是否愿意允许女性的加入，可是答案总是“不”。自从1967年以来，就已遭到三次这样的反对。现在女性被允许进入，尽管在数量—上很少。两种股票经纪人向证券交易委员会申请允许雇佣女性职员。最终得到了批准。在消息发布后，一位委员会的成员解释说：“新的场地和旧的完全不同，以后所有的股票经纪人将会有自己的位置，有放置电话和打字机的空间。因此，就需要打字员和电话接线员。所以不得不允许女性进入。”这个决定并不意味着在女性争取平等权利的战争中取得了伟大的胜利。但是这是向正确的方向迈进了一步。新交易所的主席最终能够让女性取得股票交易的正式成员资格。这仅仅是时间问题，一定能够实现。
题目答案与解析
1．伦敦证券交易所因__________而著名。 [答案]C
A．它的好位置 B．它向女性开放的制度
C．它是男性的专属领地 D．女性开始进门工作
[解析]本题的依据是文章的第1句话has been famous as a place for men only。因此C项为正确答案。
2．在交易所内进行了几次投票，目的是为了________。 [答案]C
A．看看女性是否希望成为其会员 B．决定什么时候允许女性进入交易所
C．看看其成员是否愿意允许女性成为交易所成员
D．决定什么时候允许女性进入这个新的交易场所
[解析]本题的依据是第2段的第2句话…to see whether the members would be willing to allow，从中可知C项为正确答案。
3．下面哪一项是正确的 [答案]A
A．自从1973年，女性被允许在伦敦证券交易所工作。
B．女性以前总是被拒绝参加股票交易。
C．女性从来没有被正式允许进入股票交易领域。
D．男性曾经试图进入股票交易领域。
[解析]本题可参照第1段中间的一句话The Stock Exchange Council．．．1973，从中可知 A项为正确答案。
4．本文是关于什么的 [答案]D
A．女性的社会地位。 B．伦敦证券交易所是怎样在1971年成立的。
C．女性是怎样努力争取成为伦敦证券交易所正式成员的。
D．女性是如何一步一步被允许在伦敦证券交易所工作的。
[解析]从文中内容可知，A、B两个选项与文章无关，应首先排除。C项应排除，本文重点并不是讲述妇女如何斗争，如何争取进入证券交易所，而是讲述证券交易所的理事会怎样阻挠妇女进入证券交易所，但同时又不得不逐步退让，让妇女进入交易所工作。只有D项为正确答案。