It is not often realized that women held a high place in southern European societies in the 10th and 11th centuries. As a wife, the woman was protected by the setting up of a dowry or decorum. Admittedly, the purpose of this was to protect her against the risk of desertion, but in reality its function in the social and family life of the time was much more important. The decorum was the wife's right to receive a tenth of all her husband's property. The wife had the right to withhold consent, in all transactions the husband would make. And more than just a right: the documents show that she enjoyed a real power of decision, equal to that of her husband: In no case do the documents indicate any degree of difference in the legal status of husband and wife.

The wife shared in the management of her husband's personal property, but the opposite was not always tree. Women seemed perfectly prepared to defend their own inheritance against husbands who tried to exceed their rights, and on occasion they showed a fine fighting spirit. A ease in point is that of Mafia Vivas, a Catalan-woman of Barcelona. Having agreed with her husband Miro to sell a field she had inherited, for the needs of the household, she insisted on compensation. None being offered, she succeeded in dragging her husband to the scribe to have a contract duly drawn up assigning her a piece of land from Miro's personal inheritance. The unfortunate husband was obliged to agree, as the contract says, "for the sake of peace." Either through the dowry or through being hot-tempered, the Catalan wife knew how to win herself, within the context of the family, a powerful economic position.

Could a husband sell his wife's inheritance?

A．No, under no circumstances.

B．Yes, whenever he wished to.

C．Yes, if his father-in-law agreed,

D．Yes, if she agreed.

It is not often realized that women held a high place in southern European societies in the 10th and 11th centuries. As a wife, the woman was protected by the setting up of a dowry or decimum. Admittedly, the purpose of this was to protect her against the risk of desertion, but in reality its function in the social and family life of the time was much more important. The decimum was the wife's right to receive a tenth of all her husband's property. The wife had the right to withhold consent, in all transactions the husband would make. And more than just a right: the documents show that she enjoyed a real power of decision, equal to that of her husband, in no case do the documents indicate any degree of difference in the legal status of husband and wife. The wife shared in the management of her husband's personal property, but the opposite was not always true. Women seemed perfectly prepared to defend their own inheritance against husbands who tried to exceed their rights, and on occasion they showed a fine fighting spirit. A case in point is that of Maria Vivas, a Catalanwoman of Barcelona. Having agreed with her husband Miro to sell a field she had inherited, for the needs of the household, she insisted on compensation. None being offered, she succeeded in dragging her husband to the scribe to have a contract duly drawn up assigning her a piece of land from Miro's personal inheritance. The unfortunate husband was obliged to agree, as the contract says, "for the sake of peace". Either through the dowry or through being hot-tempered, the Catalan wife knew how to win herself, within the context of the family, a powerful economic position.

Could a husband sell his wife's inheritance?

A．No, under no circumstances.

B．Yes, whenever he wished to.

C．Yes, if his father-in-law agreed.

D．Yes, if she agreed.

It is not often realized that women held a high place in southern European societies in the 10th and 11th centuries. As a wife, the woman was protected by the setting up of a dowry or decorum. Admittedly, the purpose of this was to protect her against the risk of desertion, but in reality its function in the social and family life of the time was much more important. The decorum was the wife' s right to receive a tenth of all her husband' s property. The wife had the right to withhold con sent, in all transactions the husband would make. And more than just a right: the documents show that she enjoyed a real power of decision, equal to that of her husband: In no case do the documents indicate any degree of difference in the legal status of husband and wife.

The wife shared in the management of her husband' s personal property, but the opposite was not always true. Women seemed perfectly prepared to defend their own inheritance against husbands who tried to exceed their rights, and on occasion they showed a fine fighting spirit. A case in point is that of Mafia Vivas, a Catalan-woman of Barcelona. Having agreed with her husband Miro to sell a field she had inherited, for the needs of the household, she insisted on compensation. None being offered, she succeeded in dragging her husband to the scribe to have a contract duly drawn up assigning her a piece of land from Miro' s personal inheritance. The unfortunate husband was obliged to agree, as the contract says, "for the sake of peace." Either through the dowry or through being hot tempered, the Catalan wife knew how to win herself, within the context of the family, a powerful economic position.

Could a husband sell his wife' s inheritance?

A．No, under no circumstances.

B．Yes, whenever he wished to.

C．Yes, if his father-in-law agreed.

D．Yes, if she agreed.

Section B

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice.

It is not often realized that women held a high place in southern European societies in the 10th and 11th centuries. As a wife, the woman was protected by the setting up of a dowry or decimum. Admittedly, the purpose of this was to protect her against the risk of desertion, but in reality its function in the social and family life of the time was much more important. The decimum was the wife's right to receive a tenth of all her husband's property. The wife had the right to withhold consent, in all transactions the husband would make. And more than just a right: the documents show that she enjoyed a real power of decision, equal to that of her husband. In no case do the documents indicate any degree of difference in the legal status of husband and wife.

The wife shared in the management of her husband's personal property, but the opposite was not al- ways true. Women seemed perfectly prepared to defend their own inheritance against husbands who tried to exceed their rights, and on occasion they showed a fine fighting spirit. A case in point is that of Maria Vivas, a Catalan woman of Barcelona. Having agreed with her husband Miro to sell a field she had inherited for the needs of the household, she insisted on compensation. None being offered, she succeeded in dragging her husband to the scribe to have a contract duly drawn up assigning her a piece of land from Miro's personal inheritance. The unfortunate husband was obliged to agree, as the contract says, "for the sake of peace." Either through the dowry or through being hot-tempered, the Catalan wife knew how to win herself, within the context of the family, a powerful economic position.

A decimum was ______.

A．the wife's inheritance from her father

B．a gift of money to the new husband

C．a written contract

D．the wife's right of having 10 percent of her husband's property

It is not often realized that women【1】a high place in southern European societies in the 10th and 11th centuries. As a【2】, the woman was protected by the setting up of a dowry or decimum.【3】, the purpose of this was to protect her against the risk of desertion, but in【4】its function in the social and family life of the time was much more important. The decimum was the wife's right to receive a tenth of all her husband's【5】.

The wife had the right to withhold consent, in all transactions the husband would【6】.

And more than just a right: the documents show that she【7】a real power of decision, equal to that of her husband.【8】do the documents indicate any【9】of difference in the legal【10】of husband and wife.

The wife shared【11】the management of her husband's personal property, but the【12】was not always true. Women seemed【13】prepared to defend their own inheritance【14】husbands who tried to exceed their rights, and on【15】They showed a fine fighting spirit. A case【16】is that Maria Vivas, a Catalan woman of Barcelona. Having agreed【17】her husband Miro to sell a field she had 【18】for the needs of the household, she insisted on compensation. None being offered, she succeeded in dragging her husband to the scribe to have a【19】duly drawn up assigning her a piece of land from【20】's personal inheritance.

(1)

A．realized

B．stayed

C．upheld

D．held

How to Face Death

It is often observed that the aged spend much time thinking and talking about their past lives, rather than about the future. These reminiscences (回憶) are not simply random or trivial memories, (51) is their purpose merely to make conversation. The old person's recollections of the past help to (52) an identity that is becoming increasingly fragile (脆弱的): (53) any role that brings respect or any goal that might provide orientation to the future, the individual mentions their past as a reminder to listeners, that here was a life (54) living. (55) , the memories form. part of a continuing life (56) , in which the old person (57) the events and experiences of the years gone by and reflects on the overall meaning of his or her own almost completed life.

As the life cycle (58) to its close, the aged must also learn to accept the reality of their own impending (即將發生的) death. (59) this task is made difficult by the fact that death is almost a (60) subject in the United States. The mere discussion of death is often regarded as (61) As adults many of us find the topic frightening and are reluctant to think about it and certainly not to talk about it (62) the presence of someone who is dying. Death has achieved this taboo (63) only in the modern industrial societies. There seems to be an important reason for our reluctance to (64) the idea of death. It is the very fact that death remains (65) our control; it is almost the only one of the natural processes that is so.

(51)

A．so

B．even

C．nor

D．hardly

It is often observed that the aged spend much time thinking and talking about their past lives,【71】about the future. These reminiscences are not simply random or trivial memories,【72】is their purpose merely to make conversation. The old person's recollections of the past help to【73】an identity that is becoming increasingly fragile:【74】any role that brings respect or any goal that might provide【75】to the future, the individual mentions his past as a reminder to listeners, that here was a life【76】living.【77】, the memories form. part of a continuing life【78】, in which the old person【79】the events and experiences of the years gone by and【80】on the overall meaning of his or her own almost completed life.

As the life cycle【81】to its close, the aged must also learn to accept the reality of their own impending (即將發生的) death.【82】this task is made difficult by the fact that death is almost a【83】subject in the United States. The mere discussion of death is often regarded as【84】. As adults many of us find the topic frightening and are【85】to think about it—and certainly not to talk about it【86】the presence of someone who is dying. Death has achieved this taboo【87】only in the modem industrial societies. There seems to be an important mason for our reluctance to【88】the idea of death. It is the very fact that death remains【89】our control; it is almost the only one of the natural processes【90】is so.

(41)

A．better than

B．rather than

C．less than

D．other than

It is often observed that the aged spend much time thinking and talking about their past lives, rather than about the future. These reminiscences are not simply random or trivial memories, (1)_____ is their purpose merely to make conversation. The old person's recollections of the past help to (2)_____ an identity that is becoming increasingly fragile: (3)_____ any role that brings respect or any goal that might provide (4)_____ to the future, the individual mentions their (5)_____ as a reminder to listeners, that here was a life (6)_____ living (7)_____, the memories form. part of a continuing life (8)_____, in which the old person (9)_____ the events and experiences of the years gone by and (10)_____ on the overall meaning of his or her own almost completed life.

As the life cycle (11)_____ to its close, the aged must also learn to accept the reality of their own impending death. (12)_____ this task is made difficult by the fact that death is almost a (13)_____ subject in the United States. The mere discussion of death is often regarded as (14)_____. As adults, many of us find the topic frightening and are (15)_____ to think about it and certainly not to talk about it (16)_____ the presence of someone who is dying. Death has achieved this taboo (17)_____ only in the modern industrial societies. There seems to be an important reason for our reluctance to (18)_____ the idea of death. It is the very fact that death remains (19)_____ our control; it is almost the only one of the natural processes (20)_____ is so.

Notes: reminiscence n.回憶。fragile adj.脆弱的。impending adj.即將發生的。

A．so

B．even

C．nor

D．hardly