122. 123. 124. 125. 122. 123. 124. 125.
121.
122. 123. 124. 125.
Part 4: Read the following passage and choose the most suitable sentence from the list A to G for each gap from
126 to 130. There are two extra sentences which you do not need to use. Then answer the questions from
131 to 140 that follow.
The days when only men would hold management positions are over. (126) __________. Despite a slowing
economy, the number of women in management has risen to 16% in 1995, when it used to be less than 9%. One result
of this tendency is that women are now more accepted in these roles, and it has also been found that women in
management ease tension and gender conflict in the workplace.
A comprehensive nation-wide study of executive performance accidentally found that women scored higher in
almost all areas of performance evaluation, while compiling a large-scale analysis of 425 high-level managers. (127)
__________. They tend to work harder behind the scenes, while men prefer the glamorous, more aggressive side of
management. The masculine approach is more suited to the traditional style of business, where the boss would work
alone and simply dictate orders to his staff. Now, in the global information age, teamwork and partnership are
increasingly important, and these are exactly the areas where women excel.
(128) __________. It may be that the same qualities that make women more effective as managers are also
holding them back. Most women get stuck in jobs which involve human resources or public relations, while their skills
make them highly suitable for this type of work. However, the posts in these areas rarely lead to the top. Ambitious
women are frustrated by this, and many left to start their own companies. Another reason why women are overlooked for
promotion is that men are seen as more dynamic and competitive. Women tend to work for the good of the company as
a whole, while men are looking out for themselves. Some bosses may interpret the feminine approach as showing a lack
of vision. A woman will often adopt the strategy of making people think that they are the authors of new ideas, so that
they will co-operate with her plan. Although this is an effective way of achieving an objective, the result is that she will
lose credit for her creativity and innovation.
It is also surprising to learn that the greatest prejudice against female bosses comes from women themselves. In a
recent Gallup poll, 70% of men said that they would be prepared to accept a female boss, compared to 66% of women.
(129) __________. Since nearly all bosses used to be male, women feel more comfortable being supervised by a man
than by another woman. Some women also feel that a male boss is less demanding and he feels more relaxed about
being in a position of authority. Since women have to work harder to get to the top, they expect more of their staff when
they get there.
In conclusion, although more and more women are rising to higher positions, there are still many deep-rooted
prejudices and double standards that keep them from achieving the very top positions. Companies may say that they
value interpersonal skills, but they still look for a leader who is decisive and a risk taker. (130) __________. Although
women have proved that they are capable of leading a company, it seems that they will not get the chance to do so until
they are prepared to start their own businesses.
A. One possible reason for this is that of tradition
B. Areas where women are particularly effective are in supporting their staff, and sharing information
C. More and more women are moving into top jobs in the USA
D. Although women are not as decisive as men, they still play an important role in social work
E. Although the number of women in middle management is on the increase, there are still few
women running large companies
F. These qualities are perceived as being mainly masculine
G. These positions are held by females
Complete the following statements by circling A, B, C, or D.