Engineering in the U.S. has long been a male-dominated profession. Fifty years ago, it looked like that might change.
In 1970, the percentage of women majoring in engineering was less than 1%. In 1979, that number was 9%. Many hoped women would continue to enter the field at the same rate. But that's not what happened. Today, only 21% of engineering majors are women, a number largely unchanged since 2000.
I am a historian who, along with my colleagues, surveyed 251 women engineers who graduated from college in the 1970s. These pioneers reflected on the challenges they faced-—and had advice for women entering the field today.
One survey taker explained, "The greatest challenge for me was continuing to believe in myself, when all the messages I was getting were that I would never be taken seriously or promoted or given raises at the same rate as men, who were clearly less qualified and not as smart as I was."
A chemical engineer who worked in manufacturing agreed, "You have to prove yourself just because you are female. And you have to work twice as hard!"
A civil engineer said, "We are ' women engineers.' People don't refer to a man as a ' man engineer'—he's an engineer. We are constantly reminded that we don't truly belong. "Another civil engineer stated," On many levels, you're never quite one of the group."
Women also talked about family caregiving responsibilities. A retired vice president from a major chemical company stated, "Young women engineers are on an equal footing until they have children, then they struggle to balance work and family-and compete with men who don't have the same household responsibilities."
But over the years things have changed a lot. Young women engineers are more accepted mostly because there are just more of them.
Many women engineers hailed the benefits of their chosen career. A program manager in manufacturing stated that engineering is the best degree. A mechanical engineer said, "It will give you the flexibility to do almost anything. It is also satisfying to see the effects of what you have done."
51. What does the passage say about the engineering profession in the United States?
A. It has seen a change in attitude towards women engineers since 1979.
B. It witnessed a significant increase in women engineers in the 1970s.
C. It has experienced the gradual weakening of male dominance.
D. It boasted the largest number of engineering majors in 2000.
52. What does one survey taker say was her greatest challenge?
A. Not to feel superior to less qualified male engineers.
B. Not to take seriously all the messages she was getting.
C. Not to think highly of her qualifications when promoted or given a pay raise.
D. Not to lose self-confidence though constantly discouraged or unfairly treated.
53. How do women engineers frequently feel according to the two civil engineers?
A) Disqualified on many levels. C) Overworked by their organizations.
B) Excluded from the group. D) Looked down upon by male colleagues.
54. What probably makes young women engineers more accepted nowadays?
A) Their success in gaining an equal footing. C) The change in their responsibilities.
B) Their ability to balance work and family. D) The increase in their number.
55. What can we conclude about many female engineers from the statement of a mechanical engineer?
A) They take great pride in their chosen career.
B) They have reaped the benefits of being flexible.
C) They enjoy doing engineering to the best degree.
D) They have proved capable of doing almost anything
答案解析：
由题干中的关键词“engineering profession in the United States”定位到第二段。第二段提到“1970年，工程专业女性占比不到1%;1979年，这一数字达到9%”，说明20世纪70年代女性工程师数量显著增加，所以选B。
由题干中的关键词“one survey taker”“greatest challenge”定位到第四段。第四段中受访者提到“最大的挑战是在所有信息都表明自己不会被认真对待、晋升或加薪时，仍要相信自己”，即尽管不断受挫或不公平对待，仍要保持自信，所以选D。
由题干中的关键词“two civil engineers”定位到第六段。第六段提到两位土木工程师均表示“我们被提醒不属于这个群体”“你永远不完全是这个群体的一员”，说明女性工程师常感到被排除在外，所以选B。
由题干中的关键词“young women engineers”“more accepted”定位到最后一段第二句。最后一段第二句提到“年轻女性工程师更被接受，主要是因为她们的人数增多了”，所以选D。
由题干中的关键词“mechanical engineer”定位到最后一段倒数第二句。最后一段倒数第二句提到机械工程师说“看到自己成果的影响是令人满足的”，结合前文“许多女性工程师称赞自己职业的益处”，说明她们对所选职业感到自豪，所以选A。
