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Some futurologists have assumed that the vast upsurge of women in the workforce may portend a rejection of marriage. Many women, according to this hypothesis, would rather work than marry. The converse of this concern is that the prospects of becoming a multi-paycheck household could encourage marriages. In the past, only the earnings and financial prospects of the man counted in the marriage decision. Now, however, the earning ability of a woman can make her more attractive as a marriage partner. Data show that economic downturns tend to postpone marriage because the parties cannot afford to establish a family or are concerned about rainy days ahead. As the economy rebounds, the number of marriages also rises.
Coincident with the increase in women working outside the home is the increase in divorce rates. Yet, it may be wrong to jump to any simple cause鄄and鄄effect conclusions. The impact of a wife’s work on divorce is no less cloudy than its impact on marriage decisions. The realization that she can be a good provider may increase the chances that a working wife will choose divorce over an unsatisfactory marriage. But the reverse is equally plausible. Tensions grounded in financial problems often play a key role in ending a marriage. Given high unemployment, inflationary problems, and slow growth in real earnings, a working wife can increase household income and relieve some of these pressing financial burdens. By raising a family’s standard of living, a working wife may strengthen her family’s financial and emotional stability.
Psychological factors also should be considered. For example, a wife blocked from a career outside the home may feel caged in the house. She may view her only choice as seeking a divorce. On the other hand, if she can find fulfillment through work outside the home, work and marriage can go together to create a stronger and more stable union.
Also, a major part of women’s inequality in marriage has been due to the fact that, in most cases, men have remained the main breadwinners. With higher earning capacity and status occupations outside of the home comes the Capacity to exercise power within the family. A working wife may rob a husband of being the master of the house. Depending upon how the couple reacts to these new conditions, it could create a stronger equal partnership or it could create new insecurities.
36. The word “portend” (Sentence 1, Para. 1) is closest in meaning to “________”.
[A] defy [B] signal
[C] suffer from [D] result from
37. It is said in the passage that when the economy slides， ________.
[A] men would choose working women as their marriage partners
[B] more women would get married to seek financial security
[C] even working women would worry about their marriages
[D] more people would prefer to remain single for the time being
38. If women find fulfillment through work outside the home, ________.
[A] they are more likely to dominate their marriage partners
[B] their husbands are expected to do more housework
[C] their marriage ties can be strengthened
[D] they tend to put their career before marriage
39. One reason why women with no career may seek a divorce is that ________.
[A] they feel that they have been robbed of their freedom
[B] they are afraid of being bossed around by their husbands
[C] they feel that their partners fail to live up to their expectations
[D] they tend to suspect their husbands’ loyalty to their marriage
40. Which of the following statements can best summarize the author’s view in the passage?
[A] The stability of marriage and the divorce rate may reflect the economic situation of the country.
[B] Even when economically independent, most women have to struggle for real equality in marriage.
[C] In order to secure their marriage women should work outside the home and remain independent.
[D] The impact of the growing female workforce on marriage varies from case to case.
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