HARD WORK
Many women from Saudi Arabia are annoyed that occidental observers
often criticize the inadequacies of their country and concentrate on questions
of sexual segregation, but can't see the real problems that women themselves
consider far more frustrating, such as the veiling or the prohibition against
their driving.
Gihan Ramadan, in a commentary published by the daily Arab News, said Saudi women were more worried about finding good work in a hard jobs market than about wearing a veil. She then criticized the barriers that prevent Saudi women from putting their education and energy to work. Only six per cent of women are categorized as workers, many in the fields of teaching, nursing, medicine, or charity work. Although many women do really need to work, there are also many restrictions on their participation in various professions.
Many people say tradition and culture, not Islam, maintain these restrictions, and that religion really supports women's rights both at home and at work. Muslims say their sacred book, the Koran, established women economic and social rights long before occidental women got them. Islam, they say, assures women's own control of their family possessions and gives them property rights.
Gihan Ramadan, in a commentary published by the daily Arab News, said Saudi women were more worried about finding good work in a hard jobs market than about wearing a veil. She then criticized the barriers that prevent Saudi women from putting their education and energy to work. Only six per cent of women are categorized as workers, many in the fields of teaching, nursing, medicine, or charity work. Although many women do really need to work, there are also many restrictions on their participation in various professions.
Many people say tradition and culture, not Islam, maintain these restrictions, and that religion really supports women's rights both at home and at work. Muslims say their sacred book, the Koran, established women economic and social rights long before occidental women got them. Islam, they say, assures women's own control of their family possessions and gives them property rights.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT.
USE YOUR OWN WORDS.1. Why does Gihan Ramadan criticize occidental observers? (1 point per answer)
2. What is, according to the text, the main aspiration of Saudi women?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer)
3. According to the text, sexual segregation is the most frustrating problem for Saudi women.
4. Saudi women are more worried about wearing a veil than working.
5. Saudi women cannot enter every professional field.
6. According to many people´s opinion, restrictions affecting Saudi women are encouraged by religion.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7. Find in the text the word that has the following definition: (0.25
points)"That must be treated with respect because it is important in a religion " (adjective)
8. Give one opposite for ANNOYED (adjective) (line 1). (0.25 points)
9. Complete the series with another word of the same semantic field: (0.25 points)
TEACHER, DOCTOR, ENGINEER, …
10. Give and adjective with the same root as EDUCATION (noun) (line 6): (0.25 points)
11. Turn the following sentence into reported speech: (0.5 points)
Gihan exclaimed: "We have had too many prohibitions."
12. Complete the following sentence: (0.5 points)
If Saudi women had less restrictions…
13. Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make changes if necessary:(0.5 points)
Occidental observers are against the veiling of women in Arabia. The veiling is an example of sexual segregation.
14. Give a question for the underlined words: (0.5 points)
Only six per cent of women work as teachers.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
15. WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS.
SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.a) Equal opportunities for men and women at work.
b) What is your favourite profession? Give reasons.
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