Countries around the world celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8. The United Nations says the theme of this year is DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender (性别) Equality.
The UN says that from the earliest days of computing, women have contributed to information technology. But it says those contributions have been little recognized or valued. The international organization says 37 percentage of women do not use the internet. It also says 259 million fewer women than men have access to the internet. Yet, women make up very close to half the world’s population. The UN says women are largely underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematic careers. “Bringing women into technology results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality,” says the UN’s website.
For this year’s International Women’s Day, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement, “Let us work together to build a more inclusive, just, and prosperous world for women, girls, men, and boys everywhere.” The IWD has its roots in the social and labor movement in the United States. It began in New York City on March 8, 1857, when female workers marched in protest (抗议) of unfair working conditions and unequal rights in clothing factories. The workers called for a shorter workday and better pay, the National Archives says. On March of 1908, women workers again marched through New York City to protest child labor and poor working conditions, and demand women’s right to vote.
The first recorded celebration internationally was on March 19,1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. At that time, over a million people came out to support women’s rights. After World War II, several countries started to celebrate women’s day on March 8. Two years later, the UN officially announced that date as International Women’s Day in 1977. Some countries, including China, Russia and Uganda, also recognize it as a public holiday. Past UN celebrations have included the issues of climate change, rural women and HIV/AIDS.
13. Why does the UN focus on DigitALL in celebration of this year’s IWD?
A.People have attached less value to women’s contributions. |
B.People tend to ignore women’s role in international issues. |
C.Women account for a larger population of the world. |
D.Women have easier access to the internet than men. |
14. What is the advantage of bringing women into technology?
A.Finding creative solutions to gender equality. |
B.Developing innovation potential to satisfy women. |
C.Encouraging more women to take up technology. |
D.Supporting women’s rights through innovative approaches. |
15. Why does the author mention Antonio Guterres in paragrpha 3?
A.To comment on women’s positions in innovations. |
B.To state the purpose of celebrating IWD this year. |
C.To call for joint action in respecting women’s rights. |
D.To illustrate the origin of International Women’s Day. |
16. What mainly makes IWD an official international day?
A.The focus on the issues of world concerns. |
B.The worldwide efforts to build a better world. |
C.The official announcement of the day by the UN. |
D.The celebration of women’s achievements in computing. |