第一段
Progressives often support diversity mandates as a path to equality and a way to level the playing field. But all too often such policies are an insincere form of virtue-signaling that benefits only the most privileged and does little to help average people.
单词&词组
progressive n. 进步人士；改革派
diversity n. 多样性；多样化
mandate n. ［给某人或机构的］命令，训令
insincere a. 不诚恳的；虚伪的
privileged a. 有特权的；受特别优待的
本段翻译
进步人士通常支持多样性授权，作为实现平等和公平竞争环境的途径。但这些政策往往是一种不真诚的美德，只对最有特权的人有利，对普通人几乎没有帮助。
第二段
A pair of bills sponsored by Massachusetts state Senator Jason Lewis and House Speaker Pro Tempore Patricia Haddad, to ensure “gender parity” on boards and commissions, provide a case in point.
单词&词组
sponsor v. 倡议，提交（法案等）
Speaker Pro Tempore 临时议长
parity n. 平等，对等
a case in point 范例，例证
本段翻译
马萨诸塞州参议员杰森·刘易斯和众议院议长帕特里夏·哈德德（Patricia Haddad）赞助的一对法案，以确保董事会和委员会的“两性平等”，这一点提供了一个例子。
第三段
Haddad and Lewis are concerned that more than half the state-government boards are less than 40 percent female. In order to ensure that elite women have more such opportunities, they have proposed imposing government quotas. If the bills become law, state boards and commissions will be required to set aside 50 percent of board seats for women by 2022.
单词&词组
quota n. 配额，定额
set aside 留出
本段翻译
哈达德和刘易斯担心超过一半的州政府董事会中女性比例不足40%。为了确保精英女性有更多这样的机会，他们提议实行政府配额制。如果这些法案成为法律，州议会和委员会将被要求在2022年前为女性留出50%的董事席位。
第四段
The bills are similar to a measure recently adopted in California, which last year became the first state to require gender quotas for private companies. In signing the measure, California Governor Jerry Brown admitted that the law, which expressly classifies people on the basis of sex, is probably unconstitutional.
单词&词组
expressly ad. 明确地；故意地
unconstitutional a. 违背宪法的
本段翻译
这些法案与加州最近通过的一项措施类似，去年加州成为第一个要求私营企业性别配额的州。在签署这项措施时，加州州长杰瑞·布朗承认，这项法律，其中明确地把人们的性别分类，可能是违宪的。
第五段
The US Supreme Court frowns on sex-based classifications unless they are designed to address an “important” policy interest, Because the California law applies to all boards, even where there is no history of prior discrimination, courts are likely to rule that the law violates the constitutional guarantee of “equal protection”.
单词&词组
frown on 不赞成
prior a. 先前的，较早的
violate v. 违反
本段翻译
美国最高法院不赞成基于性别的分类，除非这些分类旨在解决“重要”的政策利益，因为加州法律适用于所有董事会，即使在过去没有歧视历史的地方，法院也可能裁定该法律违反了宪法对“平等保护”的保障。
第六段
But are such government mandates even necessary? Female participation on corporate boards may not currently mirror the percentage of women in the general population, but so what?
单词&词组
mirror v. 反映，体现
本段翻译
但是，这样的政府命令是必要的吗？女性在公司董事会中的参与程度目前可能无法反映出女性在总人口中所占的比例，但那又如何呢？
第七段
The number of women on corporate boards has been steadily increasing without government interference. According to a study by Catalyst, between 2010 and 2015 the share of women on the boards of global corporations increased by 54 percent.
单词&词组
interference n. 干涉，干预
本段翻译
在没有政府干预的情况下，公司董事会的女性人数一直在稳步增加。根据Catalyst的一项研究，2010年至2015年间，全球公司董事会中女性的比例增加了54%。
第八段
Requiring companies to make gender the primary qualification for board membership will inevitably lead to less experienced private sector boards. That is exactly what happened when Norway adopted a nationwide corporate gender quota.
单词&词组
qualification n. 资历，资格
本段翻译
要求公司将性别作为董事会成员资格的首要条件，将不可避免地导致私营部门董事会经验不足。这正是挪威通过全国性的企业性别配额时发生的事情。
第九段
Writing in The New Republic, Alice Lee notes that increasing the number of opportunities for board membership without increasing the pool of qualified women to serve on such boards has led to a “golden skirt” phenomenon, where the same elite women scoop up multiple seats on a variety of boards.
单词&词组
pool n. （统称）备用人员
本段翻译
爱丽丝•李在《新共和国》撰文指出，在增加董事会成员机会的同时，却没有增加合格女性在此类董事会任职的人才库，导致了一种“金裙子”现象，即同一批精英女性在各种董事会上抢走多个席位。
第十段
Next time somebody pushes corporate quotas as a way to promote gender equity, remember that such policies are largely self-serving measures that make their sponsors feel good but do little to help average women.
单词&词组
equity n. 公平；公正
self-serving a. 谋私利的，自利式的
本段翻译
下一次，当有人把公司配额作为促进性别平等的一种方式时，请记住，这些政策基本上都是自私自利的措施，让他们的赞助者感觉良好，但对普通女性帮助不大。
五道题
31. The author believes hat the bills sponsored by Lewis and Haddad will
[A] help little to reduce gender bias.
[B] pose a threat to the state government.
[C] raise women’s position in politics.
[D] greatly broaden career options.
32. Which of the following is true of the California measure?
[A] It has irritated private business owners.
[B] It is welcomed by the Supreme Court.
[C]It may go against the Constitution.
[D] It will settle the prior controversies.
33. The author mentions the study by Catalyst to illustrate
[A] the harm from arbitrary board decision.
[B] the importance of constitutional guarantees.
[C] the pressure on women in global corporations.
[D] the needlessness of government interventions.
34. Norway’s adoption of a nationwide corporate gender quota has led to
[A] the underestimation of elite women’s role.
[B] the objection to female participation on bards.
[C] the entry of unqualified candidates into the board.
[D] the growing tension between Labor and management.
35. Which of the following can be inferred from the text?
[A] Women’s need in employment should be considered
[B] Feasibility should be a prime concern in policymaking.
[C] Everyone should try hard to promote social justice.
[D] Major social issues should be the focus of legislation.
参考答案
ACDCB
答案解析
31、推断题。有第一段末句，说明只有最特权的人受益，而对普通人的帮助却很小，故选项[A]正确。
32、替换题。定位第四段末句，说明加利福尼亚州州长杰里·布朗在签署该措施时承认，该法律明确将性别分类，这可能违反宪法。故与选项[C]相符。
33、推断题。由第七段首句可知，在没有政府干预的情况下，公司董事会中的女性人数一直在稳步增长。之后举了Catalyst的例子来支持这个观点。故选项[D]正确。
34、推断题。定位关键词Norway到第八段末尾，往前可以发现挪威施行性别配额所承担的结果：要求公司将性别作为董事会成员的主要资格，将不可避免地导致经验不足的私营部门董事会。与选项[C]相符。
35、推断题。文章首末两端都强调了，有些政策只是利于高层特权者，而不是利于普通人。文中也列举了这项性别配额政策的弊端，以及非必要性。故可以推断得到制定政策需要考虑可行性。故选项[B]正确。
