UNIVERSIDAD DE ANDALUCÍA
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.
(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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