Passage 2
Host: On Women’s World today, we look at women’s role in the Second World War and the important part they played in it. In the First World War, women had worked in factories and as nurses, both at home and at the front. In the Second World War, women were even more essential to the war effort. Doris Watts was just 18 when the war began and Mavis Grey was only 20.
Host: Do you remember how you felt, Doris, the day the war was declared[宣战]?
Doris: Oh yes ... of course I do. I felt frightened of course, but we had known it would happen. The first thing, more than anything I think, that I felt was ... was that I wanted to do something! You know, do something useful, so I joined the Land Girls[指下文的Women’s Land Army].
Host: Ah, yes, the Women’s Land Army[(英国)妇女土地服务队]. That was an organization started in the First World War. Women worked in agriculture as the men were away fighting. Did you enjoy the experience?
Doris: Not really. It was very hard work, very physical. You never saw anybody except the officer coming to inspect your work. So when I heard about the WAAF I signed up.
Host: That’s the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force[(英国)空军妇女辅助队]. WAAF, for short. So why the WAAF?
Doris: I’d always thought planes were very exciting. And it’s silly but I liked the light blue uniforms.
Host: That’s a good enough reason! Now, Mavis, you were in the WAAF at the same time as Doris. Can you tell us more about it?
Mavis: Yes. Organizations like the WAAF were a way for women to join the armed forces[武装部队，通常包括海陆空三军], since they weren’t allowed to fight. Instead, the army, the navy and the air force all had support services, which women could join.
Host: And Doris. What kind of things did you have to do?
Doris: Oh, well, a lot of different things. I worked in transport and catering. We were very young but we were given a lot of responsibility.
Host: And what did you do, Mavis?
Mavis: Various jobs but eventually I worked on a fighter[战斗机, 或fighter plane] station, tracking[追踪] the German bombers[轰炸机] as they flew towards London. It was very exciting.
Host: Was it ever dangerous?
Doris: Yes, we were always in danger of being bombed. They tell me that over 1,500 young women lost their lives. I was lucky.
Host: And what about social life?
Mavis: We did have some wonderful parties. And of course I met my husband, Eric. He was an electrician at the station.
Host: One last question, Doris. Do you think women’s work in the forces changed things for women?
Doris: Without a doubt[毫无疑问]. Oh absolutely! After the war the position of women could never be the same again – we’d contributed so much.
Host: Doris and Mavis, thank you both.
Answers:
Passage 2
6. Example Answers:
1 Women in the Land Army worked in agriculture, as the men were away fighting.
2 No, they were in non-combatant roles, although some of them flew transport planes and others worked in dangerous places, like fight stations.
3 They worked in transport, catering, tracking bombers and generally in support services.
7. Answers:
1 It was hard work, very physical.
2 She thought planes were exciting and she liked the uniforms.
3 She worked on a fighter station tracking the German bombers.
4 They were always in danger of being bombed.
5 They had contributed so much to the war effort and to society; therefore, their role in society should be highly valued.
8. Example Answers:
1 · I think that if women were more involved, they would be less likely to decide to go to war.
· I don’t think it would make a great deal of difference. We’ve seen a number of women presidents and prime ministers decide to go to war.
2 · I don’t think there should be any wars, so in that sense nobody should fight. However, since there are wars, I suppose women should be allowed to fight as volunteers. I believe that most modern armies do have women soldiers.
· No, women should not fight in wars. On average, women are not as physically strong as men, and even today infantry soldiers need to be very strong. Anyway, war is barbaric and women should be spared the trauma of taking other people’s live. It’s bad enough that men have to do it.
3 Well, from what I know about World War II, the war affected everybody’s role. Women were trained to do many new jobs. They became more confident in the wider world. I suppose modern wars also affect women’s roles in the same way.
