2017年英语四级阅读理解题库：选词填空（16）

　　The flood of women into the job market boosted economic growth and changed U.S. society in many ways. Many in-home jobs that used to be done 47 primarily by women—ranging from family shopping to preparing meals to doing 48 voluntary work—still need to be done by someone. Husbands and children now do some of these jobs, a 49 situation that has changed the target market for many products. Or a working woman may face a crushing “poverty of time” and look for help elsewhere, creating opportunities for producers of frozen meals, child care centers, dry cleaners, financial services, and the like.

　　Although there is still a big wage 50 gap between men and women, the income working women 51 generate gives them new independence and buying power. For example, women now 52 purchase about half of all cars. Not long ago, many cars dealers 53 insulted women shoppers by ignoring them or suggesting that they come back with their husbands. Now car companies have realized that women are 54 potential customers. It’s interesting that some leading Japanese car dealers were the first to 55 really pay attention to women customers. In Japan, fewer women have jobs or buy cars—the Japanese society is still very much male-oriented. Perhaps it was the 56 extreme contrast with Japanese society that prompted American firms to pay more attention to women buyers.

　　A) scale B) retailed C) generate D) extreme E) technically

　　F) affordable G)situation H)really I) potential J) gap

　　K) voluntary L) excessive M) insulted N) purchase O) primarily