2003年高考英语北京卷 - 阅读理解D

If there is no difference in general intelligence between boys and girls, what can explain girls' poor performance in science and mathematics?
如果男孩和女孩之间通常智力上没有差异，那么如何解释女孩在科学和数学方面表现不佳？

It seems to be that their treatment at school is a direct cause. Mathematics and science are seen as subjects mainly for boys, and therefore, as girls become teenagers, they are less likely to take them. Interestingly, both boys and girls often regard the subjects for boys as more difficult. Yet it has been suggested that girls do not take mathematics courses, not because they are difficult, but for social reasons. Girls do not want to be in open competition with boys because they are afraid to appear less feminine and attractive.
他们在学校受到的待遇似乎是一个直接原因。数学和科学被视为主要面向男孩的学科，因此，随着女孩成为少女，她们不太可能学习数学和科学。有趣的是，男孩和女孩通常都认为男孩的科目更难。然而，有人建议女孩不上数学课，不是因为数学难，而是因为社会原因。女孩不想与男孩公开竞争，因为她们害怕显得不那么女性化而没有吸引力。

However, if we examine the performance of boys and girls who have taken mathematics courses, there are still more high-achieving boys than there are girls. This difference appears to be worldwide. Biological explanations have been offered for this, but there are other explanations too.
然而，如果我们查看上过数学课的男孩女孩表现，成就高的男孩还是比女孩多。这种差异似乎是全球性的。对此除了生物学解释之外，还有其他解释。

Perhaps the difference which comes out during the teenage years has its roots in much earlier experiences. From their first days in kindergarten, boys are encouraged to work on their own and to complete tasks. Facts show that outstanding mathematicians and scientists have not had teachers who supplied answers.
也许青少年时期出现的差异源于更早的经历。从上幼儿园的第一天起，男孩们就被鼓励独立工作，完成任务。事实表明，杰出的数学家和科学家没有老师提供答案。

Besides, there can be little doubt that teachers of mathematics and science expect their boy students to do better at these subjects than their girl students. They even appear to encourage the difference between boys and girls. They spend more time with the boy students, giving them more time to answer questions and working harder to get correct answers from them. They are more likely to call on boys for answers and to allow them to take the lead in classroom discussion. They also praise boys more frequently. All of this seems to encourage boys to work harder in science and mathematics and to give them confidence that they are able to succeed.
此外，毫无疑问，数学和科学教师希望男生在这些科目上比女生做得更好。他们甚至似乎鼓励男孩和女孩之间的差异。他们在男生身上花更多的时间，给他们更多的时间回答问题，并更加努力地从他们那里得到正确的答案。他们更有可能要求男孩回答问题，并让他们在课堂讨论中发挥带头作用。他们也更频繁地赞美男孩。所有这些似乎都鼓励男孩们在科学和数学方面更加努力，并给予他们成功的信心。

Such a way of teaching is not likely to encourage girls to take many mathematics and science courses, nor is it likely to support girls who do. When it comes to these subjects it seems certain that school widens the difference between boys and girls.
这种教学方式不太可能鼓励女孩学习许多数学和科学课程，也不太可能支持女孩学习这些。说到这些科目，学校似乎肯定会扩大男孩和女孩之间的差异。