单项选择题

More and more young adults are remaining single and (47)______ This is bringing about a violent change in the education of young people. More and more young girls are signing up for the classes (48)______ reserved only for boys. And, (49)______, a good number of boys are finding that classes in cooking and sewing are extremely useful to their own independence. A growing (50)______ of college students are choosing to take the classes which are meaningful and useful rather than traditional. I find it encouraging that some women are pursuing training as mechanics and electricians. Within ten years or so, the number of women in the mechanical field may be nearly (51)______ to the number of men. It is becoming more and more (52)______ that women are not "mechanically dumb". They just never got the encouragement to learn the basics of mechanics. It doesn’’t require a man’’s hand to turn a screw or tighten a bolt. The tools are designed for anyone’’s hand. I know several women who have rebuilt and (53)______ their own cars, and they are no brawnier than an average secretary. Slowly, bit by bit, I am learning how the engine in my car works and what is required to keep it (54)______. It’’s dirty work and requires some determination, but I am gaining independence because of the notion that it is "man’’s work" and I won’’t have to take it to a mechanic who would be happy to (55)______ an "ignorant" woman. Someday, perhaps, when women have been given the chance to allow their talents to blossom, we may find that lady mechanics will be (56)______ over males. Now won’’t that be a switch Word Bank: A. running I. accuse B. equal J. independent C. apparent K. volume D. preferred L. maintained E. number M. purchased F. conversely N. previously G. rushing O. immediately H. over-charge