单项选择题

(5) Recentstudiesonthemale-femalewagegappredictthateventhoughentry-levelsalariesformalesandfemalesinthesameoccupationarenearlyequalbecausewomen’smarketskillshaveimprovedvastly,thechancesoftheoverallgapclosingintheforeseeablefutureareminimal.Thisisduetoseveralfactorsthatarelikelytochangeveryslowly,ifatall.Animportantreasonisthatwomenareconcentratedinoccupation—serviceandclerical—thatpaylessthantraditionalmalejobs.Itispossiblethatmorewomenthanmenintheirtwentiesarehesitanttocommitthemselvestoayear-roundlifetimecareerorjobformanyreasons.Thereislingeringattitudeonboththepartofwomenandtheiremployersthatwomenarenotcutoutforcertainjobs.Notonlydoesthisattitudechannelwomenintolower-payingwork,butitalsoservestokeepthemfromtopmanagementpositions. Anothersignificantfactorinthewideningwagegapbetweenmenandwomenafterenteringtheworkforce,evenincomparablejobs,isthatwomenoftendropoutatcriticalpointsintheircareerstohaveafamily.Womenstillhavetheprimaryresponsibilityforchildrearing;eveniftheycontinuetowork,theyoftenforgoovertimeandpromotionsthatwouldconflictwithhomeresponsibilities.Theagesof25to35havebeenshownrepeatedlytobetheperiodwhenworkingconsistentlyandhardisvitaltoadvancementandjobsecurity.Thesearepreciselytheyearswhenwomenarelikelytohavechildrenandbegintoslideawayfrommeninearningpower.Consequently,awoman’sincomeismorelikelytobeseenassecondarytoherhusband’s. Accordingtorecentstudiesonthemale-femalewagegap,____.

A.there is much hope of narrowing the male-female wage gap in the near future
B.workingwomenwillhavemanyopportunitiestoholdhigh-payingjobsinthenearfuture
C.women’spaywillstillstayatalevelbelowthatofmeninthenearfuture
D.salaries for males and females in the same occupation will be equal in the near future