The London Stock Exchange has alwaysbeen famous as a place for men only，andwomen used to be strictly forbidden to enter．But the world is changing dayby day，andeven the Stock Exchange，which seemed to be a man's castle，is gradually opening itsdoors to the other sex．On 16th November 1971，a GREat decision was taken．The Stock
Exchange Council（the body of men that administers the Stock Exchange）decided thatwomen should be allowed on to the new trading floor when it opened in 1973．But the“castle”had not been completely conquered．The first girls to work in“The House”were not brokers or jobbers．They were neither allowed to become partnersin stock-broking firms，nor authorised to be dealers in stocks and shares．They were simplyjunior clerks and telephone operators．
Women have been trying to get into theStock Exchange for many years．Severalvotes have been taken in“The House”to see whether the members would be willing toallow women to become members，but the answer has always been“No”．There havebeen three refusals of this kind since 1967．Now women are admitted，although in avery junior capacity．Two firms of jobbers made an application to the Stock ExchangeCouncil to be allowed to employ girl clerks．Permission was finally given．A member ofthe Stock Exchange explained，afterthis news had been given，“The new floor is goingto be different fromthe old one．All the jobbers will have their own stands，with spacefor a telephone and typewriters．Therefore there will have to be typists and telephoneoperators．So women must be allowed in．”The decision did not mean a very GREatvictory in the war for equal rights for women．However，it was a step in the right di-rection．The Chairman of the Stock Exchange said：“I think that the opening of the newbuilding will eventually lead to women being allowed to have full membership of theStock Exchange．It is only a matter oftime；it must happen．”
102．It was not until 16th November，1971that ____．
A．the London Stock Exchange opened its doors to women
B．women began to work in the London Stock Exchange for the first time
C．The Council decided to allow womenon to the new trading floor when it opened in 1973
D．the“castle”was completely conquered
103．The first girls ____．
A．were allowed to enter“The House”in a very junior capacity
B．served as brokers or jobbers in“The House”
C．were allowed to become partners instockbroking firms
D．were authorised as dealers in stocks and shares
104．Which of the following is true according to this passage？
A．Since 1973women have been allowedto work with the London Stock Exchange．
B．Women have recently been allowed to become partners in stockbroking firms．
C．Women were never officially allowed to enter the Stock Exchange．
D．Only brokers or jobbers can get into the Stock Exchange．
105．Several votes have been taken in“The House”so as ____．
A．to see if women were willing to become members
B．to decide when women would be allowed into“The House”
C．to find out whether the members were willing to allow women to become members
D．to decide when to allow women on to the new trading floor
key: 102．C 103．A 104．A 105．C
