D

On the high­speed train Avignon to Paris, my husband and I landed in the only remaining seats on the train in the middle of a car, directly opposite a Frenchwoman of middle years. It was an extremely uncomfortable arrangement to be looking straight into the eyes of a stranger. My husband and I pulled out books. The woman produced a large makeup case and made up her face. Except for a lunch break, she continued this activity for the entire three­hour trip. Every once in a while she surveyed the car with a bright­eyed glance，but never once did she catch my eye. My husband and I could have been a blanket wall.

I was amused, but some people would have felt uncomfortable, even repulsed (厌恶的). There is something about making up in public that calls up strong emotional reactions. Partly itˈs a question of hygiene. And itˈs a matter of degree. Making up—a private act—has a way of neglecting the presence of others. I was once seated at a party with a model­actress who immediately waved a silly brush and began dusting her face at the table, demonstrating that while she was next to me，she was not with me.

In fact, I am generally prohibited from making up in public, except when I am in the company of cosmetics moment. In a gathering more professional than social, I would do so.

Kathy Peiss, a history professor at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst says that nose­powdering in the office was an occasion for outrage in 1920ˈs and 30ˈs. Deploring (强烈反对) the practice as a waste of company time, trade journals advises managers to discourage it among workers. Peiss theorizes that it was femaleˈs making up in what has been an all­male field that disturb some gentlemen.

Peiss tells me that after the 30ˈs, pulling out a make­up case was no longer an issue. It became an accepted practice. I asked if she feels free to apply lipstick at a professional lunch herself. Sounding mildly shocked, she says she would save that for the privacy of her car afterward. Why? Because it would be“a gesture of inappropriate feminity(女性化)．”One guess is that most professional women feel this way. There is evidence of the popularity of the new lipsticks that remain in place all day without retouching.

(1) According to the author，“My husband and I could have been a blanket wall.” in the first paragraph most probably means“________”．
A. We were of no existence in the French womanˈs eyes. B. We looked at the French woman expressionlessly. C. We were treated with an expressionless face. D. We used books as a wall to avoid the womanˈs eyes.
(2) In the authorˈs opinion，she ________.
A. feels comfortable when making up in public B. makes up before any professional gatherings C. only makes up on social occasions D. allows public making up on certain occasions
(3) According to Peiss, nose­powdering in an office was criticized mainly for the reason that ___.
A. normal office work was disturbed B. make dominance was emphasized there C. it discouraged womenˈs interest in career D. it distracted make workersˈ focus on work
(4) It can be inferred that in a highly open society, the differences between men and women ____.
A. have attracted little attention B. hinder the social development C. still call for great concern D. are attractive topics in talk shows