Women in the U.S. Senate MC

Which details suggest that women legislators may become more common?

• "After the 2012 election, 20 women were serving as senators, a record number."

• "Rebecca Latimer Felton was the first woman appointed to serve in the Senate in 1922."

• "Of those, 12 have served for two or fewer years as they were appointed to fill a term after their husbands' demise."

• "In fact, Margaret Chase Smith began her career in Congress when she was appointed to fill out her husband's term in the House of Representatives."

Answer explanation

The detail that after the 2012 election, 20 women were serving as senators indicates a significant increase in female representation, suggesting that women legislators may become more common in the future.

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Based on the information in this passage, you can infer that

• the Senate is not as powerful as the House of Representatives

• the Senate has a difficult election system

• many women faced criticism for becoming senators

• many women do not want to become senators

Answer explanation

The passage suggests that many women faced criticism for becoming senators, indicating societal challenges they encountered in this role. This aligns with the correct answer choice.

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Which of the following titles best expresses the main idea of the passage?

• How to Become a Senator

• Why the Senate is Important

• The Slow Rise of Women Senators

• The Lives of Senators

Answer explanation

The passage focuses on the increasing number of women in the Senate, highlighting their historical challenges and achievements. Thus, 'The Slow Rise of Women Senators' best captures the main idea.

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Which best summarizes the last paragraph of the selection?

• A. Women have a way to go before they can be treated as equals in the Senate. Kelly Ayotte’s story proves this fact.

• B. When Senator Ayotte was told the desk at which she was sitting was reserved for senators, she became aware of the fact that women were not expected to be in the Senate.

• C. Kelly Ayotte was elected to the Senate for the first time. She represented New Hampshire, and she came to the Senate to vote for the first time in 2013. The Senate chamber was empty. Although she sat at the desk reserved for New Hampshire senators, she was told that only senators could sit there. A doorman told her this information.

• D. When Senator Kelly Ayotte first sat in the desk reserved for New Hampshire senators, a doorman told her that only senators were allowed there. This incident illustrates how few women are in the Senate and that they still do not experience full equality there.

Answer explanation

Choice D best summarizes the last paragraph by highlighting the incident with the doorman, illustrating the lack of equality for women in the Senate, which aligns with the overall theme of women's representation.

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Which sentence from paragraph 2 best explains why Rebecca Latimer Felton’s appointment as senator was mostly symbolic?

• Historically there has been a lack of women in the Senate.

• Rebecca Latimer Felton was the first woman appointed to serve in the Senate in 1922.

• . . . the 87-year-old senator resigned after one day . . . .

• Since that time, a total of 44 women have served.

Answer explanation

The sentence about the 87-year-old senator resigning after one day highlights the symbolic nature of Felton's appointment, as it indicates her brief tenure and lack of substantial impact in the Senate.

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The following item has two parts. Answer Part A and then answer Part B. Part A: Which sentence best expresses the central idea of the passage?

• Life is difficult for women senators.

• Women senators are a small but steadily growing population.

• The Senate welcomes men and women as senators.

• Women senators fight for justice and equality for all.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights the increasing presence of women in the Senate, which aligns with the passage's focus on their growing population, rather than just their challenges or contributions.

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Part B: What sentence from paragraph 1 best summarizes the main idea in Part A?

• "The patriarchal nature of the United States Senate is slowly changing."

• "After the 2012 election, 20 women were serving as senators, a record number."

• "Nine of the 20 women were in charge of some of the Senate's most important committees."

• "Yet, women still make up only 20 percent of the senators, although they make up just over 50 percent of the population."

Answer explanation

The correct choice, "The patriarchal nature of the United States Senate is slowly changing," encapsulates the overall shift in gender representation, highlighting the evolving dynamics in the Senate.

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Which of the following is the best summary of the information in the passage?

• The Senate has had a low number of women senators serving in the past, but that is changing as more women are elected. However, the Senate still has a long way to go before it can claim to treat women and men equally.

• In the past, the Senate has had only a few women senators. However, a record number were elected in 2012, so it is changing. Some women senators have been elected to fill their husband's role after his death, and many women senators were viewed as eccentric since there were so few of them. Scholars suggest that women as senators may uniquely contribute to the Senate by reaching across party lines to build consensus and focusing on issues related to family and children. Nevertheless, an anecdote about a woman senator who is told that only senators are allowed to sit at the desks reveals the Senate has a long way to go to reach total equality.

• The first woman to serve in the Senate was Rebecca Latimer Felton. Many other women have occupied Senate seats after their husbands have passed away. Margaret Chase Smith, who later served in both the Senate and the House, was chosen to fill her husband's shoes in the House. Kelly Ayotte, a senator from New Hampshire, had an interesting experience when a doorman told her that the desks were reserved for senators only.

• Women serving in the Senate have faced challenges. Some have been labeled eccentric, and some have been called unbecoming. Kelly Ayotte, who was elected to the Senate from New Hampshire, was told the desk at which she was sitting was reserved only for senators. Although more women are serving in the Senate, they still represent only a small percentage of the total senators.

Answer explanation

The correct choice summarizes the passage by highlighting the historical context of women in the Senate, their increasing numbers, unique contributions, and ongoing challenges, including the anecdote about desk access.

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