① Nationwide, only about three percent of early childhood teachers are male in the U. S. Experts say this can have an impact on young children whose understanding of gender roles and identity are rapidly forming. Research has found that having access to diverse teachers is beneficial for children. For the youngest learners, it means they are more likely to get exposed to different varieties of play and communication. It also helps them develop healthy ideas around gender.

② “In our world and our society, we have very specific stereotypes (模式化形象)of gender roles,” said Mindi Reich-Shapiro, an assistant professor in the teacher education department of the Borough of Manhattan Community College, and one of the authors of a recent study. “It’s important for children to see other possibilities and other paths they can take.”

③ Despite mostly feeling supported by colleagues and family members, many of the male educators surveyed in the study reported facing social or cultural resistance in their careers as early education teachers. Some also reported that there were parents surprised or concerned that their child had a male teacher. And they had been advised by colleagues or other staff not to hug children.

④ Reich-Shapiro and fellow researchers made several recommendations to increase male representation in the field. Low pay has long been acknowledged as a major issue in the early childhood field. Over 70% of male educators who said they intended to stay in the early education workforce noted an increased salary was a major motivating factor for them to commit to the career long-term. The report suggests paying all early childhood educators the way elementary school teachers are paid.

⑤ Cities and programs should establish support groups for male early childhood educators and provide mentoring and professional development advice for male educators and their program leaders.

⑥ The authors also suggest that traditional recruitment approaches for early childhood educators “do not address the gender gap in the field.” They recommend providing young men opportunities to work with children through training and volunteer programs, targeting groups of men who are considering a career change, such as fathers. 

1.1. What do we learn from the first paragraph about early childhood education in the U.S. ?

A It helps raise children’s awareness of gender roles.

B It exposes children to different ways of interaction.

C It is negatively impacted by a lack of male teachers.

D It clearly aims to form children’s identity through play.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题。第①段指出，美国仅有约3%的早教教师为男性，并强调男性教师的缺失会影响儿童对性别角色和身份的理解。文中提到“this can have an impact on young children”（这可能对幼儿产生影响），且这种影响是负面的，因为儿童缺乏接触多样化教师的机会。选项C“缺乏男性教师对其产生了负面影响”是对原文内容的合理推断，而其他选项（如B“让孩子接触不同的互动方式”）是男性教师充足时可能带来的好处，并非当前现状的描述。故选C。

2.2. What does Mindi Reich-Shapiro emphasize in her comment on childhood education?

A The importance of broadening children’s horizons.

B The responsibilities of fathers for children’s growth.

C The urgency of creating teacher education programs.

D The role of teachers in motivating children to learn.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。第②段中Mindi Reich-Shapiro提到：“孩子们看到其他可能性和他们可以选择的其他道路非常重要。”这强调了她对拓宽儿童视野的重视，即让他们接触不同的性别角色可能性。选项A“拓宽孩子视野的重要性”直接对应她的观点，其他选项（如B“父亲的责任”或D“教师激励学生的作用”）在文中未提及。故选A。

3.3. What do we learn about male teachers from their responses in the study?

A Some of them find it awkward when hugging children.

B They feel pressured to keep up with female colleagues.

C They find it hard to meet the expectations of kids’ parents.

D Many of them feel prejudiced against socially and culturally.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。第③段提到，许多男性教师在社会和文化层面面临阻力（如家长惊讶或担忧，同事建议不要拥抱孩子）。这些现象表明他们遭遇了社会和文化上的偏见。选项D“许多人在社会和文化上感到被歧视”是对这些现象的合理概括，而其他选项（如A“拥抱孩子时感到尴尬”）是对原文细节的曲解。故选D。

4.4. What is needed for men to commit to early childhood education?

A Higher pay.

B Job security.

C Social recognition.

D Better working conditions.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。第④段明确指出，低工资是早教领域的主要问题，超过70%的男性教师认为提高工资是他们长期从事该职业的主要动力。选项A“更高的工资”直接对应原文内容，其他选项（如C“社会认可”）虽与第三段的偏见相关，但并非题干所问的“长期从业条件”。故选A。

5.5. What do the authors of the study recommend to bridge the gender gap in early childhood education?

A Recruiting young men who have a passion for education young children.

B Taking measures to attract prospective male teachers to work in the field.

C Persuading prospective fathers to consider a change in their career.

D Providing male teachers with more opportunities for advancement.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。第⑥段提到，传统招聘方式无法解决性别差距，建议通过培训和志愿项目为男性提供与儿童工作的机会，并针对考虑转行的男性（如父亲）进行招募。选项B“采取措施吸引潜在男性教师进入该领域”全面概括了这些建议，而其他选项（如C“说服潜在父亲转行”）仅涉及部分内容，不够完整。故选B。