Homosexuals

Many homosexuals prefer to be called gay or, for women, lesbian. Most of them live quiet lives just __B_1__ anyone else. Some gay people have always raised children, _D__2___ or with partners, and the use of artificial insemination is increasing among lesbians.

Gay persons are in every kind of job. Some are very open about their homosexuality, and some are more private1. Some __D__3____ their sexual orientation as a biological given2 and others as a choice. For those women who see it as a choice, one reason often given is the inequality in most heterosexual relationships.3

Homosexuality has been common in most cultures throughout history and generally __A__4____. As a result, homosexual activity became a crime, _C___5____ which the penalty in early courts was death. Homosexual behavior is still __B___6_____ in many countries and U.S. states.

Homosexuality later came to be viewed widely as less a sin than a sickness4, but now no mental-health profession any longer __B__7____ homosexuality an illness. More recent theories to __A_8___ for homosexuality have included those based on biological and sociological factors. To date5, __C__9____, there is no conclusive general theory that can explain the cause of homosexuality.

Attitudes __D___10____ homosexuality began to change in the second half of the 20th century. Gays attribute this, in part, to their own struggle for their rights and pride in their orientation.6 Some large companies now __C___11____ health-care benefits to the life partners of their gay employees. Many cities also have officially appointed lesbian and gay advisory committees. __B___12____ some attitudes have changed, however, prejudice still exists, and in the late 1980s and early 1990s there were considerable shouts against homosexuals, with attempts to ____13___A___ laws forbidding the granting of basic civil rights to gays.

The AIDS epidemic, which started in the 1980s, has devastated the gay community and brought it together as never before.7 The organized gay response to the lack of government financial support for fighting AIDS and to the needs of the thousands of AIDS victims, ____D___14______ they be gays or not, has been a model of community action. AIDS, however, has also __C__15____people with another reason for their prejudice.

1. A) alike         B) like           C) likely           D) liking

2. A) lone          B) lonely          C) along          D) alone

3. A) glare         B) observe         C) glance         D) view

4. A) condemned     B) condemning      C) to condemn     D) being condemned

5. A) against       B) from            C) for            D) of

6. A) legal         B) illegal         C) resistible     D) irresistible

7. A) takes         B) considers       C) regards        D) thinks of

8. A) account       B) look            C) fight          D) plead

9. A) in addition   B) therefore       C) however        D) consequently

10. A) in           B) at              C) for            D) toward

11. A) exclude      B) include         C) extend         D) intend

12. A) Because      B) While           C) If             D) In order that

13. A) pass         B) ban             C) discontinue    D) cancel

14. A) whatever     B) however         C) whenever       D) whether

15. A) associated   B) shared          C) provided       D) charged
 

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