Question 16 is based on the passage you have just heard.

听力原文

        A new study has demonstrated the importance of women’s rights. The researchers behind this study state that many parts of the world have made good economic progress, but women’s rights are often overlooked. Thus, (16) [they wanted to determine if there was a link between protection of women’s rights and public health.] The researchers analyzed databases, which held information from 162 countries for the period 2004 to 2010. Countries were classified according to the respect they gave to women’s economic and social rights. There were three categories. They were high, moderate and poor. Analysis of the data showed that countries with strong women’s rights had better health than those where women’s rights were not as respected. The health indicators studied included disease prevention, reproductive health, death rates and life expectancy. Furthermore, (17) [in countries where women’s rights were most respected, but where access to hospitals and doctors was below average, health outcomes were still better than in countries rated as moderate or poor.] This confirms that even with a lack of resources, if a country has strong women’s rights, the health outcomes are better. Thus, the researchers argue that gender equality is not just a women’s rights issue. It is also a development issue. This is because better health aids economic development. (18) [They note that the value of women’s rights has often been questioned from an economic standpoint. Some have argued that ensuring those rights would limit progress, but this study indicates the opposite.]  

16. What did the researchers of the new study try to determine?（新研究的研究人员想要确认什么？）

解析：B。录音开头提到了一项新研究，并称研究人员想确定在保护妇女权利与做好公共卫生之间是否存在联系（if there was a link between protection of women’s rights and public health）。B项与此内容相符，其中的protection of women’s rights和public health原词复现，is related to对应录音中的there was a link between，故B项为正确答案。

错项排除：A项和C项分别利用录音开头的overlooked和good progress设置干扰，但录音此处只是做背景介绍，研究人员称世界上许多地方都在经济上取得了很大的进步，但妇女的权利却往往会被忽视，A项和C项都不是研究人员想要确认的内容，故均可排除。D项中的educational level在录音中无依据，故排除。