【单选题】

The last paragraph of the passage suggests that for the majority of women scientists, the "belief in meritocracy" was ______.
A．(A) justified, considering the opportunities available to them

B．(B) fortunate because it provided them with attainable goals
C．(C) inconsistent with the fact that they were discriminated against on the job
D．(D) understandable in that the concept had worked for the previous generation of women scientists