GMAT考试阅读资料(四)d
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Passage 21
  Bernard Bailyn has recently reinterpreted the earlyhistory of the United States by applying new socialresearch findings on the experiences of Europeanmigrants. In his reinterpretation1migration2 becomes the(5) organizing principle for rewriting the history of prein-dustrial North America. His approach rests on fourseparate propositions.
  The first of these asserts that residents of earlymodern England moved regularly about their coun-(10) tryside; migrating to the New World was simply a“natural spillover.” Although at first the colonies heldlittle positive attraction for the English——they wouldrather have stayed home-by the eighteenth centurypeople increasingly migrated to America because they(15) regarded it as the land of opportunity. Secondly3, Bailynholds that, contrary to the notion that used to flourish inAmerica history textbooks, there was never a typicalNew World community. For example, the economic and demographic character of early New England towns(20) varied4 considerably5.
  Bailyn‘s third proposition suggests two generalpatterns prevailing6 among the many thousands ofmigrants: one group came as indentured7 servants,another came to acquire land. Surprisingly, Bailyn(25) suggests that those who recruited indentured servantswere the driving forces of transatlantic migration. Thesecolonial entrepreneurs helped determine the social char-acter of people who came to preindustrial North America.At first, thousands of unskilled laborers8 were recruited;(30) by the 1730’s, however, American employers demandedskilled artisans.
  Finally, Bailyn argues that the colonies were a half-civilized hinterland of the European culture system. Heis undoubtedly9 correct to insist that the colonies were(35) part of an Anglo-American empire. But to divide theempire into English core and colonial periphery10, asBailyn does, devalues the achievements of colonialculture. It is true, as Bailyn claims, that high culture inthe colonies never matched that in England. But what(40) of seventeenth-century New England, where the settlerscreated effective laws, built a distinguished11 university,and published books? Bailyn might respond that NewEngland was exceptional. However, the ideas and insti-tutions developed by New England Puritans had power-(45) ful effects on North American culture.
  Although Bailyn goes on to apply his approach tosome thousands of indentured servants who migratedjust prior to the revolution, he fails to link their experi-ence with the political development of the United States.(50) Evidence presented in his work suggests how we mightmake such a connection. These indentured servants weretreated as slaves for the period during which they hadsold their time to American employers. It is not surprisingthat as soon as they served their time they passed up(55) good wages in the cities and headed west to ensure theirpersonal independence by acquiring land. Thus, it is inthe west that a peculiarly American political culturebegan, among colonists13 who were suspicious ofauthority and intensely antiaristocratic.

  1. Which of the following statements about migrants to colonial North America is supported by information in the passage?
   (A) A larger percentage of migrants to colonial North America came as indentured servants than as free agents interested in acquiring land.
   (B) Migrants who came to the colonies as indentured servants were more successful at making a livelihood14 than were farmers and artisans.
   (C) Migrants to colonial North America were more successful at acquiring their own land during the eighteenth century than during the seven-tenth   century.
   (D) By the 1730‘s, migrants already skilled in a trade were in more demand by American employers than were unskilled laborers.
   (E) A significant percentage of migrants who came to the colonies to acquire land were forced to work as field hands for prosperous American farmers.

  2. The author of the passage states that Bailyn failed to
   (A) give sufficient emphasis to the cultural and political interdependence of the colonies and England
   (B) describe carefully how migrants of different ethnic15 backgrounds preserved their culture in the united States
   (C) take advantage of social research on the experi-ences of colonists who migrated to colonial North America specifically to acquire land
   (D) relate the experience of the migrants to the political values that eventually shaped the character of the United States
   (E) investigate the lives of Europeans before they came  to colonial North America to determine more adequately their motivations for migrating

  3. Which of the following best summarizes the author‘s  evaluation16 of Bailyn’s fourth proposition?
   (A) It is totally implausible.
   (B) It is partially17 correct.
   (C) It is highly admirable.
   (D) It is controversial though persuasive18.
   (E) It is intriguing19 though unsubstantiated.

  4. According to the passage, Bailyn and the author agree on which of the following statements about the culture of colonial New England?
   (A) High culture in New England never equaled the high culture of England.
   (B) The cultural achievements of colonial New England have generally been unrecognized by historians.
   (C) The colonists imitated the high culture of England,and did not develop a culture that was uniquely their own.
   (D) The southern colonies were greatly influenced by the high culture of New England.
   (E) New England communities were able to create laws and build a university, but unable to create anything innovative20 in the arts.

  5. According to the passage, which of the following is true of English migrants to the colonies during the eighteenth century?
   (A) Most of them were farmers rather than trades people or artisans.
   (B) Most of them came because they were unable to find work in England.
   (C) They differed from other English people in that they were willing to travel.
   (D) They expected that the colonies would offer them increased opportunity.
   (E) They were generally not as educated as the people who remained in England.

  6. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with
   (A) comparing several current interpretations21 of early American history
   (B) suggesting that new social research on migration should lead to revisions in current interpretations of early American history
   (C) providing the theoretical framework that is used by most historians in understanding early American history
   (D) refuting an argument about early American history that has been proposed by social historians
   (E) discussing a reinterpretation of early American history that is based on new social research on migration

  7. It can be inferred from the passage that American history textbooks used to assert that
   (A) many migrants to colonial North America were not successful financially
   (B) more migrants came to America out of religious or political conviction that came in the hope of acquiring land
   (C) New England communities were much alike in terms of their economics and demographics
   (D) many migrants to colonial North America failed to maintain ties with their European relations
   (E) the level of literacy in New England communities was very high

  8. The author of the passage would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements about Bailyn‘s work?
   (A) Bailyn underestimates the effects of Puritan thought on North American culture
   (B) Bailyn overemphasizes the economic dependence12 of the colonies on Great Britain.
   (C) Bailyn‘s description of the colonies as part of an Anglo-American empire is misleading and incorrect.
   (D) Bailyn failed to test his propositions on a specific group of migrants to colonial North America.
   (E) Bailyn overemphasizes the experiences of migrants to the New England colonies, and neglects the southern and the western parts of the New World.



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1 reinterpretation reinterpretation     
n.重新解释,纠正性说明
参考例句:
  • The ancient "Book of Songs" needs a reinterpretation for the young people.对青年人来说,古代的《诗经》需要做新的解释。
  • Optimists are also skilled at using the psychological defense of "reinterpretation" of events.乐观者长于使用对事件“重新解释”的心理防御。
2 migration mDpxj     
n.迁移,移居,(鸟类等的)迁徙
参考例句:
  • Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
  • He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。
3 secondly cjazXx     
adv.第二,其次
参考例句:
  • Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二,动脑筋提出自己的见解。
  • Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次,需要确定所作用的载荷。
4 varied giIw9     
adj.多样的,多变化的
参考例句:
  • The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
  • The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。
5 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
6 prevailing E1ozF     
adj.盛行的;占优势的;主要的
参考例句:
  • She wears a fashionable hair style prevailing in the city.她的发型是这个城市流行的款式。
  • This reflects attitudes and values prevailing in society.这反映了社会上盛行的态度和价值观。
7 indentured 67d8a0c876c663991d7a10b6a32ae7b6     
v.以契约束缚(学徒)( indenture的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The Africans became indentured servants, trading labor for shelter and eventual freedom. 非洲人成为契约上的仆人,以劳力交换庇护及最终的自由。 来自互联网
  • They are descendants of indentured importees. 他们是契约外来工的后代。 来自互联网
8 laborers c8c6422086151d6c0ae2a95777108e3c     
n.体力劳动者,工人( laborer的名词复数 );(熟练工人的)辅助工
参考例句:
  • Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言
9 undoubtedly Mfjz6l     
adv.确实地,无疑地
参考例句:
  • It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
  • He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。
10 periphery JuSym     
n.(圆体的)外面;周围
参考例句:
  • Geographically, the UK is on the periphery of Europe.从地理位置上讲,英国处于欧洲边缘。
  • The periphery of the retina is very sensitive to motion.视网膜的外围对运动非常敏感。
11 distinguished wu9z3v     
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的
参考例句:
  • Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
  • A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。
12 dependence 3wsx9     
n.依靠,依赖;信任,信赖;隶属
参考例句:
  • Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
  • He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。
13 colonists 4afd0fece453e55f3721623f335e6c6f     
n.殖民地开拓者,移民,殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Colonists from Europe populated many parts of the Americas. 欧洲的殖民者移居到了美洲的许多地方。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Some of the early colonists were cruel to the native population. 有些早期移居殖民地的人对当地居民很残忍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 livelihood sppzWF     
n.生计,谋生之道
参考例句:
  • Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
  • My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。
15 ethnic jiAz3     
adj.人种的,种族的,异教徒的
参考例句:
  • This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏,这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
  • The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。
16 evaluation onFxd     
n.估价,评价;赋值
参考例句:
  • I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
  • The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。
17 partially yL7xm     
adv.部分地,从某些方面讲
参考例句:
  • The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
  • The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静,宵禁部分解除。
18 persuasive 0MZxR     
adj.有说服力的,能说得使人相信的
参考例句:
  • His arguments in favour of a new school are very persuasive.他赞成办一座新学校的理由很有说服力。
  • The evidence was not really persuasive enough.证据并不是太有说服力。
19 intriguing vqyzM1     
adj.有趣的;迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词);激起…的好奇心
参考例句:
  • These discoveries raise intriguing questions. 这些发现带来了非常有趣的问题。
  • It all sounds very intriguing. 这些听起来都很有趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》
20 innovative D6Vxq     
adj.革新的,新颖的,富有革新精神的
参考例句:
  • Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
  • He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。
21 interpretations a61815f6fe8955c9d235d4082e30896b     
n.解释( interpretation的名词复数 );表演;演绎;理解
参考例句:
  • This passage is open to a variety of interpretations. 这篇文章可以有各种不同的解释。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The involved and abstruse passage makes several interpretations possible. 这段艰涩的文字可以作出好几种解释。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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