SAMPLE 6
[历史学类]
Bernard Bailyn has recently reinterpreted the early history of the United States by applying new social research findings on the experiences of European migrants. In his reinterpretation, migration becomes the organizing principle for rewriting the history of preindustrial North America. His approach rests on four separate propositions.
The first of these asserts that residents of early modern England moved regularly about their countryside; migrating to the New World was simply a natural spillover. Although at first the colonies held little positive attraction for the English they would rather have stayed home by the eighteenth century people increasingly migrated to America because they regarded it as the land of opportunity. Secondly, Bailyn holds that, contrary to the notion that used to flourish in America history textbooks, there was never a typical New World community. For example, the economic and demographic character of early New England towns varied considerably.
Bailyns third proposition suggest two general patterns prevailing among the many thousands of migrants: one group came as indentured servants, another came to acquire land. Surprisingly, Bailyn suggests that those who recruited indentured servants were the driving forces of transatlantic migration. These colonial entrepreneurs helped determine the social character of people who came to preindustrial North America. At first, thousands of unskilled laborers were recruited; by the 1730s, however, American employers demanded skilled artisans.
Finally, Bailyn argues that the colonies were a half-civilized hinterland of the European culture system. He is undoubtedly correct to insist that the colonies were part of an Anglo-American empire. But to divide the empire into English core and colonial periphery, as Bailyn does, devalues the achievements of colonial culture. It is true, as Bailyn claims, that high culture in the colonies never matched that in England. But what of seventeenth-century New England, where the settlers created effective laws, built a distinguished university, and published books? Bailyn might respond that New England was exceptional. However, the ideas and institutions developed by New England Puritans had powerful effects on North American culture.
Although Bailyn goes on to apply his approach to some thousands of indentured servants who migrated just prior to the revolution, he fails to link their experience with the political development of the United States. Evidence presented in his work suggests how we might make such a connection. These indentured servants were treated as slaves for the period during which they had sold their time to American employers. It is not surprising that as soon as they served their time they passed up good wages in the cities and headed west to ensure their personal independence by acquiring land. Thus, it is in the west that a peculiarly American political culture began, among colonists who were suspicious of authority and intensely anti-aristocratic.
1. Which of the following statements about migrants to colonial North America is supported by information in the text?
[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 livelihood 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 seventeenth century.
[D] By the 1730s, migrants already skilled in a trade were in more demand by American employers than were unskilled laborers.
2. The author of the text 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 ethnic backgrounds preserved their culture in the United States.
[C] take advantage of social research on the experiences 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.
3. Which of the following best summarizes the authors evaluation of Bailyns fourth proposition?
[A] It is totally implausible.
[B] It is partially acceptable.
[C] It is highly admirable.
[D] It is controversial though persuasive.
4. According to the text, 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.
5. The author of the text would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements about Bailyns work?
[A] Bailyn underestimates the effects of Puritan thought on North American culture.
[B] Bailyn overemphasizes the economic dependence of the colonies on Great Britain.
[C] Bailyns 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.
上一篇: 2014年考研英语模拟试题阅读理解三
下一篇: 2014年考研英语模拟试题阅读理解七
今日起,北京突发公共卫生事件响应降级 防控策略这样调整
青春之歌
每日一词∣爱国卫生月 Patriotic Public Health Month
给读书一个理由
体坛英语资讯:FIBA suspends all competitions amid coronavirus spread
英女王情有独钟 鞋款50年不变(组图)[1]
五一假期国人多数选择周边短途游(附景点预约指南)
知识改变命运
国际英语资讯:Turkey says hits peak of COVID-19 outbreak as Iran continues to witness slowdown in epidemic
书的另类比喻说法
读书的乐趣
读《小城三月》有感
My Views on Internet Games 我的网络游戏观
画
读书的乐趣
国际英语资讯:U.S. Navy starts broader inquiry into coronavirus outbreak aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt
Influence of Peer Pressure 同伴压力的影响
国内英语资讯:Africas political parties say Africa-China anti-coronavirus cooperation fortifies friendsh
国际英语资讯:U.S. Fed keeps interest rates near zero amid COVID-19 fallout
国际英语资讯:Trump says White House coronavirus guidelines to fade out as states reopening economies
这5种食物的正确吃法原来是这样的!
成长日记
青春?!
国内英语资讯:Chinese premier talks with European Commission president over phone on anti-epidemic coopera
珍惜所拥有的生活
寿司的哪一面应该蘸调料?这5种食物的正确吃法原来是这样的!
《送东阳马生序》读后感
国内英语资讯:Factbox: Chinas fight against novel coronavirus outbreak
科学家设计出比钻石更硬的物质
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Clinical trial shows remdesivir accelerates recovery from advanced COVID-19 patie