The Industrial Age and Employment
The industrial age has been the only period of human history in which most peoples work has taken the form of jobs. The industrial age may now be coming to an end, and some of the changes in work patterns which it brought may have to be reversed. This seems a daunting thought. But, in fact, it could offer the prospect of a better future for work. Universal employment, as its history shows, has not meant economic freedom.
Employment became widespread when the enclosures of the 17th and 18th centuries made many people dependent on paid work by depriving them of the use of the land, and thus of the means to provide a living for themselves. Then the factory system destroyed the cottage industries and removed work from peoples homes. Later, as transport improved, first by rail and then by road, people commuted longer distances to their places of employment until, eventually, many peoples work lost all connection with their home lives and the places in which they lived.
Meanwhile, employment put women at a disadvantage. In pre-industrial times, men and women had shared the productive work of the household and village community. Now it became customary for the husband to go out to paid employment, leaving the unpaid work of the home and families to his wife. Tax and benefit regulations still assume this norm today, and restrict more flexible sharing of work roles between the sexes.
It was not only women whose work status suffered. As employment became the dominant form of work, young people and old people were excluded-a problem now, as more teenagers become frustrated at school and more retired people want to live active lives.
All this may now have to change. The time has certainly come to switch some effort and resources away from the idealist goal of creating jobs for all, to the urgent practical task of helping many people to manage without full-time jobs.
1. The established work patterns may be changed with the closing of the industrial age.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
2. Universal employment has brought about economic freedom.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
3. Many people depended on the land for a living before the 17th century.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
4. Improved transport enabled people to travel longer distances to their work places.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
5. Employed women of equal qualifications are paid less than men.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
6. A large number of teenagers will quit school next year.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
7. Now is the time to handle the issue of employment in a practical manner.
A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
点击进入:2013年职称英语理工类阅读理解练习4答案与解析
台湾女性不惧当“剩女”
捷克男主持效仿Lady Gaga穿鲜肉装
大小贾斯汀共享“恋爱秘籍”:冷静承诺
双语资讯:台湾外海发生6.6级地震
奥运前夕中国加紧空气治理
走马观花看美国:芝加哥繁华下的另一面
双语:英国“最大狗”新鲜出炉
百万张奥运门票发放全国中小学
美国人喜好调查:最爱披头士最恨慢车
北京安检可能减少奥运乐趣
绯闻女孩第四季剧透 Chuck是否归来之谜
双语欣赏:温总理诗作《仰望星空》
360度看伦敦 世界最清晰全景图出炉
研究发现:人类大脑无法判断对方性别
加媒抱怨“亚洲学生太多” 亚裔表示强烈不满
双语:未来“台湾塔”
英国全民打赌:谁为准王妃凯特做嫁衣
NASA首次发现土星卫星中含有氧气
机器人沉睡45年后重见天日
奥运给北京树起新地标
双语:天桥骄子主持客串绯闻女孩第四季
牛津字典收录微博词汇 网络用语受宠
奥运金牌:快乐和忧愁天注定?
麦当劳的奥运“嘉年华”
周杰伦与“台湾第一美女主播”亲昵..
最新研究挑战传统:男生学理科未必有优势
欧盟报告称立陶宛为“谋杀之都”
美国人视角:享受奥运,向中国学习
诗词英译:沉醉东风-秋日湘阴道中
奥运双语八卦:中国羽坛的夫妻档
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |