2015年MBA阅读理解强化练习题6
Bernard Bailyn has recently reinterpreted the early history of the UnitedStates 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.
Bailyn’s 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 1730’s, 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 larger percentage of migrants to colonial North America came as
indentured servants than as free agents interested in acquiring land.
Migrants who came to the colonies as indentured servants were more
successful at making a livelihood than were farmers and artisans.
Migrants to colonial North America were more successful at acquiring
their own land during the eighteenth century than during the seventeenth
century.
By the 1730’s, 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
give sufficient emphasis to the cultural and political interdependence
of the colonies and England.
describe carefully how migrants of different ethnic backgrounds
preserved their culture in the United States.
take advantage of social research on the experiences of colonists who
migrated to colonial North America specifically to acquire land.
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 author’s evaluation of
Bailyn’s fourth proposition?
It is totally implausible.
It is partially acceptable.
It is highly admirable.
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?
High culture in New England never equaled the high culture of
England.
The cultural achievements of colonial New England have generally been
unrecognized by historians.
The colonists imitated the high culture of England, and did not develop
a culture that was uniquely their own.
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 Bailyn’s work?
Bailyn underestimates the effects of Puritan thought on North American
culture.
Bailyn overemphasizes the economic dependence of the colonies on Great
Britain.
Bailyn’s description of the colonies as part of an Anglo-American
empire is misleading and incorrect.
Bailyn failed to test his propositions on a specific group of migrants
to colonial North America.
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