2017英语专八阅读100篇高级篇附答案解析（82）

2017英语专八阅读100篇高级篇附答案解析（82）

　　Bernard Bailyn has recently reinterpreted the early history of theUnited States by applying new social research findings on the experiences ofEuropean migrants. In his reinterpretation, migration becomes the organizingprinciple for rewriting the history of preindustrial North America. Hisapproach rests on four separate propositions.

　　The first of these asserts that residents of early modern Englandmoved regularly about their countryside; migrating to the New World was simplya “natural spillover”. Although at first the colonies held little positive attraction forthe English — they would rather have stayed home — by the eighteenthcentury people increasingly migrated to America because they regarded it as theland of opportunity. Secondly, Bailyn holds that, contrary to the notion thatused to flourish in America history textbooks, there was never a typical NewWorld community. For example, the economic and demographic character of earlyNew England towns varied considerably.

　　Bailyn’s third proposition suggest two general patterns prevailing amongthe many thousands of migrants: one group came as indentured servants, anothercame to acquire land. Surprisingly, Bailyn suggests that those who recruitedindentured servants were the driving forces of transatlantic migration. Thesecolonial entrepreneurs helped determine the social character of people who cameto preindustrial North America. At first, thousands of unskilled laborers wererecruited; by the 1730’s, however, American employers demanded skilled artisans.

　　Finally, Bailyn argues that the colonies were a half-civilizedhinterland of the European culture system. He is undoubtedly correct to insistthat the colonies were part of an Anglo-American empire. But to divide theempire into English core and colonial periphery, as Bailyn does, devalues theachievements of colonial culture. It is true, as Bailyn claims, that highculture in the colonies never matched that in England. But what ofseventeenth-century New England, where the settlers created effective laws,built a distinguished university, and published books? Bailyn might respondthat New England was exceptional. However, the ideas and institutions developedby New England Puritans had powerful effects on North American culture.

　　Although Bailyn goes on to apply his approach to some thousands ofindentured servants who migrated just prior to the revolution, he fails to linktheir experience with the political development of the United States. Evidencepresented in his work suggests how we might make such a connection. Theseindentured servants were treated as slaves for the period during which they hadsold their time to American employers. It is not surprising that as soon asthey served their time they passed up good wages in the cities and headed westto ensure their personal independence by acquiring land. Thus, it is in thewest that a peculiarly American political culture began, among colonists whowere suspicious of authority and intensely anti-aristocratic.

　　1. Which of the following statements about migrants to colonialNorth America is supported by information in the text?

　　[A] A larger percentage of migrants to colonial North America cameas indentured servants than as free agents interested in acquiring land.

　　[B] Migrants who came to the colonies as indentured servants weremore successful at making a livelihood than were farmers and artisans.

　　[C] Migrants to colonial North America were more successful atacquiring their own land during the eighteenth century than during the seventeenthcentury.

　　[D] By the 1730’s, migrants already skilled in a trade were in more demand byAmerican employers than were unskilled laborers.

　　2. The author of the text states that Bailyn failed to

　　[A] give sufficient emphasis to the cultural and politicalinterdependence of the colonies and England.

　　[B] describe carefully how migrants of different ethnic backgroundspreserved their culture in the United States.

　　[C] take advantage of social research on the experiences ofcolonists who migrated to colonial North America specifically to acquire land.

　　[D] relate the experience of the migrants to the political valuesthat eventually shaped the character of the United States.

　　3. Which of the following best summarizes the author’s evaluationof Bailyn’s 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 ofthe following statements about the culture of colonial New England?

　　[A] High culture in New England never equaled the high culture ofEngland.

　　[B] The cultural achievements of colonial New England have generallybeen unrecognized by historians.

　　[C] The colonists imitated the high culture of England, and did notdevelop a culture that was uniquely their own.

　　[D] The southern colonies were greatly influenced by the highculture of New England.

　　5. The author of the text would be most likely to agree with whichof the following statements about Bailyn’s work?

　　[A] Bailyn underestimates the effects of Puritan thought on NorthAmerican culture.

　　[B] Bailyn overemphasizes the economic dependence of the colonies onGreat Britain.

　　[C] Bailyn’s description of the colonies as part of an Anglo-American empire ismisleading and incorrect.

　　[D] Bailyn failed to test his propositions on a specific group ofmigrants to colonial North America.

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