首页
登录
职称英语
Few developments have so greatly affected American life as the automobile. I
Few developments have so greatly affected American life as the automobile. I
游客
2023-12-30
65
管理
问题
Few developments have so greatly affected American life as the automobile. Indeed, it would be hard to overestimate its impact. Since mass production of the automobile became feasible in the early 20th century, the car has had a significant effect on every facet of American life, including how we work, where we live, and what we believe.
Interestingly, it was the process of building cars rather than the cars themselves that first brought a sea of change to the American workplace. In 1914, a Ford plant in Highland Park, Michigan, used the first electric conveyor belt, greatly increasing the efficiency of automobile manufacturing. Assembly lines for the production of automobiles were quickly adopted and became highly mechanized, providing a new model for industrial business. In contrast to European manufacturers, which employed a higher percentage of skilled laborers to produce fewer and costlier cars, American companies focused on turning out a large quantity of affordable cars utilizing less-skilled laborers. Assembly line production was a mixed blessing as it enabled higher productivity and more affordable cars but resulted in less-satisfied workers with less-interesting jobs. The value of efficiency was emphasized over personal pride and investment in the work.
As cars became more popular, their effect on population distribution was likewise profound. Unlike railroads, which helped concentrate the population in cities, the automobile contributed to urban sprawl and, eventually, to the rise of suburbs. People no longer needed to live near public transportation lines or within walking distance of their jobs, so they were drawn to outlying areas with less congestion and lower property taxes. Business districts became less centralized for similar reasons. Sadly, this movement towards suburbs exacerbated social stratification. Since cars were initially affordable only to wealthier people, the upper and middle classes moved out of cities. Many businesses followed, attracted by the educated, well-trained work force. As good jobs also moved out of cities, the people who remained were further disadvantaged and even less able to leave. Though few anticipated it in the early days of suburban growth, by the century’s end cars had helped to further entrench social division in America by making it possible to increase the great physical distances between rich and poor.
Automobile ownership has also transformed our individual lives and values. Historian James Flink observed that automobiles particularly altered the work patterns and recreational opportunities of farmers and other rural inhabitants by reducing the isolation that had been characteristic of life in the country. Of course, there were also profound changes in the recreational activities of suburban and urban dwellers. For example, the 1950s saw a huge increase in drive-in movie theaters, fast food establishments, supermarkets, and shopping centers - most facets of how we ate, shopped, and played changed to accommodate the car. Family life was also affected: cars changed dating behavior by allowing teenagers more independence from parental supervision and control, and they provided women with more freedom to leave the home. This personal mobility and autonomy
afforded
by the car has become an integral part of American culture. [br] The primary difference cited between American and European car manufacturers is that________.
选项
A、European manufacturers were able to produce more cars
B、the European manufacturing process produced cars of higher quality
C、the American manufacturing process focused on efficiency
D、American manufacturers were able to offer cars to poor dwellers
答案
C
解析
细节识别。题干的关键信息是difference between American and European…,据此找到第二段的对比标记信息“In contrast to European manufacturers”,继续阅读就找到了二者的区别,即“which employed a higher percentage of skilled laborers to produce fewer and costlier cars,American companies focused on turning out
a large quantity of affordable cars utilizing less-skilled laborers
”,此处,画线部分与选项C的efficiency相对应,故C为正确选项。
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/3319711.html
相关试题推荐
Hewasgreatlyvexedbythenewandunexpecteddevelopment.A、astonishedB、annoye
______ofrecentpoliticaldevelopments,hewastakenbysurpriseuponhisarriv
Foravarietyofreasons,manyAmericanyoungadultsarereturninghomeoraren
Infact,anumberofrecentdevelopmentssuggestthatnewmediamayactuallybe
Atthebeginningofthetwentiethcentury,NorthAmericansocietyheld,asa
Atthebeginningofthetwentiethcentury,NorthAmericansocietyheld,asa
Atthebeginningofthetwentiethcentury,NorthAmericansocietyheld,asa
Atthebeginningofthetwentiethcentury,NorthAmericansocietyheld,asa
JackieRobinson,thefirstBlackAmericanwhowastoplaybaseballinthemajor
ThefactthatmostAmericansliveinurbanareasdoesnotmeanthattheyres
随机试题
Thetraditionalbeliefthatawoman’splaceisinthehomeandthatawomano
克罗恩病最常见的并发症是()。A.肠梗阻 B.大量血便 C.癌变 D.肠
下列关于视杆细胞的叙述,不正确的是()。A.不能产生动作电位 B.能产生感
A.几何不变 B.几何可变 C.瞬变 D.超静定结构
弱酸性药物中毒.为加速其排出体外,可采取的措施为A.碱化尿液,使解离度减小,增加
痉挛型脑瘫的临床表现正确的是A.肌张力减低 B.两腿交叉或剪刀样 C.舞蹈样
各种心理咨询方法都有效的共同因素包括( )。A.使求助者摆脱孤独,燃起希望
(2020年真题)甲是某省具有疫苗配送业务资质的药品批发企业;乙是非连锁药品零售
男性,70岁,原有肺心病,感冒后病情加重,咳脓痰,发热、烦躁,继之出现神志模
根据《劳动合同法》规定,下列属于用人单位不得解除劳动合同的情形是()。
最新回复
(
0
)