GMAT考试阅读辅导——(12)
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Passage 12

  Nearly a century ago, biologists found that if they separated an invertebrate1 animal embryo2 into two parts at an early stage of its life, it would survive and develop as two normal embryos3. This led them to believe that the (5)?cells in the early embryo are undetermined in the sense that each cell has the potential to develop in a variety of different ways. Later biologists found that the situation was not so simple. It matters in which plane the embryo is cut. If it is cut in a plane different from the one used (10) by the early investigators5, it will not form two whole embryos.
  A debate arose over what exactly was happening. Which embryo cells are determined4, just when do they- become irreversibly committed to their fates, and what (15) are the “morphogenetic determinants” that tell a cell Passage 15
  In the two decades between 1910 and 1930, over ten percent to the Black population of the United States left the South, where the preponderance of the Black population had been located, and migrated to northern (5) states, with the largest number moving, it is claimed, between 1916 and 1918. It has been frequently assumed, but not proved, that the majority of the migrants in what has come to be called the Great Migration6 came from rural areas and were motivated by two concurrent7 (10) factors: the collapse8 of the cotton industry following the boll weevil infestation9, which began in 1898, and increased demand in the North for labor10 following the cessation of European immigration caused by the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. This assump- (15) tion has led to the conclusion that the migrants’ subsequent lack of economic mobility11 in the North is tied to rural background, a background that implies unfamiliarity12 with urban living and a lack of industrial skills.
  But the question of who actually left the South has (20) never been rigorously investigated. Although numerous investigations14 document an exodus15 from rural southern areas to southern cities prior to the Great Migration. no one has considered whether the same migrants then moved on to northern cities. In 1910 over 600,000 (25) Black workers, or ten percent of the Black work force, reported themselves to be engaged in “manufacturing and mechanical pursuits,” the federal census16 category roughly encompassing17 the entire industrial sector18. The Great Migration could easily have been made up entirely19 (30) of this group and their families. It is perhaps surprising to argue that an employed population could be enticed20 to move, but an explanation lies in the labor conditions then prevalent in the South. About thirty-five percent of the urban Black popu-(35) lation in the South was engaged in skilled trades. Some were from the old artisan class of slavery-blacksmiths. masons, carpenters-which had had a monopoly of certain trades, but they were gradually being pushed out by competition, mechanization, and obsolescence21, (40) The remaining sixty-five percent, more recently urbanized, worked in newly developed industries---tobacco. lumber22, coal and iron manufacture, and railroads. Wages in the South, however, were low, and Black workers were aware, through labor recruiters and the (45)Black press, that they could earn more even as unskilled workers in the North than they could as artisans in the South. After the boll weevil infestation, urban Black workers faced competition from the continuing influx23 of both Black and White rural workers, who were driven (50) to undercut the wages formerly24 paid for industrial jobs. Thus, a move north would be seen as advantageous25 to a group that was already urbanized and steadily26 employed, and the easy conclusion tying their subsequent economic problems in the North to their rural background comes into question.

1. The author indicates explicitly27 that which of the following records has been a source of information in her investigation13?
?(A) United States Immigration Service reports from 1914 to 1930
?(B) Payrolls28 of southern manufacturing firms between 1910 and 1930
?(C) The volume of cotton exports between 1898 and 1910
?(D) The federal census of 1910
?(E) Advertisements of labor recruiters appearing in southern newspapers after 1910

2. In the passage, the author anticipates which of the following as a possible objection to her argument?
?(A) It is uncertain how many people actually migrated during the Great Migration.
?(B) The eventual29 economic status of the Great Migration migrants has not been adequately traced.
?(C) It is not likely that people with steady jobs would have reason to move to another area of the country.
?(D) It is not true that the term “manufacturing and mechanical pursuits” actually encompasses30 the entire industrial sector.
?(E) Of the Black workers living in southern cities, only those in a small number of trades were threatened by obsolescence.

3. According to the passage, which of the following is true of wages in southern cities in 1910?
?(A) They were being pushed lower as a result of increased competition.
?(B) They had begun t to rise so that southern industry could attract rural workers.
?(C) They had increased for skilled workers but decreased for unskilled workers.
?(D) They had increased in large southern cities but decreased in small southern cities.
?(E) They had increased in newly developed industries but decreased in the older trades.

4. The author cites each of the following as possible influences in a Black worker’s decision to migrate north in the Great Migration EXCEPT
?(A) wage levels in northern cities
?(B) labor recruiters
?(C) competition from rural workers
?(D) voting rights in northern states
?(E) the Black press

5. It can be inferred from the passage that the “easy conclusion” mentioned in line 53 is based on which of the following assumptions?
?(A) People who migrate from rural areas to large cities usually do so for economic reasons.
?(B) Most people who leave rural areas to take jobs in cities return to rural areas as soon as it is financially possible for them to do so.
?(C) People with rural backgrounds are less likely to succeed economically in cities than are those with urban backgrounds.
?(D) Most people who were once skilled workers are not willing to work as unskilled workers.
?(E) People who migrate from their birthplaces to other regions of country seldom undertake a second migration.

6. The primary purpose of the passage is to
?(A) support an alternative to an accepted methodology
?(B) present evidence that resolves a contradiction
?(C) introduce a recently discovered source of information
?(D) challenge a widely accepted explanation
?(E) argue that a discarded theory deserves new attention

7. According to information in the passage, which of the following is a correct sequence of groups of workers, from highest paid to lowest paid, in the period between 1910 and 1930?
?(A) Artisans in the North; artisans in the South; unskilled workers in the North; unskilled workers in the South
?(B) Artisans in the North and South; unskilled workers in the North; unskilled workers in the South
?(C) Artisans in the North; unskilled workers in the North; artisans in the South
?(D) Artisans in the North and South; unskilled urban workers in the North; unskilled rural workers in the South
?(E) Artisans in the North and South, unskilled rural workers in the North and South; unskilled urban workers in the North and South

8. The material in the passage would be most relevant to a long discussion of which of the following topics?
?(A) The reasons for the subsequent economic difficulties of those who participated in the Great Migration
?(B) The effect of migration on the regional economies of the United States following the First World War
?(C) The transition from a rural to an urban existence for those who migrated in the Great Migration
?(D) The transformation31 of the agricultural South following the boll weevil infestation
?(E) The disappearance of the artisan class in the United States as a consequence of mechanization in the early twentieth century



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1 invertebrate 9a8zt     
n.无脊椎动物
参考例句:
  • Half of all invertebrate species live in tropical rain forests.一半的无脊椎动物物种生活在热带雨林中。
  • Worms are an example of invertebrate animals.蠕虫是无脊椎动物的一个例子。
2 embryo upAxt     
n.胚胎,萌芽的事物
参考例句:
  • They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
  • The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。
3 embryos 0e62a67414ef42288b74539e591aa30a     
n.晶胚;胚,胚胎( embryo的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Somatic cells of angiosperms enter a regenerative phase and behave like embryos. 被子植物体细胞进入一个生殖阶段,而且其行为象胚。 来自辞典例句
  • Evolution can explain why human embryos look like gilled fishes. 进化论能够解释为什么人类的胚胎看起来象除去了内脏的鱼一样。 来自辞典例句
4 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
5 investigators e970f9140785518a87fc81641b7c89f7     
n.调查者,审查者( investigator的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
  • The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 migration mDpxj     
n.迁移,移居,(鸟类等的)迁徙
参考例句:
  • Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
  • He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。
7 concurrent YncyG     
adj.同时发生的,一致的
参考例句:
  • You can't attend two concurrent events!你不能同时参加两项活动!
  • The twins had concurrent birthday. 双胞胎生日在同一天。
8 collapse aWvyE     
vi.累倒;昏倒;倒塌;塌陷
参考例句:
  • The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
  • The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。
9 infestation infestation     
n.侵扰,蔓延
参考例句:
  • The premises were treated for cockroach infestation.因蟑螂成灾,这些房屋集中进行了灭蟑活动。
  • Parts of California are suffering from an infestation of oriental fruit flies.加利福尼亚的部分地区正遭受东方果蝇的大肆侵袭。
10 labor P9Tzs     
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦
参考例句:
  • We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
  • He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后,他已经疲惫不堪了。
11 mobility H6rzu     
n.可动性,变动性,情感不定
参考例句:
  • The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
  • Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。
12 unfamiliarity Dkgw4     
参考例句:
  • And unfamiliarity with a new electoral system may also deter voters. 而对新的选举体系的不熟悉,也会妨碍一些选民投票。 来自互联网
  • Her temporary shyness was due to her unfamiliarity with the environment. 她暂时的害羞是因为对环境不熟悉。 来自互联网
13 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查,调查研究
参考例句:
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
14 investigations 02de25420938593f7db7bd4052010b32     
(正式的)调查( investigation的名词复数 ); 侦查; 科学研究; 学术研究
参考例句:
  • His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查,但没有发现什么。
  • He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。
15 exodus khnzj     
v.大批离去,成群外出
参考例句:
  • The medical system is facing collapse because of an exodus of doctors.由于医生大批离去,医疗系统面临崩溃。
  • Man's great challenge at this moment is to prevent his exodus from this planet.人在当前所遇到的最大挑战,就是要防止人从这个星球上消失。
16 census arnz5     
n.(官方的)人口调查,人口普查
参考例句:
  • A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
  • The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。
17 encompassing d3e1478f9dbf972fd2599732510b1379     
v.围绕( encompass的现在分词 );包围;包含;包括
参考例句:
  • Being too large and all-encompassing is a common defect among state-owned enterprises. 过分追求大而全,是国企的一大通病。 来自互联网
  • Our services are: all-encompassing, love justice and high quality. 我们的服务目标是:全方位、真情义、高质量。 来自互联网
18 sector yjczYn     
n.部门,部分;防御地段,防区;扇形
参考例句:
  • The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
  • The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。
19 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
20 enticed e343c8812ee0e250a29e7b0ccd6b8a2c     
诱惑,怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He enticed his former employer into another dice game. 他挑逗他原来的老板再赌一次掷骰子。
  • Consumers are courted, enticed, and implored by sellers of goods and services. 消费者受到商品和劳务出售者奉承,劝诱和央求。
21 obsolescence bIjxr     
n.过时,陈旧,废弃
参考例句:
  • For some small unproductive mills,the reality is not merger but obsolescence and bankruptcy.对一些效率低下的小厂而言,现实不是合并,而是可能被淘汰和破产。
  • Finally,the cost approach can provide a basis for allocating penalties,specifically economic obsolescence.最后,成本法可作为一个分配因陈旧特别是因经济
22 lumber a8Jz6     
n.木材,木料;v.以破旧东西堆满;伐木;笨重移动
参考例句:
  • The truck was sent to carry lumber.卡车被派出去运木材。
  • They slapped together a cabin out of old lumber.他们利用旧木料草草地盖起了一间小屋。
23 influx c7lxL     
n.流入,注入
参考例句:
  • The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
  • Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施,因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。
24 formerly ni3x9     
adv.从前,以前
参考例句:
  • We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
  • This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。
25 advantageous BK5yp     
adj.有利的;有帮助的
参考例句:
  • Injections of vitamin C are obviously advantageous.注射维生素C显然是有利的。
  • You're in a very advantageous position.你处于非常有利的地位。
26 steadily Qukw6     
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地
参考例句:
  • The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
  • Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
27 explicitly JtZz2H     
ad.明确地,显然地
参考例句:
  • The plan does not explicitly endorse the private ownership of land. 该计划没有明确地支持土地私有制。
  • SARA amended section 113 to provide explicitly for a right to contribution. 《最高基金修正与再授权法案》修正了第123条,清楚地规定了分配权。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
28 payrolls 6c9c6a79f750b129f50f4617a38144a8     
n.(公司员工的)工资名单( payroll的名词复数 );(公司的)工资总支出,工薪总额
参考例句:
  • Indices of employment, payrolls, and production steadied in February 1931931年2月,就业、工资额和生产指数稳定。 来自辞典例句
  • Wall Street responded to the payrolls figures with gusto. 华尔街对就业数据作出了积极的反应。 来自互联网
29 eventual AnLx8     
adj.最后的,结局的,最终的
参考例句:
  • Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
  • Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。
30 encompasses cba8673f835839b92e7b81ba5bccacfb     
v.围绕( encompass的第三人称单数 );包围;包含;包括
参考例句:
  • The job encompasses a wide range of responsibilities. 这项工作涉及的职责范围很广。
  • Its conservation law encompasses both its magnitude and its direction. 它的守恒定律包括大小和方向两方面。 来自辞典例句
31 transformation SnFwO     
n.变化;改造;转变
参考例句:
  • Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
  • He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。
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