The story of the westward movement of population in the United States is, in the main, the story of the expansion of American agriculture—of the development of new areas for the raising of livestock and the cultivation of wheat, corn, tobacco, and cotton. After 1815 improved transportation enabled more and more western farmers to escape a self-sufficient way of life and enter a national market economy. During periods when commodity prices were high, the rate of westward migration increased spectacularly. "Old America seemed to be breaking up and moving westward," observed an English visitor in 1817,during the first great wave of migration. Emigration to the West reached a peak in the 1830's. Whereas in 1810 only a seventh of the American people lived west of the Appalachian Mountains, by 1840 more than a third lived there.
Why were these hundreds of thousands of settlers—most of them farmers, some of them artisans—drawn away from the cleared fields and established cities and villages of the East? Certain characteristics of American society help to explain this remarkable migration. The European ancestors of some Americans had for centuries lived rooted to the same village or piece of land until some religious, political, or economic crisis uprooted them and drove them across the Atlantic. Many of those who experienced this sharp break thereafter lacked the ties that had bound them and their ancestors to a single place. Moreover, European society was relatively stratified; occupation and social status were inherited. In American society, however, the class structure was less rigid; some people changed occupations easily and believed it was their duty to improve their social and economic position. As a result, many Americans were an inveterately restless, rootless, and ambitious people. Therefore, these social traits helped to produce the nomadic and daring settlers who kept pushing westward beyond the fringes of settlement. In addition, there were other immigrants who migrated west in search of new homes, material success, and better lives.
The West had plenty of attractions: the alluvial river bottoms, the fecund soils of the rolling forest lands, the black loams of the prairies were tempting to New England farmers working their rocky, sterile land and to southeastern farmers plagued with soil depletion and erosion. In 1820 under a new land law, a farm could be bought for $100. The continued proliferation of banks made it easier for those without cash to negotiate loans in paper money. Western Farmers borrowed with the confident expectation that the expanding economy would keep farm prices high, thus making it easy to repay loans when they fell due.
Transportation was becoming less of a problem for those who wished to move west and for those who hand farm surpluses to send to market. Prior to 1815, western farmers who did not live on navigable waterways were connected to them only by dirt roads and mountain trails. Livestock could be driven across the mountains, but the cost of transporting bulky grains in this fashion was several times greater than their value in eastern markets. The first step toward an improvement of western transportation was the construction of turnpikes. These roads made possible a reduction in transportation costs and thus stimulated the commercialization of agriculture along their routes.
Two other developments presaged the end of the era of turnpikes and started a transportation revolution that resulted in increased regional specialization and the growth of a national market economy. First came the steamboat; although flatboats and keelboats continued to be important until the 1850’s steamboats eventually superseded all other craft in the carrying of passengers and freight. Steamboats were not only faster but also transported upriver freight for about one tenth of what it had previously cost on hand-propelled keelboats. Next came the Erie Canal, an enormous project in its day, spanning about 350 miles. After the canal went into operation, the cost per mile of transporting a ton of freight from Buffalo to New York City declined from nearly 20 cents to less than 1 cent. Eventually, the western states diverted much of their produce from the rivers to the Erie Canal, a shorter route to eastern markets.
Paragraph 1: The story of the westward movement of population in the United States is, in the main, the story of the expansion of American agriculture—of the development of new areas for the raising of livestock and the cultivation of wheat, corn, tobacco, and cotton. After 1815 improved transportation enabled more and more western farmers to escape a self-sufficient way of life and enter a national market economy. During periods when commodity prices were high, the rate of westward migration increased spectacularly. "Old America seemed to be breaking up and moving westward," observed an English visitor in 1817,during the first great wave of migration. Emigration to the West reached a peak in the 1830's. Whereas in 1810 only a seventh of the American people lived west of the Appalachian Mountains, by 1840 more than a third lived there.
1.What can be inferred from paragraph 1 about western farmers prior to 1815?
O They had limited their crop production to wheat, corn, tobacco, and cotton.
O They were able to sell their produce at high prices.
O They had not been successful in raising cattle.
O They did not operate in a national market economy.
2.What is the purpose of the statement, “Whereas in 1810 only a seventh of the American people lived west of the Appalachian Mountains, by 1840 more than a third lived there”?
O To illustrate that generally population shifts occur rapidly
O To correct a mistaken impression of American agriculture from 1810 to 1840
O To emphasize the range and speed with which the westward migration occurred
O To demonstrated how attractive the Appalachian Mountains were to Americans
Paragraph 2: Why were these hundreds of thousands of settlers—most of them farmers, some of them artisans—drawn away from the cleared fields and established cities and villages of the East? Certain characteristics of American society help to explain this remarkable migration. The European ancestors of some Americans had for centuries lived rooted to the same village or piece of land until some religious, political, or economic crisis uprooted them and drove them across the Atlantic. Many of those who experienced this sharp break thereafter lacked the ties that had bound them and their ancestors to a single place. Moreover, European society was relatively stratified; occupation and social status were inherited. In American society, however, the class structure was less rigid; some people changed occupations easily and believed it was their duty to improve their social and economic position. As a result, many Americans were an inveterately restless, rootless, and ambitious people. Therefore, these social traits helped to produce the nomadic and daring settlers who kept pushing westward beyond the fringes of settlement. In addition, there were other immigrants who migrated west in search of new homes, material success, and better lives.
3.The word "fringes" in the passage is closest in meaning to
O borders
O groups
O types
O directions
4.According to paragraph 2, all of the following are reasons why Americans migrated westward EXCEPT
O the desire to move from one place to the next
O the hope of improving their socioeconomic status
O the opportunity to change jobs
O the need to escape religious or political crises
Paragraph 3: The West had plenty of attractions: the alluvial river bottoms, the fecund soils of the rolling forest lands, the black loams of the prairies were tempting to New England farmers working their rocky, sterile land and to southeastern farmers plagued with soil depletion and erosion. In 1820 under a new land law, a farm could be bought for $100. The continued proliferation of banks made it easier for those without cash to negotiate loans in paper money. Western Farmers borrowed with the confident expectation that the expanding economy would keep farm prices high, thus making it easy to repay loans when they fell due.
5.Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
O Because the West had more rivers and forests than the East, its soil was more productive.
O The fertile soils of the West drew farmers from regions with barren soils.
O Farmers living in western areas of the United States were more affected by soil erosion than farmers living in eastern areas.
O The soil in western areas of the United States was richer than soil in eastern areas.
6.According to paragraph 3, what was the significance of the land law passed in 1820?
O It granted government-supported loans to farmers.
O It provided farmland at an affordable price.
O It required banks to offer loans to farmers.
O It enabled farmers to sell their land for a profit.
7.The word "proliferation" in the passage is closest in meaning to
O growth
O cooperation
O importance
O success
Paragraph 4: Transportation was becoming less of a problem for those who wished to move west and for those who hand farm surpluses to send to market. Prior to 1815, western farmers who did not live on navigable waterways were connected to them only by dirt roads and mountain trails. Livestock could be driven across the mountains, but the cost of transporting bulky grains in this fashion was several times greater than their value in eastern markets. The first step toward an improvement of western transportation was the construction of turnpikes. These roads made possible a reduction in transportation costs and thus stimulated the commercialization of agriculture along their routes.
8.Paragraph 4 suggests that turnpikes affected farmers by
O making the price of grain uniform for both eastern and western farmers
O making western farm products more profitable than eastern farm products
O allowing farmers to drive their livestock across mountain trails
O allowing a greater number of farmers to sell their farm products in a commercial market
Paragraph 5: Two other developments presaged the end of the era of turnpikes and started a transportation revolution that resulted in increased regional specialization and the growth of a national market economy. First came the steamboat; although flatboats and keelboats continued to be important until the 1850’s steamboats eventually superseded all other craft in the carrying of passengers and freight. Steamboats were not only faster but also transported upriver freight for about one tenth of what it had previously cost on hand-propelled keelboats. Next came the Erie Canal, an enormous project in its day, spanning about 350 miles. After the canal went into operation, the cost per mile of transporting a ton of freight from Buffalo to New York City declined from nearly 20 cents to less than 1 cent. Eventually, the western states diverted much of their produce from the rivers to the Erie Canal, a shorter route to eastern markets.
9.The word "superseded" in the passage is closest in meaning to
O replaced
O reformed
O equaled
O increased
10.The word "diverted" in the passage is closest in meaning to
O collected
O shifted
O transported
O sold
11.Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 5 about flatboats and keelboats?
O They ceased to be used as soon as the first turnpikes were built.
O They were slower and more expensive to operate than steamboats.
O They were used for long-distance but not for regional transportation.
O They were used primarily on the Erie Canal.
12.Paragraph 5 mentions that the Erie Canal led to a reduction in all of the following EXCEPT
O the length of the route that goods from the West traveled across to reach eastern markets
O the cost of transporting freight
O the price of produce from western states
O the amount of produce from western states that was shipped on rivers
Transportation was becoming less of a problem for those who wished to move west and for those who had farm surpluses to send to market. ■Prior to 1815, western farmers who did not live on navigable waterways were connected to them only by dirt roads and mountain trails. ■Livestock could be driven across the mountains, but the cost of transporting bulky grains in this fashion was several times greater than their value in eastern markets. ■The first step toward an improvement of western transportation was the construction of turnpikes. ■These roads made possible a reduction in transportation costs and thus stimulated the commercialization of agriculture along their routes.
13.Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the passage.
In fact, goods could be shipped more cheaply across the much greater distance of the Atlantic Ocean than they could from western New York to coastal cities.
Where would the sentence best fit?
Click on a square [■] to insert the sentence in the passage.
14.Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some answer choices do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
The westward movement of population across the United States led to expanded agricultural production.
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Answer Choices
O The desire to improve their livelihood often inspired people to move west.
O Among the people who moved to the western United States were a number of artisans.
O The fertility of western farmland as well as favorable government policies supported agricultural gains.
O Steamboats were originally used to transport passengers rather than freight.
O Commercial farming in the West was greatly enhanced by improvements in land and water transportation.
O The transportation revolution resulted in regional economies that operated independently of a national market economy.
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參考答案：
1. 4
2. 3
3. 1
4. 4
5. 2
6. 2
7. 1
8. 4
9. 1
10. 2
11. 2
12. 3
13. 3
14. The desire to ...
The fertility of...
Commercial farming...
:移居西部
美國西進運動的故事大體說來其實就是美國農(nóng)業(yè)擴張的故事，也就是一場開辟用于飼養(yǎng)家畜以及種植小麥、玉米、煙草和棉花的新土地的運動。1815年之后，交通的改善使得越來越多的西部農(nóng)民擺脫了自給自足的生活方式，進入了國家市場經(jīng)濟。在商品價格較高的那些年，西遷的比率飛速增長。一名英國游客于1817年評價道：“看來舊美國正在瓦解，并移向西部”，當(dāng)時正值第一次遷移浪潮。西進運動在1830年達到了頂峰。1810年的時候，還僅有七分之一的美國人生活在阿巴拉契亞山的西側(cè)，到1840年的時候這個數(shù)字超過了三分之一。
為什么這幾十萬的移民——大部分是農(nóng)民，還有些是工匠——會離開東部開墾好的土地和建設(shè)好的城鎮(zhèn)？美國社會的某些特征有助于解釋這場聲勢浩大的移民。一些美國人的歐洲祖先幾個世紀(jì)以來都扎根于同一個村莊或者同一片土地，直到宗教、政治或者經(jīng)濟危機才迫使他們離開故土，穿越大西洋。很多經(jīng)歷過這場巨變的人此后都失去了把他們祖先束縛在一個地方的紐帶。而且，歐洲社會相對階層化，職業(yè)和社會地位是世襲的。而在美國社會，等級結(jié)構(gòu)沒有這么嚴(yán)格，一部分人輕易就換了工作，并且他們相信提高社會和經(jīng)濟地位是他們的職責(zé)。這就導(dǎo)致很多美國人骨子里就是不安于現(xiàn)狀、無根而且野心勃勃的人。因此這些社會特征有利于造就出那些會沖破居住地邊緣向西行進的游牧民和勇敢的移民。此外，還有一些移民遷到西部是為了找尋新的家園，獲得物質(zhì)上的成功，過上更好的生活。
西部吸引人的地方很多：沖積河床、綿延起伏的林地下的肥沃的土壤、大草原上的黑土，這些都吸引著在布滿巖石又貧瘠的土地上勞作的新英格蘭農(nóng)民和飽受土壤損耗和流失困擾的東南部農(nóng)民。根據(jù)1820年的一部新土地法，100美元就可以買一個農(nóng)場。銀行的不斷發(fā)展使得那些沒有現(xiàn)金的人貸款變得更容易了。西部的農(nóng)民在貸款的時候都滿懷信心，他們預(yù)期經(jīng)濟的發(fā)展會使農(nóng)場的價格節(jié)節(jié)攀升，因此到期時要償還貸款就比較容易。
對于那些想要遷往西部的人以及手里有多余的農(nóng)產(chǎn)品可以供給市場的人來講，交通也已經(jīng)不成問題。1815年前，那些沒有生活在通航的水路旁的西部農(nóng)民只能從土路和山道去往市場。可以用家畜翻越大山，但是以這種方式運輸谷物的成本是這些谷物在東部市場上的價值的好幾倍。改善西部交通的第一步就是修建收費高速公路。這些公路使得運輸成本有降低的可能，并且因此刺激了沿途農(nóng)業(yè)的商品化。
還有兩個發(fā)展預(yù)示著高速公路時代的終結(jié)，并引發(fā)了一場運輸革命，使得生產(chǎn)日益地區(qū)專業(yè)化，國家市場經(jīng)濟持續(xù)增長。第一個是蒸汽船，雖然在1850年蒸汽船最終取代了所有其它的船來運輸乘客和貨物之前，平底船和龍骨船一直是相當(dāng)重要的交通工具。蒸汽船不僅快，而且向上游運輸貨物的成本約是先前用手劃龍骨船的十分之一。第二個就是伊利運河，它在當(dāng)時是一項龐大的工程，跨越了約350英里。運河投入運營后，從布法羅（“水牛城”）向紐約運輸一噸貨物的成本從每英里20美分下降到了不到1美分。最終，西部各州都將不少農(nóng)產(chǎn)品從以往的水路轉(zhuǎn)到了伊利運河這條通往東部市場的捷徑上來。
