四六级

　　英语六级听力改革后，考试题型变化较大，包括长对话、听力篇章和讲座，大家平时要有针对性的加强练习。本文是小编为大家提供的英语六级听力音频在线练习第8套讲座1，希望对大家更好地进行2017年6月英语六级备考有帮助。

英语六级听力音频在线练习第8套讲座1.mp3

　　Now listen to the following recording and answer questions 16 to 19.

　　16

　　A.New laws made it possible to buy farmland.

　　B.The government increased its agricultural imports.

　　C.Economic depressions lowered the prices of farm production.

　　D.Machine power could be used in the production and harvesting.

　　17

　　A.Drawing water from mines.

　　B.Improving product quality.

　　C.Transporting goods faster.

　　D.Reducing the air pollution.

　　18

　　A.It had many sheep farm there.

　　B.It had well established railway system.

　　C.It had many factories producing textiles.

　　D.It was the center of England.

　　19

　　A.Creating better working conditions.

　　B.Guaranteeing workers gain higher wages.

　　C.Giving workers rights and freedoms.

　　D.Protecting the safety of children.

　　Today, class, I am going to speak to you about the Industrial Revolution. The term "industrial revolution" refers to the technological, social, economic, and cultural changes that occurred in England in the late eighteenth century. This change eventually spread around the world, creating many big cities. (16) Before the Industrial Revolution, the production and harvesting of products was completed through manual labor. The Industrial Revolution replaced this manpower with machine power.

　　One of the first, and perhaps most important, developments of the Industrial Revolution was the steam engine. This advance in transportation allowed for the faster delivery of manufactured goods. However, the steam engine wasn't only used for transportation but instead for the construction of machine engines that made faster production possible. For example, before the Industrial Revolution, most tasks were done by either wind or water power or by the strength of man or horse. But, in 1698, a man by the name of Thomas Savery constructed the first steam-powered engine in London. (17) Thomas Savery, an engineer and inventor, patented a machine that could effectively draw water from flooded mines using steam pressure.

　　The development of the steam engine caused a host of other changes technologically, socially, and economically within British culture. Steam engine technology led to the development of factories, where products were turned out in the hundreds or even thousands. The factory industry eventually gave rise to what we now know as the modem city. (18) Manchester, for example, due to its cotton mills, became known as Cottonopolis because there were so many factories producing textiles. However, these early cities were not as clean or well kept as the ones we are familiar with today. Along with the growth of industry came the increase of sometimes hard or dirty living conditions. Children were forced to work long hours in factories until the Factory Act of 1833 came into effect, which stated that children under nine were not allowed to work and children over nine were not to work at night or for more than twelve-hour shifts. (19) Trade unions were also born out of the Industrial Revolution, giving workers rights and freedoms that they had not had in the past.

　　Before the Industrial Revolution, working conditions for British workers was not favorable. Men, women, and children worked long hours for little money. The poor conditions of the working class caused many educated British historians and authors to write manifestos expressing great sorrow for the working class. And even those that were not British, such as Friedrich Engels, a German political philosopher, used England as a model for change when he wrote The Condition of the Working Class in England in 1844. Within this text, Engels spoke of the Industrial Revolution and how it was to change the whole fabric of society.

　　16. What changes did the Industrial Revolution bring about in agriculture?

　　17. What was the first steam-powered engine used for?

　　18. Why was Manchester also called Cottonopolis?

　　19. What was the function of trade unions in Britain at that time?

　　参考答案：

　　【小题16】D

　　【小题17】A

　　【小题18】C

　　【小题19】C

　　习题解析：

　　【小题16】讲座开头讲到了工业革命指的是出现在英国 18 世纪末的技术、社会、经济和文化上的变革，其中特别提到 Before the Industrial Revolution, the production and harvesting of products was completed through manual labor. The Industrial Revolution replaced this manpower with machine power.由此可知，工业革命前，生产和收获完全是通过人力完成的，而工业革命用机械动力取代了人力。故选项 D 正确。其他选项讲座中未提及，均排除。

　　【小题17】讲座中提到 1698 年，托马斯·塞维利发明了蒸汽动力引擎，之后对托马斯·基维利本人和他的发明做了简要介绍，提到 Thomas Savery, an engineer and inventor, patented a machine that could effectively draw water from flooded mines using steam pressure.由此可知，托马斯·塞维利利用蒸汽压力发明了一个机器用来抽取矿井水，所以第一台蒸汽动力的引擎是用来抽井水的，故选项 A 为答案。

　　【小题18】讲座中明确提到 Manchester, for example, due to its cotton mills, became known as Cottonopolis because there were so many factories producing textiles.由此可知，曼彻斯特棉花厂林立，是众多纺织厂的所在地，故被称为“棉都”。故选项 C 为答案。其他选项内容在讲座中并未提及，均排除。

　　【小题19】讲座中明确提到 Trade unions were also born out of the Industrial Revolution, giving workers rights and freedoms that they had not had in the past.由此可知诞生于工业革命时期的工会能够给予工人以往不曾有过的权利和自由，故选 C 为答案。

　　以上就是英语六级听力音频在线练习第8套讲座1的全部内容，祝大家2017年6月英语六级考试顺利通关！

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