Westward Migration
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 onlya seventh of the American people lived west of the Appalachian Mountains, by1840 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 peoplelived 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 plentyof attractions: the alluvial river bottoms, the fecund soils of the rollingforest lands, the black loams of the prairies were tempting to New Englandfarmers working their rocky, sterile land and to southeastern farmers plaguedwith 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.
参考答案：
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...
参考翻译:移居西部
美国西进运动的故事大体说来其实就是美国农业扩张的故事，也就是一场开辟用于饲养家畜以及种植小麦、玉米、烟草和棉花的新土地的运动。1815年之后，交通的改善使得越来越多的西部农民摆脱了自给自足的生活方式，进入了国家市场经济。在商品价格较高的那些年，西迁的比率飞速增长。一名英国游客于1817年评价道："看来旧美国正在瓦解，并移向西部"，当时正值第一次迁移浪潮。西进运动在1830年达到了顶峰。1810年的时候，还仅有七分之一的美国人生活在阿巴拉契亚山的西侧，到1840年的时候这个数字超过了三分之一。
为什么这几十万的移民--大部分是农民，还有些是工匠--会离开东部开垦好的土地和建设好的城镇?美国社会的某些特征有助于解释这场声势浩大的移民。一些美国人的欧洲祖先几个世纪以来都扎根于同一个村庄或者同一片土地，直到宗教、，穿越大西洋。很多经历过这场巨变的人此后都失去了把他们祖先束缚在一个地方的纽带。而且，欧洲社会相对阶层化，职业和社会地位是世袭的。而在美国社会，等级结构没有这么严格，一部分人轻易就换了工作，并且他们相信提高社会和经济地位是他们的职责。这就导致很多美国人骨子里就是不安于现状、无根而且野心勃勃的人。因此这些社会特征有利于造就出那些会冲破居住地边缘向西行进的游牧民和勇敢的移民。此外，还有一些移民迁到西部是为了找寻新的家园，获得物质上的成功，过上更好的生活。
西部吸引人的地方很多：冲积河床、绵延起伏的林地下的肥沃的土壤、大草原上的黑土，这些都吸引着在布满岩石又贫瘠的土地上劳作的新英格兰农民和饱受土壤损耗和流失困扰的东南部农民。根据1820年的一部新土地法，100美元就可以买一个农场。银行的不断发展使得那些没有现金的人贷款变得更容易了。西部的农民在贷款的时候都满怀信心，他们预期经济的发展会使农场的价格节节攀升，因此到期时要偿还贷款就比较容易。
对于那些想要迁往西部的人以及手里有多余的农产品可以供给市场的人来讲，交通也已经不成问题。1815年前，那些没有生活在通航的水路旁的西部农民只能从土路和山道去往市场。可以用家畜翻越大山，但是以这种方式运输谷物的成本是这些谷物在东部市场上的价值的好几倍。改善西部交通的第一步就是修建收费高速公路。这些公路使得运输成本有降低的可能，并且因此刺激了沿途农业的商品化。
还有两个发展预示着高速公路时代的终结，并引发了一场运输革命，使得生产日益地区专业化，国家市场经济持续增长。第一个是蒸汽船，虽然在1850年蒸汽船最终取代了所有其它的船来运输乘客和货物之前，平底船和龙骨船一直是相当重要的交通工具。蒸汽船不仅快，而且向上游运输货物的成本约是先前用手划龙骨船的十分之一。第二个就是伊利运河，它在当时是一项庞大的工程，跨越了约350英里。运河投入运营后，从布法罗("水牛城")向纽约运输一吨货物的成本从每英里20美分下降到了不到1美分。最终，西部各州都将不少农产品从以往的水路转到了伊利运河这条通往东部市场的捷径上来。
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