Questions 1-10
As Philadelphia grew from a small town into a city in the first half of the eighteenth
century, it became an increasingly important marketing center for a vast and growing
agricultural hinterland. Market days saw the crowded city even more crowded, as
line fanners from within a radius of 24 or more kilometers brought their sheep, cows, pigs,
(5) vegetables, cider, and other products for direct sale to the townspeople. The High Street
Market was continuously enlarged throughout the period until 1736, when it reached
from Front Street to Third. By 1745 New Market was opened on Second Street
between Pine and Cedar. The next year the Callowhill Market began operation.
Along with market days, the institution of twice-yearly fairs persisted in
(10) Philadelphia even after similar trading days had been discontinued in other colonial
cities. The fairs provided a means of bringing handmade goods from outlying places to
would-be buyers in the city. Linens and stockings from Germantown, for example,
were popular items.
Auctions were another popular form of occasional trade. Because of the
(15) competition, retail merchants opposed these as well as the fairs. Although
governmental attempts to eradicate fairs and auctions were less than successful, the
ordinary course of economic development was on the merchants' side, as increasing
business specialization became the order of the day. Export merchants became
differentiated from their importing counterparts, and specialty shops began to appear in
(20) addition to general stores selling a variety of goods.
One of the reasons Philadelphia's merchants generally prospered was because the
surrounding area was undergoing tremendous economic and demographic growth.
They did their business, after all, in the capital city of the province. Not only did they
cater to the governor and his circle, but citizens from all over the colony came to the
(25) capital for legislative sessions of the assembly and council and the meetings of the
courts of justice.
【題組】9. What does the author mean by stating in line 17 that "economic development was on the
merchants' side "?
(A) Merchants had a strong impact on
economic expansion.
(B) Economic forces allowed merchants to
prosper.
(C) Merchants had to work together to
achieve economic independence
(D) Specialty shops near large markets were
more likely to be economically
successful.
寫作批改
VIP與詳解卡管理
私人筆記( 0 )