单选题 The Commercial Revolution was not confined, of course, to the growth of trade and banking. Included in it also were fundamental changes in methods of production. The system of manufacture developed by the craft guilds in the later Middle Ages was rapidly be- coming defunct. The guilds themselves, dominated by the master craftsmen, had grown selfish and exclusive. Membership in them was commonly restricted to a few privileged families. Besides, they were so completely choked by tradition that they were unable to make adjustments to changing conditions. Moreover, new industries had sprung up entirely outside the guild system. Characteristic examples were mining and smelting and the woolen industry. The rapid development of these enterprises was stimulated by technical advances, such as the invention of the spinning wheel and the discovery of a new method of making brass, which saved about half of the fuel previously used. In the mining and smelting in dustries a form of organization was adopted similar to that which has prevailed ever since.
But the most typical form of industriai production in the Commercial Revolution was the domestic system, developed first of all in the woolen industry. The domestic system derives its name from the fact that the work was done in the homes of industrial artisans instead of in the shop of a master craftsman. Since the various jobs in the manufacture of a product were given out on contract, the system is also known as the putting out system. Notwithstanding the petty scale of production, the organization was basically capitalistic. The raw material was purchased by an entrepreneur and assigned to individual worker, each of whom would complete his allotted task for a stipulated payment. In the case of the woolen industry the yam would be given out first of all to the spinners, then to the weavers, fullers, and dyer in succession. When the cloth was finally finished, it would be taken by the clothier and sold in the open market for the highest price it would bring.

单选题 According to the article, what changes did the Commercial Revolution bring about?

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[解析] A、C两项太片面，B项不正确。从文中的“The Commercial Revolution was not combined，of course，to the growth of trade and banking．Included in it also were fundamental changes in methods of production．(商业改革不仅限于贸易和银行业的增长，生产方式的重大改变也包括在其中。)”可知，正确答案是D。

单选题 The word "defunct" in tile first paragraph most probably means______.

单选题 According to the article, in which area was it more energy-efficient?

单选题 The author implies that______.

单选题 According to the article, which one of the following statements is NOT true?

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】[解析] A项与文章第一段倒数第二句话的意思相符；C项与文章第二段第三句话的意思相符；D项与文章第二段最后一句话的意思相符。从文中的“In the case of the woolen industry the yarn would be given out first of all to the spinners，then to the weavers，fullers，and dyers in succession．”可知，B项把spinners和weavers的次序颠倒了。因此B项为正确答案。