阅读理解

Directions: This part consists of two sections. In Section A, there are three passages followed by a total of 20 multiple-choice questions. In Section B, there are two passages followed by a total of 10 short-answer questions. Read the passages and write your answers on the Answer Sheet.

Passage 4

Kazuko Nakane’s history of the early Japanese immigrants to central California’s Pajaro Valley focuses on the development of farming communities there from 1890 to 1940. The Issei (first-generation immigrants) were brought into the Pajaro Valley to raise sugar beets. Like Issei laborers in American cities, Japanese men in rural areas sought employment via the “boss” system. The system comprised three elements: immigrant wage laborers; Issei boardinghouses where laborers stayed; and labor contractors, who gathered workers for a particular job and then negotiated a contract between workers and employer. This same system was originally utilized by the Chinese laborers who had preceded the Japanese. A related institution was the “labor club,” which provided job information and negotiated employment contracts and other legal matters, such as the rental of land, for Issei who chose to belong and paid an annual fee to the cooperative for membership.

When the local sugar beet industry collapsed in 1902, the Issei began to lease land from the valley’s strawberry farmers. The Japanese provided the labor and the crop was divided between laborers and landowners. The Issei thus moved quickly from wage-labor employment to sharecropping agreements. A limited amount of economic progress was made as some Issei were able to rent or buy farmland directly, while others joined together to form farming corporations. As the Issei began to operate farms, they began to marry and start families, forming an established Japanese American community. Unfortunately, the Issei’s efforts to attain agricultural independence were hampered by government restrictions, such as the Alien Land Law of 1913. But immigrants could circumvent such exclusionary laws by leasing or purchasing land in their American-born children’s names.

Nakane’s case study of one rural Japanese American community provides valuable information about the lives and experiences of the Issei. It is, however, too particularistic. This limitation derives from Nakane’s methodology—that of oral history—which cannot substitute for a broader theoretical or comparative perspective. Future research might well consider two issues raised by her study: were the Issei of the Pajaro Valley similar to or different from Issei in urban settings, and what variations existed between rural Japanese American communities?

问答题 What is the primary purpose of the passage?

【正确答案】To summarize and critique a history of an early Japanese settlement in California.

【答案解析】文章第一段第一句指出“Kazuko Nakane’s history of...focuses on the development of farming communities there from 1890 to 1940.”，随后在第一、二段对这段历史进行总结介绍。第三段第二、三句指出“It is, however, too particularistic. This limitation derives from Nakane’s methodology—that of oral history...”，表明这段历史因为口述历史的研究方法，所以特殊性较强，这是对这段历史的批判。

问答题 According to the passage, what is the name of the cooperative association whose members were dues-payingJapanese laborers?

【正确答案】Labor club.

【答案解析】第一段最后一句指出“A related institution was the “labor club,” which...paid an annual fee to the cooperative for membership.”，“劳工俱乐部（labor club） ”会为选择归属合作社并向合作社支付年费的第一代移居北美的日本人提供工作信息和经谈判的雇佣合同以及其他法律事务，例如土地租赁。

问答题 What can you infer from the passage about immigrants’ landownership as prescribed by the Alien Land Law of1913?

【正确答案】It was applicable to first-generation immigrants but not to their American-born children.

【答案解析】根据关键词“Alien Land Law of 1913”定位到第二段倒数第一、二句“Unfortunately, the Issei’s efforts to attain agricultural independence...the Alien Land Law of 1913. But immigrants could circumvent such exclusionary laws by leasing or purchasing land in their American-born children’s names.”，意思是“不幸的是，第一批移居北美的日本人（Issei）实现农业独立的努力受到政府限制的阻碍，例如1913年的《外国人土地法》。但移民可以通过以美国出生的孩子的名义租赁或购买土地来规避这些排他性法律。”由此可知，该法律只适用于第一批移民而不适用于他们在美国出生的孩子。

问答题 Several Issei families join together to purchase a strawberry field and the necessary farming equipment. Whatdoes such a situation best exemplify, as is described in the passage?

【正确答案】A farming corporation.

【答案解析】根据题干中的关键词“join together”和“strawberry”定位到第二段中间部分“A limited amount of economic progress was made as some Issei were able to rent or buy farmland directly, while others joined together to form farming corporations.”，意为“随着一些移民能够直接租赁或购买农田，经济获得了有限的发展，其他的移民则联合起来组成农业公司。”

问答题 In the last paragraph, why does the author say that the study is too particularistic?

【正确答案】To demonstrate the limitations of Nakane’s oral history approach.

【答案解析】纵观全文，作者在介绍完这段历史后，在最后一段进行评价。根据最后一段第一句和第三句“...valuable information about the lives and experiences of the Issei.”“This limitation derives from Nakane’s methodology—that of oral history—which cannot substitute for a broader theoretical or comparative perspective.”可知，这份案例研究虽然提供了宝贵信息，但是因为研究方法的问题特殊性较强。