阅读理解 Automation refers to the introduction of electronic control and automatic operation of productive machinery. It reduces the human factors, mental and physical? in production, and is designed to make possible the manufacture of more goods with fewer workers. The development of automation in American industry has been called the "Second Industrial Revolution". Labor''s concern over automation arises from uncertainty about its effects on employment, and fears of major changes in jobs. In the main, labor has taken the view that resistance to technological change is futile. In the long run, the result of automation may well be an increase in employment, since it is expected that vast industries will grow up around manufacturing, maintaining and repairing automation equipment. Unquestionably, however, there will be major shifts in jobs within plants, and displacement of labor from one industry to another. The interest of labor lies in bringing about this transition with a minimum of inconvenience and distress to workers involved. Also, union spokesmen emphasize that the benefit of the increased production and lower costs made possible by automation should be shared by workers in the form of higher wages, more leisure, and improved living standards. To protect the interests of their members in the era of automation, unions have adopted a number of new policies. One of these is the promotion of supplementary unemployment benefits plans. It is emphasized that since the employer involved in a SUB plan has a direct financial stake in preventing unemployment, he will have a strong incentive for planning new installations so as to cause the least possible disruption in jobs and job assignments. Some unions are working for dismissal pay agreements, requiring that permanently laid off workers be paid a sum of money based on length of service. Another approach is the idea of the "improvement factor", which calls for wage increases based on increases in productivity. It is probable, however, that labor will rely mainly on reduction in working hours in order to gain a full share in the fruits of automation.
单选题 Which of the following probably will not be a long run result of automation?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】文章第二段第三、四句话“从长远来看，自动化的结果将是就业机会的增加，因为将会产生许多生产、养护和维修自动化设备的大型产业。毫无疑问，也会出现工作的经常变动，劳工在企业间的流动等现象。”可知，A项“工业扩张”，B项“就业机会增加”，C项“劳工在企业之间的流动”，都是自动化的结果。只有D项“失业的增加”不是自动化的结果。故选D)。
单选题 Labor has the opinion that___________.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】文章第二段第二句话“劳工们认为抵制技术进步是无用的。”可知，A项“必须全力以赴防止自动化”，B项“自动化将导致消费成本的增加”，C项“工人们的主要兴趣在于全方位提高工资”，与文章不符。只有D项“技术改进是不可阻止的”是正确的。故选D)。
单选题 A characteristic of the "Second Industrial Revolution" is___________.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】文章第一段指出“自动化指电子控制技术的引进和用于生产的机器的自动操作。它减少了生产中智力和体力的人为因素，并且使用更少的工人生产更多的产品成为可能。”第二段最后一句指出，“工会发言人强调自动化引起的产量的增加和成本的减少将使工人们有更多的薪水、更多的闲暇时间和更高的生活水平。”由此可知，选项A、C、D与文意背道而驰，选项B)生产中对人力需要的减少是第二次工业革命的特征，故选B)。
单选题 In order to get full benefits of automation, labor will depend mostly on___________.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】文章最后一段最后一句话指出“劳工们将主要依靠减少工作时间来享受自动化的果实。”因此为了获得自动化带来的最大效益，劳工们应主要依靠减少工作时间。故选B)。
单选题 Which of the following can best sum up the passage?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】整篇文章都在讲述自动化带来的结果及劳工们对自动化的反应，而C项“失业救济计划与自动化”和D项“自动化的社会利益”只是文章的一部分内容，A项“自动化的利与弊”在文中未提及，只有B项“劳工和自动化的影响”与文意相符。故选B)。