单选题 From the beginning, migration has been one of the most conspicuous features of human history. Humanity did not appear simultaneously all over the earth but, according to the current scientific consensus, first evolved in Africa, and from there spread far and wide. Even after mankind had populated most of the planet, migration continued to play a decisive role in history down the centuries, as people contended for territory and the resources that go with it. In many of history's biggest movements of people, the migrants were not volunteers. In the 17th and 18th centuries, 15 million people were taken as slaves from Africa and shipped to Brazil, the Caribbean and North America. In the 19111 century, between 10 and 40 million indentured workers (契约工人,苦力) were sent in vast numbers around the world, mainly from China and India.
The 20th century's wars in Europe and Asia displaced millions more. But perhaps the most intense episode of migration-under-duress (强迫) in modern times occurred after the partition of India in 1947, when 7 million Muslims fled India for the new state of Pakistan and 7 million Hindus fled in the opposite direction.
As individuals, not merely as members of races or religions in flight, people have always traveled in search of a better life. Between the middle of the 19th century and the start of the second world war, 60 million people left Europe and move overseas to the United States, Canada, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Much of this movement was guided by economic calculation. Most modern migration is of this kind, though nowadays the pull is high wages rather than cheap land.
For the 19th century or so, the pattern of migration has shifted a good deal, with changes in government policy playing a key role. Until 1914 governments imposed almost no controls. This allowed the enormous 19th-century movement of migrants from Europe to North America.
Between 1914 and 1945, partly reflecting security concerns, migration was curtailed. Many countries excluded immigrants. America's Congress passed laws aiming to preserve the country's racial and religious make-up.
After 1945 came another great change. Many European countries faced labor shortages. Governments actively recruited immigrants for jobs in their expanding industries. Migration surged again, now not mainly from Europe to North America but from the developing countries to the rich ones.
The next big change came in the 1970s. The rich countries were no longer growing quickly and struggling with labor shortages. Recession came to Europe and America, and immigration rules were tightened again. This more restrictive regime continues to apply.
单选题 In human history, people migrated because of all of the following EXCEPT ______.
  • A. their fight for territory and resources
  • B. their religious beliefs
  • C. their races
  • D. their sexes
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 是非题。在第一、二段讲到,人们移民是为了竞争领土及资源;黑奴是由于种族原因被强迫从非洲移民到北美的,印度分裂后出现了因宗教不同而出现的移民逃亡。因此,只有D说因性别的原因移民是文章中没有说的,因此是正确答案。
单选题 Between the middle of the 19th century and the start of the World War Ⅱ, many Europeans left Europe for other continents for all of the following EXCEPT ______.
  • A. a better life
  • B. cheap land
  • C. high wages
  • D. economic benefits
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 是非题。在第三段中讲到,移民总是为了寻求更好的生活,而且19世纪中期至第二次世界大战前这段时期,大量欧洲人移民海外,主要是出于经济原因(economic calculation),也就是说他们认为移民在经济上是合算的。本段最后一句又说,现代大多数移民都是这种类型,只不过如今的原因是更高的工资而非廉价的土地。由此可知,早期移民的原因是为了土地,而不是更高的工资,C是本题正确选项。
单选题 It was not until 1914 that ______.
  • A. governments began to impose controls on migration
  • B. governments began to remove controls on migration
  • C. governments began to concern about national security
  • D. governments began to preserve racial and religious make-up
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。在第四段中,在1914前,政府对移民几乎没有任何限制政策,使得大量移民从欧洲涌人北美。也就是说,直到1914处政府才开始实施移民控制。所以A是正确答案。
单选题 The great change in migration after 1945 was brought about by ______.
  • A. labor shortage in many European countries
  • B. cancellation of immigration laws in many countries
  • C. high unemployment rate in developing countries
  • D. better job opportunities in North American countries
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。倒数第二段,许多欧洲国家面临劳动力缺乏问题,所以移民再次增加,只不过这次移民是从发展中国家到富裕国家。所以A是正确答案。
单选题 The last paragraph tells us that ______.
  • A. Europe and America are still faced with labor shortage
  • B. Europe and America are not growing economically now
  • C. recession continues to affect Europe and America
  • D. immigration rules are still tightened now in Europe and America
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 段落理解题。最后一段讲,20世纪70年代又发生一次变化,富裕国家的经济不再迅速增长,也不再有劳动力问题,欧洲和美洲都出现衰退,因此又加紧了限制移民政策,直至现在。所以只有D符合这些意思。