填空题 The American farmers have always been independent and hard-working. In the eighteenth century farmers were quite self-sufficient. The farmfamily grew and made almost nothing it needed. The surplus crop 1would be sold in order to buy a few items in the local general stone. In 1860, because some of the farm population had moved to 2the city, yet eight percent of the American population was still inthe country. In the late nineteen century, farm work and life were 3not much changed from that they had been in old days. The farmer 4aroused at dawn or before and had much work to do, with his own 5muscles like his chief source of power. He used axes, spades and 6other complicated tools. In his house cooking was done in wood 7burning stoves, and the kerosene lamp was the only improvement on the candle. The family's recreation and social life chieflyconsisted a drive in the wagon to the nearby small town or village 8to transact some business as well as to chat with neighbors who also come to town. The children attended a small elementary school(often of justoneroom)to that they had to walk every day, possibly for a few miles. 9The school term was short so that the children could not help on the 10farm. Although the whole family worked, and life was not easy, farmers as a class were self-reliant and independent.