大学英语阅读教程 (4)

教程 2 D
Unit 4 Economy
大学英语阅读教程 2
Economic Rise in the United States The modern American economy traces its roots to the quest of European settlers for economic gain in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The New World then progressed from a marginally successful colonial economy to a small, independent farming economy and, eventually, to a high complex industrial economy. In 1775, War of Independence of the United States overthrew the ruling of British colony. It was the first great liberation of the productivity in America. In the 18th century, over 95% of the population worked in agriculture, which is the foundation of economy in the United States. Over the past 200 years, the agriculture has taken a great change remarkably. Today, less than 2% of the population are engaged in agriculture, but one third of the arable agricultural products are used for export in the United States.
Unit 4 Economy
Connecting to the Topic
• 1. Who are the greatest economic powers in the modern world? Why?
• 2. Please name some American companies. • 3. What are the key factors contributing to a country’s
emergence as an economic power? • 4. What problems are confronting American economy?
大学英语阅读教程 2
Unit 4 Economy
大学英语阅读教程 2
Strategy
Understanding Chronology: Scanning for Time Words Scanning for time words before you read a passage is a very useful way to improve your reading speed and enhance your comprehension. Time words are important clues that point out the developing process of an event. So this reading skill can help readers look for answers to specific questions concerning time. Common used time words include the following ones: 1. recently, nowadays, currently, at present, for the time being... (Words referring to present time.) 2. during the past three centuries, in 1980s, in Victoria times, from 1972 to 1978, decades ago... (Words referring to time in the past.) 3. from now on, in the near future, in the twenty-second century, next week, in two days... (Words referring to time in the future.)
Unit 4 Economy
大学英语阅读教程 2
Civil war abolished slavery during the period from 1861 to 1865, so that the productivity was liberated for the second time. The Industrial Revolution began in Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and it quickly spread to the United States. By 1860, when Abraham Lincoln was elected president, a third of nation’s income came from manufacturing. Urbanized industry was limited primarily to the Northeast; cotton cloth production was the leading industry, with the manufacture of shoes, woolen clothing, and machinery also expanding. Many new workers were immigrants. The rapid economic development following the Civil War laid the groundwork for the modern USA industrial economy.
大学英语阅读教程 2
大学英语阅读教程 2
Unit 4 Economy
In This Unit
You will read about the American economic rise in the past hundreds of years. And you will also get to know the current condition of economy in this economic powerhouse.