Question

Urbanization

Until relatively recently, the vast majority of human beings lived and died without ever seeing a city. The first city was probably founded no more than 5,500 years ago.     71    . In fact, nearly everyone lived on farms or in tiny rural (乡村的) villages. It was not until the 20th century that Great Britain became the first urban society in history--- a society in which the majority of people live in cities and do not farm for a living.

Britain was only the beginning.     72     .The process of urbanization--- the migration (迁移) of people from the countryside to the city--- was the result of modernization, which has rapidly transformed how people live and where they live.

In 1990, fewer than 40% of Americans lived in urban areas. Today, over 82% of Americans live in cities. Only about 2% live on farms.     73    .

Large cities were impossible until agriculture became industrialized. Even in advanced agricultural societies. It took about ninety-five people on farms to feed five people in cities.   74    . Until modern times, those living in cities were mainly the ruling elite(精英) and the servants, laborers and professionals who served them. Cities survived by taxing farmers and were limited in size by the amount of surplus food that the rural population produced and by the ability to move this surplus from farm to city.

Over the past two centuries, the Industrial Revolution has broken this balance between the city and the country.     75    . Today, instead of needing ninety-five farmers to feed five city people, one American farmer is able to feed more than a hundred non-farmers.

A. That kept cities very small.

B. The rest live in small towns.

C. The effects of urban living on people should be considered.

D. Soon many other industrial nations become urban societies.

E. But even 200 years ago, only a few people could live in cities.

F. Modernization drew people to the cities and made farmers more productive.

G. Modern cities have destroyed social relations and the health of human beings.

Answer 1

【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文。阐述了城市化进程的出现、制约因素、发展、影响等。

【解题思路】

71. E。联系此处上下文可知，第一段第二句指出第一个城市大约出现在5500年前，第四句指出直到20世界，英国才成为首个城市化社会，因此，此段是以时间为序说明世界上城市化的萌芽。因此，选E。再者，选项E与下文in fact后表达的内容以不同的角度表达同样的内容。

72. D。本段第一句提出英国（城市化）仅仅是个开始，后又说城市化的进程是现代化的结果。推测本段大意是城市化进程的发展与原因。因此，选D。

73. B。本段通过数字对比，说明美国的城市化。此题上文指出，美国82%的人口住在城市，只有2% 生活在农场。因此，选B说明剩下的人口（住在小镇上）。

74. A。本段第一句提出直到农业工业化，大城市才可能出现，因此，本段主要说明城市化进程中的制约因素。本题上文提到，即使是在先进的农业社会中，95个农民才能养活5个城市人，因此，城市的规模都很小。选A。

75. F。最后一段第一句指出工业革命打破了城市和乡村的平衡，所以，本段主要说明工业革命对城市化的影响。本题下文又说，养活5个城市人不在需要95个农民，一个美国农民能养活100多个城市人。可以看出，农民的生产力更强了，因此，选F。