Jon Clark’s study of the effect of
the modernization of a telephone
exchange on exchange maintenance
Line work and workers is a solid contribution
(5) to a debate that encompasses two
lively issues in the history and sociol-
ogy of technology: technological
determinism and social constructivism.
Clark makes the point that the char-
(10) acteristics of a technology have a
decisive influence on job skills and
work organization. Put more strongly,
technology can be a primary determi-
nant of social and managerial organ-
(15) ization. Clark believes this possibility
has been obscured by the recent soci-
ological fashion, exemplified by
Braverman’s analysis, that emphasizes
the way machinery reflects social
(20) choices. For Braverman, the shape of
a technological system is subordinate
to the manager’s desire to wrest con-
trol of the labor process from the
workers. Technological change is
(25) construed as the outcome of negoti-
ations among interested parties who
seek to incorporate their own interests
into the design and configuration of the
machinery. This position represents
(30) the new mainstream called social con-
structivism.
The constructivists gain acceptance
by misrepresenting technological deter-
minism: technological determinists are
(35) supposed to believe, for example, that
machinery imposes appropriate forms
of order on society. The alternative to
constructivism, in other words, is to
view technology as existing outside
(40) society, capable of directly influencing
skills and work organization.
Clark refutes the extremes of the
constructivists by both theoretical and
empirical arguments. Theoretically he
(45) defines “technology” in terms of rela-
tionships between social and technical
variables. Attempts to reduce the
meaning of technology to cold, hard
metal are bound to fail, for machinery
(50) is just scrap unless it is organized
functionally and supported by approp-
riate systems of operation and main-
tenance. At the empirical level Clark
shows how a change at the telephone
(55) exchange from maintenance-intensive
electromechanical switches to semi-
electronic switching systems altered
work tasks, skills, training opportuni-
ties, administration, and organization of
(60) workers. Some changes Clark attrib-
utes to the particular way management
and labor unions negotiated the intro-
duction of the technology, whereas
others are seen as arising from the
(65) capabilities and nature of the technol-
ogy itself. Thus Clark helps answer
the question: “When is social choice
decisive and when are the concrete
characteristics of technology more
important?”作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 15:28
120. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) advocate a more positive attitude toward
technological change
(B) discuss the implications for employees of the
modernization of a telephone exchange
(C) consider a successful challenge to the
constructivist view of technological change
(D) challenge the position of advocates of
technological determinism
(E) suggest that the social causes of technological
change should be studied in real situations作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 15:29
本文是一篇典型的观点陈述性文章。提出了Clark的观点，驳斥了breaverman的观点。A 文章并没有明确提出technological change的更积极的观点。
B 主题体型中不能出现非主题词，如employee。
C 驳斥了一个关于technological change的观点。
D challenge technological determinism，这和作者的观点相左。
E suggest social cause? 这和作者的观点相左。
所以选择 C作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 15:29
121. Which of the following statements about the
modernization of the telephone exchange is supported
by information in the passage?
(A) The new technology reduced the role of
managers in labor negotiations.
(B) The modernization was implemented without the
consent of the employees directly affected by it.
(C) The modernization had an impact that went
signifi cantly beyond maintenance routines.
(D) Some of the maintenance workers felt victimized
by the new technology.
(E) The modernization gave credence to the view of
advocates of social constructivism.作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 15:30
由于题目中出现了具体的单词the telephone exchange ，所以定位，At the empirical level Clark shows how a change at the telephone exchange from maintenance-intensive electromechanical switches to semi-electronic switching systems altered work tasks, skills, training opportuni-ties, administration, and organization of workers. 因此可以发现the telephone exchange 有巨大的影响，因此 C。作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 15:31
122. Which of the following most accurately describes
Clark’s opinion of Braverman’s position?
(A) He respects its wide-ranging popularity.
(B) He disapproves of its misplaced emphasis on
the infl uence of managers.
(C) He admires the consideration it gives to the
attitudes of the workers affected.
(D) He is concerned about its potential to impede
the implementation of new technologies.
(E) He is sympathetic to its concern about the
impact of modern technology on workers.作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 15:31
定位braverman 在第二段，首先明确clark和braverman是有不同观点的，clark通过驳斥braverman来支持自己的观点，因此排除 A和C， E，sympathetic带有强烈的感情色彩，支持就是支持，不支持就是不支持，没有什么同情不同情的，所以排除。定位braverman，For Braverman, the shape of a technological system is subordinate to the manager’s desire to wrest con-trol of the labor process from the workers. 因此选择B。作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 15:32
123. The information in the passage suggests that which
of the following statements from hypothetical
sociological studies of change in industry most clearly
exemplifi es the social constructivists’ version of
technological determinism?
(A) It is the available technology that determines
workers’ skills, rather than workers’ skills
infl uencing the application of technology.
(B) All progress in industrial technology grows out
of a continuing negotiation between
technological possibility and human need.
(C) Some organizational change is caused by
people; some is caused by computer chips.
(D) Most major technological advances in industry
have been generated through research and
development.
(E) Some industrial technology eliminates jobs, but
educated workers can create whole new skills
areas by the adaptation of the technology.作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 15:33
constructivist关于technological change的观点是什么呢？
The constructivists gain acceptance by misrepresenting technological deter-
minism: technological determinists are supposed to believe, for example, that machinery imposes appropriate forms of order on society. The alternative to constructivism, in other words, is to view technology as existing outside society, capable of directly influencing skills and work organization. 所以选择A。作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 16:55
124. The information in the passage suggests that Clark
believes that which of the following would be true if
social constructivism had not gained widespread
acceptance?
(A) Businesses would be more likely to modernize
without considering the social consequences of
their actions.
(B) There would be greater understanding of the
role played by technology in producing social
change.
(C) Businesses would be less likely to understand
the attitudes of employees affected by
modernization.
(D) Modernization would have occurred at a slower
rate.
(E) Technology would have played a greater part in
determining the role of business in society.作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 16:55
Put more strongly,technology can be a primary determi-nant of social and managerial organization. Clark believes this possibility has been obscured by the recent sociological fashion。clark相信technology已经被obscured，所以取否就是clark的观点了。(B) There would be greater understanding of the
role played by technology in producing social change.
迷惑项是E，the role of business,not mentioned.作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 16:55
125. According to the passage, constructivists employed
which of the following to promote their argument?
(A) Empirical studies of business situations involving
technological change
(B) Citation of managers supportive of their position
(C) Construction of hypothetical situations that
support their view
(D) Contrasts of their view with a misstatement of
an opposing view
(E) Descriptions of the breadth of impact of
technological change作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 16:55
constructivists gain acceptance by misrepresenting technological determinism. misrepresenting 和misstatement 是一个意思。所以是D.作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 16:56
126. The author of the passage uses the expression “are
supposed to” in line 27 primarily in order to
(A) suggest that a contention made by
constructivists regarding determinists is
inaccurate
(B) defi ne the generally accepted position of
determinists regarding the implementation of
technology
(C) engage in speculation about the motivation of
determinists
(D) lend support to a comment critical of the
position of determinists
(E) contrast the historical position of determinists
with their position regarding the exchange
modernization作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 16:56
定位：The constructivists gain acceptance
by misrepresenting technological deter-
minism: technological determinists are
supposed to believe, for example, that
machinery imposes appropriate forms
of order on society. 从constructivist的观点来描述determinist的观点肯定是不准确的，所以用 supposed to believe，表示的是一种假设。A作者: Gega 时间: 2010-12-17 16:58
127. Which of the following statements about Clark’s study
of the telephone exchange can be inferred from
information in the passage?
(A) Clark’s reason for undertaking the study was to
undermine Braverman’s analysis of the function
of technology.
(B) Clark’s study suggests that the implementation
of technology should be discussed in the context
of confl ict between labor and management.
(C) Clark examined the impact of changes in the
technology of switching at the exchange in
terms of overall operations and organization.
(D) Clark concluded that the implementation of new
switching technology was equally benefi cial to
management and labor.
(E) Clark’s analysis of the change in switching
systems applies only narrowly to the situation at
the particular exchange that he studied
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