GWD-8-25-28

GWD-8-Q25-Q28

Jon Clark’s study of the effect of the modernization of a telephone exchange on exchange maintenance work and workers is a solid contribution to a debate that encompasses two lively issues in the history and socialogy of technology: technological determinism and social constructivism. Clark makes the point that the characteristics of a technology have a decisive influence on job skills and work organization. Put more strongly, technology can be a primary determinant of social and managerial organization. Clark believes this possibility has been obscured by the recent sociological fashion, exemplified by Braverman’s analysis, that emphasizes the way machinery reflects social choices. For Braverman, the shape of a technological system is subordinate to the manager’s desire to wrest control of the labor process from the workers. Technological change is construed as the outcome of negotiations among interested parties who seek to incorporate their own interests into the design and configuration of the machinery. This position represents the new mainstream called social constructivism.

The constructivists gain acceptance by misrepresenting technological determinism: 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. Clark refutes the extremes of the constructivists by both theoretical and empirical arguments. Theoretically he defines “technology” in terms of relationships between social and technical variables. Attempts to reduce the meaning of technology to cold, hard metal are bound to fail, for machinery is just scrap unless it is organized functionally and supported by appropriate systems of operation and maintenance. 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 opportunities, administration, and organization of workers. Some changes Clark attriutes to the particular way management and labor unions negotiated the introduction of the technology, whereas others are seen as arising from the capabilities and nature of the technology itself. Thus Clark helps answer the question: “When is social choice decisive and when are the concrete characteristics of technology more important?”

GWD-8-Q25 :

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

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GWD-8-Q26 :

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.

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GWD-8-Q27 :

The author of the passage uses the expression “are supposed to” in lines 34-35 primarily in order to

A.
suggest that a contention made by constructivists regarding determinists is Inaccurate

B.
define the generally accepted position of determinists regarding the implementation of technology

C.
engage in speculation about the motivations 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

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GWD-8-Q28 :

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 significantly 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.

25和27题我都知道是怎么回事。

但是到26和28题的时候，即使我找到原文的定位也还是不明白答案

26题答案是B，我在B和E里犹豫了很久但是最后还是选的E，我的依据是第一段里Put more strongly, technology can be a primary determinant of social and managerial organization. Clark believes this possibility has been obscured by the recent sociological fashion

28题答案是C，定位我也不是很能找好……

还望大家帮帮忙。