Sources of Prosperity during China’s Song Dynasty
In the tenth century. after a period of political fragmentation, China began to enjoy a peaceful and prosperous period, once again united under a strong dynasty, the Song(960-1279)The country had at last made good the population losses it had suffered in the second, third,and fourth centuries. Having fallen from 65 million in the first century to barely 30 million at the end of the fifth, the population had stuck at that level,the imperial census still registering a population of 30 million as late as 845.Now, just 250 years later, it exceeded 80 million. Most of the increase had occurred in the south. particularly around the valley of the River Yangtze, which had hitherto been regarded as poor compared to the more prosperous north. Despite this massive increase in population, living standards had not fallen. On the contrary, they continued to rise. This was probably the first time in the history of the world that a sustained increase in population over such a wide area had been accompanied by a continuing rise in the general standard of living.
An important element in the creation of this prosperity was the invention of paper money, or as the Chinese called it,“flying money” (because it flew in the wind). The government had originally authorized sixteen private banks to issue the new currency, but in 1023 it rescinded this authority and set up its own agency to issue banknotes, backed by cash deposits. Paper money allowed taxes to be collected in cash rather than goods and services, but a consequence was to force a large part of the economy onto a cash basis, as merchants and peasants alike had to sell goods and services for cash to obtain the money to pay their taxes. The creation of a paper-money economy-the worlds first-not only provided a lubricant that eased commercial transactions,it also acted as an incentive to put idle hours to productive use.
Another significant factor was the low cost of transport over much of the country. Sailing barges on China’s great rivers could be correspondingly large, and wind cost nothing. The resulting transportation costs were a fraction of what they were in countries forced to rely on land transport. The east-west river routes were linked together by the north-south Grand Canal. completed in 610. This unique network of wide, navigable waters gave easy access to some 50 million of the country’s 80 million people. It offered economies of scale to merchants and manufacturers alike, and provided a strong incentive toward specialization and the division of labor. The result was a commercialized pattern of output and exchange and a volume of production and consumption such as the world had never known So unusual was this level of commerce that travelers returning to other lands had difficulty in obtaining a hearing for their tales of the wonders they had seen, in what was beyond question the wealthiest and most cultured country in the world.
Finally, innovations that had driven China’s first period of rapid industrial development a thousand years earlier had not been forgotten, and now provided the basis of commercial and industrial renaissance.To give just one example, according to government tax returns, the country’s coke-fired furnaces in the year 1078 produced 125,000 tons of iron. This was almost as much as would be produced in the whole of Europe 600 years later. And none of this growth would have happened without a matching increase in food production.This was made possible by the introduction of a new variety of rice that could be grown on land that received little summer rain.Even more importantly, it enabled farmers to harvest two crops a year from irrigated land that had formerly yielded only one.
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In the tenth century. after a period of political fragmentation, China began to enjoy a peaceful and prosperous period, once again united under a strong dynasty, the Song(960-1279)The country had at last made good the population losses it had suffered in the second, third,and fourth centuries. Having fallen from 65 million in the first century to barely 30 million at the end of the fifth, the population had stuck at that level,the imperial census still registering a population of 30 million as late as 845.Now, just 250 years later, it exceeded 80 million. Most of the increase had occurred in the south. particularly around the valley of the River Yangtze, which had hitherto been regarded as poor compared to the more prosperous north. Despite this massive increase in population, living standards had not fallen. On the contrary, they continued to rise. This was probably the first time in the history of the world that a sustained increase in population over such a wide area had been accompanied by a continuing rise in the general standard of living.
The word“hitherto” in the passage is closest in meaning to
Vocabulary Questions词汇题
Aat first
Bcertainly
Cgenerally
Dup until then
2
In the tenth century. after a period of political fragmentation, China began to enjoy a peaceful and prosperous period, once again united under a strong dynasty, the Song(960-1279)The country had at last made good the population losses it had suffered in the second, third,and fourth centuries. Having fallen from 65 million in the first century to barely 30 million at the end of the fifth, the population had stuck at that level,the imperial census still registering a population of 30 million as late as 845.Now, just 250 years later, it exceeded 80 million. Most of the increase had occurred in the south. particularly around the valley of the River Yangtze, which had hitherto been regarded as poor compared to the more prosperous north. Despite this massive increase in population, living standards had not fallen. On the contrary, they continued to rise. This was probably the first time in the history of the world that a sustained increase in population over such a wide area had been accompanied by a continuing rise in the general standard of living.
According to paragraph 1, all of the following were true of China’s population EXCEPT:
Negative Factual Information Questions否定事实信息题
AIt was larger in the tenth century than it was in theeleventh or twelfth century.
BIt was larger in the first century than it was in the fifth century.
CIt remained stable from the end of the fifth century until 845.
DIncreases in it after 845 occurred mainly in the south of China.
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An important element in the creation of this prosperity was the invention of paper money, or as the Chinese called it,“flying money” (because it flew in the wind). The government had originally authorized sixteen private banks to issue the new currency, but in 1023 it rescinded this authority and set up its own agency to issue banknotes, backed by cash deposits. Paper money allowed taxes to be collected in cash rather than goods and services, but a consequence was to force a large part of the economy onto a cash basis, as merchants and peasants alike had to sell goods and services for cash to obtain the money to pay their taxes. The creation of a paper-money economy-the worlds first-not only provided a lubricant that eased commercial transactions,it also acted as an incentive to put idle hours to productive use.
Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
Sentence Simplification Questions句子简化题
AA result of collecting taxes in cash was that goods and services now had to be sold for cash so that merchants and peasants could pay their taxes.
BWith the invention of paper money to collect taxes.the goods and services sold by both merchants and peasants were taxed.
CA consequence of a cash-based economy was that merchants and peasants began to pay taxes in cash rather than in goods and services.
DPaper money allowed taxes to be collected in cash,but merchants and peasants alike still paid taxes in goods and services.
4
An important element in the creation of this prosperity was the invention of paper money, or as the Chinese called it,“flying money” (because it flew in the wind). The government had originally authorized sixteen private banks to issue the new currency, but in 1023 it rescinded this authority and set up its own agency to issue banknotes, backed by cash deposits. Paper money allowed taxes to be collected in cash rather than goods and services, but a consequence was to force a large part of the economy onto a cash basis, as merchants and peasants alike had to sell goods and services for cash to obtain the money to pay their taxes. The creation of a paper-money economy-the worlds first-not only provided a lubricant that eased commercial transactions,it also acted as an incentive to put idle hours to productive use.
The word “incentive” in the passage is closest in meaning to
Vocabulary Questions词汇题
Arequirement
Bindication
Cmotivation
Dstrategy
5
An important element in the creation of this prosperity was the invention of paper money, or as the Chinese called it,“flying money” (because it flew in the wind). The government had originally authorized sixteen private banks to issue the new currency, but in 1023 it rescinded this authority and set up its own agency to issue banknotes, backed by cash deposits. Paper money allowed taxes to be collected in cash rather than goods and services, but a consequence was to force a large part of the economy onto a cash basis, as merchants and peasants alike had to sell goods and services for cash to obtain the money to pay their taxes. The creation of a paper-money economy-the worlds first-not only provided a lubricant that eased commercial transactions,it also acted as an incentive to put idle hours to productive use.
According to paragraph 2, the Chinese government made which of the following changes regarding the new currency?
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
AIt changed the name of the currency.
BIt began distributing currency by means of a government agency.
CIt increased the amount of currency entering the economy.
DIt changed the value of the currency.
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Another significant factor was the low cost of transport over much of the country. Sailing barges on China’s great rivers could be correspondingly large, and wind cost nothing. The resulting transportation costs were a fraction of what they were in countries forced to rely on land transport. The east-west river routes were linked together by the north-south Grand Canal. completed in 610. This unique network of wide, navigable waters gave easy access to some 50 million of the country’s 80 million people. It offered economies of scale to merchants and manufacturers alike, and provided a strong incentive toward specialization and the division of labor. The result was a commercialized pattern of output and exchange and a volume of production and consumption such as the world had never known So unusual was this level of commerce that travelers returning to other lands had difficulty in obtaining a hearing for their tales of the wonders they had seen, in what was beyond question the wealthiest and most cultured country in the world.
What is the author’s purpose in mentioning that “travelers returning to other lands had difficulty in obtaining a hearing for their tales of the wonders they had seen”?
Rhetorical Purpose Questions修辞目的题
ATo criticize attitudes toward China in other parts of the world
BTo emphasize how remarkable China’s commercial development was
CTo explain why China’s prosperity was not widely recognized outside China
DTo question the idea that China was the wealthiest and most cultured country in the world
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Finally, innovations that had driven China’s first period of rapid industrial development a thousand years earlier had not been forgotten, and now provided the basis of commercial and industrial renaissance.To give just one example, according to government tax returns, the country’s coke-fired furnaces in the year 1078 produced 125,000 tons of iron. This was almost as much as would be produced in the whole of Europe 600 years later. And none of this growth would have happened without a matching increase in food production.This was made possible by the introduction of a new variety of rice that could be grown on land that received little summer rain.Even more importantly, it enabled farmers to harvest two crops a year from irrigated land that had formerly yielded only one.
What can be inferred from paragraph 4 about China’s coke-filled furnaces in the year 1078 ?
Inference Questions推理题
AThey provided iron to other countries, including some in Europe.
BThey employed a process that was similar to the new process used for growing rice.
CThey continued a tradition of innovation that began 1,000 years earlier.
DThey were more important to China’s first period of industrial development than to its second.
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Finally, innovations that had driven China’s first period of rapid industrial development a thousand years earlier had not been forgotten, and now provided the basis of commercial and industrial renaissance.To give just one example, according to government tax returns, the country’s coke-fired furnaces in the year 1078 produced 125,000 tons of iron. This was almost as much as would be produced in the whole of Europe 600 years later. And none of this growth would have happened without a matching increase in food production.This was made possible by the introduction of a new variety of rice that could be grown on land that received little summer rain.Even more importantly, it enabled farmers to harvest two crops a year from irrigated land that had formerly yielded only one.
According to paragraph 4, which of the following was responsible for increased food production in China?
Factual Information Questions事实信息题
AThe expansion of irrigation systems into areas that received little summer rainfall
BThe decision to focus on only one crop per field
CThe development of a new type of crop that required less water
DThe increased production of iron for agricultural tools
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Another significant factor was the low cost of transport over much of the country. ⬛Sailing barges on China’s great rivers could be correspondingly large, and wind cost nothing. ⬛The resulting transportation costs were a fraction of what they were in countries forced to rely on land transport. ⬛The east-west river routes were linked together by the north-south Grand Canal. completed in 610. ⬛This unique network of wide, navigable waters gave easy access to some 50 million of the country’s 80 million people. It offered economies of scale to merchants and manufacturers alike, and provided a strong incentive toward specialization and the division of labor. The result was a commercialized pattern of output and exchange and a volume of production and consumption such as the world had never known So unusual was this level of commerce that travelers returning to other lands had difficulty in obtaining a hearing for their tales of the wonders they had seen, in what was beyond question the wealthiest and most cultured country in the world.
Look at the four squaresthat indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage
The organization of the river system also provided agreat advantage.Insert Text Questions句子插入题
Where would the sentence best fit？Click on a square sentence to the passage.
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China enjoyed great prosperity under the Song dynasty in the tenth century.
Prose Summary Questions概要小结题
Select 3 answers
AThe Song dynasty made it possible for great prosperity to arise in part by allowing successful political institutions of the past to continue operating in the new period.
BAll segments of society in China became richer during the Song period, but prosperity was so great in the south that this formerly poor region became even more prosperous than the north.
CPopulation levels reached a new high, yet general living standards improved, in part becouse the introduction of a new type of rice made it possible to grow two crops a year.
DEconomic growth occurred as a result of the expansion of commerce due to the use of paper money and China’s extensive network of broadnavigable waterways.
ESong officials began collecting taxes in the form of cash in order to finance large-scale projects such as the building of the Grand Canal and the expansion of agriculture in southern China.
FIndustrial and commercial expansion in the Song period, such as the capacity to produce large quantities of iron, was built on earlier industrial achievements.
