[单项选择]

In the eighteenth century, Japan’s feudal overlords, from the shogun to the humblest samurai, found themselves under financial stress. In part, this stress can be attributed to the overlords’ failure to adjust to a rapidly expanding economy, but the stress was also due to factors beyond the overlords’ control. Concentration of the samurai in castle towns had acted as a stimulus to trade. Commercial efficiency, in turn, had put temptations in the way of buyers. Since most samurai had been reduced to idleness by years of peace, encouraged to engage in scholarship and martial exercises or to perform administrative tasks that took little time, it is not surprising that their tastes and habits grew expensive. overlords’ income, despite the increase in rice production among their tenant farmers, failed to keep pace with their expenses. Although shortfalls in overloads’ income resulted almost as much from laxity among their tax collectors (the nearly inevit
A. Profits from mining had declined.
B. Spending had outdistanced income.
C. The samurai had concentrated in castle-towns.
D. The coinage had been sharply debased.

[单项选择]

In the eighteenth century, Japan’s feudal overlords, from the shogun to the humblest samurai, found themselves under financial stress. In part, this stress can be attributed to the overlords’ failure to adjust to a rapidly expanding economy, but the stress was also due to factors beyond the overlords’ control. Concentration of the samurai in castle towns had acted as a stimulus to trade. Commercial efficiency, in turn, had put temptations in the way of buyers. Since most samurai had been reduced to idleness by years of peace, encouraged to engage in scholarship and martial exercises or to perform administrative tasks that took little time, it is not surprising that their tastes and habits grew expensive. overlords’ income, despite the increase in rice production among their tenant farmers, failed to keep pace with their expenses. Although shortfalls in overloads’ income resulted almost as much from laxity among their tax collectors (the nearly inevit
A. Warmly approving.
B. Mildly sympathetic.
C. Bitterly disappointed.
D. Harshly disdainful.

[单项选择]In the eighteenth century, Japan’s feudal overlords, from the shogun to the humblest samurai, found themselves under financial stress. In part, this stress can be attributed to the overlords’ failure to adjust to a rapidly expanding economy, but the stress was also due to factors beyond the overlords’ control. Concentration of the samurai in castle towns had acted as a stimulus to trade. Commercial efficiency, in turn, had put temptations in the way of buyers. Since most samurai had been reduced to idleness by years of peace, encouraged to engage in scholarship and martial exercises or to perform administrative tasks that took little time, it is not surprising that their tastes and habits grew expensive. overlords’ income, despite the increase in rice production among their tenant farmers, failed to keep pace with their expenses. Although shortfalls in overloads’ income resulted almost as much from laxity among their tax collectors (the nearly inevitable outcome of hereditary office-ho
A. Warmly approving.
B. Mildly sympathetic.
C. Bitterly disappointed.
D. Harshly disdainful.

[单项选择]In Britain in the middle of the eighteenth century, requisite conditions were in evidence for making that nation the first great industrial country, "the workshop of the world". Already enjoying a vigorous commercial economy, Britain experienced a tremendous population growth and increasing trade at home and abroad.
The population boom is attributed to several circumstances in Britain at that time. Good harvests had produced abundant and therefore cheaper food. The plague years were over, probably as a result of improved water supplies and the availability of soap. With opportunities for work in industry, people were marrying younger and producing larger families for whom they could earn the means to provide. The death rate dropped, and the population in- creased. Labor was thus accessible for the development of an industrial society.
Industry’s need for fuel sparked expansion in coal mining. Production of iron depended upon coal smelting, which produced cheap iron for machin
A. its population boom at that time
B. the development of its fuel supply
C. the development of Britain’s wool and cotton weaving industries
D. the Industrial Revolution of Britain

[单项选择]In the eighteenth century writers （　）hours in coffee houses, discussing the news of the day.
A. used to spending
B. used to spend
C. would be spending
D. were used to spend

[单项选择]In the eighteenth century, the town of Bennington, Vermont, was famous for pottery.（　）
A. it made
B. its
C. the making
D. where its

[单项选择]During the middle of the eighteenth century, the ______ style in fttrniture and architecture, marked by scrollwork and excessive decoration, flourished.
A. austere
B. functional
C. medieval
D. rococo
E. abstract