听力原文: One of the most popular myths about the United States in the 19th century was that of the free and simple life of the farmers. It was said that the farmers worked hard on their own land to produce whatever their families needed. They might sometimes trade with their neighbors, but in general they could get along just fine by relying on themselves, not on commercial ties with others. This was how Thomas Jefferson idealized the farmers at the beginning of the 19th century. And at that time, this might have been close to the truth especially on the frontier. But by the mid century sweeping changes in agriculture were well underway as farmers began to specialize in raising crops such as cotton or corn or wheat. By late in the century, revolutionary advances in farm machinery have vastly increased production of specialized crops and an extensive network of railroads had linked farmers throughout the country to markets in the east. By raising and selling specialized crops, farmers could afford more and finer goods and achieve a much higher standard of living but at a price. Now farmers are no longer dependent just on the weather and their own effort, their lives are increasingly controlled by banks, which have the power to grant or deny loans for new machinery, and by the railroads, which set the rates for shipping their crops to the market. As businessmen, farmers now have to worry about national economic depressions and the influence of world supply and demand on, for example, the price of wheat in Kansas. By the end of the 19th century, the era of Jefferson's independent farmer had come to a close.
What is the main topic of the talk?
A. Jefferson's views about commercialized agriculture.
B. International trade in the nineteenth century.
C. Improvements in farm machinery in the United States.
D. Farmers' loss of independence.
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What does the author indicate about superstores in the 980's?
A. They were more expensive than smaller retail stores.
B. There were 30,000 of them in the country.
C. They were not very profitable.
D. They were much smaller than they are now.
Why did Mr. Turner go to the Simpsons store?
A. To buy a suitcase
B. To ask for a refund
C. To inquire about repair costs
D. To pay an outstanding bill
Why has Mr. Turner enclosed a document with his letter?
A. To provide an example of a form
B. To show that a suitcase has been repaired
C. To support a request for reimbursement
D. To suggest a store for Jetline to use
INTELICOM
Kingston, Ontario
October 22
Ms. Susan Newman 320 Victoria Street Toronto, Ontario M5H 3N2
Dear Ms. Newman:
This is to confirm that the completed forms from your pre-employment health assessment have now been received. Therefore, I confirm that you will be able to start employment with INTELICOM as an interim administrative assistant in the research department on October 30.
The terms and conditions of your appointment are as follows:
Salary: Actual salary $22,000 per year (based on $44,000 a year full time).
Working Pattern: Working commitment is 50 percent of full time. This equates to 128 days to be scheduled as agreed with the head of the research department and is inclusive of 6 days of annual leave.
Duration of Service: One year.
Payment of Salary: Please complete a bank authorization form. (enclosed) and bring it, together with proof of identity, to the payroll office (fourth floor, Connaught Building) as soon as possible.
Please sign and date the duplicate copy of this agreement and mail it back to me by October 25. Only when the signed document is received in this office will a contract exist between you and INTELICOM according to the conditions set out above.
We look forward to having you with us at INTELICOM.
Yours sincerely,
[*]
Ms. R. A. Palermo
Director of Human Resource Management
ENDORSEMENT
I have received the original of this letter dated October 22 and accept the appointment on the terms and conditions specified.
Signature:……Date:……
(Ms. Susan Newman)
According to the letter, what has Ms. Newman already done?
A. She has visited the payroll office.
B. She has had a health checkup.
C. She has signed a contract.
D. She has submitted some research.