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1、Error!Notextofspecifiedstyleindocument.14/14PartIIReadingComprehension(35minutes)Questions21to24arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Automationreferstotheintroductionofelectroniccontrolandautomaticoperationofproductivemachinery.Itreducesthehumanfactors,mentalandphysical,inproduction,andisdesignedtomak
2、epossiblethemanufactureofmoregoodswithfewerworkers.ThedevelopmentofautomationinAmericanindustryhasbeencalledthe“SecondIndustrialRevolution”.Labour’sconcernoverautomationarisesfromuncertaintyabouttheeffectsonemployment,andfearsofmajorchangesinjobs.Inthemain,labourhastakentheviewthatresistancetot
3、echnicalchangeisunfruitful.Eventually,theresultofautomationmaywellbeanincreaseinemployment,sinceitisexpectedthatvastindustrieswillgrowuparoundmanufacturing,maintaining,andrepairingautomationequipment.Theinterestoflabourliesinbringingaboutthetransitionwithaminimumofinconvenienceanddistresstothew
4、orkersinvolved.Also,unionspokesmenemphasizethatthebenefitoftheincreasedproductionandlowercostsmadepossiblebyautomationshouldbesharedbyworkersintheformofhigherwages,moreleisure,andimprovedlivingstandards.Toprotecttheinterestsoftheirmembersintheeraofautomation,unionshaveadoptedanumberofnewpolicie
5、s.Oneoftheseisthepromotionofsupplementaryunemploymentbenefitplans.Itisemphasizedthatsincetheemployerinvolvedinsuchaplanhasadirectfinancialinterestinpreventingunemployment,hewillhaveastrongdriveforplanningnewinstallationssoastocausetheleastpossibleproblemsinjobsandjobassignment.Someunionsarework
6、ingfordismissalpayagreements,requiringthatpermanentlydismissedworkersbepaidasumofmoneybasedonlengthofservice.Anotherapproachistheideaofthe“improvementfactor”,whichcallsforwageincreasesbasedonincreasesinproductivity.Itispossible,however,thatlabourwillrelymainlyonreductioninworkingtime.21.Thoughl
7、abourworriesabouttheeffectofautomation,itdoesnotdoubtthat________.A)automationwilleventuallypreventunemploymentB)automationwillhelpworkersacquirenewskillsC)automationwilleventuallybenefittheworkersnolessthattheemployersD)automatio
