对于OG12的120至127题的分析。

pterosaur · 发表于 2010-6-7 10:30:46

Jon Clark’s study of the effect of
the modernization of a telephone
exchange on exchange maintenance
Line work and workers is a solid contribution
(5) to a debate that encompasses two
lively issues in the history and sociol-
ogy of technology: technological
determinism and social constructivism.
Clark makes the point that the char-
(10) acteristics of a technology have a
decisive influence on job skills and
work organization.

ut more strongly,
technology can be a primary determi-
nant of social and managerial organ-
(15) ization. Clark believes this possibility
has been obscured by the recent soci-
ological fashion, exemplified by
Braverman’s analysis, that emphasizes
the way machinery reflects social
(20) choices. For Braverman, the shape of
a technological system is subordinate
to the manager’s desire to wrest con-
trol of the labor process from the
workers. Technological change is
(25) construed as the outcome of negoti-
ations among interested parties who
seek to incorporate their own interests
into the design and configuration of the
machinery. This position represents
(30) the new mainstream called social con-
structivism.
The constructivists gain acceptance
by misrepresenting technological deter-
minism: technological determinists are
(35) 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
(40) society, capable of directly influencing
skills and work organization.
Clark refutes the extremes of the
constructivists by both theoretical and
empirical arguments. Theoretically he
(45) defines “technology” in terms of rela-
tionships between social and technical
variables. Attempts to reduce the
meaning of technology to cold, hard
metal are bound to fail, for machinery
(50) is just scrap unless it is organized
functionally and supported by approp-
riate systems of operation and main-
tenance. At the empirical level Clark
shows how a change at the telephone
(55) exchange from maintenance-intensive
electromechanical switches to semi-
electronic switching systems altered
work tasks, skills, training opportuni-
ties, administration, and organization of
(60) workers. Some changes Clark attrib-
utes to the particular way management
and labor unions negotiated the intro-
duction of the technology, whereas
others are seen as arising from the
(65) capabilities and nature of the technol-
ogy itself. Thus Clark helps answer
the question: “When is social choice
decisive and when are the concrete
characteristics of technology more
important?”

pterosaur · 发表于 2010-6-7 10:31:07

120. 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

pterosaur · 发表于 2010-6-7 10:42:46

本文是一篇典型的观点陈述性文章。提出了Clark的观点，驳斥了breaverman的观点。A 文章并没有明确提出technological change的更积极的观点。
B 主题体型中不能出现非主题词，如employee。
C 驳斥了一个关于technological change的观点。
D challenge technological determinism，这和作者的观点相左。
E suggest social cause? 这和作者的观点相左。
所以选择 C

pterosaur · 发表于 2010-6-7 10:43:08

121. 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
signifi cantly 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.

pterosaur · 发表于 2010-6-7 10:46:40

由于题目中出现了具体的单词the telephone exchange ，所以定位，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 opportuni-ties, administration, and organization of workers. 因此可以发现the telephone exchange 有巨大的影响，因此 C。

pterosaur · 发表于 2010-6-7 10:47:09

122. Which of the following most accurately describes
Clark’s opinion of Braverman’s position?
(A) He respects its wide-ranging popularity.
(B) He disapproves of its misplaced emphasis on
the infl uence of managers.
(C) He admires the consideration it gives to the
attitudes of the workers affected.
(D) He is concerned about its potential to impede
the implementation of new technologies.
(E) He is sympathetic to its concern about the
impact of modern technology on workers.

pterosaur · 发表于 2010-6-7 10:51:19

定位braverman 在第二段，首先明确clark和braverman是有不同观点的，clark通过驳斥braverman来支持自己的观点，因此排除 A和C， E，sympathetic带有强烈的感情色彩，支持就是支持，不支持就是不支持，没有什么同情不同情的，所以排除。定位braverman，For Braverman, the shape of a technological system is subordinate to the manager’s desire to wrest con-trol of the labor process from the workers. 因此选择B。

pterosaur · 发表于 2010-6-7 10:51:35

123. The information in the passage suggests that which
of the following statements from hypothetical
sociological studies of change in industry most clearly
exemplifi es the social constructivists’ version of
technological determinism?
(A) It is the available technology that determines
workers’ skills, rather than workers’ skills
infl uencing the application of technology.
(B) All progress in industrial technology grows out
of a continuing negotiation between
technological possibility and human need.
(C) Some organizational change is caused by
people; some is caused by computer chips.
(D) Most major technological advances in industry
have been generated through research and
development.
(E) Some industrial technology eliminates jobs, but
educated workers can create whole new skills
areas by the adaptation of the technology.

pterosaur · 发表于 2010-6-7 10:58:36

constructivist关于technological change的观点是什么呢？
The constructivists gain acceptance by misrepresenting technological deter-
minism: 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. 所以选择A。

pterosaur · 发表于 2010-6-7 11:02:00

124. 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.

对于OG12的120至127题的分析。

所属分类: GMAT考试

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