As Philadelphia grew from a small town into a city in the first half of the eighteenth century, it became an increasingly important marketing center for a vast agricultural hinterland. Market days (1) the crowded city even more crowded, as farmers from within a (2) of 24 or more kilometers brought their sheep, vegetables, cider and other products for direct sale to the (3) . The High Street Market was continuously (4) throughout the period until 1736, (5) it (6) from Front Street to Third. By 1745 New Market was opened on Second Street. The next year the Callow Hill Market began (7) .
Along with market days, the (8) of twice-yearly fairs persisted in Philadelphia (9) after similar trading days had been discontinued in other colonial cities. The (10) provided a means of bringing handmade goods from (11) places to would-be buyers in the city. Linens and stockings from Germantown, (12) , were popular items.
Auctions were another popular (13) of trade. Because of the competition, retail (14) opposed these as well as the fairs. (15) governmental attempts to eradicate fairs and auctions were less than successful, the ordinary (16) of economic development was on the merchants’side, as increasing business specialization became the (17) of the day. Export merchants became differentiated from their importing counterparts, and specialty shops began to appear (18) general stores selling a variety of goods.
One of the reasons Philadelphia’s merchants prospered was because the surrounding area was undergoing tremendous economic and demographic growth. They did their business, (19) , in the capital city of the province, (20) to not only the governor and his circle, but citizens from all over the colony.
10()
A.state
B.fairs
C.farmers
D.cities
参考答案:B
解析:
[考点] 词义辨析+语境理解
本题要求考生根据上下文选择符合原文含义的名词。在The (10) provided a means of bringing handmade goods...这个句子中,应当注意到空格前的定冠词the,表明空格内的信息在上文有所提及;而且该名词所搭配的成分是provided a means bringing handmade goods,选择答案时应同时考虑这两个暗示。在前文中出现过,且具有这种商品调配功能的名词就是fairs(集市),因此B选项正确。
[干扰项分析] A选项state在前文没有提及,因此不能与定冠词the搭配;C选项farmers虽然可以与“提供手工商品”搭配,但不能与“提供这种市场方式”搭配;D选项cities也不具备这种“提供市场方式的”能力。