Everyone looks forward to progress, whether in one’s personal life or in the general society. Progress indicates a person’s ability to change the way he is living at the moment. Progress must lead a better way of doing things. All these, however, remains true only in so far as people want to accept technology and move forward by finding new and more efficient ways of doing things.
However, at the back of the minds of many people, especially those who missed the “good old days”, efficiency comes with a price . When communication becomes efficient, people are able to contact one another no matter where they are and at whatever time they wish to. The click of a button allows people miles apart to talk or to see each other without even leaving their homes. With the communication gadgets , such as mobile phones and ipads, people often do not take the effect to visit one another personally. A personal visit carries with it the additional feature of having to be in the person’s presence for as long as the visit lasts. We cannot unnecessarily excuse our selves or turn the other person off.
With efficiency also comes mass production. Such is the nature of factories and the success of industrialization today. Factories have improved efficiency. Unskillful tasks are left to machines and products are better made and produced with greater accuracy than any human hand could ever have done. However, with the improvements in efficiency also comes the loss of the personal touch when making these products. For example, many handcrafts(手工藝品) are now produced in a factory. Although this means that supply is better able to increase demand, now that the supply is quick and efficient, the demand might fall because mass production lowers the quality of the handicraft and it is difficult to find unique designs on each item.
Nevertheless, we must not commit the mistake of analyzing progress only from one point of view. In fact, progress has allowed tradition to keep up. It is only with progress and the invention of new technology that many old products can be brought back to their old state. New technology is required for old products to stay old.
It is people’s attitude towards progress that causes the type of influence that technology has on society. Technology is flexible. There is no fixed way of making use of it. Everything depends on people’s attitude. The worst effects of progress will fall on those who are unable to rethink their attitudes and views of society. When we accept progress and adapt it to suit our needs, a new “past” is created.
小題1:According to Paragraph 1, progress can benefit people when they are willing to _______.
A.live a better life
B.look for better methods
C.change ways of living
D.accept technology and advance steadily
小題2:The underlined word “gadgets” is closest in meaning to _______.
A.tools B.messages C.barriers D.skills
小題3:The author explains “efficiency comes with a price” by _______.
A.describing a process
B.using examples
C.following time order
D.making classification
小題4:Compared with home-made handicrafts, machine made products _______.
A.lack great accuracy
B.lack the personal touch
C.are of high value
D.are quite welcome
小題5:What can be learned about technology from Paragraph 4?
A.It can destroy old traditions.
B.It can lead to social progress.
C.It can be used to correct mistakes.
D.It can be used to preserve old products.
小題6:What can be concluded from the last paragraph?
A.Progress can suit the needs of daily life.
B.People review the past with great regret.
C.Technology should be introduced in a fixed way.
D.People’s attitude decides the use of technology.
