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 to a better life and a better way of doing things. All these, however, remain true only in so far as people want to accept technology and move forwards by finding new and more efficient ways of doing things.
However, at the back of the minds of many people, especially those who miss the “good old days”， efficiency_comes_with_a_price. When communication becomes more 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 effort 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 ourselves 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 and have improved efficiency. Unskilful 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 handicrafts(手工艺品) 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 analysing 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.
70. 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
71. The underlined word “gadgets” is closest in meaning to “________”.
A. tools B. messages
C. barriers D. skills
72. The author explains “efficiency comes with a price” by ________.
A. describing a process
B. using examples
C. following time order
D. making classification
73. Compared with homemade handicrafts, machinemade products ________.
A. lack great accuracy
B. lack the personal touch
C. are of high value
D. are quite welcome
74. 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.
75. 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.
【要点综述】 本文为一篇议论文。文章主要介绍了对进步的看法。作者认为进步有利有弊，但是不管怎样，人们对进步的态度决定技术的使用。
70. D 细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句“…people want to accept technology and move forwards by finding new and more efficient ways of doing things.”可知，当人们想要接受技术并前进时，进步才是有利的。
71. A 词义猜测题。根据后面的例子mobile phones 和 iPads可猜出gadget指的是交流的工具。
72. B 推理判断题。画线句后作者主要是通过举例来说明一些进步在交流方面带来的不利之处，故选B项。
73. B 细节理解题。根据第三段第五句“However, with the improvements in efficiency also comes the loss of the personal touch when making these products.”可知，机器使得产品缺乏个人接触;根据第四句“…produced with greater accuracy…”可知A项错误;根据最后一句“…the demand might fall because mass production lowers the quality…”可知C、D错误。
74. D 推理判断题。根据第四段最后一句“New technology is required for old products to stay old.”可知，新技术应该能用于保存旧的产品。
75. D 推理判断题。根据最后一段“It is people's attitude towards progress that causes the type of influence that technology has on society…There is no fixed way of making use of it. Everything depends on people's attitude.”可知，人们的态度决定技术的使用，故选D项。
