Text 4
The most thoroughly studied in the history of the new world are
the ministers and political leaders of seventeenth-century New England.
According to the standard history of American philosophy, nowhere else in
colonial America was "So much important attached to intellectual pursuits "
According to many books and articles, New England's leaders established the
basic themes and preoccupations of an unfolding, dominant Puritan tradition in
American intellectual life.
To take this approach to the New Englanders normally mean to
start with the Puritans' theological innovations and their distinctive ideas
about the church-important subjects that we may not neglect. But in keeping
with our examination of southern intellectual life, we may consider the
original Puritans as carriers of European culture adjusting to New world
circumstances. The New England colonies were the scenes of important episodes
in the pursuit of widely understood ideals of civility and virtuosity.
The early settlers of Massachusetts Bay included men of
impressive education and influence in England. `Besides the ninety or so
learned ministers who came to Massachusetts church in the decade after
1629,There were political leaders like John Winthrop, an educated gentleman,
lawyer, and official of the Crown before he journeyed to Boston. There men
wrote and published extensively, reaching both New World and Old World
audiences, and giving New England an atmosphere of intellectual earnestness.
We should not forget , however, that most New Englanders were
less well educated. While few crafts men or farmers, let alone dependents and
servants, left literary compositions to be analyzed, The in thinking often had
a traditional superstitions quality. A tailor named John Dane, who emigrated in
the late 1630s, left an account of his reasons for leaving England that is
filled with signs. sexual confusion, economic frustrations , and religious
hope-all name together in a decisive moment when he opened the Bible, told his
father the first line he saw would settle his fate, and read the magical words:
"come out from among them, touch no unclean thing , and I will be your God
and you shall be my people." One wonders what Dane thought of the careful
sermons explaining the Bible that he heard in puritan churched.
Meanwhile, many settles had slighter religious commitments than
Dane's, as one clergyman learned in confronting folk along the coast who mocked
that they had not come to the New world for religion . "Our main end was
to catch fish. "
36. The author notes that
in the seventeenth-century New England___________.
[A] Puritan tradition dominated political life.
[B] intellectual interests were encouraged.
[C] Politics benefited much from intellectual endeavors.
[D] intellectual pursuits enjoyed a liberal environment.
37. It is suggested in
paragraph 2 that New Englanders__________.
[A] experienced a comparatively peaceful early history.
[B] brought with them the culture of the Old World
[C] paid little attention to southern intellectual life
[D] were obsessed with religious innovations
38. The early ministers
and political leaders in Massachusetts Bay__________.
[A] were famous in the New World for their writings
[B] gained increasing importance in religious affairs
[C] abandoned high positions before coming to the New
World
[D] created a new intellectual atmosphere in New England
39. The story of John Dane
shows that less well-educated New Englanders were often __________.
[A] influenced by superstitions
[B] troubled with religious beliefs
[C] puzzled by church sermons
[D] frustrated with family earnings
40. The text suggests that
early settlers in New England__________.
[A] were mostly engaged in political activities
[B] were motivated by an illusory prospect
[C] came from different backgrounds.
[D] left few formal records for later reference
n-right:0cm;margin-bottom:3.0pt;
margin-left:44.65pt;text-indent:-21.0pt'>[D] cannot afford political changes
|