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  3. Automation refers to the introduction of electronic control and automatic operation of productive machinery. It reduces the huma

Automation refers to the introduction of electronic control and automatic operation of productive machinery. It reduces the huma

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问题     Automation refers to the introduction of electronic control and automatic operation of productive machinery. It reduces the human factors, mental and physical, in production, and is designed to make possible the manufacture of more goods with fewer workers. The development of automation in American industry has been called the "Second Industrial Revolution".
    Labor’s concern over automation arises from uncertainty about its effects on employment, and fears of major changes in jobs.  In the main, labor has taken the view that resistance to technological change is futile. In the long run, the result of automation may well be an increase in employment, since it is expected that vast industries will grow up around manufacturing, maintaining and repairing automation equipment. Unquestionably, however, there will be major shifts in jobs within plants, and displacement of labor from one industry to another. The interest of labor lies in bringing about this transition with a minimum of inconvenience and distress to workers involved. Also, union spokesmen emphasize that the benefit of the increased production and lower costs made possible by automation should be shared by workers in the form of higher wages, more leisure, and improved living standards.
    To protect the interests of their members in the era of automation, unions have adopted a number of new policies. One of these is the promotion of supplementary unemployment benefits plans. It is emphasized that since the employer involved in a SUB plan has a direct financial stake in preventing unemployment, he will have a strong incentive for planning new installations so as to cause the least possible disruption in jobs and job assignments. Some unions are working for dismissal pay agreements, requiring that permanently laid off workers be paid a sum of money based on length of service. Another approach is the idea of the "improvement factor", which calls for wage increases based on increases in productivity. It is probable, however, that labor will rely mainly on reduction in working hours in order to gain a full share in the fruits of automation.
A characteristic of the "Second Industrial Revolution" is______.
选项 A、less electronic control of productive machinery
B、a decrease in the necessity for human effort in production
C、a reduction in leisure time
D、a lower standard of living
答案B
解析 文章第一段指出“自动化指电子控制技术的引进和用于生产的机器的自动操作。它减少了生产中智力和体力的人为因素，并且使用更少的工人生产更多的产品成为可能。”第二段最后一句指出，“工会发言人强调自动化引起的产量的增加和成本的减少将使工人们有更多的薪水、更多的闲暇时间和更高的生活水平。”由此可知，选项A、C、D与文意背道而驰，选项 B)生产中对人力需要的减少是第二次工业革命的特征，故选B)。
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