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　　Both the number and the percentage of people in the United States involved in nonagricultural pursuits expanded rapidly during the half century following the Civil War, with some of the most dramatic increases occurring in the domains of transportation, manufacturing, and trade and distribution. The development of the railroad and telegraph systems during the middle third of the nineteenth century led to significant improvements in the speed, volume, and regularity of shipments and communications, making possible a fundamental transformation in the production and distribution of goods.

　　In agriculture, the transformation www.100ksw.com. In manufacturing, the transformation www.100ksw.comass retailer. These changes radically altered the nature of work during the half century between 1870 and 1920.

　　To be sure, there www.100ksw.cometalwww.100ksw.comore than 100 employees and 30 percent worked in factories with more than 1,000 employees.

　　26. What can be inferred from the passage about the agricultural sector of the economy after the Civil War?

　　A. New technological developments had little effect on farmers.

　　B. The percentage of the total population working in agriculture declined.

　　C. Many farms destroyed in the war were rebuilt after the war.

　　D. Farmers achieved new prosperity because of better rural transportation.

　　27. Which of the following was NOT mentioned as part of the "new factory system?"

　　A. A change in the organization of factories.

　　B. A growth in the complexity of factories.

　　C. An increase in the size of factories.

　　D. An increase in the cost of manufacturing industrial products.

　　28. Which of the following statements about manufacturing before 1870 can be inferred from the passage?

　　A. Most manufacturing activity was highly organized.

　　B. Most manufacturing occurred in relatively small plants.

　　C. The most commonly manufactured goods were cotton presses.

　　D. Manufacturing and agriculture each made up about half of the nation's economy.

　　29. The author mentions the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Paragraph 3 because it was

　　A. a well-known metal-works

　　B. the first plant of its kind in Philadelphia

　　C. typical of the large factories that were becoming more common

　　D. typical of factories that consisted of a single building

　　30. The word "presided over" in Paragraph 3 are closest in meaning to

　　A. managed       

　　B. led to

　　C. worked in      

　　D. produced