真题原文:
TheVictorianshadbecomeaddictedtospeedand, likeallspeedcrazykids, theywantedtogoeverfaster. Timewasmoneyandefficiencybecameincreasinglyimportant. AlthoughdivisionoflabourhadbeenconceivedbyAdamSmithandillustratedbyapinfactoryinTheWealthofNationsin 1776, itcouldnowbecomefullyrealised. Thisspecialisationand - byimplication - individualisationoflabourwasinmarkedcontrasttotheruralmeansofproduction, inwhichthefamilywasthemeansofproduction, consumptionandsocialisation.
Withgreaterspeedcameagreaterneedforindustriesandbusinessestomakemoreandmakeitquicker. Steammadethispossibleandchangedworkinglifeforever. Gonewerethedayswhenworkwasdictatedbynaturalforces: steamengineswereservanttoneitherseasonnorsunshine. Factorieshadforemenandlifebecamecorrespondinglymoreregimented. Theclocking-onmachinewasinventedin 1885 andtimeandmotionstudiestoincreaseefficiencywouldbeintroducedonlysometwentyyearslater. Butitwasnotallbadnews. Agriculturalincomesdependedonvariableharvestsandweather. Factoriesprovidedsecureandpredictableincome, butlonghours.
Workinglifewasbecomingincreasinglyregulated, andtheworkingweekwasreorganisedtopromoteever-greaterefficiency. TheoldcustomofSt. Monday - whennoworkwasdone - wasgraduallyphasedoutandtocompensate, workstoppedaroundmiddayonSaturdayanddidnotresumeuntilMondaymorning. Anewdivisionbetween'work'and'leisure'emerged, andthisnewblockofweekendleisuretimecoincidedwiththedevelopmentofspectatorsportslikecricketandfootball, andtheriseofmusichallentertainmentforthenewworkingclasses.