托福阅读tpo46R-2 原文+译文+题目+答案+背景知识.pdf

托福阅读tpo46R-2原文+译文+题目+答案+背景知识

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译文4

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背景知识14

原文

TheCommercialRevolutioninMedievalEurope

①Beginninginthe1160s,theopeningofnewsilverminesinnorthern

Europeledtothemintingandcirculationofvastquantitiesofsilver

coins.Thewidespreaduseofcashgreatlyincreasedthevolumeof

internationaltrade.Businessprocedureschangedradically.The

individualtravelingmerchantwhoalonehandledvirtuallyallaspectsof

exchangeevolvedintoanoperationinvolvingthreeseparatetypesof

merchants:thesedentarymerchantwhoranthehomeoffice

financingandorganizingthefirmsentireexport-importtrade;the

carrierswhotransportedgoodsbylandandsea;andthecompany

agentsresidentincitiesabroadwho,ontheadviceofthehomeoffice,

lookedaftersalesandprocurements.

②Commercialcorrespondence,unnecessarywhenone

businesspersonoversaweverythingandmadedirectbargainswith

buyersandsellers,multiplied.Regularcourierserviceamong

commercialcitiesbegan.Commercialaccountingbecamemore

complexwhenfirmshadtodealwithshareholders,manufacturers,

customers,branchoffices,employees,andcompetingfirms.Tollson

roadsbecamehighenoughtofinancewhathasbeencalledaroad

revolution,involvingnewsurfacesandbridges,newpassesthroughthe

Alps,andnewinnsandhospicesfortravelers.Thegrowthofmutual

trustamongmerchantsfacilitatedthegrowthofsalesoncreditandled

tonewdevelopmentsinfinance,suchasthebillofexchange,adevice

thatmadethelong,slow,andverydangerousshipmentofcoins

unnecessary.

③TheventuresoftheGermanHanseaticLeagueillustratethese

advancements.TheHanseaticLeaguewasamercantileassociationof

Europeantownsdatingfrom1159.Theleaguegrewbytheendofthe

fourteenthcenturytoincludeabout200citiesfromHollandtoPol