Reading Passage 3 has nine paragraphs A-I.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Soviet’s new working week
Historian investigates how Stalin changed the calendar to keep the Soviet people continually at work.
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A. “There are no fortresses that Bolsheviks cannot storm”. With these words, Stalin expressed the dynamic self-confidence of the Soviet Union’s Five Year Plan: weak and backward Russia was to turn overnight into a powerful modem industrial country. Between 1928 and 1932，production of coal, iron and steel increased at a fantastic rate, and new industrial cities sprang up, along with the world’s biggest dam. Everyone’s life was affected, as collectivised farming drove millions from the land to swell the industrial proletariat. Private enterprise disappeared in city and country, leaving the State supreme under the dictatorship of Stalin. Unlimited enthusiasm was the mood of the day, with the Communists believing that iron will and hard-working manpower alone would bring about a new world.
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B. Enthusiasm spread to time itself, in the desire to make the state a huge efficient machine, where not a moment would be wasted, especially in the workplace. Lenin had already been intrigued by the ideas of the American Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856- 1915), whose time-motion studies had discovered ways of stream-lining effort so that every worker could produce the maximum. The Bolsheviks were also great admirers of Henry Ford’s assembly line mass production and of his Fordson tractors that were imported by the thousands. The engineers who came with them to train their users helped spread what became a real cult of Ford. Emulating and surpassing such capitalist models formed part of the training of the new Soviet Man, a heroic figure whose unlimited capacity for work would benefit everyone in the dynamic new society. All this culminated in the Plan, which has been characterized as the triumph of the machine, where workers would become supremely efficient robot-like creatures.
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C. Yet this was Communism whose goals had always included improving the lives of the proletariat. One major step in that direction was the sudden announcement in 1927 that reduced the working day from eight to seven hours. In January 1929, all Indus-tries were ordered to adopt the shorter day by the end of the Plan. Workers were also to have an extra hour off on the eve of Sundays and holidays. Typically though, the state took away more than it gave, for this was part of a scheme to increase production by establishing a three-shift system. This meant that the factories were open day and night and that many had to work at highly undesirable hours.
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D. Hardly had that policy been announced, though, than Yuri Larin, who had been a close associate of Lenin and architect of his radical economic policy, came up with an idea for even greater efficiency. Workers were free and plants were closed on Sundays. Why not abolish that wasted day by instituting a continuous work week so that the machines could operate to their full capacity every day of the week? When Larin presented his idea to the Congress of Soviets in May 1929, no one paid much attention. Soon after, though, he got the ear of Stalin, who approved. Suddenly, in June, the Soviet press was filled with articles praising the new scheme. In August, the Council of Peoples’ Commissars ordered that the continuous work week be brought into immediate effect, during the height of enthusiasm for the Plan, whose goals the new schedule seemed guaranteed to forward.
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E. The idea seemed simple enough, but turned out to be very complicated in practice. Obviously, the workers couldn’t be made to work seven days a week, nor should their total work hours be increased. The Solution was ingenious: a new five-day week would have the workers on the job for four days, with the fifth day free; holidays would be reduced from ten to five, and the extra hour off on the eve of rest days would be abolished. Staggering the rest-days between groups of workers meant that each worker would spend the same number of hours on the job, but the factories would be working a full 360 days a year instead of 300. The 360 divided neatly into 72 five-day weeks. Workers in each establishment (at first factories，then stores and offices) were divided into five groups, each assigned a colour which appeared on the new Uninterrupted Work Week calendars distributed all over the country. Colour-coding was a valuable mnemonic device, since workers might have trouble remembering what their day off was going to be, for it would change every week. A glance at the colour on the calendar would reveal the free day, and allow workers to plan their activities. This system, however, did not apply to construction or seasonal occupations, which followed a six-day week, or to factories or mines which had to close regularly for maintenance: they also had a six-day week, whether interrupted (with the same day off for everyone) or continuous. In all cases, though, Sunday was treated like any other day.
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F. Official propaganda touted the material and cultural benefits of the new scheme. Workers would get more rest; production and employment would increase (for more workers would be needed to keep the factories running continuously); the standard of living would improve. Leisure time would be more rationally employed, for cultural activities (theatre, clubs, sports) would no longer have to be crammed into a weekend, but could flourish every day, with their facilities far less crowded. Shopping would be easier for the same reasons. Ignorance and superstition, as represented by organized religion, would suffer a mortal blow, since 80 per cent of the workers would be on the job on any given Sunday. The only objection concerned the family, where normally more than one member was working.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Question Focus: Main idea - the confident, ambitious mood during Stalin's Five Year Plan
Why this is correct: This paragraph describes the strong optimism and confidence of the Soviet Union during the Five Year Plan. The focus is on belief, enthusiasm, and faith in a better future, not on details of work schedules.
Passage Reference: With these words, Stalin expressed the dynamic self-confidence of the Soviet Union's Five Year Plan: weak and backward Russia was to turn overnight into a powerful modem industrial country. Between 1928 and 1932?production of coal, iron and steel increased at a fantastic rate, and new industrial cities sprang up, along with the world's biggest dam. Everyone's life was affected, as collectivised farming drove millions from the land to swell the industrial proletariat. Private enterprise disappeared in city and country, leaving the State supreme under the dictatorship of Stalin. Unlimited enthusiasm was the mood of the day, with the Communists believing that iron will and hard-working manpower alone would bring about a new world. B.
Tips: Look for emotional tone words like enthusiasm and confidence to identify headings about attitude or mood.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Soviet Union's five year plan: The Five Year Plan is mentioned, but the paragraph is more about attitude and optimism, not explaining the plan itself. This is a partial truth trap.
- Cutting work hours for better efficiency: Work hours are not discussed here at all. This is a wrong section trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- enthusiasm = strong excitement
- proletariat = working class
Question Focus: Main idea - Soviet ideas influenced by American industrial models
Passage Reference: Lenin had already been intrigued by the ideas of the American Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856- 1915), whose time-motion studies had discovered ways of stream-lining effort so that every worker could produce the maximum. The Bolsheviks were also great admirers of Henry Ford's assembly line mass production and of his Fordson tractors that were imported by the thousands. The engineers who came with them to train their users helped spread what became a real cult of Ford. Emulating and surpassing such capitalist models formed part of the training of the new Soviet Man, a heroic figure whose unlimited capacity for work would benefit everyone in the dynamic new society. All this culminated in the Plan, which has been characterized as the triumph of the machine, where workers would become supremely efficient robot-like creatures. C.
Why this is correct: The paragraph explains how American ideas and models influenced Soviet thinking about efficiency and work. The main theme is learning from foreign systems.
Tips: If a paragraph mentions other countries or people from abroad, check headings about foreign influence.
Why the other options are wrong:
- The Ford model: Ford is mentioned, but he is only one example of foreign influence. This is an example-as-main-idea trap.
- Making use of the once wasted weekends: Weekends are not discussed here. This is a wrong section trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- stream-lining = making more efficient
- emulating = copying
Question Focus: Main idea - reducing daily work hours while increasing production
Passage Reference: One major step in that direction was the sudden announcement in 1927 that reduced the working day from eight to seven hours. In January 1929, all Indus-tries were ordered to adopt the shorter day by the end of the Plan. Workers were also to have an extra hour off on the eve of Sundays and holidays. Typically though, the state took away more than it gave, for this was part of a scheme to increase production by establishing a three-shift system. This meant that the factories were open day and night and that many had to work at highly undesirable hours. D.
Why this is correct: The paragraph focuses on shorter working days and how this was linked to efficiency and higher production. Even though hours were cut, work became harder through shift systems.
Tips: Do not choose a heading just because one phrase matches. Check what the paragraph mostly explains.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Establishing a three-shift system: The three-shift system is mentioned, but it is part of a larger idea about work hours. This is an example-as-main-idea trap.
- Benefits of the new scheme and its resistance: This paragraph does not discuss benefits or reactions. This is a wrong section trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- proletariat = working class
- undesirable = unpleasant
Question Focus: Main idea - proposal to remove Sundays as a rest day
Passage Reference: Workers were free and plants were closed on Sundays. Why not abolish that wasted day by instituting a continuous work week so that the machines could operate to their full capacity every day of the week? When Larin presented his idea to the Congress of Soviets in May 1929, no one paid much attention. Soon after, though, he got the ear of Stalin, who approved. Suddenly, in June, the Soviet press was filled with articles praising the new scheme. In August, the Council of Peoples' Commissars ordered that the continuous work week be brought into immediate effect, during the height of enthusiasm for the Plan, whose goals the new schedule seemed guaranteed to forward. E.
Why this is correct: The paragraph is about removing Sundays as a rest day so factories could run every day. The key idea is using weekends for production.
Tips: When a paragraph explains why something should be changed, focus on the purpose of the change.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Reaction from factory workers and their families: Reactions are not discussed here. This is a wrong section trap.
- Negative effects on production itself: The paragraph is positive about production, not negative. This is a contradiction trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- abolish = remove
- continuous = without stopping
Question Focus: Main idea - how the new five-day week worked in practice
Passage Reference: Workers in each establishment (at first factories?then stores and offices) were divided into five groups, each assigned a colour which appeared on the new Uninterrupted Work Week calendars distributed all over the country. Colour-coding was a valuable mnemonic device, since workers might have trouble remembering what their day off was going to be, for it would change every week. A glance at the colour on the calendar would reveal the free day, and allow workers to plan their activities. This system, however, did not apply to construction or seasonal occupations, which followed a six-day week, or to factories or mines which had to close regularly for maintenance: they also had a six-day week, whether interrupted (with the same day off for everyone) or continuous. In all cases, though, Sunday was treated like any other day. F.
Why this is correct: Although the paragraph explains the whole system, the most distinctive and repeated idea is the use of colours to organise rest days. That is why this heading fits best.
Tips: When a paragraph has many details, look for what makes it unique compared to others.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Establishing a three-shift system: This paragraph is about rest days and calendars, not shifts. This is a context shift trap.
- Making use of the once wasted weekends: That idea belongs to the earlier paragraph. This is a wrong section trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- staggering = spreading out
- mnemonic = memory aid
Question Focus: Main idea - claimed advantages and one major concern
Passage Reference: Official propaganda touted the material and cultural benefits of the new scheme. Workers would get more rest; production and employment would increase (for more workers would be needed to keep the factories running continuously); the standard of living would improve. Leisure time would be more rationally employed, for cultural activities (theatre, clubs, sports) would no longer have to be crammed into a weekend, but could flourish every day, with their facilities far less crowded. Shopping would be easier for the same reasons. Ignorance and superstition, as represented by organized religion, would suffer a mortal blow, since 80 per cent of the workers would be on the job on any given Sunday. The only objection concerned the family, where normally more than one member was working.
Why this is correct: The paragraph lists many benefits of the new system but also mentions one objection about family life. The heading matches both parts.
Tips: If a paragraph lists positives and then one problem, choose a heading that covers both.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Reaction from factory workers and their families: This focuses only on reaction, but the paragraph mainly promotes benefits. This is a partial truth trap.
- Making use of the once wasted weekends: Weekends are mentioned indirectly, but the main focus is propaganda benefits. This is a paraphrase trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- touted = praised
- superstition = false belief
General Tips:
- Read all headings first and underline 2 or 3 key words in each.
- Always match the heading to the main idea, not to one detail or example.
- Headings follow paragraph order, so use the previous answer to find the next.
- If two headings seem possible, choose the one that covers more of the paragraph.
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