TEXT B Migration is usually
defined as" permanent of sempermanent change of residence." This broad
definition, of course, would include a move across the street or across a city.
Our concern is with movement between nations, not with internal migration within
nations, although such movements often exceed international movements in volume.
Today, the motives of people who move short distances are very similar to those
of international migrants. Students of human migration speak
of" push" and" pull" factors, which influence all individual’ s decision to move
from one place to another. Push factors are associated with the place of origin.
A push factor can be as simple and mild a matter as difficulty in finding a
suitable job, or as traumatic as war, or severe famine. Obviously, refugees who
leave their homes with guns pointed at their heads are motivated almost entirely
by push factors (although pull factors do influence their choice of
destination). Pull factors are those associated with the place
of destination. Most of these are economic, such as better job opportunities or
the availability of good land to farm, The latter was an important factor in
attracting settlers to the United States during the 19th century. In general,
pull factors add up to an apparently better chance between several attractive
potential destinations, the deciding factor might be a non-economic
consideration such as the presence of relative, friends, or at least fellow
countrymen already established in the new place who are willing to help the
newcomers settle in. Considerations of this sort lead to the development of
migration flow. Besides push and pull factors, there are what
the sociologists call" intervening obstacles". Even if push and/or pull factors
are very strong they still may be outweighed by intervening obstacles, such as
the distance of the move, the trouble and cost of moving, the difficulty of
entering the new country, and the problems likely to be encountered on
arrival. The decision to move is also influenced by" personal
factors" of the potential migrant. The same push-pull factors and obstacles
operate differently on different people, sometimes because they are at different
stages of their lives, or just because of their varying abilities and
personalities. The prospect of packing up everything and moving to a new and
perhaps very strange environment may appear interesting and challenging to an
unmarried young man and appallingly difficult to a slightly older man with a
wife and small kids. Similarly, the need to learn a new language and customs may
excite one person and frighten another. Regardless of why
people move, migration of large numbers of people causes conflict. The United
States and other western countries have experienced adjustment problems with
each new wave of immigrants. The newest arrivals are usually given the
lowest-paid jobs and are resented by native people who may have to compete with
them for those jobs. It has usually taken several decades for each group to be
accepted into the mainstream of society in the host country. Which of the following is not true
A．Migration of large numbers of people may cause conflict. B．The newest arrivals can hardly get good jobs. C．Native people often resent newest arrivals because they cannot communicate easily with the latter. D．Usually it has taken several decades for each group of newest arrivals to be accepted into the mainstream of society in the host country.