Una consolidación a través de la red
II. 2. Investigación en torno a la LIJ
II.2.1 Un nuevo campo de estudio
till synonymous in many minds with steel, Pittsburgh is not waiting for the resur-rection of Smokestack America. The metropolis of blast furnaces and belching smokestacks is dead. In its place has risen a new city, smaller (estimated population:
410,000, down from 677,000 m 1950), cleaner, more modern in its architecture and confident m its future — m effect a prototype of the postmdustrial metropolis. The transition from a manufacturing to a service economy began way back during World War II, when 100 prominent citizens joined to spearhead an office building boom in the 1950s and 1960s that transformed the city's downtown — near the spot where the Allegheny and Monon-gahela rivers meet to form the Ohio - into what they named the Golden Triangle. That renaissance gave rise five years ago to a second one. While the steel industry was losing a great deal of money, seven major buildings went up downtown, including a $35-million convention center and noted architect Philip Johnson's spectacular headquarters for PPG Industries (formerly Pittsburgh Plate Glass). Universities and hospitals attracted companies in computer science, robotics and other advanced technologies. Since 1978 an estimated 15,000 high-tech and 30,000 service jobs have been created, more than making up for the decline in steel-workers from 79,000 in 1980 to 42,000 in 1983. Third only to New York and Chicago as a headquarters city for major companies, Pittsburgh is completing a new subway system and boasts a symphony that
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A city with a new image
plays to packed houses. Even the city's football and baseball teams have the spirit: they have won more championships in the last six years than their counterparts in any other American
city. from Fortune
Magazine
S
94
PART C Exercises
1. Comprehension
Small-Town LifeWhich way of completing each of the following sentences agrees with the original text?
Some sentences may be completed in more than one way.
1. The Rundens moved to Corydon because a) Linda was born there.
b) Ed had been offered a job at the local newspaper.
c) they had been attracted by the reports in the local newspaper.
2. Professionally, Edward Runden
a) had always wanted to become a teacher.
b) used to work as a correspondent for different press agencies.
c) failed to make a career in the Foreign Service.
3. Ed Runden met Linda in Chicago when a) he reported on a demonstration for a news
agency.
b) he protected her from demonstrators.
c) she took part in a demonstration.
4. Ed Runden left the Foreign Service because a) they sent all newspapermen back to
Chicago.
b) he tried in vain to get to Teheran.
c) he did not agree with the U.S. foreign policy.
5. When comparing small-town life and life in the big cities
a) both Ed and Linda were equally glad to have left big city life.
b) Ed is happier about small-town life than Linda.
c) Linda is happier about small-town life than Ed.
6. Linda Runden likes living in Corydon because
a) everybody knows and is involved with everybody else.
b) the people there are very conservative.
c) she hates the crowds in big cities.
7. According to Ed Runden, one of the disadvantages of small-town life is, for example, that
a) private life is rather restricted.
b) people look at each other from a distance.
c) he does not want other people to know about his Swiss bank account.
8. In Ed's opinion, however, the advantages of small-town life outweigh the disadvantages because
a) there is not so much theft in small communities.
b) people take less interest in their neighbors' affairs.
c) the individual plays a more important role than in the big cities.
2. Text Reproduction Revival of a City's Virtues
The diagram below renders the structure and organization of the article, which falls into three parts:
The visit Life in the city
The development of inner city neighborhoods On the basis of the diagram, use your own words to reconstruct the argument and organization of this text.
purpose of the visit
the outside of the house
the inside of the house
racial problems in inner city neighborhoods
first experience of living in an inner city neighborhood
frequent misconceptions of city life
attractiveness of city life
the original neighborhood 60 or 70 years ago
change of the social structure of the community
deterioration of the neighborhood
recent renewal of neighborhoods
the diversity of neighborhoods
3. Discussion
1. List and discuss the arguments for and against small town or city life mentioned in the texts "Small-Town Life" and "Revival of a City's Virtues."
2. Is there a similar difference between small town life and city life in your country?
3. Where would you prefer to live, in a small town or in a big city a) in America? b) in your own country? Give reasons.
4. Text Analysis
Neighborhoods1. Summarize the contents of this scene in no more than three sentences.
2. What is the purpose of Karl Lindner's visit?
3. How does he try to achieve his aim? Point out the elements of the plan he has obviously worked out before.
4. What are the Youngers' reactions to
Lindner's remarks in the different stages of the conversation? Why does the conversation inevitably lead to a crisis?
5. Show how Karl Lindner and the Youngers are characterized through conversation and gestures.
6. What central issue about life in an urban community in the United States does the author want to illustrate in this scene?
5. Comprehension Check
Children of PovertyDetermine whether the statements are true or false according to the information given in the text. Correct the false statements.
1. The crisis of New York's poor children is as urgent as the financial crisis of the city ten years ago.
2. The poverty crisis equals that of the Great Depression in the 1930s.
3. According to Senator Moynihan 50 percent of the babies born in 1980 will depend on welfare before they reach the age of 18.
4. In spite of the recent economic growth, city budgets have decreased.
5. Increasing prosperity has led to less child poverty.
6. 12,000 children were abused and neglected in foster care.
7. Many of the infants who die before their first birthday are not even properly buried.
96 AMERICA IN CLOSE-UP
8. Neither through more joint efforts nor through improved coordination of both the public and the private sector can the problem be tackled.
9. There are four times as many children growing up in female-headed households as in traditional two-parent families.
10. There were 30 percent more female-headed families in 1980 than in 1970.
11. Between 1975 and 1985 the number of teenage pregnancies has decreased.
12. Of all age groups in urban areas in the United States, the elderly are struck hardest nowadays.
6. Cloze Comprehension Test Pittsburgh—A New City
Test your memory. First read the text
thoroughly. Then try to remember those words which describe the old and the new city. Still synonymous in many minds with ■&■ ,
Pittsburgh is not waiting for the resurrection of Smokestack America. The metropolis of blast
•ft and belching ■& is dead. In its place has risen a new city, -£r , "& , tV in its
architecture and confident in its future—in effect a prototype of the *fc metropolis. The transition from a manufacturing to a "& "ьГ began way back during World War II, when 100 prominent citizens joined to spearhead an w
"fr boom in the 1950s and 1960s that
transformed the city's downtown. While the steel industry was losing a great deal of money, seven major buildings were constructed
downtown, including a $35-million "fr tV and noted architect Philip Johnson's spectacular ■&
for PPG Industries. Universities and hospitals attracted companies in ^ "fc , ~fe and other advanced technologies.
7. Guided Letter Writing
Write a letter to the editor of Fortune magazine in which you:
• give a positive evaluation of the renaissance of Pittsburgh as described in the article
• ask whether the text and the photo show the whole truth about Pittsburgh
• state that the gap between the rich and the poor has widened in recent years
• demand that the mayor and the city council take stern measures against the growth of poverty among children
• warn them not to underestimate the problem, which could lead to serious social unrest and irreparable harm to the whole community.
8. Interpretation of Photos
Describe and interpret the pictures on this page and page 91 under the heading "A Tale of Two Cities."