Read the passages “Henry Ford and the Model T Revolution,” “Mr. Gibson’s Flivver,” and “Taking a Trip with Locals,” and answer the questions that follow. Make sure you answer all of the questions.
Passage 1: Henry Ford and the Model T Revolution
1 The modern automobile represents a centuries-old collaboration between inventors and business people. Its development began many years earlier than you might expect. For much of the nineteenth century, steam-powered vehicles made deliveries in England. In the United States during the late 1800s, an electric car was introduced even before most homes had electricity.
2 Along the way to our present-day automobiles, numerous inventors added parts we now take for granted, such as headlights (a luxury add-on for the first Oldsmobile®!), fenders, rubber tires, and the internal combustion engine. Those who contributed to the development of the car include Daimler, Olds, Benz, Ford, Fiat, Renault, Peugeot, Duryea, and many others.
Ford’s Vision
3 Even on that long list of luminaries, the name Henry Ford stands out. Ford’s greatest innovation, arguably, lay in his recognition of market forces. After experimenting with designs such as the Model A, he realized that cars could be more than expensive luxury devices for the wealthy. They could be attainable for average working people, “the great multitude.”
4 Making cars affordable meant, first, that their production had to be streamlined. Previously, one small group of people might have built a car from start to finish. Beginning in 1913, though, each Ford Model T® was built on an assembly line. A different worker was responsible for each component. Conveyor belts carried the car from worker to worker. This method required sophisticated planning and extensive resources. But it was so much more efficient that it allowed the price of a new Model T to drop from $850 in 1908 to just below $300 in 1925. (The equivalent in today’s prices would be, respectively, about $23,400 and about $4,000.)
5 Mass production also meant that the customer had fewer choices. Other manufacturers might assemble a car with custom features to suit a wealthy client, but the Ford Model T was the same for everyone. Only a few variations were available. Ford quipped in 1909 that “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it’s black.”
A Revolution That Continues
6 Ford’s vision of the market had been accurate. At one point, 40 percent of the cars on American roads—an enormous share—were Model Ts. Ford’s approach to industrial production soon spread far beyond the automotive industry. It has had an impact on almost everything we buy today, from housewares to food to clothes. It has changed the way millions of Americans work—as well as how they get there.
Ford and Model T are registered trademarks of Ford Motor Company in the U.S. and in other countries.
Oldsmobile is a registered trademark of GENERAL MOTORS LLC in the U.S. and in other countries.
“Henry Ford and the Model T Revolution” written for educational purposes.
Passage 2: Mr. Gibson’s Flivver
7
[A sunny Saturday morning. In front of his modest house, Mr. Gibson is polishing a new Ford Model T. He stands back to admire his work.]
8
MR. GIBSON: What a beauty! The neighbors will be lining up for rides.
9 [His neighbor Cal Martin enters from right.]
10 CAL: Say, is that yours, Mr. G?
11 MR. GIBSON: Sure is, Cal. Pretty, ain’t she?
12 CAL: Not a spot on her.
13
MR. GIBSON: Well, there shouldn’t be! Just drove her home last night. Brand new!
14 CAL: Did you have to take that hill by Miller’s Grocery backwards?
15 MR. GIBSON: [Disconcerted.] Eh—what?
16 CAL: I always do. It’s that, or push.
17 [Birdie Taylor enters from left.]
18 BIRDIE: Cal, won’t you ever be tired of looking at cars?
19
CAL: Not likely. [He stands up quickly and tips his hat.] Morning, Birdie.
20 BIRDIE: Morning, Cal. Mr. Gibson.
21 MR. GIBSON: Miss Taylor.
22 BIRDIE: I don’t see what all the fuss is about.
23
MR. GIBSON: This machine can travel thirty miles in one hour. Thirty!
24 CAL: Forty if you step on the gas.
25
MR. GIBSON: Forty’s too fast for anyone, Cal. Nobody’s reflexes are fast enough.
26 CAL: Mine aren’t so bad.
27
MR. GIBSON: Still, thirty’s not too shabby. One mile in two minutes! That’s the fuss, Miss Taylor. Think of the time we can save! This machine is going to change the way all of us get around. Well, not all of us at first, of course.
28
BIRDIE: [Pressing on a seat cushion.] I see they haven’t improved the padding.
29 MR. GIBSON: Improved? It’s brand new.
30
BIRDIE: You’ll get an awful jostling over twenty-five miles per hour. I always do.
31
MR. GIBSON: You? Surely you’re not driving, Birdie. A young woman should—
32
BIRDIE: Cal lets me take the wheel on back roads. I think I’m a better driver than he is.
33 MR. GIBSON: Cal! You don’t mean . . .?
34 CAL: I’ve got a flivver1 just like yours, Mr. G.
35 MR. GIBSON: Well, that’s interesting. Did your father buy it for you?
36 CAL: Bought it myself, out of my wages from clerking last summer.
37 [Lizzie Banks enters pushing a baby carriage.]
38 MR. GIBSON: Morning, Lizzie. Notice anything different?
39
LIZZIE: Your azaleas are blooming already! Mine haven’t even begun to bud.
40 CAL: He meant the car.
41 LIZZIE: Is it new?
42 MR. GIBSON: Brand new.
43 LIZZIE: Didn’t you have one before?
44 MR. GIBSON: No.
45 LIZZIE: Oh. It just seems as though everyone has one now.
46 MR. GIBSON: Everyone?
47
LIZZIE: Mr. Paul up the street, the Hofners, Mr. Dopyera. Everyone keeps calling me Tin Lizzie now. I’m thinking of changing my name. Clarence is the worst of all, since we bought ours.
48 MR. GIBSON: You have a Model T?
49
LIZZIE: Clarence thought we’d better, since we have so many more errands now, with the baby.
50 MR. GIBSON: Do you drive it?
51 LIZZIE: Sometimes.
52 BIRDIE: Ha! You see?
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MR. GIBSON: I—I never thought I’d be sharing the road with women.
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CAL: Sounds to me like you’ll be sharing it with just about everyone, Mr. G.
_______________
1. flivver: Affectionate nickname for the Ford Model T.
“Mr. Gibson’s Flivver” written for educational purposes.
Passage 3: Taking a Trip with Locals
55 Mass tourism, a term used in the travel industry, describes the type of tourism that caters to many people who visit the same destinations at roughly the same time. People who wish to travel with a tour group can often get discounts on hotels, restaurants, and popular attractions near beaches, theme parks, and other destinations. These kinds of vacations can be fun for people who want to see the most popular "main" attractions, but the trips can also be impersonal and standard. They encourage stereotypes: visitors go to Washington, D.C., to see the Jefferson Memorial, to Yellowstone National Park to see geysers, and to Tampa to ride roller coasters. Everyone sees the same things, and everyone buys the same t-shirt.
A New Way to See the World
56 Entrepreneur Gloria Molins was determined to create a new way to experience travel. She enjoyed being on the road, and even more, she enjoyed meeting new people. She came up with the goal of linking travelers to local people for a unique experience. Her dream became reality in 2012, when she launched her company, Trip4real.
57 Her business offered peer-to-peer travel. A local resident would set up a profile and describe the activities and sites they could introduce to interested travelers. Travelers could then choose the local people who would guide them as they explored or learned about an experience or place. These personalized excursions cost less than similar services offered by professional tour guides and other providers, but the quality remained the same. While locals might not have earned a lot of money, they enjoyed how they spent their time. Some locals became successful enough with Trip4real to quit their regular jobs and share their passions and interests with visitors full-time. Other locals participated in these experiences sporadically.
Changing Vacations Forever
58 In just a short period of time, Trip4real found locals interested in the program in cities across Europe. Travelers from the United States and other countries enthusiastically signed up to experience the authentic lifestyle and culture of European communities. Whether the foreign visitors to Europe were interested in standing where ancient philosophers and composers once stood in Rome, or shopping for groceries to cook an authentic Greek meal in Athens, they could.
59 In 2016, travel website Airbnb® purchased Molins’s company. Molins was excited about the change. She once said in an interview that Airbnb was her “inspiration since day one.” By acquiring Trip4real, Airbnb expanded its offerings to beyond only in-home accommodations and added local experiences to its mix. Molins says that the two companies shared a vision for a special kind of local and authentic travel experience. These local experiences are now offered in the United States to curious travelers who want to see nature, explore cities, or "do what the locals do" instead of just visiting the big tourist attractions. Whatever the interest, there is surely a local to help make the experience happen!
Airbnb is a registered trademark of Airbnb, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries.
“Taking a Trip with Locals” written for educational purposes.
Now answer the questions. Base your answers on the passages “Henry Ford and the Model T Revolution,” “Mr. Gibson’s Flivver,” and “Taking a Trip with Locals.”
Based on information in Passage 1 and Passage 3, which topic would Henry Ford and Gloria Molins most likely view differently?
A. Material products have more value to consumers than services or experiences.
B. Consumers of products and services can be swayed by the prices offered to them.
C. The speed at which a product or service is created and ready for users is important.
D. Customizing products or services to suit the needs of a consumer can improve a product or service.
1 answer
Based on the information in Passage 1 ("Henry Ford and the Model T Revolution") and Passage 3 ("Taking a Trip with Locals"), Henry Ford and Gloria Molins would most likely view D. Customizing products or services to suit the needs of a consumer can improve a product or service differently.
In Passage 1, Henry Ford emphasized mass production and efficiency, leading to a standardized product — the Model T — with limited choices for consumers, famously stating that customers could have their car in any color as long as it was black. This highlights his belief in the value of affordability through uniformity in production, rather than customization.
Conversely, Gloria Molins's approach in Passage 3 is centered around providing personalized experiences through local interactions, which inherently involves tailoring services to meet individual tastes and preferences. This reflects a clear emphasis on the importance of customization within her business model.
Thus, while Ford focused on maximizing accessibility through standardization, Molins highlighted the value of individualized experiences, making option D the correct answer.
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