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历年托福考试阅读真题含答案

历年托福考试阅读真题含答案

0308托福试题阅读(55minutes)Question 1-11If food is allowed to stand for some time, it putrefies .When the putrefied materialis examined microscopically ,it is found to be teeming with bacteria. Where do thesebacteria come from , since they are not seen in fresh food? Even until the mid-nineteenthcentury, many people believed that such microorganisms originated by spontaneous(5 )generation ,a hypothetical process by which living organisms develop from nonlivingmatter.The most powerful opponent of the theory of spontaneous generation was the French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur(1822-1895).Pasteur showed that structurespresent in air closely resemble the microorganisms seen in putrefying materials .He did(10) this by passing air through guncotton filters, the fibers of which stop solid particles. Afterthe guncotton was dissolved in a mixture of alcohol and ether, the particles that it hadtrapped fell to the bottom of the liquid and were examined on a microscope slide .Pasteurfound that in ordinary air these exists a variety of solid structures ranging in size from0.01 mm to more than 1.0 mm .Many of these bodies resembledthe reproductive(15)structures of common molds, single-celled animals, and various other microbial cells .As many as 20 to 30 of them were found in fifteen liters of ordinary air ,and they couldnot be distinguished from the organisms found in much larger numbers in putrefying materials .Pasteur concluded that the organisms found in putrefying materials originatedfrom the organized bodies present in the air .He postulated thatthese bodies are constantly(20)being deposited on all objects.Pasteur showed that if a nutrient solution was sealed in a glass flask and heated toboiling to destroy all the living organisms contaminating it, it never putrefied .The proponents of spontaneous generation declared that fresh air was necessary forspontaneous generation and that the air inside the sealed flask was affected in some way(25)by heating so that it would no longer support spontaneousgeneration. Pasteur constructed a swan-necked flask in which putrefying materials could he heated to boiling, but aircould reenter. The bends in the neck prevented microorganisms from getting in the flask.. Material sterilized in such a flask didnot putrefy.1,What does the passage mainly discuss?(a)Pasteur’s influence on the development of the microscope.(b)The origin of the theory of spontaneous generation .(c)The effects of pasteurization on food.nst the theory of spontaneous generation .(d)Pasteur’s argument agai2,The phrase “teeming with ”in line 2 is closest in meaning to(a)full of(b)developing into(c)resistant to(d)hurt by3,Which of the following questions did the theory of spontaneous generation attempt to answer?(a)What is the origin of the living organisms are seen on some food?(b)How many types of organisms can be found on food?(c)What is the most effective way to prepare living organisms for microscopic examination?(d)How long can food stand before it putrefies?4,The word “resemble” in line 9 is closest in meaning to(a)benefit from(b)appear similar to(c)join together with(d)grow from5,The purpose of the “guncotton” mentioned in paragraph 2 was to(a)trap particles for analysis(b)slow the process of putrefaction(c)increase the airflow to the microscopic slide(d)aid the mixing of alcohol and ether6,The author mention “1.0mm”in line 14 in describing the(a)thickness of a layer of organisms that was deposited on an object(b)diameter of the fibers that were in the guncotton filters(c)thickness of the microscope slides that were used(d)size of the particles that that were collected7.The word “postulated”in line 19 is closest in meaning to(a)analyzed(b)doubted(c)persuaded(d)suggested8.The objects that Pasteut removed from the air in his experimentwere remarkable because they were(a)primarily single-celled organisms(b)no different from objects found in putrefying materials(c)fairly rare(d)able to live in a mixture of alcohol and ether9.The word “it” in line 22 refers to(a)a nutrient solution(b)a glass flask(c)boiling(d)spontaneous generation10.According to paragraph 3,proponents of spontaneous generation believed that which of the following was important for the process to succeed ?(a)A sealed container(b)Fresh air(d)The presence of nutrients11.It can be inferred from paragraph 3 that Pasteur employed a swam-necked flask to(a)store sterilized liquids for use in future experiments(b)prevent heat from building up in a solution(c)disprove a criticism of his conclusions(d)estimate the number of organisms in a liter of airQuestions 12-20In the early decades of the United States ,the agrarian movement promoted the farmerhero. In the minds of agrarian thinkers and as society’swriters ,the farmer was a person on whose well-being the health of the new country depended .The period between theRevolution, which ended in 1783,and the Civil War ,which ended in 1865 ,was the age of(5 )the farmer in the United States .Agrarian philosophers ,represented most eloquently byThomas Jefferson, celebrated farmers extravagantly for their supposed centrality in a goodsociety, their political virtue ,and their Superior morality .And virtually all policy makers, whether they subscribed to the tenets of the philosophy held by Jefferson or not, recognized agriculture as the key component of the American economy .Consequently ,government at(10)all levels worked to encourage farmers as a social group and agriculture as economicenterprise.Both the national and state governments developed transportation infrastructure,building canals, roads, bridges, and railroads ,deepening harbors ,and removing obstructions from navigable streams .The national government imported plant and animal varieties and(15) launched exploring expeditions into prospective farmlands in the West .In addition ,government trade policies facilitated the exporting of agriculturalFor their part ,farmers seemed to meet the social expectations agrarian philosophershad for them ,as their broader horizons and greater self-respect, both products of the Revolution ,were reflected to some degree in their behavior .Farmers seemed to become(20)more scientific ,joining agricultural societies and reading the farm newspapers that sprangup throughout the country .They began using improved implements, tried new crops andpure animal breeds , and became more receptive to modern theories of soil improvement .They also responded to inducements by national and state governments .Farmersstreamed to the West ,filling frontier lands with stunning rapidity .But farmers responded(25)less to the expectations of agrarians and governmentinducements than to growing market opportunities .European demand for food from the United States seemed insatiable . War, industrialization , and urbanization all kept demand high in Europe . United States citiesand industries grew as well; even industries not directly related to farming thrived becauseof the market, money ,and labor that agriculture provided .12.What does the passage mainly discuss?(a)The agrarian philosophy of Thomas Jefferson(b)The role of the national government in the development of agriculture(c)Improvements in farming techniques(d)The impact of the increased importance of the farmer13.The word “depended” in line 3 is closest in meaning to(a)improved(b)relied(c)demanded(d)explained14.The author mentions Thomas Jefferson in paragraph 1 as anexample of(a)a leader during the Revolution(b)an inventor of new farming techniques(c)a philosopher who believed farmers were essential to the creationof a good society(d)a farmer who guided the agrarian movement toward an emphasison economic developmentclosest in meaning to15.The phrase “subscribed to” in line 8 is(a)contributed to(b)agreed with(c)thought about(d)expanded on16.Which of the following statements is supported by the information in paragraph 1?views of (a)All government policy makers accepted Jefferson’s agriculture and farmers.(b)Agricultural production declined between 1783 and 1861.(c)The majority of farmers worked for the government.(d)Agriculture was a vital part of the nation’s economy.17.According to the passage , the national and state governments didall of the following EXCEPT(a)build roads(b)import new plant varieties(c)give farmers money for their crops(d)develop policies that helped farmers export their products18.All of the following are mentioned as examples of farmers’ meeting the expectations of agrarian philosophers EXCEPT(a)obtaining information from farm newspapers(b)accumulating personal wealth(c)planting new crops(d)becoming more scientific19.The word “stunning” in line 24 is closest in meaning to(a)predictable(b)impressive(c)famous(d)gradual20.Which of the following statements is best supported by paragraph4?(a)Agricultural development contributed to development in otherparts of the economy.(b)European agricultural products were of a higher quality thanthose produced in the United States.(c)The growing settlement of the West led to a decrease inagricultural production.(d)Farmers were influenced more by government policies than bymarket opportunities.Question 21-29The wide variety of climates in North America has helpedspawn a complex pattern ofsoil regions. In general, the realm’s soils also reflect the broad environmental partitioningand “arid A merica.” Where annual into “humid America” precipitation exceeds 20 inches(50 centimeters),soils in humid areas tend to be acidic inchemical content, Since crops(5 ) do best in soils that are neither acidic(higher in acid content) noralkaline(higher in salt content).fertilization is necessary toachieve the desired level of neutrality between thetwo. Arid America’s soils are typically alkaline and must be fertilized back towardneutrality by adding acidic compounds. Although many of these dryland soils, particularlyin the Great Plains, are quite fertile, European settlers learned over a century ago that(10)water is the main missing ingredient in achieving their agricultural potential. In the1970’s, certain irrigation methods were perfected and finally provided a real opportunityto expand more intensive farming west from the Central Lowland into the drier portionsof the Great Plains. Glaciation also enhanced the rich legacy of fertile soils in the centralUnited States,both from the deposition of mineral-rich glacial debris left by meltwater(15)and from thick layers of fine wind-blown glacial material, called loess, in and around themiddle Mississippi Valley.Natural vegetation patterns could be displayed on a map of North America, but theenormous human modification of the North American environment in modern times hasall but reduced this regionalization scheme to the level of the hypothetical. Nonetheless,(20)the humid America-arid America dichotomy is still a valid generalization: the naturalvegetation of areas receiving more than 20 inches of water yearly is forest, whereas thedrier climates give rise to a grassland cover. The forests of North America tent to makea broad transition by latitude. In the Canadian North, needle-leaf forests dominate, butthese coniferous trees become mixed with broadleaf deciduous trees as one crosses the(25)border into the Northeast United States. As one proceedstoward the Southeast, broadleaf vegetation becomes dominant.Arid America mostly consists of short-grass prairies orstepper. The only areas of true desert are in the Southwest.21 What aspect of North America does the passage mainly discuss?(A) The wide variety of climates(B) Soil types and vegetation patterns(C) Improved irrigation methods and the expansion of agriculture(D) The change in precipitation patterns22 The word “spawn ” in line 1 is closest in meaning to(A) distinguish(B) eliminate(C) protect(D) create23 The word “partitioning” in line 2 is closest in meaning to(A) division(B) modification(C) opening(D) circulating24 According to the passage, acidic soils tent to be associated with(A) a high salt content(B) an increase in farming(C) large amounts of rain(D) glacial meltwater25 The word “enhanced” in line 13 is closest in meaning to(A) implied(B) increased(C) indicated(D) informed26 How did glacial meltdown affect the soil in North America?(A) It redistributed the soil types(B) It added salt to the soil(C) It made the soil more neutral in content(D) It added minerals to the soilregionalization scheme” in line 19 refers to the27 The phrase “this(A) movements of glacial deposits(B) patterns of natural vegetation(C) human modification of the North American environment(D) distinction between humid America and arid America28 The word “transition” in line 23 is closest in meaning to(A) elevation(B) change(C) advantage(D) condition29 The passage supports which of the following statements?(A) Arid America is not necessarily characterized by the presenceof deserts(B) M ost of Canada and the northeastern United States consists ofshort-grass prairies wherever natural vegetation has not been modified by humans(C) The accumulation of loess is primarily the result of irrigation(D) Glaciation removed the fertile layer of soil from much of theMississippi ValleyQuestions 30-40Most sources of illumination generate light over an appreciable period, and indeed ifan object is lit for a very brief time(less that 1/25 second), the human eye will not reactin time to see the object. A photographic emulsion---that is, alight-sensitive coating on photographic film, paper, or glass---will, however, record much shorter bursts of light. A(5 ) photographic flash can therefore be used to capture high-speed movement on film as wellas to correct deficiencies of the normal surrounding lighting.Photoflash is now generated electronically, but the earliest form,first used in 1864, was a paper bag containingmagnesium wire and some oxygen-rich substance, such as potassium chlorate. When thebag was ignited, the metal burned with an intense flash. A contemporary observer reported(10) that “this quite unsafe device seems to have done nothing worse that engulf the room indense smoke and lead to pictures of dubious quality and odd pose s.”The evolution of the photoflash was slow, flashbulbs, containing fine wire made of ametal, such as magnesium or aluminum, capable of being ignited in an atmosphere of pure oxygen at low pressure, werearliest type, the metal introduced only in the 1920’s. In the e(15) was separated from the oxygen by a thin glass bulb. The flash was fired by piercing thebulb and allowing the oxygen to come into contact with the metal, which ignitedspontaneously. Later bulbs were fired by an electric battery, which heated the wire bypassing a small current through it. Other combinations, such as the pairing of oxygendifluoride with zirconium, have also been used. In each case enough energy is given out to(20) heat the oxidizable metal momentarily to a white-hot emissionof visible light. The smoke particles are so small that they cool rapidly; but since they are white, they contribute to the brilliance by reflecting the light from their still-glowing neighbors. A slightly bigger formof the metal will burn for a longer time.30 What does the passage mainly discuss?(A) The history of the photoflash(B) Theories about how the eye reacts to light(C) The technology of modern photography(D) The dangers of using the early photoflash31 According to the passage,1/25 second is the minimum amount of time required for the(A) recording of an image on film(B) generation of artificial light(C) creation of a photographic emulsion(D) human eye to react to light32 According to the passage, an advantage of using a photoflash is that it(A) can produce repeated bursts of light(B) intensities colors in photographs(C) is short enough not to bother human eyes(D) supplements existing lighting33 The word “ignited” in line 9 is closest in meaning to(A) set on fire(B) cut into(C) opened(D) shaken34 Which of the following phrases is defined in paragraph 1?(A)”appreciable period”(line 1)(B)”photographic emulsion”(line 3)(C)”high-speed movement”(line 5)(D)”odd poses”(line 11)35 The word “evolution” in line 12 is closest in meaning to(A) publicity(B) adoption(C) development(D) manufacture36 The function of the glass in the first flashbulbs was to(A) produce the spark that initiated the flash(B) magnify the light produced by the flash(C) protect the photographer from the heat of the flash(D) keep the metal and oxygen apart before the flash37 The word “it” in line 18 refers to(A) oxygen(B) battery(C) wire(D) currenting to38 The word “momentarily” in line 20 is closest in mean(A) effortlessly(B) briefly(C) electronically(D) gradually39 According to the passage, the white color of the smoke particles generated by a flashbulb contributes to(A) rapid cooling(B) bright illumination(C) electrical conductivity(D) intense heat40 According to the passage, a flashbulb can be made to burn longer by using(A) thicker wire(B) more oxygen(C) thinner glass(D) continuous electricityQuestions 41-50The stylistic innovation in paining known as Impressionism began in the 1870’s. The Impressionists wanted to depict what they saw in nature, but they were inspired to portray fragmentary moments by the increasingly fast pace of modern life. They concentrated onthe play of light over objects, people, and nature, breaking up seemingly solid surfaces,(5 ) stressing vivid contrast between colors in sunlight and shade, and depiction reflected lightin all of its possibilities. Unlike earlier artists, they did not want to observe the world from indoors. They abandoned the studio, painting in the open air and recording spontaneous Impressions of their subjects instead of making outside sketches and then moving indoorsto complete the work form memory.painting methods were (10) Some of the Impressionists’ affected by technologicaladvances. For example, the shift from the studio to the open air was made possible inpart by the advent of cheap rail travel, which permitted easy and quick access to thecountryside or seashore, as well as by newly developed chemicaldyes and oils that ledto collapsible paint tubes, which enabled artists to finish their paintings on the spot.(15)Impressionism acquired its name not from supporters butfrom angry art lovers whofelt threatened by the new painting. The term “Impressionism” was born in 1874,whena group of artists who had been working together organized an exhibition of theirpaintings in order to draw public attention to their work. Reaction from the public andpress was immediate, and derisive. Among the 165 paintingsexhibited was one called(20)Impression: Sunrise, by Claude Monet(1840-1926),Viewedthrough hostile eyes,Monet’s painting of a rising sun over a misty, watery scene seemed messy, slapdash,s title, art critics and an affront to good taste. Borrowing Monet’to the entire exhibit. In extended the term “Impressionism” response, Monet and his 29 fellow artists inthe exhibit adopted the same name as a badge of their unity, despite individual differences.(25)From then until 1886 Impressionism had all the zeal of a “church”, as the painter Renoirput it. Monet was faithful to the Impressionist creed until his death, although many of theothers moved on to new styles.41 What aspect of painting in the nineteenth century does the passage mainly discuss?(A) The impact of some artists’ resistance to the fast pace of life(B) The differences between two major styles of art(C) A technological advance in the materials used by artists(D) A group of artists with a new technique and approach to art42 The word “depict” in line 2 is closest in meaning to(A) reorganize(B) deform(C) represent(D) justify43 According to the passage, which of the following was one of the distinguishing characteristics of Impressionist painting?(A) The emphasis on people rather than nature scenes(B) The way the subjects were presented from multiple angles(C) The focus on small solid objects(D) The depiction of the effects of light and color44 Which of the following is a significant way in which Impressionists were different from the artists that preceded them?(A) They began by making sketches of their subjects(B) They painted their subjects out-of-doors(C) They preferred to paint from memory(D) They used subjects drawn from modern life45 The word “advent” in line 12 is closest in meaning to(A) achievement(B) acceptance(C) arrival(D) advantage46 The exhibition of paintings organized in 1874 resulted in all ofthe following EXCEPT(A) attracting attention from the public(B) a negative reaction from the press(C) an immediate demand for the paintings exhibited(D) creating a name for a new style of painting47 The word “affront” in line 22 is closest in meaning to(A) insult(B) encouragement(C) return(D) credit48 The rejection of the Impressionist exhibition by critics was caused by which of the following?(A) The small number of paintings on display(B) L ack of interest in exhibitions by young artists(C) The similarity between all the paintings exhibited(D) Anger about seemingly poorly painted art49 The author mentions Renoir in line 25 to give an example of an artist who(A) became as famous as Monet(B) was consistently praised by art critics(C) described the enthusiasm of the Impressionists for their work(D) was in favor of a traditional style of painting50 The word “others” in line 27 refers to(A) art critics(B) fellow artists(C) individual differences(D) new styles0308答案ABADB CCCBA BDDCC DCDBA DACCB DBCAC DACBA BABDC BCAAD CDABACACCB CDBCB DACCC ABCDA CDCDC BDCDC BCDDC DBACBDAABA DDBAB CDBCB DCBBA BDACB DDBAA DDABC DCBBA DCDBC CADCB。

托福综合写作之阅读材料归纳总结技巧

托福综合写作之阅读材料归纳总结技巧

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托福阅读理解真题汇总

托福阅读理解真题汇总

托福阅读理解真题汇总托福阅读真题1The term folk song has been current for over a hundred years, but there is still a good deal of disagreement as to what it actually means. The definition provided by the International Folk Music Council states that folk music is the music of ordinary people, which is passed on from person to person by being listened to rather than learned from the printed page. Other factors that help shape a folk song include: continuity (many performances over a number of years); variation (changes in words and melodies either through artistic interpretation or failure of memory); and selection (the acceptance of a song by the community in which it evolves).When songs have been subjected to these processes their origin is usually impossible to trace. For instance, if a farm laborer were to make up a song and sing it to a-couple of friends who like it and memorize it, possibly when the friends come to sing it themselves one of them might forget some of the words and make up new ones to fill the gap, while the other, perhaps more artistic, might add a few decorative touches to the tune and improve a couple of lines of text. If this happened a few times there would be many different versions, the song's original composer would be forgotten, and the song would become common property. This constant reshaping and re-creation is the essence of folk music. Consequently, modem popular songs and other published music, even though widely sung by people who are not professional musicians, are not considered folk music. The music and words have been set by a printed or recorded source, limiting scope for further artistic creation. These songs'origins cannot be disguised and therefore they belong primarily to the composer and not to a community.The ideal situation for the creation of folk music is an isolated rural community. In such a setting folk songs and dances have a special purpose at every stage in a person's life, from childhood to death. Epic tales of heroic deeds, seasonal songs relating to calendar events, and occupational songs are also likely to be sung.1. What does the passage mainly discuss?(A) Themes commonly found in folk music(B) Elements that define folk music(C) Influences of folk music on popular music(D) The standards of the International Folk Music Council2. Which of the following statements about the term folk song is supported by the passage ?(A) It has been used for several centuries.(B) The International Folk Music Council invented it.(C) It is considered to be out-of-date.(D) There is disagreement about its meaning.3. The word it in line 8 refers to(A) community(B) song(C) acceptance(D) memory4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a characteristic of the typical folksong?(A) It is constantly changing over time.(B) It is passed on to other people by being performed.(C) It contains complex musical structures.(D) It appeals to many people.5. The word subjected in line 9 is closest in meaning to(A) reduced(B) modified(C) exposed(D) imitated6. The author mentions the farm laborer and his friends (lines 10-14) in order to do which of thefollowing?(A) Explain how a folk song evolves over time(B) Illustrate the importance of music to rural workers(C) Show how subject matter is selected for a folk song(D) Demonstrate how a community, chooses a folk song7. According to the passage , why would the original composers of folk songs be forgotten?(A) Audiences prefer songs composed by professional musicians.(B) Singers dislike the decorative touches in folk song tunes.(C) Numerous variations of folk songs come to exist at the same time.(D) Folk songs are not considered an important form of music.8. The word essence in line 16 is closest in meaning to(A) basic nature(B) growing importance(C) full extent(D) first phase9. The author mentions that published music is not considered to be folk music because(A) the original composer can be easily identified(B) the songs attract only the young people in a community(C) the songs are generally performed by professional singers(D) the composers write the music in rural communitiesPASSAGE 56 BDBCC ACAA托福阅读真题2Often enough the craft worker's place of employment in ancient Greece was set in rural isolation. Potter, for instance, found it convenient to locate their workshops near their source of clay, regardless of its relation to the center of settlement. At Corinth and Athens, however, two of the best-known potters' quarters were situated on the cities' outskirts, and potters and makers of terra-cotta figurines were also established well within the city of Athens itself. The techniques of pottery manufacture had evolved well before the Greek period, but marked stylistic developments occurred in shape and in decoration, for example, in the interplay of black and other glazes with the red surface of the fired pot. Athenian black-figure and red-figure decoration, which emphasized human figures rather than animal images, was adopted between 630 and 530 B.C.; its distinctive color and luster were the result of the skillful adjustments of the kiln's temperature during an extended three-stage period if firing the clayware. Whether it was the potters or the vase-painters who initiated changes in firing is unclear, the functions of making and decorating were usually divided between them, but neither group can have been so specialized that they did not share in the concerns of the other.The broad utility of terra-cotta was such that workers in clay could generally afford to confine themselves to either decorated ware and housewares like cooking pots and storage jars orbuilding materials like roof tiles and drainpipes. Some sixth- and fifth-century B.C. Athenian pottery establishments are known to have concentrated on a limited range of fine ware, but a rural pottery establishment on the island of Thasos produced many types of pottery and roof tiles too, presumably to meet local demand. Molds were used to create particular effects for some products, such as relief-decorated vessels and figurines; for other products such as roof tiles, which were in some quantity, they were used to facilitate mass production. There were also a number of poor-quality figurines and painted pots produced in quantity by easy, inexpensive means — as numerous featureless statuettes and unattractive cases testify.1. The passage mainly discusses ancient Greek pottery and its(A) production techniques(B) similarity to other crafts(C) unusual materials(D) resemblance to earlier pottery2. The phrase regardless of in line 3 is closest in meaning to(A) as a result of(B) no matter what(C) proud of(D) according to3. It can be inferred from the passage that most pottery establishments in ancient Greece weresituated(A) in city centers(B) on the outskirts of cities(C) where clay could be found(D) near other potters' workshops4. The word marked in line 7 is closest in meaning to(A) original(B) attractive(C) noticeable(D) patterned5. The word confine in line 17 is closest in meaning to(A) adapt(B) train(C) restrict(D) organize6. It can be inferred from the passage that terra-cotta had which of the following advantages(A) It did not break during the firing process.(B) It was less expensive than other available materials.(C) Its surface had a lasting shine.(D) It could be used for many purposes.7. The word presumably in line 21 is closest in meaning to(A) frequently(B) practically(C) preferably(D) probably8. The word they in line 24 refers to(A) molds(B) particular effects(C) products(D) vessels and figurines9. According to the passage , all of the following are true of ancient Greek potters and vasepainters EXCEPT:(A) Their functions were so specialized that they lackedcommon concerns.(B) They sometimes produced inferior ware.(C) They produced pieces that had unusual color and shine.(D) They decorated many of their works with human images.PASSAGE 57 ABCCC DDAA托福阅读真题3Hunting is at best a precarious way of procuring food, even when the diet is supplemented with seeds and fruits. Not long after the last Ice Age, around 7,000 B.C. (during the Neolithic period), some hunters and gatherers began to rely chiefly on agriculture for their sustenance. Others continued the old pastoral and nomadic ways. Indeed, agriculture itself evolved over the course of time, and Neolithic peoples had long known how to grow crops. The real transformation of human life occurred when huge numbers of people began to rely primarily and permanently on the grain they grew and the animals they domesticated.Agriculture made possible a more stable and secure life. With it Neolithic peoples flourished, fashioning an energetic, creative era. They were responsible for many fundamental inventions and innovations that the modern world takes for granted. First, obviously, is systematic agriculture —that is, the reliance of Neolithic peoples on agriculture as their primary, not merely subsidiary, source of food.Thus they developed the primary economic activity of the entire ancient world and the basis of all modern life. With the settled routine of Neolithic farmers came the evolution of towns and eventually cities. Neolithic farmers usually raised more food than they could consume, and their surpluses permitted larger, healthier populations. Population growth in turn created an evengreater reliance on settled farming, as only systematic agriculture could sustain the increased numbers of people. Since surpluses of food could also be bartered for other commodities, the Neolithic era witnessed the beginnings of large-scale exchange of goods. In time the increasing complexity of Neolithic societies led to the development of writing, prompted by the need to keep records and later by the urge to chronicle experiences, learning, and beliefs.The transition to settled life also had a profound impact on the family. The shared needs and pressures that encourage extended-family ties are less prominent in settled than in nomadic societies. Bonds to the extended family weakened. In towns and cities, the nuclear family was more dependent on its immediate neighbors than on kinfolk.1. What does the passage mainly discuss?(A) Why many human societies are dependent on agriculture(B) the changes agriculture brought to human life(C) How Neolithic peoples discovered agriculture(D) Why the first agricultural societies failed2. The word precarious in line 1 is closest in meaning to(A) uncertain(B) humble(C) worthy(D) unusual3. The author mentions seeds and fruits in line 2 as examples of(A) the first crops cultivated by early agricultural societies(B) foods eaten by hunters and gatherers as a secondary food source(C) types of food that hunters and gatherers lacked in theirdiets(D) the most common foods cultivated by early agricultural societies4. The word settled in line 15 is closest in meaning to(A) advanced(B) original(C) involved(D) stable5. According to the passage , agricultural societies produced larger human populations becauseagriculture(A) created more varieties of food(B) created food surpluses(C) resulted in increases in leisure time(D) encouraged bartering6. According to the passage , all of the following led to the development of writing EXCEPT the(A) need to keep records(B) desire to write down beliefs(C) extraction of ink from plants(D) growth of social complexity7. The word chronicle in line 23 is closest in meaning to(A) repeat(B) exchange(C) understand(D) describe8. According to the passage , how did the shift to agricultural societies impact people's familyrelationships?(A) The extended family became less important.(B) Immediate neighbors often became family members.(C) The nuclear family became self-sufficient.(D) Family members began to wok together to raise food.9. The author mentions all of the following as results of the shift to agricultural societies EXCEPT(A) an increase in invention and innovation(B) emergence of towns and cities(C) development of a system of trade(D) a decrease in warfare10. Which of the following is true about the human diet prior to the Neolithic period?(A) It consisted mainly of agricultural products(B) It varied according to family size.(C) It was based on hunting and gathering.(D) It was transformed when large numbers of people no longer depended on the grain they grewthemselves.PASSAGE 58 BABDB CDADC。

托福阅读真题汇总

托福阅读真题汇总

托福阅读真题汇总托福阅读真题1PASSAGE 4The term Hudson River school was applied to the foremost representatives ofnineteenth-century North American landscape painting. Apparently unknown during the goldendays of the American landscape movement, which began around 1850 and lasted until the late1860's, the Hudson River school seems to have emerged in the 1870's as a direct result of thestruggle between the old and the new generations of artists, each to assert its own style as therepresentative American art. The older painters, most of whom were born before 1835, practicedin a mode often self-taught and monopolized by landscape subject matter and were securelyestablished in and fostered by the reigning American art organization, the National Academy ofDesign. The younger painters returning home from training in Europe worked more with figuralsubject matter and in a bold and impressionistic technique; their prospects for patronage in theirown country were uncertain, and they sought to attract it by attaining academic recognition inNew York. One of the results of the conflict between the two factions was that what in previousyears had been referred to as the American, native, or, occasionally, New York school — the mostrepresentative school of American art in any genre —had by 1890 become firmly established inthe minds of critics and public alike as the Hudson River school.The sobriquet was first applied around 1879. While it was not intended as flattering, it washardly inappropriate. The Academicians at whom it was aimed had worked and socializedin NewYork, the Hudson's port city, and had painted the river and its shores with varying frequency.Most important, perhaps, was that they had all maintained with a certain fidelity a manner oftechnique and composition consistent with those of America's first popular landscape artist,Thomas Cole, who built a career painting the Catskill Mountain scenery bordering the HudsonRiver. A possible implication in the term applied to the group of landscapists was that many ofthem had, like Cole, lived on or near the banks of the Hudson. Further, the river had long servedas the principal route to other sketching grounds favored by the Academicians, particularly theAdirondacks and the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire.1. What does the passage mainly discuss?(A) The National Academy of Design(B) Paintings that featured the Hudson River(C) North American landscape paintings(D) The training of American artists in European academies(A) Figural painting(B) Landscape painting(C) Impressionistic painting(D) Historical painting3. The word struggle in line 5 is closest in meaning to(A) connection(B) distance(C) communication(D) competition4. The word monopolized in line 7 is closest in meaning to(A) alarmed(B) dominated(C) repelled(D) pursued5. According to the passage , what was the function of the National Academy of Design for thepainters born before 1835?(A) It mediated conflicts between artists.(B) It supervised the incorporation of new artistic techniques.(C) It determined which subjects were appropriate.(D) It supported their growth and development.6. The word it in line 12 refers to(A) matter(B) technique(C) patronage(D) country7. The word factions in line 13 is closest in meaning to(A) sides(B) people(C) cities(D) images8. The word flattering in line 18 is closest in meaning to(A) expressive(B) serious(C) complimentary(D) flashy9. Where did the younger generation of painters receive its artistic training?(A) In Europe(B) In the Adirondacks(C) In Vermont(D) In New HampshirePASSAGE 4 BBDBD CACA托福阅读真题2PASSAGE 5Perhaps the most obvious way artistic creation reflects how people live is by mirroring theenvironment — the materials and technologies available to a culture. Stone, wood, tree bark, clay,and sand are generally available materials. In addition, depending on the locality, other resourcesmay be accessible: shells, horns, gold, copper, and silver. The different uses to which societies putthese materials are of interest to anthropologists who may ask, for example, why people chooseto use clay and not copper when both items are available. Although there are no conclusiveanswers yet, the way in which a society views its environment is sometimes apparent in its choiceand use of artistic materials. The use of certain metals, for example, may be reserved forceremonial objects of special importance. Or the belief in the supernatural powers of a stone ortree may cause a sculptor to be sensitive to that material.What is particularly meaningful to anthropologist is the realization that although thematerials available to a society may to some extent limit or influence what it can do artistically,the materials by no means determine what is done. Why do the artists in Japanese society rakesand into patterns; and the artists in Roman society melt sand to form glass? Moreover, evenwhen the same material is used in the same way by members of different societies, the form orstyle of the work varies enormously from culture to culture. A society may simply choose torepresent objects or phenomena that are important to its population. An examination of the artof the Middle Ages tells us something about the medieval preoccupation with theologicaldoctrine. In addition to revealing the primary concerns of a society, thecontent of that society'sart may also reflect the culture's social stratification.1. According to the passage , gold, copper, and silver are(A) more difficult to handle than wood and(B) of their stable social conditions(C) of the unique stylistic features of their art(D) available only in specific locations2. The word conclusive in line 7 is closest in meaning to(A) definitive(B) controversial(C) concurrent(D) realistic3. The word apparent in line 8 is closest in meaning to(A) attractive(B) logical(C) evident(D) distinct4. Why does the author mention the supernatural powers ofa stone or tree in line 10?(A) to show that some sculptors avoid working with specific materials(B) to emphasize the unusual properties of certain materials(C) as an example of how art can be influenced by cultural beliefs(D) as an illustration of the impact of the environment on religious beliefs5. The word it in line 13 refers to(A) realization(B) society(C) extent(D) influence6. It can be inferred that the author mentions the Japanese and Roman societies because(A) they influenced each other stone(B) commonly used by artists in all societies(C) essential to create ceremonial objects(D) they used the same artistic material in very different ways7. According to the passage , all of the following statements about sand are true EXCEPT(A) It is used to create glass.(B) Roman artists mix it into their paints.(C) Its use varies from culture to culture.(D) Japanese artists use it to create artistic patterns.8. The word Moreover in line 16 is closest in meaning to(A) similarly(B) in addition(C) in contrast(D) frequently9. The word preoccupation in line 20 is closest in meaning to(A) involvement(B) separation(C) relationship(D) argument10. The word primary in line 21 is closest in meaning to(A) discrete(B) preliminary(C) ideal(D) fundamentalPASSAGE 5 DACCB DBBAD托福阅读真题3PASSAGE 6Potash (the old name for potassium carbonate) is one of the two alkalis (the other being soda,sodium carbonate) that were used from remote antiquity in the making of glass, and from theearly Middle Ages in the making of soap: the former being the product of heating a mixture ofalkali and sand, the latter a product of alkali and vegetable oil. Their importance in thecommunities of colonial North America need hardly be stressed.Potash and soda are not interchangeable for all purposes, but for glass- or soap-making eitherwould do. Soda was obtained largely from the ashes of certain Mediterranean sea plants, potashfrom those of inland vegetation. Hence potash was more familiar to the early European settlersof the North American continent.The settlement at Jamestown in Virginia was in many ways a microcosm of the economy ofcolonial North America, and potash was one of its first concerns. It was required for theglassworks, the first factory in the British colonies, and was produced in sufficient quantity topermit the inclusion of potash in the first cargo shipped out of Jamestown. The second ship toarrive in the settlement from England included among its passengers experts in potash making.The method of making potash was simple enough. Logs was piled up and burned in the open,and the ashes collected. The ashes were placed in a barrel with holes in the bottom, and waterwas poured over them. The solution draining from the barrel was boiled down in iron kettles. Theresulting mass was further heated to fuse the mass into what was called potash.In North America, potash making quickly became an adjunctto the clearing of land foragriculture, for it was estimated that as much as half the cost of clearing land could be recoveredby the sale of potash. Some potash was exported from Maine and New Hampshire in theseventeenth century, but the market turned out to be mainly domestic, consisting mostly ofshipments from the northern to the southern colonies. For despite the beginning of the trade atJamestown and such encouragements as a series of acts to encourage the making of potash,beginning in 1707 in South Carolina, the softwoods in the South proved to be poor sources of thesubstance.1. What aspect of potash does the passage mainly discuss?(A) How it was made(B) Its value as a product for export(C) How it differs from other alkalis(D) Its importance in colonial North America2. All of the following statements are true of both potash and soda EXPECT:(A) They are alkalis.(B) They are made from sea plants.(C) They are used in making soap.(D) They are used in making glass.3. They phrase the latter in line 4 refers to(A) alkali(B) glass(C) sand(D) soap4. The word stressed in line 6 is closest in meaning to(A) defined(B) emphasized(C) adjusted(D) mentioned5. The word interchangeable in line 7 is closest in meaning to(A) convenient(B) identifiable(C) equivalent(D) advantageous6. It can be inferred from the passage that potash was more common than soda in colonial NorthAmerica because(A) the materials needed for making soda were not readily available(B) making potash required less time than making soda(C) potash was better than soda for making glass and soap(D) the colonial glassworks found soda more difficult to use7. According to paragraph 4, all of the following were needed for making potash EXCEPT(A) wood(B) fire(C) sand(D) water8. The word adjunct in line 22 is closest in meaning to(A) addition(B) answer(C) problem(D) possibility9. According to the passage , a major benefit of making potash was that(A) it could be exported to Europe in exchange for other goods(B) it helped finance the creation of farms(C) it could be made with a variety of materials(D) stimulated the development of new ways of glassmaking10. According to paragraph 5, the softwoods in the South posed which of the following problemsfor southern settles?(A) The softwoods were not very plentiful.(B) The softwoods could not be used to build houses.(C) The softwoods were not very marketable.(D) The softwoods were not very useful for making potash.PASSAGE 6 DBDBC ACABD。

2021年托福阅读回忆和解析参考答案

2021年托福阅读回忆和解析参考答案
参考阅读
Economic Decline in Europe During the Fourteenth Century
After three hundred years of impressive gains in wealth and population, Europe’s economy began toslow around 1300. Several factors accounted for the decline. One the most important, though perhaps the least dramatictorelate,wasashiftinclimate.Theremarkablyfairweatherofthetwelfthandthirteenthcenturies
第三部分:大陆冰川和海冰、以及冰川崩解对地球的影响
第五段:大陆冰川和海冰的形成会直接影响地表albedo,要融化它们则需要更多的太阳能量输入, 在上次冰河时代末期太阳对地球的能量输入正好处于周期循环中的峰值,所以诱发了冰川崩解;相比于冰川形成和移动过程对地表造成的变化,冰川崩解化为洪水注入海洋的过程对地表影响更大。
witheasternAsiathathadlongsustainedEurope’seconomicgrowth.A more immediate cause ofthe
sputtering economy was an observable absence: since the eleventh century there had been few significant changesinthetechnologyofagriculture.Developmentslikethewheeledplow,therotationofcrops,andthe

托福阅读真题最全

托福阅读真题最全

托福阅读真题3P ASSAGE 3The Native Americans of northern California were highly skilled at basketry, using the reeds,grasses, barks, and roots they found around them to fashion articles of all sorts and sizes-not only trays, containers, and cooking pots, but hats, boats, fish traps, baby carriers, and ceremonialobjects.Of all these experts, none excelled the Pomo — a group who lived on or near the coast during the 1800's, and whose descendants continue to live in parts of the same region to thisday. They made baskets three feet in diameter and others no bigger than a thimble. The Pomopeople were masters of decoration. Some of their baskets were completely covered with shellpendants; others with feathers that made the baskets' surfaces as soft as the breasts of birds.Moreover, the Pomo people made use of more weaving techniques than did their neighbors. Most groups made all their basketwork by twining — the twisting of a flexible horizontal material,called a weft, around stiffer vertical strands of material, the warp. Others depended primarily oncoiling — a process in which a continuous coil of stiff material is held in the desired shape withtight wrapping of flexible strands. Only the Pomo people used both processes with equal easeand frequency. In addition, they made use of four distinct variations on the basic twining process,often employing more than one of them in a single article.Although a wide variety of materials was available, the P omo people used only a few. Thewarp was always made of willow, and the most commonly used weft was sedge root, a woodyfiber that could easily be separated into strands no thicker than a thread. For color, the Pomopeople used the bark of redbud for their twined work and dyed bullrush root for black in coiled work. Though other materials were sometimes used, these four were the staples in theirfinest basketry.If the basketry materials used by the Pomo people were limited, the designs were amazingly varied. Every Pomo basketmaker knew how to produce from fifteen to twenty distinct patterns that could be combined in a number of different ways.1. What best distinguished Pomo baskets from baskets of other groups?(A) The range of sizes, shapes, and designs(B) The unusual geometric(C) The absence of decoration(D) The rare materials used2. The word "fashion" in line 2 is closest in meaning to(A) maintain(B) organize(C) trade(D) create3. The Pomo people used each of the following materials to decorate baskets EXCEPT(A) shells(B) feathers(C) leaves(D) bark4. What is the author's main point in the second paragraph?(A) The neighbors of the Pomo people tried to improve on the Pomo basket weaving techniques.(B) The Pomo people were the most skilled basket weavers in their region.(C) The Pomo people learned their basket weaving techniques from other Native Americans.(D) The P omo baskets have been handed down for generations.5. The word "others " in line 9 refers to(A) masters(B) baskets(C) pendants(D) surfaces6. According to the passage , a weft is a(A) tool for separating sedge root(B) process used for coloring baskets(C) pliable maternal woven around the warp(D) pattern used to decorate baskets7. According to the passage , what did the Pomo people use as the warp in their baskets?(A) bullrush(B) willow(C) sedge(D) redbud8. The word "article" in line 17 is close in meaning to(A) decoration(B) shape(C) design(D) object9. According to the passage . The relationship between redbud and twining is most similar to the relationship between(A) bullrush and coiling(B) weft and warp(C) willow and feathers(D) sedge and weaving10. The word "staples" in line 23 is closest in meaning to(A) combinations(B) limitations(C) accessories(D) basic elements11. The word "distinct" in lime 26 is closest in meaning to(A) systematic(B) beautiful(C) different(D) compatible12. Which of the following statements about Pomo baskets can be best inferred from the passage ?(A) Baskets produced by other Native Americans were less varied in design than those of the Pomo people.(B) Baskets produced by Pomo weavers were primarily for ceremonial purposes.(C) There were a very limited number of basketmaking materials available to the Pomo people.(D) The basketmaking production of the Pomo people has increased over the years.P ASSAGE 4The term "Hudson River school" was applied to the foremost representatives of nineteenth- century North American landscape painting. Apparently unknown during the goldendays of the American landscape movement, which began around 1850 and lasted until the late1860's, the Hudson River school seems to have emerged in the 1870's as a direct result of thestruggle between the old and the new generations of artists, each to assert its own style as therepresentative American art. Theolder painters, most of whom were born before 1835, practicedin a mode often self-taught and monopolized by landscape subject matter and weresecurelyestablished in and fostered by the reigning American art organization, the National Academy ofDesign. The younger painters returning home from training in Europe worked more with figuralsubject matter and in a bold and impressionistic technique; their prospects for patronage in theirown country were uncertain, and they sought to attract it by attaining academic recognition inNew Y ork. One of the results of the conflict between the two factions was that what in previousyears had been referred to as the "American", "native", or, occasionally, "New Y ork" school — themost representative school of American art in any genre — had by 1890 become firmly established in the minds of critics and public alike as the Hudson Riv er school.The sobriquet was first applied around 1879. While it was not intended as flattering, it washardly inappropriate. The Academicians at whom it was aimed had worked and socialized inNew Y ork, the Hudson's port city, and had painted the river and its shores with varying frequency. Most important, perhaps, was that they had all maintained with a certain fidelity amanner of technique and composition consistent with those of America's first popular landscape artist, Thomas Cole,who built a career painting the Catskill Mountain scenery bordering the Hudson River. A possible implication in the term applied to the group of landscapists was that many of them had, like Cole,lived on or near the banks of the Hudson. Further, the river had long served as the principal route toother sketching grounds favoredbythe Academicians, particularly the Adirondacks and the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire.1. What does the passage mainly discuss?(A) The National Academy of Design(B) Paintings that featured the Hudson River(C) North American landscape paintings(D) The training of American artists in European academies2. Before 1870, what was considered the most representative kind of American painting?(A) Figural painting(B) Landscape painting(C) Impressionistic painting(D) Historical painting3. The word "struggle" in line 5 is closest in meaning to(A) connection(B) distance(C) communication(D) competition4. The word "monopolized" in line 7 is closest in meaning to(A) alarmed(B) dominated(C) repelled(D) pursued5. According to the passage , what was the function of the National Academy of Design forthe painters born before 1835?(A) It mediated conflicts between artists.(B) It supervised the incorporation of new artistic techniques.(C) It determined which subjects were appropriate.(D) It supported their growth and development.6. The word "it" in line 12 refers to(A) matter(B) technique(C) patronage(D) country7. The word "factions" in line 13 is closest in meaning to(A) sides(B) people(C) cities(D) images8. The word "flattering" in line 18 is closest in meaning to(A) expressive(B) serious(C) complimentary(D) flashy9. Where did the younger generation of painters receive its artistic training?(A) In Europe(B) In the Adirondacks(C) In Vermont(D) In New Hampshire答案:P ASSAGE 3 BDCBB CBDAD CAP ASSAGE 4 BBDBD CACA。

TOEFL托福阅读真题精选篇

TOEFL托福阅读真题精选篇

TOEFL托福阅读真题精选篇为了让大家更好的预备托福考试,我给大家整理一些托福阅读真题,下面我就和大家共享,来观赏一下吧。

托福阅读真题1PASSAGE 50The Arts and Crafts Movement in the United States was responsible for sweeping changes in attitudes toward the decorative arts, then considered the minor or household arts. Its focus on decorative arts helped to induce United States museums and private collectors to begin collecting furniture, glass, ceramics, metalwork, and textiles in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The fact that artisans, who were looked on as mechanics or skilled workers in the eighteenth century, are frequently considered artists today is directly attributable to the Arts and Crafts Movement of the nineteenth century. The importance now placed on attractive and harmonious home decoration can also be traced to this period, when Victorian interior arrangements were revised to admit greater light and more freely flowing spaces.The Arts and Crafts Movement reacted against mechanized processes that threatened handcrafts and resulted in cheapened, monotonous merchandise. Founded in the late nineteenth century by British social critics John Ruskin and William Morris, the movement revered craft as a form of art. In a rapidly industrializing society, most Victorians agreed that art was an essential moral ingredient in the home environment, and in many middle- and working-class homes craft was the only form of art, Ruskin and his followers criticized not only the degradation of artisans reduced to machine operators, but also the impending loss of daily contact with handcrafted objects, fashioned with pride, integrity, and attention to beauty.In the United States as well as in Great Britain, reformers extolled the virtues of handcrafted objects: simple, straightforward design; solid materials of good quality; and sound, enduring construction techniques. These criteria were interpreted in a variety of styles, ranging from rational and geometric to romantic or naturalistic. Whether abstract, stylized, or realistically treated, the consistent theme in virtually all Arts and Crafts design is nature.The Arts and Crafts Movement was much more than a particular style; it was a philosophy of domestic life. Proponents believed that if simple design, high-quality materials, and honest construction were realized in the home and its appointments, then the occupants would enjoy moral and therapeutic effects. For both artisan and consumer, the Arts and Crafts doctrine was seen as a magical force against the undesirable effects of industrialization.1. The passage primarily focuses on nineteenth-century arts and crafts in terms of which of the following?(A) Their naturalistic themes(B) Their importance in museum collections(C) Their British origin(D) Their role in an industrialized society2. According to the passage , before the nineteenth century, artisans were thought to be(A) defenders of moral standards(B) creators of cheap merchandise(C) skilled workers(D) artists3. It can be inferred from the passage that the Arts and Crafts Movement would have consideredall of the following to be artists EXCEPT(A) creators of textile designs(B) people who produce handmade glass objects(C) operators of machines that automatically cut legs for furniture托福阅读真题2PASSAGE 51In 1972, a century after the first national park in the United States was established at Yellowstone, legislation was passed to create the National Marine Sanctuaries Program. The intent of this legislation was to provide protection to selected coastal habitats similar to that existing for land areas designated as national parks. The designation of an areas marine sanctuary indicates that it is a protected area, just as a national park is. People are permitted to visit and observe there, but living organisms and their environments may not be harmed or removed.The National Marine Sanctuaries Program is administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a branch of the United States Department of Commerce. Initially, 70 sites were proposed as candidates for sanctuary status. Two and a half decades later, only fifteen sanctuaries had been designated, with half of these establishedafter 1978. They range in size from the very small (less than 1 square kilometer) Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary in American Samoa to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in California, extending over 15,744 square kilometers.The National Marine Sanctuaries Program is a crucial part of new management practices in which whole communities of species, and not just individual species, are offered some degree of protection from habitat degradation and overexploitation. Only in this way can a reasonable degree of marine species diversity be maintained in a setting that also maintains the natural interrelationships that exist among these species.Several other types of marine protected areas exist in the United States and other countries. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System, managed by the United States government, includes 23 designated and protected estuaries. Outside the United States, marine protected-area programs exist as marine parks, reserves, and preserves. Over 100 designated areas exist around the periphery of the Caribbean Sea. Others range from the well-known Australian Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to lesser-known parks in countries such as Thailand and Indonesia, where tourism is placing growing pressures on fragile coral reef systems. As state, national, and international agencies come to recognize the importance of conserving marine biodiversity, marine projected areas. whether as sanctuaries, parks, or estuarine reserves, will play an increasingly important role in preserving that diversity.1. What does the passage mainly discuss?(A) Differences among marine parks, sanctuaries, and reserves(B) Various marine conservation programs(C) International agreements on coastal protection(D) Similarities between land and sea protected environments2. The word intent in line 3 is closest in meaning to(D) metalworkers who create unique pieces of jewelry4. The word revered in line 14 is closest in meaning to(A) respected(B) described(C) avoided(D) created5. According to paragraph 2, the handcrafted objects in the homes of middle- and working-classfamilies usually were(A) made by members of the family(B) the least expensive objects in their homes(C) regarded as being morally uplifting(D) thought to symbolize progress6. The word extolled in line 20 is closest in meaning to(A) exposed(B) praised(C) believed(D) accepted7. The author mentions all of the following as attributes of handcrafted objects EXCEPT(A) the pride with which they were crafted(B) the complexity of their design(C) the long time that they lasted(D) the quality of their materials8. The word consistent in line 24 is closest in meaning to(A) conservative(B) considerable(C) constant(D) concrete9. According to the passage , which of the following changes occurred at the same time as theArts and Crafts Movement?(A) The creation of brighter and more airy spaces inside homes(B) The rejection of art that depicted nature in a realistic manner(C) A decline of interest in art museum collections(D) An increase in the buying of imported art objects10. Which of the following statements is supported by the passage ?(A) Private collectors in the nineteenth century concentrated on acquiring paintings.(B) The Arts and Crafts Movement in the United States, unlike the one in Britain, did not reactstrongly against mechanized processes.(C) Handcrafted objects in the United States and Britain in the nineteenth century did not usegeometric designs.(D) The Arts and Crafts Movement believed in the beneficial effect for people from beingsurrounded by beautiful objects.PASSAGE 50 DCCAC BBCAD(A) repetition(B) approval(C) goal(D) revision3. The word administered in line 8 is closest in meaning to(A) managed(B) recognized(C) opposed(D) justified4. The word these in line 11 refers to(A) sites(B) candidates(C) decades(D) sanctuaries5. The passage mentions the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (lines 13-14) as anexample of a sanctuary that(A) is not well know(B) covers a large area(C) is smaller than the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary(D) was not originally proposed for sanctuary status6. According to the passage , when was the National Marine Sanctuaries Program established?(A) before 1972(B) after 1987(C) one hundred years before national parks were established(D) one hundred years after Yellowstone National Park was established7. According to the passage , all of the following are achievements of the National MarineSanctuaries Program EXCEPT(A) the discovery of several new marine organisms(B) the preservation of connections between individual marine species(C) the protection of coastal habitats(D) the establishment of areas where the public can observe marine life8. The word periphery in line 24 is closest in meaning to(A) depth(B) landmass(C) warm habitat(D) outer edge9. The passage mentions which of the following as a threat to marine areas outside the UnitedStates?(A) limitations in financial support(B) the use of marine species as food(C) variability of the climate(D) increases in tourismPASSAGE 51 BCADB DADD托福阅读真题3PASSAGE 52In the early 1800s, over 80 percent of the United States labor force was engaged in agriculture. Sophisticated technology and machinery were virtually nonexistent. People who lived in the cities and were not directly involved in trade often participated in small cottage industries making handcrafted goods. Others cured meats, ran bakeries, or otherwise produced needed goods and commodities. Blacksmiths, silversmiths, candle makers, and other artisans worked in their homes or barns, relying on help of family members or apprentices.Perhaps no single phenomenon brought more widespread and lasting change to the United States society than the rise of industrialization. Industrial growth hinged on several economic factors. First, industryrequires an abundance of natural resources, especially coal, iron ore, water, petroleum, and timber — all readily available on the North American continent. Second, factories demand a large labor supply. Between the 1870s and the First World War (1914-1918), approximately 23 million immigrants streamed to the United States, settled in cities, and went to work in factories and mines. They also helped build the vast network of canals and railroads that crisscrossed the continent and linked important trade centers essential to industrial growth.Factories also offered a reprieve from the backbreaking work and financial unpredictability associated with farming. Many adults, poor and disillusioned with farm life, were lured to the cities by promises of steady employment, regular paychecks, increased access to goods and services, and expanded social opportunities. Others were pushed there when new technologies made their labor cheap or expendable; inventions such as steel plows and mechanized harvesters allowed one farmhand to perform work that previously had required several, thus making farmingcapital-intensive rather than labor-intensive.The United States economy underwent a massive transition and the nature of work was permanently altered. Whereas cottage industries relied on a few highly skilled craft workers who slowly and carefully converted raw materials into finished products from start to finish, factories relied on specialization. While factory work was less creative and more monotonous, it was also more efficient and allowed mass production of goods at less expense.1. What aspect of life in the United States does the passage mainly discuss?(A) The transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy(B) The inventions that transformed life in the nineteenth century(C) The problems associated with the earliest factories(D) The difficulty of farm life in the nineteenth century2. Blacksmiths, silversmiths, and candle makers are mentioned in lines 5-6 as examples of artisans who(A) maintained their businesses at home(B) were eventually able to use sophisticated technology(C) produced unusual goods and commodities(D) would employ only family members3. The phrase hinged on in line 9 is closest in meaning to(A) recovered from(B) depended on(C) started on(D) contributed to4. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage as a reason for the industrial growth thatoccurred in the United States before 1914?(A) The availability of natural resources found only in the United States(B) The decrease in number of farms resulting from technologicaladvances(C) The replacement of canals and railroads by other forms of transportation(D) The availability of a large immigrant work force5. The word lured in line 19 is closest in meaning to(A) attracted(B) assigned(C) restricted(D) attached6. The word Others in line 20 refers to other(A) adults(B) promises(C) goods and services(D) social opportunities7. The word expendable in line 21 is closest in meaning to(A) nonproductive(B) unacceptable(C) nonessential(D) unprofitable8. It can be inferred from the passage that industrialization affected farming in thatindustrialization(A) increased the price of farm products(B) limited the need for new farm machinery(C) created new and interesting jobs on farms(D) reduced the number of people willing to do farm work9. What does the author mean when stating that certain inventions made farmingcapital-intensive rather than labor-intensive (lines 23-24)?(A) Workers had to be trained to operate the new machines.(B) Mechanized farming required more capital and fewer laborers.(C) The new inventions were not helpful for all farming activities.(D) Human labor could still accomplish as much work as the first machines.10. According to the passage , factory workers differed from craft workers in that factory workers(A) were required to be more creative(B) worked extensively with raw materials(C) changed jobs frequently(D) specialized in one aspect of the finished product only PASSAGE 52 AABDA ADDBD。

托福阅读中经常涉及的话题素材

托福阅读中经常涉及的话题素材

托福阅读中经常涉及的话题素材托福阅读中经常涉及的话题素材。

托福阅读题是被大多数考生定义为是最容易拿高分的一项,但因轻视而导致成绩不佳的考生也不在少数。

下面我们来看看天道小编对托福阅读中经常涉及的话题素材介绍,掌握阅读背景对同学们题解托福阅读题的内容更加有帮助。

同样一篇文章,如果熟悉其中背景,阅读起来就比较轻松,做题的速度和准确率也会提高不少。

为了帮助读者积累托福阅读方面的背景知识,特将托福阅读中的常考背景总结如下。

一、印第安题材1.白令海峡移民理论2.印第安文化3.印第安宗教观4.印第安建筑业:大、先进。

5.印第安手工业:好。

6.社会组织结构:严密、分工细、凝聚力强。

7.农业先进:A. irrigation; B. maize, squash, bean, pea。

二、动植物题材(必考)1.植物学题材(不多见)a. 地衣、苔、真菌、蘑菇最常见。

b. 树冠上方生物。

c. 植物在生态平衡中的作用。

2.动物学题材(90%以上)a. 考普通动物为多。

最近常考鸟类、蚂蚁、动物智能与灭绝(联系天文学与冰河理论)。

b. 考动物进化(evolution)。

c. 考动物的分类(classification)。

phyla(单数phylum) —门class—纲order—目family—科genus—属species—种carnivore/predator—食肉动物herbivore—食草动物omnivore—杂食动物d. 动物的生活习性最为多见。

j群居(social animal)动物的习性a) 蚂蚁:社会组织结构—等级制(caste):交流方式—信息素—气味;生活来源;外来物种的有害性。

b) 蜜蜂:群居个性; “8”字舞;蜜蜂智能;防御;天敌—大黄蜂。

c) 大猩猩:智能:猩际关系k迁徙(migration )野鸭、大雁:日照长短;辨别方向。

l伪装(camouflage)、花拟态(mimicry )三、考古学(archaeology)题材1.文化(cultural ) 考古学形态(physical)考古学(多见)2.化石(fossil )j 化石构成。

历年托福考试阅读真题汇总含答案

历年托福考试阅读真题汇总含答案

0308托福试题阅读(55minutes)Question 1-11If food is allowed to stand for some time, it putrefies .When the putrefied materialis examined microscopically ,it is found to be teeming with bacteria. Where do thesebacteria come from , since they are not seen in fresh food? Even until the mid-nineteenthcentury, many people believed that such microorganisms originated by spontaneous(5 )generation ,a hypothetical process by which living organisms develop from nonlivingmatter.The most powerful opponent of the theory of spontaneous generation was the French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur(1822-1895).Pasteur showed that structurespresent in air closely resemble the microorganisms seen in putrefying materials .He did(10) this by passing air through guncotton filters, the fibers of which stop solid particles. Afterthe guncotton was dissolved in a mixture of alcohol and ether, the particles that it hadtrapped fell to the bottom of the liquid and were examined on a microscope slide .Pasteurfound that in ordinary air these exists a variety of solid structures ranging in size from0.01 mm to more than 1.0 mm .Many of these bodies resembledthe reproductive(15)structures of common molds, single-celled animals, and various other microbial cells .As many as 20 to 30 of them were found in fifteen liters of ordinary air ,and they couldnot be distinguished from the organisms found in much larger numbers in putrefying materials .Pasteur concluded that the organisms found in putrefying materials originatedfrom the organized bodies present in the air .He postulated thatthese bodies are constantly(20)being deposited on all objects.Pasteur showed that if a nutrient solution was sealed in a glass flask and heated toboiling to destroy all the living organisms contaminating it, it never putrefied .The proponents of spontaneous generation declared that fresh air was necessary forspontaneous generation and that the air inside the sealed flask was affected in some way(25)by heating so that it would no longer support spontaneousgeneration. Pasteur constructed a swan-necked flask in which putrefying materials could he heated to boiling, but aircould reenter. The bends in the neck prevented microorganisms from getting in the flask.. Material sterilized in such a flask did not putrefy.1,What does the passage mainly discuss?(a)Pasteur’s influence on the development of the microscope.(b)The origin of the theory of spontaneous generation .(c)The effects of pasteurization on food.(d)Pasteur’s argument agai nst the theory of spontaneous generation . 2,The phrase “teeming with ”in line 2 is closest in meaning to(a)full of(b)developing into(c)resistant to(d)hurt by3,Which of the following questions did the theory of spontaneous generation attempt to answer?(a)What is the origin of the living organisms are seen on some food?(b)How many types of organisms can be found on food?(c)What is the most effective way to prepare living organisms for microscopic examination?(d)How long can food stand before it putrefies?4,The word “resemble” in line 9 is closest in meaning to(a)benefit from(b)appear similar to(c)join together with(d)grow from5,The purpose of the “guncotton” mentioned in paragraph 2 was to(a)trap particles for analysis(b)slow the process of putrefaction(c)increase the airflow to the microscopic slide(d)aid the mixing of alcohol and ether6,The author mention “1.0mm”in line 14 in describing the(a)thickness of a layer of organisms that was deposited on an object(b)diameter of the fibers that were in the guncotton filters(c)thickness of the microscope slides that were used(d)size of the particles that that were collected7.The word “postulated”in line 19 is closest in meaning to(a)analyzed(b)doubted(c)persuaded(d)suggested8.The objects that Pasteut removed from the air in his experiment were remarkable because they were(a)primarily single-celled organisms(b)no different from objects found in putrefying materials(c)fairly rare(d)able to live in a mixture of alcohol and ether9.The word “it” in line 22 refers to(a)a nutrient solution(b)a glass flask(c)boiling(d)spontaneous generation10.According to paragraph 3,proponents of spontaneous generation believed that which of the following was important for the process to succeed ?(a)A sealed container(b)Fresh air(d)The presence of nutrients11.It can be inferred from paragraph 3 that Pasteur employed a swam-necked flask to(a)store sterilized liquids for use in future experiments(b)prevent heat from building up in a solution(c)disprove a criticism of his conclusions(d)estimate the number of organisms in a liter of airQuestions 12-20In the early decades of the United States ,the agrarian movement promoted the farmeras society’s hero. In the minds of agrarian thinkers and writers ,the farmer was a person on whose well-being the health of the new country depended .The period between theRevolution, which ended in 1783,and the Civil War ,which ended in 1865 ,was the age of(5 )the farmer in the United States .Agrarian philosophers ,represented most eloquently byThomas Jefferson, celebrated farmers extravagantly for their supposed centrality in a goodsociety, their political virtue ,and their Superior morality .And virtually all policy makers, whether they subscribed to the tenets of the philosophy held by Jefferson or not, recognized agriculture as the key component of the American economy .Consequently ,government at(10)all levels worked to encourage farmers as a social group and agriculture as economicenterprise.Both the national and state governments developed transportation infrastructure,building canals, roads, bridges, and railroads ,deepening harbors ,and removing obstructions from navigable streams .The national government imported plant and animal varieties and(15) launched exploring expeditions into prospective farmlands in the West .In addition ,government trade policies facilitated the exporting of agriculturalFor their part ,farmers seemed to meet the social expectations agrarian philosophershad for them ,as their broader horizons and greater self-respect, both products of the Revolution ,were reflected to some degree in their behavior .Farmers seemed to become(20)more scientific ,joining agricultural societies and reading the farm newspapers that sprangup throughout the country .They began using improved implements, tried new crops andpure animal breeds , and became more receptive to modern theories of soil improvement .They also responded to inducements by national and state governments .Farmersstreamed to the West ,filling frontier lands with stunning rapidity .But farmers responded(25)less to the expectations of agrarians and governmentinducements than to growing market opportunities .European demand for food from the United States seemed insatiable . War, industrialization , and urbanization all kept demand high in Europe . United States citiesand industries grew as well; even industries not directly related to farming thrived becauseof the market, money ,and labor that agriculture provided .12.What does the passage mainly discuss?(a)The agrarian philosophy of Thomas Jefferson(b)The role of the national government in the development of agriculture(c)Improvements in farming techniques(d)The impact of the increased importance of the farmer13.The word “depended” in line 3 is closest in meaning to(a)improved(b)relied(c)demanded(d)explained14.The author mentions Thomas Jefferson in paragraph 1 as an(a)a leader during the Revolution(b)an inventor of new farming techniques(c)a philosopher who believed farmers were essential to the creation of a good society(d)a farmer who guided the agrarian movement toward an emphasis on economic development15.The phrase “subscribed to” in line 8 is closest in meaning to(a)contributed to(b)agreed with(c)thought about(d)expanded on16.Which of the following statements is supported by the information in paragraph 1?(a)All government policy makers accepted Jefferson’s views of agriculture and farmers.(b)Agricultural production declined between 1783 and 1861.(c)The majority of farmers worked for the government.(d)Agriculture was a vital part of the nation’s economy.17.According to the passage , the national and state governments did all of the following EXCEPT(a)build roads(b)import new plant varieties(c)give farmers money for their crops(d)develop policies that helped farmers export their products18.All of the following are mentioned as examples of farmers’ meeting the expectations of agrarian philosophers EXCEPT(a)obtaining information from farm newspapers(b)accumulating personal wealth(c)planting new crops(d)becoming more scientific19.The word “stunning” in line 24 is closest in meaning to(a)predictable(b)impressive(c)famous(d)gradual20.Which of the following statements is best supported by paragraph 4?(a)Agricultural development contributed to development in other parts of the economy.(b)European agricultural products were of a higher quality than those produced in the United States.(c)The growing settlement of the West led to a decrease in agricultural production.(d)Farmers were influenced more by government policies than by market opportunities.Question 21-29The wide variety of climates in North America has helped spawn a complex pattern ofsoil regions. In general, the realm’s soils also reflect the broad environmental partitioninginto “humid America” and “arid America.” Where annual precipitation exceeds 20 inches(50 centimeters),soils in humid areas tend to be acidic in chemical content, Since crops(5 ) do best in soils that are neither acidic(higher in acid content) noralkaline(higher in salt content).fertilization is necessary to achieve the desired level of neutrality between thetwo. A rid America’s soils are typically alkaline and must be fertilized back towardneutrality by adding acidic compounds. Although many of these dryland soils, particularlyin the Great Plains, are quite fertile, European settlers learned over a century ago that(10)water is the main missing ingredient in achieving their agricultural potential. In the1970’s, certain irrigation methods were perfected and finally provided a real opportunityto expand more intensive farming west from the Central Lowland into the drier portionsof the Great Plains. Glaciation also enhanced the rich legacy of fertile soils in the centralUnited States,both from the deposition of mineral-rich glacial debris left by meltwater(15)and from thick layers of fine wind-blown glacial material, called loess, in and around themiddle Mississippi Valley.Natural vegetation patterns could be displayed on a map of North America, but theenormous human modification of the North American environment in modern times hasall but reduced this regionalization scheme to the level of the hypothetical. Nonetheless,(20)the humid America-arid America dichotomy is still a valid generalization: the naturalvegetation of areas receiving more than 20 inches of water yearly is forest, whereas thedrier climates give rise to a grassland cover. The forests of North America tent to makea broad transition by latitude. In the Canadian North, needle-leaf forests dominate, butthese coniferous trees become mixed with broadleaf deciduous trees as one crosses the(25)border into the Northeast United States. As one proceedstoward the Southeast, broadleaf vegetation becomes dominant.Arid America mostly consists of short-grass prairies orstepper. The only areas of true desert are in the Southwest.21 What aspect of North America does the passage mainly discuss?(A) The wide variety of climates(B) S oil types and vegetation patterns(C) I mproved irrigation methods and the expansion of agriculture(D) The change in precipitation patterns22 The word “spawn ” in line 1 is closest in meaning to(A) distinguish(B) e liminate(C) p rotect(D) create23 The word “partitioning” in line 2 is closest in meaning to(A) division(B) m odification(C) o pening(D) circulating24 According to the passage, acidic soils tent to be associated with(A) a high salt content(B) a n increase in farming(C) l arge amounts of rain(D) glacial meltwater25 The word “enhanced” in line 13 is closest in meaning to(A) implied(B) i ncreased(C) i ndicated(D) informed26 How did glacial meltdown affect the soil in North America?(A) It redistributed the soil types(B) I t added salt to the soil(C) I t made the soil more neutral in content(D) It added minerals to the soil27 The phrase “this regionalization scheme” in line 19 refers to the(A) movements of glacial deposits(B) p atterns of natural vegetation(C) h uman modification of the North American environment(D) distinction between humid America and arid America28 The word “transition” in line 23 is closest in meaning to(A) elevation(B) c hange(C) a dvantage(D) condition29 The passage supports which of the following statements?(A) Arid America is not necessarily characterized by the presenceof deserts(B) M ost of Canada and the northeastern United States consists ofshort-grass prairies wherever natural vegetation has not been modified by humans(C) T he accumulation of loess is primarily the result of irrigation(D) Glaciation removed the fertile layer of soil from much of theMississippi ValleyQuestions 30-40Most sources of illumination generate light over an appreciable period, and indeed ifan object is lit for a very brief time(less that 1/25 second), the human eye will not reactin time to see the object. A photographic emulsion---that is, a light-sensitive coating on photographic film, paper, or glass---will, however, record much shorter bursts of light. A(5 ) photographic flash can therefore be used to capture high-speed movement on film as wellas to correct deficiencies of the normal surrounding lighting.Photoflash is now generated electronically, but the earliest form, first used in 1864, was a paper bag containingmagnesium wire and some oxygen-rich substance, such as potassium chlorate. When thebag was ignited, the metal burned with an intense flash. A contemporary observer reported(10) that “this quite unsafe device seems to have done nothing worse that engulf the room indense smoke and lead to pictures of dubious quality and odd pose s.”The evolution of the photoflash was slow, flashbulbs, containing fine wire made of ametal, such as magnesium or aluminum, capable of being ignited in an atmosphere of pure oxygen at low pressure, were introduced only in the 1920’s. In the e arliest type, the metal (15) was separated from the oxygen by a thin glass bulb. The flash was fired by piercing thebulb and allowing the oxygen to come into contact with the metal, which ignitedspontaneously. Later bulbs were fired by an electric battery, which heated the wire bypassing a small current through it. Other combinations, such as the pairing of oxygendifluoride with zirconium, have also been used. In each case enough energy is given out to(20) heat the oxidizable metal momentarily to a white-hot emissionof visible light. The smoke particles are so small that they cool rapidly; but since they are white, they contribute to the brilliance by reflecting the light from their still-glowing neighbors. A slightly bigger formof the metal will burn for a longer time.30 What does the passage mainly discuss?(A) The history of the photoflash(B) T heories about how the eye reacts to light(C) T he technology of modern photography(D) The dangers of using the early photoflash31 According to the passage,1/25 second is the minimum amount of time required for the(A) recording of an image on film(B) g eneration of artificial light(C) c reation of a photographic emulsion(D) human eye to react to light32 According to the passage, an advantage of using a photoflash is that it(A) can produce repeated bursts of light(B) i ntensities colors in photographs(C) i s short enough not to bother human eyes(D) supplements existing lighting33 The word “ignited” in line 9 is closest in mea ning to(A) set on fire(B) c ut into(C) o pened(D) shaken34 Which of the following phrases is defined in paragraph 1?(A)”appreciable period”(line 1)(B)”photographic emulsion”(line 3)(C)”high-speed movement”(line 5)(D)”odd poses”(line 11)35 The wo rd “evolution” in line 12 is closest in meaning to(A) publicity(B) a doption(C) d evelopment(D) manufacture36 The function of the glass in the first flashbulbs was to(A) produce the spark that initiated the flash(B) m agnify the light produced by the flash(C) p rotect the photographer from the heat of the flash(D) keep the metal and oxygen apart before the flash37 The word “it” in line 18 refers to(A) oxygen(B) b attery(C) w ire(D) current38 The word “momentarily” in line 20 is closest in mean ing to(A) effortlessly(B) b riefly(C) e lectronically(D) gradually39 According to the passage, the white color of the smoke particles generated by a flashbulb contributes to(A) rapid cooling(B) b right illumination(C) e lectrical conductivity(D) intense heat40 According to the passage, a flashbulb can be made to burn longer by using(A) thicker wire(B) m ore oxygen(C) t hinner glass(D) continuous electricityQuestions 41-50The stylistic innovation in paining known as Impressionism began in the 1870’s. The Impressionists wanted to depict what they saw in nature, but they were inspired to portray fragmentary moments by the increasingly fast pace of modern life. They concentrated onthe play of light over objects, people, and nature, breaking up seemingly solid surfaces,(5 ) stressing vivid contrast between colors in sunlight and shade, and depiction reflected lightin all of its possibilities. Unlike earlier artists, they did not want to observe the world from indoors. They abandoned the studio, painting in the open air and recording spontaneous Impressions of their subjects instead of making outside sketches and then moving indoorsto complete the work form memory.(10) Some of the Impressionists’ painting methods were affected by technologicaladvances. For example, the shift from the studio to the open air was made possible inpart by the advent of cheap rail travel, which permitted easy and quick access to thecountryside or seashore, as well as by newly developed chemical dyes and oils that ledto collapsible paint tubes, which enabled artists to finish their paintings on the spot.(15)Impressionism acquired its name not from supporters but from angry art lovers whofelt threatened by the new painting. The term “Impressionism” was born in 1874,whena group of artists who had been working together organized an exhibition of theirpaintings in order to draw public attention to their work. Reaction from the public andpress was immediate, and derisive. Among the 165 paintings exhibited was one called(20)Impression: Sunrise, by Claude Monet(1840-1926),Viewedthrough hostile eyes,Monet’s painting of a rising sun over a misty, watery scene seemed messy, slapdash,and an affront to good taste. Borrowing Monet’s title, art critics extended the term “Impressionism” to the entire exhibit. In response, Monet and his 29 fellow artists inthe exhibit adopted the same name as a badge of their unity, despite individual differences.(25)From then until 1886 Impressionism had all the zeal of a “church”, as the painter Renoirput it. Monet was faithful to the Impressionist creed until his death, although many of theothers moved on to new styles.41 What aspect of painting in the nineteenth century does the passage mainly discuss?(A) The impact of some artists’ resistance to the fast pace of life(B) T he differences between two major styles of art(C) A technological advance in the materials used by artists(D) A group of artists with a new technique and approach to art42 The word “depict” in line 2 is closest in meaning to(A) reorganize(B) d eform(C) r epresent(D) justify43 According to the passage, which of the following was one of the distinguishing characteristics of Impressionist painting?(A) The emphasis on people rather than nature scenes(B) T he way the subjects were presented from multiple angles(C) T he focus on small solid objects(D) The depiction of the effects of light and color44 Which of the following is a significant way in which Impressionists were different from the artists that preceded them?(A) They began by making sketches of their subjects(B) T hey painted their subjects out-of-doors(C) T hey preferred to paint from memory(D) They used subjects drawn from modern life45 The word “advent” in line 12 is closest in meaning to(A) achievement(B) a cceptance(C) a rrival(D) advantage46 The exhibition of paintings organized in 1874 resulted in all of the following EXCEPT(A) attracting attention from the public(B) a negative reaction from the press(C) a n immediate demand for the paintings exhibited(D) creating a name for a new style of painting47 The word “affront” in line 22 is closest in meaning to(A) insult(B) e ncouragement(C) r eturn(D) credit48 The rejection of the Impressionist exhibition by critics was caused by which of the following?(A) The small number of paintings on display(B) L ack of interest in exhibitions by young artists(C) T he similarity between all the paintings exhibited(D) Anger about seemingly poorly painted art49 The author mentions Renoir in line 25 to give an example of an artist who(A) became as famous as Monet(B) w as consistently praised by art critics(C) d escribed the enthusiasm of the Impressionists for their work(D) was in favor of a traditional style of painting50 The word “others” in line 27 refers to(A) art critics(B) f ellow artists(C) i ndividual differences(D) new styles0308答案ABADB CCCBA BDDCC DCDBA DACCB DBCAC DACBA BABDC BCAAD CDABACACCB CDBCB DACCC ABCDA CDCDC BDCDC BCDDC DBACBDAABA DDBAB CDBCB DCBBA BDACB DDBAA DDABC DCBBA DCDBC CADCB。

托福独立写作素材【文化类】

托福独立写作素材【文化类】

托福独立写作素材整理-文化类089 If you could travel back in time to meet a famous person from history, what person would you like to meet? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.你如能够时光倒流回去拜访一个著名的历史人物,你会拜访谁?1 米开朗琪罗段落大意:米开朗琪罗为人类文明做出的贡献永远不能被磨灭。

Born in 1475 in Italy, Michelangelo was raised in an era of artistic wonder. Not only an artist, but Michelangelo was also a poet, sculptor, and architect. Being gifted in these fields, Michelangelo wrote beautiful poetry and created magnificent sculptures, art, and architectural designs. By the time Michelangelo was sixteen, he produced two sculptures entitled Battle of the Centaurs and The Madonna of the Stairs, and in 1501 Michelangelo began working on his masterpiece "David." The marble statue of David astonished sculptors everywhere, and easily became Michelangelo's most famous sculpture. Michelangelo's painting talent was not so much applied in his canvas paintings, but rather in his gigantic frescoes. Some of his fresco works include The Last Judgment which is a large fresco behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel, and The Creation of Adam which decorates practically the entire ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.038 Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the present. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.学习历史对于我们今天没有价值,同意与否?1 对历史的学习,使整个学习系统中不可缺少的一部分段落大意:历史的学习是学习中不可缺少的一部分。

托福考试真题阅读及答案

托福考试真题阅读及答案

XX年托福考试真题阅读及答案我的箴言始终是:无日不动笔;如果我有时让艺术之神瞌睡,也只为要使它醒后更兴奋。

以下是为大家搜索的xx年真题阅读及答案,希望能给大家带来帮助!更多精彩内容请及时关注我们!1. Wrought=created2. Peculiar=unusual3. Temporarily=briefly4. Relatively=paratively5. Permeated=spread throughout6. Precede=our before7. Resemble=be similar to8. Distortion=irregularities9. Cultivate=encourage the growth of10. Duties=responsibility11. Chronological=time原文回忆:有袋动物是现存动物里一种活的化石,第一段讲了有袋动物的定义(就是肚子上有个袋,装着它们的孩子)。

当地球大陆还相连的时候,m这种动物一直与p动物竞争。

到后来m的数量越来越少,以至于只在澳洲和南美才有。

再后来因为板块漂移运动,澳大利亚独立。

M没有了天敌,种类开始多样化,大袋鼠小老鼠等。

后面又说,一般认为m很久很久居住在北美,但是其实它们是欧洲人殖民北美以后才搬过去的,但是很少受到人类活动的影响:人类活动把狼,包子各种天地除掉了,加上各种垃圾给它们提供食物,m数量也来越多。

Marsupials are any members of the mammalian infraclass Marsupialia. All extant marsupials are endemic to Australasia and the Americas. A distinctive characteristic mon to these species is that most of the young are carried in a pouch. Well-known marsupials include kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, possums, opossums, wombats, and Tasmanian devils. Others include the numbat, the bandicoot, the bettong, the bilby, the quoll, and the quokka.Marsupials represent the clade originating from thelast mon ancestor of extant metatherians. Like other mammals in the Metatheria, they give birth to relatively undeveloped young that often reside with the mother in a pouch, for a certain amount of time. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species our on the Australian continent (the mainland, Tasmania, New Guinea and nearby islands). The remaining 100 are found in the Americas — primarily in South America, but thirteen in Central America, and one in North America, north of Mexico.Taxonomically, the two primary divisions of Marsupialia are: American and Australian marsupials. The order Microbiotheria (which has only one species, the monito del monte) is found in South America, but is believed to be more closely related to Australian marsupials. There are many small arboreal species in each group. The term "opossum" is used to refer to American species (though"possum" is a mon diminutive), while similar Australian species are properly called "possums". Again, shrew opossums are more closely related to australidephians than to true opossums.原文回忆:印刷术早创造于德国,然后再欧洲各个国家主要城市广泛运用。

老托福阅读真题及答案 Aviculturists-智课教育旗下智课教育

老托福阅读真题及答案 Aviculturists-智课教育旗下智课教育

智 课 网 托 福 备 考 资 料老托福阅读真题及答案Aviculturists-智课教育旗下智课教育老托福阅读虽然跟新托福阅读的长度很难度有一定的区别,但对于初学者来说却是备考的好材料,因为任何事情都应该循序渐进。

利用好老托福试题也能帮助新托福考生在考试取得好成绩!托福阅读 的提高需要有长期的积累,当我们有一定的阅读量的时候,阅读水平也一定能提高,托福阅读不仅仅跟词汇量的积累、阅读技巧的把握有关,从托福练习中积累来的语感也对有很大的帮助作用。

那么就通过今天的老托福阅读真题练习起来吧!Aviculturists, people who raise birds for commercial sale, have not yet learned how to simulate the natural incubation of parrot eggs in the wild. They continue to look for better ways to increase egg production and to improve chick survival rates.When parrots incubate their eggs in the wild, the temperature and humidity of the nest are controlled naturally. Heat is transferred from the bird's skin to the top portion of the eggshell, leaving the sides and bottom of the egg at a cooler temperature. This temperature gradient may be vital to successful hatching. Nest construction can contribute to this temperature gradient. Nests of loosely arranged sticks, rocks, or dirt are cooler in temperature at the bottom where the egg contacts the nesting material. Such nests also act as humidity regulators by allowing rain to drain into the bottom sections of the nest so that the eggs are not in direct contact with the water. As the water that collects in the bottom of the nest evaporates, the water vapor rises and is heated by the incubating bird, which adds significant humidity to the incubation environment.In artificial incubation programs, aviculturists remove eggs from the nests of parrots and incubate them under laboratory conditions. Most commercial incubators heat the eggs fairly evenly from top to bottom, thus ignoring the bird's method ofnatural incubation, and perhaps reducing the viability and survivability of the hatching chicks. When incubators are not used, aviculturists sometimes suspend wooden boxes outdoors to use as nests in which to place eggs. In areas where weather can become cold after eggs are laid, it is very important to maintain a deep foundation of nesting material to act as insulator against the cold bottom of the box. If eggs rest against the wooden bottom in extremely cold weather conditions, they can become chilled to a point where the embryo can no longer survive. Similarly, these boxes should be protected from direct sunlight to avoid high temperatures that are also fatal to the growing embryo. Nesting material should be added in sufficient amounts to avoid both extreme temperature situations mentioned above and assure that the eggs have a soft, secure place to rest.1. What is the main idea of the passage ?(A) Nesting material varies according to the parrots' environment.(B) Humidity is an important factor in incubating parrots' eggs.(C) Aviculturists have constructed the ideal nest box for parrots.(D) Wild parrots' nests provide information useful for artificial incubation.2. The word "They" in line 2 refers to(A) aviculturists(B) birds(C) eggs(D) rates3. According to paragraph 2, when the temperature of the sides and bottom of the egg are cooler than the top, then(A) there may be a good chance for successful incubation(B) the embryo will not develop normally(C) the incubating parent moves the egg to a new position.(D) the incubation process is slowed down4. According to paragraph 2, sticks, rocks, or dirt are used to(A) soften the bottom of the nest for the newly hatched chick(B) hold the nest together(C) help lower the temperature at the bottom of the nest(D) make the nest bigger5. According to paragraph 2, the construction of the nest allows water to(A) provide a beneficial source of humidity in the nest(B) loosen the materials at the bottom of the nest(C) keep the nest in a clean condition(D) touch the bottom of the eggs6. All of the following are part of a parrot's incubation method EXCEPT(A) heating the water vapor as it rises from the bottom of the nest(B) arranging nesting material at the bottom of the nest(C) transferring heat from the parent to the top of the eggshell(D) maintaining a constant temperature on the eggshell7. The word "suspend" in line 18 is closest in meaning to(A) build(B) paint(C) hang(D) move8. The word "fatal" in line 24 is closest in meaning to(A) close(B) deadly(C) natural(D) hot9. The word "secure" in line 27 is closest in meaning to(A) fresh(B) dry(C) safe(D) warm10. According to paragraph 3, a deep foundation of nesting material provides(A) a constant source of humidity(B) a strong nest box(C) more room for newly hatched chicks(D) protection against cold weather11. Which of the following is a problem with commercial incubators?(A) They lack the natural temperature changes of the outdoors.(B) They are unable to heat the eggs evenly(C) They do not transfer heat to the egg in the same way the parent bird does.(D) They are expensive to operate.12. Which of the following terms is defined in the passage ?(A) Aviculturists (line 1)(B) gradient (line 8)(C) incubation (line 15)(D) embryo (line 22)正确答案:DAACA DCBCD CA读完这篇文章,是不是对老托福的阅读难度有了一定的理解呢?阅读能力就是通过多读才能提高,希望考生坚持每日一读,不断提高阅读理解能力。

托福考试阅读理解专项试题及答案

托福考试阅读理解专项试题及答案

托福考试阅读理解专项试题及答案2016年托福考试阅读理解专项试题及答案阅读理解(一)The sculptural legacy that the new United States inherited from its colonial predecessors was far from a rich one, and in fact, in 1776 sculpture as an art form was still in the hands of artisans and craftspeople. Stone carvers engraved their motifs of skulls and crossbones and other religious icons of death into the gray slabs that we still see standing today in old burial grounds. Some skilled craftspeople made intricately carved wooden ornamentations for furniture or architectural decorations, while others caved wooden shop signs and ships' figureheads. Although they often achieved expression and formal excellence in their generally primitive style, they remained artisans skilled in the craft of carving and constituted a group distinct from what we normally think of as "sculptors" in today's use of the word.On the rare occasion when a fine piece of sculpture was desired, Americans turned to foreign sculptors, as in the 1770's when the cities of New York and Charleston, South Carolina, commissioned the Englishman Joseph Wilton to make marble statues of William Pitt. Wilton also made a lead equestrian image of King George III that was created in New York in 1770 and torn down by zealous patriots six years later. A few marble memorials with carved busts, urns, or other decorations were produced in England and brought to the colonies to be set in the walls of churches — as in King's Chapel in Boston. But sculpture as a high art, practiced by artists who knew both the artistic theory of their Renaissance-Baroque-Rococo predecessors and the varioustechnical procedures of modeling, casting, and carving rich three-dimensional forms, was not known among Americans in 1776. Indeed, for many years thereafter, the United States had two groups from which to choose — either the local craftspeople or the imported talent of European sculptors.The eighteenth century was not one in which powered sculptural conceptions were developed. Add to this the timidity with which unschooled artisans —originally trained as stonemasons, carpenters, or cabinetmakers —attacked the medium from which they sculpture made in the United States in the late eighteenth century.1. What is the main idea of the passage ?(A) There was great demand for the work of eighteenth-century artisans.(B) Skilled sculptors did not exist in the United States in the 1770's.(C) Many foreign sculptors worked in the United States after 1776.(D) American sculptors were hampered by a lack of tools and materials.2. The word "motifs" in line 3 is closest in meaning to(A) tools(B) prints(C) signatures 签名(D) designs3. The work of which of the following could be seen in burial grounds?(A) European sculptors(B) Carpenters(C) Stone carves(D) Cabinetmakers4. The word "others" in line 6 refers to(A) craftspeople(B) decorations(C) ornamentations(D) shop signs5. The word "distinct" in line 9 is closest in meaning to(A) separate(B) assembled(C) notable(D) inferior6. The word "rare" in line 11 is closest in meaning to(A) festive(B) infrequent(C) delightful(D) unexpected7. Why does the author mention Joseph Wilton in line 13?(A) He was an English sculptor who did work in the United States.(B) He was well known for his wood carvings(C) He produced sculpture for churches.(D) He settled in the United States in 1776.8. What can be inferred about the importation of marble memorials from England?(A) Such sculpture was less expensive to produce locally than to import(B) Such sculpture was not available in the United States.(C) Such sculpture was as prestigious as those made locally.(D) The materials found abroad were superior.9. How did the work of American carvers in 1776 differ fromthat of contemporary sculptors?(A) It was less time-consuming(B) It was more dangerous.(C) It was more expensive.(D) It was less refined.参考答案1-5 BDCAA 6-9 BABD。

托福TPO46阅读文本题附答案

托福TPO46阅读文本题附答案

托福TPO46阅读文本+题目+答案1. The Origins of WritingIt was in Egypt and Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) that civilization arose, and it is there that we find the earliest examples of that key feature of civilization, writing. These examples, in the form of inscribed clay tablets that date to shortly before 3000 B.C.E., have been discovered among the archaeological remains of the Sumerians, a gifted people settled in southern Mesopotamia.The Egyptians were not far behind in developing writing, but we cannot follow the history of their writing in detail because they used a perishable writing material. In ancient times the banks of the Nile were lined with papyrus plants, and from the papyrus reeds the Egyptians made a form of paper; it was excellent in quality but, like any paper, fragile. Mesopotamia’s rivers boasted no such useful reeds, but its land did provide good clay, and as a consequence the clay tablet became the standard material. Though clumsy and bulky it has a virtue dear to archaeologists: it is durable. Fire, for example, which is death to papyrus paper or other writing materials such as leather and wood, simply bakes it hard, thereby making it even more durable. So when a conqueror set a Mesopotamian palace ablaze, he helped ensure the survival of any clay tablets in it. Clay, moreover, is cheap, and forming it into tablets is easy, factors that helped the clay tablet become the preferred writing material not only throughout Mesopotamia but far outside it as well, in Syria, Asia Minor, Persia, and even for a while in Crete and Greece. Excavators have unearthed clay tablets in all these lands. In the Near East they remained in use for more than two and a half millennia, and in certain areas they lasted down to the beginning of the common era until finally yielding, once and for all, to more convenient alternatives.The Sumerians perfected a style of writing suited to clay. This script consists of simple shapes, basically just wedge shapes and lines that could easily be inc ised in soft clay with a reed or wooden stylus; scholars have dubbed it cuneiform from the wedge-shaped marks (cunei in Latin) that are its hallmark Although the ingredients are merely wedges and lines, there are hundreds of combinations of these basic forms that stand for different sounds or words. Learning these complex signs required long training and much practice; inevitably, literacy was largely limited to a small professional class, the scribes.The Akkadians conquered the Sumerians around the middle of the third millennium B.C.E., and they took over the various cuneiform signs used for writing Sumerian and gave them sound and word values that fit their own language. ■ The Babylonians and Assyrians did the same, and so di d peoples in Syria and Asia Minor. ■ The literature of the Sumerians was treasured throughout the Near East, and long after Sumerian ceased to be spoken, the Babylonians and Assyrians and others kept it alive as a literary language, the way Europeans kept Latin alive after the fall of Rome. ■ For the scribes of these non-Sumerian languages, training was doubly demanding since they had to know the values of the various cuneiform signs for Sumerian as well as for their own language. ■The contents of the earliest clay tablets are simple notations of numbers of commodities—animals, jars, baskets, etc. Writing, it would appear, started as a primitive form of bookkeeping. Its use soon widened to document the multitudinousthings and acts that are involved in daily life, from simple inventories of commodities to complicated governmental rules and regulations.Archaeologists frequently find clay tablets in batches. The batches, some of which contain thousands of tablets, consist for the most part of documents of the types just mentioned: bills, deliveries, receipts, inventories, loans, marriage contracts, divorce settlements, court judgments, and so on. These records of factual matters were kept in storage to be available for reference-they were, in effect, files, or, to use the term preferred by specialists in the ancient Near East, archives. Now and then these files include pieces of writing that are of a distinctly different order, writings that do not merely record some matter of fact but involve creative intellectual activity. They range from simple textbook material to literature-and they make an appearance very early, even from the third millennium B C E.1. The word “key” in the passage is closest in meaning toO frequentO essentialO originalO familiar2. Th e word “virtue” in the passage is closest in meaning toO priceO designO desirable qualityO physical characteristic3. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information In the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.O In part because of its low cost and ease of use, clay became the preferred writing material throughout Mesopotamia and well beyond itO Clay was cheap throughout Mesopotamia, so clay tablets from Mesopotamia became the preferred writing material as far as the Mediterranean.O For a while, the day tablet was the preferred writing material in Crete and Greece.O Moreover, because day was used as the writing material of choice in Mesopotamia, Syria, Asia Minor, Persia, and the Mediterranean, it was cheap and popular.4. What can be inferred from paragraph 2 about clay as a writing material?O It had to be baked before it could be written onO Its good points outweighed its bad points.O Its durability was its most important feature for its users.O It was not available in Egypt.5. In paragraph 2, why does the author discuss the Egyptian use of papyrus as a writing material^O To describe the superiofity of papyrus over leattier and wood as a writing materialO To explain why writing in Egypt did not develop as quickly as it did MesopotamiaO To explain why archaeologists' knowledge of the early history of writing relies mainly on Sumerian cuneiform O To explain why the Sumerians preferred clay tablets for writing over papyrus6. According to paragraph 3, all of the following are true of cuneiform writing EXCEPT:O It was composed of very simple shapesO It was perfected by the ancient Sumerians.O It influenced the choice of material on which it was written.O It was understood by very few Sumerians.7. According to paragraph 4, how did the Akkadians use the Sumerian language?O They used Sumerian for speaking but used their own national language for writing.O They used the complex cuneiform signs developed by the Babylonians and Assyrians rather than the Sumerian signs.O They developed their own cuneiform shapes on clay tablets to replace those used by the Sumerians.O They assigned new sound and word values to the signs of Sumerian cuneiform.8. Paragraph 4 answers all the following questions about Sumerian writing in the period after the Sumerians were conquered EXCEPT:O Did Sumerian literature continue to be read?O Did Sumerian continue to be spoken?O Did scribes compose new texts in Sumerian?O Did Sumerian have the same fate as Latin had after the fall of Rome?9. The word "document" in the passage is closest in meaning toO includeO influenceO organizeO record10. According to paragraph 5, writing was first used forO simple bookkeepingO descriptions of daily eventsO counting the contents of clay tabletsO government reports11. The phrase “Now and then” in the passage is closest in meaning toO alwaysO occasionallyO sooner or laterO first and last12. According to paragraph 6, large batches of clay writing tablets were stored because the tabletsO were being produced quickly and in large quantitiesO did not serve any practical purpose for most MesopotamiansO contained information that needed to be available for future referenceO could not be used again once they had been written on13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.However, the Sumerian language did not entirely disappear.Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square [■] to add the sentence to the passage14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.Drag your answer choices to the spaces where they belong To remove an answer choice, click on it.To review the passage, click VIEW TEXTThe earliest examples of writing have been found in Mesopotamia and date to shortly before 3000 B.C.E.Answer ChoicesWriting was invented in the same areas in which civilization began by the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean.The development of cuneiform is known because it was written on a long-lasting material and because it was long and widely used throughout the ancient Near East.Cuneiform tablets generally dealt with business and factual matters, but other topics, including literature, were also recorded and valued.Writing was developed first by the Sumerians using wedge shaped marks (cuneiform) on clay tablets and then by the Egyptians using papyrus paper.Scribes using cuneiform in Assyria, Babylon, Syria and Asia Minor had to learn allthe languages that used the cuneiform script.Batches of clay tablets, sometimes with as many as a thousand tablets each, are often found by archaeologists.2.The Commercial Revolution in Medieval EuropeBeginning in the 1160s, the opening of new silver mines in northern Europe led to the minting and circulation of vast quantities of silver coins. The widespread use of cash greatly increased the volume of international trade. Business procedures changed radically. The individual traveling merchant who alone handled virtually all aspects of exchangeevolved into an operation invoh/ing three separate types of merchants: the sedentary merchant who ran the "home office," financing and organizing the firm’s entire export-import trade; the carriers who transported goods by land and sea; and the company agents resident in cities abroad who, on the advice of the home office, looked after sales and procurements.Commercial correspondence, unnecessary when one businessperson oversaw everything and made direct bargains with buyers and sellers, multiplied. Regular courier service among commercial cities began. Commercial accounting became more complex when firms had to deal with shareholders, manufacturers, customers, branch offices, employees, and competing firms. Tolls on roads became high enough to finance what has been called a road revolution, involving new surfaces and bridges, new passes through the Alps, and new inns and hospices for travelers. The growth of mutual trust among merchants facilitated the growth of sales on credit and led to new developments in finance, such as the bill of exchange, a device that made the long, slow, and very dangerous shipment of coins unnecessary.The ventures of the German Hanseatic League illustrate these advancements. The Hanseatic League was a mercantile association of European towns dating from 1159. The league grew by the end of the fourteenth century to include about 200 cities from Holland to Poland. Across regular, well- defined trade routes along the Baltic and North seas, the ships of league cities carried furs, wax, copper, fish, grain, timber, and wine. These goods were exchanged for finished products, mainly cloth and salt, from western cities. At cities such as Bruges and London, Hanseatic merchants secured special trading concessions, exempting them from all tolls and allowing them to trade at local fairs. Hanseatic merchants established foreign trading centers, the most famous of which was the London Steelyard, a walled community with warehouses, offices, a church, and residential quarters for company representatives. By the late thirteenth century, Hanseatic merchants had developed an important business technique, the business register. Merchants publicly recorded their debts and contracts and received a league guarantee for them. This device proved a decisive factor in the later development of credit and commerce in northern Europe.These developments added up to what one modern scholar has called "a commercial revolution." In the long run, the commercial revolution of the High Middle Ages (A D 1000-1300) brought about radical change in European society. One remarkable aspect of this change was that the commercial classes constituted a small part of the total population—never more than 10 percent. They exercised an influence far in excess of their numbers. The commercial revolution created a great deal of new wealth, which meant a higher standard of living. The existence of wealth did not escape the attention of kings and other rulers. Wealth could be taxed, and through taxation, kings could create strong and centralized states. In the years to come, alliances with themiddle classes were to enable kings to weaken aristocratic interests and build the states that came to be called modern.The commercial revolution also provided the opportunity for thousands of agricultural workers to improve their social position. The slow but steady transformation of European society from almost completely rural and isolated to relatively more urban constituted the greatest effect of the commercial revolution that began in the eleventh century.Even so, merchants and business people did not run medieval communities, except in central and northern Italy and in the county of Flanders. Most towns remained small. The nobility and churchmen determined the predominant social attitudes, values, and patterns of thought and behavior. The commercial changes of the eleventh through fourteenth centuries did however, lay the economic foundation for the development of urban life and culture.1. According to paragraph 1, one effect of the increased use of cash was thatO an individual merchant no longer performed all aspects of trading operationsO a company's home office declined in importanceO merchants no longer had to transport their goods to distant placesO the volume of trade declined in areas lacking silver mines2. The word “radically”,in the passage is closest in meaning toO fundamentallyO quicklyO unexpectedlyO gradually3. The word oversaw" in the passage is closest In meaning toO understoodO includedO deliveredO supervised4. According to paragraph 2, which of the following was NOT an effect of the change in business procedures?O An increase in credit salesO The use of courier services between citiesO The adoption of simpler accounting proceduresO The improvement of roads5. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.O Credit sales and bills of exchange were devices that merchants developed in order to increase their mutual trust.O Merchants developed ways to finance their sales without having to rely on slow and dangerous shipments of coins.O Greater trust among merchants led to an increase in credit sales and to the use of bills of exchange that made the shipping of coins unnecessary.O Merchants began to trust one another when it became too slow and dangerous for a single merchant to ship coins.6. According to paragraph 3, Hanseatic merchants benefited by all of the following EXCEPTO the use of trading centers in distant citiesO a new system of recording commercial transactionsO the opening of overland trade routes across northern EuropeO access to markets in about 200 cities7. The word "decisive" in the passage is closest in meaning toO probableO determiningO helpfulO limiting8. Why does the author provide the information in paragraph 4 that the commercial classes never exceeded 10 percent of the population?O To argue that the wealth created by the commercial revolution benefited only a small number of people O To challenge the view that the commercial classes made up a majority of the population of EuropeO To suggest a reason that the commercial revolution ended around A. D. 1300O To emphasize the point that the commercial revolution was brought about by a small part of the population9. According to paragraph 4, which of the following was associated with the rise of modem states?O Increased wealth for the ruling classesO The weakening of the aristocracyO The decline of the middle classO A reduction in taxes10. The word "alliances" in the passage is closest in meaning toO transactionsO communicationsO partnershipsO conflicts11. According to paragraph 5, the most important result of the commercial revolutionwas toO simplify the organization of European societyO provide employment to agricultural workersO encourage merchants to become community leadersO change Europe from a rural to a more urban society12. Paragraph 5 supports which of the following inferences about the commercial revolution between ad 1000 and 1300?O It had very little impact on social attitudes and values.O It brought about major political changes throughout Europe.O It lessened the influence of the church.O It increased the population of small towns.13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.While It originated in the German city of Liibeck, it began to expand in 1241 when Liibeck entered into a mutual protection treaty with the city of Hamburg.Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.Drag your answer choices to the spaces where they belong To remove an answer choice, click on itTo review the passage, click VIEW TEXTDuring the High Middle Ages (A.D. 1000-1300), Europe underwent a commercial revolution.Answer ChoicesMerchants adopted new accounting and trading procedures to make long-distance trading more efficient.The faster transportation made possible by improved roads expanded the variety of goods that could be brought to European towns from far away.The increasing importance of commercial trade led to a decline in the influence of traditional sources of power, such as kings and church leaders.The mining of silver improved the security of commercial transactions by allowing coins to replace credit and bills of exchange as the means of exchange.The Hanseatic League was an association of European towns that obtained shipping, trading, and financial benefits for its members.European society became increasingly urban, with better living conditions and a stronger centralized government.3. Ecosystem Diversity and StabilityConservation biologists have long been concerned that species extinction could have significant consequences for the stability of entire ecosystems—groups of interacting organisms and the physical environment that they inhabit. An ecosystem could survive the loss of some species, but if enough species were lost, the ecosystem would be severely degraded. In fact, it is possible that the loss of a single important species could start a cascade of extinctions that might dramatically change an entire ecosystem. A good illustration of this occurred after sea otters were eliminated from some Pacific kelp (seaweed) bed ecosystems: the kelp beds were practically obliterated too because in the absence of sea otter predation, sea urchin populations exploded and consumed most of the kelp and other macroalgae.It is usually claimed that species-rich ecosystems tend to be more stable than species-poor ecosystems. Three mechanisms by which higher diversity increases ecosystem stability have been proposed. First, if there are more species in an ecosystem, then its food web will be more complex, with greater redundancy among species in terms of their nutritional roles. In other words, in a rich system if a species is lost, there is a good chance that other species will take over its function as prey, predator, producer, decomposer, or whatever role it played. Second, diverse ecosystems may be less likely to be invaded by new species, notably exotics (foreign species living outside their native range), that would disrupt the ecosystem’s structure and function. Third, in a spe cies-rich ecosystem, diseases may spread more slowly because most species will be relatively less abundant, thus increasing the average distance between individuals of the same species and hampering disease transmission among individuals.Scientific eviden ce to illuminate these ideas has been slow in coming, and many shadows remain. ■ One of the first studies to provide data supporting a relationship between diversity and stability examined how grassland plants responded to a drought. ■ Researchers D. Tilma n and J A. Downing used the ratio of above-ground biomass in 1988 (after two years of drought) to that in 1986 (predrought) in 207 plots in a grassland field in the Cedar Creek Natural History Area in Minnesota as an index of ecosystem response to disrupti on by drought. ■ In an experiment that began in 1982, they compared these values with the number of plant species in each plot and discovered that the plots with a greater number of plant species experienced a less dramatic reduction in biomass. ■ Plots wi th more than ten species had about half as much biomass in 1988 as in 1986, whereas those with fewer than five species only produced roughly one-eighth as much biomass after the two-year drought. Apparently, species-rich plots were likely to contain some drought-resistant plant species that grew better in drought years, compensating for the poor growth of less-tolerant species.To put this result in more general terms, a species-rich ecosystem may be more stable because it is more likely to have species with a wide array of responses to variable conditions such as droughts. Furthermore, a species-rich ecosystem is more likely to have species with similar ecological functions, so that if a species is lost from an ecosystem, another species, probably a competitor, is likely to flourish and occupy its functional role. Both of these, variability in responses and functional redundancy, could be thought of as insurance against disturbances.The Minnesota grassland research has been widely accepted as strong evidence for the diversity- stability theory; however, its findings have been questioned, and similar studies on other ecosystems have not always found a positive relationship between diversity and stability. Clearly, this is a complex issue that requires further field research with a broad spectrum of ecosystems and species: grassland plants and computer models will only take us so far. In the end, despite insightful attempts to detect some general patterns, we may find it very difficult to reduce this topic to a simple, universal truth.1. The word "significant" in the passage is closest in meaning toO directO importantO long-termO surprising2. According to paragraph 1, why has the extinction of species been a concern for conservation biologists?O When ecosystems lose just one species, they undergo permanent change.O The extinction of a particular predator species could cause an overpopulation of certain prey species.O The loss of one or more species could cause the decline of a whole ecosystem.O The extinction of a single species is evidence that plant-food sources are in danger of disappearing.3. According to paragraph 1, what was the result of the removal of Pacific sea otters?O The kelp and sea urchins were destroyed by new predators.O The uncontrolled population of sea urchins ate most of the kelp plants.O Without sea otters, the kelp beds soon became overgrown.O Macroalgae remained as the primary population in the ecosystem.4. The word “redundancy” in the passage is closest in meaning toO duplicationO varietyO requirementsO flexibility5. What is the function of paragraph 2 in the passage?O To present a hypothesis about ecosystem diversity and some reasons why it might be trueO To give examples of types of ecosystems that have the greatest diversityO To contradict a previous belief about the stability of species-rich ecosystemsO To contrast species-rich and species-poor ecosystems6. According to paragraph 2, which of the following increases the stability of anecosystem?O Species in which producers outnumber predatorsO New or exotic species that increase ecosystem diversityO Heavily populated species that are free of diseaseO Species that are diverse but have similar nutritional roles7. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.O In any ecosystem, as the number of individuals in the same species increases, the rate of disease transmission slows down.O Ecosystems that have a small number of different species tend to be disease-free, because the species’ habitats are at a safe distance from each other.O In ecosystems with many species, diseases spread more slowly because there are fewer individuals in a species and, as a result, the individuals are more widely scattered.O The average distance between individuals in a species-rich ecosystem increases, so diseases are prevented from being communicated between species.8. The phrase ”compensating for" in the passage Is closest in meaning toO working againstO leaving outO making up forO spreading over9. What Is the main importance of the study discussed in paragraph 3?O It examines the response of certain grassland plants to a drought.O It contains an index of plants that survived well in times of drought.O It provides scientific evidence that diversity helps to make ecosystems stable.O It shows that ecosystems contain both resistant species and less tolerant ones.10. Select the TWO answer choices that, according to paragraph 4, are conclusions that can be drawn from the study by Tilman and Downing. To receive credit you must select TWO answer choices.□ A diverse ecosystem will have species that respond differently to a variety of conditions.□ Species within a species-rich ecosystem are more likely to have competitors.□ An ecosystem is more likely to develop diverse and stable species when it is exposed to extreme conditions.□ Species with similar ecological function s will perform the function of a lost species.11. The word “detect” in the passage is closest in meaning toO repeatO alterO findO emphasize12. According to paragraph 5, which of the following is true about Tilman and Downing’s findings?O General patterns of diversity and stability have been established as a result of the findings.O Questions about the findings have been refuted by computer models.O The findings have been tested in a broad spectrum of ecosystems with similar results.O The findings are not sufficient to prove a definite link between diversity and stability in ecosystems.13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.It seems clear that there is room for a great deal more research, although some work has been done.Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.。

托福阅读事实信息题合集之TPO10-2

托福阅读事实信息题合集之TPO10-2

托福阅读事实信息题合集之TPO10-2托福阅读事实信息题合集之TPO10-2托福阅读事实信息题是阅读考试中比较常见的一种题型,tpo则是托福阅读备考最权威的材料,所以托福小编综合二者,为大家集中整理了tpo阅读中考察的事实信息题及其对应的解析,供大家参考使用。

本文带来的是TPO10-2的事实信息题,一起来看看吧。

TPO10-2Seventeenth-Century European Economic GrowthParagraph1:In the late sixteenth century and into the seventeenth,Europe continued the growth that had lifted it out of the relatively less prosperous medieval period(from the mid400s to the late1400s).Among the key factors behind this growth were increased agricultural productivity and an expansion of trade.1.According to paragraph1,what was true of Europe during the medieval period?○Agricultural productivity declined.○There was relatively little economic growth.○The general level of prosperity declined.○Foreign trade began to play an important role in the economy.解析:以medieval period做关键词定位至第一句,说medieval period不那么prosperous繁荣,但如果只看这句的话很容易错选答案C,C的decline叫做减少,也就是说C说medieval时期prosperity 下降了,但原文说不prosperous,是一种低的状态,不是下降的趋势,所以C错;而B的经济几乎没有增长是less prosperous的同义替换,正确;A与C错的原因类似;D没说Paragraph2:Populations cannot grow unless the rural economy can produce enough additional food to feed more people.During thesixteenth century,farmers brought more land into cultivation at the expense of forests and fens(low-lying wetlands).Dutch land reclamation in the Netherlands in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries provides the most spectacular example of the expansion of farmland:the Dutch reclaimed more than36.000acres from1590to1615alone.3.According to paragraph2,one effect of the desire to increase food production was that○land was cultivated in a different way○more farmers were needed○the rural economy was weakened○forests and wetlands were used for farming解析:以increase food production做关键词定位至第一句,但问的是影响,所以答案应该是下一句。

tpo46三篇托福阅读TOEFL原文译文题目答案背景知识

tpo46三篇托福阅读TOEFL原文译文题目答案背景知识

tpo46三篇托福阅读TOEFL原文译文题目答案译文背景知识阅读-1 (2)原文 (2)译文 (5)题目 (8)答案 (15)背景知识 (16)阅读-2 (17)原文 (17)译文 (21)题目 (23)答案 (30)背景知识 (31)阅读-3 (34)原文 (34)译文 (38)题目 (40)答案 (48)背景知识 (49)阅读-1原文The Origins of Writing①It was in Egypt and Mesopotamia(modern-day Iraq)that civilization arose,and it is there that we find the earliest examples of that key feature of civilization,writing.These examples,in the form of inscribed clay tablets that date to shortly before3000B.C.E.,have been discovered among the archaeological remains of the Sumerians,a gifted people settled in southern Mesopotamia.②The Egyptians were not far behind in developing writing, but we cannot follow the history of their writing in detail because they used a perishable writing material.In ancient times the banks of the Nile were lined with papyrus plants, and from the papyrus reeds the Egyptians made a form of paper;it was excellent in quality but,like any paper,fragile. Mesopotamia’s rivers boasted no such useful reeds,but its land did provide good clay,and as a consequence the clay tablet became the standard material.Though clumsy and bulky it has a virtue dear to archaeologists:it is durable.Fire, for example,which is death to papyrus paper or otherwriting materials such as leather and wood,simply bakes it hard,thereby making it even more durable.So when a conqueror set a Mesopotamian palace ablaze,he helped ensure the survival of any clay tablets in it.Clay,moreover, is cheap,and forming it into tablets is easy,factors that helped the clay tablet become the preferred writing material not only throughout Mesopotamia but far outside it as well,in Syria,Asia Minor,Persia,and even for a while in Crete and Greece.Excavators have unearthed clay tablets in all these lands.In the Near East they remained in use for more than two and a half millennia,and in certain areas they lasted down to the beginning of the common era until finally yielding,once and for all,to more convenient alternatives.③The Sumerians perfected a style of writing suited to clay. This script consists of simple shapes,basically just wedge shapes and lines that could easily be incised in soft clay with a reed or wooden stylus;scholars have dubbed it cuneiform from the wedge-shaped marks(cunei in Latin)that are its hallmark.Although the ingredients are merely wedges and lines,there are hundreds of combinations of these basic forms that stand for different sounds or words.Learningthese complex signs required long training and much practice;inevitably,literacy was largely limited to a small professional class,the scribes.④The Akkadians conquered the Sumerians around the middle of the third millennium B.C.E.,and they took over the various cuneiform signs used for writing Sumerian and gave them sound and word values that fit their own language.The Babylonians and Assyrians did the same,and so did peoples in Syria and Asia Minor.The literature of the Sumerians was treasured throughout the Near East,and long after Sumerian ceased to be spoken,the Babylonians and Assyrians and others kept it alive as a literary language, the way Europeans kept Latin alive after the fall of Rome. For the scribes of these non-Sumerian languages,training was doubly demanding since they had to know the values of the various cuneiform signs for Sumerian as well as for their own language.⑤The contents of the earliest clay tablets are simple notations of numbers of commodities—animals,jars, baskets,etc.Writing,it would appear,started as a primitive form of bookkeeping.Its use soon widened to document the multitudinous things and acts that are involved in daily life,from simple inventories of commodities to complicated governmental rules and regulations.⑥Archaeologists frequently find clay tablets in batches.The batches,some of which contain thousands of tablets, consist for the most part of documents of the types just mentioned:bills,deliveries,receipts,inventories,loans, marriage contracts,divorce settlements,court judgments, and so on.These records of factual matters were kept in storage to be available for reference-they were,in effect, files,or,to use the term preferred by specialists in the ancient Near East,archives.Now and then these files include pieces of writing that are of a distinctly different order,writings that do not merely record some matter of fact but involve creative intellectual activity.They range from simple textbook material to literature-and they make an appearance very early,even from the third millennium B C E.译文文字的起源①文明就是在埃及和美索不达米亚(今天的伊拉克)兴起的,在那里我们找到了文明的关键特征——书写的最早例子。

托福考试阅读试题及答案XX

托福考试阅读试题及答案XX

托福考试阅读试题及答案XX知识是珍贵宝石的结晶,文化是宝石放出的光泽。

下面是为大家搜索的阅读试题及答案xx,希望能给大家带来帮助!更多精彩内容请及时关注我们!【1】By the eighteenth century, Britain wasexperiencing a severe shortage of energy. Because ofthe growth of population, most of the great forests of medieval Britain had long ago beenreplaced by fields of grain and hay. Wood was in ever-shorter supply, yet it remainedtremendously important. It served as the primary source of heat for all homes and industriesand as a basic raw material. Processed wood (charcoal) was the fuel that was mixed with ironore in the blast furnace to produce pig iron (raw iron). The iron industry’s appetite for woodwas enormous, and by 1740 the British iron industry was stagnating. Vast forests enabledRussia to be#e the world’s leading producer of i ron, much of which was exported to Britain. But Russia’s potential for growth was limited too, and in a few decades Russia would reach thebarrier of inadequate energy that was already holding England back.【2】As this early energy crisis grew worse, Britain looked toward its abundant and widelyscattered reserves of coal as an alternative to its vanishing wood. Coal wasfirst used in Britainin the late Middle Ages as a source of heat. By 1640 most homes in London were heated withit, andit also provided heat for making beer, glass, soap, and other products. Coal was notused, however, to produce mechanical energy or to power machinery. It was there thatcoal’s potential wad enormous.【3】As more coal was produced, mines were dug deeper and deeper and were constantlyfilling with water. Mechanical pumps, usually powered by hundreds of horses waling in circles atthe surface, had to be installed Such power was expensive and bothersome. In an attempt toover#e these disadvantages, Thomas Savery in 1698 and ThomasNew#en in 1705 invented the first primitive steam engines. Both engines were extremely inefficient. Bothburned coal to produce steam, which was then used to operate a pump. However, by theearly 1770s, many of the Savery engines and hundreds of the New#en engines wereoperating suessfully, though inefficiently, in English and Scottish mines.【4】In the early 1760s, a gifted young Scot named James Watt was drawn to a critical studyof the steam engine. Watt was employed at the time by the University of Glasgow as a skilledcrafts worker making scientific instruments. In 1763: Watt was called on to repair a New#enengine beingused in a physics course. After a series of observations, Watt saw that theNew#en’s waste of energy could be reduced by adding a separate condenser. This splendidinvention, patented in 1769, greatly increased the efficiency of thesteam engine. The steamengine of Watt and his followers was the technological advance that gave people, at least for awhile, unlimited power and allowed the invention and use of all kinds of power equipment.【5】The steam engine was quickly put to use in several industries in Britain. It drained minesand made possible the production of ever more coal to feed steam engines elsewhere. Thesteam power plant began to replace waterpower in the cotton-spinning mills as well as otherindustries during the 1780s, contributing to a phenomenal rise in industrialization. TheBritish iron industry was radically transformed. The use of powerful, steam-driven bellows inblast furnaces helped iron makers switch over rapidly from limited charcoal to unlimited coke(which is made from coal) in the smelting of pig iron (the process of refining impure iron) after1770 in the 1780s, Henry Cort developed the puddling furnace, which allowed pig iron to berefined in turn with coke. Cort also developed heavy-duty, steam-powered rolling mills, whichwere capable of producing finished iron in every shape and form.【6】The economic consequence of these technical innovations in steam power was a greatboom in the British iron industry. In 1740 annual British iron production was only 17:000 tons, but by 1844: with the spread of coke smelting and the impact of Cort’s inventions, ithadincreased to 3,000:000 tons. This was a truly amazing expansion. Once scarce and expensive, iron became cheap, basic, and indispensable to the economy.1.What can be inferred from paragraph 1 aboutBritain's short supply of wood in the eighteenthcentury?A.Wood from Britain’s great forests was beingexported to other countries for profit.B.A growing population had required cutting downforests to increase available land forfarming.rger families required the construction of larger homes made from wood.D.What was left of the great forests after the medieval period was being strictly protected.2.Select TWO answer choices that, aording to paragraph 1, are true statementsabout Russia’s iron industry in the eighteenth century. To obtain credit, you mustselect TWO answer choices.A.Russia reached its maximum production of iron at the same time as Britain.B.Russia exported much of its iron production to Britain.C.Russia’s appetite for iron increased rapidly after 1740.D.Russia’s energy resourceseventually became insufficient and limited the growth of its iron industry.3.The word "abundant" in the passage is closest in meaning toA.reliableB.plentifulC.well-preservedD.existing4.Why are "beer, glass, soap, and other products" mentioned in the discussion ofBritain’s energy?A.To help explain why the energy crisis was so severeB.To show that despite the energy crisis and as early as 1640, London homes were advancedand well suppliedC.To emphasize that after 1640, British homes required energy for more than heatD.To indicate that coal had been used for the production of certain products before theeighteenth century5.Aording to paragraph 3, all of the following are ways in which the Savery andNew#en engines were similar EXCEPT:A.Both became relatively inexpensive after the 1770s.B.Both produced steam by burning coal.C.Both were used to operate pumps.D.Both were very inefficient.6.The word "gifted" in the passage is closest in meaning toA.independentB.talentedC.famousD.ambitious7.A ording to paragraph 4, what was James Watt’s major achievement?A. He was able to apply his understanding of physics to invent a variety of scientificinstruments and tools for skilled crafts workers.B.He taught university physics courses to outstanding students whose observations led tomany patented inventions.C.He improved the efficiency of New#en’s engine by preventing energy from being lost.D.He redesigned New#en’s engine so that it no longer needed a separate condenser.8.The word "splendid" in the passage is closest in meaning toA.originalB.necessaryC.magnificentD.popular9.Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 5 as a development thatgreatly changed the production of iron?A.The use of coke in the smelting of pig ironB.The invention of a furnace that used coke to refine ironC.The discovery of a method for increasing the production of charcoalD.The invention of powerful machinery that could shape, form, and finish iron10.In paragraph 6, why does the author #pare British iron production in 1740 withthat of 1844?A.To contrast the amounts of iron needed in Britain in two different centuriesB.To illustrate how easy it was to make money using Cort’s inventionC.To demonstrate the tremendous growth of the iron industry in BritainD.To demonstrate how inexpensive coal had be#e11.The word "indispensable" in the passage is closest in meaning toA.advantageousB.essentialC.less costlyD.highly stimulating12.Aording to the passage, which of the following is true about the development ofsteam power?A.The steam engine’s basic technology can be traced back to medieval Britain when steam-powered machinery was being tried in farming activities.B.Although Russia and Britain developed steam-power technology simultaneously, Britain wasfirst to try it in a large-scale industry due to a greater need for iron.C.Steam-power technology was largely the result of improvements developed to increase thesupply of coal as a primary source of energy.D.Adaptations to steam engines required for their usein cotton-spinning mills led to radicaldevelopments in machinery used in the iron industry.13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could beadded to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit? Energy had not been aproblem for Britain in the past because it relied on a rich source of energy: its vastforests.By the eighteenth century, Britain was experiencing a severe shortage of energy. ■【A】 Because of the growth of population, most of the great forests of medieval Britain had longago been replaced by fields of grain and hay. ■【B】Wood was in ever-shorter supply, yet itremained tremendously important. ■【C】It served as the primary source of heat for allhomes and industries and as a basic raw material. ■【D】Processed wood (charcoal) was thefuel that was mixed with iron ore in the blast furnace to produce pig iron (raw iron). The ironindustry’s appetite for wood was enormous, and by 1740 the British ironindustry wasstagnating. Vast forests enabled Russia to be#e the world’s leading producer of iron, much ofwhich was exported to Britain. But Russia’s potential for growth was limited too, and in a fewdecades Russia would reach the barrier of inadequate energy that was already holdingEngland back.14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage of thepassage is provided below.#plete the summary by selecting the THREE answerchoicesthat express the most important ideas in the passage. Some answer choicesdo not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented inthe passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This questions is worth 2 points.By the eighteenth century, Britain was experiencing a severe shortage of energy.A.The development of blast furnaces for the manufacture of pig iron made the Britain lessdependent on wood.B.After the medieval period, both Russia and Britain began to look for alternative sources ofenergy, such as steam power, in order to maintain the growth of their iron industries.C.Two inventors designed the first steam engines in order to over#e the disadvantages ofrelying on horses to power the pumps used in mining coal.D.James Watt was able to improve upon the efficiency of the steam engine and make it usefulto several industries.E.The puddling furnace increased the availability of charcoal to a variety of industries fromcotton to iron production.F.Steam power increased coal production, which in turn allowed extraordinary growth of theiron industry and the British economy.1.B2.BD3.B4.D5.A6.B7.C8.C9.C10.C11.B12.C13.A14.CDF。

托福阅读事实信息题合集之TPO26-1(上)

托福阅读事实信息题合集之TPO26-1(上)

托福阅读事实信息题合集之TPO26-1(上)托福阅读事实信息题是阅读考试中比较常见的一种题型,tpo则是托福阅读备考最权威的材料,所以托福小编综合二者,为大家集中整理了tpo阅读中考察的事实信息题及其对应的解析,供大家参考使用。

本文带来的是TPO26-1的事实信息题(上),一起来看看吧。

TPO26-1 Energy and the Industrial RevolutionParagraph 1:For years historians have sought to identify crucial elements in the eighteenth-century rise in industry, technology, and economic power known as the Industrial Revolution, and many give prominence to the problem of energy. Until the eighteenth century, people relied on energy derived from plants as well as animal and human muscle to provide power. Increased efficiency in the use of water and wind helped with such tasks as pumping, milling, or sailing. However, by the eighteenth century, Great Britain in particular was experiencing an energy shortage. Wood, the primary source of heat for homes and industries and also used in the iron industry as processed charcoal, was diminishing in supply. Great Britain had large amounts of coal; however, there were not yet efficient means by which to produce mechanical energy or to power machinery. This was to occur with progress in the development of the steam engine.2: What was “the problem of energy" that had to be solved to make the Industrial Revo lution of the eighteenth century possible?○ Water and wind could not be used efficiently.○ There was no efficient way to power machinery.○ Steam engines required large amounts of coal, which was in short supply.○ Neither humans nor animals were strong enough to provide the power required for industrial application.解题:以the problem of energy做关键词定位至第二句,但这句话没有内容,于是往后看,下一句讲依靠动植物和人作为能量的来源,看完这句话最大的可能是选D,但原文没说动植物和人的能源不够,所以D不对。

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托福阅读素材:"OK"已经用了176年了
The word is “OK,” the most frequently spoken all-purpose expression on the planet — and it celebrated its 176th anniversary on March 23 this year.
“OK”是全球使用频率最高的、最通用的词语,今年3月23日,它已经176岁了。

The term was born during a 19th-century abbreviation craze and went on to international renown, with its own hand gesture, even.
“OK”诞生于19世纪的缩写潮中,后来跟它的手势一起红遍了全球。

Last year, one New Yorker carried the linguistic torch. Henry Nass, a 64-year-old retired English tutor from the Upper West Side, had spent the last few weeks handing out cardschampioning “Global OK Day” in advance of the coming anniversary.
去年,一个纽约人举着这个语言学上的耀眼火炬奔走宣传,在周年纪念日来临之前,美国纽约市上西区64岁的退休英语教师亨利·纳斯已经连续几周在街头派发倡导“国际OK 日”的卡片。

“No matter where people are from they use the word ‘OK,’ but they don’t know where it comes from,” said Nass. “The problem is because it’s just, you know, OK.”
纳斯说:“世界各地的人都会说OK,但他们并不知道这个词语的来源,原因可能是这
个词真的太普及了。


The word is OK, perhaps, but its history is definitely better than average. Lateetymologist Allen Walker Read traced the two-letter word to 1839, when editors at the Boston Morning Post signed off on articles as “all correct” with a winking “OK” or “oll korrect.”
“OK”这个词可能很普及,但是它的历史绝对不够普及。

已故词源学家艾伦·沃克·里德曾认为OK的历史始于1839年。

当时,《波士顿早报》的编辑们在签署文章时用简明的“OK”或“oll korrect”来表示“完全正确”(all correct)。

The word made it into print on March 23 of that year, during a weird
inside-baseball tirade against a rival editor in Providence who had alleged, wrongly, that a band of Bostonians headed to New York would pass through the Rhode Island capital.
同一年的3月23日,OK第一次登上报纸,《波士顿早报》在一篇攻击普罗维顿斯的一个编辑对手的文章里使用了这个词语。

这个编辑错误地断言一群前往纽约的波士顿人将会途经美国罗得岛州的首府(即普罗维顿斯)。

“We said not a word about our deputation passing ‘through the city’ of Providence,” the Morning Post reported. “O.K. — all correct.”
《波士顿早报》报道:“我们从来没说过我们代表团将会‘途经普罗维顿斯’O.K. ——完全正确。


The humor of the Providence-Boston joke has been lost to history — but the word OK took off from there, soon connoting agreement, acceptance, mediocrity, endorsement,quality or likability.
这个关于普罗维登斯和波士顿的笑话已经是过去的历史了,但是OK这个词从此风靡,很快就包含了同意、接受、普通、支持、棒极了和可爱的意思。

By 1840, it served as a slogan for President Martin Van Buren’s unsuccessful reelection campaign. “Old Kinderhook is OK,” posters proclaimed, a reference to the eighth president’s birthplace and his partisans’ belief in his generally satisfactory performance.
在1840年,OK成为美国总统马丁·范布伦竞选连任的宣传标语,虽然范布伦最后失败了。

海报上写着“金德胡克很OK”,金德胡克指的是这位第八任美国总统的出生地。

这句口号显示了跟随马丁·范布伦的党派对他的政治表现总体上还是比较满意的。

OK was picked up by telegraph operators as an easy abbreviation to say they received transmission, and in 1969, Buzz Aldrin’s first words spoken on the moon were “OK. Engine stop,” says Allan Metcalf, author of “OK: The Improbable Story of America’s Greatest Word.”
OK早先被电报员们广泛使用,是表达他们接收成功的简易缩写。

《OK:美国最伟大词语不可思议的故事》一书作者艾伦·梅特卡夫说:“在1969年,宇航员巴兹·奥尔德林在月球上说的第一句话就是‘OK,发动机停止’。


After all, to activate Google Glass, you don’t say, “OMG, Glass,” you say, “OK, Glass.”
而且,谷歌眼镜的语音启动是“OK, Glass”而不是“OMG, Glass”。

“We happen to know the exact date and place of the very first ‘OK’ and that’s not very usual for many words so why not celebrate that day?” says Metcalf, whose book built on Read’s earlier research.
梅特卡夫说:“我们知道了OK诞生的时间和地点,这对于许多词语来说并不常见,所以我们为什么不庆祝这一天呢?”他的书《OK:美国最伟大词语不可思议的故事》是在那位已故词源学家里德早期的研究基础上编撰的。

In a sense, the United Nations — where six languages are instantaneously converted by experts — celebrates the word every day. In fact, translators don’t even bother to render “OK” in each diplomat’s chosen tongue because everyone on the planet understands it already.
从某种意义上来说,有专业译者同时翻译6种语言的联合国每天都在赞美OK这个词。

事实上,翻译员们不用将OK翻译成外交官的母语,因为每个人都懂得它的意思。

“It’s a word that tends not to be translated, but transported,” says Peter Connor, the director of the Center for Translation studies at Barnard College.
巴纳德学院翻译研究中心主任皮特·康纳表示:“这是个不用翻译,仅需传递的词。


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