2016年1月24日托福阅读真题及答案解析
2016年托福阅读模拟试题及答案解析（5）
Throughout the nineteenth century and into the twentieth, citizens of the United States maintained a bias against big cities. Most lived on farms and in small towns and believed cities to be centers of corruption, crime, poverty, and moral degradation. Their distrust was caused, in part, by a national ideology that proclaimed farming the greatest occupation and rural living superior to urban living. This attitude prevailed even as the number of urban dwellers increased and cities became an essential feature of the national landscape. Gradually, economic reality overcame ideology. Thousands abandoned the precarious life on the farm for more secure and better paying jobs in the city. But when these people migrated from the countryside, they carried their fears and suspicious with them. These new urbanities, already convinced that cities were overwhelmed with great problems, eagerly embraced the progressive reforms that promised to bring order out of the chaos of the city. One of many reforms came in the area of public utilities. Water and sewerage systems were usually operated by municipal governments, but the gas and electric networks were privately owned. Reformers feared that the privately owned utility companies would charge exorbitant rates for these essential services and deliver them only to people who could afford them. Some city and state governments responded by regulating the utility companies, but a number of cities began to supply these services themselves. Proponents of these reforms argued that public ownership and regulation would insure widespread access to these utilities and guarantee a fair price. While some reforms focused on government and public behavior, others looked at the cities as a whole. Civic leaders, convinced that physical environment influenced human behavior, argued that cities should develop master plans to guide their future growth and development. City planning was nothing new, but the rapid industrialization and urban growth of the late nineteenth century took place without any consideration for order. Urban renewal in the twentieth century followed several courses. Some cities introduced plans to completely rebuild the city core. Most other cities contented themselves with zoning plans for regulating future growth. Certain parts of town were restricted to residential use, while others were set aside for industrial or commercial development. 1. What does the passage mainly discuss? (A) A comparison of urban and rural life in the early twentieth century (B) The role of government in twentieth century urban renewal (C) Efforts to improve urban life in the early twentieth century (D) Methods of controlling urban growth in the twentieth century 2. The word "bias偏见" in line 2 is closest in meaning to (A) diagonal斜线的 (B) slope (C) distortion (D) prejudice 3. The first paragraph suggests that most people who lived in rural areas (A) were suspicious of their neighbors (B) were very proud of their lifestyle (C) believed city government had too much power (D) wanted to move to the cities 4. In the early twentieth century, many rural dwellers migrated to the city in order to (A) participate in the urban reform movement (B) seek financial security (C) comply with a government ordinance (D) avoid crime and corruption 5. The word "embraced拥抱" in line 11 is closest in meaning to (A) suggested (B) overestimated (C) demanded (D) welcomed 6. What concern did reformers have about privately owned utility companies? (A) They feared the services would not be made available to all city dwellers. (B) They believed private ownership would slow economic growth (C) They did not trust the companies to obey the government regulations. (D) They wanted to ensure that the services would be provided to rural areas. 7. The word "exorbitant过⾼的(价钱)" in line 16 is closest in meaning to (A) additional (B) expensive (C) various (D) modified 8. All of the following were the direct result of public utility reforms EXCEPT (A) local governments determined the rates charged by private utility companies (B) some utility companies were owned and operated by local governments (C) the availability of services was regulated by local government (D) private utility companies were required to pay a fee to local governments 9. The word "Proponents⽀持者" in line 18 is closest in meaning to (A) Experts (B) Pioneers (C) Reviewers (D) Supporters 10. Why does the author mention "industrialization" (line 24)? (A) To explain how fast urban growth led to poorly designed cities (B) To emphasize the economic importance of urban areas (C) To suggest that labor disputes had become an urban problem (D) To illustrate the need for construction of new factories CDBBD ABDDA。
托福(阅读)历年真题试卷汇编4(题后含答案及解析)
托福（阅读）历年真题试卷汇编4(题后含答案及解析) 题型有： 3. Reading ComprehensionSections Three：Reading ComprehensionEarly Theories of Continental DriftP1: The idea that the geography of Earth was different in the past than it is today is not new. As far back as 1620, Francis Bacon spotted that the west coast of Africa and the east coast of South America looked as if they would fit together, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Between then and 1912, other people identified further similarities between other continental coastlines. But because much of the early support for mobilism was based on far-flung intercontinental similarities, geologists tended to be skeptical of the fieldwork of others.P2: During the late nineteenth century, Austrian geologist Eduard Suess proposed the name “Gondwanaland”in his book The Face of the Earth (1885) and gave far greater emphasis to the evolutionary nature of the earth and he noted the similarities among the Late Paleozoic plant fossils of India, Australia, South Africa, and South America. Based upon glossopteris fern fossils in such regions, he explained that the three land masses were once connected in a supercontinent which he names Gondwanaland, and that the ocean flooded the spaces currently between those lands. Thus, in his view, the similarities of fossils on these continents could be accounted for by postulating the concept of a land bridge that existed once but subsided later.P3: Later, a number of refinements to Suess’s theory were made. The American geologist Frank Taylor published a pamphlet in 1910 presenting his concept of “horizontal displacement”. He explained the formation of mountain ranges as a result of the lateral movements of continents. With the earth’s capture of the moon, the gravitational forces between them generated a pull towards lower latitudes where they thickened and formed folded mountain belts especially in middle latitudes. Although we now know that Taylor’s explanation of continental drift is erroneous, one of his most significant contributions was his suggestion that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge—an underwater mountain range discovered by the 1872-1876 British HMS Challenger expeditions—might mark the site at which an ancient continent broke apart, forming the present-day Atlantic Ocean.P4: However, it is Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist, who is generally credited with developing the hypothesis of continental drift. In his monumental book, The Origin of Continents and Oceans (1915), Wegener theorized that a single supercontinent he called “Pangaea”existed sometime between 350 million to 225 million years ago. Wegner portrayed his grand concept of continental movement in a series of maps showing the breakup of Pangaea and the movement of various continents to their present-day locations. What evidence did Wegener use to support his hypothesis of continental drift? First, Wegener noted that there is geographical similarity along both the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean. The opposing coasts of the Atlantic can be fitted together in the same way as two cut off pieces of wood can be refitted. Furthermore, mountain ranges and glacial deposits seem tomatch up in such a way that suggests continents could have once been a single landmass. Finally, many of the same fossils and vegetative remains are found today on widely separated continents, indicating that the continents must have been in proximity at one time. During his days, Wegener was regarded as an advocate rather than as an impartial scientific observer, appearing to ignore vast evidence unfavorable to his ideas and distort other evidence to bring it into harmony with the theory.P5: After Wegener’s death, a South African geologist Alexander Du Toit continued to assemble fossil evidence for Pangaea. He noted that fossils of the now extinct reptile “Mesosaurus”occur in rocks of the same age in both Brazil and South Africa. Because the physiology of freshwater and marine animals is completely different, it is hard to imagine how a freshwater reptile could have swum across the Atlantic Ocean and then found a freshwater environment nearly identical to its former habitat. Moreover, if Mesosaurus could have swum across the ocean, its fossil remains should be widely dispersed. It is more logical to assume that Mesosaurus lived in lakes in what were once adjacent areas of South America and Africa when it was united into a single continent. Notwithstanding all of the empirical evidence in favor of continental drift theory presented here, most geologists at the time refused to entertain the idea.P6 :The debate over continental drift has the same role and stature in the history of the earth sciences as the debate over Darwinian evolution in the history of life sciences and the debates over relativity and quantum theory in the history of physics. In the largest sense, the history of earth science, the history of biology, and the history of physics in the 20th century are all histories of the consolidation of opinion and the formation of broad consensus—that these theories were the best way to organize and advance these sciences.P5: After Wegener’s death, a South African geologist Alexander Du Toit continued to assemble fossil evidence for Pangaea.■He noted that fossils of the now extinct reptile “Mesosaurus” occur in rocks of the same age in both Brazil and South Africa.■Because the physiology of freshwater and marine animals is completely different, it is hard to imagine how a freshwater reptile could have swum across the Atlantic Ocean and then found a freshwater environment nearly identical to its former habitat. ■Moreover, if Mesosaurus could have swum across the ocean, its fossil remains should be widely dispersed. It is more logical to assume that Mesosaurus lived in lakes in what were once adjacent areas of South America and Africa when it was united into a single continent. ■Notwithstanding all of the empirical evidence in favor of continental drift theory presented here, most geologists at the time refused to entertain the idea.1．According to paragraph 2, Eduard Suess believed that similarities of plant and animal fossils on the southern continents were due toA．living in the southern climateB．crossing the land bridgesC．fossilization in the coal layersD．movements of the supercontinent正确答案：B解析：【事实信息题】题目问动植物化石的相似性是因为什么，文中提到“the similarities of fossils on these continents could be accounted for by”所以原因是之前有陆桥后来消失了，答案是B。
2016年托福写作真题及解析
2016年托福写作真题及解析为了让大家更好的准备托福考试，给大家整理了托福真题解析,下面就和大家分享，来欣赏一下吧。
2016年托福阅读真题及解析1托福阅读第一篇欧洲人口增加原文回顾：欧洲经济发展相关，工业化和食物的增长促进了人口的增长。
高速城市化：人们开始从乡下往城镇转移，因此带来了工作，生活资料等一系列的变化。
细节讲到了熟练工和普通人的区别，考了两个题。
最后讲到了人口的增加导致人均工资下降的问题。
学习：After a century of virtually no population growth, the countries of WesternEurope experienced dramatic population increases between 1750 and 1800. Manycountries doubled in size. In some countries, the growth continued through thenineteenth century. The population of Great Britain, for instance, doubled between 1750 and 1800 and then tripled between 1800 and 1900.There were several reasons for the sudden increase. Medical advances andimproved hygiene limited the devastation caused by epidemic diseases andplagues. The introduction of new food crops, most notably the potato, provided abetter diet for the poor and reduced the incidence of famine. The combination ofgreater public order and fewer civil wars meant that life was less hazardous.The net result was a lower death rate and soaring populations.The growing population, with a rising proportion of children to raise andolder people to care for, put increased pressure on every aspect of society. Many peasants were no longer able to provide land for their children, who wereforced to look for other ways to make their living. Small artisans in the citiessuffered similar problems, unable to provide places for their children in theirown workshops.The exact relationship between population growth and industrialization isunclear, though the two are clearly intertwined. (Even countries that were lateto industrialize shared in the general population increase, and its relatedproblems.) What is clear is that the growth in population increased the demandfor both food and manufactured goods and provided an abundance of cheap labor toproduce them.托福阅读第二篇非洲铁技术的发展原文回顾：非洲铁的发展，非洲曾经是被殖民的地方，殖民者大量开采非洲的铁矿资源，并且他们在非洲大规模的用铁矿资源冶炼金属，牵扯到起源，谁把铁的技术引进非洲，以及铁技术之后的发展和改变。
2016年托福阅读模拟试题及答案解析(2)
2016 年托福阅读模拟试题及答案解析 (2)托福阅读试题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 down forests 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, according 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.According to paragraph 3, all of the following are ways in which the Savery andNewcomen 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.According 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 Newcomen’s engine by preventing energy from being lost.D.He redesigned Newcomen’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 compare 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 become11.The word "indispensable" in the passage is closest in meaning toA.advantageousB.essentialC.less costlyD.highly stimulating12.According 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 use in 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 iron industry wasstagnating.Vast forests enabled Russia to become 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 plete the summary by selecting the THREE answerchoices that 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 overcome 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.托福阅读答案1.B2.BD3.B4.D5.A6.B7.C8.C9.C10.C11.B12.C13.A14.CDF。
托福阅读专项练习题及答案
托福阅读专项练习题及答案2016年托福阅读专项练习题及答案Naturalists and casual observers alike have been struck by the special relationship between squirrels and acorns (the seeds of oak trees). Ecologists, though, cannot observe these energetic mammals scurrying up and down oak trees and eating and burying acorns without wondering about their complex relationship with trees. Are squirrels dispersers and planters of oak forests or pesky seed predators? The answer is not simple. Squirrels may devour many acorns, but by storing and failing to recover up to 74 percent of them as they do when seedsare abundant, these arboreal rodents can also aid regeneration and dispersal of the oaks.Their destructive powers are well documented. According to one report, squirrels destroyed tens of thousands of fallen acorns from an oak stand on the University of Indiana campus. A professor there estimated that each of the large white oaks had produced between two and eight thousand acorns, but within weeks of seed maturity, hardly anintact acorn could be found among the fallen leaves.Deer, turkey, wild pigs, and bears also feed heavily on acorns, but do not store them, and are therefore of no benefit to the trees. Flying squirrels, chipmunks, and mice are also unlikely to promote tree dispersal, as they often store seeds in tree cavities and underground burrows. Only squirrels — whose behavior of caching (hiding) acorns below the leaf litter — often promote successful germination of acorns, and perhaps blue jays, important long-distance dispersers, seem to help oaks spread and reproduce.Among squirrels, though, there is a particularly puzzling behavior pattern. Squirrels pry off the caps of acorns, bite through the shells to get at the nutritious inner kernels, and then discard themhalf-eaten. The ground under towering oaks is often littered with thousands of half-eaten acorns, each one only bitten from the top. Why would any animal waste so much time and energy and risk exposure to such predators as red-tail hawks only to leave a large part of each acorn uneaten? While research is not conclusive at this point, one thing thatis certain is that squirrels do hide some of the uneaten portions, and these acorn halves, many of which contain the seeds, may later germinate.1. What does the passage mainly discuss?(A) The ecology of oak trees(B) Factors that determine the feeding habits of Squirrels(C) Various species of animals that promote the dispersal of tree seeds(D) The relationship between squirrels and oak trees2. The word "they" in line 7 refers to(A) oak forests(B) acorns(C) squirrels(D) predators3. According to the passage , what do squirrels do when large quantities of acorns are available?(A) They do not store acorns.(B) They eat more than 74 percent of available acorns.(C) They do not retrieve all the acorns that they have stored.(D) They hide acorns in tree cavities.4. The word "estimated评价，估计，估价，判断" in line 11 is closest in meaning to(A) commented(B) judged(C) observed(D) discovered5. Why does the author mention "the University of Indiana campus" in line 10 -11?(A) to provide evidence that intact acorns are hard to find under oak trees(B) to indicate a place where squirrels can aid seed dispersal of oaks(C) to argue in favor of additional studies concerning the destructive force of squirrels(D) to support the claim that squirrels can do great damage to oak stands6. It can be inferred from paragraph 3 that chipmunks do not aid in the dispersal of oak trees because(A) they store their acorns where they cannot germinate(B) they consume most of their stored acorns(C) their stored acorns are located and consumed by other species(D) they cannot travel the long distance required for dispersal7. According to the passage , which of the following dosquirrels and blue jays have in common?(A) They travel long distances to obtain acorns.(B) They promote the reproduction of oak trees.(C) They bury acorns under fallen leaves.(D) They store large quantities of acorns.8. The phrase "pry 撬off" in line 21 is closest in meaning to(A) swallow 吞(B) remove(C) squeeze(D) locate9. The word "littered" in line 22 is closest in meaning to(A) covered(B) displayed(C) fertilized(D) planted10. According to the passage , scientists cannot explain which of the following aspects of squirrel behavior?(A) Where squirrels store their acorn caches(B) Why squirrels prefer acorns over other seeds(C) Why squirrels eat only a portion of each acorn they retrieve(D) Why squirrels prefer acorns from a particular species of oak treesDCCBD DBBAC。
托福考试阅读试题及答案
托福考试阅读试题及答案2016年托福考试阅读试题及答案The Development of Steam Power【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 enabledRus sia to become the world’s leading producer of iron, 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 was first used in Britainin the late Middle Ages as a source of heat. By 1640 most homes in London were heated withit, and it 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 circlesatthe surface, had to be installed Such power was expensive and bothersome. In an attempt toovercome these disadvantages, Thomas Savery in 1698 and Thomas Newcomen 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 Newcomen engines wereoperating successfully, 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 Newcomenengine being used in a physics course. After a series of observations, Watt saw that theNewcomen’s wast e of energy could be reduced by adding a separate condenser. This splendidinvention, patented in 1769, greatly increased the efficiency of the steam 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 switchover 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, it hadincreased to 3,000:000 to ns. This was a truly amazing expansion. Once scarce and expensive, iron became cheap, basic, and indispensable to the economy.试题1.What can be inferred from paragraph 1 aboutBritain's short supply of wood in the eighteenthcentury?A.Wood from Britain’s gr eat forests was beingexported to other countries for profit.B.A growing population had required cutting down forests 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, according 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 sametime 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.According to paragraph 3, all of the following are ways in which the Savery andNewcomen 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.According to paragraph 4, what was Jam es 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 Newcomen’s engine by preventing energy from being lost.D.He redesigned Newcomen’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 compare 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 become11.The word "indispensable" in the passage is closest in meaning toA.advantageousB.essentialC.less costlyD.highly stimulating12.According to the passage, which of the following is true about the development ofsteam power?A.The steam e ngine’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 use in 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 repl aced 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 iron industry wasstagnating. Vast forests enabled Russia to become 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. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answerchoices that 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 toovercome 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.参考答案1.B2.BD3.B4.D5.A6.B7.C8.C9.C 10.C 11.B 12.C 13.A 14.CDF。
2016年托福阅读模拟试题及答案解析（6）
Although only 1 person in 20 in the Colonial period lived in a city, the cities had a disproportionate influence on the development of North America. They were at the cutting edge of social change. It was in the cities that the elements that can be associated with modern capitalism first appeared — the use of money and commercial paper in place of barter, open competition in place of social deference and hierarchy, with an attendant rise in social disorder, and the appearance of factories using coat or water power in place of independent craftspeople working with hand tools. "The cities predicted the future," wrote historian Gary. B. Nash, "even though they were but overgrown villages compared to the great urban centers of Europe, the Middle East and China." Except for Boston, whose population stabilized at about 16,000 in 1760, cities grew by exponential leaps through the eighteenth century. In the fifteen years prior to the outbreak of the War for independence in 1775, more than 200,000 immigrants arrived on North American shores. This meant that a population the size of Boston was arriving every year, and most of it flowed into the port cities in the Northeast. Philadelphia's population nearly doubted in those years, reaching about 30,000 in 1774, New York grew at almost the same rate, reaching about 25,000 by 1775. The quality of the hinterland dictated the pace of growth of the cities. The land surrounding Boston had always been poor farm country, and by the mid-eighteenth century it was virtually stripped of its timber. The available farmland was occupied, there was little in the region beyond the city to attract immigrants. New York and Philadelphia, by contrast, served a rich and fertile hinterland laced with navigable watercourses. Scots, Irish, and Germans landed in these cities and followed the rivers inland. The regions around the cities of New York and Philadelphia became the breadbaskets of North America, sending grain not only to other colonies but also to England and southern Europe, where crippling droughts in the late 1760's created a whole new market. 1. Which of the following aspects of North America in the eighteenth century does the passage mainly discuss? (A) The effects of war on the growth of cities (B) The growth and influence of cities (C) The decline of farming in areas surrounding cities (D) The causes of immigration to cities 2. Why does the author say that "the cities had a disproportionate influence on the development of North America" (lines 1-2)? (A) The influence of the cities was mostly negative (B) The populations of the cities were small, but their influence was great. (C) The cities were growing at a great rate. (D) Most people pretended to live in cities 3. The phrase "in place of " in lines 4-5 is closest in meaning to (A) connected to (B) in addition to (C) because of (D) instead of 4. The word "attendant伴随的" in line 6 is closest in meaning to (A) avoidable (B) accompanying (C) unwelcome (D) unexpected 5. Which of the following is mentioned as an element of modern capitalism? (B) Social deference (C) Social hierarchy (D) Independent craftspeople 6. It can be inferred that in comparison with North American cities, cities in Europe, the Middle East, and China had (A) large populations (B) little independence (C) frequent social disorder (D) few power sources 7. The phrase "exponential迅猛的 leaps" in line 12 is closest in meaning to (A) long wars (B) new laws (C) rapid increases (D) exciting changes 8. The word "it" in line 15 refers to (A) population (B) size (C) Boston (D) Year 9. How many immigrants arrived in North America between 1760 and 1775? (A) About 16,000 (B) About 25,000 (C) About 30,000 (D) More than 200,000 10. The word "dictated决定" in line 18 is closest in meaning to (A) spoiled (B) reduced (C) determined (D) divided 11. The word "virtually⼏乎" in line 20 is closest in meaning to (A) usually (B) hardly (C) very quickly (D) almost completely 12. The region surrounding New York and Philadelphia is contrasted with the region surrounding Boston in terms of (B) origin of immigrants (C) opportunities for fishing (D) type of grain grown 13. Why does the author describe the regions around the cities of New York and Philadelphia as "breadbaskets"? (A) They produced grain especially for making bread. (B) They stored large quantities of grain during periods of drought (C) They supplied grain to other parts of North America and other countries. (D) They consumed more grain than all the other regions of North America. BBDBA ACADC DAC。
TPO1-24综合写作：阅读+听力文本
TPO1-24综合写作：阅读+听力文本【YeeaooBox推荐】特别推荐，感谢原作者目录TPO1 (2)TPO2 (3)TPO3 (4)TPO4 (5)TPO5 (7)TPO6 (8)TPO7 (9)TPO8 (11)TPO9 (12)TPO10 (13)TPO11 (15)TPO12 (16)TPO13 (17)TPO14 (18)TPO15 (20)TPO16 (21)TPO17 (22)TPO18 (23)TPO19 (25)TPO20 (26)TPO21 (27)TPO22 (28)TPO23 (29)TPO24 (30)是免费的托福真题备考网站 (31)随心的YeeaooBox iPhone客户端 (33)是免费的托福真题备考网站我们致力于提供最全的托福纯真题备考资料http:TPO1ReadingIn the United States,employees typically work five days a week for eight hours each day. However,many employees want to work a four-day week and are willing to accept less pay in order to do so.A mandatory policy requiring companies to offer their employees the option of working a four-day workweek for four-fifths(80percent)of their normal pay would benefit the economy as a whole as well as the individual companies and the employees who decided to take the option.The shortened workweek would increase company profits because employees would feel more rested and alert,and as a result,they would make fewer costly errors in their work. Hiring more staff to ensure that the same amount of work would be accomplished would not result in additional payroll costs because four-day employees would only be paid80percent of the normal rate.In the end,companies would have fewer overworked and error-prone employees for the same money,which would increase company profits.For the country as a whole,one of the primary benefits of offering this option to employees is that it would reduce unemployment rates. If many full-time employees started working fewer hours,some of their workload would have to be shifted to others.Thus,for every four employees who went on an80percent week,a new employee could be hired at the80percent rate.Finally,the option of a four-day workweek would be better for individual employees.Employees who could afford a lower salary in exchange for more free time could improve the quality of their lives by spending the extra time with their families,pursuing private interests,or enjoying leisure activities.ListeningProfessorOffering employees the option of a four-day workweek won't affect the company profits, economic conditions or the lives of employees in the ways the reading suggests.First,offering a four-day workweek will probably force companies to spend more,possibly a lot more.Adding new workers means putting much more money into providing training and medical benefits.Remember the costs of things like health benefits can be the same whether an employee works four days or five.And having more employees also requires more office space and more computers.These additional costs would quickly cut into company profits.Second,with respect to overall employment,it doesn't follow that once some employees choose a four-day workweek,many more jobs will become available.Hiring new workers is costly,as I argued a moment ago.And companies have other options.They might just choose to ask their employees to work overtime to make up the difference.Worse,companies might raise expectations.They might start to expect that their four-day employees can do the same amount of work they used to do in five days.If this happens,then no additional jobs will be created and current jobs will become more unpleasant.Finally,while a four-day workweek offers employees more free time to invest in their personal lives,it also presents some risks that could end up reducing their quality of life.Working a shorter week can decrease employees'job stability and harm their chances for advancing their careers. Four-day employees are likely to be the first to lose their jobs during an economic downturn.They may also be passed over for promotions because companies might prefer to have five-day employees in management positions to ensure continuous coverage and consistent supervision for the entire workweek.TPO2ReadingIn many organizations,perhaps the best way to approach certain new projects is to assemble a group of people into a team.Having a team of people attack a project offers several advantages. First of all,a group of people has a wider range of knowledge，expertise,and skills than any single individual is likely to possess.Also,because of the numbers of people involved and the greater resources they possess,a group can work more quickly in response to the task assigned to it and can come up with highly creative solutions to problems and issues.Sometimes these creative solutions come about because a group is more likely to make risky decisions that an individual might not undertake.This is because the group spreads responsibility for a decision to all the members and thus no single individual can be held accountable if the decision turns out to be wrong.Taking part in a group process can be very rewarding for members of the team.Team members who have a voice in making a decision will no doubt feel better about carrying out the work that is entailed by the decision than they might doing work that is imposed on them by others.Also,the individual team member has a much better chance to“shine”,to get his or her contributions and ideas not only recognized but recognized as highly significant,because a team’s overall results can be more far-reaching and have greater impact than what might have otherwise been possible for the person to accomplish or contribute working alone.ListeningProfessorNow I want to tell you about what one company found when it decided that it would turn over some of its new projects to teams of people,and make the team responsible for planning the projects and getting the work done.After about six months,the company took a look at how well the teams performed.On virtually every team,some members got almost a"free ride"...they didn't contribute much at all,but if their team did a good job,they nevertheless benefited from the recognition the team got. And what about group members who worked especially well and who provided a lot of insight on problems and issues?Well...the recognition for a job well done went to the group as a whole,nonames were named.So it won't surprise you to learn that when the real contributors were asked how they felt about the group process,their attitude was just the opposite of what the reading predicts.Another finding was that some projects just didn't move very quickly.Why?Because it took so long to reach consensus;it took many,many meetings to build the agreement among group members about how they would move the project along.On the other hand,there were other instances where one or two people managed to become very influential over what their group did. Sometimes when those influencers said"That will never work"about an idea the group was developing,the idea was quickly dropped instead of being further discussed.And then there was another occasion when a couple influencers convinced the group that a plan of theirs was"highly creative."And even though some members tried to warn the rest of the group that the project was moving in directions that might not work,they were basically ignored by other group members. Can you guess the ending to this story?When the project failed,the blame was placed on all the members of the group.TPO3ReadingRembrandt is the most famous of the seventeenth-century Dutch painters.However,there are doubts whether some paintings attributed to Rembrandt were actually painted by him.One such painting is known as attributed to Rembrandt because of its style,and indeed the representation of the woman’s face is very much like that of portraits known to be by Rembrandt.But there are problems with the painting that suggest it could not be a work by Rembrandt.First,there is something inconsistent about the way the woman in the portrait is dressed.She is wearing a white linen cap of a kind that only servants would wear-yet the coat she is wearing has a luxurious fur collar that no servant could afford.Rembrandt,who was known for his attention to the details of his subjects’clothing,would not have been guilty of such an inconsistency.Second,Rembrandt was a master of painting light and shadow,but in this painting these elements do not fit together.The face appears to be illuminated by light reflected onto it from below.But below the face is the dark fur collar,which would absorb light rather than reflect it.So the face should appear partially in shadow-which is not how it appears.Rembrandt would never have made such an error.Finally,examination of the back of the painting reveals that it was painted on a panel made of several pieces of wood glued together.Although Rembrandt often painted on wood panels,no painting known to be by Rembrandt uses a panel glued together in this way from several pieces of wood.For these reasons the painting was removed from the official catalog of Rembrandt’s paintings in the1930s.ListeningProfessor:Everything you just read about"Portrait of an Elderly Woman in a White Bonnet"is true,and yet after a thorough re-examination of the painting,a panel of experts has recently concluded that it's indeed a work by Rembrandt.Here is why.First,the fur collar.X-rays and analysis of the pigments in the paint have shown that the fur collar wasn't part of the original painting.The fur collar was painted over the top of the original painting about a hundred years after the painting was made.Why?Someone probably wanted to increase the value of the painting by making it look like a formal portrait of an aristocratic lady.Second,the supposed error with light and shadow.Once the paint of the added fur color was removed,the original could be seen,in the original painting,the woman is wearing a simple collar of light-colored cloth.The light-colored cloth of this collar reflects light that illuminates part of the woman's face.That's why the face is not in partial shadow.So in the original painting,light and shadow are very realistic and just what we would expect from Rembrandt.Finally,the wood panel.It turns out that when the fur collar was added,the wood panel was also enlarged with extra wood pieces glued to the sides and the top to make the painting more grand and more valuable.So the original painting is actually painted on a single piece of wood,as would be expected from a Rembrandt painting.And in fact,researchers have found that the piece of wood in the original form of"Portrait of an Elderly Woman in a White Bonnet"is from the very same tree as the wood panel used for another painting by Rembrandt,his"Self-portrait with a Hat".TPO4ReadingEndotherms are animals such as modern birds and mammals that keep their body temperatures constant.For instance,humans are endotherms and maintain an internal temperature of37°C,no matter whether the environment is warm or cold.Because dinosaurs were reptiles,and modern reptiles are not endotherms,it was long assumed that dinosaurs were not endotherms.However, dinosaurs differ in many ways from modem reptiles,and there is now considerable evidence that dinosaurs were,in fact,endotherms.Polar dinosaursOne reason for believing that dinosaurs were endotherms is that dinosaur fossils have been discovered in polar regions.Only animals that can maintain a temperature well above that of thesurrounding environment could be active in such cold climates.Leg position and movementThere is a connection between endothermy and the position and movement of the legs.The physiology of endothermy allows sustained physical activity,such as running.But running is efficient only if an animal's legs are positioned underneath its body,not at the body's side,as they are for crocodiles and many lizards.The legs of all modern endotherms are underneath the body, and so were the legs of dinosaurs.This strongly suggests that dinosaurs were endotherms.Haversian canalsThere is also a connection between endothermy and bone structure.The bones of endotherms usually include structures called Haversian canals.These canals house nerves and blood vessels that allow the living animal to grow quickly,and rapid body growth is in fact a characteristic of endothermy.The presence of Haversian canals in bone is a strong indicator that the animal is an endotherm,and fossilized bones of dinosaurs are usually dense with Haversian canals.ListeningProfessor:Many scientists have problems with the arguments you read in the passage.They don't think those arguments prove that dinosaurs were endotherms.Take the polar dinosaur argument.When dinosaurs lived,even the polar regions,where dinosaur fossils have been found,were much warmer than today,warm enough during part of the year for animals that were not endotherms to live.And during the months when the polar regions were cold, the so-called polar dinosaurs could have migrated to warmer areas or hibernated like many modern reptiles do.So the presence of dinosaur fossils in polar regions doesn't prove the dinosaurs were endotherms.Well,what about the fact that dinosaurs have their legs placed under their bodies,not out to the side like crocodiles.That doesn't necessarily mean dinosaurs were high-energy endotherms built for running.There is another explanation for having legs under the body.This body structure supports more weight,so with the legs under their bodies,dinosaurs can grow to a very large size. Being large had advantages for dinosaurs,so we don't need the idea of endothermy and running to explain why dinosaurs evolved to have their legs under their bodies.Ok,so how about bone structure?Many dinosaur bones do have Haversian canals,that's true.The dinosaur bones also have growth rings.Growth rings are thickening of the bone that indicates periods of time when the dinosaurs weren't rapidly growing.These growth rings are evidence that dinosaurs stopped growing or grew more slowly during cooler periods.This pattern of periodic growth,you know,rapid growth followed by no growth or slow growth,and then rapid growth again,is characteristic of animals that are not endotherms.Animals that maintain a constant body temperature year-round as true endotherms do grow rapidly even when the environment becomes cool.TPO5ReadingAs early as the twelfth century A.D.,the settlements of Chaco Canyon in New Mexico in the American Southwest were notable for their"great houses,"massive stone buildings that contain hundreds of rooms and often stand three or four stories high.Archaeologists have been trying to determine how the buildings were used.While there is still no universally agreed upon explanation,there are three competing theories.One theory holds that the Chaco structures were purely residential,with each housing hundreds of people.Supporters of this theory have interpreted Chaco great houses as earlier versions of the architecture seen in more recent Southwest societies.In particular,the Chaco houses appear strikingly similar to the large,well-known"apartment buildings"at Taos,New Mexico,in which many people have been living for centuries.A second theory contends that the Chaco structures were used to store food supplies.One of the main crops of the Chaco people was grain maize,which could be stored for long periods of time without spoiling and could serve as a long-lasting supply of food.The supplies of maize had to be stored somewhere,and the size of the great houses would make them very suitable for the purpose.A third theory proposes that houses were used as ceremonial centers.Close to one house,called Pueblo Alto,archaeologists identified an enormous mound formed by a pile of old material. Excavations of the mound revealed deposits containing a surprisingly large number of broken pots. This finding has been interpreted as evidence that people gathered at Pueblo Alto for special ceremonies.At the ceremonies,they ate festive meals and then discarded the pots in which the meals had been prepared or served.Such ceremonies have been documented for other Native American cultures.ListeningProfessor:Unfortunately none of the arguments about what the Chaco great houses were used for is convincing.First,sure,from the outside,the great houses look like later and native American apartment building,but the inside of the great houses casts serious doubt on the idea that many people lived there.I'll explain.If hundreds of people were living in the great houses,then there would have to be many fireplaces,where each family did its daily cooking,but there are very few fireplaces.In one of the largest great houses,there were fireplaces for only around ten families.Yet there wereenough rooms in the great house for more than a hundred families,so the primary function of the houses couldn't have been residential.Second,the idea that the great houses were used to store grain maize is unsupported by evidence. It may sound plausible that large empty rooms were used for storage,but excavations of the great houses have not uncovered many traces of maize or maize containers.If the great houses were used for storage,why isn't there more spilled maize on the floor?Why aren't there more remains of big containers?Third,the idea that the great houses were ceremonial centers isn't well supported either.You know that mound at Pueblo Alto?It contains lots of other materials besides broken pots,stuff you wouldn't expect from ceremonies.For example,there are large quantities of building materials, sands,stones,even construction tools.This suggests that the mound is just a trash heap of construction material,stuff that was thrown away or not used up when a house was being built. The pots in the pile could be regular trash too,leftover from the meals of the construction workers. So the Pueblo Alto mound is not good evidence that the great houses were used for special ceremonies.TPO6ReadingCommunal online encyclopedias represent one of the latest resources to be found on the Internet. They are in many respects like traditional printed encyclopedias collections of articles on various subjects.What is specific to these online encyclopedias,however,is that any Internet user can contribute a new article or make an editorial change in an existing one.As a result,the encyclopedia is authored by the whole community of Internet users.The idea might sound attractive,but the communal online encyclopedias have several important problems that make them much less valuable than traditional,printed encyclopedias.First,contributors to a communal online encyclopedia often lack academic credentials,thereby making their contributions partially informed at best and downright inaccurate in many cases. Traditional encyclopedias are written by trained experts who adhere to standards of academic rigor that nonspecialists cannot really achieve.Second,even if the original entry in the online encyclopedia is correct,the communal nature of these online encyclopedias gives unscrupulous users and vandals or hackers the opportunity to fabricate,delete,and corrupt information in the encyclopedia.Once changes have been made to the original text,an unsuspecting user cannot tell the entry has been tampered with.None of this is possible with a traditional encyclopedia.Third,the communal encyclopedias focus too frequently,and in too great a depth,on trivial andpopular topics,which creates a false impression of what is important and what is not.A child doing research for a school project may discover that a major historical event receives as much attention in an online encyclopedia as,say,a single long-running television program.The traditional encyclopedia provides a considered view of what topics to include or exclude and contains a sense of proportion that online"democratic"communal encyclopedias do not.ListeningProfessor:The communal online encyclopedia will probably never be perfect,but that's a small price to pay for what it does offer.The criticisms in the reading are largely the result of prejudice against and ignorance about how far online encyclopedias have come.First,errors.It's hardly a fair criticism that encyclopedias online have errors.Traditional encyclopedias have never been close to perfectly accurate,if you are looking for a realty comprehensive reference work without any mistakes,you are not going to find it,on or off line. The real point is that it's easy for errors in factual material to be corrected in an online encyclopedia.But with the printed and bound encyclopedia,the errors remain for decades.Second,hacking.Online encyclopedias have recognized the importance of protecting their articles from malicious hackers.One strategy they started using is to put the crucial facts in the articles that nobody disputes in a read-only format,which is a format that no one can make changes to. That way you are making sure that the crucial facts in the articles are reliable.Another strategy that's being used is to have special editors whose job is to monitor all changes made to the articles and eliminate those changes that are clearly malicious.Third,what's worth knowing about?The problem for traditional encyclopedias is that they have limited space,so they have to decide what's important and what's not.And in practice,the judgments of the group of academics that make these decisions don't reflect the great range of interests that people really have.But space is definitely not an issue for online encyclopedias.The academic articles are still represented in online encyclopedias,but there can be a great variety of articles and topics that accurately reflect the great diversity of users'interests.The diversity of use in topics that online encyclopedias offer is one of their strongest advantagesTPO7ReadingIn an effort to encourage ecologically sustainable forestry practices,an international organization started issuing certifications to wood companies that meet high ecological standards by conserving resources and recycling panies that receive this certification can attract customers by advertising their products as eco-certified.Around the world,many wood companies haveadopted new,ecologically friendly practices in order to receive eco-certification.However,it is unlikely that wood companies in the United States will do the same,for several reasons.First,American consumers are exposed to so much advertising that they would not value or even pay attention to the eco-certification label.Because so many mediocre products are labeled'new" or improved,''American consumers do not place much trust in advertising claims in general.Second,eco-certified wood will be more expensive than uncertified wood because in order to earn eco-certification,a wood company must pay to have its business examined by a certification agency.This additional cost gets passed on to consumers-American consumers tend to be strongly motivated by price,and therefore they are likely to choose cheaper uncertified wood products. Accordingly,American wood companies will prefer to keep their prices low rather than obtain eco-certificationThird,although some people claim that it always makes good business sense for American companies to keep up with the developments in the rest of the world,this argument is not convincing.Pursuing certification would make sense for American wood companies only if they marketed most of their products abroad.But that is not the case—American wood businesses sell most of their products in the United States,catering to a very large customer base that is satisfied with the merchandise.ListeningWell,despite what many people say,there is a good reason to think that many American wood companies will eventually seek eco-certification for the wood products.First off,companies in the United States don't treat all advertising the same.They distinguish between advertising claims that companies make about their own products and claims made by independent certification agencies.Americans have a lot of confidence in independent agencies. Thus ecological-minded Americans are likely to react very favorably to wood products ecologically certified by independent organization with an international reputation for trustworthiness.Second point,of course it is true that American consumers care a lot about price,who doesn't?But studies of how consumers make decisions show that price alone determines consumers'decisions only when the price of one competing products is much higher or lower than the other.When the difference between two products is small,say,less than5percent,as is the case with certified wood,American often do choose on factories other than price.And Americans are becoming increasingly convinced of the value of preserving and protecting the environment.And third,US Wood companies should definitely pay attention what is going on in the wood business internationally.Not because of foreign consumers but because of foreign competitors.AsI just told you,there is a good chance that many American consumers will be interested ineco-certified products,and guess why?If American companies are slow capturing those consumers,you can be sure that foreign companies will soon start crowding into the American markets,offering eco-certified wood that domestic companies don't.TPO8ReadingToward the end of his life,the Chevalier de Seingalt(1725-1798)wrote a long memoir recounting his life and adventures.The Chevalier was a somewhat controversial figure,but since he met many famous people,including kings and writers,his memoir has become a valuable historical source about European society in the eighteenth century.However,some critics have raised doubts about the accuracy of the memoir.They claim that the Chevalier distorted or invented many events in the memoir to make his life seem more exciting and glamorous than it really was.For example,in his memoir the Chevalier claims that while living in Switzerland,he was very wealthy,and it is known that he spent a great deal of money there on parties and gambling. However,evidence has recently surfaced that the Chevalier borrowed considerable sums of money from a Swiss merchant.Critics thus argue that if the Chevalier had really been very rich,he would not have needed to borrow money.Critics are also skeptical about the accuracy of the conversations that the Chevalier records in the memoir between himself and the famous writer Voltaire.No one doubts that the Chevalier and Voltaire met and conversed.However,critics complain that the memoir cannot possibly capture these conversations accurately,because it was written many years after the conversations occurred. Critics point out that it is impossible to remember exact phrases from extended conversations held many years earlier.Critics have also questioned the memoir's account of the Chevalier's escape from a notorious prison in Venice,Italy.He claims to have escaped the Venetian prison by using a piece of metal to make a hole in the ceiling and climbing through the roof.Critics claim that while such a daring escape makes for enjoyable reading,it is more likely that the Chevaliers jailers were bribed to free him.They point out that the Chevalier had a number of politically well-connected friends in Venice who could have offered a bribe.ListeningProfessor:No memoir can possibly be correct in every detail,but still,the Chevalier's memoir is pretty accurate overall,and is,by and large,a reliable historical source Let's look at the accuracy of the three episodes mentioned in the reading.。
精品文档2016年1月24日托福阅读真题解读
spurt = a sudden increase
massively= extensively
pragmatic= practical
unprecedented=unlike anything in the past
era=period
ragment= pieces
assess= evaluate
2016年1月24日托福阅读真题解读
2016年1月24日托福阅读考试已经告一段落。天道小编第一时间为考生们整理了这一天的托福阅读真题。如果您想要知道2016年1月24日新托福考试阅读部分考了哪些内容的话，就和小编一起走近今天的内容吧!
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天道教育托福课程全程督导，提分有保障，业内最细致的托管学习方案，保障提分：
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了解学生意向，考试成绩目标，由课程顾问给予学生专业的备考建议
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全真模拟题测试，由课程顾问出具专业报告和分析;
定制方案：
根据入学测试结果，制定个性化的培训方案，提供专业的备考规划和建议;
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针对学员的问题和备考规划，为学生提供专业的课程教学与方法指导;
许一个愿望，不乞求去实现，至少，曾经，有那么一刻，我那还未枯萎的，青春的，诗意的心，在我最美的年华里，同星空做了一次灵魂的交流…
秋日里，阳光并不刺眼，天空是一碧如洗的蓝，点缀着飘逸的流云。偶尔，一片飞舞的落叶，会飘到我的窗前。斑驳的印迹里，携刻着深秋的颜色。在一个落雪的晨，这纷纷扬扬的雪，飘落着一如千年前的洁白。窗外，是未被污染的银白色世界。我会去迎接，这人间的圣洁。在这流转的岁月里，有着流转的四季，还有一颗流转的心，亘古不变的心。
往年托福阅读真题及答案
往年托福阅读真题及答案托福(TOEFL)历年真题的重要性不言而喻，这是目前托福考试出题思路的唯一参考资料，因此现今每场托福考试中都会出现大量的旧题，那么能拿到最高效的真题资料就尤为关键了。
下面给大家带来托福阅读真题，希望对你们有所帮助。
往年托福阅读真题及答案In discussing the growth of cities in the United States in the nineteenth century, one cannot really use the term “urban planning,” as it suggests modern concerns for spatial and service organization which, in most instances, did not exist before the planning revolution called the City Beautiful Movement that began in the 1890s.While there certainly were urban areas that were “planned” in the comprehensive contemporary sense of the word before that date, most notably Washington, D.C., these were the excepti on. Most “planned” in the nineteenth century was limited to areas much smaller than a city and was closely associated with developers trying to make a profit from a piece of land. Even when these small-scale plans were well designed, the developers made only those improvements that were absolutely necessary to attract the wealthy segment of the market. Indeed, it was the absence of true urban planning that allowed other factors to play such an important role in shaping the nineteenth-century American city.1. 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.A.Understanding the growth of cities in nineteenth-century America requires recognizing how the City Beautiful Movementof the 1890s changed “urban planning.”B.For the most part, there was no “urban planning,” as that term is understood today, before the beginning of the City Beautiful Movement in the 1890s.C.oncerns for spatial and service organization had little impact on the growth of cities before the 1890s when the City Beautiful Movement began.D.The growth of cities in nineteenth-century America resulted in the creation of the City Beautiful Movement in the 1890s and the rise of the term “urban planning.”首先我们先明确题目的要求，其实题目中一共应该是3个核心重点要求：(1)best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage(2)Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways(3)or leave out essential information.通过对题目的分析我们不难发现，essential这个单词出现了2次，换言之，题目要求大家做的是“找出句子的核心含义”，那么什么算是“核心含义”呢?要明白这个问题就要深刻理解一个概念：英语句内逻辑结构比如although A, B 中 AB两部分为让步转折关系，核心点是转折后的B句，because A, B中AB两部分为因果关系，核心点是结论B句。
2016年托福阅读模拟试题及答案解析（1）
托福阅读原⽂ Protection of Plants by Insects 【1】Many plants - one or more species of at least68 different families - can secrete nectar even whenthey have no blossoms, because they bear extrafloral nectaries (structures that producenectar) on stems, leaves, leaf stems, or other structures.These plants usually occur where antsare abundant, most in the tropics but some in temperate areas. Among those of northeasternNorth America are various plums, cherries, roses, hawthorns, poplars, and oaks. Like floralnectar, extrafloral nectar consists mainly of water with a high content of dissolved sugars and, in some plants, small amounts of amino acids. The extrafloral nectaries of some plants areknown to attract ants and other insects, but the evolutionary history of most plants with thesenectaries is unknown. Nevertheless, most ecologists believe that all extrafloral nectaries attractinsects that will defend the plant. 【2】Ants are portably the most frequent and certainly the most persistent defenders ofplants. Since the highly active worker ants require a great deal of energy, plants exploit thisneed by providing extrafloral nectar that supplies ants with abundant energy. To return thisfavor, ants guard the nectaries, driving away or killing intruding insects that might competewith ants for nectar. Many of these intruders are herbivorous and would eat the leaves of theplants. 【3】Biologists once thought that secretion of extrafloral nectar has some purely internalphysiological function, and that ants provide no benefit whatsoever to the plants that secreteit. This view and the opposing “protectionist” hypothesis that ants defend plants had beendisputed for over a hundred years when, in 1910, a skeptical William Morton Wheelercommented on the controversy. He called for proof of the protectionist view: that visitations ofthe ants confer protection on the plants and that in the absence of the insects a much greaternumber would perish or fail to produce flowers or seeds than when the insects are present. That we now have an abundance of the proof that was called for was established whenBarbara Bentley reviewed the relevant evidence in 1977, and since then many moreobservations and experiments have provided still further proof that ants benefit plants. 【4】One example shows how ants attracted to extrafloral nectaries protect morning gloriesagainst attacking insects. The principal insect enemies of the North American morning gloryfeed mainly on its flowers or fruits rather than its leaves. Grasshoppers feeding on flowersindirectly block pollination and the production of seeds by destroying the corolla or thestigma, which receives the pollen grains and on which the pollen germinates. Without theircolorful corolla, flowers do not attract pollinators and are not fertilized. An adult grasshoppercan consume a large corolla, about 2.5 inches long, in an hour. Caterpillars and seed beetlesaffect seed production directly. Caterpillars devour the ovaries, where the seeds are produced, and seed beetle larvae eat seeds as they burrow in developing fruits. 【5】Extrafloral nectaries at the base of each sepal attract several kinds of insects, but 96 percent of them are ants, several different species of them. When buds are still small, lessthan a quarter of an inch long, the sepal nectaries are already present and producing nectar. They continue to do so as the flower develops and while the fruit matures. Observations leavelittle doubt that ants protect morning glory flowers and fruits from the combined enemy forceof grasshoppers, caterpillars, and seed beetles. Bentley compares the seed production of sixplants that grew where there were no ants with that of seventeen plants that were occupied byants. Unprotected plants bore only 45 seeds per plant, but plants occupied by ants bore 211 seeds per plant. Although ants are not big enough to kill or seriously injure grasshoppers, theydrive them away by nipping at their feet. Seed beetles are more vulnerable because they aremuch smaller than grasshoppers. The ants prey on the adult beetles, disturb females astheylay their eggs on developing fruits, and eat many of the eggs they do manage to lay. 托福阅读试题 1.According to paragraph 1，floral nectar andextrafloral nectar are alike in that A.they are likely to be produced by the same plants. B.they basically consist of the same chemicalcomponents. C.they attract only insects that will defend the plant. D.they are produced by the same parts of the plant. 2.To say that ants are "persistent" defenders of plants means that A.they defend plants against a wide variety of threats. B.they continue to defend plants for as long as the plants are threatened. C.they are successful defenders of plants. D.they are easily observable defenders of plants. 3.What can be inferred from paragraph 2 about the ants that are attracted to theextrafloral nectaries? A.They do not eat the leaves of the plants that produce extrafloral nectar. B.They live almost entirely on extrafloral nectar. C.They spend most of their energy guarding extrafloral nectaries. D.They frequently fight among themselves over extrafloral nectar. 4.According to paragraph 3, what was the position of the opponents of the"protectionist" hypothesis? A.Extrafloral nectar provides plants with a direct defense against attack by insects. B.Ants substantially benefit plants that secrete extrafloral nectar. C.The secretion of extrafloral nectar plays a role in the plant’s internal functioning. D.Ants visit plants that secrete extrafloral nectar as often as they visit plants that do not. 5.The word "skeptical" in the passage is closest in meaning to A.curious. B.doubtful. C.open-minded. D.practical. 6.Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information jn thehighlighted sentence in the passage Incorrect choices change the meaning inimportant ways or leave out essential information. A.We now have ample proof that ants benefit plants. B.Barbara Bentley has called for additional proof that ants benefit plants. C.In 1977 Barbara Bentley conducted research that proved that all prior studies were wrong. D.Proof that ants benefit plants will require many more observations and experiments. 7.According to paragraph 4, what effect does the destruction of the corolla have onplants. A.It leaves the seeds exposed and unprotected. B.It prevents the stigma from developing. C.It keeps pollen grains from attaching properly. D.It prevents the flower from attracting pollinators. 8.The word "devour" in the passage is closest in meaning to A.attack. B.eat. C.damage. D.prefer. 9.What role does paragraph 5 play in the passage? A.It offers various kinds of evidence for the protectionist view. B.It presents the study that first proved that ants benefit plants. C.It explains how insects find sources of nectar. D.It presents information that partly contradicts the protectionist view. 10.The word "vulnerable" in the passage is closest in meaning to A.numerous. B.harmful. C.open to attack. D.difficult to locate. 11.According to paragraph 5, what did Bentley’s comparative study show? A.Many more plants grew in places where ants were present than where they were absent. B.The ants preferred plants with low seed production to plants with high seed production. C.The plants occupied by ants produced many more seeds than those that were not occupiedby ants. D.The plants that grew in places without ants were much smaller and weaker than those thatgrew in places where ants were present. 12.According to paragraph 5, ants defend morning glory plants from seed beetles ineach of the following ways EXCEPT: A.driving adult beetles off the plants by nipping at their feet. B.catching and eating adult beetles. C.eating beetle eggs they find on developing fruits. D.making it difficult for beetles to lay eggs on developing fruits. 13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could beadded to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit? Sometimes they capture theinsects to feed their protein-hungry larvae. Ants are portably the most frequent and certainly the most persistent defenders of plants. ■【A】 Since the highly active worker ants require a great deal of energy, plants exploit thisneed by providing extrafloral nectar that supplies ants with abundant energy. ■【B】 Toreturn this favor, ants guard the nectaries, driving away or killing intruding insects that mightcompete with ants for nectar. ■【C】 Many of these intruders are herbivorous and would eatthe leaves of the plants.■【D】 14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage of thepassage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answerchoices that 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. Many plants have extrafloral nectaries that produce nectar even during periods inwhich the plant is not flowering. A.Evolutionary history shows that plants that produce extrafloral nectar originated in thetropics. B.Extrafloral nectar has a higher concentration of sugar than f l o r a l n e c t a r a n d i s m o r e a t t r a c t i v e t o a n t s a n d o t h e r i n s e c t s . / p > p b d s f i d = " 1 5 0 " > 0 0 C . T h e p r o t e c t i o n i s t h y p o t h e s i s i s t h a t e x t r a f l o r a l n e x t a r a t t r a c t s a n t s , a n d t h a t t h e a n t s , i n o r d e r t o p r e s e r v e t h i s e n e r g y - r i c h f o o d s o u r c e , a t t a c k i n s e c t s t h a t m i g h t h a r m t h e p l a n t . / p > p b d s f i d = " 1 5 1 " > 0 0 D . E v i d e n c e a c c u m u l a t e d d u r i n g t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y p r o v e d t h a t a n t s p r o v i d e s i g n i f i c a n t b e n e f i t s f o r p l a n t s w i t h e x t r a f l o r a l n e c t a r i e s . / p > p b d s f i d = " 1 5 2 " > 0 0 E . R e s e a r c h h a s s h o w n t h a t A m e r i c a n m o r n i n g g l o r y p l a n t s t h a t a r e p r o t e c t e d b y a n t s p r o d u c e s i g n i f i c a n t l y m o r e s e e d s t h a n m o r n i n g g l o r y p l a n t s t h a t a r e n o t p r o t e c t e d b y a n t s . / p > p b d s f i d = " 1 5 3 " > 0 0 F . A n t s g e n e r a l l y i g n o r e s m a l l i n s e c t s , b u t t h e y w i l l e a t t h e a d u l t s o f l a r g e i n s e c t s p e c i e s a s w e l l a s t h e i r e g g s a n d l a r v a e . / p > p b d s f i d = " 1 5 4 " > / p >。
托福考试ibt真题解析
托福考试ibt真题解析2016年托福考试ibt真题解析在已经过去的2016年托福考试中，ibt专区有哪些真题值得解析的呢?为此店铺为大家解析2016年托福考试的ibt专区真题。
2016年托福考试ibt真题：写作T1：Ø Topic：Peru沙漠里的一种地形Nazca lines，关于Nazca lines 存在的三种理论Ø 阅读1：作为astronomical calendar，去跟踪一些特殊的events，比如说冬至。
也有发现表明它确实与一些天体有关系。
Ø 阅读2：for monumental arts, 总而彰显当地的文化和地位及重要性。
就像埃及见金字塔一样。
Ø 阅读3：人们留下的足迹。
有可能最为跑步的赛道。
Ø 听力1：阅读里没有提到有sky中很多天体这一事实，所以阅读里所说的相关可能只是偶然。
Ø 听力2：实际上这些lines 很大，只有在高空中才可以看到它的全貌，而如果站在附件的话，不能够进行识别，也不会给人留下深刻的印象。
Ø 听力3：这些lines有一些是images of animals, too complex for human’s footstep.另外听力推测，当地有宗教习惯是走一些不寻常的路径，所以有可能这些lines是religious ritual留下来的。
Ø Sample answerThe writer and the speaker have a debate on why Nazca Lines Images were created. The writer puts forward three theories, which are opposed by the following lecture.First, the writer claims that they are astronomical calendar, because there is relationship between images and planets/stars. While the speaker views this issue from an opposite angle, according to him/her, in fact, images and astronomical events donot match vastly. Since there are numerous stars in the sky, only a small part of images match astronomical planets just by chance.Secondly, the passage states that people in Peru want to use Nazca Lines images to show off their cultures and achievements. However, the speaker casts doubt on this opinion by saying that the Nazca lines are so huge, so that people can only see it above high level. Images will be impressive when seen from overhead. Pyramids are impressive because they are huge and tall.Last, the writer argues that the images are used for racetracks. By contrast, in accordance with the speaker, this claim does not hold water. When travelling, people can use more convenient Mark, such as tree. Some images like spiders and monkeys are too complex for people to track. Besides, it is more likely that the images are used in rituals. Religious ceremonies include walking.T2：Ø 原题：The government can take a variety of actions to help protect the environment. Which one of the following do you think is the most important for the nation’s government to take to protect the environment.1. Fund the research to develop environmentally friendly energy sources such as solar andwind energy.2. Preserve the natural places like forests and protect the animals that live there.3. Enforce laws to prevent the pollution of air and water by large companies.Ø Sample answerTaking a panoramic view of human history, we can readily find that the natural environment plays an enormously important role in determining the future of each and every country. Giventhe great significance of clean environment, the general public as well as the governors begin to wonder which one is the most essential action to protect the environment among the following three options: funding new energy research, preserving natural habitat or enacting strict laws. Towards such a long-running tug-of-war, I am inclined to argue that national governments should invest financial support in developing new energy sources.Initially, spending more money in discovering new energy can radically solve the various environmental problems. As is common sense, the deteriorating environment is the result of the overexploitation of fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas. To be specific, numerous chemical plants usually burn the coal to provide power for manufacturing all kinds of goods designed to satisfy the basic needs of the general public. As a result, a large amounts of industrial wastes are discharged to take a toll on the natural environment. Also, an increasing number of petrol-powered automobiles will definitely emit car exhaust (e.g. fumes and toxic gas), which can increase the likelihood of the public suffering from respiratory diseases. All the above problems related to environment can be resolved by find new and clean energy like solar energy, wind power and tidal power. Undoubtedly, replacing the traditional energy with the new ones can dramatically decrease the pollution and contamination, thus leading to a better living environment. For example, once the cars uses the electricity instead of petrol, the air quality will improve to a large extent.Secondly, there are conspicuous limitation of the other two options. As for preserving natural places, the effect of this practice is relatively restricted. To illustrate, the traditional energy sources are usually exploited and discovered in the natural places.Consequently, the preservation of natural places will hinder the access to various energy and thus impede the progress of the whole society. Also, the same logic applies to passing laws to reduce pollution. It is an indisputable fact that across the globe, many countries now are heavily dependent on the industries and factories which produce pollutions. In other words, once the law of punishing these companies is enforced, these corporation may have to cut down their output and make less profits, even ending up going bankrupt. Accordingly, the national economy and the living standard of the public will suffer too.Factoring what has been discussed above, we can conclude that funding research of environmental friendly energy will be more preferable, because finding proper alternative energy is the key to solving the environmental problems comprehensively. 2016年托福考试ibt真题：听力C1：大意：学生想上Smith的中世纪的文学课，但是人数已满，学生问听力中的教授可不可以签字授权上Smith的课，教授说应该不行，因为Smith教授对政策很严格，除非有人放弃课程。
托福考试阅读理解专项训练与答案
托福考试阅读理解专项训练与答案2016年托福考试阅读理解专项训练与答案阅读理解part ALake Baikal1 Crescent-shaped Lake Baikal, in Siberia, is only the ninth largest lake in area at 385 miles (650 km) in length and 46 miles (74 km) in width, yet it is easily the largest body of fresh water in the world. It holds one-fifth of the world's total fresh water, which is more than the total of all the water in the five Great Lakes; it holds so much fresh water in spite of its less-than-impressive area because it is by far the world's deepest lake. The average depth of the lake is 1,312 feet (400 meters) below sea level, and the Olkhon Crevice, the lowest known point, is more than 5,250 feet (1,600 meters) deep.2 Lake Baikal, which today is located near the center of the Asian peninsula, is most likely the world's oldest lake. It began forming 25 million years ago as Asia started splitting apart in a series of great faults. The Baikal Valley dropped away, eventually filling with water and creating the deepest of the world's lakes.1. What is stated in paragraph 1 about the shape of Lake Baikal?(A) It is wider than it is long.(B) It is circular in shape.(C) Its width is one-half of its length.(D) It is shaped like a new moon.2. It is indicated in paragraph 1 that the area of Lake Baikal(A) is less than the area of eight other lakes(B) is one-ninth the area of Siberia(C) is greater than the area of any other freshwater lake(D) is equal to the area of the five Great Lakes3. According to paragraph 1, Lake Baikal(A) holds one-fifth of the world's water(B) holds five times the water of the Great Lakes(C) holds one-ninth of the world's water(D) holds 20 percent of the world's fresh water4. According to paragraph 1, the Olkhon Crevice is(A) outside of Lake Baikal(B) 400 meters below sea level(C) the deepest part of Lake Baikal(D) 5,000 meters deep5. It is mentioned in paragraph 2 that Lake Baikal(A) is not as old as some other lakes(B) formed when sections of the Earth were moving away from each other(C) was fully formed 25 million years ago(D) is today located on the edge of the Asian peninsula参考答案：1-5：D、A、D、C、Bpart BThe Postage Stamp1 The postage stamp has been around for only a relatively short period of time. The use of stamps for postage was first proposed in England in 1837, when Sir Rowland Hill published a pamphlet entitled "Post Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability" to put forth the ideas that postal rates should not be based on the distance that a letter or package travels but should instead be based on the weight of the letter or package and that fees for postal services should be collected in advanceof the delivery, rather than after, through the use of postage stamps.2 The ideas proposed by Hill went into effect in England almost immediately, and other countries soon followed suit. The first English stamp, which featured a portrait of then Queen Victoria, was printed in 1840. This stamp, the "penny black," came in sheets that needed to be separated with scissors and provided enough postage for a letter weighing 14 grams or less to any destination. In 1843, Brazil was the next nation to produce national postage stamps, and various areas in what is today Switzerland also produced postage stamps later in the same year. Postage stamps in five-and ten-cent denominations were first approved by the U.S. Congress in 1847, and by 1860 postage stamps were being issued in more than 90 governmental jurisdictions worldwide.6. According to paragraph 1, postage stamps were first suggested(A) in the first half of the eighteenth century(B) in the second half of the eighteenth century(C) in the first half of the nineteenth century(D) in the second half of the nineteenth century7. It is indicated in paragraph 1 that Sir Rowland Hill believed that postage fees(A) should be paid by the sender(B) should be related to distance(C) should have nothing to do with how heavy a package is(D) should be collected after the package is delivered8. What is stated in paragraph 2 about the first English postage stamp?(A) It was designed by Queen Victoria.(B) It contained a drawing of a black penny.(C) It was produced in sheets of 14 stamps.(D) It could be used to send a lightweight letter.9. According to paragraph 2, Brazil introduced postage stamps(A) before England(B) before Switzerland(C) after the United States(D) after Switzerland10. It is mentioned in paragraph 2 that in 1847(A) postage stamps were in use in 90 different countries(B) it cost fifteen cents to mail a letter in the United States(C) two different denominations of postage stamps were introduced in the United States(D) the U.S. Congress introduced the "penny black" stamp参考答案：6-10：A、A、D、B、Cpart CThe Clovis Culture1 Archeologists have found sites all over North America that contain similar tools dating from a period about 12,000 years ago. The culture that developed these tools has been named Clovis after the site near Clovis, New Mexico, where the first tools of this sort were discovered in 1932. The tools are quite sophisticated and are unlike any tools that have been found in the Old World.2 In the years since the first tools of this sort were discovered in New Mexico, archeologists have discovered Clovis tools in areas ranging from Mexico to Montana in the United States and Nova Scotia in Canada. All of the Clovis finds date from approximately the same period, a fact which suggests that the Clovis spread rapidly throughout the North American continent.3 From the evidence that has been discovered, archeologists have concluded that the Clovis were a mobile culture. They traveled in groups of 40 to 50 individuals, migrating seasonally and returning to the same hunting camps each year. Their population increased rapidly as they spread out over the continent, and they were quite possibly motivated to develop their sophisticated hunting tools to feed their rapidly expanding populace.11. What is stated in paragraph 1 about Clovis tools?(A) They date from around 10,000 B.C.(B) They have been in use for 12,000 years.(C) They have been found at only one location.(D) They were discovered by archeologists hundreds of years ago.12. According to paragraph 1, the town of Clovis(A) is in Mexico(B) was founded in 1932(C) is where all members of the Clovis culture lived(D) is where the first remnants of an ancient culture were found13. It is indicated in paragraph 1 that the tools found near Clovis, New Mexico, were(A) very rudimentary(B) similar to others found prior to 1932(C) rather advanced(D) similar to some found in Africa and Europe14. According to paragraph 2, what conclusion have archeologists drawn from the Clovis finds?(A) That the Clovis tended to remain in one place(B) That the Clovis expanded relatively quickly(C) That the Clovis lived throughout the world(D) That the Clovis were a seafaring culture15. It is mentioned in paragraph 3 that it is believed that the Clovis(A) lived in familial groups of four or five people(B) had a relatively stable population(C) lived only in New Mexico(D) spent summers and winters in different places参考答案：11-15：A、D、C、B、D。
最新托福考试阅读试题及答案
最新托福考试阅读试题及答案2016最新托福考试阅读试题及答案以下是店铺为大家整理的托福考试阅读模拟试题及答案，希望对大家有所帮助!Mountaineers have noted that as they climb, for example, up to the 12,633-foot humphreys peak in the san francisco peaks in arizona, plant life changes radically. starting among the cacti of the sonoran desert, one climbs into a pine forest at 7,000 feet and a treeless alpine tundra at the summit. it may seem that plants at a given altitude are associated in what can be called “communities” – groupings of interacting species. the idea is that over time, plants that require particular climate and soil conditions come to live in the same places, and hence are frequently to be found together. scientists who study the history of plant life are known as paleobotanists, or paleobots for short. they build up a picture of how groups of plants have responded to climate changes and how ecosystems develop. but are these associations, which are real in the present, permanent?a great natural experiment took place on this planet between 25,000 and 10,000 years ago, when small changes in the earth’s orbit and axis of rotation caused great sheets of ice to spread from the poles. these glaciers covered much of north america and europe to depths of up to two miles, and then, as the climate warmed, they retreated. during this retreat, they left behind newly uncovered land for living things to colonize, and as those living things moved in they laid down a record we can read now. as the ice retreated and plants started to grow near a lake, they would release pollen. some would fall into the lake, sink to the bottom, and be incorporated into the sediment. by drilling intothe lake bottom it is possible to read the record of successive plant life around the lake. the fossil record seems clear; there is little or no evidence that entire groups of plants moved north together. things that lived together in the past don’t live together now, and things that live together now didn’t live together in the past. each individual organism moved at its own pace. the fossil record seems to be tellineuver – to respond to environmental changes.1. what is the passage mainly about?(a) the effects of the ice age on plants(b) plant migration after the ice age(c) the need to develop a new approach to environmental issues(d) communities of plants live at different altitudes2. the word “radically” in line 2 is closest in meaning to(a) variably(b) demonstrably(c) quickly(d) dramatically3. the author mentions “cacti” in line 3 and a ”treeless alpine tundra” in line 4 to illustrate(a) changes in climate(b) the effects of the ice age(c) communities of plants(d) plant migration4. the word “which” in line 10 refers to(a) the responses of plants to climate changes(b) the current theories of ecosystems(c) the developments of ecosystems(d) plant life changes5. the word “axis” in line 12 is closest in meaning to(a) center(b) method(c) change(d) slowdown6. the word “successive” in line 19 is closest in meaning to(a) exng us that we should be thinking about preserving species by giving them room to matinct(b) consecutive(c) accumulative(d) following7. the passage states that by drilling into the lake bottom it is possible to find successive fossils of:(a) sediment(b) ice(c) plant life(d) pollen8. which of the following can be inferred from the passage(a) –that the migratory patterns of plants are dependent upon changes in climate(b) –that modern conservation methods should consider the migratory patterns of plants(c) –that current associations of plants are similar to those in the past(d) –that another ice age is likely to occur at some time9. according to the passage, the movement of individual species of plants(a) occurs in groups(b) often depends upon the formation of lakes(c) does not occur in groups(d) depends upon climate and soil conditions10. all of the following are true except(a) the ice age occurred when small changes affected the movement of the earth(b) fossil records seem to indicate that plants will be preserved if theyhave sufficient room to move(c) fossil records clearly show that entire groups of plants are unlikely to have moved together(d) in the ice age glaciers covered the world to depths of up to two miles【参考答案】：BBCDA BACAD。
托福考试全真题及答案
托福考试全真题及答案一、阅读部分Passage 1: The Evolution of the Horse1. According to the passage, what is the primary reason for the evolution of the horse?A. Changes in the horse's habitatB. Competition for foodC. The need for speed to escape predatorsD. The development of agricultureAnswer: A2. What is the significance of the fossil record in understanding the evolution of the horse?A. It provides evidence of the horse's size over time.B. It shows the horse's adaptation to different environments.C. It demonstrates the horse's changing diet.D. It reveals the horse's social behavior.Answer: A3. The passage suggests that the horse's teeth evolved to accommodate which of the following?A. A diet of grassB. A diet of fruitsC. A diet of meatD. A diet of insectsAnswer: APassage 2: The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Art4. What was one of the main effects of the Industrial Revolution on the art world?A. The decline of traditional craftsmanshipB. The rise of abstract artC. The increase in the production of artD. The focus on realism in artAnswer: A5. How did the Industrial Revolution influence the subject matter of art?A. It led to a focus on urban landscapes.B. It resulted in a shift towards nature as a subject.C. It caused artists to depict the working class.D. It encouraged the use of technology as a theme.Answer: C6. What was the role of photography in the art world during the Industrial Revolution?A. It replaced painting as the primary form of art.B. It inspired artists to experiment with new techniques.C. It led to the decline of portrait painting.D. It was seen as a threat to traditional artists.Answer: B二、听力部分Conversation 1: Student and Professor Discussing a Research Paper7. Why does the student visit the professor?A. To ask for an extension on the paper.B. To discuss the topic of the paper.C. To get feedback on a draft.D. To inquire about the grading criteria.Answer: B8. What is the professor's advice regarding the student's research topic?A. It is too narrow and needs to be broadened.B. It is too broad and needs to be narrowed down.C. It is well-suited for the paper's requirements.D. It lacks sufficient evidence to support the argument. Answer: B9. What does the professor suggest the student should do next?A. Conduct more interviews.B. Review additional sources.C. Revise the thesis statement.D. Focus on a specific aspect of the topic.Answer: DLecture 1: The Role of Bacteria in Coral Reefs10. What is the main topic of the lecture?A. The impact of pollution on coral reefs.B. The symbiotic relationship between coral and bacteria.C. The role of algae in coral nutrition.D. The effects of climate change on coral reefs. Answer: B11. How do bacteria benefit coral reefs?A. By providing nutrients for coral growth.B. By protecting coral from diseases.C. By helping to build the coral skeleton.D. By aiding in the reproduction of coral.Answer: B12. What is one of the consequences of coral bleaching?A. The coral becomes more susceptible to disease.B. The coral's color becomes darker.C. The coral's growth rate slows down.D. The coral's ability to reproduce is enhanced.Answer: A三、口语部分Task 1: Choose a place you would like to visit and explain why.Sample Response:I would like to visit the Great Barrier Reef in Australia because it is one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. The vibrant colors and the variety of marine life, including numerous species of fish, turtles, and coral, make it a fascinating place to explore. Additionally, the Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which means it is of significant cultural and natural importance. Visiting the reef would not only be an incredible adventure but also an opportunity to learn about conservation efforts and the importance of preserving such a unique environment.Task 2: Describe a challenge you have faced and how you overcame it.Sample Response:One challenge I faced was when I had to prepare for a major presentation in front of my class. I am not very comfortable speaking in public, so I was quite nervous. To overcome this, I practiced my speech multiple times in front of a mirror and also recorded myself to identify areas for improvement. I also sought feedback from my friends and incorporated their suggestions. On the day of the presentation, I took deep breaths to calm my nerves and reminded myself that I was well-prepared. By focusing on the content and engaging with my audience, I was able to deliver a successful presentation and gained confidence in my public speaking abilities.四、写作部分Integrated Writing Task: Reading and Listening on the Benefits of Solar Energy13. Summarize the main points from the reading and listening material about the benefits of solar energy. Include how the speaker challenges the reading.Sample Response:The reading material highlights the benefits of solar energy, such as its renewable nature, low environmental impact, and potential for energy independence. However, the speaker challenges these points by arguing that solar energy is not as renewable as it seems due to the limited lifespan of solar panels. They also mention that the production of solar panels has a significant environmental impact, including the use of harmful chemicals and the generation of waste. Furthermore, the speaker contends that solar energy's reliance on sunlight makes it an unreliable source of energy, as it is not available during cloudy days or at night, which contradicts the reading's claim of energy independence.Independent Writing Task: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Technology has made our lives much easier than our grandparents had it.Sample Response:I agree that technology has made our lives significantly easier than our grandparents' lives. For instance, advancements in communication technology have allowed us to stay connected with friends and family across the globe with ease, something our grandparents could only dream of. Additionally, technology has revolutionized the way we work, with tools like computers and the internet streamlining tasks and increasing productivity. In terms of healthcare, modern technology hasled to breakthroughs in medical treatments and diagnostic tools, improving the quality and longevity of life. While it is true that technology has its drawbacks, such as over-reliance and privacy concerns, the overall impact on our lives has been overwhelmingly positive, making our daily routines and tasks more manageable and efficient compared to our grandparents' experiences.。
托福阅读考试真题及答案
托福阅读考试真题及答案在社会的各个领域，只要有考核要求，就会有试题，借助试题可以更好地考核参考者的知识才能。
那么你知道什么样的试题才能有效帮助到我们吗？下面是我精心整理的托福阅读考试真题及答案，欢迎阅读，希望大家能够喜欢。
During the second half of the nineteenth century, the production of food and feed crops in the United States rose at an extraordinarily rapid rate. Corn production increased by four and a half times, hay by five times, oats and wheat by seven times. The most crucial factor behind this phenomenal upsurge in productivity was the widespread adoption of labor-saving machinery by northern farmers. By 1850 horse-drawn reaping machines that cut grain were being introduced into the major grain-growing regions of the country. Horse-powered threshing machines to separate the seeds from the plants were already in general use. However, it was the onset of the Civil War in 1861 that provided the great stimulus for the mechanization of northern agriculture. With much of the labor force inducted into the army and with grain prices on the rise, northern farmers rushed to avail themselves of the new labor-saving equipment. In 1860 there were approximately 80,000 reapers in the country; five years later there were350,000.After the close of the war in 1865, machinery became ever more important in northern agriculture, and improved equipment was continually introduced. By 1880 a self-binding reaper had been perfected that not only cut the grain, but also gathered the stalks and bound them with twine. Threshing machines were also being improved and enlarged, and after 1870 they were increasingly powered by steam engines rather than by horses. Since steam-powered threshing machines were costly items — running from $ 1,000 to $4,000 — they were usually owned by custom thresher owners who then worked their way from farm to farm during the harvest season. "Combines" were also coming into use on the great wheat ranches in California and the Pacific Northwest. These ponderous machines — sometimes pulled by as many as 40 horses — reaped the grain, threshed it, and bagged it, all in one simultaneous operation.The adoption of labor-saving machinery had a profound effect upon the sale of agricultural operations in the northern states — allowing farmers to increase vastly their crop acreage. By the end of century, a farmer employing the new machinery could plant and harvest two and half times as much corn as a farmer had using hand methods 50 years before.1. What aspect of farming in the United States in the nineteenthcentury does the passage mainly discuss?(A) How labor-saving machinery increased crop Production(B) Why southern farms were not as successful as Successful as northern farms(C) Farming practices before the Civil War(D) The increase in the number of people farming2. The word "crucial" in line 4 is closest in meaning to(A) obvious(B) unbelievable(C) important(D) desirable3. The phrase "avail themselves" in line 11 is closest in meaning to(A) take care(B) make use(C) get rid(D) do more4. According to the passage , why was the Civil War a stimulus for mechanization?(A) The army needed more grain in order to feed the soldiers.(B) Technology developed for the war could also the used by farmers.(C) It was hoped that harvesting more grain would lower the price of grain.(D) Machines were needed to replace a disappearing labor force.5. The passage supports which of the following statements about machinery after the Civil War?(A) Many farmers preferred not to use the new machinery.(B) Returning laborers replaced the use of machinery.(C) The use of farm machinery continued to increase.(D) Poor-quality machinery slowed the pace of crop production.6. Combines and self-binding reapers were similar because each(A) could perform more than one function(B) required relatively little power to operate(C) was utilized mainly in California(D) required two people to operate7. The word "they" in line 19 refers to(A) grain stalks(B) threshing machines(C) steam engines(D) horses8. It can be inferred from the passage that most farmers did not own threshing machines because(A) farmers did not know how to use the new machines(B) farmers had no space to keep the machines(C) thresher owner had chance to buy the machines before farmers did(D) the machines were too expensive for every farmer to own9. The word "ponderous" in line 21 is closest in meaning to(A) advanced(B) heavy(C) complex(D) rapid正确答案：ACBDC ABDB托福听力考试要求1、Basic Comprehension: Gist + Details基本理解能力的考察大概占到托福听力总体比例的70%左右，首先，几乎是每篇对话和讲座的第一道题都是主旨题，只不过问法可能不一样，而细节题占的比例也比较大。
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However, the ejecta on Mars gives the distinct impression of a liquid that has splashed or flowed out of crater. Geologists think that this fluidized ejecta crater indicates that a layer of permafrost, or water ice, lies just a few meters under the surface. Explosive impacts heated and liquefied the ice, resulting in the fluid appearance of the ejecta.
Ojha and his co-authors interpret the spectral signatures as caused by hydrated minerals called perchlorates. The hydrated salts most consistent with the chemical signatures are likely a mixture of magnesium perchlorate, magnesium chlorate and sodium perchlorate. Some perchlorates have been shown to keep liquids from freezing even when conditions are as cold as minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 70 Celsius). On Earth, naturally produced perchlorates are concentrated in deserts, and some types of perchlorates can be used as rocket propellant.
The spectrometer observations show signatures of hydrated salts at multiple RSL locations, but only when the dark features were relatively wide. When the researchers looked at the same locations and RSL weren't as extensive, they detected no hydrated salt.
“Our quest on Mars has been to ‘follow the water,’ in our search for life in the universe, and now we have convincing science that validates what we’ve long suspected,” said John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “This is a significant development, as it appears to confirm that water -- albeit briny -- is flowing today on the surface of Mars.”
Using an imaging spectrometer on MRO, researchers detected signatures of hydrated minerals on slopes where mysterious streaks are seen on the Red Planet. These darkish streaks appear to ebb and flow over time. They darken and appear to flow down steep slopes during warm seasons, and then fade in cooler seasons. They appear in several locations on Mars when temperatures are above minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 23 Celsius), and disappear at colder times.
第一段： 1 火星上曾经存在液态水，两种表面特征 runoff channels and outflow channels 支 持了这个推断 2Runoff channels 的特征 第二段： outflow channels 的特征 第三段： 1 火星上早期可能广泛存在着液态水，这些水的数量极大，甚至有海洋存在 第四段： 提出另个理由对火星上存在液态水的反驳：1.terraces could also have been created by geological activity，2theMartian surface contains too few carbonate rock layers 第五段： 总结全文，得出结论：即使没有直接证据，但 outflow channels 证明火星上过去确 实还是存在水。并推测火星上所有的水实际上现在可能已经封存在其地下的永久冻层中， 并且在极地地区最多。 TPO25-1 The surface of mars 中关于液态水的内容
"We found the hydrated salts only when the seasonal features were widest, which suggests that either the dark streaks themselves or a process that forms them is the source of the hydration. In either case, the detection of hydrated salts on these slopes means that water plays a vital role in the formation of these streaks," said Lujendra Ojha of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, lead author of a report on these findings published Sept. 28 by Nature Geoscience.
注：ejecta (debris formed as a result of an impact) 另外笔者还为各位考生总结了 TPO 中所有的天文类文章，方便大家进行分学科综合整 理。 天文类文章： TPO08-3 Running waters on mars TPO16-3 Plants in our solar system TPO22-3 The Allende meteorite TPO25-1 The surface of mars(与 TPO35-3 重复) TPO36-2 The origin of earth atmosphere 此外，听力部分 TPO30 Lecture3 OG Test 2 中也有关于火星的内容供大家参考 推荐阅读：
hydrated salts would lower the freezing point of a liquid brine, just as salt on roads here on Earth causes ice and snow to melt more rapidly. Scientists say it’s likely a shallow subsurface flow, with enough water wicking to the surface to explain the darkening.
点：huge volcanoes and extensive impact cratering，仅在最后一段对火星表面的水的 存在做了简要的说明。 TPO08-3 主要研究火星表面的水，与 24 日真题更为相似。在此 笔者也帮助各位考生对 TPO08-3 的文章做进一步梳理。
TPO08-3 Running waters on mars 结构分析
Ojha first noticed these puzzling features as a University of Arizona undergraduate student in 2010, using images from the MRO's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE). HiRISE observations now have documented RSL at dozens of sites on Mars. The new study pairs HiRISE observations with mineral mapping by MRO’s Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM).
对于火星上存在液态水的最新研究：
NASA Confirms Evidence That Liquid Water Flows on Today’s Mars(2.15.9.28)
New findings from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) provide the strongest evidence yet that liquid water flows intermittently on present-day Mars.