SSAT阅读 Kaplan3

SECTION 240 QuestionsRead each passage carefully and then answer the questions about it. For each question, decide on the basis of the passage which one of the choices best answers the question.When I was a boy, there was one permanent ambition among my comrades in our village on the west bank of the Mississippi River. That was, to be a steamboat-man. We had transient ambitions of other sorts, but they were only transient. When a circus came and went, it left us all burning to become clowns; the first minstrel show that came to our section left us all5suffering to try that kind of life; now and then we had a hope that if we loved and were good., God would permit us to be pirates. These ambitions faded out, each in its turn; but the ambition to be a steamboat-man always remained.From Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain1.The author’s intent in this passage is toA explain how he chose his adult professionB describe the life of a steamboat-manC convey some of his childhood aspirationsD compare the merits of several different occupationsE present a social history of the Mississippi2.According to the passage, the author considered all of the following as possible careersEXCETPA steamboat-manB clownC minstrelD writerE pirate3.As it is used in line 3,the word “transient” meansA appealingB relativeC short-livedD disastrousE equal4.The author most likely uses the phrase “ all burning to become clowns” in order toA provide an example of the boys’ fleeting ambitionsB illustrate the lack of cultural life in Mississippi.C encourage his readers to follow similar career pathsD clarify why the boys all wanted to be steamboat-menE show the kind of people that traveled on steamboats5.Which of the following best describes the effect of the phrase “if we loved and were good,God would permit us to be pirates”?A PathosB HumorC ExaggerationD MockeryE Rhyme6.The attitude of the author toward the subject isA nostalgicB regretfulC optimisticD cynicalE somber7.The reader can infer from the passage thatA the author and his friends looked forward to leaving the village.B no girls hoped to navigate the river by steamboat.C the author became a steamboat-manD the author regrets not becoming a pirate.E the author disliked growing up on the Mississippi River.Alchemy is the name given to the attempt to change lead, copper, and other metals into silver or gold. Today, alchemy is regarded as a pseudoscience. Its associations with astrology and the occult suggest primitive superstition to the modern mind, and the alchemist is generally portrayed by historians as a charlatan obsessed with dreams of impossible wealth.5 for many centuries, however, alchemy was a highly respected art. In the search for the elusivesecret to making gold, alchemists helped develop many of the apparatuses and procedures that are used in laboratories today. Moreover, the results of their experiments laid the basic conceptual framework of the modern science of chemistry.8.The passage is mainly about theA early history of a scientific field.B manufacture of gold from other metals.C mystery surrounding the origins of chemistry.D links among chemistry, astrology and sociology.E specific results of alchemists’ experiments.9.According to the passage, alchemists are generally portrayed in history books asA wealthy businessmenB rogues motivated by greedC talented but misunderstood individuals.D the ancestors of today’s chemists.E brilliant scientists.10.It can be inferred from the passage that a “charlatan” (line 4)A existed only in the Middle Ages.B is not respected by historiansC practiced an early form of chemistry.D uses his research for criminal purposeE understood the secret to making gold.11.The style of the passage is most like that found in aA scientist’s diary.B novel about alchemists.C history textbook.D newspaper article.E personal letter.12.With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?A Few alchemists ever became wealthy form their work.B Alchemy was a primitive, superstitious field of science.C Alchemy is becoming increasingly respectable among today’s chemists.D Astrology and the occult also deserve consideration as legitimate sciences.E Alchemists helped pave the way for scientists today.13.The following questions are all answered by the passage EXCEPT:A What did a alchemists hope to achieve?B What have alchemists contributed to science?C How do historians view alchemy?D How did alchemist6s turn metals into gold?E Has the general consensus always been that alchemists were charlatans?14.Which of these titles is the most appropriate for the passage?A Alchemy as ArtB Turning Copper to GoldC In Pursuit of WealthD Alchemists: Charlatans or Scientists?E Alchemy’s Contributions to ScienceOn May 18, 1980, in Washington State, the volcano Mount Saint Helens erupted, sending a cloud of dust 15 miles into the air. The explosion was not unexpected; the earth’s crust had shaken for weeks beforehand, providing people in the surrounding area with plenty of advance warning. In spite of these danger signals, no one was prepared for the extent of the 5 blast; over the course of several weeks, the volcano’s eruption ripped the top 1300 feet off themountain, resulting in a landslide that was the largest in recorded history. 540 million tons of ash from the volcano were spread over three states, altering the earth’s weather patterns forseveral years afterward. One thing missing from the initial eruption was fluid lava usually identified with volcanic activity. Later eruptions emitted a thick and oozing lava. Thick lava 10 is easily outrun because it moves extremely slowly. In addition, thick lava creates tallervolcanoes because it often cools and hardens instead of flowing down the volcano’s sides.15.This passage is primarily aboutA the geological history of Washington State.B the difficulty of predicting volcanic activity.C a contrast between different forms of lavaD a story of an unusual geological event.E the factors that cause landslides.16.As used in line 4, the word “advance” meansA ahead of timeB moving forwardC in the pastD undetectedE extremely urgent.17.According to the passage, all of the following were caused by the Mount Saint Helenseruption EXCEPT:A tidal wavesB streams of lavaC a massive landslideD changes in the earth’s climateE the emission of clouds of ash18.It can be inferred from the passage that fluid lava (line 8)A is very thickB creates tall volcanoesC is only found in the United States.D is not easily outrunE destroyed many forests in Washington.19.The author’s style is best described asA surprisedB dramaticC skepticalD informativeE mysterious20.The author most likely mentions “providing people in the surrounding area with plenty ofadvance warning” in order toA show that experts thought they knew what was comingB indicate that no one was hurt in the blast.C criticize people who did not evacuate on time.D describe how experts were not seeing fluid lavaE convey the importance of volcano warning systems.The cowboy of the American West is an enduring icon in popular culture, but Hawaiian cowboys predated their American counterparts by several decades. In 1792, King Kamehameha the Great of Hawaii received gifts of beef cattle, goats, sheep, and horses from Captain George Vancouver. The introduction of these unfamiliar animals caused unrest5 among the native islanders, because the unruly animals often tramped the crops in theirfields. Initially, the king protected his imports from wrathful Hawaiians under kapu laws. But in 1830, KamehamehaⅢdecided to hire a few Spanish vaqueros from California to keep the animals under control. Soon the Hawaiians were riding, roping, and lassoing alongside the Spanish cowboys.21.It can be inferred from the passage that the American cowboyA taught the Hawaiians how to ride and lassoB accompanied the shipment of horses and cattle to HawaiiC did not understand the Hawaiians’ opposition to horses.D emerged in the West later than his counterpart in Hawaii.E was not able to lasso as well as the Hawaiian cowboy.22.According to the passage, all of the following are true about horses and cattle EXCEPTA they were unfamiliar to Hawaiians before 1792.B they were introduced to Hawaii in the 18th century.C they were protected by Hawaiian law.D they were found to be too expensive to import.E they were destructive to Hawaiian property.23.According to the passage, the Hawaiian cowboysⅠwere taught to ride by the Spanish vaqueros.Ⅱexisted earlier than the American cowboysⅢproved better at roping and lassoing than their American counterpart.A ⅠonlyB ⅡonlyC Ⅰand ⅡonlyD Ⅱand ⅢonlyE Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ24.This passage in primarily aboutA the roping of cattleB the history of King KamehhamehaC the Spanish relationship with HawaiiD the history of horses in HawaiiE the introduction of cowboys to Hawaii.25.The attitude of the writer toward the subject isA biasedB condescendingC neutralD elatedE confused26.As it is used in line 6, “wrathful” most nearly meansA tolerant.B enragedC accommodatingD confusedE vengeful27.Which of the following questions is NOT answered by the passage?A How did Hawaiians view Capt. George Vancouver’s gifts?B What effect did the vaqueros have on the animals?C What can be implied about the author’s attitude toward the cowboys?D For how many years did the animals cause unrest in Hawaii?E How did the king use kapu laws in Hawaii to protect animals?In recent years, scientific research has done much to alter long-held beliefs about history.This is particularly true of scholarship surrounding the Silk Road. The Silk Road was a trans-Asian trading roué that extended across two continents, linking China with the center of European trade in the Mediterranean. Most famous for the transport of silk, this ancient5 highway was also the conduit for such items as roses, peaches, gunpowder, and paper.Systems of belief were also passed along the road: the spread of Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam was accelerated by the connection between East and West.Based on historical texts, historians have traditionally believed that the Silk Road was established in 115 B.C.E., yet the recent discovery of a much older piece of silk in Egypt10 suggests that the road was established at least a thousand years earlier. Through carbon dating,scientists dated the fabric of the newly discovered piece of silk to around 1000 B.C.E. In that period, only the Chinese held the secret to silk manufacturing; Mediterranean countries would not develop the technology to manufacture silk until the sixth century C.E. As a result, historians how believe that Asia and Europe may have traded silk via the Silk Road as long 15 ago as the second century B.C.E. –though exactly how traders navigated the plateaus,mountains, and deserts that lie along the route remains a mystery.28.This passage is primarily aboutA the impact of a new discovery on a historical theoryB ancient trading routes between East and West.C the introduction of silk manufacturing to Europe.D conflict between Chinese and Mediterranean traders.E the spread of Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam.29.As used in line 6, the phrase “systems of belief” most likely meansA travel routesB organizationsC languagesD religionsE military secrets30.According to the passage, all of the following were traded along the Silk Road EXCEPTA fabricsB explosivesC fruitD flowersE jewels31.It can be inferred from paragraph 2 that historians believe thatA the silk fragment discovered in Egypt was a fakeB most ancient Egyptian garmentsC the ancient Egyptians were unable to cross plateaus, mountains, or deserts.D carbon dating is not the most accurate method of dating artifacts.E the ancient silk fragment found in Egypt must have been imported from China.32.The author’s style is best described asA surprisedB dramaticC poeticD mysteriousE informative33.According to the passage, it is reasonable to assume thatA civilizations used the Silk Road for more than just trade.B the Silk Road had not been established yet in 200 B.C.E.C historians can say for sure whether the recent silk discovery was from Asia.D the author believes the Silk Road never existed.E if it weren’t for the Silk Road, Mediterranean countries never would have developedsilk-producing technology.During the 15th century, the Belgian city Bruges was the most important commercial city in the north of Europe. Like Florence in Italy, Bruges derived its wealth form wool and banking.Ships brought raw wool there from England and Spain and carried away finished wool cloth, which was celebrated throughout Europe. Bankers came to Bruges on the heels of the wool merchants – among them, representatives of the House of Medici. Soon Bruges became the 5 financial center for all of northern Europe. Merchants from Italy, the Near East, Russia, andSpain all congregated in Bruges. Even though nearby cities such as Ghent and Louvain also flourished, Bruges so outshone them in prosperity that the Duke of Burgundy made that city his capital and moved his court there in the early 15th century.34.As it is used in line 2, the word “derived” most nearly meansA createdB exchangedC investedD obtainedE traveled35.It can be inferred from the text that the arrival of representatives of the House of Medici inBrugesA improved the quality of life for al residents of Bruges.B increased the amount of raw wool brought to Bruges.C required the city to provide official translatorsD secured the status of Bruges as an important financial center.E lowered the level of market a activity in Bruges.36.It can be inferred from the text that the wool brought to BrugesA was of the best quality available in northern EuropeB was not instrumental in Bruges’s growth as a financial center.C was woven into cloth and shipped throughout EuropeD was also sent to rival towns Ghent and LouvainE was as valuable as gold and other precious metals.37.The author most likely mentions “merchants from Italy, the Near East, Russia, and Spain” inorder toA illustrate the variety of merchants involved in the wood trade.B convey the excitement of Europe in the 15th centuryC portray the peaceful cooperation of European countriesD indicate the poverty of trade in those countries.E demonstrate how successful Bruges became38.According to the text, why did the Duke of Burgundy choose Bruges over Ghent and Louvainas the site of his court?A Ghent was on the verge of a financial crisis.B Ghent and Louvain were too far away from BurgundyC Bruges was unquestionably the most wealthy cityD Bruges produced a higher quality of wool fabric.E More painters and musicians lived in Bruges than in other cities.39.Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?A The growth of the wool trade transformed commerce in the Renaissance.B Tired of his court in France, the Duke of Burgundy moved to Bruges.C Wool and banking made Bruges the commercial center of northern Europe.D Bruges outshone Florence in prosperity and cultural diversity.E Most 15th –century cities centered around banking and wool manufacture.40.All of the following are reasons why Bruges was an important city EXCEPTA its prosperity brought prosperity to other cities.B it was a central meeting place for foreign merchantsC it provided a venue for wool traders to exchange merchandiseD it became the heart of banking in the regionE its status as the Belgian capital made it a commercial center.。