【威学教育】王鑫托福阅读TPO23-3阅读文本
【威学教育】王鑫托福阅读TPO27-3阅读文本
【王鑫托福阅读】托福TPO 全集之TPO27-3TPO 27TPO27-3 Predator Prey Cycles1. In paragraph 1, why does the author discuss the moose and wolves on Isle Royale?A To provide an example of predators moving to new habitats by following migrating preyB To show that the interactions between predator populations and prey populations are not always might be expectedC To suggest that prey populations are more influenced by predation than food availability and diseaseD To argue that studies of geographically isolated populations tend not to be useful to naturalists2. The word “rebound” in the passage is closest in meaning to A escapeB recoverC surviveD resist3. Paragraph 2 implies which of the following about experimental environments in which predators become extinct?A They may yield results that do not accurate predict changes of populations in the wild.B In these environments, the prey species is better adapted than the predator species.C These environments are appropriate only for studying small populations of predators and prey.D They are unrealistic because some predators are also the prey of other predators.4. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraphs 2 and 3 about the small mammals that experience population cycles? A Their population cycles are not affected by predators.B Their predators' populations periodically disappear.C They typically undergo ten-year cycles.D They have access to places safe from predators.How do predators affect populations of the prey animals? The answer is not as simple as might be thought. Moose reached Isle Royale in Lake Superior by crossing over winter ice and multiplied freely there in isolation without predators. When wolves later reached the island, naturalists widely assumed that the wolves would play a key role in controlling the moose population. Careful studies have demonstrated, however, that this is not the case. The wolves eat mostly old or diseased animals that would not survive long anyway. In general, the moose population is controlled by food availability, disease and other factors rather than by wolves.When experimental populations are set up under simple laboratory conditions, the predator often exterminates its prey and then becomes extinct itself, having nothing left to eat. However, if safe areas like those prey animals have in the wild are provided, the prey population drops to low level but not extinction. Low prey population levels then provide inadequate food for the predators, causing the predator population to decrease. When this occurs, the prey population can rebound. In this situation the predator and prey population may continue in this cyclical pattern for some time.Population cycles are characteristic of small mammals, and they sometimes appear to be brought about by predators. Ecologists studying hare populations have found that the North American snow shoe hare follows a roughly ten-year cycle. Its numbers fall tenfold to thirty in a typical cycle, and a hundredfold change can occur. Two factors appear to be generating the cycle: food plants and predators.5. The word “roughly” in the passage is closest in meaning toA usuallyB repeatingC approximatelyD observable6. The word “generating” in the passage is closest in meaning toA producingB changingC speeding upD smoothing out7. to paragraph 4, all of the following are true of the food of snowshoe hares EXCEPT A The preferred food fore hares consists of willow and birch twigs.B High fiber food is the most nutritious for hares.C Depletion of the supply of willow and birch twigs cause low birth and growth rates.D The food supply takes two or three years to recover8. The word “conjunction” in the passage is closest in meaning to A determinationB combinationC alternationD transformation9. According to paragraph 5, which of the following statements best characterizes the abundance cycle of the Canada lynx?A It closely follows the cycle the snowshoe hare.B When the numbers of lynx fall, the numbers of snowshoe hares soon decrease.The preferred foods of snowshoe hares are willow and birch twigs. As hare density increases, the quantity of these twigs decreases, forcing the hares to feed on low-quality high-fiber food. Lower birth rates, low juvenile survivorship, and low growth rates follow, so there is a corresponding decline in hare abundance. Once the hare population has declined, it takes two to three year for the quantity of twigs to recover.A key predator of the snowshoe hare is the Canada lynx. The Canada lynx shows a ten-year cycle of abundance that parallels the abundance cycle of hares. As hare numbers fall, so do lynx numbers, as their food supply depleted.What causes the predator-prey oscillations? Do increasing number of hares lead to overharvesting of plants, which in turn results in reduced hare populations, or do increasing numbers of lynx lead to overharvesting hares? Field experiments carried out by Charles Krebs and coworkers in 1992 provide an answer. Krebs investigated experimental plots in Canada's Yukon territory that contained hare populations. When food was added to those plots (no food effect) and predators were excluded (no predator effect) from an experimental area, hare numbers increased tenfold and stayed there—the cycle was lost. However, the cycle was retained if either of the factorsC When hare numbers decrease, lynx numbers increase.D It is not clearly related to the availability of lynx food.10. According to paragraph 6, which of the following was true of the hare population cycle in Krebs's experiment?A The effects of providing food while at the same time introducing predators cancelled each other, so there was no cycle.B The cycle existed when either the food supply was limited or there were predators.C There was a cycle when there were no predators and food was supplied.D If the hares had places to hide from the lynx, the hare population increased tenfold and then remained at that level.11. According to paragraph 7, which of the following statements correctly characterizes the effect of sea stars on the ecosystem in which they are predators of bivalves?A Bivalve population are kept low, allowing species that compete with bivalves to survive.B The numbers of most species of bivalves are greatly reduced, leaving the bivalve species that is the strongest competitor to dominate among the survivors.C Biological diversity begins to decrease because many bivalve species disappear.D Sea stars dominate at first but then die off because of the depleted food supply.12. According to paragraph 7, which of the following is true of the phenomenon of competitor exclusion?A It results in more diverse communities.B It requires the presence of predators.C It affects all competitions equally.D It happens only when there is a dominant competitor.was allowed to operate alone: if predators were excluded but food was not added (food effect alone), or if food was added in the presence of predators (predator effect alone). Thus both factors can affect the cycle, which, in practice, seems to be generated by conjunction of the two factors.K作义/ 产Predators are an essential factor in maintaining communities that are rich and diverse in species. Without predators, the species that is the best competitor for food, shelter, nesting sites, and other environmental resources tends to dominate and exclude the species with which it competes. This phenomenon is known as “competitor exclusion”. However, i f the community contains a predator of the strongest competitor species, then the population of that competitor is controlled. Thus even the less competitive species are able to survive. For example, sea stars prey on a variety of bivalve mollusks and prevent these bivalves from monopolizing habitats on the sea floor. This opens up space for many other organisms. When sea stars are removed, speciesdiversity falls sharply. Therefore, from the stand point of diversity, it is usually a mistake to eliminate a major predator from a community.Predators are an essential factor in maintaining communities that are rich and diverse in species. Without predators, the species that is the best competitor for food, shelter, nesting sites, and other environmental resources tends to dominate and exclude the species with which it competes. (This phenomenon is known as “competitor exclusion”. (However, if the community contains a predator of the strongest competitor species, then the population of that competitor is controlled. (Thus even the less competitive species are able to survive. (For example, sea stars prey on a variety of bivalve mollusks and prevent these bivalves from monopolizing habitats on the sea floor. This opens up space for many other organisms. When sea stars are removed, species diversity falls sharply. Therefore, from the stand point of diversity, it is usually a mistake to eliminate a major predator from a community.13. Look at the four squares [(] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?As a result, there are not enough of the strong competitions to monopolize the environment’ s resources.14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. The relationships between predators and prey are complex.A. Studies of the interactions between wolves and moose on Isle Royale in Lake Superior reveal that wolf predation is not the primary factor controlling the moose population.B. Ecologists are interested in studying predator-prey population cycles because understanding how predators and prey interact will allow better wildlife management programs.C. Predators help maintain biological diversity by limiting populations of a dominant competitor species, thereby preventing that species from excluding others.D. In predator-prey population cycles, predator populations increase or decrease following similar population changes in the species they prey on.E. A species’ population tends to rise and falls in a cycle pattern if the food supply for the population is limited, or if the population has a major predator.F. The removal of sea stars reduces the diversity of the community in which they are predators, and is therefore a bad idea.。
【托福写作备考】TPO23综合写作文本及解析
【托福写作备考】TPO23综合写作文本及解析TPO 23综合写作的阅读材料：Populations of the yellow cedar, a species of tree that is common innorthwestern North America, have been steadily declining for more than a centurynow, since about 1880. Scientists have advanced several hypotheses to explainthis decline.译文：黄杉是北美西北部常见的树木。
但是从1880年开始的一个多世纪以来，黄杉的数量在逐渐减少。
目前，科学家提出了几个假说来解释黄杉数量的下降。
One hypothesis is that the yellow cedar decline may be caused by insectparasites, specifically the cedar bark beetle. This beetle is known to attackcedar trees; the beetle larvae eat the wood. There have been recorded instancesof sustained beetle attacks overwhelming and killing yellow cedars, so thisinsect is a good candidate for the cause of the tree’s decline.译文：其中一个假说认为黄杉数量下降是由以衫皮甲虫为代表的寄生害虫导致。
这种甲虫据了解是以杉树皮为食，而其幼虫则以木质部分为食。
史上不乏对于甲虫侵蚀和导致黄杉大量死亡的记录。
因为，这种甲虫很可能是黄杉数量减少的原因。
【威学教育】王鑫托福阅读TPO24-3阅读文本
【王鑫托福阅读】托福TPO 全集之TPO24-3TPO 24TPO24-3 Moving into Pueblos1. The word traumatic meaning to A Essential B highly stressful C highly unusual D unwise2. The word intense in the passage is closest in meaning to A strongB questionableC obviousD deliberate3. According to paragraph 1, before the thirteenth century the people of southwestern North America lived in households that A shared daily chores with neighboring households B occupied dwellings that were built into the sides of cliffsC were largely free to conduct their lives as they pleasedD enforced mon standards of behavior and cooperative conduct within their munitiesIn the Mesa Verde area of the ancient North American Southwest, living patterns changed in the thirteenth century, with large numbers of people moving into large munal dwellings called pueblos, often constructed at the edges of canyons, especially on the sides of cliffs. Abandoning small extended-family households to move into these large pueblos with dozens if not hundreds of other people wasprobably traumatic. Few of the cultural traditions and rules that today allow us to deal with dense populations existed for these people accustomedto household autonomy and the ability to move around the landscape almost at will. And besides the awkwardness of having to share walls with neighbors, living in aggregated pueblos introduced other problems. For people in cliff dwellings, hauling water, wood, and food to their homes was a major chore. The stress on local resources, especially in the firewood needed for daily cooking and warmth, was particularly intense, and conditions in aggregated pueblos were not very hygienic.4. Which of the following best indicates the organization of paragraph 1?A It presents the conditions that caused a change in a population' s living patterns and then explains why those conditions got worse.B It identifies certain present-day cultural traditions and rules and then traces them to their roots in the thirteenth century.C It casts doubt on one explanation of the move to pueblos and then introduces an alternative explanation that the passage will defend.D It describes a major change in a population's living patterns and then presents a number of problems that resulted from that change.5. According to paragraph 3, which of the following Given all the disadvantages of living in aggregated was one of the consequences of increasing population towns, why did people in the thirteenth century move densities?A People were increasingly crowded into into these closely packed quarters? For transitions of collections of large housing units. such suddenness, archaeologists consider either pullB People stopped planting crops that have relatively factors (benefits that drew families together) or push low yields. factors (some external threat or crisis that forcedC Domestic buildings were pushed beyond the canyonpeople to aggregate). In this case, push explanationslimits. dominate.D The natural landscape was destroyed.6. Which of the sentences below best expresses the♦Population growth is considered a particularlyessential information in the highlighted sentence ininfluential push. After several generations ofthe passage?Incorrect choices change the meaning inpopulation growth, people packed the landscape inimportant ways or leave out essential information.densities so high that munal pueblos may haveA Some scholars even claim that the intensification ofbeen a necessary oute. Around Sand Canyon, forfarmers' various efforts during the 1200s led to furtherexample, populations grew from 5 -12 people perpopulation growth and the consequent need for more arable land.square kilometer in the tenth century to as many as 30 -50 by the 1200s. As densities increased, domesticB Evidence of intensifying agriculture in the 1200sarchitecture became larger, culminating in crowdedindicates a need to feed a larger population and so pueblos. Some scholars expand on this idea byextends the argument that a growing population wasemphasizing a corresponding need for arable land tothe cause of the move to pueblos.feed growing numbers of people: construction oiC During the 1200s, farmers met the demand for moresmall dams, reservoirs, terraces, and field housesarable land, but they also succeeded in cultivatingindicates that farmers were intensifying their effortsexisting land more intensively with the help ofduring the 1200s. petition for good farmland mayagricultural construction projects.also have prompted people to bond together to assertD Some scholars feel strongly that the construction ofrights over the best fields.small dams, reservoirs, terraces, and field houses in the thirteenth century is independent evidence for growth in the number of people.7. The word transition in the passage is closest in meaning toA changeB climateC declineD problem8. Why does the author state that "Growing food at these elevations is always difficult because of the short growing season"?A To explain why the higher elevations were always relatively sparsely populatedB To suggest that any worsening of conditions would have significant consequencesC To emphasize how resourceful the people growing food at these elevations wereD To argue that farming was not the primary source of food at high elevationsAnother important push was the onset of the Little Ice Age, a climatic phenomenon that led to cooler temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere. Although the height of the Little Ice Age was still around the corner, some evidence suggests that temperatures were falling during the thirteenth century. The environmental changes associated withthis transition are not fully understood, but people living closest to the San Juan Mountains, to the northeast of Mesa Verde, were affected first. Growing food at these elevations is always difficult because of the short growing season. As the Little Ice Age progressed, farmers probably moved their fields to lower elevations, infringing on the lands of other farmers and pushing people together, thus contributing to the aggregations. Archaeologists identify a corresponding shift in populations toward the south and west toward Mesa Verde and away from higher elevations.9. the Little Ice發According to paragraph 4, what did farmers do in response to falling temperatures during t卜 Age?A Moved to areas away from Mesa VerdeB Moved closer to the northeastern part of Mesa VerdeC Began to cultivate crops adapted to a short growing seasonD Gave up the cultivation of the highest-lying lands10. According to paragraph 5, major ceremonial events we「e occasions forA leaders to persuade people from the countryside to move into a puebloB farmers to collect information about where crops could be reliably grownC people to develop better techniques for producing pottery and craftsD people in the early Puebloan era to share farm and craft products11. According to paragraph 5, which of the following was a reason people in the Mesa Verde area formed munal villages in the thirteenth century?A The climate in the Mesa Verde area became more locally diverse.B Individuals were no longer interested in exchanging pottery and food.C Cooperation between people became more important for survival.D Bad years of farming began to occur more frequently.12. Paragraph 5 supports which of the following statements about cooperation among the people in the Mesa Verde area from the eleventh through the thirteenth century? A Cooperation allowed many households to give up farming and to specialize in making pottery and crafts.B People went from exchanging food and crafts they individually produced to sharing in a cooperative effort to produce as much food as possible.C Overtime there was less cooperation as farmers peted with each other for trade with distant areas.D Individuals stopped cooperating with each other because they did not have enough food for themselves.In the face of all these pushes, people in the Mesa Verde area had yet another reason to move into munal villages: the need for greater cooperation.Sharing and cooperation were almost certainly part of early Puebloan life, even for people living in largely independent single-household residences scattered across the landscape. Archaeologists find that even the most isolated residences during the eleventh and twelfth centuries obtained some pottery, and probably food, from some distance away, while major ceremonial events were opportunities for sharing food and crafts. Scholars believe that this cooperation allowed people to contend with a patchy environment in which precipitation and other resources varied across the landscape: if you produce a lot of food one year, you might trade it for pottery made by a distant ally who is having difficulty with crops—and the next year, the flow of goods might go in the opposite direction. But all of this appears to have changed thirteenth century. Although the climate remained as unpredictable as ever between one year and the next, it became much less locally diverse. In a bad year for farming, everyone was equally affected. No longer was it helpful to share widely. Instead, the most sensible thing would be for neighbors to bine efforts to produce as much food as possible, and thus aggregated towns were a sensible arrangement.In the Mesa Verde area of the ancient North American Southwest, living patterns changed in the thirteenth century, with large numbers of people moving into large munal dwellings called pueblos, often constructed at the edges of canyons, especially on the sides of cliffs. Abandoning small extended-family households to move into these large pueblos with dozens if not hundreds of other people was probably traumatic. Few of the culturaltraditions and rules that today allow us to deal with dense populations existed for these people accustomed tohousehold autonomy and the ability to move around the landscape almostat will. | And besides theawkwardness of having to share walls with neighbors, living in aggregated1 pueblos introduced otherproblems. | For people in cliff dwellings, hauling water, wood, and food totheir homes was a majorchore. | The stress on local resources, especially in the firewood needed for daily cooking and warmth, wasparticularly intense, and conditions in aggregated pueblos were not very hygienic. |13. Look at the four squares [| ] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square to add the sentence to the passage.Performing everyday household tasks required more effort.14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. plete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage.This question is worth 2 points. In the thirteenth century, the people in the Mesa Verde area went from living in scattered independent households to living in large pueblos. A. Because the thirteenth-century inhabitants of the Mesa Verde area did not have the cultural expectations of today's city dwellers, they easily adapted to munal life.A. Even though living in pueblos had disadvantages, the population of the area had grown so large that there may have been no other arrangement that would have met its needs.B. From the eleventh century onward, farmers began to increase food production on existing farmland and started bringing more land under cultivation.C. A development that contributed to increasing population densities was a cooling climate that led many people to leave the coldest areas and crowd into climatically more favorable areas.D. The primary reason for moving to pueblos was the social benefits associated with munal life.E. People were brought together by the need to produce food cooperatively, as the use of food surpluses in one place to relieve shortages in another ended due to a change in climate.。
【威学教育王鑫整理出品】托福TPO8-3阅读文本
【王鑫托福阅读】托福TPO 8-3阅读文本TPO 8TPO8-3 Running Water on Mars1. The word “merge” in the passage is closest in meaning toA. expandB. separateC. straighten outD. combine2. What does the discussion in paragraph 1 of runoff channels in the southern highlands suggest about Mars?A. The atmosphere of Mars was once thinner than it is today.B. Large amounts of rain once fell on parts of Mars.C. The river systems of Mars were once more extensive than Earth's.D. The rivers of Mars began to dry up about 4 billion years ago.3. The word “relics” in the passage is closest in meaning toA. remainsB. sitesC. requirementsD. sources4. The word “miniature” in the passage is closest in meaning toA. temporaryB. smallC. multipleD. familiarPhotographic evidence suggests that liquid water once existed in great quantity on the surface of Mars. Two types of flow features are seen: runoff channels and outflow channels. Runoff channels are found in the southern highlands. These flow features are extensive systems—sometimes hundreds of kilometers in total length—of interconnecting, twisting channels that seem to merge into larger, wider channels. They bear a strong resemblance to river systems on Earth, and geologists think that they are dried-up beds of long-gone rivers that once carried rainfall on Mars from the mountains down into the valleys. Runoff channels on Mars speak of a time 4 billion years ago (the age of the Martian highlands), when the atmosphere was thicker, the surface warmer, andliquid water widespread.Outflow channels are probably relics of catastrophic flooding on Mars long ago. They appear only in equatorial regions and generally do not form extensive interconnected networks. Instead, they are probably the paths taken by huge volumes of water draining from the southern highlands into the northern plains. The onrushing water arising from these flash floods likely also formed the odd teardrop-shaped “islands” (resembling the miniature versions seen in the wet sand of our beaches at low tide) that have been found on the plains close to the ends of the outflow channels. Judging from the width and depth of the channels, the flow rates must have been truly enormous—perhaps as much as a hundred times greater than the 105 tons per second carried by the great Amazon river. Flooding shaped the outflow channels approximately 3 billion years ago, about the same times as the northern volcanic plains formed.5.In paragraph 2, why does the author include the information that 105 tons of water flow through the Amazon river per second?A. To emphasize the great size of the volume of water that seems to have flowed through Mars' outflow channelsB. To indicate data used by scientists to estimate how long ago Mars' outflow channels were formedC. To argue that flash floods on Mars may have been powerful enough to cause tear-shaped “islands” to formD. To argue that the force of flood waters on Mars was powerful enough to shape the northern volcanic plains6. According to paragraph 2, all of the following are true of the outflow channels on Mars EXCEPT:A. They formed at around the same time that volcanic activity was occurring on the northern plains.B. They are found only on certain parts of the Martian surface.C. They sometimes empty onto what appear to have once been the wet sands of tidal beaches.D. They are thought to have carried water northward from the equatorial regions.7. All of the following questions about geological features on Mars are answered in paragraph 3 EXCEPT:A. What are some regions of Mars that may have once been covered with an ocean?B. Where do mission scientists believe that the river forming the delta emptied?〔.Approximately how many craters on Mars do mission scientists believe may once have been lakes filled with water?D. During what period of Mars' history do some scientists think it may have had large bodies of water?Some scientists speculate that Mars may have enjoyed a n extended ear ly Pe riod dur ing wh ich rive rs, lakes , and perhaps even oceans adorned its surface. A 2003 Mars Global Surveyor image shows what mission specialists think may be a delta —a fan-shaped network of channels and sediments where a river once flowed into a larger body of water, in this case a lake filling a crater in the southern highlands. Other researchers go even further, suggesting that the data provide evidence for large open expenses of water on the early Martian surface. A computer-generated view of the Martian north polar region shows the extent of what may have been an ancient ocean covering much of the northern lowlands. The Hellas Basin, which measures some 3,000 kilometers across and has a floor that lies nearly 9 kilometers below the basin’ s rim, is another candidate for an ancient Martian sea.8. According to paragraph 3, images of Mars' surface have been interpreted as support for the idea thatA. the polar regions of Mars were once more extensive than they are nowB. a large part of the northern lowlands may once have been under waterC. deltas were once a common feature of the Martian landscapeD. the shape of the Hellas Basin has changed considerably over time9. 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. But detractors argue that geological activity may be responsible for the water associated with the terraces.B. But detractors argue that the terraces may have been formed by geological activity rather than by the presence of water.C. But detractors argue that the terraces may be related to geological forces in the Northern Hemisphere of Mars, rather than to Martian water in the south.D. But detractors argue that geological forces depressed the Northern Hemisphere so far below the level of the south that the terraces could not have been formed by water.10. According to paragraph 4, what do the 2003 Global Surveyor data suggest about Mars?A.Ancient oceans on Mars contained only small amounts of carbon.A. The climate of Mars may not have been suitable for the formation of large bodies of water.B. Liquid water may have existed on some parts of Mars' surface for long periods of time.These ideas remain controversial. Proponents point to features such as the terraced “beaches” shown in one image, which could conceivably have been left behind as a lake or ocean evaporated and the shoreline receded. But detractors maintain that the terraces could also have been created by geological activity, perhaps related to the geologic forces that depressed the Northern Hemisphere far below the level of the south, in which case they have nothing whatever to do with Martian water. Furthermore, Mars Global Surveyor data released in 2003 seem to indicate that the Martian surface contains too few carbonate rock layers—layers containing compounds of carbon and oxygen—that should have been formed in abundance in an ancient ocean. Their absence supports the picture of a cold, dry Mars that never experienced the extended mild period required to form lakes and oceans. However, more recent data imply that at least some parts of the planet did in fact experience long periods in the past during which liquid water existed on the surface.C. The ancient oceans that formed on Mars dried up during periods of cold, dry weather.(hints” in the passage is closest in11.The word meaning toA. cluesB. featuresC. argumentsD. effectsAside from some small-scale gullies (channels) found since 2000, whi ch are inconclusive, astronomers have no direct evidence for liquid water anywhere on the surface of Mars today, and the amount of water vapor in the Martian atmosphere is tiny. Yet even setting aside the unproven hints of ancient oceans, the extent of the outflow channels suggests that a huge total volume of water existed on Mars in the past. Where did all the water go? The answer may be that virtually all the water on Mars is now locked in the permafrost layer under the surface, with more contained in the planet’ s polar caps.Outflow channels are probably relics of catastrophic flooding on Mars long ago. ■They appear only in equatorial regions and generally do not form extensive interconnected networks. ■Instead, they are probably the pathstaken by huge volumes of water draining from the southern highlands into the northern plains. ■The onrushingwater arising from these flash floods likely also formed the odd teardrop-shaped "islands” (resembling t he miniature versions seen in the wet sand of our beaches at low tide) that have been found on the plains close tothe ends of the outflow channels. ■Judging from the width and depth of the channels, the flow rates must havebeen truly enormous—perhaps as much as a hundred times greater than the 105 tons per second carried by the great Amazon river. Flooding shaped the outflow channels approximately 3 billion years ago, about the same times as the northern volcanic plains formed.1. Look at the four s quares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?These landscape features differ from runoff channels in a number of ways.2. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. There is much debate concerning whether Mars once had water.A. Mars' runoff and outflow channels are large-scale, distinctive features that suggest that large quantities of liquid water once flowed on Mars.B. Although some researchers claim that Mars may once have had oceans, others dispute this, pointing to an absence of evidence or offering alternative interpretations of evidence.C. Various types of images have been used to demonstrate that most of Martian surface contains evidence of flowing water.D. The runoff and outflow channels of Mars apparently carried a higher volume of water and formed more extensive networks than do Earth's river systems.E. There is very little evidence of liquid water on Mars today, and it is assumed that all the water that once existed on the planet is frozen beneath its surface.F. While numerous gullies have been discovered on Mars since 2000, many astronomers dismiss them as evidence that Mars once had liquid water.。
【威学教育】王鑫托福阅读TPO33-1阅读文本
【王鑫托福阅读】托福TPO全集之TPO33-1TPO33TPO33-1 The First Civilizations1. The phrase “culminated in” in the passage is closest in meaning toA reached a high point withB logically followed fromC partly contributed toD marked2. According to paragraph 2, which of the following statements is true of early farmers?A They used farming to supplement other food sources.B They were driven out of small communities.C They were victims of flooding.D They farmed several plots of land at once.3. The word “undoubtedly” in the passage is closest in meaning toA increasinglyB certainlyC in generalD apparently4. According to paragraph 2, what are TWO reasons why farmers chose river valleys for cultivation? To receive credit you must select TWO answer choices.A The soils in river valleys were rich in nutrients.B The crops grown in river valleys were not completely dependent on rainwater.C Farming techniques could not be easily applied to soils far from rivers.D The heavier weight of river soil resulted in more reliable harvests.5. The word “enhance” in the passage is closest in meaning to A serveEvidence suggests that an important stimulus behind the rise of early civilizations was the development of settled agriculture, which unleashed a series of changes in the organization of human communities that culminated in the rise of large ancient empires.The exact time and place that crops were first cultivated successfully is uncertain. Many prehistorians believe that farming may have emerged in dependently in several different areas of the world when small communities, driven by increasing population and a decline in available food resources, began to plant seeds in the ground in an effort to guarantee their survival. The first farmers, who may have lived as long as 10,000 years ago, undoubtedly used simple techniques and still relied primarily on other forms of food production, such as hunting, foraging, or pastoralism. The real breakthrough took place when farmers began to cultivate crops along the floodplains of river systems. The advantage was that crops grown in such areas were not as dependent on rainfall and therefore produced a more reliable harvest. An additional benefit was that the sediment carried by the river waters deposited nutrients in the soil, thus enabling the farmer to cultivate a single plot of ground for many years without moving to a new location. Thus, the first truly sedentary (that is, nonmigratory) societies were born. As time went on, such communities gradually learned how to direct the flow of water to enhance the productive capacity of the land, while the introduction of the iron plow eventually led to the cultivation of heavy soils not previously susceptible to agriculture.6. B improve C control D protectThe word “provoked” in the passage is closest in meaning toA securedB coordinatedC modeledD brought about7. According to paragraph 3, which of the following is NOT a reason why governments first arose among agricultural communities?A A significant increase in populationB The desire to control water resources for irrigationC The need for protection from outside forcesD The demand for organized communication with other communities8. According to paragraph 4, what is not known about the rise of the first civilizations?A Where the first steps toward civilization took placeB Who was allowed to replac e “big men” after the “big men” diedC Why some individuals became recognized as leadersD How governments emerged9. What is the relationship between paragraphs 3 and 4 in the passage?A Paragraph 3 explains why a need for leadership arose in early civilizations, and paragraph 4 describes how that leadership developed.B Paragraph 3 suggests that agriculture was first practiced in Asia and Africa, and paragraph 4 discusses how it might have later spread to the rest of the world.C Paragraph 3 describes several methods of early government, and paragraph4 gives an extended example of one of them.D Paragraph 3 discusses a cause of the spread of river valley agriculture in early civilizations, and paragraph 4 discusses a门 effect.The spread of this river valley agriculture in various parts of Asia and Africa was the decisive factor in the rise of the first civilizations. The increase in food production in these regions led to a significant growth in population, while efforts to control the flow of water to maximize the irrigation of cultivated areas and to protect the local inhabitants from hostile forces outside the community provoked the first steps toward cooperative activities on a large scale. The need to oversee the entire process brought about the emergence of an elite that was eventually transformed into a government.The first clear steps in the rise of the first civilizations took place in the fourth and third millennia B.C. in Mesopotamia, northern Africa, India,and China. How the first governments took shape in these areas is not certain, but anthropologists studying the evolution of human communities in various parts of the world have discovered that one common stage in the process is the emergence of what are called “big men” within a single village or a collection of villages. By means of their military prowess, dominant personalities, or political talents, these people gradually emerge as the leaders of that community. In time, the “big men” become formal symbols of authority and pass on that authority to others within their own family. As the communities continue to grow in size and material wealth, the “big men” assume hereditary status, and their allies and family members are transformed into a hereditary monarchy.10.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 Some cities were associated with economic activities, while others were government or religious centers.B Emerging cities generally served strategic administrative, economic, and religious purposes.C The creation of an economic or administrative activity led to the emergence of a city for its proper supervision.D Some cities emerged as economic centers and later became the sites of administrative or religious activities.11. Paragraph 5 suggests that which of the following was a consequence of the emergence of cities?A The decentralization of authorityB An increase in religious activityC The emergence of service- and production-related jobsD A decreased reliance on mineral resources12. According to paragraph 5, why were huge walls built around early royal palaces?A To protect the inhabitants from invadersB To mark the urban areasC To separate the ruling class from the rest of the populationD To represent the prosperity of a cityThe appearance of these sedentary societies had a major impact on the social organizations, religious beliefs, and way of life of the peoples living within their boundaries. With the increase in population and the development of centralized authority came the emergence of the cities. While some of these urban centers were identified with a particular economic function, such as proximity to gold or iron deposits or a strategic location on a major trade route, others served primarily as administrative centers or the site of temples for the official cult or other ritual observances. Within these cities, new forms of livelihood appeared to satisfy the growing need for social services and consumer goods. Some people became artisans or merchants, while others became warriors, scholars, or priests. In some cases, the physical division within the first cities reflected the strict hierarchical character of the society as a whole, with a royal palace surrounded by an imposing wall and separate from the remainder of the urban population. In other instances, such as the Indus River Valley, the cities lacked a royal precinct and the ostentatious palaces that marked their contemporaries elsewhere.The appearance of these sedentary societies had a major impact on the social organizations, religious beliefs, and way of life of the peoples living within their boundaries. ■With the increase in population and the development of centralized authority ca me the emergence of the cities. ■While some of these urban centers were identified with a particular economic function, such as proximity to gold or iron deposits or a strategic location on a major trade route, others served primarily as administrative centers or the site of temples for the official cult or other ritual observances. ■Within these cities, new forms of livelihood appeared to satisfy the growing need for socialservices and consumer goods. ■Some people became artisans or merchants, while others became warriors, scholars, or priests. In some cases, the physical division within the first cities reflected the strict hierarchical character of the society as a whole, with a royal palace surrounded by an imposing wall and separate from the remainder of the urban population. In other instances,such as the Indus River Valley, the cities lacked a royal precinct and the ostentatious palaces that marked their contemporaries elsewhere.13. Look at the four squares [| ] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?This was accompanied by increased professional specialization.14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some answer choices do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This questions is worth 2 points. The practice of settled agriculture in some areas of Asia and Africa was crucial to the development of early civilizations.Answer ChoicesA. Prehistorians disagree as to whether early farmers first cultivated crops along floodplains or first tried cultivating crops in less successful environments.B. Cultivation in fertile river valleys resulted in predictable harvests, which meant that farmers no longer needed to migrate constantly in search of food.C. Because crops could be cultivated more successfully where farmers were not completely dependent on rainfall, hostilities between groups arose over control of the river systems.D. The need to organize the effort to ensure the food supply and defend the land led to the formation of elite supervising groups that eventually became the first governments.E. Increasingly centralized forms of administration resulted in the emergence of social classes and in the development of cities as trade, administration, or religious centers.F. Unlike other early civilizations, those that developed in the Indus River Valley did not have any spectacular palaces or areas for exclusive use by the authorities.。
【威学教育王鑫】托福阅读TPO2-1文本
【王鑫托福阅读】TPO2-1阅读文本TPO2TPO2-1 Desert Formation1. The word threatened in the passage is closest in meaning toA. RestrictedB. EndangeredC. PreventedD. Rejected2. According to paragraph 3, the loss of natural vegetation has which of the following consequences for soil?A. Increased stony contentB. Reduced water absorptionC. Increased numbers of spaces in the soilD. Reduced water runoffThe deserts, which already occupy approximately a fourth of the Earth's land surface, have in recent decades been increasing at an alarming pace. The expansion of desert like conditions into areas where they did not previously exist is called desertification. It has been estimated that an additional one-fourth of the Earth's land surface is threatened by this process.Desertification is accomplished primarily through the loss of stabilizing natural vegetation and the subsequent accelerated erosion of the soil by windand water. In some cases the loose soil is blown completely away, leaving a stony surface. In other cases, the finer particles may be removed, while the sand-sized particles are accumulated to form mobile hills or ridges of sand.Even in the areas that retain a soil cover, the reduction of vegetation typically results in the loss of the soil's ability to absorb substantial quantities of water. The impact of raindrops on the loose soil tends to transfer fine clay particles into the tiniest soil spaces, sealing them and producing a surface that allows very little water penetration. Water absorption is greatly reduced; consequently runoff is increased, resulting in accelerated erosion rates. The gradual drying of the soil caused by its diminished ability to absorb water results in the further loss of vegetation, so that a cycle of progressive surface deterioration is established.In some regions, the increase in desert areas is occurring largely as the result of a trend toward drier climatic conditions. Continued gradual global warming has produced an increase in aridity for some areas over the past few thousand years. The process may be accelerated in subsequent decades if global warming resulting from air pollution seriously increases.3. The word delicate in the passage is closest in meaning toA. FragileB. PredictableC. ComplexD. Valuable4. According to paragraph 5, in dry periods, border areas have difficultyA. Adjusting to stresses created by settlementB. Retaining their fertility after desertificationC. Providing water for irrigating cropsD. Attracting populations in search of food and fuel5. The word progressively in the passage is closest in meaning toA. OpenlyB. ImpressivelyC. ObjectivelyD. Increasingly6. According to paragraph 6, which of the following is often associated with raising crops?A. Lack of proper irrigation techniquesB. Failure to plant crops suited to the particular areaC. Remova丨 of the original vegetationD. Excessive use of dried animal waste;mlluwmg isThere is little doubt, however, that desertification in most areas results primarily from human activities rather than natural processes. The semiarid lands bordering the deserts exist in a delicate ecological balance and are limited in their potential to adjust to increased environmental pressures. Expanding populations are subjecting the land to increasing pressures to provide them with food and fuel. In wet periods, the land may be able to respond to these stresses. During the dry periods that are common phenomena along the desert margins, though, the pressure on the land is often far in excess of its diminished capacity, and desertification results.Four specific activities have been identified as major contributors to the desertification processes: overcultivation, overgrazing, firewood gathering, and overirrigation. The cultivation of crops has expanded into progressively drier regions as population densities have grown. These regions are especially likely to have periods of severe dryness, so that crop failures are common. Since the raising of most crops necessitates the prior removalof the natural vegetation, crop failures leave extensive tracts of land devoid of a plant cover and susceptible to wind and water erosion.7.The phrase devoid of in the passage is closest in meaning to A Consisting of B Hidden by C Except for D Lacking inThe raising of livestock is a major economic activity in semiarid lands, where grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation.The consequences of an excessive number of livestock grazing in an area are the reduction of the vegetation cover and the trampling and pulverization of the soil. This is usually followed by the drying of the soil and accelerated erosion.Firewood is the chief fuel used for cooking and heating in many countries. The increased pressures of expanding populations have led to the removal of woody plants so that many cities and towns are surrounded by large areas completely lacking in trees and shrubs. The increasing use of dried animal waste as a substitute fuel has also hurt the soil because this valuable soil conditioner and source of plant nutrients is no longer being returned to the land.D.Bring salts to the surfaceThe final major human cause of desertification is soil salinization resulting from overirrigation. Excess water from irrigation sinks down into the water table. If no drainage system exists, the water table rises, bringing dissolved salts to the surface. The water evaporates and the salts are left behind, creating a white crustal layer that prevents air and water from reaching the underlying soil.9. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as contributing to desertification EXCEPTA. Soil erosionB. Global warmingC. Insufficient irrigationD. The raising of livestock10. 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. Desertification is a significant problem because it is so hard to reverse and affects large areas of land and great numbers of people.B. Slowing down the process of desertification is difficult because of population growth that has spread over large areas of land.C. The spread of deserts is considered a very serious problem that can be solved only if large numbers of people in various countries are involved in the effort.D. Desertification is extremely hard to reverse unless the population is reduced in the vast areas affected.The extreme seriousness of desertification results from the vast areas of land and the tremendous numbers of people affected, as well as from the great difficulty of reversing or even slowing the process.Once the soil has been removed by erosion, only the passage of centuries or millennia will enable new soil to form. In areas where considerable soil still remains, though, a rigorously enforced program of land protection and cover-crop planting may make it possible to reverse the present deterioration of the surface.11. It can be inferred from the passage that the author most likely believes which of the following about the future of desertification?A. Governments will act quickly to control further desertification.B. The factors influencing desertification occur in cycles and will change in the future.C. Desertification will continue to increase.D. Desertification will soon occur in all areas of the world■The raising of livestock is a major economic activity in semiarid lands, where grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation.^The consequences of an excessive number of livestock grazing in an area are the reduction of the vegetation cover and the trampling and pulverization of the soil. ■This is usually followed by the drying of the soil and accelerated erosion._12. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?This economic reliance on livestock in certain regions makes large tracts of land susceptible to overgrazing.13. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some answer choices do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. Many factors have contributed to the great increase in desertification in recent decades.A. Growing human populations and the agricultural demands that come with such growth have upset the ecological balance in some areas and led to the spread of deserts.B. As periods of severe dryness have become more common, failures of a number of different crops have increased.C. Excessive numbers of cattle and the need for firewood for fuel have reduced grasses and trees, leaving the land unprotected and vulnerable.D. Extensive irrigation with poor drainage brings salt to the surface of the soil, a process that reduces water and air absorption.E. Animal dung enriches the soil by providing nutrients for plant growth.F. Grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation in semiarid lands.。
威学教育王鑫托福阅读TPO33阅读文本
【王鑫托福阅读】托福TPO3-3阅读文本TPO3TPO3-3 The Long Term Stability of Ecosystems1. The word “particular” in the passage is closest in meaning toA. naturalB. finalC. specificD. complex2. According to paragraph 1, which of the following is NOT true of climax communitiesA. They occur at the end of a succession.B. They last longer than any other type of community.C. The numbers of plants in them and the mix of species do not change.D. They remain stable for at least 500 years at a time.3. According to paragraph 2, which of the following principles of ecosystems can be learned by studying a pondA. Ecosystem properties change more slowly than individuals in the system.B. The stability of an ecosystem tends to change as individuals are replaced.C. Individual organisms are stable from one year to the next.D. A change in the members of an organism does not affect an ecosystem’ s propertiesPlant communities assemble themselves flexibly, and their particular structure depends on the specific history of the area. Ecologists use the term “succession” to refer to the changes that happen in plant communities and ecosystems over time. The first community in a succession is called a pioneer community, while the long-lived community at the end of succession is called a climax community. Pioneer and successional plant communities are said to change over periods from 1 to 500 years. These changes—in plant numbers and the mix of species—are cumulative. Climax communities themselves change but over periods of time greater than about 500 years.An ecologist who studies a pond today may well find it relatively unchanged in a year's time. Individual fish may be replaced, but the number of fish will tend to be the same from one year to the next. We can say that the properties of an ecosystem are more stable than the individual organisms that compose the ecosystem.4. According to paragraph 3, ecologists once believed that which of the following illustrated the most stable ecosystemsA. Pioneer communitiesB. Climax communitiesC. Single-crop farmlandsD. Successional plant communities5. According to paragraph 4, why is the question of ecosystem stability complicated reasons for ecosystem change are not always clear.B. Ecologists often confuse the word “stability” with the word“ resilience. ”C. The exact meaning of the word “ stability ” is debated by ecologists.D. There are many different answers to ecological questions.6. According to paragraph 4, which of the following is true of climax communitiesA. They are more resilient than pioneer communities.B. They can be considered both the most and the least stable communities.C. They are stable because they recover quickly after major disturbances.D. They are the most resilient communities because they change the least over time.At one time, ecologists believed that species diversity made ecosystems stable. They believed that the greater the diversity the more stable the ecosystem. Support for this idea came from the observation that long-lasting climax communities usually have more complex food webs and more species diversity than pioneer communities. Ecologists concluded that the apparent stability of climax ecosystems depended on their complexity. To take an extreme example, farmlands dominated by a single crop are so unstable that one year of bad weather or the invasion of a single pest can destroy the entirecrop. In contrast, a complex climax community, such as a temperate forest, will tolerate considerable damage from weather to pests.The question of ecosystem stability is complicated, however. The first problem is that ecologists do not all agree what “ stability ” means. Stability can be defined as simply lack of change. In that case, the climax community would be considered the most stable, since, by definition, it changes the least over time. Alternatively, stability can be defined as the speed with which an ecosystem returns to a particular form following a major disturbance, such as a fire. This kind of stability is also called resilience. In that case, climax communities would be the most fragile and the least stable, since they can require hundreds of years to return to the climax state.7. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 5 about redwood forestsA. They become less stable as they mature.B. They support many species when they reach climax.C. They are found in temperate zones.D. They have reduced diversity during mid-successional stages.8. The word “guarantee” in the passage is closest in meaning toA. increaseB. ensureC. favorD. complicateparagraph 5, why does the author provide the information that “A fifteen-speed racing bicycle is more likely to break down than a child’ s tricycle”A. To illustrate a general principle about the stability of systems by using an everyday exampleB. To demonstrate that an understanding of stability in ecosystems can be applied to help understand stability in other situationsC. To make a comparison that supports the claim that, in general, stability increases with diversityD. To provide an example that contradicts mathematical models of ecosystemsEven the kind of stability defined as simple lack of change is not always associated with maximum diversity. At least in temperate zones, maximum diversity is often found in mid-successional stages, not in the climax community. Once a redwood forest matures, for example, the kinds of species and the number of individuals growing on the forest floor are reduced. In general, diversity, by itself, does not ensure stability. Mathematical models of ecosystems likewise suggest that diversity does not guarantee ecosystem stability—just the opposite, in fact. A more complicated system is, in general, more likely than a simple system to break down. A fifteen-speed racing bicycle is more likely to break down than a child’ s tricycle.10. The word “pales” in the passage is closest in me aning toA. increases proportionallyB. differsC. loses significanceD. is common11. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage Incurred choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.A. Ecologists now think that the stability of an environment is a result of diversity rather than patchiness.B. Patchy environments that vary from place to place do not often have high species diversity.C. Uniform environments cannot be climax communities because they do not support as many types of organisms as patchy environments.D. A patchy environment is thought to increase stability because it is able to support a wide variety of organisms.12. The word “adjacent” in the passage is closest in meaning toEcologists are especially interested to know what factors contribute to the resilience of communities because climax communities all over the world arebeing severely damaged or destroyed by human activities. The destruction caused by the volcanic explosion of Mount St. Helens, in the northwestern United States, for example, pales in comparison to the destruction caused by humans. We need to know what aspects of a community are most important to the community’ s resistance to destruction, as well as its recovery.Many ecologists now think that the relative long-term stability of climax communities comes not from diversity but from the “patchiness” of the environment, an environment that varies from place to place supports more kinds of organisms than an environment that is uniform. A local population that goes extinct is quickly replaced by immigrants from an adjacent community. Even if the new population is of a different species, it can approximately fill the niche vacated by the extinct population and keep the food web intact.B. stableC. fluidD. neighboring■Ecologists are especially interested to know what factors contribute to the resilience of communities because climax communities all over the world are being severely damaged or destroyed by human activities.■ The destruction caused by the volcanic explosion of Mount St. Helens, in the northwestern United States, for example, pales in comparison to the destruction caused by humans. ■We need to know what aspects of a community are most important to the community’ s resistance to destruction, as well as its13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following senten ce could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fitIn fact, damage to the environment by humans is often much more severe than damage by natural events and processes.14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. The process of succession and the stability of a climax community can change over time.A. The changes that occur in an ecosystem from the pioneer to the climax community can be seen in one human generation.B. A high degree of species diversity does not always result in a stable ecosystem.C. Disagreements over the meaning of the term "stability" make it difficult to identify the most stable ecosystems.D. Ecologists agree that climax communities are the most stable types of ecosystems.E. The level of resilience in a plant community contributes to its long-term stability.F. The resilience of climax communities makes them resistant to destruction caused by humans.。
2021年托福阅读PASSAGE 23 试题及答案
2021年托福阅读PASSAGE 23试题及答案PASSAGE 23Although 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 theappearance 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 surroundingBoston 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 cities2. 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 cities3. 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 of4. The word "attendant" in line 6 is closest in meaning to(A) avoidable(B) accompanying(C) unwelcome(D) unexpected5. Which of the following is mentioned as an element of modern capitalism?(A) Open competition(B) Social deference(C) Social hierarchy(D) Independent craftspeople6. 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 sources7. The phrase "exponential leaps" in line 12 is closest in meaning to(A) long wars(B) new laws(C) rapid increases(D) exciting changes8. The word "it" in line 15 refers to(A) population(B) size(C) Boston(D) Year9. 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 200,00010. The word "dictated" in line 18 is closest in meaning to(A) spoiled(B) reduced(C) determined(D) divided11. The word "virtually" in line 20 is closest in meaning to(A) usually(B) hardly(C) very quickly(D) almost completely12. The region surrounding New York and Philadelphia is contrasted with the region surrounding Boston in terms of(A) quality of farmland(B) origin of immigrants(C) opportunities for fishing(D) type of grain grown13. 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.ANSWER KEYSPASSAGE 23 BBDBAACADC DAC。
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【王鑫托福阅读】托福TPO全集之TPO23-3TPO23TPO23-3 Rock Art of the Australia Aborigines1. The word "infrequent”in the passage is closest in meaning toA. puzzlingB. uncommonC. questionableD. undocumented2. According to paragraph 1, the twentieth-century approach to studying Australian rock art was different from earlier approaches because the twentieth-century approachA. recognized that many different groups of Aborigines created Australian rock artB. concentrated on a limited range of Aboriginal rock artC. examined Aboriginal art from an Aboriginal rather than from a European perspectiveD. focused more intensely on understanding and documenting rock art3. The word "rela tively”in the passage is closest in meaning toA. completelyB. comparativelyC. apparentlyD. particularly4. The word "discern”in the passage is closest in meaning toA. indicateB. applyC. identifyD. repeat5. The word "revised”in the passage is closest in meaning toA. discussedB. raisedC. challengedD. changedParagraph 1: Ever since European first explored Australia, people have been trying to understand the ancient rock drawings and cavings created by the Aborigines, the original inhabitants of the continent. Early in the nineteenth century, encounters with Aboriginal rock art tended to be infrequent and open to speculative interpretation, but since the late nineteenth century, awareness of the extent and variety of Australian rock art has been growing. In the latter decades of the twentieth century there were intensified efforts to understand and record the abundance of Australian rock art.Paragraph 2: The systematic study of this art is a relatively new discipline in Australia. Over the past four decades new discoveries have steadily added to the body of knowledge. The most significant data have come from a concentration on three major questions. First, what is the age of Australian rock art? Second, what is its stylistic organization and is it possible todiscern a sequence or a pattern of development between styles? Third, is it possible to interpret accurately the subject matter of ancient rock art, bring to bear all available archaeological techniques and the knowledge of present-day Aboriginal informants?Paragraph 3: The age of Australia's rock art is constantly being revised, and earlier datings have been proposed as the result of new discoveries. Currently, reliable scientific evidence dates the earliest creation of art on rock surfaces in Australia to somewhere between 30,000 and 50,000 years ago. This in itself is an almost incomprehensible span of 3946. 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 ways or leave out essential informationA. The oldest rock art sites have simpler motifs than the best known sites of Panaramitee North.B. Because motifs primarily associated with the Panaramitee region are common in the oldest sites the term Panaramitee style has become the general term for rock art of this type.C. Because the Panaramitee style is so common in the older sites, researchers have described it most extensively.D. The motifs carved in the rocky surface of the Panaramitee region make up the oldest form of rock art discovered in Australia.7. According to paragraph 4, researchers have organized and structured Australian rock art by distinguishing between which of the following?A. Images found at PanaramiteeNorth and images found in other parts of AustraliaB. Images found in a particular type of rock layer and images found in other types of rock layersC. Images that have geometric elements and images that have figurative elementsD. Images that are typically found and image that are rarely found8. According to paragraph 4, all of the following are signs of the great age of the Panaramitee engravings EXCEPT:A. The engravings consisted of simple animal drawings.generations, and one that makes Australia's rock art the oldest continuous art tradition in the world.Paragraph 4: Although the remarkable antiquity of Australia's rock art is now established, the sequences and meanings of its images have been widely debated. Since the mid-1970s, a reasonably stable picture has formed of the organization of Australian rock art. In order to create a sense of structure to this picture, researchers have relied on a distinction that still underlies the forms of much indigenous visual culture—a distinction between geometric and figurative elements. Simple geometric repeated patterns—circles, concentric circles, and lines—constitute the iconography (characteristic images) of the earliest rock-art sites found across Australia. The frequency with which certain simple motifs appear in these oldest sites has led rock-art researchers to adopt a descriptive term—the Panaramitee style—a label which takes its name from the extensive rock pavements at Panaramitee North in desert South Australia, which are covered with motifs pecked into the surface. Certain features of these engravings lead to the conclusion that they are of great age—geological changes had clearly happened after the designs had been made and local Aboriginal informants, when first questioned about them, seemed to know nothing of their origins. Furthermore, the designs were covered with “desert varnish,”a glaze that develops on rock surfaces over thousands of years of exposure to the elements. The simple motifs found at Panaramitee are common to many rock-art sites across Australia. Indeed, sites with engravings of geometric shapes are also to be found on the island of Tasmania, which was separated from the mainland of the continent some 10,000 years ago.B .The engravings were covered with a layer of a substance known as “desert varnish”.C. Local Aborigines who were asked knew nothing about the origin of the engravings.A. Geologic changes had occurred after the engravings were made.9. Why does the author include information about Tasmania in paragraph 4?A. To provide evidence that the Panaramitee style is widespread and of great ageB. To prove that Aboriginal Australians could not have made the carvings in TasmaniaC. To indicate how researchers have determined how long ago Tasmania separated from the mainlandD. To illustrate the importance of geometric rock art to tourism in Tasmania10. According to paragraph 5, the complex figurative style differs from the geometric style in that the complex figurative styleA. varies significantly from region to regionB. is more meaningfulC. appears on only a few types of rocksD. has changed little overtime11. According to paragraph 5, Lesley Maynard made which of the following suggestions about Australian rock art?A. There were a pattern of human figures being represented in a more complex style than animal figures.B. Australian archaeology should concentrate on determining the sequence of styles that led up to the Panaramitee style.C. The great antiquity of Australian rock art would probably make it impossible to determine the ages of the various styles found in rock art.D. The geometric style of Australian rock art was replaced by increasingly complex figurative styles.12. In paragraph 5, the author indicates that twentieth century art has shown that naturalism does not necessarily follow abstraction in some kind of predetermined sequence in order toA. emphasize that it may not be possible to determine what the figures in ancient rock art representB. suggest a reply to those who have questioned Maynard's interpretation of the sequence of Australian rock artParagraph 5: In the 1970s when the study of Australian archaeology was in an exciting phase of development, with the great antiquity of rock art becoming clear. Lesley Maynard, the archaeologist who coined the phrase “Panaramiteestyle,”suggested that a sequence could be determined for Australian rock art, in which a geometric style gave way to a simple figurative style (outlines of figures and animals), followed by a range of complex figurative styles that, unlike the pan-Australian geometric tradition tended to much greater regional diversity. While accepting that this sequence fits the archaeological profile of those sites, which were occupied continuously over many thousands of years a number of writers have warned that the underlying assumption of such a sequence—a development from the simple and the geometric to the complex and naturalistic—obscures the cultural continuities in Aboriginal Australia, in which geometric symbolism remains fundamentally important. In this context the simplicity of a geometric motif may be more apparent than real. Motifs of seeming simplicity can encode complex meanings in Aboriginal Australia. And has not twentieth-century art shown that naturalism does not necessarily follow abstraction in some kind of predetermine sequence?C. provide a counterexample to Maynard's interpretation of the sequence of Australian rock artD. indicate that twentieth century art is more advanced than ancient rock art【Paragraph 2】The systematic study of this art is a relatively new discipline in Australia. Over the past four decades new discoveries have steadily added to the body of knowledge. The most significant data have come from a concentration on three major questions. First, what is the age of Australian rock art? Second, what is its stylistic organization and is it possible to discern a sequence or a pattern of development between styles? Third, is it possible to interpret accurately the subject matter of ancient rock art, bring to bear all available archaeological techniques and the knowledge of present-day Aboriginal informants? ■【Paragraph 3】The age of Australia's rock art is constantly being revised, and earlier datings have been proposed as the result of new discoveries. ■Currently, reliable scientific evidence dates the earliest creation of art on rock surfaces in Australia to somewhere between 30,000 and 50,000 years ago. ■This in itself is an almost incomprehensible span of generations, and one that makes Australia's rock art the oldest continuous art tradition in the world. ■13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passageWhile a great deal of information exists, the answers to these questions are not yet definitive.Where would the sentence best fit?14. 【Direction】An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provides below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 pointsInterest in the rock art of the original inhabitants of Australia has grown over the last two centuries. BCEA. Late nineteenth century studies of Aboriginal rock art failed to recognize that a variety of styles existed.B. The extreme age of the earliest Aboriginal rock art has been established but the interpretation of rock art images is still debated.C. A sequence from geometric to more representative art fits many sites but does not necessarily indicate a progression from simple to complex meaning.D. In determining the way in which Australian rock art was organized, archaeologists have made little distinction between geometric and figurative elements.E. Older examples of rock art consist of simple, repeated geometric patterns while later rock art includes figures and animals.Aboriginal informants were able to explain the meanings of ancient rock art symbols.。