托福阅读辅导:老托福阅读真题及答案passage

2024-05-16

托福阅读辅导:老托福阅读真题及答案passage（精选5篇）

篇1：托福阅读辅导:老托福阅读真题及答案passage

:老托福阅读文本 passage29

During the second half of the nineteenth century, the production of food and feed crops in the United States rose at an extraordinarily rapid rate. Corn production increased by four and a half times, hay by five times, oats and wheat by seven times. The most crucial factor behind this phenomenal upsurge in productivity was the widespread adoption of labor-saving machinery by northern farmers. By 1850 horse-drawn reaping machines that cut grain were being introduced into the major grain-growing regions of the country. Horse-powered threshing machines to separate the seeds from the plants were already in general use. However, it was the onset of the Civil War in 1861 that provided the great stimulus for the mechanization of northern agriculture. With much of the labor force inducted into the army and with grain prices on the rise, northern farmers rushed to avail themselves of the new labor-saving equipment. In 1860 there were approximately 80,000 reapers in the country; five years later there were 350,000.

After the close of the war in 1865, machinery became ever more important in northern agriculture, and improved equipment was continually introduced. By 1880 a self-binding reaper had been perfected that not only cut the grain, but also gathered the stalks and bound them with twine. Threshing machines were also being improved and enlarged, and after 1870 they were increasingly powered by steam engines rather than by horses. Since steam-powered threshing machines were costly items — running from $ 1,000 to $4,000 — they were usually owned by custom thresher owners who then worked their way from farm to farm during the harvest season. “Combines” were also coming into use on the great wheat ranches in California and the Pacific Northwest. These ponderous machines — sometimes pulled by as many as 40 horses — reaped the grain, threshed it, and bagged it, all in one simultaneous operation.

The adoption of labor-saving machinery had a profound effect upon the sale of agricultural operations in the northern states — allowing farmers to increase vastly their crop acreage. By the end of century, a farmer employing the new machinery could plant and harvest two and half times as much corn as a farmer had using hand methods 50 years before.

老托福阅读题目 passage29

1. What aspect of farming in the United States in the nineteenth century does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) How labor-saving machinery increased crop Production

(B) Why southern farms were not as successful as Successful as northern farms

(D) The increase in the number of people farming

2. The word “crucial” in line 4 is closest in meaning to

(A) obvious

(B) unbelievable

(D) desirable

3. The phrase “avail themselves” in line 11 is closest in meaning to

(A) take care

(B) make use

(D) do more

4. According to the passage , why was the Civil War a stimulus for mechanization?

(A) The army needed more grain in order to feed the soldiers.

(B) Technology developed for the war could also the used by farmers.

(D) Machines were needed to replace a disappearing labor force.

5. The passage supports which of the following statements about machinery after the Civil War?

(A) Many farmers preferred not to use the new machinery.

(B) Returning laborers replaced the use of machinery.

(D) Poor-quality machinery slowed the pace of crop production.

6. Combines and self-binding reapers were similar because each

(A) could perform more than one function

(B) required relatively little power to operate

(D) required two people to operate

7. The word “they” in line 19 refers to

(A) grain stalks

(B) threshing machines

(D) horses

8. It can be inferred from the passage that most farmers did not own threshing machines because

(A) farmers did not know how to use the new machines

(B) farmers had no space to keep the machines

(D) the machines were too expensive for every farmer to own

9. The word “ponderous” in line 21 is closest in meaning to

(A) advanced

(B) heavy

(D) rapid

老托福阅读答案 passage29

ACBDC ABDB

托福技巧：托福阅读做题要以TOEFL真题为基础

托福阅读实战经验分享：词汇掌握了，你会发现阅读变得轻松很多。阅读做题要以托福TOEFL真题为基础。平时不管是读书还是看新闻，都要有意识地练习scan、skip、skim的方法……

阅读是与旧托福相比改变最少的，题目方向大体保持了一致。

阅读在国内普遍分数都还好，但托福TOEFL的考试内容越来越BT，所以也不能小看。

平时爱看书的人，积累的中文阅读能力强的，对英文阅读往往也有一定提升。

就像上面所说的，词汇掌握了，你会发现阅读变得轻松很多。

阅读做题要以托福TOEFL真题为基础。

平时不管是读书还是看新闻，都要有意识地练习scan、skip、skim的方法。

具体做阅读题时，排除法很有效。

复习期间每天抽出点时间读读英文小说是很不错的选择。

阅读的文章只要出现以下内容都应引起注意：举例证明、罗列式例举、转折、否定、因果、下定义、比较级(最高级)、同位语(插入语)、数字年代、特殊标点(引号、破折号)。

阅读当中遇到特别生僻或专业的术语，多少会在后面有所解释。

阅读做题的时间比较紧张，比如我习惯一边看文章一边做笔记，虽然这样条理很清楚，但会让时间显得更紧张。

平时要熟悉下机考的操作。比如我平常练习时大概每篇阅读能在15分钟以内完成，但具体考试时往往都是做到只剩两三秒……

托福阅读辅导:老托福阅读真题及答案 passage29

篇2：托福阅读辅导:老托福阅读真题及答案passage

Plants are subject to attack and infection by a remarkable variety of symbiotic species and have evolved a diverse array of mechanisms designed to frustrate the potential colonists. These can be divided into preformed or passive defense mechanisms and inducible or active systems. Passive plant defense comprises physical and chemical barriers that prevent entry of pathogens, such as bacteria, or render tissues unpalatable or toxic to the invader. The external surfaces of plants, in addition to being covered by an epidermis and a waxy cuticle, often carry spiky hairs known as trichomes, which either prevent feeding by insects or may even puncture and kill insect larvae. Other trichomes are sticky and glandular and effectively trap and immobilize insects.

If the physical barriers of the plant are breached, then preformed chemicals may inhibit or kill the intruder, and plant tissues contain a diverse array of toxic or potentially toxic substances, such as resins, tannins, glycosides, and alkaloids, many of which are highly effective deterrents to insects that feed on plants. The success of the Colorado beetle in infesting potatoes, for example, seems to be correlated with its high tolerance to alkaloids that normally repel potential pests. Other possible chemical defenses, while not directly toxic to the parasite, may inhibit some essential step in the establishment of a parasitic relationship. For example, glycoproteins in plant cell walls may inactivate enzymes that degrade cell walls. These enzymes are often produced by bacteria and fungi.

Active plant defense mechanisms are comparable to the immune system of vertebrate animals, although the cellular and molecular bases are fundamentally different. Both, however, are triggered in reaction to intrusion, implying that the host has some means of recognizing the presence of a foreign organism. The most dramatic example of an inducible plant defense reaction is the hypersensitive response. In the hypersensitive response, cells undergo rapid necrosis — that is, they become diseased and die — after being penetrated by a parasite; the parasite itself subsequently ceases to grow and is therefore restricted to one or a few cells around the entry site. Several theories have been put forward to explain the basis of hypersensitive resistance.

老托福阅读题目 passage11

1. What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) The success of parasites in resisting plant defense mechanisms

(B) Theories on active plant defense mechanisms

(D) How the immune system of animals and the defense mechanisms of plants differ

2. The phrase “subject to” in line 1 is closest in meaning to

(A) susceptible to

(B) classified by

(D) strengthened by

3. The word “puncture” in line 8 is closest in meaning to

(A) pierce

(B) pinch

(D) cover .

4. The word “which” in line 12 refers to

(A) tissues

(B) substances

(D) insects

5. Which of the following substances does the author mention as NOT necessarily being toxic to the Colorado beetle?

(A) resins

(B) tannins

(D) alkaloids

6. Why does the author mention “glycoproteins” in line 17?

(A) to compare plant defense mechanisms to the immune system of animals

(B) to introduce the discussion of active defense mechanisms in plants

(D) to emphasize the importance of physical barriers in plant defense

7. The word “dramatic” in line 23 could best be replaced by

(A) striking

(B) accurate

(D) appealing

8. Where in the passage does the author describe an active plant-defense reaction?

(A) Lines 1-3

(B) Lines 4-6

(D) Lines 24-27

9. The passage most probably continues with a discussion of theories on

(A) the basis of passive plant defense

(B) how chemicals inhibit a parasitic relationship.

(D) the principles of the hypersensitive response.

老托福阅读答案 passage11

正确答案： CAABD CADD

托福阅读技巧：词汇题应对方法

为什么很多考生会对词汇题束手无措?一方面是因为考生的词汇量达不到，OG中词汇题的解释里有一句话，there is no “list of words” that must be tested. 这句话就告诉考生死了那条心去背所谓的大纲词汇，因为没有大纲，而考试中要考查到的单词可能是来自牛津字典或朗文字典中的任何一个单词，范围大的离谱;而另一方面则是因为有的考生没有学会从上下文或者从语法结构去猜测词义。

因为OG中的解释还有一句a word might have more than one meaning, but in the reading passage, only one of those meaning is relevant. 所以很有可能考生在考试中所碰到的词汇并不是已经让人熟知的第一词义，而是要根据语境上下文推断出的第二词义甚至是第三词义，所以又对考生做题增加了难度。最可悲的是不仅文章中的单词意思不知道，连4个选项中的单词都有不认识不熟悉的，这样的结果就只能是乱猜一气，听天由命全凭运气，当然考试结果也不会好。所以在此将给考生一点准备新托福阅读考试词汇题的建议和解题方法，希望能给考生攻克词汇题给予一些帮助。

Tip: 单词记忆

单词记忆主要就是背单词。背单词是很多同学觉得非常痛苦的事情，经常会有学生来问药怎么背，背了一些又马上忘了另外一些。所以关于如何去背单词，在这里有几点建议：

1、利用零散的时间背单词。利用零散的时间背单词可以使用单词卡片。不过，为了保证效率，首先要确定哪些单词需要记忆。理论上，单词量越多越好。实际上，如果一味贪多，结果容易打疲劳战，而且效率低。所以，只记那些常考的核心词汇，而对于那些不太常用的学科名词、物质名词一般加以忽略。

2、进行高频率的重复，建议把重复的周期控制在7天以内。具体说来，就是每天背100个单词，将过一遍这些单词的时间控制在半个小时以内，每天过4遍，第二天再过一遍前一天的。如果程度不是很好的同学可以压缩到50个左右，但尽量不要低于50个。单词材料可以找一些相关的新托福阅读词汇书，或者是以往考过的词汇题内容。

把背单词和阅读相结合。广泛的阅读也是增加词汇量的一种方法，并且能够在阅读中加强对已经背过的单词的记忆。当一篇文章的生词量在5%左右的时候，这些生词的词义是可推的。所以我们在选择阅读材料的时候，应尽量将单词量控制在10%左右。单词太多，看不懂文章，太少又起不到提高的作用。相关材料可以上一些网站看，例如economist, national geographic等等。

篇3：托福阅读辅导:老托福阅读真题及答案passage

PASSAGE 33

Researchers in the field of psychology have found that one of the best ways to make an important decision, such as choosing a university to attend or a business to invest in, involves the utilization of a decision worksheet. Psychologists who study optimization compare the actual decisions made by people to theoretical ideal decisions to see how similar they are. Proponents of the worksheet procedure believe that it will yield optimal, that is, the best decisions. Although there are several variations on the exact format that worksheets can take, they are all similar in their essential aspects. Worksheets require defining the problem in a clear and concise way and then listing all possible solutions to the problem. Next, the pertinent considerations that will be affected by each decision are listed, and the relative importance of each consideration or consequence is determined. Each consideration is assigned a numerical value to reflect its relative importance. A decision is mathematically calculated by adding these values together. The alternative with the highest number of points emerges as the best decision.

Since most important problems are multifaceted, there are several alternatives to choose from, each with unique advantages and disadvantages. One of the benefits of a pencil and paper decision-making procedure is that it permits people to deal with more variables than their minds can generally comprehend and remember. On the average, people can keep about seven ideas in their minds at once. A worksheet can be especially useful when the decision involves a large number of variables with complex relationships. A realistic example for many college students is the question What will I do after graduation? A graduate might seek a position that offers specialized training, pursue an advanced degree, or travel abroad for a year.

A decision-making worksheet begins with a succinct statement of the problem that will also help to narrow it. It is important to be clear about the distinction between long-range and immediate goals because long-range goals often involve a different decision than short-range ones. Focusing on long-range goals, a graduating student might revise the question above to What will I do after graduation that will lead to successful career?

1. What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) A tool to assist in making complex decisions.

(B) A comparison of actual decisions and ideal decisions

(D) Differences between long-range and short-range decision making

2. The word essential in line 7 is closest in meaning to

(A) introductory

(B) changeable

(D) fundamental

3. The word pertinent in line 9 is closest in meaning to

(A) relevant

(B) preceding

(D) responsive

4. Of the following steps, which occurs before the others in making a decision worksheet?

(A) Listing the consequences of each solution

(B) Calculating a numerical summary of each solution

(D) Writing down all possible solutions

5. According to decision-worksheet theory, an optimal decision is defined as one that

(A) has the fewest variables to consider

(B) uses the most decision worksheets

(D) is agreed to by the greatest number of people

6. The author develops the discussion in paragraph 1 by means of

(A) describing a process

(B) classifying types of worksheets

(D) explaining a theory

7. The author states that On the average, people can keep about seven ideas in their minds at

once (lines 17-18) to explain that

(A) most decisions involve seven steps

(B) human mental capacity has limitations

(D) people can learn to keep more than seven ideas in their minds with practice

8. The word succinct in line 24 is closest in meaning to

(A) creative

(B) satisfactory

(D) concise

9. Which of the following terms is defined in the passage ?

(A) Proponents (line 5)

(B) Optimal (line 5)

(D) Long-range goals (line 25)

10. The word it in line 24 refers to

(A) worksheet

(B) problem

(D) decision

11. The word revise in line 26 is closest in meaning to

(A) ask

(B) explain

(D) predict

PASSAGE 33 ADADC ABDBB C

托福阅读怎么抓住定位词

首先介绍一下，什么是定位词?

其实很简单，打个比方，你和朋友约好了去酒吧，朋友和你说酒吧在沈阳新东方正对面，这个酒吧你是不知道地点的，也就是你的目的地;而新东方却很熟知，那么你只需找到新东方便可以找到酒吧了。在这里新东方是已知的，就是用来定位的词汇，而酒吧则是你的目的所在，也便是你要找的答案。

定位词的称呼有很多，如关键词，主旨词，功能词，中心词等等。这些只是个名称罢了，含义都是一致的：一个可以根据题干回原文定位，并能够找到出处的词，这个题干中的词就是定位词 or key word。

定位词有什么样的特征?

定位词总体特征：不可变性和细节性

不可变性：定位词是用来定位的，所以必须找那些回原文依然不变的词汇，才有意义。通常不用动词和副词来定位。通常是名词或充当定语的形容词。

细节性：不要找大概念的词汇，更不要拿代表全文主旨的词汇来定位。换句话说不要找那些原文一大堆的词汇，无法定位。

如， 95年英国剑桥委员会British Council给出的唯一样题文章的题目是:The Spectacular Eruption of Mount St.Helens

下面有一道选择题是“ According to the text the eruption of Mount St.Helens and other volcanoes has influenced our climate by…”

拿这道题为例，如果大家把Mount St.Helens 作为关键词回原文进行定位，那你会郁闷致死，全文主要讲的就是圣海伦斯火山的喷发，原文有N多个Mount St.Helens，所以即使这个词属于大写的专有名词，但他违背了细节性，是概括性的词汇，也不能作为定位词来寻找答案。

究竟哪些词在阅读当中充当定位词?

以下是定位词的分类：

1.特殊词汇

在阅读中有一些词张的比较特殊，这种词很容易被记住，也很容易回原文定位。

好比，在大街上上看到一个人光着身子跑步-------特殊难看

一个人的个子超高，像姚明一样------特殊长

一个人身上穿着10多种颜色的衣服，而且不停的摇头-----特殊怪

特殊怪，特殊长，特殊难

这三种词就是特殊词的所有特征，在文中看到这样的词，一定要警惕。如，

Sequoia 美洲杉 ---特殊怪，很好定位，也经常作为考点。

sodium 【化学】钠---特殊难，大家只要知道是一种化学元素足矣。

Simultaneous 同时的---特殊长，这种词本身的特点决定应作为定位词。

2.数字：通常指时间，金钱和百分比。

有一个道题目是这样问的：

“What are the dates of the TWO major eruptions before 1980?”

那么像1980 3185$ 69%这些词因为长相原因，段落全是英文，突然跑出来几个数字，十分显眼，也就很好回原文找到他们。

3.专有名词：斜体字，大写人名,地名，大写的专有名词，这一点大家都很熟悉，不用多说。

4.特殊符号：

在特殊符号里或者旁边的词，最好通过符号回原文进行定位，如“paper conversation”，(three cubic miles) 这些词本身并没有什么特别，但放在符号里面，就可以根据符号回原文进行寻找。

总之，在国外考试的阅读中，无论是阅读文章，还是回答后面的10几道题目，定位词的寻找，都是一种有效的应试策略，更是学术文章的阅读的重要方法。

托福阅读不同题型的方法和技巧

一、单词题目

平时注意单词量的积累，力求达到可以随时随地记忆单词的境界。其实我们在记忆单词的时候也可以适当地使用一些策略，那就是在我们可以把自己的侧重点放在动词和形容词的记忆上。考试过后，你就会发现这个策略的事半功倍了。此外，对于自己不认识的单词，我们应该主动回原文找同义词，或找相关的提示信息。

二、找代词指代对象的题目

在考试中，它们主要会以如下两种形式出现。

(1)it、one、their、its、that类，这种题目主要是考查我们对于并列关系的掌握，这时，我们应该主动去看这个词所在的那整句话，从已知话中找到处于相同地位的词。

(2)考查由that、which涉及到的定语从句类，我们在面对这种题目时，应该有意识的在选项中找从句中谓语动词的发起者或接受者，因为只有这样才可以迈出通向胜利的第一步。

三、考查文章内容的题目

在历次的托福考试中，也存在着两大主要题型，即：文章细节考查题和文章结构考查题。

1、文章细节考查题

解答文章细节考查题，我们一般都可以回到原文中去做定位，找到相近或相似的内容，进而得出答案。

常见的定位有以下3种：

(1)题目本身给出定位。

(2)至少先可作出一个段落的定位。

(3)位置多夹于前后两题位置之间。

2、文章结构考查题

一定要注意：

(1)千万不要根据你读的信息去作推理。

(2)不要把文章从头到尾当成一个整体，尽可能各段独立。

(3)根据经验，在考试中，整篇文章的最后一句出题较多，所以应该仔细阅读这个重要的句子。

以上是针对托福考试阅读部分的常见题型做出的一些有关于考试解题方法与技巧的分项介绍。

在整个的阅读考试中，我们还应该了解到：

(1)在这个特殊的考试时间段内，我们的记忆比理解更为重要，在解题的时候一定要完全忠实于原文，切忌私自做出任何的主观臆断。

(2)在做题步骤方面，我们可以先简读原文(主要是各个段落的第一，二句话)，而后阅读题目，最后观察选项做出判断。值得我们特别注意的是，我们在做出判断的时候，切忌不要选择在选项中存在比较，而在原文中没有明确表示过的项目;切忌不要去选择那些说法过于绝对化的选项。

篇4：托福阅读辅导:老托福阅读真题及答案passage

The first flying vertebrates were true reptiles in which one of the fingers of the front limbs became very elongated, providing support for a flap of stretched skin that served as a wing. These were the pterosaurs, literally the “winged lizards.” The earliest pterosaurs arose near the end of the Triassic period of the Mesozoic Era, some 70 million years before the first known fossils of true birds occur, and they presumably dominated the skies until they were eventually displaced by birds. Like the dinosaurs, some the pterosaurs became gigantic; the largest fossil discovered is of an individual that had a wingspan of 50 feet or more, larger than many airplanes. These flying reptiles had large, tooth-filled jaws, but their bodies were small and probably without the necessary powerful muscles for sustained wing movement. They must have been expert gliders, not skillful fliers, relying on wind power for their locomotion.

Birds, despite sharing common reptilian ancestors with pterosaurs, evolved quite separately and have been much more successful in their dominance of the air. They are an example of a common theme in evolution, the more or less parallel development of different types of body structure and function for the same reason — in this case, for flight. Although the fossil record, as always, is not complete enough to determine definitively the evolutionary lineage of the birds or in as much detail as one would like, it is better in this case than for many other animal groups. That is because of the unusual preservation in a limestone quarry in southern Germany of Archaeopteryx, a fossil that many have called the link between dinosaurs and birds. Indeed, had it not been for the superb preservation of these fossils, they might well have been classified as dinosaurs. They have the skull and teeth of a reptile as well as a bony tail, but in the line-grained limestone in which these fossils occur there are delicate impressions of feathers and fine details of bone structure that make it clear that Archaeopteryx was a bird. All birds living today, from the great condors of the Andes to the tiniest wrens, trace their origin back to the Mesozoic dinosaurs.

1. What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A) Characteristics of pterosaur wings

(B) The discovery of fossil remains of Archaeopteryx

(D) The development of flight in reptiles and birds

2. Which of the following is true of early reptile wings?

(A) They evolved from strong limb muscles.

(B) They consisted of an extension of skin.

(D) They required fingers of equal length.

3. The word “literally” in line 3 is closest in meaning to

(A) creating

(B) meaning

(D) simplified

4. It can be inferred from the passage that birds were probably dominant in the skies

(A) in the early Triassic period

(B) before the appearance of pterosaurs

(D) before dinosaurs could be found on land.

5. The author mentions airplanes in line 8 in order to

(A) illustrate the size of wingspans in some pterosaurs

(B) compare the energy needs of dinosaurs with those of modern machines

(D) establish the practical applications of the study of fossils

6. The word “They” in line 10 refers to

(A) powerful muscles

(B) bodies

(D) flying reptiles

7. According to the passage , pterosaurs were probably “not skillful fliers” (lines 10-11) because

(A) of their limited wingspan

(B) of their disproportionately large bodies

(D) climate conditions of the time provided insufficient wind power

8. In paragraph 2, the author discusses the development of flight in birds as resulting from

(A) a similarity in body structure to pterosaurs

(B) an evolution from pterosaurs

(D) a separate but parallel development process to that of pterosaurs

9. The word “classified” in line 21 is closest in meaning to

(A) perfected

(B) replaced

(D) protected

10. Which of the following helped researchers determine that Archaeopteryx was not a dinosaur?

(A) Its tail

(B) Its teeth

(D) Details of its bone structure

11. What is the significance of the discovery that was made in southern Germany?

(A) It is thought to demonstrate that birds evolved from dinosaurs.

(B) It is proof that the climate and soils of Europe have changed over time.

(D) It supports the theory that Archaeopteryx was apowerful dinosaur.

正确答案：DBBCA DCDCDA

托福阅读的实用技巧整理

首先，无论什么技巧都必须要有基本的单词量做基础。没人喜欢背单词，但是只有有足够的单词量才能应对托福阅读中的各种层出不穷的问题。用的是谁的单词书其实没有多大分别，你只要认认真真的把一本单词书背个70%，那也就差不多了，托福阅读的主要考察对象不是单词，只是透过单词来表达一种意思，只要你能猜出来这种意思并且在这个基础上把题答对，那么，对少单词都不是问题。

其次，对于难句长句的理解。还是要明白大意就好，但是要能够根据大意准确定位找到答案。大家可以专门找些难句和长句来进行有针对性的练习。把那些句子反复读，反复看，看上十几遍，觉得很通顺、觉得句子写得很好自己以后也要这么写了才算好。速度慢不是问题，但是坚持下来，大家对难句和长句的理解能力就好冥想提高。

再次，大家在专门练习托福阅读题的时候，还是多看看OG，OG是非常有指向性的，而且那上面说的一些小技巧还是不错的。Delta上的题目要难一些，主要是有一些题目需要考生进行引申、做一些文学上的理解，当然这些在托福中是不会出现的。所以做题的时候不要想得太复杂，第一感觉是什么就选什么，很有效。

托福阅读词汇的积累练习

mores 风俗，习惯

submit 屈从;提交;主张，认为

backfire 产生反效果;逆火

speculate 推测;思索;投机(venture)

wield 行使(权利);挥舞(宝剑)

recreation 再创造; 消遣，娱乐

peer 同等人，同辈人;凝视

project 预测;凸出;投掷，发射;计划

mitigate减轻，缓和

negate 否认

familial 家庭的

vain 无用的，虚荣的

vein 面纱; 掩饰

bound n. 范围 v. 跳跃;以…为界;bind的过去式和过去分词

be bound to do 必定，一定

rationale 基本原理，论据

launch 开始，发动;发射

supplant = in place of 代替

retain 保留

status quo 现状

downplay 低估，贬低

radical 词根，激进分子; 根本的;激进的

conviction 信念;定罪

credit 功劳，声望，信任

appeal to 求助于

gloss 掩饰;使有光泽

explain away 搪塞，把…解释过去

complementary 补充的

complimentary 称赞的，问候的

indefensible 站不住脚的

misgiving 疑虑

dissent 异议，不同意

dispense with 免除

exempt 免除

shun 避开

identity 身份，本体; 同一性，完全相同;特性

sustain 维持; 遭受; 忍耐

contend 主张，声称;争论 (n. contention)

object n. 物体 v.反对 (objection n.反对)

objective n. 目标; adj.客观的

dispose 处理，处置;安排，使用

except that 只是，只可惜;除了

fanciful 幻想的，想象中的

apprehend 领会，理解; 逮捕; 忧虑

whereupon 于是，因此

administer 实施;给与;服用(药);管理

formulate 明确地表达

champion v. 拥护; n. 冠军

posit 断定，假定

advance 使前进，推进; 促进，加速; 提出，倡导

primacy n. 首位，首要 (adj. primary)

篇5：托福阅读真题及答案

206月8日北美地区托福考试都考了哪些题目?以下是年6月8日北美地区托福真题，大家可以练习使用。

托福机经阅读

我遇到了加试，还不是经典加试，人品差哇。

有一篇是讲地球的形成的，先讲了星球大概形成的一个过程。然后具体说了地球内部的硅浮上来，重物质下去。还讲了地幔和地壳的形成。然后还有什么一开始是一些神马物质，后来这些物质就走掉了，还有水汽，还有其他氢啊神马的进来，然后形成最终状态。

有个著名的帝国破灭了，分成了东和西。然后东比较好，需要防卫的边界线不是很多，还有很多资源;西的话就比较悲惨，要各种防卫，内忧外患。还有西的话君主特别年轻，8岁和5岁还是神马的就登基了，然后权臣当道，等他们成年了，也没有发言权了。然后就说很多人都是为了自己的利益来的，牺牲民众的利益，外敌就入侵了。

还有一篇讲一个国家内战求民主，但是结果很不理想，想要的木有达到。穷苦民众无力去撼动大地主的利益，然后教堂啥的影响很小，商人首创严重，大地主反而获利很大。还讲了这个国家对周边国家的一些影响，有些国家出乎意料还从中受益了。

还有一篇一点印象都木有了!

托福机经听力

有一道是去找教授的，我没听太清楚。姑娘写了篇论文，和教授分析自己的论文。貌似选择的题目是和网络还有杂志相关的，我没听清楚到底是网络对纸质媒介的影响，还是网络规范的制定神马的，这里有题目的。姑娘说自己找了很多资料，教授表示挺惊讶的，估计觉着资料很难找。然后姑娘天马行空，想写的东西特别多，还想比较1970年的和现在的情况。教授让她不要弄那么大的题目，最后她绝对专注于目前。

还有一篇是讲一个男孩选了两门生物课，一门钢琴课。然后导师劝他放弃其中一门课。男孩说自己非常喜欢生物，也很爱音乐，但是自己确实没有那么多的时间，每天两个小时的弹琴也没有能保证。导师也说他是个很好的学生，但是最近的成绩确实不够理想。让他想清楚自己到底想做神马。学校里有选不同方向的学生，但是他们一般两个方向都是相关的。她问男孩是不是想弹钢琴去讲生物神马的。男孩一开始不肯放弃，后来被劝着劝着觉着导师挺有道理的，决定回家仔细想想放弃哪一门。

有一篇讲百老汇的。说18x.x年有一个新的方式出现了。那段时间新兴了很多中产阶级，需要娱乐，这里有题。新出来的和普通的不一样，有很多新点子，引入了芭蕾神马的，还全美巡演，还有移动舞台，给观众全新的体验。

还有一篇讲电影的，教授说这些名字你们都很熟悉吧，但是你们不一定知道全部的信息。然后就具体讲了迪士尼的动画。说了其中一部，非常重要，重要的原因貌似是第一部盈利的，这里有题。然后讲了一个拍摄的新技巧，说镜头拉近，附近的东西会变大，树啊栅栏啊啥的都变大了，但是太阳不会变大。这个就挺难弄的，如果让画家画的话太费力了。然后有个人去看了部舞台剧，舞台剧是有背景的，给了灵感，这里有题。然后就弄了滤片啥的在相机里拍摄，就解决问题啦。

托福机经口语

1、有三个了解大学的选择

a. 周末学校一日游

b. 周末两天在playground玩

c. 参加大学的课程

问选择哪种去最好的了解学校

2、有人送了一块地，问是用来养花种菜呢还是建儿童游乐园

3、阅读：有人给学校写了封建议信，刊登在学校的报纸上。学校附近有一个小咖啡厅兮兮的东西，提供饮料和小cookie。这是非常好的，但是有两个建议，一个是提供一些耐吃的食物，三明治神马的;一个是建议多一些轻音乐。

对话：一男一女，女孩说觉得这个建议非常赞啊。说那里是休息的一个好地方，吃点东西神马的太便利了。但是饿的时候小cookie木有用，确实需要一些其他的吃的;然后音乐太吵了，自己在那里完全没有办法看书，只能回宿舍。

4、阅读：一个协同作战之类的词，讲动物之间一般会一起做一样的事情。而且协同作战还会让他们更团结，抵抗外敌。

听力：教授举了某种动物做例子，说在迁徙的时候，如果一只口渴停下来喝水，其他不渴的也会停下来喝，喝完再一起继续迁徙。为嘛他们要一起呢，因为在dry open grass上有很危险的敌人，有狮子神马的。如果单独行动太危险了，很有可能丧命。

5、一男一女对话。男孩很苦恼，遇到问题了。他现在住的屋子的房东准备把屋子卖了，然后有个看上的买家非常着急要买，他还有一周多一些的时间可以搬家。他现在有两个选择方案，一个是他的朋友在学校附近有个屋子在招租，但是他觉着这样他就没法定下心来学习了;还有就是和父母住一起，但是父母住的地方忒远了。很难抉择。

6、有关动物的。说动物有两个适应特性，一个是Physical适应，一个是habit适应还是神马的。讲了一个动物在极度寒冷的地方，为了保持自身的热量如何很好地用两种方法来适应。一个是他们的颜色是黑色的，黑色能吸收更多的太阳光，热量传到身体里面。一个是它们平时站在冰块上，于是它们采取不同于寻常的站立方式，木有用两只脚，而是用了脚后跟。

托福机经写作

1、阅读材料

科学家们和在两个相隔1500Mile的地方发现一个我不认识的物种，这个动物正常情况下是黑色带有少许白色斑点，结果两次发现的是全白色的，这个发现非常神奇。但是科学家们仔细分析了下，说这两个东西不是同一物种，并从三个方面给出了分析。

a. 轻微的颜色差异：第一次非常白，第二次微白;

b. 相隔太远：两次相隔了1500mile，他们在岸边不会走这么远;

c. 年龄估计：第一次估计是20岁，那就意味着第二次得要30岁，科学家表示不太可能，我没太能弄懂这个的意思，但是就是这么说的。

综上所述，这两个物种不是同一个。

听力材料

教授的观点是认为他们是同一个物种，从三点分别驳斥了这些科学家的观点

a. 这个生物生活的地方会长貌似是藻类alga,然后这个藻类不同季节的生长情况不太一样。不同季节会对这个动物的颜色有一定的影响，有可能白还是不白时候是被这个藻类覆盖了。

b. 这个生物按生活习性分为两类，一类是hunting，一类是fishing，有可能被发现的是fishing的，它待在冰上，随着冰漂移mi也是很容易滴，所以在这两个地方发现同一个是很有可能的。

c. 年龄有可能被预估错误了，这个生物到20岁以后就没啥变化了，20岁和30岁长得很像的。科学家认为是20岁，万一是25捏?反正就是年龄预估这事不靠谱。

综上所述，教授认为，很有可能是同一个物种

2、有些人认为成绩应该由许多小assignment的成绩综合，有些人认为应该1-2次大成绩。写出自己的观点，并给出案例和分析。

托福阅读真题及答案

Timberline Vegetation on Mountains

The transition from forest to treeless tundra on a mountain slope is often a dramatic one. Within a vertical distance of just a few tens of meters, trees disappear as a life-form and are replaced by low shrubs, herbs, and grasses. This rapid zone of transition is called the upper timberline or tree line. In many semiarid areas there is also a lower timberline where the forest passes into steppe or desert at its lower edge, usually because of a lack of moisture.

The upper timberline, like the snow line, is highest in the tropics and lowest in the Polar Regions. It ranges from sea level in the Polar Regions to 4,500 meters in the dry subtropics and 3,500-4,500 meters in the moist tropics. Timberline trees are normally evergreens, suggesting that these have some advantage over deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves) in the extreme environments of the upper timberline. There are some areas, however, where broadleaf deciduous trees form the timberline. Species of birch, for example, may occur at the timberline in parts of the Himalayas.

At the upper timberline the trees begin to become twisted and deformed. This is particularly true for trees in the middle and upper latitudes, which tend to attain greater heights on ridges, whereas in the tropics the trees reach their greater heights in the valleys. This is because middle- and upper- latitude timberlines are strongly influenced by the duration and depth of the snow cover. As the snow is deeper and lasts longer in the valleys, trees tend to attain greater heights on the ridges, even though they are more exposed to high-velocity winds and poor, thin soils there. In the tropics, the valleys appear to be more favorable because they are less prone to dry out, they have less frost, and they have deeper soils.

There is still no universally agreed-on explanation for why there should be such a dramatic cessation of tree growth at the upper timberline. Various environmental factors may play a role. Too much snow, for example, can smother trees, and avalanches and snow creep can damage or destroy them. Late-lying snow reduces the effective growing season to the point where seedlings cannot establish themselves. Wind velocity also increases with altitude and may cause serious stress for trees, as is made evident by the deformed shapes at high altitudes. Some scientists have proposed that the presence of increasing levels of ultraviolet light with elevation may play a role, while browsing and grazing animals like the ibex may be another contributing factor. Probably the most important environmental factor is temperature, for if the growing season is too short and temperatures are too low, tree shoots and buds cannot mature sufficiently to survive the winter months.

Above the tree line there is a zone that is generally called alpine tundra. Immediately adjacent to the timberline, the tundra consists of a fairly complete cover of low-lying shrubs, herbs, and grasses, while higher up the number and diversity of species decrease until there is much bare ground with occasional mosses and lichens and some prostrate cushion plants. Some plants can even survive in favorable microhabitats above the snow line. The highest plants in the world occur at around 6,100 meters on Makalu in the Himalayas. At this great height, rocks, warmed by the sun, melt small snowdrifts.

The most striking characteristic of the plants of the alpine zone is their low growth form. This enables them to avoid the worst rigors of high winds and permits them to make use of the higher temperatures immediately adjacent to the ground surface. In an area where low temperatures are limiting to life, the importance of the additional heat near the surface is crucial. The low growth form can also permit the plants to take advantage of the insulation provided by a winter snow cover. In the equatorial mountains the low growth form is less prevalent.

Paragraph 1: The transition from forest to treeless tundra on a mountain slope is often a dramatic one. Within a vertical distance of just a few tens of meters, trees disappear as a life-form and are replaced by low shrubs, herbs, and grasses. This rapid zone of transition is called the upper timberline or tree line. In many semiarid areas there is also a lower timberline where the forest passes into steppe or desert at its lower edge, usually because of a lack of moisture.

1. The word “dramatic” in the passage is closest in meaning to

○gradual

○complex

○visible

○striking

2. Where is the lower timberline mentioned in paragraph 1 likely to be found?

○In an area that has little water

○In an area that has little sunlight

○Above a transition area

○On a mountain that has on upper timberline.

3. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 1 about both the upper and lower timberlines?

○Both are treeless zones.

○Both mark forest boundaries.

○Both are surrounded by desert areas.

○Both suffer from a lack of moisture.

Paragraph 2: The upper timberline, like the snow line, is highest in the tropics and lowest in the Polar Regions. It ranges from sea level in the Polar Regions to 4,500 meters in the dry subtropics and 3,500-4,500 meters in the moist tropics. Timberline trees are normally evergreens, suggesting that these have some advantage over deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves) in the extreme environments of the upper timberline. There are some areas, however, where broadleaf deciduous trees form the timberline. Species of birch, for example, may occur at the timberline in parts of the Himalayas.

4. Paragraph 2 supports which of the following statements about deciduous trees?

○They cannot grow in cold climates.

○They do not exist at the upper timberline.

○They are less likely than evergreens to survive at the upper timberline.

○They do not require as much moisture as evergreens do.

Paragraph 3: At the upper timberline the trees begin to become twisted and deformed. This is particularly true for trees in the middle and upper latitudes, which tend to attain greater heights on ridges, whereas in the tropics the trees reach their greater heights in the valleys. This is because middle- and upper- latitude timberlines are strongly influenced by the duration and depth of the snow cover. As the snow is deeper and lasts longer in the valleys, trees tend to attain greater heights on the ridges, even though they are more exposed to high-velocity winds and poor, thin soils there. In the tropics, the valleys appear to be more favorable because they are less prone to dry out, they have less frost, and they have deeper soils.

5. The word “attain” in the passage is closest in meaning to

○require

○resist

○achieve

○endure

6. The word “they” in the passage refers to

○valleys

○trees

○heights

○ridges

7. The word “prone” in the passage is closest in meaning to，bj.xhd.cn/toefl/来源：北京新航道托福培训

○adapted

○likely

○difficult

○resistant

8. According to paragraph 3, which of the following is true of trees in the middle and upper latitudes?

○Tree growth is negatively affected by the snow cover in valleys.

○Tree growth is greater in valleys than on ridges.

○Tree growth on ridges is not affected by high-velocity winds.

○Tree growth lasts longer in those latitudes than it does in the tropics.

Paragraph 4：There is still no universally agreed-on explanation for why there should be such a dramatic cessation of tree growth at the upper timberline. Various environmental factors may play a role. Too much snow, for example, can smother trees, and avalanches and snow creep can damage or destroy them. Late-lying snow reduces the effective growing season to the point where seedlings cannot establish themselves. Wind velocity also increases with altitude and may cause serious stress for trees, as is made evident by the deformed shapes at high altitudes. Some scientists have proposed that the presence of increasing levels of ultraviolet light with elevation may play a role, while browsing and grazing animals like the ibex may be another contributing factor. Probably the most important environmental factor is temperature, for if the growing season is too short and temperatures are too low, tree shoots and buds cannot mature sufficiently to survive the winter months.

9. Which of the sentences below best express the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? In correct choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

○Because of their deformed shapes at high altitudes, trees are not likely to be seriously harmed by the strong winds typical of those altitudes.

○As altitude increases, the velocity of winds increase, leading to a serious decrease in the number of trees found at high altitudes.

○The deformed shapes of trees at high altitudes show that wind velocity, which increase with altitude, can cause serious hardship for trees.

○Increased wind velocity at high altitudes deforms the shapes of trees, and this may cause serious stress for trees.

10. In paragraph 4, what is the author’s main purpose in the discussion of the dramatic cessation of tree growth at the upper timberline?

○To argue that none of several environment factors that are believed to contribute to that phenomenon do in fact play a role in causing it.

○To argue in support of one particular explanation of that phenomenon against several competing explanations

○To explain why the primary environmental factor responsible for that phenomenon has not yet been identified

○To present several environmental factors that may contribute to a satisfactory explanation of that phenomenon

Paragraph 6: The most striking characteristic of the plants of the alpine zone is their low growth form. This enables them to avoid the worst rigors of high winds and permits them to make use of the higher temperatures immediately adjacent to the ground surface. In an area where low temperatures are limiting to life, the importance of the additional heat near the surface is crucial. The low growth form can also permit the plants to take advantage of the insulation provided by a winter snow cover. In the equatorial mountains the low growth form is less prevalent.

11. The word “prevalent” in the passage is closest in meaning to

○predictable

○widespread

○successful

○developed

12. According to paragraph 6, all of the following statements are true of plants in the alpine zone EXCEPT:

○Because they are low, they are less exposed to strong winds.

○Because they are low, the winter snow cover gives them more protection from the extreme cold.

○In the equatorial mountains, they tend to be lower than in mountains elsewhere.

○Their low growth form keeps them closer to the ground, where there is more heat than further up.

Paragraph 5: Above the tree line there is a zone that is generally called alpine tundra. █Immediately adjacent to the timberline, the tundra consists of a fairly complete cover of low-lying shrubs, herbs, and grasses, while higher up the number and diversity of species decrease until there is much bare ground with occasional mosses and lichens and some prostrate cushion plants. █Some plants can even survive in favorable microhabitats above the snow line. The highest plants in the world occur at around 6,100 meters on Makalu in the Himalayas. █At this great height, rocks, warmed by the sun, melt small snowdrifts. █

13. Look at the four squares [█] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

This explains how, for example, alpine cushion plants have been found growing at an altitude of 6,180 meters.

Where would the sentence best fit?

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.

At the timberline, whether upper or lower, there is a profound change in the growth of trees and other plants.

Answer choices

○Birch is one of the few species of tree that can survive in the extreme environments of the upper timberline.

○There is no agreement among scientists as to exactly why plant growth is sharply different above and below the upper timberline.

○The temperature at the upper timberline is probably more important in preventing tree growth than factors such as the amount of snowfall or the force of winds.

○The geographical location of an upper timberline has an impact on both the types of trees found there and their physical characteristics.

○High levels of ultraviolet light most likely play a greater role in determining tree growth at the upper timberline than do grazing animals such as the ibex.

○Despite being adjacent to the timberline, the alpine tundra is an area where certain kinds of low trees can endure high winds and very low temperatures.

参考答案：

1. ○4

2. ○1

3. ○2

4. ○3

5. ○3

6. ○2

7. ○2

8. ○1

9. ○3

10. ○4

11. ○2

12. ○3

13. ○4

14. There is no agreement among…

The temperature at the upper …

The geographical location of…

托福阅读真题及答案

The Origins of Theater

In seeking to describe the origins of theater, one must rely primarily on speculation, since there is little concrete evidence on which to draw. The most widely accepted theory, championed by anthropologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, envisions theater as emerging out of myth and ritual. The process perceived by these anthropologists may be summarized briefly. During the early stages of its development, a society becomes aware of forces that appear to influence or control its food supply and well-being. Having little understanding of natural causes, it attributes both desirable and undesirable occurrences to supernatural or magical forces, and it searches for means to win the favor of these forces. Perceiving an apparent connection between certain actions performed by the group and the result it desires, the group repeats, refines and formalizes those actions into fixed ceremonies, or rituals.

Stories (myths) may then grow up around a ritual. Frequently the myths include representatives of those supernatural forces that the rites celebrate or hope to influence. Performers may wear costumes and masks to represent the mythical characters or supernatural forces in the rituals or in accompanying celebrations. As a person becomes more sophisticated, its conceptions of supernatural forces and causal relationships may change. As a result, it may abandon or modify some rites. But the myths that have grown up around the rites may continue as part of the group’s oral tradition and may even come to be acted out under conditions divorced from these rites. When this occurs, the first step has been taken toward theater as an autonomous activity, and thereafter entertainment and aesthetic values may gradually replace the former mystical and socially efficacious concerns.

Although origin in ritual has long been the most popular, it is by no means the only theory about how the theater came into being. Storytelling has been proposed as one alternative. Under this theory, relating and listening to stories are seen as fundamental human pleasures. Thus, the recalling of an event (a hunt, battle, or other feat) is elaborated through the narrator’s pantomime and impersonation and eventually through each role being assumed by a different person.

A closely related theory sees theater as evolving out of dances that are primarily pantomimic, rhythmical or gymnastic, or from imitations of animal noises and sounds. Admiration for the performer’s skill, virtuosity, and grace are seen as motivation for elaborating the activities into fully realized theatrical performances.

In addition to exploring the possible antecedents of theater, scholars have also theorized about the motives that led people to develop theater. Why did theater develop, and why was it valued after it ceased to fulfill the function of ritual? Most answers fall back on the theories about the human mind and basic human needs. One, set forth by Aristotle in the fourth century B.C., sees humans as naturally imitative—as taking pleasure in imitating persons, things, and actions and in seeing such imitations. Another, advanced in the twentieth century, suggests that humans have a gift for fantasy, through which they seek to reshape reality into more satisfying forms than those encountered in daily life. Thus, fantasy or fiction (of which drama is one form) permits people to objectify their anxieties and fears, confront them, and fulfill their hopes in fiction if not fact. The theater, then, is one tool whereby people define and understand their world or escape from unpleasant realities.

But neither the human imitative instinct nor a penchant for fantasy by itself leads to an autonomous theater. Therefore, additional explanations are needed. One necessary condition seems to be a somewhat detached view of human problems. For example, one sign of this condition is the appearance of the comic vision, since comedy requires sufficient detachment to view some deviations from social norms as ridiculous rather than as serious threats to the welfare of the entire group. Another condition that contributes to the development of autonomous theater is the emergence of the aesthetic sense. For example, some early societies ceased to consider certain rites essential to their well-being and abandoned them, nevertheless, they retained as parts of their oral tradition the myths that had grown up around the rites and admired them for their artistic qualities rather than for their religious usefulness.

Paragraph 1: In seeking to describe the origins of theater, one must rely primarily on speculation, since there is little concrete evidence on which to draw. The most widely accepted theory, championed by anthropologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, envisions theater as emerging out of myth and ritual. The process perceived by these anthropologists may be summarized briefly. During the early stages of its development, a society becomes aware of forces that appear to influence or control its food supply and well-being. Having little understanding of natural causes, it attributes both desirable and undesirable occurrences to supernatural or magical forces, and it searches for means to win the favor of these forces. Perceiving an apparent connection between certain actions performed by the group and the result it desires, the group repeats, refines and formalizes those actions into fixed ceremonies, or rituals.

1. The word “championed” in the passage is closest in meaning to

○changed

○debated

○created

○supported

2. The word “attributes” in the passage is closest in meaning to

○ascribes

○leaves

○limits

○contrasts

3. According to paragraph 1, theories of the origins of theater

○are mainly hypothetical

○are well supported by factual evidence

○have rarely been agreed upon by anthropologists

○were expressed in the early stages of theater’s development

4. According to paragraph 1, why did some societies develop and repeat ceremonial actions?

○To establish a positive connection between the members of the society

○To help society members better understand the forces controlling their food supply

○To distinguish their beliefs from those of other societies

○To increase the society’s prosperity

Paragraph 2: Stories (myths) may then grow up around a ritual. Frequently the myths include representatives of those supernatural forces that the rites celebrate or hope to influence. Performers may wear costumes and masks to represent the mythical characters or supernatural forces in the rituals or in accompanying celebrations. As a person becomes more sophisticated, its conceptions of supernatural forces and causal relationships may change. As a result, it may abandon or modify some rites. But the myths that have grown up around the rites may continue as part of the group’s oral tradition and may even come to be acted out under conditions divorced from these rites. When this occurs, the first step has been taken toward theater as an autonomous activity, and thereafter entertainment and aesthetic values may gradually replace the former mystical and socially efficacious concerns.

5. The word “this” in the passage refers to

○the acting out of rites

○the divorce of ritual performers from the rest of society

○the separation of myths from rites

○the celebration of supernatural forces

6. The word “autonomous” in the passage is closest in meaning to

○artistic

○important

○independent

○established

7. According to paragraph 2, what may cause societies to abandon certain rites?

○Emphasizing theater as entertainment

○Developing a new understanding of why events occur

○Finding a more sophisticated way of representing mythical characters

○Moving from a primarily oral tradition to a more written tradition，来源：北京新航道托福培训

Paragraph 5: In addition to exploring the possible antecedents of theater, scholars have also theorized about the motives that led people to develop theater. Why did theater develop, and why was it valued after it ceased to fulfill the function of ritual? Most answers fall back on the theories about the human mind and basic human needs. One, set forth by Aristotle in the fourth century B.C., sees humans as naturally imitative—as taking pleasure in imitating persons, things, and actions and in seeing such imitations. Another, advanced in the twentieth century, suggests that humans have a gift for fantasy, through which they seek to reshape reality into more satisfying forms than those encountered in daily life. Thus, fantasy or fiction (of which drama is one form) permits people to objectify their anxieties and fears, confront them, and fulfill their hopes in fiction if not fact. The theater, then, is one tool whereby people define and understand their world or escape from unpleasant realities.

8. All of following are mentioned in paragraph 5 as possible reasons that led societies to develop theater EXCEPT:

○Theater allows people to face that they are afraid of.

○Theater gives an opportunity to imagine a better reality.

○Theater is a way to enjoy imitating other people.

○Theater provides people the opportunity to better understand the human mind.

9. Which of the following best describes the organization of paragraph 5?

○The author presents two theories for a historical phenomenon.

○The author argues against theories expressed earlier in the passage.

○The author argues for replacing older theories with a new one.

○The author points out problems with two popular theories.

Paragraph 6: But neither the human imitative instinct nor a penchant for fantasy by itself leads to an autonomous theater. Therefore, additional explanations are needed. One necessary condition seems to be a somewhat detached view of human problems. For example, one sign of this condition is the appearance of the comic vision, since comedy requires sufficient detachment to view some deviations from social norms as ridiculous rather than as serious threats to the welfare of the entire group. Another condition that contributes to the development of autonomous theater is the emergence of the aesthetic sense. For example, some early societies ceased to consider certain rites essential to their well-being and abandoned them, nevertheless, they retained as parts of their oral tradition the myths that had grown up around the rites and admired them for their artistic qualities rather than for their religious usefulness.

10. The word “penchant” in the passage is closest in meaning to

○compromise

○inclination

○tradition

○respect

11. Why does the author mention “comedy”?

○To give an example of early types of theater

○To explain how theater helps a society respond to threats to its welfare

○To help explain why detachment is needed for the development of theater

○To show how theatrical performers become detached from other members of society

12. 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 society’s rites were more likely to be retained in the oral tradition if its myths were admired for artistic qualities.

○The artistic quality of a myth was sometimes an essential reason for a society to abandon it from the oral tradition.

○Some early societies stopped using myths in their religious practices when rites ceased to be seen as

useful for social well-being.

○Myths sometimes survived in a society’s tradition because of their artistic qualities even after they were no longer deemed religiously beneficial.

Paragraph 3: █Although origin in ritual has long been the most popular, it is by no means the only theory about how the theater came into being. █Storytelling has been proposed as one alternative. █Under this theory, relating and listening to stories are seen as fundamental human pleasures. █Thus, the recalling of an event (a hunt, battle, or other feat) is elaborated through the narrator’s pantomime and impersonation and eventually through each role being assumed by a different person.

13. Look at the four squares [█] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

To enhance their listeners’ enjoyment, storytellers continually make their stories more engaging and memorable.

Where would the sentence best fit?

Anthropologists have developed many theories to help understand why and how theater originated.

Answer choices

○The presence of theater in almost all societies is thought to have occurred because early storytellers traveled to different groups to tell their stories.

○Many theorists believe that theater arises when societies act out myths to preserve social well-being.

○The more sophisticated societies became, the better they could influence desirable occurrences through ritualized theater.

○Some theories of theater development focus on how theater was used by group leaders to group leaders govern other members of society.

○Theater may have come from pleasure humans receive from storytelling and moving rhythmically.

○The human capacities for imitation and fantasy are considered possible reasons why societies develop theater.

参考答案：

1. ○4

2. ○1

3. ○1

4. ○4

5. ○3

6. ○3