《8月托福考试阅读理解全真试题》
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篇1:《8月托福考试阅读理解全真试题》
《198月托福考试阅读理解全真试题》
Question 1-10
In the 1600 s when the Spanish moved into what later
was to become the southwestern United States, they encoun-
tered the ancestors of the modern-day Pueblo, Hopi, and Zuni
peoples. These ancestors, known variously as the Basket
Makers, the Anasazi, or the Ancient Ones, had lived in the
area for at least 2,000 years. They were an advanced agricultural
people who used irrigation to help grow their crops.
The Anasazi lived in houses constructed of adobe and
wood. Anasazi houses were originally built in pits and were
entered from the roof. But around the year 700 A.D., the
Anasazi began to build their homes above ground and join them
together into rambling multistoried complexes, which the
Spanish called pueblos or villages. Separate subterranean rooms
in these pueblos---known as kivas or chapels---were set aside
for religious ceremonials. Each kiva had a fire pit and a hole
that was believed to lead to the underworld. The largest pueblos
had five stories and more than 800 rooms.
The Anasazi family was matrilineal, that is, descent was
traced through the female. The sacred objects of the family
were under the control of the oldest female, but the actual
ceremonies were conducted by her brother or son. Women owned
the rooms in the pueblo and the crops, once they were harvested.
While still growing, crops belonged to the man who,
in contrast to most other Native American groups, planted
them. The women made baskets and pottery, the men wove
textile and crafted turquoise jewelry.
Each village had two chiefs. The village chief dealt with
land disputes and religious affairs. The war chief led the men
in fighting during occasional conflicts that broke out with
neighboring villages and directed the men in community building
projects. The cohesive political and social organization of
the Anasazi made it
篇2:1995年8月托福考试阅读理解全真试题(上)
question 1-9
the ocean bottom – a region nearly 2.5 times greater
than the total land area of the earth – is a vast frontier that
even today is largely unexplored and uncharted. until about a
century ago, the deep – ocean floor was completely inaccessible,
hidden beneath waters averaging over 3,6000 meters deep.
totally without light and subjected to intense pressures hundreds
of times greater than at the earth s surface, the deep – ocean
bottom is a hostile environment to humans, in some
ways as forbidding and remote as the void of outer space.
although researchers have taken samples of deep – ocean
rocks and sediments for over a century, the first detailed global
investigation of the ocean bottom did not actually start until
1968, with the beginning of the national science foundation s
deep sea drilling project (dsdp). using techniques first
developed for the offshore oil and gas industry, the dsdp s drill
ship, the glomar challenger, was able to maintain a steady
position on the ocean s surface and drill in very deep waters,
extracting samples of sediments and rock from the ocean floor.
the glomar challenger completed 96 voyages in a 15 – year
research program that ended in november 1983. during
this time, the vessel logged 600,000 kilometers and took
almost 20,000 core samples of seabed sediments and rocks at
624 drilling sites around the world. the glomar challenger s
core samples have allowed geologists to reconstruct what the
planet looked like hundreds of millions of years ago and to
calculate what it will probably look like millions of years in the
future. today, largely on the strength of evidence gathered
during the glomar challenger s voyages, nearly all earth scientists
agree on the theories of plate tectonics and continental
drift that explain many of the geological processes that shape
the earth.
the cores of sediment drilled by the glomar challenger
have also yielded information critical to understanding the
world s past climates. deep – ocean sediments provide a
climatic record stretching back hundreds of millions of years,
because they are largely isolated from the mechanical erosion and
the intense chemical and biological activity that rapidly destroy
much land – based evidence of past climates. this record has
already provided insights into the patterns and causes of past
climatic change – information that may be used to predict
future climates.
1. the author refers to the ocean bottom as a “frontier” in line 2 because it
(a) is not a popular area for scientific research
(b) contains a wide variety of life forms
(c) attracts courageous explorers
(d) is an unknown territory
2. the word “inaccessible” in line 4 is closest in meaning to
(a) unrecognizable
(b) unreachable
(c) unusable
(d) unsafe
3. the author mentions outer space in line 9 because
(a) the earth s climate millions of years ago was similar to conditions in outer space
(b) it is similar to the ocean floor in being alien to the human environment
(c) rock formations in outer space are similar to those found on the ocean floor
(d) techniques used by scientists to explore outer space were similar to those used in ocean exploration
4. which of the following is true of the glomar challenger?
(a) it is a type of submarine.
(b) it is an ongoing project.
(c) it has gone on over 100 voyages.
(d) it made its first dsdp voyage in 1968.
5. the word “extracting” in line 18 is closest in meaning to
(a) breaking
(b) locating
(c) removing
(d) analyzing
6. the deep sea drilling project was significant because it was
(a) an attempt to find new sources of oil and gas
(b) the first extensive exploration of the ocean bottom
(c) composed of geologists from all over the world
(d) funded entirely by the gas and oil industry
7. the word “strength” in line 21 is closest in meaning to
(a) basis
(b) purpose
(c) discovery
(d) endurance
8. the word “they” in line 36 refers to
(a) years
(b) climates
(c) sediments
(d) cores
9. which of the following is not mentioned in the passage as being a result of the deep sea drilling project?
(a) geologists were able to determine the earth s appearance hundreds of millions of years ago.
(b) two geological theories became more widely accepted by scientists.
(c) information was revealed about the earth s past climatic changes.
(d) geologists observed forms of marine life never before seen.
questions 10-21
basic to any understanding of canada in 20 years
after the second world war is the country s impressive
population growth. for every three canadians in 1945, there were
over five in . in september 1966 canada s population
passed the 20 million mark. most of this surging growth came
from natural increase. the depression of the 1930 s and the
war had held back marriages and the catching – up process
began after 1945. the baby boom continued through the decade
of the 1950 s, producing a population increase of nearly
fifteen percent in the five years from 1951 to 1956. this rate
of increase had been exceeded only once before in canada s
history, in the decade before 1911, when the prairies were
being settled. undoubtedly, the good economic conditions of the
1950 s supported a growth in the population, but the expansion
also derived from a trend toward earlier marriages and an
increase in the average size of families. in 1957 the canadian
birth rate stood at 28 per thousand, one of the highest in the
world.
after the peak year of 1957, the birth rate in canada
began to decline.
it continued falling until in 1966 it stood at the
lowest level in 25 years. partly this decline reflected the low
level of births during the depression and the war, but it was
also caused by changes in canadian society. young people
were staying at school longer, more women were working,
young married couples were buying automobiles or houses
before starting families, rising living standards were cutting
down the size of families. it appeared that canada was once
more falling in step with the trend toward smaller families that
had occurred all through the western world since the time of
the industrial revolution.
although the growth in canada s population has slowed
down by 1966(the increase in the first half of the 1960 s was
only nine percent). another large population wave was coming
over the horizon. it would be composed of the children of the
children who were born during the period of the high birth
rate prior to 1957.
10. what does the passage mainly discuss?
(a) educational changes in canadian society.
(b) canada during the second world war
(c) population trends in postwar canada
(d) standards of living in canada
11. according to the passage, when did canada s baby boom begin?
(a) in the decade after 1911
(b) after 1945
(c) during the depression of the 1930 s
(d) in 1966
12. the word “five” in line 4 refers to
(a) canadians
(b) years
(c) decades
(d) marriages
13. the word “surging” in line 5 is closest in meaning to
(a) new
(b) extra
(c) accelerating
(d) surprising
14. the author suggests that in canada during the 1950 s
(a) the urban population decreased rapidly
(b) fewer people married
(c) economic conditions were poor
(d) the birth rate was very high
15. the word “trend” in line 15 is closest in meaning to
(a) tendency
(b) aim
(c) growth
(d) directive
16. the word “peak” in line 19 is closest in meaning to
(a) pointed
(b) dismal
(c) mountain
(d) maximum
17. when was the birth rate in canada at its lowest postwar level?
(a) 1966
(b) 1957
(c) 1956
(d) 1951
18. the author mentions all of the following as causes of declines in population growth after 1957 except
(a) people being better educated
(b) people getting married earlier
(c) better standards of living
(d) couples buying houses
19. it can be inferred from the passage that before the industrial revolution
(a) families were larger
(b) population statistic were unreliable
(c) the population grew steadily
(d) economic conditions were bad
20. the word “it” in line 34 refers to
(a) horizon
(b) population wave
(c) nine percent
(d) first half
21. the phrase “prior to” in line 36 is closest in meaning to
(a) behind
(b) since
(c) during
(d) preceding
questions 22-30
are organically grown foods the best food choices? the
advantages claimed for such foods over conventionally grown
and marketed food products are now being debated. advocates
of organic foods – a term whose meaning varies greatly –
frequently proclaim that such products are safer and more
nutritious than others.
the growing interest of consumers in the safety and more
nutritional quality of the typical north american diet is a
welcome development. however, much of this interest has been
sparked by sweeping claims that the food supply is unsafe or
in adequate in meeting nutritional needs. although most of
these claims are not supported by scientific evidence, the
preponderance of written material advancing such claims makes it
difficult for the general public to separate fact from fiction. as
a result, claims that eating a diet consisting entirely of organically
grown foods prevents or cures disease or provides other
benefits to health have become widely publicized and form the
basis for folklore.
almost daily the public is besieged by claims for “no-aging”
diets, new vitamins, and other wonder foods. there are
numerous unsubstantiated reports that natural vitamins are
superior to synthetic ones, that fertilized eggs are nutritionally
superior to unfertilized eggs, that untreated grains are better
than fumigated grains and the like.
one thing that most organically grown food products
seem to have in common is that they cost more than conventionally
grown foods. but in many cases consumers are misled
if they believe organic foods can maintain health and provide
better nutritional quality than conventionally grown foods. so
there is real cause for concern if consumers, particularly those
with limited incomes, distrust the regular food and buy and buy
only expensive organic foods instead.
22. the world “advocates” in line 3 is closest in meaning to which of the following?
(a) proponents
(b) merchants
(c) inspectors
(d) consumers
23. in line 6, the word “others” refers to
(a) advantages
(b) advocates
(c) organic foods
(d) products
24. the “welcome development” mentioned in line 8-9 is an increase in
(a) interest in food safety and nutritional quality of the typical north american diet
(b) the nutritional quality of the typical north american diet
(c) the amount of healthy food grown in north america
(d) the number of consumers in north america
25. according to the first paragraph, which of the following is true about the term “organic foods”?
(a) it is accepted by most nutritionists.
(b) it has been used only in recent years.
(c) it has no fixed meaning.
(d) it is seldom used by consumers.
26. the word “unsubstantiated” in line 21 is closest in meaning to
(a) unbelievable
(b) uncontested
(c) unpopular
(d) unverified
27. the word “maintain” in line 28 is closest in meaning to
(a) improve
(b) monitor
(c) preserve
(d) restore
28. the author implies that there is cause for concern if consumers with limited incomes buy organic foods instead of conventionally grown foods because
(a) organic foods can be more expensive but are often no better than conventionally grown foods
(b) many organic foods are actually less nutritious than similar conventionally grown foods
(c) conventionally grown foods are more readily available than organic foods
(d) too many farmers will stop using conventional methods to grow food crops.
29. according to the last paragraph, consumers who believe that organic foods are better than conventionally grown foods are often
(a) careless
(b) mistaken
(c) thrifty
(d) wealthy
30. what is the author s attitude toward the claims made by advocates of health foods?
(a) very enthusiastic
(b) somewhat favorable
(c) neutral
(d) skeptical
篇3:1995年8月托福考试阅读理解全真试题(下)
questions 31-40
there are many theories about the beginning of drama in
ancient greece. the one most widely accepted today is based
on the assumption that drama evolved from ritual. the
argument for this view goes as follows. in the beginning, human
beings viewed the natural forces of the world, even the seasonal
changes, as unpredictable, and they sought through various
means, to control these unknown and feared powers.
those measures which appeared to bring the desired results
were then retained and repeated until they hardened into fixed
rituals. eventually stories arose which explained or veiled the
mysteries of the rites. as time passed some rituals were
abandoned, but the stories, later called myths, persisted and
provided material for art and drama.
those who believe that drama evolved out of ritual also
argue that those rites contained the seed of theater because
music, dance, masks, and costumes were almost always used.
furthermore, a suitable site had to be provided for performances,
and when the entire community did not participate, a
clear division was usually made between the “acting area” and
the “auditorium.” in addition, there were performers, and
since considerable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes
in the enactment of rites, religious leaders usually assumed
that task. wearing masks and costumes, they often
impersonated other people, animals, or supernatural beings,
and mimed the desired effect - success in hunt or battle,
the coming rain, the revival of the sun - as an actor
might. eventually such dramatic representations were separated
from religious activities.
another theory traces the theater s origin from the
human interest in storytelling. according to this view, tales
(about the hunt, war, or other feats) are gradually elaborated,
at first through the use of impersonation, action, and
dialogue by a narrator and then through the assumption of each of
the roles by a different person. a closely related theory traces
theater to those dances that are primarily rhythmical and
gymnastic or that are imitations of animal movements and sounds.
31. what does the passage many discuss?
(a) the origins of theater
(b) the role of ritual in modern dance
(c) the importance of storytelling
(d) the variety of early religious activities.
32. the word “they” in line 6 refers to
(a) seasonal changes
(b) natural forces
(c) theories
(d) human beings
33. what aspect of drama does the author discuss in the first paragraph?
(a) the reason drams is often unpredictable
(b) the seasons in which dramas were performed
(c) the connection between myths and dramatic plots
(d) the importance of costumes in early drama
34. which of the following is not mentioned as a common element of theater and ritual?
(a) dance
(b) costumes
(c) music
(d) magic
35. the word “considerable” in line 21 is closest in meaning to
(a) thoughtful
(b) substantial
(c) relational
(d) ceremonial
36. the word “enactment” in line 22 is closest in meaning to
(a) establishment
(b) performance
(c) authorization
(d) season
37. the word “they” in line 23 refers to
(a) mistakes
(b) costumes
(c) animals
(d) performers
38. according to the passage, what is the main difference between ritual and drama?
(a) ritual uses music whereas drama does not.
(b) ritual is shorter than drama.
(c) ritual requires fewer performers than drama.
(d) ritual has a religious purpose and drama does not.
39. the passage supports which of the following statements?
(a) no one really knows how the theater began
(b) myths are no longer represented dramatically.
(c) storytelling is an important part of dance
(d) dramatic activities require the use of costumes.
40. where in the passage does the author discuss the separation of the stage and the audience?
(a) lines 8-9
(b) lines 12-14
(c) lines 19-20
(d) lines 22-24
questions 41-50
staggering tasks confronted the people of the united
states, north and south, when the civil war ended. about a
million and a half soldiers from both sides had to be demobilized,
readjusted to civilian life, and reabsorbed by the devastated
economy. civil government also had to be put back on a
peacetime basis and interference from the military had to be
stopped.
the desperate plight of the south has eclipsed the fact
that reconstruction had to be undertaken also in the north,
though less spectacularly. industries had to adjust to peacetime
conditions, factories had to be retooled for civilian needs.
financial problems loomed large in both the north and
the south. the national debt had shot up from a modest $65
million in 1861, the year the ear started to nearly $3 billion
in 1865, the year the war ended. this was a colossal sum for
those days but one that a prudent government could pay. at
the same time, war taxes had to be reduced to less burdensome
levels.
physical devastation caused by invading armies, chiefly in
the south and border states, had to be repaired. this herculean
task was ultimately completed, but with discouraging
slowness.
other important questions needed answering. what
would be the future of the four million black people who were
freed from slavery? on what basis were the southern states to
be brought back into the union?
what of the southern leaders, all of whom were liable to
charges of treason? one of these leaders, jefferson davis,
president of the southern confederacy, was the subject of an
insulting popular northern song,“hang jeff davis from a sour
apple tree.” and even children sang it. davis was temporarily
chained in his prison cell during the early days of his two-
year imprisonment. but he and the other southern leaders
were finally released, partly because it was unlikely that a jury
from virginia, a southern confederate state, would convict
them. all the leaders were finally pardoned by president johnson
in 1868 in an effort to help reconstruction efforts proceed
with as little bitterness as possible.
41. what does the passage mainly discuss?
(a) wartime expenditures
(b) problems facing the united states after the war
(c) methods of repairing the damage caused by the war
(d) the results of government efforts to revive the economy
42. the word “ staggering” in line 1 is closest in meaning to
(a) specialized
(b) confusing
(c) various
(d) overwhelming
43. the word “devastated” in line 4 is closest in meaning to
(a) developing
(b) ruined
(c) complicated
(d) fragile
44. according to the passage, which of the following statements about the damage in the south is correct?
(a) it was worse than in the north.
(b) the cost was less than expected
(c) it was centered in the border states.
(d) it was remedied rather quickly.
45. the passage refers to all of the following as necessary steps following the civil war except
(a) helping soldiers readjust
(b) restructuring industry
(c) returning government to normal
(d) increasing taxes
46. the word “task” in line 21 refers to
(a) raising the tax level
(b) sensible financial choices
(c) worse decisions about former slaves
(d) reconstruction of damaged areas
47. why does the author mention a popular song in lines 30?
(a) to give attitude towards the south
(b) to illustrate the northern love of music
(c) to emphasize the cultural differences between the north and the south
(d) to compare the northern and southern presidents
48. the word “them” in line 36 refers to
(a) charges
(b) leaders
(c) days
(d) irons
49. which of the following can be inferred from the phrase “ _____it was unlikely that a jury from virginia . a southern confederate state ,would convict them” (lines 25-26)?
(a) virginians felt betrayed by jefferson davis
(b) a popular song insulted virginians
(c) virginians were loyal to their leaders
(d) all of the virginia military leaders had been put in chains.
50. it can be inferred from the passage that president johnson pardoned the southern leaders in order to
(a) raise money for the north
(b) repair the physical damage in the south
(c) prevent northern leaders from punishing more southerners
(d) help the nation recover from the war
篇4:托福考试阅读试题
What unusual or unique biological trait led to the remarkable diversification and unchallenged success of the ants for ever 50 million years? The answer appears to be that they were the first group of predatory eusocial insects that both lived and foraged primarily in the soil and in rotting vegetation on the ground. Eusocial refers to a form of insect society characterized by specialization of tasks and cooperative care of the young; it is rare among insects. Richly organized colonies of the land made possible by eusociality enjoy several key advantages over solitary individuals.
Under most circumstances groups of workers are better able to forage for food and defend the nest, because they can switch from individual to group response and back again swiftly and according to need. When a food object or nest intruder is too large for one individual to handle, nestmates can be quickly assembled by alarm or recruitment signals. Equally important is the fact that the execution of multiple-step tasks is accomplished in a series-parallel sequence. That is, individual ants can specialize in particular steps, moving from one object (such as a larva to be fed) to another (a second larva to be fed). They do not need to carry each task to completion from start to finish — for example, to check the larva first, then collect the food, then feed the larva. Hence, if each link in the chain has many workers in attendance, a series directed at any particular object is less likely to fail. Moreover, ants specializing in particular labor categories typically constitute a caste specialized by age or body form or both. There has been some documentation of the superiority in performance and net energetic yield of various castes for their modal tasks, although careful experimental studies are still relatively few.
What makes ants unusual in the company of eusocial insects is the fact that they are the only eusocial predators (predators are animals that capture and feed on other animals) occupying the soil and ground litter. The eusocial termites live in the same places as ants and also have wingless workers, but they feed almost exclusively on dead vegetation.
1. Which of the following questions does the passage primarily answer?
(A) How do individual ants adapt to specialized tasks?
(B) What are the differences between social and solitary insects?
(C) Why are ants predators?
(D) Why have ants been able to thrive for such a long time?
2. The word “unique” in line 1 is closest in meaning to
(A) inherited
(B) habitual
(C) singular
(D) natural
3. The word “rotting” in line 4 is closest in meaning to
(A) decaying
(B) collected
(C) expanding
(D) cultivated
4. The word “key” in line 7 is closest in meaning to
(A) uncommon
(B) important
(C) incidental
(D) temporary
5. According to the passage , one thing eusocial insects can do is rapidly switch from
(A) one type of food consumption to another
(B) one environment to another
(C) a solitary task to a group task
(D) a defensive to an offensive stance
6. The task of feeding larvae is mentioned in the passage to demonstrate
(A) the advantages of specialization
(B) the type of food that larvae are fed
(C) the ways ant colonies train their young for adult tasks
(D) the different stages of ant development
7. The author uses the word “Hence” in line 16 to indicate
(A) a logical conclusion
(B) the next step in a senes of steps
(C) a reason for further study
(D) the relationship among ants
8. All of the following terms art defined in the passage EXCEPT
(A) eusocial (line 3)
(B) series-parallel sequence (line 13)
(C) caste (line 19)
(D) predators (line 23)
9. The word “they” in line 25 refers to
(A) termites
(B) ants
(C) places
(D) predators
10. It can be inferred from the passage that one main difference between termites and ants is that termites
(A) live above ground
(B) are eusocial
(C) protect their nests
(D) eat almost no animal substances
参考答案:DCABC AACAD
篇5:托福考试阅读试题
The most thoroughly studied cases of deception strategies employed by ground-nesting birds involve plovers, small birds that typically nest on beaches or in open fields, their nests merely scrapes in the sand or earth. Plovers also have an effective repertoire of tricks for distracting potential nest predators from their exposed and defenseless eggs or chicks.
The ever-watchful plover can detect a possible threat at a considerable distance. When she does, the nesting bird moves inconspicuously off the nest to a spot well away from eggs or chicks. At this point she may use one of several ploys. One technique involves first moving quietly toward an approaching animal and then setting off noisily through the grass or brush in a low, crouching run away from the nest, while emitting rodent like squeaks. The effect mimics a scurrying mouse or vole, and the behavior rivets the attention of the type of predators that would also be interested in eggs and chicks.
Another deception begins with quiet movement to an exposed and visible location well away from the nest. Once there, the bird pretends to incubate a brood. When the predator approaches, the parent flees, leaving the false nest to be searched. The direction in which the plover “escapes” is such that if the predator chooses to follow, it will be led still further away from the true nest.
The plover's most famous stratagem is the broken-wing display, actually a continuum of injury-mimicking behaviors spanning the range from slight disability to near-complete helplessness. One or both wings are held in an abnormal position, suggesting injury. The bird appears to be attempting escape along an irregular route that indicates panic. In the most extreme version of the display, the bird flaps one wing in an apparent attempt to take to the air, flops over helplessly, struggles back to its feet, runs away a short distance, seemingly attempts once more to take off, flops over again as the “useless” wing fails to provide any lift, and so on. Few predators fail to pursue such obviously vulnerable prey. Needless to say, each short run between “flight attempts” is directed away from the nest.
1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) The nest-building techniques of plovers
(B) How predators search for plovers
(C) The strategies used by plovers to deceive predators
(D) Why plovers are vulnerable to predators
2. The word “merely” in fine 3 is closest in meaning to
(A) often
(B) only
(C) usually
(D) at first
3. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage about plovers?
(A) Their eggs and chicks are difficult to find.
(B) They are generally defenseless when away from their nests.
(C) They are slow to react in dangerous situations.
(D) Their nests are on the surface of the ground.
4. The word “emitting” in line 10 is closest in meaning to
(A) bringing
(B) attracting
(C) producing
(D) minimizing
5. In the deception technique described in paragraph 2, the plover tries to
(A) stay close to her nest
(B) attract the predator's attention
(C) warn other plovers of danger
(D) frighten the approaching predator
6. The word “spanning” in line 19 is closest in meaning to
(A) covering
(B) selecting
(C) developing
(D) explaining
7. According to paragraph 4, which of the following aspects of the plover's behavior gives the appearance that it is frightened?
(A) Abnormal body position
(B) Irregular escape route
(C) Unnatural wing movement
(D) Unusual amount of time away from the nest
8. The word “pursue” in line 25 is closest in meaning to
(A) catch
(B) notice
(C) defend
(D) chase
9. According to the passage , a female plover utilizes all of the following deception techniques EXCEPT
(A) appearing to be injured
(B) sounding like another animal
(C) pretending to search for prey
(D) pretending to sit on her eggs
10. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage ?
(A) A description of the sequence of steps involved in plovers nest building
(B) A generalization about plover behavior followed by specific examples
(C) A comparison and contrast of the nesting behavior of plovers and other ground nesting birds
(D) A cause-and-effect analysis of the relationship between a prey and a predator
参考答案:CBDCB ABDCB
篇6:托福考试阅读试题
Geographers say that what defines a place are four properties: soil, climate, altitude, and aspect, or attitude to the Sun. Florida's ancient scrub demonstrates this principle. Its soil is pure silica, so barren it supports only lichens as ground cover. It does, however, sustain a sand-swimming lizard that cannot live where there is moisture or plant matter the soil. Its climate, despite more than 50 inches of annual rainfall, is blistering desert. The only plant life it can sustain is the xerophytic, the quintessentially dry. Its altitude is a mere couple of hundred feet, but it is high ground on a peninsula elsewhere close to sea level, and its drainage is so critical that a difference of inches in elevation can bring major changes in its plant communities. Its aspect is flat direct, brutal — and subtropical.
Florida's surrounding lushness cannot impinge on its desert scrubbiness. This does not sound like an attractive place. It does not look much like one either: shrubby little oaks, clumps of scraggly bushes prickly pear, thorns, and tangles. “It appears,” Said one early naturalist, “to desire to display the result of the misery through which it has passed and is passing”. By our narrow standards, scrub is not beautiful; neither does it meet our selfish utilitarian needs. Even the name is an epithet, a synonym for the stunted, the scruffy, the insignificant, what is beautiful about such a place?
The most important remaining patches of scrub lie along the Lake Wales Ridge, a chain of paleoislands running for a hundred miles down the center of Florida, in most places less than ten miles wide. It is relict seashore, tossed up millions of years ago when ocean levels were higher and the rest of the peninsula was submerged. That ancient emergence is precisely what makes Lake Wales Ridge so precious: it has remained unsubmerged, its ecosystems essentially undisturbed since the Miocene era. As a result, it has gathered to itself one of the largest collections of rare organisms in the world. Only about 75 plant species survive there, but at least 30 of these are found nowhere else on Earth.
1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) How geographers define a place
(B) The characteristics of Florida's ancient scrub
(C) An early naturalist's opinion of Florida
(D) The history of the Lake Wales Ridge
2. The author mentions all of the following factors that define a place EXCEPT
(A) aspect
(B) altitude
(C) soil
(D) life-forms
3. It can be inferred from the passage that soil composed of silica
(A) does not hold moisture
(B) is found only in Florida
(C) nourishes many kinds of ground cover
(D) provides food for many kinds of lizards
4. The word “sustain” in line 6 is closets in meaning to
(A) select
(B) strain
(C) support
(D) store
5. The author mentions the prickly pear (line 12) as an example of
(A) valuable fruit-bearing plants of the scrub area
(B) unattractive plant life of the scrub area
(C) a pant discovered by an early naturalist
(D) plant life that is extremely rare
6. The author suggests that human standards of beauty are
(A) tolerant
(B) idealistic
(C) defensible
(D) limited
7. The word “insignificant” in line 16 is closest in meaning to
(A) unimportant
(B) undisturbed
(C) immature
(D) inappropriate
8. According to the passage , why is the Lake Wales Ridge valuable?
(A) It was originally submerged in the ocean.
(B) It is less than ten miles wide.
(C) It is located near the seashore.
(D) It has ecosystems that have long remained unchanged
9. The word “it” in line 21 refer to
(A) Florida
(B) the peninsula
(C) the Lake Wales Ridge
(D) the Miocene era
10. The passage probably continues with a discussion of
(A) ancient scrub found in other areas of the country
(B) geographers who study Florida's scrub
(C) the climate of the Lake Wales Ridge
(D) the unique plants found on the Lake Wales Ridge
参考答案:BDACB DADCD
篇7:《5月托福考试阅读理解全真试题》
《195月托福考试阅读理解全真试题》
Questions 1-11
Before the 1500 s, the western plains of North America
were dominated by farmers. One group, the Mandans, lived
in the upper Missouri River country, primarily in present-day
North Dakota. They had large villages of houses built close
together. The tight arrangement enabled the Mandans to protect
themselves more easily from the attacks of others who might
seek to obtain some of the food these highly capable farmers
stored from one year to the next.
The women had primary responsibility for the fields.
They had to exercise considerable skill to produce the desired
results, for their northern location meant fleeting growing
seasons. Winter often lingered; autumn could be ushered in by
severe frost. For good measure, during the spring and summer,
drought, heat, hail, grasshoppers, and other frustrations
might await the wary grower.
Under such conditions, Mandan women had to grow
maize capable of weathering adversity. They began as early as
it appeared feasible to do so in the spring. clearing the land,
using fire to clear stubble from the fields and then planting.
From this point until the first green corn could be harvested,
the crop required labor and vigilance.
Harvesting proceeded in two stages. In August the Mandans
picked a smaller amount of the crop before it had matured
fully. This green corn was boiled, dried, and shelled, with
some of the maize slated for immediate consumption and the
rest stored in animal-skin bags. Later in the fall, the people
picked the rest of the corn. They saved the best of the harvest
for seeds or for trade, with the remainder eaten right away or
stored for later use in underground reserves. With appropriate
banking of the extra food, the Mandans protected themselves
against the disaster of crop failure and accompanying hunger.
The women planted another staple, squa
篇8:5月托福考试阅读理解全真试题
questions 1-11
before the 1500 s, the western plains of north america
were dominated by farmers. one group, the mandans, lived
in the upper missouri river country, primarily in present-day
north dakota. they had large villages of houses built close
together. the tight arrangement enabled the mandans to protect
themselves more easily from the attacks of others who might
seek to obtain some of the food these highly capable farmers
stored from one year to the next.
the women had primary responsibility for the fields.
they had to exercise considerable skill to produce the desired
results, for their northern location meant fleeting growing
seasons. winter often lingered; autumn could be ushered in by
severe frost. for good measure, during the spring and summer,
drought, heat, hail, grasshoppers, and other frustrations
might await the wary grower.
under such conditions, mandan women had to grow
maize capable of weathering adversity. they began as early as
it appeared feasible to do so in the spring. clearing the land,
using fire to clear stubble from the fields and then planting.
from this point until the first green corn could be harvested,
the crop required labor and vigilance.
harvesting proceeded in two stages. in august the mandans
picked a smaller amount of the crop before it had matured
fully. this green corn was boiled, dried, and shelled, with
some of the maize slated for immediate consumption and the
rest stored in animal-skin bags. later in the fall, the people
picked the rest of the corn. they saved the best of the harvest
for seeds or for trade, with the remainder eaten right away or
stored for later use in underground reserves. with appropriate
banking of the extra food, the mandans protected themselves
against the disaster of crop failure and accompanying hunger.
the women planted another staple, squash, about the
first of june, and harvested it near the time of the green corn
harvest. after they picked it, they sliced it, dried it, and
strung the slices before they stored them. once again, they
saved the seed from the best of the year s crop. the mandans
also grew sunflowers and tobacco; the latter was the particular
task of the old men.
1. the mandans built their houses close together in order to
(a) guard their supplies of food
(b) protect themselves against the weather
(c) allow more room for growing corn
(d) share farming implements
2.the word “enabled” in line 5 is closest in meaning to
(a)covered
(b) reminded
(c)helped
(d)isolated
3.the word “considerable” in line 10 is closest in meaning to
(a) planning
(b) much
(c) physical
(d) flew
4.why does the author believe that the mandans were skilled farmers?
(a) they developed effective fertilizers.
(b) they developed new varieties of corn.
(c) they could grow crops in most types of soil.
(d) they could grow crops despite adverse weather.
5. tile word “consumption” in line 25 is closest in meaning to
(a) decay
(b) planting
(c) eating
(d) conversion
6.which of the following processes does the author imply was done by both men and women?
(a) clearing fields
(b) planting corn
(c) harvesting corn
(d) harvesting squash.
7.the word “disaster” in line 31 is closest in meaning to
(a)control
(b)catastrophe
(c)avoidance
(d)history
8. according to the passage, the mandans preserved their food by
(a)smoking
(b)drying
(c)freezing.
(d)salting
9.the word “it” in line 34 refers to
(a)june
(b)corn
(c)time
(d)squash
10.which of the following crops was cultivated primarily by men
(a) corn
(b)squash
(c)sunflower
(d)tobacco
11.throughout the passage, the author implies that the mandans
(a)planned for the future
(b) valued individuality
(c)were open to strangers
(d)were very adventurous
questions 12-20
the elements other than hydrogen and helium exist in
such small quantities that it is accurate to say that the universe
somewhat more than 25 percent helium by weight and
somewhat less than 25 percent hydrogen.
astronomers have measured the abundance of helium
throughout our galaxy and in other galaxies as well. helium
has been found in old stars, in relatively young ones, in interstellar
gas, and in the distant objects known as quasars. helium
nuclei have also been found to be constituents of cosmic
rays that fall on the earth (cosmic “rays” are not really a form
of radiation; they consist of rapidly moving particles of numerous
different kinds). it doesn t seem to make very much difference
where the helium is found. its relative abundance never
seems to vary much. in some places, there may be slightly
more of it; in others, slightly less, but the ratio of helium to
hydrogen nuclei always remains about the same.
helium is created in stars. in fact, nuclear reactions that
convert hydrogen to helium are responsible for most of the
energy that stars produce. however, the amount of helium that
could have been produced in this manner can be calculated,
and it turns out to be no more than a few percent. the
universe has not existed long enough for this figure to be
significantly greater. consequently, if the universe is somewhat
more than 25 percent helium now, then it must have been
about 25 percent helium at a time near the beginning..
however, when the universe was less than one minute
old, no helium could have existed. calculations indicate that
before this time temperatures were too high and particles of
matter were moving around much too rapidly. it was only
after the one-minute point that helium could exist.
by this time,
the universe had cooled sufficiently that neutrons and protons
could stick together. but the nuclear reactions that led to the
formation of helium went on for only a relatively short time.
by the time the universe was a few minutes old, helium
production had effectively ceased.
12.what does the passage mainly explain?
(a)how stars produce energy
(b)the difference between helium and hydrogen
(c)when most of the helium in the universe was formed
(d)why hydrogen is abundant
13.according to the passage, helium is
(a) the second-most abundant element in the universe
(b) difficult to detect
(c) the oldest element in the universe
(d) the most prevalent element in quasars
14.the word “constituents” in line 9 is closest in meaning to
(a) relatives
(b) causes
(c)components
(d) targets
15.why does the author mention “cosmic rays t in line 10?
(a)as part of a list of things containing helium
(b)as an example of an unsolved astronomical puzzle
(c) to explain how the universe began
(d) to explain the abundance of hydrogen in the universe
16.the word ”vary“ in line 14 is closest ill meaning to
(a) mean
(b) stretch
(c) change
(d) include
17.the creation of helium within stars
(a) cannot be measured
(b) produces energy
(c) produces hydrogen as a by-product
(d) causes helium to be much more abundant in old stars than in young star:
18. the word ”calculated“ in line 20 is closest in meaning to
(a) ignored
(b) converted
(c) increased
(d) determined
19.most of the helium in the universe was formed
(a) in interstellar space
(b) in a very short time
(c)during the first minute of the universe s existence
(d) before most of the hydrogen
20.the word ”ceased“ in line 35 is closest in meaning to
(a)extended
(b)performed
(c)taken hold
(d)stopped
questions 21-30
in colonial america, people generally covered their beds
with decorative quilts resembling those of the lands from which
the quitters had come. wealthy and socially prominent settlers
made quilts of the english type, cut from large lengths of cloth
of the same color and texture rather than stitched together
from smaller pieces. they mad these until the advent of the
revolutionary war in i 775, when everything english came to
be frowned upon.
among the whole-cloth quilts made by these wealthy settlers
during the early period are those now called linsey-
woolseys. this term was usually applied to a fabric of wool
and linen used in heavy clothing and quilted petticoats worn in
the wintertime. despite the name, linsey-woolsey bedcovers
did not often contain linen. rather, they were made of a top
layer of woolen or glazed worsted wool fabric, consisting of
smooth, compact yarn from long wool fiber dyed dark blue,
green, or brown with a bottom layer of a coarser woolen material,
either natural or a shade of yellow. the filling was a soft
layer of wool which had been cleaned and separated and the
three layers were held together with decorative stitching done
with homespun linen thread. later, cotton thread was used
for this purpose. the design of the stitching was often a simple
one composed of interlocking circles or crossed diagonal
lines giving a diamond pattern.
this type of heavy, warm, quilted bedcover was so large
that it hung to the floor. the corners are cut out at the foot of
the cover so that the quilt fit snugly around the tall four-poster,
beds of the 1700 s, which differed from those of today in that
they were shorter and wider; they were short because people
slept in a semi-sitting position with many bolsters or pillows,
and wide, because each bed often slept three or more. the
linsey-woolsey covering was found in the colder regions of the
country because of the warmth it afforded. there was no
central heating and most bedrooms did not have fireplaces.
21. what does this passage mainly discuss?
(a) the processing of wool
(b) linsey-woolsey bedcovers
(c) sleeping habits of colonial americans
(d) quilts made in england
22. the word ”prominent“ in line 3 is closest in meaning to
(a) isolated
(b) concerned
(c) generous
(d) distinguished
23.the author mention the revolutionary war as a time period when
(a) quills were supplied to the army
(b) more immigrants arrived from england
(c) quills imported from england became harder to find
(d) people s attitudes toward england changed.
24.the phrase ”applied to“ in line 11 is closest in meaning to
(a) sewn onto
(b) compared to
(c) used for
(d) written down on
25.the term ”linsey-woolsey“ originally meant fabric used primarily in
(a)quilts
(b)sheets
(c)clothing
(d) pillows
26.the word ”coarser“ in line 17 is closest in meaning to
(a)older
(b) less heavy
(c)more attractive
(d) rougher
27.the quilts described in the second and third paragraphs were made primarily of
(a) wool
(b) linen
(c) cotton
(d) a mixture of fabrics
28.it can be inferred from the third paragraph that the sleeping habits
of most americans have changed since the 1700 s in all the following ways except
(a) the position in which people sleep
(b) the numbers of bolsters or pillows people sleep on
(c) the length of time people sleep
(d) the number of people who sleep in one bed
29.the word ”afforded“ in line 33 is closest in meaning to
(a) provided
(b) spent
(c) avoided
(d) absorbed
30.which of the following was most likely to be found in a bedroom in the colder areas of the american colonies?
(a)a linsey-woolsey
(b)a vent from a central healing system
(c)a fireplace
(d)a wood stove
questions 31-40
growing tightly packed together and collectively weaving
a dense canopy of branches, a stand of red alder trees can
totally dominate a site to the exclusion of almost everything else.
certain species such as salmonberry and sword ferns have
line adapted to the limited sunlight dappling through the canopy,
but few evergreen trees (s) will survive there; still fewer can compete
with the early prodigious growth of alders. a douglas fir
tree reaches its maximum rate of growth ten years later than
an alder, and if the two of them begin life at the same time,
the alder quickly outgrows and dominates the douglas fir.
after an alder canopy has closed, the douglas fir suffers a
marked decrease in growth, often dying within seven years.
even more shade-tolerant species of trees such as hemlock may
remain badly suppressed beneath aggressive young alders.
companies engaged in intensive timber cropping naturally
take a dim view of alders suppressing more valuable evergreen
trees. but times are changing; a new generation of foresters
seems better prepared to include in their management plans
consideration of the vital ecological role alders, play.
among the alder s valuable ecological contributions is its
capacity to fix nitrogen in nitrogen-deficient soils. alder roots
contain clusters of nitrogen-fixing nodules like those found on
legumes such as beans. in addition, newly developing soils
exposed by recent glacier retreat and planted with alders show
that these trees are applying the equivalent of ten bags of high-
nitrogen fertilizer to each hectare per year. other chemical
changes to soil in which they are growing include a lowering of
the base content and rise in soil acidity, as well as a substantial
addition of carbon and calcium. to the soil.
another important role many alders play in the wild, particularly
in mountainous areas, is to check the rush of water
during spring melt. in japan and elsewhere, the trees are
planted to stabilize soil on steep mountain slopes. similarly,
alders have been planted to stabilize and rehabilitate waste
material left over from old mines, flood deposits, and landslide
areas in both europe and asia.
31.what does the passage mainly discuss?
(a)differences between alder trees and douglas fir trees
(b)alder trees as a source of timber
(c)management plans for using alder trees to improve soil
(d)the relation of alder trees to their forest environments
32.the word ”dense“ in line i is closest in meaning to
(a) dark
(b) tall
(c) thick
(d) broad
33.alder trees can suppress the growth of nearby trees by depriving them of
(a) nitrogen
(b) sunlight
(c) soil nutrients
(d) water
34.thc passage suggests that douglas fir trees are
(a)a type of alder
(b)a type of evergreen
(c)similar to sword ferns
(d)fast-growing trees
35.it can be inferred from paragraph i that hemlock trees
(a) are similar in size to alder trees.
(b) interfere with the growth of douglas fir trees
(c) reduce the number of alder trees in the forest
(d) need less sunlight than do douglas fir trees
36.it can be inferred from paragraph 2 that previous generations of foresters
(a) did not study the effects of alders on forests
(b) did not want alders in forests
(c) harvested alders for lumber
(d) used alders to control the growth of evergreens
37.the word ”they“ in line 27 refers to
(a) newly developing soils
(b) alders
(c) bags
(d) chemical changes
38.according to the passage that alders are used in mountainous areas to
(a) nitrogen
(b) calcium
(c) carbon
(d) oxygen
39.it can be inferred from the passage that alders are used in mountainous areas to
(a) prevent water from carrying away soil
(b) hold the snow
(c) protect mines
(d) provide material for housing
40.what is the author s main purpose in the passage?
(a) to argue that alder trees are useful in forest management
(b) to explain the life cycle of alder trees
(c) to criticize the way alders take over and eliminate forests
(d) to illustrate how alder trees control soil erosion
questions 41-50
in taking ups new life across the atlantic, the early european
settlers of the united states did not abandon the diversions
with which their ancestors had traditionally relieved the
tedium of life. neither the harshness of existence on the new
continent nor line the scattered population nor the disapproval of
the clergy discouraged the majority from the pursuit of
pleasure.
city and country dwellers. of course. conducted this pursuit
in different ways. farm dwellers in their isolation not only
found it harder to locate companions in play but also thanks
to the unending demands and pressures of their work, felt it
necessary to combine fun with purpose. no other set of
colonists too so seriously one expression of the period.
”leisure is time for doing something useful.“ in the country-
side farmers therefore relieved the burden of the daily routine
with such double-purpose relaxation as hunting. fishing, and
trapping. when a neighbor needed help, families rallied from
miles around to assist in building a house or barn, husking
corn, shearing sheep. or chopping wood. food, drink, and
celebration after the group work provided relaxation and
soothed weary muscles.
the most eagerly anticipated social events were the rural
fairs, hundreds of men, women, and children attended from
far and near. the men bought or traded farm animals and
acquired needed merchandise while the women displayed food
prepared in their kitchens, and everyone, including the
youngsters, watched or participated in a variety of competitive
sports, with prizes awarded to the winners. these events typically
included horse races, wrestling matches, and foot
races, as well as some nonathletic events such as whistling
competitions. no other occasions did so much to relieve the
isolation of farm existence.
with the open countryside everywhere at hand, city
dwellers naturally shared in some of the rural diversions.
favored recreations included fishing, hunting1 skating, and
swimming. but city dwellers also developed other pleasures.
which only compact communities made possible.
41.what is the passage mainly about?
(a) methods of farming used by early settlers of the united states
(b) hardships faced by the early settlers of the united states
(c) methods of buying, selling, and trading used by early settlers of the united states
(d) ways in which early settlers of the united states relaxed
42.what can be inferred about the diversions of the early settlers of the united states?
(a) they followed a pattern begun in europe.
(b) they were enjoyed more frequently than in europe.
(c) the clergy organized them.
(d) only the wealthy participated in them.
43.which of he following can be said about the country dwellers attitude toward ”the pursuit of pleasure“?
(a) they felt that it should help keep their minds on their work.
(b) they felt that it was not necessary.
(c) they felt that it should be. productive.
(d) they felt that it should not involve eating and drinking.
44.the phrase ”thanks to“ in line 10-11 is closest in meaning to
(a)grateful for
(b) help with
(c) because of
(d) machines for
45.the word ”their“ in line 11 refers to
(a) ways
(b) farm dwellers
(c) demands
(d) pressures
46.what is meant by the phrase ”double-purpose“ in line 19 ?
(a) very frequent
(b) useful and enjoyable
(c) extremely necessary
(d) positive and negative
47.the phrase ”eagerly anticipated" in line 22 is closest in meaning to
(a) well organized
(b) old-fashioned
(c) strongly opposed
(d) looked forward to
48.which of the following can be said about the rural diversions mentioned in the last paragraph in which city dwellers also participated?
(a) they were useful to the rural community.
(b) they involved the purchase items useful in the home.
(c) they were activities that could be done equally easily in the towns
(d) they were all outdoor activities.
49.what will the author probably discuss in the paragraph following this passage?
(a) the rural diversions enjoyed by both urban and rural people
(b) leisure activities of city dwellers
(c) building methods of the early settlers in rural areas
(d)changes in the lifestyles of settlers as they moved to the cities
50. where in the passage does the author mention factors that might prevent people from enjoying themselves?
(a)line4-7
(b) lines 12-14
(c) lines 17-20
(d)lines 25-27
篇9:托福考试备考阅读理解
【待插入句子】On the other hand, amphibians in very hot climates use secretions from the mucus glands to decrease their temperature through evaporative cooling on the skin.
【待插入段落】Physiological adaptations can assist amphibians in colonizinghabitatswhere extreme conditions prevail. The tolerance range in body temperature represents the range of temperatures within which a species can survive. One species of North American newt is still active when temperatures drop to -2°C while one South American frog feels comfortable even when temperatures measured to 41°C—the highest body temperature measured in a free-ranging amphibian. [■] Recently it has been shown that some North American frog and toad species can survive up to five days with a body temperature of -6°C with approximately one-third of their body fluids frozen. [■] The other tissues are protected because they contain the frost-protective agents glycerin or glucose. [■] Additionally, in many species the tolerance boundaries are flexible and can change as a result of acclimatization (long-term exposure to particular conditions).[■]
答案
1.首先公布答案:3rd square;
2.看到待插入句子中有one the other hand,这是个典型的两方面对比!给我们的是另一方面,那么前面一定要出现跟这部分内容对立的一方面。
——“反过来,在很热的气候下生活的两栖动物(amphibians)会用一些分泌物(secretions) (通过皮肤上蒸发性的冷却)去降低温度。
3.最后让我们来看一下待插入段落的各个句子:(括号中为修饰成分)
——1st: 生理的适应可以帮助amphibians去占领(极端情形prevail的)栖息地。2nd:(体温的)忍耐区间指的是(represent) 一个温度范围(在这个范围内物种才能生存)。 3rd: 一个物种在气温降到-2度还能活动;而南美?在41度(高温)还觉得舒适(41度是在所有两栖动物中测量到的最高温)。 4th: 最近发现有些南美?可以在-6度生存5天,(几乎1/3的体液被冻住)。5th: 其他的组织被保护起来,因为这些组织包含抗冻物质。 6th: 此外,在很多物种中,忍耐区间非常灵活,可以因为适应环境(acclimatization)而改变。
看完之后就很清楚了,给的句子讲的是amphibians如何应付高温,那前面suppose应该说的就是处理低温的情况,所以放在讲-6度还能生存的后面。放好之后发现正好跟后面的additionally说的耐受区间可以变动搭配起来,perfect.
看完解析大家有木有发现,小新老师这是在耍我们啊,这么单纯的一道题,怎么就做得这么复杂了呢! 还是前面说的,重点其实不在选对答案,而是在于读懂段落中句与句之间的关系。刚才看的这一段,这么多其实就说了一件事——物种的温度忍耐区间!而既然是温度区间大家马上就了解了,肯定是能够生存的最高温和最低温。所以这一段第一句结合全文主旨,说physiological adaptation帮助它们在极端环境生存;所以其实第一句话已经完全剧透了全段——不就是围绕extreme conditions来展开嘛。第二句解释什么是tolerance range。后面就全部说低温和高温如何生存下来的具体方法了。
语法积累:
1. on the other hand 注意,要有相反的意思在里面,很多同学写作文都喜欢用这个词组,但一定要有对比才能用。
2. through evaporative cooling; in colonizing habitats;介宾结构,through... 通过...达到...的目的;一般要放到修饰对象前面去理解。
词汇积累
habitat 栖息地
prevail 流行
represent 代表
range 范围
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