托福考试前很多考生通过TPO练习来提高自己的托福解答能力，目前TPO也已经更新到54了，今天上海学校托福小编给为大家分享TPO54听力原文及题目答案解析，方便大家做考前练习!托福暑期班已上线，报暑期优惠多多!托福TPO听力54原文及题目:STORY THEATER_故事剧院Listen to a conversation between a student and a professor of her theaterclass.Student:So, Professor Baker, about our next assignment you talked about inclass.Professor:Yes, this time you'll be in groups of three, each of you willhave a chance to direct the other two in a short scene from a play you've chosenyourself.Student:Right, and, well, I've been reading about story theater, and…Professor:Ah, story theater, tell me about what you've read.Student:Well, it's a form of theater where folk or fairy tales are actedout.It was…eh, introduced, by the director Paul Sills in the 1960s.In Sills'sapproach, an actor both narrates, and acts out a tale.So, like someone willappear on stage, and then will start narrating a tale, about…say a king, andthen the same person will immediately switch to and start acting out the role ofthe king, with no props or scenery.Professor:Sills, you know I actually saw his first story theater productionin 1968, he did the fairy tale ‘the blue light'.Student:Really, so whatever gave him the idea to produce that?Professor:Well, as you know, back in the late 1960s, lots of people in theUnited States were disillusioned with the government.Sills was grappling withhow to produce theater that was relevant in such times.Then he happened to read‘the blue light', and he realized that it had just the message he wanted. See, in the story, a man has lost all hope as a result of the unfortunate events in his life, completely turns his life around, with the help of a magical blue light. So,the blue light in the story symbolizes a way out of seemingly unsolvable human problems.And for Sills, that light symbolized an answer to the political turmoil in the US.Student:But weren't you…um, audiences bother that the actors wereperforming on a bare stage?Professor:Well, story theater is a departure from traditionaldramatictheater with its realistic elaborate props and scenery, but Sills could make us see, say a big tall mountain through the facial expressions and body movements of the actors, and they're telling of the story.We were all swept up, energized by such an innovative approach to theater, even if one or two of the critics weren't as enthusiastic.Student:Cool, so, anyway.What I really wanted to ask, I'd love to try doing story theater for my project instead of just a scene from a traditionalplay.Professor:Um, that's possible.A short tale can be about the same length asa single thing.Which fairy tale would you do?Student:Actually, I was reading about another director of story theater,Rack Stevenson.You know, he produces plays based on folk tales as well.Maybe I could direct one of those.Professor:Okay, yes, Rack Stevenson.Now, Stevenson's style's story theateris a little different from Sills's.He'll use simple props, a chair will represent a mountain, but the significant difference is with the narrator.The narrator will play only that role.Let's talk about why.题目：1.Why does the student go to see the professor?A. To learn about the background of a director who was discussed inclassB. To ask permission to use a specific type of theater for her class assignmentC. To discuss the symbolism in a play she wants to use for herassignmentD. To find out what scenery she is allowed to use in presenting her assignment2.Why does the professor discuss the political environment in the United States in the 1960s?A. To compare events at that time to events that occurred in one of Stephenson’s playsB. To suggest that the woman do additional research on that period ofUnited States historyC. To point out why political themes are common in folk and fairy talesD. To explain Sills's inspiration for his first story theatreproduction3.According to the professor, what does the blue light in the fairy tale called "The Blue Light" represent?A. A plan that is impossible to followB. A conflict between two opposing forcesC. A solution to complex problemsD. A question that has no clear answer4.What is the professor's opinion about Sills's production of The BlueLight?A. He thinks that it was an inventive and powerful performance.B. He believes that the use of some props would have enhanced theperformance.C. He thinks that the theme is even more relevant today than it was in the1960s.D. He believes that it was less effective stylistically than some ofStephenson's plays.5.According to the professor, what is the most important difference betweenStephenson's and Sills's style of story theatre?A. The actor who plays the role of the narrator plays only that role inStephenson's productions.B. The actors wear elaborate costumes in Stephenson's productions.C. The stage settings are realistic in Stephenson's productions.D. Political themes are avoided in Stephenson's productions.(由于篇幅太长，答案和解析我们将以pdf提供给大家下载)索取“托福TPO听力54原文+题目+答案解析”PDF电子版，请加COCO老师微信(shnc_2018)，发送暗号“优化+TPO54”托福TPO听力54原文+题目:Migration of Zooplankton浮游动物的迁移Listen to part of the lecture in the marine biology class.And the sea is teaming with tiny organisms, but they don't get as muchpopular attention as say, whales.Microscopic algae just aren't as exciting I suppose.And yet those organisms are the foundation of the bulk of the marine food chain.Without plankton which is the global term for these tiny organisms, there will be no whales.Plankton is found both in fresh water and marine environments.Again it's a term we use for any small organisms that float along with the current, either because they are too small or weak to swim against it, or because they don't have any capacity at all to move by themselves.Plants and plant-like plankton are called phytoplankton while animals and animal-like plankton are called zooplankton.For over a century now, researchers have been trying to solve the mystery about zooplankton.You see some species of zooplankton migrate are……um…… not the way birds do when the seasons change.But daily, in the phenomenon we call Diel Vertical Migration or DVM, in the Diel Vertical Migration, sole plankton swim up near the surface of the water during the night and swim down to deeper water during the day.Depending on the species and region, this can be a round trip of between 100 and 400 meters.For a tiny microscopic organism, that's a huge distance. Remember now, zooplankton can't swim very well and DVM requires a lot of energy.So there must be an important benefit to these daily up-and-down commuting.We're not exactly sure what this benefit is.Though there are several compelling theories.I'll talk about them in a moment, but first I want to talk about what we do know or rather what we are pretty sure we know.So researchers generally agree that the stimulus for zooplankton DVM islight.Zooplankton tend to swim away from sunlight into deeper water where the sun's rays barely penetrate.At night, when the sun no longer illuminates shallower water, zooplankton head back toward the surface.Now why would light cause zooplankton to expend all that energy inmigrate?One popular theory is that zooplankton are hiding during the day fromvisual predators, eh……those animals that hunt by sight, the darkness provides safety during the day.Then at night after migrating upward, they have an opportunity to feed on phytoplankton that float at the surface.Make sense, doesn't it?But what do we do with the data showing that many kinds of zooplanktondon't dive deep enough during the day to become invisible to predators or that others dive deeper than it's necessary to escape hunters' eyes.And some zooplankton are bioluminescent, which means they have special organs that ligh up and make them visible even at great depth.Well, despite all these, we believe predator avoidance is a possible explanation because of studies done in fresh water lakes.It turns out there is a correlation between the presence or absence of vertical migration, and the presence or absence of fish that find their prey by sight.But what are some other possible explanations?Some researchers suggest that zooplankton migrate to avoid the sun'sultra-violet light.That would explain why some zooplankton are found at such great depth.Visible light may not penetrate very far down, but ultra-violet light can.And we know that some zooplankton have special pigments that protect them from the damage ultra-violet light can cause.That could be why some zooplankton are able to stay closer to the surface during daylight hours.And there is a third theory.Although it takes a lot of energy for the zooplankton to migrate, they conserve energy while floating in deeper colder water.So while they're not feeding, they are quietly digesting in cooler water.But remember, zooplankton consist of any number of different organisms.From microscopic worms to crab larvae to tiny fish, and they are found in a large range of marine habitats, cold water, warm water, shallow water, deep water. So there may be different reasons for different species.题目：1.What does the professor mainly discuss?A. The importance of zooplankton in the marine food chainB. The interdependence of two types of tiny marine organismsC. A physical feature of zooplankton that makes them well adapted for swimmingD. A phenomenon observed in some species of zooplankton2.Why does the professor conclude that zooplankton must derive an important benefit from diel vertical migration?A. Diel vertical migration uses up a lot of energy.B. Diel vertical migration exposes zooplankton to predators.C. Diel vertical migration prevents zooplankton from being able to digest phytoplankton.D. Diel vertical migration forces zooplankton populations to livepermanently in cold water.3.What does the professor imply about bioluminescent zooplankton?A. Their food source is different from that of other zooplankton.B. They probably do not rely on diel vertical migration to avoidpredation.C. They migrate deeper than other zooplankton species do.D. Most species are found in very cold water.4.Why does the professor mention fish that live in freshwater lakes?A. To point out that many aquatic species exhibit diel verticalmigrationB. To give an example of a species of fish that feeds on bioluminescent zooplanktonC. To make a comparison between fish and zooplanktonD. To support one of the theories explaining why zooplankton migrate5.Avoiding predators is one possible explanation for why zooplankton diveso deeply in the ocean. What two other explanations for this phenomenon does the professor offer?Click on 2 answersA. To avoid ultraviolet lightB. To avoid strong ocean currentsC. To digest in colder watersD. To find abundant food sources6.What does the professor imply about the reasons for diel verticalmigration in zooplankton?A. No single explanation for all species can account for thisphenomenon.B. Researchers have not been able to propose plausible theories to explain this phenomenon.C. All individual organisms have several reasons for migrating.D. Researchers were able to agree on an explanation for this phenomenonafter many years of investigation.托福TPO听力54原文:Benefits of Muon Detectors介子探测器的好处Listen to part of a lecture in an archaeology class.Professor: A popular misconception about archaeology, some people imaginewe just go out into the field with a shovel and start digging, hoping to find something significant.Well, while there is an element of luck involved, we have an array ofhigh-tech tools to help us figure out where to concentrate our efforts.One of the newer tools actually relies on particle physics, talk aboutinter-disciplinary.Here is a machine that brings together two very different sciences.This machine is called a muon detector.Muons are subatomic particles that result from cosmic rays.OK, let me start over.Cosmic rays aren't actually rays.They are basically protons zipping through outer space at close to light speed.And, when they collide with the atoms in earth's atmosphere, they break up into smaller particles -- muons.Now these muons are still highly energized, so they can easily pass on downto the earth's surface.In fact, they can pass through solid matter, so they can also penetrate deep into the surface.And it's this property of muons that archaeologists are taking advantage of.Let me explain, with the right kind of equipment, scientists can use muonsto create a kind of picture of the structures they are studying.Let's say we are studying a Mayan pyramid in central America.And we are interested in finding out if there are burial chambers or other roomsinside.Well, a muon detector will show a greater number of muons passing through the less dense areas inside the pyramid.Yes, Andrew?Andrew: Um…I'm not sure I get how this muon detector works exactly. Professor: Well, muons lose energy as they pass through dense material,like the stone walls of the Mayan pyramid.So more muons and more energetic muons will be passing through empty spaces.The muon detector can differentiate the areas where more muons are passing through -- the empty spaces, as well as where there are fewer muons, the walls and dense areas.These empty spaces will show up as darker, so we wind up with a kind ofpicture of the pyramid, and its internal structure.Andrew: A picture?Professor: Sort of like an X-ray image.Andrew: Ok, so if we see darker areas inside the pyramid, we assume it's an empty space with more muons.Professor: Exactly, with this technology, we can see what's inside the structure before we dig, so we know exactly where to explore and we can minimize the damage excavation can cause.Even a little damage could result in us losing vital informationforever.Now, muon detectors have been around for some time, but they have been improved upon since archaeologists started using them.In 1967 a physicist placed a muon detector beneath the base of one of the Egyptian pyramids of Giza.And he was looking for burial chambers.Now it happened that the muon detector found none.But he did demonstrate that the technique worked.Unfortunately the machine he used was so big that many archaeologistsdoubted muon detection could be practical.How could they get a massive piece of equipment into, say, the jungle of Belize?Then there was the issue of range.The machine used in 1967 could only scan for muons directly above it, notfrom the sides.So it actually had to be put underneath the pyramid, so it could look up.That meant if you wanted to find out what was inside an ancient structure, you first had to bury the detector beneath it.There's been a lot of work on these machines since then.And these problemshave been solved by and large.That's not to say the technology is perfect, it would be nice for example, to have a system that didn't take 6 months to produce an image.I suppose that's better than the year it took for the 1967 study to get results.But still...well, there is good reason to believe that with better equipment, we're going to see muon detectors used much more frequently.They are already being used in other areas of science, for example Japanese scientists studying the interior of volcanoes, and there are plenty of archaeologists who would love to use this technology.托福TPO听力54题目：1.What is the lecture mainly about?A. Misconceptions about muon detectorsB. An investigation of an Egyptian pyramid using a muon detectorC. The collaboration between physicists and archaeologists in thedevelopment of the muon detectorD. Benefits that muon detectors can provide to archaeologists2.What aspect of muons is most useful to archaeologists?A. Their ability to carry information from outer spaceB. Their ability to break down cosmic rays into smaller particlesC. Their ability to pass through solid matterD. Their ability to change the color of some surfaces3.According to the professor, what information can a muon detector provide about an ancient structure?A. The internal temperature of the structureB. The location of rooms within the structureC. The age of the structureD. The materials used to build the structure4.Why does the professor discuss damage to archaeological sites?A. To indicate a benefit of using muon detectors in archaeologicalresearchB. To describe an accident with a muon detector during a pyramidexcavationC. To explain how muon detectors are useful in reconstructing damagedsitesD. To explain why muon detectors were not often used in the past5.In what ways are modern muon detectors different from muon detectors used in 1967?Click on 3 answersA. Modern detectors are less expensive.B. Modern detectors use less energy.C. Modern detectors are not as large.D. Modern detectors take less time to produce an image.E. Modern detectors can scan in more than one direction.6.What is the professor's opinion about the newer muon detectors?A. She appreciates the help they provide despite the time they take to produce images.B. She fears that many archaeologists will be unwilling to learn to use them.C. She feels that they have greater potential in areas of science otherthan archaeology.D. They provide more accurate information about the age of objects thanolder detectors did.(由于篇幅太长，答案和解析我们将以pdf格式提供给大家下载)索取“托福TPO听力54原文+题目+答案解析”PDF电子版，请加COCO老师微信(shnc_2018)，发送暗号“优化+TPO54”托福TPO听力54原文+题目:Finding Historical Material寻找历史材料Listen to a conversation between a student and an employee in theuniversity's historical library.Employee: Morning, what can I help you find?Student: Well, I saw the internet that the university library has menus andthings from local restaurants, like the Springfield Eatery?Employee: Right, a lot of local businesses have donated materials to ourcollection, including that restaurant.I'm pretty sure we have ten or fifteenboxes of materials from there.Student: Good, I thought you were located in the main library, so I wentthere first and they sent me here.I haven't realized the university has aseparate historical library.I think what you're doing is great，collecting localdocuments and photos, keeping a record of the region.Employee: I'm glad you see the value of it.We've been collecting materialsfor going on seventy years st year we had an exhibition that showcase howthe town square has changed over the past fifty years.So, that got the word out a little, but you're right.A lot of studentsdon't know we exist.Well, unless the major of new history.So, you're looking forsomething for class?Student: Not exactly.My grandmother went to this university, and while shewas here, she worked as a waitress.Employee: At the Springfield Eatery?Student: Yes, and that's where she met my grandfather.So, they'recelebrating their fiftieth anniversary this year.And I noticed online that you have old menus from some of the restaurants.I was thinking I could find one from the year they met and print a copy for them.Employee: What a unique idea!What year you are looking for?Student: Um, 1954.Employee: I know we have a few menus from the 1950s, but you'll have to check.There are some gaps, some years we didn't receive any new materials, and sometimes restaurants go a while without changing their menus.Student: Oh no, I really want to give them something special.Employee: Well, how about this? We also have a lot of photos, so maybe you could find one of your grandmother, or maybe even one with both your grandparents.Student: That would be awesome.Employee: The only thing is most of our materials are still in boxes.Noone's ever taken the time to organize them.So, it …it might require a fair amount of sifting.Student: Um, I have a couple of tests coming up, but I can take a quicklook, if that's okay.I know some libraries have special rules for handling delicate or old materials.Employee: Well, these aren't particularly old.Just the usual rules apply, no food or drinks.Student: Okay, thanks for your help.托福TPO听力54题目：1.Why does the man go to see the woman?A. To ask the woman if she has photographs of local businessesB. To conduct research for a history classC. To try to find a gift for his grandparentsD. To find out how long a local restaurant has been in business2.What does the woman say about an exhibition the library held lastyearA. It was in honor of the town's seventieth anniversary.B. It helped increase awareness of the collection.C. It was arranged by students who study history.D. It mostly included photographs from the 1950s.3.What does the woman imply about the menus?A. Most of the menus in the collection are from the Springfield Eatery.B. All of the menus in the collection are carefully organized in boxes.C. The menu the man is looking for is probably in the main library.D. The man might not find the menu he is looking for.4.What does the woman suggest that the man consider doing?A. Look for a photo of his grandparentsB. Frame a photograph of a menu from a different yearC. Call the restaurant to ask whether they have what he is looking forD. Take a picture of the restaurant5.Why does the man say this:A. To inform the woman that he has handled old materials in the pastB. To inquire whether the library has regulations for handling historicaldocumentsC. To imply that the library should do a better job protecting historicaldocumentsD. To argue that special precautions are not necessary in this case托福TPO听力54原文+题目:William Wheatley and Broadway Theaters威廉?惠特利和百老汇Listen to part of a lecture in a theater history class.One of the things New York city is known for is its Broadway theaters，theproductions of elaborate musicals.A lot of money goes into producing a musicalwith the actors, costumes, scenery and so on.The shows are designed to appeal tolarge audiences, to make the production financially viable.But theater didn’talways appeal to the masses.In the middle of the 19th century, with mostlywealthy residents who were going to Broadway, they would see an opera that wasprobably written and produced in Europe before making its way all over to NewYork.It was a scene for, well, the socially prominent, the upper class, whoattended these functions, perhaps, because they felt obligated rather thanbecause of a genuine interesting theater.But, in the 1860s, something else started to occur.The middle-classpopulation began to grow, and they were looking for a source ofentertainment.Keep that in mind while I talk about the theater owner named William Wigley.In 1866, Willian Wigley had this show, um, and it was different from most shows on Broadway at the time because it wasn’t an opera.And, it was developed right here in the United States, in English, unlike the operas which were typically Italian or French.Wigley also decided to incorporate some fancy production techniques, stage effects.The show also included music to make it more entertaining.And, through a stroke of luck, a world-renown ballet troop became available just as weekly show was about to open.So, he didn’t hesitate to include the ballet dancers in his production.Along the lines of those special affects I mentioned, Wigley redesign the entire stage for the show.Every floor board on the stage could be lifted up or pushed down.They were all moveable.This allowed for trap doors to be placed anywhere on the stage.So, pieces of the set, of the scenery, could easily be stored beneath the stage.And these trap doors also gave performers another less traditional way to enter in exit of the stage.Well, today, we might not think much of it, things like this are standard nowadays，the concept was quite novel at the time of Wigley show.And was one of the things that made the show a hit with audiences.Another innovative element in the show was a scene called the‘transformation scene’, during this scene, the audience watched in amazement that a setting on stage changed from a moonlit cave to a throne room in a palace.Normally to have this type of major scene change, the curtains were closed, the stage crew would remove the previous set and replaced it with the new one, and then, the curtains would open again.In this instance though, the transformation to place in front of the audience using simple machinery.And thisaffect would have the lasting impression on everyone who saw Wigley’sproduction.In fact, those people were probably disappointed when they saw another show that didn’t contain something is, well, as elaborate or exciting.So, look, when it premiered, Wigley show took audiences by surprise, it appealed to largecrowds including the growing middle-class, the show ran for almost two years straight in New York city, and achievement unheard of at the time whenproductions typically lasted weeks or months, not years.It also went on tour visiting different cities across the United States for over 25 years.So, the show was quite a success.And with all that in mind, some people call Wigley show the first musicalon Broadway.Now our current definition of a musical is that it tells a storythrough dialogue and song.In Wigley show the musical sections, well, they didn’tnecessarily integrate well with the story.Giving an overall impression ofsomething more like a variety show, yes, everything was loosely focused aroundthe central scene, so maybe it’s fair to say then that the show gave audiences ahint of a new form of musical theater， that would ultimately appear on Broadway in the decades to follow.题目：1.What is the main purpose of the lecture?A. To describe the influence of opera on Broadway productionsB. To explain how new technology allowed for enhancements to BroadwayproductionsC. To evaluate financial decisions made by theater owner WilliamWheatleyD. To examine elements that set a particular theatrical production apart from earlier ones2.What was typical of theatrical productions in the United States before the 1860s?Click on 2 answersA. The productions originated outside of the United States.B. Only a limited segment of society attended the productions.C. People attended the productions because they were interested in the plots.D. The themes of the productions were typically related to the upperclass3.According to the professor, what was a reason for a change in theatrical productions in the United States during the 1860s?A. A growing middle class was in need of entertainment.B. Wealthy theater advocates provided additional funding for new productions.C. The interest of theatergoers shifted from opera to ballet.D. A new artistic movement was founded by a group of actors4.Why does the professor mention moveable floorboards on the stage in Wheatley's production?A. To explain the reason for an unexpected technical problemB. To highlight one of the production’s innovative features。
