【威学教育】王鑫托福阅读TPO26-2阅读文本

【王鑫托福阅读】托福TPO 全集之TPO27-3TPO 27TPO27-3 Predator Prey Cycles1. In paragraph 1, why does the author discuss the moose and wolves on Isle Royale?A To provide an example of predators moving to new habitats by following migrating preyB To show that the interactions between predator populations and prey populations are not always might be expectedC To suggest that prey populations are more influenced by predation than food availability and diseaseD To argue that studies of geographically isolated populations tend not to be useful to naturalists2. The word “rebound” in the passage is closest in meaning to A escapeB recoverC surviveD resist3. Paragraph 2 implies which of the following about experimental environments in which predators become extinct?A They may yield results that do not accurate predict changes of populations in the wild.B In these environments, the prey species is better adapted than the predator species.C These environments are appropriate only for studying small populations of predators and prey.D They are unrealistic because some predators are also the prey of other predators.4. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraphs 2 and 3 about the small mammals that experience population cycles? A Their population cycles are not affected by predators.B Their predators' populations periodically disappear.C They typically undergo ten-year cycles.D They have access to places safe from predators.How do predators affect populations of the prey animals? The answer is not as simple as might be thought. Moose reached Isle Royale in Lake Superior by crossing over winter ice and multiplied freely there in isolation without predators. When wolves later reached the island, naturalists widely assumed that the wolves would play a key role in controlling the moose population. Careful studies have demonstrated, however, that this is not the case. The wolves eat mostly old or diseased animals that would not survive long anyway. In general, the moose population is controlled by food availability, disease and other factors rather than by wolves.When experimental populations are set up under simple laboratory conditions, the predator often exterminates its prey and then becomes extinct itself, having nothing left to eat. However, if safe areas like those prey animals have in the wild are provided, the prey population drops to low level but not extinction. Low prey population levels then provide inadequate food for the predators, causing the predator population to decrease. When this occurs, the prey population can rebound. In this situation the predator and prey population may continue in this cyclical pattern for some time.Population cycles are characteristic of small mammals, and they sometimes appear to be brought about by predators. Ecologists studying hare populations have found that the North American snow shoe hare follows a roughly ten-year cycle. Its numbers fall tenfold to thirty in a typical cycle, and a hundredfold change can occur. Two factors appear to be generating the cycle: food plants and predators.5. The word “roughly” in the passage is closest in meaning toA usuallyB repeatingC approximatelyD observable6. The word “generating” in the passage is closest in meaning toA producingB changingC speeding upD smoothing out7. to paragraph 4, all of the following are true of the food of snowshoe hares EXCEPT A The preferred food fore hares consists of willow and birch twigs.B High fiber food is the most nutritious for hares.C Depletion of the supply of willow and birch twigs cause low birth and growth rates.D The food supply takes two or three years to recover8. The word “conjunction” in the passage is closest in meaning to A determinationB combinationC alternationD transformation9. According to paragraph 5, which of the following statements best characterizes the abundance cycle of the Canada lynx?A It closely follows the cycle the snowshoe hare.B When the numbers of lynx fall, the numbers of snowshoe hares soon decrease.The preferred foods of snowshoe hares are willow and birch twigs. As hare density increases, the quantity of these twigs decreases, forcing the hares to feed on low-quality high-fiber food. Lower birth rates, low juvenile survivorship, and low growth rates follow, so there is a corresponding decline in hare abundance. Once the hare population has declined, it takes two to three year for the quantity of twigs to recover.A key predator of the snowshoe hare is the Canada lynx. The Canada lynx shows a ten-year cycle of abundance that parallels the abundance cycle of hares. As hare numbers fall, so do lynx numbers, as their food supply depleted.What causes the predator-prey oscillations? Do increasing number of hares lead to overharvesting of plants, which in turn results in reduced hare populations, or do increasing numbers of lynx lead to overharvesting hares? Field experiments carried out by Charles Krebs and coworkers in 1992 provide an answer. Krebs investigated experimental plots in Canada's Yukon territory that contained hare populations. When food was added to those plots (no food effect) and predators were excluded (no predator effect) from an experimental area, hare numbers increased tenfold and stayed there—the cycle was lost. However, the cycle was retained if either of the factorsC When hare numbers decrease, lynx numbers increase.D It is not clearly related to the availability of lynx food.10. According to paragraph 6, which of the following was true of the hare population cycle in Krebs's experiment?A The effects of providing food while at the same time introducing predators cancelled each other, so there was no cycle.B The cycle existed when either the food supply was limited or there were predators.C There was a cycle when there were no predators and food was supplied.D If the hares had places to hide from the lynx, the hare population increased tenfold and then remained at that level.11. According to paragraph 7, which of the following statements correctly characterizes the effect of sea stars on the ecosystem in which they are predators of bivalves?A Bivalve population are kept low, allowing species that compete with bivalves to survive.B The numbers of most species of bivalves are greatly reduced, leaving the bivalve species that is the strongest competitor to dominate among the survivors.C Biological diversity begins to decrease because many bivalve species disappear.D Sea stars dominate at first but then die off because of the depleted food supply.12. According to paragraph 7, which of the following is true of the phenomenon of competitor exclusion?A It results in more diverse communities.B It requires the presence of predators.C It affects all competitions equally.D It happens only when there is a dominant competitor.was allowed to operate alone: if predators were excluded but food was not added (food effect alone), or if food was added in the presence of predators (predator effect alone). Thus both factors can affect the cycle, which, in practice, seems to be generated by conjunction of the two factors.K作义/ 产Predators are an essential factor in maintaining communities that are rich and diverse in species. Without predators, the species that is the best competitor for food, shelter, nesting sites, and other environmental resources tends to dominate and exclude the species with which it competes. This phenomenon is known as “competitor exclusion”. However, i f the community contains a predator of the strongest competitor species, then the population of that competitor is controlled. Thus even the less competitive species are able to survive. For example, sea stars prey on a variety of bivalve mollusks and prevent these bivalves from monopolizing habitats on the sea floor. This opens up space for many other organisms. When sea stars are removed, speciesdiversity falls sharply. Therefore, from the stand point of diversity, it is usually a mistake to eliminate a major predator from a community.Predators are an essential factor in maintaining communities that are rich and diverse in species. Without predators, the species that is the best competitor for food, shelter, nesting sites, and other environmental resources tends to dominate and exclude the species with which it competes. (This phenomenon is known as “competitor exclusion”. (However, if the community contains a predator of the strongest competitor species, then the population of that competitor is controlled. (Thus even the less competitive species are able to survive. (For example, sea stars prey on a variety of bivalve mollusks and prevent these bivalves from monopolizing habitats on the sea floor. This opens up space for many other organisms. When sea stars are removed, species diversity falls sharply. Therefore, from the stand point of diversity, it is usually a mistake to eliminate a major predator from a community.13. Look at the four squares [(] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?As a result, there are not enough of the strong competitions to monopolize the environment’ s resources.14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. The relationships between predators and prey are complex.A. Studies of the interactions between wolves and moose on Isle Royale in Lake Superior reveal that wolf predation is not the primary factor controlling the moose population.B. Ecologists are interested in studying predator-prey population cycles because understanding how predators and prey interact will allow better wildlife management programs.C. Predators help maintain biological diversity by limiting populations of a dominant competitor species, thereby preventing that species from excluding others.D. In predator-prey population cycles, predator populations increase or decrease following similar population changes in the species they prey on.E. A species’ population tends to rise and falls in a cycle pattern if the food supply for the population is limited, or if the population has a major predator.F. The removal of sea stars reduces the diversity of the community in which they are predators, and is therefore a bad idea.。

【王鑫托福阅读】托福TPO6-2阅读文本TPO6TPO6-2 William Smith1. The word “rudimentary” in the passage is closest in meaning toA. thoroughB. strictC. basicD. occasional2. According to paragraph 1, which of the following statements about William Smith is NOT true?A. Smith learned surveying by reading and by apprenticing for a local surveyor.B. Smith’ s family lived in a small English town and possessed little wealth.C. Smith learned about fossils from books he borrowed from his uncle.D. Smith eventually left his village to work on the excavation of an English canal.3. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 2 about canal building?A. Canals were built primarily in the south of England rather than in other regions.B. Canal building decreased after the steam locomotive was invented.C. Canal building made it difficult to study rock strata which often became damaged in the process.D. Canal builders hired surveyors like Smith to examine exposed rock strata.4. According to paragraph2, which of the following is true of the map published by William Smith?A. It indicates the locations of England's major canals.B. It became most valuable when the steam locomotive made rail travel possible.C. The data for the map were collected during Smith ’ s work on canals.D. It is no longer regarded as a geological masterpiece.In 1769 in a little town in Oxfordshire, England, a child with the very ordinary name of William Smith was born into the poor family of a village blacksmith. He received rudimentary village schooling, but mostly he roamed his uncle's farm collecting the fossils that were so abundant in the rocks of the Cotswold hills. When he grew older, William Smith taught himself surveying from books he bought with his small savings, and at the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to a surveyor of the local parish. He then proceeded to teach himself geology, and when he was twenty-four, he went to work for the company that was excavating the Somerset Coal Canal in the south of England.This was before the steam locomotive, and canal building was at its height. The companies building the canals to transport coal needed surveyors to help them find the coal deposits worth mining as well as to determine the best courses for the canals. This job gave Smith an opportunity to study the fresh rock outcrops created by the newly dug canal. He later worked on similar jobs across the length and breadth of England, all the while studying the newly revealed strata and collecting all the fossils he could find. Smith used mail coaches to travel as much as 10,000 miles per year. In 1815 he published the first modern geological map, "A Map of the Strata of England and Wales witha Part of Scotland,” a map so meticulously researched that it can still be used today.5. The word “meticulously” in the passage is closest in meaning toA.carefullyB. quicklyC. frequentlyD. obviously6. 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. The discovery of regional differences in the sequences of rocks led geologists to believe that rock types could someday become reliable time markers.B. Careful analysis of strata revealed that rocks cannot establish geological time because the pattern of rock layers varies from place to place.C. Smith's catalogs of rock strata indicated that the sequences of rocks are different from place to place and from region to region.D. Because people did not catalog regional differences in sequences of rocks, it was believed that rocks could never be reliable time markers.This was before the steam locomotive, and canal building was at its height. The companies building the canals to transport coal needed surveyors to help them find the coal deposits worth mining as well as to determine the best courses for the canals. This job gave Smith an opportunity to study the fresh rock outcrops created by the newly dug canal. He later worked on similar jobs across the length and breadth of England, all the while studying the newly revealed strata and collecting all the fossils he could find. Smith used mail coaches to travel as much as 10,000 miles per year. In 1815 he published the first modern geological map, “A Map of the Strata of England and Wales witha Part of Scotland, ” a map so meticulously researched that it can s till be used today.In 1831 when Smith was finally recognized by the Geological Society of London as the “father of English geology,” it was not only for his maps but also for something even more important. Ever since people had begun to catalog the strata in particular outcrops, there had been the hope that these could somehow be used to calculate geological time. But as more and more accumulations of strata were cataloged in more and more places, it became clear that the sequences of rocks sometimes differed from region to region and that no rock type was ever going to become a reliable time marker throughout the world. Even without the problem of regional differences, rocks present a difficulty as unique time markers. Quartz is quartz—a silicon ion surrounded by four oxygen ions —there ’ s no difference at all betweentwo-million-year-old Pleistocene quartz and Cambrian quartz created over 500 million years ago.7. Why does the author use the phrase “Quartz is quartz” ?A. To describe how the differences between Pleistocene and Cambrian quartz reveal information about dating rocksB. To point out that the chemical composition of quartz makes it more difficult to date than other rocksC. To provide an example of how regional differences in rock sequences can make a particular rock difficult to dateD. To explain that rocks are difficult to use for dating because their chemical compositions always remain the same over time8. According to paragraph 4, it was difficult for Smith to distinguish rock strata becauseA. the rocks from different strata closely resembled each otherB. he was often unable to find fossils in the younger rock strataC. their similarity to each other made it difficult for him to distinguish one rock type from anotherD. the type of rock between two consistent strata was always the same9. The word “endured” in the passage is closest in meaning toA. vanishedB. developedC. variedD. survivedAs he collected fossils from strata throughout England, Smith began to see that the fossils told a different story from the rocks. Particularly in the younger strata, the rocks were often so similar that he had trouble distinguishing the strata, but he never had trouble telling the fossils apart. While rock between two consistent strata might in one place be shale and in another sandstone, the fossils in that shale or sandstone were always the same. Some fossils endured through so many millions of years that they appear in many strata, but others occur only in a few strata, and a few species had their births and extinctions within one particular stratum. Fossils are thus identifying markers for particular periods in Earth's history.Not only could Smith identify rock strata by the fossils they contained, he could also see a pattern emerging: certain fossils always appear in more ancient sediments, while others begin to be seen as the strata become more recent. By following the fossils, Smith was able to put all the strata of England's earth into relative temporal sequence. About the same time, Georges Cuvier made the same discovery while studying the rocks around Paris.10. The word “virtually” in the passage is closest in meaning toA. possiblyB. absolutelyC. surprisinglyD. nearly11. Select the TWO answer choices that are true statements based upon the discussion of the principle of faunal succession in paragraph 5. To receive credit, you must select TWO answers.A. It was a principle that applied to fauna but not to flora.B. It was discovered independently by two different geologists.C. It describes how fossils are distributed in rock strata.D. It explains why plants and animals undergo transformations through time.Soon it was realized that this principle of faunal (animal) succession was valid not only in England or France but virtually everywhere. It was actually a principle of floral succession as well, because plants showed the same transformation through time as did fauna. Limestone may be found in the Cambrian or— 300 million years later—in the Jurassic strata, but a trilobite—the ubiquitous marine arthropod that had its birth in the Cambrian—will never be found in Jurassic strata, nor a dinosaur in the Cambrian.12.In m entioning "trilobite” , the author is making which of the following points?A. Fossils cannot be found in more than one rock stratum.B. Faunal succession can help put rock layers in relative temporal sequence.C. Faunal succession cannot be applied to different strata composed of the same kind of rock.D. The presence of trilobite fossils makes it difficult to date a rock.Not only could Smith identify rock strata by the fossils they contained, he could also see a pattern emerging: certain fossils always appear in more ancient sediments, while others begin to be seen as the strata become morerecent. ■By following the fossils, Smith was able to put all the strata of England's earth into relative temporalsequence. ■About the same time, Georges Cuvier made the same discovery while studying the rocks around Paris.■Soon it was realized that this principle of faunal (animal) succession was valid not only in England or France butvirtually everywhere.^ It was actually a principle of floral succession as well, because plants showed the sametransformation through time as did fauna. Limestone may be found in the Cambrian or—300 million years later— in the Jurassic strata, but a trilobite—the ubiquitous marine arthropod that had its birth in the Cambrian—will never be found in Jurassic strata, nor a dinosaur in the Cambrian.13. Look at the four squares [_]that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?The findings of these geologists inspired others to examine the rock and fossil records in different parts of the world.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. William Smith’ s contributions to geology have increased our knowledge of the Earth’ s history.A. Smith found success easily in his profession because he came from a family of geologists and surveyors.B. Smith ’ s work on canals allowed him to collect fossils and study rock layers all over England.C. Smith found that fossils are much more reliable indicators of geological time than rock strata are.D. Smith was named “the father of English geology” for his maps rather than for his other contributions to the field.E. Smith and Cuvier discovered that fossil patterns are easier to observe in ancient rock strata than in younger rock strata.F. The discovery of the principle of faunal succession allowed geologists to establish the relative age of Earth’ s rock layers.。

【王鑫托福阅读】TPO2-1阅读文本TPO2TPO2-1 Desert Formation1. The word threatened in the passage is closest in meaning toA. RestrictedB. EndangeredC. PreventedD. Rejected2. According to paragraph 3, the loss of natural vegetation has which of the following consequences for soil?A. Increased stony contentB. Reduced water absorptionC. Increased numbers of spaces in the soilD. Reduced water runoffThe deserts, which already occupy approximately a fourth of the Earth's land surface, have in recent decades been increasing at an alarming pace. The expansion of desert like conditions into areas where they did not previously exist is called desertification. It has been estimated that an additional one-fourth of the Earth's land surface is threatened by this process.Desertification is accomplished primarily through the loss of stabilizing natural vegetation and the subsequent accelerated erosion of the soil by windand water. In some cases the loose soil is blown completely away, leaving a stony surface. In other cases, the finer particles may be removed, while the sand-sized particles are accumulated to form mobile hills or ridges of sand.Even in the areas that retain a soil cover, the reduction of vegetation typically results in the loss of the soil's ability to absorb substantial quantities of water. The impact of raindrops on the loose soil tends to transfer fine clay particles into the tiniest soil spaces, sealing them and producing a surface that allows very little water penetration. Water absorption is greatly reduced; consequently runoff is increased, resulting in accelerated erosion rates. The gradual drying of the soil caused by its diminished ability to absorb water results in the further loss of vegetation, so that a cycle of progressive surface deterioration is established.In some regions, the increase in desert areas is occurring largely as the result of a trend toward drier climatic conditions. Continued gradual global warming has produced an increase in aridity for some areas over the past few thousand years. The process may be accelerated in subsequent decades if global warming resulting from air pollution seriously increases.3. The word delicate in the passage is closest in meaning toA. FragileB. PredictableC. ComplexD. Valuable4. According to paragraph 5, in dry periods, border areas have difficultyA. Adjusting to stresses created by settlementB. Retaining their fertility after desertificationC. Providing water for irrigating cropsD. Attracting populations in search of food and fuel5. The word progressively in the passage is closest in meaning toA. OpenlyB. ImpressivelyC. ObjectivelyD. Increasingly6. According to paragraph 6, which of the following is often associated with raising crops?A. Lack of proper irrigation techniquesB. Failure to plant crops suited to the particular areaC. Remova丨 of the original vegetationD. Excessive use of dried animal waste;mlluwmg isThere is little doubt, however, that desertification in most areas results primarily from human activities rather than natural processes. The semiarid lands bordering the deserts exist in a delicate ecological balance and are limited in their potential to adjust to increased environmental pressures. Expanding populations are subjecting the land to increasing pressures to provide them with food and fuel. In wet periods, the land may be able to respond to these stresses. During the dry periods that are common phenomena along the desert margins, though, the pressure on the land is often far in excess of its diminished capacity, and desertification results.Four specific activities have been identified as major contributors to the desertification processes: overcultivation, overgrazing, firewood gathering, and overirrigation. The cultivation of crops has expanded into progressively drier regions as population densities have grown. These regions are especially likely to have periods of severe dryness, so that crop failures are common. Since the raising of most crops necessitates the prior removalof the natural vegetation, crop failures leave extensive tracts of land devoid of a plant cover and susceptible to wind and water erosion.7.The phrase devoid of in the passage is closest in meaning to A Consisting of B Hidden by C Except for D Lacking inThe raising of livestock is a major economic activity in semiarid lands, where grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation.The consequences of an excessive number of livestock grazing in an area are the reduction of the vegetation cover and the trampling and pulverization of the soil. This is usually followed by the drying of the soil and accelerated erosion.Firewood is the chief fuel used for cooking and heating in many countries. The increased pressures of expanding populations have led to the removal of woody plants so that many cities and towns are surrounded by large areas completely lacking in trees and shrubs. The increasing use of dried animal waste as a substitute fuel has also hurt the soil because this valuable soil conditioner and source of plant nutrients is no longer being returned to the land.D.Bring salts to the surfaceThe final major human cause of desertification is soil salinization resulting from overirrigation. Excess water from irrigation sinks down into the water table. If no drainage system exists, the water table rises, bringing dissolved salts to the surface. The water evaporates and the salts are left behind, creating a white crustal layer that prevents air and water from reaching the underlying soil.9. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as contributing to desertification EXCEPTA. Soil erosionB. Global warmingC. Insufficient irrigationD. The raising of livestock10. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage?Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.A. Desertification is a significant problem because it is so hard to reverse and affects large areas of land and great numbers of people.B. Slowing down the process of desertification is difficult because of population growth that has spread over large areas of land.C. The spread of deserts is considered a very serious problem that can be solved only if large numbers of people in various countries are involved in the effort.D. Desertification is extremely hard to reverse unless the population is reduced in the vast areas affected.The extreme seriousness of desertification results from the vast areas of land and the tremendous numbers of people affected, as well as from the great difficulty of reversing or even slowing the process.Once the soil has been removed by erosion, only the passage of centuries or millennia will enable new soil to form. In areas where considerable soil still remains, though, a rigorously enforced program of land protection and cover-crop planting may make it possible to reverse the present deterioration of the surface.11. It can be inferred from the passage that the author most likely believes which of the following about the future of desertification?A. Governments will act quickly to control further desertification.B. The factors influencing desertification occur in cycles and will change in the future.C. Desertification will continue to increase.D. Desertification will soon occur in all areas of the world■The raising of livestock is a major economic activity in semiarid lands, where grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation.^The consequences of an excessive number of livestock grazing in an area are the reduction of the vegetation cover and the trampling and pulverization of the soil. ■This is usually followed by the drying of the soil and accelerated erosion._12. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?This economic reliance on livestock in certain regions makes large tracts of land susceptible to overgrazing.13. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some answer choices do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. Many factors have contributed to the great increase in desertification in recent decades.A. Growing human populations and the agricultural demands that come with such growth have upset the ecological balance in some areas and led to the spread of deserts.B. As periods of severe dryness have become more common, failures of a number of different crops have increased.C. Excessive numbers of cattle and the need for firewood for fuel have reduced grasses and trees, leaving the land unprotected and vulnerable.D. Extensive irrigation with poor drainage brings salt to the surface of the soil, a process that reduces water and air absorption.E. Animal dung enriches the soil by providing nutrients for plant growth.F. Grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation in semiarid lands.。

为了帮助大家高效备考托福，为大家带来托福TPO26听力Conversation2文本+题目+答案解析，希望对大家备考有所帮助。

托福TPO26听力Conversation2文本 Narrator: Listen to a conversation between a student and her biology professor． Professor: Hi, Jean．How was the…uh, the conference, right? The conference on volunteerism? That’s where you were last week． Student: Yeah. It was great. I met a lot of people from some really amazing organizations that are working in the area．Now it would be a lot easier to get students to volunteer in the community．Plus, I’ve never been to any of the beaches here before．Being at the beach was definitely a plus． Professor: Well, I hope you had time to look over the notes from the class you missed．You did get the notes, right? Student: Yup．I’II look them over before tomorrow’s class． Professor: Good．And let me know if you have any questions. Student: Well, there is something that I wanted to ask you now．It’s about something I noticed at the beach． Professor: Oh, what’s that? Student: Well, see, there are a lot of jellyfish there, floating in the water. Professor: That couldn’t have been pleasant. Student: Not for swimming. But it was interesting. I mean, the jellyfish were glowing．I swear they were．And I am wondering what that’s about． Professor: Ah, glowing jellyfish．That is interesting. Uh, it’s called bioluminescence．And actually we are going to talk about it later in the semester．Basically, bioluminescence is light that’s produced by a chemical reaction. Student: Really? Inside the jellyfish? Professor: Well, not all jellyfish, about half of them．Actually, a lot of marine organisms have this ability, especially in deeper parts of the ocean． Student: Oh? I get it. Like the darker it gets, the more the fish needs light, right? Professor: Well．bioluminescence serves a number of functions．Most aquatic organisms use it for communication and for attracting prey．But jellyfish usually use it as a defense against predators．Some jellyfish produce bright flashes of light that confuse predators, to, uh, to startle them．But jellyfish closer to the surface, probably like the jellyfish you saw, they use bioluminescence to hide．The light they produce matches the color of the dim sunlight, so they blend in, and, uh, and predators can’t see them． Student: Wow, really? Well, I am looking for a topic for my term paper ,so maybe I could do it on these glowing jellyfish．That’s why I wanted to ask you about them, you know, to find out if there was really something to write about． Professor: It’s a great topic．But you’II have to make sure the topic is manageable．Like I said, about half of all jellyfish are bioluminescent, so you may want to look at a particular type of jellyfish or several types that benefit from bioluminescence in the same way, or you could investigate current research on bioluminescence, on, on the chemical process, or…Here’s an idea．You seem to be very involved in local issues．See if you can identify the jellyfish you observed on the beach and how they fit into the local ecosystem． Student: Yeah, you know, some of the environmental groups I met last week might even be able to help me． 托福TPO26听力Conversation2题目 1.Why does the student go to see the professor? A. To obtain notes from a class she missed. B. To discuss a conference she attended. C. To ask about a possible topic for a research paper. D. To clarify information about volunteering in the community. 2.What does the student say about the conference she attended? A. It will help convince students to get involved in the community. B. It taught her a lot about marine ecosystems.。

托福阅读TPO26(试题+答案+译文)第1篇:EnergyandtheIndustrialRevolution为了帮助大家备考托福阅读，提高成绩，下面小编给大家带来托福阅读TPO26(试题+答案+译文)第1篇:Energy and the Industrial Revolution，希望大家喜欢!托福阅读原文【1】For years historians have sought to identify crucial elements in the eighteenth-century rise in industry, technology, and economic power known as the Industrial Revolution, and many give prominence to the problem of energy. Until the eighteenth century, people relied on energy derived from plants as well as animal and human muscle to provide power. Increased efficiency in the use of water and wind helped with such tasks as pumping, milling, or sailing. However, by the eighteenth century, Great Britain in particular was experiencing an energy shortage. Wood, the primary source of heat for homes and industries and also used in the iron industry as processed charcoal, was diminishing in supply. Great Britain had large amounts of coal; however, there were not yet efficient means by which to produce mechanical energy or to power machinery. This was to occur with progress in the development of the steam engine.【2】In the late 1700s James Watt designed an efficient and commercially viable steam engine that was soon applied to a variety of industrial uses as it became cheaper to use. The engine helped solve the problem of draining coal mines of groundwater and increased the production of coal needed to power steam engines elsewhere. A rotary engine attached to the steam engine enabled shafts to be turned and machines to be driven, resulting in mills using steam power to spin and weave cotton. Since thesteam engine was fired by coal, the large mills did not need to be located by rivers, as had mills that used water- driven machines. The shift to increased mechanization in cotton production is apparent in the import of raw cotton and the sale of cotton goods. Between 1760 and 1850, the amount of raw cotton imported increased 230 times. Production of British cotton goods increased sixtyfold, and cotton cloth became Great Britain’s most important product, accounting for one-half of all exports. The success of the steam engine resulted in increased demands for coal, and the consequent increase in coal production was made possible as the steam-powered pumps drained water from the ever-deeper coal seams found below the water table.【3】The availability of steam power and the demands for new machines facilitated the transformation of the iron industry. Charcoal, made from wood and thus in limited supply, was replaced with coal-derived coke (substance left after coal is heated) as steam-driven bellows came into use for producing of raw iron. Impurities were burnt away with the use of coke, producing a high-quality refined iron. Reduced cost was also instrumental in developing steam-powered rolling mills capable of producing finished iron of various shapes and sizes. The resulting boom in the iron industry expanded the annual iron output by more than 170 times between 1740 and 1840, and by the 1850s Great Britain was producing more tons of iron than the rest of the world combined. The developments in the iron industry were in part a response to the demand for more machines and the ever-widening use of higher-quality iron in other industries.【4】Steam power and iron combined to revolutionize transport, which in turn had further implications. Improvementsin road construction and sailing had occurred, but shipping heavy freight over land remained expensive, even with the use of rivers and canals wherever possible. Parallel rails had long been used in mining operations to move bigger loads, but horses were still the primary source of power. However, the arrival of the steam engine initiated a complete transformation in rail transportation, entrenching and expanding the Industrial Revolution. As transportation improved, distant and larger markets within the nation could be reached, thereby encouraging the development of larger factories to keep pace with increasing sales. Greater productivity and rising demands provided entrepreneurs with profits that could be reinvested to take advantage of new technologies to further expand capacity, or to seek alternative investment opportunities. Also, the availability of jobs in railway construction attracted many rural laborers accustomed to seasonal and temporary employment. When the work was completed, many moved to other construction jobs or to factory work in cities and towns, where they became part of an expanding working class.托福阅读试题1.Why does the author provide the information that “Great Britain had large amounts of coal”(paragraph 1)?A.To reject the claim that Britain was facing an energy shortage in the eighteenth century.B.To explain why coal rather than other energy resources became the primary source of heat for homes and industries in eighteenth-century Britain.C.To indicate that Britain’s energy shortage was not the result of a lack of fuel.D.To explain why coal mining became an important industryin nineteenth-century.2.What was “the problem of energy" that had to be solved to make the Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth century possible?A.Water and wind could not be used efficiently.B.There was no efficient way to power machinery.C.Steam engines required large amounts of coal, which was in short supply.D.Neither humans nor animals were strong enough to provide the power required for industrial application.3.Which of the following is NOT mentionedin paragraph 2 asa development in cotton mills brought about by Watt’s steamengine?A.The importing of huge quantities of raw cotton by Britain.B.Increased mechanization.C.More possibilities for mill location.D.Smaller mills.4.The phrase “apparent in” in the passage(paragraph 2)is closest in meaning toA.clearly seen in.B.aided by.C.associated with.D.followed by.5.According to paragraph 2, what was Britain’s most important export by 1850?A.Raw cotton.B.Cotton cloth.C.Steam-powered pumps.D.Coal.6.The word “consequent”(paragraph 2)in the passage isclosest in meaning toA.resulting.B.encouraging.C.well documented.D.immediate.7.What is the role of paragraph 2 in the passage as a whole?A.It explains how by increasing the supply of raw materials from other countries, British industries were able to reduce costs and increase production.B.It explains how the production of mechanical energy and its benefits spread quickly across countries that were linked commercially with Great Britain.C.It demonstrates why developments in a single industry could not have caused the Industrial Revolution.D.It illustrates why historians have assigned great importance to the issue of energy in the rise of the Industrial Revolution.8.According to paragraph 3, why was the use of coke important for the ironindustry?A.It helped make wood into charcoal.B.It reduced the dependency on steam-powered machines used for the production of iron.C.It replaced charcoal in the production of raw and refined iron.D.It powered the machines used to extract coal in coal mines.9.According to paragraph 3, all of the following were true of the ironindustry in Great Britain during the 1800s EXCEPTA.Steam-driven bellows were used to produce raw iron.B.By the 1850s Britain was the world’s largest producer of iron.C.Steam-powered mills made it possible to produce iron ofdifferent shapes and sizes.D.Greater demand for higher-quality iron increased its price.10.The word “initiated”in the passage is closest in meaning toA.anticipated.B.accelerated.C.spread.D.started.11.Paragraph 4 implies which of the following about the transformation inrail transportation?A.Because railway construction employed mostly rural laborers, unemployment increased among urban workers.B.It resulted in more trade within the country, but less trade with markets that could be reached only by ocean shipping.C.It made shipping freight overland to distant markets less expensive.D.It resulted in higher wages for factory workers.12.The phrase “accustomed to" in the passage is closest in meaning toA.in need of.ed to.C.tired of.D.encouraged by.13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Click on a square to add the sentence to the passage. The first steam-powered locomotives were slow but they rapidly improved in speed and carrying capacity.Steam power and iron combined to revolutionize transport, which in turnhad further implications. Improvements in roadconstruction and sailing had occurred, but shipping heavy freight over land remained expensive, even with the use of rivers and canals wherever possible. Parallel rails had long been used in mining operations to move bigger loads, but horses were still the primary source of power. ■【A】However, the arrival of the steam engine initiated a complete transformation in rail transportation, entrenching and expanding the Industrial Revolution. ■【B】As transportation improved, distant and larger markets within the nation could be reached, thereby encouraging the development of larger factories to keep pace with increasing sales. ■【C】Greater productivity and rising demands provided entrepreneurs with profits that could be reinvested to take advantage of new technologies to further expand capacity, or to seek alternative investment opportunities. ■【D】Also, the availability of jobs in railway construction attracted many rural laborers accustomed to seasonal and temporary employment. When the work was completed,many moved to other construction jobs or to factory work in cities and towns, where they became part of an expanding working class.14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.The coming of the Industrial Revolution in eighteenth-century Britaindepended on the development of the steam engine to power machinery.A.For years, historians disregarded the issue of energy as amajor element in the rise of the Industrial Revolution and focused instead on technological developments and increased production.B.The introduction and growth of steam-powered rail transport was a major factor in Britain's economic expansion during the Industrial Revolution.C.An expansion of the Industrial Revolution outside Great Britain occurred when British industries began to import raw cotton and high-quality iron.D.By 1850, the use of steam power in Britain's mills, mines, and iron industry made Britain a world leader in the production of cotton cloth and iron.E.Since the basic infrastructure was in place, the Industrial Revolution fueled itself with enlarging markets requiring ever more expansion of factories and workforce.F.By the end of the 1800s, railway construction attracted so many laborers that factories could not find enough workers to keep up with increasing sales.托福阅读答案1.目的题，读highlight所在句，说英国有煤，但没法变成能量来运行机器，选项C同时说了由煤木有能量，是正确答案。

tpo26-2阅读纯答案解析tpo35阅读答案解析tpo26-2阅读纯答案解析tpo26-2阅读纯答案解析TPO是托福考试最重要的备考资料托福阅读试题，下面小编为你们准备的关于tpo26-2阅读纯答案解析，希望能帮助你们。

tpo26-2阅读1.According to paragraph 1, water provides all of the following essential functions forplants EXCEPT A.improving plants’ ability to absorb sunlight. B.preventing plants from becoming overheated. C.transporting nutrients. D.serving as a raw material for photosynthesis. 2.Paragraph 3 suggests that during a dry year ephemerals A.produce even more seeds than in a wet year. B.do not sprout from their seeds. C.bloom much later than in a wet year. D.are more plentiful than perennials. 3.How is paragraph 2 related to paragraph 3 A.Paragraph 2 provides a general description of desert plants, and paragraph 3 provides ascientific explanation for these observations. B.Paragraph 2 divides desert plants into two categories, and paragraph 3 provides furtherinformation about one of these categories. C.Paragraph 2 proposes one way of dividing desert plants into categories, and paragraph 3explains one problem with this method of classification. D.Paragraph 2 discusses two categories of desert plants, and paragraph 3 introduces a thirdcategory of plants.4.In saying that ephemerals will develop “vigorously“ when there isfavorableprecipitation, the author means that their development will be A.sudden. B.early.C.gradual. D.strong and healthy.5.The word “countering”i n the passage is closest in meaning to A.eliminating.B.making use of.C.acting against.D.experiencing. 6.According toparagraph 4, some desert plants with root systems that areextraordinarily well developed have A.relatively little growth aboveground. B.very leafy aboveground structures. C.non woody plant tissue resistant to wilting. D.water stored within their roots. 7.The word “assured”(paragraph 4)in the passage is closest in meaning to A.pure. B.diminished. C.guaranteed. D.deep. 8.What do “the date pa lm, tamarisk, and mesquite“(paragraph 4) have in common A.They are always found together. B.They depend on surface water provided by streams, springs, and lakes. C.They are phreatophytes. D.Their roots are capable of breaking through hard soils 9.Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information inthehighlighted sentence in the passage(paragraph 5) Incorrect choices change themeaning in important ways or leave out essential information.A.One way animals escape is by entering a state of extended dormancy, known asaestivation, during the hottest and driest times of year. B.Animals can escape without using direct action, or aestivation, simply by reducing theirmetabolic rate and body temperature. C.The actions that an animal uses to escape are known as aestivation, which sometimesinvolves a reduction in metabolic rate or body temperature. D.When the weather is especially hot and dry, an animal may suffer from a condition known asaestivation, at which point the animal needs to escape. 10.It can be inferred from paragraph 6 that all of the places desertanimals retreat to A.provide shade from the sun. B.sometimes become crowded. C.are places where supplies of food are plentiful. D.leave the animals vulnerable to predators.11.According to paragraph 7, what special adaptation helps the ostrich copewith hotdesert conditions A.Each of its feathers is very short and dense. B.Its wings produce only lateral air movement when flapping. C.Its feathers are very thickly set on both its back and itswings. D.It can make its feathers stand up on its back. 12. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could beadded to the passage.Where would the sentence best fit The increase in reward stilldid not attract young people to this hard life, and convicted criminals and slaves werepressed into services The harsh conditions in deserts are in tolerable for most plants and animals. Despite theseconditions, however, many varieties of plants and animals have adapted to deserts in a numberof ways. Most plant tissues die if their water content falls too low: the nutrients that feed plantsare transmitted by water;water is a raw material in the vital process of photosynthesis;andwater regulates the temperature of a plant by its ability to absorb heat and because watervapor lost to the atmosphere through the leaves helps to lower plant temperatures. ■Water controls the volume of plant matter produced. ■The distribution of plantswithin different areas of desert is also controlled by water. ■Some areas, because of theirsoil texture,topographical position, or distance from rivers or groundwater, have virtually nowater available to plants, whereas others do.■ 13.Directions: Select from the seven phrases below the two phrases that correctlycharacterize special adaptations found primarily in desert annuals and the threephrases that correctly characterize special adaptations found primarily in desertperennials. Select each phrase you select in the appropriate column of the table. Thisquestion is worth 3 points. A.Woody structures. B.Explosive growth in wet years. C.Long, thin, shallow roots. D.Storage of water in plant tissue. E.Minimization of the amount of water used for photosynthesis. F.Short life cycle. G.Leaves designed to minimize water loss. 1 ) Adaptations of Annuals A B C D E F G 2 ) Adaptations of Perennials A B C D E F G tpo26-2阅读纯答案解析1.A选项的sunlight原文没有提到，所以错误，选;B项不容易找，可以找完C和D之后依靠并列在第三句的冒号之后找到，原文讲的是降低温度，也就是防止overheated，所以B正确，不选;C和D都在第三句的冒号之后，都正确，不选。

1.【考点分析】本题为修辞目的题，注意此类题目并不是考例子本身，而是要寻找其修辞的目的，然后与选项进行对比。

关键词为“英国有大量的煤”，在此前的几句话说大英帝国能源短缺，举例说明作为主要热源的木材供应减少，燃煤多但不能有效地转化成机械能。

这说明什么呢，这说明英国的能源短缺不是因为燃料缺乏，选C.【选项分析】A. 为了反对“18世纪英国面临能源短缺”的说法(根据原文，煤储量大这一事实，并不是构成反对能源短缺说的理由，这一选项与原文矛盾)B.为了解释为什么是煤，而不是其它能源变成了18世纪英国的主要民用与工业热量来源。

(偷梁换柱型干扰项。

根据本段倒数第3句话，当时主要的能量来源是木材)C.为了表明英国的能源短缺不是缺乏燃料所致(正确：not the result of a lack of fuel 与原文的had large amounts of coal 形成对应)D.该选项是玩穿越，本段并没有提到19世纪，更没有提到采煤成为19世纪主要行业)2. 【考点分析】本题为细节题，考察利用关键词定位以及对同一含义的不同词汇与句子结构的理解能力。

要想让18世纪的工业革命成为可能，一定要得以解决的“能源方面的问题”是什么?根据第一段前半部分，能源是工业革命兴起的主要原因毋庸置疑，那么能源问题是什么呢?根据关键词“the problem of energy” 定位到倒数第2句话：”Great Britain had large amounts of coal; however, there we re not yet efficient means by which to produce mechanical energy or to power machinery.” 这句话表明，能源问题就是有燃料但缺乏用燃料来驱动机器的有效方式，这个问题必须得到解决才能使得工业革命成为可能，所以选B。

注意：means 和ways 是近义词，另外阅读里经常还有method, approach, avenue.【选项分析】A. 水与风不能得到有效的利用(这个选项与第一段第3句意义矛盾)B. 缺乏驱动机器的有效方式(正确：对应第一段的倒数第2句)C.蒸汽引擎需要大量的煤，而煤是供应不足的(与倒数第2句矛盾，原文说Great Britain had large amounts of coal)D.人类与动物都不够强壮，无法为工业活动提供能源(是第2句的偷梁换柱，原文说18世纪之前，人们的能量来源有植物、动物与人力)3. 【考点分析】本题为排除信息题，考查蒸汽引擎引发的纱厂变化除了哪一个。

托福TPO26口语Task2题目+满分范文为了帮助大家高效备考托福，为大家带来托福TPO26口语T ask2题目+满分范文，希望对大家备考有所帮助。

托福TPO26独立口语Task2题目：Some people like to have their cell or mobile phone with them at all times. Other people prefer not to bring their cell or mobile phone with them everywhere they go, or they choose not to own one at all. Which do you prefer? Explain why.托福TPO26独立口语Task2满分范文："I prefer not to bring cell-phones everywhere. There are some occasions I want to be detached from the world. For example, when I am readying a book in my study or in the library. It’s very annoying to hear the ring of the cell-phone or feel the vibrations. It always interrupts my train of thoughts. Having a cell-phone everywhere means you can be disturbed anytime. Nowadays, not just your friends will call you or send you message. More often than not, you receive spam messages or anonymous calls. It makes angry even to answer the calls. "以上是给大家整理的托福TPO26口语T ask2题目+满分范文，希望对你有所帮助!。

【王鑫托福阅读】托福TPO全集之TPO31-2TPO31TPO31-2 Early Childhood Education1. According to paragraph 1, parents in Japan tend to think of preschool primarily as a place where children canA. Get a good academic startB. Expand their emotional developmentC. Become more independentD. Experience being part of a group2. The word “whereas” in the passage is closest in meaning toA. AlthoughB. BecauseC. MoreoverD. already3. The word “focus” in the passage is closest in meaning to A.ConsiderB. RespectC. ConcentrateD. Advise4.It can be inferred from paragraph 2 that the Head Start program was designed to serve children whoA. Come from families that do not have a lot of moneyB. Are not doing very well in kindergartenC. Were born in the 1950sD. Need programs that focus primarily on social and emotional factorsPreschools 一 educational programs for children under the age of five - differ significantly from one country to another according to the views that different societies hold regarding the purpose of early childhood education. For instance, in a cross-country comparison of preschools in China, Japan, and the United States, researchers found that parents in the three countries view the purpose of preschools very differently. Whereas parents in China tend to see preschools primarily as a way of giving children a good start academically, Japanese parents view them primarily as a way of giving children the opportunity to be members of a group. In the United States, in comparison, parents regard the primary purpose of preschools as making children more independent and self-reliant, although obtaining a good academic start and having group experience are also important.While many programs designed for preschoolers focus primarily on social and emotional factors, some are geared mainly toward promoting cognitive gains and preparing preschoolers for the formal instruction they will experience when they start kindergarten. In the United States, the best-known program designed to promote future academic success is Head Start. Established in the 1960s when the United States declared the War on Poverty, the program has served over 13 million children and their families. The program, which stresses parental involvement, was designed to serve the “whole child”, including children's physical health, self-confidence, social responsibility, and social and emotional development.1. According to paragraph 3, the Head Start program had NOT been successful at which of the following?A. Helping children adjust to schoolB. Providing long-term increase in IQ scoresC. Improving school performance throughout high schoolD. Preventing children from being placed in special-education classes6.In paragraph 4, the author mentions the “results from other types of readiness programs ” toA. Provide support for the idea that preschool readiness programs have been somewhat successfulB. Question the idea that Head Start is more effective than other preschool readiness programsC. Indicate school completion is usually the most reliable indicator of success in most readiness programsD. Emphasize that participating in readiness programs can be increased if costs are reduced7. According to paragraph 4, a cost-benefit analysis of one preschool readiness program revealed that A Only one dollar's worth of benefit was gained for every seven dollars spent on the program B The benefits of the program lasted only until the participants reached age 27C Taxpayers saved seven dollars for every dollar spent on the programD To be successful, the program would need to receive about seven times as much money as it currently receivesWhether Head Start is seen as successful or not depends on the lens through which one is looking. If, for instance, the program is expected to provide long-term increases in IQ (intelligence quotient) scores, it is a disappointment. Although graduates of Head Start programs tend to show immediate IQ gains, these increases do not last. On the other hand, it is clear that Head Start is meeting its goal of getting preschoolers ready for school. Preschoolers who participate in Head Start are better prepared for future schooling than those who do not. Furthermore, graduates of Head Start programshave better future school grade. Finally, some research suggests that ultimately Head Start graduates show higher academic performance at the end of high school, although the gains are modest.In addition,results from other types of preschoolreadinessprogramsindicate that those whoparticipate and graduate are less likely to repeat grades, and they are more likely to complete school than readiness program, for every dollar spent on the program, taxpayers saved seven dollars by the time the graduates reached the age of 27.8. The word “ comprehensive ” in the passage is closest in meaning toA. Easily understoodB. ThoroughC. RespectableD. Objective9. Paragraph 5 mentions that participants in early intervention programs have been shown to do all of the following better than nonparticipants EXCEPTA. Take care of their healthB. Support themselves financiallyC. Take care of their own childrenD. Have increased emotional development10. According to paragraph 5, which of the following is true about the benefits of early intervention programs?A. These programs produce good short-term benefits but few long-term benefits.B. Only the most expensive programs provide substantial benefits.C. The Head Start program provides a range of benefits that no other program can provide.D. Some children benefit more than others do from these programs.11. The word “seek” in the passage is closest in meaning toA. ClaimB. ManageC. FailD. Attempt12. The passage mentions “ developmental psychologist David Elkind” in order toA. Give an example of an expert who has designed an effective early childhood education programB. Introduce an alternative view about the value of early childhood educationC. Explain why early childhood education programs are less effective in the United States than in other countriesD. Refute the claim that academic success is dependent on factors outside parents’ control.The most recent comprehensive evaluation of early intervention programs suggests that, taken as a group, preschool programs can provide significant benefits, and that government funds invested early in life may ultimately lead to a reduction in future costs. For instance, compared with children who did not participate in early intervention programs, participants in variousprograms showed gains in emotional or cognitive development, better educational outcomes, increased economic self-sufficiency, reduced levels of criminal activity, and improved health-related behaviors. Of course, not every program produced all these benefits, and not every child benefited to the same extent. Furthermore, some researchers argue that less-expensive programs are just as good as relatively expensive ones, such as Head Start. Still, the results of the evaluation were promising, suggesting that the potential benefits of early intervention can be substantial.Not everyone agrees that programs that seek to enhance academic skills during the preschool years are a good thing. In fact, according to developmental psychologist David Elkind, United States society tends to push children so rapidly that they begin to feel stress and pressure at a young age. Elkind argues that academic success is largely dependent upon factors out of parents’ control, such as inherited abilities and a child’s rate of maturation. Consequently, children of a particular age cannot be expected to master educational material without taking into account their current level of cognitive development. In short, children require development appropriate educational practice, which is education that is based on both typical development and the unique characteristics of a given child.Not everyone agrees that programs that seek to enhance academic skills during the preschool years are a good thing. _n fact, according to developmental psychologist David Elkind, United States society tends to push children so rapidly that they begin to feel stress and pressure at a young age. ■Elkind argues that academic success is largely dependent upon factors out of parents’ control, such as inherited abilities and a child’ s rate of maturation. ■Consequently, children of a part icular age cannot be expected to master educational material without taking into account their current level of cognitive development. _n short, children require development appropriate educational practice, which is education that is based on both typical development and the unique characteristics of a given child.13. Look at the squares [■] that indicate where following sentence can be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?According to Elkind, not only does this cause the child emotional distress, it also fails to bring the intended cognitive gains.14. Prose Summary. Preschool programs provide opportunities for young children to develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively.Answer ChoicesA. In addition to stressing academic development, preschools should be enjoyable, since studies show that children benefit from programs they find fun.B. Preschool programs such as Head Start have been shown to help prepare children for school and may also have long-term benefits in helping children become effective adults.C. Studies have shown that preschool programs are most effective when they focus on only one area of development rather than trying to serve the “whole child” .D. The primary purpose of preschool programs varies by country, with some stressing the importance of group experience, and others self-reliance or getting a good academic start.E. Critics of preschool programs argue that these programs put undue pressure on children and may not be effective if children are not developmentally ready for academic work.F. David Elkind is a critic of publicly funded preschool programs, arguing that the parent cannot control their children’ s emotional development.。

【王鑫托福阅读】托福TPO全集之TPO25-2TPO25TPO25-2 The Decline of Venetian Shipping1. The word “resurgence” in the passage is closest in meaning toA transformationB comebackC programD expansion2. The word “compulsorily” in the passage is closest in meaning toA for freeB for a timeC by requirementD by design3. According to paragraph 2, which of the following contributed to the decline of Venetian shipping?A The loss of trade in Adriatic SeaB The move from galleys to round shipsC The decreased demand for galleysD The doubling of sailor's wages4. All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 2 as ways that Venice provided rowers for its galley EXCEPT A Requiring business associations to provide sailorsB Recruiting sailors from other cities in northern ItalyC Drafting Venetian citizens into services as rowersD Appealing to the traditions of Venice as a sea power.In the late thirteenth century, northern Italian cities such as Genoa, Florence, and Venice began an economic resurgence that made them into the most important economic centers of Europe. By the seventeenth century, however, other European powers had taken over, as the Italian cities lost much of their economic might.This decline can be seen clearly in the changes that affected Venetian shipping and trade. First, Venice's intermediary functions in the Adriatic Sea, where it had dominated the business of shipping for other parties, were lost to direct trading. In the fifteenth century there was little problem recruiting sailors torow the galleys (large ships propelled by oars): guilds (business associations) were required to provide rowers, and through a draft system free citizens served compulsorily when called for. In the early sixteenth century the shortage of rowers was not serious because the demand for galleys was limited by a move to round ships (round-hulled ships with more cargo space), with required fewer rowers. But theshortage of crews proved to be a greater and greater problem, despite continuous appeal to Venic's tradition of maritime greatness. Even though sailors' wages doubled among the northern Italian cities from 1550 to 1590, this did not elicit an increased supply.and g )wly5. The word meaning to A strictB enforcedC improvedD old-fashioned6. According to paragraphs 3, why did the building of ships in Venetian shipyards become increasingly expensive?A The wages of officers and workers in the Arsenale kept risingB Roman shipyards were using all the available fir trees for the warshipsC The timber used in the shipbuilding had to be brought from farther and farther awayD Venetian standards required that shipbuilders use top-quality materials.7. All of the following are mentioned in paragraph and 4 as contributing to the problems of the Venetian shipbuilding industry at the end of the sixteenthoutdated” in the passage is closest incentury EXCEPT A The quality of work performed in the Arsenale had declinedB Venetian-built ships were heavy and generally inefficientC Arsenale shipbuilders worked more slowD Only a few merchants controlled the buying and selling of most of the Venetian-built shipsThe problem in shipping extended to the Arsenale, Venice's huge and powerful shipyard. Timber ran short, and it was necessary to procure it from farther and farther away. In ancient Roman times, the Italian peninsula had great forest of fir preferred for warships, but scarcity was apparent as early as the early fourteenth century. Arsenale officers first brought timber from the foothills of the Alps, then from north toward Trieste, and finally from across the Adriatic. Private shipbuilders were required to buy their oak abroad. As the costs of shipbuilding rose, Venice clung to its outdated standard while the Dutch were innovation in the lighter and more easily handled ships.10. Why does the author mention “Vasco da Gama' around southern Africa to India took place at the endof the fifteenth century, and by 1502 the trans- Abrabian caravan route had been cut off by political unrest.Voyage around southern Africa to India” in the passage?A to indicate how the Portuguese came to challenge Venetian dominance of trade with the EastB to explain why political troubles resulted in the closing of the usual routes to IndiaC to prove that Venetians could not sail round ships as efficiently as sailors from other countries didD to show that Venetian reliance on round ships rather than galleys proved to be weakness8. 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 The loss of ships in battle at the end of the sixteenth century showed that Venetian shipbuilders lacked the skills they had possessed at the beginning of the century.B Venetian shipbuilding failed to quickly replace the ships lost in battle at the end of the sixteenth century as it would have done earlier in the century.C Frederic Lane noted that Venice lost ships in battle at the end of the sixteenth century, showing that Venetian shipbuilding was not longer known for its reliability.D Venetian shipbuilding had been known for its high quality of work at the beginning of the sixteenth century, but toward the end of the century Venetian ships were poorer in quality.9. The word “conventional” in the passage is closest meaning to A informalB logicalC correctD usualThe step from buying foreign timber to buying foreign ships was regarded as a short one, especially when complaints were heard in the latter sixteenth century that the standards and traditions of the Arsenale were running down. Work was stretched out and done poorly. Older workers had been allowed to stop work a half hour before the regular time, and in 1601 younger works left with them. Merchants complained that the privileges reserved for Venetian-built and owned ships were first extended to those Venetians who bought ships from abroad and then to foreign-built and owned vessels. Historian FredericLane observes that after the loss of ships in battle inthe late sixteenth century, the shipbuilding industryno longer had the capacity to recover that it haddisplayed at the start of the century.conventional explanation for the loss of Venetian dominance in trade is establishment of the Portuguese direct sea route to the East, replacing the overland Silk Road from the Black sea and the highly profitable IndianOcean-caravan-eastern Mediterranean route to Venice. The Portuguese Vasco da Gama's Voyage11. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 6 about the Venetian Council's decision concerning the use of round ships?A It resulted in a return to profitable in luxury goods for Venetian merchants.B Ultimately it did not restore the superiority in the spice trade that Venice had enjoyed earlier.C It eventually enabled Venetian merchants to increase the quantity and price of the spices they sold in Europe.D It means a long-awaited improvement in the fortunes of the shipbuilding industry in Venice.12. According to paragraphs 6, in the sixteenth century the price of spices declined becauseA France and Germany established monopolies and dictated pricesB Venetian merchant galleys competed with Venetian round ships for the spice tradeC More spices were available because both the Venetians and the Portuguese were importing themD Increased demand for silk, dyes, cotton and gold meant that people had less money to spend on spiices.The Venetian Council finally allowed round ships to enter the trade that was previously reserved for merchant galleys, thus reducing transport cost by one third. Prices of spices delivered by ship from the eastern Mediterranean came to equal those of spices transported by Paortuguese vessels, but the increase in quantity with both routes in operation drove the price far down. Gradually, Venice's role as a storage and distribution center for spices and silk, dyes cotton, and gold decayed, and by the early seventeenth century Venice had lost its monopoly in markets such as France and southern Germany.Venetian shipping had started to decline from about 1530-before the entry into the Mediterranean of large volumes of Dutch and British shipping-and was clearly outclassed by the end of the century. A contemporary of Shakespeare (1564-1616) observed that theVenetian shipping had started to decline from about 1530-before the entry into the Mediterranean of large volumes of Dutch and British shipping-and was clearly outclassed by the end of the century. A contemporary of Shakespeare (1564-1616) observed that the productivity of Italian shipping had declined, compared with that of the British, because of conservatism and loss of expertise. Moreover, Italian sailors were deserting and emigrating, and captains, no longer recruited from the ranks of nobles, were weak on navigations.This decline can be seen clearly in the changes that affected Venetian shipping and trade. First, Venice's intermediary functions in the Adriatic Sea, where it had dominated the business of shipping for other parties, were lost to direct trading. In the fifteenth century there was little problem recruiting sailors to row the galleys (large ships propelled by oars): guilds (business associations) were required to provide rowers, and through a draft system free citizens served compulsorily when called for. | In the early sixteenth century the shortage of rowers was not serious because the demand for galleys was limited by a move to round ships (round-hulled ships with more cargo space), with required fewer rowers. | But the shortage of crews proved to be a greater and greater problem, despite continuous appeal to Venic's tradition of maritime greatness.| Even though sailors' wages doubled among the northern Italian cities from 1550 to 1590, this did not elicit an increased supply.|13. Look at the four squares [| ] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square to add the sentence to the passage.The increase in reward still did not attract young people to this hard life, and convicted criminals and slaves were pressed into services.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 notbelong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. The loss of power and prestige of Italian cities by the sixteenth century is clearly seen in the decline of Venetian shipping.A. Venetian ships were famous for carrying large cargoes of spices and luxury goods around the world in fast, oar-driven galleys.B. Venetian round ships bringing spices and silk from the East helped drive prices down so that ordinary people could afford to buy themC. A shortage of timber for building the traditional galleys and a lack of sailors to row them meant a loss of Venetian shipping business.D. Venice failed to keep up with improvement in ship design, and the cost of shipbuilding rose a quality and efficiency declined.E. The Venetian Council made sure that Venetian-built and Eowned ships kept special privileges in transporting luxury goods in and out of Venice.F. The Portuguese direct sea route to the East adversely affected Venetian trade, and Venice fell behind the Dutch and the British in the quality of their ships and sailing skills.。