1996年1月托福阅读全真试题

Questions 1-7 Joyce Carol Oates published her first collection of short

stories. By The Gate， in 1963， two years after she had

received her masters degree from the University of Wisconsin

and become an instructor of English at the University of

Detroit. Her productivity since then has been prodigious， accumulating

in less than two decades to nearly thirty titles， including

novels， collections of short stories and verse， plays， and literary

criticism. In the meantime， she has continued to teach，

moving in 1967 from the University of Detroit to the University

of Windsor， in Ontario， and， in 1978， to Princeton University.

Reviewers have admired her enormous energy， but

find a productivity of such magnitude difficult to assess. In a period characterized by the abandonment of so much

of the realistic tradition by authors such as John Barth， Donald

Barthelme， and Thomas Pynchon， Joyce Carol Oates has

seemed at times determinedly old-fashioned in her insistence on

the essentially mimetic quality of her fiction. Hers is a world

of violence， insanity， fractured love， and hopeless loneliness.

Although some of it appears to come from her own direct

observations， her dreams， and her fears， much more is clearly

from the experiences of others. Her first novel， With Shuddering

Fall， dealt with stock car racing， though she

had never seen a race. IN Them she focused on

Detroit from the Depression through the notes of 1967， drawing

much of her material from the deep impression made on her by

the problems of one of her students. Whatever the source and

however shocking the events or the motivations， however， her

fictive world remains strikingly akin to that real one reflected

in the daily newspapers， the television news and talk shows，

and the popular magazines of our day. 1. What is the main purpose of the passage? To review Oatess By the North Gate

To compare some modern writers

To describe Oatess childhood

To outline Oatess career 2. Which of the following does the passage indicate about Joyce Carol Qates first publication? It was part of her masters thesis.

It was a volume of short fiction.

It was not successful.

It was about an English instructor in Detroit. 3. Which of the following does the passage suggest about Joyce Carol Oates in terms of her writing career? She has experienced long nonproductive periods in her writing.

Her style is imitative of other contemporary authors

She has produced a surprising amount of fictions in a relative short time.

Most of her work is based on personal experience. 4. The word characterized in line 10 can best replaced by which of the following? Shocked

Impressed

Distinguished

Helped 5. What was the subject of Joyce Carol Oatess first novel? Loneliness

Inanity

Teaching

Racing 6. Why does the author mention Oatess book Them? It is a typical novel of the 1960s

It is her best piece of nonfiction.

It is a fictional work based on the experiences of another person.

It is an autobiography. 7. Which of the following would Joyce Carol Oates be most likely to write? A story with an unhappy ending

A romancer novel set in the nineteenth century

A science fiction novel

A dialogue for a talk show Question 8-18 Certainly no creature in the sea is odder than the common

sea cucumber. All living creature， especially human beings，

have their peculiarities， but everything about the little sea

cucumber seems unusual. What else can be said about a bizarre

animal that， among other eccentricities， eats mud， feeds

almost continuously day and night but can live without eating

for long periods， and can be poisonous but is considered

supremely edible by gourmets? For some fifty million years， despite all its eccentricities，

the sea cucumber has subsisted on its diet of mud. It is

adaptable enough to live attached to rocks by its tube feet， under

rocks in shallow water， or on the surface of mud flats.

Common in cool water on both Atlantic and Pacific shores， it has

the ability to suck up mud or sand and digest whatever

nutrients are present. Sea cucumbers come in a variety of colors， ranging from

black to reddish - brown to sand - color and nearly white. One

form even has vivid purple tentacles. Usually the creatures are

cucumber - shaped - hence their name - and because they are

typically rock inhabitants， this shape， combined with flexibility，

enables them to squeeze into crevices where they are safe

from predators and ocean currents. Although they have voracious appetites， eating day and

night， sea cucumbers have the capacity to become quiescent

and live at a low metabolic rate - feeding sparingly or not at all

for long periods， so that the marine organisms that provide

their food have a chance to multiply. If it were not for this

faculty， they would devour all the food available in s short

time and would probably starve themselves out of existence. But the most spectacular thing about the sea cucumber is

the way it defends itself. Its major enemies are fish and crabs，

when attacked， it squirts all its internal organs into the water.

It also casts off attached structures such as tentacles. The sea

cucumber will eviscerate and regenerate itself if it is attacked

or even touched; it will do the same if surrounding water

temperature is too high or if the water becomes too polluted.

8. What does the passage mainly discuss? The reason for the sea cucumbers name

What makes the sea cucumber unusual

How to identify the sea cucumber

Places where the sea cucumber can be found 9. In line 3， the word bizarre is closest meaning to odd

marine

simple

rare 10.According to the Passage， why is the shape of sea cucumbers important? It helps them to digest their food

It helps them to protect themselves from danger.

It makes it easier for them to move through the mud.

It makes them attractive to fish. 11.The words this faculty in line20 refer to the sea cucumbers ability to squeeze into crevices

devour all available food in a short time

suck up mud or sand

live at a low metabolic rate 12.The fourth paragraph of the passage Primarily discusses the reproduction of sea cucumbers

the food sources of sea cucumbers

the eating habits of sea cucumbers

threats to sea cucumbers existence 13.The phrase casts off in line 24 is closest in meaning to grows again

grabs

gets rid of

uses as a weapon 14.Of all the characteristics of the sea cucumber， which of the following seems to fascinate the author most? What it does when threatened.

Where it lives

How it hides from predators

What it eats. 15.Compared with other sea creatures the sea cucumber is very dangerous

intelligent

strange

fat 16.What can be inferred about the defense mechanisms of the sea cucumber? They are very sensitive to surrounding stimuli.

They are almost useless.

They require group cooperation.

They are similar to those of most sea creatures. 17.Which of the following would NOT cause a sea cucumber to release its internal organs into the water? A touch

Food

Unusually warm water

Pollution 18.Which of the following is an example of behavior comparable with the sea cucumber living at a low metabolic rate? An octopus defending itself with its tentacles

A bear hibernating in the winter

A pig eating constantly

A parasite living on its hosts blood. Question 19-29 A folk culture is small， isolated， cohesive， conservative，

nearly self-sufficient group that is homogeneous in custom and

race， with a strong family or clan structure and highly

developed rituals. Order is maintained through sanctions based in

the religion or family， and interpersonal relationships are

strong. Tradition is paramount， and change comes infrequently

and slowly. There is relatively little division of labor into

specialized duties. Rather， each person is expected to perform

a great variety of tasks， though duties many differ between the

sexes. Most goods are handmade， and a subsistence economy

prevails. Individualism is weakly developed in folk cultures， as

are social classes. Unaltered folk cultures no longer exist in

industrialized countries such as the United States and Canada.

Perhaps the nearest modern-equivalent in Anglo-America is the

Amish， a German American farming sect that largely renounces

the products and labor saving device of the industrial

age. In Amish areas， horse - drawn buggies still serve as a local

transportation device， and the faithful are not permitted to

own automobiles. The Amishs central religious concept of

Demut， humility， clearly reflects the weakness of individualism

and social class so typical of folk cultures， and there is a

corresponding strength of Amish group identity. Rarely do the

Amish marry outside their sect. The religion， a variety of the

Mennonite faith， provides the principal mechanism for maintaining

order. By contrast， a popular culture is a large heterogeneous

group， often highly individualistic and constantly changing.

Relationships tend to be impersonal， and a pronounced division

of labor exists， leading to the establishment of many specialized

professions. Secular institutions of control such as the police

and army take the place of religion and family in maintaining

order， and a money-based economy prevails. Because of these

contrasts， popular may be viewed as clearly different from

folk. The popular is replacing the folk in industrialized countries

and in many developing nations， Folk-made objects give

way to their popular equivalent， usually because the popular

item is more quickly or cheaply produced， is easier or time

saving to use， or lends more prestige to the owner. 19.What does the passage mainly discuss? Two decades in modern society.

The influence of industrial technology

The characteristics of folk and popular societies.

The specialization of labor in Canada and United States 20.The word homogeneous in line 2 is closest in meaning to uniform

general

primitive

traditional 21.Which of the following is typical of folk cultures? There is a money- based economy.

Social change occurs slowly.

Contact with other cultures is encouraged

Each person develops one specialized skill. 22.What does the author imply about the United States and Canada? They value folk cultures

They have no social classes.

They have popular cultures.

They do not value individualism. 23.The phrase largely renounces in line 11 is closest in meaning to generally rejects

greatly modifies

loudly declares

often criticizes 24.What is the main source of order in Amish society? The government

The economy

The clan structure

The religion 25.Which of the following statements about Amish beliefs does the passage support? A variety of religious practices is tolerated.

Individualism and competition are important.

Pre-modern technology is preferred.

People are defined according to their class. 26.Which of the following would probably NOT be found in a folk culture? A carpenter

A farmer

A weaver

A banker 27.The word prevails in line 23 is closest in meaning to dominates

provides

develops

invests 28.The word their in line 26 refer to folk

nations

countries

objects 29.Which of the following is NOT given as a reason why folk-made objects are replaced by mass-produced objects? Cost

Prestige

Quality

Convenience Question 30-40 Many of the most damaging and life-threatening types of

weather - torrential rains， severe thunderstorms， and tornadoes

- begin quickly， strike suddenly， and dissipate rapidly，

devastating small regions while leaving neighboring areas

untouched. One such event， a tornado， stuck the northeastern

section of Edmonton， Alberta， in July 1987. Total damages

from the tornado exceeded $250 million， the highest ever for

any Canadian storm. Conventional computer models of the

atmosphere have limited value in predicting short - lived local

storms like the Edmonton tornado， because the available

weather data are generally not detailed enough to allow computers to discern the subtle atmospheric changes that precede

these storms. In most nations， for example， weather -balloon

observations are taken just once every twelve hours at location

typically separated by hundreds of miles. With such limited

data， conventional forecasting models do a much better job

predicting general weather conditions over large regions than

they do forecasting specific local events. Until recently， the observation - intensive approach needed

for accurate， very short - range forecasts， or Nowcasts， was

not feasible. The cost of equipping and operating many thousands

of conventional weather stations was prohibitively high，

and the difficulties involved in rapidly collecting and processing

the raw weather data from such a network were insurmountable.

Fortunately， scientific and technological advances have

overcome most of these problems. Radar systems， automated

weather instruments， and satellites are all capable of making

detailed， nearly continuous observation over large regions at

a relatively low cost. Communications satellites can transmit

data around the world cheaply and instantaneously， and modern

computers can quickly compile and analyzing this large volume

of weather information. Meteorologists and computer

scientists now work together to design computer programs and

video equipment capable of transforming raw weather data into

words， symbols， and vivid graphic displays that forecasters

can interpret easily and quickly. As meteorologists have begun

using these new technologies in weather forecasting offices，

Nowcasting is becoming a reality. 30.What does he passage mainly discuss?

Computers and weather

Dangerous storms

Weather forecasting

Satellites 31.Why does the author mention the tornado in Edmonton， Canada? To indicate that tornadoes are common in the summer

To give an example of a damaging storm

To explain different types of weather

To show that tornadoes occur frequently in Canada 32.The word subtle in line 8 is closest in meaning to complex

regular

imagined

slight 33.Why does the author state in line 10 that observations are taken just once every twelve hours? To indicate that the observations are timely

To show why the observations are on limited value

To compare data from balloons and computers

To give an example of international cooperation 34.The word they in line 13 refers to models

conditions

regions

events 35.Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an advance in short - range weather forecasting? Weather balloons

Radar systems

Automated instruments

Satellites 36.The word compile in line 23 is closest in meaning to put together

look up

pile high

work over 37.With Nowcasting， it first became possible to provide information about short-lived local storms

radar networks

long - range weather forecasts

general weather conditions 38.The word raw in line 25 is closest in meaning to stormy

inaccurate

uncooked

unprocessed 39.With which of the following statements is the author most likely to agree? Communications satellites can predict severe weather.

Meteorologists should standardize computer programs.

The observation - intensive approach is no longer useful.

Weather predictions are becoming more accurate. 40.Which of the following would best illustrate Nowcasting? A five-day forecast

A warning about a severe thunderstorm on the radio

The average rainfall for each month

A list of temperatures in major cities Question 41-50 People in the United States in the nineteenth century

were haunted by the prospect that unprecedented change in

he nations economy would bring social chaos. In the years

following 1820， after several decades of relative stability， the

economy entered a period of sustained and extremely rapid

growth that continued to the end of the nineteenth century.

Accompanying that growth that was a structural change that

featured increasing economic diversification and a gradual shift

in the nations labor force from agriculture to manufacturing

and other nonagricultural pursuits. Although the birth rate continued to decline from its high

level of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The

population roughly doubled every generation during the

nineteenth centuries. As the population grew， its makeup also

changed. Massive waves of immigration brought new ethnic

groups into the country. Geographic and social mobility -

downward as well as upward - touched almost everyone. Local

studies indicate that nearly three - quarters of the population -

in the North and South， in the emerging cities of the Northeast，

and in the restless rural counties of the West - changed

their residence each decade. As a consequence， historian David

Donald has written， Social atomization affected every

segment of society， and it seemed to many people that all the

recognized values of orderly civilization were gradually being

eroded.

Rapid industrialization and increased geographic mobility

in the nineteenth century had special implications for women

because these tended to magnify social distinctions. As

the roles men and women played in society became more rigidly

defined， so did the roles they played in the home. In the

context of extreme competitiveness and dizzying social change，

the household lost many of its earlier functions and the home

came to serve as a haven of tranquillity and order. As the size

of families decreased， the roles of husband and wife became

more clearly differentiated than ever before. In the middle

class especially， men participated in the productive economy

while women ruled the home and served as the custodians of

civility and culture. The intimacy of marriage that was

common in earlier periods was rent， and a gulf that at times

seemed unbridgeable was created between husbands and

wives. 41.What does the passage mainly discuss? The economic development of the United States in the eighteenth century

Ways in which economic development led to social changes in the United States

Population growth in the western United States

The increasing availability of industrial jobs for women in the United States 42.The word Prospect in line 1 is closest in meaning to regret

possibility

theory

circumstance 43.According to the passage， the economy of the United States between 1820 and 1900 was expanding

in sharp decline

stagnate

disorganized 44.The word roughly in line 9 is closest in meaning to harshly

surprisingly

slowly

approximately 45.The word its in line 10 refers to century

population

generation

birth rate 46.According to the passage， as the nineteenth century progressed， the people of the United States emigrated to other countries

often settled in the West

tended to change the place in which they lived

had a higher rate of birth than ever before 47.Which of the following best describes the society about which David Donald wrote? A highly conservative society that was resistant to new ideas

A society that was undergoing fundamental change

A society that had been gradually changing since the early 1700s

A nomadic society that was starting permanent settlements 48.The word magnify in line 20 is closest in meaning to solve

explain

analyze

increase 49.Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an example of the social changes occurring in the United States after 1820? Increased social mobility

Increased immigration

Significant movement of population

Strong emphasis on traditional social values 50.The word distinctions in line 21 is closest in meaning to Differences

Classes

Accomplishments

characteristics

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