TOEFL试题.docx

1、TOEFL试题2002年8月TOEFL试题Section Three: Reading ComprehensionQuestion 1-9 Often enough the craft workers place of employment in ancient Greece was set in rural isolation. Potter, for instance, found it convenient to locate their workshops near their source of clay, regardless of its relation to the cent

2、er of settlement, At Corinth andline Athens, however, two of the best-known potters quarters were situated on the cities (5) outskirts, and potters and makers of terra-cotta figurines were also established well withinthe city of Athens itself. The techniques of pottery manufacture had evolved well b

3、eforethe Greek period, but marked stylistic developments occurred in shape and in decoration, for example, in the interplay of black and other glazes with the red surface of the fired pot.Athenian black-figure and red-figure decoration, which emphasized human figures rather (10) than animal images,

4、was adopted between 630 and 530 .；its distinctive color and lusterwere the result of the skillful adjustments of the kilns temperature during an extendedthree-stage period if firing the clayware. Whether it was the potters or the vase-painters who initiated changes in firing is unclear; the function

5、s of making and decorating were usually divided between them, but neither group can have been so specialized the they (15) did not share in the concerns of the other. The broad utility of terra-cotta was such that workers in clay could generally afford toConfine themselves to either decorated ware a

6、nd housewares like cooking pots and storage Jars or building materials like roof tiles and drainpipes. Some sixth-and fifth-century .Athenian pottery establishments are known to have concentrated on a limited range of fine(20) ware, but a rural pottery establishment on the island of Thasos produced

7、many types of pottery and roof tiles too, presumably to meet local demand. Molds were used to createparticular effects for some products, such as relief-decorated vessels and figurines; forother products such as roof tiles, which were needed in some quantity, they were used tofacilitate mass product

8、ion. There were also a number of poor-quality figurines and painted(25) pots produced in quantity by easy, inexpensive means- as numerous featureless statuettes and unattractive cases testify.1. The passage mainly discusses ancient Greek pottery and its(A) production techniques(B) similarity to othe

9、r crafts(C) unusual materials(D) resemblance to earlier pottery2. The phrase “regardless of” in line 3 is closest in meaning to (A) as a result of (B) no matter what (C) proud of (D) according to 3. It can be inferred from the passage that most pottery establishments in ancient Greece were situated(

10、A) in city centers(B) on the outskirts of cities(C) where clay could be found(D) near other potters workshops4. The word “marked” in line 7 is closest in meaning to(A) original(B) attractive(C) noticeable(D) patterned5. The word “confine” in line 17 is closest in meaning to (A) adapt(B) train(C) res

11、trict(D) organize6. It can be inferred from the passage that terra-cotta had which of the following advantages”(A) It did not break during the firing process.(B) It was less expensive than other available materials.(C) Its surface had a lasting shine.(D) It could be used for many purposes.7. The wor

12、d “presumably” in line 21 is closest in meaning to(A) frequently(B) practically(C) preferably(D) probably8. The word “they” in line 23 refers to(A) molds(B) particular effects(C) products(D) vessels and figurines9. According to the passage, all of the following are true of ancient Greek potters and

13、vase painters EXCEPT: (A) Their functions were so specialized that they lacked common concerns.(B) They sometimes produced inferior ware.(c) They produced pieces that had unusual color and shine.(D) They decorated many of their works with human images.Question 10-19 Geographers say that what defines

14、 a place are four properties: soil, climate, altitude, and aspect, or attitude to the Sun. Floridas ancient scrub demonstrates this principle. Its soil is pure silica, so barren it supports only lichens as ground cover.( It does, however, sustain a sand-swimming lizard that cannot live where there i

15、s moisture or plant matter(5) the soil.) Its climate, despite more than 50 inches of annual rainfall, is blistering desertplant life it can sustain is only the xerophytic, the quintessentially dry. Its altitude is a mere couple of hundred feet, but it is high ground on a peninsula elsewhere close to

16、 sea level, and its drainage is so critical that a difference of inches in elevation can bring major changes in its plant communities. Its aspect is flat, direct, brutaland subtropical.(10) Floridas surrounding lushness cannot impinge on its desert scrubbiness. This does not sound like an attractive

17、 place. It does not look much like one either;Shrubby little oaks, clumps of scraggly bushes, prickly pear, thorns, and tangles. “It appearSaid one early naturalist,” to desire to display the result of the misery through which it hasPassed and is passing.” By our narrow standards, scrub is not beaut

18、iful; neither does it meet(15) our selfish utilitarian needs. Even the name is an epithet, a synonym for the stunted, thescruffy, the insignificant, what is beautiful about such a place The most important remaining patches of scrub lie along the Lake Wales Ridge, a chain of paleoislands running for

19、a hundred miles down the center of Florida, in most places less than ten miles wide. It is relict seashore, tossed up millions of years ago when ocean levels(20) were higher and the rest of the peninsula was submerged. That ancient emergence is precisely what makes Lake Wales Ridge so precious: it h

20、as remained unsubmerged, its ecosystems essentially undisturbed, since the Miocene era. As a result, it has gathered to itself one of the largest collections of rare organisms in the world. Only about 75 plantspecies survive there, but at least 30 of these are found nowhere else on Earth. 10. What d

21、oes the passage mainly discuss(A) How geographers define a place (B) The characteristics of Floridas ancient scrub(C) An early naturalists opinion of Florida(D)The history of the Lake Wales Ridge11. The author mentions all of the following as factors that define a place EXCEPT(A) aspect(B) altitude

22、(C) soil(D) life-forms12. It can be inferred from the passage that soil composed of silica(A) does not hold moisture(B) is found only in Florida(C) nourishes many kinds of ground cover(D) provides food for many kinds of lizards13. The word” sustain” in line 6 is closets in meaning to(A) select(B) st

23、rain(C) support(D) store14. The author mentions the prickly pear (line 12)as an example of(A) valuable fruit-bearing plants of the scrub area(B) unattractive plant life of the scrub area (C) a pant discovered by an early naturalist(D) plant life that is extremely are15. The author suggests that huma

24、n standards of beauty are(A) tolerant (B) idealistic(C) defensible (D) limited16. The word “insignificant” in line 16 is closest in meaning to (A) unimportant (B) undisturbed(C) immature (D) inappropriate17. According to the passage, why is the Lake Wales Ridge valuable(A) It was originally submerge

25、d in the ocean.(B) It is less than ten miles wide.(C) It is located near the seashore.(D) It has ecosystems that have long remained unchanged18. The word “it” in line 22 refer to (A) Florida(B) the peninsula(C) the Lake Wales Ridge(D) the Miocene era19. The passage probably continues with a discussi

26、on of (A) ancient scrub found in other areas of the country(B) geographers who study Floridas scrub(C) the climate of the Lake Wales Ridge(D) the unique plants found on the Lake Wales RidgeQuestion 20-30 It is estimated that over 99 percent of all species that ever existed have become extinct. What

27、causes extinction When a species is no longer adapted to a changed environment, it may perish. The exact causes of a species death vary from situation Line to situation. Rapid ecological change may render an environment hostile to a species.(5) For example, temperatures may change and a species may

28、not be able to adapt. FoodResources may be affected by environmental changes, which will then cause problemsFor a species requiring these resources. Other species may become better adapted to anEnvironment, resulting in competition and, ultimately, in the death of a species. The fossil record reveal

29、s that extinction has occurred throughout the history of Earth.(10) Recent analyses have also revealed that on some occasions many species became extinct at the same timea mass extinction. One of the best-known examples of mass extinction occurred 65 million years ago with the demise of dinosaurs an

30、d many other forms of life. Perhaps the largest mass extinction was the one that occurred 225 million years ago, When approximately 95 percent of all species died, Mass extinctions can be caused by(15) a relatively rapid change in the environment and can be worsened by the close interrelationship of

31、 many species. If, for example, something were to happen to destroy much of the plankton in the oceans, then the oxygen content of Earth would drop, affection even organisms not living in the oceans. Such a change would probably lead to a mass extinction.(20) One interesting, and controversial, find

32、ing is that extinctions during the past 250 Million years have tended to be more intense every 26 million years. This periodic extinction might be due to intersection of the Earths orbit with a cloud of comets, butthis theory is purely speculative. Some researchers have also speculated tat extinctionmay ofte