托福阅读真题TOEFL整合.doc

托福阅读真题TOEFL整合 为了让大家更好的准备托福考试，给大家整理一些托福阅读真题，下面就和大家分享，来欣赏一下吧。托福阅读真题1PASSAGE 26In July of 1994, an astounding series of events took place. The world anxiously watched as, every few hours, a hurtling chunk of comet plunged into the atmosphere of Jupiter. All of the twenty-odd fragments, collectively called comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 after its discoverers, were once part of the same object, now dismembered and strung out along the same orbit. This cometary train, glistening like a string of pearls, had been first glimpsed only a few months before its fateful impact with Jupiter, and rather quickly scientists had predicted that the fragments were on a collision course with the giant planet. The impact caused an explosion clearly visible from Earth, a bright flaming fire that quickly expanded as each icy mass incinerated itself. When each fragment slammed at 60 kilometers per second into the dense atmosphere, its immense kinetic energy was transformed into heat, producing a superheated fireball that was ejected back through the tunnel the fragment had made a few seconds earlier. The residues from these explosions left huge black marks on the face of Jupiter, some of which have stretched out to form dark ribbons.Although this impact event was of considerable scientific import, it especially piqued public curiosity and interest. Photographs of each collision made the evening television newscast and were posted on the Internet. This was possibly the most open scientific endeavor in history. The face of the largest planet in the solar system was changed before our very eyes. And for the very first time, most of humanity came to fully appreciate the fact that we ourselves live on a similar target, a world subject to catastrophe by random assaults from celestial bodies. That realization was a surprise to many, but it should not have been. One of the great truths revealed by the last few decades of planetary exploration is that collisions between bodies of all sizes are relatively commonplace, at least in geologic terms, and were even more frequent in the early solar system.1. The passage mentions which of the following with respect to the fragments of cometShoemaker-Levy 9?(A) They were once combine in a larger body.(B) Some of them burned up before entering the atmosphere of Jupiter.(C) Some of them are still orbiting Jupiter.(D) They have an unusual orbit.2. The word collectively in line 3 is closest in meaning to(A) respectively(B) popularly(C) also(D) together3. The author compares the fragments of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 to all of the following EXCEPT(A) a dismembered body(B) a train(C) a pearl necklace(D) a giant planet4. Before comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 hit Jupiter in July 1994, scientists(A) had been unaware of its existence(B) had been tracking it for only a few months(C) had observed its breakup into twenty-odd fragments(D) had decided it would not collide with the planet5. Before the comet fragments entered the atmosphere of Jupiter, they were most likely(A) invisible(B) black(C) frozen(D) exploding6. Superheated fireballs were produced as soon as the fragments of comet Shoemaker- Levy 9(A) hit the surface of Jupiter(B) were pulled into Jupiters orbit(C) were ejected back through the tunnel(D) entered the atmosphere of Jupiter7. The phrase incinerated itself in line 9 is closest in meaning to(A) burned up(B) broke into smaller pieces(C) increased its speed(D) grew in size8. Which of the following is mentioned as evidence of the explosions that is still visible onJupiter?(A) fireballs(B) ice masses(C) black marks(D) tunnels9. Paragraph 2 discusses the impact of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 primarily in terms of(A) its importance as an event of great scientific significance(B) its effect on public awareness of the possibility of damage to Earth(C) the changes it made to the surface of Jupiter(D) the effect it had on television broadcasting10. The target in line 20 most probably referred to(A) Earth(B) Jupiter(C) the solar system(D) a cometPASSAGE 26 ADDBC DACBA托福阅读真题2PASSAGE 29During the second half of the nineteenth century, the production of food and feed crops in the United States rose at an extraordinarily rapid rate. Corn production increased by four and a half times, hay by five times, oats and wheat by seven times. The most crucial factor behind this phenomenal upsurge in productivity was the widespread adoption of labor-saving machinery by northern farmers. By 1850 horse-drawn reaping machines that cut grain were being introduced into the major grain-growing regions of the country. Horse-powered threshing machines to separate the seeds from the plants were already in general use. However, it was the onset of the Civil War in 1861 that provided the great stimulus for the mechanization of northern agriculture. With much of the labor force inducted into the army and with grain prices on the rise, northern farmers rushed to avail themselves of the new labor-saving equipment. In 1860 there were approximately 80,000 reapers in the country; five years later there were 350,000.After the close of the war in 1865, machinery became ever more important in northern agriculture, and improved equipment was continually introduced. By 1880 a self-binding reaper had been perfected that not only cut the grain, but also gathered the stalks and bound them with twine. Threshing machines were also being improved and enlarged, and after 1870 they were increasingly powered by steam engines rather than by horses. Since steam-powered threshing machines were costly items running from $ 1,000 to $4,000 they were usually owned by custom thresher owners who then worked their way from farm to farm during the harvest season. Combines were also coming into use on the great wheat ranches in California and the Pacific Northwest. These ponderous machines sometimes pulled by as many as 40 horses reaped the grain, threshed it, and bagged it, all in one simultaneous operation.The adoption of labor-saving machinery had a profound effect upon the sale of agricultural operations in the northern states allowing farmers to increase vastly their crop acreage. By the end of century, a farmer employing the new machinery could plant and harvest two and half times as much corn as a farmer had using hand methods 50 years before.1. What aspect of farming in the United States in the nineteenth century does the passage mainlydiscuss?(A) How labor-saving machinery increased crop Production(B) Why southern farms were not as successful as Successful as northern farms(C) Farming practices before the Civil War(D) The increase in the number of people farming2. The word crucial in line 4 is closest in meaning to(A) obvious(B) unbelievable(C) important(D) desirable3. The phrase avail themselves in line 11 is closest in meaning to(A) take care(B) make use(C) get rid(D) do more4. According to the passage , why was the Civil War a stimulus for mechanization?(A) The army needed more grain in order to feed the soldiers.(B) Technology developed for the war could also the used by farmers.(C) It was hoped that harvesting more grain would lower the price of grain.(D) Machines were needed to replace a disappearing labor force.5. The passage supports which of the following statements about machinery after the Civil War?(A) Many farmers preferred not to use the new machinery.(B) Returning laborers replaced the use of machinery.(C) The use of farm machinery continued to increase.(D) Poor-quality machinery slowed the pace of crop production.6. Combines and self-binding reapers were similar because each(A) could perform more than one function(B) required relatively little power to operate(C) was utilized mainly in California(D) required two people to operate7. The word they in line 19 refers to(A) grain stalks(B) threshing machines(C) steam engines(D) horses8. It can be inferred from the passage that most farmers did not own threshing machines because(A) farmers did not know how to use the new machines(B) farmers had no space to keep the machines(C) thresher owner had chance to buy the machines before farmers did(D) the machines were too expensive for every farmer to own9. The word ponderous in line 21 is closest in meaning to(A) advanced(B) heavy(C) complex(D) rapidPASSAGE 29 ACBDC ABDB托福阅读真题3PASSAGE 30Butterflies are among the most extensively studied insects it is estimated that 90 percent of the worlds species have scientific names. As a consequence, they are perhaps the best group of insects for examining patterns of terrestrial biotic diversity and distribution. Butterflies also have a favorable image with the general public. Hence, they are an excellent group for communicating information on science and conservation issues such as diversity.Perhaps the aspect of butterfly diversity that has received the most attention over the past century is the striking difference in species richness between tropical and temperate regions. For example, in 1875 one biologist pointed out the diversity of butterflies in the Amazon when he mentioned that about 700 species were found within an hours walk, whereas the total number found on the British islands did not exceed 66, and the whole of Europe supported only 321. This early comparison of tropical and temperate butterfly richness has been well confirmed.A general theory of diversity would have to predict not only this difference between temperate and tropical zones, but also patterns within each region, and how these patterns vary among different animal and plant groups. However, for butterflies, variation of species richness within temperate or tropical regions, rather man between them, is poorly understood. Indeed, comparisons of numbers of species among the Amazon basin, tropical Asia, and Africa are still mostly personal communication citations, even for vertebrates. In other words, unlike comparison between temperate and tropical areas, these patterns are still in the documentation phase.In documenting geographical variation in butterfly diversity, some arbitrary, practical decisions are made. Diversity, number of species, and species richness are used synonymously; little is known about the evenness of butterfly distribution. The New World butterflies make up the preponderance of examples because they are the most familiar species. It is hoped that by focusing on them, the errors generated by imperfect and incomplete taxonomy will be minimized.1. Which aspect of butterflies does the passage mainly discuss?(A) Their physical characteristics(B) Their names(C) Their adaptation to different habitats(D) Their variety2. The word consequence in line 2 is closest in meaning to(A) result(B) explanation(C) analysis(D) requirement3. Butterflies are a good example for communicating information about conservation issuesbecause they(A) are simple in structure(B) are viewed positively by people(C) have been given scientific names(D) are found mainly in temperate climates4. The word striking in line 8 is closest in meaning to(A) physical(B) confusing(C) noticeable(D) successful5. The word exceed in line 11 is closest in meaning to(A) locate(B) allow(C) go beyond(D) come close to6. All of the following are mentioned as being important parts of a general theory of diversityEXCEPT(A) differences between temperate and tropical zones(B) patterns of distribution of species in each region(C) migration among temperate and tropical zones(D) variation of patterns of distribution of species among different animals and plants7. The author mentions tropical Asia in lines 19 as an example of a location where(A) butterfly behavior varies with climate(B) a general theory of butterfly diversity has not yet been firmly established(C) butterflies are affected by human populations(D) documenting plant species is more difficult than documenting butterfly species8. Which of the following is NOT well understood by biologists?(A) European butterfly habitats(B) Differences in species richness between temperate and tropical regions(C) Differences in species richness within a temperate or a tropical region(D) Comparisons of behavior patterns of butterflies and certain animal groups9. The word generated in line 26 is closest in meaning to(A) requested(B) caused(C) assisted(D) estimatedPASSAGE 30 DABCC CBCB