1、托福-13 及答案解析(总分：100.04，做题时间：90 分钟)一、READING(总题数：0，分数：0.00)二、passage-1(总题数：1，分数：10.00)EarthquakeEvery year throughout the world approximately 6000 earthquakes are detected. The vast majority of these are either too small or too far from populated areas to be felt. Several hundred, however, are felt an
2、d the majority of these, while frightening, are relatively harmless. A small number of earthquakes, however, are severe enough to cause serious damage to property, as well as injuries and even deaths. Earthquakes are a serious concern in major cities such as Tokyo, Mexico City, Los Angeles and San F
3、rancisco, which lie on or near earthquake faults. Earthquakes are a result of the earth“s continuous friction movements along fault lines. Tectonic plates grind past or along side each other without interruption in areas that are prone to earthquakes. These sliding moves are only traced by seismolog
4、ists in their labs, and are not evident for people going about their day to day lives. However, when the moving tectonic plates do not glide smoothly by one another, the resulting collision gives rise to tremors and shudders. Stronger impacts result in earthquakes. Major earthquakes, while uncommon,
5、 rank among the deadliest of natural catastrophes . In the 20th Century, an average of 15,000 people has died every year due to earthquakes. Many deaths are caused by collapsed buildings, houses, bridges and other structures. Much damageboth in terms of material and human liveshowever, is the result
6、 of side effects produced by earthquakes, such as tidal waves, landslides, avalanches, fires and the collapse of dams. Additionally, serious earthquakes may devastate a city“s infrastructure, resulting in contaminated drinking water, impassable roads, and disruptions in the supply of power and phone
7、 service. If damage to a city“s sanitation system and disruption of food and water supplies lasts for a longer time, earthquakes can cause significant injury and death long after the shaking of the earthquake itself has subsided . Because earthquakes are inevitable , a program of hazard reduction is
8、 the only way to combat the severe damage earthquakes can inflict on life and property. Seismologists still cannot accurately predict the timing of earthquakes, but they can identify areas which are subject to seismic risk. Education of the population about the dangers of earthquakes and what to do
9、in the event one occurs is important in limiting damage. A number of nations, particularly the U.S. and Japan, have implemented stringent building codes which take into account the possibility of earthquakes in the design of buildings. The other way to limit the damage caused by earthquakes is the i
10、mplementation of programs of emergency procedures in the event of an earthquake. These include evacuation plans, backup power sources and communication systems designed to keep citizens informed in the event of an earthquake. For several years now, the Pacific Northwest has been in a vast state of p
11、reparedness in the event of an earthquake. Seismologists have long warned against the imminent danger of a major earthquake striking the SeattlePortland metropolitan area. Such warnings come on the heel of recently tracked tremors along the Juan de Fuca fault line that borders the northwestern U.S.
12、states. No major earthquake has hit the area in more than a few decades, and a huge one is bound to occur anytime soon. Glossaryfault: a crack in the earth“s crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other infrastructure: the stock of basic facilities and capital equipmen
13、t needed for the functioning of a country or area property: any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone seismologist: a scientist who studies earthquakes（分数：10.00）(1).The word catastrophes in the passage is closest in meaning to（分数：2.50）A.major disastersB.unforgettable eventsC.dea
14、dly causesD.unimaginable problems(2).The word subsided in the passage is closest in meaning to（分数：2.50）A.decreased in intensityB.decreased in frequencyC.slowed down in speedD.stopped altogether(3).The word inevitable in the passage is closest in meaning to（分数：2.50）A.probableB.likelyC.unavoidableD.in
15、estimable(4).The phrase a huge one refers to（分数：2.50）A.an earthquake with great intensityB.a broad areaC.a major fault lineD.a metropolitan area三、passage-2(总题数：1，分数：10.00)AlamoErected in 1722 as a Franciscan mission and later used as a fort, the Alamo is now a state monument and popular tourist attr
16、action. Located in San Antonio Texas, the Alamo has great historical importance, as it was the site of a pivotal battle in Texas“ war of independence against Mexico. The lore surrounding the Alamo continues to fascinate people to this day. In 1995, excavators began digging on the grounds of the monu
17、ment in the search for gold which was supposedly dropped down one of the wells during the course of battle. The battle that was to take place at the Alamo reaches far back in history. During the 18th century, Texas formed an integral part of the Mexican state. In fact, both U.S. states bordering Mex
18、ico to the north, namely Texas and New Mexico, were part of the Mexican country. Strong economic ties had developed between both nations, mainly due to the booming cattle industry. Texan ranchers provided the raw beef meat that was to be shipped in huge refrigerated cars further north towards the me
19、at processing plants in Chicago and Detroit. At that time, white Americans and swarthy Mexicans cohabitated peacefully the Texan lands. These prosperous times were to be shattered by the emergence on the political scene of dictator General Santa Anna. Santa Anna was a vain and ruthless man, who had
20、wrestled control away from the Mexican government and instituted a regime of brute terror. Any Mexican citizen was to be at his every beck and call, including the well-off Texan ranchers. Of course, that situation did not sit well with the proud Texans, whether of American or Mexican origin. No soon
21、er did they realize that the state was falling into the claws of a usurper, they strived to set themselves free. A handful of resolute freedom fighters declared Texas“ independence from Mexico and set up an independent democratic government. Santa Anna responded by mobilizing his army and marching t
22、owards insurgent Texas. Thus, both sides were set for armed combat . On February 23, 1836 Mexican general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna led a Mexican force of more than 2000 men in an attack on the San Antonio garrison. Texan insurgents led by Colonel William Barrett Travis had captured the garrison t
23、he previous December. With the attack by Santa Anna, the Texan forces, who were composed of 155 soldiers and 15 civilians, withdrew to the Alamo. Santa Anna deployed his troops around the structure and launched an intensive assault. The Texans received reinforcements of 32 men on March 1 and withsto
24、od the Mexican attack until March 6, when the walls of the Alamo were breached. Colonel Travis, his chief aideswho included the frontiersmen Davy Crockett and James Bowieand the remainder of the garrison perished in the fierce battle that followed. All 187 Texan defenders were killed, but the lives
25、of the 15 civilians were spared. The battle over the Alamo was a bitter struggle for both sides and was not quickly forgotten by the Texans. In the subsequent Battle of San Jacinto, the rallying cry of the Texans was “Remember the Alamo!“, and in this contest they succeeded in defeating Santa Anna a
26、nd his forces. GlossaryFranciscan: a member of an originally mendicant religious order founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209 and dedicated to the virtues of humility and poverty. It is now divided into three independent branches. lore: knowledge gained through tradition or anecdote garrison: the
27、troops stationed at a military post Texan: of or relating to or characteristic of Texas or its residents（分数：10.00）(1).The word Erected in the passage is closest in meaning to（分数：2.50）A.fortifiedB.designedC.destined to becomeD.constructed(2).The word pivotal in the passage is closest in meaning to（分数
28、：2.50）A.crucialB.centeredC.memorableD.previous(3).The word combat in the passage is closest in meaning to（分数：2.50）A.a military tacticsB.a fierce duelC.a bloody war for independenceD.a military confrontation(4).The word deployed in the passage is closest in meaning to（分数：2.50）A.spread outB.marshaledC
29、.assembledD.fired up四、passage-3(总题数：1，分数：10.00)Henry FordHenry Ford was born in 1863 on a farm near Dearborn, Michigan and is best known for his pioneering efforts in the automobile industry. Ford“s beginnings in that industry were humble as he became a machinist“s apprentice in Detroit at age 16 an
30、d then worked for much of the 1890s as a mechanical engineer. During his leisure hours, he experimented with the construction of the first automobile, which he achieved in 1896 with the Quadricycle. In 1903, he founded the Ford Motor Company. Ford is perhaps most famous for producing the Model T in
31、1913. This car was revolutionary in its use of interchangeable parts and assembly line techniques during its production. While Ford was not the first to use these practices, he was the first to implement them on a large scale, and this led to the great expansion of the Ford Motor Company and America
32、n industry in general. Ford“s innovative production techniques had their downside, however, as by early 1914 the monthly labor turnover at the Ford plant was almost 50% due to low wages, heavy workloads and the monotony of the assembly line. He responded by doubling the daily wage that was then stan
33、dard in the industry to almost $5 per day. This stabilized the workforce and resulted in a reduction in operating costs. The increase in workers“ wages also raised their standard of living and made it possible for them to be consumers of cars and other durable goods, which further spurred production
34、. The Model T was discontinued in 1927 after having sold 15 million cars. While Ford was the pioneer in the mass production of cars, he was slow to respond to the trend in the industry for new models to be introduced each year. Consequently, Ford“s position as the preeminent producer and seller of a
35、utomobiles was lost to the competition such as General Motors. Ford did not adopt the practice of yearly changes in models until the 1930s, and by then the company had lost the early lead it had enjoyed over its competitors. While Ford is best known for introducing the Model T and mass automobile pr
36、oduction, his company also manufactured airplanes, particularly during World War . Ford also made a name for himself as a politician as he ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1918, but was defeated. As a private citizen, he took on the role of statesman and traveled to Europe in 1915 with a number
37、of like-minded others with the purpose of trying to persuade the warring European countries to put an end to the First World War. Ford was also a noted philanthropist as he built one of the most expensive hospitals in the world in Detroit in 1919. Upon his death in I947, he left the bulk of his pers
38、onal fortune of over $600 million to the non-profit Ford Foundation. Glossaryassembly line: mechanical system in a factory whereby an article is conveyed through sites at which successive operations are performed on it apprentice: one who is learning a trade or occupation statesman: a man who is a r
39、espected leader in national or international affairs foundation: an institution supported by an endowment（分数：10.00）(1).The word pioneering in the passage is closest in meaning to（分数：2.50）A.outstandingB.initiatingC.persistentD.enterprising(2).The word implement in the passage is closest in meaning to
40、（分数：2.50）A.developB.conceiveC.proposeD.put into practice(3).The word This in the passage refers to（分数：2.50）A.widely implementing modern industry practicesB.using modern industry practices for the first timeC.producing the Model T on a large scaleD.using interchangeable parts on assembly lines(4).The
41、 word preeminent in the passage is closest in meaning to（分数：2.50）A.most popularB.dominantC.bestD.first五、passage-4(总题数：1，分数：10.00)Alzheimer“s DiseaseAlzheimer“s disease is the fourth leading cause of death in American adults after heart disease, cancer and stroke. The disease is named after the Germa
42、n doctor Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in one of his patients in 1906. Alzheimer“s disease primarily affects the elderly, although it may strike people in their 40s and 50s as well. Alzheimer“s affects men and women equally, and the average person dies within eight years of the onset of sy
43、mptoms. Alzheimer“s affects the nerve cells in areas of the brain responsible for speech, thought, memory and reason. These cells die off, and the victim eventually loses all ability to carry out routine everyday activities. Those afflicted with Alzheimer“s experience not only memory loss and confus
44、ion, but may also suffer from hallucinations, delusions, and depression and eventually total dementia. Autopsies of those who succumb to Alzheimer“s typically reveal extensive lesions of the brain of a type quite particular to Alzheimer“s sufferers. It seems that in case of Alzheimer“s disease neuro
45、nal cells suffer a slow but painful death. The disease starts with the disappearance of vital brain cells, which continues at an ever-increasing rate. It has been speculated that capillaries, which lead to specific parts of the brain, calcify and do not allow for fresh blood supply replenishment. Co
46、nsequently, neurons are deprived of vital nourishment. wither, and perish, never to be replaced again. The tendency to develop A1zheimer“s lies in one person“s genetic makeup. Neurologists have discovered a pair of genes that might suffer several mutations that lead to Alzheimer“s. These genes are t
47、ransmitted from generation to generation along with their propensity to undergo fatal mutations. A person with Alzheimer“s disease in the family is several times more likely to develop the disease during its lifetime than people who do not carry the Alzheimer“s gene in their DNA. In the last decade,
48、 American“s awareness of the disease has increased. Screen actress Rita Hayworth, who died in 1987, was a victim suffering from the early stages of the disease. Organizations such as the Alzheimer“s Association. which works on behalf of those who suffer from Alzheimer“s, have welcomed the greater op
49、enness that has occurred recently surrounding this devastating illness. As the American population ages, it seems likely that the incidence of this disease, which currently afflicts 4 million Americans, will increase. This is tragic not only for the sufferers but also for their families. The disease places severe emotional and financial hardships on caregivers, who frequently are family members. Because Alzheimer“s is a disease afflicting the mind, which impacts a myriad of daily tasks, sufferers often require constant supervision much as if they were small children. While research conti
