1、托福真题 2012 年 12 月 8 日及答案解析(总分：120.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Question 1(总题数：1，分数：20.00)1.What advice will you give your friend if he wants to study in your country? Please provide specific examples and details in your explanation.（分数：20.00）_二、Question 2(总题数：1，分数：20.00)2.Do you believe that people in the future
2、will read fewer books? Why or why not?（分数：20.00）_三、Question 3(总题数：1，分数：20.00)3.The Construction of a New Art History BuildingWhittier College is pleased to announce plans to begin construction of a new Art History Building. The project is due to break ground in May and to be completed by the opening
3、 of Fall Semester next year. The building comes in response to growing enrollment at the college, rendering the present facility too small. The larger classrooms are designed to accommodate growth and to allow for a greater variety of classes. The new facility will also be equipped with improved tec
4、hnical apparatus, ranging from pottery kilns to CAD terminals. Art History Department Chairman Trevor Fellache said, “Im ecstatic, simply ecstatic. If life truly imitates art, as it should, Whittier has a bright future indeed!“Question: The woman expresses her opinion about the policy of constructin
5、g a new art history building. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.Now hear a conversation between two students.（分数：20.00）_四、Question 4(总题数：1，分数：20.00)4.Promotion RiskIn management science, a “promotion risk“ is an individual with the following features. First
6、, the individual has been promoted into a high or relatively high position in the company. He has been promoted because of demonstrated superior abilities for some of his positions more important tasks. However, the individual also displays certain weaknesses for performing other of his positions du
7、ties. Such a person is a “risk“ because his weaknesses may lead to serious errors which damage the company or reduce profits. So the company must consider the risk when making the promotion or hiring decision.Question: Using information from the reading and the lecture, explain how the professors ex
8、ample of promotion risk is related to the reading passage.Now hear a talk on the same subject.（分数：20.00）_五、Question 5(总题数：1，分数：20.00)5.Question: The speaking discusses two possible solutions to the mans problem. Describe the problem and the two solutions. Then state which of the two solutions you pr
9、efer and explain why.（分数：20.00）_六、Question 6(总题数：1，分数：20.00)6.Question: Using points and examples from the talk, explain the two methods animals use to ensure the moisture of their eggs before the hatch.（分数：20.00）_托福真题 2012 年 12 月 8 日答案解析(总分：120.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Question 1(总题数：1，分数：20.00)1.What advic
10、e will you give your friend if he wants to study in your country? Please provide specific examples and details in your explanation.（分数：20.00）_正确答案：(Topic: I would give my friend two suggestions.Reason 1: Firstly, assimilating into the culture as much as possible is very important. Almost always, whe
11、n foreign students come to China, they still speak their mother tongue and stay in the foreigners dorms. To really understand China, my friend should talk to locals, go to parties, see films in the theater, try the food, and maybe even get a part-time job.Reason 2: Secondly, I would suggest that my
12、friend stay safe and cautious. I would never want to see my friend get pick-pocketed, robbed, or cheated. One must be careful around strangers in a new environment.)解析：Alternative Wording(替换表达)Synonyms (a)assimilate intoimmerse oneself in(b)trysample (c)cautiousvigilant(d)robmug (e)cheatswindleParap
13、hrases In a new setting, being cautious is the price of safety.二、Question 2(总题数：1，分数：20.00)2.Do you believe that people in the future will read fewer books? Why or why not?（分数：20.00）_正确答案：(Topic: As time passes, I believe that the popularity of books will decline in the future.Reason 1: To begin wit
14、h, studies have shown that young peoples attention for long periods of time reading is decreasing. This means that h reading, many people will prefer to play video games or watch TV or use Facebook, since these activities require less attention than books.Reason 2: Another reason is peoples incentiv
15、e to read will likely fall. Now, instead of reading a quiet book, people can watch TV channels, movies, chat with friends online, look up pictures on the internet, or play video games for hours.)解析：Alternative Wording(替换表达)Synonyms (a)the futureyears to come (b)instead ofin preference toParaphrases
16、Research indicates that young peoples attention spans are eroding.三、Question 3(总题数：1，分数：20.00)3.The Construction of a New Art History BuildingWhittier College is pleased to announce plans to begin construction of a new Art History Building. The project is due to break ground in May and to be complet
17、ed by the opening of Fall Semester next year. The building comes in response to growing enrollment at the college, rendering the present facility too small. The larger classrooms are designed to accommodate growth and to allow for a greater variety of classes. The new facility will also be equipped
18、with improved technical apparatus, ranging from pottery kilns to CAD terminals. Art History Department Chairman Trevor Fellache said, “Im ecstatic, simply ecstatic. If life truly imitates art, as it should, Whittier has a bright future indeed!“Question: The woman expresses her opinion about the poli
19、cy of constructing a new art history building. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.Now hear a conversation between two students.（分数：20.00）_正确答案：(The college will soon begin construction of a new art history building. The woman loves the idea. She has two main
20、 reasons for her enthusiasm.First, the new facility will feature larger classrooms. In the past, the woman could not take all the classes she wanted because of the limited classroom space. Now larger classes will eliminate that problem.Second, the new building will be equipped with high-tech resourc
21、es. These devices will permit students to use image enhancers while viewing art. Hopefully, this will stimulate their creativity.)解析：听力原文M: Hi Lily. Gosh, you look happy.W: The college is getting a new art history building.M: Is uhhhh., this supposed to be good?W: Its great! The classrooms in the ol
22、d one are tiny! I tried to take a class once in Chinese Art, but it was closed. The classroom could only hold fifteen people.M: Fifteen people? That is small.W: The point is the new buildings classrooms will be big enough to let people who are interested take the classes they want.M: The university
23、is putting up a new building for just a few of you? Thats nice, I guess.W: Its not just space were talking about either. The new art building has-will have-all this high-tech equipment.M: Like what?W: Like.like electronic imagers, you know image enhancers. Students would be able to see all the amazi
24、ng details with the high-tech machines help, and keep in mind of all the excellence of art in detail. That way, you can make old paintings appear with really, really sharp detail. Not faded and blurred.M: Ah.l see. That way, you can make paintings look better than they were!Alternative Wording(替换表达)
25、Synonyms (a)beginstart (b)largermore spacious(c)eliminatedo away with (d)permitallowParaphrases 1. Larger classrooms will make for larger enrollment.2. The new building will house an array of high-tech equipment.四、Question 4(总题数：1，分数：20.00)4.Promotion RiskIn management science, a “promotion risk“ is
26、 an individual with the following features. First, the individual has been promoted into a high or relatively high position in the company. He has been promoted because of demonstrated superior abilities for some of his positions more important tasks. However, the individual also displays certain we
27、aknesses for performing other of his positions duties. Such a person is a “risk“ because his weaknesses may lead to serious errors which damage the company or reduce profits. So the company must consider the risk when making the promotion or hiring decision.Question: Using information from the readi
28、ng and the lecture, explain how the professors example of promotion risk is related to the reading passage.Now hear a talk on the same subject.（分数：20.00）_正确答案：(According to the reading passage, promotion risk is something companies have to face when promoting those whose ability makes profits while
29、their weaknesses may also result in damage to companies.The professor explains this idea by giving an example of a software designer in the lecture.According to the lecture, this designer is very sophisticated in software designing and has brought his company a lot of profit, so he gets promoted to
30、a higher position. However, his leadership ability is far worse than his skills in software design. Unable to work with his team members, he causes damage to the company. However, the companys top management cannot demote him because of its own need to appear infallible.)解析：听力原文M: I think most of us
31、 know, or have heard about, someone who is a promotion risk. Generally speaking, the person has talents which may produce great success for his company; however, his weaknesses may also destroy the effect of those successes by reducing profits or driving away other talented staff. To help you unders
32、tand the concept, lets look at an example of a real-life promotion risk.A software designer graduated from MIT. After a software company hired him, he was the most talented designer on any team and made a lot of profit for the company. He was a big reason the company was so successful in those years
33、. Later, he was promoted to division manager at headquarters.Thats when the trouble started. He was a genius as a software designer but not as a key team leader. As a manager, he thought he was always right. He never discussed anything with his team members, but just gave orders. In six months, abou
34、t a quarter of his highly- talented staff was leaving or threatening to leave.And that is still the problem. The company cant demote him, because it would undermine staff faith in the company management. So, well, hes just something the company has to put up with. Put up with, and remember the next
35、time they promote a “genius.“Alternative Wording(替换表达)Synonyms (a)promoteadvance (b)weaknessshortcoming(c)sophisticatedtalented (d)far worsenil(e)unable to work withincapable of working withParaphrases 1. A talented software designer was promoted on the basis of his profitability to the company.2. H
36、is inability to work as part of a team became a liability to the company.五、Question 5(总题数：1，分数：20.00)5.Question: The speaking discusses two possible solutions to the mans problem. Describe the problem and the two solutions. Then state which of the two solutions you prefer and explain why.（分数：20.00）_
37、正确答案：(The young mans problem is that his band is having a hard time finding a place to practice their music.First, his friend suggests that they rent a studio to play in. His friend next suggests that the universitys Music Department building might be available.I think the second solution is better,
38、 because renting a studio costs money. The man and his band cannot afford it.By contrast, playing in the Music Department is free. True, the hours of use are limited to before ten oclock in the evening, but they have a place to practice at least for a few hours a day, which is good enough. Its far b
39、etter than nothing anyway.)解析：听力原文W: Hey Colin, you look so down. Whats up?M: Band problems again. Weve got to practice, but its hard to find a place where you can have three guys playing electric guitars.W: The Music Department has a great studio thatd be ideal. Why not rent that?M: You just said w
40、hy: rent. Sure the studios great. But we need to practice every day, maybe two hours. Theres no way we can afford the rent.W: Why not talk to Professor Garcia? You know, the department chairman. Hes a rock lover. I bet hed let you use the music building for free.M: Weve been looking into that. It is
41、 free, which is great. But we cant use the building during the day. We can only use it in the evening before 10:00 p.m. Thats not a lot of time.W: But it is free, and its a lot better than nothing. Besides, they say you artists ought to suffer for your art, dont they?M: Courtney, youre really not he
42、lping.Alternative Wording(替换表达)Synonyms (a)availableopen (b)by contrastconversely六、Question 6(总题数：1，分数：20.00)6.Question: Using points and examples from the talk, explain the two methods animals use to ensure the moisture of their eggs before the hatch.（分数：20.00）_正确答案：(The professor talks about two w
43、ays animals ensure humidity inside the eggs they lay. The first way is to lay eggs directly in water. For example, frogs lay their eggs in the water in order for the eggs to absorb enough moisture. This saves the parents a lot of trouble, and once the eggs are safely laid, they depart.However, some
44、animals cannot lay eggs in water, and they need to find another way out to ensure the humidity of their eggs. For example, snakes usually lay eggs in a small bag with enough moisture inside. So the snakes can lay eggs even in dry areas.)解析：听力原文W: Today, Id like to touch on some species of egg-laying
45、 animals. Remember now, all egg- laying animals must ensure that their eggs have sufficient moisture to survive. At this point, dry out means death to the unborn young. There are two main ways animals keep the egg moist.The simplest way, of course, is to lay the eggs directly in water. Frogs, for ex
46、ample, adopt this method. The eggs can absorb water directly from the environment, and the frog parents need not trouble themselves further.More interesting, another method to ensure the humidity of eggs is used by snakes. Most snakes, after all, live on dry land and cant rely on water for moisture. Such snakes simply encase the needed moisture inside of a ba
