托福分类模拟题16及答案解析.doc

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1、托福分类模拟题 16及答案解析(总分：100.05，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：12.00)TeenagersMany indigenous cultures have elaborate rituals that mark the transition from childhood to adulthood. In some African cultures, teenage boys are subjected to horrendously difficult physical tasks, such a

2、s being buried up to their shoulders as fire ants feast on their defenseless faces. In modern societies, such rites of passage also exist. Jews celebrate the boy becoming a man by having a bar mitzvah. This celebration is as big as and as important as a wedding and is attended by the entire communit

3、y. Other cultures mark the end of the teen years in a more relaxed manner, such as graduating from high school or earning one“s first driver“s license. Young people are known to be moody, insecure, argumentative, impulsive, reckless and rebellious. Teenagers are also characterized by odd sleeping pa

4、tterns, awkward growth spurts, acne and sloppy behavior. Most teenagers“rooms are filled with posters of their idols to whom they profess their undying devotion. Unfortunately, more often than not, these idols tend to fuel the teenagers“ rebellious nature. Given these characteristics, teenagers are

5、obviously at higher risk for all types of destructive behavior from being unable to read social cues to engaging in physically risky activities such as driving too fast and consuming alcohol. Given that teenagers seem to be setting themselves up for failure, what could be the possible benefit of the

6、 teenage phase? Science has taught us that most other animals, apes and human ancestors included, skip that stage altogether, developing rapidly from infancy to full adulthood. A puppy relies on its mother for nurturing and milk. Within some weeks, that same puppy, now an adult dog, is able to repro

7、duce her own offsprings. Humans, in contrast, have a very puzzling four-year gap between sexual maturity and prime reproductive age. There are a variety of current explanations for the existence of the teenage years, and anthropologists disagree on when the teenage phase first evolved, but pinpointi

8、ng that date could help define its purpose. Some believe that we need the teenage years as a transition period for our larger brains to develop. Other explanations suggest that the teenage phase allows young adults to learn about complex social behavior and other difficult skills. That is, teenagers

9、, perhaps, need to be exposed to as many social situations as possible in order to learn the appropriately deemed behavior. Being an awkward teenager gives youth some leeway to make mistakes that are usually inconsequential. Other difficult skills of adulthood may include parenting. Since a teenager

10、 is expected to live as a productive member of society, he will have to be educated, learn a profession, and eventually become a parent himself. Anthropologists have suggested that the rituals attached to welcoming teenagers into adulthood are a reenactment of the difficult adolescent stage any huma

11、n must live through. Just as teenagers suffer numerous setbacks and humiliations during their adolescent years, so do they during the Bar mitzvah celebration. The final triumph of maturity is implied in that celebratory act. The same transition from adolescence to womanhood is evident in numerous fe

12、male rituals, such as celebrating “Sweet 16,“ a very popular event for teenage girls in Mexico and Spain. Glossaryindigenous: native bar mitzvah: a ceremony that takes place on the thirteenth birthday of a Jewish boy, after which he is regarded as an adult infancy: state of being new and not develop

13、ed much inconsequential: not important（分数：12.00）(1).What is the main purpose of the passage?（分数：3.00）A.to question the validity of certain age-related ritualsB.to imply the need for more extensive similar ceremoniesC.to wonder at the complexity of teenage yearsD.to attempt to comprehend teenage beha

14、vioral patterns and rituals(2).Why does the author conclude the second paragraph with a question?（分数：3.00）A.to express his loss for words regarding the rebelliousness of teenage behaviorB.to introduce the main topic sentence of the passages to followC.to argue against the potential benefits of the t

15、eenage phaseD.to suggest that certain personality traits are responsible for recklessness in teenagers(3).Why does the author mention the puppy in paragraph 3?（分数：3.00）A.to compare two opposed developmental patternsB.to suggest a possible connection between humans and their animal ancestorsC.to impl

16、y that one species is superior to some otherD.to explain the immaturity of human teenage behavior(4).Why does the author say that teenagers need to be exposed to as many social situations as possible?（分数：3.00）A.to warn parents about the issues they will be confronted with once their children become

17、teenagersB.to give an example of awkward teenage behavior that needs to be correctedC.to offer advice about how to handle socially inept teenagersD.to suggest a possible explanation for the existence of a teenage phase in humans三、Passage-2(总题数：1，分数：12.00)Gaia HypothesisIn 1979, James Lovelock, a Bri

18、tish atmospheric chemist, published a book that proposes that the Earth is a single living entity. This is known as the Gala Hypothesis and it suggests that Gaia, or Mother Earth, is alive. Lovelock developed this hypothesis in the 1960s, and it gained enormous interest due to space flights, when as

19、tronauts brought back with them pictures that allowed us to view Earth for the first time from outer space. Practically glowing blue and white, the Earth really did look alive compared to other planets such as its dark and lifeless looking neighbor, Mars. According to his hypothesis, the various com

20、ponents that make up the planet, such as the atmosphere or the seas are in balance. This is much like the homeostatic condition within the human body where a constant temperature and blood PH are maintained through various processes controlled by the liver, kidneys and other organs. The idea of the

21、Earth being alive has brought new awareness to the impact that man has on global processes. Everything that happens on the planet, from deforestation and the increase of carbon dioxide emissions to the removal of croplands has an effect on our environment. We can no longer think of pollution in one

22、part of the planet as being distinct from another part. It is all related. No longer can governments sit back and happily state that their pollution levels are lower than other countries because what goes on in say India, the United States or even Timbuktu will affect what goes on anywhere else on t

23、he planet. Lovelock stated that the planet regulates itself just like the human body. If our body temperature rises above a desirable level, then the body sweats to cool itself down. Lovelock suggested that this can be compared to the fact that the heat of the sun has increased a lot since life bega

24、n on Earth but the planet has maintained the same temperature. So how does it do this? A good example is the carbon dioxide cycle. Volcanoes constantly produce massive quantities of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and so naturally warms the Earth. If we do not sweat to cool oursel

25、ves down, then our temperatures will continue to increase with a disastrous effect. Just like our bodies, if the Earth“s temperature is not regulated, then soon enough it would not be able to support life. While plants and animals absorb and release carbon dioxide through life processes such as phot

26、osynthesis, respiration and decay, these processes do not have any effect upon the total amount of emission gas. Therefore, there must be another mechanism. Rock weathering is a process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere. Rainwater and carbon dioxide combine with rocks and form c

27、arbonates, which are washed away into the ocean, where microscopic algae make tiny shells by using them. When the algae are dead, their shells sink to the bottom of the ocean and form limestone sediments. Limestone has comparatively great physical weight, so it gradually sinks underneath the Earth“s

28、 mantle. The carbon dioxide within the limestone will be in turn returned to the atmosphere through a bout of volcanic activity. Since soil bacteria are more active in high temperatures, the removal of carbon dioxide acts faster when the planet is hot. This has the effect of cooling the planet and c

29、ompleting the cycle. However, if it is true, as Lovelock suggests, that the Earth self regulates, we can assume that it does not respond to environmental stresses in a simple way. The amount of solar energy the Earth has received over thousands of years has fluctuated, and these fluctuations have pr

30、oduced complex climatic changes between cold Ice Age episodes and warmer interglacial periods during the last 2 million years. Since the Industrial Revolution in the 19th Century, man has released huge amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere in a relatively short period of time. Evidence from carb

31、on dioxide in air bubbles trapped in ice shows that the amount of CO2 in the air has increased by about a quarter since 1850. As the Earth experiences more and more stresses in the form of increased pollution from natural and man-driven activities, just how the Earth will react could yield abrupt an

32、d dramatic climatic changes. What took thousands of year“s to bring about the Ice Age could take a far lesser time today. There is no proof yet, however, to support Lovelock“s Gaia hypothesis, and, while it has attracted a lot of interest, it has also received a lot of criticism. But, despite this f

33、act, Lovelock“s hypothesis has changed the way we view our planet. Through his theories, we are far more aware of the damage we are doing to the Earth and we now see the Earth as a living entity. Glossaryentity: something that exists separately from other things PH: the degree of a solution that ind

34、icates if it is an acid or an alkaline photosynthesis: the way that green plants make their food using sunlight respiration: breathing（分数：12.00）(1).Why does the author mention the Gaia Hypothesis?（分数：3.00）A.to prove without a doubt that global warming is caused by the negative actions of humansB.to

35、give an example of a thesis that supports the argument of dangerous global warmingC.to anticipate the recent insights into the negative effect of global warmingD.to deride the merits of an ancient idealistic environmental theory about global warming(2).Why does the author mention the homeostatic con

36、dition within the human body?（分数：3.00）A.to illustrate the mechanics behind Lovelock“s Gala hypothesisB.to compare the human body with Mother EarthC.to demonstrate the intricate relationships within living organismsD.to imply that the Earth is currently in a state of imbalance(3).What is the main ide

37、a of paragraph 4?（分数：3.00）A.to inform people about the inherent dangers of global warmingB.to explain Lovelock“s argument about the Earth behaving like the human bodyC.to demonstrate the efficiency of nature“s carbon cycleD.to prove the merits of Lovelock“s Gaia Hypothesis(4).Why does the author say

38、 that Lovelock“s hypothesis has changed the way we view our planet?（分数：3.00）A.to suggest that there is no need for definite proof to support Lovelock“s hypothesisB.to explain why Lovelock“s hypothesis has attracted so much interestC.to express his disbelief about the unfounded criticism to which Lov

39、elock“s hypothesis has been subjectedD.to argue in favor of the merits of Lovelock“s hypothesis regardless of its flaws四、Passage-3(总题数：1，分数：12.00)The Fashion Style of the 1990sThe last decade of the “90s has made a big fashion statement with the introduction of the urban grunge style. Because grunge

40、 was so predominant throughout the mid-nineties, it is often mistakenly assumed that the “90s is an era of anti-fashion. Nothing could be further from the truth, however. The closing decade of the previous century is in fact an amalgam of very different, if not contradictory fashion trends and style

41、s, Innovative hippie trends mix harmoniously with the retro style of the “60s and “70s. The rather pretentious style of the “80s flows seamlessly into the laid back alternative grunge culture. Minimalist fashion goes hand in hand with the trendy over-the-top disco style of the outgoing era. The boom

42、ing fitness industry puts its mark on the fashion industry as well by turning sportswear into stylish outfits. The early “90s is still dominated by trends popular in the late “80s. Acid-washed denim, jackets and slim fit jeans are still the rage up until 1994, but slowly go into decline to be replac

43、ed by more relaxed cuts and varying shades of stonewashed denim. Denim is mainly worn with black or white T-shirts, although the hippie dye shirts of the “60s crop up quite frequently as well. The heavy hair-sprayed coiffure of the “80s relaxes as well in favor of the more natural look conferred by

44、long straight hair with bangs in women and the bowl cut in men. The biggest fad of this period, however, is the emergence of fluorescent colored clothing. Anything from sweatshirts and shoelaces to hair scrunchies and pouch bags glimmer in brilliant corals and turquoise. Inspired by the newly develo

45、ping gym and fitness culture, adolescents and young adults also favor cropped tank tops, biker tights and tracksuits made of spandex. As far as accessories go, hoop earrings, round granny style shades and baseball caps are an absolute must. The main fashion style popularized by the “90s was grunge.

46、Grunge evolved from the underground dark music played in seedy Seattle locals by such artists as the late Kurt Cobain. Disgusted by what he perceived as the forced cheerful pink look of the “fluorescent generation,“ Cobain turned to earthier and darker colors like indigo, maroon and forest green. Th

47、e under-accentuated unisex Grunge look entered the mainstream fashion market with the adoption of the plaid flannel shirt and the hooded sweatshirt. It also favored the long flailing hairstyle that got into the eye and covered the face. which went very well with the moody melancholic philosophy prev

48、alent amongst youngsters during that time. Grunge adopted several items of the late hippie look, such as the crocheted vest and bell-bottom jeans of the “70s, which complemented the rebellious grungers very well. Another fashion item popularized by the Grunge look were the dark heavy Doc Martens boo

49、ts and high top black running shoes of Nike Air Jordans, as well as the sagging dark jeans worn by boys and girls alike. As a matter of fact, fashionistas of the mid “90s continued to be inspired by sports celebrities and rap musicians, and many youngsters began to don baseball or basketball jerseys

50、 and wear their caps backwards. The unisex monochromatic Grunge slowly went into decline to be replaced by the red Guess and Mod styles in 1995. The revival of the Mod style coincided with a navel piercing fad that led to the wearing of belly shirts and low cut jeans that exposed the midriff area. G