托福-练习三及答案解析.doc

1、托福-练习三及答案解析(总分：39.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Passage 1(总题数：1，分数：13.00)Country MusicA commercial offshoot of the folk music of the rural South, country music is an American art form that gained worldwide appeal after World War . Originally known as hillbilly or mountain music, country music grew from the folk m

2、usic that was brought to North America by Anglo-Celtic settlers in the 1700s and 1800s. The music changed as it came in contact with ethnic music-Acadian (Cajun) in Louisiana, Latin in the Southwest, African throughout much of the South-and such popular music as that found in vaudeville, minstrel sh

3、ows, and Hawaiian tent shows. It was also called country and Western music because of its popularity with cowboys.Traditionally country musicians have been most proficient on stringed instruments. The violin, or fiddle, was the most popular instrument on the frontier because of its easy portability.

4、 To this day fiddle contests remain a feature of the country music scene. The banjo was adapted from the African American culture, and the five-siring model is now universally popular among performers of the style known as bluegrass. The guitar has long been a staple of country music bands and singe

5、rs. String bass and Hawaiian guitar have been used since the 1920s, and their modern descendants are the electric bass and the pedal steel guitar. Drums, pianos, and electrified instruments, used as early as the 1930s by Western swing bands, are heard on country recordings from the 1950s.In 1922 rad

6、io stations WBAP in Fort Worth, Tex. , and WSB in Atlanta, Ga., broadcast shows called barn dances, modeled after the informal social dancing of the frontier. Chicagos WLS started what became the National Barn Dance in 1924, and WSM in Nashville, Tenn., began its Barn Dance in November 1925, just on

7、e month after going on the air. Record companies also discovered the commercial possibilities of this music. Fiddler Eck (A.C.) Robertson traveled to New York City and in 1922 made the first hillbilly records, “Arkansas Traveler“ and “Sallie Goodin“. The Georgia fiddler John Carson had the first sal

8、es success the next year with his Okeh record of “Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane“. A Texas native who actually had voice training and light opera experience, Vernon Dalhart (his real name was Marion Slaughter) sold millions of records in the 1920s for dozens of different companies. His first big s

9、ellers were “The Prisoners Song“ and “The Wreck of the Old 97“ for Victor in 1924. In 1927 Jimmie Rodgers, originally a yodeler, made his first recordings. Because Rodgers, Victor records inspired numerous men to become country entertainers, he became known as the Father of Country Music.Hollywoods

10、singing cowboys won for country music national and international audiences during the later 1930s. Even though record sales for country and other types of music slipped during the Great Depression, radio continued to broadcast a large array of live country music talent, usually in the early morning,

11、 noon, or late night hours. New barn dances were heard on the airwaves, and two of the local shows gained network radio audiences during the 1930s.World War accelerated country musics growth away from an exclusively Southern and rural phenomenon. Southern servicemen took the music with them to far-f

12、lung parts of the nation and the world, while civilian defense workers from the South brought their love of the music into the various centers of war production.The postwar years brought a newfound national prosperity, which boosted country music to greater commercial heights. Singers and business e

13、xecutives closely tied to the music sought and won a new respectability from trade papers and national media. The old terms hillbilly and mountain were replaced by country, and even for a time by country and Western, in recognition of the new popularity of the cowboy singers on television.Enduring a

14、 temporary eclipse of market share and popularity because of the impact of rock and roll in the late 1950s, country music came back strong during the 1960s and 1970s with new performers and styles. Network, syndicated, and local television programming boosted the fortunes of country music generally

15、and such artists as Porter Wagoner, Jimmy Dean, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Patton in particular. The number of radio stations programming country music records full time rose from a low point of fewer than 60 in 1961 to more than 2,500 in the 1980s.Respectability and national acceptance are still by-wo

16、rds with country music industry leaders. Beyond doubt country music has broadened its audience by adapting stylistic elements both vocal and instrumental-of rock and other popular music. The crossover phenomenon came to the fore in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when such pop-country stars as Kenny

17、 Rogers, Crystal Gayle, Barbara Mandrell, Alabama, Larry Gatlin, and the Oak Ridge Boys attained success with younger, urban, pop-music fans.In fact, country musics newest star performers the ones who dominate the industry in sales of recordings and the ones who win the industry awards-are largely t

18、raditional in “their“ sound, style, and themes. Older traditional artists remain popular, while night-clubs and outdoor festivals ring with the sounds of bluegrass. （分数：13.00）(1).The word “appeal“ in the passage is closest in meaning to _.A. claim B. reputationC. petition D. attraction（分数：1.00）A.B.C

19、.D.(2).The word “proficient“ in the passage is closest in meaning to _.A. accomplished B. efficientC. knowledgeable D. professional（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(3).According to paragraph 2, why was violin the most popular instrument on the frontier? _A. Because its tune catered to the Westerners very much.B. Be

20、cause the Westerners were familiar to this music instrument when entertaining classic music.C. Because it is a relatively cheap music instrument.D. Because it is easy to carry from one place to another.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(4).According to paragraph 2, electric bass is developed from _.A. string bass B.

21、 Hawaiian guitarC. fiddle D. pedal steel guitar（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(5).According to paragraph 3, what can be inferred about WSM?A. It started to broadcast programs in October 1925.B. It is the first radio station that broadcast barn dance.C. The program of barn dance had won many audiences for WSM.D. W

22、SM discovered commercial potentials of barn dance.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(6).According to paragraph 3, why was Rodgers known as the Father of Country Music?A. Because he was the first man to perform country music.B. Because he inspired admiration and respect from many country music fans.C. Because many si

23、ngers followed his suit and started to perform country music.D. Because he achieved substantial economic success from country music.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(7).What can be inferred about the popularity of country music from paragraph 5?A. Country music was not spread into Northern or urban areas until Worl

24、d War .B. Country music was already popular in Northern or urban areas before World War .C. During World War , country music was the only entertainment available to servicemen and civilian defense workers.D. As World War was brought to an end, country music had regained its popularity in Southern an

25、d rural areas.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(8).The word “eclipse“ in the passage is closest in meaning to _.A. shadow B. decline C. darkness D. obliteration（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(9).Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices cha

26、nge the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.A. In the late 1950s, rock and roll achieved considerable market share and popularity.B. In the late 1950s, country music achieved considerable market share and popularity.C. In the 1960s and 1970s, country music witnessed new deve

27、lopment after a short period of decline in market share and popularity.D. In the 1960s and 1970s, new performers and styles of country music came into the stage.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(10).The highlighted word “their“ in paragraph 9 refers to _.A. country music recordingsB. country music performersC. coun

28、try music industry awardsD. country music fans（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(11).According to the passage, which of the following is not true about country music?A. Folk music is derived from country music and Western music.B. Radio programs had contributed substantially to the popularity of country music.C. Cou

29、ntry music is featured by the use of fiddle.D. Country music became popular all over the world after the World War .（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(12).Look at the four squares, , , and （分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(13).Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the su

30、mmary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage.Country music is an American art form derived from folk mus

31、ic._Answer ChoicesA. The newest star performers inherited traditional styles of country music and adopted new stylistic elements to enhance its development as well.B. Varieties of music instruments besides traditional string instruments are gradually adopted by country musicians.C. Rodgers was known

32、 as the Father of Country Music because his Victor records had inspired numerous men to become country entertainers.D. Before World War II, country music was often played on radio programs which had contributed substantially to its popularity and economic success.E. The late 1950s witnessed a tempor

33、ary eclipse of market share and popularity of country music.F. World War accelerated country music growth, and the postwar years witnessed new achievements of country music to greater stylistic and economic heights.（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_二、Passage 2(总题数：1，分数：12.00)Swimming MachinesTunas, mackerels, and bil

34、lfishes (marlins, sailfishes, and swordfish) swim continuously. Feeding, courtship, reproduction, and even “rest“ are carried out while in constant motion. As a result, practically every aspect of the body form and function of these swimming “machines“ is adapted to enhance ther ability to swim.Many

35、 of the adaptations of these fishes serve to reduce water resistance (drag). Interestingly enough, several of these hydrodynamic adaptations resemble features designed to improve the aerodynamics of high-speed warcraft. Though human engineers are new to the game, tunas and their relatives evolved th

36、er “high-tech“ designs long ago.Tunas, mackerels, and billfishes have made streamlining into an art for their bodies are sleek and compact. The body shapes of tunas, in fact, are nearly ideal from an engineering point of view. Most species lack scales over most of the body, making it smooth and slip

37、pery. The eyes lie flush with the body and do not protrude at all. They are also covered with a slick, transparent lid that reduces drag. The fins are stiff, smooth, and narrow, qualities that also help cut drag. When not in use, the fins are tucked into special grooves or depressions so that they l

38、ie flush with the body and do not breakup its smooth contours. Airplanes retract their landing gear while in flight for the same reason.Tunas, mackerels, and billfishes have even more sophisticated adaptations than these to improve their hydrodynamics. The long bill of marlins, sailfishes, and sword

39、fish probably helps them slip through the water. Many supersonic aircraft have a similar needle at the nose.Most tunas and billfishes have a series of keels and finlet near the tail. Although most of their scales have been lost, tunas and mackerels retain a patch of coarse scales near the head calle

40、d the corselet. The keels, finlet, and corselet help direct the flow of water over the body surface in such as way as to reduce resistance (see the figure). Again, supersonic jets have similar features. Because they are always swimming, tunas simply have to open their mouths and water is forced in a

41、nd over their gills. Accordingly, they have lost most of the muscles that other fishes use to suck in water and push it past the gills. In fact, tunas must swim to breathe. （分数：12.00）(1).The word “enhance“ in the passage is closing in meaning to _.A. use B. improve C. counteract D. balance（分数：1.00）A

42、.B.C.D.(2).The word “they“ in the passage refers to _.A. qualities B. finsC. grooves D. depressions（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(3).Why does the author mention that Airplanes retract their landing gear while in flight?A. To show that air resistance and water resistance work differently from each other.B. To arg

43、ue that some fishes are better designed than airplanes are.C. To provide evidence that airplane engineers have studied the design of fish bodies.D. To demonstrate a similarity in design between certain fishes and airplanes.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(4).The word “sophisticated“ in the passage is closest in me

44、aning to _.A. complex B. amazingC. creative D. practical（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(5).According to paragraph 4, the long bills of marlins, sailfish, and swordfish probably help these fishes by _.A. increasing their ability to defend themselvesB. allowing them to change direction easilyC. increasing their abi

45、lity to detect odorsD. reducing water resistance as they swim（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(6).According to the passage, which of the following is one of the reasons that tunas are in constant motion?A. They lack a swim bladder.B. They need to suck in more water than other fishes do.C. They have large muscles fo

46、r breathing.D. They cannot open their mouths unless they are in motion.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(7).Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential informati

47、on.A. These fishes often have a problem opening their mouths while swimming.B. The streamlining of those fishes prevents them from slowing down.C. The streamlining of these fishes tends to slow down their breathing.D. Opening the mouth to breathe can reduce the speed of these fishes.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D

48、.(8).The word “channel“ in the passage is closest in meaning to _.A. reduce B. remove C. direct D. provide（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(9).According to the passage, one of the adaptations of fast-swimming fishes that might be used to improve the performance of ships is these fishes ability to _.A. swim directly

49、 through eddiesB. make efficient use of water currentsC. cover great distances without stoppingD. gain speed by forcing water past their gills（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(10).According to paragraph 9, which of the following is true of bluefin tunas?A. Their eyes and brain are more efficient than those of any other fish.B. Their body temperature can change greatly depending on the water temperature.C. They can swim in waters that are much colder than their own bodies.D. They have special m