1、托福-54 及答案解析(总分：119.88，做题时间：90 分钟)一、READING(总题数：0，分数：0.00)二、Set 1(总题数：1，分数：8.00)FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE TIDES1 Tides are a natural phenomenon involving the alternating rise and fall in the earth“s large bodies of water caused by the gravitational forces of the moon and the sun. The combination of thes
2、e two variable forces produces the complex recurrent cycle known as the astronomical tides. Tides occur in oceans and seas, to a limited extent in large lakes and the atmosphere, and, to a very minute degree, in the earth“s solid crust. 2 The force that generates tides is the interaction of two diff
3、erent forces: the gravitational attraction of the moon acting upon the earth“s waters and the centrifugal force produced by the revolution of the earth around the center of gravity of the earth-moon system. Although the moon is only 384,395 kilometers from the earth, compared with the sun“s much gre
4、ater distance of 149,598,181 kilometers, the moon“s closer distance outranks its much smaller mass, and thus the moon“s tide-raising force is twice more than that of the sun. 3 The tide-generating forces of the moon and sun cause a maximum accumulation of the ocean waters at two opposite positions o
5、n the earth“s surface. This means that at any given time there are two high tides on the planet. One is the direct tide on the side facing the moon; the other is the indirect tide on the opposite side. At the same time these two high tides occur, compensating amounts of water are drawn from all poin
6、ts that are 90 degrees away from these bulges . As the earth rotates, a sequence of two high tides and two low tides is produced each day. Successive high tides occur about 12.4 hours apart. The direct high tide at any given location occurs when the moon is overhead; low tide occurs when the moon is
7、 at either horizon. 4 The highest and lowest levels of high tide, called spring tide and neap tide, each occurs twice in every lunar month of about 27.5 days. A spring tide occurs at the new moon and at the full moon, when the moon and earth are aligned with the sun, and thus the moon“s pull is rein
8、forced by the sun“s pull. At spring tide, the difference between high and low tides is the greatest. A neap tide, the lowest level of high tide, occurs when the sun-to-earth direction is at right angles to the moon-to-earth direction. When this happens, the gravitational forces of the moon and sun c
9、ounteract each other; thus, the moon“s pull is at minimum strength, and the difference between high and low tides is the least. Spring and neap tides at any given location have a range of about 20 percent more or less, respectively, than the average high tide. 5 The vertical range of tidesthe differ
10、ence between high and lowvaries according to the size, surface shape, and bottom topography of the basin in which tidal movement occurs. Typically, the tidal range in the open ocean is less than it is near the coasts. For example, in the open water of the central Pacific, the range is no more than 0
11、.3 meters, but in the relatively small, shallow North Sea, it is about 3.6 meters. Along the narrow channel of the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, the difference between high and low tides may reach 16 meters under spring tide conditionsthe world“s widest tidal range. At New Orleans, which is at the mo
12、uth of the Mississippi River, the periodic rise and fall of the tides varies with the river“s stage, being about 0.24 meters at low stage and zero at high stage. In every case, actual high or low tide can vary considerably from the average. 6 Several physical factors influence tidal ranges, such as
13、abrupt changes in atmospheric pressure, prolonged periods of extreme high or low pressure, the density and volume of seawater, and variations in ocean-current velocities. Any of these factors alone can alter sea level; however, in combination with earthquakes, hurricanes, or other phenomena, they ar
14、e particularly forceful. Hurricane winds, for instance, can heap ocean water into powerful storm surges that increase the impact of the astronomical tides. When a storm surge coincides with the astronomical high tide, the resulting storm tide may reach up to six meters or more above the normal high
15、tide. The greater and more rapid the change of water level, the greater the erosive effect of the tidal action. Currents created by storm tides combine with the waves to erode beaches, coastal highways, and foundations of buildings.（分数：7.98）(1).The word recurrent in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning
16、 to（分数：0.57）A.repeatingB.mysteriousC.simultaneousD.interrupted(2).The force that controls tides on the earth is（分数：0.57）A.the gravitational pull of the planet“s coreB.the same force that generates tides on the moonC.abrupt changes in atmospheric pressureD.a combination of gravity and centrifugal for
17、ce(3).According to the passage, the moon（分数：0.57）A.has a greater density than the sunB.is closer to the sun than the earth isC.exerts a gravitational pull on the sunD.affects tides more than the sun does(4).The word bulges in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to（分数：0.57）A.currentsB.intervalsC.increa
18、sesD.waves(5).What can be inferred from paragraph 3?（分数：0.57）A.The direct high tide is higher than the indirect high tide.B.When it is high tide in some places, it is low tide in other places.C.When the moon is directly overhead, the water is at its lowest level.D.At any given location, low tide occ
19、urs about 12 hours after high tide.(6).A spring tide occurs at the time of the lunar month when（分数：0.57）A.the moon“s gravitational pull is at its strongestB.the moon appears as a crescent or half-circleC.the sun does not exert any gravitational forceD.the vertical range of the tides is very narrow(7
20、).The word counteract in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to（分数：0.57）A.enhanceB.signalC.opposeD.avoid(8).Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 4? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential informatio
21、n.（分数：0.57）A.The spring tide anywhere is around 20 percent higher than the normal high tide; the neap tide is 20 percent lower.B.In some places, there has been a 20 percent change in the number of spring tides and neap tides.C.If the location of a spring tide is known, then a neap tide in the same l
22、ocation will be 20 percent less.D.The spring tide in one location is always 20 higher than the neap tide in another location.(9).The author mentions the Bay of Fundy in paragraph 5 in order to（分数：0.57）A.compare the Bay of Fundy with larger bodies of waterB.explain why a narrow channel is dangerous f
23、or shipsC.give the most extreme example of a tidal rangeD.show how rivers can affect the rise and fall of tides(10).The word prolonged in paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to（分数：0.57）A.extendedB.surprisingC.predictedD.dangerous(11).All of the following are mentioned as influences on the vertical ran
24、ge of tides EXCEPT（分数：0.57）A.the size and shape of the water surfaceB.sudden changes in atmospheric pressureC.rising levels of ocean water pollutionD.abnormal water levels due to storms(12).In paragraph 6 the author makes the point that（分数：0.57）A.spring tides and storm surges are interrelatedB.storm
25、s enhance the height and strength of tidesC.ocean currents rarely change in speed or directionD.the greatest impact on tides is global warming(13).Look at the four squares, A, B, C, and D, which indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit? T
26、his abnormal rise in water level can cause extreme flooding and erosion in coastal areas. Several physical factors influence tidal ranges, such as abrupt changes in atmospheric pressure, prolonged periods of extreme high or low pressure, the density and volume of seawater, and variations in ocean-cu
27、rrent velocities. A Any of these factors alone can alter sea level; however, in combination with earthquakes, hurricanes, or other phenomena, they are particularly forceful. B Hurricane winds, for instance, can heap ocean water into powerful storm surges that increase the impact of the astronomical
28、tides. C When a storm surge coincides with the astronomical high tide, the resulting storm tide may reach up to six meters or more above the normal high tide. D The greater and more rapid the change of water level, the greater the erosive effect of the tidal action. Currents created by storm tides c
29、ombine with the waves to erode beaches, coastal highways, and foundations of buildings.（分数：0.57）(14).An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some se
30、ntences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. Many factors influence tides, the alternating rise and fall in the earth“s large bodies of water. Answer ChoicesA. Tides occur in
31、the earth“s atmosphere and within the earth itself. B. Humans have always been interested in the moon“s influence on tides. C. The combined gravitational forces of the moon and the sun produce the cycle of tides. D. The level of the high tide varies throughout the lunar month. E. The stage of the Mi
32、ssissippi River determines the level of tides at New Orleans. F. The character of the basin and various physical phenomena affect the vertical range of tides.（分数：0.57）三、Set 2(总题数：1，分数：7.00)POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY1 Monarchy is a form of government in which authority is held by a si
33、ngle person, a monarch, whose fight to rule is generally hereditary and lifelong. At the start of the twentieth century, monarchs ruled over most of the world, but by the middle of the century, only a handful remained. A series of revolutions in the preceding centuries had weakened the European mona
34、rchies, and while monarchs remained symbols of national unity, real power had passed to constitutional assemblies. Monarchy survived as a form in Europe only where the king or queen functioned as the symbolic head of a parliamentary state, as in Britain, the Low Countries, and Scandinavia. It lasted
35、 longer in the few small states of Asia and Africa that had never come under direct colonial rule. By the 1960s, autocratic monarchy had become an outdated form of government. Throughout most of the world, people were considered citizens, not subjects, and the totality of the people were seen as con
36、stituting the state. 2 In most states where monarchical authority was removed, some form of liberal democracy took its place. A liberal democracy is a state where political authority rests in the people acting through elected representatives and where an elected executive is responsible to the will
37、of the people as a whole. The term applies to a broad group of states with a parliamentary or representative political tradition. Liberal democracies differ from the communist states known as people“s democracies , in which the Communist party holds the ultimate authority. Generally, liberal democra
38、cies follow the parliamentary pattern, with the executive power vested in a cabinet responsible to the parliament and drawn from the majority party or combination of parties. In the United States, an independently elected executive, the president, functions separately from the legislative authority,
39、 the congress. 3 The doctrine that all of the people had effective authority, or sovereignty, became the basis for the functioning of democratic states. This doctrine of popular sovereignty became all-inclusive as citizenship rights were extended to classes formerly excluded and to women. The libera
40、l democratic state claimed the right to control every aspect of human life according to the will of the people, except where limits on state control were directly stated in a bill of rights in a democratic constitution and recognized in practice . 4 All democratic states, both parliamentary and pres
41、idential, changed in form during the twentieth century. To meet the needs of an urban industrial society, states generally enlarged their scope of activity to control economic power and to provide common services to the people. The expansion of state activity and extension of state services involved
42、 a new view of legislation and its role in society. The passing of laws came to be seen as a way to promote the well being of the people. With this new concept of legislation, the number of new laws increased immensely, particularly in the areas of social welfare, education, health and safety, and e
43、conomic development. 5 The trend toward liberal democracy continued throughout the century, but at various times there was also a tendency toward a revival of authoritarian rule. In a number of states, democratic governments could not cope with the crises of the time. In these cases, some form of to
44、talitarian dictatorship emerged, replacing popular sovereignty with the total power of the state. In some instances, monarchy gave way directly to dictatorship. In others, dictatorial regimes took over democratically organized states, notably in Eastern Europe in the years between the two world wars
45、, in new states of Asia and Africa in the 1950s, and sporadically in Central and South America. 6 Authoritarian governments showed three principal characteristics. First, there was a head of state or leader with exceptional powers, with a party to support him. Second, the legislative body was electe
46、d by a system that prohibited parties opposed to the regime, and third, there was a bureaucratic administration that was in no way subject to popular control. The most extreme position on these points was taken by Hitler“s totalitarian National Socialist State in the 1930s.（分数：6.96）(1).What point do
47、es the author make about monarchs in the twentieth century?（分数：0.58）A.Monarchs did not allow the people to vote in democratic elections.B.Monarchs did not have real power but were symbols of national unity.C.The monarch in most countries was a king rather than a queen.D.Monarchs were responsible for
48、 starting many popular revolutions.(2).The word survived in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to（分数：0.58）A.remainedB.developedC.changedD.returned(3).Why does the author mention people“s democracies in paragraph 2?（分数：0.58）A.To contrast two concepts of where political authority restsB.To suggest that
49、 people“s democracies originated in liberal democraciesC.To explain differences between one-party and two-party systemsD.To describe the parliamentary system of people“s democracies(4).The word pattern in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to（分数：0.58）A.choiceB.partyC.modelD.purpose(5).According to the passage, which of the following is a limit on state control in a liberal democracy?（分数：0.58）A.A cabinet drawn from the majority partyB.The existence of only one political partyC.An independently elected executiveD.A bill of rights stated in a constitution(6).The phrase recognized in pract
