1、托福-练习五及答案解析(总分：37.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Passage 1(总题数：1，分数：12.00)Overcoming the Language BarrierThe discovery that language can be a barrier to communication is quickly made by all who travel, study, govern or sell. Whether the activity is tourism, research, government, policing, business, or data dissemi
2、nation, the lack of a common language can severely impede progress or can halt it altogether. “Common language“ here usually means a foreign language, but the same point applies in principle to any encounter with unfamiliar dialects or styles within a single language. “They dont talk the same langua
3、ge“ has a major metaphorical meaning alongside its literal one.Although communication problems of this kind must happen thousands of times each day, very few become public knowledge. Publicity comes only when a failure to communicate has major consequences, such as strike, lost orders, legal problem
4、s, or fatal accidents-even, at times, war. One reported instance of communication failure took place in 1970, when several Americans ate a species of poisonous mushroom. No remedy was known, and two of the people died within days. A radio report of the case was heard by a chemist who knew of a treat
5、ment that had been successfully used in 1959 and published in 1963. Why had the American doctors not heard of it seven years later? Presumably because the report of the treatment had been published only in journals written in European languages other than English.But isolated examples do not give an
6、 impression of the size of the problem-something that can come only from studies of the use or avoidance of foreign-language materials and contacts in different communicative situations. In the English-scientific world, for example, surveys of books and documents consulted in libraries and other inf
7、ormation agencies have shown that very little foreign-language material is ever consulted. Library requests in the field of science and technology showed that only 13 per cent were for foreign language periodicals. （分数：12.00）(1).The word “impede“ in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _.A. improve
8、B. hinder C. stop D. speed（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(2).In stating “They dont talk the same language“ in paragraph 1, the author points out the problems in _.A. understanding metaphorB. learning foreign languagesC. understanding dialects or stylesD. dealing with technological change（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(3).Why d
9、oes the author describe the case of poisonous mushroom?A. To support the position that communication problems may lead to fatal accidents.B. To give an example of fatal accidents caused by poisonous mushrooms.C. To criticize the American doctors for their ignorance about the treatment.D. To introduc
10、e a famous chemist who knew the treatment.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(4).Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 2 about American doctors?A. They should pay more attention to radio reports.B. They only read medical articles if they are in English.C. They are sometimes unwilling to try foreign tr
11、eatments.D. They do not always communicate effectively with their patients.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(5).The word “it“ in paragraph 2 refers to the _.A. radio report B. poisonous mushroomC. chemist D. treatment（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(6).According to the passage, the linguistic insularity of British businesses _.A.
12、 later spread to other countriesB. had a negative effect on their businessC. is not as bad as it used to beD. made non-English speaking companies to other markets（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(7).Look at the four squares, , , and （分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(8).The passage discusses all of the following as examples of ling
13、uistic insularity in the 1960s EXCEPT the fact that _.A. most British firms used English to correspond with non-English-speaking customersB. many companies only had English sales literatureC. the majority of employees could speak the customers languagesD. foreign customers were happy to communicate
14、in English（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(9).The word “exempt“ in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to _.A. expected B. excluded C. expired D. accepted（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(10).According to paragraph 4, English-speaking people need to be aware that _.A. some foreigners have never met an English-speaking personB. many
15、 foreigners have no desire to learn EnglishC. foreign languages may pose a greater problem in the futureD. English-speaking foreigners may have difficulty understanding English（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(11).Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence? Incorrect
16、 answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.A. To avoid misunderstanding, it is very important to understand the foreigners languages.B. Listening comprehension is the most important among the four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.C. In ord
17、er to get full understanding, we should speak to them as often as possible.D. What we speak to them is as important as what they speak to us.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(12).Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE an
18、swer 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. This question is worth 2 points.British companies tried to solve the problem of the langu
19、age barrier in many ways since the 1960s._Answer ChoicesA. Many companies have their own translation services.B. Some companies help their customers learn English.C. Employers can learn foreign languages through training programs.D. Some firms produce their own technical glossaries.E. Some firms emp
20、loyed many interpreters.（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_二、Passage 2(总题数：1，分数：13.00)Building with ArchesRound Arch and VaultAlthough the round arch was used by the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia several centuries before our common era, it was most fully developed by the Romans, who perfected the form in the 2nd cent
21、ury B. C. E. The arch has many virtues. In addition to being an attractive form, it enables the architect to open up fairly large spaces in a wall without risking the buildings structural soundness. These spaces admit light, reduce the weight of the walls, and decrease the amount of material needed.
22、 As utilized by the Romans, the arch is a perfect semicircle, although it may seem elongated if it rests on columns. It is constructed from wedge-shaped pieces of stone that meet at an angle always perpendicular to the curve of the arch. Because of tensions and compressions inherent in the form, the
23、 arch is stable only when it is complete, when the topmost stone, the keystone, has been set in place. For this reason an arch under construction must be supported from below, usually by a wooden framework.Among the most elegant and enduring of Roman structures based on the arch is the Pont du Gard
24、at Nimes, France, built about 15 C. E. when the empire was nearing its farthest expansion. At this time, industry, commerce, and agriculture were at their peak. Roman engineering was applied to an ambitious system of public-works projects, not just in Italy but in the outlying areas as well. The Pon
25、t du Gard functioned as an aqueduct, a structure meant to transport water, and its lower level served as a footbridge across the river. That it stands today virtually intact after nearly two thousand years (and is crossed by cyclists on the route of the famous Tour de France bicycle race) testifies
26、to the Romans brilliant engineering skills. Visually, the Pont du Gard exemplifies the best qualities of arch construction. Solid and heavy, obviously durable, it is shot through with open spaces that make it seem light and its weight-bearing capabilities effortless.When the arch is extended in dept
27、h-when it is, in reality, many arches placed flush one behind the other the result is called a barrel vault. This vault construction makes it possible to create large interior spaces. The Romans made great use of the barrel vault, but for its finest expression we look many hundreds of years later, t
28、o the churches of the Middle Ages.The church of Sainte-Foy, in the French city of Conques, is an example of the style prevalent throughout Western Europe from about 1050 to 1200 a style known as Romanesque. Romanesque builders adopted the old Roman forms of round arch and barrel vault so as to add h
29、eight to their churches. Until this period most churches had beamed wooden roofs, which not only posed a threat of fire but also limited the height to which architects could aspire. With the stone barrel vault, they could achieve the soaring, majestic space we see in the nave of Sainte-Foy.Pointed A
30、rch and VaultWhile the round arch and vault of the Romanesque era solved many problems and made many things possible, they nevertheless had certain drawbacks. For one thing, a round arch, to be stable, must be a semicircle; therefore, the height of the arch is limited by its width. Two other difficu
31、lties were weight and darkness. Barrel vaults are both literally and visually heavy, calling for huge masses of stone to maintain their structural stability. Also, the builders who constructed them dared not make light-admitting openings in or around them, for fear the arches and vaults would collap
32、se, and so the interiors of Romanesque buildings tend to be dark. The Gothic period in Europe, which followed the Romanesque, solved these problems with the pointed arch. The pointed arch, while seemingly not very different from the round one, offers many advantages. Because the sides arc up to a po
33、int, weight is channeled down to the ground at a steeper angle, and therefore the arch can be taller. The vault constructed from such an arch also can be much taller than a barrel vault. Architects of the Gothic period found they did not need heavy masses of material throughout the curve of the vaul
34、t, as long as the major points of intersection were reinforced. （分数：13.00）(1).Why does the author mention the keystone in paragraph 1?A. To explain the engineering of an arch.B. To provide historical background on arches.C. To point out one of the virtues of arches.D. To suggest an alternative to th
35、e arch.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(2).The word “inherent“ in the passage is closest in meaning to _.A. uncertain B. unsatisfactory C. expansive D. essential（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(3).The Pont du Gard mentioned in paragraph 2 has all of the following characteristics EXCEPT _.A. it was an aqueduct B. it is still bein
36、g usedC. it was built 2,000 years ago D. it was repaired recently（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(4).According to paragraph 3, what is the advantage of a barrel vault?A. It was used in the Middle Ages. B. Many arches were joined.C. The space was larger. D. It was a typical Roman look.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(5).The word
37、“virtually“ in the passage is closest in meaning to _.A. obviously B. accurately C. routinely D. practically（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(6).What can be inferred from paragraph 4 about Romanesque architecture?A. Arches and barrel vaults were used in the designs.B. Wood beams characterized the buildings.C. The s
38、tructures were smaller than those of Roman style.D. The architecture was popular during the Roman occupation.（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(7).Which of the sentences below best expresses the information in the highlighted statement in the passage? The other choices change the meaning or leave out important infor
39、mation.A. Architects wanted to build higher ceilings in churches, but they were limited because of the fire hazard caused by wooden beams in the roofs.B. The majority of the churches prior to this time were constructed with wooden roofs that caused a considerable fire hazard because of their height.
40、C. The wood beams in the roofs of most churches before this period were a concern because of fire and the constraints they imposed on the height of the ceiling.D. The limitations on the architecture of the churches were a result of the construction materials and the limited vision of the architects.
41、（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(8).The word “achieve“ in the passage is closest in meaning to _.A. retain B. accomplish C. decorate D. finance（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(9).Gothic architects extended the height of their arches by _.A. using barrel vaults B. designing pointed archesC. including a nave D. adding windows（分数：1
42、.00）A.B.C.D.(10).The word “their“ in the passage refers to _.A. masses B. builders C. stone D. vaults（分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.(11).According to paragraph 5, why are Romanesque churches so dark?A. It was a characteristic of construction with pointed arches.B. It was too difficult to make windows in the heavy
43、 materials.C. Openings for light could have compromised the structure.D. Reinforcements covered the areas where light could shine in.（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: Complete the table by matching the phrases on the left with the headings on t
44、he right. Select the appropriate answer choices and drag them to the type of architecture to which they relate. TWO of the answer choices will NOT be used. This question is worth 4 points.Round Arch_Pointed Arch_Answer ChoicesA. Allowed architects to create a taller archB. Used in fortresses so that
45、 the soldiers could see outC. Represented the Romanesque style of architectureD. Similar to arches constructed in the ancient worldE. Popular in many structures of the Gothic periodF. Required special building materials for constructionG. Prevalent in churches during the Middle AgesH Associated with
46、 structures that include barrel vaultsI Permitted openings in or around them for light（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_三、Passage 3(总题数：1，分数：12.00)Iodine and GoiterIodine is a well-known example of a trace mineral whose lack in the body creates an easily treated disease. When the thyroid gland is not supplied with su
47、fficient iodine to manufacture hormones, it enlarges and forms a goiter or swelling of the neck. At the same time other symptoms, such as fatigue and sluggishness, weight gain, coldness of the body, and depression, may occur.In the United States goiter was first noted in the Great Lakes region, wher
48、e in the 1930s, as many as 40 percent of the people in some areas had goiter, due mainly to iodine-deficient soil. This scarcity had been caused by ice age glaciers melting and washing the iodine out of the soil. The inhabitants of mountainous regions of Europe had suffered from iodine deficiency fo
49、r centuries for similar reasons. It was discovered in the alpine region of Switzerland in the nineteenth century that in areas in which the drinking water contained less than 0.5 micrograms of iodine per liter there was a high incidence of goiter. In contrast to mountainous or inland regions, areas by oceans or in the vicinity of ocean breezes usually contain enough iodine to prevent this affliction. （分数：12.00）(1).What do go
