1、托福真题 2012 年 2 月 25 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 are the benefits of owning pets? 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.Should high school graduates attend college after settling into their own caree
2、r or go to university first? Please provide specific examples and details in your explanation.（分数：20.00）_三、Question 3(总题数：1，分数：20.00)3.Constructing a HotelSouthwestern University unveiled plans today to begin construction of a 120-room budget hotel near the university campus. According to the Alumni
3、 Association President, the university has received numerous complaints in recent years over the lack of safe, affordable lodging near campus for the convenience of visiting parents and relatives. Also, to further address student concerns, the university has promised that the price of a single room
4、would initially be in the forty-dollar range. This venture into private, for-profit business marks a first for the 148-year-old institution.Question: The woman expresses her opinion about the schools decision to build a hotel near the university. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives f
5、or 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.Creeping NormalcyCreeping normalcy is a phenomenon often met with in sociological study. Put simply, people will accept gradual changes whose net effect is detrimental, even though they woul
6、d sharply resist any sudden change producing the same effect. Common examples include gradual tax increases, “acceptably low inflation rates, and shrinking real wages. In colloquial English the phenomenon is also referred to as “the camels nose“, “the slippery slope“, and “giving someone an inch.“Qu
7、estion: Explain how the professors personal experience of working as a TA in graduate school demonstrates the concept of creeping normalcy in 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 th
8、e womans problem. Describe the problem and the two solutions. Then state which of the two solutions you prefer 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 ways for insects to breathe under water.（分数：20.00）_托福真题 2012 年 2
9、月 25 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 are the benefits of owning pets? Please provide specific examples and details in your explanation.（分数：20.00）_正确答案：(Topic: Pets can be a huge and happy part of your life, and are worth all the responsibilities that come with them.Reas
10、on 1: First of all, pets bring so much happiness to those who own them. A pet dog or cat greets you after a difficult day at work and makes you feel better.Reason 2: Secondly, pets teach their owners a lot about responsibility and compassion. Having pets means feeding them, providing shelter and war
11、mth for them, cleaning up after them, and giving them enough exercise and love. This is a fantastic way to teach young people about how to be more independent and responsible.)解析：Alternative Wording (替换表达)Synonyms (a)responsibilitiesduties (b)ownermaster(c)fantasticexcellent (d)independentself-relia
12、ntParaphrases 1. Pets can play a major role in ones life and well repay all the duties they entail.2. A dog or cat is there for you after work and picks up on your moods, cheering you up when you feel lonely or sharing your happiness.二、Question 2(总题数：1，分数：20.00)2.Should high school graduates attend
13、college after settling into their own career or go to university first? Please provide specific examples and details in your explanation.（分数：20.00）_正确答案：(Topic: As far as I am concerned, young people should get educated first.Reason 1: Getting the job first will pull students away from their studies
14、 and career dreams. Without knowledge and skills or even a degree, they cannot find a good job or realize their ambitions.Reason 2: Also, many young people have no idea what they want from a career. This is one of the most important reasons why we should go to college: to find what we love and are s
15、killed at, and then pursue a career in that field. To skip this step would prevent many from making their dreams come true.)解析：Alternative Wording(替换表达)Synonyms (a)skipomit (b)come truerealize, fulfillParaphrases 1. For my money, the best path to the real world lies through getting an education firs
16、t.2. Many young people havent a clue as to what career they are suited for.三、Question 3(总题数：1，分数：20.00)3.Constructing a HotelSouthwestern University unveiled plans today to begin construction of a 120-room budget hotel near the university campus. According to the Alumni Association President, the un
17、iversity has received numerous complaints in recent years over the lack of safe, affordable lodging near campus for the convenience of visiting parents and relatives. Also, to further address student concerns, the university has promised that the price of a single room would initially be in the fort
18、y-dollar range. This venture into private, for-profit business marks a first for the 148-year-old institution.Question: The woman expresses her opinion about the schools decision to build a hotel near the university. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.Now he
19、ar a conversation between two students.（分数：20.00）_正确答案：(The university will begin building a hotel near campus.The woman thinks the plan is a good idea for two reasons.The first reason is that the new hotel will provide guests and visitors with a comfortable and clean place to stay near campus, whic
20、h is especially desirable for those coming from far away. Otherwise they must find a hotel in the city center, which is far away and beset by too much traffic.Another reason is that the hotel is affordable. The planned price is less than half of that of hotels nearby. The woman says that with the ho
21、tel open, her friend on a budget wont have to drive home late after visiting.)解析：听力原文M: Hey, Barbara, did you see the news last night?W: What was it about?M: The university was talking about a plan to build a budget hotel across the street from campus.W: I didnt hear anything. But, hey I think the h
22、otels a great idea.M: Why? There are a lot of hotels nearby campus. Arent they enough?W: There are a lot, but all the hotels near campus are either really old and shabby or too expensive. Lets say my family or friends want to visit me. That means they would have to find a hotel in town if they want
23、a clean, affordable room and drive a long way through really bad traffic.M: That is quite true. So yeah, youre right! The new hotel could be very convenient for family and friends visiting us at the university.W: Well, how much would it cost to live in the hotel?M: The news said that a single room w
24、ould cost about forty dollars.W: Thats not bad at all. I have a friend who visited me a few weeks back and the nearest decent hotel was ninety dollars a night!M: Could your friend afford that?W: No, of course not. She had to drive home really late. With a hotel as cheap as you said, that wont have t
25、o happen again.Alternative Wording(替换表达)Synonyms (a)begin buildingbegin construction of (b)reasonground(c)city centerdowntownParaphrases 1. The school will soon begin building an economy hotel located adjacent to the campus.2. Failing this, they will be forced to look for lodging in the distant and
26、traffic-congested downtown area.四、Question 4(总题数：1，分数：20.00)4.Creeping NormalcyCreeping normalcy is a phenomenon often met with in sociological study. Put simply, people will accept gradual changes whose net effect is detrimental, even though they would sharply resist any sudden change producing the
27、 same effect. Common examples include gradual tax increases, “acceptably low inflation rates, and shrinking real wages. In colloquial English the phenomenon is also referred to as “the camels nose“, “the slippery slope“, and “giving someone an inch.“Question: Explain how the professors personal expe
28、rience of working as a TA in graduate school demonstrates the concept of creeping normalcy in the reading passage.Now hear a talk on the same subject.（分数：20.00）_正确答案：(The professor gives an example of creeping normalcy from his own experience.According to the lecture, he used to work as a teaching a
29、ssistant. His job was to arrange library materials for the students in a history class. At first he only worked about two hours a week. As the semester went on, however, he gradually was expected to put in a little more time each week. By the end of the semester, his work hours had grown excessively
30、. He had nearly no time for his own studies. The professor would have refused to work that many hours if he had known in advance, but he did not realize the effect until it was too late.)解析：听力原文M: I know, after reading the definition of the creeping normalcy you probably wondered why people are so f
31、oolish or blind, right? But, in fact, this kind of thing happens all the time. Take me. You all know Im hardly naive, and in fact Ive always been pretty hard to fool. Still.I went to grad school at Yale, which is not cheap. I was just a poor kid from the Midwest, so I had to work part-time to help p
32、ay my way. I had a part time job as a TA for a history professor. Part of my job was to arrange research books and articles at the library each week.At first, that only took about two hours a week. But you know professors: as the semester goes on, they start piling on the class assignments. More boo
33、ks were needed and guess who had to find them! At first it was just an hour here or there. But later I realized that my work time increased an average of an hour a week. By the time finals week rolled around, I was putting in more than twelve hours a week!Although I was paid for doing it, I needed t
34、he time to do my own class work. I barely got my papers written, and my exam scores were nothing to brag about. If I had known would have to work that much, I would have refused. Or at least, I would have tried to ask for shorter hours. But the change was so gradual that I didnt realize the effect t
35、ill too late. So, the lesson here is, yes, creeping normalcy can-and will-happen to you!Alternative Wording(替换表达)Synonyms (a)semesterterm (b)go onwear on(c)be expected tobe called upon to(d)in advancebeforehandParaphrases 1. The example about creeping normalcy comes from the professors own personal
36、history.2. He was left with virtually no time to pursue his own studies.五、Question 5(总题数：1，分数：20.00)5.Question: The speaking discusses two possible solutions to the womans 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 woman is facing a conflict over whether to guide a group of children at the museum or to help her friend in the library. She promised different people to do both.The man first suggests that she take the kids to the museum, but only in the morning. Then she can help her friend later. The o
38、ther suggestion is to tell her friend to find somebody else to help.Personally speaking, I prefer the first solution.First, the woman has to take the children to the museum; otherwise, the kids will be disappointed. Children may know who Stephen Hawking is. But most would still be bored by his after
39、noon lecture. So they can visit the museum in the morning only, and then the woman can help her friend in the library that afternoon. In this way, she keeps both promises, and the problem is solved.)解析：听力原文M: Hey, Francine! Are you okay?W: I just realized Ive got one heck of a time conflict!M: With
40、what? Anything serious?W: Quite a bit, maybe. Its something pretty simple, but hard to solve. Next Wednesday, agreed to help out at the museum. Remember, Im an assistant guide? Well, theres a group of school kids Im supposed to show around.M: Hey, isnt Steven Hawking supposed to give a lecture there
41、 on Wednesday?W: You got it. So, its like a big day at the museum. Even kids of nine, ten years old know who Steven Hawking is.M: So whats the problem? You get to hear the great man speak for free!W: Yeah, but you know my roommate May?M: Yeah?W: She is currently working at the library. And I promise
42、d her to help her re-shelve books on the same day I assist at the museum. I completely forgot about the library thing.M: Oh, well why not just take the kids to the museum in the morning and help May in the afternoon?W: I cant. The Steven Hawking speech will be in the afternoon. Im sure the kids all
43、want to see and hear him. Id get in trouble if I made them miss that lecture!M: Maybe youd better tell May you made a mistake. Theres still almost a week for her to find someone else to help. She does have other friends, Im sure.W: I would, but shes my best friend and I really hate to break a promis
44、e.M: You made two promises that conflict. You have to break one.W: Yes, it does look that way. But which one?Alternative Wording(替换表达)Synonyms keep a promisehonor a promiseParaphrases The first suggestion is that the museum trip be confined to the forenoon hours.六、Question 6(总题数：1，分数：20.00)6.Questio
45、n: Using points and examples from the talk, explain the two ways for insects to breathe under water.（分数：20.00）_正确答案：(The lecture is about two methods insects employ to breathe underwater.One way is for the insect underwater to have part of its body out of the water. For example, the water scorpion h
46、as a tail-like tube. The tube sticks above the waters surface and the insect breathes through it.The other method is for the insect to carry air underwater with it. For instance, the diving beetles wings trap air above the water and form bubbles. It then breathes from the bubbles when it goes below the surface.)解析：听力原文W: The way insects adapt to the most unlikely env
