1、托福（阅读）模拟试卷 13及答案与解析 一、 Sections Three： Reading Comprehension 0 “Paleolithic Art“ From the moment in 1879 that cave paintings were discovered at Altamira, scholars have wondered why the hunter-artists of the Old Stone Age decided to cover the walls of dark caverns with animal images. Various answers
2、have been given, including that they were mere decoration, but this theory cannot explain the narrow range of subjects or the inaccessibility of many of the paintings. In fact, the remoteness and difficulty of access of many of the cave paintings and the fact they appear to have been used for centur
3、ies are precisely what have led many scholars to suggest that the prehistoric hunters attributed magical properties to the images they painted. According to this argument, by confining animals to the surfaces of their cave walls, the artists believed they were bringing the beasts under their control
4、. Some have even hypothesized that rituals or dances were performed in front of the images and that these rites served to improve the hunters luck. Still others have stated that the painted animals may have served as teaching tools to instruct new hunters about the character of the various species t
5、hey would encounter or even to serve as targets for spears. In contrast, some scholars have argued that the magical purpose of the paintings and reliefs was not to ft te the destruction of bison and other species. Instead, they believe prehistoric painters created animal images to assure the surviva
6、l of the herds Paleolithic peoples depended on for their food supply and for their clothing. A A central problem for both the hunting-magic and food-creation theories is that the animals that seem to have been diet staples of Old Stone Age peoples are not those most frequently portrayed. B Other sch
7、olars have sought to reconstruct an elaborate mythology based on the cave paintings, suggesting that Paleolithic humans believed they had animal ancestors. Still others have equated certain species with men and others with women and also found sexual symbolism in the abstract signs that sometimes ac
8、company the images. C Almost all of these theories have been discredited over time, and art historians must admit that no one knows the intent of these paintings. D In fact, a single explanation for all Paleolithic murals, even paintings similar in subject, style, and composition (how the motifs are
9、 arranged on the surface), is unlikely to apply universally. The works remain an enigma and always will because before the invention of writing, no contemporaneous explanations could be recorded. That the paintings did have meaning to the Paleolithic peoples who made and observed them cannot, howeve
10、r, be doubted. In fact, signs consisting of checks, dots, squares, or other arrangements of lines often accompany the pictures of animals. Representations of human hands are also common. At Pech-Merle in France, painted hands accompany representations of spotted horses. These and the majority of pai
11、nted hands at other sites are “negative,“ that is, the painter placed one hand against the wall and then brushed or blew or spat pigment around it. Occasionally, the painter dipped a hand in the pigment and then pressed it against the wall, leaving a “positive“ imprint. These handprints, too, must h
12、ave had a purpose. Some researchers have considered them “signatures“ of cult or community members or, less likely, of individual artists. But like everything else in Paleolithic art, their meaning is unknown. The mural (wall) paintings at Pech-Merle also allow some insight into the reason certain s
13、ubjects may have been chosen for a specific location. One of the horses may have been inspired by the rock formation in the wall surface resembling a horses head and neck. Old Stone Age painters and sculptors frequently and skillfully used the caves naturally irregular surfaces to help give the illu
14、sion of real presence to their forms. Altamira bison, for example, were painted over bulging rock surfaces. In fact, prehistorians have observed that bison and cattle appear almost exclusively on convex surfaces, whereas nearly all horses and hands are painted on concave surfaces. What this signifie
15、s has yet to be determined. 1 According to paragraph 1, the cave art was difficult to find because the artists （ A） were probably trying to keep their work a secret from their tribe （ B） could have begun their painting while they were confined in the caves （ C） may have chosen a location deep in the
16、 caves to hold ceremonies （ D） had to practice before they made images that more people could see 2 According to paragraph 1, Paleolithic people may have used cave art for all of the following purposes EXCEPT （ A） People may have danced in front of the images. （ B） Hunters could have used the figure
17、s for target practice. （ C） Leaders might have performed magical rituals in the caves. （ D） Animals may have been kept in the caves near the drawings. 3 The word access in the passage is closest in meaning to （ A） admission （ B） meaning （ C） site （ D） research 4 The word facilitate in the passage is
18、 closest in meaning to （ A） specify （ B） permit （ C） assist （ D） discover 5 The word those in the passage refers to （ A） peoples （ B） staples （ C） animals （ D） theories 6 The word discredited in the passage is closest in meaning to （ A） not attentive （ B） not believed （ C） not hopeful （ D） not organ
19、ized 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 information. （ A） It is true that the paintings were meaningful to the Paleolithic peoples. （ B） Doubtless, the Paleolithic peop
20、les were the ones who made the paintings. （ C） There is no doubt about the meaning of the Paleolithic paintings. （ D） Paintings that had meaning for the Paleolithic peoples are doubtful. 8 The author explains the term “composition“ by （ A） giving an example （ B） providing a definition （ C） contrasti
21、ng it with motifs （ D） referring to art historians 9 According to paragraph 5, why did artists leave a positive imprint of their hands on cave paintings? （ A） It represents human beings in the cave paintings. （ B） It could have been a way for them to sign their work. （ C） It was a hunters handprint
22、among the herd of animals. （ D） It might have been a pleasing image without much meaning. 10 According to paragraph 6, why do scholars believe that the artists selected certain surfaces for their work? （ A） The stone was easy to carve because it was very soft. （ B） The animals in hunting grounds nea
23、rby provided inspiration. （ C） The artists used the natural formations to create realistic shapes. （ D） The location of the caves had a magical significance to them. 11 Which of the following statements most accurately reflects the authors opinion about the purpose of cave paintings? （ A） The cave p
24、aintings were part of a hunting ritual. （ B） Artists were honoring their animal ancestors in cave paintings. （ C） The exact purpose of cave paintings is not known. （ D） Decoration was probably the main reason for painting in caves. 12 Look at the four squares that show where the following sentence c
25、ould be inserted in the passage. At Altamira, for example, faunal remains show that red deer, not bison, were eaten. Where could the sentence best be added? Click on a square to insert the sentence in the passage. 13 An introduction for a short summary of the passage appears below. Complete the summ
26、ary by selecting the THREE answer choices that mention the most important points in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not included in the passage or are minor points from the passage. This question is worth 2 points. The purpose of the art d
27、iscovered on cave walls is a topic of discussion among scholars. - - - Answer Choices A The surface of the walls in the caves may have inspired some of the subjects, and handprints may have been signatures. B It is possible that the paintings were created as part of a magical ritual either to guaran
28、tee a good hunt or an abundance of animals. C At Altamira, excavations indicate that the protein diet of the inhabitants was probably deer rather than bison. D Perhaps the artists were paying homage to their animal ancestors by recreating their mythology in the pictures. E The art may be more recent
29、 than first assumed when the caves were originally discovered in the late 1800s. F It has been documented that almost all of the horses and hands were painted on concave surfaces at Pech-Merle. 13 “Group Decision Making“ Advantages of Group Decision Making Committees, task forces, and ad hoc groups
30、are frequently assigned to identify and recommend decision alternatives or, in some cases, to actually make important decisions. In essence, a group is a tool that can focus the experience and expertise of several people on a particular problem or situation. Thus, a group offers the advantage of gre
31、ater total knowledge. Groups accumulate more information, knowledge, and facts than individuals and often consider more alternatives. Each person in the group is able to draw on his or her unique education, experience, insights, and other resources and contribute those to the group. The varied backg
32、rounds, training levels, and expertise of group members also help overcome tunnel vision by enabling the group to view the problem in more than one way. Participation in group decision making usually leads to higher member satisfaction. People tend to accept a decision more readily and to be better
33、satisfied with it when they have participated in making that decision. In addition, people will better understand and be more committed to a decision in which they have had a say than to a decision made for them. As a result, such a decision is more likely to be implemented successfully. Disadvantag
34、es of Group Decision Making While groups have many potential benefits, we all know that they can also be frustrating. A One obvious disadvantage of group decision making is the time required to make a decision. B The time needed for group discussion and the associated compromising and selecting of a
35、 decision alternative can be considerable. C Time costs money, so a waste of time becomes a disadvantage if a decision made by a group could have been made just as effectively by an individual working alone. D Consequently, group decisions should be avoided when speed and efficiency are the primary
36、considerations. A second disadvantage is that the group discussion may be dominated by an individual or subgroup. Effectiveness can be reduced if one individual, such as the group leader, dominates the discussion by talking too much or being closed to other points of view. Some group leaders try to
37、control the group and provide the major input. Such dominance can stifle other group members willingness to participate and could cause decision alternatives to be ignored or overlooked. All group members need to be encouraged and permitted to contribute. Another disadvantage of group decision makin
38、g is that members may be less concerned with the groups goals than with their own personal goals. They may become so sidetracked in trying to win an argument that they forget about group performance. On the other hand, a group may try too hard to compromise and consequently may not make optimal deci
39、sions. Sometimes this stems from the desire to maintain friendships and avoid disagreements. Often groups exert tremendous social pressure on individuals to conform to established or expected patterns of behavior. Especially when they are dealing with important and controversial issues, interacting
40、groups may be prone to a phenomenon called groupthink. Groupthink is an agreement-at-any-cost mentality that results in ineffective group decision making. It occurs when groups are highly cohesive, have highly directive leaders, are insulated so they have no clear ways to get objective information,
41、and because they lack outside information have little hope that a better solution might be found than the one proposed by the leader or other influential group members. These conditions foster the illusion that the group is invulnerable, right, and more moral than outsiders. They also encourage the
42、development of self-appointed “mind guards“ who bring pressure on dissenters. In such situations, decisions often important decisions are made without consideration of alternative frames or alternative options. It is difficult to imagine conditions more conducive to poor decision making and wrong de
43、cisions. Recent research indicates that groupthink may also result when group members have preconceived ideas about how a problem should be solved. Under these conditions, the team may not examine a full range of decision alternatives, or it may discount or avoid information that threatens its preco
44、nceived choice. 14 In paragraph 1, the author states that groups frequently （ A） generate more options than individuals （ B） agree on the way that the problem should be approached （ C） make recommendations instead of decisions （ D） are chosen to participate because of their experience 15 According t
45、o paragraph 2, why do group decisions tend to be more successful? （ A） When more people are involved, there are more ideas from which to choose. （ B） People are more accepting of decisions when they have been involved in them. （ C） Implementing ideas is easier with a large number of people to help.
46、（ D） People like to be participants in decisions that are successful. 16 The word considerable in the passage is closest in meaning to （ A） valuable （ B） significant （ C） predictable （ D） unusual 17 The word Consequently in the passage is closest in meaning to （ A） About now （ B） Without doubt （ C）
47、Before long （ D） As a result 18 According to paragraph 3, group discussion can be problematic because （ A） individual decisions are always more effective （ B） it takes more time for a group to arrive at a decision （ C） it costs more to pay all of the group members （ D） interaction among group member
48、s can be a problem 19 What can be inferred about a group leader? （ A） A good leader will provide goals for the group to consider and vote on. （ B） The purpose of the leader is to facilitate the participation of all of the members. （ C） A group leader should be the dominant member of the group. （ D）
49、Expectations for group behavior must be presented by the group leader. 20 The word controversial in the passage is closest in meaning to （ A） accepted （ B） debatable （ C） recent （ D） complicated 21 According to paragraph 5, how does the author explain compromise in a group? （ A） The group may try to make a better decision by compromising. （ B） A compromise may be the best way to encourage groupthink. （ C） Compromising may allow the group members to remain friends. （ D） To compromise can help one member to reach a personal goal. 22 The phrase the one in the passage r
