1、托福（阅读）模拟试卷 5及答案与解析 一、 Sections Three： Reading Comprehension 0 “Looking at Theatre History“ One of the primary ways of approaching the Greek theatre is through archeology, the systematic study of material remains such as architecture, inscriptions, sculpture, vase painting, and other forms of decorat
2、ive art. A Serious on-site excavations began in Greece around 1870, but W. Dorpfeld did not begin the first extensive study of the Theatre of Dionysus until 1886. B Since that time, more than 167 other Greek theatres have been identified and many of them have been excavated. C Nevertheless, they sti
3、ll do not permit us to describe the precise appearance of the Skene (illustrations printed in books are conjectural reconstructions), since many pieces are irrevocably lost because the buildings in later periods became sources of stone for other projects and what remains is usually broken and scatte
4、red. D That most of the buildings were remodeled many times has created great problems for those seeking to date the successive versions. Despite these drawbacks, archeology provides the most concrete evidence we have about the theatre structures of ancient Greece. But, if they have told us much, ar
5、cheologists have not completed their work, and many sites have scarcely been touched. Perhaps the most eontroversial use of archeological evidence in theatre history is vase paintings, thousands of which have survived from ancient Greece. (Most of those used by theatre scholars are reproduced in Mar
6、garete Biebers The History of the Greek and Roman Theatre.) Depicting scenes from mythology and daily life, the vases are the most graphic pictorial evidence we have. But they are also easy to misinterpret. Some scholars have considered any vase that depicts a subject treated in a surviving drama or
7、 any scene showing masks, flute players, or ceremonials to be valid evidence of theatrical practice. This is a highly questionable assumption, since the Greeks made widespread use of masks, dances, and music outside the theatre and since the myths on which dramatists drew were known to everyone, inc
8、luding vase painters, who might well depict the same subjects as dramatists without being indebted to them. Those vases showing scenes unquestionably theatrical are few in number. The texts to classical Greek plays were written down soon after the performance and possibly even before, though it is n
9、ot always clear when or by whom. By 400 b.c.e., there was a flourishing book trade in Greece, but the texts for plays were a challenge. Hellenistic scholars dedicated years to sorting out the text and removing what they believed to be corruptions generally added by actors, but each time a text was c
10、opied there were new possibilities for errors. The oldest surviving manuscripts of Greek plays date from around the tenth century, c.e., some 1500 years after they were first performed. Nevertheless, the scripts offer us our readiest access to the cultural and theatrical conditions out of which they
11、 came. But these scripts, like other kinds of evidence, are subject to varying interpretations. Certainly performances embodied a male perspective, for example, since the plays were written, selected, staged, and acted by men. Yet the existing plays feature numerous choruses of women and many featur
12、e strong female characters. Because these characters often seem victims of their own powerlessness and appear to be governed, especially in the comedies, by sexual desire, some critics have seen these plays as rationalizations by the male-dominated culture for keeping women segregated and cloistered
13、. Other critics, however, have seen in these same plays an attempt by male authors to force their male audiences to examine and call into question this segregation and cloistering of Athenian women. By far the majority of written references to Greek theatre date from several hundred years after the
14、events they report. The writers seldom mention their sources of evidence, and thus we do not know what credence to give them. In the absence of material nearer in time to the events, however, historians have used the accounts and have been grateful to have them. Overall, historical treatment of the
15、Greek theatre is something like assembling a jigsaw puzzle from which many pieces are missing: historians arrange what they have and imagine (with the aid of the remaining evidence and logic) what has been lost. As a result, though the broad outlines of Greek theatre history are reasonably clear, ma
16、ny of the details remain open to doubt. Glossary skene: a stage building where actors store their masks and change their costumes 1 According to paragraph 1, why is it impossible to identify the time period for theatres in Greece? （ A） There are too few sites that have been excavated and very little
17、 data collected about them. （ B） The archeologists from earlier periods were not careful, and many artifacts were broken. （ C） It is confusing because stones from early sites were used to build later structures. （ D） Because it is very difficult to date the concrete that was used in construction dur
18、ing early periods. 2 What can be inferred from paragraph 1 about the skene in theatre history? （ A） Drawings in books are the only accurate visual records. （ B） Not enough evidence is available to make a precise model. （ C） Archeologists have excavated a large number of them. （ D） It was not identif
19、ied or studied until the early 1800s. 3 The word primary in the passage is closest in meaning to （ A） reliable （ B） important （ C） unusual （ D） accepted 4 The word precise in the passage is closest in meaning to （ A） attractive （ B） simple （ C） difficult （ D） exact 5 In paragraph 2, the author expla
20、ins that all vases with paintings of masks or musicians may not be evidence of theatrical subjects by （ A） arguing that the subjects could have been used by artists without reference to a drama （ B） identifying some of the vases as reproductions that were painted years after the originals （ C） casti
21、ng doubt on the qualifications of the scholars who produced the vases as evidence （ D） pointing out that there are very few vases that have survived from the time of early dramas 6 The word controversial in the passage is closest in meaning to （ A） accepted （ B） debated （ C） limited （ D） complicated
22、 7 Which of the following statements most accurately reflects the authors opinion about vase paintings? （ A） Evidence from written documents is older than evidence from vase paintings. （ B） The sources for vase paintings are clear because of the images on them. （ C） The details in vase paintings are
23、 not obvious because of their age. （ D） There is disagreement among scholars regarding vase paintings. 8 According to paragraph 3, scripts of plays may not be accurate because （ A） the sources cited are not well known （ B） copies by hand may contain many errors （ C） they are written in a very old la
24、nguage （ D） the printing is difficult to read 9 In paragraph 4, the author states that female characters in Greek theatre （ A） had no featured parts in plays （ B） were mostly ignored by critics （ C） did not participate in the chorus （ D） frequently played the part of victims 10 The word them in the
25、passage refers to （ A） events （ B） sources （ C） writers （ D） references 11 Why does the author mention a “jigsaw puzzle“ in paragraph 5? （ A） To demonstrate the difficulty in drawing conclusions from partial evidence （ B） To compare the written references for plays to the paintings on vases （ C） To
26、justify using accounts and records that historians have located （ D） To introduce the topic for the next reading passage in the textbook 12 Look at the four squares that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the passage. These excavations have revealed much that was previously unkno
27、wn, especially about the dimensions and layout of theatres. 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 summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that mention th
28、e 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. Greek theatre has been studied by a variety of methods. - - - Answer Choices A Be
29、cause the Greeks enjoyed dancing and music for entertainment outside of the theatre, many scenes on vases are ambiguous. B Historical accounts assembled many years after the actual theatrical works were presented give us a broad perspective of the earlier theatre. C Although considered less reliable
30、, written records, including scripts, provide insights into the cultural aspects of theatre. D Archeological excavations have uncovered buildings and artifacts, many of which were vases with theatrical scenes painted on them. E For the most part, men wrote the plays for Greek theatre, but choruses a
31、nd even strong roles were played by women. F Computer simulations can recreate the image of a building that is crumbling as long as the dimensions and layout are known. 13 “Geothermal Energy“ Geothermal energy is natural heat from the interior of the Earth that is converted to heat buildings and gen
32、erate electricity. The idea of harnessing Earths internal heat is not new. As early as 1904, geothermal power was used in Italy. Today, Earths natural internal heat is being used to generate electricity in 21 countries, including Russia, Japan, New Zealand, Iceland, Mexico, Ethiopia, Guatemala, El S
33、alvador, the Philippines, and the United States. Total worldwide production is approaching 9,000 MW (equivalent to nine large modern coal-burning or nuclear power plants) double the amount in 1980. Some 40 million people today receive their electricity from geothermal energy at a cost competitive wi
34、th that of other energy sources. In El Salvador, geothermal energy is supplying 30% of the total electric energy used. However, at the global level, geothermal energy supplies less than 0.15% of the total energy supply. Geothermal energy may be considered a nonrenewable energy source when rates of e
35、xtraction are greater than rates of natural replenishment. However, geothermal energy has its origin in the natural heat production within Earth, and only a small fraction of the vast total resource base is being utilized today. Although most geothermal energy production involves the tapping of high
36、 heat sources, people are also using the low-temperature geothermal energy of groundwater in some applications. Geothermal Systems A The average heat flow from the interior of the Earth is very low, about 0.06 W/m2. B This amount is trivial compared with the 177 W/m2 from solar heat at the surface i
37、n the United States. However, in some areas, heat flow is sufficiently high to be useful for producing energy For the most part, areas of high heat flow are associated with plate tectonic boundaries. Oceanic ridge systems (divergent plate boundaries) and areas where mountains are being uplifted and
38、volcanic island arcs are forming (convergent plate boundaries) are areas where this natural heat flow is anomalously high. C On the basis of geological criteria, several types of hot geothermal systems (with temperatures greater than about 80C, or 176F) have been defined, and the resource base is la
39、rger than that of fossil fuels and nuclear energy combined. A common system for energy development is hydrothermal convection, characterized by the circulation of steam and/or hot water that transfers heat from depths to the surface. D Geothermal Energy and the Environment The environmental impact o
40、f geothermal energy may not be as extensive as that of other sources of energy. When geothermal energy is developed at a particular site, environmental problems include on-site noise, emissions of gas, and disturbance of the land at drilling sites, disposal sites, roads and pipelines, and power plan
41、ts. Development of geothermal energy does not require large-scale transportation of raw materials or refining of chemicals, as development of fossil fuels does. Furthermore, geothermal energy does not produce the atmospheric pollutants associated with burning fossil fuels or the radioactive waste as
42、sociated with nuclear energy. However, geothermal development often does produce considerable thermal pollution from hot waste-waters, which may be saline or highly corrosive. Geothermal power is not always popular. For instance, geothermal energy has been produced for years on the island of Hawaii,
43、 where active volcanic processes provide abundant near-surface heat. There is controversy, however, over further exploration and development. Native Hawaiians and others have argued that the exploration and development of geothermal energy degrade the tropical forest as developers construct roads, b
44、uild facilities, and drill wells. In addition, religious and cultural issues in Hawaii relate to the use of geothermal energy. For example, some people are offended by using the “breath and water of Pele“ (the volcano goddess) to make electricity. This issue points out the importance of being sensit
45、ive to the values and cultures of people where development is planned. Future of Geothermal Energy At present, the United States produces only 2800 MN of geothermal energy. However, if developed, known geothermal resources in the United States could produce about 20,000 MW which is about 10% of the
46、electricity needed for the western states. Geohydrothermal resources not yet discovered could conservatively provide four times that amount (approximately 10% of total U.S. electric capacity), about equivalent to the electricity produced from water power today. 14 In paragraph 1, the author introduc
47、es the concept of geothermal energy by （ A） explaining the history of this energy source worldwide （ B） arguing that this energy source has been tried unsuccessfully （ C） comparing the production with that of other energy sources （ D） describing the alternatives for generating electric power 15 What
48、 is true about geothermal energy production worldwide? （ A） Because it is a new idea, very few countries are developing geothermal energy sources. （ B） Only countries in the Southern Hemisphere are using geothermal energy on a large scale. （ C） Until the cost of geothermal energy becomes competitive
49、, it will not be used globally. （ D） Geothermal energy is already being used in a number of nations, but it is not yet a major source of power. 16 The word approaching in the passage is closest in meaning to （ A） hardly （ B） mostly （ C） nearly （ D） briefly 17 The word that in the passage refers to （ A） electricity （ B） cost （ C） energy （ D） people 18 In paragraph 2, the author states that geothermal energy is considered a nonrenewable resource because （ A） the production of geothermal energy is a natural process （ B） geothermal energy comes from the Earth （ C） we are not us
