2014托福考试阅读模拟试题训练9

　　Questions 1-10

　　As Philadelphia grew from a small town into a city in the first half of the eighteenth

　　century, it became an increasingly important marketing center for a vast and growing agricultural hinterland. Market days saw the crowded city even more crowded, as line fanners from within a radius of 24 or more kilometers brought their sheep, cows, pigs, vegetables, cider, and other products for direct sale to the townspeople. The High Street Market was continuously enlarged throughout the period until 1736, when it reached from Front Street to Third. By 1745 New Market was opened on Second Street between Pine and Cedar. The next year the Callowhill Market began operation.

　　Along with market days, the institution of twice-yearly fairs persisted in Philadelphia even after similar trading days had been discontinued in other colonial cities. The fairs provided a means of bringing handmade goods from outlying places to

　　would-be buyers in the city. Linens and stockings from Germantown, for example,

　　were popular items.

　　Auctions were another popular form of occasional trade. Because of the competition, retail merchants opposed these as well as the fairs. Although

　　governmental attempts to eradicate fairs and auctions were less than successful, the ordinary course of economic development was on the merchants' side, as increasing business specialization became the order of the day. Export merchants became differentiated from their importing counterparts, and specialty shops began to appear in addition to general stores selling a variety of goods.

　　One of the reasons Philadelphia's merchants generally prospered was because the

　　surrounding area was undergoing tremendous economic and demographic growth.

　　They did their business, after all, in the capital city of the province. Not only did they

　　cater to the governor and his circle, but citizens from all over the colony came to the capital for legislative sessions of the assembly and council and the meetings of the

　　courts of justice.

　　1. What does the passage mainly discuss?

　　(A) Philadelphia's agriculture importance

　　(B) Philadelphia's development as a marketing center

　　(C) The sale of imported goods in Philadelphia

　　(D) The administration of the city of Philadelphia

　　2. It can be inferred from the passage that new markets opened in Philadelphia because

　　(A) they provided more modem facilities than older markets

　　(B) the High Street Market was forced to close

　　(C) existing markets were unable to serve the growing population

　　(D) farmers wanted markets that were closer to the farms.

　　3. The word "hinterland " in line 3 is closest in meaning to

　　(A) tradition

　　(B) association

　　(C) produce

　　(D) region

　　4. The word "it" in line 6 refers to

　　(A) the crowded city

　　(B) a radius

　　(C) the High Street Market

　　(D) the period