2003年1月TOEFL机经_第2页

　　11. The word "obscure" in line 1 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) interesting
　　(B) unclear
　　(C) imperfect
　　(D) complex
　　12. According to the passage, which of the following activities is characteristic of the early part of
　　the reproductive cycle of birds?
　　(A) Selecting a mate
　　(B) Collecting nest-building materials
　　(C) Playing with nest-building materials
　　(D) Building a nest
　　13. The word "display" in line 17 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) communicate
　　(B) imitate
　　(C) initiate
　　(D) exhibit
　　14. The novelist John Steinbeck is mentioned in line 14 because he
　　(A) conducted a scientific study on the behavior of ospreys
　　(B) was the first to describe where ospreys built their nests
　　(C) described the materials ospreys can use to build their nests
　　(D) compared the size of osprey nests with the nests of other species
　　15. Which of the following birds are mentioned as those that build nests that include unusual
　　objects?
　　(A) Ravens
　　(B) Ospreys
　　(C) Crows
　　(D) Sparrowhawks
　　16. According to the passage, when gathering materials to build their nests, sparrowhawks do
　　which of the following?
　　(A) Hang upside down
　　(B) Select only green twigs
　　(C) Use objects blowing in the wind
　　(D) Collect more branches than necessary
　　17. The word "these" in line 20 refers to
　　(A) golden eagles
　　(B) generations
　　(C) winds
　　(D) nests
　　18. The word "load" in line 23 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) weight
　　(B) number
　　(C) section
　　(D) level
　　19. The author mentions twenty percent in line 23 to indicate that
　　(A) eagles are twenty percent bigger than most birds
　　(B) twenty percent of all nests include foundation branches
　　(C) the nests of eagles are twenty percent of larger than those of other birds
　　(D) birds can carry twenty percent of their own weight
　　Question 20-30
　　A survey is a study, generally in the form of an interview or a questionnaire, that provides
　　information concerning how people think and act. In the United States, the best-known
　　surveys are the Gallup poll and the Harris poll. As anyone who watches the news during Line presidential campaigns knows, these polls have become an important part of political life in
　　5 the United States.
　　North Americans are familiar with the many "person on the street? interviews on local
　　television news shows. While such interviews can be highly entertaining, they are not
　　necessarily an accurate indication of public opinion. First, they reflect the opinions of only
　　those people who appear at a certain location. Thus, such samples can be biased in favor
　　10 of commuters, middle-class shoppers, or factory workers, depending On which area the
　　newspeople select. Second, television interviews tend to attract outgoing people who are
　　willing to appear on the air, while they frighten away others who may feel intimidated by
　　a camera. A survey must be based on a precise, representative sampling if it is to genuinely
　　reflect a broad range of the population.
　　15 In preparing to conduct a survey, sociologists must exercise great care in the wording
　　of questions. An effective survey question must be simple and clear enough for people to
　　understand it. It must also be specific enough so that there are no problems in interpreting
　　the results. Even questions that are less structured must be carefully phrased in order to elicit
　　the type of information desired. Surveys can be indispensable sources of information, but
　　20 only if the sampling is done properly and the questions are worded accurately.
　　There are two main forms of surveys: the interview and the questionnaire. Each of these
　　forms of survey research has its advantages. An interviewer can obtain a high response rate
　　because people find it more difficult to turn down a personal request for an interview than
　　to throw away a written questionnaire. In addition, an interviewer can go beyond written
　　25 questions and probe for a subject's underlying feelings and reasons. However, questionnaires
　　have the advantage of being cheaper and more consistent.
　　20. What does the passage mainly discuss?
　　(A) The history of surveys in North America
　　(B) The principles of conducting surveys
　　(C) Problems associated with interpreting surveys
　　(D) The importance of polls in American political life
　　21. The word "they" in line 8 refers to
　　(A) North Americans
　　(B) news shows
　　(C) interviews
　　(D) opinions
　　22. According to the passage, the main disadvantage of person-on-the-street interviews is that
　　they
　　(A) are not based on a representative sampling
　　(B) are used only on television
　　(C) are not carefully worded
　　(D) reflect political opinions
　　23. The word "precise" in line 13 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) planned
　　(B) rational
　　(C) required
　　(D) accurate
　　24. According to paragraph 3, which of the following is most important for an effective survey?
　　(A) A high number of respondents
　　(B) Carefully worded questions
　　(C) An interviewer's ability to measure respondents' feelings
　　(D) A sociologist who is able to interpret the results
　　25. The word "exercise" in line 15 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) utilize
　　(B) consider
　　(C) design
　　(D) defend
　　26. The word "elicit" in line 18 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) compose
　　(B) rule out
　　(C) predict
　　(D) bring out
　　27. It can be inferred from the passage that one reason that sociologists may become frustrated
　　with questionnaires is that
　　(A) respondents often do not complete and return questionnaires
　　(B) questionnaires are often difficult to read
　　(C) questionnaires are expensive and difficult to distribute
　　(D) respondents are too eager to supplement questions with their own opinions
　　28. According to the passage, one advantage of live interviews over questionnaires is that live
　　interviews
　　(A) cost less
　　(B) can produce more information
　　(C) are easier to interpret
　　(D) minimize the influence of the researcher
　　29. The word "probe" in line 25 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) explore
　　(B) influence
　　(C) analyze
　　(D) apply
　　30. Which of the following terms is defined in the passage?
　　(A) Survey (line 1)
　　(B) Public opinion (line 8)
　　(C) Representative sampling (line 13)
　　(D) Response rate (line 22)
　　Question 31-39
　　Perhaps one of the most dramatic and important changes that took place in the
　　Mesozoic era occurred late in that era, among the small organisms that populate the
　　uppermost, sunlit portion of the oceans--the plankton. The term "plankton" is a broad
　　Line one, designating all of the small plants and animals that float about or weakly propel
　　5 themselves through the sea. In the late stages of the Mesozoic era. during the Cretaceous
　　period, there was a great expansion of plankton that precipitated skeletons or shells
　　composed of two types of mineral: silica and calcium carbonate. This development
　　radically changed the types of sediments that accumulated on the seafloor, because,
　　while the organic parts of the plankton decayed after the organisms died, their mineralized
　　10 skeletons often survived and sank to the bottom. For the first time in the Earth's long
　　history, very large quantities of silica skeletons, which would eventually harden into rock,
　　began to pile up in parts of the deep sea. Thick deposits of calcareous ooze made up of
　　the tiny remains of the calcium carbonate-secreting plankton also accumulated as never
　　before. The famous white chalk cliffs of Dover, in the southeast of England, are just one
　　15 example of the huge quantities of such material that amassed during the Cretaceous
　　period; there are many more. Just why the calcareous plankton were so prolific during
　　the latter part of the Cretaceous period is not fully understood. Such massive amounts
　　of chalky sediments have never since been deposited over a comparable period of time.
　　The high biological productivity of the Cretaceous oceans also led to ideal conditions
　　20 for oil accumulation. Oil is formed when organic material trapped in sediments is slowly
　　buried and subjected to increased temperatures and pressures, transforming it into
　　petroleum. Sediments rich in organic material accumulated along the margins of the
　　Tethys Seaway, the tropical east-west ocean that formed when Earth's single landmass
　　(known as Pangaea) split apart during the Mesozoic era. Many of today's important oil
　　25 fields are found in those sediments--in Russia, the Middle East, the Gulf of Mexico, and
　　in the states of Texas and Louisiana in the United States.
　　31. What does the passage mainly discuss?
　　(A) How sediments were built up in oceans during the Cretaceous period
　　(B) How petroleum was formed in the Mesozoic era
　　(C) The impact of changes in oceanic animal and plant life in the Mesozoic era
　　(D) The differences between plankton found in the present era and Cretaceous plankton
　　32. The passage indicates that the Creiaceous period occurred
　　(A) in the early part of the Mesozoic era
　　(B) in the middle part of the Mesozoic era
　　(C) in the later part of the Mesozoic era
　　(D) after the Mesozoic era
　　33. The passage mentions all of the following aspects of plankton EXCEPT
　　(A) the length of their lives
　　(B) the level of the ocean at which they are found
　　(C) their movement
　　(D) their size
　　34. The word "accumulated" in line 8 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) depended
　　(B) matured
　　(C) dissolved
　　(D) collected
　　35. According to the passage, the most dramatic change to the oceans caused by plankton during
　　the Cretaceous period concerned
　　(A) the depth of the water
　　(B) the makeup of the sediment on the ocean floor
　　(C) the decrease in petroleum-producing sediment
　　(D) a decline in the quantity of calcareous ooze on the seafloor
　　36. The "white chalk cliffs of Dover" are mentioned in line 14 of the passage to
　　(A) show where the plankton sediment first began to build up
　　(B) provide an example of a plankton buildup that scientists cannot explain
　　(C) provide an example of the buildup of plankton sediment
　　(D) indicate the largest single plankton buildup on Earth
　　37. The word "prolific" in line 16 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) fruitful
　　(B) distinct
　　(C) determined
　　(D) energetic
　　38. The word "ideal" in line 19 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) common
　　(B) clear
　　(C) perfect
　　(D) immediate
　　39. The word "it" in line 21 refers to
　　(A) biological productivity
　　(B) oil
　　(C) organic material
　　(D) petroleum
　　Question 40-50
　　Of all modern instruments, the violin is apparently one of the simplest. It consists in
　　essence of a hollow, varnished wooden sound box, or resonator, and a long neck, covered
　　with a fingerboard, along which four strings are stretched at high tension. The beauty of
　　Line design, shape, and decoration is no accident: the proportions of the instrument are
　　5 determined almost entirely by acoustical considerations. Its simplicity of appearance is
　　deceptive. About 70 parts are involved in the construction of a violin, Its tone and its
　　outstanding range of expressiveness make it an ideal solo instrument. No less important.
　　however, is its role as an orchestral and chamber instrument. In combination with the
　　larger and deeper-sounding members of the same family, the violins form the nucleus
　　10 of the modern symphony orchestra.
　　The violin has been in existence since about 1550. Its importance as an instrument
　　in its own right dates from the early 1600's, when it first became standard in Italian
　　opera orchestras. Its stature as an orchestral instrument was raised further when in 1626
　　Louis XIII of France established at his court the orchestra known as Les vingt-quatre
　　15 violons du Roy (The King's 24 Violins), which was to become widely famous later in
　　the century.
　　In its early history, the violin had a dull and rather quiet tone resulting from the fact
　　that the strings were thick and were attached to the body of the instrument very loosely.
　　During the eighteenth and nineteenth century, exciting technical changes were inspired
　　20 by such composer-violinists as Vivaldi and Tartini. Their instrumental compositions
　　demanded a fuller, clearer, and more brilliant tone that was produced by using thinner
　　strings and a far higher string tension. Small changes had to be made to the violin's
　　internal structure and to the fingerboard so that they could withstand the extra strain.
　　Accordingly, ,a higher standard of performance was achieved, in terms of both facility
　　25 and interpretation. Left-hand technique was considerably elaborated, and new fingering
　　patterns on the fingerboard were developed for very high notes.
　　40. The word "standard" in line 12 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) practical
　　(B) customary
　　(C) possible
　　(D) unusual
　　41. "The King’s 24 Violins" is mentioned in line 15 to illustrate
　　(A) how the violin became a renowned instrument
　　(B) the competition in the 1600's between French and Italian orchestras
　　(C) the superiority of French violins
　　(D) why the violin was considered the only instrument suitable to be played by royalty
　　42. What is the main idea presented in paragraph 3?
　　(A) The violin has been modified to fit its evolving musical functions.
　　(B) The violin is probably the best known and most widely distributed musical instrument in the
　　world.
　　(C) The violin had reached the height of its popularity by the middle of the eighteenth century.
　　(D) The technique of playing the violin has remained essentially the same since the 1600's.
　　43. The author mentions Vivaldi and Tartini in line 20 as examples of composers whose music
　　(A) inspired more people to play the violin
　　(B) had to be adapted to the violin
　　(C) demanded more sophisticated violins
　　(D) could be played only by their students
　　44. The word "they" in line 23 refers to
　　(A) Civaldi and Tartini
　　(B) thinner strings and a higher string tension
　　(C) small changes
　　(D) internal structure and fingerboard
　　45. The word "strain" in line 23 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) struggle
　　(B) strength
　　(C) strategy
　　(D) stress
　　46. The word "Accordingly" in line 24 is closest in meaning to
　　(A) However
　　(B) Consequently
　　(C) Nevertheless
　　(D) Ultimately
　　47. According to the passage, early violins were different from modern violins in that early violins
　　(A) were heavier
　　(B) broke down more easily
　　(C) produced softer tones
　　(D) were easier to play
　　48. According to the passage, which of the following contributes to a dull sound being produced
　　by a violin?
　　(A) A long fingerboard
　　(B) A small body
　　(C) High string tension
　　(D) Thick strings
　　49. Which of the following terms is defined in the passage?
　　(A) resonator (line 2)
　　(B) solo (line 7)
　　(C) left-hand technique (line 25)
　　(D) fingering patterns (lines 25-26)
　　50. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as contributing to the ability to play modern violin music EXCEPT
　　(A) more complicated techniques for the left hand
　　(B) different ways to use the fingers to play very high notes
　　(C) use of rare wood for the fingerboard and neck
　　(D) minor alterations to the structure of the instrument