1996年8月托福閱讀全真考題

　　1996年8月托福閱讀全真試題>

　　Questions 1-10The word laser was coined as an acronym for Light

　　Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Ordinary

　　light， from the Sun or a light bulb， is emitted spontaneously，

　　when atoms or molecules get rid of excess energy by themselves，

　　without any outside intervention. Stimulated emission

　　is different because it occurs when an atom or molecule holding

　　onto excess energy has been stimulated to emit it as light.Albert Einstein was the first to suggest the existence of

　　stimulated emission in a paper published in 1917. However ，

　　for many years physicists thought that atoms and molecules

　　always were much more likely to emit light spontaneously and

　　that stimulated emission thus always would be much weaker.

　　It was not until after the Second World War that physicists

　　began trying to make stimulated emission dominate. They

　　sought ways by which one atom or molecule could stimulate

　　many other to emit light ， amplifying it to much higher

　　powers. The first to succeed was Charles H.Townes， then at

　　Colombia University in New York . Instead of working with

　　light ， however， he worked with microwaves， which have a

　　much longer wavelength， and built a device he called a

　　"maser" for Microwave Amplification by the Stimulated

　　Emission of Radiation. Although he thought of the key idea in

　　1951， the first maser was not completed until a couple of years

　　later. Before long， many other physicists were building masers

　　and trying to discover how to produce stimulated emission at

　　even shorter wavelength. The key concepts emerged about 1957. Townes and

　　Arthur Schawlow， then at Bell Telephone Laboratories， wrote

　　a long paper outlining the conditions needed to amplify

　　stimulated emission of visible light waves. At about the same time，

　　similar ideas crystallized in the mind of Gordon Gould， then a

　　37- year-old graduate student at Columbia， who wrote them

　　down in a series of notebooks. Townes and Schawlow

　　published their ideas in a scientific journal， Physical Review

　　Letter， but Gould filed a patent application. Three decades later，

　　people still argue about who deserves the credit for the concept

　　of the laser.1.The word "coined" in line 1 could best be replaced by created

　　mentioned

　　understood

　　discovered2.The word "intervention" in line 5 can best be replaced by need

　　device

　　influence

　　source3.The word "it" in line 6 refers to light bulb

　　energy

　　molecule

　　atom4.Which of the following statements best describes a laser? A device for stimulating atoms and molecules to emit light.

　　An atom in a high-energy state.

　　A technique for destroying atoms or molecules.

　　An instrument for measuring light waves.5.Why was Towne‘‘s early work with stimulated emission done with microwaves? He was not concerned with light amplification.

　　It was easier to work with longer wavelengths.

　　His partner Schawlow had already begun work on the laser.

　　The laser had already been developed.6.In his research at Columbia University， Charles Townes worked with all of the following EXCEPT stimulated emission

　　microwaves

　　light amplification

　　a maser7.In approximately what year was the first maser built? 1917

　　1951

　　1953

　　19578.The word "emerged" in line 28 is closest in meaning to increased

　　concluded

　　succeeded

　　appeared9.The word "outlining" in line 30 is closest in meaning to assigning

　　studying

　　checking

　　summarizing10.Why do people still argue about who deserves the credit for the concept of the laser? The researchers‘‘ notebooks were lost.

　　Several people were developing the idea at the same time.

　　No one claimed credit for the development until recently.

　　The work is still incomplete.Questions 11-21Panel painting， common in thirteenth -and fourteenth

　　-century Europe ， involved a painstaking ， laborious process.

　　Wooden planks were joined， covered with gesso to prepare the

　　surface for painting ， and then polished smooth with special

　　tools. On this perfect surface， the artist would sketch a

　　composition with chalk， refine it with inks， and then begin the

　　deliberate process of applying thin layers of egg tempera paint

　　with small brushes.

　　The successive layering of these meticulously applied paints

　　produced the final， translucent colors.Backgrounds of gold were made by carefully applying

　　sheets of gold leaf， and then embellishing of decorating the

　　gold leaf by punching it with a metal rod on which a pattern

　　had been embossed. Every step in the process was slow and

　　deliberate . The quick-drying tempera demanded that the artist

　　know exactly where each stroke be placed before the brush met

　　the panel， and it required the use of fine brushes. It was，

　　therefore ， an ideal technique for emphasizing the hard linear

　　edges and pure， fine areas of color that were so much a part of

　　the overall aesthetic of the time. The notion that an artist

　　could or would dash off an idea in a fit of spontaneous

　　inspiration was completely alien to these deliberately produced works. Furthermore， making these paintings was so time-consuming

　　that it demanded assistance. All such work was done

　　by collective enterprise in the workshops. The painter or

　　master who is credited with having created painting may have

　　designed the work and overseen its production， but it is highly

　　unlikely that the artist‘‘s hand applied every stroke of the

　　brush. More likely， numerous assistants， who had been

　　trained to imitate the artist‘‘s style， applied the paint. The carpenter‘‘s shop probably provided the frame and perhaps supplied

　　the panel， and yet another shop supplied the gold. Thus，

　　not only many hands ， but also many shops were involved in

　　the final product.In spite of problems with their condition， restoration，

　　and preservation many panel paintings have survived， and

　　today many of them are housed in museum collections.11.What aspect of panel paintings does the passage mainly discuss? Famous examples

　　Different styles

　　Restoration

　　Production12.According to the passage， what was the first step in making a panel painting? Mixing the paint

　　Preparing the panel

　　Buying the gold leaf

　　Making ink drawings13.The word "it" in line 6 refers to chalk

　　composition

　　artist

　　surface14.The word "deliberate" in line 7 is closest in meaning to decisive

　　careful

　　natural

　　unusual15.Which of the following processes produced the translucent colors found on panel paintings? Joining wooden planks to form large sheets.

　　Polishing the gesso.

　　Applying many layers of paint.

　　Covering the background with gold leaf.16.Whar characteristic of tempera paint is mentioned in the passage? It dries quickly.

　　It is difficult to make.

　　It dissolves easily.

　　It has to be applied directly to wood.17.The word "demanded" in line 24 is closest in meaning to ordered

　　reported

　　required

　　questioned18.The "collective enterprise" mentioned in line 25 includes all of the following EXCEPT supplying the gold leaf

　　building the panels

　　applying the paint

　　selling the painting19.The word "imitate" in line 30 is closest in meaning to copy

　　illustrate

　　promote

　　believe in20.The author mentions all of the following as problems with the survivals of panel painting EXCEPT condition

　　theft

　　preservation

　　restoration21.The word "them" in line 37 refers to problems

　　condition， restoration， preservation

　　panel paintings

　　museum collectionsQuestions 22-32Crows are probably the most frequently met and easily

　　identifiable members of the native fauna of the United States.

　　The great number of tales， legends， and myths about these

　　birds indicates that people have been exceptionally interested in

　　them for a long time. On the other hand， when it comes to

　　substantive -- particularly behavioral -- information， crows

　　are less well known than many comparably common species

　　and， for that matter， not a few quite uncommon ones: the

　　endangered California condor， to cite one obvious example.

　　There are practical reasons for this.Crows are notoriously poor and aggravating subjects for

　　field research. Keen observers and quick learners， they are

　　astute about the intentions of other creatures， including

　　researchers， and adept at avoiding them. Because they are so

　　numerous， active， and monochromatic， it is difficult to

　　distinguish one crow from another. Bands， radio transmitters， or

　　other identifying devices can be attached to them ， but this of

　　course requires catching live crows， who are among the wariest

　　and most untrappable of birds. Technical difficulties aside ， crow research is daunting

　　because the ways of these birds are so complex and various.

　　As preeminent is generalists， members of this species

　　ingeniously exploit a great range of habitats and resources， and

　　they can quickly adjust to changes in their circumstances.

　　Being so educable， individual birds have markedly different interests

　　and inclinations， strategies and scams. For example， one

　　pet crow learned how to let a dog out of its kennel by pulling

　　the pin on the door. When the dog escaped， the bird went into

　　the kennel and ate its food.22.What is the main topic of the passage? The ways in which crows differ from other common birds.

　　The myths and legends about crows.

　　The characteristics that make crows difficult to study.

　　The existing methods for investigating crow behavior.23.According to the first paragraph， what evidence is there that crows have interested people for a long time? The large number of stories about crows.

　　The frequency with which crows are sighted.

　　The amount of research that has been conducted on crows.

　　The ease with which crows are identified.24.The word "comparably" in line 7 is closest in meaning to interestingly

　　similarly

　　otherwise

　　sometimes25.In line 9， the author mentions the endangered California condor as an example of a species that is smaller than the crow

　　easily identifiable

　　featured in legends

　　very rare26.The word "them" in line 10 refers to crows

　　subjects

　　intentions

　　researchers27.According to the second paragraph， crows are poor subjects for field research for all of the following reasons EXCEPT They can successfully avoid observers.

　　They are hard to distinguish from one another.

　　They can be quite aggressive.

　　They are difficult to catch.28.In the second paragraph， the author implies that using radio transmitters would allow a researcher who studies crow to identify individual crows

　　follow flocks of crows over long distances

　　record the times when crows are most active

　　help crows that become sick or injured29.According to the third paragraph， which of the following is true about crows? They seldom live in any one place for very long.

　　They thrive in a wide variety of environments.

　　They have marked preferences for certain kinds of foods.

　　They use up the resources in one area before moving to another.30.In line 26， the word "inclinations" is closest in meaning to tricks

　　opportunities

　　preferences

　　experiences31.In lines 26-29， the author mentions a pet crow to illustrate which of the following? The clever ways that crows solve problems.

　　The differences between pet crows and wild crows.

　　The ease with which crows can be tamed.

　　The affection that crows show to other creatures32.Which of the following statements is supported by the passage? Crows have relatively long lives.

　　Crows have keen vision.

　　Crows are usually solitary.

　　Crows are very intelligent.Questions 33-41In the early days of the United States， postal charges

　　were paid by the recipient and Charges varied with the

　　distance carried. In 1825， the United States Congress permitted

　　local postmasters to give letters to mail carriers for home

　　delivery， but these carriers received no government salary and their

　　entire compensation depended on what they were paid by the

　　recipients of individual letters.In 1847 the United States Post Office Department

　　adopted the idea of a postage stamp， which of course simplified

　　the payment for postal service but caused grumbling by those

　　who did not like to prepay. Besides， the stamp covered only

　　delivery to the post office and did not include carrying it to a

　　private address. In Philadelphia， for example， with a population

　　of 150，000， people still had to go to the post office to get

　　their mail. The confusion and congestion of individual citizens

　　looking for their letters was itself enough to discourage use of

　　the mail. It is no wonder that， during the years of these

　　cumbersome arrangements， private letter-carrying and express

　　businesses developed. Although their activities were only

　　semilegal， they thrived， and actually advertised that between

　　Boston and Philadelphia they were a half-day speedier than the

　　government mail. The government postal service lost volume

　　to private competition and was not able to handle efficiently

　　even the business it had. Finally， in 1863， Congress provided that the mail carriers

　　who delivered the mail from the post offices to private addresses

　　should receive a government salary， and that there should

　　be no extra charge for that delivery. But this delivery service

　　was at first confined to cities， and free home delivery became a

　　mark of urbanism. As late as 1887， a town had to have 10，000

　　people to be eligible for free home delivery. In 1890， of

　　the 75 million people in the United States， fewer than 20

　　million had mail delivered free to their doors. The rest， nearly

　　three-quarters of the population， still received no mail unless

　　they went to their post office.33.What does the passage mainly discuss? The increased use of private mail services.

　　The development of a government postal system.

　　A comparison of urban and postal services.

　　The history of postage stamps.34.The word "varied" in line 2 could best be replaced by increased

　　differed

　　returned

　　started35.Which of the following was seen as a disadvantage of the postage stamp? It had to be purchased by the sender in advance.

　　It increased the cost of mail delivery.

　　It was difficult to affix to letters.

　　It was easy to counterfeit.36.Why does the author mention the city of Philadephia in line 13? It was the site of the first post office in the United States.

　　Its postal service was inadequate for its population.

　　It was the largest city in the United States in 1847.

　　It was commemorated by the first United States postage stamp.37.The word "cumbersome" in line 17 is closest in meaning to burdensome

　　handsome

　　loathsome

　　quarrelsome38.The word "they" in line 20 refers to Boston and Philadephia

　　businesses

　　arrangements

　　letters39.The private postal services of the nineteenth century claimed that they could do which of the following better than the government? Deliver a higher volume of mail.

　　Deliver mail more cheaply.

　　Deliver mail faster.

　　Deliver mail to rural areas.40.In 1863 the United States government began providing which of the following to mail carriers? A salary

　　Housing

　　Transportation

　　Free postage stamps41.The word "confined" in line 29 is closest in meaning to granted

　　scheduled

　　limited

　　recommendedQuestions 42-50Archaeology has long been an accepted tool for studying

　　prehistoric cultures. Relatively recently the same techniques

　　have been systematically applied to studies of the more

　　immediate past. This has been called "historical archaeology，" a

　　term that is used in the United States to refer to any

　　archaeological investigation into North American sites that postdate

　　the arrival of Europeans.Back in the 1930‘‘s and 1940‘‘s， when building restoration

　　was popular， historical archaeology was primarily a tool of

　　architectural reconstruction. The role of archaeologists was to

　　find the foundations of historic buildings and then take a back

　　seat to architects. The mania for reconstruction had largely subsided by the

　　1950‘‘s and 1960‘‘s. Most people entering historical archaeology

　　during this period came out of university anthropology de-

　　partments.， where they had studied prehistoric cultures. They

　　were， by training， social scientists， not historians， and their

　　work tended to reflect this bias. The questions they framed

　　and the techniques they used were designed to help them

　　understand， as scientists， how people behaved. But because they

　　were treading on historical ground for which there was often

　　extensive written do cumentation and because their own knowledge

　　of these periods was usually limited， their contributions

　　to American history remained circumscribed. Their reports，

　　highly technical and sometimes poorly written， went unread. More recently， professional archaeologists have taken

　　over. These researchers have sought to demonstrate that their

　　work can be a valuable tool not only of science but also of

　　history， providing fresh insights into the daily lives of ordinary

　　people whose existences might not otherwise be so well

　　documented. This newer emphasis on archaeology as social history

　　has shown great promise， and indeed work done in this area

　　has lead to a reinterpretation of the United States past. In Kingston， New York， for example， evidence has

　　uncovered that indicates that English goods were being

　　smuggled into that city at a time when the Dutch supposedly

　　controlled trading in the area. And in Sacramento an

　　excavation at site of a fashionable nineteenth-century hotel

　　revealed that garbage had been stashed in the building‘‘s base-

　　ment despite sanitation laws to the contrary.42.What does the passage mainly discuss? Why historical archaeology was first developed.

　　How the methods and purpose of historical archaeology have changed.

　　The contributions architects make to historical archaeology.

　　The attitude of professional archaeologists toward historical archaeology.43.According to the first paragraph， what is a relatively new focus in archaeology? Investigating the recent past.

　　Studying prehistoric cultures.

　　Excavating ancient sites in what is now the United States.

　　Comparing finding made in North America and Europe.44.According to the passage， when had historical archaeologists been trained as anthropologist? Prior to the 1930‘‘s

　　During the 1930‘‘s and 1940‘‘s

　　During the 1950‘‘s and 1960‘‘s

　　After the 1960‘‘s

　　45.The word "framed" in line 18 is closest in meaning to understood

　　read

　　avoided

　　posed46.In the third paragraph， the author implies that the techniques of history and the techniques of social science are quite different from each other

　　equally useful in studying prehistoric cultures

　　usually taught to students of archaeology

　　both based on similar principles47.The phrase "their contributions" in line 23 refers to the contributions of social scientists

　　prehistoric cultures

　　historians

　　documentation and knowledge48.The author mentions an excavation at the site of a hotel in Sacramento in order to give an example of a building reconstruction project

　　the work of the earliest historical archaeologists

　　a finding that conflicts with written records

　　the kind of information that historians routinely examine49.The word "supposedly" in line 36 is closest in meaning to ruthlessly

　　tightly

　　barely

　　seemingly50.The word "sanitation" in line 40 is closest in meaning to city

　　housing

　　health

　　trade