自我检测：新托福阅读练习题

 　　托福阅读高分的关键是在于多看多练，同学们在日常练习中应该重视托福阅读材料的分析。新东方网为大家整理提供托福阅读练习，供各位考生复习参考。

　　Although only 1 person in 20 in the Colonial period lived in a city， the cities had a disproportionate influence on the development of North America. They were at the cutting edge of social change. It was in the cities that the elements that can be associated with modern capitalism¹ first appeared — the use of money and commercial paper in place of barter²， open competition in place of social deference³ and hierarchy⁴， with an attendant rise in social disorder⁵， and the appearance of factories using coat or water power in place of independent craftspeople working with hand tools. “The cities predicted the future，” wrote historian Gary. B. Nash， “even though they were but overgrown villages compared to the great urban centers of Europe， the Middle East and China.”

　　Except for Boston， whose population stabilized⁶ at about 16，000 in 1760， cities grew by exponential leaps through the eighteenth century. In the fifteen years prior to the outbreak of the War for independence in 1775， more than 200，000 immigrants arrived on North American shores. This meant that a population the size of Boston was arriving every year， and most of it flowed into the port cities in the Northeast. Philadelphia’s population nearly doubted in those years， reaching about 30，000 in 1774， New York grew at almost the same rate， reaching about 25，000 by 1775.

　　The quality of the hinterland dictated⁷ the pace of growth of the cities. The land surrounding Boston had always been poor farm country， and by the mid-eighteenth century it was virtually stripped of its timber. The available farmland was occupied， there was little in the region beyond the city to attract immigrants. New York and Philadelphia， by contrast， served a rich and fertile hinterland laced with navigable watercourses. Scots， Irish， and Germans landed in these cities and followed the rivers inland. The regions around the cities of New York and Philadelphia became the breadbaskets of North America， sending grain not only to other colonies but also to England and southern Europe， where crippling droughts in the late 1760’s created a whole new market.

　　1. Which of the following aspects of North America in the eighteenth century does the passage mainly discuss？

　　（A） The effects of war on the growth of cities（B） The growth and influence of cities

　　（C） The decline of farming in areas surrounding cities（D） The causes of immigration to cities2. Why does the author say that “the cities had a disproportionate influence on the development of North America” （lines 1-2）？

　　（A） The influence of the cities was mostly negative（B） The populations of the cities were small， but their influence was great.

　　（C） The cities were growing at a great rate.

　　（D） Most people pretended to live in cities3. The phrase “in place of ” in lines 4-5 is closest in meaning to（A） connected to

　　（B） in addition to

　　（C） because of

　　（D） instead of

　　4. The word “attendant” in line 6 is closest in meaning to（A） avoidable

　　（B） accompanying

　　（C） unwelcome

　　（D） unexpected

　　5. Which of the following is mentioned as an element of modern capitalism？

　　（A） Open competition

　　（B） Social deference

　　（C） Social hierarchy

　　（D） Independent craftspeople

　　以上就是托福阅读练习，同学们可以积累其中的词汇及优美句式，找到托福阅读段的主题句，了解托福阅读的几个出题点。托福阅读训练是个长期的过程。大家如果每天做几篇阅读，坚持下来，一定会有不小的进步。

 

1 capitalism   

n.资本主义

参考例句：

• The essence of his argument is that capitalism cannot succeed.他的论点的核心是资本主义不能成功。
• Capitalism began to develop in Russia in the 19th century.十九世纪资本主义在俄国开始发展。

2 barter   

n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易

参考例句：

• Chickens,goats and rabbits were offered for barter at the bazaar.在集市上，鸡、山羊和兔子被摆出来作物物交换之用。
• They have arranged food imports on a barter basis.他们以易货贸易的方式安排食品进口。

3 deference   

n.尊重，顺从；敬意

参考例句：

• Do you treat your parents and teachers with deference?你对父母师长尊敬吗？
• The major defect of their work was deference to authority.他们的主要缺陷是趋从权威。

4 hierarchy   

n.等级制度；统治集团，领导层

参考例句：

• There is a rigid hierarchy of power in that country.那个国家有一套严密的权力等级制度。
• She's high up in the management hierarchy.她在管理阶层中地位很高。

5 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

6 stabilized   

v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The patient's condition stabilized. 患者的病情稳定下来。
• His blood pressure has stabilized. 他的血压已经稳定下来了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 dictated   

v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布

参考例句：

• He dictated a letter to his secretary. 他向秘书口授信稿。
• No person of a strong character likes to be dictated to. 没有一个个性强的人愿受人使唤。 来自《简明英汉词典》