托福阅读真题练习

2017年托福阅读真题练习

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　　Although we now tend to refer to the various crafts according to the materials used toconstruct them-clay, glass, wood, fiber, and metal-it was once common to think of crafts interms of function, which led to their being known as the "applied arts." Approaching craftsfrom the point of view of function, we can divide them into simple categories: containers,shelters and supports. There is no way around the fact that containers, shelters, and supportsmust be functional. The applied arts are thus bound by the laws of physics, which pertain toboth the materials used in their making and the substances and things to be contained,supported, and sheltered. These laws are universal in their application, regardless of culturalbeliefs, geography, or climate. If a pot has no bottom or has large openings in its sides, it couldhardly be considered a container in any traditional sense. Since the laws of physics, not somearbitrary decision, have determined the general form of applied-art objects, they follow basicpatterns, so much so that functional forms can vary only within certain limits. Buildingswithout roofs, for example, are unusual because they depart from the norm. However, not allfunctional objects are exactly alike; that is why we recognize a Shang Dynasty vase as beingdifferent from an Inca vase. What varies is not the basic form but the incidental details that donot obstruct the object's primary function.

　　Sensitivity to physical laws is thus an important consideration for the maker of applied-artobjects. It is often taken for granted that this is also true for the maker of fine-art objects. Thisassumption misses a significant difference between the two disciplines. Fine-art objects are notconstrained by the laws of physics in the same way that applied-art objects are. Because theirprimary purpose is not functional, they are only limited in terms of the materials used tomake them. Sculptures must, for example, be stable, which requires an understanding of theproperties of mass, weight distribution, and stress. Paintings must have rigid stretchers sothat the canvas will be taut, and the paint must not deteriorate, crack, or discolor. These areproblems that must be overcome by the artist because they tend to intrude upon his or herconception of the work. For example, in the early Italian Renaissance, bronze statues ofhorses with a raised foreleg usually had a cannonball under that hoof. This was done becausethe cannonball was needed to support the weight of the leg. In other words, the demands ofthe laws of physics, not the sculptor's aesthetic intentions, placed the ball there. That thisdevice was a necessary structural compromise is clear from the fact that the cannonballquickly disappeared when sculptors learned how to strengthen the internal structure of astatue with iron braces (iron being much stronger than bronze).

　　Even though the fine arts in the twentieth century often treat materials in new ways, the basicdifference in attitude of artists in relation to their materials in the fine arts and the applied artsremains relatively constant. It would therefore not be too great an exaggeration to say thatpractitioners of the fine arts work to overcome the limitations of their materials, whereas thoseengaged in the applied arts work in concert with their materials.

　　Paragraph 1: Although we now tend to refer to the various crafts according to the materialsused to construct them-clay, glass, wood, fiber, and metal-it was once common to think ofcrafts in terms of function, which led to their being known as the "applied arts." Approachingcrafts from the point of view of function, we can divide them into simple categories: containers,shelters and supports. There is no way around the fact that containers, shelters, and supportsmust be functional. The applied arts are thus bound by the laws of physics, which pertain toboth the materials used in their making and the substances and things to be contained,supported, and sheltered. These laws are universal in their application, regardless of culturalbeliefs, geography, or climate. If a pot has no bottom or has large openings in its sides, it couldhardly be considered a container in any traditional sense. Since the laws of physics, not somearbitrary decision, have determined the general form of applied-art objects, they follow basicpatterns, so much so that functional forms can vary only within certain limits. Buildingswithout roofs, for example, are unusual because they depart from the norm. However, not allfunctional objects are exactly alike; that is why we recognize a Shang Dynasty vase as beingdifferent from an Inca vase. What varies is not the basic form but the incidental details that donot obstruct the object's primary function.

　　3. The word they in the passage refers to

　　○Applied-art objects

　　○The laws of physics

　　○Containers

　　○The sides of pots

　　4. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence?Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essentialinformation.

　　○Functional applied-art objects cannot vary much from the basic patterns determined by thelaws of physics.

　　○The function of applied-art objects is determined by basic patterns in the laws of physics.

　　○Since functional applied-art objects vary only within certain limits, arbitrary decisionscannot have determined their general form.

　　○The general form of applied-art objects is limited by some arbitrary decision that is notdetermined by the laws of physics.

　　Paragraph 2: Sensitivity to physical laws is thus an important consideration for the maker ofapplied-art objects. It is often taken for granted that this is also true for the maker of fine-artobjects. This assumption misses a significant difference between the two disciplines. Fine-artobjects are not constrained by the laws of physics in the same way that applied-art objectsare. Because their primary purpose is not functional, they are only limited in terms of thematerials used to make them. Sculptures must, for example, be stable, which requires anunderstanding of the properties of mass, weight distribution, and stress. Paintings must haverigid stretchers so that the canvas will be taut, and the paint must not deteriorate, crack, ordiscolor. These are problems that must be overcome by the artist because they tend tointrude upon his or her conception of the work. For example, in the early Italian Renaissance,bronze statues of horses with a raised foreleg usually had a cannonball under that hoof. Thiswas done because the cannonball was needed to support the weight of the leg. In other words,the demands of the laws of physics, not the sculptor's aesthetic intentions, placed the ballthere. That this device was a necessary structural compromise is clear from the fact that thecannonball quickly disappeared when sculptors learned how to strengthen the internalstructure of a statue with iron braces (iron being much stronger than bronze).

　　5. According to paragraph 2, sculptors in the Italian Renaissance stopped using cannonballs inbronze statues of horses because

　　○They began using a material that made the statues weigh less

　　○They found a way to strengthen the statues internally

　　○The aesthetic tastes of the public had changed over time

　　○The cannonballs added too much weight to the statues

　　6. Why does the author discuss the bronze statues of horses created by artists in the earlyItalian Renaissance?

　　○To provide an example of a problem related to the laws of physics that a fine artist mustovercome

　　○To argue that fine artists are unconcerned with the laws of physics

　　○To contrast the relative sophistication of modern artists in solving problems related to thelaws of physics

　　○To note an exceptional piece of art constructed without the aid of technology

　　7. An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Completethe summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas inthe passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas thatare not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2points.

　　This passage discusses fundamental differences between applied-art objects and fine-artobjects.

　　Answer Choices

　　○Applied-art objects fulfill functions, such as containing or sheltering, and objects with thesame function have similar characteristics because they are constrained by their purpose.

　　○It is easy to recognize that Shang Dynasty vases are different from Inca vases.

　　○Fine-art objects are not functional, so they are limited only by the properties of thematerials used.

　　○Renaissance sculptors learned to use iron braces to strengthen the internal structures ofbronze statues.

　　○In the twentieth century, fine artists and applied artists became more similar to one another intheir attitudes toward their materials.

　　○In all periods, fine artists tend to challenge the physical limitations of their materials whileapplied artists tend to cooperate with the physical properties of their materials.

　　8. Directions: Complete the table below to summarize information about the two types of artdiscussed in the passage. Match the appropriate statements to the types of art with whichthey are associated. This question is worth 3 points.

　　TYPES OF ART STATEMENTS

　　Statements

　　○An object's purpose is primarily aesthetic.

　　○Objects serve a functional purpose.

　　○The incidental details of objects do not vary.

　　○Artists work to overcome the limitations of their materials.

　　○The basic form of objects varies little across cultures.

　　○Artists work in concert with their materials.

　　○An object's place of origin is difficult to determine.

　　Drag your answer choices to the spaces where they belong. To review the passage, click onView Text.

　　3. ○1

　　4. ○1

　　5. ○2

　　6. ○1

　　7. ○ 1 3 6

　　8. ○ 2 5 6 1 4

　　参考译文

　　在现代，人们将根据工艺品的制造材质对他们进行分类，如陶土，玻璃，木头，纤维还有金属。但最初人们根据工艺品的功能将他们通通定义为“实用工艺品”。根据工艺品的实用性，我们可以把手工艺品简单分为：容器，遮蔽物，支撑物。毫无疑问它们都是具有一定功能的物品。这些实用工艺品以自然规律为基础，它们的制作材料及其容纳、支撑、遮盖的内容需要符合这些规律。这些规律在工艺品应用过程中非常普遍，不会因文化信仰、地理条件和气候的改变而改变。如果一个壶没有底座，或者在一侧有一个大开口，那么它在任何传统意义上都很难被视为是一个容器。自然规律决定了实用工艺品的一般形式，而不是武断的结论决定的，它们遵循基本的样式，以至于它们的功能不会变化太大。举个例子，没有屋顶的建筑是很少见的，因为它违反了自然规律。但是，并不是所有的功能物品都一模一样，比如我们知道的为什么商代花瓶和印加花瓶不同。它们的区别不是基本功能的不同，而是那些不影响其基本功能的细节存在区别。

　　实用工艺品的生产者会着重考虑这件工艺品对自然规律的敏感性。所以人们认为对纯工艺品的生产来说也是一样。但这种推断忽略了两种工艺品之间重要的区别。纯工艺品不像实用工艺品那样会受到自然规律的限制。因为它们最主要的并不是体现其功能性，其实它们仅受限于制作材料的性质。比方说雕塑必须要牢固，这就需要了解质量，重力分布和压力的性质。油画必须有坚固的支架，才能让画布保持绷紧，并且油画不可以有毁损，裂纹，褪色。类似困难都是艺术家们必须克服的，这些困扰往往影响了艺术家对于工艺品的设计。就好像在意大利文艺复兴早期，踢出前腿马匹的青铜像往往有一个金属球置于它的前蹄下。这样设计是因为需要金属球来支撑腿的重量。换而言之，摆在那里的金属球是客观条件的需要，而不是艺术家的美学意愿。当雕塑家学会如何了用铁支架加强雕塑的内部结构后(铁比青铜更结实)，就不再使用金属球了，由此看来，铁球的使用是对于必要结构性的妥协。

　　尽管在20世纪纯工艺品的制作通常采用新的制造工艺，人们对两种工艺品的基本态度仍然保持对立。因此，毫不夸张地说，纯艺术工艺品的生产者需要克服原材料的限制进行生产，而从事实用性工艺品的生产者则依据材料的性质来进行生产。

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