托福TPO47閱讀真題解析：Passage 3

TPO，即toefl Practice Online的首寫字母，就是托福在線練習(xí)的意思，TPO可以為考生提供全真的模擬考試環(huán)境和過往真題，而TPO題庫也是有著不斷的更新。在托福閱讀的備考過程中，除了大量的閱讀之外，全面了解托福閱讀的題型和解題方法也都是非常重要的環(huán)節(jié)。而對于很多備考托福的學(xué)生來說，TPO往往就是一個首先的備考材料。今天，小編就為大家?guī)�來托福TPO47閱讀真題解析：Passage 3。

Termite Ingenuity

托福TPO47閱讀Passage 3 ——Paragraph 1  【在線咨詢】

1. The author mentions “white ants” in the beginning of the passage in order to【組織結(jié)構(gòu)題】
A. correct a common misunderstanding about termites
B. introduce the idea that termites only take the form of ants during certain life stages
C. argue that not all white ants are social insects
D. Illustrate the large variety of insect species that live in colonies
答案：A

解析：原文But they are certainly not ants，說明作者想要表明白蟻并不是人們認(rèn)為的螞蟻，對應(yīng)選項A中：correct a common misunderstanding about termites。

2. According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true about termites?【事實信息題】
A. They are a kind of ant, but they are unlike most ants in many ways.
B. They form colonies that grow at first and then gradually decline.
C. Their workers are all males, and their soldiers are all females.
D. They go through a life state called the nymph stage.
答案：D

解析：原文Termites … with only three life stage: egg, nymph, and adult，說明白蟻會經(jīng)歷蛹期，對應(yīng)選項D中：They go through a life state called the nymph stage。白蟻不是螞蟻，選項A錯在a kind of ant。沒有提到聚集地的大小變化，選項B錯在colonies。白蟻中的工蟻有雄也有雌，選項C錯在all males。

托福TPO47閱讀Passage 3 ——Paragraph 2  【在線咨詢】

Since termites are small and soft-bodied, they easily become desiccated and must live in moist places with a high relative humidity. They do best when the relative humidity in their nest is above 96 percent and the temperature is fairly high, an optimum of about 79°F for temperate zone species and about 86°F for tropical species. Subterranean termites, the destructive species that occurs commonly throughout the eastern United States, attain these conditions by nesting in moist soil that is in contact with wood, their only food. The surrounding soil keeps the nest moist and tends to keep the temperature at a more or less favorable level. When it is cold in winter, subterranean termites move to burrows below the frost line.

3. According to paragraph 2, termites need to live in nests with high humidity in order to【事實信息題】
A. keep their food moist
B. withstand cold temperatures in winter
C. protect their bodies from drying out
D. keep nest temperatures high
答案：C

解析：原文Since termites are small and soft-bodied, they easily become desiccated and must live in moist places with a high relative humidity，說明白蟻身體很容易干燥所以要生活在潮濕的地方，對應(yīng)選項C中：protect their bodies from drying out。

4. The word “attain” in the passage is closet in meaning to【詞匯題】
A. achieve
B. observe
C. overcome
D. reflect
答案：A

解析：attain, 獲得。A選項取得，為同義替換，所以A選項正確。

托福TPO47閱讀Passage 3 ——Paragraph 3  【在線咨詢】

Some tropical termites are more ingenious engineers, constructing huge above-ground nests with built-in “air conditioning” that keeps the nest moist, at a constant temperature, and well supplied with oxygen. Among the most architecturally advanced of these termites is an African species, Macroternes natalensis. Renowned Swiss entomologist Martin Luscher described the mounds of this fungus-growing species as being as much as 16 feet tall, 16 feet in diameter at their base, and with a cement-like wall of soil mixed with termite saliva that is from 16 to 23 inches thick. The thick and dense wall of the mound insulates the interior microclimate from the variations in humidity and temperature of the outside atmosphere. Several narrow and relatively thin-walled ridges on the outside of the mound extend from near its base almost to its top.

5. The word “ingenious” in the passage is closest in meaning to 【詞匯題】
A. determined
B. clever
C. ambitious
D. successful
答案：B

解析：ingenious, 聰穎的。B選項聰明的，為同義替換，所以B選項正確。

6. The word “Renowned” in the passage is closest in meaning to 【詞匯題】
A. Skilled
B. Famous
C. Early
D. Revolutionary
答案：B

解析：renowned, 有名的。B選項出名的，為同義替換，所以B選項正確。

7. According to paragraph 3, the nests of some tropical termite species have the ability to 【事實信息題】
A. insulate the microclimate in one part of the nest from the microclimate in another part
B. Allow moist outside air to get inside regardless of whether it is warm or cool
C. rapidly decrease the humidity inside when it gets hot outside
D. Provide the oxygen needed in the nest
答案：D

解析：原文Some tropical termites are more ingenious engineers, constructing … nests … well supplied with oxygen，說明一些熱帶白蟻可以為巢穴提供氧氣，對應(yīng)選項D中：…oxygen needed in the nest。

托福TPO47閱讀Passage 3 ——Paragraph 3和Paragraph 4  【在線咨詢】

Some tropical termites are more ingenious engineers, constructing huge above-ground nests with built-in “air conditioning” that keeps the nest moist, at a constant temperature, and well supplied with oxygen. Among the most architecturally advanced of these termites is an African species, Macroternes natalensis. Renowned Swiss entomologist Martin Luscher described the mounds of this fungus-growing species as being as much as 16 feet tall, 16 feet in diameter at their base, and with a cement-like wall of soil mixed with termite saliva that is from 16 to 23 inches thick. The thick and dense wall of the mound insulates the interior microclimate from the variations in humidity and temperature of the outside atmosphere. Several narrow and relatively thin-walled ridges on the outside of the mound extend from near its base almost to its top.
According to luscher, a medium-sized nest of Macrotermes has a population of about 2 million individuals. The metabolism of so many termites and of the fungus that they grow in their gardens as food helps keep the interior of the nest warm and supplies some moisture to the air in the nest. The termites saturate the atmosphere of the nest, bringing it to about 100 percent relative humidity, by carrying water up from the soil.

8. According to paragraphs 3 and 4, all of the following are true of the nests of Macroternes natalensis EXCEPT: 【否定事實信息題】
A. The walls are built out of soil mixed with termite saliva.
B. The nests can be as tall as they are wide at the base.
C. The interior of the nest is kept as humid as possible.
D. The termites use hollow, thin-walled ridges to travel from one part of the nest to another.
答案：D

解析：原文Several narrow and relatively thin-walled ridges … extend … to …，選項D錯在hollow。原文…as much as 16 feet tall, 16 feet in diameter at their base，說明高度和寬度一樣，對應(yīng)選項B中：…as tall as…wide。原文…and with a cement-like wall of soil mixed with termite saliva ...，說明墻體是土壤和白蟻唾液做成的，對應(yīng)選項A中：…walls…soil…termite saliva。原文The termites saturate the atmosphere of the nest, bringing it to about 100 percent relative humidity...，說明要盡可能的保持巢穴潮濕，對應(yīng)選項C中：as humid as possible。

托福TPO47閱讀Passage 3 ——Paragraph 4  【在線咨詢】

According to luscher, a medium-sized nest of Macrotermes has a population of about 2 million individuals. The metabolism of so many termites and of the fungus that they grow in their gardens as food helps keep the interior of the nest warm and supplies some moisture to the air in the nest. The termites saturate the atmosphere of the nest, bringing it to about 100 percent relative humidity, by carrying water up from the soil.

9. According to paragraph 4, how does the fungus grown by Macrotermes natalensis affect the environment of the nest? 【事實信息題】
A. It carries water up from the soil into the interior.
B. It dries the air by using up moisture as it grows.
C. It heats and adds humidity to the inside of the nest.
D. It lessens the effects of the metabolism of so many termites.
答案：C

解析：原文The metabolism … of the fungus … helps keep the interior of the nest warm and supplies some moisture to the air in the nest，說明菌類的新陳代謝保證巢穴的溫度和濕度，對應(yīng)選項C中：It heats and adds humidity to the inside of the nest。

托福TPO47閱讀Passage 3 ——Paragraph 5  【在線咨詢】

But how is this well-insulated nest ventilated? Its many occupants require over 250 quarts of oxygen (more than 1,200 quarts of aire) per day. How can so much oxygen diffuse through the thick walls of the mound? Even the pores in the wall are filled with water, which almost stops the diffusion of gases. The answer lies in the construction of the nest. The interior consists of a large central core in which the fungus is grown, below it is “cellar” of empty space, above it is an “attic” of empty space, and within the ridges on the outer wall of the nest, there are many small tunnels that connect the cellar and the attic. The warm air in the fungus gardens rises through the nest up to the attic. From the attic, the air passes into the tunnels in the ridges and flows back down to the cellar. Gases, mainly oxygen coming in and carbon dioxide going out, easily diffuse into or out of the ridges, since their walls are thin and their surface area is large because they protrude far our from the wall of the mound. Thus air that flows down into the cellar through the ridges is relatively rich in oxygen, and has lost much of its carbon dioxide. It supplies the nest’s inhabitants with fresh oxygen as it rises through the fungus-growing area back up to the attic.

10. According to paragraph 5, what does the thinness of the ridge walls make possible? 【事實信息題】
A. The concentration of cool air in the cellar
B. The construction of exceptionally long tunnels
C. The even distribution of oxygen from attic to cellar
D. The diffusion of gases into and out of the ridges
答案：D

解析：原文Gases … easily diffuse into or out of the ridges, since their walls are thin …，說明墻體薄的地方是為了讓氣體進(jìn)入和排出，對應(yīng)選項D中：The diffusion of gases into and out of the ridges。

11. According to paragraph 5, what happens to the air in the ridge tunnels of Macrotermes natalensis nests? 【事實信息題】
A. It becomes more humid as water vapor diffuses into the tunnels.
B. It loses carbon dioxide and gains oxygen.
C. It reaches the interior of the nest through pores in the walls.
D. It moves in the same direction as the air in the center of the nest.
答案：B

解析：原文Gases, mainly oxygen coming in and carbon dioxide going out, easily diffuse into or out of the ridges ...，說明氧氣進(jìn)入，二氧化碳排出，對應(yīng)選項B中：It loses carbon dioxide and gains oxygen。

12. Paragraph 5 supports which of the following about the air that flows through the interior of a Macrotermes natalensis mound? 【事實信息題】
A. It has a higher concentration of oxygen in the cellar than in the attic.
B. It is the same temperature as the air on the outside of the mound.
C. It contains over 250 quarts of oxygen which circulate continuously.
D. It is most humid in the cellar and gradually loses moisture as it rises to the attic.
答案：A

解析：原文From the attic, the air … flows back down to the cellar. .... Thus air that flows down into the cellar … is relatively rich in oxygen, and has lost much of its carbon dioxide，說明頂樓的空氣會流回地下室，在這個過程中會失去二氧化碳得到氧氣，所以地下室氧氣要比頂樓的氧氣多，對應(yīng)選項A中：… higher concentration of oxygen … cellar than … attic.

13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
If not through the walls or its pores, how does oxygen enter the nest at all, since the nest has a closed surface? 【句子插入題】
Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.
But how is this well-insulated nest ventilated? Its many occupants require over 250 quarts of oxygen (more than 1,200 quarts of aire) per day. How can so much oxygen diffuse through the thick walls of the mound? [■] Even the pores in the wall are filled with water, which almost stops the diffusion of gases. [■] The answer lies in the construction of the nest. [■] The interior consists of a large central core in which the fungus is grown, below it is “cellar” of empty space, above it is an “attic” of empty space, and within the ridges on the outer wall of the nest, there are many small tunnels that connect the cellar and the attic. [■] The warm air in the fungus gardens rises through the nest up to the attic. From the attic, the air passes into the tunnels in the ridges and flows back down to the cellar. Gases, mainly oxygen coming in and carbon dioxide going out, easily diffuse into or out of the ridges, since their walls are thin and their surface area is large because they protrude far our from the wall of the mound. Thus air that flows down into the cellar through the ridges is relatively rich in oxygen, and has lost much of its carbon dioxide. It supplies the nest’s inhabitants with fresh oxygen as it rises through the fungus-growing area back up to the attic.
答案：B

解析：待插入句子意為，如果不是通過墻壁和氣孔，氧氣如何進(jìn)入巢穴的呢，因為巢穴表面也是密封的。可以推出這句句子前面的話是在描述墻壁和氣孔無法讓氧氣進(jìn)入，也就是How can so much oxygen diffuse through the thick walls of the mound? [■] Even the pores in the wall are filled with water, which almost stops the diffusion of gases，還可以推出這句句子后面的話可能給出了答案，也就是The answer lies in the construction of the nest，所以待插入句子只能放在B處。

14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below.Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 3 points. 【概要小結(jié)題】
Drag your answer choices to the spaces where they belong. To remove an answer choice, click on it.
To review the passage, click VIEW TEXT.
Termites are social insects that live in large, often elaborately constructed nests.
Answer Choices
A. Although termites resemble ants in terms of size, metarmorphosis, and social organization, they actually belong to a different order of insects.
B. Some termites build their nests under ground, while other construct above-ground structures with thick, insulating wall.
C. Some termite species grow a fungus in their nests so that it will purify the air by taking in carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen.
D. Termites are sensitive to dryness and to changes in temperature, so their nests are designed to minimize these factors.
E. Whether they lie above ground or below ground, termite nests must include special pores that allow air to enter the nests.
F. The nests of Macrotermes natalensis consist of a series of chambers and tunnels that allow for the circulation of air and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
答案：BDF

解析：文章首先介紹一些巢穴在地下的白蟻以及另一些巢穴在地上的白蟻，對應(yīng)選項B中：Some … nests underground, while other … above-ground …;然后再介紹白蟻會建造濕度和溫度都恒定的巢穴，對應(yīng)選項D中：Termites are sensitive to dryness and to changes in temperature, so their nests are designed to minimize these factors，文章最后介紹Macrotermes natalensis建造的巢穴有許多房間和通道可以讓空氣循環(huán)交換氧氣和二氧化碳，對應(yīng)選項F中：… Macrotermes natalensis … chambers and tunnels … the circulation of air and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide。白蟻的蛻變期以及社會組織和螞蟻不同，選項A錯在metarmorphosis, and social organization。菌類新陳代謝是釋放二氧化碳，選項C錯在taking in carbon dioxide。氣孔并不能使空氣進(jìn)入，選項E錯在special pores that allow air to enter。

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