托福TPO40閱讀真題解析：Passage 2

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(duì)于很多備考托福的學(xué)生來說，TPO往往就是一個(gè)首先的備考材料。今天，小編就為大家?guī)�來托福TPO40閱讀真題解析：Passage 2。

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Latitude and Biodiversity

paragraph 1
When we look at the way in which biodiversity (biological diversity) is distributed over the land surface of the planet, we find that it is far from even. The tropics contain many more species overall than an equivalent area at the higher latitudes. This seems to be true for many different groups of animals and plants.

1. The word “distributed” in the passage is closest in meaning to 【詞匯題】
A. represented
B. collected
C. spread
D. managed
答案：C

解析：distribute, 散布。
Represented, 表現(xiàn)，描寫。Collected, 收集，募捐。 Spread, 傳播，延伸。 Managed, 管理。所以C選項(xiàng)正確。

2. The word “overall” in the passage is closest in meaning to 【詞匯題】
A. considered as a whole
B. to some degree
C. possibly
D. evidently
答案：A

解析：overall, 全體的。Considered as a whole, 視為一個(gè)整體。所以A選項(xiàng)正確。

paragraph 2
Why is it that higher latitudes have lower diversities than the tropics? Perhaps it is simply a matter of land area. The tropics contain a larger surface area of land than higher latitudes—a fact that is not always evident when we examine commonly used projections of Earth’s curved surface, since this tends to exaggerate the areas of land in the higher latitudes—and some biogeographers regard the differences in diversity as a reflection of this effect. But an analysis of the data by biologist Klaus Rohde does not support this explanation. Although area may contribute to biodiversity, it is certainly not the whole story; otherwise, large landmasses would always be richer in species.

3. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information. 【句子簡(jiǎn)化題】
A. Some biogeographers believe that the tropics have larger surface areas than they actually do because of the distortions produced by projections of Earth’s curved surface
B. High levels of diversity in the tropics are sometimes attributed to the fact that the tropics have more surface area of land than the higher latitudes do, though distortions in commonly used projections may seem to suggest otherwise.
C. Because biogeographers disagree on whether or not the tropics are correctly represented in projections of Earth s surface, it is difficult to determine the relationship their surface area has to their diversity
D. Most biogeographers agree that the tropics contain a larger surface area of land than higher latitudes do，but they disagree on whether or not the tropics’ level of diversity is a reflection of that larger surface area.
答案：B

解析：highlighted句子主干為The tropics contain a larger surface area of land than higher latitudes—a fact that is not always evident when we examine commonly used projections of Earth’s curved surface，熱帶地區(qū)比高緯度地區(qū)有更大的表面積，當(dāng)我們檢查地球曲面的映射時(shí)卻并不明顯。其中表因果關(guān)系的since this tends to exaggerate the areas of land in the higher latitudes, 對(duì)應(yīng)B選項(xiàng)中的the tropics have more surface area of land than the higher latitudes do. 所以B選項(xiàng)正確。

4. Why does the author mention “Klaus Rohde” in the passage? 【修辭目的題】
A. To support the argument that large landmasses are usually richer in species than smaller ones are
B. To introduce the argument that there are other factors contributing to species diversity besides land area
C. To cast doubt on whether the tropics actually contain higher species diversity than land at higher latitudes does
D. To emphasize that biogeographers and biologists differ in their approaches to biodiversity
答案：B

解析：根據(jù)原文Although area may contribute to biodiversity, it is certainly not the whole story; Otherwise, large landmasses would always be richer in species.可知，盡管這個(gè)區(qū)域可能會(huì)導(dǎo)致生物多樣性，但是陸地上的物種永遠(yuǎn)都是更豐富的。所以B選項(xiàng)正確。

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paragraph 3
Productivity seems to be involved instead, though perhaps its influence is indirect Where conditions are most suitable for plant growth—that is, where temperatures are relatively high and uniform and where there is an ample supply of water—one usually finds large masses of vegetation. This leads to a complex structure in the layers of plant material. In a tropical rain forest, for example, a very large quantity of plant material builds up above the surface of the ground. There is also a large mass of material, developed below ground as root tissues, but this is less apparent Careful analysis of the above ground material reveals that it is arranged in a series of layers, the precise number of layers varying with age and the nature of the forest. The arrangement of the biological mass ("biomass") of the vegetation into layered forms is termed its "structure" (as opposed to its “composition,” which refers to the species of organisms forming the community) Structure is essentially the architecture of vegetation, and as in the case of tropical forests, it can be extremely complicated. In a mature floodplain tropical forest in the Amazon River basin, the canopy (the uppermost layers of a forest, formed by the crowns of trees) takes on a stratified structure. There are three clear peaks in leaf cover at heights of approximately 3, 6, and 30 meters above the ground; and the very highest layer, at 50 meters, corresponds to the very tall trees that stand free of the main canopy and form an open layer of their own. So, such a forest contains essentially four layers of canopy. Forests in temperate lands often have just two canopy layers, so they have much less complex architecture.

5. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 3 as a condition that benefits plant growth? 【否定事實(shí)信息題】
A. High temperatures
B. Steady temperatures
C. High latitude
D. Plentiful water
答案：C

解析：根據(jù)原文where temperatures are relatively high and uniform and where there is an ample supply of water可知，適合植物生長(zhǎng)的條件是，氣溫較高且穩(wěn)定，有充足的水。所以C選項(xiàng)錯(cuò)誤。

6. The word “precise” in the passage is closest in meaning to 【詞匯題】
A. exact
B. predicted
C. approximate
D. required
答案：A

解析：precise, 精確的。
Exact, 準(zhǔn)確的，精確的。Predicted, 預(yù)測(cè)的。Approximate, 大約的。Required, 必需的。所以A選項(xiàng)正確。

7. Paragraph 3 mentions which of the following as creating the structural complexity of a forest? 【事實(shí)信息題】
A. The height of the very tallest trees in the forest
B. The number of layers of canopy
C. The frequency of floods along the plain
D. The age of the root tissues below the ground
答案：B

解析：根據(jù)原文the precise number of layers varying with age and the nature of the forest..可知導(dǎo)致森林結(jié)構(gòu)復(fù)雜性的原因是樹冠層的數(shù)量。其中the precise number of layers對(duì)應(yīng)B選項(xiàng)中的the number of layers. 所以B選項(xiàng)正確。

8. According to paragraph 3, which of the following statements best describes the difference between structure and composition? 【事實(shí)信息題】
A. “Structure” refers to the arrangement of plant material above the ground surface; “composition” refers to the arrangement of root tissues below the surface of the ground.
B. “Structure” refers to the age of the forest; “composition” refers to the forest's nature.
C. “Structure” refers to the arrangement of plant species in an area, “composition” refers to which plant species are present in the area.
D. “Structure” refers to the shape of the forest canopy; “composition” refers to the number of crowns forming the canopy.
答案：C

解析：根據(jù)原文The arrangement of the biological mass ("biomass") of the vegetation into layered forms is termed its "structure" (as opposed to its “composition,” which refers to the species of organisms forming the community). 可知，結(jié)構(gòu)指的就是在一個(gè)地區(qū)植物物種的分布，組成指的就是在這個(gè)地區(qū)有哪一個(gè)植物物種。所以C選項(xiàng)正確。

9. Why does the author mention “ mature floodplain tropical forest in the Amazon River basin” in the passage? 【修辭目的題】
A. To dispute the idea that tropical forests are arranged in layers
B. To give an example of the complex architecture vegetation displays in a dense area
C. To suggest that the layers of canopy in some tropical forests can exceed the usual three or four
D. To emphasize that the layers of canopy in a tropical forest give evidence of the number of layers of root tissues below the ground
答案：B

解析：根據(jù)原文In a mature floodplain tropical forest in the Amazon River basin, the canopy (the uppermost layers of a forest, formed by the crowns of trees) takes on a stratified structure. There are three clear peaks in leaf cover at heights of approximately 3, 6, and 30 meters above the ground; and the very highest layer, at 50 meters, corresponds to the very tall trees that stand free of the main canopy and form an open layer of their own. So, such a forest contains essentially four layers of canopy. Forests in temperate lands often have just two canopy layers, so they have much less complex architecture.可知文章提及亞馬遜盆地豐富的泛濫平原熱帶雨林是為了說明其結(jié)構(gòu)的復(fù)雜性，其中so they have much less complex architecture對(duì)應(yīng)B選項(xiàng)中的an example of the complex architecture, 所以B選項(xiàng)正確。

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paragraph 4
Structure has a strong influence on the animal life inhabiting a site. It forms the spatial environment within which an animal feeds, moves around shelters, lives, and breeds. It even affects the climate on a very local level (the "microclimate") by influencing light intensity, humidity, and both the range and extremes of temperature. An area of grassland vegetation with very simple structure, for example, has a very different microclimate at the ground level from that experienced in the upper canopy. Wind speeds are lower, temperatures are lower during the day (but warmer at night), and the relative humidity is much greater near the ground. The complexity of the microclimate is closely related to the complexity of structure in vegetation, and generally speaking, the more complex the structure of vegetation, the more species of animal are able to make a living there. The high plant biomass of the tropics leads to a greater spatial complexity in the environment, and this leads to a higher potential for diversity in the living things that can occupy a region. The climates of the higher latitudes are generally less favorable for the accumulation of large quantities of biomass; hence, the structure of vegetation is simpler and the animal diversity is consequently lower.

10. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 4 as an aspect of microclimate? 【否定事實(shí)信息題】
A. Temperature range
B. Relative humidity
C. Light intensity
D. Seasonal variations
答案：D

解析：根據(jù)關(guān)鍵詞microclimate定位至第三句話，It even affects the climate on a very local level (the "microclimate") by influencing light intensity, humidity, and both the range and extremes of temperature. 只有D選項(xiàng)沒有提及，所以選擇D.

11. What can be inferred from paragraph 4 about a region with a high level of diversity of animal species? 【推理題】
A. It also has a high level of plant species diversity.
B. It has relatively few microclimates
C. It develops a less complex structure than does a region with a high plant species diversity.
D. It develops a biomass similar to that of higher latitudes
答案：A

解析：根據(jù)關(guān)鍵詞a high level of diversity of animal species定位至其后面的第七句話The high plant biomass of the tropics leads to a greater spatial complexity in the environment, and this leads to a higher potential for diversity in the living things that can occupy a region. 可知它也同樣擁有大量的植物物種多樣性。所以A選項(xiàng)正確。

12.The word “consequently” in the passage is closest in meaning to 【詞匯題】
A. usually
B. obviously
C. however
D. therefore
答案：D

解析：consequently, 因此，所以。
Usually, 通常的。Obviously, 明顯的。However, 然而。Therefore, 因此。所以D選項(xiàng)正確。

13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. 【句子插入題】
One example of such tropical abundance is found in Panama, which has 667 species of breeding birds--three times the number found in Alaska.
Where would the sentence best fit? Click on square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.
When we look at the way in which biodiversity (biological diversity) is distributed over the land surface of the planet, we find that it is far from even. The tropics contain many more species overall than an equivalent area at the higher latitudes. This seems to be true for many different groups of animals and plants. [■]
Why is it that higher latitudes have lower diversities than the tropics? [■] Perhaps it is simply a matter of land area. [■] The tropics contain a larger surface area of land than higher latitudes—a fact that is not always evident when we examine commonly used projections of Earth’s curved surface, since this tends to exaggerate the areas of land in the higher latitudes—and some biogeographers regard the differences in diversity as a reflection of this effect. [■] But an analysis of the data by biologist Klaus Rohde does not support this explanation. Although area may contribute to biodiversity, it is certainly not the whole story; otherwise, large landmasses would always be richer in species.
答案：A

解析：A選項(xiàng)的前兩句話說這個(gè)熱帶地區(qū)比同等高緯度地區(qū)含有更多的物種，而插入的句子恰好就舉了一個(gè)這樣的例子，所以A選項(xiàng)正確。

14. Directions:An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selected 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 2 points. 【概要小結(jié)題】
Drag your choices to the spaces where they belong. To review the passage, click on View Text
A number of factors may help account for the difference in biodiversity between low and high latitudes.
Answer Choices
A. Though land area may be related to a region's biodiversity, it is not a primary determining factor
B. A structure of varying heights is found in both tropical and temperate forests.
C. The more complex the structure of the vegetation of a region, the more species it is able to support.
D. Regions possessing conditions that are favorable for plant growth tend to have abundant and diverse vegetation that supports a large number of species.
E. The difference in microclimate between a ground-level canopy and an upper-level canopy is responsible for the number of species that inhabit each canopy.
F. The temperature range of a region determines the number of animals that feed, move around, shelter themselves, live, and breed in that region.
答案：A, C, D

解析：根據(jù)原文Although area may contribute to biodiversity, it is certainly not the whole story;其中it is certainly not the whole story對(duì)應(yīng)A選項(xiàng)中的it is not a primary determining factor. 所以A選項(xiàng)正確。
文章并沒有提及在熱帶雨林和溫帶森林都有不同高度的結(jié)構(gòu)。所以B選項(xiàng)錯(cuò)誤。
根據(jù)原文the more complex the structure of vegetation, the more species of animal are able to make a living there. 所以C選項(xiàng)正確。
根據(jù)原文The high plant biomass of the tropics leads to a greater spatial complexity in the environment, and this leads to a higher potential for diversity in the living things that can occupy a region. 其中a higher potential for diversity in the living things對(duì)應(yīng)D選項(xiàng)中的a large number of species. 所以D選項(xiàng)正確。
根據(jù)關(guān)鍵詞a ground-level canopy和an upper-level canopy定位至文章第四段第四句話An area of grassland vegetation with very simple structure, for example, has a very different microclimate at the ground level from that experienced in the upper canopy.并未發(fā)現(xiàn)有提及到地面樹冠和上層樹冠的微氣候差別決定了每個(gè)樹冠層中棲息的物種的數(shù)量。所以E選項(xiàng)錯(cuò)誤。
根據(jù)原文The complexity of the microclimate is closely related to the complexity of structure in vegetation, and generally speaking, the more complex the structure of vegetation, the more species of animal are able to make a living there.可知并非是氣溫的變化導(dǎo)致動(dòng)物的數(shù)量。所以F選項(xiàng)錯(cuò)誤。

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