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tpo41阅读题及答案1:Navajo Art
The Navajo, a Native American people living in the southwestern United States, live in small scattered settlements. In many respects, such as education, occupation, and leisure activities, their life is like that of other groups that contribute to the diverse social fabric of North American culture in the twenty-first century. At the same time, they have retained some traditional cultural practices that are associated with particular art forms. For example, the most important traditional Navajo rituals include the production of large floor paintings. These are actually made by pouring thin, finely controlled streams of colored sands or pulverized vegetable and mineral substances, pollen, and flowers in precise patterns on the ground. The largest of these paintings may be up to 5.5 meters in diameter and cover the entire floor of a room. Working from the inside of the design outward, the Navajo artist and his assistants will sift the black, white, bluish-gray, orange, and red materials through their fingers to create the finely detailed imagery. The paintings and chants used in the ceremonies are directed by well-trained artists and singers who enlist the aid of spirits who are impersonated by masked performers. The twenty-four known Navajo chants can be represented by up to 500 sand paintings. These complex paintings serve as memory aids to guide the singers during the performance of the ritual songs, which can last up to nine days.
The purpose and meaning of the sand paintings can be explained by examining one of the most basic ideals of Navajo society, embodied in their word hozho (beauty or harmony, goodness, and happiness). It coexists with hochxo ("ugliness," or "evil," and "disorder") in a world where opposing forces of dynamism and stability create constant change. When the world, which was created in beauty, becomes ugly and disorderly, the Navajo gather to perform rituals with songs and make sand paintings to restore beauty and harmony to the world. Some illness is itself regarded as a type of disharmony. Thus, the restoration of harmony through a ceremony can be part of a curing process.
Men make sand paintings that are accurate copies of paintings from the past. The songs sung over the paintings are also faithful renditions of songs from the past. By recreating these arts, which reflect the original beauty of creation, the Navajo bring beauty to the present world. As relative newcomers to the Southwest, a place where their climate, neighbors, and rulers could be equally inhospitable, the Navajo created these art forms to affect the world around them, not just through the recounting of the actions symbolized, but through the beauty and harmony of the artworks themselves. The paintings generally illustrate ideas and events from the life of a mythical hero, who, after being healed by the gods, gave gifts of songs and paintings. Working from memory, the artists re-create the traditional form of the image as accurately as possible.
The Navajo are also world-famous for the designs on their woven blankets. Navajo women own the family flocks, control the shearing of the sheep, the carding, the spinning, and dying of the thread, and the weaving of the fabrics. While the men who make faithful copies of sand paintings from the past represent the principle of stability in Navajo thought, women embody dynamism and create new designs for every weaving they make. Weaving is a paradigm of the creativity of a mythic ancestor named Spider Woman who wove the universe as a cosmic web that united earth and sky. It was she who,according to legend, taught Navajo women how to weave. As they prepare their materials and weave. Navajo women imitate the transformations that originally created the world. Working on their looms, Navajo weavers create images through which they experience harmony with nature. It is their means of creating beauty and thereby contributing to the beauty, harmony,and healing of the world. Thus, weaving is a way of seeing the world and being part of it.
Paragraph 1
The Navajo, a Native American people living in the southwestern United States, live in small scattered settlements. In many respects, such as education, occupation, and leisure activities, their life is like that of other groups that contribute to the diverse social fabric of North American culture in the twenty-first century. At the same time, they have retained some traditional cultural practices that are associated with particular art forms. For example, the most important traditional Navajo rituals include the production of large floor paintings. These are actually made by pouring thin, finely controlled streams of colored sands or pulverized vegetable and mineral substances, pollen, and flowers in precise patterns on the ground. The largest of these paintings may be up to 5.5 meters in diameter and cover the entire floor of a room. Working from the inside of the design outward, the Navajo artist and his assistants will sift the black, white, bluish-gray, orange, and red materials through their fingers to create the finely detailed imagery.The paintings and chants used in the ceremonies are directed by well-trained artists and singers who enlist the aid of spirits who are impersonated by masked performers. The twenty-four known Navajo chants can be represented by up to 500 sand paintings. These complex paintings serve as memory aids to guide the singers during the performance of the ritual songs, which can last up to nine days.
1. The word “precise” is closest in meaning to
A. colorful
B. exact
C. delicate
D. complex
2. The word “enlist" in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. assist
B. require
C. describe
D. recruit
3. What can be inferred from paragraph 1 about the Navajo ritual chants?
A. There is a large number of them.
B. Each of them corresponds to a particular sand painting.
C. They are difficult to remember.
D. They do not take long to perform
4. According to paragraph 1, all of the following are true of many important Navajo rituals EXCEPT:
A. They involve the creation of large, detailed images.
B. They include performers whose faces are covered.
C. They take place indoors.
D. They are performed without elaborate planning.
Paragraph 2
The purpose and meaning of the sand paintings can be explained by examining one of the most basic ideals of Navajo society, embodied in their word hozho (beauty or harmony, goodness, and happiness). It coexists with hochxo ("ugliness," or "evil," and "disorder") in a world where opposing forces of dynamism and stability create constant change. When the world, which was created in beauty, becomes ugly and disorderly, the Navajo gather to perform rituals with songs and make sand paintings to restore beauty and harmony to the world. Some illness is itself regarded as a type of disharmony. Thus, the restoration of harmony through a ceremony can be part of a curing process.
5. It can be inferred from the discussion of illness and curing in paragraph 2 that
A. the Navajo consider illness to always have a supernatural cause
B. rituals involving songs and sand paintings may be used to treat an illness
C. when a Navajo is ill, ugly and disorderly sand paintings are made
D. after a serious illness, a Navajo will take part in a ceremony
Paragraph 3
Men make sand paintings that are accurate copies of paintings from the past. The songs sung over the paintings are also faithful renditions of songs from the past. By recreating these arts, which reflect the original beauty of creation, the Navajo bring beauty to the present world. As relative newcomers to the Southwest, a place where their climate, neighbors, and rulers could be equally inhospitable, the Navajo created these art forms to affect the world around them, not just through the recounting of the actions symbolized, but through the beauty and harmony of the artworks themselves. The paintings generally illustrate ideas and events from the life of a mythical hero, who, after being healed by the gods, gave gifts of songs and paintings. Working from memory, the artists re-create the traditional form of the image as accurately as possible.
6. The word “faithful” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. modern
B. accurate
C. wonderful
D. simplified
7. 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.
A. The Navajo used the symbolism and beauty of their works of art to improve their life in an often inhospitable environment.
B. The ideas the Navajo hold about symbolism and beauty were influenced by their inhospitable climate, neighbors, and rulers.
C. When they first arrived in the Southwest, the Navajo produced symbolic art forms that promoted harmony.
D. In their works of art, the Navajo emphasized beauty and harmony that can be found even under the most inhospitable circumstances.
8. According to paragraph 3, which of the following is often the subject of Navajo sand paintings?
A. The landscape of the Southwest
B. Traditional Navajo practices
C. Historical events that occurred in the Southwest
D. The lives of heroes in traditional Navajo stories
Paragraph 4
The Navajo are also world-famous for the designs on their woven blankets. Navajo women own the family flocks, control the shearing of the sheep, the carding, the spinning, and dying of the thread, and the weaving of the fabrics. While the men who make faithful copies of sand paintings from the past represent the principle of stability in Navajo thought, women embody dynamism and create new designs for every weaving they make. Weaving is a paradigm of the creativity of a mythic ancestor named Spider Woman who wove the universe as a cosmic web that united earth and sky. It was she who,according to legend, taught Navajo women how to weave. As they prepare their materials and weave. Navajo women imitate the transformations that originally created the world. Working on their looms, Navajo weavers create images through which they experience harmony with nature. It is their means of creating beauty and thereby contributing to the beauty, harmony, and healing of the world. Thus, weaving is a way of seeing the world and being part of it.
9. Paragraph 4 supports which of the following statements about Navajo weavers and weaving?
A. Navajo women oversee all aspects of wool production and weaving.
B. The wool used for blankets comes from different sheep than does the wool used for other purposes.
C. Navajo weavers have used some of the same designs for hundreds of years.
D. Weaving is done primarily for use in rituals.
10. The word “ancestor” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. relative from an earlier generation
B. person who established a particular tradition in a society
C. hero from ancient times
D. person who once made important contributions to a social group or culture
11. Why does the author discuss “a mythic ancestor”?
A. To show how Navajo ideas of weaving have changed over time
B. To explain why the Navajo principle of stability is more clearly represented in their weavings than in their sand paintings
C. To emphasize the role of naturally occurring weaving materials in the creative weavings of the Navajo
D. To help explain the significance of weaving in Navajo culture
12. According to paragraph 4, Navajo weavers imitate
A. traditional weaving patterns
B. patterns used in sand paintings
C. the activities through which the world was created
D. images from nature
13. Look at the four squares [■]] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
Since this purpose is limited to the context of the ritual, the paintings are destroyed when the ritual is completed.
Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.
The Navajo, a Native American people living in the southwestern United States, live in small scattered settlements. In many respects, such as education, occupation, and leisure activities, their life is like that of other groups that contribute to the diverse social fabric of North American culture in the twenty-first century. At the same time, they have retained some traditional cultural practices that are associated with particular art forms. For example, the most important traditional Navajo rituals include the production of large floor paintings. These are actually made by pouring thin, finely controlled streams of colored sands or pulverized vegetable and mineral substances, pollen, and flowers in precise patterns on the ground. The largest of these paintings may be up to 5.5 meters in diameter and cover the entire floor of a room. Working from the inside of the design outward, the Navajo artist and his assistants will sift the black, white, bluish-gray, orange, and red materials through their fingers to create the finely detailed imagery. [■] The paintings and chants used in the ceremonies are directed by well-trained artists and singers who enlist the aid of spirits who are impersonated by masked performers. [■] The twenty-four known Navajo chants can be represented by up to 500 sand paintings. [■] These complex paintings serve as memory aids to guide the singers during the performance of the ritual songs, which can last up to nine days. [■]
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.
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.
Navajo art is fundamentally connected to aspects of Navajo ritual and belief.
tpo41阅读题及答案2:Answer Choices
A. Navajo sand paintings are an expression of the close relationship between nature and the spiritual world in Navajo culture
B. Sand paintings, which help participants in rituals recall traditional chants, are part of ceremonies
designed to restore beauty and harmony.
C. Whereas Navajo sand paintings are associated with male deities. Navajo weaving involves representations of female figures such as Spider Woman.
D. Individual Navajo sand paintings typically embody the principles of harmony and disorder.
E. Sand paintings, which are created by Navajo men, are faithful re-creations of earlier works and as such represent the principle of stability.
F. In Navajo culture, weaving is a female art and is associated with creativity and change.
Climate of Venus
Earth has abundant water in its oceans but very little carbon dioxide in its relatively thin atmosphere. By contrast, Venus is very dry and its thick atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide. The original atmospheres of both Venus and Earth were derived at least in part from gases spewed forth, or outgassed, by volcanoes. The gases that emanate from present-day volcanoes on Earth, such as Mount Saint Helens, are predominantly water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. These gases should therefore have been important parts of the original atmospheres of both Venus and Earth. Much of the water on both planets is also thought to have come from impacts from comets, icy bodies formed in the outer solar system.
In fact, water probably once dominated the Venusian atmosphere. Venus and Earth are similar in size and mass, so Venusian volcanoes may well have outgassed as much water vapor as on Earth, and both planets would have had about the same number of comets strike their surfaces. Studies of how stars evolve suggest that the early Sun was only about 70 percent as luminous as it is now, so the temperature in Venus’ early atmosphere must have been quite a bit lower. Thus water vapor would have been able to liquefy and form oceans on Venus. But if water vapor and carbon dioxide were once so common in the atmospheres of both Earth and Venus, what became of Earth’s carbon dioxide? And what happened to the water on Venus?
The answer to the first question is that carbon dioxide is still found in abundance on Earth, but now, instead of being in the form of atmospheric carbon dioxide, it is either dissolved in the oceans or chemically bound into carbonate rocks, such as the limestone and marble that formed in the oceans. If Earth became as hot as Venus, much of its carbon dioxide would be boiled out of the oceans and baked out of the crust. Our planet would soon develop a thick, oppressive carbon dioxide atmosphere much like that of Venus.
To answer the question about Venus’ lack of water, we must return to the early history of the planet. Just as on present-day Earth, the oceans of Venus limited the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide by dissolving it in the oceans and binding it up in carbonate rocks. But being closer to the Sun than Earth is, enough of the liquid water on Venus would have vaporized to create a thick cover of water vapor clouds. Since water vapor is a greenhouse gas, this humid atmosphere—perhaps denser than Earth’s present-day atmosphere, but far less dense than the atmosphere that envelops Venus today—would have efficiently trapped heat from the Sun. At first, this would have had little effect on the oceans of Venus. Although the temperature would have climbed above 100° C, the boiling point of water at sea level on Earth, the added atmospheric pressure from water vapor would have kept the water in Venus’ oceans in the liquid state.
This hot and humid state of affairs may have persisted for several hundred million years. But as the Sun’s energy output slowly increased over time, the temperature at the surface would eventually have risen above 374°C. Above this temperature, no matter what the atmospheric pressure. Venus’ oceans would have begun to evaporate, and the added water vapor in the atmosphere would have increased the greenhouse effect. This would have made the temperature even higher and caused the oceans to evaporate faster, producing more water vapor. That, in turn, would have further intensified the greenhouse effect and made the temperature climb higher still.
Once Venus’ oceans disappeared, so did the mechanism for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. With no oceans to dissolve it, outgassed carbon dioxide began to accumulate in the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect even more Temperatures eventually became high
enough to" bake out” any carbon dioxide that was trapped in carbonate rocks. This liberated carbon dioxide formed the thick atmosphere of present-day Venus. Over time, the rising temperatures would have leveled off, solar ultraviolet radiation having broken down atmospheric water vapor molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. With all the water vapor gone, the greenhouse effect would no longer have accelerated.
Paragraph 1
Earth has abundant water in its oceans but very little carbon dioxide in its relatively thin atmosphere. By contrast, Venus is very dry and its thick atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide. The original atmospheres of both Venus and Earth were derived at least in part from gases spewed forth, or outgassed, by volcanoes. The gases that emanate from present-day volcanoes on Earth, such as Mount Saint Helens, are predominantly water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. These gases should therefore have been important parts of the original atmospheres of both Venus and Earth. Much of the water on both planets is also thought to have come from impacts from comets, icy bodies formed in the outer solar system.
1. According to paragraph 1, in what major respect are Venus and Earth different from each other?
A. Whether carbon dioxide v/as present in their original atmospheres
B. How thin their original atmospheres were
C. What their present-day atmospheres mainly consist of
D. How long ago they first developed an atmosphere
2. Why does the author mention "present-day volcanoes on Earth"?
A. To provide an example of an important difference between present-day Venus and present-day Earth
B. To help explain why Earth's atmosphere still contains traces of sulfur dioxide but Venus' does not
C. To indicate one source of information about the likely composition of the original atmospheres of Venus and Earth
D. To account for the fact that Earth’s water supply no longer comes primarily from impacting comets
Paragraph 2
In fact, water probably once dominated the Venusian atmosphere. Venus and Earth are similar in size and mass, so Venusian volcanoes may well have outgassed as much water vapor as on Earth, and both planets would have had about the same number of comets strike their surfaces. Studies of how stars evolve suggest that the early Sun was only about 70 percent as luminous as it is now, so the temperature in Venus’ early atmosphere must have been quite a bit lower. Thus water vapor would have been able to liquefy and form oceans on Venus. But if water vapor and carbon dioxide were once so common in the atmospheres of both Earth and Venus, what became of Earth’s carbon dioxide? And what happened to the water on Venus?
3. According to paragraph 2, what is one reason for thinking that at one time, there were significant amounts of water on Venus?
A. Because of Venus’ size and mass, its volcanoes probably produced much more water vapor than
volcanoes on Earth did.
B. The low temperature of Venus' early atmosphere can be explained only by the presence of water.
C. The presence of carbon dioxide in a planet's atmosphere is an indicator of water on that planet.
D. Venus probably was struck by roughly as many comets as Earth was.
4. The word “luminous” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. dense
B. bright
C. large
D. active
Paragraph 3
The answer to the first question is that carbon dioxide is still found in abundance on Earth, but now, instead of being in the form of atmospheric carbon dioxide, it is either dissolved in the oceans or chemically bound into carbonate rocks, such as the limestone and marble that formed in the oceans. If Earth became as hot as Venus, much of its carbon dioxide would be boiled out of the oceans and baked out of the crust. Our planet would soon develop a thick, oppressive carbon dioxide atmosphere much like that of Venus.
5. 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.
A. The first question to be answered is how Earth’s atmospheric carbon dioxide either got dissolved in the oceans or got chemically bound into carbonate rocks.
B. The fact that Earth’s abundant carbon dioxide is more often found in carbonate rock than dissolved in the oceans is the answer to the first question.
C. Earth still has abundant carbon dioxide, but instead of being in the atmosphere it is now dissolved in the oceans or chemically bound into ocean rocks.
D. The formation of limestone and marble used up the carbon dioxide that was dissolved in Earth’s oceans so that only carbon dioxide in atmospheric form remained.
Paragraph 4
To answer the question about Venus’ lack of water, we must return to the early history of the planet. Just as on present-day Earth, the oceans of Venus limited the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide by dissolving it in the oceans and binding it up in carbonate rocks. But being closer to the Sun than Earth is, enough of the liquid water on Venus would have vaporized to create a thick cover of water vapor clouds. Since water vapor is a greenhouse gas, this humid atmosphere—perhaps denser than Earth’s present-day atmosphere, but far less dense than the atmosphere that envelops Venus today—would have efficiently trapped heat from the Sun. At first, this would have had little effect on the oceans of Venus. Although the temperature would have climbed above 100° C, the boiling point of water at sea level on Earth, the added atmospheric pressure from water vapor would have kept the water in Venus’ oceans in the liquid state.
6. According to paragraph 4, what is one factor that kept the amount of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere of early Venus relatively low?
A. The presence of water vapor clouds
B. The presence of oceans
C. Rapidly increasing temperatures at ground level
D. Low atmospheric pressures
Paragraph 6
Once Venus’ oceans disappeared, so did the mechanism for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. With no oceans to dissolve it, outgassed carbon dioxide began to accumulate in the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect even more Temperatures eventually became high enough to" bake out” any carbon dioxide that was trapped in carbonate rocks. This liberated carbon dioxide formed the thick atmosphere of present-day Venus. Over time, the rising temperatures would have leveled off, solar ultraviolet radiation having broken down atmospheric water vapor molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. With all the water vapor gone, the greenhouse effect would no longer have accelerated.
7. The phrase “mechanism for” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. means of
B. importance of
C. need for
D. benefits of
Paragraph 5
This hot and humid state of affairs may have persisted for several hundred million years. But as the Sun’s energy output slowly increased over time, the temperature at the surface would eventually have risen above 374°C. Above this temperature, no matter what the atmospheric pressure. Venus’ oceans would have begun to evaporate, and the added water vapor in the atmosphere would have increased the greenhouse effect. This would have made the temperature even higher and caused the oceans to evaporate faster, producing more water vapor. That, in turn, would have further intensified the greenhouse effect and made the temperature climb higher still.
8. The word “persisted” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. improved
B. continued
C. weakened
D. evolved
9. According to paragraph 5, what happens when temperatures rise above 374°C?
A. Atmospheric pressure begins to decrease.
B. Water vapor disappears from the atmosphere.
C. Water evaporates regardless of atmospheric pressure.
D. More energy is required to evaporate a given volume of water.
Paragraph 6
Once Venus’ oceans disappeared, so did the mechanism for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. With no oceans to dissolve it, outgassed carbon dioxide began to accumulate in the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect even more Temperatures eventually became high enough to" bake out” any carbon dioxide that was trapped in carbonate rocks. This liberated carbon dioxide formed the thick atmosphere of present-day Venus. Over time, the rising temperatures would have leveled off, solar ultraviolet radiation having broken down atmospheric water vapor molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. With all the water vapor gone, the greenhouse effect would no longer have accelerated.
10. According to paragraph 6, extremely high temperatures increased the amount of carbon dioxide in Venus’ atmosphere by
A. increasing the rate which carbon dioxide was outgassed
B. baking out carbon dioxide from carbonate rocks
C. creating additional water vapor
D. replacing the previous mechanisms for removing carbon dioxide with less effective ones
11. The passage supports the idea that the basic reason that Venus and Earth are now so different from each other is that
A. early Venus had more frequent volcanic outgassing than early Earth did
B. early Venus had far less liquid water than early Earth did
C. volcanic activity stopped relatively early on Venus but continued on Earth
D. Venus is closer to the Sun than Earth is
Paragraph 5
12. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
This cycle of rising temperatures following an increase in greenhouse gases is known as the
runaway greenhouse effect.
Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.
This hot and humid state of affairs may have persisted for several hundred million years. But as the Sun’s energy output slowly increased over time, the temperature at the surface would eventually have risen above 374°C. [■] Above this temperature, no matter what the atmospheric pressure. Venus’ oceans would have begun to evaporate, and the added water vapor in the atmosphere would have increased the greenhouse effect. [■] This would have made the temperature even higher and caused the oceans to evaporate faster, producing more water vapor. [■] That, in turn, would have further intensified the greenhouse effect and made the temperature climb higher still. [■]
13. Directions: Select from the seven phrases below the 2 phrases that correctly characterize early
Venus and the 3 phrases that correctly characterize present-day Venus. Drag each phrase you select into the appropriate column of the table. Two of the phrases will NOT be used. This question is worth 3 points.
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.
Early Venus
Present-day Venus
Answer Choices
A. High percentage of water vapor in the atmosphere
B. Carbon dioxide present only in atmospheric form
C. An atmosphere quite similar to that of early Earth
D. Very dense but relatively cool atmosphere
E. Completely covered with water
F. Complete absence of surface water
G. Essentially stable temperatures