TOEFL集结号 暑期集中突破小组之阅读（2）

zongwwwUID: 2330777

参考答案(反白显示)：

1.○Endangered

2.○Reduced water absorption

3.○Fragile

4.○Adjusting to stresses created by settlement

5.○Increasingly

6.○Removal of the original vegetation

7.○Lacking in

8.○Bring salts to the surface

9.○Insufficient irrigation

10.○Desertification is a significant problem because it is so hard to reverse and affects large areas of land and great numbers of people.

11.○Desertification will continue to increase.

12.○在The consequences of前加入This economic reliance on livestock in certain regions makes large tracts of land susceptible to overgrazing.

13-14.○1 3 4

DESERT FORMATION

The deserts, which already occupy approximately a fourth of the Earth's land surface, have in recent decades been increasing at an alarming pace. The expansion of desert like conditions into areas where they did not previously exist is called desertification. It has been estimated that an additional one-fourth of the Earth's land surface is threatened by this process.


Desertification is accomplished primarily through the loss of stabilizing natural vegetation and the subsequent accelerated erosion of the soil by wind and water. In some cases the loose soilis blown completely away, leaving a stony surface. In other cases, the finer particles may be removed, while the sand-sized particles are accumulated toform mobile hills or ridges of sand.


Even in the areas that retain a soilcover, the reduction of vegetation typically results in the loss of the soil's ability to absorb substantial quantities of water. The impact of raindrops onthe loose soil tends to transfer fine clay particles into the tiniest soilspaces, sealing them and producing a surface that allows very little water penetration. Water absorption is greatly reduced; consequently run off isincreased, resulting in accelerated erosion rates. The gradual drying of thesoil caused by its diminished ability to absorb water results in the further loss of vegetation, so that a cycle of progressive surface deterioration is established.


In some regions, the increase indesert areas is occurring largely as the result of a trend toward drier climatic conditions. Continued gradual global warming has produced an increasein aridity for some areas over the past few thousand years. The process may be accelerated in subsequent decades if global warming resulting from air pollution seriously increases.


There is little doubt, however, that desertification in most areas results primarily from human activities rather than natural processes. The semiarid lands bordering the deserts exist in adelicate ecological balance and are limited in their potential to adjust toincreased environmental pressures. Expanding populations are subjecting the land to increasing pressures to provide them with food and fuel. In wetperiods, the land may be able to respond to these stresses. During the dryperiods that are common phenomena along the desert margins, though, the pressure on the land is often far in excess of its diminished capacity, and desertification results.


Four specific activities have been identified as major contributors to the desertification processes:overcultivation, overgrazing, firewood gathering, and overirrigation. Thecultivation of crops has expanded into progressively drier regions aspopulation densities have grown. These regions are especially likely to have periods of severe dryness, so that crop failures are common. Since the raising of most crops necessitates the prior removal of the natural vegetation, crop failures leave extensive tracts of land devoid of a plant cover and susceptibleto wind and water erosion.


The raising of livestock is a major economic activity in semiarid lands, where grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation. The consequences of an excessive number oflivestock grazing in an area are the reduction of the vegetation cover and the trampling and pulverization of the soil. This is usually followed by the drying of the soil and accelerated erosion.


Firewood is the chief fuel used for cooking and heating in many countries. The increased pressures of expanding populations have led to the removal of woody plants so that many cities and towns are surrounded by large areas completely lacking in trees and shrubs. The increasing use of dried animal waste as a substitute fuel has also hurt the soil because this valuable soil conditioner and source of plant nutrients is no longer being returned to the land.


The final major human cause of desertification is soil salinization resulting from overirrigation. Excess water from irrigation sinks down into the water table. If no drainage system exists, the water table rises, bringing dissolved salts to the surface. The water evaporates and the salts are left behind, creating a white crustal layer that prevents air and water from reaching the underlying soil.


The extreme seriousness of desertification results from the vast areas of land and the tremendous numbersof people affected, as well as from the great difficulty of reversing or evenslowing the process. Once the soil has been removed by erosion, only the passage of centuries or millennia will enable new soil to form. In areas where considerable soil still remains, though, a rigorously enforced program of land protection and cover-crop planting may make it possible to reverse the present deterioration of the surface.

zongwwwUID: 2330777

Paragraph 1: The deserts, which already occupy approximately a fourth of the Earth's land surface, have in recent decades been increasing at an alarming pace. The expansion of desert like conditions into areas where they did not previously exist is called desertification. It has been estimated that an additional one-fourth of the Earth's land surface is threatened by this process.

1. The word threatened in the passage is closest in meaning to
○Restricted
○Endangered
○Prevented
○Rejected

Paragraph 3: Even in the areas that retain a soil cover, the reduction of vegetation typically results in the loss of the soil's ability to absorb substantial quantities of water. The impact of raindrops on the loose soil tends to transfer fine clay particles into the tiniest soil spaces, sealing them and producing a surface that allows very little water penetration. Water absorption is greatly reduced; consequently run off is increased, resulting in accelerated erosion rates. The gradual drying of the soil caused by its diminished ability to absorb water results in the further loss of vegetation, so that a cycle of progressive surface deterioration is established.

2. According to paragraph 3, the loss of natural vegetation has which of the following consequences for soil?
○Increased stony content
○Reduced water absorption
○Increased numbers of spaces in the soil
○Reduced water runoff

Paragraph 5: There is little doubt, however, that desertification in most areas results primarily from human activities rather than natural processes. The semiarid lands bordering the deserts exist in a delicate ecological balance and are limited in their potential to adjust to increased environmental pressures. Expanding populations are subjecting the land to increasing pressures to provide them with food and fuel. In wet periods, the land may be able to respond to these stresses. During the dry periods that are common phenomena along the desert margins, though, the pressure on the land is often far in excess of its diminished capacity, and desertification results.

3. The word delicate in the passage is closest in meaning to
○Fragile
○Predictable
○Complex
○Valuable

4. According to paragraph 5, in dry periods, border areas have difficulty
○Adjusting to stresses created by settlement
○Retaining their fertility after desertification
○Providing water for irrigating crops
○Attracting populations in search of food and fuel

Paragraph 6: Four specific activities have been identified as major contributors to the desertification processes: overcultivation, overgrazing, firewood gathering, and overirrigation. The cultivation of crops has expanded into progressively drier regions as population densities have grown. These regions are especially likely to have periods of severe dryness, so that crop failures are common. Since the raising of most crops necessitates the prior removal of the natural vegetation, crop failures leave extensive tracts of land devoid of a plant cover and susceptible to wind and water erosion.

5. The word progressively in the passage is closest in meaning to
○Openly
○Impressively
○Objectively
○Increasingly

6. According to paragraph 6, which of the following is often associated with raising crops?
○Lack of proper irrigation techniques
○Failure to plant crops suited to the particular area
○Removal of the original vegetation
○Excessive use of dried animal waste

7. The phrase devoid of in the passage is closest in meaning to
○Consisting of
○Hidden by
○Except for
○Lacking in

Paragraph 9: The final major human cause of desertification is soil salinization resulting from over irrigation. Excess water from irrigation sinks down into the water table. If no drainage system exists, the water table rises, bringing dissolved salts to the surface. The water evaporates and the salts are left behind, creating a white crustal layer that prevents air and water from reaching the underlying soil.

8. According to paragraph9, the ground’s absorption of excess water is a factor in desertification because it can
○Interfere with the irrigation of land
○Limit the evaporation of water
○Require more absorption of air by the soil
○Bring salts to the surface

9. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as contributing to desertification EXCEPT
○Soil erosion
○Global warming
○Insufficient irrigation
○The raising of livestock

Paragraph 10: The extreme seriousness of desertification results from the vast areas of land and the tremendous numbers of people affected, as well as from the great difficulty of reversing or even slowing the process. Once the soil has been removed by erosion, only the passage of centuries or millennia will enable new soil to form. In areas where considerable soil still remains, though, a rigorously enforced program of land protection and cover-crop planting may make it possible to reverse the present deterioration of the surface.

10. 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.
○Desertification is a significant problem because it is so hard to reverse and affects large areas of land and great numbers of people.
○Slowing down the process of desertification is difficult because of population growth that has spread over large areas of land.
○The spread of deserts is considered a very serious problem that can be solved only if large numbers of people in various countries are involved in the effort.
○Desertification is extremely hard to reverse unless the population is reduced in the vast areas affected.

11. It can be inferred from the passage that the author most likely believes which of the following about the future of desertification?
○Governments will act quickly to control further desertification.
○The factors influencing desertification occur in cycles and will change in the future.
○Desertification will continue to increase.
○Desertification will soon occur in all areas of the world.

Paragraph 7:■ The raising of livestock is a major economic activity in semiarid lands, where grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation. ■The consequences of an excessive number of livestock grazing in an area are the reduction of the vegetation cover and the trampling and pulverization of the soil. ■This is usually followed by the drying of the soil and accelerated erosion.■

12. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the passage. This economic reliance on livestock in certain regions makes large tracts of land susceptible to overgrazing. Where would the sentence best fit?
○This economic reliance on livestock in certain regions makes large tracts of land susceptible to overgrazing. The raising of livestock is a major economic activity in semiarid lands, where grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation.■ The consequences of an excessive number of livestock grazing in an area are the reduction of the vegetation cover and the trampling and pulverization of the soil. ■This is usually followed by the drying of the soil and accelerated erosion.■
○■The raising of livestock is a major economic activity in semiarid lands, where grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation. This economic reliance on livestock in certain regions makes large tracts of land susceptible to overgrazing. The consequences of an excessive number of livestock grazing in an area are the reduction of the vegetation cover and the trampling and pulverization of the soil. ■This is usually followed by the drying of the soil and accelerated erosion.■
○■The raising of livestock is a major economic activity in semiarid lands, where grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation. ■The consequences of an excessive number of livestock grazing in an area are the reduction of the vegetation cover and the trampling and pulverization of the soil. This economic reliance on livestock in certain regions makes large tracts of land susceptible to overgrazing. This is usually followed by the drying of the soil and accelerated erosion.■
○■The raising of livestock is a major economic activity in semiarid lands, where grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation. ■The consequences of an excessive number of livestock grazing in an area are the reduction of the vegetation cover and the trampling and pulverization of the soil. ■This is usually followed by the drying of the soil and accelerated erosion. This economic reliance on livestock in certain regions makes large tracts of land susceptible to overgrazing.

13-14. 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 answer choices 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. Many factors have contributed to the great increase in desertification in recent decades.
●
●
●
Answer Choices
1. Growing human populations and the agricultural demands that come with such growth have upset the ecological balance in some areas and led to the spread of deserts.
2. As periods of severe dryness have become more common, failures of a number of different crops have increased.
3. Excessive numbers of cattle and the need for firewood for fuel have reduced grasses and trees, leaving the land unprotected and vulnerable.
4. Extensive irrigation with poor drainage brings salt to the surface of the soil, a process that reduces water and air absorption.
5. Animal dung enriches the soil by providing nutrients for plant growth.
6. Grasses are generally the dominant type of natural vegetation in semiarid lands.

thatllUID: 2538832

第11题为什么不是第二个，为什么是第三个？

sjtupeelerUID: 2425202

ls，选第2个有什么依据吗？我一开始选了第一个，因为看到了a rigorously enforced program冲动了，其实最后一段的第一段说了，great difficulty of reversing or even slowing the process,可见沙漠化不可能逆转，甚至连减缓都不可能，第三个答案就自然可以选出来了，看来所有的东西都要从原文来啊，不要自己想

zhtwdUID: 2319724

11题也选错了，选成A了。楼上从哪里得出的B答案？

选C可以理解，文中说极其严重的沙漠化现象很难逆转或减慢，末句表达的意思也不是很乐观，即使是有相当土壤存在的区域，要进行严格强制的土地保护和植被种植项目才有可能逆转沙漠化。 有没有更好的解释？

这次又做错了个单词题3，这些词都认识，而且这次单词题从and后面的句子也可以看出端倪，是不应该错的。。

turnerjiaUID: 2229522

11题。。。。我也纠结了一个下午了。。。。。
关键是最后一段那句
In areas where considerable soil still remains, though, a rigorously enforced program of land protection and cover-crop planting may make it possible to reverse the present deterioration of the surface.
我一想，这土壤都还在啊， 后面也说的是什么土地保护，种树什么的，怎么来个 though 搞个转折。 纠结死了。
最后放大环境里看通了。。。。。。
前面说 回复很慢。 这句说，在土壤还有很多的地方，就算用最严格的保护措施，才有可能让沙化得到缓解。
这个though 是递进关系的，唉。
再看答案，没有提到过政府，也没有提到很快行动。
B答案是影响沙化的一些因素在循环发生，并且会影响以后。。。。也没提到过吧。
D答案，没有提到过任何关于soon，表示严重程度的词。

thatllUID: 2538832

Once the soil has been removed by erosion, only the passage of centuries or millennia will enable new soil to form.这句话有一点表示循环的意思吧，呵呵

zongwwwUID: 2330777

7# thatll
不要想太多，文中只是说new soil，未说循环，直接点就可以了，不要推理

奔跑蜗牛UID: 2579189

我认为11题的关键是这句话
In areas where considerable soil still remains, though, a rigorously enforced program of land protection and cover-crop planting may make it possible to reverse the present deterioration of the surface.