托福TPO48阅读真题解析：Passage 3

TPO，即toefl Practice Online的首写字母，就是托福在线练习的意思，TPO可以为考生提供全真的模拟考试环境和过往真题，而TPO题库也是有着不断的更新。在托福阅读的备考过程中，除了大量的阅读之外，全面了解托福阅读的题型和解题方法也都是非常重要的环节。而对于很多备考托福的学生来说，TPO往往就是一个首先的备考材料。今天，小编就为大家带来托福TPO48阅读真题解析：Passage 3。

Climate and Urban Development

1.The word “involved” in the passage is closest in meaning to 【词汇题】
A. uncertain
B. complicated
C. common
D. clear
答案：B

解析：involved，复杂的。B选项复杂的，为同义替换，所以B选项正确。

2. Paragraph 2 mentions all of the following as varying the importance of albedo and other factors EXCEPT 【否定事实信息题】
A. seasons
B. soil depth
C. geographic location
D. the time of day
答案：B

解析：原文Depending on the location, time of year, and time of day, any or all of the following differences between cities and their surroundings can be important: ...，说明地点是一个因素，对应选项C中：geographic location，也说明一年中的时间是一个因素，对应选项A中：seasons，还说明每天的时间点也是一个因素，对应选项D中：the time of day。只有土地深度没有提及，所以选择B。

托福TPO48阅读Passage 3——Paragraph 3   【在线咨询】

At night, the solar energy (stored as vast quantities of heat in city buildings and roads) is slowly released into the city air. Additional city heat is given off at night (and during the day) by vehicles and factories, as well as by industrial and domestic heating and cooling units. The release of heat energy is retarded by the tall vertical city walls that do not allow infrared radiation to escape as readily as does the relatively level surface of the surrounding countryside. The slow release of heat tends to keep nighttime city temperatures higher than those of the faster-cooling rural areas. Overall, the heat island is strongest (1) at night when compensating sunlight is absent; (2) during the winter, when nights are longer and there is more heat generated in the city; and (3) when the region is dominated by a high-pressure area with light winds, clear skies, and less humid air. Over time, increasing urban heat islands affect climatological temperature records, producing artificial warming in climatic records taken in cities. This warming, therefore, must be accounted for in interpreting climate change over the past century.

3. The word “retarded” in the passage is closest in meaning to 【词汇题】
A. disguised
B. added to
C. made possible
D. slowed down
答案：D

解析：retard，延迟。D选项放缓，为同义替换，所以D选项正确。

托福TPO48阅读Passage 3——Paragraph 4    【在线咨询】

The constant outpouring of pollutants into the environment may influence the climate of the city. Certain particles reflect solar radiation, thereby reducing the sunlight that reaches the surface. Some particles serve as nuclei upon which water and ice form. Water vapor condenses onto these particles when the relative humidity is as low as 70 percent, forming haze that greatly reduces visibility. Moreover, the added nuclei increase the frequency of city fog.

4. According to paragraph 4, how do pollutants reduce the distance it is possible to see? 【事实信息题】
A. They increase the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground.
B. They increase the relative humidity.
C. They form particles that irritate the eye.
D. They serve as nuclei around which water condenses.
答案：D

解析：原文Some particles serve as nuclei upon which water and ice form，说明污染物可以让水集中起来，从而挡住视线，对应选项D中：They … nuclei … water condenses。

托福TPO48阅读Passage 3——Paragraph 2 and  3     【在线咨询】

The urban heat island is due to industrial and urban development. In rural areas, a large part of the incoming solar energy is used in evaporating water from vegetation and soil. In cities, where less vegetation and exposed soil exist, the majority of the Sun’s energy is absorbed by urban structures and asphalt. Hence, during warm daylight hours, less evaporative cooling in cities allows surface temperatures to rise higher than in rural areas. The cause of the urban heat island is quite involved. Depending on the location, time of year, and time of day, any or all of the following differences between cities and their surroundings can be important: albedo (reflectivity of the surface), surface roughness, emissions of heat, emissions of moisture, and emissions of particles that affect net radiation and the growth of cloud droplets.
At night, the solar energy (stored as vast quantities of heat in city buildings and roads) is slowly released into the city air. Additional city heat is given off at night (and during the day) by vehicles and factories, as well as by industrial and domestic heating and cooling units. The release of heat energy is retarded by the tall vertical city walls that do not allow infrared radiation to escape as readily as does the relatively level surface of the surrounding countryside. The slow release of heat tends to keep nighttime city temperatures higher than those of the faster-cooling rural areas. Overall, the heat island is strongest (1) at night when compensating sunlight is absent; (2) during the winter, when nights are longer and there is more heat generated in the city; and (3) when the region is dominated by a high-pressure area with light winds, clear skies, and less humid air. Over time, increasing urban heat islands affect climatological temperature records, producing artificial warming in climatic records taken in cities. This warming, therefore, must be accounted for in interpreting climate change over the past century.

5. Select the TWO answer choices that describe ways mentioned in paragraphs 2 and 3 in which solar energy affects urban and rural areas. To receive credit, you must select TWO answers. 【事实信息题】
A. Solar energy causes evaporation from vegetation and soil, producing a cooling effect.
B. Solar energy stored as heat is lost quickly when tall city buildings guide hot air up and away from the surface.
C. Solar energy increases the atmospheric pressure over open areas.
D. Solar energy is stored up in buildings and roads and emitted as heat during the night.
答案：AD

解析：原文In rural areas, … solar energy … evaporating water from vegetation and soil. In cities, …, … Sun’s energy is absorbed by urban structures and asphalt，说明太阳可以让植物和土壤上的水蒸发，冷却空气，对应选项A中：Solar energy causes evaporation from vegetation and soil, producing a cooling effect。原文At night, the solar energy (stored as … heat in city buildings and roads) is slowly released into the city air，说明夜晚储存在大楼和道路的太阳能又释放到空气中，对应选项D中：Solar energy is stored up in buildings and roads and emitted as heat during the night。

6. Paragraph 3 supports which of the following claims about the interpretation of temperature records? 【事实信息题】
A. The climate may not be warming as much as the increase of temperatures recorded in cities appears to suggest.
B. Records show that the increase in urban heat islands has had a significant warming effect on the global climate.
C. During most of the past century, temperature records have been misinterpreted.
D. Scientists will not be able to account for climate change over the past century until they learn more about the urban heat island.
答案：A

解析：原文Over time, increasing urban heat islands affect climatological temperature records, … artificial warming … records … cities，说明城市热岛所带来的温度上升，高于实际温度上升，对应选项A中：The climate … not be warming as much as the increase of temperatures recorded …。

7. All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 3 as contributing to an increase in the amount of heat within a city EXCEPT 【否定事实信息题】
A. home air conditioners
B. cars and trucks
C. streetlights
D. factory buildings
答案：C

解析：原文… heat … by vehicles and factories, … industrial and domestic heating and cooling units，说明汽车工厂和空调都是因素，对应选项ABD。只有路灯没有提到，所以选择选项C。

托福TPO48阅读Passage 3——Paragraph 5     【在线咨询】

Studies suggest that precipitation may be greater in cities than in the surrounding countryside; this phenomenon may be due in part to the increased roughness of city terrain, brought on by large structures that cause surface air to slow and gradually converge. This piling up of air over the city then slowly rises, much like toothpaste does when its tube is squeezed. At the same time, city heat warms the surface air, making it more unstable, which enhances risings air motions, which, in turn, aids in forming clouds and thunderstorms. This process helps explain why both tend to be more frequent over cities.

8. 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. 【句子简化题】
A. Until more studies are done, suggestions about the causes of precipitation in cities will focus on the roughness of terrain rather than on surface air and convergence.
B. Certain phenomena of city landscapes, such as large structures, cause surface air to slow and converge, which brings a change in weather patterns to cities and rural areas.
C. One reason why precipitation may be greater in cities than in the countryside is that large buildings that are found in cities cause surface air to slow and converge.
D. Studies that focus on large structures, which are only partly responsible for the increased roughness of city terrain, are incomplete in their explanation of increased precipitation.
答案：C

解析：句子意为研究表明城市降雨量大于郊区，因为城市有许多高大建筑让空气缓慢逐渐聚合，对应选项C中：… reason why precipitation may be greater in cities … large buildings … cities cause … air to slow and converge。

9. Why does the author mention “toothpaste” being squeezed from a tube? 【修辞目的题】
A. To compare the movement of toothpaste from a tube to the movement of precipitation from clouds
B. To suggest that the process of cloud formation is a simple, everyday experience
C. To help the reader visualize the process of air movement over a city
D. To contrast the slow rising of air currents with the rapid squeezing of toothpaste
答案：C

解析：原文This piling up of air over the city then slowly rises, much like toothpaste does when its tube is squeezed，说明积累的空气慢慢上升，就好像牙膏从管中挤出，对应选项C中：To help the reader visualize the process of air movement over a city。

10. The word “both” in the passage refers to 【指代题】
A. piling up and warming of air
B. clouds and thunderstorms
C. warm surface air and rising air motions
D. heat and instability
答案：B

解析：原文At the same time, …, which …, aids in forming clouds and thunderstorms. This process helps explain why both tend to be more frequent over cities，说明both指代前面的clouds and thunderstorms，对应选项B。

托福TPO48阅读Passage 3——Paragraph 6     【在线咨询】

On clear still nights when the heat island is pronounced, a small thermal low-pressure area forms over the city. Sometimes a light breeze—called a country breeze—blows from the countryside into the city. If there are major industrial areas along the outskirts, pollutants are carried into the heat of town, where they tend to concentrate. Such an event is especially probable if vertical mixing and dispersion of pollutants are inhibited. Pollutants from urban areas may even affect the weather downwind from them.

11. The word “pronounced” in the passage is closest in meaning to【词汇题】
A. examined
B. relative
C. strongest
D. darkest
答案：C

解析：pronounced，显著的。C选项最强的，为同义替换，所以C选项正确。

12. According to paragraph 6, the highest concentration of pollutants is likely to be found 【事实信息题】
A. in the center of the city
B. over industrial areas outside the city
C. in rural areas downwind of the city
D. high in the atmosphere during daylight hours
答案：A

解析：原文… a light breeze … from the countryside into the city. … industrial areas along the outskirts, pollutants … into the heat of town, where they tend to concentrate，说明污染物会往城市最热的中心聚集，对应选项A中：in the center of the city。

13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. 【句子插入题】
The resulting difference in atmosphere pressure between the city and the countryside can cause air to shift.
Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.
On clear still nights when the heat island is pronounced, a small thermal low-pressure area forms over the city. ■Sometimes a light breeze—called a country breeze—blows from the countryside into the city. ■If there are major industrial areas along the outskirts, pollutants are carried into the heat of town, where they tend to concentrate. ■Such an event is especially probable if vertical mixing and dispersion of pollutants are inhibited. ■Pollutants from urban areas may even affect the weather downwind from them.
答案：A

解析：待插入句子意为因此导致的城市乡村大气压力差导致空气转移，说明这句话前面要说明有大气压力差，对应句子On clear still nights when the heat island is pronounced, a small thermal low-pressure area forms over the city，也说明这句话后面会说明空气转移会带来什么，对应句子Sometimes a light breeze—called a country breeze—blows from the countryside into the city，所以位置A最为合适。

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 2 points. 【概要小结题】
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.
Cities are generally warmer than the surrounding countryside, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island.
Answer Choices
A. In the countryside, much solar energy is used in evaporation, but in the city this energy builds up as heat.
B. Increased industrial and urban development has also increased average levels of humidity over the last century.
C. Pollution from cars and factories helps increase the amounts of fog and precipitation that occur in cities.
D. The urban heat island is strongest in the summer, when the days are long and the sunlight is intense.
E. Heat and air are trapped in the irregular spaces between buildings, which creates the atmospheric conditions that result in storms and winds.
F. Country breezes blow pollutants put from the cities into the surrounding countryside.
答案：ACE

解析：文章首先介绍太阳能在农村都用于蒸发水分，而在城市都储存为热，对应选项A中：In the countryside, much solar energy is used in evaporation, but in the city this energy builds up as heat，文章然后介绍污染物会让城市有更多烟雾和降雨，对应许选项C中：Pollution from cars and factories helps increase the amounts of fog and precipitation that occur in cities，文章最后介绍压强差导致风暴，对应选项E中：Heat and air are trapped in the irregular spaces between buildings, which creates the atmospheric conditions that result in storms and winds。文章没有提到湿度的升降，选项B错在humidity。文章说冬天城市热岛效应更为明显，选项D错在summer。文章说污染物从郊区走向城市，选项F错在from cities into … countryside。

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