托福阅读常考话题及练习题推荐六：苏美尔和埃及（2）

1托福常考话题：苏美尔和埃及话题练习题

Paragraph 1：Evidence suggests that an important stimulus behind the rise of early civilizations was the development of settled agriculture, which unleashed a series of changes in the organization of human communities that culminated in the rise of large ancient empires.

1. The phrase “culminated in” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. reached a high point with

B. logically followed from

C. partly contributed to

D. marked

► Paragraph 2：The exact time and place that crops were first cultivated successfully is uncertain. Many prehistorians believe that farming may have emerged in dependently in several different areas of the world when small communities, driven by increasing population and a decline in available food resources, began to plant seeds in the ground in an effort to guarantee their survival. The first farmers, who may have lived as long as 10,000 years ago, undoubtedly used simple techniques and still relied primarily on other forms of food production, such as hunting, foraging, or pastoralism. The real breakthrough took place when farmers began to cultivate crops along the floodplains of river systems. The advantage was that crops grown in such areas were not as dependent on rainfall and therefore produced a more reliable harvest. An additional benefit was that the sediment carried by the river waters deposited nutrients in the soil, thus enabling the farmer to cultivate a single plot of ground for many years without moving to a new location. Thus, the first truly sedentary (that is, nonmigratory) societies were born. As time went on, such communities gradually learned how to direct the flow of water to enhance the productive capacity of the land, while the introduction of the iron plow eventually led to the cultivation of heavy soils not previously susceptible to agriculture.

2. According to paragraph 2, which of the following statements is true of early farmers?

A. They used farming to supplement other food sources.

B. They were driven out of small communities.

C. They were victims of flooding.

D. They farmed several plots of land at once.

3. The word “undoubtedly” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. increasingly

B. certainly

C. in general

D. apparently

4. According to paragraph 2, what are TWO reasons why farmers chose river valleys for cultivation? To receive credit you must select TWO answer choices.

A. The soils in river valleys were rich in nutrients.

B. The crops grown in river valleys were not completely dependent on rainwater.

C. Farming techniques could not be easily applied to soils far from rivers.

D. The heavier weight of river soil resulted in more reliable harvests.

5. The word “enhance” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. serve

B. improve

C. control

D. protect

► Paragraph 3：The spread of this river valley agriculture in various parts of Asia and Africa was the decisive factor in the rise of the first civilizations. The increase in food production in these regions led to a significant growth in population, while efforts to control the flow of water to maximize the irrigation of cultivated areas and to protect the local inhabitants from hostile forces outside the community provoked the first steps toward cooperative activities on a large scale. The need to oversee the entire process brought about the emergence of an elite that was eventually transformed into a government.

6. The word “provoked” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. secured

B. coordinated

C. modeled

D. brought about

7. According to paragraph 3, which of the following is NOT a reason why governments first arose among agricultural communities?

A. A significant increase in population

B. The desire to control water resources for irrigation

C. The need for protection from outside forces

D. The demand for organized communication with other communities

► Paragraph 4：The first clear steps in the rise of the first civilizations took place in the fourth and third millennia B.C. in Mesopotamia, northern Africa, India, and China. How the first governments took shape in these areas is not certain, but anthropologists studying the evolution of human communities in various parts of the world have discovered that one common stage in the process is the emergence of what are called “big men” within a single village or a collection of villages. By means of their military prowess, dominant personalities, or political talents, these people gradually emerge as the leaders of that community. In time, the “big men” become formal symbols of authority and pass on that authority to others within their own family. As the communities continue to grow in size and material wealth, the “big men” assume hereditary status, and their allies and family members are transformed into a hereditary monarchy.

8. According to paragraph 4, what is not known about the rise of the first civilizations?

A. Where the first steps toward civilization took place

B. Who was allowed to replace “big men” after the “big men” died

C. Why some individuals became recognized as leaders

D. How governments emerged