1996年1月托福阅读全真试题
Sea cucumbers come in a variety of colors， ranging from black to reddish - brown to sand - color and nearly white. One form even has vivid purple tentacles. Usually the creatures are cucumber - shaped - hence their name - and because they are typically rock inhabitants， this shape， combined with flexibility，enables them to squeeze into crevices where they are safe from predators and ocean currents.
Although they have voracious appetites， eating day and night， sea cucumbers have the capacity to become quiescent and live at a low metabolic rate - feeding sparingly or not at all for long periods， so that the marine organisms that provide their food have a chance to multiply. If it were not for this faculty， they would devour all the food available in s short time and would probably starve themselves out of existence.
But the most spectacular thing about the sea cucumber is the way it defends itself. Its major enemies are fish and crabs，when attacked， it squirts all its internal organs into the water. It also casts off attached structures such as tentacles. The sea cucumber will eviscerate and regenerate itself if it is attacked or even touched； it will do the same if surrounding water temperature is too high or if the water becomes too polluted.
8. What does the passage mainly discuss？
（A） The reason for the sea cucumber's name
（B） What makes the sea cucumber unusual
（C） How to identify the sea cucumber
（D） Places where the sea cucumber can be found
9. In line 3， the word "bizarre" is closest meaning to
（A） odd
（B） marine
（C） simple
（D） rare
10.According to the Passage， why is the shape of sea cucumbers important？
（A） It helps them to digest their food
（B） It helps them to protect themselves from danger.
（C） It makes it easier for them to move through the mud.
（D） It makes them attractive to fish.
11.The words "this faculty" in line20 refer to the sea cucumber's ability to
（A） squeeze into crevices
（B） devour all available food in a short time
（C） suck up mud or sand
（D） live at a low metabolic rate
12.The fourth paragraph of the passage Primarily discusses
（A） the reproduction of sea cucumbers
（B） the food sources of sea cucumbers
（C） the eating habits of sea cucumbers
（D） threats to sea cucumbers' existence
13.The phrase "casts off" in line 24 is closest in meaning to
（A） grows again
（B） grabs
（C） gets rid of
（D） uses as a weapon
14.Of all the characteristics of the sea cucumber， which of the following seems to fascinate the author most？
（A） What it does when threatened.
（B） Where it lives
（C） How it hides from predators
（D） What it eats.
15.Compared with other sea creatures the sea cucumber is very
（A） dangerous
（B） intelligent
（C） strange
（D） fat
16.What can be inferred about the defense mechanisms of the sea cucumber？
（A） They are very sensitive to surrounding stimuli.
（B） They are almost useless.
（C） They require group cooperation.
（D） They are similar to those of most sea creatures.
17.Which of the following would NOT cause a sea cucumber to release its internal organs into the water？
（A） A touch
（B） Food
（C） Unusually warm water
（D） Pollution
18.Which of the following is an example of behavior comparable with the sea cucumber living at a low metabolic rate？
（A） An octopus defending itself with its tentacles
（B） A bear hibernating in the winter
（C） A pig eating constantly
（D） A parasite living on its host's blood.
Question 19-29
A folk culture is small， isolated， cohesive， conservative，nearly self-sufficient group that is homogeneous in custom and race， with a strong family or clan structure and highly developed rituals. Order is maintained through sanctions based in the religion or family， and interpersonal relationships are strong. Tradition is paramount， and change comes infrequently and slowly. There is relatively little division of labor into specialized duties. Rather， each person is expected to perform a great variety of tasks， though duties many differ between the sexes. Most goods are handmade， and a subsistence economy prevails. Individualism is weakly developed in folk cultures， as are social classes. Unaltered folk cultures no longer exist in industrialized countries such as the United States and Canada. Perhaps the nearest modern-equivalent in Anglo-America is the Amish， a German American farming sect that largely renounces the products and labor saving device of the industrial age. In Amish areas， horse - drawn buggies still serve as a local transportation device， and the faithful are not permitted to own automobiles. The Amish's central religious concept of Demut， "humility"， clearly reflects the weakness of individualism and social class so typical of folk cultures， and there is a corresponding strength of Amish group identity. Rarely do the Amish marry outside their sect. The religion， a variety of the Mennonite faith， provides the principal mechanism for maintaining order.