1997年1月托福阅读全真试题
Another strategy of large desert animals is to tolerate the loss of body water to a point that would be fatal for non-adapted animals. The camel can lose up to 30 percent of its body weight as water without harm to itself， whereas human beings die after losing only 12 to 13 percent of their body weight. An equally important adaptation is the ability to replenish this water loss at one drink. Desert animals can drink prodigious volumes in a short time， and camels have been known to imbibe over 100 liters in a few minutes. A very dehydrated person，on the other hand， cannot drink enough water to rehydrate at one session， because the human stomach is not sufficiently big and because a too rapid dilution of the body fluids causes death from water intoxication. The tolerance of water loss is of obvious advantage in the desert， as animals do not have to remain near a water hole but can obtain food from grazing sparse and far-flung pastures. Desert-adapted mammals have the further ability to feed normally when extremely dehydrated， it is a common experience in people that appetite is lost even under conditions of moderate thirst.
29. What is the main topic of the passage？
（A） Weather variations in the desert
（B） Adaptations of desert animals
（C） Diseased of desert animals
（D） Human use of desert animals.
30. According to the passage， why is light coloring an advantage to large desert animals？
（A） It helps them hide from predators.
（B） It does not absorb sunlight as much as dark colors.
（C） It helps them see their young at night
（D） It keeps them cool at night.
31. The word "maintaining" in line 4 is closest in meaning to
（A） measuring
（B） inheriting
（C） preserving
（D） delaying
32. The author uses of Grant's gazelle as an example of
（A） an animal with a low average temperature
（B） an animal that is not as well adapted as the camel
（C） a desert animal that can withstand high body temperatures
（D） a desert animal with a constant body temperature
33. When is the internal temperature of a large desert mammal lower？
（A） Just before sunrise
（B） In the middle of the day
（C） Just after sunset
（D） Just after drinking
34. The word "tolerate" in line 13 is closest in meaning to
（A） endure
（B） replace
（C） compensate
（D） reduce
35. What causes water intoxication？
（A） Drinking too much water very quickly
（B） Drinking polluted water
（C） Bacteria in water
（D） Lack of water.
36. What does the author imply about desert-adapted mammals？
（A） They do not need to eat much food.
（B） They can eat large quantities quickly
（C） They easily lose their appetites.
（D） They can travel long distances looking for food.
37. Why does the author mention humans in the second paragraph？
（A） To show how they use camels.
（B） To contrast them to desert mammals.
（C） To give instructions about desert survival.
（D） To show how they have adapted to desert life.
38. The word "obtain" in line 23 is closest in meaning to
（A） digest
（B） carry
（C） save
（D） get
39. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an adaptation of large desert animals？
（A） Variation in body temperatures
（B） Eating while dehydrated
（C） Drinking water quickly
（D） Being active at night.
Questions 40-50
Rent control is the system whereby the local government tells building owners how much they can charge their tenants in rent. In the United States， rent controls date back to at least World War II.
In 1943 the federal government imposed rent controls to help solve the problem of housing shortages during wartime. The federal program ended after the war， but in some locations，including New York City， controls continued. Under New York's controls， a landlord generally cannot raise rents on apartments as long as the tenants continue to renew their leases. In places such as Santa Monica， California， rent controls are more recent. They were spurred by the inflation of the 1970's， which， combined with California's rapid population growth， pushed housing prices， as well as rents， to record levels. In 1979 Santa Monica's municipal government ordered landlords to roll back their rents to the levels charged in 1978. Future rents could only go up by two-thirds as much as any increase in the overall price level.