10月26日托福考情

10月26日托福考試落下帷幕，考情速遞也已經出爐了！

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R1

The Sistine Ceiling

介紹米開朗基羅創作西斯廷教堂天花板壁畫、其後數百年的維護和最終的大規模修複工作。

首先，文章解釋了濕壁畫（buon fresco）與(yu) 幹壁畫（a secco fresco）技法的不同。米開朗基羅采用濕壁畫技法，以水調和顏料直接塗在新鮮的石灰石灰泥上，由於(yu) 濕壁畫對色彩的化學要求嚴(yan) 格，米開朗基羅避免使用一些易受損的顏料，最終耗時四年完成了約300個(ge) 人物形象。

由於(yu) 西斯廷教堂內(nei) 的蠟燭煙霧、灰塵等汙染物堆積，壁畫逐漸變暗，加上屋頂漏水導致鹽沉積，致使畫麵發泡和脫落。後期的修複者嚐試用蘸有酒精的海綿擦拭鹽分和汙垢，使用粘合劑來修補部分畫麵，並添加了清漆，以期恢複色彩。然而，這些措施反而讓壁畫覆蓋上厚重的暗層。

1980年，修複團隊啟動大規模清理，逐層去除積累的汙垢、舊漆和鹽沉積，經過14年的精細修複後，壁畫恢複了原始的明亮色彩。修複揭示的色彩之鮮豔令許多人震驚，同時也引發了激烈的爭(zheng) 論：有些人認為(wei) 修複應尊重原作，保持藝術品的自然老化狀態，而修複團隊則主張用現代手段還原作品的初始效果，認為(wei) 這是對藝術家創作意圖的再現

R2

鳥的藏食物和腦容量

鳥類大腦的大小存在很大差異，這與(yu) 它們(men) 主要的能力有著直接關(guan) 聯。比如有的鳥類會(hui) 儲(chu) 藏食物以備日後進食，此類鳥類的大腦通常較大；而相反，像一些遷徙的鳥類，其大腦就相對較小。鳥類的遷徙行為(wei) 實際上是由基因決(jue) 定的。因為(wei) 遷徙需要大量的能量儲(chu) 備，如果大腦消耗過多能量，就不利於(yu) 它們(men) 遷徙。對於(yu) 遷徙鳥類而言，即便學會(hui) 了儲(chu) 存食物，很可能因耗費大量精力和能量去做此事而最終毫無意義(yi) 。

同一種鳥類的大腦也可能有所不同，有生態學家對幾十種不同的麻雀進行了比較，這些麻雀分布在美國的東(dong) 西南北，在氣候惡劣的地區，鳥類的大腦會(hui) 較大，且大腦內(nei) 部的關(guan) 聯也比其他氣候適宜地區的更多。在比較寒冷的地區，比如很多雪山地區，其大腦也會(hui) 更大。例如在接近雪山地區的某些鳥類，大腦尺寸是平原地區鳥類的一倍，這類鳥也更加聰明。因為(wei) 在寒冷地區，它們(men) 必須設法儲(chu) 存更多能量。

而在大腦當中也會(hui) 增加一些新的連接，而這種連接會(hui) 防止記憶的衰退。因為(wei) 他每天都會(hui) 儲(chu) 藏室，我並且還會(hui) 拿走一些食物來進行進食。當冬天的時候他就會(hui) 需要尋找更多的之間儲(chu) 存的糧食。這就需要他的記憶，能力會(hui) 更強，所以他的大腦會(hui) 更大。而這種研究也改變了科學家對脊椎動物大腦的認知。也就是脊椎動物，並不是生來就有大腦的。但是科學家們(men) 之前一直會(hui) 有這種錯誤的想法。因此腦細胞是不停的，在生同時也會(hui) 不停的死亡。而這種環境就為(wei) 大腦細胞的再生和死亡提供了很好的激發作用。

R3

北美棉花種植

當美洲的土豆被引入歐洲之後，大量生產(chan) 力得以解放，而解放出來的生產(chan) 力，便開始用於(yu) 種植棉花。在此之前，棉花的生產(chan) 主要在印度和中東(dong) 地區，但進口數量極少。這種棉花不僅(jin) 價(jia) 格昂貴，而且質量很差。

美洲的棉花質量更佳，棉線更長。不過一些熱帶地區的棉花也能變得更長。原本亞(ya) 洲地區較短的棉花，通常被用於(yu) 製造上衣。而棉線較長的美洲棉花，質量實際上比亞(ya) 洲棉花更好，因此起初有人會(hui) 誤將其當作絲(si) 綢，還認為(wei) 這些較長的棉花來自中國。傳(chuan) 統上，歐洲人是皮衣搭配羊毛，外層是皮衣，內(nei) 層是羊毛，隻有貴族才有財力購買(mai) 絲(si) 綢。羊毛的數量取決(jue) 於(yu) 牧場的規模，一旦需要更多羊毛，就需要大量土地來改建成牧場以飼養(yang) 羊群。所以羊毛的供應極大地限製了這類衣物的供應。實際上，正是由於(yu) 原材料供應不足，導致眾(zhong) 多勞動力本身處於(yu) 過剩狀態。隨著大量棉花從(cong) 美洲湧入，農(nong) 民勞動力能夠繼續從(cong) 事編織工作。但相應地，由於(yu) 原材料湧入量極大，所以需要更多的工人和能源。於(yu) 是，在各條河流上建造的水車開始提供能源，這也使得沿整個(ge) 河流出現了眾(zhong) 多紡織工廠。

而且因為(wei) 棉花的產(chan) 量其實遠遠高於(yu) 其他的原材料，但是有一個(ge) 工藝非常的消耗時間，也就是棉花采摘了之後要去掉裏麵的種子，而這花費了很多的時間和人力。這比采摘本身花了更多的時間。但是後來有一個(ge) 人發明了一種機器，就讓人的也可以每天去生產(chan) 幾十公斤的棉花。而這種機器發明了之後，也使得成本大大降低，普通人也能買(mai) 得起衣物了。而在此之前很多的棉的衣物都是貴族專(zhuan) 用。因此在這個(ge) 地球上，很多人都開始消費棉花的產(chan) 品。而當時棉花的出口已經占了英國出口的1/4。而又過了幾十年，它已經超過了出口總額的一半。與(yu) 此同時價(jia) 格也跌到了原來的1/4。

聽力

C 1

今天有一篇對話是maple syrup，學生去dining Hall跟管理人員討論食堂用的 maple syrup

L1

然後有一篇講座是關(guan) 於(yu) 油畫和水彩畫藝術曆史，主要講了female用水彩畫，創造的了一些商業(ye) 上的影響。

L 2

是講還有一篇講座是樹木倒在shallow water和larger water有不同影響，然後對比了conifer和leafy在水中產(chan) 生的影響不同，因為(wei) conifer更高大，所以影響更大。具體(ti) 的影響有在水中形成一個(ge) pool，然後為(wei) 魚類繁殖提供場所，然後提到了向上遊的 salmon可能會(hui) 受到這些dam的影響

C 2

說的是學生要做一個(ge) presentation，他的professor建議他去讀一篇最近剛剛發表的文章，然後學生問為(wei) 什麽(me) 他沒有找到這篇文章，到時跟他說說，因為(wei) 這些剛發表的文章是不能被search的。

L 3

在這節物理課上，教授展示了一些被認為(wei) 是藝術的圖像，同時也與(yu) 流體(ti) 力學的研究相關(guan) 。教授提到“流動可視化”這個(ge) 概念，它是指能夠讓我們(men) 看到液體(ti) 和氣體(ti) 如何流動的過程。他展示了染料在水中融合的圖片，強調這不僅(jin) 僅(jin) 是美的展示，也是流體(ti) 科學的重要工具。接下來，教授展示了一張衛星拍攝的地球照片，圖片中是太平洋上的雲(yun) 朵和智利海岸的亞(ya) 曆山大·塞爾庫克島。

風將雲(yun) 層吹向島嶼，形成渦流，這些渦流在物理學中被稱為(wei) “馮(feng) 卡門渦街”。每個(ge) 渦流代表一個(ge) 單獨的馮(feng) 卡門渦，教授解釋了這種現象的命名來源及其在自然界中的普遍存在。實際上，馮(feng) 卡門並不是第一個(ge) 研究渦街的人，達芬奇在十五世紀就已經畫出了類似的渦流圖。教授還提到，渦街不僅(jin) 在地球上出現，也在木星的大氣中觀察到。這些現象為(wei) 我們(men) 了解氣候變化提供了重要線索。最後，教授表示將深入探討渦街的機製，進一步連接藝術與(yu) 科學的概念。

口語

TASK 1獨立口語題

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Good teachers admit when they have made a mistake or do not know something.

TASK 2校園題

When the school was first established, there was a very large mural on the gymnasium. Now if you want to restore it, the cost will be extremely high. Moreover, from the perspective of the input-output ratio, it is actually cheaper to simply paint it white. Besides, these murals are very old and not in line with the current style.

However, this view is not supported in the listening material.

Because many students like this mural very much. This mural is nearly a hundred years old. Now there are students in the art department in this school, and they can be directly recruited to do the restoration work. Moreover, a university should have a history, and history is an integral part of the university. And when there is history, the novel architecture of the university will look really cool.

TASK 3學術講座題

In life, human beings often exaggerate or downplay the factors that bring them happiness or sadness. And this often leads people to make wrong decisions.

Listening

There is also a relative of the listener who had an excellent job in Chicago and he liked that company very much. His apartment was also great. However, last year there was a heavy snowstorm and the temperature was extremely low. People didn't go out and they had to dress very thickly. When the professor called his nephew, the nephew was unhappy, even though his job was great and his apartment was nice. Later, he moved to a warm place and went to work in Southern California. Because it was sunny in Southern California, he felt that it would make him happy. But in fact, he didn't like his new job position or his new apartment.

TASK 4 學術講座題

In the desert, without the protection of rock masses, many animals can be easily spotted and attacked by their natural enemies. Therefore, these animals have found ways to avoid their natural enemies.

One way is to move as short a distance as possible. When it moves frequently and then stops often, it's actually very difficult for its natural enemies to detect it. Because when it stops frequently, its natural enemies can hardly see it. The example given is the jerboa. It doesn't run long distances either. Instead, it runs for a while and then stops. Then it makes a quick dash again.

Another way is to try not to leave a shadow as much as possible, because many natural enemies discover their prey by spotting shadows. Therefore, many jerboas run as close to the ground as they can when running so that they won't leave a shadows.

寫(xie) 作

綜合寫(xie) 作

The writer believesthat there is a plant that is considered an invasive species, but scientists believe that its helpful role is significant. However, the professor’s lecture casts doubt on the reading.

To begin with, the fruit of this plant itself attracts many animals. When small animals come to eat, they will peel open these fruits and expose the seeds, which often take the seeds to other places, facilitating the spread of the seeds. The professor in the lecture challenges the opinion, for the reason that when plants spread seeds, they spread the seeds of berries and other plants together. However, this type of nut often kills its competitors, thus causing it to encroach on a lot of soil.

In addition,this plant can control the outbreak of wildfires. Because wildfires are often caused by dry branches. And this plant can provide shade. So it will prevent the soil and branches from being too dry. However, the professor maintains an opposite opinion that after fire, the soil will release a lot of chemical elements. And these chemical elements will form good fertilizers for soil, which can feed many plants. When there is no wildfire, there will be a lack of nutrients.

In the end, the writer holds the viewthatberries attract some specific bird species, which eat these berries before migration to increase nutrition and energy reserves. Whereas, the professor in the lecture believes, on the contrary of reading, birds fly for a long time during migration, which requires them to store a large amount of fat in advance. And another type of berry actually contains a large amount of oil itself. And this berry has no oil, so it doesn't provide enough energy.

學術討論

Your professor is teaching a class . Write a post responding to the professor's question. In your response, you should do the following.

Express and support your opinion.

Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Doctor Achebe

This week, we'll be looking at what governments around the world are doing to improve transportation in large cities. Some governments are expanding roadways-adding lanes to highways, widening other heavily used routes and even constructing new roads. Other governments are focusing on improvements to public transportation by modernizing existing train and bus systems. Which approach do you think should be the priority in large cities? why?

Kelly：

Focusing on public transportation makes the most sense. There is already so much traffic on the roads. Better-quality bus and train service would help reduce the congestion problem by motivating more people to take public transit, which would lead to fewer cars on the road.

Andrew：

Unfortunately, it could take years to modernize a public transit system. If governments want to more quickly see improvements in transportation, it would be better to focus first on upgrading roadways to handle more traffic. This would make car trips more efficient because drivers would spend less time in traffic each day.