01
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2018第一场托福考试
对于托福考试,每年的最初几场,都会有一些小的改革。接下来的一整年,基本无变化。从今天的托福考试来看,暂时和2017年一样,依然是下面的几个关键特征。华叔梳理一下,希望对新考生有帮助。
第一,阅读部分,同一场考试,ABCD多套试卷,每一套试卷里有三篇(60分钟)或者四篇(80分钟)阅读。如果是四篇,则有一篇是加试,但考试时不可确定。
第二,听力部分,和阅读一样,也是ABCD多套试卷,每一套里有两个SECTION或者三个SECTION。如果是三个SECTION,则有一个SECTION是加试,考试时也不可确定。
第三,阅读是A卷的考生,听力未必是A卷,ETS使用的是混合组卷模式。
第四,口语和写作,同一场考试,所有考生都是同一套题。
总的来说,ETS从2017年3月开始对托福进行的改革,虽然难度有所提升,但不是对考试题型和考试形式的改革,而是以后台技术为依托,对考试公正性的保障。这对一般考生,没有影响。对于替考,是致命打击。对于华华这样专注研究托福并还原考题的专业机构来说,是好到有点不好意思的一件事。
02
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1.6上午场综合写作解析和范文
[重复2015-07-04真题]
阅读主要观点提取
总论点:苏格兰石头建筑brochs的用途是个谜,作者用了三个理论尝试解释苏格兰人修建brochs的目的。
分论点一:防御功能。brochs有的墙很厚很高,当有敌人入侵的时候,村民可以躲在brochs里面直到敌人离开。
分论点二:存储粮食的功能。苏格兰人的谷物丰收,所以他们修建了brochs来存储剩余的粮食。
分论点三:是领导居住的地方。brochs里面有很多贵重的物品,所以有可能是身份尊贵的人居住的时候留下的。
听力主要观点提取
总论点:阅读的每个解释都有问题。
分论点一:brochs没有窗户就使它丧失了防御的功能。因为只有当一个建筑有窗户的时候,防御的人才能射箭,使得入侵者无法靠近这个建筑,他们就无法翻越城墙或者防火烧城墙。
分论点二:brochs里有大的水箱和火堆的地方,使得它不可能用来存储粮食。第一,有水箱,空气中就会有水分,谷物遇水就容易腐烂;第二,有火堆的地方不能存放谷物。因为谷物里的灰尘遇火容易爆炸。
分论点三:brochs所处的位置也不太可能是领导居住的处所。第一,有些brochs地处偏远的地方,领导不会远离他统治的人群;第二,有些地方有好几个brochs聚集在一起,而同一个地区不可能有多个领袖。
【经典满分范文】
Although the reading proposes three theories to explain the use of Scotland brochs, the listening believes that the brochs’ purpose remains mysterious and each of the theories suggested by the author is problematic.
Primarily, in contradiction to the passage’s argument, the lecture contends that brochs are not built for defensive purpose. The major problem is that brochs have no windows whereas most forts have small windows. Windows play an important role in letting the defenders to shoot arrows and thus keeping the attackers at certain distance so that they cannot come close to the structure. Without windows, attackers could easily set brochs on fire or break down its doors.
Further, the professor denies the author’s theory of grain storage as well. First, there are large water tanks in brochs, which would release moisture into the air and cause grain to rot. Second, some brochs also contain fireplaces. Dust from the grain could catch fire and cause explosion if these fireplaces had been placed near grain storage.
Finally, while the reading says that brochs could be homes for chieftains, the listening points out that their locations indicate that it is unlikely. In ancient cultures, it is typical for a leader with one large home to live near many other smaller homes in which everyone else live. However, it is found that some brochs are totally isolated or that many of them group together. It is impossible for leaders to live alone far away from villagers or many leaders live together.
03
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1.6上午场阅读深度分析
到目前为止,2018.01.06上午场考试共统计有ABC三套题目,每套题目都是新老题组合,并且可能有加试,加试题目已列出,考生可以查对,看自己是否幸运地躲过了做的最差的那一篇。
A卷
Crown of Thorn Starfish Populations(重复2017.06.10年度新题)
How Birds Acquire Their Songs(重复2015.07.11年度新题)
The Decline and Collapse of States(首考新题)
Plant Adaptations to Drought Conditions(加试)
B卷
Increasing Jellyfish Populations(重复2017.04.01年度新题)
Cretaceous Extinctoins(重复2017.11.12,2017.10.15,2016.03.11年度新题)
工业革命的家庭变化情况,强调extended family依然很重要(首考新题)
Bumble bee的温度调节(加试)
C卷
Dynastic Egypt and the Nile River(重复2017.05.20年度新题)
Marine Bioluminescence(首考新题)
Bird Territory(首考新题)
蜘蛛网装饰物的作用(加试)
【规律揭示】
本场考试再次验证了我们2017年底总结的ETS出题规律。
1. 各个年度新题属于高频重复考查对象;
2. 已经被多次重复考查的题目再次考查的概率仍然很高,例如今天B卷的Cretaceous Extinctoins,在不久前的2017.10.15和2017.11.12已被重复考过两次。
3. 已经被多次重复考查的题目,其最初出现日期的同一套试卷里的其他题目,一定会被同样重复考查,只是时间早晚而已。例如今天A卷的How Birds Acquire Their Songs所在最初考试日期为2015.07.11,属于2015年度新题,这套题里的另外两篇文章已在2017年被重复考查(Individual Performance and the Presence of Others被2017.08.27重复,The Identification of the Genetic material 被2017.12.09重复),所以剩下的第三篇文章How Birds Acquire Their Songs在今天就被顺理成章地考到了。
04
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部分阅读词汇题
Plant Adaptations to Drought Conditions
strategy=plan
enhancing=increasing
compensate for=make up for
temporarily =briefly
Crown of Thorn Starfish Populations
devastated =severely damaged
inherently =naturally
prolonged =extended
boosting=increasing
The Decline and Collapse of States
deteriorating =worsening
persistent=continuous
converge =meet
artificial=human-made
How Birds Acquire Their Songs
prompts=stimulates
particular=specific
eventually=in the end
recall=remember
Increasing Jellyfish Populations
unprecedented=never before seen
permanent=constant
excessive=too many
inadvertently=accidentally
Dynastic Egypt and the Nile River
relentless =without pause
encountered=came into contact with
mobilize=put into action
remarkable=impressive
Cretaceous Extinctoins
lethal =deadly
disrupted =interfered with
appeal=attraction
vicinity =area