托福阅读的思维方式就是托福阅读的出题方式，只有掌握了这种思维方式，才有可能在做题之前，预测到新托福阅读题的出题形式和特点，为找答案节省时间。老托福阅读试题的核心价值，在于其最贴近真题的阅读思维方式。此外老托福阅读真题比新托福IBT阅读文章要短，比较容易适应。这也是大家在备考托福的时候非常重要的一点。因为前期的入手如果能从容易的开始，就会形成一个循序渐进的过程方式，让大家的练习有一个提高的过程。
既然老托福阅读试题有这样的效果，那我们如何利用那有限的真题来达到锻炼自己的目的呢？事实上这就一个办法，就是坚持。本期为大家推荐老托福阅读的真题PASSAGE 17，附有原文及答案，希望对托福考生备考有所帮助。
Aviculturists, people who raise birds for commercial sale, have not yet learned how to simulate the natural incubation of parrot eggs in the wild. They continue to look for better ways to increase egg production and to improve chick survival rates.
When parrots incubate their eggs in the wild, the temperature and humidity of the nest are controlled naturally. Heat is transferred from the bird's skin to the top portion of the eggshell, leaving the sides and bottom of the egg at a cooler temperature. This temperature gradient may be vital to successful hatching. Nest construction can contribute to this temperature gradient. Nests of loosely arranged sticks, rocks, or dirt are cooler in temperature at the bottom where the egg contacts the nesting material. Such nests also act as humidity regulators by allowing rain to drain into the bottom sections of the nest so that the eggs are not in direct contact with the water. As the water that collects in the bottom of the nest evaporates, the water vapor rises and is heated by the incubating bird, which adds significant humidity to the incubation environment.
In artificial incubation programs, aviculturists remove eggs from the nests of parrots and incubate them under laboratory conditions. Most commercial incubators heat the eggs fairly evenly from top to bottom, thus ignoring the bird's method of natural incubation, and perhaps reducing the viability and survivability of the hatching chicks. When incubators are not used, aviculturists sometimes suspend wooden boxes outdoors to use as nests in which to place eggs. In areas where weather can become cold after eggs are laid, it is very important to maintain a deep foundation of nesting material to act as insulator against the cold bottom of the box. If eggs rest against the wooden bottom in extremely cold weather conditions, they can become chilled to a point where the embryo can no longer survive. Similarly, these boxes should be protected from direct sunlight to avoid high temperatures that are also fatal to the growing embryo. Nesting material should be added in sufficient amounts to avoid both extreme temperature situations mentioned above and assure that the eggs have a soft, secure place to rest.
1. What is the main idea of the passage ?
(A) Nesting material varies according to the parrots' environment.
(B) Humidity is an important factor in incubating parrots' eggs.
(C) Aviculturists have constructed the ideal nest box for parrots.
(D) Wild parrots' nests provide information useful for artificial incubation.
2. The word "They" in line 2 refers to
(A) aviculturists
(B) birds
(C) eggs
(D) rates
3. According to paragraph 2, when the temperature of the sides and bottom of the egg are cooler than the top, then
(A) there may be a good chance for successful incubation
(B) the embryo will not develop normally
(C) the incubating parent moves the egg to a new position.
(D) the incubation process is slowed down
4. According to paragraph 2, sticks, rocks, or dirt are used to
(A) soften the bottom of the nest for the newly hatched chick
(B) hold the nest together
(C) help lower the temperature at the bottom of the nest
(D) make the nest bigger
5. According to paragraph 2, the construction of the nest allows water to
(A) provide a beneficial source of humidity in the nest
(B) loosen the materials at the bottom of the nest
(C) keep the nest in a clean condition
(D) touch the bottom of the eggs
6. All of the following are part of a parrot's incubation method EXCEPT
(A) heating the water vapor as it rises from the bottom of the nest
(B) arranging nesting material at the bottom of the nest
(C) transferring heat from the parent to the top of the eggshell
(D) maintaining a constant temperature on the eggshell
7. The word "suspend" in line 18 is closest in meaning to
(A) build
(B) paint
(C) hang
(D) move
8. The word "fatal" in line 24 is closest in meaning to
(A) close
(B) deadly
(C) natural
(D) hot
9. The word "secure" in line 27 is closest in meaning to
(A) fresh
(B) dry
(C) safe
(D) warm
10. According to paragraph 3, a deep foundation of nesting material provides
(A) a constant source of humidity
(B) a strong nest box
(C) more room for newly hatched chicks
(D) protection against cold weather
11. Which of the following is a problem with commercial incubators?
(A) They lack the natural temperature changes of the outdoors.
(B) They are unable to heat the eggs evenly
(C) They do not transfer heat to the egg in the same way the parent bird does.
(D) They are expensive to operate.
12. Which of the following terms is defined in the passage ?
(A) Aviculturists (line 1)
(B) gradient (line 8)
(C) incubation (line 15)
(D) embryo (line 22)
正确答案：DAACA DCBCD CA
以上就是百利天下考试为大家整理的老托福阅读真题，考生可进行参考训练以提高自己的考试水平。若您想了解托福考试更多相关信息请关注百利天下出国考试。
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