TPO是托福备考圣经，但是并不是有“圣经”就能完全把握托福考试。还要看大家怎么去利用这份资料。针对原文，我们可以最大限度的剖析再剖析。直到把文章掌握得滚瓜烂熟。而大家又是怎样对待其中的每个考题呢？是做完对对答案，记下答对率；还是认真分析每个考题在考什么，找出托福阅读的“点”在哪？前者居多吧！
所以，关于托福阅读TPO，托福小编希望最大限度地利用这些ETS提供的阅读题目。在题目中，找到每个题目考察点，给出最全最有逻辑的解析。今天，小编分享给大家的是关于TPO1 The Origins of Theater的题目分析。
The Origins of Theater
戏剧的起源
1.In seeking to describe the origins of theater, one must rely primarily on speculation, since there is little concrete evidence on which to draw. The most widely accepted theory, championed by anthropologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, envisions theater as emerging out of myth and ritual. The process perceived by these anthropologists may be summarized briefly. During the early stages of its development, a society becomes aware of forces that appear to influence or control its food supply and well-being. Having little understanding of natural causes, it attributes both desirable and undesirable occurrences to supernatural or magical forces, and it searches for means to win the favor of these forces. Perceiving an apparent connection between certain actions performed by the group and the result it desires, the group repeats, refines and formalizes those actions into fixed ceremonies, or rituals.
2.Stories (myths) may then grow up around a ritual. Frequently the myths include representatives of those supernatural forces that the rites celebrate or hope to influence. Performers may wear costumes and masks to represent the mythical characters or supernatural forces in the rituals or in accompanying celebrations. As a person becomes more sophisticated, its conceptions of supernatural forces and causal relationships may change. As a result, it may abandon or modify some rites. But the myths that have grown up around the rites may continue as part of the group’s oral tradition and may even come to be acted out under conditions divorced from these rites. When this occurs, the first step has been taken toward theater as an autonomous activity, and thereafter entertainment and aesthetic values may gradually replace the former mystical and socially efficacious concerns.
3.Although origin in ritual has long been the most popular, it is by no means the only theory about how the theater came into being. Storytelling has been proposed as one alternative. Under this theory, relating and listening to stories are seen as fundamental human pleasures. Thus, the recalling of an event (a hunt, battle, or other feat) is elaborated through the narrator’s pantomime and impersonation and eventually through each role being assumed by a different person.
4.A closely related theory sees theater as evolving out of dances that are primarily pantomimic, rhythmical or gymnastic, or from imitations of animal noises and sounds. Admiration for the performer’s skill, virtuosity, and grace are seen as motivation for elaborating the activities into fully realized theatrical performances.
5.In addition to exploring the possible antecedents of theater, scholars have also theorized about the motives that led people to develop theater. Why did theater develop, and why was it valued after it ceased to fulfill the function of ritual? Most answers fall back on the theories about the human mind and basic human needs. One, set forth by Aristotle in the fourth century B.C., sees humans as naturally imitative—as taking pleasure in imitating persons, things, and actions and in seeing such imitations. Another, advanced in the twentieth century, suggests that humans have a gift for fantasy, through which they seek to reshape reality into more satisfying forms than those encountered in daily life. Thus, fantasy or fiction (of which drama is one form) permits people to objectify their anxieties and fears, confront them, and fulfill their hopes in fiction if not fact. The theater, then, is one tool whereby people define and understand their world or escape from unpleasant realities.
6.But neither the human imitative instinct nor a penchant for fantasy by itself leads to an autonomous theater. Therefore, additional explanations are needed. One necessary condition seems to be a somewhat detached view of human problems. For example, one sign of this condition is the appearance of the comic vision, since comedy requires sufficient detachment to view some deviations from social norms as ridiculous rather than as serious threats to the welfare of the entire group. Another condition that contributes to the development of autonomous theater is the emergence of the aesthetic sense. For example, some early societies ceased to consider certain rites essential to their well-being and abandoned them, nevertheless, they retained as parts of their oral tradition the myths that had grown up around the rites and admired them for their artistic qualities rather than for their religious usefulness.
考题在这里!!!
Paragraph 1: In seeking to describe the origins of theater, one must rely primarily on speculation, since there is little concrete evidence on which to draw. The most widely accepted theory, championed by anthropologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, envisions theater as emerging out of myth and ritual. The process perceived by these anthropologists may be summarized briefly. During the early stages of its development, a society becomes aware of forces that appear to influence or control its food supply and well-being. Having little understanding of natural causes, it attributes both desirable and undesirable occurrences to supernatural or magical forces, and it searches for means to win the favor of these forces. Perceiving an apparent connection between certain actions performed by the group and the result it desires, the group repeats, refines and formalizes those actions into fixed ceremonies, or rituals.
1. The word “championed” in the passage is closest in meaning to
○changed
○debated
○created
○supported
解析：答案是(4)
看相关句：The most widely accepted theory, championed by anthropologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, envisions theater as emerging out of myth and ritual. (championed by anthropologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries)是插入语，作用是对theory进一步的解释，所以和前面的解释most widely accepted是一致的。
考点：插入语
2. The word “attributes” in the passage is closest in meaning to
○ascribes
○leaves
○limits
○contrasts
解析：答案是(1)
attribute意为“把…归因于”，与“ascribe(归因于，归咎于)”同义，因此选择A。前面的causes有提示。
3. According to paragraph 1, theories of the origins of theater
○are mainly hypothetical
○are well supported by factual evidence
○have rarely been agreed upon by anthropologists
○were expressed in the early stages of theater’s development
解析：答案是(1)
答案就在第一句，段落主旨句中。考点：段落句在细节题目中的考察。
4. According to paragraph 1, why did some societies develop and repeat ceremonial actions？
○To establish a positive connection between the members of the society
○To help society members better understand the forces controlling their food supply
○To distinguish their beliefs from those of other societies
○To increase the society’s prosperity
解析：答案是(4)
定位到Perceiving an apparent connection between certain actions performed by the group and the result it desires, the group repeats, refines and formalizes those actions into fixed ceremonies, or rituals.所以答案在Perceiving an apparent connection between certain actions performed by the group and the result it desire中。早期社会之所以重复其仪式，是为了获得其所期待的结果，如使社会更加繁荣之类。因此选择D。
Paragraph 2: Stories (myths) may then grow up around a ritual. Frequently the myths include representatives of those supernatural forces that the rites celebrate or hope to influence. Performers may wear costumes and masks to represent the mythical characters or supernatural forces in the rituals or in accompanying celebrations. As a person becomes more sophisticated, its conceptions of supernatural forces and causal relationships may change. As a result, it may abandon or modify some rites. But the myths that have grown up around the rites may continue as part of the group’s oral tradition and may even come to be acted out under conditions divorced from these rites. When this occurs, the first step has been taken toward theater as an autonomous activity, and thereafter entertainment and aesthetic values may gradually replace the former mystical and socially efficacious concerns.
5. The word “this” in the passage refers to
○the acting out of rites
○the divorce of ritual performers from the rest of society
○the separation of myths from rites
○the celebration of supernatural forces
解析：答案是(3)。考察代词还原。一般往前找：不过在这些仪式中发展起来的神话故事继续在人们的口头流传，甚至可能脱离了仪式而被演绎着。这时侯，戏剧作为一种自发的活动迈出了自己的第一步。所以this应该是the separation of myths from rites。
6. The word “autonomous” in the passage is closest in meaning to
○artistic
○important
○independent
○established
解析：答案是(3)，从前句under conditions divorced from these rites…找到相关线索。
7. According to paragraph 2, what may cause societies to abandon certain rites？
○Emphasizing theater as entertainment
○Developing a new understanding of why events occur
○Finding a more sophisticated way of representing mythical characters
○Moving from a primarily oral tradition to a more written tradition
解析：答案是(2)，As a person becomes more sophisticated, its conceptions of supernatural forces and causal relationships may change. As a result, it may abandon or modify some rites.这里说了，人们会因为超自然力量与其导致结果的关系放弃一种仪式，所以答案应该是和“是什么导致了一些事件”相关。考察点：因果句，判断：As a result
Paragraph 5: In addition to exploring the possible antecedents of theater, scholars have also theorized about the motives that led people to develop theater. Why did theater develop, and why was it valued after it ceased to fulfill the function of ritual? Most answers fall back on the theories about the human mind and basic human needs. One, set forth by Aristotle in the fourth century B.C., sees humans as naturally imitative—as taking pleasure in imitating persons, things, and actions and in seeing such imitations. Another, advanced in the twentieth century, suggests that humans have a gift for fantasy, through which they seek to reshape reality into more satisfying forms than those encountered in daily life. Thus, fantasy or fiction (of which drama is one form) permits people to objectify their anxieties and fears, confront them, and fulfill their hopes in fiction if not fact. The theater, then, is one tool whereby people define and understand their world or escape from unpleasant realities.
8. All of following are mentioned in paragraph 5 as possible reasons that led societies to develop theater EXCEPT
○Theater allows people to face that they are afraid of.
○Theater gives an opportunity to imagine a better reality.
○Theater is a way to enjoy imitating other people.
○Theater provides people the opportunity to better understand the human mind.
解析：答案是(4)
One, set forth by Aristotle in the fourth century B.C., sees humans as naturally imitative—as taking pleasure in imitating persons, things, and actions and in seeing such imitations. (Paragraph 5)
Another, advanced in the twentieth century, suggests that humans have a gift for fantasy, through which they seek to reshape reality into more satisfying forms than those encountered in daily life. (Paragraph 5)
Thus, fantasy or fiction (of which drama is one form) permits people to objectify their anxieties and fears, confront them, and fulfill their hopes in fiction if not fact.(Paragraph 5)
本题解析：
相关句指出戏剧使人们可以面对自己的恐惧(permits people to objectify their anxieties and fears, confront them)；可以任凭想象创造更美好的现实(reshape reality into more satisfying forms)；可以从模仿中找到乐趣(taking pleasure in imitating)。排除法选择D。
考察点：列举，一般情况下会出except题目。
9. Which of the following best describes the organization of paragraph 5？
○The author presents two theories for a historical phenomenon.
○The author argues against theories expressed earlier in the passage.
○The author argues for replacing older theories with a new one.
○The author points out problems with two popular theories.
解析；答案是(1) Most answers fall back on the theories about the human mind and basic human needs.之后，one, Another,最后thus来总结。考点：段落架构。(段落架构明显的)
Paragraph 6: But neither the human imitative instinct nor a penchant for fantasy by itself leads to an autonomous theater. Therefore, additional explanations are needed. One necessary condition seems to be a somewhat detached view of human problems. For example, one sign of this condition is the appearance of the comic vision, since comedy requires sufficient detachment to view some deviations from social norms as ridiculous rather than as serious threats to the welfare of the entire group. Another condition that contributes to the development of autonomous theater is the emergence of the aesthetic sense. For example, some early societies ceased to consider certain rites essential to their well-being and abandoned them, nevertheless, they retained as parts of their oral tradition the myths that had grown up around the rites and admired them for their artistic qualities rather than for their religious usefulness.
10. The word “penchant” in the passage is closest in meaning to
○compromise
○inclination
○tradition
○respect
解析：答案是(2)，but这句话和前面段落是联系的 the human imitative instinct,a penchant for fantasy分别对应naturally imitative和a gift for fantasy，所以排除选(2)
penchant意为“强力的喜爱”，即对某一事物有“倾向性(inclination)”
考点：段落联系。还是要从句子本身的逻辑才能看出来。
11. Why does the author mention “comedy”?
○To give an example of early types of theater
○To explain how theater helps a society respond to threats to its welfare
○To help explain why detachment is needed for the development of theater
○To show how theatrical performers become detached from other members of society
解析：答案是(3)
One necessary condition seems to be a somewhat detached view of human problems. For example, one sign of this condition is the appearance of the comic vision, since comedy requires…首先提问的句子是在一个例子中，所以找例子对应的被论证句One necessary condition seems to be a somewhat detached view of human problems.。而这句本身就是为了说明Therefore, additional explanations are needed.
考察点：举例。
12. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
○A society’s rites were more likely to be retained in the oral tradition if its myths were admired for artistic qualities.
○The artistic quality of a myth was sometimes an essential reason for a society to abandon it from the oral tradition.
○Some early societies stopped using myths in their religious practices when rites ceased to be seen as useful for social well-being.
○Myths sometimes survived in a society’s tradition because of their artistic qualities even after they were no longer deemed religiously beneficial.
解析：答案是(4)
For example, some early societies ceased to consider certain rites essential to their well-being and abandoned them, nevertheless, they retained as parts of their oral tradition the myths that had grown up around the rites and admired them for their artistic qualities rather than for their religious usefulness.
Nevertheless是句子中的主要逻辑，正选中必含。
考点：句子逻辑
Paragraph 3: █Although origin in ritual has long been the most popular, it is by no means the only theory about how the theater came into being. █Storytelling has been proposed as one alternative. █Under this theory, relating and listening to stories are seen as fundamental human pleasures. █Thus, the recalling of an event (a hunt, battle, or other feat) is elaborated through the narrator’s pantomime and impersonation and eventually through each role being assumed by a different person.
13. Look at the four squares [█] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
To enhance their listeners’ enjoyment, storytellers continually make their stories more engaging and memorable.
Where would the sentence best fit?
解析：答案是(4) 找到提示their listeners’ enjoyment，暗示着前一句中应有关于“enjoyment”相关的内容，这与“fundamental human pleasure”相对应。考察：指代以及句间逻辑。
14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
解析：选(2)(5)(6)
Anthropologists have developed many theories to help understand why and how theater originated.
Answer choices
○The presence of theater in almost all societies is thought to have occurred because early storytellers traveled to different groups to tell their stories.
○Many theorists believe that theater arises when societies act out myths to preserve social well-being.
○The more sophisticated societies became, the better they could influence desirable occurrences through ritualized theater.
○Some theories of theater development focus on how theater was used by group leaders to group leaders govern other members of society.
○Theater may have come from pleasure humans receive from storytelling and moving rhythmically.
○The human capacities for imitation and fantasy are considered possible reasons why societies develop theater.
该题考察对全文理解，注意正确答案应陈述文章主要内容----戏剧的诞生和发展的原因。
1.文中未提到“讲故事者四处巡游讲授故事 ”。1错误。
2. 第1段中指出“The most widely accepted theory, championed by anthropologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, envisions theater as emerging out of myth and ritual”，即最为广泛接受的理论认为戏剧来源于神话和宗教仪式；文章接着指出表演神话故事和举行仪式是为了保佑社会的安康。2正确。
3.文章指出“随着人们变得精明，他们对超自然力量有了新的认识，不再盲目相信从而抛弃了一些仪式”，而并不是说“人们可以操纵现实(could influence desirable occurrences through ritualized theater)”。3错误。
4.文中并未谈及群体领袖利用戏剧来控制成员。4错误。
5.文章3、4两段指出了戏剧诞生的其他两种理论，即戏剧发源于讲故事和节奏性舞蹈，它们给人带来欢愉。5正确。
6.文章第5段指出了人类的模仿本能和幻想本能很可能促进了戏剧的
以上就是关于TPO1 The Origins of Theater的阅读题目解析，希望对大家的备考有所帮助。前程百利祝大家都能取得理想的考试成绩。
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