托福阅读tpo 1 Timberline Vegetation on Mountains原题解析

阅读原文：

The transition from forest to treeless tundra on a mountain slope is often a dramatic one. Within a vertical distance of just a few tens of meters, trees disappear as a life-form and are replaced by low shrubs, herbs, and grasses. This rapid zone of transition is called the upper timberline or tree line. In many semiarid areas there is also a lower timberline where the forest passes into steppe or desert at its lower edge, usually because of a lack of moisture.

通常从山坡上的森林到没有树的苔原是一种非常戏剧化的转变。在一个垂直距离只有几十米的地方，树木这种生命形式就消失了，取而代之的是低矮的灌木、草本植物和牧草。这种快速过渡的区域被称为上行树带界线或林木线。在许多干旱的地区存在着下行树带界线，在这里由于缺乏水分森林变成干草原，甚至在最下端会出现沙漠。

The upper timberline, like the snow line, is highest in the tropics and lowest in the Polar Regions. It ranges from sea level in the Polar Regions to 4,500 meters in the dry subtropics and 3,500-4,500 meters in the moist tropics. Timberline trees are normally evergreens, suggesting that these have some advantage over deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves) in the extreme environments of the upper timberline. There are some areas, however, where broadleaf deciduous trees form the timberline. Species of birch, for example, may occur at the timberline in parts of the Himalayas.

上行树带界线，和雪线一样，在热带最高，在极地最低。从极地地区的海平面到干燥的亚热带地区的海拔4 500米处以及潮湿的热带地区海拔3 500米至4 500米处都有上行树带界线。树带界线内通常是常绿树，它们和处于上行树带界线处极端恶劣环境中生长的落叶树木相比，具有一定的优势。然而，在部分地区也有由落叶阔叶林组成的树带界线。例如，在喜马拉雅的部分地区，桦树就在树带界线上。

At the upper timberline the trees begin to become twisted and deformed. This is particularly true for trees in the middle and upper latitudes, which tend to attain greater heights on ridges, whereas in the tropics the trees reach their greater heights in the valleys. This is because middle- and upper- latitude timberlines are strongly influenced by the duration and depth of the snow cover. As the snow is deeper and lasts longer in the valleys, trees tend to attain greater heights on the ridges, even though they are more exposed to high-velocity winds and poor, thin soils there. In the tropics, the valleys appear to be more favorable because they are less prone to dry out, they have less frost, and they have deeper soils.

上行树带界线的树木开始扭曲和变形，尤其在中高纬度地区的树木，这些地区的树木往往会在山脊上长得更高，而在热带地区的树木则在山谷里长得更高；因为中高纬度地区树带界线受积雪覆盖时间和深度的影响很大。由于山谷中积雪覆盖较厚且持续时间很长，树木即便是生长在大风和贫瘠的土地里，也往往会在山脊上长得更高。在热带地区山谷里更有利于

生长，因为山谷不易干涸、很少结霜，并且有更深的土壤。

There is still no universally agreed-on explanation for why there should be such a dramatic cessation of tree growth at the upper timberline. Various environmental factors may play a role. Too much snow, for example, can smother trees, and avalanches and snow creep can damage or destroy them. Late-lying snow reduces the effective growing season to the point where seedlings cannot establish themselves. Wind velocity also increases with altitude and may cause serious stress for trees, as is made evident by the deformed shapes at high altitudes. Some scientists have proposed that the presence of increasing levels of ultraviolet light with elevation may play a role, while browsing and grazing animals like the ibex may be another contributing factor. Probably the most important environmental factor is temperature, for if the growing season is too short and temperatures are too low, tree shoots and buds cannot mature sufficiently to survive the winter months.

目前还没有一个普遍认同的解释来说明为什么会在树带界线上出现树木停止生长这种戏剧化的现象。多种环境因素都起到作用，例如，积雪过多会让树木透不过气，雪崩和雪移能摧毁树木；长时间积雪缩短了有效生长季节的时间，树苗无法生长；另外，风速会随着海拔的升高而增加，增加树木承受的压力，很明显，正是这种风速带来的压力导致树木在高纬度地区发生变形。一些科学家提出，随着海拔的上升而不断增强的紫外线、野生山羊等动物的放养，都是导致树带界线形成的因素。或许最重要的环境因素是温度，因为如果生长季节太短并且气温太低，树芽和树苗都无法充分地成长而存活过冬季。

Above the tree line there is a zone that is generally called alpine tundra. Immediately adjacent to the timberline, the tundra consists of a fairly complete cover of low-lying shrubs, herbs, and grasses, while higher up the number and diversity of species decrease until there is much bare ground with occasional mosses and lichens and some prostrate cushion plants. Some plants can even survive in favorable microhabitats above the snow line. The highest plants in the world occur at around 6,100 meters on Makalu in the Himalayas. At this great height, rocks, warmed by the sun, melt small snowdrifts.

在林木线之上有一个称为高山苔原的地带。由于紧挨着树带界线，苔原上都是矮灌木、草本植物和牧草。随着海拔的增加，物种的数量和多样性会逐渐减少，直到出现大量空地伴着零星的苔藓和地衣这样的伏地垫状植物。有些植物甚至可以在雪线以上有利的微环境中生存，世界上海拔最高的植物是出现在喜马拉雅山上6 100百米的马卡鲁峰。在这个高度上，被阳光温暖过的岩石可以将小雪堆融化。

The most striking characteristic of the plants of the alpine zone is their low growth form. This enables them to avoid the worst rigors of high winds and permits them to make use of the higher temperatures immediately adjacent to the ground surface. In an area where low temperatures are limiting to life, the importance of the additional heat near the surface is crucial. The low growth form can also permit the

plants to take advantage of the insulation provided by a winter snow cover. In the equatorial mountains the low growth form is less prevalent.

高山植物最突出的特点是其低矮的生长形态。这种特点使他们能够避开大风最强势的势头，并且有助于他们利用紧邻地面相对较高的温度。在这样一个低温限制生命的地区，地表提供的额外温度是至关重要的。低矮的生长形态也可以帮助植物充分利用冬季积雪所提供的保温环境。在赤道区的山脉上低矮的生长形态并不常见。

第1题：

The word “dramatic” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A：gradual

B：complex

C：visible

D：striking

解析：

dramatic剧烈的，戏剧化的，就单词本身能够想到drama戏剧，所以这个应该是戏剧的形容词，原文后句说在几十米的垂直距离内，树木完全被低矮的灌木和草取代了，所以变化非常剧烈，A渐渐B复杂C可见的都不靠谱

第2题：

Where is the lower timberline mentioned in paragraph 1 likely to be found?

A：In an area that has little water

B：In an area that has little sunlight

C：Above a transition area

D：On a mountain that has on upper timberline.

解析：

以lower timberline做关键词定位至本段最后一句，说有lower timberline是因为a lack of moisture，缺乏湿度，等于A选项中的没有水。

第3题：

Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 1 about both the upper and lower timberlines?

A：Both are treeless zones.

B：Both mark forest boundaries.

C：Both are surrounded by desert areas.

D：Both suffer from a lack of moisture.

解析：

分别以upper timberline和lower timberline为关键词定位至本段倒数两句，不管是upper timberline还是lower timberline都是快速的过渡带，树还是有的，只是在向草原等等过渡，所以A错，既然是过渡，也就是边界了，B对，C没说，只有lower timberline 缺水，upper timberline 并没有说缺水，所以D错。

第4题：

Paragraph 2 supports which of the following statements about deciduous trees?

A：They cannot grow in cold climates.

B：They do not exist at the upper timberline.

C：They are less likely than evergreens to survive at the upper timberline.

D：They do not require as much moisture as evergreens do.

解析：

以deciduous trees做关键词定位至原文的第三句和第四句，根据第四句说有的地方的timberline是由落叶树构成的，所以timberline上还是有落叶树的，所以选项A和B说反，D项moisture原文没说，第三句说timberline通常是常绿树构成的，第四句说有的时候也出现落叶树，所以常绿树比落叶树出现的概率大，所以C正确。

第5题：

The word “attain” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A：require

B：resist

C：achieve

D：endure

解析：

attain获得，想到相似的obtain和retain，原文说中高纬度的树木会变形，在山脊处怎么样更高，后半句的whereas所在句与之并列，其中reach greater heights应该和考的那部分是并列的，所以attain也是reach之意，答案是achieve，A要求B反对抵抗D忍耐都不对。

第6题：

The word “they” in the passage refers to

A：valleys

B：trees

C：heights

D：ridges

解析：

并列句，往前找，找主语，trees是正确答案，此外，被暴露在大风之下的应该是树，山谷山脊和高度都不靠谱。

第7题：

The word “prone” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A：adapted

B：likely

C：difficult

D：resistant

解析：

prone 倾向于。原文说热带地区山谷是更有利于生长的地方因为那里怎么样干涸，比较有利生长当然不容易干涸，C和D的意思都是能干涸，所以都不对，A适应不靠谱，所以B 正确。

第8题：

According to paragraph 3, which of the following is true of trees in the middle and upper latitudes?

A：Tree growth is negatively affected by the snow cover in valleys

B：Tree growth is greater in valleys than on ridges.

C：Tree growth on ridges is not affected by high-velocity winds.

D：Tree growth lasts longer in those latitudes than it does in the tropics.

解析：

以middle and upper latitudes做关键词定位至原文第三四两句，说中高纬度地区树木在很大程度上受到积雪覆盖的时长和深度的影响，山谷地区积雪深，时间长，所以树长得不好，所以是negatively affected，选项B和C与原文相反，D所做比较原文没有提到。

第9题：

Which of the sentences below best express the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? In correct choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

A：Because of their deformed shapes at high altitudes, trees are not likely to be seriously harmed by the strong winds typical of those altitudes.

B：As altitude increases, the velocity of winds increase, leading to a serious decrease in the number of trees found at high altitudes.

C：The deformed shapes of trees at high altitudes show that wind velocity, which increase with altitude, can cause serious hardship for trees.

D：Increased wind velocity at high altitudes deforms the shapes of trees, and this may cause serious stress for trees.

解析：

原句说风速随海拔增加，而且会给树木很大压力，已经被高海拔地区树木被损坏的形态证实。

A的因果关系与原文相反，错；

B前半句正确，后半句数目减少没说到，错；

D把原文非主要成分变成主要成分，改变了原文的因果结构，错。

第10题：

In paragraph 4, what is the author’s main purpose in the discussion of the dramatic cessation of tree growth at the upper timberline?

A：To argue that none of several environment factors that are believed to contribute to that phenomenon do in fact play a role in causing it.

B：To argue in support of one particular explanation of that phenomenon against several competing explanations

C：To explain why the primary environmental factor responsible for that phenomenon has not yet been identified

D：To present several environmental factors that may contribute to a satisfactory explanation of that phenomenon

解析：

以dramatic cessation of tree growth at the timberline为关键词定位至本段第一句，说对于这个cessation没有统一的解释，接着后面就说了有好多种解释，作者没说他认为哪个对，也没解释为什么没有一致意见，所以答案是D，提供了多种解释，A说所有都不对，B说支持其中一个，C说解释为什么没有一致意见都错了。

第11题：

The word “prevalent” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A：predictable

B：widespread

C：successful

D：developed

解析：

词汇题，问的是最后一段的prevalent，备选项分别是predictable, widespread, successful, developed，prevalent占优势的，广泛分布的。原文前句说low growth form 使得植物能够利用积雪覆盖产生的隔绝效应大量生长，接着就说在赤道地区怎么样，赤道没有雪，也就没有隔绝效应，肯定low growth form就没那么多了，至少应该得到prevalent 是多的意思，但这个意思除了predictable不靠谱外其他的单词都挺对的，选widespread 就只能靠认识单词了。

第12题：

According to paragraph 6, all of the following statements are true of plants in the alpine zone EXCEPT:

A：Because they are low, they are less exposed to strong winds.

B：Because they are low, the winter snow cover gives them more protection from the extreme cold.

C：In the equatorial mountains, they tend to be lower than in mountains elsewhere.

D：Their low growth form keeps them closer to the ground, where there is more heat than further up.

解析：

EXCEPT题排除法，以wind做关键词定位至本段第二句，A对，不选；以winter snow cover 做关键词定位至倒数第二句，B对，不选；以equatorial mountains做关键词定位至最后一句，原文说less prevalent，不那么广泛分布，不是选项C所说的低，所以C错，选；D选项与A选项在同一句，注意heat和higher temperature的替换。

第13题：

Look at the four squares [] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?

This explains how, for example, alpine cushion plants have been found growing at an altitude of 6,180 meters.

解析：

这道题如果单纯以cushion plants定位插入点的话一定会错，那个for example表明待插入句是around 6100m的一个例子，应该在C和D当中选择，而且待插入句中又有this explains how，就是说正确插入点之前的句子必须是对待插入句意思上的一个解释，插入C 点的话前面句子描述的是一个现象，插入点D前面句子是一个解释，所以D对。

第14题：

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. At the timberline, whether upper or lower, there is a profound change in the growth of trees and other plants.

A. Birch is one of the few species of tree that can survive in the extreme environments of the upper timberline.

B. There is no agreement among scientists as to exactly why plant growth is sharply different above and below the upper timberline.

C. The temperature at the upper timberline is probably more important in preventing tree growth than factors such as the amount of snowfall or the force of winds.

D. The geographical location of an upper timberline has an impact on both the types of trees found there and their physical characteristics.

E. High levels of ultraviolet light most likely play a greater role in determining tree growth at the upper timberline than do grazing animals such as the ibex.

F. Despite being adjacent to the timberline, the alpine tundra is an area where certain kinds of low trees can endure high winds and very low temperatures.

解析：

A,选项提到了具体的树种桦树，明显是一个细节选项，不选

B,There is选项对应第四段首句，正确

C,The temperature选项对，是对第四段各种因素重要性的概括

D,The geographical选项对应第二段和第三段，正确

E,High选项错，针对第四段，但ultraviolet 只是一个不重要的因素

F,Despite选项错，错在low trees, 根据定义，alpine tundra就没有树了答案：

第1题：D

第2题：A

第3题：B

第4题：C

第5题：C

第6题：B

第7题：B

第8题：A

第9题：C

第10题：D

第11题：B

第12题：C

第13题：D

第14题：BCD

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