2017托福100篇阅读理解试题（三十一）

　　Often enough the craft worker's place of employment in ancient Greece was set in rural isolation. Potter, for instance, found it convenient to locate their workshops near their source of clay, regardless of its relation to the center of settlement. At Corinth and Athens, however, two of the best-known potters' quarters were situated on the cities' outskirts, and potters and makers of terra-cotta figurines were also established well within the city of Athens itself. The techniques of pottery manufacture had evolved well before the Greek period, but marked stylistic developments occurred in shape and in decoration, for example, in the interplay of black and other glazes with the red surface of the fired pot. Athenian black-figure and red-figure decoration, which emphasized human figures rather than animal images, was adopted between 630 and 530 B.C.; its distinctive color and luster were the result of the skillful adjustments of the kiln's temperature during an extended three-stage period if firing the clayware. Whether it was the potters or the vase-painters who initiated changes in firing is unclear, the functions of making and decorating were usually divided between them, but neither group can have been so specialized that they did not share in the concerns of the other.

　　The broad utility of terra-cotta was such that workers in clay could generally afford to confine themselves to either decorated ware and housewares like cooking pots and storage jars or building materials like roof tiles and drainpipes. Some sixth- and fifth-century B.C. Athenian pottery establishments are known to have concentrated on a limited range of fine ware, but a rural pottery establishment on the island of Thasos produced many types of pottery and roof tiles too, presumably to meet local demand. Molds were used to create particular effects for some products, such as relief-decorated vessels and figurines; for other products such as roof tiles, which were in some quantity, they were used to facilitate mass production. There were also a number of poor-quality figurines and painted pots produced in quantity by easy, inexpensive means — as numerous featureless statuettes and unattractive cases testify.

　　1. The passage mainly discusses ancient Greek pottery and its

　　(A) production techniques

　　(B) similarity to other crafts

　　(C) unusual materials

　　(D) resemblance to earlier pottery

　　2. The phrase "regardless of" in line 3 is closest in meaning to

　　(A) as a result of

　　(B) no matter what

　　(C) proud of

　　(D) according to

　　3. It can be inferred from the passage that most pottery establishments in ancient Greece were situated

　　(A) in city centers

　　(B) on the outskirts of cities

　　(C) where clay could be found

　　(D) near other potters' workshops

　　4. The word "marked" in line 7 is closest in meaning to

　　(A) original

　　(B) attractive

　　(C) noticeable

　　(D) patterned

　　5. The word "confine" in line 17 is closest in meaning to

　　(A) adapt

　　(B) train

　　(C) restrict

　　(D) organize

　　6. It can be inferred from the passage that terra-cotta had which of the following advantages

　　(A) It did not break during the firing process.

　　(B) It was less expensive than other available materials.

　　(C) Its surface had a lasting shine.

　　(D) It could be used for many purposes.

　　7. The word "presumably" in line 21 is closest in meaning to

　　(A) frequently

　　(B) practically

　　(C) preferably

　　(D) probably

　　8. The word "they" in line 24 refers to

　　(A) molds

　　(B) particular effects

　　(C) products

　　(D) vessels and figurines

　　9. According to the passage , all of the following are true of ancient Greek potters and vase painters EXCEPT:

　　(A) Their functions were so specialized that they lacked common concerns.

　　(B) They sometimes produced inferior ware.

　　(C) They produced pieces that had unusual color and shine.

　　(D) They decorated many of their works with human images.

　　参考答案：ABCCC DDAA