『新东方在线托福阅读』为托福考生准备了ETS托福TPO/Official 3 Passage 1阅读练习：The word “arduous” in the passage is closest in meaning to真题题目及答案解析，TPO/Official 3 Passage 1阅读原文范文音频翻译

托福TPO/Official 3 Passage 1阅读原文The word “arduous” in the passage is closest in meaning to题目答案及解析-新东方托福官方网校手机版

建筑是设计结构的艺术和科学，其结构出于实用和象征性意义的目的来组织和闭合空间。

Architecture is the art and science of designing structures that organize and enclose space for practical and symbolic purposes.

因为建筑是出于人类的需求和愿望发展而来，所以它明显地传达了文化价值。

Because architecture grows out of human needs and aspirations, it clearly communicates cultural values.

在所有视觉艺术中，建筑最直接地影响着我们的生活，因为建筑在很大程度上决定着人类环境的特征。

Of all the visual arts, architecture affects our lives most directly for it determines the character of the human environment in major ways.

Architecture is a three-dimensional form.

它利用了空间、质量、纹理、线条、光线和颜色。

It utilizes space, mass, texture, line, light, and color.

要成为建筑，建筑物必须与各种元素达到一种运转良好的和谐状态。

To be architecture, a building must achieve a working harmony with a variety of elements.

人类本能地寻求能够遮风避雨和改善其生活方式的建筑结构。

Humans instinctively seek structures that will shelter and enhance their way of life.

建筑师的工作不只是创造是建筑物，而且是创造能提供灵感和乐趣的建筑物。

It is the work of architects to create buildings that are not simply constructions but also offer inspiration and delight.

建筑物提供庇护、丰富空间、补充场地、适应气候并且在经济上足够实惠，从而为人类生活做出了贡献。

Buildings contribute to human life when they provide shelter, enrich space, complement their site, suit the climate, and are economically feasible.

为建筑物买单并确定其使用功能的客户是建筑团队的重要成员。

The client who pays for the building and defines its function is an important member of the architectural team.

许多当代建筑的平庸设计都可以归咎于客户和建筑师。

The mediocre design of many contemporary buildings can be traced to both clients and architects.

尽管建筑材料已经实现了巨大的变化，但是建筑为了使结构达到满足其目的所需的尺寸和强度，采用了自人类发现它们以来几乎没有变动过的支撑方法。之所以如此，是因为支撑方法基于基础的物理定律，

In order for the structure to achieve the size and strength necessary to meet its purpose, architecture employs methods of support that, because they are based on physical laws, have changed little since people first discovered them–even while building materials have changed dramatically.

世界上的建筑结构还针对材料的客观局限性进行了设计。

The world’s architectural structures have also been devised in relation to the objective limitations of materials.

我们可以根据建筑如何处理重力产生的向下力来分析建筑。

Structures can be analyzed in terms of how they deal with downward forces created by gravity.

它们（建筑）旨在承受结构不同部分的压缩（推力），拉力（拉开），弯曲或这些力的组合。

They are designed to withstand the forces of compression (pushing together), tension (pulling apart), bending, or a combination of these in different parts of the structure.

建筑的每一项发展都是重大技术变革的结果。

Every development in architecture has been the result of major technological changes.

材料和建造方法是建筑结构设计的必要组成部分。

Materials and methods of construction are integral parts of the design of architectural structures.

在早期，结构系统必须基于可用材料（例如木材，石材或砖块）来设计。

In earlier times it was necessary to design structural systems suitable for the materials that were available, such as wood, stone, or brick.

如今，技术已经发展到可以发明新的建筑材料以适应所需结构类型的地步。

Today technology has progressed to the point where it is possible to invent new building materials to suit the type of structure desired.

在过去几十年的时间中，材料和建造技术的巨大变化使得人们可以用更少的材料和更快的速度来闭合空间。

Enormous changes in materials and techniques of construction within the last few generations have made it possible to enclose space with much greater ease and speed and with a minimum of material.

这方面的进展可以通过当代建筑物与一百年前建造的同体积建筑物之间的重量差异来衡量。

Progress in this area can be measured by the difference in weight between buildings built now and those of comparable size built one hundred years ago.

现代建筑形式通常具有类似于人体构造的三个独立组成部分：支撑骨架（或框架），闭合内部空间的外皮以及类似于人体重要器官和系统的设备。

Modern architectural forms generally have three separate components comparable to elements of the human body: a supporting skeleton or frame, an outer skin enclosing the interior spaces, and equipment, similar to the body’s vital organs and systems.

设备包括抽水系统，电线，热水管道和空调。

The equipment includes plumbing, electrical wiring, hot water, and air-conditioning.

当然，在诸如圆顶冰屋和土坯结构之类的早期建筑中，没有上述设备，骨骼和皮肤也通常是一体的。

Of course in early architecture–such as igloos and adobe structures–there was no such equipment, and the skeleton and skin were often one.

出于石头的美丽、永久性和可用性，大量世界伟大建筑都是是石制的。

Much of the world’s great architecture has been constructed of stone because of its beauty, permanence, and availability.

过去，整个城市都源于繁重的切割和堆石工作。

In the past, whole cities grew from the arduous task of cutting and piling stone upon stone.

在秘鲁安第斯山脉东部高高的印加古城马丘比丘的废墟中，可以看到世界上最好的石制建筑。

Some of the world’s finest stone architecture can be seen in the ruins of the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu high in the eastern Andes Mountains of Peru.

通过在开放空间上放置厚石梁来支撑门和窗，石梁可从上方支撑重量。

The doorways and windows are made possible by placing over the open spaces thick stone beams that support the weight from above.

在克服石材的物理局限性并创建新的建筑形式之前，必须进行结构性的发明。

A structural invention had to be made before the physical limitations of stone could be overcome and new architectural forms could be created.

那个发明就是拱形结构，这是一种弯曲的结构，它最初是由分开的石头或砖块组成的。

That invention was the arch, a curved structure originally made of separate stone or brick segments.

地中海地区的早期文化曾将拱形结构主要用于地下排水沟，但罗马人首先在地上建筑中广泛开发和使用了该结构。

The arch was used by the early cultures of the Mediterranean area chiefly for underground drains, but it was the Romans who first developed and used the arch extensively in aboveground structures.

罗马建筑者完善了由单独的石头块制成的半圆形拱形结构。

Roman builders perfected the semicircular arch made of separate blocks of stone.

作为跨越空间的一种方法，这种拱形结构可以支撑比水平梁更大的重量。

As a method of spanning space, the arch can support greater weight than a horizontal beam.

它通过压缩将其上方的重量转移到侧面，该重量由拱形两侧的垂直元素承担。

It works in compression to divert the weight above it out to the sides, where the weight is borne by the vertical elements on either side of the arch.

整个世纪以来，拱形结构都是许多具有建筑特色的重要结构突破之一。

The arch is among the many important structural breakthroughs that have characterized architecture throughout the centuries.

According to paragraph 1, all of the following statements about architecture are true EXCEPT:

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

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

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.

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

The word “integral” is closest in meaning to

According to paragraph 4, which of the following is true about materials used in the construction of buildings?

In paragraph 4, what does the author imply about modern buildings?

Which of the following correctly characterizes the relationship between the human body and architecture that is described in paragraph 5?

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

Why does the author include a description of how the “doorways and windows” of Machu Picchu were constructed?

According to paragraph 6, which of the following statements is true of the arch?

Look at the four squares  that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. However, some modern architectural designs, such as those using folded plates of concrete or air-inflated structures, are again unifying skeleton and skin.  Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a square  to add the sentence to the passage.

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.

Architecture Architecture is the art and science of designing structures that organize and enclose space for practical and symbolic purposes. Because architecture grows out of human needs and aspirations, it clearly communicates cultural values. Of all the visual arts, architecture affects our lives most directly for it determines the character of the human environment in major ways. Architecture is a three-dimensional form. It utilizes space, mass, texture, line, light, and color. To be architecture, a building must achieve a working harmony with a variety of elements. Humans instinctively seek structures that will shelter and enhance their way of life. It is the work of architects to create buildings that are not simply constructions but also offer inspiration and delight. Buildings contribute to human life when they provide shelter, enrich space, complement their site, suit the climate, and are economically feasible. The client who pays for the building and defines its function is an important member of the architectural team. The mediocre design of many contemporary buildings can be traced to both clients and architects. In order for the structure to achieve the size and strength necessary to meet its purpose, architecture employs methods of support that, because they are based on physical laws, have changed little since people first discovered them–even while building materials have changed dramatically. The world’s architectural structures have also been devised in relation to the objective limitations of materials. Structures can be analyzed in terms of how they deal with downward forces created by gravity. They are designed to withstand the forces of compression (pushing together), tension (pulling apart), bending, or a combination of these in different parts of the structure. Every development in architecture has been the result of major technological changes. Materials and methods of construction are integral parts of the design of architectural structures. In earlier times it was necessary to design structural systems suitable for the materials that were available, such as wood, stone, or brick. Today technology has progressed to the point where it is possible to invent new building materials to suit the type of structure desired. Enormous changes in materials and techniques of construction within the last few generations have made it possible to enclose space with much greater ease and speed and with a minimum of material. Progress in this area can be measured by the difference in weight between buildings built now and those of comparable size built one hundred years ago. Modern architectural forms generally have three separate components comparable to elements of the human body: a supporting skeleton or frame, an outer skin enclosing the interior spaces, and equipment, similar to the body’s vital organs and systems.  The equipment includes plumbing, electrical wiring, hot water, and air-conditioning.  Of course in early architecture–such as igloos and adobe structures–there was no such equipment, and the skeleton and skin were often one.  Much of the world’s great architecture has been constructed of stone because of its beauty, permanence, and availability. In the past, whole cities grew from the arduous task of cutting and piling stone upon stone. Some of the world’s finest stone architecture can be seen in the ruins of the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu high in the eastern Andes Mountains of Peru. The doorways and windows are made possible by placing over the open spaces thick stone beams that support the weight from above. A structural invention had to be made before the physical limitations of stone could be overcome and new architectural forms could be created. That invention was the arch, a curved structure originally made of separate stone or brick segments. The arch was used by the early cultures of the Mediterranean area chiefly for underground drains, but it was the Romans who first developed and used the arch extensively in aboveground structures. Roman builders perfected the semicircular arch made of separate blocks of stone. As a method of spanning space, the arch can support greater weight than a horizontal beam. It works in compression to divert the weight above it out to the sides, where the weight is borne by the vertical elements on either side of the arch. The arch is among the many important structural breakthroughs that have characterized architecture throughout the centuries.