TPO58阅读真题+题目+答案下载：The Rise of Classic Maya Civilization

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TPO58阅读真题+题目+答案下载：The Rise of Classic Maya Civilization

[ Paragraph 1 ] Prior to the beginning of the Late Preclassic period in 300 B.c, Maya ceremonial centers of relatively substantial size had already appeared in Central America. The ceremonial center was a distinctive feature of Maya culture, acting as a focus for the community. Generally speaking, these centers were not what we would call cities Although they did consist of a number of large and varied buildings, they did not have a substantial resident population. Some scholars have even labeled these Maya centers "vacant towns" Their permanent population consisted mainly of rulers, priests, and their attendants plus a limited number of artisans. The elite lived in big houses or in palaces in and around the center. The bulk of the peasant population lived in much more modest wood and thatch homes in the areas surrounding the centers. At certain times of the year, on the occasion of major religious festivals such as the one at the time of the planting of their crops, scholars hypothesize, by analogy to historical and modern practices, that the peasants would flock to the centers to observe and participate in the ceremonies. At other times of the year, some of the peasants would be called into the centers to help in the construction of new temples and palaces dedicated to the glory of the gods and to the comforts of their earthly representatives, the priestly rulers. The peasants also would provide the food to help sustain the elite in the centers.

1. According to paragraph 1, what important feature of cities did Maya ceremonial centers lack?

A. Large, varied buildings

B. A large, permanent population

C. Distinctions between social classes

D. Religious temples

2. The word "modest" in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. distant

B. unpleasant

C. simple

D. temporary

3. 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. Scholars hypothesize that religious festivals have changed very little in history since the festivals that Mayans held at the times when they planted their crops.

B. Through the study of historical and modern practices, scholars concluded that Mayans held religious festivals only at certain times of the year.

C. Based on their knowledge of historical and modern practices, scholars suppose that peasants gathered in the centers at certain times of the year for religious festivals.

D. Historical and modern evidence suggests that peasants were allowed to visit the centers only during the cropplanting period because of the religious ceremonies held at that time

[ Paragraph 2] What the peasants received from the elite was certainly not as tangible as the services they provided. In return for food and labor, the peasants were offered a psychologically and spiritually secure and ordered world, as well as access to some trade goods. Apparently, this was enough. Agricu lture in the tropical Maya lowlands was at best a chancy business even slight shifts in the onset of the rainy season or the dry season could mean disaster for that year's harvest. The religion of the ancient Maya helped the peasants cope with their precarious lives. If the gods were properly propitiated, the crops would be good-as would life in general

4. According to paragraph 2, which of the following did the Maya elite provide for the peasants?

A. Food for nourishment

B. Homes to live in

C. Security from the threats of other civilizations

D. A stable system of beliefs

5. The word "chancy" in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. undeveloped

B. repetitive

C. risky

D. complicated

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