托福阅读常考话题及练习题推荐九：苏美尔和埃及（3）

1托福常考话题：苏美尔和埃及话题练习题

Paragraph 5：And not only of literacy, but numeracy (the representation of quantitative concepts) as well. The evidence of the tokens provides further confirmation that mathematics originated in people’s desire to keep records of flocks and other goods. Another immensely significant step occurred around 3100 B.C.E., when Sumerian accountants extended the token-based signs to include the first real numerals. Previously, units of grain had been represented by direct one-to-one correspondence―by repeating the token or symbol for a unit of grain the required number of times. The accountants, however, devised numeral signs distinct from commodity signs, so that eighteen units of grain could be indicated by preceding a single grain symbol with a symbol denoting “18.” Their invention of abstract numerals and abstract counting was one of the most revolutionary advances in the history of mathematics.

10.According to paragraph 5, all of the following statements about the development of numerals are true EXCEPT:

A. Numerals first developed around 3100 B.C.E.

B. Numerals were created to keep records of commodities.

C. The numeral “18” developed from the sign for grain.

D. Accountants introduced unique numeral signs for use with signs for commodities.

► Paragraph 6：What was the social status of the anonymous accountants who produced this breakthrough? The immense volume of clay tablets unearthed in the ruins of the Sumerian temples where the accounts were kept suggests a social differentiation within the scribal class, with a virtual army of lower-ranking tabulators performing the monotonous job of tallying commodities. We can only speculate as to how high or low the inventors of true numerals were in the scribal hierarchy, but it stands to reason that this laborsaving innovation would have been the brainchild of the lower-ranking types whose drudgery is eased.

11.The word “unearthed” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. discovered

B. protected

C. buried

D. forgotten

12.The word “brainchild" in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. symbol

B. concern

C. pride

D. invention

► Paragraph 5：And not only of literacy, but numeracy (the representation of quantitative concepts) as well. The evidence of the tokens provides further confirmation that mathematics originated in people’s desire to keep records of flocks and other goods. Another immensely significant step occurred around 3100 B.C.E., when Sumerian accountants extended the token-based signs to include the first real numerals. [■]Previously, units of grain had been represented by direct one-to-one correspondence―by repeating the token or symbol for a unit of grain the required number of times. [■]The accountants, however, devised numeral signs distinct from commodity signs, so that eighteen units of grain could be indicated by preceding a single grain symbol with a symbol denoting “18.” [■] Their invention of abstract numerals and abstract counting was one of the most revolutionary advances in the history of mathematics. [■]

13.Look at the four squares[■]to add the sentence to the passage.

Such a system was clearly awkward for large inventories.

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.Drag your answer choices to the spaces where they belong. To remove an answer choice, click on it.To review the passage, click VIEW TEXT.

Over a period of thousands of years, the symbols originally used for keeping track of goods evolved into the first writing system, Sumerian cuneiform.

Answer Choices

A. Three-dimensional tokens used to keep track of debts of grain and livestock eventually gave way to two-dimensional symbols on clay tablets.

B. Writing was probably developed by farmers and artisans, since the symbols were first used to keep track of agricultural products and items produced by artisans.

C. Two separate sets of symbols were used to keep track of each accounting of goods to avoid mistakes in the accounting when only one set of tokens or marks was used.

D. Early tokens representing three-dimensional geometric shapes show that ancient Mesopotamians invented geometry as well as writing.

E. The inventors of numerals were probably lower-ranking accountants because they were assigned the job of developing new methods of accounting for large inventories.

F. Symbols were first used in a direct one-to-one correspondence with the commodity being counted, but eventually true numerals were developed.