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  Nineteenth – Century Politics In The United States - TOEFL 托福閱讀考古題 Questions (一) 

托福閱讀的問題總類其實不多，但關鍵在於理解力和邏輯思考能力，也就是說托福閱讀的問題本身就不是平鋪直述地單純讓考生在文章中找答案。因為托福閱讀的出題就是在不脫離與違背文章內容的情況下，以不同的問題方式測驗考生對於單字以及文章的理解與邏輯思考的能力，以及在不影響內容的情況下如何插入字句、長難句的理解等等，所以在文法運用的掌握上也要很夠，才有餘力應付托福的問題。

Paragraph 1: The development of the modern presidency in the United States began with Andrew Jackson who swept to power in 1829 at the head of the Democratic Party and served until 1837. During his administration, he immeasurably enlarged the power of the presidency. “The President is the direct representative of the American people,” he learned the Senate when it opposed him. “He was elected by the people, and is responsible to them.” With this declaration, Jackson redefined the character of the presidential office and its relationship to the people.

1. The word immeasurably in the passage is closest in meaning to

○ Frequently

○ Greatly

○ Rapidly

○ Reportedly

2. According to paragraph 1, the presidency of Andrew Jackson was especially significant for which of the following reasons?

○ The President granted a portion of his power to the Senate.

○ The President began to address the Senate on a regular basis.

○ It was the beginning of the modern presidency in the United States.

○ It was the first time that the Senate had been known to oppose the President.

  Paragraph 2: During Jackson’s second term, his opponents had gradually come together to form the Wing party. Whigs and Democrats held different attitudes toward the changes brought about by the market, banks, and commerce. The Democrats tended to view society as a continuing conflict between “the people” – farmers, planters, and workers-and a set of greedy aristocrats. This “paper money aristocracy” of bankers and investors manipulated the banking system for their own profit, Democrats claimed, and sapped the nation’s virtue by encouraging speculation and the desire for sudden, unearned wealth. The Democrats wanted the rewards of the market without sacrificing the features of a simple agrarian republic. They wanted the wealth that the market offered without the competitive, clanging society; the complex dealing; the dominance; the dominance of urban centers; and the loss of independence that came with it.

3. The author mentions bankers and investors in the passage as an example of the following ?

○ The Democratic Party’s main of support

○ The people that Democrats source of support

○ The people most interested in a return to a simple agrarian republic.

○ One of the groups in favor of Andrew Jackson’s presidency.

  Paragraph 3: Whigs, on the other hand, were more comfortable with the market. For them, commerce and economic development were agents of civilization. Nor did the Whigs envision any conflict in society between farmers and workers on the one hand and businesspeople and bankers on the other. Economic growth would benefit everyone by raising national income and expanding opportunity. The government’s responsibility was to provide a well-regulated economy that guaranteed opportunity for citizens of ability.

4. According to paragraph 3, Whigs believed that commerce and economic development would have which of the following effects on society?

○ They would promote the advancement of society as a whole.

○ They would cause disagreements between Whigs and Democrats.

○ They would supply new positions for Whigs Party members.

○ They would prevent conflict between farmers and workers.

5. According to paragraph 3, which of the following describes the Whigs Party’s view of the role of government?

○ To regulate the continuing conflict between farmers and businesspeople

○ To restrict the changes brought about by the market

○ To maintain an economy that allowed all capable citizens to benefit

○ To reduce the emphasis on economic development