托福閱讀真題Official 50 Passage 2（一）

托福閱讀真題Official 50 Passage 2（一）

The Achievement of Brazilian Independence

In contrast to the political anarchy,economic dislocation,and military destruction in Spanish America,Brazil’s drive toward independence from Portugal proceeded as a relatively bloodless transition between 1808 and 1822.The idea of Brazilian independence first arose in the late eighteenth century as a Brazilian reaction to the Portuguese policy of tightening political and economic control over the colony in the interests of the mother country.The first significant conspiracy against Portuguese rule was organized from 1788–1799 in the province of Minas Gerais,where rigid governmental control over the production and prices of gold and diamonds,as well as heavy taxes,caused much discontent.But this conspiracy never went beyond the stage of discussion and was easily discovered and crushed.Other conspiracies in the late eighteenth century as well as a brief revolt in 1817 reflected the influence of republican ideas over sections of the elite and even the lower strata of urban society.All proved abortive or were soon crushed.Were it not for an accident of European history,the independence of Brazil might have been long delayed.

The French invasion of Portugal in 1807 followed by the flight of the Portuguese court(sovereign and government officers)to Rio de Janeiro brought large benefits to Brazil.Indeed,the transfer of the court in effect signified achievement of Brazilian independence.The Portuguese prince and future King Jo?o VI opened Brazil’s ports to the trade of friendly nations,permitted the rise of local industries,and founded the Bank of Brazil.In 1815 he elevated Brazil to the legal status of a kingdom coequal with Portugal.In one sense,however,Brazil’s new status signified the substitution of one dependence for another.Freed from Portuguese control,Brazil came under the economic dominance of England,which obtained major tariff concessions and other privileges by the Strangford Treaty of 1810 between Portugal and Great Britain.The treaty provided for the importation of British manufactures into Brazil and the export of Brazilian agricultural produce to Great Britain.One result was an influx of cheap machine-made goods that swamped the handicrafts industry of the country.

Brazilian elites took satisfaction in Brazil’s new role and the growth of educational,cultural,and economic opportunities for their class.But the feeling was mixed with resentment toward the thousands of Portuguese courtiers(officials)and hangers-on who came with the court and who competed with Brazilians for jobs and favors.Thus,the change in the status of Brazil sharpened the conflict between Portuguese elites born in Brazil and elites born in Portugal and loyal to the Portuguese crown.

The event that precipitated the break with the mother country was the revolution of 1820 in Portugal.The Portuguese revolutionaries framed a liberal constitution for the kingdom,but they were conservative or reactionary in relation to Brazil.They demanded the immediate return of King Jo?o to Lisbon,an end to the system of dual monarchy that he had devised,and the restoration of the Portuguese commercial monopoly.Timid and vacillating,King Jo?o did not know which way to turn.Under the pressure of his courtiers,who hungered to return to Portugal and their lost estates,he finally approved the new constitution and sailed for Portugal.He left behind him,however,his son and heir,Pedro,and in a private letter advised him that in the event the Brazilians should demand independence,he should assume leadership of the movement and set the crown of Brazil on his head.

Soon it became clear that the Portuguese parliament intended to set the clock back by abrogating all the liberties and concessions won by Brazil since 1808.One of its decrees insisted on the immediate return of Pedro from Brazil.The pace of events moved more rapidly in 1822.On January 9,urged on by Brazilian advisers who perceived a golden opportunity to make an orderly transition to independence without the intervention of the masses,Pedro refused an order from the parliament to return to Portugal,saying famously,“I remain.”O(jiān)n September 7,regarded by all Brazilians as Independence Day,he issued the even more celebrated proclamation,“Independence or death!”In December 1822,having overcome slight resistance by Portuguese troops,Dom Pedro was formally proclaimed constitutional Emperor of Brazil.

Question 1 of 14

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

A.uncertainty

B.disorder

C.powerlessness

D.violence

正確答案：B

題目詳解

題型分類(lèi)：詞匯題

選項(xiàng)分析：

原句意思為與西班牙美洲地區(qū)的政治anarchy、經(jīng)濟(jì)混亂和軍事破壞相反，在1808年至1822年間，巴西脫離葡萄牙走向獨(dú)立則相對(duì)來(lái)說(shuō)是一次不流血的轉(zhuǎn)變。政治anarchy與經(jīng)濟(jì)混亂和軍事破壞并列，意義相近，可以推測(cè)為B選項(xiàng)：混亂。也可以根據(jù)archy詞根意為“統(tǒng)治”推測(cè)，同詞根的詞還有：monarchy,hierarchy。Anarchy原意為混亂；無(wú)政府狀態(tài)。

A選項(xiàng)uncertainty：不確定。

C選項(xiàng)powerlessness：無(wú)能為力。

D選項(xiàng)violence：暴力。

Question 2 of 14

According to paragraph 1,what first caused Brazilians to think seriously about trying to achieve independence from Portugal?

A.Portugal’s declining interest in having overseas colonies

B.Portugal’s moves to gain political and economic control of Brazil for its own advantage

C.The drive toward independence going on at the time in parts of Spanish America

D.The Portuguese reaction to Brazil’s efforts to gain control over its economy

正確答案：B

題目詳解

題型分類(lèi)：事實(shí)信息題

原文定位：根據(jù)first定位到第一段第二句。

選項(xiàng)分析：

定位句為葡萄牙為了自己國(guó)家的利益，加強(qiáng)對(duì)巴西殖民地政治和經(jīng)濟(jì)的控制，而巴西獨(dú)立的想法正是對(duì)葡萄牙這種做法的反抗，定位句tightening political and economic control對(duì)應(yīng)B選項(xiàng)to gain political and economic control，in the interests of the mother country與B選項(xiàng)for its own advantage對(duì)應(yīng)。

A選項(xiàng)declining interest無(wú)中生有。

C選項(xiàng)Spanish America只出現(xiàn)在第一句，與巴西獨(dú)立的關(guān)系沒(méi)有提到。

D選項(xiàng)Brazil’s efforts to gain control over its economy張冠李戴，原文為Portuguese policy of tightening political and economic control。

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