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There seems never to have been a civilization without toys, but when and how they developed is unknown. They probably came about just to five children something to do.
In the ancient world, as is today, most boys played with some kinds of toys and
most girls with another. In societies where social roles are rigidly determined,boys pattern their play after the activities of their fathers and girls after the tasks of their mothers. This is true because boys and girls are being prepared, even in play, to step into the roles and responsibilities of the adult world.
What is remarkable about the history of toys is not so much how they changed over the centuries but how much they have remained the same. The changes have been
mostly in terms of craftsmanship, mechanics, and technology. It is the universality of toys with regard to their development in all part of the world and their persistence to the present that is amazing. In Egypt, the Americas, China, Japan and among the Arctic (北极的) peoples, generally the same kinds of toys appeared. Variations depended on local customs and ways of life because toys imitate their surroundings. Nearly every civilization had dolls, little weapons, toy soldiers, tiny animals and vehicles.
Because toys can be generally regarded as a kind of art form, they have not been
subject to technological leaps that characterize inventions for adult use.The progress from the wheel to the oxcart to the automobile is a direct line of ascent (进步). The progress from a rattle(拨浪鼓)used by a baby in 3000 BC to one used by an infant today, however, is not characterized by inventiveness. Each rattle is the product of the artistic tastes of the times and subject to the limitations of available materials.
本文的主要内容是讨论玩具的历史，说明这样一种观点：玩具反映人们的艺术观，几十年来玩具的变化不大。
1.Regarded as a kind of art form, toys_______.
A) follow a direct line of ascent
B) also appeal greatly to adults
C) are not characterized by technological progress
D) reflect the pace of social progress
[答案与分析]：[C]A项意为“作为一种艺术形式，玩具有了很大的进步”;B项意为“将玩具看作一种艺术形式，它对成年人也很有吸引力”;C项意为“被看作是一种艺术形式的玩具，它的特征并非表现在技术进步上”;D项意为“被看作艺术形式的玩具反映了社会进步的历程。”概据第4段第1句及第3句话的举说明可知C项项正确。
2.The author used the example of a rattle to show that_______.
A) in toy?making there is a continuity in the use of materials
B) even the simplest toys can reflect the progress of technology
C) it often takes a long time to introduce new technology into toy?making
D) even a simple toy can mirror the artistic tastes of the time
[答案与分析]：[D]选择依据为文章第4段。
3.The reason why the toys most boys play with are different from those that girls play
with is that_______.
A) their social roles are rigidly determined
B) most boys would like to follow their fathers' professions
C) boys like to play with their fathers while girls with their mothers
D) they like challenging activities
[答案与分析]：[A]问男孩的玩具与女孩的不一样的原因是什么。选择依据是文章第2层。
4.One aspect of "the universality of toys" lies in the fact that_______.
A) technological advances have greatly improved the durability of toys
B) the improvement of craftsmanship in making toys depends on the efforts of
universities
C) the exploration of the universe has led to the creation of new kinds of toys
D) the basic characteristics of toys are the same the world over
[答案与分析]：[D]university意为“一般性、普遍性;多方面性”。文中关于the university of toys的信息在第3段第3句。第4、5、6句是对第3读的说明，根据这几句可知D项正确。A项与文意恰恰相反(依据为第4段第1句话)文中根本没有提到过university(大学)，B项与文意不符。Universe意为“宇宙，天地万物，全世界”，文中也没有涉及过the exploration of the universe。
5.Which of the following is the author's view on the historical development of toys?
A) The craftsmanship in toy-making has remained essentially unchanged.
B) Toys have remained basically the same all through the centuries.
C) The toy industry has witnessed great leaps in technology in recent years.
D) Toys are playing an increasingly important role in shaping a child's character.
[答案与分析]：B。本题干扰项主要是A。Craftsmanship意为“技巧，技术，技艺”。根据文章第3段不难看出许多年来基本没变的是玩具本身，而非其制造工艺、技术。故A项错误。
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