托福阅读真题Official 50 Passage 2（七）

托福阅读真题Official 50 Passage 2（七）

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 João 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 João 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 João 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.”On 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 13 of 14

Look at the four squares[■]that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.Therefore,although still closely linked to Portugal,Brazil was no longer formally considered a colony.Look at the four squares[■]that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

正确答案：B

题目详解

题型分类：插入句子题

题干分析：考察句子和句子之间的衔接判断（根据Therefore可以判断，前一句是在解释为什么巴西不再被正式看做殖民地）。

选项分析：

B选项前一句说：他把巴西提高到了一个王国的法律地位，与葡萄牙平等，这句话解释了为什么巴西不再是殖民地。后一句的new status呼应了插入句的no longer formally considered a colony。正确。

A选项前一句没有解释原因，不构成因果关系。

C选项后一句的England对应选项前一句的another，该处不能插句子。

D选项后一句的The treaty对应选项前一句的the Strangford Treaty of 1810，该处不能插句子。

Question 14 of 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.

It was only after the Portuguese court moved to Brazil that significant progress toward Brazilian independence began.

Answer Choices:

A.

Major conspiracies against Portuguese dominance developed in regions where governmental control over Brazil’s economy had produced a spirit of revolt among Brazilian merchants.

B.

The presence of King João and his court in Rio de Janeiro created competition and tension with the Portuguese elites born in Brazil,who had no loyalties to the Portuguese crown.

C.

King João effectively freed Brazil from Portugal’s political and economic control and in 1815 elevated Brazil to the legal status of a kingdom coequal with Portugal.

D.

After the Portuguese revolution in 1820,Portugal attempted to reestablish complete control over Brazil;but although King João returned to Lisbon,Pedro,his son and heir,remained in Brazil.

E.

After freeing itself from Portuguese control,Brazil almost immediately fell under the control of England,which used its economic power to advance Brazil’s local industry for England’s benefit.

F.

In 1822 Dom Pedro refused Portugal’s demand that he return,declared Brazil’s independence,and by the year’s end had become constitutional Emperor of an independent Brazil.

正确答案：CDF

题目详解

题型分类：文章总结题

题干分析：选择概括性的正确选项。

选项分析：

C选项为文章第二段重要信息，effectively freed Brazil from Portugal’s political and economic control对应第二段第三句opened Brazil’s ports to the trade of friendly nations,permitted the rise of local industries,and founded the Bank of Brazil。elevated Brazil to the legal status of a kingdom对应第二段第四句。

D选项为文章第四段重要信息，reestablish complete control over Brazil对应第四段第三句。his son and heir,remained in Brazil对应最后一句He left behind him,however,his son and heir,Pedro。

F选项为文章最后一段重要信息，refused Portugal’s demand that he return出自倒数第三句Pedro refused an order from the parliament to return to Portugal。constitutional Emperor of an independent Brazil出自最后一句formally proclaimed constitutional Emperor of Brazil。

A选项对应第一段，但这是一个细节，不属于文章主要内容，而且文章中也没有说“激起了巴西商人的不满”。

B选项文章内容不符，对应文章第三段。文中说competition是发生在巴西的精英与葡萄牙食客之间，而tension是发生在出生在巴西的葡萄牙精英和出生在葡萄牙并忠于葡萄牙王室的精英之间。

E选项对应文章第二段，文中并没有说促进巴西当地产业的发展，所以E选项后半句话错误。

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