托福阅读真题Official 50 Passage 2（五）

托福阅读真题Official 50 Passage 2（五）

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 9 of 14

In paragraph 4,why does the author mention that King João’s courtiers“hungered to return to Portugal and their lost estates”?

A.To illustrate how conservative the courtiers were

B.To help explain the position taken by the courtiers

C.To give an example of the effects produced by the revolution

D.To show why King João advised his son the way he did

Paragraph 4 is marked with an arrow

正确答案：B

题目详解

题型分类：修辞目的题

题干分析：考察句子之间的关系。

选项分析：

前文说了King João不知道选择哪条路，但是后来又终于下定决心通过的新宪法并且回到了葡萄牙。这些都是因为the courtiers（侍臣），高亮句说明了侍臣们的态度，即B选项。

A选项：侍臣们着急回国，文中没有提到是conservative的表现。前文提到的conservative说的是葡萄牙革命者。

C选项：the effects produced by the revolution前文没有特别提到，所有不可能是在为影响举例。

D选项：文中侍臣们的举动和King João advised his son之间没有表示因果关系的词。逻辑错误。

Question 10 of 14

Paragraphs 4 and 5 support the idea that Brazil’s move to declare independence in 1822 was primarily the result of

A.the revolutionaries’demand that King João return to Portugal

B.Portugal’s apparent intention to return Brazil to the status of a colony

C.King João’s decision to leave his son Pedro in Brazil

D.the growing threat of intervention by the Brazilian masses

Paragraph 4 and 5 are marked with an arrow

正确答案：B

题目详解

题型分类：事实信息题

原文定位：根据in 1822定位到第五段第三句。

选项分析：

提问了1822年巴西独立的原因，那么具体的原因应该在定位句前后，而后面的内容都是在描述1822年之后独立运动的进程，所以其原因肯定在前文中。第四段大意为葡萄牙的革命者非常保守和反动，要求King João立刻回到里斯本，结束他所制定的双君主制，并恢复葡萄牙商业垄断。第五段第一句为要废除巴西自1808年以来所获得的一切自由和特权。这些都说明了葡萄牙希望巴西重新变成殖民地，即B选项。

A选项错误，King João已经在1820年回到了葡萄牙，所以这不可能是促使巴西于1822年宣告独立的原因。

C选项与巴西独立无关，第四、五段没有说King João的儿子在独立中实际扮演的角色。

D选项intervention by the Brazilian masses与定位句后一句without the intervention of the masses矛盾。

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