单选题 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 craftsman-ship, 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 (波浪鼓) 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.
单选题 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
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 依据是文章第二段第2行。
单选题 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
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 该题可采用排除法，A、B、C项均可根据文章各段相关的信息排除，而D项在文章中多处提及。universality意为“一般性，普遍性；多方面性”。
单选题 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.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 根据文章第三段可知A项不对，C项也不对，而D项本文并无涉及，均排除。
单选题 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
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 依据为文章最后一段第1至2行。
单选题 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
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 依据文章最后两行。