2. 外语
  3. Writing Based on Reading and Listening Directions: For this task, you will read a passage about an academic topic and yo

Writing Based on Reading and Listening Directions: For this task, you will read a passage about an academic topic and yo

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问题     Writing Based on Reading and Listening
    Directions:
    For this task, you will read a passage about an academic topic and you will listen to a lecture about the same topic. You may take notes while you read and listen.
    Then you will write a response to a question that asks you about the relationship between the lecture you heard and the reading passage. Try to answer the question as completely as possible using information from the reading passage and the lecture. The question does not ask you to express your personal opinion. You may refer to the reading passage again when you write. You may use your notes to help you answer the question.
    Typically, an effective response will be 150 to 225 words. Your response will be judged on the quality of your writing and on the completeness and accuracy of the content.
    You should allow 3 minutes to read the passage. Then listen to the lecture. Then allow 20 minutes to plan and write your response.
    Write your response in the space provided.
    Reading
    You will have 3 minutes to read the passage.
    No one can be acknowledged as a true expert in Western history and civilization without knowledge of the Romans, which are embodied in the great Roman Empire. Rome, which was originally composed of many city-states, was not born to be an empire; rather, there are three main reasons for its building.
    The first reason a country might be called an empire is that it has a large amount of territory under its control; at its peak, the Roman Empire controlled the whole of Europe. Naturally, for the sake of self-preservation, such an immense territory has to be guarded by powerful military forces. The Roman Empire, because its army was unrivaled in the ancient world, was able to successfully conquer many other countries and forcibly conscript the prisoners of war, using them to replenish its ranks. In this way, the Roman army grew more and more powerful, and this strategy helped the nation conquer even more countries. The Roman Empire was born from this process.
    Second, during the reign of the Roman Empire, the Roman emperors were revered much as the emperors in ancient China were, enjoying supreme power. Their commands came from a place of absolute authority, and allowed no objection. This harsh system of monarchy helped to control and uniformly regulate the whole country.
    Third, from ancient times until the present day, all successful nations have been supported by taxation squeezed from their subjects, and the Roman Empire was no exception. All the operations of a country, such as its economy, politics, military and culture, are only possible because of revenue made from taxation. The Roman Empire, in order to seize more wealth from other countries through their military force, had to raise taxes to support its army expenditures. The high taxation rate was another major factor in Rome’s wealth and subsequent success as an empire.
    Then you will hear:
    Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.
    Lecture
   
    Question
    Summarize the points made in the lecture you just heard, explaining how they cast doubt on points made in the reading passage.
Though it remained in power for more than 400 years, the Roman Empire, just like other ancient civilizations, could not escape its fate of disintegration. As the saying goes, every coin has two sides, and what many consider the Roman Empire’s greatest strengths also, to some extent, led to its own downfall.
    Despite conquering other countries and conscripting the subjects into their own army, strengthening Rome’s military, this was a superficial victory, and could not hide the potential crisis it had created. Many soldiers in the army were not Romans at all, and some were even kinsmen of Rome’s greatest enemies. Therefore, the Roman Empire’s military was not as powerful as it could have been, because it was full of treasonous, disloyal, and dispirited soldiers.
    As the emperors in Rome enjoyed absolute authority in their country, their orders had to be acted on immediately, and without any objection. The problem is that some of their orders, such as the satisfaction of their own personal desires and the establishment of luxurious palaces, proved disastrous to the whole country. The subjects, for fear of punishment, wouldn’t dare put forth their suggestions or objections, and the fate of the country was determined by the whims of a single person.
    By the latter half of its reign, the Roman Empire was no longer powerful enough to conquer any further nations, and thereafter, foreign wealth could not be seized to support Rome’s expenditures. To keep his luxurious lifestyle going, the emperor instead squeezed his subjects dry through heavy taxations, which of course incited their resentment and paved the way for Rome’s eventual defeat by its many enemies.
选项
答案 In the lecture, the professor raises objections to the reading’s assertion that there are three main reasons accounting for the building of the Roman Empire. The lecture puts forth the idea that every coin has two sides—these three strengths, to some extent, led to the disintegration of the Roman Empire. Firstly, the reading states that an unrivaled army made Rome able to conquer other countries, which, in turn, strengthened its army and broadened its territory. However, the professor points out that although Rome conscripted other countries’ subjects into its own army, the victory was superficial. Many soldiers in the army were from Rome’s enemies; therefore, they were not loyal to the Rome Empire, and its army was not as powerful as it seemed to be. Secondly, the reading states that the emperor’s absolute authority helped to control and regulate the country. But the professor says that, for fear of punishment, no suggestions or objections were put forth. The fate of the country was determined by a single person. Lastly, the reading says that high taxation from its subjects was one major source of Rome’s wealth and success as an empire. The professor says that when it was no longer powerful enough, no taxes could be obtained from foreign countries. It began to squeeze its own subjects dry, which led to resentment and paved the way for its defeat.
解析     本文主要讨论了古罗马作为西方的一个文明古国，并不是一开始就是显赫四方的帝国。其实，古罗马帝国的建成源于很多历史和政治的因素。阅读中主要从军力、绝对的独裁和高税收这三个方面解释了古罗马帝国的形成。而听力中持完全相反的观点，并指出以上三个因素恰恰是古罗马帝国走向灭亡的导火索。
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