托福閱讀背景材料：美國(guó)議壇之城芝加哥

芝加哥是美國(guó)的第二大城市,，常被稱為“美國(guó)的超級(jí)市場(chǎng)”,，它不僅是商業(yè)中心，也是交通樞紐,。城市中有許多歷史悠久且具有建筑美感的建筑,，密歇根湖的公園和蜿蜒的水際線構(gòu)成了獨(dú)特的風(fēng)景。此外,，國(guó)際會(huì)議和大型國(guó)內(nèi)會(huì)議頻繁在此舉行,，使得芝加哥獲得了“議壇之城”的美譽(yù)。

華麗的一英里

自Chicago Avenue Bridge往北延伸至East Oak Street之間的區(qū)域被稱為T(mén)he Magnificent Mile,，堪比紐約的第五大道,。這里有整齊劃一的行道樹(shù)、宏偉的摩天大樓、優(yōu)雅的商店及迷人的櫥窗展示,。Chicago Avenue Bridge的橋頭矗立著以口香糖聞名的Wrigley Junior Co.大廈,，附近還有汽艇碼頭。Twin Towers Marina City的外形如同玉蜀黍,，屹立于河岸右側(cè),。芝加哥論壇報(bào)的總部也位于此，而Water Tower則曾被視為芝加哥的標(biāo)志性建筑,。

約翰漢寇克中心

約翰漢寇克中心,，也稱為“Big John”，是一座高達(dá)100層的建筑,。其設(shè)計(jì)初看似乎有些怪異,，但實(shí)際上是建筑力學(xué)的一項(xiàng)新成就。這座大廈由一家保險(xiǎn)公司擁有,，底層至第五層為高檔時(shí)裝店,，而六層至141層則為各類公司辦公室，42層以上是公寓,，94層設(shè)有觀景臺(tái),，95層為餐廳，96層則是雞尾酒吧,。

西爾斯大廈

西爾斯大廈取代了紐約的帝國(guó)大廈,，成為世界最高建筑，總共103層,，高達(dá)1,454尺（443米）,，可容納16,500人。這座建筑是世界奇觀,，從地面到103層的快速電梯僅需55秒,，游客可以在此俯瞰整個(gè)芝加哥市。在陰天時(shí),，仿佛置身于云霧之中,。

商品市場(chǎng)

商品市場(chǎng)位于芝加哥河北岸，是一座18層的巨大建筑,，僅次于五角大廈,。市場(chǎng)內(nèi)銷售的商品種類繁多，從家具到機(jī)械,，種類超過(guò)100萬(wàn)種。

斐爾特自然史博物館

斐爾特自然史博物館在博物學(xué)領(lǐng)域享有盛譽(yù),，館內(nèi)展出珍貴的恐龍骸骨,、古埃及木乃伊以及馬雅文明的遺物等。

林肯公園

林肯公園位于密歇根湖邊，全長(zhǎng)8公里,，占地480公頃,，是芝加哥最大的公園。公園內(nèi)有林肯,、歌德,、莎士比亞、貝多芬等名人雕像,，以及動(dòng)物園等設(shè)施,。

托福閱讀背景材料：美國(guó)議壇之城芝加哥

芝加哥不僅是一個(gè)典型的美國(guó)城市，也是一個(gè)充滿活力的文化和商業(yè)中心,。無(wú)論是建筑,、藝術(shù)還是歷史，這座城市都值得深入探索,。

在備考托福的過(guò)程中,，閱讀部分常常是學(xué)生們感到最具挑戰(zhàn)性的環(huán)節(jié)之一。尤其是在芝加哥這座城市,，許多考生希望通過(guò)有效的技巧來(lái)提高自己的閱讀成績(jī),。以下是一些實(shí)用的托福閱讀技巧，幫助你在考試中取得更好的表現(xiàn),。??

1. 理解題型 ??
托福閱讀部分通常包括多種題型,，例如：

• Detail Questions
• Inference Questions
• Vocabulary Questions
• Author's Purpose Questions

了解每種題型的特點(diǎn)和解題思路，可以幫助你在考試時(shí)更快找到答案,。例如,，Detail Questions 通常要求你在文章中找到具體的信息，而 Inference Questions 則需要你根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容進(jìn)行推理,。

2. 精讀與略讀相結(jié)合 ??
在閱讀文章時(shí),，建議先進(jìn)行略讀，以獲取文章的整體結(jié)構(gòu)和主題,。然后再逐段精讀,，關(guān)注細(xì)節(jié)和重要信息。這樣可以提高你的閱讀速度,，同時(shí)確保你不會(huì)遺漏關(guān)鍵內(nèi)容,。

3. 做好標(biāo)記 ??
在閱讀過(guò)程中，使用不同顏色的筆或者高亮筆對(duì)重要信息進(jìn)行標(biāo)記,，例如關(guān)鍵詞,、作者觀點(diǎn)等。這不僅可以幫助你在回答問(wèn)題時(shí)快速找到相關(guān)信息,，還能增強(qiáng)你的記憶,。

4. 擴(kuò)展詞匯量 ??
托福閱讀中常會(huì)出現(xiàn)一些學(xué)術(shù)性詞匯,，因此擴(kuò)展詞匯量是非常重要的?？梢酝ㄟ^(guò)閱讀英文文章,、聽(tīng)英語(yǔ)播客等方式來(lái)提高自己的詞匯水平。同時(shí),，建議記錄下不熟悉的單詞,，定期復(fù)習(xí)。

5. 模擬練習(xí) ?
參加模擬考試是檢驗(yàn)自己閱讀能力的重要方法,。通過(guò)做歷年真題和模擬題,，你可以熟悉考試的節(jié)奏和題型。同時(shí),，分析自己的錯(cuò)誤,，找出薄弱環(huán)節(jié)，以便有針對(duì)性地進(jìn)行改進(jìn),。

6. 時(shí)間管理 ?
托福閱讀部分的時(shí)間有限,，因此合理分配時(shí)間至關(guān)重要。建議在每篇文章上花費(fèi)約18分鐘,，這樣可以留出時(shí)間檢查答案,。在練習(xí)時(shí)，務(wù)必培養(yǎng)良好的時(shí)間意識(shí),。

7. 學(xué)會(huì)排除法 ?
在選擇答案時(shí),，如果不確定正確答案，可以嘗試使用排除法,。通常情況下,，明顯錯(cuò)誤的選項(xiàng)可以直接排除，剩下的選項(xiàng)中往往會(huì)有一個(gè)更符合文章內(nèi)容的答案,。

8. 注意文章的結(jié)構(gòu) ???
托福閱讀文章通常有明確的結(jié)構(gòu),，包括引言、主體和結(jié)論,。理解文章的邏輯關(guān)系,，有助于你把握作者的意圖和觀點(diǎn)，從而更準(zhǔn)確地回答問(wèn)題,。

通過(guò)以上技巧的運(yùn)用,，相信你可以在托福閱讀部分取得更好的成績(jī)。記住,，持續(xù)的練習(xí)和積極的心態(tài)是成功的關(guān)鍵,。祝你在考試中順利！??

Understanding the Cultural Background of Chicago ??

As a TOEFL test taker, understanding different cultural backgrounds can significantly enhance your language skills and comprehension. One city that stands out in the United States is Chicago. Known for its rich history and diverse population, Chicago offers a unique blend of cultures that can provide valuable insights for your studies.

1. Historical Significance ???

Chicago's history dates back to the 19th century when it became a hub for trade and transportation. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was a pivotal moment, leading to a massive rebuilding effort that shaped the city's architecture and urban planning. Today, you can see iconic buildings like the Willis Tower and the John Hancock Center, which reflect the city's resilience and innovation.

2. Diverse Population ??

Chicago is home to a multicultural community, with significant populations of African American, Hispanic, Asian, and European descent. This diversity is celebrated through various festivals, such as the Chicago Blues Festival and the Puerto Rican Festival. Engaging with these cultural events can enhance your understanding of different perspectives and improve your language skills through real-life interactions.

3. Arts and Entertainment ??

The city is known for its vibrant arts scene, including theaters, museums, and music venues. The Art Institute of Chicago houses an impressive collection of artworks, while the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is renowned worldwide. Attending performances or exhibitions can be an excellent way to immerse yourself in the local culture while practicing your listening and speaking skills.

4. Culinary Diversity ??

Chicago's food scene is another testament to its cultural richness. From deep-dish pizza to Chicago-style hot dogs, the city offers a variety of culinary experiences. Exploring local restaurants and food festivals can help you learn new vocabulary related to cuisine and enhance your conversational abilities.

5. Educational Opportunities ??

For international students, Chicago boasts several prestigious universities, including the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. These institutions not only provide quality education but also foster a multicultural environment where students can learn from one another. Participating in campus activities can further enrich your experience and improve your English proficiency.

6. Community Engagement ??

Chicagoans are known for their strong sense of community. Volunteering for local organizations can provide you with opportunities to practice your English in a supportive environment while giving back to the community. This involvement can also lead to meaningful connections with locals, enhancing your cultural understanding.

7. Challenges and Adaptation ???

While Chicago offers many opportunities, it also presents challenges, such as its harsh winters. Adapting to the weather and learning how to navigate the city can be part of your cultural experience. Understanding the local customs and social norms will help you integrate more smoothly into the community.

Conclusion

In summary, exploring Chicago's cultural background can greatly benefit your TOEFL preparation. By engaging with the city's history, diversity, arts, food, and community, you can enhance your language skills while gaining a deeper appreciation for American culture. Embrace the journey, and let Chicago inspire your learning! ??