对于托福阅读的备考，同学们最重要就是要多练习，除了了解托福阅读考试的特点和适应托福阅读考试的考试形式，还可以增强做题语感，因为阅读题目最重要的就是语感。下面新航道托福小编跟大家分享托福阅读TPO4真题及答案：Petroleum Resources，供大家练习参考：

　　托福阅读TPO4：Petroleum Resources

　　Petroleum, consisting of crude oil　and natural gas, seems to originate from　organic matter in marine sediment.Microscopic organisms settle to the　seafloor and accumulate in marine mud.The organic matter may partially　decompose, using up the dissolved　oxygen in the sediment. As soon as the　oxygen is gone, decay stops and the　remaining organic matter is preserved.

　　Continued sedimentation-the　process of deposits' settling on the sea　bottom-buries the organic matter and　subjects it to higher temperatures and　pressures, which convert the organic matter to oil and gas. As muddy　sediments are pressed together, the gas　and small droplets of oil may be　squeezed out of the mud and may move　into sandy layers nearby. Over long　periods of time (millions of years),accumulations of gas and oil can collect in the sandy layers. Both oil and gas are　less dense than water, so they generally　tend to rise upward through　water-saturated rock and sediment.

　　Oil pools are valuable underground　accumulations of oil, and oil fields are　regions underlain by one or more oil　pools. When an oil pool or field has been　discovered, wells are drilled into the　ground. Permanent towers, called　derricks, used to be built to handle the　long sections of drilling pipe. Now　portable drilling machines are set up and　are then dismantled and removed. When　the well reaches a pool, oil usually rises　up the well because of its density　difference with water beneath it or　because of the pressure of expanding gas　trapped above it. Although this rise of oil　is almost always carefully controlled　today, spouts of oil, or gushers, were　common in the past. Gas pressure　gradually dies out, and oil is pumped　from the well. Water or steam may be　pumped down adjacent wells to help　push the oil out. At a refinery, the crude　oil from underground is separated into　natural gas, gasoline, kerosene, and　various oils. Petrochemicals such as　dyes, fertilizer, and plastic are also　manufactured from the petroleum.

　　As oil becomes increasingly　difficult to find, the search for it is　extended into more-hostile environments.The development of the oil field on the　North Slope of Alaska and the　construction of the Alaska pipeline are　examples of the great expense and　difficulty involved in new oil　discoveries. Offshore drilling platforms　extend the search for oil to the ocean's　continental shelves-those gently　sloping submarine regions at the edges of　the continents. More than one-quarter of　the world's oil and almost one-fifth of the　world's natural gas come from offshore,　even though offshore drilling is six to　seven times more expensive than drilling　on land. A significant part of this oil and　gas comes from under the North Sea　between Great Britain and Norway.

　　Of course, there is far more oil　underground than can be recovered. It　may be in a pool too small or too far　from a potential market to justify the　expense of drilling. Some oil lies under　regions where drilling is forbidden, such　as national parks or other public lands.Even given the best extraction　techniques, only about 30 to 40 percent　of the oil in a given pool can be brought　to the surface. The rest is far too difficult　to extract and has to remain　underground.

　　Moreover, getting petroleum out of the　ground and from under the sea and to the　consumer can create environmental　problems anywhere along the line.　Pipelines carrying oil can be broken by faults or landslides, causing serious oil　spills. Spillage from huge oil-carrying　cargo ships, called tankers, involved in　collisions or accidental groundings (such　as the one off Alaska in 1989) can create　oil slicks at sea. Offshore platforms may　also lose oil, creating oil slicks that drift　ashore and foul the beaches, harming the　environment. Sometimes, the ground at　an oil field may subside as oil is removed.The Wilmington field near Long Beach,California, has subsided nine meters in 50　years; protective barriers have had to be　built to prevent seawater from flooding　the area. Finally, the refining and burning　of petroleum and its products can cause　air pollution. Advancing technology and　strict laws, however, are helping control　some of these adverse environmental　effects.

　　As muddy sediments are pressed　together, the gas and small droplets of oil　may be squeezed out of the mud and may　move into sandy layers nearby. Over　long periods of time (millions of years),accumulations of gas and oil can collect　in the sandy layers. Both oil and gas are　less dense than water, so they generally　tend to rise upward through　water-saturated rock and sediment.

　　Paragraph 1：

　　1.The word “accumulate” in the passage is closest in meaning to

　　○Grow up

　　○Build up

　　○Spread out

　　○Break apart

　　2.According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true about petroleum formation?

　　○Microscopic organisms that live in mud produce crude oil and natural gas.

　　○Large amounts of oxygen are needed for petroleum formation to begin.

　　○Petroleum is produced when organic material in sediments combines with decaying marine organisms.

　　○Petroleum formation appears to begin in marine sediments where organic matter is present.

　　Paragraph 1-2：

　　3 .In paragraphs 1 and 2, the author’s primary purpose is to

　　○Describe how petroleum is formed

　　○Explain why petroleum formation is a slow process

　　○Provide evidence that a marine environment is necessary for petroleum formation

　　○Show that oil commonly occurs in association with gas

　　4 . Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

　　○Higher temperatures and pressures promote sedimentation, which is responsible for petroleum formation.

　　○Deposits of sediments on top of organic matter increase the temperature of and pressure on the matter.

　　○Increase pressure and heat from the weight of the sediment turn the organic remains into petroleum.

　　○The remains of microscopic organisms transform into petroleum once they are buried under mud.

　　Paragraph 3：

　　5.The word “adjacent” in the passage is closest in meaning to

　　○Nearby

　　○Existing

　　○Special

　　○Deep

　　6.Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 3 about gushers?

　　○They make bringing the oil to the surface easier.

　　○They signal the presence of huge oil reserves.

　　○They waste more oil than they collect.

　　○They are unlikely to occur nowadays.

　　Paragraph 4:

　　7.Which of the following strategies for oil exploration is described in paragraph 4 and paragraph 5?

　　○Drilling under the ocean’s surface

　　○Limiting drilling to accessible locations

　　○Using highly sophisticated drilling equipment

　　○Constructing technologically advanced drilling platforms

　　8 . What does the development of the Alaskan oil field mentioned in paragraph 4 demonstrate?

　　○More oil is extracted from the sea than from land.

　　○Drilling for oil requires major financial investments.

　　○The global demand for oil has increased over the years.

　　○The North Slope of Alaska has substantial amounts of oil.

　　9.The word “sloping” in the passage is closest in meaning to

　　○Shifting

　　○Inclining

　　○Forming

　　○Rolling

　　Paragraph 5：

　　10.According to paragraph 5, the decision to drill for oil depends on all of the following factors EXCEPT

　　○permission to access the area where oil has been found

　　○the availability of sufficient quantities of oil in a pool

　　○the location of the market in relation to the drilling site

　　○the political situation in the region where drilling would occur

　　Paragraph 6：

　　11. The word “foul” in the passage is closest in meaning to

　　○Reach

　　○Flood

　　○Pollute

　　○Alter

　　12.In paragraph 6, the author’s primary purpose is to

　　○Provide examples of how oil exploration can endanger the environment

　　○Describe accidents that have occurred when oil activities were in progress

　　○Give an analysis of the effects of oil spills on the environment

　　○Explain how technology and legislation help reduce oil spills

　　Paragraph 7：

　　13 . Look at the four squares [ ] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.Unless something acts to halt this migration, these natural resources will eventually reach the surface.Where would the sentence best fit?

　　14.“Petroleum” is a broad term that includes both crude oil and natural gas.

　　Answer choices

　　○Petroleum formation is the result of biological as well as chemical activity.

　　○The difficulty of finding adequate sources of oil on land has resulted in a greater number of offshore drilling sites.

　　○Petroleum extraction can have a negative impact on the environment.

　　○Petroleum tends to rise to the surface,since it is lower in density than water.

　　○Current methods of petroleum extraction enable oil producers to recover about half of the world’s petroleum reserves.

　　○Accidents involving oil tankers occur when tankers run into shore reefs or collide with other vessels.

　　托福阅读TPO4：Petroleum Resources参考答案：

　　1. ○2 2. ○4 3. ○1 4. ○3 5. ○1

　　6. ○4 7. ○1 8. ○2 9. ○2 10. ○4

　　11. ○3 12. ○1 13. ○4 14. ○1 2 3

　　以上就是新航道托福小编跟大家分享的关于一篇托福阅读TPO4真题及答案：Petroleum Resources，希望对大家有所帮助！最后预祝大家在托福考试中取得好成绩！