導語：這是一份關於托福考試的閱讀題目的解析，一般來說題目都是有難度的，這個時候不僅考驗我們的細心程度，還有考核我們對單詞的熟悉程度。
【待插入句子】Since this purpose is limited to the context of the ritual, the paintings are destroyed when the ritual is completed.
【待插入段落】The Navajo, a Native American people living in the southwestern United States, live in small scattered settlements. In many respects, such as education, occupation, and leisure activities, their life is like that of other groups that contribute to the diverse social fabric of North American culture in the twenty-first century. At the same time, they have retained some traditional cultural practices that are associated with particular art forms. For example, the most important traditional Navajo rituals include the production of large floor paintings. These are actually made by pouring thin, finely controlled streams of colored sands or pulverized vegetable and mineral substances, pollen, and flowers in precise patterns on the ground. The largest of these paintings may be up to 5.5 meters in diameter and cover the entire floor of a room. Working from the inside of the design outward, the Navajo artist and his assistants will sift the black, white, bluish-gray, orange, and red materials through their fingers to create the finely detailed imagery. [■] The paintings and chants used in the ceremonies are directed by well-trained artists and singers who enlist the aid of spirits who are impersonated by masked performers. [■] The twenty-four known Navajo chants can be represented by up to 500 sand paintings. [■] These complex paintings serve as memory aids to guide the singers during the performance of the ritual songs, which can last up to nine days. [■]
1. 正確選項為：D。 這題有點小難度，我們來看看：
2.看到待插入句子，首先看到since，但這句話本身已經包含了因果關係，前因後果，所以這個是句內邏輯，起不到作用。其次關注的是this purpose，既然有代詞指代，那前面一定出現過某個purpose;而且前一句話的主角一定是the paintings。
因為這個目的被限制於宗教儀式(ritual)的背景(context)之下，這些繪畫(thepaintings,注意定冠詞the，不是專有名詞的話就表示特指，所以前面應該出現過paintings)被毀壞，當ritual結束之後。
3. 看待插入段落的句子：1st,Navajo住在小的分散的聚居地( scattered settlement)。 2nd, 在許多方面，他們的生活和其他族群相似(略過了such as… 和that...定語從句修飾groups的部分)。 3rd,同時，他們保留了一些傳統的行為，這些行為和特定的藝術形式有關。(整個段落從這裡分開，前面講的是整體的介紹，後面講具體的例子。) 4th, For example，大型地板畫的製作。5th, 他們是這麼被製造出來的…(省略by...後面具體的操作步驟——有些像沙畫)。 6th,最大的paintings特別大(直徑長+充滿整個房間地板)。7th,設計從內往外，Navajo畫家(刪掉assistants)會把各種顏色的材料從手指篩出來，為了創造精細的(finely detailed)影象。8th, 這些(用在儀式中的)畫和歌謠(chants) 是由良好訓練的畫家和歌手編導的，(who...他們尋求神靈的幫助，who...神靈由戴面具的`表演者扮演)。 9th, 24首知名的歌謠可以由多達500幅沙畫來象徵。 10th, 這些複雜的畫serve用來as作為記憶輔助(during...在宗教歌曲的表演中，to guide...去指引歌手們，which...儀式可以持續9天)。
這一段共10句話，看起來很複雜，而且很多同學看到這些歷史題材，覺得自己不熟悉背景知識然後沒法看了。大家首先要淡定，不能怕。因為基本上你需要的資訊全都在段落中了，而且，你要學會給段落分層!分層之後就會變簡單。前面3句講整體，後面7句舉例子。舉例子集中在說明floor paintings和chants這兩種藝術形式。它們的關係要搞懂——paintings幫助chants的記憶。搞懂這部分那整個段落就很清楚了。
給定的句子說的是painting有某種purpose，宗教儀式ritual完成之後就要被毀掉。分析清楚了上面的段落，很清楚應該放在最後一個框。跟前面的serve as memory aids對應起來。
生詞積累
scattered settlements 分散的定居地
In many respects 在許多方面
retained 維持;maintain
enlist the aid 需求幫助
serve as 被當作...
ritual 宗教儀式
