[ 토플 ] 📘 TOEFL Reading 심화 Day 15

📘 TOEFL Reading 심화 Day 15

주제: The Rise of Urban Centers in Ancient Civilizations (고대 문명에서 도시 중심지의 등장)

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1) Vocabulary (고난도 단어 10개 – 글 형식)

urbanization (noun): 도시화, 도시의 성장 과정
예: Urbanization in Mesopotamia laid the foundation for complex societies.

infrastructure (noun): 사회 기반 시설
예: Roads and irrigation canals were essential infrastructure in early cities.

hierarchical (adj.): 계층적인
예: Ancient urban societies developed hierarchical structures of authority.

bureaucracy (noun): 관료제, 행정 체계
예: Bureaucracy helped manage resources in large populations.

commerce (noun): 상업, 교역
예: Commerce between cities stimulated cultural exchange.

fortification (noun): 방어 시설, 성벽
예: Fortifications protected early cities from invasion.

subsistence (noun): 생계, 최소 생활 유지
예: Agricultural surplus allowed people to move beyond subsistence farming.

stratification (noun): 계층화, 사회적 층위 구분
예: Social stratification emerged as elites controlled wealth.

artisans (noun): 장인, 수공업자
예: Artisans specialized in crafts that supported urban economies.

administrative (adj.): 행정의, 관리상의
예: Administrative centers coordinated taxation and law enforcement.

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2) Reading Passage (~850 words)

The Rise of Urban Centers in Ancient Civilizations

The emergence of urban centers in antiquity marked one of the most significant transformations in human history. For millennia, most human communities lived in small villages, practicing subsistence agriculture and maintaining relatively simple social structures. The development of cities, however, represented a new scale of organization, enabling political complexity, economic innovation, and cultural achievements that continue to shape human societies today.

The earliest examples of urbanization appeared in Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE. Situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, cities such as Uruk expanded due to irrigation systems that supported agricultural surpluses. These surpluses freed some members of society from farming, allowing them to specialize as artisans, traders, or priests. Specialization stimulated commerce and laid the foundation for a more diversified economy.

Urban centers required infrastructure to sustain large populations. Irrigation canals ensured water supplies, while roads facilitated the movement of goods. Defensive fortifications protected inhabitants from external threats. Administrative buildings, often located at city centers, reflected the emergence of bureaucracies capable of organizing labor, collecting taxes, and enforcing laws. Hierarchical governance structures became increasingly complex as rulers, priests, and officials managed resources and maintained order.

Similar developments occurred independently in other regions. The Indus Valley Civilization built well-planned cities like Mohenjo-Daro, with grid layouts, drainage systems, and standardized building materials. These features suggest advanced administrative capacity and civic planning. In Mesoamerica, cities such as Teotihuacan functioned as both religious and economic hubs, drawing diverse populations into shared urban identities. Ancient Egypt, though less urbanized, established administrative capitals that coordinated large-scale projects such as pyramid construction.

Urbanization brought profound social changes. Surpluses enabled the accumulation of wealth, leading to social stratification. Elites controlled land and resources, while artisans, merchants, and laborers occupied lower ranks. This stratification was reinforced by monumental architecture, which often served as a visible symbol of authority. Religion played a central role as temples became both spiritual and economic institutions, mediating between rulers and the population.

The growth of urban centers also encouraged cultural innovation. Writing systems, such as cuneiform in Mesopotamia, emerged to record transactions and administrative details. Artistic production flourished, from pottery and textiles to monumental sculptures. Urban societies also advanced scientific knowledge, including mathematics and astronomy, often linked to practical needs such as taxation or agricultural cycles.

Nevertheless, cities were vulnerable to environmental and political pressures. Dependence on irrigation exposed Mesopotamian cities to risks of salinization and flooding. Competition between rival city-states often led to warfare, while the strain of supporting growing populations sometimes resulted in decline. Despite these challenges, the idea of urban life proved resilient, spreading across continents and forming the backbone of subsequent civilizations.

The rise of cities marked a decisive turning point: humans were no longer bound solely to subsistence farming but could sustain complex, stratified societies. The administrative, economic, and cultural innovations pioneered in ancient urban centers established patterns that remain essential to modern civilization.

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3) ETS-Style Questions (12문항)
1. According to paragraph 1, what was the major change brought by the emergence of cities?
A. Increased reliance on hunting
B. Transition to complex organization and culture
C. Elimination of agriculture
D. Simplification of social structures
2. The word subsistence in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to:
A. Luxury
B. Basic survival
C. Trade
D. Authority
3. According to paragraph 2, what allowed urban specialization to occur?
A. Irrigation failures
B. Agricultural surpluses
C. Lack of trade
D. Religious decline
4. The word infrastructure in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to:
A. Social stratification
B. Basic physical systems
C. Cultural traditions
D. Military weapons
5. According to paragraph 3, what role did administrative buildings play?
A. Religious rituals
B. Organizing labor and taxation
C. Artistic development
D. Agricultural production
6. The word fortifications in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to:
A. Defensive structures
B. Religious ceremonies
C. Economic exchanges
D. Social hierarchies
7. According to paragraph 4, what feature distinguished Indus Valley cities?
A. Monumental pyramids
B. Grid layouts and drainage systems
C. Lack of civic planning
D. Dependence solely on trade
8. The word stratification in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to:
A. Equality
B. Hierarchical division
C. Innovation
D. Agriculture
9. According to paragraph 6, why did writing systems develop?
A. To record administrative and economic transactions
B. To spread religious myths only
C. To produce literature for entertainment
D. To replace oral traditions
10. The word vulnerable in paragraph 7 is closest in meaning to:
A. Resilient
B. Exposed to harm
C. Powerful
D. Independent
11. According to paragraph 7, which factor posed a risk to Mesopotamian cities?
A. Overpopulation alone
B. Dependence on irrigation systems
C. Isolation from trade routes
D. Excessive rainfall only
12. Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?
A. Ancient cities were fragile and short-lived.
B. Urbanization in antiquity created complex societies with enduring influence.
C. Rural villages were superior to urban centers.
D. Only Mesopotamia contributed to urban growth.

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4) Passage Translation (한국어 번역)

고대 문명에서 도시 중심지의 등장

고대에 도시의 출현은 인류 역사에서 가장 중요한 전환 중 하나였다. 수천 년 동안 인류 공동체는 작은 마을에서 자급자족 농업을 하며 단순한 사회 구조를 유지했다. 그러나 도시의 등장은 정치적 복잡성, 경제적 혁신, 문화적 성취를 가능하게 했다.

메소포타미아에서 기원전 3500년경 가장 초기의 도시화가 나타났다. 티그리스와 유프라테스 강 사이의 도시들은 관개 덕분에 농업 잉여를 얻었고, 이는 일부 사람들이 농업에서 벗어나 장인, 상인, 사제가 될 수 있게 했다.

도시에는 대규모 인구를 유지할 인프라가 필요했다. 관개 시설, 도로, 성벽, 행정 건물은 자원 관리와 질서 유지에 핵심적이었다. 계층적 통치 구조와 관료제가 발전했다.

이와 유사한 발전은 인더스 문명, 메소아메리카, 이집트에서도 나타났다. 특히 인더스 문명은 격자형 배치와 배수 시스템을 갖춘 계획 도시를 건설했다.

도시화는 사회적 변화도 불러왔다. 잉여 생산은 부의 축적과 사회 계층화(stratification)를 촉진했으며, 종교와 건축은 권위를 상징했다.

도시는 문화적 혁신의 중심지였다. 메소포타미아의 설형문자는 행정과 경제 거래 기록을 위해 발명되었다. 예술, 과학, 천문학, 수학도 발전했다.

그러나 도시는 환경적·정치적 압력에 취약했다(vulnerable). 관개에 의존한 메소포타미아는 토양 염류화와 홍수 위험에 노출되었고, 경쟁으로 인해 전쟁이 발생했다.

그럼에도 불구하고 도시의 개념은 지속되며 문명의 토대가 되었다. 도시화는 인류를 단순한 농업 생활에서 벗어나 복잡한 사회로 이끌었다.

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5) 문제 해석 + 정답 + 모든 보기 해설

Q1

문제: 도시의 등장이 가져온 주요 변화는?
• A. 사냥 증가
• B. 복잡한 조직과 문화로 전환 ✅
• C. 농업 제거
• D. 단순화

Q2

subsistence 의미
• A. 사치
• B. 기본 생존 ✅
• C. 교역
• D. 권위

Q3

전문화의 원인은?
• A. 관개 실패
• B. 농업 잉여 ✅
• C. 무역 부족
• D. 종교 쇠퇴

Q4

infrastructure 의미
• A. 사회 계층화
• B. 기반 시설 ✅
• C. 문화 전통
• D. 무기

Q5

행정 건물의 역할은?
• A. 종교 의식
• B. 노동 조직과 세금 관리 ✅
• C. 예술 개발
• D. 농업 생산

Q6

fortifications 의미
• A. 방어 시설 ✅
• B. 종교 의식
• C. 경제 교류
• D. 사회 계층

Q7

인더스 문명의 특징은?
• A. 피라미드
• B. 격자형 배치·배수 시스템 ✅
• C. 계획 없음
• D. 무역 의존

Q8

stratification 의미
• A. 평등
• B. 계층적 구분 ✅
• C. 혁신
• D. 농업

Q9

문자 발명의 이유는?
• A. 행정·경제 기록 ✅
• B. 종교 신화 전파
• C. 오락 문학
• D. 구전 전통 대체

Q10

vulnerable 의미
• A. 회복력 있는
• B. 해를 입기 쉬운 ✅
• C. 강력한
• D. 독립적인

Q11

메소포타미아 도시의 위험 요인은?
• A. 인구 과잉만
• B. 관개 의존 ✅
• C. 무역 고립
• D. 폭우만

Q12

글의 주제는?
• A. 고대 도시는 취약했다.
• B. 도시화는 복잡한 사회를 만들고 지속적 영향을 남겼다. ✅
• C. 농촌이 우월했다.
• D. 메소포타미아만 기여했다.

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