2025年中考英语时文阅读模拟练习题 （4月）

2025中考英语时事热门阅读时模拟练习题（4月）

 

（A）The Job-Hunting Dilemma of Gen Z

（词数：320，话题分类：社会现象，难度等级：中等，建议用时：8 分钟）

In the contemporary job market, university graduates and members of Generation Z, those born roughly between the mid - to - late 1990s and the early 2010s, are facing an increasingly arduous task of securing employment. Journalist Aki Ito has sounded the alarm, referring to it as a “career apocalypse”. She pointed out that in an uncertain global landscape, graduates must brace themselves for the harshest of circumstances. A British journalist also expressed concerns, asserting that numerous individuals are pursuing degrees that hold little practical value in the job market. He opined that young people would be far better off if they chose to become electricians instead of spending years on some “worthless degrees”.

In the United States, there are over four million Gen Zers who are neither enrolled in educational institutions nor engaged in any form of employment. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, the number approaches nearly one million. One of the primary culprits behind this employment crisis is the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is gradually replacing a growing number of jobs across various sectors. There are legitimate fears that professions such as teaching, accounting, and writing could be at risk of disappearing in the near future. Adding to this problem is the attitude of some graduates. Many of them are reluctant to start from the bottom, shunning “entry - level” positions. Instead, they aspire to join companies at the management level right from the start and expect high salaries in their very first job. This mismatch between expectations and reality further exacerbates the job - hunting difficulties for Gen Z.

1. According to Aki Ito, what should graduates do in the face of the job market?

A. Pursue more degrees.

B. Prepare for the worst situation.

C. Try to get management - level jobs immediately.

2. What does the British journalist think of some degrees?

A. They are very useful for finding jobs.

B. They are valuable for personal growth.

C. They are of little practical use in the job market.

3. What is one of the main reasons for the employment problem of Gen Z?

A. Their lack of work experience.

B. The rapid development of AI.

C. Their high requirements for working environments.

4. What kind of jobs do many graduates not want to do?

A. “Entry - level” jobs.

B. Jobs in big companies.

C. Jobs with high salaries.

5. What can we infer from the passage?

A. Gen Z will all become electricians in the future.

B. AI will create more job opportunities for Gen Z.

C. Gen Z should adjust their job - hunting expectations.

（B）The Multifaceted Nature of Happiness

（词数：330，话题分类：心理学，难度等级：中等偏难，建议用时：9 分钟）

Happiness, an intangible yet highly sought - after state of being, is a concept that means different things to different people. A recent in - depth study on the nature of happiness has revealed that our sense of contentment is the result of the complex interaction of a multitude of factors. Emorie Beck, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, spearheaded an investigation aimed at uncovering the secrets behind what makes us happy. Gaining a deeper understanding of this could potentially enable mental health professionals to develop more effective treatment strategies for individuals grappling with depression and anxiety. Professor Beck emphasized: “To create effective interventions, we must first understand the sources of happiness.” Her research findings have been published in the esteemed journal “Nature Human Behaviour”.

Professor Beck proposed that happiness can stem from two main sources: external circumstances, such as income, job satisfaction, and material possessions, and internal feelings. She elaborated on three distinct models of happiness. The first is the “bottom - up” model, which is centered around our overall satisfaction with aspects like financial status, career, and relationships. This is the framework commonly used in the World Happiness Report. The second model is the “top - down” perspective, suggesting that happiness predominantly arises from our internal attitudes towards life. People can actively cultivate this by engaging in practices such as meditation or therapy. The final model is the bidirectional one, where the “bottom - up” and “top - down” models interact and combine to generate happiness. This bidirectional model highlights the interconnectedness of external and internal factors in determining our level of happiness.

1. What is the main purpose of Emorie Beck’s study?

A. To find out the best way to earn more money.

B. To understand what makes people happy.

C. To study different people’s attitudes towards life.

2. Where was Professor Beck’s study published?

A. In a newspaper.

B. In a magazine about health.

C. In the journal “Nature Human Behaviour”.

3. Which of the following is NOT an external circumstance related to happiness?

A. Internal feelings.

B. Job satisfaction.

C. Material possessions.

4. What can help people control the “top - down” model of happiness?

A. Buying more possessions.

B. Practicing meditation.

C. Improving financial status.

5. What can we learn from the bidirectional model of happiness?

A. Only external factors matter for happiness.

B. Internal feelings are not related to happiness.

C. External and internal factors are interconnected in creating happiness.

（C）A Glimpse into the Extraterrestrial Life

（词数：340，话题分类：科学探索，难度等级：难，建议用时：10 分钟）

For centuries, the age - old question “Are we alone in the universe?” has intrigued humanity, and scientists seem to be edging closer to providing a definitive answer. Astronomers have been painstakingly observing the vast expanse of the heavens, searching for any signs of extraterrestrial life. In a recent development, a team of astronomers made an exciting announcement. They revealed that they had detected a chemical composition that could potentially provide the necessary conditions for life forms to exist. Astrophysicist Dr Nikku Madhusudhan from the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy disclosed the discovery of two chemicals known as DMS and DMDS. These chemicals are considered “biosignatures”, which are essentially the potential indicators of life. On Earth, these specific chemicals are exclusively produced by microorganisms, such as plankton. The astronomers were enthusiastic, stating that these chemicals represent “the most promising signs yet” of the existence of life beyond our planet.

The two biosignatures were detected on a planet named K2 - 18b, which is situated approximately 124 light years away from Earth. For context, one light year is roughly equivalent to 9.46 trillion kilometers. Dr Madhusudhan hypothesized that the planet K2 - 18b could be a Hycean world. A Hycean world is a type of planet that has the potential to be habitable, characterized by being covered in liquid water and having an abundant supply of hydrogen. He stated: “Based on all the information we have gathered about [the planet K2 - 18b], the scenario of a Hycean world with an ocean teeming with life best aligns with the data we possess.” However, he stopped short of declaring that life definitely exists on the planet. He admitted that while he was 99.7% certain that his findings were not a result of mere chance, he emphasized the need to reach a certainty level of 99.99994% before being able to assert as a fact that we are not alone in the universe.

1. What question have scientists been trying to answer for centuries?

A. How far is the nearest planet to Earth?