2026届江苏省各地市高三上学期开学考试阅读理解之说明文15篇

阅读理解之说明文15篇 （江苏省各地市高考模拟真题） 本资料共15篇专题训练，从上到下依次按照难度排列 题号 难度 知识点 1 较易 科普知识 ,说明文 2 较易 科普知识 ,说明文 3 适中 动物,人与动植物,说明文 4 适中 动物,说明文,植物 5 适中 说明文,自然科学 6 适中 商品 ,个人保健,说明文 7 适中 健康饮食 ,个人保健,说明文 8 适中 房屋和家居,社会问题与社会现象,说明文 9 适中 音乐与舞蹈,发明与创造 ,说明文 10 适中 体育健身 ,社会问题与社会现象,说明文 11 较难 科普知识 ,说明文 12 较难 发明与创造 ,科学技术 ,说明文 13 较难 方法/策略,社会问题与社会现象,说明文 14 较难 人与动植物,说明文 15 较难 科学技术 ,说明文,文学家 基础语篇巩固练习 （江苏省丹阳市2025-2026学年高三上学期9月质量监测卷英语试题）Researchers from the University of Florida studied what may cause people to choose unknown options over known ones, and they found that where the information comes from is important: when what you know comes from other people’s experiences, you’re more likely to explore new options. They conducted a series of experiments. In one experiment, participants were asked to choose one of four cards on a computer screen. Each card hid an amount of money from 1 cent to 40 cents, and participants were told how much money was behind one of the cards in order to help them determine whether to explore and try another card in the hope of turning up more. Some participants were told the information came from another person taking part in the experiment; others were told it came from the computer. Participants were almost twice as likely to explore an unknown card when the information about the known amount appeared to come from a player rather than the computer. As social beings, we consider other people’s experiences as part of our own, so we’re less likely to want to repeat them, even if the experiences are positive, the researchers find. It doesn’t seem to work the same way with computers. Not surprisingly, the amount revealed also had an effect: participants were more willing to choose a different card — to explore, so to speak — when the known amount was low and less willing when it was high, no matter the source of the information. But when the revealed amount was in the middle, the human versus (对抗) computer effect became particularly evident. The idea that the individual decision about whether to venture out has a social component could have practical implications, the researchers write. “For those seeking to encourage exploration in others, our findings offer a simple intervention: highlight the fact that existing information is available because of previous explorers.” 1．What mainly influenced the participants’ decisions in the experiment? A．The source of the information. B．The time reserved for each task. C．The number of options provided. D．The reward for the correct choice. 2．At which known amount might the participants hesitate most? A．5 cents. B．10 cents. C．20 cents. D．35 cents. 3．What is the function of the last paragraph? A．To doubt an idea. B．To give a warning. C．To note the study’s limitations. D．To suggest a practical application. 4．What is the best title for the text? A．Why we prefer familiar over foreign B．How rewards make us avoid unknowns C．Why we go where no one’s gone before D．How others help us make better choices （江苏省扬州市宝应县2025-2026学年高三上学期期初检测英语试题）A shared meal, a kiss on the cheek: these social acts bring people together — and bring their microbes (微生物) together, too. The more individuals interact with one another, the more similar the make-up of their gut (肠道) microbes is, even if individuals don’t live in the same household, a study shows. Several publications have suggested that social interactions shape the gut microbiome. To add to this emerging literature, social scientist Nicholas Christakis and his colleagues travelled to the jungles of Honduras and conducted their research. They mapped the social relationships and analyzed the microbiomes of people living in 18 isolated villages, where interactions are mainly face-to-face and people have minimal exposure to processed foods and antibiotics, which can alter the composition of the microbiome. Individuals living in the same house share up to 13.9% of gut strains, while even people who don’t share a roof but habitually spend free time together share 10%, the researchers found. By contrast, those in the same village but not spending time together share only 4%. There’s also evidence that friends of friends share more strains than would be expected by chance. The results add depth to scientists’ understanding of what shapes the microbiome, says microbiologist Mireia, who was not involved in the work. Social contacts might share the same microbial species by chance, but they’re much less likely to share the same strains, which are subspecies of microbes, unless they’ve passed them to each other. Research like this “is changing completely the way we think”. It suggests that risk factors for conditions with links to the microbiome, such as hypertension and depression, could spread from person to person through their microbiomes, says biologist Nicola Segata at the University of Trento. However, people should not avoid social interactions for fear of “catching” others’ microbiomes. Social interactions can spread components of healthy microbiomes and have multiple other benefits. 1．What does the study mainly find? A．Kissing harms human relations. B．Social acts influence eating habits. C．Family gathering benefits gut microbes. D．Social contacts affect gut microbes. 2．Why was the research conducted in the jungles of Honduras? A．To study the unique gut microbes there. B．To evaluate the impacts of new antibiotics. C．To explore the make-up of gut microbiome. D．To minimize the effects of interfering factors. 3．What can we know about the research results? A．They ignore the sharing of gut microbes. B．They focus on household microbes mainly. C．They reveal the transmission of gut microbes. D．They challenge the results of previous studies. 4．What might be the author’s attitude toward social interactions? A．Objective. B．Indifferent. C．Unclear. D．Approving. （江苏省盐城市七校联盟2025-2026学年高三上学期9月月考英语试题）The best and most-commonly used sources for the pills we have are oily fish like salmon (鲑鱼), mackerel (鲭鱼) and sardine (沙丁鱼). Many environmentalists fear that some species are being overfished for this purpose. We may have an endless voracity for fish oil, but we don’t have an endless supply of fish. Menhaden (鲱鱼), which is described as “a big-headed, smelly, foot-long fish”, is in great danger. Although prized for dinner in the 18th century, the species has become the unknown victim of the fish oil business, which presents us with potential selfish. Menhaden feeds almost entirely on algae (海藻) and is especially good at changing it into omega-3 fatty acids, which make it a good target for fish oil companies. One particular company, Protein of Houston, has been fishing 90 percent of the country’s menhaden. It’s become such a big problem that 13 of the 15 Atlantic states have banned the company’s boats from their waters. Yet the company is still allowed to fish in North Carolina and Virginia, as well as federal waters; the company’s efforts result in the removing of half a billion menhadens every year. Aside from a public natural resource running out for a company’s private profit, the damage to the ecosystem is the cause for alarm. The muddy brown colour of the Long Island Sound is the direct result of lacking water filtration (过滤) — a job that was once done by menhaden. Menhaden keeps the ocean waters of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts clean. A menhaden filters four to six gallons of water of algae in a minute, which prevents underwater dead zones. Measures should be taken to avoid the overfished situation. Plant seeds such as flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and sesame seeds — and particularly their oils — are good vegetarian sources of omega-3 fatty acids, although the mix of specific acids is different from which one can get from fish. 1．What does the underlined word “voracity” in paragraph 1 mean? A．Trouble. B．Shortage. C．Resource. D．Appetite. 2．Why does menhaden become a good fish for companies to make pills? A．It is good at forming omega-3 fatty acids. B．It feeds mainly on the harmful algae. C．It is well-known for its rich protein. D．It is relatively easy for companies to catch. 3．What does the author intend to suggest us in the last paragraph? A．To grow more plants for their seeds to make oil. B．To use some substitutes instead of more fish oil. C．To call on the government to make laws in fishing. D．To take part in more activities to protect the environment. 4．What is the best title for the text? A．The Broken Natural Ecosystem B．The Process of Making Fish Oil C．Bad Effects of Fish Oil Making D．How to use natural resources. （江苏省镇江市2025-2026学年高三上学期期初考试英语试题）Female moths (蛾) don’t rely on sight or smell alone. They can also hear stressed plants. Scientists found that these insects detect ultrasonic (超声的) clicks from plants under drought stress and use them when choosing egg-laying sites. Plants produce airborne ultrasonic sounds when stressed. These vibrations (震颤), previously thought to be undetectable by animals, can travel through the air. The Egyptian cotton leafworm moth, Spodoptera littoralis, hears these sounds. This species has ears sensitive to the 20 to 60 kHz range, with peak sensitivity around 38 kHz. That is where many plant clicks fall. The researchers assumed that female moths might use these plant sounds to decide where to lay eggs. Their experiments confirmed this. The study involved multiple experiments with precise setups. In a no-plant environment, moths preferred laying eggs near a speaker playing recorded plant stress sounds. When these moths were deafened, the preference disappeared. This proved that the response came from hearing, not other cues (提示). In contrast, when healthy plants were added and the same sounds were played near one, the moths chose the silent plant. This indicated that when real plants were present, moths correctly interpreted the sounds as warnings. Scientists find that without a visible plant, sound becomes the only cue. So moths associate it with plant presence. But when they can see or smell real plants, and one gives off stress sounds, they avoid it. This shows a context-based decision-making process. This study reveals that plant sounds can guide insect behavior. The researchers think other animals might also use these sounds. “In this study, we revealed the first evidence for acoustic (声学的) interaction between a plant and an insect. We are convinced that this is just the beginning,” noted the researchers. “Acoustic interaction between plants and animals doubtlessly has many more forms and a wide range of roles.” 1．Why can the Egyptian cotton leafworm moth hear plant clicks? A．They are especially loud. B．They are entirely distinct. C．They travel via special media. D．They match its hearing range. 2．What did the moths choose when real plants were present in the experiment? A．The speaker playing sounds. B．Plants giving off no warning signals. C．Healthy plants producing sounds. D．Plants needing to be watered. 3．Which word best describes the impact of the research according to the last paragraph? A．Far-reaching. B．Controllable. C．Short-lived. D．Tolerable. 4．What could be the best title for the passage? A．Plants give off measurable stress sounds B．Plants make stress sounds for lack of water C．Moths guide complex plant-insect interactions D．Moths detect plant sounds for egg-laying choices （江苏省苏州市2025-2026学年高三上学期9月期初考试英语试卷）Some memories, such as what you had for dinner last night, are easier to recall than others. However, even forgotten memories could be guiding your actions. Memory can be defined by what people report, or physically as a circuit of cells and connections in the brain, known as an engram. It has been thought by many researchers that when you forget something, the engram disappears. However, research in mice suggests forgotten memories can persist; they just can’t be consciously recalled. To see if forgotten memories are detectable in human brains, Tom Willems and his team at the University of Bern got 40 people to quickly look at 96 pairs of images, made up of a human face and an object, such as a guitar or a stapler. The researchers then used functional magnetic resonance imaging (磁共振成像) to observe the participants’ brain activity during tests carried out around 30 minutes later and 24 hours later. The tests asked whether they had seen two images paired up before. The participants also stated whether they recalled that two images went together, were unsure, or were guessing. Those who said they could remember chose the correct pairing 87 per cent of the time during both tests. Those who said they had forgotten got about half right. The participants who were unsure guessed correctly 57 per cent of the time after 30 minutes and 54 per cent after 24 hours. These results were slightly higher than would be expected by chance, which suggests this group may actually have remembered. When the guessers chose the right answer, the same activation patterns were seen in the right hippocampal (海马的) region of the brain as in those who remembered, which implies the engrams of forgotten memories remained and were influencing their choices. In the tests done 24 hours later, the engrams of memories that people correctly guessed stayed within the hippocampus, while those they could remember were distributed throughout the neocortex (大脑新皮层). The work shows there can be a disconnection between the memory we consciously access and the related engram in the brain. As researcher Amy Milton explains, “Some memories don’t necessarily need to be consciously retrieved (提取) in order for those memories to influence behaviour.” 1．What does the underlined word “engram” in paragraph 2 probably mean ? A．A tool used to measure memory. B．The process of forming memory. C．The feeling of remembering something. D．A network of brain cells storing memory. 2．What is paragraph 3 mainly about? A．Participants and materials. B．Functions of brain scans. C．Research methods and procedures. D．Causes of forgotten memories. 3．Why did researchers study those who were unsure? A．To identify inattentive participants. B．To compare brain activity patterns. C．To see if guessing reveals hidden memories. D．To prove that all memories can be recalled. 4．What is the key finding of the study in the passage? A．Forgotten memories influence behavior unconsciously. B．All memory traces are stored in the same part of brain. C．Forgotten memories can be fully recovered with effort. D．Conscious recall is necessary for memories to affect choices. （江苏省镇江市2025-2026学年高三上学期期初考试英语试题）Searching the web or looking around a major grocery store, we’ll find trendy household and beauty products labelled “natural,” or “green.” We thought we were slowing the chemical pollution crisis by swapping (交换) the “natural” products for non-toxic (无毒的) cleaning alternatives and ensuring our beauty products only have natural substances. Yet, studies demonstrate that green cleaning products and common sustainable swaps still contain substances that are harmful to human life. The use of new chemicals in the home has expanded rapidly in the past five decades. To meet that moment, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was passed in 1976, regulating (管理) more than 80,000 chemicals and their usage through the Food and Drug Administration. Yet, the TSCA allowed for more than 60,000 chemicals that were on the market to continue being used without additional safety protections. Unlike medicines, which underwent strict testing, chemicals in cleaning and beauty products often lack comprehensive toxicity data. While some states, including California, require greater protections from risky chemicals, government control is still not enough. One key issue with so-called“green” products is their use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which easily escape into the air at room temperature and can create dangerous indoor pollutants. The result? VOCs contribute to breathing problems, allergic (过敏的) reactions, and headaches. Endocrine (内分泌的) imbalance is another major issue hiding in household products, including those marketed as safe or sustainable. These chemicals disturb body functions, potentially leading to physical disorders and even certain cancers. If government control remains limited and companies continue to market misleading “green” products, what can consumers do? While official policies attempted to address chemical risks, significant gaps remain. To reduce exposure to harmful substances, producers must look beyond greenwashing and advocate for systemic change — whether through stricter guidelines or the reintroduction of traditional, non-toxic alternatives. Until then, it remains up to consumers to critically assess the products they bring into their homes and onto their bodies. 1．What does the author want to tell us in paragraph 1? A．Natural products dominate store shelves. B．Chemical pollution has worsened. C．Consumers distrust sustainable swaps. D．Green products still have risks. 2．What was the problem of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)? A．It banned some useful chemicals. B．It allowed for the use of risky chemicals. C．It focused on the usage of medicines. D．It misused comprehensive toxicity data. 3．Which aspect of “green” household products does paragraph 3 mainly talk about? A．Their health risks. B．Their marketing strategy. C．Their performance stability. D．Their specific functions. 4．What does the author suggest consumers do in the last paragraph? A．Wait for stricter guidelines. B．Return to traditional alternatives. C．Evaluate products carefully. D．Trust green products with natural labels. （江苏省高淳高级中学2025-2026学年高三上学期8月练习卷）For most people, having a balanced meal rich in carbohydrates and protein two to four hours before a workout will supply enough energy to last the length of your routine. This also allows ample time for digestion and can help reduce gastrointestinal discomfort like nausea, vomiting or acid reflux, said Dr. Martha Gulati, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles who specializes in helping her patients make lifestyle changes through diet and exercise. If you have a few hours before you plan to exercise, a pre-workout meal might include a high-quality protein (like salmon, chicken or tofu), a complex carbohydrate (like brown rice, oat- meal or sweet potatoes）and healthy sources of fats (like avocado, eggs or nuts), said Dr. Cecilia Cordova Vallejos, a sports medicine physiatrist at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Having a snack about 30 minutes before your workout will also give you an energy boost — especially if you’re doing moderate or high-intensity exercise for longer than 90 minutes, Dr. Cordova Vallejos said. She recommended a protein bar or even just an energy gel packet because they are easy on the stomach. Dr. Gulati suggested a banana or a piece of your favorite fruit. Once you’re done with your workout, aim to consume protein — ideally 20 to 40 grams within two hours, the International Society of Sports Nutrition recommends — to help support muscle growth and recovery. A can of tuna, a chicken breast or three scrambled eggs with cheese would each fall with in that range. The timing of your meals may also depend on your health or fitness objectives. If you have a condition like diabetes where you must manage your blood sugar levels, the recommendations are a little more nuanced. Some research suggests that those with Type 2 diabetes may be better off having breakfast before they exercise. For people with Type 1 diabetes, the suggestions may be different, Dr. Kanaley added. Some research suggests, for instance, that fasting before a moderate or high-intensity morning workout can be safe and potentially even preferable for people with Type 1 diabetes, depending on your glucose levels upon waking. 1．According to Dr. Martha Gulati, what is the main benefit of eating a balanced meal 2 — 4 hours before exercise? A．It enhances muscle growth during the workout. B．It helps avoid digestive issues like nausea. C．It significantly boosts blood sugar levels. D．It shortens the required digestion time. 2．What can be inferred about pre-workout snacks from Dr. Cordova Vallejos’s suggestion? A．They are only necessary for high-intensity workouts. B．They should be rich in fats to provide long-lasting energy. C．They must include complex carbohydrates to be effective. D．They are best consumed shortly before exercise for quick energy. 3．The underlined word nuanced most likely means ______. A．simplified B．flexible C．complicated D．strict 4．What does the article suggest for people with Type 1 diabetes regarding morning workouts? A．Fasting may be safe depending on their glucose levels. B．They must eat breakfast to prevent low blood sugar. C．They should avoid moderate-intensity exercise entirely. D．Protein intake before exercise is strictly prohibited. （江苏省南通市海安市2025-2026学年高三上学期开学英语试题）Many young people feel crushed when they think about their ability to buy a home, but it doesn’t mean they’re giving up on the dream. The average age of first-time home-buyers rose to an all-time high of 38 last year. More than 6 in 10 Gen Z and millennial non-homeowners said they’re envious of peers who have bought houses. Despite their desires, 61% of non-homeowners are less confident they will ever own than they were at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and over half said they feel they’ve missed their opportunity. Thanks to high mortgage (抵押贷款) rates and home prices, Americans today need to earn about 70% more than they did six years ago to comfortably afford a medium-priced home. To buy a house the national medium list price of $431,250, realtor.com estimates a household needs to earn about $114,000 each year. While some young people feel home ownership isn’t in the cards for them, others are getting financial help from relatives to make that big purchase. And others are considering unconventional ways to beat the odds and make it happen including co-buying, relocating and mortgaging their retirement. Those without help from relatives are considering some creative alternative paths to purchasing a house. Some 57% of Gen Z and 54% of millennial say they would buy with friends or family. “If I didn’t have my family, I think I would’ve just been clueless,” St. Peters, 28, said. “I could have easily had the mentality as the other Gen Z people like, ‘Well, I don’t have that money. It seems really intimidating. I have no business buying a house. ” Young people are also willing to sacrifice on location and buy houses that aren’t move-in ready to achieve home-ownership. More than 6 in 10 are open to buying fixer-uppers and more than half are willing to move to another state or even country to afford a home. Another recent study by another property management company ranked Minnesota as the most desired state for young people buying property, with 50.8% of people under 35 owning a home there. 1．Why is it so hard for young people today to purchase a home? A．COVID-19 made housing prices balloon so quickly. B．Their families completely refuse to lend a helping hand. C．The housing market is so unaffordable for young buyers. D．The number of first-time buyers reaches an all-time high. 2．According to the passage, which of the following is an alternative path for young home-buyers? A．Co-buying with a stranger. B．Starting their own business. C．Moving to a cheaper state. D．Sticking to a move-in ready home. 3．What might the author continue talking about? A．Mortgaging retirement. B．Challenges and policies. C．The root of the problem. D．Preparations to buy a home. 4．What is the text mainly about? A．Dream of owning a home is slipping away. B．Young buyers seek new paths to own a house. C．Americans are facing the toughest housing market. D．Various factors make young people fail to buy a house. （江苏省南通市海安市2025-2026学年高三上学期开学英语试题）“Of all my inventions, the glass armonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction.” That was quite the claim by the American founding father Benjamin Franklin. After listening to a concert of Handel’s Water Music which was played on tuned wine glasses, he developed the armonica — named for the Italian word ‘armonia’, meaning ‘harmony’ — as a musical instrument that could copy the high-pitched, almost heavenly, ringing noise of rubbing a finger around the top of a wine glass. Invented in 1761, it comprised 37 glass bowls of various sizes and thicknesses lined up in an overlapping (交叠) horizontal stack on a rotating spindle (轴). The player turned them all at once with a foot pedal, while rubbing their fingers against the rings of the desired bowls to make them ‘sing’. The bowls did not need liquid inside since they had been made by London-based glassblower Charles James to precise specifications so that each produced a different note. Franklin adored the “incomparably sweet” tones of the armonica and would always travel with the instrument to play at his leisure. In the years after its first performance in 1762, it became a favourite of many musicians and composers across Europe, such as Mozart, who wrote an Adagio and Rondo for the instrument. Other composers who wrote for it include Beethoven and Saint-Saëns. Yet the instrument’s impact had consequences Franklin could not have anticipated, as questions were raised over whether its sounds affected people’s health. There was a widespread belief that the high-pitch humming could bring about madness. One German magazine claimed that the armonica “excessively stimulates the nerves, leads the player into a disturbing depression and hence into a dark and sad mood, which is a possible method for slow self-destruction”. No explanation or proof was ever really given to any of these claims. Franklin himself ignored the controversy and continued to play the instrument until the end of his life with none of the symptoms mentioned. But the armonica never really returned to what it had been when it was first introduced. 1．What inspired Benjamin Franklin to make the glass armonica? A．His fascination with Water Music. B．A concert featuring wine glass music. C．A suggestion from the composer Handel. D．His desire to invent a new musical instrument. 2．What is the focus of the second paragraph about the glass armonica? A．Its theoretical basis. B．The inventing process. C．The needed materials. D．Its working mechanism. 3．Why is Mozart mentioned in Para 3? A．To show popularity of the glass armonica at that time. B．To demonstrate Franklin’s influence on other composers. C．To illustrate Mozart’s preference for new musical instruments. D．To highlight the armonica’s superiority to other musical instruments. 4．What can we learn from the last two paragraphs? A．Franklin persisted in playing the instrument to justify its safety. B．Public perception influenced the popularity of the glass armonica. C．The glass armonica should have been banned because of health concerns. D．The patients in low spirits were more likely to be affected by the glass armonica. （江苏省镇江第一中学等校2025~2026学年高三上学期8月期初考试英语试题）Traditionally, business associates would get to know each other over a round of golf, but road cycling is fast catching up as the preferred networking way for modern professionals. A growing number of corporate-sponsored charity bike rides and city cycle clubs are providing ideal opportunities to talk shop with like-minded workmates and clients while discussing different bike frames. Many believe cycling is better than golf for building lasting working relationships or landing a new job because it is less competitive. Peter Murray, a former architect, explains: “When you play golf with somebody, you have to decide if you’re going to beat them, or let them beat you. If they’re a client and you don’t want to beat them, you have to sort of cheat to lose. That’s not a good way.” Group cycling, especially long-distance riding, is a shared experience where riders work together, taking turns at the front to help others save almost a third of the effort. A keen long-distance rider, Murray founded the annual Cycle to Cannes in 2005 — a six-day charity event where architects cycle 1,500 km from London to the MIPIM property fair in France each March, having raised £ 4.5m for charities. Jean-Jacques Lorraine, a regular participant, says cycling reveals character: “Conversations flow easily. I often say things I wouldn’t normally, and others share things with me unexpectedly. Some riders are single-minded, others cooperative; some plan cleverly, others an open book.” Simon Mottram, CEO of Rapha, notes long- distance cycling lifts mood, focusing on riding and companions. “The rhythm of fuelling, riding, celebrating eases life’s stresses.” Unlike quick post-work meals, long rides allow deeper connections and break the gap between higher and lower positions: “A younger rider might help a CEO, changing their off-ride relationship.” Perhaps the most compelling reason why cycling is a good way to network is that, for many professionals, it’s a passion and a way of life they share. “It’s what we dream of while at our computers,” Mottram adds. 1．What does the first paragraph mainly tell us? A．Staff discuss frames more than work. B．Cycling becomes a professional social hit. C．Corporate charities center on cycling. D．Golf was a popular networking method. 2．What is the main purpose of the annual Cycle to Cannes? A．To promote architects’ competition. B．To collect money for charitable causes. C．To popularize long- distance cycling. D．To display various bike frames at a fair. 3．Why does Jean-Jacques Lorraine favor cycling for networking? A．It saves effort in long trips. B．It is a shared passion for many. C．It lifts mood and eases stress. D．It shows character and eases talks. 4．What does the underlined word “compelling” in Paragraph 5 mean? A．Outdated. B．Similar. C．Convincing. D．Disturbing. 重难语篇提升练习 （江苏省部分学校2025-2026学年高三上学期8月联考英语试题）In California, thousands of miles of fiber-optic cables (光纤电缆) criss-cross the state, providing people with the Internet. But these underground cables can also have a surprising secondary function: They can sense and measure earthquakes. In a new study led by Professor Zhongwen Zhan, researchers used a section of fiber-optic cable to measure complex details of a magnitude 6 earthquake, in a method called distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) . To use a fiber-optic cable as a seismometer (地震仪) , special devices are stationed at one end of the cable, shooting light rays through the long, thin glass strands (束) that make up the cable’s core. The glass has tiny imperfections that reflect back an extremely small part of the light to the source, where it is recorded. Seismic waves moving through the ground cause the cable to shake slightly, which changes the travel time of light along the fiber-optic cable. Thus, the imperfections act like thousands of individual seismometers that allow seismologists to observe the motion of seismic waves. Professor Zhan and his team examined the light signatures traveling through a stretch of fiber-optic cable located in the Eastern Sierra Nevada during the 2021 Antelope Valley magnitude 6 earthquake, and discovered that the magnitude 6 earthquake was made up of four sub-events that could not be detected by a conventional seismic network. Working with Nadia Lapusta’s laboratory, the team was able to create an accurate model of the earthquake, displaying the exact timing and locations of the sub-events on the fault region. “Using fiber-optic cable as a series of seismometers reveals aspects of earthquake physics that have long been assumed but difficult to image,” says Zhan. “Imagine your everyday backyard telescope. You can see Jupiter, but you probably can't see its moons or any details. With a really powerful telescope, you can see the fine details of the planet and moon surfaces. Our technology is like a powerful telescope for earthquakes.” The findings suggest that access to more cables would enable improved understanding of earthquake physics and ultimately better earthquake early-warning systems. “If we can get broader coverage to measure seismic activity, we can completely change how we study earthquakes and provide more advance warning,” says Zhan. 1．What makes the fiber-optic cable crucial to the DAS method? A．The intensity of light rays. B．Special devices at one end. C．The length of the cable's core. D．Imperfections in glass strands. 2．How were the four sub-events detected? A．By analyzing light signatures. B．By examining the fault region. C．By developing a seismic network. D．By cooperating with Nadia Lapusta’s laboratory. 3．Why does Professor Zhan mention “telescope” in paragraph 4? A．To compare different measurement tools. B．To describe the appearance of fiber-optic cables. C．To highlight DAS's sharp observational ability. D．To stress the importance of traditional seismometers. 4．What is the best title for the text? A．Advances in Earthquake Early-Warning Systems. B．New Discoveries About Earthquake Physics. C．Detecting Earthquakes via Fiber-Optic Cables. D．Transforming Fiber-Optic Cables Through DAS. （江苏省镇江第一中学等校2025~2026学年高三上学期8月期初考试英语试题）Driving in traffic can be extremely stressful. Walkers (行人) appear out of nowhere, cars suddenly pull out of parking spots, and roads become slippery due to rain or snow. Knowing when to stop and when to speed up in such cases is hard enough for a human driver, let alone a robotic one. But several carmakers — and a few tech companies — are working to convince drivers to let driverless cars take the wheel. Without question, the most anticipated benefit of driverless cars is improved safety. Driverless systems will feature sensors that detect safety threats that human drivers might miss. Many carmakers already offer systems that warn drivers whenever they get dangerously close to other cars. Also, driverless systems have the benefit of increased efficiency. Driverless cars won’t waste as much gas as human drivers do, and guided by advanced GPS, they’ll always take the fastest route. Although completely driverless cars won’t be on the market for several years, the technology behind them is already appearing in phases. Two examples are the Active Lane Keeping Assist option for Mercedes-Benz cars and Ford’s Traffic Jam Assist option. In the first option, the system warns the driver whenever the car crosses lane markings by causing the steering wheel to vibrate (振动). In the second option, the system helps the car keep pace with other cars while remaining in its current lane. The system is being developed to help relieve blocking on busy roads. Several carmakers claim that they’ll produce driverless cars within the next decade. But critics aren’t so sure, warning that a completely driverless car must be able to make split-second decisions in even the most complex traffic situations. In addition, the car’s computer must become smart enough to know when to ask the driver to intervene to prevent an accident. Full government approval won’t happen until driverless cars are proven safe. In the meantime, expect to see carmakers offer ever-smarter features on their new models. 1．How does the author introduce the topic of driverless cars in the first paragraph? A．By listing driving challenges first. B．By comparing two kinds of drivers. C．By explaining driverless technology. D．By introducing carmakers’ plans. 2．What do sensors detecting missed threats suggest about driverless systems? A．They replace human drivers. B．They sense dangers better. C．They work in simple cases. D．They need human help. 3．What do the two listed examples indicate in Paragraph 3? A．Fully driverless cars are near. B．Carmakers hesitate to invest. C．Technology develops bit by bit. D．All driverless issues are fixed. 4．What can be a suitable title for the text? A．Driverless Cars: Fully approved B．Driverless Tech: Advancing with Benefits C．Robotic Drivers vs. Human Drivers D．The Future of Fully Autonomous Cars （江苏省南京市六校联合体2025-2026学年高三上学期8月学情调研考试英语试题）Critical thinking influences our daily lives more extensively than we typically acknowledge. Even common decisions, such as selecting a breakfast, involve subconscious (下意识的) application of critical thinking as we weigh factors like nutrition, taste preferences, and dietary needs to determine the best option for that particular morning.​ This ability functions much like a muscle — it strengthens progressively with deliberate practice. As a cornerstone of professional success, critical thinking equips individuals with the capacity to navigate workplace challenges, systematically test hypotheses (假说) through continuous trials, and put forward effective solutions to complex problems. Its significance in career advancement cannot be overstated.​ Fundamentally, critical thinking refers to the capacity to comprehend, assess, and analyze factual information to form reasoned judgments or evaluate the validity of claims. Beyond mere curiosity about the world, critical thinkers excel at establishing logical connections between ideas to grasp broader contexts. Developing this skill enables individuals to convey their thoughts logically, present arguments systematically, and make informed decisions helpful to continuous improvement.​ While scientific professions clearly demand critical thinking, its application extends across diverse careers including law, medicine, journalism, engineering, accounting, and analysis. The World Economic Forum consistently identifies it as an important workforce skill due to its role in enhancing information analysis, improving creativity, enabling innovative problem-solving, and advancing strategic planning. In everyday life, critical thinking operates inconspicuously yet powerfully, empowering independent thought and judgment. ​ Contrary to common misconceptions, critical thinking strengthens interpersonal relationships by boosting empathy for others’ perspectives and maintaining an open mindset. Critical thinkers maintain intellectual curiosity, pose inquiring questions, and refuse to accept information at face value. Critical thinking isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s how we grow, improve, and make sense of an increasingly complex world. It helps us ask better questions, listen more deeply, and approach problems with clarity instead of chaos. 1．Which method best helps develop critical thinking skills according to the passage? A．Learning through repeated errors. B．Developing stronger emotional awareness. C．Engaging in focused, intentional practice. D．Making decisions based on subconsciousness. 2．Which example best shows critical thinking? A．Consumers buy phones just based on ads. B．Doctors analyze tests before treatment. C．Viewers believe news without confirmation. D．Managers overemphasize certificates in hiring. 3．What does the underlined word “inconspicuously” in paragraph 4 mean? A．Obviously. B．Precisely. C．Unnoticeably. D．Abstractly. 4．What can be inferred from the last paragraph? A．Critical thinking helps drive the world forward. B．Critical thinking harms interpersonal relationships. C．Critical thinkers refuse to accept basic information. D．Critical thinkers can put themselves in others’ shoes. （2026届江苏省徐州市部分示范性高中高三上学期7月摸底考试英语试题）The monarch is perhaps the best-known butterfly in North America. Every fall, they migrate from the US and Canada to California and Mexico for the winter, breeding multiple generations along the way. But now the monarch is in trouble. Due to habitat loss, milkweed, the plants that the butterfly caterpillars feed on, are fewer and farther between, so the number of monarchs is declining. In the 1990s, researchers at the University of Minnesota decided to use citizen science to collect long-term data on monarch caterpillars and milkweed habitat in order to provide information that decision makers can use to help prevent the monarch’s decline. The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project has grown to involve volunteers from across North America. Participants volunteer to monitor a particular site — often their own backyards. Through online or in-person training, the volunteers learn how to identify milkweed as well as the eggs, caterpillars and pupae (蛹) of monarch butterflies. They also learn about the monarch’s migration. Each year, volunteers record when milkweed plants first come out of the ground and how many are present at the site they are monitoring. Then, on a weekly basis, they record the number of eggs and caterpillars they see. The final step is entering the data into an online database. For citizen science projects, data validity (效度) can be a concern. Some say that non-scientists can’t be trusted to collect reliable data. The project addresses such concerns by using a standardized rules and requiring repeated observations of the same species in the same place. The MLMP also offers training, and all data are carefully checked before used for research purposes. Another challenge is getting volunteers to report zeroes or the lack of monarchs. As the monarch population declines, volunteers may be discouraged and not want to collect data. MLMP staff work with volunteers to highlight the importance of knowing where monarchs are not found. The project is successfully meeting its core purpose: to help scientists better understand how and why monarch populations are changing. Data provided by citizen scientists have formed the basis for a growing number of scientific publications. 1．Why is the number of monarch butterflies declining? A．They are influenced by the cold weather. B．There are fewer milkweed plants along the way. C．Many butterfly caterpillars lose their habitats. D．The distance of their migration becomes longer. 2．What is paragraph 3 mainly about? A．The application of citizen science in the project. B．Findings of Monarch Larva Monitoring Project. C．The establishment of the monarch online data base. D．The reason of citizen science being adopted. 3．What would be the challenge of the citizen science projects? A．The legality of the protocol (协议). B．The training quality for volunteers. C．The research competence of citizens. D．The reliability of the collected data. 4．What is the author’s attitude towards the project? A．Unclear. B．Dismissive. C．Doubtful. D．Approving. （江苏省徐州市第一中学2025-2026学年高三上学期9月月考英语试题）Mark Twain was dismissive of those people who think it is possible for someone to learn how to write a novel. “A man who is not born with the novel-writing gift has a troublesome time when he tries to build a novel,” he said. “He has no clear idea of his story. In fact, he has no story.” British writer Stephen Fry puts it another way. He says that successful authors are those who know just how difficult it is to write a book. These days, however, technology is making the life of an author a little easier. For Michael Green, a US data scientist-turned-novelist, the need to use technology to simplify and streamline the writing process came when he was in the middle of writing his first book. With 500 pages of a complex story written, he recalls that the process became difficult to manage: “I had all these documents on the deeper aspects of the world I was creating. I was worried about not being able to keep track of it all. That is when I switched into my more data science-minded approach to solving a complex problem with a lot of different places.” The end result was that Mr Green created Lynit, a digital platform to help authors plan and weave together the many elements that form a story, such as the themes, characters and major events. “Once the authors get a new idea that they want to bring into the story, with Lynit they are able to input it into a natural framework,” he said, “As new ideas come in, they change, maybe by creating new nodes (节点) and new relationships.” Once the book has been published, technology is also playing an ever-increasing role in publicity and connecting with readers. Websites and apps from specialist firms allow authors to participate in live question-and-answer sessions with their readers. Michael Green believes technology will become even more important as a new generation of tech-savvy (精通技术的) writers become more well known. “What I’m finding with Generation Z and even younger writers is that they are looking for technology to give them guidance,” he said. “They see it as a tool to learn and grow with rather than extra work.” 1．What can we learn from Michael Green’s writing experience? A．It is really difficult to become a writer. B．Writers can be creative in using technology. C．Writers need to adopt different writing approaches. D．Technology can be a helpful tool to writers. 2．What is an advantage of technology according to the text? A．It brings authors closer to their readers. B．It can translate thoughts into sentences. C．It makes it possible for anyone to be a writer. D．It can inspire authors to produce more good ideas. 3．What can be inferred from the last paragraph? A．Tech-savvy writers become known thanks to technology. B．Young writers rely too heavily on technology. C．The new generation of writers should be tech-savvy. D．New technology matters to young writers. 4．What is the writer’s attitude towards the writing-assistance technology? A．Critical. B．Favorable. C．Unconcerned. D．Doubtful. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $ 阅读理解之说明文15篇 （江苏省各地市高考模拟真题） 本资料共15篇专题训练，从上到下依次按照难度排列 题号 难度 知识点 1 较易 科普知识 ,说明文 2 较易 科普知识 ,说明文 3 适中 动物,人与动植物,说明文 4 适中 动物,说明文,植物 5 适中 说明文,自然科学 6 适中 商品 ,个人保健,说明文 7 适中 健康饮食 ,个人保健,说明文 8 适中 房屋和家居,社会问题与社会现象,说明文 9 适中 音乐与舞蹈,发明与创造 ,说明文 10 适中 体育健身 ,社会问题与社会现象,说明文 11 较难 科普知识 ,说明文 12 较难 发明与创造 ,科学技术 ,说明文 13 较难 方法/策略,社会问题与社会现象,说明文 14 较难 人与动植物,说明文 15 较难 科学技术 ,说明文,文学家 基础语篇巩固练习 （江苏省丹阳市2025-2026学年高三上学期9月质量监测卷英语试题）Researchers from the University of Florida studied what may cause people to choose unknown options over known ones, and they found that where the information comes from is important: when what you know comes from other people’s experiences, you’re more likely to explore new options. They conducted a series of experiments. In one experiment, participants were asked to choose one of four cards on a computer screen. Each card hid an amount of money from 1 cent to 40 cents, and participants were told how much money was behind one of the cards in order to help them determine whether to explore and try another card in the hope of turning up more. Some participants were told the information came from another person taking part in the experiment; others were told it came from the computer. Participants were almost twice as likely to explore an unknown card when the information about the known amount appeared to come from a player rather than the computer. As social beings, we consider other people’s experiences as part of our own, so we’re less likely to want to repeat them, even if the experiences are positive, the researchers find. It doesn’t seem to work the same way with computers. Not surprisingly, the amount revealed also had an effect: participants were more willing to choose a different card — to explore, so to speak — when the known amount was low and less willing when it was high, no matter the source of the information. But when the revealed amount was in the middle, the human versus (对抗) computer effect became particularly evident. The idea that the individual decision about whether to venture out has a social component could have practical implications, the researchers write. “For those seeking to encourage exploration in others, our findings offer a simple intervention: highlight the fact that existing information is available because of previous explorers.” 1．What mainly influenced the participants’ decisions in the experiment? A．The source of the information. B．The time reserved for each task. C．The number of options provided. D．The reward for the correct choice. 2．At which known amount might the participants hesitate most? A．5 cents. B．10 cents. C．20 cents. D．35 cents. 3．What is the function of the last paragraph? A．To doubt an idea. B．To give a warning. C．To note the study’s limitations. D．To suggest a practical application. 4．What is the best title for the text? A．Why we prefer familiar over foreign B．How rewards make us avoid unknowns C．Why we go where no one’s gone before D．How others help us make better choices 【答案】1．A 2．C 3．D 4．C 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了佛罗里达大学研究者探究人们选未知选项的原因，实验发现信息来源（他人经验更促探索）和已知金额有影响，还指出研究对鼓励他人探索有实际意义。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段“Researchers from the University of Florida studied what may cause people to choose unknown options over known ones, and they found that where the information comes from is important: when what you know comes from other people’s experiences, you’re more likely to explore new options.(佛罗里达大学的研究人员对人们为何会倾向于选择未知选项而非已知选项这一现象进行了研究，并得出结论：信息的来源至关重要：当你所掌握的信息来自他人的经验时，你就更有可能去探索新的选择)”可知，在该实验中，主要影响参与者决策的因素是信息的来源。故选A。 2．推理判断题。根据第四段“Not surprisingly, the amount revealed also had an effect: participants were more willing to choose a different card — to explore, so to speak — when the known amount was low and less willing when it was high, no matter the source of the information. But when the revealed amount was in the middle, the human versus (对抗) computer effect became particularly evident.(这并不令人意外的是，所透露的金额本身也产生了影响：当已知金额较低时，参与者更愿意选择另一张卡片——可以说是在进行探索；而当金额较高时，他们则不太愿意这样做。无论信息来自何处，这种影响都是如此。但当所透露的金额处于中间水平时，人与计算机之间的这种差异就表现得尤为明显了)”可知，已知金额处于中间水平时，人们在 “是否探索未知” 上的犹豫（受信息来源影响更显著）会更明显。故推测参与者在20美分上最为犹豫，故选C。 3．推理判断题。根据最后一段“The idea that the individual decision about whether to venture out has a social component could have practical implications, the researchers write. “For those seeking to encourage exploration in others, our findings offer a simple intervention: highlight the fact that existing information is available because of previous explorers.”(研究人员写道，关于个人是否要冒险这一决策本身其实也包含着社会层面的因素，这一观点可能会产生实际影响。“对于那些想要鼓励他人去探索的人来说，我们的研究结果提供了一种简单的干预措施：强调这样一个事实，即现有的信息之所以能够获取，是因为有之前的探索者做出过努力。”)”可知，最后一段的作用是为实际应用提供建议。故选D。 4．主旨大意题。根据第一段“Researchers from the University of Florida studied what may cause people to choose unknown options over known ones, and they found that where the information comes from is important: when what you know comes from other people’s experiences, you’re more likely to explore new options.(佛罗里达大学的研究人员对人们为何会倾向于选择未知选项而非已知选项这一现象进行了研究，并得出结论：信息的来源至关重要：当你所掌握的信息来自他人的经验时，你就更有可能去探索新的选择)”结合文章主要说明了佛罗里达大学研究者探究人们选未知选项的原因，实验发现信息来源（他人经验更促探索）和已知金额有影响，还指出研究对鼓励他人探索有实际意义。可知，C选项“我们为何要去那些无人涉足的地方”最符合文章标题。故选C。 （江苏省扬州市宝应县2025-2026学年高三上学期期初检测英语试题）A shared meal, a kiss on the cheek: these social acts bring people together — and bring their microbes (微生物) together, too. The more individuals interact with one another, the more similar the make-up of their gut (肠道) microbes is, even if individuals don’t live in the same household, a study shows. Several publications have suggested that social interactions shape the gut microbiome. To add to this emerging literature, social scientist Nicholas Christakis and his colleagues travelled to the jungles of Honduras and conducted their research. They mapped the social relationships and analyzed the microbiomes of people living in 18 isolated villages, where interactions are mainly face-to-face and people have minimal exposure to processed foods and antibiotics, which can alter the composition of the microbiome. Individuals living in the same house share up to 13.9% of gut strains, while even people who don’t share a roof but habitually spend free time together share 10%, the researchers found. By contrast, those in the same village but not spending time together share only 4%. There’s also evidence that friends of friends share more strains than would be expected by chance. The results add depth to scientists’ understanding of what shapes the microbiome, says microbiologist Mireia, who was not involved in the work. Social contacts might share the same microbial species by chance, but they’re much less likely to share the same strains, which are subspecies of microbes, unless they’ve passed them to each other. Research like this “is changing completely the way we think”. It suggests that risk factors for conditions with links to the microbiome, such as hypertension and depression, could spread from person to person through their microbiomes, says biologist Nicola Segata at the University of Trento. However, people should not avoid social interactions for fear of “catching” others’ microbiomes. Social interactions can spread components of healthy microbiomes and have multiple other benefits. 1．What does the study mainly find? A．Kissing harms human relations. B．Social acts influence eating habits. C．Family gathering benefits gut microbes. D．Social contacts affect gut microbes. 2．Why was the research conducted in the jungles of Honduras? A．To study the unique gut microbes there. B．To evaluate the impacts of new antibiotics. C．To explore the make-up of gut microbiome. D．To minimize the effects of interfering factors. 3．What can we know about the research results? A．They ignore the sharing of gut microbes. B．They focus on household microbes mainly. C．They reveal the transmission of gut microbes. D．They challenge the results of previous studies. 4．What might be the author’s attitude toward social interactions? A．Objective. B．Indifferent. C．Unclear. D．Approving. 【答案】1．D 2．D 3．C 4．A 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。主要介绍了一项研究发现：人们的社交互动会影响肠道微生物的组成，接触越频繁的人肠道微生物越相似。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段中“The more individuals interact with one another, the more similar the make-up of their gut (肠道) microbes is, even if individuals don’t live in the same household, a study shows. (一项研究表明，个体之间互动越多，他们的肠道微生物的构成就越相似，即使个体并不生活在同一个家庭中。)”以及第二段中“Several publications have suggested that social interactions shape the gut microbiome. (有几篇出版物表明，社交互动会影响肠道微生物群。)”可知，这项研究主要发现社交接触会影响肠道微生物。故选D项。 2．推理判断题。根据第二段中“To add to this emerging literature, social scientist Nicholas Christakis and his colleagues travelled to the jungles of Honduras and conducted their research. They mapped the social relationships and analyzed the microbiomes of people living in 18 isolated villages, where interactions are mainly face-to-face and people have minimal exposure to processed foods and antibiotics, which can alter the composition of the microbiome. (为了丰富这一新兴文献，社会科学家Nicholas Christakis和他的同事前往洪都拉斯的丛林进行研究。他们绘制了生活在18个孤立村庄的人们的社交关系图，并分析了他们的微生物群。在这些村庄里，人们的互动主要是面对面的，很少接触会改变微生物群的组成的加工食品和抗生素。)”可知，在洪都拉斯丛林进行研究是为了尽量减少干扰因素的影响，如加工食品和抗生素等。故选D项。 3．推理判断题。根据第三段中“Individuals living in the same house share up to 13.9% of gut strains, while even people who don’t share a roof but habitually spend free time together share 10%, the researchers found. By contrast, those in the same village but not spending time together share only 4%. There’s also evidence that friends of friends share more strains than would be expected by chance. (研究人员发现，住在同一所房子里的人共享高达13.9%的肠道菌株，而即使不住在同一所房子里但经常一起度过空闲时间的人也共享10%。相比之下，住在同一个村庄但不在一起的人只共享4%。还有证据表明，朋友的朋友比偶然预期的共享更多菌株。)”可知，研究结果揭示了肠道微生物的传播情况。故选C项。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段中“However, people should not avoid social interactions for fear of “catching” others’ microbiomes. Social interactions can spread components of healthy microbiomes and have multiple other benefits.（然而，人们不应该因为害怕“感染”他人的微生物群而避免社交互动。社交互动可以传播健康微生物群的成分，并带来多种其他益处。）”可知，虽然某些与微生物相关的健康风险可能通过社交传播，但社交互动也能传播健康微生物并带来其他益处，这表明作者对社交互动持客观的态度。故选A项。 （江苏省盐城市七校联盟2025-2026学年高三上学期9月月考英语试题）The best and most-commonly used sources for the pills we have are oily fish like salmon (鲑鱼), mackerel (鲭鱼) and sardine (沙丁鱼). Many environmentalists fear that some species are being overfished for this purpose. We may have an endless voracity for fish oil, but we don’t have an endless supply of fish. Menhaden (鲱鱼), which is described as “a big-headed, smelly, foot-long fish”, is in great danger. Although prized for dinner in the 18th century, the species has become the unknown victim of the fish oil business, which presents us with potential selfish. Menhaden feeds almost entirely on algae (海藻) and is especially good at changing it into omega-3 fatty acids, which make it a good target for fish oil companies. One particular company, Protein of Houston, has been fishing 90 percent of the country’s menhaden. It’s become such a big problem that 13 of the 15 Atlantic states have banned the company’s boats from their waters. Yet the company is still allowed to fish in North Carolina and Virginia, as well as federal waters; the company’s efforts result in the removing of half a billion menhadens every year. Aside from a public natural resource running out for a company’s private profit, the damage to the ecosystem is the cause for alarm. The muddy brown colour of the Long Island Sound is the direct result of lacking water filtration (过滤) — a job that was once done by menhaden. Menhaden keeps the ocean waters of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts clean. A menhaden filters four to six gallons of water of algae in a minute, which prevents underwater dead zones. Measures should be taken to avoid the overfished situation. Plant seeds such as flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and sesame seeds — and particularly their oils — are good vegetarian sources of omega-3 fatty acids, although the mix of specific acids is different from which one can get from fish. 1．What does the underlined word “voracity” in paragraph 1 mean? A．Trouble. B．Shortage. C．Resource. D．Appetite. 2．Why does menhaden become a good fish for companies to make pills? A．It is good at forming omega-3 fatty acids. B．It feeds mainly on the harmful algae. C．It is well-known for its rich protein. D．It is relatively easy for companies to catch. 3．What does the author intend to suggest us in the last paragraph? A．To grow more plants for their seeds to make oil. B．To use some substitutes instead of more fish oil. C．To call on the government to make laws in fishing. D．To take part in more activities to protect the environment. 4．What is the best title for the text? A．The Broken Natural Ecosystem B．The Process of Making Fish Oil C．Bad Effects of Fish Oil Making D．How to use natural resources. 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．B 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了因制作鱼油丸，鲱鱼被过度捕捞，生态系统遭破坏，作者呼吁寻找替代品。 1．词句猜测题。根据第一段中“We may have an endless voracity for fish oil, but we don’t have an endless supply of fish.(我们可能对鱼油有着无尽的voracity，但我们的鱼类供应并不是无穷无尽的。)”可知，此处表示人类对鱼油的需求很大，voracity意思是“胃口，需求”。故选D。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段中“Menhaden feeds almost entirely on algae (海藻) and is especially good at changing it into omega-3 fatty acids, which make it a good target for fish oil companies.(鲱鱼几乎完全以海藻为食，尤其擅长将其转化为欧米伽-3脂肪酸，这使它成为鱼油公司的好目标。)”可知，鲱鱼擅长形成欧米伽-3脂肪酸，所以成为制作鱼油丸的好原料。故选A。 3．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Measures should be taken to avoid the overfished situation. Plant seeds such as flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and sesame seeds — and particularly their oils — are good vegetarian sources of omega-3 fatty acids, although the mix of specific acids is different from which one can get from fish.(应该采取措施避免过度捕捞的情况。植物种子，如亚麻籽、奇亚籽、大麻籽和芝麻籽——尤其是它们的油——是欧米伽-3脂肪酸的良好素食来源，尽管特定酸的混合物与从鱼中获取的不同。)”可知，作者在最后一段建议使用一些替代品来代替更多的鱼油。故选B。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文，尤其是结合第二段中“Menhaden (鲱鱼), which is described as “a big-headed, smelly, foot-long fish”, is in great danger.(鲱鱼被描述为“头大、有臭味、一英尺长的鱼”，它正处于极大的危险之中。)”以及第四段中“Aside from a public natural resource running out for a company’s private profit, the damage to the ecosystem is the cause for alarm.(除了公共自然资源因公司私利而枯竭外，对生态系统的破坏也令人担忧。)”可知，文章主要讲述了因制作鱼油丸，鲱鱼被过度捕捞，生态系统遭破坏，作者呼吁寻找替代品。故C项“Bad Effects of Fish Oil Making(制作鱼油的负面影响)”最适合作为文章标题。故选C。 （江苏省镇江市2025-2026学年高三上学期期初考试英语试题）Female moths (蛾) don’t rely on sight or smell alone. They can also hear stressed plants. Scientists found that these insects detect ultrasonic (超声的) clicks from plants under drought stress and use them when choosing egg-laying sites. Plants produce airborne ultrasonic sounds when stressed. These vibrations (震颤), previously thought to be undetectable by animals, can travel through the air. The Egyptian cotton leafworm moth, Spodoptera littoralis, hears these sounds. This species has ears sensitive to the 20 to 60 kHz range, with peak sensitivity around 38 kHz. That is where many plant clicks fall. The researchers assumed that female moths might use these plant sounds to decide where to lay eggs. Their experiments confirmed this. The study involved multiple experiments with precise setups. In a no-plant environment, moths preferred laying eggs near a speaker playing recorded plant stress sounds. When these moths were deafened, the preference disappeared. This proved that the response came from hearing, not other cues (提示). In contrast, when healthy plants were added and the same sounds were played near one, the moths chose the silent plant. This indicated that when real plants were present, moths correctly interpreted the sounds as warnings. Scientists find that without a visible plant, sound becomes the only cue. So moths associate it with plant presence. But when they can see or smell real plants, and one gives off stress sounds, they avoid it. This shows a context-based decision-making process. This study reveals that plant sounds can guide insect behavior. The researchers think other animals might also use these sounds. “In this study, we revealed the first evidence for acoustic (声学的) interaction between a plant and an insect. We are convinced that this is just the beginning,” noted the researchers. “Acoustic interaction between plants and animals doubtlessly has many more forms and a wide range of roles.” 1．Why can the Egyptian cotton leafworm moth hear plant clicks? A．They are especially loud. B．They are entirely distinct. C．They travel via special media. D．They match its hearing range. 2．What did the moths choose when real plants were present in the experiment? A．The speaker playing sounds. B．Plants giving off no warning signals. C．Healthy plants producing sounds. D．Plants needing to be watered. 3．Which word best describes the impact of the research according to the last paragraph? A．Far-reaching. B．Controllable. C．Short-lived. D．Tolerable. 4．What could be the best title for the passage? A．Plants give off measurable stress sounds B．Plants make stress sounds for lack of water C．Moths guide complex plant-insect interactions D．Moths detect plant sounds for egg-laying choices 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．A 4．D 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了研究发现雌蛾能通过听觉感知植物受压时发出的超声波，并利用这些声音选择产卵地点，揭示了植物与昆虫之间新的声学互动方式，且这种互动可能具有广泛的生态意义。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段中“This species has ears sensitive to the 20 to 60 kHz range, with peak sensitivity around 38 kHz. That is where many plant clicks fall. (该物种的耳朵对20至60千赫兹范围内的声音敏感，峰值敏感度约为38千赫兹。而许多植物发出的咔哒声正好落在这个范围内)”可知，这种飞蛾能够听到植物发出的咔哒声是因为这一声音频率与它们的听觉范围相匹配。故选D项。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段中“In contrast, when healthy plants were added and the same sounds were played near one, the moths chose the silent plant. This indicated that when real plants were present, moths correctly interpreted the sounds as warnings. (相反，当加入健康的植物并在其中一株附近播放相同的声音时，飞蛾选择了没有声音的植物。这表明当真实植物存在时，飞蛾正确地将其声音解读为警告信号)”可知，实验显示，当真实植物存在时，飞蛾会选择没有发出警告信号的植物。故选B项。 3．推理判断题。根据最后一段中研究者所说的话“In this study, we revealed the first evidence for acoustic (声学的) interaction between a plant and an insect. We are convinced that this is just the beginning (在这项研究中，我们首次揭示了植物与昆虫之间的声学互动证据。我们确信，这仅仅是一个开端)”和“Acoustic interaction between plants and animals doubtlessly has many more forms and a wide range of roles. (植物与动物之间的声学互动无疑具有更多形式和广泛的作用)”可知，这项研究提供了植物与昆虫之间的声学互动的首份证据，表明这种互动可能具有广泛的意义，因此它具有深远影响。故选A项。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文，尤其是第一段“Female moths (蛾) don’t rely on sight or smell alone. They can also hear stressed plants. Scientists found that these insects detect ultrasonic (超声的) clicks from plants under drought stress and use them when choosing egg-laying sites. (雌蛾不仅依靠视觉或嗅觉。它们还能“听见”受压的植物。科学家发现，这些昆虫能够探测到干旱压力下的植物发出的超声波咔嗒声，并利用这些声音来选择产卵地点)”可知，文章主要介绍了雌蛾如何利用植物受压时发出的超声波来选择产卵地点，揭示了植物与昆虫之间新的互动方式。因此，D项“飞蛾通过检测植物声音来选择产卵地点”最契合文章主旨，适合作为文章标题。故选D项。 （江苏省苏州市2025-2026学年高三上学期9月期初考试英语试卷）Some memories, such as what you had for dinner last night, are easier to recall than others. However, even forgotten memories could be guiding your actions. Memory can be defined by what people report, or physically as a circuit of cells and connections in the brain, known as an engram. It has been thought by many researchers that when you forget something, the engram disappears. However, research in mice suggests forgotten memories can persist; they just can’t be consciously recalled. To see if forgotten memories are detectable in human brains, Tom Willems and his team at the University of Bern got 40 people to quickly look at 96 pairs of images, made up of a human face and an object, such as a guitar or a stapler. The researchers then used functional magnetic resonance imaging (磁共振成像) to observe the participants’ brain activity during tests carried out around 30 minutes later and 24 hours later. The tests asked whether they had seen two images paired up before. The participants also stated whether they recalled that two images went together, were unsure, or were guessing. Those who said they could remember chose the correct pairing 87 per cent of the time during both tests. Those who said they had forgotten got about half right. The participants who were unsure guessed correctly 57 per cent of the time after 30 minutes and 54 per cent after 24 hours. These results were slightly higher than would be expected by chance, which suggests this group may actually have remembered. When the guessers chose the right answer, the same activation patterns were seen in the right hippocampal (海马的) region of the brain as in those who remembered, which implies the engrams of forgotten memories remained and were influencing their choices. In the tests done 24 hours later, the engrams of memories that people correctly guessed stayed within the hippocampus, while those they could remember were distributed throughout the neocortex (大脑新皮层). The work shows there can be a disconnection between the memory we consciously access and the related engram in the brain. As researcher Amy Milton explains, “Some memories don’t necessarily need to be consciously retrieved (提取) in order for those memories to influence behaviour.” 1．What does the underlined word “engram” in paragraph 2 probably mean ? A．A tool used to measure memory. B．The process of forming memory. C．The feeling of remembering something. D．A network of brain cells storing memory. 2．What is paragraph 3 mainly about? A．Participants and materials. B．Functions of brain scans. C．Research methods and procedures. D．Causes of forgotten memories. 3．Why did researchers study those who were unsure? A．To identify inattentive participants. B．To compare brain activity patterns. C．To see if guessing reveals hidden memories. D．To prove that all memories can be recalled. 4．What is the key finding of the study in the passage? A．Forgotten memories influence behavior unconsciously. B．All memory traces are stored in the same part of brain. C．Forgotten memories can be fully recovered with effort. D．Conscious recall is necessary for memories to affect choices. 【答案】1．D 2．C 3．C 4．A 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了实验表明，人类被遗忘的记忆仍保留在大脑中，这些隐性记忆虽无法被有意识提取，但仍能无意识地影响行为决策。 1．词句猜测题。根据画线词的上文“Memory can be defined by what people report, or physically as a circuit of cells and connections in the brain (记忆可以被定义为人们报告的内容，或者在物理上被定义为大脑中的细胞和连接回路)”可知，engram是指前面所说的“大脑中的细胞和连接回路”，即“存储记忆的脑细胞网络”。故选D项。 2．主旨大意题。根据第三段“To see if forgotten memories are detectable in human brains, Tom Willems and his team at the University of Bern got 40 people to quickly look at 96 pairs of images, made up of a human face and an object, such as a guitar or a stapler. The researchers then used functional magnetic resonance imaging (磁共振成像) to observe the participants’ brain activity during tests carried out around 30 minutes later and 24 hours later. The tests asked whether they had seen two images paired up before. The participants also stated whether they recalled that two images went together, were unsure, or were guessing. (为了验证被遗忘的记忆是否能在人类大脑中被检测到，伯尔尼大学的Tom Willems及其研究团队招募了40名受试者，让他们快速浏览96对由人脸和物体（如吉他或订书机）组成的图像组合。研究人员随后使用磁共振成像，分别在30分钟后和24小时后进行的测试中观察受试者的脑部活动。测试内容主要是询问受试者是否记得之前见过的图像配对。受试者还需说明他们是明确记得两张图像的关联、不确定，还是纯粹在猜测)”可知，该段详细说明了从招募40人参与实验，使用磁共振成像观测，进行记忆测试，到收集被试反馈的研究方法和实验流程。故选C项。 3．推理判断题。根据第四段中“The participants who were unsure guessed correctly 57 per cent of the time after 30 minutes and 54 per cent after 24 hours. These results were slightly higher than would be expected by chance, which suggests this group may actually have remembered. (那些表示“不确定”的参与者在30分钟后的测试中猜对率为57%，24小时后为54%。这一正确率略高于随机概率，表明该组受试者实际上可能保留了潜在记忆)”可知，研究者通过分析不确定组的反应模式，发现了隐性记忆存在的证据，因此他们研究这一组人群是为了验证猜测行为是否反映潜在记忆。故选C项。 4．细节理解题。根据最后一段“The work shows there can be a disconnection between the memory we consciously access and the related engram in the brain. As researcher Amy Milton explains, “Some memories don’t necessarily need to be consciously retrieved (提取) in order for those memories to influence behaviour.” (这项研究表明，我们有意识获取的记忆与大脑中相关的记忆痕迹之间可能存在脱节。正如研究人员艾米·米尔顿所解释的：“有些记忆不一定需要有意识地提取，就能对行为产生影响。”)”可知，该研究发现被遗忘的记忆会无意识地影响行为。故选A项。 （江苏省镇江市2025-2026学年高三上学期期初考试英语试题）Searching the web or looking around a major grocery store, we’ll find trendy household and beauty products labelled “natural,” or “green.” We thought we were slowing the chemical pollution crisis by swapping (交换) the “natural” products for non-toxic (无毒的) cleaning alternatives and ensuring our beauty products only have natural substances. Yet, studies demonstrate that green cleaning products and common sustainable swaps still contain substances that are harmful to human life. The use of new chemicals in the home has expanded rapidly in the past five decades. To meet that moment, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was passed in 1976, regulating (管理) more than 80,000 chemicals and their usage through the Food and Drug Administration. Yet, the TSCA allowed for more than 60,000 chemicals that were on the market to continue being used without additional safety protections. Unlike medicines, which underwent strict testing, chemicals in cleaning and beauty products often lack comprehensive toxicity data. While some states, including California, require greater protections from risky chemicals, government control is still not enough. One key issue with so-called“green” products is their use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which easily escape into the air at room temperature and can create dangerous indoor pollutants. The result? VOCs contribute to breathing problems, allergic (过敏的) reactions, and headaches. Endocrine (内分泌的) imbalance is another major issue hiding in household products, including those marketed as safe or sustainable. These chemicals disturb body functions, potentially leading to physical disorders and even certain cancers. If government control remains limited and companies continue to market misleading “green” products, what can consumers do? While official policies attempted to address chemical risks, significant gaps remain. To reduce exposure to harmful substances, producers must look beyond greenwashing and advocate for systemic change — whether through stricter guidelines or the reintroduction of traditional, non-toxic alternatives. Until then, it remains up to consumers to critically assess the products they bring into their homes and onto their bodies. 1．What does the author want to tell us in paragraph 1? A．Natural products dominate store shelves. B．Chemical pollution has worsened. C．Consumers distrust sustainable swaps. D．Green products still have risks. 2．What was the problem of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)? A．It banned some useful chemicals. B．It allowed for the use of risky chemicals. C．It focused on the usage of medicines. D．It misused comprehensive toxicity data. 3．Which aspect of “green” household products does paragraph 3 mainly talk about? A．Their health risks. B．Their marketing strategy. C．Their performance stability. D．Their specific functions. 4．What does the author suggest consumers do in the last paragraph? A．Wait for stricter guidelines. B．Return to traditional alternatives. C．Evaluate products carefully. D．Trust green products with natural labels. 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．A 4．C 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章指出市面上“天然”“绿色” 产品仍含有害物质，1976年TSCA监管不足，其含VOCs 等致健康风险，呼吁企业变革，消费者需审慎评估产品。 1．推理判断题。根据第一段中“We thought we were slowing the chemical pollution crisis by swapping (交换) the “natural” products for non-toxic (无毒的) cleaning alternatives and ensuring our beauty products only have natural substances. Yet, studies demonstrate that green cleaning products and common sustainable swaps still contain substances that are harmful to human life.(我们以为，通过用无毒的清洁替代品取代“天然”产品，并确保我们的美容产品只含天然物质，我们正在减缓化学污染危机。然而，研究表明，绿色清洁产品和常见的可持续替代品仍然含有对人类生命有害的物质。)”可推知，作者在第一段想告诉我们绿色产品仍有风险。故选D项。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段中“To meet that moment, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was passed in 1976, regulating (管理) more than 80,000 chemicals and their usage through the Food and Drug Administration. Yet, the TSCA allowed for more than 60,000 chemicals that were on the market to continue being used without additional safety protections.(为了迎接这一时刻，1976年通过了《有毒物质控制法》（TSCA），通过食品和药物管理局（Food and Drug Administration）对8万多种化学物质及其使用进行了监管。然而，《有毒物质控制法》允许市场上超过6万种化学物质在没有额外安全保护的情况下继续使用。)”可知，该法案的问题是允许使用有风险的化学物质。故选B项。 3．主旨大意题。根据第三段“One key issue with so-called“green” products is their use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which easily escape into the air at room temperature and can create dangerous indoor pollutants. The result? VOCs contribute to breathing problems, allergic (过敏的) reactions, and headaches. Endocrine (内分泌的) imbalance is another major issue hiding in household products, including those marketed as safe or sustainable. These chemicals disturb body functions, potentially leading to physical disorders and even certain cancers.(所谓的“绿色”产品的一个关键问题是它们使用了挥发性有机化合物（VOCs），这种化合物在室温下很容易逃逸到空气中，并可能产生危险的室内污染物。结果呢?挥发性有机化合物会导致呼吸问题、过敏反应和头痛。内分泌失调是隐藏在家用产品中的另一个主要问题，包括那些标榜安全或可持续的产品。这些化学物质会扰乱身体机能，可能导致身体失调，甚至某些癌症。)”可知，第三段主要讲的是“绿色”家居产品的健康风险内容。故选A项。 4．细节理解题。根据最后一段中“To reduce exposure to harmful substances, producers must look beyond greenwashing and advocate for systemic change — whether through stricter guidelines or the reintroduction of traditional, non-toxic alternatives. Until then, it remains up to consumers to critically assess the products they bring into their homes and onto their bodies.(为了减少对有害物质的接触，生产商必须超越“漂绿”，倡导系统性变革——无论是通过更严格的指导方针，还是重新引入传统的无毒替代品。在此之前，消费者需要对他们带入家中和身体的产品进行严格评估。)”可知，作者在最后一段建议消费者仔细评估产品。故选C项。 （江苏省高淳高级中学2025-2026学年高三上学期8月练习卷）For most people, having a balanced meal rich in carbohydrates and protein two to four hours before a workout will supply enough energy to last the length of your routine. This also allows ample time for digestion and can help reduce gastrointestinal discomfort like nausea, vomiting or acid reflux, said Dr. Martha Gulati, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles who specializes in helping her patients make lifestyle changes through diet and exercise. If you have a few hours before you plan to exercise, a pre-workout meal might include a high-quality protein (like salmon, chicken or tofu), a complex carbohydrate (like brown rice, oat- meal or sweet potatoes）and healthy sources of fats (like avocado, eggs or nuts), said Dr. Cecilia Cordova Vallejos, a sports medicine physiatrist at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Having a snack about 30 minutes before your workout will also give you an energy boost — especially if you’re doing moderate or high-intensity exercise for longer than 90 minutes, Dr. Cordova Vallejos said. She recommended a protein bar or even just an energy gel packet because they are easy on the stomach. Dr. Gulati suggested a banana or a piece of your favorite fruit. Once you’re done with your workout, aim to consume protein — ideally 20 to 40 grams within two hours, the International Society of Sports Nutrition recommends — to help support muscle growth and recovery. A can of tuna, a chicken breast or three scrambled eggs with cheese would each fall with in that range. The timing of your meals may also depend on your health or fitness objectives. If you have a condition like diabetes where you must manage your blood sugar levels, the recommendations are a little more nuanced. Some research suggests that those with Type 2 diabetes may be better off having breakfast before they exercise. For people with Type 1 diabetes, the suggestions may be different, Dr. Kanaley added. Some research suggests, for instance, that fasting before a moderate or high-intensity morning workout can be safe and potentially even preferable for people with Type 1 diabetes, depending on your glucose levels upon waking. 1．According to Dr. Martha Gulati, what is the main benefit of eating a balanced meal 2 — 4 hours before exercise? A．It enhances muscle growth during the workout. B．It helps avoid digestive issues like nausea. C．It significantly boosts blood sugar levels. D．It shortens the required digestion time. 2．What can be inferred about pre-workout snacks from Dr. Cordova Vallejos’s suggestion? A．They are only necessary for high-intensity workouts. B．They should be rich in fats to provide long-lasting energy. C．They must include complex carbohydrates to be effective. D．They are best consumed shortly before exercise for quick energy. 3．The underlined word nuanced most likely means ______. A．simplified B．flexible C．complicated D．strict 4．What does the article suggest for people with Type 1 diabetes regarding morning workouts? A．Fasting may be safe depending on their glucose levels. B．They must eat breakfast to prevent low blood sugar. C．They should avoid moderate-intensity exercise entirely. D．Protein intake before exercise is strictly prohibited. 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．C 4．A 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要结合专家观点和特定人群的健康需求给出运动前后的饮食建议。 1．细节理解题。根据文章第一段“This also allows ample time for digestion and can help reduce gastrointestinal discomfort like nausea, vomiting or acid reflux, said Dr. Martha Gulati, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles who specializes in helping her patients make lifestyle changes through diet and exercise. (洛杉矶雪松西奈医院（Cedars-Sinai）的心脏病专家玛莎·古拉蒂（Martha Gulati）博士专门帮助患者通过饮食和锻炼改变生活方式，她说，这也给消化提供了充足的时间，有助于减少恶心、呕吐或反酸等胃肠道不适。)”可知Martha Gulati认为运动前2—4小时均衡饮食的主要好处是有助于避免恶心等消化问题。故选B。 2．推理判断题。根据文章第三段“Having a snack about 30 minutes before your workout will also give you an energy boost — especially if you’re doing moderate or high-intensity exercise for longer than 90 minutes, Dr. Cordova Vallejos said. (Cordova Vallejos博士说，在锻炼前30分钟左右吃点零食也能让你精力充沛——尤其是当你进行中等或高强度的锻炼超过90分钟时。)”可推断出最好在运动前不久食用零食，以快速补充能量。故选D。 3．词句猜测题。根据划线词下文“Some research suggests that those with Type 2 diabetes may be better off having breakfast before they exercise. For people with Type 1 diabetes, the suggestions may be different, Dr. Kanaley added. Some research suggests, for instance, that fasting before a moderate or high-intensity morning workout can be safe and potentially even preferable for people with Type 1 diabetes, depending on your glucose levels upon waking. (一些研究表明，2型糖尿病患者在运动前吃早餐可能会更好。Kanaley博士补充说，对于1型糖尿病患者，建议可能有所不同。例如，一些研究表明，在中等或高强度的晨练之前禁食可能是安全的，甚至可能更适合1型糖尿病患者，这取决于你醒来时的血糖水平。)”可推断划线句子意思是“如果你患有糖尿病这样的疾病，你必须控制血糖水平，那么建议就更复杂了。”所以nuanced意思“复杂的”，故选C。 4．细节理解题。根据文章最后一句 “Some research suggests, for instance, that fasting before a moderate or high-intensity morning workout can be safe and potentially even preferable for people with Type 1 diabetes, depending on your glucose levels upon waking. (例如，一些研究表明，对于1型糖尿病患者，晨起进行中高强度运动前空腹可能是安全的，甚至可能更优——具体取决于醒来时的血糖水平。)” 可知对1型糖尿病患者早晨锻炼建议是空腹是否安全取决于他们的血糖水平。故选A。 （江苏省南通市海安市2025-2026学年高三上学期开学英语试题）Many young people feel crushed when they think about their ability to buy a home, but it doesn’t mean they’re giving up on the dream. The average age of first-time home-buyers rose to an all-time high of 38 last year. More than 6 in 10 Gen Z and millennial non-homeowners said they’re envious of peers who have bought houses. Despite their desires, 61% of non-homeowners are less confident they will ever own than they were at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and over half said they feel they’ve missed their opportunity. Thanks to high mortgage (抵押贷款) rates and home prices, Americans today need to earn about 70% more than they did six years ago to comfortably afford a medium-priced home. To buy a house the national medium list price of $431,250, realtor.com estimates a household needs to earn about $114,000 each year. While some young people feel home ownership isn’t in the cards for them, others are getting financial help from relatives to make that big purchase. And others are considering unconventional ways to beat the odds and make it happen including co-buying, relocating and mortgaging their retirement. Those without help from relatives are considering some creative alternative paths to purchasing a house. Some 57% of Gen Z and 54% of millennial say they would buy with friends or family. “If I didn’t have my family, I think I would’ve just been clueless,” St. Peters, 28, said. “I could have easily had the mentality as the other Gen Z people like, ‘Well, I don’t have that money. It seems really intimidating. I have no business buying a house. ” Young people are also willing to sacrifice on location and buy houses that aren’t move-in ready to achieve home-ownership. More than 6 in 10 are open to buying fixer-uppers and more than half are willing to move to another state or even country to afford a home. Another recent study by another property management company ranked Minnesota as the most desired state for young people buying property, with 50.8% of people under 35 owning a home there. 1．Why is it so hard for young people today to purchase a home? A．COVID-19 made housing prices balloon so quickly. B．Their families completely refuse to lend a helping hand. C．The housing market is so unaffordable for young buyers. D．The number of first-time buyers reaches an all-time high. 2．According to the passage, which of the following is an alternative path for young home-buyers? A．Co-buying with a stranger. B．Starting their own business. C．Moving to a cheaper state. D．Sticking to a move-in ready home. 3．What might the author continue talking about? A．Mortgaging retirement. B．Challenges and policies. C．The root of the problem. D．Preparations to buy a home. 4．What is the text mainly about? A．Dream of owning a home is slipping away. B．Young buyers seek new paths to own a house. C．Americans are facing the toughest housing market. D．Various factors make young people fail to buy a house. 【答案】1．C 2．C 3．A 4．B 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了高昂的房价让年轻购房者望而却步，但他们没有放弃希望，他们正在用一些创造性的途径来购买房屋，包括共同购买、搬迁和抵押退休生活。 1．细节理解题。根据第三段中“Thanks to high mortgage (抵押贷款) rates and home prices, Americans today need to earn about 70% more than they did six years ago to comfortably afford a medium-priced home. (由于高抵押贷款利率和房价，今天的美国人需要比六年前多赚70%左右，才能舒适地负担起中等价位的住房)”可知，年轻人购房困难是因为房价对他们来说是负担不起的。故选C。 2．细节理解题。根据最后一段中“Young people are also willing to sacrifice on location and buy houses that aren’t move-in ready to achieve home-ownership. More than 6 in 10 are open to buying fixer-uppers and more than half are willing to move to another state or even country to afford a home.(年轻人也愿意在居住地段上做出让步，并且会购买尚不能直接入住的房子，只为实现拥有自己住房的目标。超过六成的年轻人愿意购买需翻新的房子，超半数则愿意搬到其他州甚至其他国家，以负担起一套住房)”可知，搬到一个物价更便宜的州是年轻购房者的可替代方法之一。故选C。 3．推理判断题。根据第四段中“And others are considering unconventional ways to beat the odds and make it happen including co-buying, relocating and mortgaging their retirement.(还有一些人正在考虑非传统的方式来克服困难，实现这一目标，包括共同购买、搬迁和抵押退休金等)”并结合第五段介绍共同购买，第六、七段介绍搬迁推知，作者可能在下文介绍“抵押退休金”这种购房途径。故选A。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文，并结合第四段“While some young people feel home ownership isn’t in the cards for them, others are getting financial help from relatives to make that big purchase. And others are considering unconventional ways to beat the odds and make it happen including co-buying, relocating and mortgaging their retirement.(虽然一些年轻人觉得自己不可能拥有自己的房子，但其他人正在从亲戚那里得到经济上的帮助，以进行大笔购买。还有一些人正在考虑非传统的方式来克服困难，实现这一目标，包括共同购买、搬迁和抵押退休生活)”可知，文章主要介绍了高昂的房价让年轻购房者望而却步，但他们没有放弃希望，他们正在用一些创造性的方法来替代传统的购房途径，包括共同购买、搬迁和抵押退休生活等。因此本文主要是关于年轻的购房者寻求新的买房途径。故选B。 （江苏省南通市海安市2025-2026学年高三上学期开学英语试题）“Of all my inventions, the glass armonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction.” That was quite the claim by the American founding father Benjamin Franklin. After listening to a concert of Handel’s Water Music which was played on tuned wine glasses, he developed the armonica — named for the Italian word ‘armonia’, meaning ‘harmony’ — as a musical instrument that could copy the high-pitched, almost heavenly, ringing noise of rubbing a finger around the top of a wine glass. Invented in 1761, it comprised 37 glass bowls of various sizes and thicknesses lined up in an overlapping (交叠) horizontal stack on a rotating spindle (轴). The player turned them all at once with a foot pedal, while rubbing their fingers against the rings of the desired bowls to make them ‘sing’. The bowls did not need liquid inside since they had been made by London-based glassblower Charles James to precise specifications so that each produced a different note. Franklin adored the “incomparably sweet” tones of the armonica and would always travel with the instrument to play at his leisure. In the years after its first performance in 1762, it became a favourite of many musicians and composers across Europe, such as Mozart, who wrote an Adagio and Rondo for the instrument. Other composers who wrote for it include Beethoven and Saint-Saëns. Yet the instrument’s impact had consequences Franklin could not have anticipated, as questions were raised over whether its sounds affected people’s health. There was a widespread belief that the high-pitch humming could bring about madness. One German magazine claimed that the armonica “excessively stimulates the nerves, leads the player into a disturbing depression and hence into a dark and sad mood, which is a possible method for slow self-destruction”. No explanation or proof was ever really given to any of these claims. Franklin himself ignored the controversy and continued to play the instrument until the end of his life with none of the symptoms mentioned. But the armonica never really returned to what it had been when it was first introduced. 1．What inspired Benjamin Franklin to make the glass armonica? A．His fascination with Water Music. B．A concert featuring wine glass music. C．A suggestion from the composer Handel. D．His desire to invent a new musical instrument. 2．What is the focus of the second paragraph about the glass armonica? A．Its theoretical basis. B．The inventing process. C．The needed materials. D．Its working mechanism. 3．Why is Mozart mentioned in Para 3? A．To show popularity of the glass armonica at that time. B．To demonstrate Franklin’s influence on other composers. C．To illustrate Mozart’s preference for new musical instruments. D．To highlight the armonica’s superiority to other musical instruments. 4．What can we learn from the last two paragraphs? A．Franklin persisted in playing the instrument to justify its safety. B．Public perception influenced the popularity of the glass armonica. C．The glass armonica should have been banned because of health concerns. D．The patients in low spirits were more likely to be affected by the glass armonica. 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．A 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了本杰明·富兰克林发明玻璃琴的灵感来源、构造原理、受欢迎程度及公众对其健康影响的看法。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段中“After listening to a concert of Handel’s Water Music which was played on tuned wine glasses, he developed the armonica — named for the Italian word ‘armonia’, meaning ‘harmony’ — as a musical instrument that could copy the high-pitched, almost heavenly, ringing noise of rubbing a finger around the top of a wine glass.(在聆听了一场用调过音的酒杯演奏的亨德尔《水上音乐》音乐会后，他发明了玻璃琴——其名源自意大利语“armonia”，意为“和谐”——这种乐器能模仿出用手指在酒杯口摩擦时产生的高亢、近乎天籁般的嗡鸣声。)”可知，本杰明·富兰克林是受一场以酒杯音乐为特色的音乐会启发而制作出玻璃琴的。故选B。 2．主旨大意题。根据第二段中“Invented in 1761, it comprised 37 glass bowls of various sizes and thicknesses lined up in an overlapping (交叠) horizontal stack on a rotating spindle (轴). The player turned them all at once with a foot pedal, while rubbing their fingers against the rings of the desired bowls to make them ‘sing’.(它发明于1761年，由37个大小和厚度各异的玻璃碗组成，这些玻璃碗在旋转的轴上水平交叠堆放。演奏者用脚踏板同时转动它们，同时用手指摩擦所需碗的边缘，使它们‘唱歌’。)”可知，第二段主要介绍了玻璃琴的工作原理。故选D。 3．推理判断题。根据第三段中“In the years after its first performance in 1762, it became a favourite of many musicians and composers across Europe, such as Mozart, who wrote an Adagio and Rondo for the instrument.(在1762年首次演出后的几年里，它成为了欧洲许多音乐家和作曲家的最爱，比如莫扎特，他为这种乐器写了一首慢板和回旋曲。)”可知，作者提到莫扎特是为了说明玻璃琴在当时很受欢迎。故选A。 4．推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中“Yet the instrument’s impact had consequences Franklin could not have anticipated, as questions were raised over whether its sounds affected people’s health. There was a widespread belief that the high-pitch humming could bring about madness.(然而，这种乐器的影响带来了富兰克林无法预料的后果，因为人们开始质疑它的声音是否会影响人们的健康。人们普遍认为，高音嗡嗡声会导致人发疯。)”和最后一段中“No explanation or proof was ever really given to any of these claims. Franklin himself ignored the controversy and continued to play the instrument until the end of his life with none of the symptoms mentioned. But the armonica never really returned to what it had been when it was first introduced.(但这些说法从未得到过任何解释或证实。富兰克林本人对这些争议置之不理，直至去世都一直在演奏玻璃琴，且从未出现过上述症状。然而，玻璃琴却再也没能重现初问世时的辉煌。)”可知，公众对玻璃琴的看法影响了它的受欢迎程度。故选B。 （江苏省镇江第一中学等校2025~2026学年高三上学期8月期初考试英语试题）Traditionally, business associates would get to know each other over a round of golf, but road cycling is fast catching up as the preferred networking way for modern professionals. A growing number of corporate-sponsored charity bike rides and city cycle clubs are providing ideal opportunities to talk shop with like-minded workmates and clients while discussing different bike frames. Many believe cycling is better than golf for building lasting working relationships or landing a new job because it is less competitive. Peter Murray, a former architect, explains: “When you play golf with somebody, you have to decide if you’re going to beat them, or let them beat you. If they’re a client and you don’t want to beat them, you have to sort of cheat to lose. That’s not a good way.” Group cycling, especially long-distance riding, is a shared experience where riders work together, taking turns at the front to help others save almost a third of the effort. A keen long-distance rider, Murray founded the annual Cycle to Cannes in 2005 — a six-day charity event where architects cycle 1,500 km from London to the MIPIM property fair in France each March, having raised £ 4.5m for charities. Jean-Jacques Lorraine, a regular participant, says cycling reveals character: “Conversations flow easily. I often say things I wouldn’t normally, and others share things with me unexpectedly. Some riders are single-minded, others cooperative; some plan cleverly, others an open book.” Simon Mottram, CEO of Rapha, notes long- distance cycling lifts mood, focusing on riding and companions. “The rhythm of fuelling, riding, celebrating eases life’s stresses.” Unlike quick post-work meals, long rides allow deeper connections and break the gap between higher and lower positions: “A younger rider might help a CEO, changing their off-ride relationship.” Perhaps the most compelling reason why cycling is a good way to network is that, for many professionals, it’s a passion and a way of life they share. “It’s what we dream of while at our computers,” Mottram adds. 1．What does the first paragraph mainly tell us? A．Staff discuss frames more than work. B．Cycling becomes a professional social hit. C．Corporate charities center on cycling. D．Golf was a popular networking method. 2．What is the main purpose of the annual Cycle to Cannes? A．To promote architects’ competition. B．To collect money for charitable causes. C．To popularize long- distance cycling. D．To display various bike frames at a fair. 3．Why does Jean-Jacques Lorraine favor cycling for networking? A．It saves effort in long trips. B．It is a shared passion for many. C．It lifts mood and eases stress. D．It shows character and eases talks. 4．What does the underlined word “compelling” in Paragraph 5 mean? A．Outdated. B．Similar. C．Convincing. D．Disturbing. 【答案】1．B 2．B 3．D 4．C 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章指出公路骑行正取代高尔夫成现代职场人首选社交方式，介绍相关活动，借多人观点说明骑行因竞争性低、显性格等更利于职场社交。 1．主旨大意题。根据第一段“Traditionally, business associates would get to know each other over a round of golf, but road cycling is fast catching up as the preferred networking way for modern professionals. A growing number of corporate-sponsored charity bike rides and city cycle clubs are providing ideal opportunities to talk shop with like-minded workmates and clients while discussing different bike frames. Many believe cycling is better than golf for building lasting working relationships or landing a new job because it is less competitive. (传统上，商业伙伴会通过打一轮高尔夫球来了解彼此，但公路自行车正迅速赶上，成为现代专业人士首选的社交方式。越来越多的公司赞助的慈善自行车骑行和城市自行车俱乐部提供了与志同道合的同事和客户讨论不同自行车框架的理想机会。许多人认为，在建立持久的工作关系或找到一份新工作方面，骑自行车比打高尔夫更好，因为它的竞争更少。)”可知，第一段第一句指出传统上商务伙伴通过打高尔夫相互了解，但公路骑行正迅速成为现代专业人士首选的社交方式。接着提到越来越多企业赞助的慈善骑行活动和城市自行车俱乐部为专业人士提供了与志同道合的同事和客户交流业务的理想机会。所以整段主要讲述的是骑行成为专业社交的热门方式。故选B项。 2．推理判断题。根据第二段中“A keen long-distance rider, Murray founded the annual Cycle to Cannes in 2005 — a six-day charity event where architects cycle 1,500 km from London to the MIPIM property fair in France each March, having raised £ 4.5m for charities. (作为一名热衷长途骑行的人，穆雷于2005年创立了一年一度的“自行车到戛纳”慈善活动——这是一项为期6天的慈善活动，建筑师们每年3月从伦敦骑车1500公里到法国MIPIM房地产博览会，为慈善机构筹集了450万英镑。)”可知，这是一个慈善活动，已经为慈善机构筹集了 450 万英镑，所以该活动的主要目的是为慈善事业筹款。故选B项。 3．推理判断题。根据第三段“Jean-Jacques Lorraine, a regular participant, says cycling reveals character: “Conversations flow easily. I often say things I wouldn’t normally, and others share things with me unexpectedly. Some riders are single-minded, others cooperative; some plan cleverly, others an open book.” (让-雅克•洛林是自行车运动的常客，他表示，骑车可以揭示性格：“交谈很轻松。我经常说一些我平时不会说的话，别人也会意想不到地和我分享一些事情。有些骑手是专一的，有些是合作的；有些人计划巧妙，有些人则毫无章法。”)”可知，让-雅克•洛林认为骑行能揭示人的性格，并且对话很容易进行。所以他喜欢骑行进行社交是因为它能展示性格并使交谈轻松。故选D项。 4．词句猜测题。根据最后一段提到“Perhaps the most… reason why cycling is a good way to network is that, for many professionals, it’s a passion and a way of life they share. (也许骑行是一种很好的社交方式的最……原因是，对于许多专业人士来说，这是他们共同的爱好和生活方式。)”结合前文讲述的骑行在社交方面的各种好处，这里应该是说最有说服力的原因，C 选项“Convincing”（有说服力的）符合语境。故选C项。 重难语篇提升练习 （江苏省部分学校2025-2026学年高三上学期8月联考英语试题）In California, thousands of miles of fiber-optic cables (光纤电缆) criss-cross the state, providing people with the Internet. But these underground cables can also have a surprising secondary function: They can sense and measure earthquakes. In a new study led by Professor Zhongwen Zhan, researchers used a section of fiber-optic cable to measure complex details of a magnitude 6 earthquake, in a method called distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) . To use a fiber-optic cable as a seismometer (地震仪) , special devices are stationed at one end of the cable, shooting light rays through the long, thin glass strands (束) that make up the cable’s core. The glass has tiny imperfections that reflect back an extremely small part of the light to the source, where it is recorded. Seismic waves moving through the ground cause the cable to shake slightly, which changes the travel time of light along the fiber-optic cable. Thus, the imperfections act like thousands of individual seismometers that allow seismologists to observe the motion of seismic waves. Professor Zhan and his team examined the light signatures traveling through a stretch of fiber-optic cable located in the Eastern Sierra Nevada during the 2021 Antelope Valley magnitude 6 earthquake, and discovered that the magnitude 6 earthquake was made up of four sub-events that could not be detected by a conventional seismic network. Working with Nadia Lapusta’s laboratory, the team was able to create an accurate model of the earthquake, displaying the exact timing and locations of the sub-events on the fault region. “Using fiber-optic cable as a series of seismometers reveals aspects of earthquake physics that have long been assumed but difficult to image,” says Zhan. “Imagine your everyday backyard telescope. You can see Jupiter, but you probably can't see its moons or any details. With a really powerful telescope, you can see the fine details of the planet and moon surfaces. Our technology is like a powerful telescope for earthquakes.” The findings suggest that access to more cables would enable improved understanding of earthquake physics and ultimately better earthquake early-warning systems. “If we can get broader coverage to measure seismic activity, we can completely change how we study earthquakes and provide more advance warning,” says Zhan. 1．What makes the fiber-optic cable crucial to the DAS method? A．The intensity of light rays. B．Special devices at one end. C．The length of the cable's core. D．Imperfections in glass strands. 2．How were the four sub-events detected? A．By analyzing light signatures. B．By examining the fault region. C．By developing a seismic network. D．By cooperating with Nadia Lapusta’s laboratory. 3．Why does Professor Zhan mention “telescope” in paragraph 4? A．To compare different measurement tools. B．To describe the appearance of fiber-optic cables. C．To highlight DAS's sharp observational ability. D．To stress the importance of traditional seismometers. 4．What is the best title for the text? A．Advances in Earthquake Early-Warning Systems. B．New Discoveries About Earthquake Physics. C．Detecting Earthquakes via Fiber-Optic Cables. D．Transforming Fiber-Optic Cables Through DAS. 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．C 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。介绍了一项利用光纤电缆监测地震的新研究发现。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段中的“The glass has tiny imperfections that reflect back an extremely small part of the light to the source, where it is recorded. Seismic waves moving through the ground cause the cable to shake slightly, which changes the travel time of light along the fiber-optic cable. Thus, the imperfections act like thousands of individual seismometers that allow seismologists to observe the motion of seismic waves.(光纤内部的玻璃束存在微小缺陷，这些缺陷会将极少量光线反射回光源处，而光源处的设备会记录下这部分反射光。当地震波在地下传播时，会导致光纤电缆轻微震动，进而改变光线在光纤中的传播时间。因此，这些缺陷就如同数千个独立的地震仪，能让地震学家观测到地震波的运动情况)”可知，光纤电缆中玻璃束的缺陷是DAS技术能运作的关键——缺陷通过反射光线、随地震波改变光传播时间，实现地震感知。选D项。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Professor Zhan and his team examined the light signatures traveling through a stretch of fiber-optic cable located in the Eastern Sierra Nevada during the 2021 Antelope Valley magnitude 6 earthquake, and discovered that the magnitude 6 earthquake was made up of four sub-events that could not be detected by a conventional seismic network. (詹教授及其团队对 2021 年羚羊谷 6 级地震期间，对经内华达山脉东部某段光纤电缆的光信号进行了研究，结果发现，这场 6 级地震由四个子事件构成，而这些子事件是传统地震监测网络无法探测到的)”可知，四个子事件是通过分析光信号发现的。故选A项。 3．推理判断题。根据第四段中的“Imagine your everyday backyard telescope. You can see Jupiter, but you probably can’t see its moons or any details. With a really powerful telescope, you can see the fine details of the planet and moon surfaces. Our technology is like a powerful telescope for earthquakes. (想象一下你家后院那台普通的望远镜：你能看到木星，但很可能看不到它的卫星，也看不到任何细节。而用一台真正高性能的望远镜，你就能看清这颗行星和其卫星表面的细微细节。我们的（DAS）技术，就好比是一台研究地震的高性能望远镜)”可知，詹教授用“望远镜”类比DAS技术：普通望远镜只能看到木星，强大望远镜能看到细节；同理，DAS技术能捕捉传统方法难以察觉的地震细节，目的是突出DAS技术敏锐的观测能力。故选C项。 4．主旨大意题。全文围绕“光纤电缆检测地震”展开：开篇点明光纤电缆可通过DAS技术感知地震；中间解释技术原理（玻璃缺陷反射光线、捕捉地震波）、研究成果（检测到地震子事件）；结尾提及该技术对地震研究与预警的意义。所以短文的最佳标题为“通过光纤电缆检测地震”。故选C项。 （江苏省镇江第一中学等校2025~2026学年高三上学期8月期初考试英语试题）Driving in traffic can be extremely stressful. Walkers (行人) appear out of nowhere, cars suddenly pull out of parking spots, and roads become slippery due to rain or snow. Knowing when to stop and when to speed up in such cases is hard enough for a human driver, let alone a robotic one. But several carmakers — and a few tech companies — are working to convince drivers to let driverless cars take the wheel. Without question, the most anticipated benefit of driverless cars is improved safety. Driverless systems will feature sensors that detect safety threats that human drivers might miss. Many carmakers already offer systems that warn drivers whenever they get dangerously close to other cars. Also, driverless systems have the benefit of increased efficiency. Driverless cars won’t waste as much gas as human drivers do, and guided by advanced GPS, they’ll always take the fastest route. Although completely driverless cars won’t be on the market for several years, the technology behind them is already appearing in phases. Two examples are the Active Lane Keeping Assist option for Mercedes-Benz cars and Ford’s Traffic Jam Assist option. In the first option, the system warns the driver whenever the car crosses lane markings by causing the steering wheel to vibrate (振动). In the second option, the system helps the car keep pace with other cars while remaining in its current lane. The system is being developed to help relieve blocking on busy roads. Several carmakers claim that they’ll produce driverless cars within the next decade. But critics aren’t so sure, warning that a completely driverless car must be able to make split-second decisions in even the most complex traffic situations. In addition, the car’s computer must become smart enough to know when to ask the driver to intervene to prevent an accident. Full government approval won’t happen until driverless cars are proven safe. In the meantime, expect to see carmakers offer ever-smarter features on their new models. 1．How does the author introduce the topic of driverless cars in the first paragraph? A．By listing driving challenges first. B．By comparing two kinds of drivers. C．By explaining driverless technology. D．By introducing carmakers’ plans. 2．What do sensors detecting missed threats suggest about driverless systems? A．They replace human drivers. B．They sense dangers better. C．They work in simple cases. D．They need human help. 3．What do the two listed examples indicate in Paragraph 3? A．Fully driverless cars are near. B．Carmakers hesitate to invest. C．Technology develops bit by bit. D．All driverless issues are fixed. 4．What can be a suitable title for the text? A．Driverless Cars: Fully approved B．Driverless Tech: Advancing with Benefits C．Robotic Drivers vs. Human Drivers D．The Future of Fully Autonomous Cars 【答案】1．A 2．B 3．C 4．B 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章先指出交通驾驶压力大，接着讲无人驾驶汽车在安全和效率上的优势，提及技术逐步应用，也提到其面临的挑战及政府审批要求。 1．推理判断题。根据第一段中“Walkers (行人) appear out of nowhere, cars suddenly pull out of parking spots, and roads become slippery due to rain or snow. Knowing when to stop and when to speed up in such cases is hard enough for a human driver, let alone a robotic one. (行人突然出现，汽车突然从停车位驶出，道路因雨或雪变得湿滑。在这种情况下，知道何时停车、何时加速对人类司机来说已经够困难的了，更不用说机器人司机了。)”可知，作者首先描述了在交通中驾驶的各种压力情况，这些都是驾驶面临的挑战，然后引出无人驾驶汽车的话题。所以作者是通过先列举驾驶挑战来引入无人驾驶汽车这一话题的。故选A项。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段中“Driverless systems will feature sensors that detect safety threats that human drivers might miss.(无人驾驶系统将配备能够检测人类司机可能错过的安全威胁的传感器。)”可知，这些传感器能检测到人类司机错过的威胁，这表明无人驾驶系统能更好地感知危险。故选B项。 3．推理判断题。根据第三段中“Although completely driverless cars won’t be on the market for several years, the technology behind them is already appearing in phases. Two examples are…(尽管完全无人驾驶的汽车在几年内不会投放市场，但其背后的技术已经分阶段出现。两个例子……)”接着列举了奔驰的主动车道保持辅助选项和福特的交通拥堵辅助选项。由此可知，这两个例子表明技术是一点一点发展的。故选C项。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文可知，文章先介绍了无人驾驶汽车面临的交通环境挑战，接着阐述了无人驾驶汽车的好处，如提高安全性和效率，然后说明其技术正在分阶段发展，虽然还存在一些问题，但整体是在发展的。B 选项“无人驾驶技术：伴随着好处前进”能很好地概括文章内容，适合作为文章的标题。故选B项。 （江苏省南京市六校联合体2025-2026学年高三上学期8月学情调研考试英语试题）Critical thinking influences our daily lives more extensively than we typically acknowledge. Even common decisions, such as selecting a breakfast, involve subconscious (下意识的) application of critical thinking as we weigh factors like nutrition, taste preferences, and dietary needs to determine the best option for that particular morning.​ This ability functions much like a muscle — it strengthens progressively with deliberate practice. As a cornerstone of professional success, critical thinking equips individuals with the capacity to navigate workplace challenges, systematically test hypotheses (假说) through continuous trials, and put forward effective solutions to complex problems. Its significance in career advancement cannot be overstated.​ Fundamentally, critical thinking refers to the capacity to comprehend, assess, and analyze factual information to form reasoned judgments or evaluate the validity of claims. Beyond mere curiosity about the world, critical thinkers excel at establishing logical connections between ideas to grasp broader contexts. Developing this skill enables individuals to convey their thoughts logically, present arguments systematically, and make informed decisions helpful to continuous improvement.​ While scientific professions clearly demand critical thinking, its application extends across diverse careers including law, medicine, journalism, engineering, accounting, and analysis. The World Economic Forum consistently identifies it as an important workforce skill due to its role in enhancing information analysis, improving creativity, enabling innovative problem-solving, and advancing strategic planning. In everyday life, critical thinking operates inconspicuously yet powerfully, empowering independent thought and judgment. ​ Contrary to common misconceptions, critical thinking strengthens interpersonal relationships by boosting empathy for others’ perspectives and maintaining an open mindset. Critical thinkers maintain intellectual curiosity, pose inquiring questions, and refuse to accept information at face value. Critical thinking isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s how we grow, improve, and make sense of an increasingly complex world. It helps us ask better questions, listen more deeply, and approach problems with clarity instead of chaos. 1．Which method best helps develop critical thinking skills according to the passage? A．Learning through repeated errors. B．Developing stronger emotional awareness. C．Engaging in focused, intentional practice. D．Making decisions based on subconsciousness. 2．Which example best shows critical thinking? A．Consumers buy phones just based on ads. B．Doctors analyze tests before treatment. C．Viewers believe news without confirmation. D．Managers overemphasize certificates in hiring. 3．What does the underlined word “inconspicuously” in paragraph 4 mean? A．Obviously. B．Precisely. C．Unnoticeably. D．Abstractly. 4．What can be inferred from the last paragraph? A．Critical thinking helps drive the world forward. B．Critical thinking harms interpersonal relationships. C．Critical thinkers refuse to accept basic information. D．Critical thinkers can put themselves in others’ shoes. 【答案】1．C 2．B 3．C 4．D 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。本文主要阐述了批判性思维在日常生活和职业发展中的重要性。文章还强调了批判性思维在增强人际关系、促进个人成长和理解复杂世界方面的积极作用。 1．细节理解题。根据文章第二段“This ability functions much like a muscle—it strengthens progressively with deliberate practice. (这种能力就像肌肉一样，通过有意识的练习逐渐增强。)”可知，专注于有意识的练习最能培养批判性思维技能。故选C。 2．推理判断题。根据文章第三段“Fundamentally, critical thinking refers to the capacity to comprehend, assess, and analyze factual information to form reasoned judgments or evaluate the validity of claims. (从根本上讲，批判性思维是指理解、评估和分析事实信息以形成合理判断或评估主张有效性的能力。)”可知，批判性思维需要对事实信息进行理解、评估和分析。B选项“Doctors analyze tests before treatment.(医生在进行治疗前会先对各项检查结果进行分析。)”符合批判性思维的特点。故选B。 3．词义猜测题。根据画线词后文“yet powerfully, empowering independent thought and judgment. (然而却很有力量，赋予人们独立思考和判断的能力。)”可知，后文内容与前文构成转折关系即批判性思维在日常生活中虽然“不明显”，但却很有力量，赋予人们独立思考和判断的能力。故画线词与C选项“Unnoticeably.(不易察觉地)”为同义词。故选C。 4．推理判断题。根据文章最后一段“Contrary to common misconceptions, critical thinking strengthens interpersonal relationships by boosting empathy for others’ perspectives and maintaining an open mindset. (与普遍的误解相反，批判性思维通过增强对他人观点的同理心并保持开放的心态来加强人际关系。)”可知，批判性思维可以增强对他人的同理心，即批判性思维者能够设身处地为他人着想。故选D。 （2026届江苏省徐州市部分示范性高中高三上学期7月摸底考试英语试题）The monarch is perhaps the best-known butterfly in North America. Every fall, they migrate from the US and Canada to California and Mexico for the winter, breeding multiple generations along the way. But now the monarch is in trouble. Due to habitat loss, milkweed, the plants that the butterfly caterpillars feed on, are fewer and farther between, so the number of monarchs is declining. In the 1990s, researchers at the University of Minnesota decided to use citizen science to collect long-term data on monarch caterpillars and milkweed habitat in order to provide information that decision makers can use to help prevent the monarch’s decline. The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project has grown to involve volunteers from across North America. Participants volunteer to monitor a particular site — often their own backyards. Through online or in-person training, the volunteers learn how to identify milkweed as well as the eggs, caterpillars and pupae (蛹) of monarch butterflies. They also learn about the monarch’s migration. Each year, volunteers record when milkweed plants first come out of the ground and how many are present at the site they are monitoring. Then, on a weekly basis, they record the number of eggs and caterpillars they see. The final step is entering the data into an online database. For citizen science projects, data validity (效度) can be a concern. Some say that non-scientists can’t be trusted to collect reliable data. The project addresses such concerns by using a standardized rules and requiring repeated observations of the same species in the same place. The MLMP also offers training, and all data are carefully checked before used for research purposes. Another challenge is getting volunteers to report zeroes or the lack of monarchs. As the monarch population declines, volunteers may be discouraged and not want to collect data. MLMP staff work with volunteers to highlight the importance of knowing where monarchs are not found. The project is successfully meeting its core purpose: to help scientists better understand how and why monarch populations are changing. Data provided by citizen scientists have formed the basis for a growing number of scientific publications. 1．Why is the number of monarch butterflies declining? A．They are influenced by the cold weather. B．There are fewer milkweed plants along the way. C．Many butterfly caterpillars lose their habitats. D．The distance of their migration becomes longer. 2．What is paragraph 3 mainly about? A．The application of citizen science in the project. B．Findings of Monarch Larva Monitoring Project. C．The establishment of the monarch online data base. D．The reason of citizen science being adopted. 3．What would be the challenge of the citizen science projects? A．The legality of the protocol (协议). B．The training quality for volunteers. C．The research competence of citizens. D．The reliability of the collected data. 4．What is the author’s attitude towards the project? A．Unclear. B．Dismissive. C．Doubtful. D．Approving. 【答案】1．B 2．A 3．D 4．D 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了为有效阻止北美“魅力昆虫”君王斑蝶数量减少，启用了公民科学项目，旨在让社会公众参与重要科学研究，构建老少咸宜的户外科学课堂。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段“Due to habitat loss, milkweed, the plants that the butterfly caterpillars feed on, are fewer and farther between, so the number of monarch is declining.(由于栖息地的丧失，帝王蝶幼虫食用的植物乳草越来越少，分布也越来越分散，因此帝王蝶的数量正在下降)”可知，帝王蝶数量下降的原因是栖息地丧失导致的蝴蝶幼虫赖以为食的植物乳草的大面积减少。故选B项。 2．主旨大意题。根据第三段“Participants volunteer to monitor a particular site — often their own backyards. Through online or in-person training, the volunteers learn how to identify milkweed as well as the eggs, caterpillars and pupae (蛹) of monarch butterflies. They also learn about the monarch’s migration. Each year, volunteers record when milkweed plants first come out of the ground and how many are present at the site they are monitoring. Then, on a weekly basis, they record the number of eggs and caterpillars they see. The final step is entering the data into an online database.(参与者自愿监测某个特定地点——通常是他们自己的后院。通过在线或面对面的培训，志愿者们学习如何识别乳草以及帝王蝶的卵、幼虫和蛹。他们还了解帝王蝶的迁徙。每年，志愿者们记录乳草植物首次从地里长出来的时间以及在他们监测的地点有多少乳草。然后，他们每周记录他们看到的卵和幼虫的数量。最后一步是将数据输入在线数据库)”可知，第三段主要介绍了公民科学在这个项目中的应用。故选A项。 3．细节理解题。根据第四段“For citizen science projects, data validity (效度) can be a concern. Some say that non-scientists can’t be trusted to collect reliable data.(对于公民科学项目来说，数据效度可能是一个令人担忧的问题。有人说，不能相信非科学家能收集到可靠的数据)”可知，公民科学项目的挑战是所收集数据的可靠性。故选D项。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段“The project is successfully meeting its core purpose: to help scientists better understand how and why monarch populations are changing. Data provided by citizen scientists have formed the basis for a growing number of scientific publications.(该项目成功地实现了其核心目标：帮助科学家更好地了解帝王蝶数量如何以及为何发生变化。公民科学家提供的数据已成为越来越多科学出版物的基础)”可知，作者认为这个项目很成功，实现了其核心目标，对项目持支持态度。故选D项。 （江苏省徐州市第一中学2025-2026学年高三上学期9月月考英语试题）Mark Twain was dismissive of those people who think it is possible for someone to learn how to write a novel. “A man who is not born with the novel-writing gift has a troublesome time when he tries to build a novel,” he said. “He has no clear idea of his story. In fact, he has no story.” British writer Stephen Fry puts it another way. He says that successful authors are those who know just how difficult it is to write a book. These days, however, technology is making the life of an author a little easier. For Michael Green, a US data scientist-turned-novelist, the need to use technology to simplify and streamline the writing process came when he was in the middle of writing his first book. With 500 pages of a complex story written, he recalls that the process became difficult to manage: “I had all these documents on the deeper aspects of the world I was creating. I was worried about not being able to keep track of it all. That is when I switched into my more data science-minded approach to solving a complex problem with a lot of different places.” The end result was that Mr Green created Lynit, a digital platform to help authors plan and weave together the many elements that form a story, such as the themes, characters and major events. “Once the authors get a new idea that they want to bring into the story, with Lynit they are able to input it into a natural framework,” he said, “As new ideas come in, they change, maybe by creating new nodes (节点) and new relationships.” Once the book has been published, technology is also playing an ever-increasing role in publicity and connecting with readers. Websites and apps from specialist firms allow authors to participate in live question-and-answer sessions with their readers. Michael Green believes technology will become even more important as a new generation of tech-savvy (精通技术的) writers become more well known. “What I’m finding with Generation Z and even younger writers is that they are looking for technology to give them guidance,” he said. “They see it as a tool to learn and grow with rather than extra work.” 1．What can we learn from Michael Green’s writing experience? A．It is really difficult to become a writer. B．Writers can be creative in using technology. C．Writers need to adopt different writing approaches. D．Technology can be a helpful tool to writers. 2．What is an advantage of technology according to the text? A．It brings authors closer to their readers. B．It can translate thoughts into sentences. C．It makes it possible for anyone to be a writer. D．It can inspire authors to produce more good ideas. 3．What can be inferred from the last paragraph? A．Tech-savvy writers become known thanks to technology. B．Young writers rely too heavily on technology. C．The new generation of writers should be tech-savvy. D．New technology matters to young writers. 4．What is the writer’s attitude towards the writing-assistance technology? A．Critical. B．Favorable. C．Unconcerned. D．Doubtful. 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．D 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。主要介绍马克·吐温等作家对小说创作的看法，以及如今科技如何为作家简化创作流程、助力宣传，并提及年轻作家对这类科技的态度。 1．细节理解题。根据第三段中的“These days, however, technology is making the life of an author a little easier. For Michael Green, a US data scientist-turned-novelist, the need to use technology to simplify and streamline the writing process came when he was in the middle of writing his first book.(然而如今，技术正让作家的生活变得轻松一些。对于美国数据科学家出身的小说家迈克尔・格林而言，在他创作第一本书的过程中，便产生了利用技术简化并优化写作流程的需求。)”和第五段中的“The end result was that Mr Green created Lynit, a digital platform to help authors plan and weave together the many elements that form a story, such as the themes, characters and major events. (最终的成果是，格林先生开发了一款名为Lynit的数字平台。该平台旨在帮助作家规划并整合构成故事的诸多元素，例如主题、人物角色以及主要情节。)”可知，迈克尔·格林的创作经历表明科技能为作家提供帮助，是作家的有用工具。故选D项。 2．细节理解题。根据第六段中的“Once the book has been published, technology is also playing an ever-increasing role in publicity and connecting with readers. Websites and apps from specialist firms allow authors to participate in live question-and-answer sessions with their readers.(书籍一旦出版，科技在宣传以及与读者建立联系方面也发挥着越来越重要的作用。专业公司开发的网站和应用程序能让作家与读者参与实时问答环节。)”可知，科技的优势之一是能让作家与读者的距离更近。故选A项。 3．推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“Michael Green believes technology will become even more important as a new generation of tech-savvy (精通技术的) writers become more well known. “What I’m finding with Generation Z and even younger writers is that they are looking for technology to give them guidance,” he said. “They see it as a tool to learn and grow with rather than extra work.”(迈克尔·格林认为，随着新一代精通技术的作家越来越知名，科技的重要性将愈发凸显。“我发现Z世代乃至更年轻的作家正在寻求科技为他们提供指导，”他说，“他们将科技视为一种可以伴随自己学习和成长的工具，而非额外的负担。”)”可知，新一代作家重视科技并依赖其获取指导，由此可推断，新技术对年轻作家很重要。故选D项。 4．推理判断题。根据全文内容，特别是最后一段中的““What I’m finding with Generation Zand even younger writers is that they are looking for technology to give them guidance,” he said. “They see it as a tool to learn and grow with rather than extra work.”(“我发现Z世代甚至更年轻的作家们正在寻求技术给予他们指导，”他说。“他们将其视为一种可以共同学习和成长的工具，而不是额外的负担。”)”以及文中对技术在写作规划、故事构建和读者互动方面积极作用的描述，可以看出作者对写作辅助技术持积极肯定的态度。故选B项。 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $