内容正文:
专题06 阅读理解之议论文15篇 (上海专用)
【题型知识点细目表】
题号
难度
知识点
1
适中
社会问题与社会现象,议论文
2
较难
社会问题与社会现象,议论文,信息技术
3
适中
公园,政治政策,议论文
4
适中
社会问题与社会现象,议论文,中国文化与节日
5
适中
方法/策略,议论文,文章大意,直接理解,短语猜测
6
适中
环境保护,人工智能,议论文,直接理解,标题判断,逻辑推理
7
适中
社会问题与社会现象,议论文,信息技术
8
较难
医护人员,信息技术 ,议论文
9
较难
社会问题与社会现象,社交礼仪及规则,议论文
10
较难
社会问题与社会现象,友谊,议论文
11
适中
社会问题与社会现象,议论文
12
较难
社会问题与社会现象,议论文
13
适中
社会问题与社会现象,议论文,食物与饮料
14
较难
航空航天,议论文
15
较难
社会问题与社会现象,人工智能,议论文
【高考典例】
There are classes for the mothers of babies but there’s no helping with your mum and dad growing old.
Old people’s wards are hell for old people. Geriatric wards (老年病房) are insane and in chaos. A toothless woman screaming when left alone, a cry that reaches the high hospital ceiling. A woman effing and blinding — the polite curtain will not protect her from the indignity of a nappy change. A woman who lives the same moment in repeat, dressed up for going home in a bright red, over the dressing grown, asking for the key to her house, saying over and over: “Am I going home today?”
And though my mum, by the time she was released, knew that her life was charmed compared with the lives of the world’s refugees. It seems to me as if the plight of old people, while not a horrible as the plight of refugees, shares some of the horror. Just as we live in a society that hasn’t caught up with technology, the kind of moral choices it gives people, we also live in a world that hasn’t kept up with its ageing population. We have the advances in medical science and technology that have kept people alive longer, but not the advances in how to treat our ageing population. Society is lagging behind the old, failing and falling.
There are certain small but piercing similarities between the treatment of the old and the treatment of refugees. The old are often displaced from their homes, moved out against their will; decisions are often made for them that they have no say over. Often, they are treated as fools or halfwits, crowded together in one place, given clothes that don’t belong to them, treated as fallen tribe, incapable of any individuality. Nobody imagined my mother was a secretary of the Scottish peace movement, a primary teacher, a lifelong socialist, a witty woman. Out of hospital, my 85-year-old mum said: “going into hospital at my age puts years on you. God save from old people’s wards. You never think of yourself as old. You look across the ward and think, am I like that?”
1.The treatment of the old is compared of that of the refugees in order to_____.
A.prove they have a lot in common
B.show the terrible status of the old
C.display their similarities and differences
D.indicate that old people have to leave their home
2.What can be inferred from the passage?
A.Refugees lead a better life than old male patients.
B.Old people are ill-treated due to their loss of individuality.
C.The author’s mom is capable of teaching and being a socialist.
D.The treatment of the ageing population doesn’t develop as science advances
3.The author’s mom felt that life in the hospital________.
A.made her much older
B.created her a mature woman
C.enabled her to look back at life
D.let her full of gratitude to children
4.The passage mainly discussed________.
A.the life of refugees and old people
B.social responsibility to old women
C.improper treatment of old people
D.preparing for ageing parents
Enough “meaningless drivel”. That’s the message from a group of members of the UK government who have been examining how social media firms like LinkedIn gather and use social media data.
The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee’s report, released last week, has blamed firms for making people sign up to long incomprehensible legal contracts and calls for an international standard or kitemark (认证标记) to identify sites that have clear terms and conditions.
“The term and conditions statement that we all carelessly agree to is meaningless drivel to anyone,” says Andrew Miller, the chair of the committee. Instead, he says, firms should provide a plain-English version of their terms. The simplified version would be checked by a third party and awarded a kitemark if it is an accurate reflection of the original.
It is not yet clear who would administer the scheme, but the UK government is looking at introducing it on a voluntary basis. “We need to think through how we make that work in practice,” says Miller.
Would we pay any more attention to a kitemark? “I think if you went and did the survey, people would like to think they would,” says Nigel Shadbolt at the University of Southampton, UK, who studies open data. “We do know people worry a lot about the inappropriate use of their information.” But what would happen in practice is another matter, he says.
Other organisations such as banks ask customers to sign long contracts they may not read or understand, but Miller believes social media requires special attention because it is so new. “We still don’t know how significant the long-term impact is going to be of unwise things that kids put on social media that come back and bite them in 20 years’ time,” he says.
Shadbolt, who gave evidence to the committee, says the problem is that we don’t know how companies will use our data because their business models and uses of data are still evolving. Large collections of personal information have become valuable only recently, he says.
The shock and anger when a social media firm does something with data that people don’t expect, even if users have apparently permission, show that the current situation isn’t working. If properly administered, a kitemark on terms and conditions could help people know what exactly they are signing up to, although they would still have to actually read them.
1.What does the phrase “meaningless drivel” in paragraphs 1 and 3 refer to?
A.Legal contracts that social media firms make people sign up to.
B.Warnings from the UK government against unsafe websites.
C.Guidelines on how to use social media websites properly.
D.Insignificant data collected by social media firms.
2.It can be inferred from the passage that Nigel Shadbolt doubts whether _______.
A.social media firms would conduct a survey on the kitemark scheme
B.people would pay as much attention to a kitemark as they think
C.a kitemark scheme would be workable on a nationwide scale
D.the kitemark would help companies develop their business models
3.Andrew Miller thinks social media needs more attention than banks mainly because _______.
A.their users consist largely of kids under 20 years old
B.the language in their contracts is usually harder to understand
C.the information they collected could become more valuable in future
D.it remains unknown how users’ data will be taken advantage of
4.The writer advises users of social media to _______.
A.think carefully before posting anything onto such websites
B.read the terms and conditions even if there is a kitemark
C.take no further action if they can find a kitemark
D.avoid providing too much personal information
5.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.Say no to social media?
B.New security rules in operation?
C.Accept without reading?
D.Administration matters!
Our green spaces are shrinking, despite all the benefits they give us. If we want to save them, we need to value the ecosystem and health and wellbeing services they offer. Sheffield city council’s balance sheet shows its parks as a £16m liability. Traditional accountancy methods focus on a park’s saleable value, or its operational costs associated with maintenance. So England’s 27,000 parks are considered as financial liabilities rather than the amazing asset to our health and wellbeing that any of their 37 million regular users could vouch for. They also deliver a range of ecosystem services such as improved air and water quality, flood risk mitigation by absorbing water run-off, and cooling the urban environment as well as providing much-needed habitat for wildlife. By using a “natural capital” accounting approach that puts a value on all these social, environmental and economic contributions, Sheffield discovered that for every £1 spent on its parks, they generate £34 of benefits.
Yet this true value is not widely measured or recognised. As Ian Walmsley, Stockport council’s green space manager told the Communities and Local Government select committee parks inquiry, “an argument has never been successfully made that if you spend x on a park, there will be a saving in the health budget and therefore you should take money out of the health budget and put it into parks”. As a result, the MPs inquiry report published last week warned that parks are at a tipping point of decline, ravaged by a 92% reduction in their budgets since 2010-11 because of local authority cuts. Less money means fewer park rangers, less maintenance, more litter, dog poo and antisocial behaviour, including gang and drug-related activities, and gradually much-loved local parks turn into dangerous eyesores. Tragically it’s the small, green spaces in poorer, built-up areas that suffer disproportionate cuts to park rangers and maintenance. We have been here before. Uncared-for, litter-strewn parks were emblematic of Thatcher’s Britain before an injection of public spending by a Labour government and £850m of lottery cash revived them.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Andrew Hinchley, green space development officer at the London Borough of Camden, told MPs if we had new ways of valuing the services parks provide for improving water quality, for example, then you could ask water companies to pay towards their upkeep.
The committee wants councils to publish strategic plans to recognise the real value of parks and to set out how they will be managed (possibly by a charitable trust, as Newcastle is looking into) to maximise their contribution to wider local authority goals such as promoting healthier lifestyles. It suggests the government’s obesity strategy could fund parks. It also suggests that it could be a legal requirement for councils to produce such strategies.
1.According to the text, parks are regarded as financial liabilities because _________ .
A.the area of the park is gradually decreasing due to poor protection
B.the budget for the construction of the park is gradually decreasing
C.the value of the park is low by using a “natural capital” accounting approach
D.the traditional accountancy methods focus on a park’s saleable value
2.According to the text, which of the following is NOT the benefit of the park?
A.Improving air and water quality.
B.Symbolizing the city civilization.
C.Cooling the urban environment.
D.Providing much-needed habitat for wildlife.
3.Due to the reduction in budgets, what could probably happen?
A.The government will take money out of the health budget.
B.The local authorities will centralize the management of the park.
C.Much-loved local parks will turn into dangerous eyesores.
D.The true value of the park will be widely measured or recognised.
4.What can be learned from the last two paragraphs?
A.The committee has published strategic plans to recognise the real value of park.
B.It could be a legal requirement for councils to produce such strategies.
C.The local citizens should pay for the improving water quality.
D.The Labour government will spend £850m of lottery cash to revive the park.
【热点话题练习】
Witnessing the rise of Labubu
I first noticed Labubu when I visited Beijing in July as part of a cultural exchange program. I recognized it as something I would see Generation Z or younger kids carrying around, but I wouldn’t have guessed it was Chinese.
From a design point of view, Labubu’s popularity doesn’t surprise me at all. There is so much mass marketing aimed at perfect cuteness or beauty that people often get tired of it, and so it becomes cliche and boring. In the US, counterculture has been influential for about 60 years, so something off-putting like a Labubu’s gremlin (小精灵) smile has the kind of edge that another princess doll lacks.
I think it’s a similar phenomenon to modern art, making fun of the concept of a gallery by presenting vacuum cleaners, taping a banana to a wall or destroying a painting upon purchase. Or antiheroes in film and literature.
Labubu does remind me of Minions (小黄人), which came out of a movie where the main character is a textbook archetypal (典型的) cartoon villain (反派).
Today’s toys and character designs are so high-quality and realistic — nothing was like that when I was a kid. Pikachu and SpongeBob SquarePants are simple. Souvenir toys today, however, are as detailed as something you would find displayed in an old wax museum. I think it becomes too much. Everything is too perfect. How is that supposed to be cool or interesting?
The fact that Labubu’s face is by conventional beauty standards ugly reminds me of pugs, those little smushed-face dogs. Some people don’t like how they look, but pugs (哈巴狗) are still popular pets.They are often lovingly called “pugly”, which means ugly in a cute or lovable way.
As for Labubu’s Chinese origin and how it shows a mix of Chinese and Western styles, I think it’s only natural that more modern Chinese products will become popular in the West. It feels a bit strange that “Made in China” used to mean poor quality when I was a kid, but now the only thing stopping us from buying Chinese cars and electronics is the US government rules. Young people are starting to expect new and exciting things from China, including cool products to buy.
1.What does the underlined word “off-putting” in paragraph 2 most probably mean?
A.Perfect. B.Simple. C.Attractive. D.Disturbing.
2.Why does the author compare Labubu to modern art?
A.To show its artistic originality. B.To highlight its unusual appeal.
C.To stress its high market value. D.To prove its wide cultural reach.
3.What does the author suggest about most of today’s toy designs?
A.They are full of imagination.
B.They ignore what children really like.
C.They copy well-known cartoon styles.
D.They are hard for people to connect with because of the perfection.
4.What broader trend does the author see in Labubu’s success?
A.Growing rejection of global brands.
B.Declining quality of mass production.
C.Increasing Western interest in China.
D.Rising demand for handcrafted goods.
A good friend of mine is always telling her kids, “There’s no quick way to the top. You have to take the stairs.” That’s good advice because becoming an expert in anything requires time and a lot of effort. It’s step by step, just like climbing stairs. A concept that highlights this is the “10,000-hour rule,” which was popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers.
The 10,000-hour rule suggests that it takes about 10,000 hours of focused practice to master any skill. This idea comes from research by psychologist Anders Ericsson. He studied highly skilled performers in various fields. Whether you want to play the violin, excel in sports or master computer programming, the basic principle is the same. Expert skills are earned through practice, not luck.
However, the 10,000-hour rule is not set in stone. The quality of practice matters as much as the quantity. The practice must be intentional, and it must involve challenging yourself to improve specific things. For example, a piano player might focus on mastering difficult passages rather than just playing familiar pieces over and over. After all, even with substantial practice time, there’s no guarantee of reaching top-level performance. Expect hours of practice to be the path to greatness, and you will be fooling yourself.
In 2016, psychologist Macnamara analyzed 33 studies. She looked at the relationship between intentional practice and athletic achievement. Intentional practice accounted for just 18 percent of the difference in sports performance between average players and experts, and it accounts for only 1 percent of the difference between top performers. In addition, top performers hadn’t started practicing their sport earlier in their childhoods. They had begun about the same time as other students who were not as successful. This suggests that other factors, like natural talent, personality and life history, also play a role in becoming an expert.
Becoming an expert is a great goal to work toward. But remember, you don’t have to be great at something to enjoy doing it. You can still enjoy something without being the best in the world at it.
1.The “10,000-hour rule” holds that ________.
A.talent is more important than years of training
B.luck plays the decisive role in becoming highly skilled
C.around 10,000 hours of training ensures top-level success
D.mastery requires about 10,000 hours of focused practice
2.The phrase “set in stone” in paragraph 3 most probably means ________.
A.totally unchangeable B.widely recognised
C.wholly understandable D.scientifically tested
3.Macnamara’s 2016 studies show that among expert players intentional practice makes up ________ of the performance gap.
A.1% B.18% C.82% D.99%
4.What does the writer mainly convey in the passage?
A.The 10,000-hour rule covers sports but not music.
B.Having fun in activities depends on expert skills.
C.Reaching the top requires more than practice.
D.Practice alone is enough to ensure greatness,
Even if you don’t worry that artificial intelligence (AI) will destroy the human race, you might fear its huge appetite for electricity will damage the environment. Asking an AI chatbot a question is equivalent to using ten times more energy than an old-fashioned internet search. As the AI boom took off, you may think that emissions(排放)from tech giants evidently rise. With huge investments in new data centers planned, more rises seem inevitable. But the worry is on shaky ground.
In absolute terms, AI may be less energy-hungry than assumed. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that electricity consumption by data centers could more than double in five years. Even if energy usage increases sharply, the basic is still low. Data centers currently account for only about 1.5% of global electricity consumption — and the vast majority of that is due to streaming, social media and online shopping, not AI.
Handled in a smart way, some of AI’s electricity use will help with greening the economy. AI is highly capable of identifying complex patterns and improving systems, which can help reduce emissions. It is already helping improve the efficiency of electrical networks with real-time balance of supply and demand. Besides, it has assisted in reducing petrol consumption in shipping through adjusting routes and speeds to the fittest, and spotting leaks of methane (a greenhouse gas) by cooperating with satellites and ground sensors.
The task for policymakers and industry bosses is to maximize AI’s advantages in saving energy, thus minimizing its climate impacts. The most elegant solution would be for governments to set a proper price on carbon. But because a global carbon price remains a distant dream, it would be more realistic to focus on other measures.
The first is greater openness. From August 2026, the EU will require some AI developers to report their energy use in detail, which can be copied elsewhere. A second is to rethink how data centers operate. The IEA notes that arranging to shift volume of work among data centers at different times could reduce pressure and help balance energy networks, making them better matched to renewable power. Third, tech firms should live up to their environmental promises. Many now rely heavily on buying renewable-energy credits, a problematic way of balancing their emissions. A better one is to use their influence to promote the decarbonization of the energy networks by pushing for planning reform and supporting alternatives like nuclear power. Doubling down on these would help transform AI from climate suspect to climate hero.
1.The reason why the author says “the worry is on shaky ground” is that________.
A.tech companies have already achieved their carbon goals
B.future data centers will be powered by renewable energy
C.the current energy use by AI is small within global context
D.AI’s environmental benefits can make up for its energy cost
2.We can learn from paragraph 3 that________.
A.energy used by AI would otherwise realize a green economy
B.energy saving in shipping is partly due to AI-improved routes
C.AI’s real-time management has raised electricity consumption
D.methane leak detection done by AI can be sensed by satellites
3.Which of the following is recommended to handle AI’s climate impacts?
A.Setting a global carbon price for tech industries.
B.Scheduling data centers’ workloads dynamically.
C.That tech firms balance emissions through credit exchange.
D.That AI developers stay open to others’ reporting approaches
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A.Technology’s Impact on Climate Change B.Government Regulations on AI and Energy
C.AI’s Energy Demand and Tech Innovation D.AI’s Energy Consumption and Conservation
Never Mind Your Children’s Screen Time. Worry About Your Parents’
Parents often nag kids to put down phones, fearing screens create an “anxious generation.” Yet the most screen-addicted group may be the elderly: today’s pensioners spend over half their waking hours on smartphones, TVs and tablets.
This digital shift in old age has clear benefits. Smart devices keep seniors connected: Facebook shares updates from friends and grandchildren; Zoom brings church services or doctor’s appointments home; e-commerce eliminates the need to trek around shops and remove tiring shopping trips. A connected retirement feels far more fulfilling than an offline one.
Seniors also face fewer screen risks than teens. They have stable real-life relationships, so “social stunting” is rare. Their worldview resists online manipulation, and their free time means screen habits feel like choices, not obligations.
Yet this trend carries costs. Unlike teens, seniors’ devices link to credit cards — making them targets for online scammers. Governments protect kids from predators; they must now safeguard this fast-growing vulnerable group.
Misinformation is another threat: pensioners are twice as likely as young adults to use news apps, and more susceptible to online hoaxes. As they shift from traditional media to YouTube or TikTok, they enter an “information Wild West” — and their votes mean their confusion affects everyone.
Screens can be companions for isolated seniors, but also replace real social interactions. Unlike teens (curbed by parents/teachers), seniors lack informal limits. This calls for a balanced debate: digital tools enrich elderly lives, but society must address their unique risks.
1.The underlined phrase “eliminates the need” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to “_________”.
A.meets the demand for
B.removes the requirement of
C.increases the difficulty of
D.highlights the importance of
2.The writer mentions “credit cards” in Paragraph 4 to show that _________.
A.seniors rely more on digital payments than teens
B.online scammers target seniors due to their financial access
C.governments have ignored the safety of seniors’ online activities
D.credit cards are the main reason for seniors’ screen addiction
3.What can be inferred about seniors’ screen habits?
A.Their screen time is more of a choice than teens’.
B.They are less likely to be influenced by online content.
C.Their screen use is mainly controlled by family members.
D.They prefer traditional media over social platforms.
4.Which of the following best reflects the writer’s opinion in the passage?
A.Seniors should reduce screen time to avoid online risks.
B.Society’s focus on kids’ screen use is completely misplaced.
C.Digital tools benefit seniors but require targeted protection.
D.Seniors’ screen addiction is a more severe problem than teens’.
Surgical students are less capable than their ancestors because they spend too much time with screens and not enough with physical materials. These claims from Roger Kneebone, professor of surgical education at Imperial College London, were widely reported last week.
According to Kneebone, today’s students lack the dexterity that is important for sewing, cutting and stitching. He argues that this is because, instead of taking part in creative subjects that involve manual work during their school education, “a lot of things are reduced to swiping on a two-dimensional flat screen”.
There hasn’t been much research into the effects of smartphones on surgical skills. However, one 2012 study found no statistically significant change in digital dexterity among frequent smartphone users, and it did find a significant improvement in reaction time.
If anything, says Pete Etchells, a psychologist at Bath Spa University, UK, the use of digital technology of any kind — rather than smartphones specifically — is linked with a higher level of surgical skill. One 2007 study, for example, found that young surgeons who played a lot of video games made fewer errors in surgery and worked faster than those who didn’t. A randomized, controlled trial in 2012 found that surgery simulators(模拟) were less effective at training surgeons than just letting them play on games consoles. These were small studies that merely found modest effects, warns Etchells, but they don’t paint a picture of digital technology damaging the core skills of surgery.
More broadly, says Andrew Przybylski of the Oxford Internet Institute, UK, Kneebone’s concerns and the resulting coverage are part of a wider reaction to the role of technology in our lives. Around a decade ago, we anticipated that digital experiences could lead to improvements in various kinds of real-world competence, such as brain-training games enhancing cognitive performance or video games boosting surgical dexterity. “As those hopes haven’t materialized, we rightly feel disappointed,” says Przybylski.
There is also a society-wide fear about new technologies, which is often unfounded. Przybylski’s own work has found that, contrary to widespread concern around technology and young people, screen time seems to have a small, positive effect on teenagers in all but the most extreme of cases. “Collective anxiety about the role of smartphones, and social media companies, fuel this sort of fear of technology,” he says.
Ultimately, Kneebone may turn out to be right that the decline in crafts and handiwork at school is reducing the quality of the surgical student intake. But there seems little evidence of it yet. In fact, it is probably a positive thing that our youngest surgeons are digitally literate. In the very near future, a surgeon’s ability to interact with technology — be that surgical robots or augmented reality — will become increasingly important.
1.What does the underlined word dexterity mean?
A.Power of concentration. B.Experience of performing surgery.
C.Capacity to use words or mind. D.Skills related to hand work.
2.What can we learn from the studies mentioned in Paragraph 3 and 4?
A.People are confident that video games will boost cognitive performance.
B.Surgeons won’t be less skillful when exposed to digital technology.
C.Digital applications except smartphones strengthen surgical skills.
D.Most surgeons are modest about their improved working efficiency.
3.The perceived decline of medical students’ surgical competence is due to___________.
A.people’s fear about technology that is backed up by scientific evidence
B.people’s failure to see the positive effects of digital technology emerge
C.the increased time teenagers spent using smartphones and social media
D.the decreased access to handiwork and crafts required in medical school
4.Which of the following may serve as the best title for this passage?
A.Surgical Skills, Need Enhancing? B.Digital Devices, Enhance Reaction Time?
C.Surgeons, Be Trained as Digital Natives? D.Screen Time, Bad for Young Surgeons?
Sarcasm (讽刺) and jazz have something surprisingly in common: You know them when you hear them. Sarcasm is mostly understood through tone of voice, which is used to portray the opposite of the literal words. For example, when someone says, “Well, that’s exactly what I need right now,” their tone can tell you it’s not what they need at all.
Most frequently, sarcasm highlights an irritation or is, quite simply, mean.
If you want to be happier and improve your relationships, cut out sarcasm. Why? Because sarcasm is actually hostility disguised as humor.
Despite smiling outwardly, many people who receive sarcastic comments feel put down and often think the sarcastic person is rude, or contemptible (可鄙的). Indeed, it’s not surprising that the origin of the word sarcasm derives from the Greek word “sarkazein” which literally means “to tear or strip the flesh off.” Hence, it’s no wonder that sarcasm is often used after the word “cutting” and that it hurts.
What’s more, since actions strongly determine thoughts and feelings, when a person consistently acts sarcastically it may only serve to heighten their underlying hostility and insecurity. After all, when you come right down to it, sarcasm can be used as a subtle form of bullying—and most bullies are angry, insecure, or cowardly.
Alternatively, when a person stops voicing negative comments, especially sarcastic ones, they may soon start to feel happier and more self-confident. Also, other people in their life benefit even more because they no longer have to hear the emotionally hurtful language of sarcasm.
Now, I’m not saying all sarcasm is bad. It may just be better used sparingly—like a powerful spice in cooking. Too much of the spice, and the dish will be overwhelmed by it. Similarly, an occasional dash of sarcastic wit can spice up a chat and add an element of humor to it. But a big or steady serving of sarcasm will overwhelm the emotional flavor of any conversation and can taste very bitter to its recipient.
So, tone down the sarcasm and work on clever wit instead, which is usually without any hostility and thus more appreciated by those you’re communicating with. In essence, sarcasm is easy while true, harmless wit takes talent.
Thus, the main difference between wit and sarcasm is that, as already stated, sarcasm is often hostility disguised as humor. It can be intended to hurt and is often bitter and biting. Witty statements are usually in response to someone’s unhelpful remarks or behaviors, and the intent is to untangle and clarify the issue by emphasizing its ridicule. Sarcastic statements are expressed in a cutting manner; witty remarks are delivered with undisguised and harmless humor.
1.Why does the author say sarcasm and jazz have something surprisingly in common?
A.Both are recognized when heard.
B.Both have exactly the same tone.
C.Both mean the opposite of what they appear to.
D.Both have hidden in them an evident irritation.
2.What happens when a person consistently acts sarcastically?
A.They feel their dignity greatly heightened.
B.They feel increasingly insecure and hostile.
C.They endure hostility under the disguise of humor.
D.They taste bitterness even in pleasant interactions.
3.What does the author say about people quitting sarcastic comments?
A.It makes others happier and more self-confident.
B.It restrains them from being irritating and bullying.
C.It benefits not only themselves but also those around them.
D.It shields them from negative comments and outright hostility.
4.What is the chief difference between a speaker’s wit and sarcasm?
A.Their intention. B.Their appreciation. C.Their emphasis. D.Their clarity.
A friend recently shared a post from the satirical (嘲讽的) site Reductress. It depicted a woman, arms held triumphantly high, beneath the headline:“ She Did It! This Woman Was Able To Confirm That Everyone Was Not Mad At Her!”
I sometimes feel the same heart-sinking insecurity. If I haven’t heard from a friend in a while, or their most recent message seemed a bit a little too direct, my mind throws up the question: did I do something wrong?
In many ways it’s a senseless reaction — I’ve no real reason to believe I’ve offended or upset them; they’re probably just busy. Yet I can’t shake the feeling.
Why are we so quick to assume that our friends are mad at us — or even ready to drop us?
“When we fear that our friends are mad at us, it feels really convincing,” says psychotherapist Meg Josephson. “ We’re trying to relieve this anxiety, so we seek reassurance —’ Was I annoying? Was I weird?’ — but it’s not getting to the actual feeling that’s underneath it. ”
In her new book Are You Mad At Me?, Josephson says this impulse is driven by a desire to please and be affirmed. The so-called“ fawn response” is one way we respond to threats, whether real (physical danger) or perceived (your friend taking longer than usual to text you back).
“The fawn response is about lessening the threat, so that you can feel safe, ” says Josephson. “ Your immediate instinct is to be ‘Are we OK?’ — or to compliment them, or be helpful to them, so that you can ease the perceived tension. ”
Less well known than the fight or flight response, it is often developed in childhood in response to critical or emotionally neglectful parents, or a volatile home environment, Josephson says. Women are especially susceptible (受影响的), being socialized to put others at ease.
The attempted mind-reading and “anxious rumination” can become exhausting, says Josephson. It also doesn’t actually protect you against conflict. The key is understanding that it is not the end of the world — or a friendship.
“Especially if we grew up in more volatile homes, where conflict was brushed under the rug or we didn’t witness disagreement handled in a safe way, we learn to fear conflict as terminal,” Josephson says. “Actually, in healthy relationships, a little bit of friction is really good because it means both people can have differing opinions.”
Conflict is not only inevitable; it can even be healing, she adds, demonstrating that disagreement or discomfort doesn’t have to come at the cost of intimacy. “Repair is what leads to closeness.”
1.The author mentions her own experience (Paragraphs 2-3) primarily to ________.
A.justify her initial suspicion of her friends’ intentions
B.demonstrate a personal instance of offensive friends
C.introduce the discussion of the fawn response
D.highlight the necessity of addressing digital miscommunication
2.The underlined word “volatile” in paragraph 10 most probably means ________.
A.harmonious B.unstable C.desperate D.unsupportive
3.Based on Josephson’s views as presented in the passage, what can be inferred about healthy relationships?
A.They are characterized by the absence of disagreement or friction.
B.They depend on constant communication to prevent misunderstandings.
C.They can be strengthened by successfully navigating occasional conflicts.
D.They are best maintained by consistently using the fawn response.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.The cause and nature of the fawn response.
B.The negative impact of digital communication.
C.Strategies for friendship repair after conflicts.
D.Differences between fight, flight and fawn responses.
I used to spend a lot of time worrying about how other people judged me. Did I say too much? Too little? Was I too intense, or not fun enough? These thoughts often distracted me, especially in meetings or social events. I had a whole inner self-talk going on in my head. Every facial expression and comment from others seemed full of hidden meaning. I would polish these “truths” about myself like shiny little stones and carry them around. It was exhausting.
But research shows that most people are not really thinking about us. In fact, studies have found that about 78% of conversations are people talking about themselves. The main function of conversation, researchers said, is to let the speakers share information about who they are.
Later studies confirmed this pattern. Psychologists found that we use our own experiences as an anchor when judging others. For example, if crowds make you uncomfortable, you might assume someone else disliked a big party — when in fact, they may have loved it. Brain imaging has also shown that the “default network” of our brain lights up when we are at rest, and it is the same area that activates when we think about ourselves. In other words, our mind’s natural state is self-focus.
So when I worry that people think I’m too intense, who is really thinking that? Me. The truth is, we have no idea what others are actually thinking, and we never will. Most likely, they are busy wondering what others think about them. I’m just a blip on the radar of their thoughts.
This doesn’t mean people will never judge or say harsh things. But often, their judgments aren’t truly about us. People are frequently the most critical of qualities in others that they feel insecure about in themselves.
The freedom comes when we stop internalizing others’ words and start asking, “What does this reveal about them?” Realizing that most people’s thoughts center on themselves is incredibly liberating.
1.What was the writer mainly concerned about in the beginning?
A.Why social events were often exhausting.
B.Why people were speaking to themselves.
C.How his words and behaviour were perceived.
D.How well people remembered his achievements.
2.What do later studies suggest about people’s judgement of others?
A.They pay attention to others’ feedback.
B.They rely mainly on logic and evidence.
C.They often draw on personal experience.
D.They enjoy guessing others’ likes and dislikes.
3.What does the phrase “a blip” (paragraph 4) most probably mean?
A.Something small and unimportant.
B.A major event that is well recorded.
C.Something that attracts most people.
D.A common topic people like to discuss.
4.Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
A.The Danger of Self-Focused Thinking
B.No One Is Really Thinking About You
C.Finding Freedom from Constant Self-Judgment
D.Why We Worry Too Much About Others’ Opinions
I’m a consumer psychologist who has studied social decision-making for over a decade. A common yet puzzling aspect of social life is how people respond to invitations, particularly when they reply with a vague “maybe”. Recently, my co-authors and I published a series of studies that directly examine what goes on in people’s heads when they are unsure whether to accept an invitation.
Social invitations can be a delicate dance, and people often misread what someone extending an invite wants to hear. We consistently found that people overestimate an inviter’s likelihood of preferring a “maybe” over a “no”. Moreover, they fail to realize how much more disrespected people feel when they receive a “maybe” in response to their invitation. Another pattern emerged: The more someone incorrectly assumed that a host preferred a tentative response, the more likely they were to respond with a “maybe” themselves.
Naturally, we wanted to figure out why this awkward dynamic plays out. We found that it’s largely due to something called “motivated reasoning”. Motivated reasoning occurs when a person interprets information in a biased way to arrive at a conclusion that is in line with their own wishes. Saying “no” right immediately eliminates one’s options and opens the door for FOMO, or fear of missing out, to emerge.
That said, there were certain situations that made people more comfortable saying “no” to an invite. In one study, we had recipients of an invitation put themselves in the shoes of the person extending the invite. This made them more likely to realize that they’d probably prefer a definitive answer. That is, it seemed to prevent motivated reasoning from emerging. In another study, we had participants get invited to do something they didn’t want to do. We found that motivated reasoning then became irrelevant: They had no desire to keep their options open, so they were more likely to assume that a “no” was preferable to a “maybe”.
Furthermore, other research has explored the subtle art of the decline, testing which reasons soften the bitterness of a rejected invitation. The findings are clear: saying you’re too busy comes across as a half-hearted excuse; saying you have a prior commitment lands with slightly more weight; but saying you simply don’t have the financial means to make it work is received with the greatest understanding. Beyond the choice of words, however, lies a more fundamental principle of communication. It might reduce your options. But it’ll keep those who invited you from being left in uncertainty.
1.What does the author intend to illustrate with the “delicate dance” metaphor in paragraph 2?
A.To argue that inviters often have self-serving motivations when extending offers.
B.To stress how easily people can misread others’ intentions in social exchanges.
C.To suggest a tentative “maybe” is the most polite response in these situations.
D.To prove the false assumption made by invitees who fear the consequences of refusal.
2.Based on the reasons for the “maybe” response, what can we conclude?
A.Even when people dislike the activity, FOMO makes them hesitate over it.
B.Receiving an unattractive invitation is the most effective way to eliminate FOMO.
C.Taking the inviter’s perspective helps to overcome the bias and give a direct answer.
D.People say “maybe” to avoid the duty of making an immediate decision for the inviter.
3.Based on the findings, what fundamental principle of communication does the author advocate?
A.Prioritize straightforward and clear communication.
B.Ensure refusals are credible with well-justified reasons.
C.Favor accepting invitations when facing uncertainty.
D.Maintain flexibility in one’s schedule when declining.
4.Which of the following would be the most appropriate title for the passage?
A.New Principles into Framing Invitations
B.How to politely Refuse an Invitation
C.Why “Maybe” Hurts and “No” Helps
D.Psychology Behind Successful Invitations
In recent years, the food industry has increased its use of labels. Whether the labels say ‘non-GMO’ or ‘no sugar,’ or ‘zero carbohydrates’, consumers are increasingly demanding more information about what’s in their food. One report found that 39 percent of consumers would switch from the brands they currently buy to others that provide clearer, more accurate product information. Food manufacturers are responding to the report with new labels to meet that demand, and they’re doing so with an eye towards giving their products an advantage over the competition, and bolstering profits.
This strategy makes intuitive sense. If consumers say they want transparency, tell them exactly what is in your product. That is simply supplying a certain demand. But the marketing strategy in response to this consumer demand has gone beyond showing what is in a product, to labeling what is NOT in the food. These labels are known as “absence claims” labels, and they represent an emerging labeling trend that is harmful both to the consumers who purchase the products and the industry that supplies them.
For example, Hunt’s put a “non-GMO” label on its canned crushed tomatoes a few years ago — despite the fact that at the time there was no such thing as a GMO tomato on the market. Some dairy companies are using the “non-GMO” label on their milk, despite the fact that all milk is naturally GMO-free, another label that creates unnecessary fear around food.
While creating labels that play on consumer fears and misconceptions about their food may give a company a temporary marketing advantage over competing products on the grocery aisle, in the long term this strategy will have just the opposite effect: by injecting fear into the discourse about our food, we run the risk of eroding consumer trust in not just a single product, but the entire food business.
Eventually, it becomes a question in consumers’ minds: Were these foods ever safe? By purchasing and consuming these types of products, have I already done some kind of harm to my family or the planet?
For food manufacturers, it will mean damaged consumer trust and lower sales for everyone. And this isn’t just supposition. A recent study found that absence claims labels can create a stigma (污名) around foods even when there is no scientific evidence that they cause harm.
It’s clear that food manufacturers must tread carefully when it comes to using absence claims. In addition to the likely negative long-term impact on sales, this verbal trick sends a message that innovations in farming and food processing are unwelcome, eventually leading to less efficiency, fewer choices for consumers, and ultimately, more costly food products. If we allow this kind of labeling to continue, we will all lose.
1.What is the author’s opinion about manufacturers’ new marketing strategy?
A.Stressing the absence of certain elements in their products
B.Showing the unique nutritional value of their products
C.Supplying detailed information of their products
D.Designing transparent labels for their products
2.What point does the author make about non-GMO labels?
A.They are increasingly attracting customers’ attention.
B.They create lots of trouble for GMO food producers.
C.They should be used more for vegetables and milk
D.They cause anxiety about food among consumers.
3.What does the author say absence claims labels will do to food manufacturers?
A.Cause changes in their marketing strategies.
B.Help remove stigma around their products
C.Erode consumer trust and reduce sales.
D.Decrease support from food scientists.
4.What is the best title for this passage?
A.Why Consumers Demand Greater Food transparency
B.The High Cost of “Free-From” Foodlabels
C.The Benefits of Non-GMO Labeling in the Food Industry
D.How Absence Claims Labels Build Consumer Trust
Looking for Aliens Is Good for Society
The search for life elsewhere in the universe is one of the most exciting aspects of modern science. Given its importance, significant resources are devoted to the young science of astrobiology, ranging from rovers on Mars to observations of planets moving around other stars.
The goal of this science would be the actual discovery of alien life. Such a discovery would likely have profound scientific and philosophical implications. But for all we know, extraterrestrial life may not even exist. Fortunately, even if alien life is never discovered, simply searching for it will bring valuable benefits to society. Why is this the case?
First, astrobiology is fundamentally multidisciplinary. The search for alien life requires a grasp of astronomy, biology, geology, and planetary science at a minimum. Undergraduate courses in astrobiology need to cover elements of all these different subjects. Postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers need to be familiar with most or all of them. By forcing multiple scientific disciplines to interact, astrobiology is stimulating a partial reunification of the sciences. It is helping to move 21st-century science away from the extreme specialization of today.
It is also important to recognize that astrobiology is an incredibly open-ended field. Searching for life in the universe takes us from extreme environments on Earth to the plains of Mars. Whether or not life is discovered in any of these environments, this search will continue. The range of entirely new environments opened to investigation will be essentially limitless. Therefore, it has the potential to be a never-ending source of scientific and intellectual stimulation.
Beyond the more narrowly intellectual benefits of astrobiology are a range of wider societal benefits. These arise from the kinds of perspectives that the study of astrobiology naturally promotes.
It is simply not possible to consider searching for life on Mars without moving away from the Earth-centric perspectives that dominate the social and political lives of most people today. Indeed, it is only by sending spacecraft out to explore the solar system that we can obtain images of our own planet that show it in its true cosmic setting. Today, our planet is faced with global challenges that can only be met by increased international cooperation. At such a time, the growth of a unifying perspective is potentially of enormous importance.
“The most dangerous worldview is the one of those who have not viewed the world,” said the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt. I think that there is an important implication in this perspective. Humanity is an intelligent technological species that now dominates the only known inhabited planet in the universe. It has a responsibility to develop international social institutions appropriate to managing the situation in which we find ourselves.
1.What does the phrase “partial reunification” imply in the context of “astrobiology is stimulating a partial reunification of the sciences” (Para. 3)?
A.All scientific disciplines will eventually merge into a single, unified field.
B.Astrobiology creates temporary alliances among scientists from different fields.
C.Certain aspects of traditionally separate sciences are beginning to intersect and collaborate.
D.The boundaries between sciences are being completely dissolved by astrobiology research.
2.The author mentions Alexander von Humboldt’s quote in the last paragraph to_______.
A.emphasize the historical roots of astrobiology research.
B.illustrate the importance of a global perspective in scientific exploration.
C.argue that narrow worldviews pose risks to scientific progress.
D.support the idea that seeking knowledge beyond Earth expands human understanding.
3.Which of the following statements does NOT conform to the passage’s main idea?
A.Searching for alien life, even without success, can bring valuable societal benefits.
B.Astrobiology, as a multidisciplinary field, promotes the integration of scientific disciplines.
C.The exploration of alien life is driven mainly by the desire to find economic resources in space.
D.Studying astrobiology helps people break away from Earth-centric perspectives and fosters international cooperation.
4.The author’s argument would be strengthened by additional evidence showing that _____________.
A.Past astrobiology projects have consistently met their scientific objectives.
B.The skills acquired by researchers in astrobiology are directly applicable to solving issues in other scientific domains.
C.Public support for space exploration has remained stable over the past decade.
D.The cost of astrobiology research has steadily decreased in recent years.
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms society, researchers like David Luxton, PhD, describe it as a “super-disruptive technology” with potential for both profound harm and significant benefit. At CES 2024, Luxton highlighted concerns ranging from job displacement to algorithmic bias, where discriminatory data patterns can produce systematic errors and intensify social inequalities. Psychologist Rhoda Au, PhD, urges a move beyond simplistic judgments, stating, “We can't just be dismissive and say: ‘AI is good’ or ‘AI is bad’,” This complexity is driving global regulatory efforts, where psychologists are increasingly valued for their expertise in cognitive bias, cultural inclusion, and data analysis.
Public anxiety is well-founded. Mindy Shoss, PhD, has linked fears of AI-induced job loss to negative mental health outcomes, particularly in unequal societies. These concerns are realized in documented cases of biased algorithms in fields like hiring and healthcare — problems often stemming from unrepresentative data or the “black box” issue, where even developers cannot fully trace an AI's reasoning.
Addressing these challenges demands strict auditing (审计). Beyond technical checks, psychologists Tara Behrend and Richard Landers propose a “psychological audit” to evaluate the impact of AI on humans. This approach applies core research principles to assess data sources, methodology, and the validity of inferences. Behrend emphasizes that bias checks are as critical for AI guidance systems that shape life paths as for high-stakes decisions. Shoss adds that moral implementation depends on organizational trust, transparency, and accountability,
The human element introduces further complexity. Studies by Helena Matute, PhD, show that people can inherit and continue AI biases, continuing wrong patterns even after the AI is no longer in use. This inherited bias is notably persistent, partly because, as Celeste Kidd, PhD, notes, AI's authoritative tone makes its misinformation “sticky.” More alarmingly, AI can be designed to exploit cognitive biases, such as the familiarity heuristic (熟悉性启发法), raising serious moral questions about manipulative applications.
Despite these risks, AI also holds potential to identify and correct human biases — for instance, by flagging discriminatory hiring practices. Luxton cautions that such applications also require transparency to maintain trust. A deeper challenge, Behrend points out, is that AI trained on historical data inherently reinforces the status quo (现状). Using it actively for fairness requires a general societal agreement on the meaning of “fairness,” a goal complicated by conflicting definitions.
This landscape is fueling a regulatory push, with numerous U. S. states passing or proposing AI-related laws. Luxton advocates for establishing universal guidelines and audit trails (审计追踪) over fragmented legislation. Behrend holds that amid rapid technological change, the enduring psychological principles of reliability, validity, and fairness provide a stable foundation for evaluation.
Ultimately, as Shoss concludes, the moral use of AI demands sustained and adaptive dialogue. “These discussions need to be ongoing,” she says, “because the nature of generative AI is that it's constantly changing.”
1.The primary purpose of proposing a “psychological audit” is to _________.
A.replace the existing technical audit procedures entirely
B.assess the impact of AI systems on human users and society
C.simplify the complex data analysis process in AI development
D.eliminate the “black box” issue completely from AI reasoning
2.According to Behrend, why is using AI to actively promote fairness a “deeper challenge”?
A.Because the inherent bias in AI's algorithms makes it impossible to achieve any form of fairness.
B.Because it depends on society first reaching an agreement on a complex and conflicting concept.
C.Because AI technology evolves too rapidly for any moral guidelines to be effectively implemented.
D.Because the “black box” issue prevents us from fully understanding how AI makes its decisions.
3.Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A.Rhoda Au suggests we should avoid simplistic judgments about AI being entirely good or bad.
B.Mindy Shoss correlates the fear of AI-driven job loss with negative impacts on mental well-being.
C.Celeste Kidd suggests that the solution to “inherited bias” lies in technical audits of AI's reasoning processes.
D.David Luxton favors the establishment of universal AI guidelines over piecemeal legislation.
4.Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of the passage?
A.AI's potential is severely limited by its inherent risks, which currently prevent its responsible development and use.
B.AI presents risks but offers corrective potential, necessitating moral guidelines and ongoing dialogue for its responsible use.
C.AI requires that its development not continue until comprehensive global regulations are firmly established.
D.AI will manage its own moral dilemmas autonomously through the advancement of its own corrective capabilities.
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专题06 阅读理解之议论文15篇 (上海专用)
【题型知识点细目表】
题号
难度
知识点
1
适中
社会问题与社会现象,议论文
2
较难
社会问题与社会现象,议论文,信息技术
3
适中
公园,政治政策,议论文
4
适中
社会问题与社会现象,议论文,中国文化与节日
5
适中
方法/策略,议论文,文章大意,直接理解,短语猜测
6
适中
环境保护,人工智能,议论文,直接理解,标题判断,逻辑推理
7
适中
社会问题与社会现象,议论文,信息技术
8
较难
医护人员,信息技术 ,议论文
9
较难
社会问题与社会现象,社交礼仪及规则,议论文
10
较难
社会问题与社会现象,友谊,议论文
11
适中
社会问题与社会现象,议论文
12
较难
社会问题与社会现象,议论文
13
适中
社会问题与社会现象,议论文,食物与饮料
14
较难
航空航天,议论文
15
较难
社会问题与社会现象,人工智能,议论文
【高考典例】
There are classes for the mothers of babies but there’s no helping with your mum and dad growing old.
Old people’s wards are hell for old people. Geriatric wards (老年病房) are insane and in chaos. A toothless woman screaming when left alone, a cry that reaches the high hospital ceiling. A woman effing and blinding — the polite curtain will not protect her from the indignity of a nappy change. A woman who lives the same moment in repeat, dressed up for going home in a bright red, over the dressing grown, asking for the key to her house, saying over and over: “Am I going home today?”
And though my mum, by the time she was released, knew that her life was charmed compared with the lives of the world’s refugees. It seems to me as if the plight of old people, while not a horrible as the plight of refugees, shares some of the horror. Just as we live in a society that hasn’t caught up with technology, the kind of moral choices it gives people, we also live in a world that hasn’t kept up with its ageing population. We have the advances in medical science and technology that have kept people alive longer, but not the advances in how to treat our ageing population. Society is lagging behind the old, failing and falling.
There are certain small but piercing similarities between the treatment of the old and the treatment of refugees. The old are often displaced from their homes, moved out against their will; decisions are often made for them that they have no say over. Often, they are treated as fools or halfwits, crowded together in one place, given clothes that don’t belong to them, treated as fallen tribe, incapable of any individuality. Nobody imagined my mother was a secretary of the Scottish peace movement, a primary teacher, a lifelong socialist, a witty woman. Out of hospital, my 85-year-old mum said: “going into hospital at my age puts years on you. God save from old people’s wards. You never think of yourself as old. You look across the ward and think, am I like that?”
1.The treatment of the old is compared of that of the refugees in order to_____.
A.prove they have a lot in common
B.show the terrible status of the old
C.display their similarities and differences
D.indicate that old people have to leave their home
2.What can be inferred from the passage?
A.Refugees lead a better life than old male patients.
B.Old people are ill-treated due to their loss of individuality.
C.The author’s mom is capable of teaching and being a socialist.
D.The treatment of the ageing population doesn’t develop as science advances
3.The author’s mom felt that life in the hospital________.
A.made her much older
B.created her a mature woman
C.enabled her to look back at life
D.let her full of gratitude to children
4.The passage mainly discussed________.
A.the life of refugees and old people
B.social responsibility to old women
C.improper treatment of old people
D.preparing for ageing parents
【答案】1.B 2.D 3.A 4.C
【导语】本文是一篇议论文。文章主要论述了老年病房对老人的不当对待及老人的糟糕处境。
1.推理判断题。根据第三段中“It seems to me as if the plight of old people, while not a horrible as the plight of refugees, shares some of the horror.(在我看来,虽然老年人的困境不像难民的困境那么可怕,但也同样令人恐惧)”以及第四段的“There are certain small but piercing similarities between the treatment of the old and the treatment of refugees.(对老年人的待遇和对难民的待遇之间存在着一些微小但尖锐的相似之处)”可推知,把老年人的待遇与难民的待遇相比较是为了显示老人的糟糕处境。故选B。
2.推理判断题。根据第三段中“We have the advances in medical science and technology that have kept people alive longer, but not the advances in how to treat our ageing population, Society is lagging behind the old, failing and falling.(我们在医学科学和技术方面取得了进步,使人们的寿命更长,但在如何对待老龄化人口方面却没有取得进步,社会正在落后于老年人,正在失败和衰落)”可推知,随着科学的进步,对待老龄化人口的措施并没有发展。故选D。
3.细节理解题。根据最后一段中“Out of hospital, my 85-year-old mum said: “going into hospital at my age puts years on you. God save from old people’s wards. You never think of yourself as old. You look across the ward and think, am I like that?”(出院时,我85岁的母亲说:“在我这个年纪住院,会让你感觉老了好几岁。上帝保佑,让我远离老年病房。你从来不会觉得自己老了。你望着病房里的其他人,就会想,我也会变成那样吗?”)”可知,作者的妈妈觉得医院里的生活使她老了很多。故选A。
4.主旨大意题。根据第二段中“Old people’ s wards are hell for old people. Geriatric wards (老年病房) are insane and in chaos.(老年病房对老年人来说是地狱。老年病房疯狂而混乱)”以及第三段中“It seems to me as if the plight of old people, while not a horrible as the plight of refugees, shares some of the horror.(在我看来,虽然老年人的困境不像难民的困境那么可怕,但也同样令人恐惧)”结合文章可知,本文主要讲述了老年人在社会和医院中受到的不当待遇,与难民的困境有一定的相似性,指出了社会在老龄化问题上的滞后和不足。由此可知,这篇文章主要讨论了老年人受到的不当待遇。故选C。
Enough “meaningless drivel”. That’s the message from a group of members of the UK government who have been examining how social media firms like LinkedIn gather and use social media data.
The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee’s report, released last week, has blamed firms for making people sign up to long incomprehensible legal contracts and calls for an international standard or kitemark (认证标记) to identify sites that have clear terms and conditions.
“The term and conditions statement that we all carelessly agree to is meaningless drivel to anyone,” says Andrew Miller, the chair of the committee. Instead, he says, firms should provide a plain-English version of their terms. The simplified version would be checked by a third party and awarded a kitemark if it is an accurate reflection of the original.
It is not yet clear who would administer the scheme, but the UK government is looking at introducing it on a voluntary basis. “We need to think through how we make that work in practice,” says Miller.
Would we pay any more attention to a kitemark? “I think if you went and did the survey, people would like to think they would,” says Nigel Shadbolt at the University of Southampton, UK, who studies open data. “We do know people worry a lot about the inappropriate use of their information.” But what would happen in practice is another matter, he says.
Other organisations such as banks ask customers to sign long contracts they may not read or understand, but Miller believes social media requires special attention because it is so new. “We still don’t know how significant the long-term impact is going to be of unwise things that kids put on social media that come back and bite them in 20 years’ time,” he says.
Shadbolt, who gave evidence to the committee, says the problem is that we don’t know how companies will use our data because their business models and uses of data are still evolving. Large collections of personal information have become valuable only recently, he says.
The shock and anger when a social media firm does something with data that people don’t expect, even if users have apparently permission, show that the current situation isn’t working. If properly administered, a kitemark on terms and conditions could help people know what exactly they are signing up to, although they would still have to actually read them.
1.What does the phrase “meaningless drivel” in paragraphs 1 and 3 refer to?
A.Legal contracts that social media firms make people sign up to.
B.Warnings from the UK government against unsafe websites.
C.Guidelines on how to use social media websites properly.
D.Insignificant data collected by social media firms.
2.It can be inferred from the passage that Nigel Shadbolt doubts whether _______.
A.social media firms would conduct a survey on the kitemark scheme
B.people would pay as much attention to a kitemark as they think
C.a kitemark scheme would be workable on a nationwide scale
D.the kitemark would help companies develop their business models
3.Andrew Miller thinks social media needs more attention than banks mainly because _______.
A.their users consist largely of kids under 20 years old
B.the language in their contracts is usually harder to understand
C.the information they collected could become more valuable in future
D.it remains unknown how users’ data will be taken advantage of
4.The writer advises users of social media to _______.
A.think carefully before posting anything onto such websites
B.read the terms and conditions even if there is a kitemark
C.take no further action if they can find a kitemark
D.avoid providing too much personal information
5.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.Say no to social media?
B.New security rules in operation?
C.Accept without reading?
D.Administration matters!
【答案】1.A 2.B 3.D 4.B 5.C
【导语】本文是一篇议论文。当我们在社交媒体上注册登记的时候,总会签署一些无意义的法律合同,文章就此现象展开了讨论,并列举了多人的不同观点。
1.词句猜测题。根据第二段“The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee’s report, released last week, has blamed firms for making people sign up to long incomprehensible legal contracts and calls for an international standard or kitemark (认证标记) to identify sites that have clear terms and conditions. (英国下议院科学技术委员会上周发布的报告指责公司让人们签署长期难以理解的法律合同,并呼吁使用国际标准或认证标记来识别那些有明确条款和条件的网站)”可知,很多社交媒体公司和用户签订了难以理解的法律合同,而这些合同是没有意义的废话,所以通过上下文的语境可以判断出第1和第3段中的meaningless drivel指的是“社交媒体公司让人们签署的法律合同”。故选A项。
2.推理判断题。根据第五段“Would we pay any more attention to a kitemark? “I think if you went and did the survey, people would like to think they would,” says Nigel Shadbolt at the University of Southampton, UK, who studies open data. “We do know people worry a lot about the inappropriate use of their information.” But what would happen in practice is another matter, he says. (我们还会再注意认证标记吗?英国南安普敦大学研究开放数据的Nigel Shadbolt说:“我认为,如果你去做这项调查,人们会认为他们会去做。”“我们确实知道人们非常担心他们的信息被不当使用。”但他说,在实践中会发生什么是另一回事)”可知,第五段中Nigel Shadbolt提到,调查中人们“自认为会关注认证标记”,但实际行为可能不同,他质疑的是“人们是否会像自己认为的那样重视标记”。故选B项。
3.细节理解题。根据第六段“Other organisations such as banks ask customers to sign long contracts they may not read or understand, but Miller believes social media requires special attention because it is so new. “We still don’t know how significant the long-term impact is going to be of unwise things that kids put on social media that come back and bite them in 20 years’ time,” he says. (其他机构,如银行,会要求客户签署他们可能不会读或理解的长期合同,但Miller认为,社交媒体需要特别关注,因为它是太新了。他说:“我们仍然不知道孩子们在社交媒体上放的不明智的东西会产生多大的长期影响,而20年后这些东西又会回来伤害到他们。”)”可知,第六段Miller指出,社交媒体是新兴事物,其长期影响(如青少年发布的内容多年后可能引发的后果)尚未可知,所以Andrew Miller认为社交媒体比银行需要更多的关注,主要是因为用户的数据将如何被利用仍然是个未知数。故选D项。
4.推理判断题。根据最后一段中“If properly administered, a kitemark on terms and conditions could help people know what exactly they are signing up to, although they would still have to actually read them. (如果管理得当,条款和条件的认证标记可以帮助人们知道他们到底在注册什么,尽管他们仍然需要实际阅读它们)”可知,作者建议社交媒体用户阅读条款和条件,即使有一个认证标记。故选B项。
5.主旨大意题。通读全文可知,现在的网站中或者社交媒体软件中,我们在注册用户名或安装的时候,总会有一些合同或条约让我们签署。很多人从来都没有详细阅读这些合同条款就签名了。文章就此话题展开讨论,作者提出我们应该仔细阅读条款内容,然后再签名。所以C项“Accept without reading? (未阅读就接受?)”为文章最佳标题。故选C项。
Our green spaces are shrinking, despite all the benefits they give us. If we want to save them, we need to value the ecosystem and health and wellbeing services they offer. Sheffield city council’s balance sheet shows its parks as a £16m liability. Traditional accountancy methods focus on a park’s saleable value, or its operational costs associated with maintenance. So England’s 27,000 parks are considered as financial liabilities rather than the amazing asset to our health and wellbeing that any of their 37 million regular users could vouch for. They also deliver a range of ecosystem services such as improved air and water quality, flood risk mitigation by absorbing water run-off, and cooling the urban environment as well as providing much-needed habitat for wildlife. By using a “natural capital” accounting approach that puts a value on all these social, environmental and economic contributions, Sheffield discovered that for every £1 spent on its parks, they generate £34 of benefits.
Yet this true value is not widely measured or recognised. As Ian Walmsley, Stockport council’s green space manager told the Communities and Local Government select committee parks inquiry, “an argument has never been successfully made that if you spend x on a park, there will be a saving in the health budget and therefore you should take money out of the health budget and put it into parks”. As a result, the MPs inquiry report published last week warned that parks are at a tipping point of decline, ravaged by a 92% reduction in their budgets since 2010-11 because of local authority cuts. Less money means fewer park rangers, less maintenance, more litter, dog poo and antisocial behaviour, including gang and drug-related activities, and gradually much-loved local parks turn into dangerous eyesores. Tragically it’s the small, green spaces in poorer, built-up areas that suffer disproportionate cuts to park rangers and maintenance. We have been here before. Uncared-for, litter-strewn parks were emblematic of Thatcher’s Britain before an injection of public spending by a Labour government and £850m of lottery cash revived them.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Andrew Hinchley, green space development officer at the London Borough of Camden, told MPs if we had new ways of valuing the services parks provide for improving water quality, for example, then you could ask water companies to pay towards their upkeep.
The committee wants councils to publish strategic plans to recognise the real value of parks and to set out how they will be managed (possibly by a charitable trust, as Newcastle is looking into) to maximise their contribution to wider local authority goals such as promoting healthier lifestyles. It suggests the government’s obesity strategy could fund parks. It also suggests that it could be a legal requirement for councils to produce such strategies.
1.According to the text, parks are regarded as financial liabilities because _________ .
A.the area of the park is gradually decreasing due to poor protection
B.the budget for the construction of the park is gradually decreasing
C.the value of the park is low by using a “natural capital” accounting approach
D.the traditional accountancy methods focus on a park’s saleable value
2.According to the text, which of the following is NOT the benefit of the park?
A.Improving air and water quality.
B.Symbolizing the city civilization.
C.Cooling the urban environment.
D.Providing much-needed habitat for wildlife.
3.Due to the reduction in budgets, what could probably happen?
A.The government will take money out of the health budget.
B.The local authorities will centralize the management of the park.
C.Much-loved local parks will turn into dangerous eyesores.
D.The true value of the park will be widely measured or recognised.
4.What can be learned from the last two paragraphs?
A.The committee has published strategic plans to recognise the real value of park.
B.It could be a legal requirement for councils to produce such strategies.
C.The local citizens should pay for the improving water quality.
D.The Labour government will spend £850m of lottery cash to revive the park.
【答案】1.D 2.B 3.C 4.B
【导语】这是一篇议论文。主要介绍的是城市公园作为重要资产,其真实价值未被广泛认识及合理评估的问题,并提出改善建议。
1.细节理解题。根据文章第一段内容“Traditional accountancy methods focus on a park’s saleable value, or its operational costs associated with maintenance. So England’s 27,000 parks are considered as financial liabilities rather than the amazing asset to our health and wellbeing that any of their 37 million regular users could vouch for.(传统的会计方法侧重于公园的可售价值,或者与维护相关的运营成本。因此,英格兰的 27000 个公园被视为财务负担,而非其 3700 万常客所认可的对我们的健康和福祉而言的宝贵资产。)”可知,传统会计方法只关注公园的可销售价值和维护成本,导致公园被视为“财务负担”。故选D项。
2.细节理解题。根据文章第一段内容“They also deliver a range of ecosystem services such as improved air and water quality, flood risk mitigation by absorbing water run-off, and cooling the urban environment as well as providing much-needed habitat for wildlife.(它们还提供一系列的生态系统服务,比如改善空气和水质、通过吸收径流来减轻洪水风险、为城市环境降温,以及为野生动物提供急需的栖息地。)”可知,公园的益处包括改善空气质量(A. Improving air and water quality.)、调节城市温度(C. Cooling the urban environment.)、提供野生动物栖息地(D. Providing much-needed habitat for wildlife.);而B项“Symbolizing the city civilization.(象征着城市文明。)”并未提及。故选B项。
3.细节理解题。根据文章第二段内容“Less money means fewer park rangers, less maintenance, more litter, dog poo and antisocial behaviour, including gang and drug-related activities, and gradually much-loved local parks turn into dangerous eyesores.(资金投入减少意味着护林员数量减少、维护工作量减少、垃圾增多、狗粪增多以及不良行为增多,包括帮派和毒品相关的活动,这样一来,深受民众喜爱的当地公园会逐渐变成令人担忧的脏乱差之所。)”可知,预算削减导致维护减少,各种不良行为增多,最终使公园沦为“令人担忧的脏乱差之所”,即,削减预算的有可能的后果是“深受人们喜爱的公园会成为脏乱差之所”。故选C项。
4.推理判断题。根据文章末尾段内容“It suggests the government’s obesity strategy could fund parks. It also suggests that it could be a legal requirement for councils to produce such strategies.(它建议政府的肥胖策略(制定公共卫生政策以减少肥胖率)可以赞助公园。委员会还建议政府将制定公园战略作为法律要求。)”可知,委员会呼吁政府制定战略计划以保护公园价值,并希望制定此类策略成为一项法律要求。因此可推知,制定战略保护公园价值有肯能成为地方政府的一项法律要求。故选B项。
【热点话题练习】
Witnessing the rise of Labubu
I first noticed Labubu when I visited Beijing in July as part of a cultural exchange program. I recognized it as something I would see Generation Z or younger kids carrying around, but I wouldn’t have guessed it was Chinese.
From a design point of view, Labubu’s popularity doesn’t surprise me at all. There is so much mass marketing aimed at perfect cuteness or beauty that people often get tired of it, and so it becomes cliche and boring. In the US, counterculture has been influential for about 60 years, so something off-putting like a Labubu’s gremlin (小精灵) smile has the kind of edge that another princess doll lacks.
I think it’s a similar phenomenon to modern art, making fun of the concept of a gallery by presenting vacuum cleaners, taping a banana to a wall or destroying a painting upon purchase. Or antiheroes in film and literature.
Labubu does remind me of Minions (小黄人), which came out of a movie where the main character is a textbook archetypal (典型的) cartoon villain (反派).
Today’s toys and character designs are so high-quality and realistic — nothing was like that when I was a kid. Pikachu and SpongeBob SquarePants are simple. Souvenir toys today, however, are as detailed as something you would find displayed in an old wax museum. I think it becomes too much. Everything is too perfect. How is that supposed to be cool or interesting?
The fact that Labubu’s face is by conventional beauty standards ugly reminds me of pugs, those little smushed-face dogs. Some people don’t like how they look, but pugs (哈巴狗) are still popular pets.They are often lovingly called “pugly”, which means ugly in a cute or lovable way.
As for Labubu’s Chinese origin and how it shows a mix of Chinese and Western styles, I think it’s only natural that more modern Chinese products will become popular in the West. It feels a bit strange that “Made in China” used to mean poor quality when I was a kid, but now the only thing stopping us from buying Chinese cars and electronics is the US government rules. Young people are starting to expect new and exciting things from China, including cool products to buy.
1.What does the underlined word “off-putting” in paragraph 2 most probably mean?
A.Perfect. B.Simple. C.Attractive. D.Disturbing.
2.Why does the author compare Labubu to modern art?
A.To show its artistic originality. B.To highlight its unusual appeal.
C.To stress its high market value. D.To prove its wide cultural reach.
3.What does the author suggest about most of today’s toy designs?
A.They are full of imagination.
B.They ignore what children really like.
C.They copy well-known cartoon styles.
D.They are hard for people to connect with because of the perfection.
4.What broader trend does the author see in Labubu’s success?
A.Growing rejection of global brands.
B.Declining quality of mass production.
C.Increasing Western interest in China.
D.Rising demand for handcrafted goods.
【答案】1.D 2.B 3.D 4.C
【导语】本文是一篇议论文。文章通过作者对Labubu这一中国潮玩形象的观察,探讨了其反传统美学设计、与现代艺术的相似性,以及背后反映的西方对中国文化产品兴趣增长的趋势。
1.词句猜测题。根据第二段中的“There is so much mass marketing aimed at perfect cuteness or beauty that people often get tired of it, and so it becomes cliche and boring. In the US, counterculture has been influential for about 60years, so something off-putting like a Labubu’s gremlin (小精灵) smile has the kind of edge that another princess doll lacks.(市面上有太多以“极致可爱”或“美丽”为卖点的大规模营销,人们对此往往会感到厌烦,这类营销也因此变得陈腐又无趣。在美国,反主流文化已产生了约60年的影响,所以像拉布布那略显怪异的小精灵笑容这类让人off-putting的特质,恰恰具备了其他公主玩偶所欠缺的独特锋芒。)”可知,Labubu 的风格区别于主流的完美可爱风格,其小精灵式笑容带有非常规的特质,由此可推测“off-putting”意为“令人不安的、让人不适的”。选项中D. Disturbing(令人不安的)最接近。故选D项。
2.推理判断题。根据第三段中的“I think it’s a similar phenomenon to modern art, making fun of the concept of a gallery by presenting vacuum cleaners, taping a banana to a wall or destroying a painting upon purchase.(我认为这与现代艺术现象相似——通过展示吸尘器、把香蕉贴墙上或购买后销毁画作来调侃画廊概念。)”可知,作者将Labubu比作现代艺术,是因为两者都通过“反常规、带点怪诞”的设计和表现形式来吸引关注,突出其不同寻常的吸引力。故选B项。
3.推理判断题。根据第五段“Today’s toys and character designs are so high-quality and realistic — nothing was like that when I was a kid. Pikachu and SpongeBob SquarePants are simple. Souvenir toys today, however, are as detailed as something you would find displayed in an old wax museum. I think it becomes too much. Everything is too perfect. How is that supposed to be cool or interesting?(如今的玩具和角色设计质量极高且十分逼真 —— 我小时候的玩具可完全不是这样的。皮卡丘和海绵宝宝的造型都很简约,可如今的纪念款玩具,精细程度堪比老蜡像馆里展出的藏品。我觉得这实在是过犹不及了,所有东西都完美得过头。这样的玩具又怎么能称得上酷炫或有趣呢?)”可推知,作者认为现在的玩具设计因“过度完美”而让人难以产生共鸣或觉得有趣。故选D项。
4.推理判断题。根据最后一段“As for Labubu’s Chinese origin and how it shows a mix of Chinese and Western styles, I think it’s only natural that more modern Chinese products will become popular in the West. It feels a bit strange that “Made in China” used to mean poor quality when I was a kid, but now the only thing stopping us from buying Chinese cars and electronics is the US government rules.Young people are starting to expect new and exciting things from China, including cool products to buy.(就拉布布的中国本源及其所体现的中西风格融合而言,我认为越来越多的现代中国产品在西方走红是理所当然的。我小时候,“中国制造” 还曾意味着劣质,这如今想来有些不可思议;而现在,阻碍我们购买中国汽车和电子产品的唯一因素,就只剩美国政府的相关规定了。年轻人正开始期待来自中国的新奇有趣之物,其中也包括各种酷炫的可购商品。)”可知,作者从Labubu的成功中看到的更广泛趋势是西方对中国的兴趣在不断提升。故选C项。
A good friend of mine is always telling her kids, “There’s no quick way to the top. You have to take the stairs.” That’s good advice because becoming an expert in anything requires time and a lot of effort. It’s step by step, just like climbing stairs. A concept that highlights this is the “10,000-hour rule,” which was popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers.
The 10,000-hour rule suggests that it takes about 10,000 hours of focused practice to master any skill. This idea comes from research by psychologist Anders Ericsson. He studied highly skilled performers in various fields. Whether you want to play the violin, excel in sports or master computer programming, the basic principle is the same. Expert skills are earned through practice, not luck.
However, the 10,000-hour rule is not set in stone. The quality of practice matters as much as the quantity. The practice must be intentional, and it must involve challenging yourself to improve specific things. For example, a piano player might focus on mastering difficult passages rather than just playing familiar pieces over and over. After all, even with substantial practice time, there’s no guarantee of reaching top-level performance. Expect hours of practice to be the path to greatness, and you will be fooling yourself.
In 2016, psychologist Macnamara analyzed 33 studies. She looked at the relationship between intentional practice and athletic achievement. Intentional practice accounted for just 18 percent of the difference in sports performance between average players and experts, and it accounts for only 1 percent of the difference between top performers. In addition, top performers hadn’t started practicing their sport earlier in their childhoods. They had begun about the same time as other students who were not as successful. This suggests that other factors, like natural talent, personality and life history, also play a role in becoming an expert.
Becoming an expert is a great goal to work toward. But remember, you don’t have to be great at something to enjoy doing it. You can still enjoy something without being the best in the world at it.
1.The “10,000-hour rule” holds that ________.
A.talent is more important than years of training
B.luck plays the decisive role in becoming highly skilled
C.around 10,000 hours of training ensures top-level success
D.mastery requires about 10,000 hours of focused practice
2.The phrase “set in stone” in paragraph 3 most probably means ________.
A.totally unchangeable B.widely recognised
C.wholly understandable D.scientifically tested
3.Macnamara’s 2016 studies show that among expert players intentional practice makes up ________ of the performance gap.
A.1% B.18% C.82% D.99%
4.What does the writer mainly convey in the passage?
A.The 10,000-hour rule covers sports but not music.
B.Having fun in activities depends on expert skills.
C.Reaching the top requires more than practice.
D.Practice alone is enough to ensure greatness,
【答案】1.D 2.A 3.B 4.C
【导语】本文是一篇议论文。文章主要讨论了“一万小时定律”及其局限性,指出成为专家不仅需要练习,还受其他因素影响。
1.细节理解题。根据第二段中“The 10,000-hour rule suggests that it takes about 10,000 hours of focused practice to master any skill.(一万小时定律表明,掌握任何技能都需要大约一万小时的专注练习。)”可知,一万小时定律认为精通一项技能需要大约一万小时的专注练习。故选D。
2.词句猜测题。根据第三段中“However, the 10,000-hour rule is not set in stone. The quality of practice matters as much as the quantity. The practice must be intentional, and it must involve challenging yourself to improve specific things.(不过,一万小时定律并非是set in stone。练习的质量和时长同等重要。练习必须是有目的性的,而且需要督促自己去提升特定的能力。)”可知,一万小时定律并不是不可改变的,练习的质量和数量一样重要,所以可以推测出set in stone意为“不可改变的”,与A项totally unchangeable“完全不可改变的”意思相符。故选A。
3.细节理解题。根据第四段中“In 2016, psychologist Macnamara analyzed 33 studies. She looked at the relationship between intentional practice and athletic achievement. Intentional practice accounted for just 18 percent of the difference in sports performance between average players and experts, and it accounts for only 1 percent of the difference between top performers.(2016年,心理学家麦克纳马拉分析了33项研究。她研究了有目的的练习和运动成绩之间的关系。有目的的练习在普通运动员和专家之间的运动成绩差异中只占18%,在顶尖运动员之间的差异中只占1%。)”可知,麦克纳马拉2016年的研究表明,在专家运动员中,有目的的练习在表现差距中占18%。故选B。
4.主旨大意题。通读全文,尤其是根据第四段中“This suggests that other factors, like natural talent, personality and life history, also play a role in becoming an expert.(这表明,其他因素,如天赋、个性和生活经历,也在成为专家方面发挥作用。)”以及最后一段“Becoming an expert is a great goal to work toward. But remember, you don’t have to be great at something to enjoy doing it. You can still enjoy something without being the best in the world at it.(成为一个专家是一个伟大的目标。但请记住,你不必擅长某件事才能享受它。即使你不是世界上最好的,你仍然可以享受某件事。)”可知,本文主要讨论了“一万小时定律”及其局限性,指出成为专家不仅需要练习,还受其他因素影响。故选C。
Even if you don’t worry that artificial intelligence (AI) will destroy the human race, you might fear its huge appetite for electricity will damage the environment. Asking an AI chatbot a question is equivalent to using ten times more energy than an old-fashioned internet search. As the AI boom took off, you may think that emissions(排放)from tech giants evidently rise. With huge investments in new data centers planned, more rises seem inevitable. But the worry is on shaky ground.
In absolute terms, AI may be less energy-hungry than assumed. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that electricity consumption by data centers could more than double in five years. Even if energy usage increases sharply, the basic is still low. Data centers currently account for only about 1.5% of global electricity consumption — and the vast majority of that is due to streaming, social media and online shopping, not AI.
Handled in a smart way, some of AI’s electricity use will help with greening the economy. AI is highly capable of identifying complex patterns and improving systems, which can help reduce emissions. It is already helping improve the efficiency of electrical networks with real-time balance of supply and demand. Besides, it has assisted in reducing petrol consumption in shipping through adjusting routes and speeds to the fittest, and spotting leaks of methane (a greenhouse gas) by cooperating with satellites and ground sensors.
The task for policymakers and industry bosses is to maximize AI’s advantages in saving energy, thus minimizing its climate impacts. The most elegant solution would be for governments to set a proper price on carbon. But because a global carbon price remains a distant dream, it would be more realistic to focus on other measures.
The first is greater openness. From August 2026, the EU will require some AI developers to report their energy use in detail, which can be copied elsewhere. A second is to rethink how data centers operate. The IEA notes that arranging to shift volume of work among data centers at different times could reduce pressure and help balance energy networks, making them better matched to renewable power. Third, tech firms should live up to their environmental promises. Many now rely heavily on buying renewable-energy credits, a problematic way of balancing their emissions. A better one is to use their influence to promote the decarbonization of the energy networks by pushing for planning reform and supporting alternatives like nuclear power. Doubling down on these would help transform AI from climate suspect to climate hero.
1.The reason why the author says “the worry is on shaky ground” is that________.
A.tech companies have already achieved their carbon goals
B.future data centers will be powered by renewable energy
C.the current energy use by AI is small within global context
D.AI’s environmental benefits can make up for its energy cost
2.We can learn from paragraph 3 that________.
A.energy used by AI would otherwise realize a green economy
B.energy saving in shipping is partly due to AI-improved routes
C.AI’s real-time management has raised electricity consumption
D.methane leak detection done by AI can be sensed by satellites
3.Which of the following is recommended to handle AI’s climate impacts?
A.Setting a global carbon price for tech industries.
B.Scheduling data centers’ workloads dynamically.
C.That tech firms balance emissions through credit exchange.
D.That AI developers stay open to others’ reporting approaches
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A.Technology’s Impact on Climate Change B.Government Regulations on AI and Energy
C.AI’s Energy Demand and Tech Innovation D.AI’s Energy Consumption and Conservation
【答案】1.C 2.B 3.B 4.D
【导语】这是一篇议论文。文章介绍了AI能耗担忧被夸大:IEA称数据中心用电仅占全球1.5%,AI占比更小,且AI可优化电网、航运与甲烷监测助减排。关键在透明报告、分时负载与清洁电源,辅以碳价,可使AI成为气候英雄而非元凶。
1.推理判断题。根据第二段“In absolute terms, AI may be less energy-hungry than assumed. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that electricity consumption by data centers could more than double in five years. Even if energy usage increases sharply, the basic is still low. Data centers currently account for only about 1.5% of global electricity consumption—and the vast majority of that is due to streaming, social media and online shopping, not AI.(从绝对意义上讲,人工智能可能不像人们想象的那么耗能。国际能源署(IEA)估计,数据中心的用电量将在五年内增加一倍以上。即使能源使用急剧增加,基本价格仍然很低。目前,数据中心的用电量仅占全球用电量的1.5%左右,其中绝大部分用电量来自流媒体、社交媒体和在线购物,而不是人工智能)”可知,数据中心仅占全球电力消耗的1.5%,且大部分来自流媒体、社交媒体等非AI活动,所以第一段中提到AI对电力的巨大需求会破坏环境这一担心是站不住脚的。短语on shaky ground意为“站不住脚,令人质疑的”。故选C项。
2.细节理解题。根据第三段“Besides, it has assisted in reducing petrol consumption in shipping through adjusting routes and speeds to the fittest, and spotting leaks of methane (a greenhouse gas) by cooperating with satellites and ground sensors.(此外,它还通过调整航线和航速来帮助减少航运中的汽油消耗,并通过与卫星和地面传感器合作来发现甲烷的泄漏)”可知,航运业节约了很多能源部分原因是由于人工智能改善了航线。故选B项。
3.细节理解题。根据最后一段“A second is to rethink how data centers operate. The IEA notes that arranging to shift volume of work among data centers at different times could reduce pressure and help balance energy networks, making them better matched to renewable power.(第二是重新思考数据中心的运作方式。国际能源署指出,在不同时间安排数据中心之间的工作量可以减轻压力,并有助于平衡能源网络,使其更好地与可再生能源相匹配)”可知,为解决AI对气候的影响,文中建议可以动态安排数据中心的工作量。故选B项。
4.主旨大意题。根据第一段“Even if you don’t worry that artificial intelligence (AI) will destroy the human race, you might fear its huge appetite for electricity will damage the environment. Asking an AI chatbot a question is equivalent to using ten times more energy than an old-fashioned internet search. As the AI boom took off, ou may think that emissions(排放)from tech giants evidently rise. With huge investments in new data centers planned, more rises seem inevitable. But the worry is on shaky ground.(即使你不担心人工智能(AI)会毁灭人类,你也可能担心它。向人工智能聊天机器人提问,相当于使用比老式互联网搜索多10倍的能量。随着人工智能的蓬勃发展,你可能会认为科技巨头的排放量明显上升。随着对新数据中心的巨额投资计划,更多的上涨似乎是不可避免的。但这种担忧是站不住脚的)”并纵观全文可知,文章开头提到人工智能耗能巨大有可能危害气候引发担忧,下文否定了这一担忧,并指出人工智能的一些电力使用将有助于绿色经济,在节约能源方面的优势,有关部门的加倍努力将有助于人工智能从气候嫌疑犯转变为气候英雄。由此可知,D项概括主旨,适合用作标题。故选D项。
Never Mind Your Children’s Screen Time. Worry About Your Parents’
Parents often nag kids to put down phones, fearing screens create an “anxious generation.” Yet the most screen-addicted group may be the elderly: today’s pensioners spend over half their waking hours on smartphones, TVs and tablets.
This digital shift in old age has clear benefits. Smart devices keep seniors connected: Facebook shares updates from friends and grandchildren; Zoom brings church services or doctor’s appointments home; e-commerce eliminates the need to trek around shops and remove tiring shopping trips. A connected retirement feels far more fulfilling than an offline one.
Seniors also face fewer screen risks than teens. They have stable real-life relationships, so “social stunting” is rare. Their worldview resists online manipulation, and their free time means screen habits feel like choices, not obligations.
Yet this trend carries costs. Unlike teens, seniors’ devices link to credit cards — making them targets for online scammers. Governments protect kids from predators; they must now safeguard this fast-growing vulnerable group.
Misinformation is another threat: pensioners are twice as likely as young adults to use news apps, and more susceptible to online hoaxes. As they shift from traditional media to YouTube or TikTok, they enter an “information Wild West” — and their votes mean their confusion affects everyone.
Screens can be companions for isolated seniors, but also replace real social interactions. Unlike teens (curbed by parents/teachers), seniors lack informal limits. This calls for a balanced debate: digital tools enrich elderly lives, but society must address their unique risks.
1.The underlined phrase “eliminates the need” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to “_________”.
A.meets the demand for
B.removes the requirement of
C.increases the difficulty of
D.highlights the importance of
2.The writer mentions “credit cards” in Paragraph 4 to show that _________.
A.seniors rely more on digital payments than teens
B.online scammers target seniors due to their financial access
C.governments have ignored the safety of seniors’ online activities
D.credit cards are the main reason for seniors’ screen addiction
3.What can be inferred about seniors’ screen habits?
A.Their screen time is more of a choice than teens’.
B.They are less likely to be influenced by online content.
C.Their screen use is mainly controlled by family members.
D.They prefer traditional media over social platforms.
4.Which of the following best reflects the writer’s opinion in the passage?
A.Seniors should reduce screen time to avoid online risks.
B.Society’s focus on kids’ screen use is completely misplaced.
C.Digital tools benefit seniors but require targeted protection.
D.Seniors’ screen addiction is a more severe problem than teens’.
【答案】1.B 2.B 3.A 4.C
【导语】这是一篇议论文,文章主要讨论了老年人过度使用电子设备的现象,指出虽然数字工具给老年人生活带来好处,但也存在独特风险,如易受网络诈骗和虚假信息影响等,强调社会需关注并解决这些问题。
1.词句猜测题。根据第二段“to trek around shops and remove tiring shopping trips. A connected retirement feels far more fulfilling than an offline one. (省去了在商店里奔波的劳累,也免去了那些令人疲惫的购物之旅。有数字设备连接的退休生活,远比脱离网络的生活要充实得多。)”可知,电子商务让老年人不用去商店购物,也就是消除了去商店购物的需求,可推理出“eliminates the need”的意思是“消除需求”,与“removes the requirement of(消除要求)”意思相近。故选B项。
2.推理判断题。根据第四段“Unlike teens, seniors’ devices link to credit cards — making them targets for online scammers. Governments protect kids from predators; they must now safeguard this fast-growing vulnerable group. (与青少年不同,老年人的设备与信用卡相连,这使他们成为网络诈骗者的目标。政府保护儿童免受掠夺者侵害;他们现在必须保护这个快速增长的弱势群体。)”可知,老年人的设备与信用卡相连,这使他们成为网络诈骗者的目标,可推理出作者提到“信用卡”是为了说明老年人因为设备与信用卡相连,有经济上的可接触性,所以成为网络诈骗者的目标。故选B项。
3.推理判断题。根据第三段“Their worldview resists online manipulation, and their free time means screen habits feel like choices, not obligations. (他们的世界观抵制网络操纵,他们的空闲时间意味着屏幕习惯更像是一种选择,而不是义务。)”可知,老年人的世界观抵制网络操纵,他们的空闲时间意味着屏幕习惯更像是一种选择,而不是义务,可推断出老年人的屏幕使用时间更多是一种选择,而不是像青少年那样可能受外界限制。故选A项。
4.推理判断题。根据最后一段“Screens can be companions for isolated seniors, but also replace real social interactions. Unlike teens (curbed by parents/teachers), seniors lack informal limits. This calls for a balanced debate: digital tools enrich elderly lives, but society must address their unique risks. (屏幕可以成为孤独老年人的伴侣,但也会取代真正的社交互动。与青少年(受父母/老师限制)不同,老年人缺乏非正式的限制。这需要一场平衡的辩论:数字工具丰富了老年人的生活,但社会必须解决他们独特的风险。)”可知,作者认为数字工具丰富了老年人的生活,但社会必须解决他们独特的风险,所以C项“Digital tools benefit seniors but require targeted protection. (数字工具能给老年人带来益处,但也需要有针对性的保护。)”表达的含义最能反映作者的观点,故选C项。
Surgical students are less capable than their ancestors because they spend too much time with screens and not enough with physical materials. These claims from Roger Kneebone, professor of surgical education at Imperial College London, were widely reported last week.
According to Kneebone, today’s students lack the dexterity that is important for sewing, cutting and stitching. He argues that this is because, instead of taking part in creative subjects that involve manual work during their school education, “a lot of things are reduced to swiping on a two-dimensional flat screen”.
There hasn’t been much research into the effects of smartphones on surgical skills. However, one 2012 study found no statistically significant change in digital dexterity among frequent smartphone users, and it did find a significant improvement in reaction time.
If anything, says Pete Etchells, a psychologist at Bath Spa University, UK, the use of digital technology of any kind — rather than smartphones specifically — is linked with a higher level of surgical skill. One 2007 study, for example, found that young surgeons who played a lot of video games made fewer errors in surgery and worked faster than those who didn’t. A randomized, controlled trial in 2012 found that surgery simulators(模拟) were less effective at training surgeons than just letting them play on games consoles. These were small studies that merely found modest effects, warns Etchells, but they don’t paint a picture of digital technology damaging the core skills of surgery.
More broadly, says Andrew Przybylski of the Oxford Internet Institute, UK, Kneebone’s concerns and the resulting coverage are part of a wider reaction to the role of technology in our lives. Around a decade ago, we anticipated that digital experiences could lead to improvements in various kinds of real-world competence, such as brain-training games enhancing cognitive performance or video games boosting surgical dexterity. “As those hopes haven’t materialized, we rightly feel disappointed,” says Przybylski.
There is also a society-wide fear about new technologies, which is often unfounded. Przybylski’s own work has found that, contrary to widespread concern around technology and young people, screen time seems to have a small, positive effect on teenagers in all but the most extreme of cases. “Collective anxiety about the role of smartphones, and social media companies, fuel this sort of fear of technology,” he says.
Ultimately, Kneebone may turn out to be right that the decline in crafts and handiwork at school is reducing the quality of the surgical student intake. But there seems little evidence of it yet. In fact, it is probably a positive thing that our youngest surgeons are digitally literate. In the very near future, a surgeon’s ability to interact with technology — be that surgical robots or augmented reality — will become increasingly important.
1.What does the underlined word dexterity mean?
A.Power of concentration. B.Experience of performing surgery.
C.Capacity to use words or mind. D.Skills related to hand work.
2.What can we learn from the studies mentioned in Paragraph 3 and 4?
A.People are confident that video games will boost cognitive performance.
B.Surgeons won’t be less skillful when exposed to digital technology.
C.Digital applications except smartphones strengthen surgical skills.
D.Most surgeons are modest about their improved working efficiency.
3.The perceived decline of medical students’ surgical competence is due to___________.
A.people’s fear about technology that is backed up by scientific evidence
B.people’s failure to see the positive effects of digital technology emerge
C.the increased time teenagers spent using smartphones and social media
D.the decreased access to handiwork and crafts required in medical school
4.Which of the following may serve as the best title for this passage?
A.Surgical Skills, Need Enhancing? B.Digital Devices, Enhance Reaction Time?
C.Surgeons, Be Trained as Digital Natives? D.Screen Time, Bad for Young Surgeons?
【答案】1.D 2.B 3.B 4.D
【导语】这是一篇议论文。本文讨论了关于现代外科学生是否因过多使用电子设备而缺乏手术所需的手工技能的争议。Roger Kneebone教授认为,学生因减少手工活动而技能下降,但研究表明数字技术(如电子游戏)可能反而提升手术表现;同时讲述了相关争议背后的社会与认知原因。但从长远来看,数字素养对未来外科医生可能越来越重要。
1.词义猜测题。根据后文的定语从句“that is important for sewing, cutting and stitching(这对缝纫、切割和缝合很重要)”可知,句中“sewing(缝纫)”,“cutting(切割)”,“stitching(缝合)” 均为外科手术中手工操作相关动作,因此可推知,“dexterity”应指向“手术中与手工操作相关的能力”。故选D项。
2.推理判断题。文章第三段的研究“However, one 2012 study found no statistically significant change in digital dexterity among frequent smartphone users, and it did find a significant improvement in reaction time.(然而,2012年的一项研究发现,经常使用智能手机的人在数字灵巧度方面没有出现统计学上的显著变化,但反应时间确实有显著提高。)”发现频繁使用智能手机对数字灵巧度无负面影响,反而提升反应速度;同时结合第四段研究“One 2007 study, for example, found that young surgeons who played a lot of video games made fewer errors in surgery and worked faster than those who didn’t. A randomized, controlled trial in 2012 found that surgery simulators were less effective at training surgeons than just letting them play on games consoles.(例如,2007年的一项研究发现,经常玩电子游戏的年轻外科医生在手术中出现的失误更少,操作速度也比不玩电子游戏的医生更快。2012年的一项随机对照试验则表明,手术模拟器在培养外科医生方面的效果,不如仅仅让他们玩游戏机。)”可知,2007年研究显示玩电子游戏的外科医生手术错误更少、速度更快;2012年试验表明手术模拟器效果不如游戏机训练。由此推知,这些研究均指向数字技术未损害外科技能,即,外科医生接触数字技术后并不会变得技术能力下降。故选B项。
3.细节理解题。根据文章第五段内容“Around a decade ago, we anticipated that digital experiences could lead to improvements in various kinds of real-world competence, such as brain-training games enhancing cognitive performance or video games boosting surgical dexterity. ‘As those hopes haven’t materialized, we rightly feel disappointed,’ says Przybylski.(大约十年前,我们曾预期数字体验能够促进各种实际能力的提升,比如脑力训练游戏能够提高认知能力,或者视频游戏能够增强手术技能。但“由于这些期望并未实现,我们理所当然地感到失望。”Przybylski说道。)”可知,担忧源于对技术作用的过度期待落空,即,这种“能力下降”的认知主要源于人们未看到技术积极效果显现的失望。故选B项。
4.主旨大意题。通过阅读文章内容可知,文章首段内容“Surgical students are less capable than their ancestors because they spend too much time with screens and not enough with physical materials. These claims from Roger Kneebone, professor of surgical education at Imperial College London, were widely reported last week.(外科专业学生的能力不如前辈,因为他们花太多时间在屏幕上,而在实物操作上投入的时间不足。伦敦帝国理工学院外科教育教授Roger Kneebone的这些说法上周得到了广泛报道。)”提出了Roger Kneebone的观点“屏幕时间损害外科学生技能”,却在第三段“However, one 2012 study found no statistically significant change in digital dexterity among frequent smartphone users, and it did find a significant improvement in reaction time.(然而,2012 年的一项研究发现,经常使用智能手机的人在数字灵巧度方面没有出现统计学上的显著变化,但反应时间确实有显著提高。)”,第四段“These were small studies that merely found modest effects, warns Etchells, but they don’t paint a picture of digital technology damaging the core skills of surgery.(Etchells警告说,这些只是小型研究,只发现了适度的影响,但它们并没有描绘出数字技术损害手术核心技能的画面。)”用“研究发现”进行了反驳。由此可知,文章核心围绕Kneebone 的观点“屏幕时间有害外科技能”为话题,用“研究”反驳展开,主旨是“探讨屏幕时间对年轻外科医生的影响是否负面”。D项“Screen Time, Bad for Young Surgeons?(屏幕时间对年轻外科医生有害吗?)”贴合主旨要义,可作最佳标题。故选D项。
Sarcasm (讽刺) and jazz have something surprisingly in common: You know them when you hear them. Sarcasm is mostly understood through tone of voice, which is used to portray the opposite of the literal words. For example, when someone says, “Well, that’s exactly what I need right now,” their tone can tell you it’s not what they need at all.
Most frequently, sarcasm highlights an irritation or is, quite simply, mean.
If you want to be happier and improve your relationships, cut out sarcasm. Why? Because sarcasm is actually hostility disguised as humor.
Despite smiling outwardly, many people who receive sarcastic comments feel put down and often think the sarcastic person is rude, or contemptible (可鄙的). Indeed, it’s not surprising that the origin of the word sarcasm derives from the Greek word “sarkazein” which literally means “to tear or strip the flesh off.” Hence, it’s no wonder that sarcasm is often used after the word “cutting” and that it hurts.
What’s more, since actions strongly determine thoughts and feelings, when a person consistently acts sarcastically it may only serve to heighten their underlying hostility and insecurity. After all, when you come right down to it, sarcasm can be used as a subtle form of bullying—and most bullies are angry, insecure, or cowardly.
Alternatively, when a person stops voicing negative comments, especially sarcastic ones, they may soon start to feel happier and more self-confident. Also, other people in their life benefit even more because they no longer have to hear the emotionally hurtful language of sarcasm.
Now, I’m not saying all sarcasm is bad. It may just be better used sparingly—like a powerful spice in cooking. Too much of the spice, and the dish will be overwhelmed by it. Similarly, an occasional dash of sarcastic wit can spice up a chat and add an element of humor to it. But a big or steady serving of sarcasm will overwhelm the emotional flavor of any conversation and can taste very bitter to its recipient.
So, tone down the sarcasm and work on clever wit instead, which is usually without any hostility and thus more appreciated by those you’re communicating with. In essence, sarcasm is easy while true, harmless wit takes talent.
Thus, the main difference between wit and sarcasm is that, as already stated, sarcasm is often hostility disguised as humor. It can be intended to hurt and is often bitter and biting. Witty statements are usually in response to someone’s unhelpful remarks or behaviors, and the intent is to untangle and clarify the issue by emphasizing its ridicule. Sarcastic statements are expressed in a cutting manner; witty remarks are delivered with undisguised and harmless humor.
1.Why does the author say sarcasm and jazz have something surprisingly in common?
A.Both are recognized when heard.
B.Both have exactly the same tone.
C.Both mean the opposite of what they appear to.
D.Both have hidden in them an evident irritation.
2.What happens when a person consistently acts sarcastically?
A.They feel their dignity greatly heightened.
B.They feel increasingly insecure and hostile.
C.They endure hostility under the disguise of humor.
D.They taste bitterness even in pleasant interactions.
3.What does the author say about people quitting sarcastic comments?
A.It makes others happier and more self-confident.
B.It restrains them from being irritating and bullying.
C.It benefits not only themselves but also those around them.
D.It shields them from negative comments and outright hostility.
4.What is the chief difference between a speaker’s wit and sarcasm?
A.Their intention. B.Their appreciation. C.Their emphasis. D.Their clarity.
【答案】1.A 2.B 3.C 4.A
【导语】本文为议论文。文章通过类比讽刺与爵士乐的共性引入主题,论证 "减少讽刺、倡导善意机智" 的观点,剖析讽刺的本质危害、与机智的核心区别,最终给出沟通建议。
1.细节理解题。根据文章第一段内容“Sarcasm and jazz have something surprisingly in common: You know them when you hear them.(讽刺和爵士乐之间竟有着惊人的相似之处:当你听到它们的时候,就能立刻辨别出来。)”可知,讽刺和爵士乐之间的相似之处在于“一听就能识别出来”。故选A项。
2.细节理解题。根据文章第五段内容“What’s more, since actions strongly determine thoughts and feelings, when a person consistently acts sarcastically it may only serve to heighten their underlying hostility and insecurity.(此外,由于行为会极大地影响思想和情感,如果一个人总是以讽刺的方式行事,这可能只会加剧他们内心深处的敌意和不安感。)”可知,持续讽刺行为会强化内在的敌意和不安全感。故选B项。
3.细节理解题。根据文章第六段内容“Alternatively, when a person stops voicing negative comments, especially sarcastic ones, they may soon start to feel happier and more self-confident. Also, other people in their life benefit even more because they no longer have to hear the emotionally hurtful language of sarcasm.(另外,当一个人不再发表负面评论(尤其是带有讽刺意味的评论)时,他们很快就会开始感到更加快乐和自信。而且,他们生活中的其他人也会受益更多,因为他们不再需要听到那种充满情感伤害的讽刺话语了。)”可知,停止讽刺后,本人更快乐自信,周围人因免受伤害而获益更多,即,对自己,对周围的人都有益处。故选C项。
4.推理判断题。根据文章末尾段内容“Thus, the main difference between wit and sarcasm is that, as already stated, sarcasm is often hostility disguised as humor. It can be intended to hurt and is often bitter and biting. Witty statements are usually in response to someone’s unhelpful remarks or behaviors, and the intent is to untangle and clarify the issue by emphasizing its ridicule.(因此,机智与讽刺的主要区别在于:正如我们之前所说,讽刺往往是以幽默的形式来掩饰敌意的。它的目的往往在于伤害他人,并且通常带有尖刻和刺耳的意味。机智的言论通常是对他人无益的言论或行为的回应,其目的在于通过强调其荒谬之处来理清并阐明问题。)”可知,讽刺是“伪装成幽默的敌意”,意图伤人;机智则“无恶意且幽默”,无敌意,意图理清问题。由此推知,二者的主要区别在于意图不同。故选A项。
A friend recently shared a post from the satirical (嘲讽的) site Reductress. It depicted a woman, arms held triumphantly high, beneath the headline:“ She Did It! This Woman Was Able To Confirm That Everyone Was Not Mad At Her!”
I sometimes feel the same heart-sinking insecurity. If I haven’t heard from a friend in a while, or their most recent message seemed a bit a little too direct, my mind throws up the question: did I do something wrong?
In many ways it’s a senseless reaction — I’ve no real reason to believe I’ve offended or upset them; they’re probably just busy. Yet I can’t shake the feeling.
Why are we so quick to assume that our friends are mad at us — or even ready to drop us?
“When we fear that our friends are mad at us, it feels really convincing,” says psychotherapist Meg Josephson. “ We’re trying to relieve this anxiety, so we seek reassurance —’ Was I annoying? Was I weird?’ — but it’s not getting to the actual feeling that’s underneath it. ”
In her new book Are You Mad At Me?, Josephson says this impulse is driven by a desire to please and be affirmed. The so-called“ fawn response” is one way we respond to threats, whether real (physical danger) or perceived (your friend taking longer than usual to text you back).
“The fawn response is about lessening the threat, so that you can feel safe, ” says Josephson. “ Your immediate instinct is to be ‘Are we OK?’ — or to compliment them, or be helpful to them, so that you can ease the perceived tension. ”
Less well known than the fight or flight response, it is often developed in childhood in response to critical or emotionally neglectful parents, or a volatile home environment, Josephson says. Women are especially susceptible (受影响的), being socialized to put others at ease.
The attempted mind-reading and “anxious rumination” can become exhausting, says Josephson. It also doesn’t actually protect you against conflict. The key is understanding that it is not the end of the world — or a friendship.
“Especially if we grew up in more volatile homes, where conflict was brushed under the rug or we didn’t witness disagreement handled in a safe way, we learn to fear conflict as terminal,” Josephson says. “Actually, in healthy relationships, a little bit of friction is really good because it means both people can have differing opinions.”
Conflict is not only inevitable; it can even be healing, she adds, demonstrating that disagreement or discomfort doesn’t have to come at the cost of intimacy. “Repair is what leads to closeness.”
1.The author mentions her own experience (Paragraphs 2-3) primarily to ________.
A.justify her initial suspicion of her friends’ intentions
B.demonstrate a personal instance of offensive friends
C.introduce the discussion of the fawn response
D.highlight the necessity of addressing digital miscommunication
2.The underlined word “volatile” in paragraph 10 most probably means ________.
A.harmonious B.unstable C.desperate D.unsupportive
3.Based on Josephson’s views as presented in the passage, what can be inferred about healthy relationships?
A.They are characterized by the absence of disagreement or friction.
B.They depend on constant communication to prevent misunderstandings.
C.They can be strengthened by successfully navigating occasional conflicts.
D.They are best maintained by consistently using the fawn response.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.The cause and nature of the fawn response.
B.The negative impact of digital communication.
C.Strategies for friendship repair after conflicts.
D.Differences between fight, flight and fawn responses.
【答案】1.C 2.B 3.C 4.A
【导语】本文是一篇议论文,以作者自身对朋友态度的不安经历为切入点,引入心理治疗师Meg Josephson提出的“讨好反应”这一概念,阐述了其产生的原因、群体特征、负面影响,并结合健康人际关系的特点,说明冲突并非友谊的终结,反而能通过修复增进亲密感。
1.推理判断题。根据第二段“I sometimes feel the same heart-sinking insecurity. If I haven’t heard from a friend in a while, or their most recent message seemed a bit a little too direct, my mind throws up the question: did I do something wrong? (我有时也会有同样的不安全感。如果我有一段时间没有收到朋友的消息,或者他们最近的消息看起来有点太直接了,我的脑海里就会出现这样的问题:我做错了什么吗?)”,以及后文第五段“In her new book Are You Mad At Me?, Josephson says this impulse is driven by a desire to please and be affirmed. The so-called“ fawn response” is one way we respond to threats, whether real (physical danger) or perceived (your friend taking longer than usual to text you back)(在她的新书《你在生我的气吗?》Josephson说,这种冲动是由取悦和被肯定的欲望驱动的。所谓的“讨好反应”是我们对威胁的一种反应,无论是真实的(身体上的危险)还是感知的(你的朋友比平时更晚才回复你的短信))”可知,作者提及自身经历是为了引出“讨好反应”这一核心讨论话题。故选C。
2.词句猜测题。根据第八段“Less well known than the fight or flight response, it is often developed in childhood in response to critical or emotionally neglectful parents, or a volatile home environment(与战斗或逃跑反应相比,它鲜为人知,通常是在童年时期形成的,源于挑剔或情感忽视的父母,或是不稳定的家庭环境)”可知,“讨好反应”的形成与负面家庭环境相关,与“critical or emotionally neglectful parents”并列的“volatile home environment”应是消极含义的短语。结合选项,B“不稳定的”符合“可能引发孩子产生讨好反应”的负面家庭环境特征,且与“critical”、“emotionally neglectful”表意一致。故选B。
3.推理判断题。根据第十段“Actually, in healthy relationships, a little bit of friction is really good because it means both people can have differing opinions(事实上,在健康的关系中,一点点摩擦其实是好事,因为这意味着双方可以有不同的观点)”以及第十一段“Conflict is not only inevitable; it can even be healing, she adds, demonstrating that disagreement or discomfort doesn’t have to come at the cost of intimacy. “Repair is what leads to closeness.”(冲突不仅不可避免;她补充说,这甚至可以治愈,表明分歧或不适不一定以亲密为代价。“修复是导致亲密的原因。”)”可知,Josephson认为健康的人际关系中,冲突是有益的,通过成功应对偶尔的冲突,关系可以得到巩固。故选C。
4.主旨大意题。文章开篇以作者自身经历引入,随后通过心理治疗师的观点,详细解释了“讨好反应”的定义、产生原因(童年经历、取悦他人的渴望)、群体特征(女性更易受影响)、负面影响(令人疲惫、无法避免冲突),最后结合健康人际关系说明冲突的积极意义。核心围绕“讨好反应”的本质和成因展开。故选A。
I used to spend a lot of time worrying about how other people judged me. Did I say too much? Too little? Was I too intense, or not fun enough? These thoughts often distracted me, especially in meetings or social events. I had a whole inner self-talk going on in my head. Every facial expression and comment from others seemed full of hidden meaning. I would polish these “truths” about myself like shiny little stones and carry them around. It was exhausting.
But research shows that most people are not really thinking about us. In fact, studies have found that about 78% of conversations are people talking about themselves. The main function of conversation, researchers said, is to let the speakers share information about who they are.
Later studies confirmed this pattern. Psychologists found that we use our own experiences as an anchor when judging others. For example, if crowds make you uncomfortable, you might assume someone else disliked a big party — when in fact, they may have loved it. Brain imaging has also shown that the “default network” of our brain lights up when we are at rest, and it is the same area that activates when we think about ourselves. In other words, our mind’s natural state is self-focus.
So when I worry that people think I’m too intense, who is really thinking that? Me. The truth is, we have no idea what others are actually thinking, and we never will. Most likely, they are busy wondering what others think about them. I’m just a blip on the radar of their thoughts.
This doesn’t mean people will never judge or say harsh things. But often, their judgments aren’t truly about us. People are frequently the most critical of qualities in others that they feel insecure about in themselves.
The freedom comes when we stop internalizing others’ words and start asking, “What does this reveal about them?” Realizing that most people’s thoughts center on themselves is incredibly liberating.
1.What was the writer mainly concerned about in the beginning?
A.Why social events were often exhausting.
B.Why people were speaking to themselves.
C.How his words and behaviour were perceived.
D.How well people remembered his achievements.
2.What do later studies suggest about people’s judgement of others?
A.They pay attention to others’ feedback.
B.They rely mainly on logic and evidence.
C.They often draw on personal experience.
D.They enjoy guessing others’ likes and dislikes.
3.What does the phrase “a blip” (paragraph 4) most probably mean?
A.Something small and unimportant.
B.A major event that is well recorded.
C.Something that attracts most people.
D.A common topic people like to discuss.
4.Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
A.The Danger of Self-Focused Thinking
B.No One Is Really Thinking About You
C.Finding Freedom from Constant Self-Judgment
D.Why We Worry Too Much About Others’ Opinions
【答案】1.C 2.C 3.A 4.B
【导语】本文是一篇议论文。文章围绕“人们过度在意他人对自己的评价”这一现象展开,结合研究结果指出大多数人更关注自身,他人对我们的注意力远不如我们想象中多,最终倡导人们摆脱对他人评价的过度纠结,获得内心自由。
1.细节理解题。根据第一段中的“I used to spend a lot of time worrying about how other people judged me. Did I say too much? Too little? Was I too intense, or not fun enough?(我过去常常花很多时间担心别人如何评价我。我说得太多了吗?太少了?我是不是太强势了,或者不够有趣?)”可知,作者一开始主要关心的是自己的言行举止如何被他人看待。故选C项。
2.细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Later studies confirmed this pattern. Psychologists found that we use our own experiences as an anchor when judging others.(后续研究证实了这一规律。心理学家发现,我们在评判他人时会以自己的经历为依据。)”可知,后续研究表明人们对他人的评判往往基于个人经验。故选C项。
3.词句猜测题。根据第四段中的“The truth is, we have no idea what others are actually thinking, and we never will. Most likely, they are busy wondering what others think about them. I’m just a blip on the radar of their thoughts. (事实是,我们永远不知道别人真正在想什么。他们很可能正忙着担心别人对自己的看法。我在他们的思绪里,不过是a blip罢了。)”可知,他人的注意力都集中在自己身上,我们在他们的思绪中并不重要。由此推测“a blip”意为“微小且不重要的事物”。故选A项。
4.主旨大意题。根据文章第二段“But research shows that most people are not really thinking about us. In fact, studies have found that about 78% of conversations are people talking about themselves. The main function of conversation, researchers said, is to let the speakers share information about who they are.(但研究表明,大多数人其实并没有在真正关注我们。事实上,研究发现约78%的对话中,人们都是在谈论自己。研究人员表示,对话的主要作用是让说话者分享关于自身的信息。)”以及最后一段中的“Realizing that most people’s thoughts center on themselves is incredibly liberating.(意识到大多数人的思绪都聚焦在他们自己身上,这一点能让人获得极大的解脱。)”可知,文章核心围绕“大多数人并不会真正关注他人”展开,通过研究和分析指出他人的思维以自我为中心,因此最适合的标题是“没有人真的在思考你”。故选B项。
I’m a consumer psychologist who has studied social decision-making for over a decade. A common yet puzzling aspect of social life is how people respond to invitations, particularly when they reply with a vague “maybe”. Recently, my co-authors and I published a series of studies that directly examine what goes on in people’s heads when they are unsure whether to accept an invitation.
Social invitations can be a delicate dance, and people often misread what someone extending an invite wants to hear. We consistently found that people overestimate an inviter’s likelihood of preferring a “maybe” over a “no”. Moreover, they fail to realize how much more disrespected people feel when they receive a “maybe” in response to their invitation. Another pattern emerged: The more someone incorrectly assumed that a host preferred a tentative response, the more likely they were to respond with a “maybe” themselves.
Naturally, we wanted to figure out why this awkward dynamic plays out. We found that it’s largely due to something called “motivated reasoning”. Motivated reasoning occurs when a person interprets information in a biased way to arrive at a conclusion that is in line with their own wishes. Saying “no” right immediately eliminates one’s options and opens the door for FOMO, or fear of missing out, to emerge.
That said, there were certain situations that made people more comfortable saying “no” to an invite. In one study, we had recipients of an invitation put themselves in the shoes of the person extending the invite. This made them more likely to realize that they’d probably prefer a definitive answer. That is, it seemed to prevent motivated reasoning from emerging. In another study, we had participants get invited to do something they didn’t want to do. We found that motivated reasoning then became irrelevant: They had no desire to keep their options open, so they were more likely to assume that a “no” was preferable to a “maybe”.
Furthermore, other research has explored the subtle art of the decline, testing which reasons soften the bitterness of a rejected invitation. The findings are clear: saying you’re too busy comes across as a half-hearted excuse; saying you have a prior commitment lands with slightly more weight; but saying you simply don’t have the financial means to make it work is received with the greatest understanding. Beyond the choice of words, however, lies a more fundamental principle of communication. It might reduce your options. But it’ll keep those who invited you from being left in uncertainty.
1.What does the author intend to illustrate with the “delicate dance” metaphor in paragraph 2?
A.To argue that inviters often have self-serving motivations when extending offers.
B.To stress how easily people can misread others’ intentions in social exchanges.
C.To suggest a tentative “maybe” is the most polite response in these situations.
D.To prove the false assumption made by invitees who fear the consequences of refusal.
2.Based on the reasons for the “maybe” response, what can we conclude?
A.Even when people dislike the activity, FOMO makes them hesitate over it.
B.Receiving an unattractive invitation is the most effective way to eliminate FOMO.
C.Taking the inviter’s perspective helps to overcome the bias and give a direct answer.
D.People say “maybe” to avoid the duty of making an immediate decision for the inviter.
3.Based on the findings, what fundamental principle of communication does the author advocate?
A.Prioritize straightforward and clear communication.
B.Ensure refusals are credible with well-justified reasons.
C.Favor accepting invitations when facing uncertainty.
D.Maintain flexibility in one’s schedule when declining.
4.Which of the following would be the most appropriate title for the passage?
A.New Principles into Framing Invitations
B.How to politely Refuse an Invitation
C.Why “Maybe” Hurts and “No” Helps
D.Psychology Behind Successful Invitations
【答案】1.B 2.C 3.A 4.C
【导语】本文是一篇议论文。文章基于心理学研究,分析了人们回应邀请时倾向用“maybe”的原因(动机性推理、害怕错过),并指出换位思考和明确回应(如真诚说“no”)更利于沟通,同时分享了让拒绝更易被接受的方式。
1.推理判断题。根据划线词所在句“Social invitations can be a delicate dance(社交邀请可能是一场微妙的舞蹈)”以及下文“people often misread what someone extending an invite wants to hear. We consistently found that people overestimate an inviter’s likelihood of preferring a “maybe” over a “no”. Moreover, they fail to realize how much more disrespected people feel when they receive a “maybe” in response to their invitation.(人们经常会误解别人发出邀请时想听到的内容。我们一直发现,人们高估了邀请者喜欢“可能”而不是“不”的可能性。此外,他们没有意识到,当人们收到一个“可能”的回复时,他们会感到多么不受尊重。)”可知,人们经常误解邀请者的真实意图,错误解读邀请者的想法(如高估对方偏好“可能”而非“不”,以及收到“可能”时感到不受尊重),导致沟通问题;因此,作者用“delicate dance(微妙的舞蹈)”这个暗喻来强调人们在社会交往中很容易误解他人的意图。故选B。
2.推理判断题。根据第三段中“Motivated reasoning occurs when a person interprets information in a biased way to arrive at a conclusion that is in line with their own wishes. Saying “no” right immediately eliminates one’s options and opens the door for FOMO, or fear of missing out, to emerge.(动机性推理指的是一个人以带有偏见的方式解读信息,从而得出与自身意愿一致的结论。立刻说“不”会直接断绝自身的选择,进而引发错失恐惧症(即害怕错过机会的心理,英文缩写为 FOMO)。)”以及第四段中“In one study, we had recipients of an invitation put themselves in the shoes of the person extending the invite. This made them more likely to realize that they’d probably prefer a definitive answer. That is, it seemed to prevent motivated reasoning from emerging. (在一项研究中,我们让收到邀请的人设身处地地站在发出邀请的人的角度去思考。这使得他们更有可能意识到自己可能更希望得到一个明确的答复。也就是说,这似乎能够避免动机性推理的出现。)”可知,“可能”回应源于“动机推理”,即人们为避免FOMO(害怕错过)而保持选项开放。当受邀者站在邀请者角度思考时,他们更可能意识到对方想要一个明确的答复,从而更倾向于直接说“不”;这直接说明了换位思考是克服“动机性推理”偏见、给出明确答案的有效方法。故选C。
3.细节理解题。根据最后一段中“The findings are clear: saying you’re too busy comes across as a half-hearted excuse; saying you have a prior commitment lands with slightly more weight; but saying you simply don’t have the financial means to make it work is received with the greatest understanding. Beyond the choice of words, however, lies a more fundamental principle of communication. It might reduce your options. But it’ll keep those who invited you from being left in uncertainty.(研究结果明确表明:声称自己太忙听起来像是一个敷衍的借口;声称有其他事务安排则更具说服力;但声称自己根本没有足够的经济能力来赴约则会得到最大的理解。然而,除了措辞的选择之外,还存在着一个更根本的沟通原则。这可能会减少你的选择余地。但这样一来,邀请你的人就不会被置于不确定的境地了。)”可知,尽管拒绝时选词重要(如给出经济原因更易理解),一个明确的“不”会限制你的选择,但能避免让对方陷入不确定,因此,作者倡导的是避免对方陷入不确定的清晰、直接的沟通,明确回应(无论接受或拒绝)比模糊的“maybe”更重要。故选A。
4.主旨大意题。通读全文,尤其根据第二段中“Moreover, they fail to realize how much more disrespected people feel when they receive a “maybe” in response to their invitation. Another pattern emerged: The more someone incorrectly assumed that a host preferred a tentative response, the more likely they were to respond with a “maybe” themselves.(此外,他们没有意识到,当人们收到一个“可能”的回复时,他们会感到多么不受尊重。另一种模式出现了:人们越是错误地认为主人更喜欢试探性的回答,他们自己就越有可能回答“也许”。)”、第四段中“In one study, we had recipients of an invitation put themselves in the shoes of the person extending the invite. This made them more likely to realize that they’d probably prefer a definitive answer. (在一项研究中,我们让收到邀请的人设身处地地站在发出邀请的人的角度去思考。这使得他们更有可能意识到自己可能更希望得到一个明确的答复。也就是说,这似乎能够避免动机性推理的出现。在另一项研究中,我们让参与者接到邀请去做他们不想做的事情。)”以及最后一段中“Beyond the choice of words, however, lies a more fundamental principle of communication. It might reduce your options. But it’ll keep those who invited you from being left in uncertainty.(然而,除了措辞的选择之外,还存在着一个更根本的沟通原则。这可能会减少你的选择余地。但这样一来,邀请你的人就不会被置于不确定的境地了。)”可知,心理学角度分析“也许”回应背后的动机及其负面影响(如让邀请者感觉不受尊重),并最终论证“不”的积极作用(如减少不确定性),C选项“Why “Maybe” Hurts and “No” Helps”精准概括主题,适合作为最佳标题;故选C。
In recent years, the food industry has increased its use of labels. Whether the labels say ‘non-GMO’ or ‘no sugar,’ or ‘zero carbohydrates’, consumers are increasingly demanding more information about what’s in their food. One report found that 39 percent of consumers would switch from the brands they currently buy to others that provide clearer, more accurate product information. Food manufacturers are responding to the report with new labels to meet that demand, and they’re doing so with an eye towards giving their products an advantage over the competition, and bolstering profits.
This strategy makes intuitive sense. If consumers say they want transparency, tell them exactly what is in your product. That is simply supplying a certain demand. But the marketing strategy in response to this consumer demand has gone beyond showing what is in a product, to labeling what is NOT in the food. These labels are known as “absence claims” labels, and they represent an emerging labeling trend that is harmful both to the consumers who purchase the products and the industry that supplies them.
For example, Hunt’s put a “non-GMO” label on its canned crushed tomatoes a few years ago — despite the fact that at the time there was no such thing as a GMO tomato on the market. Some dairy companies are using the “non-GMO” label on their milk, despite the fact that all milk is naturally GMO-free, another label that creates unnecessary fear around food.
While creating labels that play on consumer fears and misconceptions about their food may give a company a temporary marketing advantage over competing products on the grocery aisle, in the long term this strategy will have just the opposite effect: by injecting fear into the discourse about our food, we run the risk of eroding consumer trust in not just a single product, but the entire food business.
Eventually, it becomes a question in consumers’ minds: Were these foods ever safe? By purchasing and consuming these types of products, have I already done some kind of harm to my family or the planet?
For food manufacturers, it will mean damaged consumer trust and lower sales for everyone. And this isn’t just supposition. A recent study found that absence claims labels can create a stigma (污名) around foods even when there is no scientific evidence that they cause harm.
It’s clear that food manufacturers must tread carefully when it comes to using absence claims. In addition to the likely negative long-term impact on sales, this verbal trick sends a message that innovations in farming and food processing are unwelcome, eventually leading to less efficiency, fewer choices for consumers, and ultimately, more costly food products. If we allow this kind of labeling to continue, we will all lose.
1.What is the author’s opinion about manufacturers’ new marketing strategy?
A.Stressing the absence of certain elements in their products
B.Showing the unique nutritional value of their products
C.Supplying detailed information of their products
D.Designing transparent labels for their products
2.What point does the author make about non-GMO labels?
A.They are increasingly attracting customers’ attention.
B.They create lots of trouble for GMO food producers.
C.They should be used more for vegetables and milk
D.They cause anxiety about food among consumers.
3.What does the author say absence claims labels will do to food manufacturers?
A.Cause changes in their marketing strategies.
B.Help remove stigma around their products
C.Erode consumer trust and reduce sales.
D.Decrease support from food scientists.
4.What is the best title for this passage?
A.Why Consumers Demand Greater Food transparency
B.The High Cost of “Free-From” Foodlabels
C.The Benefits of Non-GMO Labeling in the Food Industry
D.How Absence Claims Labels Build Consumer Trust
【答案】1.A 2.D 3.C 4.B
【导语】这是一篇议论文。探讨了食品行业中“无添加声明”标签这一新兴营销策略,分析其对消费者和食品行业的潜在危害。
1.细节理解题。根据第二段“But the marketing strategy in response to this consumer demand has gone beyond showing what is in a product, to labeling what is NOT in the food. These labels are known as “absence claims” labels, and they represent an emerging labeling trend that is harmful both to the consumers who purchase the products and the industry that supplies them. (但是,针对这种消费者需求的营销策略已经超越了显示产品中含有什么,而是标注食品中不含什么。这些标签被称为“无添加声明”标签,它们代表了一种新兴的标签趋势,对购买产品的消费者和供应产品的行业都有害)”可知,作者认为制造商的新营销策略是强调其产品中没有某些成分。故选A。
2.细节理解题。根据第三段“Some dairy companies are using the “non-GMO” label on their milk, despite the fact that all milk is naturally GMO-free, another label that creates unnecessary fear around food. (尽管事实上所有的牛奶都是天然的不含转基因的,一些乳制品公司在他们的牛奶上使用“非转基因”的标签,这种标签在食物方面制造了不必要的恐惧)”可知,作者认为非转基因标签会引发消费者对食物的焦虑。故选D。
3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段“For food manufacturers, it will mean damaged consumer trust and lower sales for everyone. (对食品制造商来说,这将意味着消费者信任受损,所有人的销售额都会下降)”可知,作者认为“无添加声明”标签会侵蚀消费者信任并减少食品制造商的销售额。故选C。
4.主旨大意题。根据最后一段“It’s clear that food manufacturers must tread carefully when it comes to using absence claims. In addition to the likely negative long-term impact on sales, this verbal trick sends a message that innovations in farming and food processing are unwelcome, eventually leading to less efficiency, fewer choices for consumers, and ultimately, more costly food products. If we allow this kind of labeling to continue, we will all lose. (很明显,食品制造商在使用“无添加声明”时必须谨慎。除了可能对销售产生长期负面影响外,这种文字技巧还传递了一个信息,即农业和食品加工的创新不受欢迎,最终会导致效率降低、消费者选择减少,最终食品价格上涨。如果我们允许这种标签继续存在,我们都会蒙受损失)”以及通读全文可知,文章主要论述了“无添加声明”标签这种营销策略的高成本,包括对消费者信任和行业发展的负面影响,B选项“‘无添加’食品标签的高成本”最能概括文章主旨。故选B。
Looking for Aliens Is Good for Society
The search for life elsewhere in the universe is one of the most exciting aspects of modern science. Given its importance, significant resources are devoted to the young science of astrobiology, ranging from rovers on Mars to observations of planets moving around other stars.
The goal of this science would be the actual discovery of alien life. Such a discovery would likely have profound scientific and philosophical implications. But for all we know, extraterrestrial life may not even exist. Fortunately, even if alien life is never discovered, simply searching for it will bring valuable benefits to society. Why is this the case?
First, astrobiology is fundamentally multidisciplinary. The search for alien life requires a grasp of astronomy, biology, geology, and planetary science at a minimum. Undergraduate courses in astrobiology need to cover elements of all these different subjects. Postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers need to be familiar with most or all of them. By forcing multiple scientific disciplines to interact, astrobiology is stimulating a partial reunification of the sciences. It is helping to move 21st-century science away from the extreme specialization of today.
It is also important to recognize that astrobiology is an incredibly open-ended field. Searching for life in the universe takes us from extreme environments on Earth to the plains of Mars. Whether or not life is discovered in any of these environments, this search will continue. The range of entirely new environments opened to investigation will be essentially limitless. Therefore, it has the potential to be a never-ending source of scientific and intellectual stimulation.
Beyond the more narrowly intellectual benefits of astrobiology are a range of wider societal benefits. These arise from the kinds of perspectives that the study of astrobiology naturally promotes.
It is simply not possible to consider searching for life on Mars without moving away from the Earth-centric perspectives that dominate the social and political lives of most people today. Indeed, it is only by sending spacecraft out to explore the solar system that we can obtain images of our own planet that show it in its true cosmic setting. Today, our planet is faced with global challenges that can only be met by increased international cooperation. At such a time, the growth of a unifying perspective is potentially of enormous importance.
“The most dangerous worldview is the one of those who have not viewed the world,” said the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt. I think that there is an important implication in this perspective. Humanity is an intelligent technological species that now dominates the only known inhabited planet in the universe. It has a responsibility to develop international social institutions appropriate to managing the situation in which we find ourselves.
1.What does the phrase “partial reunification” imply in the context of “astrobiology is stimulating a partial reunification of the sciences” (Para. 3)?
A.All scientific disciplines will eventually merge into a single, unified field.
B.Astrobiology creates temporary alliances among scientists from different fields.
C.Certain aspects of traditionally separate sciences are beginning to intersect and collaborate.
D.The boundaries between sciences are being completely dissolved by astrobiology research.
2.The author mentions Alexander von Humboldt’s quote in the last paragraph to_______.
A.emphasize the historical roots of astrobiology research.
B.illustrate the importance of a global perspective in scientific exploration.
C.argue that narrow worldviews pose risks to scientific progress.
D.support the idea that seeking knowledge beyond Earth expands human understanding.
3.Which of the following statements does NOT conform to the passage’s main idea?
A.Searching for alien life, even without success, can bring valuable societal benefits.
B.Astrobiology, as a multidisciplinary field, promotes the integration of scientific disciplines.
C.The exploration of alien life is driven mainly by the desire to find economic resources in space.
D.Studying astrobiology helps people break away from Earth-centric perspectives and fosters international cooperation.
4.The author’s argument would be strengthened by additional evidence showing that _____________.
A.Past astrobiology projects have consistently met their scientific objectives.
B.The skills acquired by researchers in astrobiology are directly applicable to solving issues in other scientific domains.
C.Public support for space exploration has remained stable over the past decade.
D.The cost of astrobiology research has steadily decreased in recent years.
【答案】1.C 2.D 3.C 4.B
【导语】本文是一篇议论文,本文论述了寻找外星生命对社会有益这一观点,即使最终未发现外星生命,该研究也能带来诸多价值,包括促进多学科融合、提供持续的科学探索动力,以及帮助人类摆脱以地球为中心的视角、推动国际合作等。
1.推理判断题。根据第三段“First, astrobiology is fundamentally multidisciplinary. The search for alien life requires a grasp of astronomy, biology, geology, and planetary science at a minimum. Undergraduate courses in astrobiology need to cover elements of all these different subjects. Postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers need to be familiar with most or all of them.(首先,天体生物学基本上是多学科的。寻找外星生命至少需要掌握天文学、生物学、地质学和行星科学。天体生物学的本科课程需要涵盖所有这些不同学科的要素。研究生和博士后研究人员需要熟悉其中的大部分或全部)”可知,在“天体生物学正在促进科学的部分统一”的背景下,“部分统一”一词意味着传统上独立的科学的某些方面开始交叉和合作。故选C。
2.推理判断题。根据倒数第二段“Indeed, it is only by sending spacecraft out to explore the solar system that we can obtain images of our own planet that show it in its true cosmic setting.(的确,唯有通过发射宇宙飞船去探索太阳系,我们才能获得展现地球在真实宇宙环境中的图像。)”以及最后一段中““The most dangerous worldview is the one of those who have not viewed the world,” said the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt.(“最危险的世界观是那些没有见过世界的人的世界观,”德国博物学家Alexander von Humboldt说。)”可知,作者在最后一段提到Alexander von Humboldt的名言的目的是支持寻求地球以外的知识会扩大人类的理解这个观点。故选D。
3.细节理解题。根据第二段“Fortunately, even if alien life is never discovered, simply searching for it will bring valuable benefits to society.(幸运的是,即使外星生命从未被发现,仅仅是寻找它就会给社会带来宝贵的利益。)”可知,A选项“Searching for alien life, even without success, can bring valuable societal benefits.(寻找外星生命,即使没有成功,也能带来宝贵的社会效益。)”和原文符合;根据第三段“First, astrobiology is fundamentally multidisciplinary. The search for alien life requires a grasp of astronomy, biology, geology, and planetary science at a minimum.(首先,天体生物学基本上是多学科的。寻找外星生命至少需要掌握天文学、生物学、地质学和行星科学。)”可知,B选项“Astrobiology, as a multidisciplinary field, promotes the integration of scientific disciplines.(天体生物学作为一个多学科领域,促进了科学学科的融合。)”与原文相符;根据倒数第二段“Indeed, it is only by sending spacecraft out to explore the solar system that we can obtain images of our own planet that show it in its true cosmic setting. Today, our planet is faced with global challenges that can only be met by increased international cooperation.(的确,唯有通过发射宇宙飞船去探索太阳系,我们才能获得展现地球在真实宇宙环境中的图像。今天,我们的星球面临着全球性挑战,这些挑战只能通过加强国际合作来应对。)”可知,D选项“support the idea that seeking knowledge beyond Earth expands human understanding.(支持寻求地球以外的知识会扩大人类的理解这一观点)”与原文相符,因此C选项不符合原文。故选C。
4.推理判断题。根据第三段“First, astrobiology is fundamentally multidisciplinary. The search for alien life requires a grasp of astronomy, biology, geology, and planetary science at a minimum. Undergraduate courses in astrobiology need to cover elements of all these different subjects. Postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers need to be familiar with most or all of them. By forcing multiple scientific disciplines to interact, astrobiology is stimulating a partial reunification of the sciences.(首先,天体生物学本质上是一门多学科交叉的学科。对外星生命的探索至少需要掌握天文学、生物学、地质学和行星科学等知识。天体生物学的本科课程需要涵盖所有这些不同学科的基础内容。研究生和博士后研究人员则需要熟悉其中的大部分乃至全部学科。通过促使多个科学学科相互协作,天体生物学正推动着科学领域的部分融合。)”可知,若能证明天体生物学领域的研究人员所掌握的技能可直接用于解决其他科学领域的问题,那么作者的论点将更具说服力。故选B。
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms society, researchers like David Luxton, PhD, describe it as a “super-disruptive technology” with potential for both profound harm and significant benefit. At CES 2024, Luxton highlighted concerns ranging from job displacement to algorithmic bias, where discriminatory data patterns can produce systematic errors and intensify social inequalities. Psychologist Rhoda Au, PhD, urges a move beyond simplistic judgments, stating, “We can't just be dismissive and say: ‘AI is good’ or ‘AI is bad’,” This complexity is driving global regulatory efforts, where psychologists are increasingly valued for their expertise in cognitive bias, cultural inclusion, and data analysis.
Public anxiety is well-founded. Mindy Shoss, PhD, has linked fears of AI-induced job loss to negative mental health outcomes, particularly in unequal societies. These concerns are realized in documented cases of biased algorithms in fields like hiring and healthcare — problems often stemming from unrepresentative data or the “black box” issue, where even developers cannot fully trace an AI's reasoning.
Addressing these challenges demands strict auditing (审计). Beyond technical checks, psychologists Tara Behrend and Richard Landers propose a “psychological audit” to evaluate the impact of AI on humans. This approach applies core research principles to assess data sources, methodology, and the validity of inferences. Behrend emphasizes that bias checks are as critical for AI guidance systems that shape life paths as for high-stakes decisions. Shoss adds that moral implementation depends on organizational trust, transparency, and accountability,
The human element introduces further complexity. Studies by Helena Matute, PhD, show that people can inherit and continue AI biases, continuing wrong patterns even after the AI is no longer in use. This inherited bias is notably persistent, partly because, as Celeste Kidd, PhD, notes, AI's authoritative tone makes its misinformation “sticky.” More alarmingly, AI can be designed to exploit cognitive biases, such as the familiarity heuristic (熟悉性启发法), raising serious moral questions about manipulative applications.
Despite these risks, AI also holds potential to identify and correct human biases — for instance, by flagging discriminatory hiring practices. Luxton cautions that such applications also require transparency to maintain trust. A deeper challenge, Behrend points out, is that AI trained on historical data inherently reinforces the status quo (现状). Using it actively for fairness requires a general societal agreement on the meaning of “fairness,” a goal complicated by conflicting definitions.
This landscape is fueling a regulatory push, with numerous U. S. states passing or proposing AI-related laws. Luxton advocates for establishing universal guidelines and audit trails (审计追踪) over fragmented legislation. Behrend holds that amid rapid technological change, the enduring psychological principles of reliability, validity, and fairness provide a stable foundation for evaluation.
Ultimately, as Shoss concludes, the moral use of AI demands sustained and adaptive dialogue. “These discussions need to be ongoing,” she says, “because the nature of generative AI is that it's constantly changing.”
1.The primary purpose of proposing a “psychological audit” is to _________.
A.replace the existing technical audit procedures entirely
B.assess the impact of AI systems on human users and society
C.simplify the complex data analysis process in AI development
D.eliminate the “black box” issue completely from AI reasoning
2.According to Behrend, why is using AI to actively promote fairness a “deeper challenge”?
A.Because the inherent bias in AI's algorithms makes it impossible to achieve any form of fairness.
B.Because it depends on society first reaching an agreement on a complex and conflicting concept.
C.Because AI technology evolves too rapidly for any moral guidelines to be effectively implemented.
D.Because the “black box” issue prevents us from fully understanding how AI makes its decisions.
3.Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A.Rhoda Au suggests we should avoid simplistic judgments about AI being entirely good or bad.
B.Mindy Shoss correlates the fear of AI-driven job loss with negative impacts on mental well-being.
C.Celeste Kidd suggests that the solution to “inherited bias” lies in technical audits of AI's reasoning processes.
D.David Luxton favors the establishment of universal AI guidelines over piecemeal legislation.
4.Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of the passage?
A.AI's potential is severely limited by its inherent risks, which currently prevent its responsible development and use.
B.AI presents risks but offers corrective potential, necessitating moral guidelines and ongoing dialogue for its responsible use.
C.AI requires that its development not continue until comprehensive global regulations are firmly established.
D.AI will manage its own moral dilemmas autonomously through the advancement of its own corrective capabilities.
【答案】1.B 2.B 3.C 4.B
【导语】本文是一篇议论文。主要探讨人工智能作为“超级颠覆性技术”的潜在危害与益处,强调需通过心理审计、道德准则及持续对话实现其负责任使用。
1.细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Beyond technical checks, psychologists Tara Behrend and Richard Landers propose a ‘psychological audit’ to evaluate the impact of AI on humans. This approach applies core research principles to assess data sources, methodology, and the validity of inferences. (除技术检查外,心理学家塔拉·贝伦德和理查德·兰德斯提出了“心理审计”,以评估人工智能对人类的影响。这种方法运用核心研究原则来评估数据来源、方法论和推论的有效性。)”可知,提出“心理审计”的主要目的是评估人工智能系统对人类用户及社会的影响。故选B项。
2.细节理解题。根据第五段中的“A deeper challenge, Behrend points out, is that AI trained on historical data inherently reinforces the status quo (现状). Using it actively for fairness requires a general societal agreement on the meaning of “fairness,” a goal complicated by conflicting definitions. (贝伦德指出,一个更深层次的挑战是,基于历史数据训练的人工智能本质上会强化现状。要积极利用它来促进公平,就需要社会对“公平”的含义达成普遍共识,而这一目标因相互冲突的定义而变得复杂。)”可知,贝伦德认为用人工智能推动公平面临深层挑战,是因为这需要社会先就“公平”这一复杂且有争议的概念达成一致。故选B项。
3.细节判断题。根据第四段中的“This inherited bias is notably persistent, partly because, as Celeste Kidd, PhD, notes, AI's authoritative tone makes its misinformation ‘sticky.’ (这种继承的偏见尤其顽固,部分原因正如哲学博士塞莱斯特·基德所指出的,人工智能的权威语气使其错误信息难以摆脱。)”可知,塞莱斯特·基德并未提及“继承的偏见”的解决方案在于对人工智能推理过程的技术审计,C选项表述与原文不符。故选C项。
4.主旨大意题。通读全文,尤其是第一段中的“As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms society, researchers like David Luxton, PhD, describe it as a “super-disruptive technology” with potential for both profound harm and significant benefit. At CES 2024, Luxton highlighted concerns ranging from job displacement to algorithmic bias, where discriminatory data patterns can produce systematic errors and intensify social inequalities. (随着人工智能迅速改变社会,大卫・勒克斯顿博士等研究人员将其描述为一种 “超级颠覆性技术”,既可能造成深远危害,也蕴含巨大益处。在 2024 年国际消费电子展(CES)上,勒克斯顿强调了一系列担忧,从就业岗位流失到算法偏见 —— 歧视性数据模式可能产生系统性误差,进而加剧社会不平等。)”、第五段中的“AI also holds potential to identify and correct human biases. (人工智能也有望识别并纠正人类偏见。)”可知,人工智能既可能造成深远危害,也蕴含巨大益处,结合最后一段中的“Ultimately, as Shoss concludes, the moral use of AI demands sustained and adaptive dialogue. (归根结底,正如肖斯所总结的,人工智能的合乎道德使用需要持续且具适应性的对话。)”可知,文章核心是人工智能既存在风险也具备矫正潜力,需要道德准则和持续对话,以实现其负责任的使用。故选B项。
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