专题08 阅读理解（阅读表达）（期中真题汇编，北京专用）高二英语下学期

专题08 阅读理解（阅读表达） Passage 1 （24-25高二下·北京通州·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英语回答问题。请在答题卡指定区域作答。 Selfie tourism is a growing trend where travelers visit iconic landmarks to take photos for social media. It’s less about personal experience and more about curating an image for social media. This new phenomenon focuses on “visiting destinations primarily to take and share photos of themselves, often with iconic landmarks in the background,” according to UNESCO. Even though it promotes the tourist economy to some extent, it’s a plague (瘟疫). UNESCO warns that selfie tourism is having terrible consequences on many of the world’s most famous landmarks. A UNESCO spokesperson said: “In many cases, it has led to overcrowding at specific landmarks, creating pressure on local facilities and contributing to the degradation of visitor experience.” For example, in Venice, local officials have had to contend with disrespectful behavior from visitors who see the city as little more than a background for their photos. The constant foot traffic, sometimes accompanied by reckless behavior, is damaging the city’s delicate facilities. Similarly, in other tourist-heavy areas like the Eiffel Tower, there have been reports of tourists disregarding safety precautions just for the perfect shot. In response, cities and destinations around the world are fighting back with fines and duties. Portofino, Italy, introduced fines for tourists lingering too long in popular selfie spots. Other cities steer tourists away from overrun n landmarks. In Florence, efforts are underway to direct visitors to lesser known neighborhoods. However, many of these places have a tourism dependent economy. Efforts to manage tourism must consider not only economic growth but also the long term preservation of cultural landmarks and local communities. But it is a difficult act to balance. To address this challenge effectively, governments, local officials, and tourists alike must work together to ensure that tourism is both sustainable and respectful of the cultural treasures it seeks to showcase. 1．According to this text, what is “selfie tourism”? 2．What consequence(s) does “selfie tourism” have? 3．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. Countries should take steps to address the negative consequences of selfie tourism without considering its economic benefits. 4．What are some other measures to minimize the negative impacts of selfie tourism? (In about 40 words) 【答案】1．It is a trend where travelers visit iconic landmarks mainly to take and share photos of themselves with iconic landmarks in the background for social media. 2．It leads to overcrowding at specific landmarks, creates pressure on local facilities, degrades visitor experience, damages delicate facilities and causes disrespectful behavior from visitors. 3．Countries should take steps to address the negative consequences of selfie tourism without considering its economic benefits. According to the text, many places have a tourism dependent economy, so efforts to manage tourism must consider economic growth. Thus, countries should consider the economic benefits of selfie tourism while addressing its negative consequences. 4．Set up dedicated selfie zones in popular scenic spots, limit the number of people entering these zones, and conduct education campaigns to raise tourists’ awareness of civilized behavior. (开放性试题，答案合理即可) 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了自拍式旅游这一新兴趋势，阐述了其对世界著名地标带来的不良后果，以及一些城市采取的应对措施，同时指出平衡经济增长与文化地标保护的困难，呼吁各方共同努力实现可持续旅游。 1．考查细节理解。根据第一段“Selfie tourism is a growing trend where travelers visit iconic landmarks to take photos for social media. It’s less about personal experience and more about curating an image for social media. This new phenomenon focuses on ‘visiting destinations primarily to take and share photos of themselves, often with iconic landmarks in the background,’ according to UNESCO.(自拍式旅游是一种日益增长的趋势，旅行者前往标志性地标为社交媒体拍照。它更多地不是关于个人体验，而是为社交媒体精心打造一种形象。根据联合国教科文组织的说法，这种新现象侧重于“主要是为了拍摄和分享自己的照片而访问目的地，背景往往是标志性地标”。)”可知，“自拍式旅游”是旅行者主要为了在社交媒体上拍摄和分享自己与标志性地标合影的照片而访问目的地的一种趋势。故答案为It is a trend where travelers visit iconic landmarks mainly to take and share photos of themselves with iconic landmarks in the background for social media. 2．考查细节理解。根据第二段“UNESCO warns that selfie tourism is having terrible consequences on many of the world’s most famous landmarks. A UNESCO spokesperson said: “In many cases, it has led to overcrowding at specific landmarks, creating pressure on local facilities and contributing to the degradation of visitor experience.”(联合国教科文组织警告说，自拍式旅游对世界上许多最著名的地标产生了可怕的后果。一位联合国教科文组织发言人说：“在许多情况下，它导致特定地标处人满为患，给当地设施带来压力，并导致游客体验下降。”)”以及第三段中的“For example, in Venice, local officials have had to contend with disrespectful behavior from visitors who see the city as little more than a background for their photos. The constant foot traffic, sometimes accompanied by reckless behavior, is damaging the city’s delicate facilities.(例如，在威尼斯，当地官员不得不应对游客的无礼行为，这些游客仅仅把这座城市看作是他们照片的背景。持续的人流量，有时伴随着鲁莽的行为，正在破坏这座城市脆弱的设施。)”可知，“自拍式旅游”的后果有导致特定地标处人满为患，给当地设施带来压力，导致游客体验下降，还会破坏城市脆弱的设施以及引发游客的无礼行为。故答案为 It leads to overcrowding at specific landmarks, creates pressure on local facilities, degrades visitor experience, damages delicate facilities and causes disrespectful behavior from visitors. 3．考查细节理解。根据最后一段“However, many of these places have a tourism dependent economy. Efforts to manage tourism must consider not only economic growth but also the long term preservation of cultural landmarks and local communities. But it is a difficult act to balance.(然而，这些地方中的许多都有依赖旅游业的经济。管理旅游业的努力不仅必须考虑经济增长，还必须考虑文化地标的长期保护和当地社区。但这是一个很难平衡的行为。)”可知，国家在采取措施解决自拍式旅游的负面影响时，需要考虑其经济效益，因为很多地方依赖旅游业经济。故答案为Countries should take steps to address the negative consequences of selfie tourism without considering its economic benefits. According to the text, many places have a tourism dependent economy, so efforts to manage tourism must consider economic growth. Thus, countries should consider the economic benefits of selfie tourism while addressing its negative consequences. 4． 考查开放性试题。根据文章内容并结合实际，要尽量减少自拍式旅游的负面影响，可以采取以下措施：可以在热门景点设置专门的自拍区域，控制进入人数，同时加强对游客的教育，提高他们的文明意识。故答案为Set up dedicated selfie zones in popular scenic spots, limit the number of people entering these zones, and conduct education campaigns to raise tourists’ awareness of civilized behavior. Passage 2 （24-25高二下·北京·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。请在答题卡指定区域作答。 Typing offers speed and clarity, but a recent Norwegian study reveals that handwriting significantly boosts brain connectivity compared with typing. The research published in Frontiers in Psychology by Norwegian University of Science and Technology aimed to see if handwriting had more benefits than typing. They enlisted 36 students to write in cursive with a digital pen or type the same words on a keyboard for 25 seconds. The students were asked to wear a cap of EEG sensors on their heads to measure their brain waves. The EEG cap’s 256 electrodes attached to the scalp recorded the electrical signals of the students’ brains, including which brain cells were active and how parts of the brain communicate with each other. The experiment found that writing by hand required communication between the brain’s visual, sensory, and motor cortices. The candidates who were made to write with the digital pen had to visualize letters, and then use their fine motor skills to control their movement while writing. There was no change when the participants typed. In the end, the study concluded that writing required more brain activity and aided a person’s ability to learn and memorize. The co-author of this study, Audrey Van der Meer, a neuropsychology professor at the university, explained how writing can be more advantageous than typing. She said, “The involvement of fine and intricate hand movements in note-taking, in contrast with pressing keys on a keyboard that all require the same simple finger movement, may be more advantageous for learning.” She added, “The brain is not challenged very much when it’s pressing keys on a keyboard as opposed to when it’s forming those letters by hand.” Audrey also added, “Our findings suggest that visual and movement information obtained through precisely controlled hand movements when using a pen contribute extensively to the brain’s connectivity patterns that promote learning,” as per the official press release. Although the participants used digital pens for handwriting, van der Meer explained that the results are expected to be the same when using a real pen on paper. She said, “We have shown that the differences in brain activity are related to the careful forming of the letters when writing by hand while making more use of the senses.” 5．According to the research, what is the benefit of handwriting compared with typing? 6．Why is it that handwriting can aid a person’s ability to learn and memorize? 7．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. The visual and movement information obtained through precisely controlled hand movements when using a digital pen contributes to the brain’s connectivity patterns that promote learning, but it does not work when using a real pen on paper. 8．Apart from the benefits discussed in the article, how can you benefit from writing by hand? (In about 40 words) 【答案】5．Handwriting significantly boosts brain connectivity. 6．It requires communication between the brain’s visual, sensory, and motor cortices, involving more brain activity. 7．The visual and movement information obtained through precisely controlled hand movements when using a digital pen contributes to the brain’s connectivity patterns that promote learning, but it does not work when using a real pen on paper. The study states that results are expected to be the same with a real pen. 8．Handwriting can enhance creativity by allowing free expression, reduce screen-related distractions, improve focus, and help organize thoughts spatially. Additionally, it may foster mindfulness and serve as a personal, tactile experience that digital tools lack. 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了研究表明，与打字相比，手写能显著提高大脑的连通性。解释了研究开展的过程以及发现。 5．考查细节理解。根据第一段“Typing offers speed and clarity, but a recent Norwegian study reveals that handwriting significantly boosts brain connectivity compared with typing.(打字能带来速度和清晰度，但挪威最近的一项研究表明，与打字相比，手写能显著提高大脑的连通性)”可知，与打字相比，手写可以显著增强大脑的连通性。故答案为Handwriting significantly boosts brain connectivity. 6．考查细节理解。根据第四段“The experiment found that writing by hand required communication between the brain’s visual, sensory, and motor cortices.(实验发现，用手写字需要大脑的视觉、感觉和运动皮层之间的交流)”可知，书写可以帮助人们学习和记忆因为它需要大脑的视觉、感觉和运动皮层之间的交流，涉及更多的大脑活动。故答案为It requires communication between the brain’s visual, sensory, and motor cortices, involving more brain activity. 7．考查细节理解。根据最后一段“Although the participants used digital pens for handwriting, van der Meer explained that the results are expected to be the same when using a real pen on paper.(虽然参与者使用电子笔书写，但范德米尔解释说，使用真笔在纸上书写的结果预计是一样的)”可知，错误部分为“but it does not work when using a real pen on paper”，研究表明，使用真笔的结果是一样的。故答案为The visual and movement information obtained through precisely controlled hand movements when using a digital pen contributes to the brain’s connectivity patterns that promote learning, but it does not work when using a real pen on paper. The study states that results are expected to be the same with a real pen. 8．考查开放题。根据“除了文章中讨论的好处之外，你还能从手写中得到什么好处呢？”可回答：手写可以通过允许自由表达来增强创造力，减少与屏幕相关的干扰，提高注意力，并帮助组织空间思维。此外，它可以培养专注力，并提供数字工具所缺乏的个人触觉体验。故答案为Handwriting can enhance creativity by allowing free expression, reduce screen-related distractions, improve focus, and help organize thoughts spatially. Additionally, it may foster mindfulness and serve as a personal, tactile experience that digital tools lack. Passage 3 （24-25高二下·北京大兴·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英语回答问题。请在答题卡指定区域作答。 How can the vitality (生命力) of classic literary works be kept alive in the digital age? Wu Yaduo, a 17-year-old high school student, offers her answer. Using her iPad, Wu turns stories from classical literature — like A Dream of Red Mansions, as well as the lives of famous poets like Li Bai into animated, hand-drawn videos. Her videos have attracted tens of thousands of followers and millions of views online. To Wu, these works are intergenerational because they explore universal human emotions and lasting social themes. However, she believes it is important to bridge the gap between these classics and modern life, making them more relatable and interesting, especially for younger audiences. Wu decided to start with texts from high school Chinese textbooks after noticing that many students aren’t interested in these works simply because they have to learn them for school. “Classics shouldn’t be placed on a pedestal (神坛) ; instead, we should bring them closer, making them a part of our daily lives,” Wu said. In her videos, Wu focuses on bringing text and sound elements together. For example, her adaptation of A Dream of Red Mansions was inspired by a song with a sad tone from a Chinese band. Wu avoids telling stories in a traditional way; she wants her work to be “spicy”. A fan of an avant-garde (前卫的) movies and artworks, her hand-drawn animations are often filled with bright colors, dramatic tension, and striking visual impact. Her unique method has received a lot of support from those around her. However, Wu still has regrets about her work. She finds it impossible to perfectly translate the vivid images in her mind into art. “Every time I draw, I feel annoyed that I can’t just copy and paste what’s in my head straight onto the iPad. It would be so much more amazing if I could,” she said. “But I still always look forward to my next piece.” 9．According to Wu, why are the classics passed on from generation to generation? 10．What gave Wu the inspiration to adapt A Dream of Red Mansions into a video? 11．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. Wu creates vivid images in her mind and she perfectly copies them straight onto the iPad. 12．Would you like to watch any of the videos by Wu? Why or why not? (In about 40 words) 【答案】9．According to Wu, the classics are passed on from generation to generation because they explore universal human emotions and lasting social themes. 10．A song with a sad tone from a Chinese band gave Wu the inspiration to adapt A Dream of Red Mansions into a video. 11．Wu creates vivid images in her mind and she perfectly copies them straight onto the iPad. According to the passage, Wu finds it impossible to perfectly translate the vivid images in her mind into art. She said “Every time I draw, I feel annoyed that I can’t just copy and paste what’s in my head straight onto the iPad.” So she can’t perfectly copy the images in her mind onto the iPad. 12．I would like to watch her videos. Because her unique way of presenting classics makes them more interesting and accessible, which can help me better understand the classics. 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了 17 岁高中生吴雅朵（音译）通过制作手绘动画视频，将经典文学作品如《红楼梦》以及李白等著名诗人的故事进行创新呈现，让经典文学在数字时代焕发生机的相关内容。 9．考查细节理解。根据第三段中的“To Wu, these works are intergenerational because they explore universal human emotions and lasting social themes.(对吴雅朵来说，这些作品是具有跨代意义的，因为它们探讨了普遍的人类情感和持久的社会主题)”可知，吴雅朵认为经典作品能够代代相传是因为它们探讨了普遍的人类情感和持久的社会主题。故答案为According to Wu, the classics are passed on from generation to generation because they explore universal human emotions and lasting social themes. 10．考查细节理解。根据第六段中的“For example, her adaptation of A Dream of Red Mansions was inspired by a song with a sad tone from a Chinese band.(例如，她对《红楼梦》的改编灵感来源于一支中国乐队的一首带有悲伤基调的歌曲)”可知，一支中国乐队的一首悲伤基调的歌曲给了吴雅朵将《红楼梦》改编成视频的灵感。故答案为A song with a sad tone from a Chinese band gave Wu the inspiration to adapt A Dream of Red Mansions into a video. 11．考查细节理解。根据最后一段“She finds it impossible to perfectly translate the vivid images in her mind into art. “Every time I draw, I feel annoyed that I can’t just copy and paste what’s in my head straight onto the iPad. It would be so much more amazing if I could,” she said.(她发现自己无法将脑海中栩栩如生的画面完美地转化为艺术作品。“每次画画的时候，我都很懊恼，因为我没办法直接把脑海里的东西复制粘贴到平板电脑上。要是能做到的话，那就太棒了。” 她说)”可知，吴雅朵发现无法将脑海中生动的画面完美地转化为艺术作品，她不能将脑海中的画面直接完美地复制到iPad上，所以“Wu creates vivid images in her mind and she perfectly copies them straight onto the iPad.”中“perfectly copies them straight onto the iPad”表述错误。故答案为Wu creates vivid images in her mind and she perfectly copies them straight onto the iPad. According to the passage, Wu finds it impossible to perfectly translate the vivid images in her mind into art. She said “Every time I draw, I feel annoyed that I can’t just copy and paste what’s in my head straight onto the iPad.” So she can’t perfectly copy the images in her mind onto the iPad. 12．考查开放性试题。答案不唯一，可根据自己对吴雅朵视频的理解和喜好进行回答：我想看她的视频是因为她独特的呈现经典作品的方式让这些经典更有趣且更易于理解，这能帮助我更好地理解经典著作。故答案为I would like to watch her videos. Because her unique way of presenting classics makes them more interesting and accessible, which can help me better understand the classics. Passage 4 （24-25高二下·北京·期中） 阅读表达 As a researcher in the behavior of older adults, I regularly hear complaints from them like, “I’m just not part of this world anymore. In certain parts of society, I just can’t join… Some things just are not possible if you are not in the flow of the Internet.” or “We feel like we’re standing outside a building that we have no access to.” Today, mastering digital technology has become a key component of what it means to fully participate in society. But one area in particular threatens to prevent some older adults from making connections: the digital divide. As a recent study shows, one-third of adults aged 65 and older say they’ve never used the Internet, and half don’t have Internet access at home. Of those who do use the Internet, nearly half say they need someone else’s help to set up or use a new digital device. In contrast to concerns about technology use increasing isolation (孤立；隔离) among younger populations, the communication and connection possible online can be especially valuable for older adults who are homebound, live far away from family, or have lost the loved ones. Older adults can use online tools to connect with friends and family via messaging platforms, video chat, and social media even if they can no longer physically visit them. And they can engage with the outside world through news, blogs, streaming platforms, and email, even if they are no longer able to move about as easily as they once could. For older adults in particular, the risks associated with social isolation are profound. Loneliness among older adults has been associated with depression, functional decline, and death. Technology can serve as an important tool to help reduce these risks, but only if we provide older adults with the skills they need, to make inclusion in the digital world accessible to them. The importance of digital inclusion is not going to disappear with the generational changes of the coming decades. Technology is continuously developing, and with each new digital innovation come challenges for even younger adults to adapt. 13．What prevents some older adults from connecting with society? 14．What can older adults do using online tools? 15．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. Enabling older adults to access the digital world can help them recover from depression and functional decline. 16．Please briefly present your opinion on digital inclusion (数字包容). (about 40 words) 【答案】13．The digital divide. 14．To connect with friends and family. And they can engage with the outside world. 15．Enabling older adults to access the digital world can help them recover from depression and functional decline. According to the passage, enabling older adults to access the digital world can help reduce the risks of depression and functional decline rather than recover from them. 16． Digital inclusion is crucial for older adults to bridge social gaps, reduce loneliness, and improve their quality of life, requiring societal support and training. 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了老年人因数字鸿沟难以融入社会的问题，指出掌握数字技术的重要性，阐述在线工具对老年人社交和接触外界的帮助，分析社会孤立对老年人的风险，强调数字包容的必要性及未来挑战。 13．考查细节理解。根据第二段“But one area in particular threatens to prevent some older adults from making connections: the digital divide.(但有一个领域尤其可能阻碍一些老年人建立联系：数字鸿沟)”可知，阻碍老年人融入社会的关键因素是数字鸿沟。故填The digital divide. 14．考查细节理解。根据第四段“Older adults can use online tools to connect with friends and family via messaging platforms, video chat, and social media even if they can no longer physically visit them. And they can engage with the outside world through news, blogs, streaming platforms, and email, even if they are no longer able to move about as easily as they once could.(老年人可以使用在线工具通过消息平台、视频聊天和社交媒体与朋友和家人联系，即使他们不能再亲自去看望他们。他们可以通过新闻、博客、流媒体平台和电子邮件与外部世界接触，即使他们不再像以前那样轻松活动)”可知，老年人可以使用在线工具与朋友和家人联系，与外界接触。故填To connect with friends and family and engage with the outside world. 15．考查细节理解。根据第五段“Technology can serve as an important tool to help reduce these risks(技术可以作为帮助降低这些风险的重要工具)可知，数字包容能 “降低” 抑郁和功能衰退的风险，而非 “恢复（recover from）”。原句中 “recover from” 与原文逻辑不符。故填Enabling older adults to access the digital world can help them recover from depression and functional decline. According to the passage, enabling older adults to access the digital world can help reduce the risks of depression and functional decline rather than recover from them. 16．考查开放性试题。结合全文主旨，数字包容通过帮助老年人克服数字鸿沟，减少孤独感，从而提升生活质量，且需要社会提供支持和培训。故填Digital inclusion is crucial for older adults to bridge social gaps, reduce loneliness, and improve their quality of life, requiring societal support and training. Passage 5 （21-22高二下·北京东城·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求回答问题。 Do you think you’re a good listener? Chances are you do. But studies show that most people seriously overestimate their ability to listen. The truth is we are generally not good at listening, and our listening comprehension declines as we age. Why aren’t we good at listening? One reason concerns the speed at which we think. The adult brain can process up to around 400 words per minute. This means during a conversation an average person thinks more than three times faster than he speaks. Therefore, we can easily think about something else while someone is talking to us, allowing our mind to wander or get sidetracked. Thinking about how you will reply while someone is still talking is one of the most common barriers to effective listening. Another factor that contributes to our poor listening is our ever-decreasing attention span (持续时间). According to study conducted by Microsoft, in 2000—around the time the mobile revolution began—the average human attention span was 12 seconds; by 2013, it had fallen to 8 seconds! Our mobile devices provide constant distractions, which can be very destructive to listening. Test results have shown that being interrupted by a cell phone lowers listening comprehension by 20 percent. Interruptions and distractions can cause a dramatic decline in listening ability—but they don’t have to. More and more people now realize that listening is a skill that can be developed through practice. Learning to observe a speaker’s body language and emotions, for example, can improve our active listening. Even the simple act of note-taking or making eye contact can help us stay focused while listening. The rewards of effective listening are many. Research suggests that people who are good listeners make better leaders. And a recent study indicates that employees who don’t believe their bosses are listening to them are less likely to offer helpful suggestions and new ideas. As Dr. Ralph Nichols once said, “The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.” 17．According to Paragraph 2, why is it easy for us to get distracted during a conversation? 18．What has caused the decrease of our attention span? 19．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. The decline of listening ability caused by distractions is sharp, and it is hard to be prevented. 20．Please introduce the rewards that effective listening brings to you. 【答案】17．Because during a conversation an average person thinks more than three times faster than he speaks and he may think about how to reply. 18． Our mobile devices 19．The decline of listening ability caused by distractions is sharp, and it is hard to be prevented. Because More and more people now realize that listening is a skill that can be developed through practice. 20． 参考答案:First of all, good listeners make better leaders.Secondly,listening more allows us to understand others’views, take their strengths and understand their logical thinking. In addition, being a listener is good for us to deal with  individual problems and improve our personal qualities! 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述我们通常不擅长倾听，随着年龄的增长，我们的倾听理解能力会下降，并分析我们不擅长倾听的原因。 17．考查细节理解。由文章第二段“One reason concerns the speed at which we think. The adult brain can process up to around 400 words per minute. This means during a conversation an average person thinks more than three times faster than he speaks. Therefore, we can easily think about something else while someone is talking to us, allowing our mind to wander or get sidetracked.(一个原因与我们思考的速度有关。成年人的大脑每分钟可以处理大约400个单词。这意味着在谈话中，一个普通人的思考速度是他说话速度的三倍以上。因此，当有人和我们说话时，我们可以很容易地想到其他事情，让我们的思想四处游荡或偏离方向。)”和“Thinking about how you will reply while someone is still talking is one of the most common barriers to effective listening.(当别人还在说话时思考你会如何回答是有效倾听最常见的障碍之一。)”可知，是因为我们思考的速度比我们说话的速度快很多和思考你会如何回答，导致我们会分心。故答案为Because during a conversation an average person thinks more than three times faster than he speaks and he may think about how to reply. 18．考查细节理解。由文章第三段“According to study conducted by Microsoft, in 2000—around the time the mobile revolution began—the average human attention span was 12 seconds; by 2013, it had fallen to 8 seconds! Our mobile devices provide constant distractions, which can be very destructive to listening. (根据微软的研究，2000年移动革命开始前后，人类的平均注意力跨度为12秒；到2013年，它已经下降到8秒！我们的移动设备会不断分散注意力，这会对听力造成很大破坏。)”可知，我们的移动设备会让我们降低注意力时长。故答案为Our mobile devices. 19．考查推理判断。由文章倒数第二段“Interruptions and distractions can cause a dramatic decline in listening ability—but they don't have to. More and more people now realize that listening is a skill that can be developed through practice. Learning to observe a speaker’s body language and emotions, for example, can improve our active listening. Even the simple act of note-taking or making eye contact can help us stay focused while listening.(干扰和分心可能会导致听力能力急剧下降，但并非必须如此。越来越多的人现在意识到倾听是一种可以通过练习来改善的技能。例如，学习观察说话者的肢体语言和情绪可以提高我们的积极听力。即使是简单的记笔记或眼神交流也能帮助我们在听的时候保持专注。)”可知，听力能力下降是可以防范的，我们可以练习来改善听力技能。因此原句中的“ it is hard to be prevented.”是错误的，故答案为The decline of listening ability caused by distractions is sharp, and it is hard to be prevented.Because More and more people now realize that listening is a skill that can be developed through practice. 20．开放题。根据最后一段“The rewards of effective listening are many. Research suggests that people who are good listeners make better leaders. (有效倾听的回报是多方面的。研究表明，善于倾听的人会成为更好的领导者。)”,同时开放性题目考生言之有理即可。参考答案为：First of all, good listeners make better leaders.Secondly,listening more allows us to understand others’views, take their strengths and understand their logical thinking. In addition, being a listener is good for us to deal with individual problems and improve our personal qualities! Passage 6 （23-24高二下·北京通州·期中） 阅读下面的短文和问题，根据短文内容，在相应题号后的横线上写下相关信息，完成对该问题的回答。答语要结构正确，书写工整，字迹清楚。 AI art, aka (又名) computation art or generative art, refers to the creation of any artwork through the use of artificial intelligence programs. This can include art forms like music, photography and video, but in this article we’ll focus on 2D and 3D illustrative art. AI art should not be confused with digital art, which refers to artworks created using any type of digital software. Typically, with digital art, the creator has to employ some level of artistic skill and technique, and understand how to use tools such as Adobe Illustrator. With AI art, in contrast, you typically only have to type in a text prompt (提示词). A finished artwork is then created by generative AI algorithms without any further input needed. AI art is controversial (有争议的) within the art and design professions for two main reasons. Firstly, and most obviously, allowing people to generate art through software means they’re less likely to pay someone to create it by hand. And that’s inevitably (不可避免的) going to lead to job losses and the loss of freelance work to professional artists. The second reason is that AI art generators are trained on art made by humans. Yet in most cases, these artists have not been paid for this sampling of their work. And by copying their style, which they may have taken decades of hard work to develop, AI art generators are arguably carrying out the biggest copyright theft in history. It all reminds us of the story of how an aging Pablo Picasso was one day sketching (素描) in a park. A woman approached him and asked him to sketch her. The famous artist took one look at her, and dashed off an abstract likeness in seconds. She loved it, and asked how much she should pay. “5,000 francs,” he replied. “Why so expensive?” she cried in shock. “It took you less than a minute!” He replied: “No, Madame, it took me a lifetime.” The artist community is now in a similar position, on a massive scale. AI art generators are taking out the equivalent of 5,000 francs of value multiple times a second, and yet artists aren’t getting a penny. A number of court cases are testing out this argument in court. 21．What is AI art? 22．With digital art, what does the creator have to do? 23．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. ➢The author tells the story of Pablo Picasso to show that he is a very great artist 24．Are you a supporter of AI art? Why or why not? (In about 40 words) 【答案】21．It is the creation of any artwork through the use of artificial intelligence programs. 22．The creator has to employ some level of artistic skill and technique, and understand how to use tools such as Adobe Illustrator. 23．The author tells the story of Pablo Picasso to show that he is a very great artist./The author tells the story of Pablo Picasso to show that he may have taken decades of hard work to develop painting skills. 24．I believe that artificial intelligence art tends towards industrialization, which brings convenience but also easily harms the rights of true artists. 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讨论了AI艺术的定义、特点、以及它在艺术和设计行业中引发的争议。 21．考查细节理解。根据文章第一段“AI art, aka (又名) computation art or generative art, refers to the creation of any artwork through the use of artificial intelligence programs. (人工智能艺术，又名计算艺术或生成艺术，是指通过使用人工智能程序创作的任何艺术品。)”可知，人工智能艺术指的是通过使用人工智能程序创造的任何艺术品。故答案为It is the creation of any artwork through the use of artificial intelligence programs. 22．考查细节理解。根据文章第二段“Typically, with digital art, the creator has to employ some level of artistic skill and technique, and understand how to use tools such as Adobe Illustrator.(通常，对于数字艺术，创作者必须运用一定程度的艺术技巧和技术，并了解如何使用Adobe Illustrator等工具。)”可知，对于数字艺术，创作者必须运用一定程度的艺术技巧和技术，并了解如何使用Adobe Illustrator等工具。故答案为The creator has to employ some level of artistic skill and technique, and understand how to use tools such as Adobe Illustrator. 23．考查推理判断。根据文章第四段“Yet in most cases, these artists have not been paid for this sampling of their work. And by copying their style, which they may have taken decades of hard work to develop, AI art generators are arguably carrying out the biggest copyright theft in history.(然而，在大多数情况下，这些艺术家并没有因为他们的作品样本而得到报酬。通过复制他们的风格（他们可能花了几十年的努力才开发出来)，AI美术生成器可以说是在进行历史上最大的版权盗窃。)”以及第五段“It all reminds us of the story of how an aging Pablo Picasso was one day sketching (素描) in a park. A woman approached him and asked him to sketch her. The famous artist took one look at her, and dashed off an abstract likeness in seconds. She loved it, and asked how much she should pay. “5,000 francs,” he replied. “Why so expensive?” she cried in shock. “It took you less than a minute!” He replied: “No, Madame, it took me a lifetime.”(这让人想起了毕加索在公园里画画的故事。一个女人走近他，让他给她画个素描。这位著名的艺术家看了她一眼，几秒钟内就迅速画出了一幅抽象画。她很喜欢，就问应该付多少钱。“五千法郎。”他回答。“为什么这么贵？”她震惊地叫道。“你花了不到一分钟的时间！”他回答说：“不，夫人，我花了一辈子的时间。”)”可知，作者讲述巴勃罗·毕加索的故事是为了说明艺术家们需要几十年的努力才能培养绘画技能。故原句“The author tells the story of Pablo Picasso to show that he is a very great artist.”中的“he is a very great artist”表达错误。故答案为The author tells the story of Pablo Picasso to show that he is a very great artist./The author tells the story of Pablo Picasso to show that he may have taken decades of hard work to develop painting skills. 24．开放题。要求考生谈谈是否支持AI艺术，考生言之有理即可。故参考答案为I believe that artificial intelligence art tends towards industrialization, which brings convenience but also easily harms the rights of true artists. Passage 7 （23-24高二下·北京顺义·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。请在答题卡指定区域作答。 We are all faced with challenges in our lives. Most people have a hard time accepting and dealing with them. The truth is that you will have to deal with difficult problems throughout your life. Here are some tips on how to deal with everyday challenges. 1. Don’t compare your lifestyle with others. It is really difficult not to compare ourselves with others; however, the more often we do that, the more dissatisfied we will feel. There will be people that may have accomplished more than you. The key thing to remember is that you create your own story and success in life. 2. Don’t blame others. Many people make a habit of blaming others for all their problems. They fail to take full responsibility for the decisions they have made in life. The more you blame others for the challenges you are faced with, the more you will make people dislike you and not want to be around you. The first thing you want to do when faced with a personal challenge is not to start pointing fingers at others. 3. Accept changes in your life. You will have to deal with changes in life all the time. Many people don’t like change because it gets them outside of their comfort zone. You may be unhappy or happy at certain times; however, you have to realize that those two feelings will not last forever. You have to always train your mind to be at peace despite the emotional state you are experiencing. 4. Don’t think too much. When you think too much about an event that happened, you will start to judge everything and everyone. When you think too much, you will have a very hard time accepting reality and you will think that something is not right. Thinking too much can also lead you not to take action on your goal. This can make you really sad in the long run. Life is full of its ups and downs. With the right mindset and practice, you will be able to overcome them every time and grow in the process! 25．What is the key thing to remember if you want to stop comparing your lifestyle with others? 26．What will happen if you blame others for the challenges you are faced with? 27．Why do many people dislike change? 28．What are the other ways to deal with challenges in your life? (In about 40 words) 【答案】25．The key thing to remember is that you create your own story and success in life. 26．You will make people dislike you and not want to be around you. 27．Because it gets them outside of their comfort zone. 28．When I face challenge, firstly, I try to keep calm so I have enough time and energy to think. Then I encourage myself to take action. Finally, I may cooperate with others because teamwork is full of power. 【导语】本文为一篇说明文。生活中充满挑战，文章介绍了面对挑战的四种方法。 25．考查细节理解。根据文章第二段中最后一句话“The key thing to remember is that you create your own story and success in life.(关键是要记住，你在生活中创造自己的故事和成功。)”可知，如果你不想再和别人比较你的生活方式，你要记住的关键是你在生活中创造自己的故事和成功。故答案为The key thing to remember is that you create your own story and success in life. 26．考查细节理解。根据文章第三段“The more you blame others for the challenges you are faced with, the more you will make people dislike you and not want to be around you.(你越是因为自己面临的挑战而责怪别人，你就越会让别人不喜欢你，不想和你在一起。)”可知，如果你把自己面临的挑战归咎于别人，你会让别人不喜欢你，不想和你在一起。故答案为You will make people dislike you and not want to be around you. 27．考查细节理解。根据倒数第三段“Many people don’t like change because it gets them outside of their comfort zone.(许多人不喜欢改变，因为这会让他们离开自己的舒适区。)”可知，很多人不喜欢改变是因为这会让他们离开自己的舒适区，故答案为Because it gets them outside of their comfort zone. 28．考查推理判断。我应对生活中的挑战的方法是首先要保持冷静，其次激励自己，然后与他人合作，找到解决问题的办法。故答案为When I face challenge, firstly, I try to keep calm so I have enough time and energy to think. Then I encourage myself to take action. Finally, I may cooperate with others because teamwork is full of power. Passage 8 （23-24高二下·北京丰台·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。请在答题纸指定区域作答。 Robots help us in many ways — from assembly lines to looking after the elderly. Now they’re turning their attention to coping with climate change by helping to plant trees. Milrem Robotics, an Estonian company, has developed an autonomous robot forester. The new robot forester can plant a hectare of forest in less than six hours. The robotic planters are equipped with Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) which uses laser pulses to build up a three-dimensional image of the robots’ surroundings and global positioning (GPS) to navigate precisely. The position of each sapling is recorded in a database as it is planted, which means that a specialized brush cutter version of the robot forester can reduce competitive growth without harming the young trees. The robot forester is designed for working in commercial forests and it could be used to restore natural forests, too. Deforestation (滥伐) contributes 15% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Conservationists say, “We lose 10 million hectares of trees every year to agriculture and logging and we need to plant a trillion trees to reverse forest cover loss to help slow down climate change.” A mature tree can capture an average of 0.62 metric tons of carbon dioxide over its lifetime — equivalent to the carbon emissions from driving a car 2,400 kilometres. Tree planting is just one of a range of measures needed to fight climate change and scientists say it’s important to plant the right trees in the right place for it to be effective. These robotic planters are just one of the many new solutions beginning to surface in time for the decade of delivery on climate change. We can do a lot to help in our daily life. 29．What can the robot forester do? 30．According to conservationists, how can we help slow down climate change? 31．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.     Milrem Robotics designed the robot foresters to help speed up deforestation. 32．What else can you do in your daily life to help slow climate change? (In about 40 words) 【答案】29．Planting a hectare of trees in under six hours./Planting a hectare of forest in less than six hours. /The new robot forester can plant a hectare of forest in less than six hours. 30．By planting a trillion trees to reverse forest cover loss. We need to plant a trillion trees to reverse forest cover loss to help slow down climate change. 31．Milrem Robotics designed the robot foresters to help speed up deforestation. According to the passage, the robot forester is designed for working in commercial forests and it could be used to restore natural forests instead of helping speed up deforestation. 32．As a student, I actively play my part in slowing climate change. On one hand, I clearly know paper is made from wood, so I always use both sides of the paper and avoid leaving a lot white space on the page to reduce forest cutting. On the other hand, I usually ride a bike or take a public transport instead of driving for a short distance. 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了自动植树机器人及其在应对气候变化方面的应用，说明了这种新技术如何帮助解决全球性的环境问题。通过对机器人功能的描述、其在植树方面的优势和效果，以及其在环保领域的重要性等内容的阐述，向读者展示了这一新技术的应用前景和价值。 29．考查细节理解。根据文章第二段“Milrem Robotics, an Estonian company, has developed an autonomous robot forester. The new robot forester can plant a hectare of forest in less than six hours.(爱沙尼亚公司Milrem Robotics开发了一款自动护林机器人。新的机器人护林员可以在不到6小时的时间内种植一公顷的森林。)”可知，新的机器人护林员可以在不到6小时的时间内种植一公顷的森林。故答案为Planting a hectare of trees in under six hours./Planting a hectare of forest in less than six hours. /The new robot forester can plant a hectare of forest in less than six hours。 30．考查细节理解。根据文章第三段“Conservationists say, “We lose 10 million hectares of trees every year to agriculture and logging and we need to plant a trillion trees to reverse forest cover loss to help slow down climate change.”(环保人士说：“我们每年因农业和伐木而失去1000万公顷的树木，我们需要种植1万亿棵树来扭转森林覆盖的损失，以帮助减缓气候变化。”)”可知，环保主义者认为我们需要种植1万亿棵树来扭转森林覆盖的损失，以帮助减缓气候变化。故答案为By planting a trillion trees to reverse forest cover loss. We need to plant a trillion trees to reverse forest cover loss to help slow down climate change。 31．考查细节理解。根据文章第三段“The robot forester is designed for working in commercial forests and it could be used to restore natural forests, too.(机器人护林员是为在商业森林工作而设计的，它也可以用来恢复自然森林。)”可知，机器人护林员是为在商业森林工作而设计的，它也可以用来恢复自然森林。原句“Milrem Robotics designed the robot foresters to help speed up deforestation.”的“to help speed up deforestation.”是错误的，机器人是用来恢复自然森林而不是加快森林砍伐。故答案为Milrem Robotics designed the robot foresters to help speed up deforestation. According to the passage, the robot forester is designed for working in commercial forests and it could be used to restore natural forests instead of helping speed up deforestation。 32．开放题。要求考生谈谈能做些什么来帮助减缓气候变化，考生言之有理即可。参考答案为As a student, I actively play my part in slowing climate change. On one hand, I clearly know paper is made from wood, so I always use both sides of the paper and avoid leaving a lot white space on the page to reduce forest cutting. On the other hand, I usually ride a bike or take a public transport instead of driving for a short distance. Passage 9 （23-24高二下·北京房山·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。 Skyscrapers (摩天大楼) are the ultimate symbol of urban life. By 2050, almost 80 percent of the earth’s population could live in cities. The human population could increase to 9.1 billion people yet the amount of land available for farming will be the same. How to meet the increasing food needs of our planet could be a big problem. Vertical farms, where urban farmers could grow crops in environmentally friendly skyscrapers, could be the solution. In spite of concerns over high costs, experts want to make these urban farms a reality and use these skyscrapers to grow crops. They believe that we can increase food production by changing our thinking from out to up. Vertical farms would have many advantages, experts say. The food would be grown with minimal effects on the environment. Unlike traditional farming, vertical farming would not force animals out of their habitats by taking over large areas of land, nor would it pollute the air with the use of heavy farming equipment. Those farms would also reduce the cost and negative effects of transporting food over long distances. These have been well recognized. Growing prosperity has led to many people demanding that all foods are available all year round. Indoor farming could produce crops constantly and crops would not suffer from weather-related problems like drought or flooding. In addition, the use of agricultural chemicals for controlling insects would be minimal. Experts agree that new farming practices are needed to support the planet’s need for more and more food at affordable costs, both to the farmer and to the consumer. Vertical farms may be a small-scale answer, but the best ideas could be yet to come. 33．According to this passage, what could be a big problem? 34．What would be the advantages of vertical farming? 35．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. Vertical farms could meet people’s demand for available food all year round, because it could produce crops constantly and crops would not be affected by any problems. 36．In addition to vertical farms, what else do you think can help solve the food shortage? (In about 40 words) 【答案】33．How to meet the increasing food needs of our planet. 34．Minimal environmental impact, no habitat disruption for animals, reduced air pollution, lower transportation costs and effects, constant crop production, and minimal use of agricultural chemicals. 35．The false part is “crops would not be affected by any problems”. Although indoor farming can provide constant production and avoid weather-related issues like drought or flooding, it does not mean crops are immune to all problems. Other factors such as disease, pests, or technical malfunctions could still affect crop growth, so this part of the statement is overly absolute and therefore false. 36．Other solutions to address food shortages could involve improving crop yields through advanced genetics and precision agriculture, promoting sustainable farming practices to preserve soil health, reducing food waste through better supply chain management, and increasing public awareness about balanced diets to reduce pressure on specific food groups. 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了垂直农场作为应对未来食物需求增长和环境保护的新型农业模式，能够在城市中高效、环保地生产食物。 33．考查细节理解。根据第一段中“How to meet the increasing food needs of our planet could be a big problem.(如何满足地球日益增长的粮食需求可能是一个大问题)”可知，随着地球人口增加至91亿且可耕种土地面积不变，如何满足日益增长的食物需求成为了一个重大问题。故答案为How to meet the increasing food needs of our planet。 34．考查细节理解。根据第三段中“The food would be grown with minimal effects on the environment. Unlike traditional farming, vertical farming would not force animals out of their habitats by taking over large areas of land, nor would it pollute the air with the use of heavy farming equipment. Those farms would also reduce the cost and negative effects of transporting food over long distances.(这种食物的种植对环境的影响微乎其微。与传统农业不同，垂直农业不会占领大片土地，迫使动物离开栖息地，也不会使用重型农业设备污染空气。这些农场还将减少长途运输粮食的成本和负面影响)”及第四段中“Indoor farming could produce crops constantly and crops would not suffer from weather-related problems like drought or flooding. In addition, the use of agricultural chemicals for controlling insects would be minimal.(室内农业可以持续生产作物，作物不会受到干旱或洪水等天气相关问题的影响。此外，用于控制昆虫的农用化学品的使用将是最低限度的)”可知，垂直农业的优点，包括对环境影响小、不破坏动物栖息地、减少空气污染、降低长途运输食物的成本和负面影响、能够持续生产作物以及减少农药使用。故答案为Minimal environmental impact, no habitat disruption for animals, reduced air pollution, lower transportation costs and effects, constant crop production, and minimal use of agricultural chemicals。 35．考查推理判断。根据第四段中“Indoor farming could produce crops constantly and crops would not suffer from weather-related problems like drought or flooding. In addition, the use of agricultural chemicals for controlling insects would be minimal.(室内农业可以持续生产作物，作物不会受到干旱或洪水等天气相关问题的影响。此外，用于控制昆虫的农用化学品的使用将是最低限度的)”可知，室内农业能持续生产且不受天气影响，但并未说作物不会受到任何问题的影响，它们仍然可能受到疾病、害虫和操作问题等问题的影响。因此，所给句子“Vertical farms could meet people’s demand for available food all year round, because it could produce crops constantly and crops would not be affected by any problems.(垂直农场可以满足人们全年对可用粮食的需求，因为它可以持续生产作物，作物不会受到任何问题的影响)”中“crops would not be affected by any problems(作物不会受到任何问题的影响)”这一表述过于绝对，是错误的。故答案为The false part is “crops would not be affected by any problems”. Although indoor farming can provide constant production and avoid weather-related issues like drought or flooding, it does not mean crops are immune to all problems. Other factors such as disease, pests, or technical malfunctions could still affect crop growth, so this part of the statement is overly absolute and therefore false.   36．开放性题目。此题要求提出除垂直农业外的其他解决食物短缺的方案，答案不唯一，合理即可。解决粮食短缺的其他解决方案可能包括通过先进的遗传学和精准农业提高作物产量，促进可持续农业实践以保护土壤健康，通过更好的供应链管理减少粮食浪费，提高公众对均衡饮食的认识以减轻特定粮食群体的压力。Other solutions to address food shortages could involve improving crop yields through advanced genetics and precision agriculture, promoting sustainable farming practices to preserve soil health, reducing food waste through better supply chain management, and increasing public awareness about balanced diets to reduce pressure on specific food groups. Passage 10 （22-23高二下·北京房山·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。 Computers, smartphones, and audio players are an essential part of students’ everyday lives. That means that whenever students are doing homework, they are going to be faced with the problem of using their devices for purposes other than learning. Instead of concentrating on one task, they are performing multiple tasks. According to the research by Larry Rosen, published in the journal Computers in Human Science, students spend up to 45% of their homework time on various tasks unrelated to their studies. Students often get distracted by their phones or use their laptops for unauthorized (未经许可的) activities. Often, students think that they are able to multitask effectively, without sacrificing their studies. However, the research shows that it is true in only 5% of all cases. But why do teenagers multitask? The answer is simple: multitasking makes us feel good. As the research indicates, the entertainment gained from secondary activities during studies makes learners feel better emotionally. Watching TV or talking to your friends by email is pleasant and helps students fight boredom while doing homework or listening to a lecture they find boring. Another reason why students multitask is that they simply do not see the negative impact it has on their coursework. Teenagers often overrate their abilities. The seemingly tiny distractions, however, result in a constant need to switch focus and sort out information, injuring the brain by overuse and making the process inefficient. However, the effects of multitasking are not entirely negative. The research conducted by HKU indicates that people who routinely multitask are able to use their senses in conjunction (结合) more easily. Other research also shows that multitasking has a positive effect on the ability to pass judgment and solve problems quickly and efficiently. 37．What does the research by Larry Rosen tell us? 38．According to the text, why do teenagers multitask? 39．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. Multitasking, which injures the brain by overuse and makes the learning process inefficient, has no positive effects on students. 40．Will you choose to multitask when doing homework? Why or why not? (In about 40 words) 【答案】37．Students spend up to 45% of their homework time on various tasks unrelated to their studies, with few knowing that this is at the expense of their own studies. 38．Because multitasking makes them feel good. Besides, they are not aware of the negative impact it has on their coursework. 39．Multitasking, which injures the brain by overuse and makes the learning process inefficient, has no positive effects on students. According to this passage, the effects of multitasking are not entirely negative. 40．When doing homework, I will not choose multitasking. Because multitasking will make it difficult for me to concentrate on what I am doing, which prevents me from efficiently completing my homework within the time limit. 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了通常情况下多任务会导致学生分心，以及学生选择多任务的原因。 37．考查细节理解。根据第二段“According to the research by Larry Rosen, published in the journal Computers in Human Science, students spend up to 45% of their homework time on various tasks unrelated to their studies. Students often get distracted by their phones or use their laptops for unauthorized (未经许可的) activities. Often, students think that they are able to multitask effectively, without sacrificing their studies. However, the research shows that it is true in only 5% of all cases.(根据拉里·罗森发表在《计算机与人文科学》杂志上的研究，学生将高达45%的家庭作业时间花在与学习无关的各种任务上。学生们经常被手机分散注意力，或者使用笔记本电脑进行未经授权的活动。通常，学生们认为他们能够在不牺牲学业的情况下有效地处理多项任务。然而，研究表明，只有5%例子是这样的)”可知， Larry Rosen的研究告诉我们，学生将高达45%的家庭作业时间花在与学习无关的任务上，却几乎不知道这是以牺牲自己的学业为代价。故答案为：Students spend up to 45% of their homework time on various tasks unrelated to their studies, with few knowing that this is at the expense of their own studies. 38．考查细节理解题。根据第三段的“But why do teenagers multitask? The answer is simple: multitasking makes us feel good. (但为什么青少年要同时处理多项任务呢？答案很简单：多任务处理让我们感觉良好)”和第四段的“ Another reason why students multitask is that they simply do not see the negative impact it has on their coursework. (学生多任务处理的另一个原因是，他们根本看不到这对他们的课程有负面影响)”可知，青少年选择多任务是因为多任务处理让他们感觉良好，并且他们意识不到这对他们的课程有负面影响。故答案为：Because multitasking makes them feel good. Besides, they are not aware of the negative impact it has on their coursework. 39．考查细节理解。根据倒数第二段的“The seemingly tiny distractions, however, result in a constant need to switch focus and sort out information, injuring the brain by overuse and making the process inefficient.(然而，看似微小的分心会导致人们不断需要转换注意力和整理信息，过度使用会伤害大脑，使这一过程效率低下)”和倒数第三段的“However, the effects of multitasking are not entirely negative.(然而，多任务处理的影响并不完全是负面的)”可知，虽然过度使用会伤害大脑以及让学习过程效率低下，但多任务处理的影响并非全是负面的。因此错误的部分是has no positive effects on students.。根据本文，多任务处理的影响并不完全是负面的。故答案为：Multitasking, which injures the brain by overuse and makes the learning process inefficient, has no positive effects on students. According to this passage,  the effects of multitasking are not entirely negative. 40．开放性问题。答案符合逻辑即可，注意字数。When doing homework, I will not choose multitasking. Because multitasking will make it difficult for me to concentrate on what I am doing, which prevents me from efficiently completing my homework within the time limit. Passage 11 （22-23高二上·北京朝阳·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。 Are we getting more stupid? According to Gerald Crabtree, a scientist at Stanford University in the US, we are. According to Dr. Crabtree, human intelligence may have actually mounted to the top more than 2,000 years ago and ever since then it has been going downhill. Dr. Crabtree states that genetic mutations (基因变异) during the past several thousands of years are causing a decrease in overall human intellectual and emotional fitness. At the heart of Crabtree’s thinking is a simple idea. Our bodies choose what genes we decide to keep and pass on what will most likely benefit our children. The study explains how our body decides to keep those traits that make us most healthy and most immune, not the ones that make us most intelligent. So since we need to be healthy but possibly not as smart, we start to lose the genes that make us smart. There are other scientists that seem to agree with Dr. Crabtree. Ray Williams, from MIT, carried out a survey of general knowledge among public school students in his study. The data showed that 77% of the students didn’t know who was the first president of America and 18% of the Americans still believed that the sun goes around the earth. So Dr. Crabtree’s idea that people could be getting stupider could be factual. However, not everyone believes in Crabtree’s theory. James Flynn, the author of Are We Getting Smarter, argues that human mental abilities have grown, because we are learning what possibilities are open to us and have developed a wider variety of intelligence. “You wouldn’t get Stephen Hawking 2,000 years ago,” Thomas Hills, another opponent from the University of Warwick, says, “But now we have people of his intelligent level doing things and making insights that we would never have achieved in our environment of evolutionary adaptation.” 41．What does Dr. Crabtree believe about human intelligence? 42．How did Ray Williams prove Dr. Crabtree’s theory to be true? 43．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. People who question Dr. Crabtree’s theory believe that people today have similar intelligence to people in ancient times. 44．Are you for or against Dr. Crabtree’s belief on human intelligence? Explain your reasons. In about 40 words) 【答案】41．Human intelligence has been going downhill since 2000 years ago. 42．By carrying out a survey and providing data. 43．People who question Dr. Crabtree’s theory believe that people today have similar intelligence to people in ancient times. According to the author, people who question Dr. Crabtree’s theory believe that people today have a wider variety of intelligence than people in ancient times. 44．(1) I don’t agree with Dr. Crabtree’s belief. Since 2,000 years ago, the society has developed from the primitive to advanced. If human intelligence had gone downhill, there would be no inventions which promote the social and technological development. (2) I support Dr. Crabtree’s theory. Our ancient ancestors created fabulous inventions, like Chinese four great inventions, and these inventions greatly promote the world civilization. People continue to evolve on the achievements of our ancestors. Now people increasingly rely on technology and it hurts our intelligence by decreasing our memory. 【分析】本文是一篇议论文。文章主要讨论人的智力的发展问题及各个研究者的不同观点。 41．考查细节理解。根据文章第二段“According to Dr. Crabtree, human intelligence may have actually mounted to the top more than 2,000 years ago and ever since then it has been going downhill.（根据Crabtree博士的说法，人类的智力实际上可能在2000多年前就已经上升到顶峰，从那时起，它一直在走下坡路。）”可知，人类的智力从2000多年前就开始走下坡路了。故答案为Human intelligence has been going downhill since 2000 years ago. 42．考查推理判断。根据文章第四段“Ray Williams, from MIT, carried out a survey of general knowledge among public school students in his study. The data showed that 77% of the students didn’t know who was the first president of America and 18% of the Americans still believed that the sun goes around the earth. So Dr. Crabtree’s idea that people could be getting stupider could be factual.（麻省理工学院的Ray Williams在他的研究中对公立学校学生的一般知识进行了调查。数据显示，77%的学生不知道谁是美国第一任总统，18%的美国人仍然相信太阳绕着地球转。因此，Crabtree博士认为人们可能会变得更愚蠢的想法可能是事实。）”可知，Ray Williams通过调查研究并提供数据支持论点，以此证明Crabtree博士的理论正确。故答案为By carrying out a survey and providing data. 43．考查推理判断。根据文章第五段“However, not everyone believes in Crabtree’s theory. James Flynn, the author of Are We Getting Smarter, argues that human mental abilities have grown, because we are learning what possibilities are open to us and have developed a wider variety of intelligence.（然而，并不是每个人都相信Crabtree博士的理论。《我们变得更聪明吗》一书的作者James Flynn认为，人类的心理能力已经增长，因为我们正在学习哪些可能性是开放的，并且已经发展出更广泛的智力。）”可知，质疑Crabtree博士的人认为：人类的心理能力已经增长，并且已经发展出更广泛的智力。推知他们认为今天的人比古代的人拥有更广泛的智力，而不是拥有一样的智力。故答案为People who question Dr. Crabtree’s theory believe that people today have similar intelligence to people in ancient times. According to the author, people who question Dr. Crabtree’s theory believe that people today have a wider variety of intelligence than people in ancient times. 44．考查开放试题。答案为(1) I don’t agree with Dr. Crabtree’s belief. Since 2,000 years ago, the society has developed from the primitive to advanced. If human intelligence had gone downhill, there would be no inventions which promote the social and technological development. (2) I support Dr. Crabtree’s theory. Our ancient ancestors created fabulous inventions, like Chinese four great inventions, and these inventions greatly promote the world civilization. People continue to evolve on the achievements of our ancestors. Now people increasingly rely on technology and it hurts our intelligence by decreasing our memory. / 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $ 专题08 阅读理解（阅读表达） Passage 1 （24-25高二下·北京通州·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英语回答问题。请在答题卡指定区域作答。 Selfie tourism is a growing trend where travelers visit iconic landmarks to take photos for social media. It’s less about personal experience and more about curating an image for social media. This new phenomenon focuses on “visiting destinations primarily to take and share photos of themselves, often with iconic landmarks in the background,” according to UNESCO. Even though it promotes the tourist economy to some extent, it’s a plague (瘟疫). UNESCO warns that selfie tourism is having terrible consequences on many of the world’s most famous landmarks. A UNESCO spokesperson said: “In many cases, it has led to overcrowding at specific landmarks, creating pressure on local facilities and contributing to the degradation of visitor experience.” For example, in Venice, local officials have had to contend with disrespectful behavior from visitors who see the city as little more than a background for their photos. The constant foot traffic, sometimes accompanied by reckless behavior, is damaging the city’s delicate facilities. Similarly, in other tourist-heavy areas like the Eiffel Tower, there have been reports of tourists disregarding safety precautions just for the perfect shot. In response, cities and destinations around the world are fighting back with fines and duties. Portofino, Italy, introduced fines for tourists lingering too long in popular selfie spots. Other cities steer tourists away from overrun n landmarks. In Florence, efforts are underway to direct visitors to lesser known neighborhoods. However, many of these places have a tourism dependent economy. Efforts to manage tourism must consider not only economic growth but also the long term preservation of cultural landmarks and local communities. But it is a difficult act to balance. To address this challenge effectively, governments, local officials, and tourists alike must work together to ensure that tourism is both sustainable and respectful of the cultural treasures it seeks to showcase. 1．According to this text, what is “selfie tourism”? 2．What consequence(s) does “selfie tourism” have? 3．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. Countries should take steps to address the negative consequences of selfie tourism without considering its economic benefits. 4．What are some other measures to minimize the negative impacts of selfie tourism? (In about 40 words) Passage 2 （24-25高二下·北京·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。请在答题卡指定区域作答。 Typing offers speed and clarity, but a recent Norwegian study reveals that handwriting significantly boosts brain connectivity compared with typing. The research published in Frontiers in Psychology by Norwegian University of Science and Technology aimed to see if handwriting had more benefits than typing. They enlisted 36 students to write in cursive with a digital pen or type the same words on a keyboard for 25 seconds. The students were asked to wear a cap of EEG sensors on their heads to measure their brain waves. The EEG cap’s 256 electrodes attached to the scalp recorded the electrical signals of the students’ brains, including which brain cells were active and how parts of the brain communicate with each other. The experiment found that writing by hand required communication between the brain’s visual, sensory, and motor cortices. The candidates who were made to write with the digital pen had to visualize letters, and then use their fine motor skills to control their movement while writing. There was no change when the participants typed. In the end, the study concluded that writing required more brain activity and aided a person’s ability to learn and memorize. The co-author of this study, Audrey Van der Meer, a neuropsychology professor at the university, explained how writing can be more advantageous than typing. She said, “The involvement of fine and intricate hand movements in note-taking, in contrast with pressing keys on a keyboard that all require the same simple finger movement, may be more advantageous for learning.” She added, “The brain is not challenged very much when it’s pressing keys on a keyboard as opposed to when it’s forming those letters by hand.” Audrey also added, “Our findings suggest that visual and movement information obtained through precisely controlled hand movements when using a pen contribute extensively to the brain’s connectivity patterns that promote learning,” as per the official press release. Although the participants used digital pens for handwriting, van der Meer explained that the results are expected to be the same when using a real pen on paper. She said, “We have shown that the differences in brain activity are related to the careful forming of the letters when writing by hand while making more use of the senses.” 5．According to the research, what is the benefit of handwriting compared with typing? 6．Why is it that handwriting can aid a person’s ability to learn and memorize? 7．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. The visual and movement information obtained through precisely controlled hand movements when using a digital pen contributes to the brain’s connectivity patterns that promote learning, but it does not work when using a real pen on paper. 8．Apart from the benefits discussed in the article, how can you benefit from writing by hand? (In about 40 words) Passage 3 （24-25高二下·北京大兴·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英语回答问题。请在答题卡指定区域作答。 How can the vitality (生命力) of classic literary works be kept alive in the digital age? Wu Yaduo, a 17-year-old high school student, offers her answer. Using her iPad, Wu turns stories from classical literature — like A Dream of Red Mansions, as well as the lives of famous poets like Li Bai into animated, hand-drawn videos. Her videos have attracted tens of thousands of followers and millions of views online. To Wu, these works are intergenerational because they explore universal human emotions and lasting social themes. However, she believes it is important to bridge the gap between these classics and modern life, making them more relatable and interesting, especially for younger audiences. Wu decided to start with texts from high school Chinese textbooks after noticing that many students aren’t interested in these works simply because they have to learn them for school. “Classics shouldn’t be placed on a pedestal (神坛) ; instead, we should bring them closer, making them a part of our daily lives,” Wu said. In her videos, Wu focuses on bringing text and sound elements together. For example, her adaptation of A Dream of Red Mansions was inspired by a song with a sad tone from a Chinese band. Wu avoids telling stories in a traditional way; she wants her work to be “spicy”. A fan of an avant-garde (前卫的) movies and artworks, her hand-drawn animations are often filled with bright colors, dramatic tension, and striking visual impact. Her unique method has received a lot of support from those around her. However, Wu still has regrets about her work. She finds it impossible to perfectly translate the vivid images in her mind into art. “Every time I draw, I feel annoyed that I can’t just copy and paste what’s in my head straight onto the iPad. It would be so much more amazing if I could,” she said. “But I still always look forward to my next piece.” 9．According to Wu, why are the classics passed on from generation to generation? 10．What gave Wu the inspiration to adapt A Dream of Red Mansions into a video? 11．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. Wu creates vivid images in her mind and she perfectly copies them straight onto the iPad. 12．Would you like to watch any of the videos by Wu? Why or why not? (In about 40 words) Passage 4 （24-25高二下·北京·期中） 阅读表达 As a researcher in the behavior of older adults, I regularly hear complaints from them like, “I’m just not part of this world anymore. In certain parts of society, I just can’t join… Some things just are not possible if you are not in the flow of the Internet.” or “We feel like we’re standing outside a building that we have no access to.” Today, mastering digital technology has become a key component of what it means to fully participate in society. But one area in particular threatens to prevent some older adults from making connections: the digital divide. As a recent study shows, one-third of adults aged 65 and older say they’ve never used the Internet, and half don’t have Internet access at home. Of those who do use the Internet, nearly half say they need someone else’s help to set up or use a new digital device. In contrast to concerns about technology use increasing isolation (孤立；隔离) among younger populations, the communication and connection possible online can be especially valuable for older adults who are homebound, live far away from family, or have lost the loved ones. Older adults can use online tools to connect with friends and family via messaging platforms, video chat, and social media even if they can no longer physically visit them. And they can engage with the outside world through news, blogs, streaming platforms, and email, even if they are no longer able to move about as easily as they once could. For older adults in particular, the risks associated with social isolation are profound. Loneliness among older adults has been associated with depression, functional decline, and death. Technology can serve as an important tool to help reduce these risks, but only if we provide older adults with the skills they need, to make inclusion in the digital world accessible to them. The importance of digital inclusion is not going to disappear with the generational changes of the coming decades. Technology is continuously developing, and with each new digital innovation come challenges for even younger adults to adapt. 13．What prevents some older adults from connecting with society? 14．What can older adults do using online tools? 15．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. Enabling older adults to access the digital world can help them recover from depression and functional decline. 16．Please briefly present your opinion on digital inclusion (数字包容). (about 40 words) Passage 5 （21-22高二下·北京东城·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求回答问题。 Do you think you’re a good listener? Chances are you do. But studies show that most people seriously overestimate their ability to listen. The truth is we are generally not good at listening, and our listening comprehension declines as we age. Why aren’t we good at listening? One reason concerns the speed at which we think. The adult brain can process up to around 400 words per minute. This means during a conversation an average person thinks more than three times faster than he speaks. Therefore, we can easily think about something else while someone is talking to us, allowing our mind to wander or get sidetracked. Thinking about how you will reply while someone is still talking is one of the most common barriers to effective listening. Another factor that contributes to our poor listening is our ever-decreasing attention span (持续时间). According to study conducted by Microsoft, in 2000—around the time the mobile revolution began—the average human attention span was 12 seconds; by 2013, it had fallen to 8 seconds! Our mobile devices provide constant distractions, which can be very destructive to listening. Test results have shown that being interrupted by a cell phone lowers listening comprehension by 20 percent. Interruptions and distractions can cause a dramatic decline in listening ability—but they don’t have to. More and more people now realize that listening is a skill that can be developed through practice. Learning to observe a speaker’s body language and emotions, for example, can improve our active listening. Even the simple act of note-taking or making eye contact can help us stay focused while listening. The rewards of effective listening are many. Research suggests that people who are good listeners make better leaders. And a recent study indicates that employees who don’t believe their bosses are listening to them are less likely to offer helpful suggestions and new ideas. As Dr. Ralph Nichols once said, “The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.” 17．According to Paragraph 2, why is it easy for us to get distracted during a conversation? 18．What has caused the decrease of our attention span? 19．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. The decline of listening ability caused by distractions is sharp, and it is hard to be prevented. 20．Please introduce the rewards that effective listening brings to you. Passage 6 （23-24高二下·北京通州·期中） 阅读下面的短文和问题，根据短文内容，在相应题号后的横线上写下相关信息，完成对该问题的回答。答语要结构正确，书写工整，字迹清楚。 AI art, aka (又名) computation art or generative art, refers to the creation of any artwork through the use of artificial intelligence programs. This can include art forms like music, photography and video, but in this article we’ll focus on 2D and 3D illustrative art. AI art should not be confused with digital art, which refers to artworks created using any type of digital software. Typically, with digital art, the creator has to employ some level of artistic skill and technique, and understand how to use tools such as Adobe Illustrator. With AI art, in contrast, you typically only have to type in a text prompt (提示词). A finished artwork is then created by generative AI algorithms without any further input needed. AI art is controversial (有争议的) within the art and design professions for two main reasons. Firstly, and most obviously, allowing people to generate art through software means they’re less likely to pay someone to create it by hand. And that’s inevitably (不可避免的) going to lead to job losses and the loss of freelance work to professional artists. The second reason is that AI art generators are trained on art made by humans. Yet in most cases, these artists have not been paid for this sampling of their work. And by copying their style, which they may have taken decades of hard work to develop, AI art generators are arguably carrying out the biggest copyright theft in history. It all reminds us of the story of how an aging Pablo Picasso was one day sketching (素描) in a park. A woman approached him and asked him to sketch her. The famous artist took one look at her, and dashed off an abstract likeness in seconds. She loved it, and asked how much she should pay. “5,000 francs,” he replied. “Why so expensive?” she cried in shock. “It took you less than a minute!” He replied: “No, Madame, it took me a lifetime.” The artist community is now in a similar position, on a massive scale. AI art generators are taking out the equivalent of 5,000 francs of value multiple times a second, and yet artists aren’t getting a penny. A number of court cases are testing out this argument in court. 21．What is AI art? 22．With digital art, what does the creator have to do? 23．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. ➢The author tells the story of Pablo Picasso to show that he is a very great artist 24．Are you a supporter of AI art? Why or why not? (In about 40 words) Passage 7 （23-24高二下·北京顺义·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。请在答题卡指定区域作答。 We are all faced with challenges in our lives. Most people have a hard time accepting and dealing with them. The truth is that you will have to deal with difficult problems throughout your life. Here are some tips on how to deal with everyday challenges. 1. Don’t compare your lifestyle with others. It is really difficult not to compare ourselves with others; however, the more often we do that, the more dissatisfied we will feel. There will be people that may have accomplished more than you. The key thing to remember is that you create your own story and success in life. 2. Don’t blame others. Many people make a habit of blaming others for all their problems. They fail to take full responsibility for the decisions they have made in life. The more you blame others for the challenges you are faced with, the more you will make people dislike you and not want to be around you. The first thing you want to do when faced with a personal challenge is not to start pointing fingers at others. 3. Accept changes in your life. You will have to deal with changes in life all the time. Many people don’t like change because it gets them outside of their comfort zone. You may be unhappy or happy at certain times; however, you have to realize that those two feelings will not last forever. You have to always train your mind to be at peace despite the emotional state you are experiencing. 4. Don’t think too much. When you think too much about an event that happened, you will start to judge everything and everyone. When you think too much, you will have a very hard time accepting reality and you will think that something is not right. Thinking too much can also lead you not to take action on your goal. This can make you really sad in the long run. Life is full of its ups and downs. With the right mindset and practice, you will be able to overcome them every time and grow in the process! 25．What is the key thing to remember if you want to stop comparing your lifestyle with others? 26．What will happen if you blame others for the challenges you are faced with? 27．Why do many people dislike change? 28．What are the other ways to deal with challenges in your life? (In about 40 words) Passage 8 （23-24高二下·北京丰台·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。请在答题纸指定区域作答。 Robots help us in many ways — from assembly lines to looking after the elderly. Now they’re turning their attention to coping with climate change by helping to plant trees. Milrem Robotics, an Estonian company, has developed an autonomous robot forester. The new robot forester can plant a hectare of forest in less than six hours. The robotic planters are equipped with Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) which uses laser pulses to build up a three-dimensional image of the robots’ surroundings and global positioning (GPS) to navigate precisely. The position of each sapling is recorded in a database as it is planted, which means that a specialized brush cutter version of the robot forester can reduce competitive growth without harming the young trees. The robot forester is designed for working in commercial forests and it could be used to restore natural forests, too. Deforestation (滥伐) contributes 15% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Conservationists say, “We lose 10 million hectares of trees every year to agriculture and logging and we need to plant a trillion trees to reverse forest cover loss to help slow down climate change.” A mature tree can capture an average of 0.62 metric tons of carbon dioxide over its lifetime — equivalent to the carbon emissions from driving a car 2,400 kilometres. Tree planting is just one of a range of measures needed to fight climate change and scientists say it’s important to plant the right trees in the right place for it to be effective. These robotic planters are just one of the many new solutions beginning to surface in time for the decade of delivery on climate change. We can do a lot to help in our daily life. 29．What can the robot forester do? 30．According to conservationists, how can we help slow down climate change? 31．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.     Milrem Robotics designed the robot foresters to help speed up deforestation. 32．What else can you do in your daily life to help slow climate change? (In about 40 words) Passage 9 （23-24高二下·北京房山·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。 Skyscrapers (摩天大楼) are the ultimate symbol of urban life. By 2050, almost 80 percent of the earth’s population could live in cities. The human population could increase to 9.1 billion people yet the amount of land available for farming will be the same. How to meet the increasing food needs of our planet could be a big problem. Vertical farms, where urban farmers could grow crops in environmentally friendly skyscrapers, could be the solution. In spite of concerns over high costs, experts want to make these urban farms a reality and use these skyscrapers to grow crops. They believe that we can increase food production by changing our thinking from out to up. Vertical farms would have many advantages, experts say. The food would be grown with minimal effects on the environment. Unlike traditional farming, vertical farming would not force animals out of their habitats by taking over large areas of land, nor would it pollute the air with the use of heavy farming equipment. Those farms would also reduce the cost and negative effects of transporting food over long distances. These have been well recognized. Growing prosperity has led to many people demanding that all foods are available all year round. Indoor farming could produce crops constantly and crops would not suffer from weather-related problems like drought or flooding. In addition, the use of agricultural chemicals for controlling insects would be minimal. Experts agree that new farming practices are needed to support the planet’s need for more and more food at affordable costs, both to the farmer and to the consumer. Vertical farms may be a small-scale answer, but the best ideas could be yet to come. 33．According to this passage, what could be a big problem? 34．What would be the advantages of vertical farming? 35．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. Vertical farms could meet people’s demand for available food all year round, because it could produce crops constantly and crops would not be affected by any problems. 36．In addition to vertical farms, what else do you think can help solve the food shortage? (In about 40 words) Passage 10 （22-23高二下·北京房山·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。 Computers, smartphones, and audio players are an essential part of students’ everyday lives. That means that whenever students are doing homework, they are going to be faced with the problem of using their devices for purposes other than learning. Instead of concentrating on one task, they are performing multiple tasks. According to the research by Larry Rosen, published in the journal Computers in Human Science, students spend up to 45% of their homework time on various tasks unrelated to their studies. Students often get distracted by their phones or use their laptops for unauthorized (未经许可的) activities. Often, students think that they are able to multitask effectively, without sacrificing their studies. However, the research shows that it is true in only 5% of all cases. But why do teenagers multitask? The answer is simple: multitasking makes us feel good. As the research indicates, the entertainment gained from secondary activities during studies makes learners feel better emotionally. Watching TV or talking to your friends by email is pleasant and helps students fight boredom while doing homework or listening to a lecture they find boring. Another reason why students multitask is that they simply do not see the negative impact it has on their coursework. Teenagers often overrate their abilities. The seemingly tiny distractions, however, result in a constant need to switch focus and sort out information, injuring the brain by overuse and making the process inefficient. However, the effects of multitasking are not entirely negative. The research conducted by HKU indicates that people who routinely multitask are able to use their senses in conjunction (结合) more easily. Other research also shows that multitasking has a positive effect on the ability to pass judgment and solve problems quickly and efficiently. 37．What does the research by Larry Rosen tell us? 38．According to the text, why do teenagers multitask? 39．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. Multitasking, which injures the brain by overuse and makes the learning process inefficient, has no positive effects on students. 40．Will you choose to multitask when doing homework? Why or why not? (In about 40 words) Passage 11 （22-23高二上·北京朝阳·期中） 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。 Are we getting more stupid? According to Gerald Crabtree, a scientist at Stanford University in the US, we are. According to Dr. Crabtree, human intelligence may have actually mounted to the top more than 2,000 years ago and ever since then it has been going downhill. Dr. Crabtree states that genetic mutations (基因变异) during the past several thousands of years are causing a decrease in overall human intellectual and emotional fitness. At the heart of Crabtree’s thinking is a simple idea. Our bodies choose what genes we decide to keep and pass on what will most likely benefit our children. The study explains how our body decides to keep those traits that make us most healthy and most immune, not the ones that make us most intelligent. So since we need to be healthy but possibly not as smart, we start to lose the genes that make us smart. There are other scientists that seem to agree with Dr. Crabtree. Ray Williams, from MIT, carried out a survey of general knowledge among public school students in his study. The data showed that 77% of the students didn’t know who was the first president of America and 18% of the Americans still believed that the sun goes around the earth. So Dr. Crabtree’s idea that people could be getting stupider could be factual. However, not everyone believes in Crabtree’s theory. James Flynn, the author of Are We Getting Smarter, argues that human mental abilities have grown, because we are learning what possibilities are open to us and have developed a wider variety of intelligence. “You wouldn’t get Stephen Hawking 2,000 years ago,” Thomas Hills, another opponent from the University of Warwick, says, “But now we have people of his intelligent level doing things and making insights that we would never have achieved in our environment of evolutionary adaptation.” 41．What does Dr. Crabtree believe about human intelligence? 42．How did Ray Williams prove Dr. Crabtree’s theory to be true? 43．Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why. People who question Dr. Crabtree’s theory believe that people today have similar intelligence to people in ancient times. 44．Are you for or against Dr. Crabtree’s belief on human intelligence? Explain your reasons. In about 40 words) / 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $