期末复习之阅读理解20篇（期末热点话题）（天津专用）-2025-2026学年高二英语选择性必修第四册（外研版）

**基本信息** 聚焦期末热点话题，按应用文、记叙文、说明文、议论文四类文体各5篇系统编排，融合语言能力培养与思维品质提升，实现文体专项突破。 **专项设计** |模块|题量/典例|方法提炼|知识逻辑| |----|-----------|----------|----------| |应用文|5篇（含注册指南、生活成本表等）|含猜测词义方法提示，强调信息定位与细节比对|从实用信息提取到逻辑推理，构建"定位-验证-归纳"解题链| |记叙文|5篇（含父子登山、童年阅读等）|隐含情感主旨分析，注重叙事线索与人物形象解读|以事件发展为脉络，培养时空逻辑与情感体悟能力| |说明文|5篇（含大脑 plasticity、预防原则等）|侧重说明方法识别，强化说明顺序与结构分析|从现象描述到原理阐释，建立科学思维与逻辑推导框架| |议论文|5篇（含社交媒体影响、利他主义等）|突出论点论据辨析，训练批判性思维与论证评价|围绕观点展开，提升辩证分析与价值判断能力|

期末复习之阅读理解20篇 （期末热点话题） 内容导航 内容速递 本资料共20篇专项训练：主要分为以下四种题型 1. 应用文 2. 记叙文 3. 说明文 4. 议论文 每个话题对应5篇专项练习 应用文 Passage 1 A warm welcome from italki! We are glad that you are joining an online language learning community to help people become fluent in foreign languages! To register your account, you should: •go to the teacher application page (click here) •sign up or log into your italki account Once you are in the application process, you will be asked to: •enter some information about yourself (name, languages you speak, the language(s) you teach, etc.) •upload your profile photo •give a written introduction highlighting your skills, background and your teaching methods •give a brief video introduction Minimum requirements for applicants of all languages: ◆Professional Teacher 18+ years old Bachelor’s degree or the teaching qualification Employment statements An introduction video within 3 minutes Native or C2 in your teaching language(s) ◆Community Tutor 18+ years old An introduction video within 3 minutes Native or C2 in your teaching language(s) Here are some of the most common reasons why applications are declined: •The application is incomplete. •The profile picture is not professional-looking. •No introduction video; the image or sound quality is low and cannot be clearly viewed. •The written introduction needs more information or has some spelling or grammar mistakes. •Something in your profile advertises or promotes other services. We ask you to respect the italki platform and not to promote other services. •Your profile includes personal contact information. On italki, students will be able to send you italki messages, so don’t give out your personal contact information. This is to protect your privacy. •You do not meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years old. •The language class that the applicant has applied to is currently closed. (Arabic and Portuguese) 1．What is an applicant required to do in the application process? A．Write about one’s favorite teachers. B．Pay a fee for setting up an account. C．Send several personal photos by email. D．Upload a short self-introduction video. 2．What qualification do you need to become a professional teacher on italki? A．You should have a master’s degree. B．You should be at least sixteen years old. C．You should have related working experience. D．You should be a native speaker of your teaching language (s). 3．In what condition will people’s applications get rejected? A．Their pictures look too professional. B．They apply to teach more than one language. C．Their profiles have no personal contact information. D．They make grammar mistakes in their self-introductions. 4．What do we know about italki from the text? A．It has no restriction on teachers’ age. B．It encourages teachers to promote other services. C．It allows students to contact teachers directly on the platform. D．It will send messages to remind applicants of the languages unavailable. 5．Who would be most interested in reading the text? A．People who mean to be online French teachers. B．People who work as community tutors on italki. C．People who want to make some online friends. D．People who plan to teach abroad. Passage 2 How much will it cost to live in Oxford, if you study in this world- renowned university? The lower and upper range of likely living costs for 2024-25 is provided below. These costs are based on a single, full-time student with no dependents, living in Oxford. We provide the costs per month and you can multiply up by the number of months you expect to live here, so that you are fully aware of and consider very carefully the likely living costs associated with your chosen courses of study at Oxford. Likely living costs For 1 month For 9 months Lower range Upper range Lower range Upper range Food £300 £470 £2,700 £4,230 Accommodation £700 £860 £5,040 £6,192 Personal items £180 £305 £1,620 £2,745 Social activities £40 £90 £360 £810 Study costs £35 £80 £315 £720 Other £20 £35 £180 £315 Total £1,275 £1,840 £10,215 £15,012 In order to provide these likely living costs, the University and the Oxford Student Union have conducted a relevant survey among existing students about the expenditure data. Food: Three ordinary meals on campus each day, dining out not counted. Accommodation: The figures above show a 20% discount, which is commonly accepted in Oxford, if the same apartment is rented by the same student for 9 months and more in a row. They also include related bills (for example, utilities such as electricity and heating). Study costs: These are likely costs directly related to your studies, such as text books, stationery, printing and photocopying, course- related equipment and materials. Other: These are small, mixed costs which do not fall under the other categories above. You may need to make additional budget for costs such as travel to and from fieldwork out of the city, or for international students the visa and health care costs (see student visa webpages), These costs are not included in the figures above. 1．How do the data come out? A．They’re estimated by the authority. B．They’re provided by the graduates. C．They’re based on the costs of last term. D．They’re collected from current students. 2．How much does an Oxford student spend at least on accommodation for a year? A．£6,192. B．£7,140. C．£6,720. D．£8,400. 3．What is the purpose of the survey mentioned? A．To determine the average living expenses in Oxford. B．To collect expenditure data from existing students. C．To establish the likely living costs for the year. D．To compare the living costs in other universities 4．The underlined word“expenditure”in Paragraph 3 most probably means ______. A．income. B．expense. C．education. D．experience. 5．（方法规律提炼）猜测词义的方法： 6．What can we know from the passage about the living costs in Oxford? A．Students living off-campus spend less on food than those on campus. B．The accommodation costs include discounts and utility fees under certain conditions. C．International students do not need to budget for visa-related expenses. D．Study costs mainly refer to the tuition fees paid to the university. Passage 3 Inspiring young minds! TOKNOW Magazine is a big hit in the world of children’s publishing, bringing a unique combination of challenging ideas and good fun to young fans every month. What’s inside?Every month the magazine introduces a fresh new topic with articles, experiments and creative things to make — the magazine also explores philosophy and wellbeing to make sure young readers have a balanced take on life. What is so special about TOKNOW Magazine?Well, it has no ads or promotions inside — instead it is jam-packed with serious ideas. TOKNOW makes complex ideas attractive and accessible to children, who can become involved in advanced concepts and even philosophy (哲学) — and they will soon discover that TOKNOW feels more like a club than just a magazine. Sounds too good to be true? Take a look online-evidence shows that thousands of teachers and parents know a good thing when they see it and recommend TOKNOW to their friends. Happy Birthday All Year! What could be more fun than a gift that keeps coming through the letterbox every month? The first magazine with your gift message will arrive in time for the special day. SUBSCRIBE NOW □ Annual Subscription Europe £ 55; Rest of World £ 65□ Annual Subscription with Gift Pack Includes a Mammoth Map, a Passport Puzzle Booklet, and Subscription Europe £ 60; Rest of World £ 70 Refund Policy — the subscription can be cancelled within 28 days and you can get your money back. 1．Why is TOKNOW a special magazine? A．It entertains young parents. B．It provides serious advertisements. C．It publishes popular science fictions. D．It combines fun with complex concepts. 2．What does TOKNOW offer its readers? A．Online courses. B．Articles on new topics. C．Lectures on a balanced life. D．Reports on scientific discoveries. 3．How much should you pay if you make a 12-month subscription to TOKNOW with gift pack from China? A．£ 55. B．£ 60. C．£ 65. D．£ 70. 4．Subscribers of TOKNOW would get ________. A．free birthday presents B．full refund within 28 days C．membership of the TOKNOW club D．chances to meet the experts in person Passage 4 International Dinner Returns This Saturday — Get your tickets here! Academic Magnet High School International Dinner Saturday, November 5, 6:00-8:00 p.m. What is this event? International dinner is a celebration of culture and diversity within the Magnet community, complete with entertainment from some of Magnet’s talented musicians thanks to Mr. Grimshaw. It is made for all to attend as a community building event. What does the canteen provide? The canteen provides the tables, serving pans, drinks and gloves. $ 75.00 will be offered per table to help offset (补偿) food costs. What do I have to provide? Each table, which can be one person or a few people working together, will have to pick a country and provide 2-4 dishes from that country. The dishes should each be made to serve 150 people. Please also bring your own serving containers and decorate your table. Examples would be tablecloths or a small flag from the represented country. Who can volunteer? Anyone can volunteer — students, parents, supporters. Students can volunteer as servers and clean up the night of and for set-up on Friday, November 4, 3:45-5:30 p.m. Sign up here. What is the ticket price? $ 15.00 per person or $ 40.00 for a family. Questions? Email amhsinternationaldinner@gmail.com 1．What is the purpose of the event? A．To build up the community bond. B．To introduce voluntary work. C．To celebrate a traditional festival. D．To raise money for charity. 2．What does the school canteen provide for the event? A．Food from different countries. B．Tables, serving pans, drinks and gloves. C．Decorations like flags and tablecloths. D．Serving containers for each table. 3．What is required for participants of each country’s table? A．To provide tables and drinks. B．A service of setting-up and cleaning up. C．A $ 75 donation for tickets and food costs. D．To prepare food and decorations. 4．How much should a family of four pay for the dinner? A．$ 15 B．$ 30 C．$ 60 D．$ 40 5．Where is this text probably taken from? A．A cooking magazine. B．A school’s official website. C．A restaurant’s advertisement. D．A travelling booklet. Passage 5 There are different types of money-saving apps, and all of them work in different ways. Here are 4 of the best apps that can help you save much money. Capital One Shopping Capital One Shopping can compare prices automatically as you shop online. As you add items to your cart at an online retailer, this app will search the web for better deals and coupon codes. You can follow the links to other retailers offering a better price and use the available codes to save. You can even use this app while shopping at brick-and-mortar (实体的) stores. Paribus There’s nothing more upsetting than buying something and then seeing it for sale at a lower price a few days later. Wouldn’t it be nice to get that money back? Now you can. Paribus helps you get money back by tracking your purchases from major stores and negotiating refunds. It also helps you get compensated (补偿) for late deliveries and makes sure you don’t leave it too late to return anything you bought. Qapital By setting goals and rules, Qapital helps you to make the most of your money and to save wisely. There’s a feature that divides up your commitments between spending and saving. You’ll also be able to take part in “Money Missions”, which are fun challenges designed to give you insight into smart financial investments. If you want to invest too, you can use Qapital’s pre-built portfolios, which are tailor-made (特制的) to the timeline and amount you input. Digit If you can’t figure out how much you can afford to save, Digit will analyze your spending habits and allocate (分配) a certain amount to your savings. If the app knows you have spare money to save, then it will be moved automatically, and if you don’t, it will stop, so there’s no risk of being left with no cash for the basics. You can sign up for a free trial for a month, and after that, the monthly price is $5. 1．Which of the following best describes Capital One Shopping’s function? A．Finding better deals for consumers. B．Recommending brick-and-mortar stores. C．Encouraging retailers to give coupon codes. D．Comparing the quality of different products. 2．What do we know about Paribus? A．It provides awards for early deliveries. B．It requires users to spend a lot of money. C．It offers some tailor-made financing plans. D．It enables customers to get some money back. 3．Which app are people most likely to choose when they want to learn about investing? A．Capital One Shopping. B．Paribus. C．Qapital. D．Digit. 4．What do we know about Digit from the passage? A．It is completely free to use all the time. B．It helps users get refunds for price drops. C．It decides how much to save based on users’ spending. D．It offers fun financial challenges to improve investment skills. 5．What is the purpose of this text? A．To compare four new apps. B．To recommend some money-saving apps. C．To encourage people to save money. D．To advertise some apps created by the author. 记叙文 Passage 1 It was on a grey winter’s day in my parents’ house outside Glasgow that I first suggested Mont Blanc in summer. I knew I should make more effort to spend time with my 74-year-old dad, but what I was proposing at his age was a risk. A ten-day hike around one of Europe’s highest mountains seemed a little extreme. “Old age doesn’t come alone,” he replied, implying the memory loss from a recent life-threatening stroke. Yet, to stir (唤起) memory in long-forgotten footprints seemed like the right thing to do. We booked a flight, and four months later, arrived in the shadow of Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France. That first sunlit afternoon, it was instantly obvious that we had made the right decision. The pathway ahead was quiet. Quick-footed hikers walked past us, eyes focused on a ridge (山脊) that marched south to the Italian border. But there was no sign of worry on my hiking partner’s brow (额头). Only determination. My dad’s accounts of his time in the mountains remain among the defining stories of my childhood. The first time it left its mark on me was when I uncovered a junk box full of projector slides taken in the summer of 1970, when he and two of his friends completed a previously untried route up the overwhelmingly dangerous North Face of the Eiger in Switzerland. That was now more than half his lifetime ago. And, yet, here we were, marching side by side around the Mont Blanc, tracing an invisible route with our fingers over the same harsh summits he had conquered long ago. What I had always seen as an obsession with the mountains revealed itself to be a bond that I never knew we had. By the end of the week, I sensed we may have achieved what we both had thought impossible. We made our final push towards the Col du Brévent above the Chamonix valley. We climbed up into a narrow world of stone, meeting Mont Blanc face on. To capture the moment, I took a photo, but only then did it dawn on me that it was nearly the same composition as on a slide I had first seen in one of those junk boxes. There was that smile, those eyes fixed on the horizon, the beautiful Alpine ridges of Mont Blanc crowding out the background. For a split second, it looked as if nothing had changed. 1．According to the article, what mainly motivated the author to take his father on a hike around Mont Blanc? A．His father’s old age and poor health. B．His father’s memory loss from a stroke. C．His dream of traveling with his father again. D．His wish to visit one of Europe’s highest mountains. 2．What do we know about the author’s father during the hike around Mont Blanc? A．He showed great determination throughout the journey. B．He constantly worried about the difficulty of the trail. C．He preferred to keep up with quick-footed hikers. D．He often recalled his friends who climbed the Eiger with him. 3．According to the article, which of the following best describes the author’s father? A．A hopeless patient. B．An adventurous climber. C．A responsible father. D．An appreciative photographer. 4．The underlined phrase “crowding out” in Paragraph 7 most probably means ______. A．taking the place of B．moving out of C．breaking away from D．keeping away from 5．What did the author realize after taking the family picture? A．It was never too late to accompany his father. B．He and his father changed with time passing by. C．Everything changes with time except the mountains. D．The father’s passion for the mountains didn’t fade with age. Passage 2 Many years ago, my mother used to read Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey to me during cold winter nights. I remember it clearly, as if it were yesterday, listening to her voice beside me. That experience had a deep and lasting effect on me. Before I could read on my own, my mother introduced me to the beauty and power of language through this story about a girl and her mother spending time in nature with a mother bear and her cub. The combination of the interesting story, beautiful language, and my mother’s presence created a special experience that happened many times. These read-aloud sessions played a key role in making me a reader. Years later, while reading a picture book to a young student in class, I saw how reading aloud could also impact others. The boy had faced many challenges in his life — growing up in poverty and often feeling lonely. However, during that shared reading moment, he felt such happiness that he came up with a meaningful idea. He said, “Mrs. Allyn, we should make sure everyone knows how wonderful this feels. Let’s create a special day for reading aloud.” Inspired by his suggestion, my organization, LitWorld, established World Read Aloud Day in 2024 as a people-powered movement to make his wish come true — that everyone could experience the joy of being read to. Since then, World Read Aloud Day has become a global event that reaches over one million people in more than 65 countries. Today, it is celebrated in over 600 cities, and this number keeps growing. Children who develop reading habits become active and informed global citizens. Every child deserves the right to read. While saying that reading aloud can change the world might sound simple, that’s actually what makes it so valuable. Sharing stories with children is straightforward, affordable, and easy to do, yet its impact can be enormous. 1．How did the author probably feel when her mother read Blueberries for Sal to her? A．Bored. B．Scared. C．Calm. D．Thrilled. 2．What challenges did the boy have in his life when the author read a picture book to him? A．Growing up in a rich family and feeling lonely. B．Growing up in poverty and often feeling lonely. C．Growing up in poverty but feeling happy all the time. D．Growing up in a rich family and having many friends. 3．What does the word “sessions” in paragraph 2 most closely mean? A．Contests. B．Gatherings. C．Rejections. D．Footsteps. 4．What is the author’s opinion about reading aloud? A．It’s a complicated activity. B．It can have a huge positive influence. C．It’s only beneficial to children in rich countries. D．It’s difficult to popularize globally. 5．Which title best sums up the passage? A．From a Childhood Memory to a Global Festival B．The Benefits of Reading Aloud to Kids C．A Poor Student’s Dream of Reading D．How LitWorld Changed the World of Reading Passage 3 At the age of 19, Carl Allamby set up his vehicle repair business, working on his own in a garage (汽车修理厂). Over the years it had grown into two shops, but Allamby yearned for something more. At first, he thought that meant growing his business even further. So at 34, Allamby decided to go for his bachelor’s degree (学士学位) in business management. After taking classes part-time over the next five years, Allamby was told he had to take biology to get his degree. Biology class reawakened Allamby’s childhood dream. He remembered the feeling of wanting to be a doctor when he was younger. Born in East Cleveland, Ohio, Allamby and his five sisters and brothers were raised by their stay-at-home mother and a father who sold home goods door to door. “That didn’t pay so well,” Allamby says. Growing up in an African American neighborhood, he faced many challenges. His school didn’t offer advanced science classes. Even if it had, doing well in school could get him into trouble. “Sometimes you wouldn’t carry your books home because of the threat of being mugged (抢劫),” Allamby says. So he set aside thoughts of becoming a doctor and chose to fix cars. With his family’s support, Allamby decided to take science classes he’d need to become a health-care worker. Becoming a doctor when he would be nearly 50 years old seemed crazy. He would instead become a nurse. But Allamby’s chemistry professor stopped him after class one day. “Carl,” he said, “you’re like the oldest student here. What’s your end game?” Allamby told him how he’d like to become a doctor but it would be more practical to aim lower. “Why not a doctor?” the professor asked. “You have a great intuition (直觉) for the work. You will go a long way.” He was right. Allamby did well in all his courses. In 2015, Allamby started at Northeast Ohio Medical University. In 2019, at the age of 47, Carl Allamby became Carl Allamby, Doctor of Medicine, and took a job in emergency medicine at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. 1．What do the underlined words “yearned for” in Paragraph 1 probably mean? A．Discovered. B．Accepted. C．Wanted. D．Wandered. 2．What was Allamby’s childhood dream? A．To become a businessman. B．To become a repairman. C．To become a biologist. D．To become a doctor. 3．What was Allamby’s life as a child like? A．Risky but exciting. B．Poor and hard. C．Peaceful but lonely. D．Simple and interesting. 4．What did the chemistry professor think of Allamby? A．He had a talent for medicine. B．He had wasted too much time. C．He should have a practical aim. D．He was not serious about the class. 5．What can we learn from Allamby’s story? A．Every coin has two sides. B．Early birds catch the worms. C．Actions speak louder than words. D．It’s never too late to follow your dream. Passage 4 When I was ten, my family moved to a small house on the edge of town. Behind the house was an abandoned garden, overgrown with weeds and bushes. To me, it looked like a jungle, messy and wild. My father, however, saw it differently. “This,” he said with a smile, “is where we’ll grow something beautiful.” At first, I didn’t believe him. The garden seemed hopeless. But my father handed me a pair of gloves and a small tool. “Let’s start small,” he said. With some hesitation, I followed him outside, where we spent hours pulling weeds, turning the soil, and clearing the rocks. My hands hurt, and the summer sun was very hot, but my father never complained. “Gardens,” he said, “are like people. They just need a little care to grow.” As the weeks passed, I began to see the changes. The soil became soft and rich, and we planted seeds—tiny things that looked like they could never survive. But my father was patient. Every morning, we watered the garden together, watching and waiting. Slowly, green shoots began to appear, reaching for the sky. It was magical, as if life itself were unfolding before my eyes. The garden, once lifeless, began to come alive again, and so did I. One day, a big storm rolled in. The wind roared, and the rain hit hard against the windows. I worried about the garden, but my father reassured me. “The plants are stronger than you think,” he said. The morning after the storm, I ran outside, expecting to find the garden ruined. Instead, I saw the plants standing tall, shining with drops of water. They had made it through the storm, just as my father had said. By the end of summer, the garden was full of life—bright flowers, leafy greens, and even a few tomatoes. My father and I stood together, admiring our work. “You see,” he said, “it’s not just about the garden. It’s about what you learn along the way—patience, strength, and the joy of creating something with your own hands.” Years later, I still remember that little garden. Whenever life feels difficult, I think of those tiny seeds and the way they grew, even when it seemed impossible. And I remind myself that, like the garden, I can grow too—with a little care and a lot of patience. The lessons from that summer remain with me, helping me face challenges and reminding me of the beauty in hard work. 1．What does the father’s reaction to the garden reveal about his personality? A．He tends to avoid difficult situations. B．He focuses on quick results rather than long-term effort. C．He feels doubtful about fixing the garden. D．He sees potential in challenging circumstances. 2．Why did the author hesitate to help their father at first? A．The author thought the garden was beyond saving. B．The author lacked experience in gardening. C．The author was worried about the physical effort required. D．The author preferred spending time indoors. 3．Why does the author describe the garden as “coming alive again” in Paragraph 3? A．The garden began to grow without their help. B．The author started to see signs of life in the garden. C．The garden returned to its original condition. D．The author felt discouraged by the slow progress. 4．What does the underlined word “roared” probably mean in Paragraph 4? A．Spoke in a soft voice. B．Made a loud sound. C．Moved quietly. D．Shook slightly. 5．What is the author’s key takeaway from the gardening experience? A．Nature is unpredictable and uncontrollable. B．Teamwork matters most for reaching goals. C．Success depends entirely on favorable conditions. D．Personal growth comes from consistent care and effort. Passage 5 “I am not crazy,” says Dr. William Farber, shortly after performing acupuncture (针灸) on a rabbit. “I am ahead of my time.” If he seems a little defensive, it might be because even some of his coworkers occasionally laugh at his unusual methods. But Farber is certain he’ll have the last laugh. He’s one of a small but growing number of American veterinarians (兽医) now practicing “holistic” medicine — combining traditional Western treatments with acupuncture, chiropractic (按摩疗法) and herbal medicine. Farber, a graduate of Colorado State University, started out as a more conventional veterinarian. He became interested in alternative treatments 20 years ago when he suffered from terrible back pain. He tried muscle-relaxing drugs but found little relief. Then he tried acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, and was amazed that he improved after two or three treatments. What worked on a veterinarian seemed likely to work on his patients. So, after studying the techniques for a couple of years, he began offering them to pets. Leigh Tindale’s dog Charlie had a serious heart condition. After Charlie had a heart attack, Tindale says, she was prepared to put him to sleep, but Farber’s treatments eased her dog’s suffering so much that she was able to keep him alive for an additional five months. And Priscilla Dewing reports that her horse, Nappy, “moves more easily and rides more comfortably” after a chiropractic adjustment. Farber is certain that the holistic approach will grow more popular with time, and if the past is any indication, he may be right: Since 1982, membership in the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association has grown from 30 to over 700. “Sometimes it surprises me that it works so well,” he says. “I will do anything to help an animal. That’s my job.” 1．What do some of Farber’s coworkers think of him? A．He’s odd. B．He’s strict. C．He’s brave. D．He’s rude. 2．Why did Farber decide to try acupuncture on pets? A．He was trained in it at university. B．He was inspired by another veterinarian. C．He benefited from it as a patient. D．He wanted to save money for pet owners. 3．What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about? A．Steps of a chiropractic treatment. B．The complexity of veterinarians’ work. C．Examples of rare animal diseases. D．The effectiveness of holistic medicine. 4．Why does the author mention the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association? A．To prove Farber’s point. B．To emphasize its importance. C．To praise veterinarians. D．To advocate animal protection. 5．What’s the main idea of the passage? A．The history of holistic medicine in America. B．The differences between Western and holistic treatments. C．A veterinarian who uses holistic medicine to treat animals. D．The difficulties Dr. Farber faces with his unusual methods. 说明文 Passage 1 Some people believe that getting older means a gradual decline rather than a journey toward wisdom. However, more and more studies show that learning is still possible in later life. In fact, continued education can benefit the aging brain. Throughout one’s life, the human brain remains remarkably capable of adapting and restructuring itself. As early as the 1960s, British neuroscientist Geoffrey Raisman observed that injured regions of rat brains could establish new synaptic (突触的) connections, as revealed under an electron microscope. These findings introduced the concept of neuroplasticity — the idea that the brain can continually rewire itself in response to new stimuli (触发因素) and learning experiences. Naturally, this adaptive ability does not make the brain resistant to the damage caused by time. Just as height tends to decline with age, so too does brain volume, shrinking at an estimated rate of 4% per decade beginning in one’s 40s. Nevertheless, this volumetric decline does not definitely translate into cognitive impairment. As long as individuals remain mentally engaged and open to novel experiences, the brain retains a significant capacity to regenerate pathways and maintain functionality. Modern research increasingly highlights that exposure to new environments, ideas, and skills can enhance the brain’s flexibility. These fresh experiences promote the formation of neural networks, which help sustain cognitive resilience (韧性), even as structural shrinkage occurs. From solving logic puzzles to choosing unconventional routes for daily tasks, minor changes to routine can galvanize brain function and promote long-term mental health. Moreover, studies of older adults suggest that those who actively pursue new intellectual or physical challenges tend to enjoy enhanced memory performance and reduced susceptibility to neurodegenerative disorders (神经退行性疾病). Natural qualities such as curiosity and an enthusiastic attitude toward acquiring knowledge appear to be positively correlated with cognitive preservation. Importantly, a 2012 study published in Psychology and Aging confirmed that participation in cognitively stimulating tasks can boost reasoning skills and potentially delay age-related mental decline. 1．Which of the following best explains Geoffrey Raisman’s research? A．Brain aging is a largely irreversible biological process. B．Synaptic formation in rats differs significantly from that in humans. C．New experiences primarily enhance short-term brain performance. D．The human brain is more resilient and dynamic than previously believed. 2．What inference can be drawn regarding brain aging from the text? A．Age-related brain shrinkage inevitably causes mental worsening. B．Cognitive flexibility can persist despite physiological (生物学) brain changes. C．Elderly individuals are incapable of forming new neural pathways. D．Once brain volume decreases, neuroplasticity ceases to function. 3．Which strategy is recommended for sustaining brain health in later life? A．Engaging in novel activities that challenge mental habits. B．Using drug treatments to slow aging effects. C．Repeating familiar tasks to avoid unnecessary stress. D．Focusing merely on physical exercise to support brain growth. 4．In the 4th paragraph, which word can replace the underlined word “galvanize”? A．suppress B．evaluate C．imitate D．stimulate 5．Based on the findings of the 2012 Psychology and Aging study,____________. A．Entertaining games are ineffective in preventing memory loss. B．Rational(理性)thinking declines with age despite training. C．Deliberate mental stimulation can enhance reasoning ability. D．Naturally gifted individuals benefit from cognitive training. Passage 2 Earth’s biggest problem, according to Douglas Adams, is quite simple: the species of clever ape (猿) that thinks it runs the joint (有控制权，有主导地位) is mostly unhappy most of the time. Computer scientist Cal Newport now adds email to the list of life’s troubles. In his book A World Without Email, he argues this once-brilliant invention has made us suffer. Newport says we’ve become slaves to email trapped in a “hyperactive hive mind” — the reality in which everyone, everywhere, can communicate with everyone else with ease. Studies have shown how dominant email has become in ordinary office life. The average knowledge worker sends and receives 126 emails daily, which ruins focus, making them less productive and more irritable (易怒的). All of this might be bearable but for one problem: the mismatch between modern electronic messaging and our own information-processing capacity. Multitasking is a myth. We can’t think clearly while dealing with an overflowing inbox (爆满的收件箱). We’re born to prefer real-time conversations, where everyone gets updates together. Back in small tribes (部落), we needed daily chats to feel connected. Now, in a digital world, that ancient urge makes us anxious if we don’t reply to every email instantly. Despite his book’s title, Newport isn’t against all electronic messaging. What drives him to desperation is how we use it. With office workers nodding in hearty agreement, Newport offers some solutions. A German company invented the No Email Day. Productivity went up, even though it shortened the work time. The goal was for everyone to approach their work more deliberately without rushing. Some companies use an application called Trello to allow workers to access the necessary data and decide when to jump in and get things done. Handling email when it’s out of control is like being pecked (啄) by a flock of geese. But changing this won’t be easy. Our need for focused thinking conflicts with the Dopamine Economy — something designed to keep us unable to resist constant messages. Still, Newport thinks regaining control of our time might be the key to being happier at work. 1．What is a consequence of handling numerous emails daily? A．A drop in work efficiency. B．A lack of social connections. C．A change in office culture. D．A rise in communication skills. 2．What’s the meaning of “hyperactive hive mind” in paragraph 2? A．A busy work state. B．A peaceful team spirit. C．A creative thinking way D．A healthy life habit 3．What causes our anxiety about unreplied emails according to paragraph 3? A．The lack of real-time conversations. B．The myth of modern office multitasking. C．The mismatch with our ancient urges. D．The overflow of daily digital information. 4．What is the purpose of introducing the No Email Day? A．To shorten the daily work time. B．To help workers work more deliberately. C．To test a new digital application. D．To stop all electronic messaging completely. 5．What is the best title for the text? A．The Invention of No Email Day B．How to Be Happy at Work C．The Rise of the Dopamine Economy D．Escaping the Trap of Email Overload Passage 3 Is there anything more frustrating than other people? Despite our best efforts to persuade them to do, say and be what we want, they persist in overturn our plans by making their own decisions, being their own people and thinking their own thoughts. One can waste hours spiraling (纠结) about others’ behavior. Why weren’t we included in that meeting at work? Why did that stranger cut us off in traffic? Every time you are about to start obsessing over someone else’s actions, remember: let them! The concept was recently popularized by motivational speaker Mel Robbins. “I just heard about this thing called the Let Them theory,” she told her millions of followers in an Instagram post in May 2023. “I love it.” The video quickly went viral. People got “Let Them” tattoos. In December 2024, Robbins released a book, The Let Them Theory. It became a New York Times bestseller. CNN and the New York Times interviewed Robbins. Even Oprah talked about it on her podcast (播客), saying: “This book is a game-changer. It’s a life-changer.” There are some important caveats to the theory, according to Robbins. She argues, “let them” only works if it is followed by “let me”. In other words, it is not an excuse for inaction. Accepting that we can’t control other people’s actions is a reminder that we are entirely responsible for our own. You are not responsible for someone cutting you off in traffic, but you are responsible for responding with patience and courtesy, rather than with anger and harsh words. Also, there are certain situations in which you should not, under any circumstance, “let them”. Robbins explained in a podcast episode that the theory does not apply if someone wants to do something dangerous or if you see someone being discriminated against. In those cases, she says, you must speak up. Second, you must always advocate for yourself and what you need — negotiate a higher salary, for example, or insist on getting the medical care you need. Finally, if someone continually violates your boundaries, you should not “let them” do that, Robbins says. The “let them” concept is not without its critics. People have argued that the theory is Stoicism repackaged. Others have criticized Robbins for not crediting poet Cassie B．Phillips, whose poem Let Them went viral in 2022. Robbins herself acknowledges this. As an author, podcaster and former lawyer, she is not a mental health professional. But experts agree that giving up on trying to control the behaviors and actions of others can be hugely beneficial — not only for yourself, but for the people around you as well. The phrase is not a panacea (万能药). It still takes time for whatever emotion people are feeling to pass. But saying “let them” prevents us from being reactive. It gives us space to pause and remind ourselves that our own actions are all we can control. Annoying! But also liberating. It’s a reminder that it’s OK to step back, let people be who they are, and stop carrying things that aren’t ours to carry. 1．What can we learn from Mel Robbins’ book The Let Them Theory? A．It was published in the year 2023. B．It received wide media and public recognition. C．It was written in the form of a podcast. D．It was based on Oprah’s personal experience. 2．The underlined word “caveats” in Paragraph 4 can be explained as ________. A．restrictions and boundaries of application B．remarkable benefits and positive effects C．detailed interpretations and further analyses D．typical instances and practical illustrations 3．Which of the following is against The Let Them theory according to Robbins? A．Mind your own behavior when annoyed by strangers. B．Stay silent when witnessing unfair discrimination. C．Fight for your deserved salary and medical care. D．Refuse to tolerate others’ repeated boundary violations. 4．What can we conclude from the last paragraph? A．It takes little time to get rid of negative emotions. B．The Let Them theory is not perfect but meaningful. C．We can control both our own actions and others’. D．The phrase “let them” can solve all life problems 5．What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage? A．To introduce and comment on a popular life philosophy. B．To persuade readers to accept others’ mistakes. C．To criticize Mel Robbins’ new book. D．To explain how to control one’s emotions. Passage 4 Also known as the Precautionary Approach (预防原则) or Precautionary Action, the Precautionary Principle is a concept best summed up by the proverb “better safe than sorry” or the medical maxim to “first do no harm.” Whenever we make even the smallest change within a complex system, we risk dramatic unintended consequences. The interconnections and dependencies within systems make it almost impossible to predict outcomes and because such systems often require a reasonably precise set of conditions to function, our interventions can cause damage. The Precautionary Principle reflects the reality of working with and within complex systems. It shifts the burden of proof from proving something was dangerous after the fact to proving it is safe before taking chances. It emphasizes waiting for more complete information before risking causing damage, especially if some of the possible impacts would be irreversible (不可逆的), hard to contain, or would affect people who didn’t choose to be involved. The possibility of harm does not need to be specific to that particular circumstance; sometimes we can judge a category of actions as one that always requires precaution because we know it has a high risk of unintended consequences. For example, invasive (入侵) species have repeatedly caused native species to become extinct. So it’s reasonable to exercise precaution and not introduce living things into new places without strong evidence it will be harmless. The Precautionary Principle is widely applied in environmental policy. For example, the German Environmental Protection Agency explains that the Precautionary Principle has two core components in German environmental law today: preventing risks and protecting resources. Preventing risks means legislators (立法者) shouldn’t take actions where our knowledge of the potential for environmental damage is incomplete or uncertain but there is cause for concern. The burden of proof is on proving lack of harm, not on proving harm. Protecting resources means preserving things like water and soil in a form future generations can use. The flexibility of the Precautionary Principle is both a source of strength and a source of weakness. We live in a fast-moving world where regulation does not always keep up with innovation, meaning guidelines (as opposed to rules) can often prove useful. Another reason the Precautionary Principle can be a practical addition to legislation is that science doesn’t necessarily move fast enough to protect us from potential risks, especially ones that shift harm elsewhere or take a long time to show up. For example, thousands of human-made substances are present in the food we eat, ranging from medications given to livestock (牲畜) to materials used in packaging. Proving that a new additive has health risks once it’s in the food supply could take decades because it’s incredibly difficult to isolate (隔离) causative factors. So some regulators, including the Food and Drug Administration in America, require manufacturers in certain areas to prove something is safe before it goes to market. This approach isn’t perfect, but it’s far safer than waiting to discover harm after we start eating something. The Precautionary Principle forces us to ask a lot of difficult questions about the nature of risk, uncertainty, probability, the role of government, and ethics (伦理). It can also prompt us to question our intuitions surrounding the right decisions to make in certain situations. 1．What is the central idea of the Precautionary Principle? A．Complex systems can be changed step by step. B．Harm should be proved after risky action is taken. C．Scientific progress should guide regulations. D．Safety should be shown before risky action is taken. 2．Why does the Precautionary Principle shift the burden of proof? A．Because possible damage may be serious and hard to undo. B．Because most scientific studies fail to predict the future. C．Because people involved usually choose to accept the risks. D．Because complex systems can recover quickly from damage. 3．In Paragraph 5, why are invasive species mentioned? A．To show how native species become extinct. B．To explain how ecosystems adapt to new species. C．To illustrate a category needing precaution. D．To show the complexity of environmental systems. 4．Why does the author mention human-made substances in food? A．To show why delayed harm can be hard to prove. B．To argue that food safety rules are too strict. C．To explain how additives improve modern diets. D．To prove that packaged foods are dangerous. 5．Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A．Environmental Law: Protecting Resources for the Future B．The Precautionary Principle: Acting Before Harm Is Proven C．Complex Systems: Why Science Cannot Predict Everything D．Modern Regulation: Slowing Down Risky Innovation Passage 5 Long before dinosaurs lived on Earth, the land looked very different from today. Around 500 million years ago, most of Earth’s surface was bare rock and dry soil, and life existed almost entirely in the oceans. Then something amazing happened: plants began to grow on land. The journey of plants started with simple green life-forms like algae (藻类), which have been living in oceans and lakes for over a billion years. Using sunlight, water and CO₂, algae make sugars as well as oxygen through photosynthesis (光合作用). At first, Earth’s atmosphere had little oxygen, but algae, along with some bacteria, changed that over millions of years. This made it possible for larger and more complex life forms to appear. The first true plants developed from green algae 470 million years ago. Living in shallow water near shores, they were sometimes underwater and sometimes above the surface. Slowly, they adapted to dry land with many new features. These included stronger cell walls, which enabled plants to stand upright against gravity. They also developed rootlike structures to hold onto the soil and take water and nutrients. The earliest land plants stayed close to the ground. Some, like Cooksonia, had small stems only about 2.5 to 5 centimeters tall. Though small, these plants made a big impact. Besides adding oxygen to the air, they used their roots to break down rocks into soil. This process, called weathering, created richer soil that could support more life. The plants also provided homes and food sources for animals moving from oceans onto land. Around 420 million years ago, plants developed tiny tubes that move water and nutrients upward from the roots to the leaves. This allowed plants to grow taller and stronger. By about 360 million years ago, forests covered much of Earth. Another big leap happened around 380 million years ago with the development of seeds. This meant plants could reproduce without needing water for fertilization. Flowering plants then came along about 140 million years ago. Their flowers attracted animals to spread pollen, and their fruits helped protect the seeds. Plants changed the atmosphere, built soil and created ecosystems that allowed animals to develop on land. Thanks to plant evolution, Earth became a green planet full of diverse life. 1．According to the text, what role did algae play in Earth’s history? A．They reduced the number of bacteria in the oceans. B．They helped increase oxygen in the atmosphere. C．They evolved directly into complex life forms. D．They significantly decreased CO2 levels in the air. 2．Why were early land plants able to stand upright? A．They had deep root systems. B．They took in enough sunlight. C．They lived in shallow water. D．They developed stronger cell walls. 3．What is the main idea of paragraph 4? A．The formation of soil through weathering. B．The multiple effects of early land plants. C．The challenges early land plants faced. D．The role of plants in supporting animal life. 4．What can be inferred from the text about the period when seeds first appeared? A．Plants started to develop tiny tubes. B．Forests spread across most of Earth’s land. C．Plants could reproduce without depending on water. D．Flowering plants were already common on Earth. 5．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? A．How weathering created soil. B．The rise of flowering plants. C．The first animals on land. D．Seeding the future. 议论文 Passage 1 The social media platform Instagram once made headlines for limiting likes in an effort to reduce the comparisons and hurt feelings resulting from attaching popularity to sharing content. But do these efforts resolve mental health issues, or are they simply applying a band-aid to a wound? It’s a small step in the right direction, says Jacqueline Sperling, a psychologist who works with youth who experience anxiety disorders. “Even if you remove the likes, there continue to be opportunities for comparisons and feedback. People still can compare themselves to others, and people still can post comments.” Social platforms are designed to be addictive and are related to anxiety, depression, and even physical ailments (病痛).This puts a large amount of the population at an increased risk of feeling anxious, depressed, or ill over their social media use. But what makes users come back for more even when it can literally make them feel sick? “When the outcome is unpredictable, the behavior is more likely to repeat. Think of a slot machine (老虎机): if game players knew they were never going to get money by playing the game, then they never would play,” says Sperling. “The idea of a potential future reward keeps the machines in use. The same goes for social media sites. One does not know how many likes a picture will get, who will like the picture, and when the picture will receive likes. The unknown outcome and the possibility of a desired outcome can keep users engaged with the sites.” FOMO — fear of missing out — also impacts the youth greatly. Teenagers hope to keep track of friends’ activities. If everyone else is using social media sites, and if you don’t join in, there’s concern that you’ll miss chats, jokes, connections, or invitations. Missing experiences can create anxiety and depression. When people look online and see they’re excluded from an activity, it can affect thoughts and feelings, and can affect them physically. In addition to limiting likes, as Instagram has done, Sperling suggests social platforms consider decreasing mass sharing. They might function more as messaging services by highlighting one-on-one communications. Regardless of how likely social media giants are to change their ways, though, individuals can take control of their own behavior. 1．What does Sperling think of Instagram’s measure? A．It’s strict. B．It’s limited. C．It’s objective. D．It’s conservative. 2．What is probably the major reason for social media addiction? A．Need for self-expression. B．Desire for constant recognition. C．Expectation of possible surprises. D．Lack of interest in real-life activities. 3．What does Sperling advise social platforms to do in the last paragraph? A．Restrict their service scales. B．Decrease one-on-one interactions C．Limit the time users spend on them. D．Shift the focus from sharing to messaging. 4．What might the author continue talking about? A．Redesign of social media platforms. B．Changes made by social media giants. C．Strategies for individuals’ self-control. D．Impact of social media on mental health. 5．What is the main idea of the passage? A．To criticize Instagram’s ineffective measure of hiding likes. B．To analyze the causes of social media addiction and propose solutions. C．To explain how FOMO affects teenagers’ mental health. D．To prove that social media is harmful to people’s physical health. Passage 2 In an increasingly individualistic world, the act of giving — whether time, resources, or skills — serves as a powerful antidote to societal isolation. Engaging in charity activities fosters deeper human connections, enhances interpersonal relationships, and profoundly influences individuals’ mental and emotional well-being. This essay explores the multifaceted benefits of altruism (利他主义), emphasizing its role in nurturing community bonds and promoting individual fulfillment. At the core of voluntary engagement lies the natural human desire for connection. Participating in community service or charitable initiatives cultivates a sense of belonging, linking individuals with like-minded peers who share similar values and commitments. These shared experiences often lead to the formation of lasting friendships and networks, as individuals unite under a common purpose. For instance, volunteering at a local shelter not only addresses immediate community needs but also offers participants an opportunity to connect on a personal level, thus reinforcing social ties that might otherwise remain superficial. Moreover, altruism has been shown to contribute significantly to an individual’s mental health. Engaging in acts of kindness triggers the release of endorphins (内啡肽), the so-called “helper’s high,” which can enhance mood and promote feelings of happiness. Research by the Journal of Happiness Studies indicates that individuals who engage in regular volunteer work experience lower rates of depression and anxiety, leading to an overall improvement in life satisfaction. This psychological uplift extends beyond the individual, as happy people are more likely to engage positively in their communities, creating a positive cycle of altruism and well-being. Furthermore, acts of kindness cultivate empathy and inner strength, attributes essential for enduring human relationships. By actively engaging with diverse communities and understanding the struggles faced by others, individuals reinforce their capacity for compassion. This deepened empathy not only enhances interpersonal dynamics but also fosters a more inclusive and understanding society. Additionally, the experiences drawn from voluntary activity often encourage reflection and personal growth, helping individuals develop coping mechanisms and emotional perseverance. In conclusion, the benefits of goodwill extend far beyond the immediate impact of charitable acts. By fostering interpersonal connections and enhancing emotional well-being, acts of giving play a crucial role in building stronger, more resilient communities. In a world increasingly characterized by isolation and detachment, the embrace of altruism presents a powerful solution to reinvigorate (使…焕新) human connections and improve individual mental health. The cultivation of a giving spirit enriches not only the lives of those we help but also our own, creating a more compassionate and harmonious society. By choosing to engage in giving, we can transform not only our lives but also the fabric of our communities. 1．What does the word “antidote” most probably mean in Paragraph 1? A．An effective solution. B．A harmful result. C．A social trend. D．A mental disease. 2．According to the passage, which is an immediate and direct result of engaging in acts of kindness? A．The release of endorphins that improve mood. B．The significant improvement of social fairness. C．The building of lasting friendships and social networks. D．The cultivation of empathy and emotional resilience. 3．What is the main idea of the essay? A．Individualism is the root cause of societal problems. B．Altruism is the only solution to mental health issues. C．Giving behavior benefit individuals and communities in many ways. D．Modern society is becoming more and more individualistic and isolated. 4．How is the passage mainly organized? A．By presenting a problem and then offering several solutions. B．By stating a claim and supporting it with three arguments. C．By comparing different views on the value of acts of kindness. D．By listing historical examples to explain altruistic behavior. 5．Based on the essay, what can be inferred from the passage? A．People without extra money are not able to participate in charity effectively. B．Social isolation in modern society is mainly caused by lack of charity. C．Being kind would have significant impact on health. D．Being kind can remove depression and anxiety. Passage 3 Today it’d be totally understandable if you were fearing the new year and whatever might happen next, instead of feeling joyful and full of expectations. Yet a new year has a very special effect: It makes us feel like we have the chance to start over, to do things better this time, to make amend (修正), even to right all the wrongs in the world. So why does it take a new year to make us feel like this? No matter how hard we want to, there’s one thing we can never do and that’s changing the past. We can weep, beat our fists against the wall, eat bags of cookies to ease the feelings of guilt, but none of these will make the slightest bit of difference and certainly won’t make us feel any better. The past is gone, over, no more. Continuing to wish that our actions or words had been different means we’re really not here in the present, we’re living in what-could-have-been or what-might-have-been or if-only. And if the past is too painful or even too boring then we switch over to the future, that place of infinite (无限的) potential that we want to believe could be real, like wishful thinking or a daydream. We live in what-might-be or what-could-be. Of course we can learn from the past. Often the most painful experience turns out to be our best teacher: we can even feel gratitude for the experience as it taught us so much. And memories can be like comfortable old shoes we are unwilling to part with. We can certainly put them on now and then, but we don’t have to hang out there on a permanent basis. Instead we can change our attitude. Fully accepting that the past is irreversible (不可逆的) and the future doesn’t exist means we can actually be in the present moment. What a relief! Finally we can just be here and now. What an inspiration! Each day is sole. It has never happened before and it will never happen again. And we have no idea what will actually occur. What a great day just to be here now! The perfect day to let the past rest where it is and let the future take care of itself, to experience just this moment, to pay attention to the colors, sounds and smells; to pay attention to your feelings, and to other people’s feelings and to make this day, this week, this month, and this new year, one of beauty. 1．What’s the main idea of the passage? A．We should not always look back on the past. B．We should always look forward to the future. C．We should make a new year plan to make things different. D．We should live in and enjoy the present. 2．What can you know from the passage? A．The past can be changed. B．The future can be predicted. C．Weeping or eating cookies won’t make us feel less guilty. D．We are not supposed to recall the past painful experiences. 3．What can you infer from Paragraph 3? A．A wish can make the actions and words different. B．The future has more potential than the past. C．The past is more painful than the future. D．People tend to live in a fantastic world. 4．The situation of Paragraph 4 tells us ____. A．a fall into a pit, a gain in your wit B．a fox may grow gray, but never good C．a good beginning is half done D．a good beginning makes a good ending 5．What does the underlined word “sole” mean? A．Delighted. B．Unique. C．Worthwhile. D．Fantastic. Passage 4 Eat healthier. Exercise twice a week. Read more books. Lose weight. We make the same resolutions (决心) every year, but most of us fail, dying out (放弃) after only a few days or, at best, weeks. Even we most successful among us crash and burn when it comes to personal change. President-elect Barack Obama struggles to remove (戒掉) his cigarette habit. Professionals who help people make changes in their lives suggest the change is determined not by one’s surroundings, but one’s mind. Beginning with small goals or steps usually leads to a bigger payoff (付出) later, they say. But they caution (警告) that the experience is different for everyone. “People are more likely to make positive changes in their lives not only when their friends do, but when friends of their friends do, and when friends of their friends of friends do,” said Nicholas Christakis, a professor of medical sociology at Harvard University. “People are better able to make changes in their lives — lose weight, quit smoking, become happy — when they do this with a large number of other people, and so taking advantage of your social network ties can contribute to your own efforts.” Johnny Augustin understands that well. His resolution (决心) for 2021 was to reduce 30 pounds from his 237-pound frame. But the change didn’t come easily. He said, “I’m a procrastinator. I kept putting it off until tomorrow. I didn’t get to do it until the summer.” However, Augustin got inspired (受鼓舞的) when he saw his older brother working out. Today, Augustin weighs 190 pounds. “Of course, change can happen only if people don’t set their expectations (期望) too high or try to deal with too many changes at once; one of the biggest mistakes we make is setting unrealistic goals,” said Dalia Llera, a psychologist at Lesley University. “You can’t accomplish in a few weeks what you haven’t accomplished in a few years,” said Llera. 1．From the first paragraph we can infer that ______. A．change for a person is challenging B．famous people have great determination C．most people don’t want to change themselves D．personal change is beyond belief 2．It is known from Nicholas Christakis that ______. A．making a change is easier with support from a cheerful group of friends B．social networks have great effect on one’s change C．people who have the same attitude often get together D．people’s mood can contribute to their efforts 3．The word “procrastinator” in Paragraph 4 refers to those who ______. A．have great determination to make a change B．have no desire to do something great C．delay work especially because of laziness D．have habitual carelessness and laziness 4．According to the passage, Dalia Llera suggested that ______. A．people should understand their goals well B．people should try their best to change themselves C．people should have confidence and positive habits D．people should start with setting small goals to meet 5．The passage is mainly about ______. A．the reason why losing weight is so hard B．the effect of the positive change C．the attitudes towards change in life D．the ways of making a change Passage 5 In the U.S., yellow means slow down, get ready to stop. But in Denmark, yellow gives you a signal before stopping and going. The idea that you’re given a moment to get ready to move, not just to hit the brakes, stuck with us. Once we were back home, we started to notice how rarely we allow that in daily life. We prepare for endings constantly. We think through worst-case scenarios. We rehearse (排练) the breakup speech, the layoff call, and the backup plan. Yet, we rarely give ourselves space to prepare for beginnings. We do not practice coming back after burnout. We do not rehearse for the moment the proverbial light turns green, and we need to remember how to move forward again. Most of us know how to handle disappointment because we have been trained to plan for it. We buy insurance policies to protect ourselves from loss. We hold backup plans in our heads, always ready with a plan B or C if things fall apart. However, we do not always know how to prepare for the moments when things go well. We are often caught off guard when the new job comes through, when the project is finally finished, or when the idea we have been carrying quietly suddenly takes off. What we do not practice nearly as often is preparing for joy. The gap between preparing to stop and preparing to go reminds us of something in psychology called psychological flexibility. It’s really about the ability to shift and bend when life doesn’t go the way you thought it would. It’s noticing when the plan you had in your head no longer works and being willing to shift rather than cling to the map you drew months, or even minutes, ago. Accept that beginnings feel clumsy. For example, the first day in a new job rarely feels smooth. You are trying to remember names, find the coffee machine, and pretend you’re not lost on your way back from the bathroom. The first draft of anything worth writing usually looks like something you’d rather hide in a drawer. It’s what standing in the yellow light feels like, knowing the move is coming, feeling a little awkward, and still not sure if your foot is on the gas yet. However, life is not just about red lights that stop us or green lights that tell us to go, but the yellow in between matters too. It’s the space that lets us catch our breath, look around, and ready ourselves for whatever comes next. 1．What function does Paragraph 1 serve in the passage? A．To introduce the topic from a cultural difference. B．To present a research finding on traffic lights. C．To compare traffic rules in various countries. D．To warn readers of potential traffic problems. 2．What is the main idea of Paragraph 2? A．Breakups and layoffs are common in life. B．People spend too much time on backup plans. C．People lack preparation for new starts in life. D．Burnout often stops people from moving forward. 3．What is psychological flexibility? A．The ability to stick to original plans firmly. B．The ability to adjust when life goes off track. C．The ability to predict worst-case scenarios. D．The ability to handle disappointment well. 4．What reading strategy may help understand the metaphor of “yellow light” in the passage? A．Analyzing the author’s tone and writing purpose. B．Identifying key words in each paragraph. C．Comparing different cultural backgrounds. D．Connecting the literal meaning to the symbolic one. 5．Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A．The Value of Psychological Flexibility. B．Life’s “Yellow Light”: Space to Prepare. C．Different Meanings of the Traffic Lights. D．Prepare for Both Endings and Beginnings. 试卷第1页，共3页 试卷第1页，共3页 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $ 期末复习之阅读理解20篇 （期末热点话题） 内容导航 内容速递 本资料共20篇专项训练：主要分为以下四种题型 1. 应用文 2. 记叙文 3. 说明文 4. 议论文 每个话题对应5篇专项练习 应用文 Passage 1 A warm welcome from italki! We are glad that you are joining an online language learning community to help people become fluent in foreign languages! To register your account, you should: •go to the teacher application page (click here) •sign up or log into your italki account Once you are in the application process, you will be asked to: •enter some information about yourself (name, languages you speak, the language(s) you teach, etc.) •upload your profile photo •give a written introduction highlighting your skills, background and your teaching methods •give a brief video introduction Minimum requirements for applicants of all languages: ◆Professional Teacher 18+ years old Bachelor’s degree or the teaching qualification Employment statements An introduction video within 3 minutes Native or C2 in your teaching language(s) ◆Community Tutor 18+ years old An introduction video within 3 minutes Native or C2 in your teaching language(s) Here are some of the most common reasons why applications are declined: •The application is incomplete. •The profile picture is not professional-looking. •No introduction video; the image or sound quality is low and cannot be clearly viewed. •The written introduction needs more information or has some spelling or grammar mistakes. •Something in your profile advertises or promotes other services. We ask you to respect the italki platform and not to promote other services. •Your profile includes personal contact information. On italki, students will be able to send you italki messages, so don’t give out your personal contact information. This is to protect your privacy. •You do not meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years old. •The language class that the applicant has applied to is currently closed. (Arabic and Portuguese) 1．What is an applicant required to do in the application process? A．Write about one’s favorite teachers. B．Pay a fee for setting up an account. C．Send several personal photos by email. D．Upload a short self-introduction video. 2．What qualification do you need to become a professional teacher on italki? A．You should have a master’s degree. B．You should be at least sixteen years old. C．You should have related working experience. D．You should be a native speaker of your teaching language (s). 3．In what condition will people’s applications get rejected? A．Their pictures look too professional. B．They apply to teach more than one language. C．Their profiles have no personal contact information. D．They make grammar mistakes in their self-introductions. 4．What do we know about italki from the text? A．It has no restriction on teachers’ age. B．It encourages teachers to promote other services. C．It allows students to contact teachers directly on the platform. D．It will send messages to remind applicants of the languages unavailable. 5．Who would be most interested in reading the text? A．People who mean to be online French teachers. B．People who work as community tutors on italki. C．People who want to make some online friends. D．People who plan to teach abroad. 【答案】1．D 2．C 3．D 4．C 5．A 【导语】本文介绍了入驻italki平台开启线上语言教学工作的账号注册流程、教师申请要求与申请不通过的常见原因。 1．细节理解题。根据原文Once you are in the application process, you will be asked to部分中“give a brief video introduction(提交一份简短的自我介绍视频)”可知，申请人在申请流程中需要上传简短的自我介绍视频。 2．细节理解题。根据原文Minimum requirements for applicants of all languages下面对Professional Teacher的要求部分“Employment statements(工作证明)”可知，成为italki的专业教师需要提供工作证明，即需要具备相关工作经验。 3．细节理解题。根据原文Here are some of the most common reasons why applications are declined部分中“The written introduction needs more information or has some spelling or grammar mistakes.(书面自我介绍信息不足，或存在拼写、语法错误)”可知，如果申请人在自我介绍中出现语法错误，申请会被拒绝。 4．推理判断题。根据原文Here are some of the most common reasons why applications are declined部分中“On italki, students will be able to send you italki messages, so don’t give out your personal contact information. This is to protect your privacy.(在italki平台上，学生可以直接给你发italki消息，因此不需要公布个人联系方式，这是为了保护你的隐私）”可推知，italki平台允许学生直接在平台上联系教师。 5．推理判断题。根据第一段“A warm welcome from italki! We are glad that you are joining an online language learning community to help people become fluent in foreign languages!(italki热烈欢迎你！我们很高兴您加入在线语言学习社区，帮助人们流利地掌握外语！)”以及下文内容可知，本文全文介绍了italki线上语言学习平台招聘语言教师的流程、要求与申请不通过的原因，目标受众是想要申请成为该平台线上语言教师的人。由此可推测出，想要成为线上法语教师的人，符合本文的目标受众。 Passage 2 How much will it cost to live in Oxford, if you study in this world- renowned university? The lower and upper range of likely living costs for 2024-25 is provided below. These costs are based on a single, full-time student with no dependents, living in Oxford. We provide the costs per month and you can multiply up by the number of months you expect to live here, so that you are fully aware of and consider very carefully the likely living costs associated with your chosen courses of study at Oxford. Likely living costs For 1 month For 9 months Lower range Upper range Lower range Upper range Food £300 £470 £2,700 £4,230 Accommodation £700 £860 £5,040 £6,192 Personal items £180 £305 £1,620 £2,745 Social activities £40 £90 £360 £810 Study costs £35 £80 £315 £720 Other £20 £35 £180 £315 Total £1,275 £1,840 £10,215 £15,012 In order to provide these likely living costs, the University and the Oxford Student Union have conducted a relevant survey among existing students about the expenditure data. Food: Three ordinary meals on campus each day, dining out not counted. Accommodation: The figures above show a 20% discount, which is commonly accepted in Oxford, if the same apartment is rented by the same student for 9 months and more in a row. They also include related bills (for example, utilities such as electricity and heating). Study costs: These are likely costs directly related to your studies, such as text books, stationery, printing and photocopying, course- related equipment and materials. Other: These are small, mixed costs which do not fall under the other categories above. You may need to make additional budget for costs such as travel to and from fieldwork out of the city, or for international students the visa and health care costs (see student visa webpages), These costs are not included in the figures above. 1．How do the data come out? A．They’re estimated by the authority. B．They’re provided by the graduates. C．They’re based on the costs of last term. D．They’re collected from current students. 2．How much does an Oxford student spend at least on accommodation for a year? A．£6,192. B．£7,140. C．£6,720. D．£8,400. 3．What is the purpose of the survey mentioned? A．To determine the average living expenses in Oxford. B．To collect expenditure data from existing students. C．To establish the likely living costs for the year. D．To compare the living costs in other universities 4．The underlined word“expenditure”in Paragraph 3 most probably means ______. A．income. B．expense. C．education. D．experience. 5．（方法规律提炼）猜测词义的方法： 6．What can we know from the passage about the living costs in Oxford? A．Students living off-campus spend less on food than those on campus. B．The accommodation costs include discounts and utility fees under certain conditions. C．International students do not need to budget for visa-related expenses. D．Study costs mainly refer to the tuition fees paid to the university. 【答案】1．D 2．C 3．C 4．B 5．利用上下文语境法：根据全文主题牛津大学学生生活成本，以及前文反复出现的“costs”等词，推断“expenditure”与“花费、支出”相关。 6．B 【导语】本文主要介绍了2024-2025学年牛津大学全日制学生的在校生活成本，展示了各项费用的月度、九个月区间价格，说明了数据来源、各项费用具体涵盖范围以及未包含在内的额外开销。 1．细节理解题。根据表格下段落“In order to provide these likely living costs, the University and the Oxford Student Union have conducted a relevant survey among existing students about the expenditure data.(为提供预估生活成本，牛津大学和牛津学生会对在校学生开展了相关支出数据调查)”可知，这些数据来自在校学生。 2．细节理解题。根据表格可知住宿最低月度费用为£700，结合Accommodation:(住宿)部分“The figures above show a 20% discount, which is commonly accepted in Oxford, if the same apartment is rented by the same student for 9 months and more in a row(上面的数字显示，如果同一学生连续9个月或更长时间租用同一套公寓，这种20%的折扣在牛津被普遍接受)”可计算：700×12×0.8=£6720。 3．细节理解题。根据首段“The lower and upper range of likely living costs for 2024-25 is provided below(2024-25年可能的生活成本下限和上限如下)”以及表格下段落“In order to provide these likely living costs(为提供预估生活成本)”可知，开展调查的目的是制定本年度的预估生活成本标准。 4．词句猜测题。结合全文围绕学生在校生活成本展开，且文中多次出现“living costs”表示生活开销，本句“survey among existing students about the expenditure data(对现有学生进行关于expenditure数据的调查)”指调研学生开销数据，可判断expenditure意为“支出、花费”，与expense同义。 5．猜测词义的方法为：利用上下文语境法：根据全文主题牛津大学学生生活成本，以及前文反复出现的“costs”等词，推断“expenditure”与“花费、支出”相关。 6．细节理解题。根据Accommodation:(住宿)部分“The figures above show a 20% discount, which is commonly accepted in Oxford, if the same apartment is rented by the same student for 9 months and more in a row. They also include related bills (for example, utilities such as electricity and heating)(上面的数字显示，如果同一学生连续9个月或更长时间租用同一套公寓，牛津大学通常会接受20%的折扣。它们还包括相关的账单（例如，电力和供暖等公用事业）)”可知，在特定条件下，住宿费包含折扣和公用事业费用。 Passage 3 Inspiring young minds! TOKNOW Magazine is a big hit in the world of children’s publishing, bringing a unique combination of challenging ideas and good fun to young fans every month. What’s inside?Every month the magazine introduces a fresh new topic with articles, experiments and creative things to make — the magazine also explores philosophy and wellbeing to make sure young readers have a balanced take on life. What is so special about TOKNOW Magazine?Well, it has no ads or promotions inside — instead it is jam-packed with serious ideas. TOKNOW makes complex ideas attractive and accessible to children, who can become involved in advanced concepts and even philosophy (哲学) — and they will soon discover that TOKNOW feels more like a club than just a magazine. Sounds too good to be true? Take a look online-evidence shows that thousands of teachers and parents know a good thing when they see it and recommend TOKNOW to their friends. Happy Birthday All Year! What could be more fun than a gift that keeps coming through the letterbox every month? The first magazine with your gift message will arrive in time for the special day. SUBSCRIBE NOW □ Annual Subscription Europe £ 55; Rest of World £ 65□ Annual Subscription with Gift Pack Includes a Mammoth Map, a Passport Puzzle Booklet, and Subscription Europe £ 60; Rest of World £ 70 Refund Policy — the subscription can be cancelled within 28 days and you can get your money back. 1．Why is TOKNOW a special magazine? A．It entertains young parents. B．It provides serious advertisements. C．It publishes popular science fictions. D．It combines fun with complex concepts. 2．What does TOKNOW offer its readers? A．Online courses. B．Articles on new topics. C．Lectures on a balanced life. D．Reports on scientific discoveries. 3．How much should you pay if you make a 12-month subscription to TOKNOW with gift pack from China? A．£ 55. B．£ 60. C．£ 65. D．£ 70. 4．Subscribers of TOKNOW would get ________. A．free birthday presents B．full refund within 28 days C．membership of the TOKNOW club D．chances to meet the experts in person 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．D 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇《TOKNOW》儿童杂志的广告，介绍了杂志的特色内容、订阅方式、价格及退款政策，目的是吸引家长为孩子订阅。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段“TOKNOW Magazine is a big hit in the world of children’s publishing, bringing a unique combination of challenging ideas and good fun to young fans every month.(TOKNOW杂志在儿童出版领域大受欢迎，每月都会为小读者们带来富有挑战性且充满乐趣的独特内容。)”可知，《TOKNOW》是一本与众不同的杂志，因为它将乐趣与复杂概念相结合。 2．细节理解题。根据What’s inside?一栏里的“Every month the magazine introduces a fresh new topic with articles, experiments and creative things to make — the magazine also explores philosophy and wellbeing to make sure young readers have a balanced take on life.(每个月，该杂志都会推出一个全新的主题，内容包括文章、实验以及可供制作的创意作品——此外，杂志还会探讨哲学和身心健康方面的问题，以确保年轻读者能对生活有一个全面而平衡的认识。)”可知，《TOKNOW》为读者提供关于新主题的文章。 3．细节理解题。根据□ Annual Subscription with Gift Pack部分“Europe £ 55; Rest of World £ 65(欧洲地区订阅价55英镑，其他地区65英镑。)”可知，如果你从中国订阅12个月含礼品包，应该付70 英镑。 4．细节理解题。根据最后一段“Refund Policy — the subscription can be cancelled within 28 days and you can get your money back.(退款政策——您可以在此后28天内取消订阅，并且会退还您的费用。)”可知，《TOKNOW》的订阅者可以获得28天内全额退款。 Passage 4 International Dinner Returns This Saturday — Get your tickets here! Academic Magnet High School International Dinner Saturday, November 5, 6:00-8:00 p.m. What is this event? International dinner is a celebration of culture and diversity within the Magnet community, complete with entertainment from some of Magnet’s talented musicians thanks to Mr. Grimshaw. It is made for all to attend as a community building event. What does the canteen provide? The canteen provides the tables, serving pans, drinks and gloves. $ 75.00 will be offered per table to help offset (补偿) food costs. What do I have to provide? Each table, which can be one person or a few people working together, will have to pick a country and provide 2-4 dishes from that country. The dishes should each be made to serve 150 people. Please also bring your own serving containers and decorate your table. Examples would be tablecloths or a small flag from the represented country. Who can volunteer? Anyone can volunteer — students, parents, supporters. Students can volunteer as servers and clean up the night of and for set-up on Friday, November 4, 3:45-5:30 p.m. Sign up here. What is the ticket price? $ 15.00 per person or $ 40.00 for a family. Questions? Email amhsinternationaldinner@gmail.com 1．What is the purpose of the event? A．To build up the community bond. B．To introduce voluntary work. C．To celebrate a traditional festival. D．To raise money for charity. 2．What does the school canteen provide for the event? A．Food from different countries. B．Tables, serving pans, drinks and gloves. C．Decorations like flags and tablecloths. D．Serving containers for each table. 3．What is required for participants of each country’s table? A．To provide tables and drinks. B．A service of setting-up and cleaning up. C．A $ 75 donation for tickets and food costs. D．To prepare food and decorations. 4．How much should a family of four pay for the dinner? A．$ 15 B．$ 30 C．$ 60 D．$ 40 5．Where is this text probably taken from? A．A cooking magazine. B．A school’s official website. C．A restaurant’s advertisement. D．A travelling booklet. 【答案】1．A 2．B 3．D 4．D 5．B 【导语】本文是一则校园活动通知，介绍了学术特色高中国际晚宴的举办时间、活动意义、食堂提供的物资、参与者准备要求、志愿者招募方式、票价以及咨询方式等相关内容。 1．细节理解题。根据“What is this event?”部分中的“It is made for all to attend as a community building event(这是一项面向所有人开展的社群建设活动)”可知，该活动属于社群建设活动，目的是增强社群联系。 2．细节理解题。根据“What does the canteen provide?”部分中的“The canteen provides the tables, serving pans, drinks and gloves(食堂提供桌子、分餐锅具、饮品和手套)”可知，学校食堂为活动提供桌子、分餐锅具、饮品和手套。 3．细节理解题。根据“What do I have to provide?”部分中的“provide 2-4 dishes from that country...Please also bring your own serving containers and decorate your table(准备2至4道对应国家的菜品，自备餐具并装饰自己的餐桌)”可知，参与者需要提前准备食物和场地装饰。 4．细节理解题。根据“What is the ticket price?”部分中的“$15.00 per person or $40.00 for a family(单人票价15美元，家庭套餐票价40美元)”可知，四口之家只需支付家庭套餐费用40美元。 5．推理判断题。本文介绍高中校园专属国际晚宴活动，包含活动介绍、志愿者招募、购票方式、咨询邮箱等专属校园信息，文体为校园通知，符合学校官网公告的文本特征。 Passage 5 There are different types of money-saving apps, and all of them work in different ways. Here are 4 of the best apps that can help you save much money. Capital One Shopping Capital One Shopping can compare prices automatically as you shop online. As you add items to your cart at an online retailer, this app will search the web for better deals and coupon codes. You can follow the links to other retailers offering a better price and use the available codes to save. You can even use this app while shopping at brick-and-mortar (实体的) stores. Paribus There’s nothing more upsetting than buying something and then seeing it for sale at a lower price a few days later. Wouldn’t it be nice to get that money back? Now you can. Paribus helps you get money back by tracking your purchases from major stores and negotiating refunds. It also helps you get compensated (补偿) for late deliveries and makes sure you don’t leave it too late to return anything you bought. Qapital By setting goals and rules, Qapital helps you to make the most of your money and to save wisely. There’s a feature that divides up your commitments between spending and saving. You’ll also be able to take part in “Money Missions”, which are fun challenges designed to give you insight into smart financial investments. If you want to invest too, you can use Qapital’s pre-built portfolios, which are tailor-made (特制的) to the timeline and amount you input. Digit If you can’t figure out how much you can afford to save, Digit will analyze your spending habits and allocate (分配) a certain amount to your savings. If the app knows you have spare money to save, then it will be moved automatically, and if you don’t, it will stop, so there’s no risk of being left with no cash for the basics. You can sign up for a free trial for a month, and after that, the monthly price is $5. 1．Which of the following best describes Capital One Shopping’s function? A．Finding better deals for consumers. B．Recommending brick-and-mortar stores. C．Encouraging retailers to give coupon codes. D．Comparing the quality of different products. 2．What do we know about Paribus? A．It provides awards for early deliveries. B．It requires users to spend a lot of money. C．It offers some tailor-made financing plans. D．It enables customers to get some money back. 3．Which app are people most likely to choose when they want to learn about investing? A．Capital One Shopping. B．Paribus. C．Qapital. D．Digit. 4．What do we know about Digit from the passage? A．It is completely free to use all the time. B．It helps users get refunds for price drops. C．It decides how much to save based on users’ spending. D．It offers fun financial challenges to improve investment skills. 5．What is the purpose of this text? A．To compare four new apps. B．To recommend some money-saving apps. C．To encourage people to save money. D．To advertise some apps created by the author. 【答案】1．A 2．D 3．C 4．C 5．B 【导语】主要介绍四款省钱软件的功能特点、使用方式以及各自在省钱理财方面的不同作用。 1．细节理解题。根据Capital One Shopping部分中的“Capital One Shopping can compare prices automatically as you shop online. As you add items to your cart at an online retailer, this app will search the web for better deals and coupon codes. (Capital One Shopping可在网购时自动比价，当你在线上店铺加购商品时，这款应用会全网搜寻更优惠的交易和优惠券代码。)”可知，这款软件主要为消费者寻找更优惠的商品交易。 2．细节理解题。根据Paribus部分中的“Paribus helps you get money back by tracking your purchases from major stores and negotiating refunds. (Paribus通过追踪用户在各大商店的消费记录并协商退款，帮用户拿回部分钱款。)”可知，该软件能让消费者拿回一部分钱款。 3．细节理解题。根据Qapital部分中的“You’ll also be able to take part in “Money Missions”, which are fun challenges designed to give you insight into smart financial investments. (你还可以参与理财任务，这些趣味挑战旨在让你了解合理的金融投资。)”可知，想要学习投资知识可以选择Qapital这款软件。 4．细节理解题。根据Digit部分中的“If you can’t figure out how much you can afford to save, Digit will analyze your spending habits and allocate (分配) a certain amount to your savings. (如果你不清楚自己能存下多少钱，Digit会分析你的消费习惯，并分配一定金额存入储蓄中。)”可知，该软件依据用户消费情况决定储蓄金额。 5．推理判断题。通读全文，根据首段中的“There are different types of money-saving apps, and all of them work in different ways. Here are 4 of the best apps that can help you save much money. (市面上有各类省钱软件，运作方式各不相同，以下是四款能帮你省下很多钱的优质软件。)”可知，文章目的是推荐几款实用的省钱应用软件。 记叙文 Passage 1 It was on a grey winter’s day in my parents’ house outside Glasgow that I first suggested Mont Blanc in summer. I knew I should make more effort to spend time with my 74-year-old dad, but what I was proposing at his age was a risk. A ten-day hike around one of Europe’s highest mountains seemed a little extreme. “Old age doesn’t come alone,” he replied, implying the memory loss from a recent life-threatening stroke. Yet, to stir (唤起) memory in long-forgotten footprints seemed like the right thing to do. We booked a flight, and four months later, arrived in the shadow of Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France. That first sunlit afternoon, it was instantly obvious that we had made the right decision. The pathway ahead was quiet. Quick-footed hikers walked past us, eyes focused on a ridge (山脊) that marched south to the Italian border. But there was no sign of worry on my hiking partner’s brow (额头). Only determination. My dad’s accounts of his time in the mountains remain among the defining stories of my childhood. The first time it left its mark on me was when I uncovered a junk box full of projector slides taken in the summer of 1970, when he and two of his friends completed a previously untried route up the overwhelmingly dangerous North Face of the Eiger in Switzerland. That was now more than half his lifetime ago. And, yet, here we were, marching side by side around the Mont Blanc, tracing an invisible route with our fingers over the same harsh summits he had conquered long ago. What I had always seen as an obsession with the mountains revealed itself to be a bond that I never knew we had. By the end of the week, I sensed we may have achieved what we both had thought impossible. We made our final push towards the Col du Brévent above the Chamonix valley. We climbed up into a narrow world of stone, meeting Mont Blanc face on. To capture the moment, I took a photo, but only then did it dawn on me that it was nearly the same composition as on a slide I had first seen in one of those junk boxes. There was that smile, those eyes fixed on the horizon, the beautiful Alpine ridges of Mont Blanc crowding out the background. For a split second, it looked as if nothing had changed. 1．According to the article, what mainly motivated the author to take his father on a hike around Mont Blanc? A．His father’s old age and poor health. B．His father’s memory loss from a stroke. C．His dream of traveling with his father again. D．His wish to visit one of Europe’s highest mountains. 2．What do we know about the author’s father during the hike around Mont Blanc? A．He showed great determination throughout the journey. B．He constantly worried about the difficulty of the trail. C．He preferred to keep up with quick-footed hikers. D．He often recalled his friends who climbed the Eiger with him. 3．According to the article, which of the following best describes the author’s father? A．A hopeless patient. B．An adventurous climber. C．A responsible father. D．An appreciative photographer. 4．The underlined phrase “crowding out” in Paragraph 7 most probably means ______. A．taking the place of B．moving out of C．breaking away from D．keeping away from 5．What did the author realize after taking the family picture? A．It was never too late to accompany his father. B．He and his father changed with time passing by. C．Everything changes with time except the mountains. D．The father’s passion for the mountains didn’t fade with age. 【答案】1．B 2．A 3．B 4．A 5．D 【导语】本文讲述作者陪伴因中风失忆的年迈父亲徒步环行勃朗峰的暖心经历，通过重走登山路、对比新旧照片，感悟到父亲对登山的热爱历经岁月依旧不变，也加深了父子之间的情感羁绊。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段““Old age doesn’t come alone,” he replied, implying the memory loss from a recent life-threatening stroke. Yet, to stir (唤起) memory in long-forgotten footprints seemed like the right thing to do.(“衰老并不孤单，”他回答说，这意味着最近一次危及生命的中风导致的记忆力丧失。然而，在早已被遗忘的脚印中唤起记忆似乎是正确的做法。)”可知，作者带父亲徒步的主要原因是父亲中风失忆，而登山的目的是唤起他的记忆。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“But there was no sign of worry on my hiking partner’s brow (额头). Only determination.(但是徒步途中，父亲的脸上没有丝毫忧虑，只有坚定的决心。)”可知，父亲在全程徒步过程中展现出极强的意志力。 3．推理判断题。根据第四段“when he and two of his friends completed a previously untried route up the overwhelmingly dangerous North Face of the Eiger in Switzerland(当时他和另外两位朋友完成了一条此前从未尝试过的路线，攀上了瑞士艾格峰险峻无比的北壁)”可知，父亲是一名极具冒险精神的登山爱好者。 4．词句猜测题。根据第七段“There was that smile, those eyes fixed on the horizon, the beautiful Alpine ridges of Mont Blanc crowding out the background.(照片中父亲笑容依旧、眺望远方，壮丽的勃朗峰阿尔卑斯山脊crowding out画面的背景)”并结合常识可知，勃朗峰阿尔卑斯山脊占据画面主体成为背景，crowding out意为“占据”，与taking the place of语义一致。 5．推理判断题。根据第七段部分中的“To capture the moment, I took a photo, but only then did it dawn on me that it was nearly the same composition as on a slide I had first seen in one of those junk boxes…For a split second, it looked as if nothing had changed.(为了捕捉那一瞬间，我拍了一张照片，但直到那时我才意识到，它的构图几乎和我之前在某个废品箱里看到的一张幻灯片一模一样……一瞬间，仿佛什么都没变过。)”可知，作者意识到父亲对大山的热爱从未随年龄增长消退。 Passage 2 Many years ago, my mother used to read Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey to me during cold winter nights. I remember it clearly, as if it were yesterday, listening to her voice beside me. That experience had a deep and lasting effect on me. Before I could read on my own, my mother introduced me to the beauty and power of language through this story about a girl and her mother spending time in nature with a mother bear and her cub. The combination of the interesting story, beautiful language, and my mother’s presence created a special experience that happened many times. These read-aloud sessions played a key role in making me a reader. Years later, while reading a picture book to a young student in class, I saw how reading aloud could also impact others. The boy had faced many challenges in his life — growing up in poverty and often feeling lonely. However, during that shared reading moment, he felt such happiness that he came up with a meaningful idea. He said, “Mrs. Allyn, we should make sure everyone knows how wonderful this feels. Let’s create a special day for reading aloud.” Inspired by his suggestion, my organization, LitWorld, established World Read Aloud Day in 2024 as a people-powered movement to make his wish come true — that everyone could experience the joy of being read to. Since then, World Read Aloud Day has become a global event that reaches over one million people in more than 65 countries. Today, it is celebrated in over 600 cities, and this number keeps growing. Children who develop reading habits become active and informed global citizens. Every child deserves the right to read. While saying that reading aloud can change the world might sound simple, that’s actually what makes it so valuable. Sharing stories with children is straightforward, affordable, and easy to do, yet its impact can be enormous. 1．How did the author probably feel when her mother read Blueberries for Sal to her? A．Bored. B．Scared. C．Calm. D．Thrilled. 2．What challenges did the boy have in his life when the author read a picture book to him? A．Growing up in a rich family and feeling lonely. B．Growing up in poverty and often feeling lonely. C．Growing up in poverty but feeling happy all the time. D．Growing up in a rich family and having many friends. 3．What does the word “sessions” in paragraph 2 most closely mean? A．Contests. B．Gatherings. C．Rejections. D．Footsteps. 4．What is the author’s opinion about reading aloud? A．It’s a complicated activity. B．It can have a huge positive influence. C．It’s only beneficial to children in rich countries. D．It’s difficult to popularize globally. 5．Which title best sums up the passage? A．From a Childhood Memory to a Global Festival B．The Benefits of Reading Aloud to Kids C．A Poor Student’s Dream of Reading D．How LitWorld Changed the World of Reading 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．B 4．B 5．A 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者童年时母亲朗读的经历影响深远，后来受学生启发创立世界朗读日。如今该活动遍布全球，作者认为朗读简单却意义重大，能带来巨大积极影响。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段“I remember it clearly, as if it were yesterday, listening to her voice beside me. That experience had a deep and lasting effect on me.(我记得非常清楚，仿佛那是就在昨天的事，当时她的声音就在我身旁。那次经历对我产生了深远且持久的影响)”以及第二段“The combination of the interesting story, beautiful language, and my mother’s presence created a special experience that happened many times.(有趣的故事、优美的语言以及我母亲的陪伴，共同营造出了一种特别的体验，这种体验曾多次出现)”可知，当作者的母亲给她的女儿朗读《给萨尔的蓝莓》时，作者激动。故选D。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“The boy had faced many challenges in his life — growing up in poverty and often feeling lonely. However, during that shared reading moment, he felt such happiness that he came up with a meaningful idea.(这个男孩在其人生中经历了诸多挑战——成长于贫困家庭，且常常感到孤独。然而，在那次共同阅读的时刻，他感受到了前所未有的快乐，并由此产生了一个有意义的想法)”可知，当作者给这个男孩读图画书时，男孩生活贫困且经常感到孤独。故选B。 3．词句猜测题。根据划线词上文“The combination of the interesting story, beautiful language, and my mother’s presence created a special experience that happened many times.(有趣的故事、优美的语言以及我母亲的陪伴，共同营造出了一种特别的体验，这种体验曾多次出现)”可知，这一段段共读的时间、相聚的活动对作者成为读者起到了至关重要的作用。故划线词意思是“相聚”。故选B。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Sharing stories with children is straightforward, affordable, and easy to do, yet its impact can be enormous.(与孩子们分享故事既简单易行，成本又不高，而且实施起来也很容易，但其带来的影响却可能是巨大的)”可知，作者对于大声朗读的看法是它能产生巨大的积极影响。故选B。 5．主旨大意题。根据最后一段“Children who develop reading habits become active and informed global citizens. Every child deserves the right to read. While saying that reading aloud can change the world might sound simple, that’s actually what makes it so valuable. Sharing stories with children is straightforward, affordable, and easy to do, yet its impact can be enormous.(养成阅读习惯的孩子会成为积极且知识渊博的全球公民。每个孩子都应享有阅读的权利。虽然说大声朗读能够改变世界这一说法听起来可能很简单，但正是这一点使其如此有价值。与孩子们分享故事既简单易行，成本又不高，而且实施起来也很容易，但其带来的影响却可能是巨大的)”结合文章主要讲述了作者童年时母亲朗读的经历影响深远，后来受学生启发创立世界朗读日。如今该活动遍布全球，作者认为朗读简单却意义重大，能带来巨大积极影响。可知，A选项“从童年记忆到全球盛会”最符合文章标题。故选A。 Passage 3 At the age of 19, Carl Allamby set up his vehicle repair business, working on his own in a garage (汽车修理厂). Over the years it had grown into two shops, but Allamby yearned for something more. At first, he thought that meant growing his business even further. So at 34, Allamby decided to go for his bachelor’s degree (学士学位) in business management. After taking classes part-time over the next five years, Allamby was told he had to take biology to get his degree. Biology class reawakened Allamby’s childhood dream. He remembered the feeling of wanting to be a doctor when he was younger. Born in East Cleveland, Ohio, Allamby and his five sisters and brothers were raised by their stay-at-home mother and a father who sold home goods door to door. “That didn’t pay so well,” Allamby says. Growing up in an African American neighborhood, he faced many challenges. His school didn’t offer advanced science classes. Even if it had, doing well in school could get him into trouble. “Sometimes you wouldn’t carry your books home because of the threat of being mugged (抢劫),” Allamby says. So he set aside thoughts of becoming a doctor and chose to fix cars. With his family’s support, Allamby decided to take science classes he’d need to become a health-care worker. Becoming a doctor when he would be nearly 50 years old seemed crazy. He would instead become a nurse. But Allamby’s chemistry professor stopped him after class one day. “Carl,” he said, “you’re like the oldest student here. What’s your end game?” Allamby told him how he’d like to become a doctor but it would be more practical to aim lower. “Why not a doctor?” the professor asked. “You have a great intuition (直觉) for the work. You will go a long way.” He was right. Allamby did well in all his courses. In 2015, Allamby started at Northeast Ohio Medical University. In 2019, at the age of 47, Carl Allamby became Carl Allamby, Doctor of Medicine, and took a job in emergency medicine at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. 1．What do the underlined words “yearned for” in Paragraph 1 probably mean? A．Discovered. B．Accepted. C．Wanted. D．Wandered. 2．What was Allamby’s childhood dream? A．To become a businessman. B．To become a repairman. C．To become a biologist. D．To become a doctor. 3．What was Allamby’s life as a child like? A．Risky but exciting. B．Poor and hard. C．Peaceful but lonely. D．Simple and interesting. 4．What did the chemistry professor think of Allamby? A．He had a talent for medicine. B．He had wasted too much time. C．He should have a practical aim. D．He was not serious about the class. 5．What can we learn from Allamby’s story? A．Every coin has two sides. B．Early birds catch the worms. C．Actions speak louder than words. D．It’s never too late to follow your dream. 【答案】1．C 2．D 3．B 4．A 5．D 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了Carl Allamby从汽车修理工到成为医生的追梦历程。 1．词句猜测题。根据第一段中“Over the years it had grown into two shops, but Allamby yearned for something more.(多年来，它已经发展成两家店铺，但Allamby却yearned for得到更多。)”可知，Allamby的生意已经发展成两家店铺，但他渴望得到更多，因此yearned for意为“渴望，想要”，与C选项Wanted意思相近。故选C。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段“Biology class reawakened Allamby’s childhood dream. He remembered the feeling of wanting to be a doctor when he was younger.(生物课重新唤醒了Allamby儿时的梦想。他记得自己小时候想成为一名医生的感觉。)”可知，Allamby儿时的梦想是成为一名医生。故选D。 3．推理判断题。根据第三段“Born in East Cleveland, Ohio, Allamby and his five sisters and brothers were raised by their stay-at-home mother and a father who sold home goods door to door.(Allamby出生在俄亥俄州东克利夫兰，他和五个兄弟姐妹由在家照顾孩子的母亲和挨家挨户推销家居用品的父亲抚养长大。)”以及第四段““That didn’t pay so well,” Allamby says.(“那收入不太好，”Allamby说。)”和第五段中“Growing up in an African American neighborhood, he faced many challenges. His school didn’t offer advanced science classes. Even if it had, doing well in school could get him into trouble.(在非裔美国人社区长大，他面临许多挑战。)”可知，Allamby小时候的生活贫穷且艰难。故选B。 4．推理判断题。根据倒数第三段““Why not a doctor?” the professor asked. “You have a great intuition (直觉) for the work. You will go a long way.”(“为什么不当医生呢？”教授问。“你对这项工作有很好的直觉。你会走得很远的。”)”可知，化学教授认为Allamby有医学天赋。故选A。 5．推理判断题。根据文章内容可知，Allamby虽然小时候因为家庭原因放弃了成为医生的梦想，但在多年后重新拾起梦想，最终成为了一名医生，因此我们可以从Allamby的故事中学到：追逐梦想永远不晚。故选D。 Passage 4 When I was ten, my family moved to a small house on the edge of town. Behind the house was an abandoned garden, overgrown with weeds and bushes. To me, it looked like a jungle, messy and wild. My father, however, saw it differently. “This,” he said with a smile, “is where we’ll grow something beautiful.” At first, I didn’t believe him. The garden seemed hopeless. But my father handed me a pair of gloves and a small tool. “Let’s start small,” he said. With some hesitation, I followed him outside, where we spent hours pulling weeds, turning the soil, and clearing the rocks. My hands hurt, and the summer sun was very hot, but my father never complained. “Gardens,” he said, “are like people. They just need a little care to grow.” As the weeks passed, I began to see the changes. The soil became soft and rich, and we planted seeds—tiny things that looked like they could never survive. But my father was patient. Every morning, we watered the garden together, watching and waiting. Slowly, green shoots began to appear, reaching for the sky. It was magical, as if life itself were unfolding before my eyes. The garden, once lifeless, began to come alive again, and so did I. One day, a big storm rolled in. The wind roared, and the rain hit hard against the windows. I worried about the garden, but my father reassured me. “The plants are stronger than you think,” he said. The morning after the storm, I ran outside, expecting to find the garden ruined. Instead, I saw the plants standing tall, shining with drops of water. They had made it through the storm, just as my father had said. By the end of summer, the garden was full of life—bright flowers, leafy greens, and even a few tomatoes. My father and I stood together, admiring our work. “You see,” he said, “it’s not just about the garden. It’s about what you learn along the way—patience, strength, and the joy of creating something with your own hands.” Years later, I still remember that little garden. Whenever life feels difficult, I think of those tiny seeds and the way they grew, even when it seemed impossible. And I remind myself that, like the garden, I can grow too—with a little care and a lot of patience. The lessons from that summer remain with me, helping me face challenges and reminding me of the beauty in hard work. 1．What does the father’s reaction to the garden reveal about his personality? A．He tends to avoid difficult situations. B．He focuses on quick results rather than long-term effort. C．He feels doubtful about fixing the garden. D．He sees potential in challenging circumstances. 2．Why did the author hesitate to help their father at first? A．The author thought the garden was beyond saving. B．The author lacked experience in gardening. C．The author was worried about the physical effort required. D．The author preferred spending time indoors. 3．Why does the author describe the garden as “coming alive again” in Paragraph 3? A．The garden began to grow without their help. B．The author started to see signs of life in the garden. C．The garden returned to its original condition. D．The author felt discouraged by the slow progress. 4．What does the underlined word “roared” probably mean in Paragraph 4? A．Spoke in a soft voice. B．Made a loud sound. C．Moved quietly. D．Shook slightly. 5．What is the author’s key takeaway from the gardening experience? A．Nature is unpredictable and uncontrollable. B．Teamwork matters most for reaching goals. C．Success depends entirely on favorable conditions. D．Personal growth comes from consistent care and effort. 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．B 4．B 5．D 【导语】这是一篇记叙文。本文讲述作者十岁时和父亲一起改造废弃花园的经历：从最初觉得花园毫无希望，到通过耐心照料让它长满花草果蔬，再到花园经受住暴风雨的考验。作者最终领悟到，人和花园一样，在持续的付出与耐心等待中，就能实现成长，克服人生的困难。 1．推理判断题。根据第一段“When I was ten, my family moved to a small house on the edge of town. Behind the house was an abandoned garden, overgrown with weeds and bushes. To me, it looked like a jungle, messy and wild. My father, however, saw it differently. “This,” he said with a smile, “is where we’ll grow something beautiful.”(在我十岁那年，我们家搬到了镇边的一座小房子里。房子后面有一个废弃的花园，杂草丛生，长满了灌木丛。在我看来，那简直就是一个杂乱而荒凉的丛林。然而，父亲却有不同的看法。“这里，”他笑着说道，“是我们要种下美丽事物的地方。”)”可推知，父亲能在看似棘手的处境中发现潜在价值。故选D项。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段中“At first, I didn’t believe him. The garden seemed hopeless.( 起初，我不相信他的话。那个花园看起来毫无希望。)”可知，作者认为花园已经无法挽救，所以才会犹豫。故选A项。 3．推理判断题。根据第三段“As the weeks passed, I began to see the changes. The soil became soft and rich, and we planted seeds—tiny things that looked like they could never survive. But my father was patient. Every morning, we watered the garden together, watching and waiting. Slowly, green shoots began to appear, reaching for the sky. It was magical, as if life itself were unfolding before my eyes. The garden, once lifeless, began to come alive again, and so did I.( 随着日子一天天过去，我开始看到变化。土壤变得松软肥沃，我们播下了种子——那些看起来根本无法存活的小东西。但父亲很耐心。每天早上，我们都会一起给花园浇水，观察着、等待着。慢慢地，绿色的嫩芽开始出现，向上伸展着。这真是太神奇了，仿佛生命就在我的眼前展开。那个曾经毫无生机的花园又重新焕发生机了，我也一样。)”可推知，作者将花园描述为“又恢复了生机”是因为作者开始在花园中看到了生机的迹象。故选B项。 4．词句猜测题。根据划线单词句中“The wind…, and the rain hit hard against the windows.( 狂风……，雨水猛烈地拍打着窗户。)”可知，该词描述暴风雨中的风，后文提到“雨点猛烈地打在窗户上”，说明暴风雨的威力很大。因此“roared”在这里指风发出巨大的声响。B选项Made a loud sound.“发出响亮的声音”。符合语境。故选B项。 5．推理判断题。根据最后一段中“And I remind myself that, like the garden, I can grow too—with a little care and a lot of patience. The lessons from that summer remain with me, helping me face challenges and reminding me of the beauty in hard work.( 我也会提醒自己，就像花园一样，我也能够成长——只要有一点点的细心照料和大量的耐心。那个夏天的教训一直伴随着我，帮助我面对挑战，并提醒我努力工作中的美好之处。)”可推知，作者从这次园艺经历中得出的主要启示是个人成长源于持续的照料和努力。故选D项。 Passage 5 “I am not crazy,” says Dr. William Farber, shortly after performing acupuncture (针灸) on a rabbit. “I am ahead of my time.” If he seems a little defensive, it might be because even some of his coworkers occasionally laugh at his unusual methods. But Farber is certain he’ll have the last laugh. He’s one of a small but growing number of American veterinarians (兽医) now practicing “holistic” medicine — combining traditional Western treatments with acupuncture, chiropractic (按摩疗法) and herbal medicine. Farber, a graduate of Colorado State University, started out as a more conventional veterinarian. He became interested in alternative treatments 20 years ago when he suffered from terrible back pain. He tried muscle-relaxing drugs but found little relief. Then he tried acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, and was amazed that he improved after two or three treatments. What worked on a veterinarian seemed likely to work on his patients. So, after studying the techniques for a couple of years, he began offering them to pets. Leigh Tindale’s dog Charlie had a serious heart condition. After Charlie had a heart attack, Tindale says, she was prepared to put him to sleep, but Farber’s treatments eased her dog’s suffering so much that she was able to keep him alive for an additional five months. And Priscilla Dewing reports that her horse, Nappy, “moves more easily and rides more comfortably” after a chiropractic adjustment. Farber is certain that the holistic approach will grow more popular with time, and if the past is any indication, he may be right: Since 1982, membership in the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association has grown from 30 to over 700. “Sometimes it surprises me that it works so well,” he says. “I will do anything to help an animal. That’s my job.” 1．What do some of Farber’s coworkers think of him? A．He’s odd. B．He’s strict. C．He’s brave. D．He’s rude. 2．Why did Farber decide to try acupuncture on pets? A．He was trained in it at university. B．He was inspired by another veterinarian. C．He benefited from it as a patient. D．He wanted to save money for pet owners. 3．What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about? A．Steps of a chiropractic treatment. B．The complexity of veterinarians’ work. C．Examples of rare animal diseases. D．The effectiveness of holistic medicine. 4．Why does the author mention the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association? A．To prove Farber’s point. B．To emphasize its importance. C．To praise veterinarians. D．To advocate animal protection. 5．What’s the main idea of the passage? A．The history of holistic medicine in America. B．The differences between Western and holistic treatments. C．A veterinarian who uses holistic medicine to treat animals. D．The difficulties Dr. Farber faces with his unusual methods. 【答案】1．A 2．C 3．D 4．A 5．C 【导语】这是一篇记叙文。文章主要介绍了一位名叫William Farber的兽医，他采用整体医学方法治疗动物，结合了传统西医和针灸、按摩疗法以及草药医学，并通过具体例子展示了整体医学对动物的治疗效果，以及整体医学在美国兽医界的发展趋势。 1．推理判断题。根据第一段的“If he seems a little defensive, it might be because even some of his coworkers occasionally laugh at his unusual methods.(如果他看起来有点戒备的姿态，那可能是因为他的一些同事偶尔会嘲笑他不寻常的方法。) ”可知，Farber的同事们有时会嘲笑他不寻常的方法，他们认为他很奇怪。故选A。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段的“Then he tried acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, and was amazed that he improved after two or three treatments. What worked on a veterinarian seemed likely to work on his patients. So, after studying the techniques for a couple of years, he began offering them to pets.(然后，他尝试了针灸，这是一种古老的中国疗法，并惊讶地发现，经过两三次治疗，他的病情有所好转。对兽医有效的方法似乎对他的病人也有效。因此，在研究了这些技术几年后，他开始把它们提供给宠物。)”可知，Farber作为患者从针灸中受益，这促使他决定尝试在宠物上使用针灸。故选C。 3．主旨大意题。根据第三段“Leigh Tindale’s dog Charlie had a serious heart condition. After Charlie had a heart attack, Tindale says, she was prepared to put him to sleep, but Farber’s treatments eased her dog’s suffering so much that she was able to keep him alive for an additional five months. And Priscilla Dewing reports that her horse, Nappy, “moves more easily and rides more comfortably” after a chiropractic adjustment.(Leigh Tindale的狗 Charlie 患有严重的心脏病。Tindale说，Charlie心脏病发作后，她原本准备让它安乐死，但 Farber的治疗大大减轻了狗的痛苦，使她能够让它多活了五个月。Priscilla Dewing则说，她的马 Nappy 在接受脊椎指压治疗后，“行动更轻松，骑乘时也更舒适”。) ”可知，本段主要讲述了两个例子，一个是Farber通过整体医学方法帮助了患有严重心脏病的狗Charlie，另一个是马Nappy在接受脊椎按摩治疗后移动和骑行更为舒适。这些例子都是为了说明整体医学的有效性。故选D。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Farber is certain that the holistic approach will grow more popular with time, and if the past is any indication, he may be right: Since 1982, membership in the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association has grown from 30 to over 700. ( 法伯确信，随着时间的推移，综合疗法会越来越受欢迎，如果过去有任何迹象的话，他可能是对的:自1982年以来，美国综合兽医协会的会员已经从30个增加到700多个。)”可知，法伯认为综合疗法会越来越受欢迎，随后作者列举了美国综合兽医协会的会员已经从30个增加到700多个的例子，因此推断美国整体兽医协会是为证明法伯的观点。故选A。 5．主旨大意题。文章主要介绍了一位名叫William Farber的兽医，他采用整体医学方法治疗动物，结合了传统西医和针灸、按摩疗法以及草药医学，并通过具体例子展示了整体医学对动物的治疗效果，以及整体医学在美国兽医界的发展趋势。由此可知，文章的主旨是一位用整体医学治疗动物的兽医。故选C。 说明文 Passage 1 Some people believe that getting older means a gradual decline rather than a journey toward wisdom. However, more and more studies show that learning is still possible in later life. In fact, continued education can benefit the aging brain. Throughout one’s life, the human brain remains remarkably capable of adapting and restructuring itself. As early as the 1960s, British neuroscientist Geoffrey Raisman observed that injured regions of rat brains could establish new synaptic (突触的) connections, as revealed under an electron microscope. These findings introduced the concept of neuroplasticity — the idea that the brain can continually rewire itself in response to new stimuli (触发因素) and learning experiences. Naturally, this adaptive ability does not make the brain resistant to the damage caused by time. Just as height tends to decline with age, so too does brain volume, shrinking at an estimated rate of 4% per decade beginning in one’s 40s. Nevertheless, this volumetric decline does not definitely translate into cognitive impairment. As long as individuals remain mentally engaged and open to novel experiences, the brain retains a significant capacity to regenerate pathways and maintain functionality. Modern research increasingly highlights that exposure to new environments, ideas, and skills can enhance the brain’s flexibility. These fresh experiences promote the formation of neural networks, which help sustain cognitive resilience (韧性), even as structural shrinkage occurs. From solving logic puzzles to choosing unconventional routes for daily tasks, minor changes to routine can galvanize brain function and promote long-term mental health. Moreover, studies of older adults suggest that those who actively pursue new intellectual or physical challenges tend to enjoy enhanced memory performance and reduced susceptibility to neurodegenerative disorders (神经退行性疾病). Natural qualities such as curiosity and an enthusiastic attitude toward acquiring knowledge appear to be positively correlated with cognitive preservation. Importantly, a 2012 study published in Psychology and Aging confirmed that participation in cognitively stimulating tasks can boost reasoning skills and potentially delay age-related mental decline. 1．Which of the following best explains Geoffrey Raisman’s research? A．Brain aging is a largely irreversible biological process. B．Synaptic formation in rats differs significantly from that in humans. C．New experiences primarily enhance short-term brain performance. D．The human brain is more resilient and dynamic than previously believed. 2．What inference can be drawn regarding brain aging from the text? A．Age-related brain shrinkage inevitably causes mental worsening. B．Cognitive flexibility can persist despite physiological (生物学) brain changes. C．Elderly individuals are incapable of forming new neural pathways. D．Once brain volume decreases, neuroplasticity ceases to function. 3．Which strategy is recommended for sustaining brain health in later life? A．Engaging in novel activities that challenge mental habits. B．Using drug treatments to slow aging effects. C．Repeating familiar tasks to avoid unnecessary stress. D．Focusing merely on physical exercise to support brain growth. 4．In the 4th paragraph, which word can replace the underlined word “galvanize”? A．suppress B．evaluate C．imitate D．stimulate 5．Based on the findings of the 2012 Psychology and Aging study,____________. A．Entertaining games are ineffective in preventing memory loss. B．Rational(理性)thinking declines with age despite training. C．Deliberate mental stimulation can enhance reasoning ability. D．Naturally gifted individuals benefit from cognitive training. 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．A 4．D 5．C 【导语】文章主要介绍终身学习对衰老大脑的益处及背后的神经科学原理。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段中的“As early as the 1960s, British neuroscientist Geoffrey Raisman observed that injured regions of rat brains could establish new synaptic (突触的) connections, as revealed under an electron microscope. These findings introduced the concept of neuroplasticity — the idea that the brain can continually rewire itself in response to new stimuli (触发因素) and learning experiences.(早在20世纪60年代，英国神经科学家杰弗里·雷斯曼在电子显微镜下观察到，大鼠大脑的受伤区域可以建立新的突触连接。这些发现引入了神经可塑性的概念——即大脑可以随着新的刺激和学习体验不断重新连接自己的观点。)”可知，人类大脑比之前认为的更具弹性和活力。 2．推理判断题。根据第三段中的“Naturally, this adaptive ability does not make the brain resistant to the damage caused by time.(这种适应能力并不能使大脑抵抗时间造成的损害。)”以及“Nevertheless, this volumetric decline does not definitely translate into cognitive impairment. As long as individuals remain mentally engaged and open to novel experiences, the brain retains a significant capacity to regenerate pathways and maintain functionality.(然而，这种体积的下降并不一定会转化为认知障碍。只要个人保持精神投入并对新体验持开放态度，大脑就会保留显著的能力来再生路径和维持功能。)”可推知，尽管大脑发生生理变化，认知灵活性仍可持续。 3．细节理解题。根据第四段中的“Modern research increasingly highlights that exposure to new environments, ideas, and skills can enhance the brain’s flexibility.(现代研究越来越强调，接触新环境、新想法和新技能可以增强大脑的灵活性。)”以及“From solving logic puzzles to choosing unconventional routes for daily tasks, minor changes to routine can galvanize brain function and promote long-term mental health. (从解决逻辑谜题到为日常事务选择非传统路径，对日常生活的细微改变能galvanize大脑功能并促进长期心理健康。)”可知，建议通过参与挑战思维习惯的新活动来维持晚年大脑健康。 4．词句猜测题。根据第四段中的“From solving logic puzzles to choosing unconventional routes for daily tasks, minor changes to routine can galvanize brain function and promote long-term mental health.(从解决逻辑谜题到为日常任务选择非常规路线，日常生活的微小变化可以galvanize大脑功能，促进长期心理健康。)”可知，划线单词与空后的“promote”为并列关系，由此可知，划线单词的意思与“促进”意义相近。 5．细节理解题。根据第五段中的“Importantly, a 2012 study published in Psychology and Aging confirmed that participation in cognitively stimulating tasks can boost reasoning skills and potentially delay age-related mental decline. (重要的是，2012年发表在《心理学与衰老》上的一项研究证实，参与认知刺激任务可以提高推理能力，并有可能延缓与年龄相关的智力衰退。)”可知，刻意的精神刺激可以增强推理能力。 Passage 2 Earth’s biggest problem, according to Douglas Adams, is quite simple: the species of clever ape (猿) that thinks it runs the joint (有控制权，有主导地位) is mostly unhappy most of the time. Computer scientist Cal Newport now adds email to the list of life’s troubles. In his book A World Without Email, he argues this once-brilliant invention has made us suffer. Newport says we’ve become slaves to email trapped in a “hyperactive hive mind” — the reality in which everyone, everywhere, can communicate with everyone else with ease. Studies have shown how dominant email has become in ordinary office life. The average knowledge worker sends and receives 126 emails daily, which ruins focus, making them less productive and more irritable (易怒的). All of this might be bearable but for one problem: the mismatch between modern electronic messaging and our own information-processing capacity. Multitasking is a myth. We can’t think clearly while dealing with an overflowing inbox (爆满的收件箱). We’re born to prefer real-time conversations, where everyone gets updates together. Back in small tribes (部落), we needed daily chats to feel connected. Now, in a digital world, that ancient urge makes us anxious if we don’t reply to every email instantly. Despite his book’s title, Newport isn’t against all electronic messaging. What drives him to desperation is how we use it. With office workers nodding in hearty agreement, Newport offers some solutions. A German company invented the No Email Day. Productivity went up, even though it shortened the work time. The goal was for everyone to approach their work more deliberately without rushing. Some companies use an application called Trello to allow workers to access the necessary data and decide when to jump in and get things done. Handling email when it’s out of control is like being pecked (啄) by a flock of geese. But changing this won’t be easy. Our need for focused thinking conflicts with the Dopamine Economy — something designed to keep us unable to resist constant messages. Still, Newport thinks regaining control of our time might be the key to being happier at work. 1．What is a consequence of handling numerous emails daily? A．A drop in work efficiency. B．A lack of social connections. C．A change in office culture. D．A rise in communication skills. 2．What’s the meaning of “hyperactive hive mind” in paragraph 2? A．A busy work state. B．A peaceful team spirit. C．A creative thinking way D．A healthy life habit 3．What causes our anxiety about unreplied emails according to paragraph 3? A．The lack of real-time conversations. B．The myth of modern office multitasking. C．The mismatch with our ancient urges. D．The overflow of daily digital information. 4．What is the purpose of introducing the No Email Day? A．To shorten the daily work time. B．To help workers work more deliberately. C．To test a new digital application. D．To stop all electronic messaging completely. 5．What is the best title for the text? A．The Invention of No Email Day B．How to Be Happy at Work C．The Rise of the Dopamine Economy D．Escaping the Trap of Email Overload 【答案】1．A 2．A 3．C 4．B 5．D 【导语】文章主要介绍电子邮件泛滥给职场人带来的身心困扰、焦虑成因，列举企业应对办法，倡导人们摆脱邮件过载带来的生活与工作束缚。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段中的“The average knowledge worker sends and receives 126 emails daily, which ruins focus, making them less productive and more irritable (易怒的). (普通知识工作者每天收发126封邮件，这破坏专注力，导致工作效率降低且更容易易怒。)”可知，日常处理大量邮件会造成工作效率下降。故选A项。 2．词句猜测题。根据第二段中的“Newport says we’ve become slaves to email trapped in a “hyperactive hive mind” — the reality in which everyone, everywhere, can communicate with everyone else with ease.(纽波特说，我们已经成为电子邮件的奴隶，被困在“hyperactive hive mind”之中——这是一种随时随地每个人都能轻松与他人进行沟通的现实状态。)”可知，破折号后是对hyperactive hive mind的解释：人人随时可轻松沟通，人们被邮件捆绑、时刻待命、不停回应各类信息，处于始终无法放松的繁忙工作状态，所以划线短语指的是“忙碌的工作状态”。 3．细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Now, in a digital world, that ancient urge makes us anxious if we don’t reply to every email instantly.(如今在数字世界里，这种古老的本能欲望，让我们若没有立刻回复每一封邮件就会感到焦虑。)”可知，未回复邮件产生焦虑的原因是与人类古老本能需求不相匹配。 4．细节理解题。根据第四段中的“The goal was for everyone to approach their work more deliberately without rushing.(设立无邮件日的目的，是让每个人更从容沉稳地处理工作，不必匆忙慌乱。)”可知，介绍无邮件日是为了帮助员工更从容沉稳地工作。 5．主旨大意题。通读全文，尤其是第一段中的“In his book A World Without Email, he argues this once-brilliant invention has made us suffer.(在《没有邮件的世界》一书中，他认为这项曾经伟大的发明如今让人们备受困扰。)”以及后文讲述邮件泛滥的危害、心理成因、企业解决办法和掌控时间收获职场幸福感可知，文章核心围绕摆脱过量邮件带来的困境展开，所以“Escaping the Trap of Email Overload(摆脱邮件过载的困境)”最能概括全文核心，适合作为最佳标题。 Passage 3 Is there anything more frustrating than other people? Despite our best efforts to persuade them to do, say and be what we want, they persist in overturn our plans by making their own decisions, being their own people and thinking their own thoughts. One can waste hours spiraling (纠结) about others’ behavior. Why weren’t we included in that meeting at work? Why did that stranger cut us off in traffic? Every time you are about to start obsessing over someone else’s actions, remember: let them! The concept was recently popularized by motivational speaker Mel Robbins. “I just heard about this thing called the Let Them theory,” she told her millions of followers in an Instagram post in May 2023. “I love it.” The video quickly went viral. People got “Let Them” tattoos. In December 2024, Robbins released a book, The Let Them Theory. It became a New York Times bestseller. CNN and the New York Times interviewed Robbins. Even Oprah talked about it on her podcast (播客), saying: “This book is a game-changer. It’s a life-changer.” There are some important caveats to the theory, according to Robbins. She argues, “let them” only works if it is followed by “let me”. In other words, it is not an excuse for inaction. Accepting that we can’t control other people’s actions is a reminder that we are entirely responsible for our own. You are not responsible for someone cutting you off in traffic, but you are responsible for responding with patience and courtesy, rather than with anger and harsh words. Also, there are certain situations in which you should not, under any circumstance, “let them”. Robbins explained in a podcast episode that the theory does not apply if someone wants to do something dangerous or if you see someone being discriminated against. In those cases, she says, you must speak up. Second, you must always advocate for yourself and what you need — negotiate a higher salary, for example, or insist on getting the medical care you need. Finally, if someone continually violates your boundaries, you should not “let them” do that, Robbins says. The “let them” concept is not without its critics. People have argued that the theory is Stoicism repackaged. Others have criticized Robbins for not crediting poet Cassie B．Phillips, whose poem Let Them went viral in 2022. Robbins herself acknowledges this. As an author, podcaster and former lawyer, she is not a mental health professional. But experts agree that giving up on trying to control the behaviors and actions of others can be hugely beneficial — not only for yourself, but for the people around you as well. The phrase is not a panacea (万能药). It still takes time for whatever emotion people are feeling to pass. But saying “let them” prevents us from being reactive. It gives us space to pause and remind ourselves that our own actions are all we can control. Annoying! But also liberating. It’s a reminder that it’s OK to step back, let people be who they are, and stop carrying things that aren’t ours to carry. 1．What can we learn from Mel Robbins’ book The Let Them Theory? A．It was published in the year 2023. B．It received wide media and public recognition. C．It was written in the form of a podcast. D．It was based on Oprah’s personal experience. 2．The underlined word “caveats” in Paragraph 4 can be explained as ________. A．restrictions and boundaries of application B．remarkable benefits and positive effects C．detailed interpretations and further analyses D．typical instances and practical illustrations 3．Which of the following is against The Let Them theory according to Robbins? A．Mind your own behavior when annoyed by strangers. B．Stay silent when witnessing unfair discrimination. C．Fight for your deserved salary and medical care. D．Refuse to tolerate others’ repeated boundary violations. 4．What can we conclude from the last paragraph? A．It takes little time to get rid of negative emotions. B．The Let Them theory is not perfect but meaningful. C．We can control both our own actions and others’. D．The phrase “let them” can solve all life problems 5．What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage? A．To introduce and comment on a popular life philosophy. B．To persuade readers to accept others’ mistakes. C．To criticize Mel Robbins’ new book. D．To explain how to control one’s emotions. 【答案】1．B 2．A 3．B 4．B 5．A 【导语】文章聚焦“Let Them理论”，从流行背景、核心内涵、应用边界到争议评价进行全面阐述。 1．细节理解题。根据文章第三段中的句子In December 2024, Robbins released a book, The Let Them Theory. It became a New York Times bestseller. CNN and the New York Times interviewed Robbins. Even Oprah talked about it on her podcast (播客), saying: “This book is a game-changer. It’s a life-changer.”(2024年12月，罗宾斯出版了《Let Them理论》一书。这本书成为了《纽约时报》畅销书。美国有线电视新闻网和《纽约时报》采访了罗宾斯。甚至奥普拉也在她的播客中谈到了这本书，说：“这本书改变了游戏规则，也改变了人生”)”可知，这本书受到了广泛的媒体和公众认可。 2．词句猜测题。根据文章第四段中的句子“She argues, “let them’ only works if it is followed by ‘let me”. In other words, it is not an excuse for inaction. (她认为，“随他们去”只有在后面加上“随自己去”才有效。换句话说，这不是不作为的借口。)”以及第五段中的句子“Also, there are certain situations in which you should not, under any circumstance, ‘let them’. (此外，在某些情况下，无论如何你都不应该“随他们去”。)”可知，这里是在说明该理论的使用限制和应用边界，所以caveats的意思是“应用的限制和边界”。 3．细节理解题。根据文章第五段中的句子“Robbins explained in a podcast episode that the theory does not apply if someone wants to do something dangerous or if you see someone being discriminated against. In those cases, she says, you must speak up. (罗宾斯在一期播客中解释说，如果有人想要做危险的事情，或者你看到有人受到歧视，这个理论就不适用。她说，在这种情况下，你必须大声说出来。)”可知，当目睹不公平的歧视时保持沉默是违背该理论的。 4．推理判断题。根据文章最后一段中的句子“The phrase is not a panacea (万能药). It still takes time for whatever emotion people are feeling to pass. But saying ‘let them’ prevents us from being reactive. It gives us space to pause and remind ourselves that our own actions are all we can control. (这句话不是万能药。人们感受到的任何情绪都需要时间才能消散。但说“随他们去”可以防止我们做出反应。它给我们空间停下来提醒自己，我们能控制的只有自己的行为。)”可推断出，Let Them理论并不完美，但很有意义。 5．推理判断题。文章首先介绍了“Let Them理论”的流行情况，接着阐述了该理论的内涵、应用的限制和边界，还提到了对该理论的批评，最后对该理论进行了评价。所以作者写这篇文章的目的是介绍并评论一种流行的生活哲学。 Passage 4 Also known as the Precautionary Approach (预防原则) or Precautionary Action, the Precautionary Principle is a concept best summed up by the proverb “better safe than sorry” or the medical maxim to “first do no harm.” Whenever we make even the smallest change within a complex system, we risk dramatic unintended consequences. The interconnections and dependencies within systems make it almost impossible to predict outcomes and because such systems often require a reasonably precise set of conditions to function, our interventions can cause damage. The Precautionary Principle reflects the reality of working with and within complex systems. It shifts the burden of proof from proving something was dangerous after the fact to proving it is safe before taking chances. It emphasizes waiting for more complete information before risking causing damage, especially if some of the possible impacts would be irreversible (不可逆的), hard to contain, or would affect people who didn’t choose to be involved. The possibility of harm does not need to be specific to that particular circumstance; sometimes we can judge a category of actions as one that always requires precaution because we know it has a high risk of unintended consequences. For example, invasive (入侵) species have repeatedly caused native species to become extinct. So it’s reasonable to exercise precaution and not introduce living things into new places without strong evidence it will be harmless. The Precautionary Principle is widely applied in environmental policy. For example, the German Environmental Protection Agency explains that the Precautionary Principle has two core components in German environmental law today: preventing risks and protecting resources. Preventing risks means legislators (立法者) shouldn’t take actions where our knowledge of the potential for environmental damage is incomplete or uncertain but there is cause for concern. The burden of proof is on proving lack of harm, not on proving harm. Protecting resources means preserving things like water and soil in a form future generations can use. The flexibility of the Precautionary Principle is both a source of strength and a source of weakness. We live in a fast-moving world where regulation does not always keep up with innovation, meaning guidelines (as opposed to rules) can often prove useful. Another reason the Precautionary Principle can be a practical addition to legislation is that science doesn’t necessarily move fast enough to protect us from potential risks, especially ones that shift harm elsewhere or take a long time to show up. For example, thousands of human-made substances are present in the food we eat, ranging from medications given to livestock (牲畜) to materials used in packaging. Proving that a new additive has health risks once it’s in the food supply could take decades because it’s incredibly difficult to isolate (隔离) causative factors. So some regulators, including the Food and Drug Administration in America, require manufacturers in certain areas to prove something is safe before it goes to market. This approach isn’t perfect, but it’s far safer than waiting to discover harm after we start eating something. The Precautionary Principle forces us to ask a lot of difficult questions about the nature of risk, uncertainty, probability, the role of government, and ethics (伦理). It can also prompt us to question our intuitions surrounding the right decisions to make in certain situations. 1．What is the central idea of the Precautionary Principle? A．Complex systems can be changed step by step. B．Harm should be proved after risky action is taken. C．Scientific progress should guide regulations. D．Safety should be shown before risky action is taken. 2．Why does the Precautionary Principle shift the burden of proof? A．Because possible damage may be serious and hard to undo. B．Because most scientific studies fail to predict the future. C．Because people involved usually choose to accept the risks. D．Because complex systems can recover quickly from damage. 3．In Paragraph 5, why are invasive species mentioned? A．To show how native species become extinct. B．To explain how ecosystems adapt to new species. C．To illustrate a category needing precaution. D．To show the complexity of environmental systems. 4．Why does the author mention human-made substances in food? A．To show why delayed harm can be hard to prove. B．To argue that food safety rules are too strict. C．To explain how additives improve modern diets. D．To prove that packaged foods are dangerous. 5．Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A．Environmental Law: Protecting Resources for the Future B．The Precautionary Principle: Acting Before Harm Is Proven C．Complex Systems: Why Science Cannot Predict Everything D．Modern Regulation: Slowing Down Risky Innovation 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．C 4．A 5．B 【导语】本文主要介绍了预防原则的定义、核心内涵、应用场景、实践价值以及其在现实生活中的具体体现。 1．细节理解题。根据第三段“It shifts the burden of proof from proving something was dangerous after the fact to proving it is safe before taking chances. (它将举证责任从事后证明某事有危险转移到冒险之前证明其安全。)”可知，预防原则的核心思想是在采取有风险的行为之前先证明其安全性。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“It emphasizes waiting for more complete information before risking causing damage, especially if some of the possible impacts would be irreversible (不可逆的), hard to contain, or would affect people who didn’t choose to be involved. (它强调在冒险造成损害之前等待更完整的信息，尤其是当一些可能的影响是不可逆的、难以控制的，或者会影响那些没有选择参与其中的人时。)”可知，预防原则转移举证责任是因为可能的损害可能很严重且难以挽回。 3．推理判断题。根据第四段“The possibility of harm does not need to be specific to that particular circumstance; sometimes we can judge a category of actions as one that always requires precaution because we know it has a high risk of unintended consequences. (危害的可能性不需要特定于那种特定情况；有时我们可以将一类行为判定为始终需要预防，因为我们知道这类行为有很高的意外后果风险。)”以及第五段“For example, invasive (入侵) species have repeatedly caused native species to become extinct. (例如，入侵物种已多次导致本地物种灭绝。)”可知，提到入侵物种是为了举例说明需要预防的一类情况。 4．细节理解题。根据第九段“Proving that a new additive has health risks once it’s in the food supply could take decades because it’s incredibly difficult to isolate (隔离) causative factors. (一旦一种新的添加剂进入食品供应体系，要证明它具有健康风险可能需要数十年时间，因为分离致病因素极其困难。)”可知，作者提到食品中的人造物质是为了说明为什么延迟的危害很难证明。 5．主旨大意题。根据全文内容，尤其是第一段“Also known as the Precautionary Approach (预防原则) or Precautionary Action, the Precautionary Principle is a concept best summed up by the proverb “better safe than sorry” or the medical maxim to “first do no harm. (预防原则也被称为预防方法或预防行动，这一概念最好用谚语“安全总比后悔好”或医学格言“首先不造成伤害”来概括。)”以及第三段“It shifts the burden of proof from proving something was dangerous after the fact to proving it is safe before taking chances. (它将举证责任从事后证明某事有危险转移到冒险之前证明其安全。)”可知，文章主要介绍的是预防原则——在危害被证实之前就采取行动。 Passage 5 Long before dinosaurs lived on Earth, the land looked very different from today. Around 500 million years ago, most of Earth’s surface was bare rock and dry soil, and life existed almost entirely in the oceans. Then something amazing happened: plants began to grow on land. The journey of plants started with simple green life-forms like algae (藻类), which have been living in oceans and lakes for over a billion years. Using sunlight, water and CO₂, algae make sugars as well as oxygen through photosynthesis (光合作用). At first, Earth’s atmosphere had little oxygen, but algae, along with some bacteria, changed that over millions of years. This made it possible for larger and more complex life forms to appear. The first true plants developed from green algae 470 million years ago. Living in shallow water near shores, they were sometimes underwater and sometimes above the surface. Slowly, they adapted to dry land with many new features. These included stronger cell walls, which enabled plants to stand upright against gravity. They also developed rootlike structures to hold onto the soil and take water and nutrients. The earliest land plants stayed close to the ground. Some, like Cooksonia, had small stems only about 2.5 to 5 centimeters tall. Though small, these plants made a big impact. Besides adding oxygen to the air, they used their roots to break down rocks into soil. This process, called weathering, created richer soil that could support more life. The plants also provided homes and food sources for animals moving from oceans onto land. Around 420 million years ago, plants developed tiny tubes that move water and nutrients upward from the roots to the leaves. This allowed plants to grow taller and stronger. By about 360 million years ago, forests covered much of Earth. Another big leap happened around 380 million years ago with the development of seeds. This meant plants could reproduce without needing water for fertilization. Flowering plants then came along about 140 million years ago. Their flowers attracted animals to spread pollen, and their fruits helped protect the seeds. Plants changed the atmosphere, built soil and created ecosystems that allowed animals to develop on land. Thanks to plant evolution, Earth became a green planet full of diverse life. 1．According to the text, what role did algae play in Earth’s history? A．They reduced the number of bacteria in the oceans. B．They helped increase oxygen in the atmosphere. C．They evolved directly into complex life forms. D．They significantly decreased CO2 levels in the air. 2．Why were early land plants able to stand upright? A．They had deep root systems. B．They took in enough sunlight. C．They lived in shallow water. D．They developed stronger cell walls. 3．What is the main idea of paragraph 4? A．The formation of soil through weathering. B．The multiple effects of early land plants. C．The challenges early land plants faced. D．The role of plants in supporting animal life. 4．What can be inferred from the text about the period when seeds first appeared? A．Plants started to develop tiny tubes. B．Forests spread across most of Earth’s land. C．Plants could reproduce without depending on water. D．Flowering plants were already common on Earth. 5．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? A．How weathering created soil. B．The rise of flowering plants. C．The first animals on land. D．Seeding the future. 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．B 4．C 5．D 【导语】本文主要讲述了地球上植物从海洋中的藻类逐步演化到陆地植物，再到种子植物和开花植物的漫长历程，以及植物进化如何改变了大气、形成了土壤并为陆地动物的发展创造了条件。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段“Using sunlight, water and CO₂, algae make sugars as well as oxygen through photosynthesis. At first, Earth's atmosphere had little oxygen, but algae, along with some bacteria, changed that over millions of years. (藻类利用阳光、水和二氧化碳通过光合作用制造糖和氧气。起初，地球大气层中几乎没有氧气，但藻类和一些细菌在数百万年间改变了这一点。)”可知，藻类通过光合作用帮助增加了大气中的氧气含量。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“These included stronger cell walls, which enabled plants to stand upright against gravity. (这些新特征包括更坚固的细胞壁，使植物能够抵抗重力直立生长。)”可知，早期陆地植物能够直立是因为它们发展出了更坚固的细胞壁。 3．主旨大意题。根据第四段“Besides adding oxygen to the air, they used their roots to break down rocks into soil. This process, called weathering, created richer soil that could support more life. The plants also provided homes and food sources for animals moving from oceans onto land. (除了向空气中补充氧气外，它们还利用根系将岩石分解为土壤。这一被称为风化的过程形成了更肥沃的土壤，从而能够支持更多的生命生长。这些植物也为从海洋迁徙至陆地的动物提供了栖息地和食物来源。)”可知，本段主要讲述了早期陆地植物产生的多方面影响，包括增加氧气、形成土壤、为动物提供栖息地和食物等。 4．推理判断题。根据第六段“Another big leap happened around 380 million years ago with the development of seeds. This meant plants could reproduce without needing water for fertilization. (大约3.8亿年前，随着种子的发展，又发生了一次重大飞跃。这意味着植物可以在不需要水来受精的情况下繁殖。)”可知，种子出现后，植物可以不依赖水进行繁殖。 5．主旨大意题。通读全文可知，文章讲述了植物从藻类到开花植物的漫长进化历程，以及植物如何改变地球、为未来生命奠定基础。D项“Seeding the future”既指种子的出现，又暗含“为未来播下种子”之意，最能概括全文主旨，适合作标题。 议论文 Passage 1 The social media platform Instagram once made headlines for limiting likes in an effort to reduce the comparisons and hurt feelings resulting from attaching popularity to sharing content. But do these efforts resolve mental health issues, or are they simply applying a band-aid to a wound? It’s a small step in the right direction, says Jacqueline Sperling, a psychologist who works with youth who experience anxiety disorders. “Even if you remove the likes, there continue to be opportunities for comparisons and feedback. People still can compare themselves to others, and people still can post comments.” Social platforms are designed to be addictive and are related to anxiety, depression, and even physical ailments (病痛).This puts a large amount of the population at an increased risk of feeling anxious, depressed, or ill over their social media use. But what makes users come back for more even when it can literally make them feel sick? “When the outcome is unpredictable, the behavior is more likely to repeat. Think of a slot machine (老虎机): if game players knew they were never going to get money by playing the game, then they never would play,” says Sperling. “The idea of a potential future reward keeps the machines in use. The same goes for social media sites. One does not know how many likes a picture will get, who will like the picture, and when the picture will receive likes. The unknown outcome and the possibility of a desired outcome can keep users engaged with the sites.” FOMO — fear of missing out — also impacts the youth greatly. Teenagers hope to keep track of friends’ activities. If everyone else is using social media sites, and if you don’t join in, there’s concern that you’ll miss chats, jokes, connections, or invitations. Missing experiences can create anxiety and depression. When people look online and see they’re excluded from an activity, it can affect thoughts and feelings, and can affect them physically. In addition to limiting likes, as Instagram has done, Sperling suggests social platforms consider decreasing mass sharing. They might function more as messaging services by highlighting one-on-one communications. Regardless of how likely social media giants are to change their ways, though, individuals can take control of their own behavior. 1．What does Sperling think of Instagram’s measure? A．It’s strict. B．It’s limited. C．It’s objective. D．It’s conservative. 2．What is probably the major reason for social media addiction? A．Need for self-expression. B．Desire for constant recognition. C．Expectation of possible surprises. D．Lack of interest in real-life activities. 3．What does Sperling advise social platforms to do in the last paragraph? A．Restrict their service scales. B．Decrease one-on-one interactions C．Limit the time users spend on them. D．Shift the focus from sharing to messaging. 4．What might the author continue talking about? A．Redesign of social media platforms. B．Changes made by social media giants. C．Strategies for individuals’ self-control. D．Impact of social media on mental health. 5．What is the main idea of the passage? A．To criticize Instagram’s ineffective measure of hiding likes. B．To analyze the causes of social media addiction and propose solutions. C．To explain how FOMO affects teenagers’ mental health. D．To prove that social media is harmful to people’s physical health. 【答案】1．B 2．C 3．D 4．C 5．B 【导语】文章主要讨论了社交媒体平台通过限制点赞功能试图缓解心理健康问题，但心理学家指出这种做法效果有限，并分析了社交媒体成瘾的原因，提出了平台改进方向及个人应对策略。 1．推理判断题。根据文章第二段内容“It’s a small step in the right direction, says Jacqueline Sperling, a psychologist who works with youth who experience anxiety disorders. “Even if you remove the likes, there continue to be opportunities for comparisons and feedback. People still can compare themselves to others, and people still can post comments.” (心理学家杰奎琳·斯珀林表示，这只是朝着正确方向迈出的一小步。“即使你取消了点赞，比较和反馈的机会依然存在。人们仍然可以把自己和别人比较，也仍然可以发表评论。”)”可知，她这为这一措施有一定积极意义，但作用有限。 2．细节理解题。根据文章第四段第一句“When the outcome is unpredictable, the behavior is more likely to repeat. (当结果不可预测时，行为更容易重复。)”以及最后两句“One does not know how many likes a picture will get, who will like the picture, and when the picture will receive likes. The unknown outcome and the possibility of a desired outcome can keep users engaged with the sites. (人们不知道一张图片会收到多少点赞、谁会喜欢它、它何时会得到点赞。未知的结果和期待的结果出现的可能性会让用户沉迷于这些网站。)”可知，社交媒体成瘾的主要原因是用户对可能的意外惊喜，如点赞数量、点赞者、点赞时间等抱有期待。 3．细节理解题。根据文章最后一段前两句“In addition to limiting likes, as Instagram has done, Sperling suggests social platforms consider decreasing mass sharing. They might function more as messaging services by highlighting one-on-one communications. (除了像Instagram那样限制点赞之外，斯珀林还建议社交平台考虑减少大规模分享。通过强调一对一的交流，它们或许可以更像通讯服务那样运作。)”可知，她建议社交平台将重点从分享转向通讯功能。 4．推理判断题。根据文章最后一段最后一句“Regardless of how likely social media giants are to change their ways, though, individuals can take control of their own behavior. (然而，不论社交媒体巨头们改变其方式的可能性有多大，个人都可以控制自己的行为。)”可知，作者在段落结尾将话题转向了个人可以主动控制自己的行为，因此接下来很可能继续讨论个人如何进行自我控制的具体策略。 5．主旨大意题。通读全文可知，第一段通过Instagram限制点赞的措施引出话题，第二段指出该措施效果有限，第三段分析社交媒体对健康的负面影响，第四段分析成瘾原因，第五段分析FOMO的影响，最后一段提出平台改进建议和个人应对策略。综合全文，文章主要在分析社交媒体成瘾的原因，并提出相应的解决方案。 Passage 2 In an increasingly individualistic world, the act of giving — whether time, resources, or skills — serves as a powerful antidote to societal isolation. Engaging in charity activities fosters deeper human connections, enhances interpersonal relationships, and profoundly influences individuals’ mental and emotional well-being. This essay explores the multifaceted benefits of altruism (利他主义), emphasizing its role in nurturing community bonds and promoting individual fulfillment. At the core of voluntary engagement lies the natural human desire for connection. Participating in community service or charitable initiatives cultivates a sense of belonging, linking individuals with like-minded peers who share similar values and commitments. These shared experiences often lead to the formation of lasting friendships and networks, as individuals unite under a common purpose. For instance, volunteering at a local shelter not only addresses immediate community needs but also offers participants an opportunity to connect on a personal level, thus reinforcing social ties that might otherwise remain superficial. Moreover, altruism has been shown to contribute significantly to an individual’s mental health. Engaging in acts of kindness triggers the release of endorphins (内啡肽), the so-called “helper’s high,” which can enhance mood and promote feelings of happiness. Research by the Journal of Happiness Studies indicates that individuals who engage in regular volunteer work experience lower rates of depression and anxiety, leading to an overall improvement in life satisfaction. This psychological uplift extends beyond the individual, as happy people are more likely to engage positively in their communities, creating a positive cycle of altruism and well-being. Furthermore, acts of kindness cultivate empathy and inner strength, attributes essential for enduring human relationships. By actively engaging with diverse communities and understanding the struggles faced by others, individuals reinforce their capacity for compassion. This deepened empathy not only enhances interpersonal dynamics but also fosters a more inclusive and understanding society. Additionally, the experiences drawn from voluntary activity often encourage reflection and personal growth, helping individuals develop coping mechanisms and emotional perseverance. In conclusion, the benefits of goodwill extend far beyond the immediate impact of charitable acts. By fostering interpersonal connections and enhancing emotional well-being, acts of giving play a crucial role in building stronger, more resilient communities. In a world increasingly characterized by isolation and detachment, the embrace of altruism presents a powerful solution to reinvigorate (使…焕新) human connections and improve individual mental health. The cultivation of a giving spirit enriches not only the lives of those we help but also our own, creating a more compassionate and harmonious society. By choosing to engage in giving, we can transform not only our lives but also the fabric of our communities. 1．What does the word “antidote” most probably mean in Paragraph 1? A．An effective solution. B．A harmful result. C．A social trend. D．A mental disease. 2．According to the passage, which is an immediate and direct result of engaging in acts of kindness? A．The release of endorphins that improve mood. B．The significant improvement of social fairness. C．The building of lasting friendships and social networks. D．The cultivation of empathy and emotional resilience. 3．What is the main idea of the essay? A．Individualism is the root cause of societal problems. B．Altruism is the only solution to mental health issues. C．Giving behavior benefit individuals and communities in many ways. D．Modern society is becoming more and more individualistic and isolated. 4．How is the passage mainly organized? A．By presenting a problem and then offering several solutions. B．By stating a claim and supporting it with three arguments. C．By comparing different views on the value of acts of kindness. D．By listing historical examples to explain altruistic behavior. 5．Based on the essay, what can be inferred from the passage? A．People without extra money are not able to participate in charity effectively. B．Social isolation in modern society is mainly caused by lack of charity. C．Being kind would have significant impact on health. D．Being kind can remove depression and anxiety. 【答案】1．A 2．A 3．C 4．B 5．C 【导语】文章主要讲述了利他主义行为在多个方面对个人和社区的益处。 1．词句猜测题。根据第一段中“In an increasingly individualistic world, the act of giving — whether time, resources, or skills — serves as a powerful antidote to societal isolation.(在一个日益个人主义的世界里，给予的行为——无论是时间、资源还是技能——都是对抗社会孤立的antidote。)”可知，在日益个人主义的世界里，给予的行为是对抗社会孤立的有力解药，由此可推测出antidote意为“有效的解决办法”。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段中“Engaging in acts of kindness triggers the release of endorphins (内啡肽), the so-called “helper’s high,” which can enhance mood and promote feelings of happiness.(行善会触发内啡肽的释放，即所谓的“助人高潮”，这可以改善情绪，促进幸福感。)”可知，行善会触发内啡肽的释放，从而改善情绪，这是行善的直接和即时结果。 3．主旨大意题。通读全文，尤其是根据第一段中“This essay explores the multifaceted benefits of altruism (利他主义), emphasizing its role in nurturing community bonds and promoting individual fulfillment.(本文探讨了利他主义的多方面益处，强调了其在培养社区纽带和促进个人成就感方面的作用。)”可知，本文主要讲述了利他主义行为在多个方面对个人和社区的益处。 4．推理判断题。根据第一段中“This essay explores the multifaceted benefits of altruism (利他主义), emphasizing its role in nurturing community bonds and promoting individual fulfillment.(本文探讨了利他主义的多方面益处，强调了其在培养社区纽带和促进个人成就感方面的作用。)”以及第二段的首句“At the core of voluntary engagement lies the natural human desire for connection.(自愿参与的核心是人类对联系的自然渴望。)”、第三段的首句“Moreover, altruism has been shown to contribute significantly to an individual’s mental health.(此外，利他主义已被证明对个人的心理健康有显著贡献。)”、“Furthermore, acts of kindness cultivate empathy and inner strength, attributes essential for enduring human relationships.(此外，善举培养同理心和内在力量，这是维持人际关系所必需的特质。)”可知，文章先提出一个论点，即利他主义在培养社区纽带和促进个人成就感方面起着重要作用，然后用三个论据来支持这一论点，分别是自愿参与的核心是人类对联系的自然渴望、利他主义对个人的心理健康有显著贡献、善举培养同理心和内在力量。 5．推理判断题。根据第三段中“Engaging in acts of kindness triggers the release of endorphins (内啡肽), the so-called “helper’s high,” which can enhance mood and promote feelings of happiness. Research by the Journal of Happiness Studies indicates that individuals who engage in regular volunteer work experience lower rates of depression and anxiety, leading to an overall improvement in life satisfaction.(行善会触发内啡肽的释放，即所谓的“助人高潮”，这可以改善情绪，促进幸福感。《幸福研究杂志》的研究表明，经常参加志愿工作的人患抑郁症和焦虑症的几率较低，从而全面提高了生活满意度。)”可知，行善可以触发内啡肽的释放，改善情绪，促进幸福感，经常参加志愿工作的人患抑郁症和焦虑症的几率较低，由此可推测出，善良对健康有显著影响。 Passage 3 Today it’d be totally understandable if you were fearing the new year and whatever might happen next, instead of feeling joyful and full of expectations. Yet a new year has a very special effect: It makes us feel like we have the chance to start over, to do things better this time, to make amend (修正), even to right all the wrongs in the world. So why does it take a new year to make us feel like this? No matter how hard we want to, there’s one thing we can never do and that’s changing the past. We can weep, beat our fists against the wall, eat bags of cookies to ease the feelings of guilt, but none of these will make the slightest bit of difference and certainly won’t make us feel any better. The past is gone, over, no more. Continuing to wish that our actions or words had been different means we’re really not here in the present, we’re living in what-could-have-been or what-might-have-been or if-only. And if the past is too painful or even too boring then we switch over to the future, that place of infinite (无限的) potential that we want to believe could be real, like wishful thinking or a daydream. We live in what-might-be or what-could-be. Of course we can learn from the past. Often the most painful experience turns out to be our best teacher: we can even feel gratitude for the experience as it taught us so much. And memories can be like comfortable old shoes we are unwilling to part with. We can certainly put them on now and then, but we don’t have to hang out there on a permanent basis. Instead we can change our attitude. Fully accepting that the past is irreversible (不可逆的) and the future doesn’t exist means we can actually be in the present moment. What a relief! Finally we can just be here and now. What an inspiration! Each day is sole. It has never happened before and it will never happen again. And we have no idea what will actually occur. What a great day just to be here now! The perfect day to let the past rest where it is and let the future take care of itself, to experience just this moment, to pay attention to the colors, sounds and smells; to pay attention to your feelings, and to other people’s feelings and to make this day, this week, this month, and this new year, one of beauty. 1．What’s the main idea of the passage? A．We should not always look back on the past. B．We should always look forward to the future. C．We should make a new year plan to make things different. D．We should live in and enjoy the present. 2．What can you know from the passage? A．The past can be changed. B．The future can be predicted. C．Weeping or eating cookies won’t make us feel less guilty. D．We are not supposed to recall the past painful experiences. 3．What can you infer from Paragraph 3? A．A wish can make the actions and words different. B．The future has more potential than the past. C．The past is more painful than the future. D．People tend to live in a fantastic world. 4．The situation of Paragraph 4 tells us ____. A．a fall into a pit, a gain in your wit B．a fox may grow gray, but never good C．a good beginning is half done D．a good beginning makes a good ending 5．What does the underlined word “sole” mean? A．Delighted. B．Unique. C．Worthwhile. D．Fantastic. 【答案】1．D 2．C 3．D 4．A 5．B 【导语】本文是一篇议论文。文章主要论述了人们应活在当下、享受并珍惜此刻的重要性。 1．主旨大意题。通读全文，尤其根据文章倒数第二段中“Fully accepting that the past is irreversible (不可逆的) and the future doesn’t exist means we can actually be in the present moment. (充分接受过去无法改变、未来尚未存在，我们才能真正活在当下。)”及最后一段“What a great day just to be here now! The perfect day to let the past rest where it is and let the future take care of itself, to experience just this moment, to pay attention to the colors, sounds and smells; to pay attention to your feelings, and to other people’s feelings and to make this day, this week, this month, and this new year, one of beauty. (此刻当下，多么美好的一天！在这美好的日子里，就让过往安于原处，让未来顺其自然，用心感受这一刻，留意身边的色彩、声音与气息，关照自己与他人的情绪，让这一天、这一周、这一月，乃至这新的一年，都充满美好。)”可知，文章主要告诉我们应该活在当下，享受当下。故选D。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段中“We can weep, beat our fists against the wall, eat bags of cookies to ease the feelings of guilt, but none of these will make the slightest bit of difference and certainly won’t make us feel any better. (我们可以哭泣，用拳头捶墙，吃一袋又一袋的饼干来减轻内疚感，但这些都不会有任何影响，当然也不会让我们感觉好一些。)”可知，哭泣或吃饼干不会让我们减轻内疚感。故选C。 3．推理判断题。根据第三段中“And if the past is too painful or even too boring then we switch over to the future, that place of infinite (无限的) potential that we want to believe could be real, like wishful thinking or a daydream. We live in what-might-be or what-could-be. (如果过去太过痛苦，甚至太过乏味，我们就会转向未来——那个我们愿意信以为真、充满无限可能的地方，就像一厢情愿的想法或是白日梦。我们活在“或许会怎样”“本该怎样”的空想里。)”可知，人们倾向于生活在一个幻想的世界中。故选D。 4．推理判断题。根据第四段中“Of course we can learn from the past. Often the most painful experience turns out to be our best teacher: we can even feel gratitude for the experience as it taught us so much. (当然，我们可以从过去中学习。通常，最痛苦的经历会成为我们最好的老师：我们甚至可以对这段经历心存感激，因为它教会了我们很多。)”可知，本段主要告诉我们可以从过去的痛苦经历中学习，即“吃一堑，长一智”。故选A。 5．词句猜测题。根据倒数第二段中“Each day is sole. It has never happened before and it will never happen again. (每一天都是sole。它以前从未发生过，以后也永远不会发生。)”可知，每一天都是独特的、前所未有的，因此“sole”在此处意为“独一无二的”，与unique同义。故选B。 Passage 4 Eat healthier. Exercise twice a week. Read more books. Lose weight. We make the same resolutions (决心) every year, but most of us fail, dying out (放弃) after only a few days or, at best, weeks. Even we most successful among us crash and burn when it comes to personal change. President-elect Barack Obama struggles to remove (戒掉) his cigarette habit. Professionals who help people make changes in their lives suggest the change is determined not by one’s surroundings, but one’s mind. Beginning with small goals or steps usually leads to a bigger payoff (付出) later, they say. But they caution (警告) that the experience is different for everyone. “People are more likely to make positive changes in their lives not only when their friends do, but when friends of their friends do, and when friends of their friends of friends do,” said Nicholas Christakis, a professor of medical sociology at Harvard University. “People are better able to make changes in their lives — lose weight, quit smoking, become happy — when they do this with a large number of other people, and so taking advantage of your social network ties can contribute to your own efforts.” Johnny Augustin understands that well. His resolution (决心) for 2021 was to reduce 30 pounds from his 237-pound frame. But the change didn’t come easily. He said, “I’m a procrastinator. I kept putting it off until tomorrow. I didn’t get to do it until the summer.” However, Augustin got inspired (受鼓舞的) when he saw his older brother working out. Today, Augustin weighs 190 pounds. “Of course, change can happen only if people don’t set their expectations (期望) too high or try to deal with too many changes at once; one of the biggest mistakes we make is setting unrealistic goals,” said Dalia Llera, a psychologist at Lesley University. “You can’t accomplish in a few weeks what you haven’t accomplished in a few years,” said Llera. 1．From the first paragraph we can infer that ______. A．change for a person is challenging B．famous people have great determination C．most people don’t want to change themselves D．personal change is beyond belief 2．It is known from Nicholas Christakis that ______. A．making a change is easier with support from a cheerful group of friends B．social networks have great effect on one’s change C．people who have the same attitude often get together D．people’s mood can contribute to their efforts 3．The word “procrastinator” in Paragraph 4 refers to those who ______. A．have great determination to make a change B．have no desire to do something great C．delay work especially because of laziness D．have habitual carelessness and laziness 4．According to the passage, Dalia Llera suggested that ______. A．people should understand their goals well B．people should try their best to change themselves C．people should have confidence and positive habits D．people should start with setting small goals to meet 5．The passage is mainly about ______. A．the reason why losing weight is so hard B．the effect of the positive change C．the attitudes towards change in life D．the ways of making a change 【答案】1．A 2．B 3．C 4．D 5．D 【导语】这是一篇议论文。日常生活中我们常常下决心，但是很难坚持下去，本文通过具体的事例和专家的分析说明应该怎样去做才能改变：利用社交网络，和很多人一起做，这能使自己的改变努力产生巨大的结果；起初设定小目标和小步伐才能最终通往最终的大目标。 1．推理判断题。根据第一段“Even we most successful among us crash and burn when it comes to personal change.(当涉及到个人的改变时，即使我们中最成功的人也会失败)”可以推断出，改变对一个人来说很难，故选A。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“People are better able to make ranges in their lives — lose weight, quit smoking, become happy — when they do this with a large number of other people, and so taking advantage of your social network ties can contribute to your own efforts.(当人们和很多人一起行动时，往往能更顺利地做出生活上的改变——比如减肥、戒烟、获得快乐等。因此，充分利用自己的社交网络关系能够助力个人的努力)”可知，当和很多人一起做时人们更容易改变，所以他建议利用社交网络能使自己的努力产生巨大的结果，故选B。 3．词句猜测题。根据第四段中“I kept putting it off until tomorrow. I didn’t get to do it until the summer.(我一直把它推迟到明天。我直到夏天才开始去做这件事)”可知，Johnny Augustin认为自己是个严重的拖延症者，故procrastinator一词指的是那些故意拖延工作的人，而他们之所以这样做，主要是因为懒惰。故选C。 4．细节理解题。根据最后一段““Of course, change can happen only if people don’t set their expectations (期望) too high or try to deal with too many changes at once; one of the biggest mistakes we make is setting unrealistic goals,” said Dalia Llera, a psychologist at Lesley University.(“当然，要想实现改变，就必须避免将期望设定得过高，也不要试图一次性应对太多的变化；我们所犯的最大错误之一就是设定不切实际的目标。”莱斯利大学的心理学家达莉亚·利拉说道)”可知，Dalia Llera建议人们不要设定不切实际的目标，要从小目标开始。故选D。 5．主旨大意题。根据第二段“Professionals who help people make changes in their lives suggest the change is determined not by one’s surroundings, but one’s mind. Beginning with small goals or steps usually leads to a bigger payoff (付出) later, they say. But they caution (警告) that the experience is different for everyone.(那些帮助人们改变生活的专业人士认为，改变并非由外部环境决定，而是由人的思想决定的。他们表示，从较小的目标或步骤开始往往能带来更大的回报。不过他们也提醒说，这种经历对每个人来说都是不同的)”以及全文内容可知，文章首先分析日常生活中我们常常下决心，但是这个决心很难坚持下去，由此引出“改变难”；然后通过具体的事例和专家的分析说明应该怎样去做才能改变，故本文主要分析如何改变，故选D。 Passage 5 In the U.S., yellow means slow down, get ready to stop. But in Denmark, yellow gives you a signal before stopping and going. The idea that you’re given a moment to get ready to move, not just to hit the brakes, stuck with us. Once we were back home, we started to notice how rarely we allow that in daily life. We prepare for endings constantly. We think through worst-case scenarios. We rehearse (排练) the breakup speech, the layoff call, and the backup plan. Yet, we rarely give ourselves space to prepare for beginnings. We do not practice coming back after burnout. We do not rehearse for the moment the proverbial light turns green, and we need to remember how to move forward again. Most of us know how to handle disappointment because we have been trained to plan for it. We buy insurance policies to protect ourselves from loss. We hold backup plans in our heads, always ready with a plan B or C if things fall apart. However, we do not always know how to prepare for the moments when things go well. We are often caught off guard when the new job comes through, when the project is finally finished, or when the idea we have been carrying quietly suddenly takes off. What we do not practice nearly as often is preparing for joy. The gap between preparing to stop and preparing to go reminds us of something in psychology called psychological flexibility. It’s really about the ability to shift and bend when life doesn’t go the way you thought it would. It’s noticing when the plan you had in your head no longer works and being willing to shift rather than cling to the map you drew months, or even minutes, ago. Accept that beginnings feel clumsy. For example, the first day in a new job rarely feels smooth. You are trying to remember names, find the coffee machine, and pretend you’re not lost on your way back from the bathroom. The first draft of anything worth writing usually looks like something you’d rather hide in a drawer. It’s what standing in the yellow light feels like, knowing the move is coming, feeling a little awkward, and still not sure if your foot is on the gas yet. However, life is not just about red lights that stop us or green lights that tell us to go, but the yellow in between matters too. It’s the space that lets us catch our breath, look around, and ready ourselves for whatever comes next. 1．What function does Paragraph 1 serve in the passage? A．To introduce the topic from a cultural difference. B．To present a research finding on traffic lights. C．To compare traffic rules in various countries. D．To warn readers of potential traffic problems. 2．What is the main idea of Paragraph 2? A．Breakups and layoffs are common in life. B．People spend too much time on backup plans. C．People lack preparation for new starts in life. D．Burnout often stops people from moving forward. 3．What is psychological flexibility? A．The ability to stick to original plans firmly. B．The ability to adjust when life goes off track. C．The ability to predict worst-case scenarios. D．The ability to handle disappointment well. 4．What reading strategy may help understand the metaphor of “yellow light” in the passage? A．Analyzing the author’s tone and writing purpose. B．Identifying key words in each paragraph. C．Comparing different cultural backgrounds. D．Connecting the literal meaning to the symbolic one. 5．Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A．The Value of Psychological Flexibility. B．Life’s “Yellow Light”: Space to Prepare. C．Different Meanings of the Traffic Lights. D．Prepare for Both Endings and Beginnings. 【答案】1．A 2．C 3．B 4．D 5．B 【导语】本文是一篇议论文。文章探讨了“黄灯”在人生中的隐喻意义——它是一个至关重要的过渡和准备阶段，呼吁人们不仅要善于为“结束”做准备，更要学会为“新的开始”创造心理准备空间，并培养适应变化的心理弹性。 1．推理判断题。根据第一段“In the U.S., yellow means slow down, get ready to stop. But in Denmark, yellow gives you a signal before stopping and going. The idea that you’re given a moment to get ready to move, not just to hit the brakes, stuck with us. (在美国，黄灯表示减速，准备停车。但在丹麦，黄灯是停车和通行前的信号。你有时间准备行动，而不仅仅是踩刹车，这种想法一直伴随着我们。)”可知，这里对比美国和丹麦对交通信号灯“黄灯”的不同理解，结合后文将讨论黄灯也是“准备启动”的过渡空间这一话题可知，该段的作用是通过一个文化差异来引出文章的主题。故选A项。 2．主旨大意题。根据第二段“We prepare for endings constantly. We think through worst-case scenarios. We rehearse (排练) the breakup speech, the layoff call, and the backup plan. Yet, we rarely give ourselves space to prepare for beginnings. We do not practice coming back after burnout. We do not rehearse for the moment the proverbial light turns green, and we need to remember how to move forward again. (我们不断为结局做准备。我们会考虑最坏的情况。我们排练分手谈话，解雇电话，以及备用计划。然而，我们很少给自己空间为开始做准备。我们不会练习在精疲力竭后复出。我们不为众所周知的绿灯亮起的那一刻进行排练，我们需要记住如何再次前进。)”可知，该段主要对比“为结束做准备”的普遍性与“为开始做准备”的稀缺性，表明人们缺乏为生活中的新开始做准备。故选C项。 3．细节理解题。根据第四段“The gap between preparing to stop and preparing to go reminds us of something in psychology called psychological flexibility. It’s really about the ability to shift and bend when life doesn’t go the way you thought it would. It’s noticing when the plan you had in your head no longer works and being willing to shift rather than cling to the map you drew months, or even minutes, ago. (准备停止和准备开始之间的差距让我们想起心理学上所谓的心理灵活性。它是关于当生活不像你想象的那样时改变和变通的能力。它是注意到你头脑中的计划何时不再有效，并愿意改变，而不是坚持几个月前，甚至几分钟前画的地图。)”可知，心理弹性指的是当生活偏离轨道时进行调整的能力。故选B项。 4．推理判断题。通读全文，尤其是第一段中“In the U.S., yellow means slow down, get ready to stop. But in Denmark, yellow gives you a signal before stopping and going. (在美国，黄灯表示减速，准备停车。但在丹麦，黄灯是停车和通行前的信号。)”和最后一段“However, life is not just about red lights that stop us or green lights that tell us to go, but the yellow in between matters too. It’s the space that lets us catch our breath, look around, and ready ourselves for whatever comes next. (然而，生活不仅仅是红灯让我们停下来，绿灯让我们前进，两者之间的黄灯也很重要。这是一个让我们喘口气、环顾四周、为接下来的事情做好准备的空间。)”可知，文章以交通信号灯中“黄灯”的字面含义为落脚点，逐步将其象征意义扩展到人生哲学层面，代表“为开始做准备的过渡空间”。由此可知，理解文中“黄灯”隐喻的阅读策略，是将它的字面含义与象征含义联系起来。故选D项。 5．主旨大意题。通读全文，尤其是最后一段“However, life is not just about red lights that stop us or green lights that tell us to go, but the yellow in between matters too. It’s the space that lets us catch our breath, look around, and ready ourselves for whatever comes next. (然而，生活不仅仅是红灯让我们停下来，绿灯让我们前进，两者之间的黄灯也很重要。这是一个让我们喘口气、环顾四周、为接下来的事情做好准备的空间。)”可知，文章围绕“黄灯”这一核心意象展开，探讨其在人生中的象征意义：一个允许我们“喘息、观察、为下一步做准备”的空间。因此，B项“生活的‘黄灯’：准备的空间”最契合文章主旨，适合作为文章标题。故选B项。 试卷第1页，共3页 试卷第1页，共3页 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $