内容正文:
英文刊物拓展阅读理解
(建议用时:45 min)
一、阅读理解
第一节 阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。
A
The town of Gorham, New Hampshire, sits at the base of the White Mountains. For years, its economy relied heavily on the paper mill that employed hundreds of local residents. When the mill closed in 2020, the town faced an uncertain future. But a surprising new industry has emerged: remote workers.
Gorham is not alone. Across the United States, small towns that were once dependent on a single industry are being revitalized by an influx of remote workers. A 2024 report from the Economic Innovation Group found that towns with populations between 10,000 and 50,000 have seen the fastest growth in remote work since 2020. These towns offer what many remote workers are seeking: affordable housing, outdoor recreation, and a slower pace of life.
“We never expected this,” said Sarah Thompson, a local real estate agent. “Two years ago, I was struggling to sell homes. Now I have more buyers than I can handle.” The average home price in Gorham has increased significantly since 2021. New cafes, co-working spaces, and restaurants have opened, catering to the growing population of young professionals.
However, the rapid growth has brought challenges. Housing affordability has become a concern for longtime residents. Property values have risen faster than local wages, pricing some families out of the market. Some locals worry that the town‘s character is changing—that the community they grew up in is becoming a commuter suburb for people who work for companies thousands of miles away.
“We are trying to find a balance,” said Mayor James O’Brien. “We welcome the newcomers, but we also want to preserve what makes Gorham special.” The town has introduced zoning regulations to encourage affordable housing development and is working with local businesses to ensure that new growth benefits everyone.
1.According to the passage, what new industry has emerged in Gorham, New Hampshire?
A. Paper manufacturing. B. Remote workers. C. Tourism. D. Real estate development.
2.According to paragraph 2, what do small towns offer to remote workers?
A. Higher salaries and better benefits.
B. Affordable housing, outdoor recreation, and a slower pace of life.
C. More job opportunities and career advancement.
D. Better internet connectivity and technology infrastructure.
3.The underlined word “influx” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. a large number of people arriving
B. a small number of people leaving
C. a sudden decrease in population
D. a steady flow of tourists
B
When I was nine years old, my grandfather took me to a small pond at the edge of our town. He handed me a fishing rod and said, “Watch.” He cast his line and waited. I shifted impatiently, kicking at the grass. “Be still,” he said. “The fish will not come to you if you cannot be still.”
I did not understand then. I was a child of the digital age, raised on screens and constant stimulation. Stillness felt like punishment. But I sat down anyway, and I waited.
The first fish came after twenty minutes—a small sunfish that I proudly held up for my grandfather to see. He smiled, nodded, and returned his gaze to the water. “One is enough,” he said. “You do not need to catch them all.”
I remember that day more clearly than almost any other moment from my childhood. It was not the fish that mattered—it was the waiting. In those twenty minutes, I had done nothing. I had simply sat and watched the water. I had noticed the way the light danced on the surface, the sound of the wind in the reeds, the quiet hum of the world around me.
Now, as an adult, I often find myself thinking about that day. I live in a city where every moment is filled with noise and urgency. I carry a device in my pocket that demands my attention every few minutes. And I have learned, slowly, that my grandfather was not teaching me about fishing. He was teaching me about a kind of attention that the digital world has nearly destroyed—the ability to be still, to wait, and to notice.
4.What was the author‘s initial reaction to his grandfather’s request to be still?
A. He was excited and eager.
B. He was impatient and restless.
C. He was confused and scared.
D. He was angry and refused.
5.According to the passage, what did the author catch during the fishing trip?
A. A large bass. B. A sunfish. C. A trout. D. Nothing.
6.The underlined phrase “the quiet hum of the world” in paragraph 4 suggests that ______.
A. the world is always loud and chaotic
B. the author heard the sounds of nature around him
C. the pond was completely silent
D. the author was bored and wanted to leave
7.What is the main message of this passage?
A. Fishing is the best way to relax.
B. The digital world has destroyed our ability to be still.
C. Learning to be still and observe is a valuable skill.
D. Grandparents always give the best advice.
C
In the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean, a new threat to marine ecosystems has emerged: plastic pollution is reaching the ocean floor at alarming rates. A 2024 study published in Science found that microplastics have now been detected in sediments at the bottom of the Mariana Trench—the deepest point on Earth—at concentrations far higher than those found in surface waters.
The study analyzed sediment samples from six locations across the trench, collected by deep-sea submersibles. The researchers found plastic particles in every sample, with the highest concentrations near urban areas. The most common types of plastic found were polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon, all of which are widely used in packaging, textiles, and fishing gear.
“The deep ocean was once thought to be isolated from human activity,” said Dr. Lisa Chen, lead author of the study. “But we now know that plastic pollution is reaching even the most remote places on Earth.” The study found that microplastics are not only present in sediments but are also being ingested by deep-sea organisms, including amphipods and sea cucumbers.
The implications for the marine food web are concerning. Microplastics can absorb toxic chemicals from the surrounding water and release them when ingested, potentially affecting organisms at all levels of the food chain. A 2023 study found that deep-sea organisms that ingested microplastics showed signs of inflammation and reduced reproductive success.
“The deep ocean is not a dumping ground,” said Dr. Chen. “What we do on the surface does not stay on the surface—it travels all the way down to the ocean floor. We need to address plastic pollution at its source.”
8.According to the passage, what did the 2024 study reveal about microplastics in the Mariana Trench?
A. They were only found in surface waters.
B. They were detected in sediments at the ocean floor.
C. They were not present in any of the samples.
D. They were only found near urban areas.
9.According to paragraph 2, where were the highest concentrations of plastic found?
A. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
B. Near urban areas.
C. In the deepest part of the trench.
D. Near the ocean surface.
10.The underlined word “ingested” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. absorbing B. swallowing C. avoiding D. rejecting
11.What is Dr. Chen‘s main message in the last paragraph?
A. The deep ocean is too deep to be affected by pollution.
B. Plastic pollution must be addressed at its source.
C. Marine organisms can adapt to plastic pollution.
D. Deep-sea exploration should be stopped.
D
The phrase “decision fatigue” describes the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual after a long session of decision-making. A 2024 study from the University of Cambridge found that professionals who made a high number of decisions each day were significantly more likely to make poor judgments later in the day than those who made fewer decisions.
The phenomenon is well-documented in fields where decision-making is constant. Judges, for example, have been shown to give more lenient sentences in the morning and harsher ones as the day progresses. A 2023 study of parole decisions found that prisoners who appeared early in the morning were significantly more likely to be granted parole than those who appeared later. The researchers attributed this to decision fatigue: as judges made more decisions throughout the day, their ability to weigh complex factors diminished.
“Decision fatigue is not about being lazy,” said Dr. Simon Brown, author of the study. “It is a cognitive reality. Each decision we make depletes a finite pool of mental energy.” The researchers found that decision fatigue could be mitigated by several strategies: reducing the number of decisions one makes in a day, automating routine choices, and taking frequent breaks to restore cognitive resources.
The implications of decision fatigue extend beyond the courtroom. In healthcare, doctors who make diagnostic decisions late in their shifts are more likely to make errors. In business, executives who make important decisions after long meetings are more likely to accept suboptimal outcomes. The researchers recommend that organizations restructure decision-making processes to reduce cognitive load on those making critical judgments.
“We need to design systems that protect decision-makers from fatigue,” said Dr. Brown. “This is not just about productivity—it is about the quality of decisions that affect people‘s lives.”
12.According to the passage, what does the term “decision fatigue” describe?
A. The physical tiredness after making decisions.
B. The deteriorating quality of decisions after a long session of decision-making.
C. The inability to make any decisions at all.
D. The preference for making decisions in the morning.
13.According to paragraph 2, how did judges’ decisions change as the day progressed?
A. They became more lenient in the afternoon.
B. They became harsher in the afternoon.
C. They remained consistent throughout the day.
D. They were more careful in the afternoon.
14.The underlined word “mitigated” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. reduced B. ignored C. worsened D. observed
15.What is the best title for this passage?
A. The History of Legal Decision-Making
B. How to Avoid Making Decisions
C. Decision Fatigue and Its Consequences
D. The Role of Judges in the Justice System
第二节 根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
E
A new study from Stanford University suggests that taking regular short breaks throughout the workday can significantly improve both productivity and well-being. The research, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, tracked 500 office workers over six months, measuring their work patterns and psychological state.
(16) ______ They found that those who took short breaks every 60 to 90 minutes reported higher levels of concentration, more creativity, and greater job satisfaction than those who worked for longer periods without breaks. The benefits were most pronounced for breaks that involved moving away from the desk. (17) ______
“The human brain is not designed for sustained attention over long periods,” said Dr. Jessica Lee, lead author of the study. (18) ______ Taking breaks allows the brain to reset and recharge.” The study found that even five-minute breaks—stepping outside, stretching, or making a cup of tea—could produce measurable improvements.
The researchers also found that the timing of breaks matters. (19) ______ The study recommends taking breaks proactively, before fatigue sets in, rather than waiting until you are exhausted.
The implications for workplace design are significant. (20) ______ Employers can also encourage employees to take breaks by providing comfortable break areas and promoting a culture that values well-being over constant productivity.
选项(A-G):
A. A walk in the fresh air proved particularly effective.
B. This is why it is important to integrate breaks into the workday.
C. Companies should design offices with dedicated break spaces.
D. Breaks taken after completing a task were more effective than those taken mid-task.
E. Taking breaks is a sign of laziness.
F. The researchers analyzed the breaks participants took during the day.
G. Workers who took no breaks reported the highest productivity.
二、参考答案与解析
阅读理解 A篇
文章大意: 本文是一篇说明文,介绍了美国新罕布什尔州Gorham小镇因远程工作者的涌入而经济复兴的现象——造纸厂关闭后,远程工作者带来了新的活力,但也带来了房价上涨等挑战。
1. 答案:B
题干句意: 根据文章,新罕布什尔州Gorham镇出现了什么新产业?
答题思路: 审题定位“new industry”,快速扫读与Gorham相关的信息。
原文定位: 第一段“When the mill closed in 2020... But a surprising new industry has emerged: remote workers.”
选项对比: A项“造纸业”——文中说的是“closed”,是已经消失的产业,不是“emerged”;B项“远程工作者”——与原文“remote workers”完全一致;C项“旅游业”——全文未提及;D项“房地产开发”——是远程工作者涌入的结果而非新的产业。
2. 答案:B
题干句意: 根据第二段,小镇为远程工作者提供了什么?
答题思路: 审题定位“small towns offer”,定位到第二段。
原文定位: 第二段“These towns offer what many remote workers are seeking: affordable housing, outdoor recreation, and a slower pace of life.”
选项对比: A项“更高工资和更好福利”——文中未提及;B项“可负担住房、户外休闲和更慢的生活节奏”——与原文完全一致;C项“更多工作机会和职业发展”——远程工作者的工作不在本地,不成立;D项“更好的网络和技术基础设施”——文中未提及。
3. 答案:A
题干句意: 第二段中画线单词“influx”的含义最接近______。
答题思路: 词义猜测看上下文。
原文定位: 前文“small towns... are being revitalized by an influx of remote workers”,后文“I have more buyers than I can handle”,说明有大量人涌入。
选项对比: A项“大量人员到达”——符合“涌入”的含义;B项“少量人员离开”——与“revitalized”和“more buyers”矛盾;C项“人口减少”——与“revitalized”矛盾;D项“游客稳定流入”——文中是远程工作者,不是游客。
阅读理解 B篇
文章大意: 本文是一篇记叙文,作者回忆九岁时祖父带他去钓鱼,在等待中学会了静止和观察的能力,现在在快节奏的数字生活中,他意识到祖父教他的是一种宝贵的注意力方式。
4. 答案:B
题干句意: 作者对祖父要求他静止的最初反应是什么?
答题思路: 定位到作者第一次面对“be still”要求时的心理描写。
原文定位: 第二段“I shifted impatiently, kicking at the grass... Stillness felt like punishment.”
选项对比: A项“兴奋和渴望”——与“impatiently”相反;B项“不耐烦和焦躁”——与“impatiently”“felt like punishment”完全一致;C项“困惑和害怕”——文中无“害怕”的表达;D项“生气和拒绝”——文中无“拒绝”的表达,他不情愿但照做了。
5. 答案:B
题干句意: 根据文章,作者在钓鱼时捕获了什么?
答题思路: 定位到钓鱼具体经过。
原文定位: 第三段“The first fish came after twenty minutes—a small sunfish”
选项对比: A项“一条大鲈鱼”——文中未提及;B项“一条翻车鱼”——与“sunfish”一致;C项“一条鳟鱼”——文中未提及;D项“什么也没有”——与“first fish came”矛盾。
6. 答案:B
题干句意: 第四段中画线短语“the quiet hum of the world”暗示______。
答题思路: 定位原文,理解作者在静止中的体验。
原文定位: 第四段“I had simply sat and watched the water. I had noticed the way the light danced on the surface, the sound of the wind in the reeds, the quiet hum of the world around me.”
选项对比: A项“世界总是喧闹”——与“quiet”相反;B项“作者听到了周围的自然声音”——与语境吻合;C项“池塘完全安静”——与“hum”矛盾;D项“作者感到无聊”——与“quiet hum”的欣赏态度不符。
7. 答案:C
题干句意: 这篇文章的主要信息是什么?
答题思路: 主旨判断看全文最后一段是否有总结。
原文定位: 最后一段“And I have learned, slowly, that my grandfather was not teaching me about fishing. He was teaching me about a kind of attention... the ability to be still, to wait, and to notice.”
选项对比: A项“钓鱼是最好的放松方式”——太具体,不是全文主旨;B项“数字世界摧毁了我们静止的能力”——是背景,不是主旨;C项“学习静止和观察是有价值的技能”——与最后一段完全一致;D项“祖父母总是给出最好的建议”——过于绝对。
阅读理解 C篇
文章大意: 本文是一篇说明文,介绍了微塑料污染已到达马里亚纳海沟深处,深海沉积物中微塑料浓度远高于表层水,深海生物正在摄入微塑料。
8. 答案:B
题干句意: 根据文章,2024年的研究揭示了关于马里亚纳海沟微塑料的什么信息?
答题思路: 审题定位研究发现的微塑料分布情况。
原文定位: 第一段“microplastics have now been detected in sediments at the bottom of the Mariana Trench”
选项对比: A项“仅在表层水中发现”——与“sediments at the bottom”矛盾;B项“在海沟底部的沉积物中被检测到”——与原文完全一致;C项“在任何样本中都不存在”——与“detected”矛盾;D项“仅在靠近城市区域发现”——是浓度分布描述,不是微塑料存在情况。
9. 答案:B
题干句意: 根据第二段,塑料浓度最高的地方在哪里?
答题思路: 定位到第二段关于浓度分布的描述。
原文定位: 第二段“with the highest concentrations near urban areas”
选项对比: A项“太平洋中部”——文中未提及;B项“靠近城市区域”——与原文一致;C项“海沟最深处”——文中未提及是浓度最高处;D项“靠近海洋表面”——与“sediments at the bottom”矛盾。
10. 答案:B
题干句意: 第三段中画线单词“ingesting”的含义最接近______。
答题思路: 词义猜测看上下文。
原文定位: “being ingested by deep-sea organisms”,前文提到微塑料存在于沉积物中,生物接触微塑料的方式是“吃进去”。
选项对比: A项“吸收”——不够准确,吸收指通过皮肤或细胞膜;B项“吞食”——符合生物通过摄食摄入微塑料的含义;C项“避免”——与“being ingested”相反;D项“拒绝”——与文意相反。
11. 答案:B
题干句意: 陈博士在最后一段的主要信息是什么?
答题思路: 定位最后一段专家观点。
原文定位: 最后一段“We need to address plastic pollution at its source.”
选项对比: A项“深海太深不受污染”——与全文主旨相反;B项“塑料污染必须从源头解决”——与原文一致;C项“海洋生物能适应塑料污染”——文中提到的是负面影响;D项“深海探索应停止”——未提及。
阅读理解 D篇
文章大意: 本文是一篇议论文/说明文,介绍了“决策疲劳”现象——在长时间决策后决策质量下降,法官在一天中后期量刑更严厉。
12. 答案:B
题干句意: 根据文章,“decision fatigue”描述了什么?
答题思路: 定位到第一段定义。
原文定位: 第一段“describes the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual after a long session of decision-making”
选项对比: A项“决策后的身体疲劳”——文中说的是心理/认知层面的“decision quality”;B项“长时间决策后决策质量下降”——与原文完全一致;C项“完全无法做出决策”——过于极端;D项“偏好早上做决策”——是法官的案例,不是定义。
13. 答案:B
题干句意: 根据第二段,法官的决策在一天中如何变化?
答题思路: 定位到第二段关于法官的案例。
原文定位: 第二段“judges... gave more lenient sentences in the morning and harsher ones as the day progressed”
选项对比: A项“下午更宽松”——与“harsher”相反;B项“下午更严厉”——与“harsher”完全一致;C项“全天保持一致”——与“progressed”变化矛盾;D项“下午更仔细”——与“fatigue”导致的决策质量下降不符。
14. 答案:A
题干句意: 第三段中画线单词“mitigated”的含义最接近______。
答题思路: 词义猜测看上下文。
原文定位: “decision fatigue could be mitigated by several strategies: reducing the number of decisions... taking frequent breaks”,这些策略是在“减少”或“缓解”决策疲劳。
选项对比: A项“减少、缓解”——与语境吻合;B项“忽视”——策略不是忽视问题;C项“恶化”——与策略目的相反;D项“观察”——文中不是观察,而是采取措施。
15. 答案:C
题干句意: 这篇文章的最佳标题是什么?
答题思路: 主旨判断看全文围绕的核心概念。
原文定位: 全文围绕“decision fatigue”这一核心概念展开,包括定义、案例(法官)、缓解方法。
选项对比: A项“法律决策史”——只覆盖法官案例,不全面;B项“如何避免做决策”——文中不是避免,是缓解疲劳;C项“决策疲劳及其后果”——涵盖定义、案例、后果、缓解方法,最全面;D项“法官在司法系统中的作用”——只覆盖一个案例。
阅读理解 E篇(七选五)
文章大意: 本文是一篇说明文,介绍了斯坦福大学的研究——定期短休息可以提高工作效率和幸福感,每60-90分钟休息一次效果最佳,企业应设计支持员工休息的工作环境。
选项总览:
A. 在新鲜空气中散步尤其有效
B. 这就是为什么将休息融入工作日很重要
C. 公司应设计有专门休息空间的办公室
D. 完成任务后休息比任务中途休息更有效
E. 休息是懒惰的表现(多余项)
F. 研究人员分析了参与者一天中的休息情况
G. 不休息的工人报告最高生产力(多余项)
整体逻辑链: 研究背景 → 研究发现 → 最佳休息方式 → 专家解释 → 休息时机 → 实践启示
16. 答案:F
答题思路: 前文介绍研究设计(tracked 500 office workers... measuring their work patterns),后文给出研究发现(They found that...)。第16空需要填补从“研究设计”到“研究发现”之间的逻辑断层——分析休息情况。F项“The researchers analyzed the breaks participants took during the day.”恰好承接前文“测量”的方法,引出后文“发现”的结果。E项“休息是懒惰的表现”与全文主旨相反;G项“不休息的工人报告最高生产力”与研究结论矛盾。
17. 答案:A
答题思路: 前句指出“离开办公桌的休息效果最好”,但未说明何种离开方式最优。A项“在新鲜空气中散步尤其有效”具体化了“最佳休息方式”,与后文“即使是5分钟休息也能产生明显的改善”形成“最佳方式→一般方式”的递进关系。
18. 答案:B
答题思路: 前文引用专家话说明大脑不适合持续注意力,后文说明休息的作用。B项“这就是为什么将休息融入工作日很重要”起到承上启下的作用——“这就是”(指代大脑不适合持续注意力)连接前文,“为什么将休息融入工作日重要”引出后文对休息作用的解释。
19. 答案:D
答题思路: 前句提出“时机很重要”这一观点,后句给出“主动休息”的总结性建议。D项“完成任务后休息比任务中途休息更有效”是对“时机”的具体研究发现——先明确“哪种时机更有效”,再给出“如何利用这一发现”的建议(主动休息)。
20. 答案:C
答题思路: 前句提出“对工作场所设计有影响”这一观点,后句给出雇主的行动建议。C项“公司应设计有专门休息空间的办公室”与“workplace design”直接对应,与后文“providing comfortable break areas”并列,构成“设计层面→文化层面”的完整建议。
多余选项验证:
E“休息是懒惰的表现”——与全文“休息能提高生产力”的基调完全相反。
G“不休息的工人报告最高生产力”——与“those who took breaks reported higher productivity”直接矛盾。
三、长难句分析
1. 原句:
“The study analyzed sediment samples from six locations across the trench, collected by deep-sea submersibles, and found that microplastics have now been detected in sediments at the bottom of the Mariana Trench—the deepest point on Earth—at concentrations far higher than those found in surface waters, suggesting that plastic pollution has reached even the most remote and inaccessible parts of the planet.”
翻译: 该研究分析了从海沟六个地点采集、由深海潜水器收集的沉积物样本,并发现微塑料现在已在马里亚纳海沟——地球最深处——底部的沉积物中被检测到,浓度远高于表层水中发现的浓度,这表明塑料污染已到达地球上最偏远、最难以到达的地方。
句子结构分析:
本句为复合句,包含宾语从句、定语从句和现在分词短语作结果状语。
主句:The study(主语)analyzed(谓语1)sediment samples from six locations across the trench(宾语1)and found(谓语2)
过去分词短语作定语:collected by deep-sea submersibles(修饰samples)
宾语从句:that microplastics have now been detected in sediments at the bottom of the Mariana Trench—the deepest point on Earth—at concentrations far higher than those found in surface waters(作found的宾语)
比较结构:far higher than those found in surface waters
现在分词短语作结果状语:, suggesting that plastic pollution has reached even the most remote and inaccessible parts of the planet(suggesting的逻辑主语为前面整句内容)
2. 原句:
“A 2024 study from the University of Cambridge found that professionals who made a high number of decisions each day were significantly more likely to make poor judgments later in the day than those who made fewer decisions, and that this effect persisted even after accounting for factors such as fatigue, time of day, and the complexity of the decisions being made.”
翻译: 剑桥大学2024年的一项研究发现,每天做出大量决策的专业人士在当天晚些时候做出错误判断的可能性显著高于做出较少决策的人,并且即使在考虑了疲劳、一天中的时间和所做决策的复杂性等因素后,这种效应仍然持续存在。
句子结构分析:
本句为复合句,包含两个并列的宾语从句。
主句:A 2024 study from the University of Cambridge(主语)found(谓语)
第一个宾语从句:that professionals who made a high number of decisions each day were significantly more likely to make poor judgments later in the day than those who made fewer decisions(作found的宾语)
定语从句1:who made a high number of decisions each day(修饰professionals)
定语从句2:who made fewer decisions(修饰those)
第二个宾语从句:and that this effect persisted even after accounting for factors such as fatigue, time of day, and the complexity of the decisions being made(与第一个宾语从句并列)
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