专题02 阅读理解（说明文）（期中真题汇编，北京专用）高三英语上学期

函学科网 www.zxxk.com 让教与学更高效 专题02阅读理解（说明文） 基础必练 主题语境01人与社会-科学与技术 Passage 1 【答案】1.A2.B3.B Passage 2 【答案】1.B2.A3.D Passage 3 【答案】1.C2.C3.A 主题语境02人与自我-做人与做事 Passage 1 【答案】1.B2.D3.A Passage 2 【答案】1.D2.A3.C 主题语境03人与自我-生活与学习 【答案】1.B2.A3.D 进阶提升 主题语境01人与社会-历史、社会与文化 【答案】1.B2.C3.C4D 主题语境02人与社会-科学与技术 113 可学科网 www.zxxk.com 让教与学更高效 Passage 1 【答案】1.B2.A3.C4.C Passage 2 【答案】1.B2.C3.A4.D Passage 3 【答案】1.A2.D3.B4.B Passage 4 【答案】1.D2.A3.B4.C 主题语境03人与自我-做人与做事 【答案】1.B2.C3.D4D 主题语境04人与自我-生活与学习 【答案】1.B2.B3.A 主题语境05人与自然-宇宙探索 【答案】1.C2.A3.B 主题语境06人与自然-自然生态 Passage 1 【答案】1.A2.D3.C Passage 2 【答案】1.B2.C3.C4.B 拓展培优 主题语境01人与社会-历史、社会与文化 【答案】1.B2.D3.C4.A 213 函学科网 www.zxxk.com 让教与学更高效 主题语境02人与社会-文学、艺术与体育 【答案】1.D2.A3.D4.B 主题语境03人与社会-科学与技术 Passage 1 【答案】1.B2.A3.A4.C Passage 2 【答案】1.C2.A3.C4.D 3/3 专题02 阅读理解（说明文） 主题语境01 人与社会-科学与技术 Passage 1 （24-25高三上·北京房山·期中）The human brain’s understanding of figure zero may have evolved from primitive neural pathways initially used for counting predators. This discovery could aid doctors in helping stroke patients who struggle with numerical comprehension. Zeros are integral to various fields, including astronomy, engineering, and literature. Researchers Benjy Barnett and Steve Fleming from University College London explored the origins of figure zero by using magnetoencephalography (MEG) to monitor the brain activity of 29 participants engaged in two tasks. In the first, people compared whether two consecutive patterns were made of the same number of dots, from 0 to 5, In the second, they saw 10 numbers, also from 0 to 5, each for 250 milliseconds. Half were orange and the rest blue. They then reported which colored numbers had the highest value. To compare people’s brain activity when they saw a “0” with them seeing other numbers, Barnett and Fleming input the MEG data into a machine-learning algorithm (算法). Previous research has shown that specific neurons respond to numbers like“1,” “2,” and so on, up to “9.” Barnett noted that their findings revealed that the neural response to “0” closely resembled that of “1,” while becoming less similar to larger numbers. This suggests that zero occupies a fundamental position on the neural number line, next to “1” and two less than “2.” They also examined similarities between the brain’s response to “0” and a blank screen, finding identical activity patterns. This suggests that our comprehension of zero may have evolved from recognizing absences. “If I’m an antelope on the grassland and I quickly scan to check if I can see any predators, the brain activity that leads me to decide ‘no, I haven’t seen anything’ might be the starting point for the number zero in the brain,” says Barnett. While humans and other animals recognize absence, humans have built upon this to apply zeros into numerical systems. Additionally, a previous study involving over 650 stroke patients revealed that approximately 15% struggled to process numbers containing zeros post-stroke. “Our results may well contribute to better understanding of this phenomenon and help inform potential treatments,” says Barnett. Jorge Morales at Northeastern University in Boston says that despite the importance of zero in mathematics and culture, this study suggests that the concept originates from the ability to notice absences, which we probably share with other animals. 1.How did the researchers explore the origin of figure zero? A. By comparing brain activity patterns. B. By monitoring brain function directly. C. By observing how people count dots. D. By studying people’s response for MEG. 2.What can we learn from the passage? A. Figure zero is unique to numerical system. B. Figure zero is important for noticing absence. C. The brain is more sensitive to process larger numbers. D. Stroke patients struggle to understand figure zero. 3.What does the author mainly intend to tell us? A. Figure zero is essential in various scientific disciplines. B. Recognizing absence helps in understanding figure zero. C. MEG is an effective tool for analyzing figure zero. D. Figure zero is primarily useful for counting. 【答案】1. A　2. B　3. B 【解析】【导语】 这是一篇说明文。本文主要探讨了数字0的起源以及人类大脑如何理解数字0。 (1)题解析： 推理判断题。根据文章第二段“To compare people’s brain activity when they saw a “0” with them seeing other numbers, Barnett and Fleming input the MEG data into a machine-learning algorithm.(为了比较人们在看到数字“0”和其他数字时的脑活动，Barnett和Fleming将MEG数据输入到机器学习算法中。)”可知，研究人员通过比较人们在看到数字0和其他数字时的脑活动模式来探索数字0的起源。故选A。 (2)题解析： 细节理解题。根据文章第四段“They also examined similarities between the brain’s response to “0” and a blank screen, finding identical activity patterns. This suggests that our comprehension of zero may have evolved from recognizing absences.(他们还检查了大脑对数字“0”的反应和空白屏幕之间的相似性，发现了相同的活动模式。这表明我们对数字0的理解可能源于对缺失的识别。)”可知，文章提到数字0对识别缺失的重要性。故选B。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。根据文章第一段“The human brain’s understanding of figure zero may have evolved from primitive neural pathways initially used for counting predators. This discovery could aid doctors in helping stroke patients who struggle with numerical comprehension.(人类大脑对数字0的理解可能是从最初用于计算捕食者数量的原始神经通路演化而来的。这一发现可能有助于医生治疗在数字理解方面存在困难的卒中患者。)”第四段“This suggests that our comprehension of zero may have evolved from recognizing absences.(这表明我们对数字0的理解可能源于对缺失的识别。)”可知，文章主要探讨了数字0的起源和大脑如何理解数字0，并指出对缺失的识别是理解数字0的关键。故选B。 Passage 2 （23-24高三上·北京房山良乡中学·期中）The world’s oceans will likely lose about one-sixth of their fish and other creatures within 100 years if climate change continues on its current path. Every degree Celsius that the world’s oceans warm, their biomass is expected to drop five percent, a study found. The study predicts that if there is no change in the rate of worldwide greenhouse gas production, there will be a 17-percent loss of biomass by the year 2100. But, if the world reduces carbon pollution, biomass losses could be limited to only about 5 percent. Warming temperatures are the biggest issue. But climate change also produces oceans that are more acidic and have less oxygen. This also harms sea life. Much of the world depends on the oceans for food or work. The findings make sense and the possible effects of the predicted losses of animal life are huge. “Climate change has the potential to cause serious new conflicts over ocean resource use as the human population continues to grow,” said scientists. Marine biologist Boris Worm, who helped run the study, added that the “building blocks of marine life—plankton and bacteria—may decline less heavily.” “Those marine animals that we use directly, and care about most deeply, are predicted to suffer the most,” said Worm. He works at Canada’s Dalhousie University. Scientists had already believed climate change would likely reduce future ocean life. But past computer-based studies looked at only part of the picture or used only one model. The latest study used six different computer models to give the best picture look yet, William Cheung said. University of Georgia marine biologist Samantha Joye was not part of the research. But she praised the study as well researched and extremely detailed, and called it “an urgent call for action”. 1.What does the underlined word “biomass” in paragraph 1 refer to? A. Ocean temperature. B. Total marine life. C. Sea condition. D. Ocean level. 2.Why do scientists think that climate change might cause conflicts? A. It may reduce the sea resource. B. It leads to the extinction of marine life. C. It pollutes the environment of the ocean. D. It may increase the world population. 3.Which sea animals will be harmed the worst by sea warming? A. The largest ones. B. The ones in deep oceans. C. The bacteria on sea surface. D. Those we humans need most. 【答案】1. B　2. A　3. D 【解析】【导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了如果气候变化持续升温，世界的海洋中的鱼类和其他生物可能会在未来100年内损失约六分之一。同时文章介绍了气候变化对海洋以及人类产生的其他影响。 (1)题解析： 词义猜测题。根据划线词前面的句子“The world’s oceans will likely lose about one-sixth of their fish and other creatures within 100 years if climate change continues on its current path. (如果气候继续以目前的方式变化，世界海洋可能会在100年内失去大约六分之一的鱼类和其他生物。)”以及“Every degree Celsius that the world’s oceans warm(全球海洋温度每升高一度)”以及划线词后面的内容“is expected to drop five percent(预计会下降5%)”可知，此处指出随着气候变化的影响，世界海洋中的鱼类和其他生物会失去大约六分之一；由此可知，全球海洋温度每升高一度，海洋中的生物总数预计会下降5%。因此划线词与B选项“Total marine life.( 海洋生物总数。)”为同义词。故选B。 (2)题解析： 细节理解题。根据第四段“The findings make sense and the possible effects of the predicted losses of animal life are huge.“Climate change has the potential to cause serious new conflicts over ocean resource use as the human population continues to grow,” said scientists.(这些发现是有道理的，预测的动物生命损失可能产生巨大影响。科学家们说：“随着人口的持续增长，气候变化有可能在海洋资源利用方面引发新的严重冲突。”)”可知，随着人口增长，气候变化可能会导致人类在海洋资源利用方面引发新的严重冲突，的原因是气候变化使得海洋动物生命周期变短，即资源不断减少。故选A。 (3)题解析： 细节理解题。根据倒数第三段““Those marine animals that we use directly, and care about most deeply, are predicted to suffer the most,” said Worm. He works at Canada’s Dalhousie University.(沃姆说：“那些我们直接使用、最关心的海洋动物预计将遭受最大的损失。”他在加拿大达尔豪斯大学工作)”可知，那些人类直接使用、最关心的海洋动物预计将遭受最大的损失，即人类最需要的海洋动物将遭受最大的伤害。故选D。 Passage 3 （24-25高三上·北京北京师范大学第二附属中学·期中）Many people believe that working to the maximum is the secret to success, but research has found that moderation also gets results on the job. In a study led by Ellen Langer of Harvard University, researchers asked people to translate sentences into a new made-up language. Subjects who practiced the language moderately beforehand made fewer errors than those who practiced extensively or not at all. High levels of knowledge can make people too attached to traditional ways of viewing problems across fields - the arts, sciences, and politics. High conscientiousness is related to lower job performance, especially in simple jobs where it doesn’t pay to be a perfectionist. How long we stay on the clock and how we spend that time are under careful examination in many workplaces. The young banker who eats lunch at his desk is probably seen as a go-getter, while his colleagues who chat over a relaxed conference-room meal get dirty looks from the corner office. “People from cultures that value relationships more than ours does are shocked by the thought of eating alone in front of a computer,” says Art Markman, a professor of psychology at the university of Texas, Austin. Social interaction has been shown to lift mood and get people thinking in new directions and in ways that could help improve any post-lunch effort. Markman also promotes off-task time. “Part of being a good thinker is experiencing things that are seemingly unrelated to what you are working on at the moment but give you fresh ideas about your work,” he says. “Also, there is a lot of research showing that a positive mood leads to higher levels of productivity and creativity. So, when people do things to increase their life satisfaction, they also make themselves more effective at work.” 1.What does Ellen Langer’s study show? A. Simpler jobs require greater caution. B. It is worthwhile to be a perfectionist. C. Moderate effort produces the best result. D. Translation makes people knowledgeable. 2.What can be inferred from the last paragraph? A. Experience unrelated to your job is useless. B. Focusing on what you do raises productivity. C. A cheerful mood helps make a creative mind. D. A good thinker is able to inspire other people. 3.What does the text seem to advocate? A. Middle-of-the-road work habits. B. Balance between work and family. C. Long-standing cultural traditions. D. Harmony in the work environment. 【答案】1. C　2. C　3. A 【解析】【导语】 这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了许多人认为工作到最大限度是成功的秘诀，但研究发现，适度的工作也会带来成果。所以要适度工作，工作时要有积极的情绪，这会让自己在工作中更有效率。 (1)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第一段“Many people believe that working to the maximum is the secret to success, but research has found that moderation also gets results on the job. (许多人认为，最大限度地工作是成功的秘诀，但研究发现，适度也能在工作中取得成果。)”和第二段中“In a study led by Ellen Langer of Harvard University, researchers asked people to translate sentences into a new made-up language. Subjects who practiced the language moderately beforehand made fewer errors than those who practiced extensively or not at all. (在哈佛大学艾伦·兰格领导的一项研究中，研究人员要求人们将句子翻译成一种新的虚构语言。事先适度练习语言的受试者比那些广泛练习或根本不练习的受试者犯的错误更少。)”可知，第一段提出主题，即适度的工作也会带来成果，接着第二段作者用Ellen Langer的研究来证明这一点，由此可推知，Ellen Langer的研究表明适度的努力会产生最好的结果。故选C。 (2)题解析： 推理判断题。根据最后一段中“Also, there is a lot of research showing that a positive mood leads to higher levels of productivity and creativity. (此外，许多研究表明，积极的情绪能够提高生产力和创造力。 )”可知，积极的情绪能够提高生产力和创造力，由此可推知，愉快的心情有助于创造性思维。故选C。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第一段中“Many people believe that working to the maximum is the secret to success, but research has found that moderation also gets results on the job. (许多人认为，最大限度地工作是成功的秘诀，但研究发现，适度也能在工作中取得成果。)”和第二段中“High conscientiousness is related to lower job performance, especially in simple jobs where it doesn’t pay to be a perfectionist. (高度尽责与较低的工作表现有关，尤其是在简单的工作中，完美主义者是没有好处的。)”可知，文章主要介绍研究表明适度的工作也会带来成果，所以文章提倡适度工作，即中庸的工作习惯。故选A。 主题语境02 人与自我-做人与做事 Passage 1 （24-25高三上·北京汇文中学·期中）In our hyper-connected world, information is being collected and shared every nanosecond. The problem is that your personal information might be used against you in the future in ways you can’t imagine today. So what do you have to worry about, and what can you do to protect yourself? If you’re worried about your personal information getting lifted... Don’t hand over your name, address, phone number, or email address unless the receiver really needs it. If pressed, you can always make something up. Opt a paper receipt or no receipt rather than getting one via text or email, which requires sharing your information and exposes you to possible data loss. If you prefer that your Internet searches stay private... Browse (浏览) with Firefox. Its privacy controls are stronger than other big-name browsers. Or use DuckDuckGo, and alternate service you can easily set as your default (默认) search partner at duckduckgo.com. If you’re worried about your phone acting as a tracker... Turn off Location Services for all apps except maps and others that need to know where you are, You can do this in Settings, under Privacy and Location. and Location. If you want companies to stop trying to sell you things... Stop ads from tracking you by opting out of information collecting. The website simpleoptout.com is a good place to start. You can also add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry at 1-888-382-1222 or donotcall.gov. If you’re worried about being tagged (标记) in photos on social media... Tell friends you don’t want to be tagged, and opt out of being automatically tagged in other people’s Facebook photos by going to Settings, then Face Recognition. Always keep in mind that Internet is not a private place and your privacy is not just about freedom from embarrassment. Although you can’t prevent all Internet Spying, you can minimize some unwanted spying by taking these steps. 1.Which of the following will most possibly reveal your personal information? A. Looking for information with Firefox. B. Receiving a receipt through text messages. C. Switching off Location Services in Settings. D. Giving your address to the receiver who needs it. 2.If you don’t want to be disturbed by ads, you can ________. A. avoid using simpleoptout.com. B. refuse a call from DuckDuckGo. C. delete your phone number at donotcall.gov. D. register your phone number at donotcall.gov. 3.The passage is intended to ________. A. give advice B. introduce websites C. show worries D. explain social media 【答案】1. B　2. D　3. A 【解析】【导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了在高度互联的世界中如何保护个人隐私，给出了一系列实用的建议。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。根据文章第一个标题下“Opt a paper receipt or no receipt rather than getting one via text or email, which requires sharing your information and exposes you to possible data loss.(选择纸质收据或不收收据，而不是通过短信或电子邮件接收，因为后者需要共享你的信息，并可能使你面临数据丢失的风险)”可知，通过短信接收收据可能会泄露你的个人信息。故选B。 (2)题解析： 细节理解题。根据文章第四个标题下“Stop ads from tracking you by opting out of information collecting. The website simpleoptout.com is a good place to start. You can also add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry at 1-888-382-1222 or donotcall.gov.(通过选择退出信息收集来阻止广告跟踪你。simpleoptout.com是一个很好的起点。你还可以通过拨打1-888-382-1222或访问donotcall.gov将你的电话号码添加到国家禁止呼叫注册表中)”可知，如果你希望不被广告打扰，可以在donotcall.gov注册自己的电话号码。故选D。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。根据文章第一段“In our hyper-connected world, information is being collected and shared every nanosecond. The problem is that your personal information might be used against you in the future in ways you can’t imagine today. So what do you have to worry about, and what can you do to protect yourself?(在我们这个高度互联的世界里，信息每分每秒都在被收集和共享。问题在于，你的个人信息可能会在未来以你今天无法想象的方式被用来对付你。那么，你需要担心什么，又能做些什么来保护自己呢？)”以及全文内容可知，文章从多个方面(如个人信息保护、网络搜索隐私、手机定位服务、广告追踪以及社交媒体照片标记等)给出了具体的建议，以帮助读者在日常生活中更好地保护自己的隐私，所以文章写作的目的是给出建议。故选A。 Passage 2 （25-26高三上·北京顺义·期中）For decades, scientists hypothesized that cognitively demanding tasks such as writing or solving math problems require more energy than easier tasks like scrolling short videos on the phone or looking out of the window. However, recent research proves the view wrong. Our brains perform massively complex and metabolically costly computations all day long. “Whether you’re engaged in a cognitively demanding task at work, or you’re staring off into space, your brain is using roughly the same amount of energy,” says neuroscientist Todd Braver of Washington University in St. Louis. In fact, what feels more challenging is when a task requires the brain to go against its usual habits. Cognitively demanding work often requires the coordination (协作) of many different brain regions in novel patterns, while silencing circuits that frequently fire (活跃的) together. Studies have found that pushing against our brain’s habits triggers an emotional response, making us feel uncomfortable. “It’s aversive, and it just feels bad,” says Michael Inzlicht, a psychologist from the University of Toronto. But he points out that emotional responses are subjective: They are interpretations of sensations in our bodies and brains. And we can influence how much we pay attention to these sensations and even how we interpret them. We often overestimate the struggle and pain required to complete cognitive tasks. This initial overestimation can lead us to procrastinate, or even avoid the task altogether. Studies suggest that if we can get past that initial hurdle (障碍) of starting a task, then thinking becomes easier. One way to do that is to pay attention to the benefits instead of the efforts required. In a study published in the journal Science in 2020, Andrew Westbrook, a neuroscientist at Rutgers University, and his colleagues gave participants the choice of solving an easy memory puzzle for a small amount of money or a much harder puzzle for more money. The options were displayed on a screen, and participants’ eye movements were tracked as they decided which puzzle to attempt. When people spent more time looking at the reward for the challenging puzzle, they were more likely to choose it. If our mind’s eye, or our attentional focus, is on the benefits of an option, over time we’re more likely to choose to do hard things. Performing complex mental tasks will also be less painful if the exertion of mental effort is habitualized. When we don’t have to make a decision to focus every day, we will save ourselves considering the costs or consequences. To make cognitively demanding tasks a habit, try to do them every day at the same time and in the same place. Add a ritual before the work starts, such as turning off the phone and launching an app to block distracting websites. After a few weeks, concentrating deeply won’t just feel easier; it will actually be easier. 1.People may feel certain cognitive task demanding because of ________. A. more brain energy consumption B. the complexity of computations C. the higher level of difficulty D. new coordination of brain parts 2.The author quotes the 2020 study mainly to ________. A. support a solution B. present a case C. analyze the causes D. challenge an assumption 3.Which of the following can make mental work feel easier? A. Receiving continuous support when feeling down. B. Seeking professional help when meeting a deadline. C. Reading thick literary classics for twenty minutes daily. D. Breaking down a challenging project into smaller tasks. 【答案】1. D　2. A　3. C 【解析】【导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了关于认知任务与大脑能量消耗、习惯及注意力之间的关系，以及如何通过改变习惯和提高注意力来更轻松地完成认知任务。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。根据第二段“In fact, what feels more challenging is when a task requires the brain to go against its usual habits. Cognitively demanding work often requires the coordination (协作)of many different brain regions in novel patterns, while silencing circuits that frequently fire(活跃的)together. (事实上，当一项任务要求大脑违背其通常的习惯时，就会感觉更具挑战性。认知要求高的工作往往需要许多不同的大脑区域以新的模式进行协调，同时使经常一起兴奋的神经回路沉默。)”可知，人们可能会觉得某些认知任务要求很高，是因为这些任务需要大脑各部分之间新的协调。故选D项。 (2)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第四段中“Studies suggest that if we can get past that initial hurdle(障碍)of starting a task, then thinking becomes easier. One way to do that is to pay attention to the benefits instead of the efforts required. (研究表明，如果我们能克服开始一项任务的最初障碍，那么思考就会变得更容易。做到这一点的一种方法是关注收益，而不是需要付出的努力。)”提出解决问题的方案，根据下文“In a study published in the journal Science in 2020, Andrew Westbrook, a neuroscientist at Rutgers University, and his colleagues gave participants the choice of solving an easy memory puzzle for a small amount of money or a much harder puzzle for more money. The options were displayed on a screen, and participants’ eye movements were tracked as they decided which puzzle to attempt. When people spent more time looking at the reward for the challenging puzzle, they were more likely to choose it. If our mind’s eye, or our attentional focus, is on the benefits of an option, over time we’re more likely to choose to do hard things. (在2020年发表在《科学》杂志上的一项研究中，罗格斯大学的神经科学家安德鲁·韦斯特布鲁克和他的同事让参与者选择解决一个简单的记忆谜题来获得少量的钱，或者解决一个更难的谜题来获得更多的钱。这些选项显示在屏幕上，当参与者决定尝试哪个谜题时，他们的眼球运动被跟踪。当人们花更多时间观察挑战性谜题的奖励时，他们更有可能选择它。如果我们的大脑或注意力集中在一个选择的好处上，随着时间的推移，我们更有可能选择做困难的事情。)”可知，作者引用2020年的这一研究来说明段首提出的解决方案是可行，即关注好处可以促使我们选择去做困难的事情。A选项“support a solution(支持解决方案)”符合题意。故选A项。 (3)题解析： 细节理解题。根据最后一段“Performing complex mental tasks will also be less painful if the exertion of mental effort is habitized. When we don’t have to make a decision to focus every day, we will save ourselves considering the costs or consequences. To make cognitively demanding tasks a habit, try to do them every day at the same time and in the same place. (如果精神努力的付出成为一种习惯，那么执行复杂的脑力任务也不会那么痛苦。当我们不必每天都做出专注的决定时，我们就会省去考虑成本或后果的麻烦。为了让认知要求高的任务成为一种习惯，试着每天在同一时间、同一地点做这些事情。)”可知，让精神工作感觉更容易的方法就是让其成为习惯。C选项“Reading thick literary classics for twenty minutes daily.(每天阅读二十分钟厚重的文学经典著作。)”符合题意。故选C项。 主题语境03 人与自我-生活与学习 （25-26高三上·北京顺义·期中）A hearing aid is a small electronic device you wear in or behind your ear to make sounds louder. A hearing aid has three basic parts: a microphone, an amplifier and a speaker. The hearing aid receives sound through a microphone, which changes the sound waves to electrical signals and sends them to an amplifier. The amplifier increases the power of the signals and sends them to the ear through a speaker. There are three styles of hearing aids. ·Behind-the-ear (BTE) aids are used by people of all ages. “Mini” BTE is a new kind. These small and open-fit aids fit behind the ear completely, with a narrow tube into the ear canal, enabling the canal to remain open. Thus, some people prefer it because their own voice does not sound “plugged up”. ·In-the-ear (ITE) aids fit completely inside the outer ear. Some ITE aids may have added features, such as a telecoil that allows users to receive sound through the circuitry of the hearing aid, rather than through its microphone. •Canal aids fit into the ear canal and are available in two styles. In-the-canal (ITC) aids are made to fit the size and shape of the ear canal. Completely-in-canal ( CIC) aids are hidden in the ear canal. The hearing aid that will work best for you depends on your hearing needs and lifestyle. Price is also a key consideration. However, just because one hearing aid is more expensive than another does not necessarily mean that it will better suit your needs. Other features to consider include parts or services covered by the guarantee, estimated costs for repair, and the hearing aid company’s reputation for quality and service. For more information, contact: nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov . 1.What helps strengthen the power of electrical signals in a hearing aid? A. The microphone. B. The amplifier. C. The speaker. D. The telecoil. 2.If preferring a hearing aid that keeps the ear canal open, you can choose______ . A. “Mini” BTE B. In-the-ear aids C. In-the-canal aids D. Completely-in-canal aids 3.To buy a suitable hearing aid, you should______ . A. increase your estimated costs B. find the one with more features C. give in to the after-sale services D. consider your needs and lifestyle 【答案】1. B　2. A　3. D 【解析】【导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了助听器的基本构成和三种基本类型（BTE、ITE、Canal aids）以及适用人群、使用场景和价格等方面的信息。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。根据第一段“The hearing aid receives sound through a microphone, which changes the sound waves to electrical signals and sends them to an amplifier. The amplifier increases the power of the signals and sends them to the ear through a speaker.(助听器通过麦克风接收声音，麦克风将声波转换为电信号并将其发送到放大器。放大器增加信号的功率，并通过扬声器将它们送到耳朵)”可知，放大器有助于增强助听器内电信号的强度。故选B项。 (2)题解析： 细节理解题。根据第二段““Mini” BTE is a new kind. These small and open-fit aids fit behind the ear completely, with a narrow tube into the ear canal, enabling the canal to remain open. Thus, some people prefer it because their own voice does not sound “plugged up”.(“迷你”BTE是一种新型BTE。这些小而开放的辅助设备完全适合耳后，有一个狭窄的管进入耳道，使耳道保持开放。因此，有些人喜欢它，因为他们自己的声音听起来不“堵塞”)”可知，如果更喜欢保持耳道开放的助听器，你可以选择“Mini” BTE。故选A项。 (3)题解析： 细节理解题。根据倒数第二段“The hearing aid that will work best for you depends on your hearing needs and lifestyle.(最适合你的助听器取决于你的听力需求和生活方式)”可知，要购买合适的助听器，你应该考虑你的需求和生活方式。故选D项。 主题语境01 人与社会-历史、社会与文化 （23-24高三上·北京房山良乡中学·期中）My son just turned 14 and does not have a smartphone. When he graduated from Grade 8, he was the only kid in his class without one. He asks for a phone now that he’s going to high school. I say no, he asks why, I explain(yet again), and he pushes back. “You can choose to do things differently when you’re a parent,” I told him. But sometimes, I wonder if I’m being too stubborn or unfair. The more I research, the more confident I feel in my decision. Many studies link the current mental health crisis among adolescents to fundamental changes in how they socialize, namely, the shift from in-person to online interaction. But other parents challenge my perspective. “He must feel so left out!” Then there are the parents who tell me with profound sadness that they wish they had delayed their teenager’s phone ownership longer than they did. They urge me to hold out. If teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 are truly spending an average of 8 hours 39 minutes per day on their devices, as stated in a 2021 survey conducted by the non-profit research organization Common Sense Media, then what are they not doing? Kids absorbed in their devices are missing out on real life, and that strikes me as really sad. I want my son to have a childhood he feels satisfied with and proud of. I want it to be full of adventures, imaginative play and physical challenges which he must sort out himself—and emerge stronger—without asking for me at the push of a button. The easiest and simplest way to achieve these goals is to delay giving him a smartphone. Some think my son is missing out or falling behind, but he is not. He does well in school and extracurricular activities, hangs out with his friends in person, and moves independently around our small town. He swears (发誓) he’ll give his own 14-year-old a phone someday, and I tell him that’s fine. But recently, he admitted that he missed the beautiful scenery on a drive to a nearby mountain because he had been so absorbed in his friend’s iPad. If that is his version of admitting I’m right, I’ll take it. 1.What is the author’s primary concern regarding giving her son a smartphone? A. Her son’s social life. B. Her son’s well-being. C. Her son’s time management. D. Her son’s academic performance. 2.What is the main point the author intends to express in paragraph 5? A. Her doubts about the reliability of a teenage survey. B. The rise of smartphone addiction among teenagers. C. The potential negative effects of excessive phone usage. D. The factors contributing to teenage smartphone addiction. 3.What quality does the text suggest the author wants her son to develop in his childhood? A. Team spirit B. Leadership C. Self-reliance D. Critical thinking 4.What can be inferred about the author’s son? A. He is struggling academically. B. He no longer desires a smartphone. C. He is easily influenced by his friends. D. He has realized the drawbacks of excessive screen time. 【答案】1. B　2. C　3. C　4. D 【解析】【导语】 这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了作者反对儿子使用手机的原因。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。由文章第三段中“The more I research, the more confident I feel in my decision. Many studies link the current mental health crisis among adolescents to fundamental changes in how they socialize, namely, the shift from in-person to online interaction. (我研究得越多，我对自己的决定就越有信心。许多研究将当前青少年的心理健康危机与他们社交方式的根本变化联系起来，即从面对面互动转向在线互动。)”可知，关于给儿子一部智能手机，作者基本的担心是孩子的心理健康。故选B。 (2)题解析： 主旨大意题。由文章第五段“If teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 are truly spending an average of 8 hours 39 minutes per day on their devices, as stated in a 2021 survey conducted by the non-profit research organization Common Sense Media, then what are they not doing? Kids absorbed in their devices are missing out on real life, and that strikes me as really sad. (非营利研究机构常识媒体在2021年进行的一项调查显示，如果13至18岁的青少年真的每天平均花费8小时39分钟在他们的电子设备上，那么他们没有做什么？沉迷于电子设备的孩子们正在错过真实的生活，这让我感到非常难过。)”可知，本段主要讲述过度使用电话的潜在负面影响。故选C。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。由文章第六段“I want my son to have a childhood he feels satisfied with and proud of. I want it to be full of adventures, imaginative play and physical challenges which he must sort out himself—and emerge stronger—without asking for me at the push of a button. (我希望我的儿子有一个他感到满意和自豪的童年。我希望它充满冒险，充满想象力的游戏和身体上的挑战，他必须自己解决这些问题，并变得更强大，而不是一按按钮就问我。)”可知，文本表明作者希望她的儿子在童年时期发展出自力更生的品质。故选C。 (4)题解析： 推理判断题。由文章倒数第二段“Some think my son is missing out or falling behind, but he is not. He does well in school and extracurricular activities, hangs out with his friends in person, and moves independently around our small town. He swears(发誓)he’ll give his own 14-year-old a phone someday, and I tell him that’s fine. But recently, he admitted that he missed the beautiful scenery on a drive to a nearby mountain because he had been so absorbed in his friend’s iPad. (有些人认为我的儿子错过了或落后了，但他不是。他在学校和课外活动中表现出色，和朋友们一起出去玩，在我们的小镇上独立活动。他发誓总有一天会给自己14岁的儿子一部手机，我告诉他没关系。但最近，他承认，他在开车去附近一座山的路上错过了美丽的风景，因为他太专注于朋友的iPad了。)”可知，作者的儿子已经意识到屏幕时间过长的弊端。故选D。 主题语境02 人与社会-科学与技术 Passage 1 （24-25高三上·北京中国人民大学附属中学·期中）What a Messy Desk Says About You For some time, psychologists have been studying how personality traits affect health and health-related choices. Not surprisingly, they have found that people blessed with innate conscientiousness, meaning that they are organized and predictable, typically eat better and live longer than people who are disorderly. They also tend to have immaculate offices. What has been less clear is whether neat environments can produce good habits even in those who aren’t necessarily innately conscientious. To find out, researchers at the University of Minnesota conducted a series of experiments. In the first experiment, they randomly assigned a group of college-age students to spend time in two office spaces, one of which was very neat, the other wildly cluttered (乱堆) with papers and other work-related stuff. The students spent their time filling out questionnaires unrelated to the study. After 10 minutes, they were told they could leave with an apple or a chocolate bar. Those students who sat in the orderly office were twice as likely to choose the apple as those who sat among the mess. A second experiment, however, found that working in chaos has its advantages, too. In this one, college students were placed in a messy or a neat office and asked to dream up new uses for Ping-Pong balls. Those in messy spaces generated ideas that were significantly more creative, according to two independent judges, than those in offices where stacks of papers and other objects were neatly arranged. The results were something of a surprise, says Dr. Vohs, the leader of the study. Few previous studies found much virtue in disorder. The broken window theory, proposed decades ago, holds that even slight disorder and neglect can encourage indifference and poor discipline. But in the study by Dr. Vohs, disordered offices encouraged originality and a search for novelty. In the final portion of the study, adults were given the choice of adding a health “boost” to their lunchtime smoothie that was labeled either “new” or “classic.” The volunteers in the messy space were far more likely to choose the new one; those in the tidy office generally chose the classic version. “Disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition,” Dr. Vohs and her co-authors conclude in the study, “which can produce fresh insights.” The implications of these findings are also practical. “My advice would be, if you need to think outside the box for a future project”, Dr. Vohs says, “then let the clutter rise and free your imagination. But if your primary goal is to eat well or to go to the gym, pick up around your office first. By doing this, the naturally messy can acquire some of the discipline of the conscientious.” 1.The underlined word “immaculate” in paragraph 1 probably means ______. A. messy B. tidy C. terrible D. comfortable 2.Which of the following can best explain the broken window theory? A. Chaos begets chaos. B. Misfortune may be an actual blessing. C. Bad news has wings. D. When a door shuts, a window opens. 3.Which of the following will Dr. Vohs probably agree with? A. More virtue exists in organized people. B. Creativity results from tidiness and discipline. C. Disorderly surroundings help to create new ideas. D. Workers’ good habits guarantee the success of a project. 4.What can we conclude from the study results? A. The naturally neat people tend to be very creative. B. A messy office will cause quite low working efficiency. C. Environments can affect people’s way of thinking and behavior. D. People’s personalities are determined by their working environments. 【答案】1. B　2. A　3. C　4. C 【解析】这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了一项研究人类行为与环境相关的实验，实验结果表明无序混乱的环境可能更容易激发人们打破传统，产生新的见解。同时研究人员建议如果你需要在未来的项目中跳出框框思考，那就让杂乱的东西堆积起来，释放你的想象力。但如果你的主要目标是吃得好或去健身房，那就先在办公室里收拾一下。 (1)题解析： 词义猜测题。根据上文Not surprisingly, they have found that people blessed with innate conscientiousness, meaning that they are organized and predictable, typically eat better and live longer than people who are disorderly. They also tend to have…不出所料，他们发现，天生有自觉性的人，也就是有条理、可预测的人，通常比那些不守规矩的人吃得更好，活得更久。可推知天生有自觉性有条理的人，他们也更有倾向于拥有整洁的办公室。故划线单词意思为“整洁的”。故选B。 (2)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第四段最后一句The broken window theory, proposed decades ago, holds that even slight disorder and neglect can encourage indifference and poor discipline.（几十年前提出的“破窗理论”认为，即使是轻微的混乱和忽视也会助长冷漠和缺乏纪律。）可推知混乱产生混乱最能解释破窗理论。故选A。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。根据倒数第二段最后一句“Disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition,” Dr. Vohs and her co-authors conclude in the study, “which can produce fresh insights.”（“无序的环境似乎激发了人们打破传统，”沃斯博士和她的合著者在研究中总结道，“这可以产生新的见解。”）可推知沃斯博士可能会同意杂乱的环境有助于创造新想法。故选C。 (4)题解析： 推理判断题。根据文章最后一段中“My advice would be, if you need to think outside the box for a future project”, Dr. Vohs says, “then let the clutter rise and free your imagination. But if your primary goal is to eat well or to go to the gym, pick up around your office first. By doing this, the naturally messy can acquire some of the discipline of the conscientious.”（沃斯博士说:“我的建议是，如果你需要在未来的项目中跳出框框思考，那就让杂乱的东西堆积起来，释放你的想象力。”但如果你的主要目标是吃得好或去健身房，那就先在办公室里收拾一下。通过这样做，天生邋遢的人可以获得一些自觉的纪律。”）可推知我们能从研究结果中得出结论，环境可以影响人们的思维方式和行为方式。故选C。 Passage 2 （23-24高三上·北京大兴·期中）If you’ve ever worried that we’ve solved all the mysteries of nature, fear not. Minnesota’s Devil’s Kettle Falls has been attracting hikers and geologists for generations. At the falls, along Lake Superior’s North shore, a river forks at a rock outcrop. While one side runs down a two-step stone bank and continues on like a normal waterfall, the other side vanishes into a deep hole and disappears apparently forever. And this baffling situation only gets strange when geologists start explaining Devil’s Kettle. Consider, for instance, the sheer quantity of water pouring into the kettle every minute of every day. While the idea of some kind of broad, underground river is an exciting device in movies, the reality is that those sorts of deep caves are rare. Another idea is that millions of years ago, a hollow lava tube may have formed beneath the falls, in the subsurface layer of basalt (玄武岩) . Over time, the theory suggests, the falling water eroded (侵蚀) the surface and fell straight down into the ancient lava tube, providing wide-open access to the floor of Lake Superior. Again, there are problems with this theory, because no lava tubes have ever been found in any of the hundreds of exposed basalt beds in the area. In February 2017, scientists said that water that disappears into the rock at Devil’s Kettle resurges in the stream below the falls. To confirm the theory, scientists plan on conducting a dye trace during a low-water flow period. They’ll pour a vegetable-based dye into the pothole and watch where the dye resurfaces. This is a fluorescent (发荧光的) , biodegradable dye that’s noticeable at 10 parts per billion, so the scientists will use only a few quarts. “What we think is happening is the water is going in the kettle, and coming up pretty close to immediately downstream of the falls,” Green said. Green admits that if the dye is found below the falls like the scientists suspect, then much of the Devil’s Kettle Falls mystery will be gone. “There’s a little bit of that,” he said, “that folks aren’t going to stand there and wonder. But it will still be a fascinating spot, and a beautiful spot.” 1.What is the purpose of writing the first paragraph? A. To explain the formation of waterfalls. B. To introduce a mysterious natural phenomenon. C. To describe a beautiful landscape scene. D. To recommend an unusual waterfall to readers. 2.What does the underlined word “baffling” mean? A. Astonishing. B. Interesting. C. Puzzling. D. Challenging. 3.What can we infer from the 2017 theory? A. It hasn’t been proved yet. B. It is considered ridiculous. C. It is deeply doubted. D. It is supported fully in evidence. 4.What is the most suitable title for the text? A. The exploration of Devil’s Kettle Falls B. The disappearance of Devil’s Kettle Falls C. The truth behind Devil’s Kettle Falls D. The mystery of Devil’s Kettle Falls 【答案】1. B　2. C　3. A　4. D 【解析】【导语】 这是一篇说明文。主要介绍了明尼苏达州的魔鬼水壶瀑布的未解之谜及其成因猜测。 (1)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第一段第一句“If you’ve ever worried that we’ve solved all the mysteries of nature, fear not.”（如果你曾经担心我们已经解开了大自然的所有谜团，不用担心。）及最后一句“While one side runs down a two-step stone bank and continues on like a normal waterfall, the other side vanishes into a deep hole and disappears apparently forever.”（一边沿着两级石岸流下，像普通的瀑布一样继续流淌，另一边则消失在一个深洞里，似乎永远消失了。）可知，第一段用明尼苏达州的魔鬼水壶瀑布的例子来说明自然界还有未解之谜。故选B项。 (2)题解析： 词义猜测题。根据第一段 最后一句“While one side runs down a two-step stone bank and continues on like a normal waterfall, the other side vanishes into a deep hole and disappears apparently forever.”（一边沿着两级石岸流下，像普通的瀑布一样继续流淌，另一边则消失在一个深洞里，似乎永远消失了。）可知，该瀑布一边正常流淌，另一边却在洞里消失是非常令人不解的现象，“this baffling situation”指代这种现象，故推测baffling意为“令人困惑的”。故选C项。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。根据最后一段“Green admits that if the dye is found below the falls like the scientists suspect, then much of the Devil’s Kettle Falls mystery will be gone. “There’s a little bit of that,” he said, “that folks aren’t going to stand there and wonder. But it will still be a fascinating spot, and a beautiful spot.””（Green承认，如果像科学家们猜测的那样，在瀑布下面发现染料，那么魔鬼水壶瀑布的大部分谜团就会消失。“有一点，”他说，“人们不会站在那里好奇。但它仍将是一个迷人、美丽的地方。”）可知，科学家假设了能够解开瀑布神秘之处的条件，即在瀑布下面发现染料，说明该理论还未被证实。故选A项。 (4)题解析： 主旨大意题。根据第一段前两句“If you’ve ever worried that we’ve solved all the mysteries of nature, fear not. Minnesota’s Devil’s Kettle Falls has been attracting hikers and geologists for generations. ”（如果你曾经担心我们已经解开了大自然的所有谜团，不用担心。明尼苏达州的魔鬼水壶瀑布几代以来一直吸引着徒步旅行者和地质学家。）及第二段第一句“And this baffling situation only gets strange when geologists start explaining Devil’s Kettle.”（当地质学家开始解释魔鬼水壶时，这种令人困惑的情况才变得奇怪。）并结合后文科学家对其成因的猜测可知，本文主要介绍了明尼苏达州的魔鬼水壶瀑布的未解之谜。所以，D项“The mystery of Devil’s Kettle Falls”是本文最佳标题。故选D项。 Passage 3 （23-24高三上·北京第十三中学·期中）Habits are a funny thing. We reach for them mindlessly, setting our brains on auto-pilot and relaxing into the unconscious comfort of familiar routine. “Not choice, but habit rules the unreflecting creatures,” William Wordsworth said in the 19th century. In the ever-changing 21st century, even the word “habit” carries a negative meaning. So it seems contradictory to talk about habits in the same context as innovation. But brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel paths, and even entirely new brain cells, that can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks. Rather than dismissing ourselves as unchangeable creatures of habit, we can instead direct our own change by consciously developing new habits. In fact, the more new things we try, the more creative we become. But don’t bother trying to kill off old habits; once those ruts of procedure are worn into the brain, they’re there to stay. Instead, the new habits we deliberately press into ourselves create parallel pathways that can bypass those old roads. “The first thing needed for innovation is attraction to wonder,” says Dawna Markova, author of The Open Mind. “But we are taught instead to ‘decide’, just as our president calls himself ‘the Decider’.” She adds, however, that “to decide is to kill off all possibilities but one. A good innovational thinker is always exploring the many other possibilities.” “All of us work through problems in ways of which we’re unaware,” she says. Researchers in the late 1960s discovered that humans are born with the ability to approach challenges in four primary ways: analytically, procedurally, collaboratively and innovatively. At the end of adolescence, however, the brain shuts down half of that ability, preserving only those ways of thought that have seemed most valuable during the first decade or so of life. The current emphasis on standardized testing highlights analysis and procedure, meaning that few of us use our innovative and collaborative ways of thought. “This breaks the major rule in the American belief system — that anyone can do anything,” explains M. J. Ryan, author of the 2006 book This Year I Will…and Ms. Markova’s business partner. “That’s a lie that we have preserved, and it fosters commonness. Knowing what you’re good at and doing even more of it creates excellence.” This is where developing new habits comes in. 1.Brain researchers have discovered that . A. the forming of new habits can be guided B. the development of habits can be predicted C. the regulation of old habits can be transformed D. the track of new habits can be created unconsciously 2.The underlined word“ruts”in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to . A. zones B. connections C. situations D. tracks 3.Which of the following statements most probably agrees with Dawna Markova’s view? A. Decision makes no sense in choices. B. Curiosity makes creative minds active. C. Creative ideas are born of a relaxing mind. D. Formation of innovation comes from fantastic ideas. 4.The purpose of the author writing this article is to persuade us . A. to give up our traditional habits deliberately B. to create and develop new habits consciously C. to resist the application of standardized testing D. to believe that old habits conflict with new habits 【答案】1. A　2. D　3. B　4. B 【解析】【导语】 这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了大脑研究人员发现，新习惯的形成是可以被引导的。介绍了培养新习惯可以增加创造力。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。根据第二段中“But brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel paths, and even entirely new brain cells, that can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks.(但大脑研究人员发现，当我们有意识地养成新习惯时，我们创造了平行路径，甚至是全新的脑细胞，这些路径可以让我们的思维列车跳到新的、创新的轨道上)”可知，大脑研究人员发现，新习惯的形成是可以被引导的。故选A。 (2)题解析： 词句猜测题。根据画线词上文“But don’t bother trying to kill off old habits”以及后文“Instead, the new habits we deliberately press into ourselves create parallel pathways that can bypass those old roads.(相反，我们刻意灌输给自己的新习惯创造了平行的路径，可以绕过那些旧的路径)”可知，不要费心去戒除旧习惯，因为一旦这些常规轨道被植入大脑，它们就会留在那里。故画线词意思是“轨道”。故选D。 (3)题解析： 细节理解题。根据第五段““The first thing needed for innovation is attraction to wonder,” says Dawna Markova, author of The Open Mind.(《开放思想》的作者Dawna Markova说：“创新首先需要的是对奇迹的吸引。”)”以及“A good innovational thinker is always exploring the many other possibilities.(一个好的创新思考者总是在探索许多其他的可能性)”可知，B选项“好奇心使创造性思维活跃”符合Dawna Markova的观点。故选B。 (4)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第三段“Rather than dismissing ourselves as unchangeable creatures of habit, we can instead direct our own change by consciously developing new habits. In fact, the more new things we try, the more creative we become.(我们可以通过有意识地培养新习惯来引导自己的改变，而不是认为自己是习惯不变的生物。事实上，我们尝试的新事物越多，我们就越有创造力)”结合文章主要说明了大脑研究人员发现，新习惯的形成是可以被引导的。介绍了培养新习惯可以增加创造力。可推知，作者写这篇文章的目的是说服我们有意识地创造和发展新的习惯。故选B。 Passage 4 （25-26高三上·北京东直门·期中）For decades, scientists hypothesized that cognitively demanding tasks, such as writing or solving math problems, require more energy than easier tasks like scrolling short videos on the phone or looking out of the window. However, recent research proves the view wrong. Our brains perform massively complex and metabolically costly computations all day long. “Whether you’ re engaged in a cognitively demanding task at work, or you’ re staring off into space, your brain is using roughly the same amount of energy,” says neuroscientist Todd Braver of Washington University in St. Louis. In fact, what feels more challenging is when a task requires the brain to go against its usual habits. Cognitively demanding work often requires the coordination (协作) of many different brain regions in novel patterns, while silencing circuits that frequently fire together. Studies have found that pushing against our brain’s habits triggers an emotional response, making us feel uncomfortable. “It’s aversive, and it just feels bad,” says Michael Inzlicht, a psychologist from the University of Toronto. But he points out that emotional responses are subjective: They are interpretations of sensations in our bodies and brains. And we can influence how much we pay attention to these sensations and even how we interpret them. We often overestimate the struggle and pain required to complete cognitive tasks. This initial overestimation can lead us to procrastinate, or even avoid the task altogether. Studies suggest that if we can get past that initial hurdle of starting a task, then thinking becomes easier. One way to do that is to pay attention to the benefits instead of the efforts required. In a study published in the journal Science in 2020, Andrew Westbrook, a neuroscientist at Rutgers University, and his colleagues gave participants the choice of solving an easy memory puzzle for a small amount of money or a much harder puzzle for more money. The options were displayed on a screen, and participants’ eye movements were tracked as they decided which puzzle to attempt. When people spent more time looking at the reward for the challenging puzzle, they were more likely to choose it. If our mind’s eye, or our attentional focus, is on the benefits of an option, over time we’ re more likely to choose to do hard things. Performing complex mental tasks will also be less painful if the exertion of mental effort is habitized. When we don’t have to make a decision to focus every day, we will save ourselves considering the costs or consequences. To make cognitively demanding tasks a habit, try to do them every day at the same time and in the same place. Add a ritual before the work starts, such as turning off the phone and launching an app to block distracting websites. After a few weeks, concentrating deeply won’t just feel easier; it will actually be easier. 1.People may feel certain cognitive task demanding because of ________. A. more brain energy consumption B. the complexity of computations C. the higher level of difficulty D. new coordination of brain parts 2.The author quotes the 2020 study mainly to ________ . A. support a solution B. present a case C. analyze the causes D. challenge an assumption 3.What can be inferred from the passage? A. Overestimation promotes efficiency. B. Personal perception determines motivation. C. Focusing on rewards enhances performance. D. Brain counteraction triggers positive emotions. 4.Which of the following can make mental work feel easier? A. Receiving continuous support when feeling down. B. Seeking professional help when meeting a deadline. C. Reading thick literary classics for twenty minutes daily. D. Breaking down a challenging project into smaller tasks. 【答案】1. D　2. A　3. B　4. C 【解析】【导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了关于认知任务与大脑能量消耗、习惯及注意力之间的关系，以及如何通过改变习惯和提高注意力来更轻松地完成认知任务。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。根据第二段“In fact, what feels more challenging is when a task requires the brain to go against its usual habits. Cognitively demanding work often requires the coordination (协作) of many different brain regions in novel patterns, while silencing circuits that frequently fire together. (事实上，当一项任务要求大脑违背其通常的习惯时，就会感觉更具挑战性。认知要求高的工作往往需要许多不同的大脑区域以新的模式进行协调，同时使经常一起兴奋的神经回路沉默。)”可知，人们可能会觉得某些认知任务要求很高，是因为这些任务需要大脑各部分之间新的协调。故选D项。 (2)题解析： 推理判断题。第四段首“Studies suggest that if we can get past that initial hurdle of starting a task, then thinking becomes easier. One way to do that is to pay attention to the benefits instead of the efforts required. (研究表明，如果我们能克服开始一项任务的最初障碍，那么思考就会变得更容易。做到这一点的一种方法是关注收益，而不是需要付出的努力。)”提出解决问题的方案，根据下文“In a study published in the journal Science in 2020, Andrew Westbrook, a neuroscientist at Rutgers University, and his colleagues gave participants the choice of solving an easy memory puzzle for a small amount of money or a much harder puzzle for more money. The options were displayed on a screen, and participants’ eye movements were tracked as they decided which puzzle to attempt. When people spent more time looking at the reward for the challenging puzzle, they were more likely to choose it. If our mind’s eye, or our attentional focus, is on the benefits of an option, over time we’ re more likely to choose to do hard things. (在2020年发表在《科学》杂志上的一项研究中，罗格斯大学的神经科学家安德鲁·韦斯特布鲁克和他的同事让参与者选择解决一个简单的记忆谜题来获得少量的钱，或者解决一个更难的谜题来获得更多的钱。这些选项显示在屏幕上，当参与者决定尝试哪个谜题时，他们的眼球运动被跟踪。当人们花更多时间观察挑战性谜题的奖励时，他们更有可能选择它。如果我们的大脑或注意力集中在一个选择的好处上，随着时间的推移，我们更有可能选择做困难的事情。)”可知，作者引用2020年的这一研究来说明段首提出的解决方案是可行，即关注好处可以促使我们选择去做困难的事情。故选A项。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第三段中“We often overestimate the struggle and pain required to complete cognitive tasks. This initial overestimation can lead us to procrastinate, or even avoid the task altogether. (我们经常高估完成认知任务所需要经历的困难和痛苦。这种最初的高估会导致我们拖延，甚至完全避免这项任务。)”可推知，个人对认知任务的感知会影响其动力，即个人感知决定动力。故选B项。 (4)题解析： 细节理解题。根据最后一段“Performing complex mental tasks will also be less painful if the exertion of mental effort is habitized. When we don’t have to make a decision to focus every day, we will save ourselves considering the costs or consequences. To make cognitively demanding tasks a habit, try to do them every day at the same time and in the same place. (如果精神努力的付出成为一种习惯，那么执行复杂的脑力任务也不会那么痛苦。当我们不必每天都做出专注的决定时，我们就会省去考虑成本或后果的麻烦。为了让认知要求高的任务成为一种习惯，试着每天在同一时间、同一地点做这些事情。)”可知，让精神工作感觉更容易的方法就是让其成为习惯。故选C项。 主题语境03 人与自我-做人与做事 （23-24高三上·北京第八中学·期中）Upskilling is the future—but it must work for everyone Automation and job replacement will be one of the most significant challenges for the global economy of the coming decades. A 2017 Mckinsey report established that 375 million workers will need to switch occupational categories by 2030. The World Economic Forum suggests that by 2022, automation will replace 75 million jobs globally—but create 133 million new ones. Research into the likelihood that a job will be impacted by digitization has largely focused on the “automatability” of the role and the following economic regional and political effects of this. What this research doesn’t take into account is something more important for the millions of taxi drivers and retail workers across the globe: their likelihood of being able to change to another job that isn’t automatable. Recent research suggests that the answer to this may be that the skills that enable workers to move up the ladder to more complex roles within their current areas might be less important than broader skills that will enable workers to change across divisions. In July, Amazon announced that it would spend $700 million retraining around 30% of its 300,000 US workforce. While praiseworthy, it will be interesting to see the outcome. In the UK, the National Retraining Scheme has largely been led by employers, meaning that those on zero-hours contracts and part-time workers—often low-skilled—will miss out. Governance will be a crucial element of ensuring that such schemes focus on individuals and life-long learning, rather than upskilling workers into roles that will soon also face automation. According to the Mckinsey report, “growing awareness of the scale of the task ahead has yet to translate into action. Public spending on labour-force training and support has fallen for years in most member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development,” which impacts more than just the low-skilled and poorly compensated. The global impact of automation is also put into relief by research demonstrating that, between 1988 and 2015, income inequality increased throughout the world. Billions of people do not have the essentials of life as defined by the UN Sustainable Development goals. Alongside climate change, automation is arguably tech’s biggest challenge. As with globalization, governments and employers—and us workers—ignore its potential consequences at risk to ourselves. 1.It can be known from Paragraph 2 that . A. recent research has found ways to face automation B. broad skills are of great significance in changing jobs C. regional economy can affect the automatability of a job D. it is even harder for workers to move up the social ladder 2.What is the author’s attitude towards retraining programs? A. Supportive. B. Critical. C. Skeptical. D. Sympathetic. 3.According to the author, what is one consequence of automation? A. Less spending on training. B. A slowdown of globalization. C. Social unrest and instability. D. An increase in income inequality. 4.The passage is written to . A. argue the urgency of creating new jobs B. compare globalization with automation C. analyze the automatability of certain jobs D. stress the importance of upskilling workers 【答案】1. B　2. C　3. D　4. D 【解析】 这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了自动化和就业替代将是未来几十年全球经济面临的最重大挑战之一，而要应对这一趋势，当务之急是提高自身技能，尤其是跨部门跳槽所需的广泛技能。文章说明了再培训项目存在的问题，指出除了气候变化，自动化可以说是科技面临的最大挑战。就像全球化一样，政府和雇主——以及美国工人——忽视了全球化对我们自身的潜在影响。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。根据第二段中Recent research suggests that the answer to this may be that the skills that enable workers to move up the ladder to more complex roles within their current areas might be less important than broader skills that will enable workers to change across divisions.可知最近的研究表明，这个问题的答案可能是，使工人能够在其目前的领域内晋升到更复杂的角色的技能，可能不如使工人能够跨部门转换的更广泛的技能重要。由此可知，广泛的技能在换工作中是非常重要的。故选B。 (2)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第三段中In the UK, the National Retraining Scheme has largely been led by employers, meaning that those on zero-hours contracts and part-time workers—often low-skilled—will miss out.可知在英国，国家再培训计划在很大程度上是由雇主主导的，这意味着那些签订零时合同的人和兼职工人——往往技能低下——将会错过机会。由此可推知，作者对再培训计划持怀疑态度。故选C。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中The global impact of automation is also put into relief by research demonstrating that, between 1988 and 2015, income inequality increased throughout the world.可知研究表明，1988年至2015年期间，世界各地的收入不平等现象加剧，这也让自动化对全球的影响得到了缓解。由此可推知，作者认为自动化的一个后果是收入不平等加剧。故选D。 (4)题解析： 推理判断题。根据文章标题Upskilling is the future—but it must work for everyone(技能提升是未来的趋势，但它必须适用于每个人)结合文章主要说明了自动化和就业替代将是未来几十年全球经济面临的最重大挑战之一，而要应对这一趋势，当务之急是提高自身技能，尤其是跨部门跳槽所需的广泛技能。文章说明了再培训项目存在的问题，指出除了气候变化，自动化可以说是科技面临的最大挑战。就像全球化一样，政府和雇主——以及工人——忽视了全球化对我们自身的潜在影响。由此可推知，这篇文章是为了强调提高工人技能的重要性。故选D。 主题语境04 人与自我-生活与学习 （24-25高三上·北京第四中学·期中）When served cauliflower or broccoli, some kids turn away in annoyance. Don’t blame them — a new study suggests specific enzymes (酶)in saliva (唾液)might make these vegetables taste terrible to some children. These enzymes, called cysteine lyases, are produced by bacteria in the mouth. The same enzymes are also locked away in the cells of Brassica vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. When we chew broccoli, these enzymes spill out of their storage containers while those in our mouth start to work. These enzymes break down a compound (化合物) called S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO) in these vegetables, and this breakdown process transforms the compound into sharp smell molecules (分子). Previous studies of adults suggest the level of cysteine lyase activity in a person’s saliva determines how much the SMCSO breaks down. This, in turn, influences how these vegetables taste to adults. According to these past studies, when different adults consume broccoli, there can be a huge difference in how many unpleasant smells the food lets off as their saliva-borne enzymes break it to bits. But the authors wondered whether the same difference can be seen in kids, who are usually more sensitive to bitter and sour tastes. They suspected that kids whose saliva produced the most smelly, SMCSO-sourced compounds would show the strongest dislike for broccoli. And the team’s new study proved their assumption. While both adults’ and kids’ saliva produced smelly compounds when exposed to cauliflower, these smells did not influence whether adults liked the vegetable. On the other hand, kids whose saliva produced high concentrations of these smells reported hating cauliflower the most. The new study included 98 pairs of parents and children aged 6 to 8. After taking samples of each participant’s saliva, the scientists mixed it into raw cauliflower powder. They measured the SMCSO-sourced smell compounds let off and found each participant’s saliva generated a different quantity of smells. Interestingly, the degree of sickly smell production was similar between parents’ saliva and their children’s. This indicates that parents and kids likely carry similar bacteria in their mouths, which would cause them to produce similar levels of cysteine lyases. Our senses of taste and smell are strongest in youth, which may make kids even more sensitive to these differences in flavor. The same preference pattern is not seen in adults, who also produce plenty of bad smells. This suggests that the adults came to tolerate the taste of Brassica vegetables. The findings agree with past studies of how our tastes change over time: we can learn to overcome our distaste for certain food by eating it more. 1.What are the first two paragraphs mainly about? A. The function of mouth bacteria. B. The cause of an unpleasant flavor. C. The feature of Brassica vegetables. D. The form of enzymes in our mouth. 2.What do previous studies indicate? A. SMCSO-breakdown depends on various enzymes. B. Enzymes determine the taste of Brassica vegetables, C. Individuals release varying amounts of smell molecules. D. Kids producing the most smells hate-broccoli particularly. 3.What can we conclude from the passage? A. We might accept some foods through repeated exposure. B. The level of smells may affect an adult’s taste preference. C. Parents’ and their kids’ saliva-borne enzymes don’t match D. Kids’ saliva could produce higher concentrations of smells. 【答案】1. B　2. B　3. A 【解析】【导语】 本文为一篇说明文，介绍了人们之所以在吃西兰花和花菜时觉得难吃是因为口腔唾液中的一种特定的酶。 (1)题解析： 主旨大意题。根据文章第一段“When served cauliflower or broccoli, some kids turn away in annoyance. Don’t blame them — a new study suggests specific enzymes in saliva might make these vegetables taste terrible to some children. (当吃到花椰菜或西兰花时，一些孩子会不耐烦地走开。不要责怪他们——一项新的研究表明，唾液中的特定酶可能会让这些蔬菜对一些孩子来说味道糟糕)”及第二段“These enzymes, called cysteine lyases, are produced by bacteria in the mouth.(这些酶被称为半胱氨酸裂合酶，是由口腔中的细菌产生的)”可知，文章第一、二段解释了花菜的味道难吃的原因。故选B。 (2)题解析： 细节理解题。根据文章第四段“These enzymes break down a compound called S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO) in these vegetables, and this breakdown process transforms the compound into sharp smell molecules. Previous studies of adults suggest the level of cysteine lyase activity in a person’s saliva determines how much the SMCSO breaks down. This, in turn, influences how these vegetables taste to adults. (这些酶在这些蔬菜中分解成一种叫做S - 甲基 - l - 半胱氨酸亚砜（SMCSO）的化合物，这个分解过程将化合物转化为尖锐的气味分子。先前对成年人的研究表明，人唾液中半胱氨酸裂合酶的活性水平决定了SMCSO的分解程度。这反过来又影响了这些蔬菜对成年人的味道)”可知，之前的研究表明，酶决定了芥属植物在嘴里的味道。故选B。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。根据文章最后一段“The same preference pattern is not seen in adults, who also produce plenty of bad smells. This suggests that the adults came to tolerate the taste of Brassica vegetables. The findings agree with past studies of how our tastes change over time: we can learn to overcome our distaste for certain food by eating it more. (这表明，成年人开始耐受芥属植物蔬菜的味道。这一发现与过去关于我们的口味如何随时间变化的研究一致：我们可以通过多吃来克服对某种食物的厌恶)”可知，通过不断的接触，我们可能会接受某些不太喜欢的食物。故选A。 主题语境05 人与自然-宇宙探索 （23-24高三上·北京市北京师范大学附属中学·期中）NASA’s spacecraft Dart hit an asteroid (小行星) 11.3 million kilometers away at a speed, changing the asteroid’s orbit and lowered its cycle period by 15 minutes, the space organization announced on Monday. Some said the move shows the world might now be able to prevent asteroids—the kind that made the dinosaurs extinct—from hitting the Earth. The asteroid that was controlled belonged to a double-asteroid system. It had a 160-meter diameter while the other asteroid’s diameter is over 500 meters. The bigger asteroid can be compared to the one that ended the dinosaur era 67 million years ago. A hit from an asteroid that size can cause unimaginable destruction. However, it is too early to assert that the world has gained the ability to prevent asteroids from hitting us. The asteroid that was controlled was only 160 meters in size. Its cycle period was changed, without changing its orbit significantly. It is still not clear if the orbit of a much larger asteroid headed toward the Earth can be changed successfully. In brief, NASA’s success in changing the course of a harmful asteroid is definitely praiseworthy, but much more needs to be done before we can say the world’s security from some unpredictable asteroid is guaranteed. It should be noted that changing the orbit of an asteroid involves more than just sending an object into space and commanding it to hit the asteroid. While it is hard enough to hit an asteroid, it is even more difficult to lock onto one in the first place. It means having the ability to observe approaching asteroids, measuring their respective speeds, and deciding which ones might pose a danger to the Earth. Therefore, there’s more to Dart hitting the asteroid than meets the eye. And these are key areas where global scientists need to work harder in the future. 1.What was the latest news about NASA? A. Its new program failed. B. Its manned spaceship hit an asteroid. C. Its spacecraft changed an asteroid’s orbit. D. Its spacecraft saved the earth from being destroyed. 2.What can we learn about the asteroid that was hit? A. It was comparatively small in size. B. Its orbit was changed significantly. C. It travelled at a higher speed than before. D. It was powerful enough to end dinosaur era. 3.What is the author’s attitude toward using spacecrafts to change the asteroids orbits? A. Neutral. B. Optimistic. C. Pessimistic. D. Not mentioned. 【答案】1. C　2. A　3. B 【解析】【导语】 这是一篇新闻报道。文章讲述了美国航天局的宇宙飞船击中了小行星，并改变了其运动轨道。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。根据第一段“NASA’s spacecraft Dart hit an asteroid (小行星) 11.3 million kilometers away at a speed, changing the asteroid’s orbit and lowered its cycle period by I5 minutes, the space organization announced on Monday. (国际空间组于周一宣布，美国航天局宇宙飞船Dart以极快的速度击中了1130公里以外的一颗小行星，改变了它的轨道并且缩短了它的周期)”可知，飞船由于撞击小行星，改变了小行星的运行轨道和周期。故选C。 (2)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第三段“The asteroid that was controlled was only 160 meters in size. Its cycle period was changed, without changing its orbit significantly. It is still not clear if the orbit of a much larger asteroid headed toward the Earth can be changed successfully.(被控制的小行星只有160米大。它的周期改变了，但轨道没有明显改变。目前还不清楚一颗更大的小行星朝向地球的轨道能否成功改变)”可推知，相对来说，这颗小行星比较小。故选A。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第四段“In brief, NASA’s success in changing the course of a harmful asteroid is definitely praiseworthy, but much more needs to be done before we can say the world’s security from some unpredictable asteroid is guaranteed.(简而言之，NASA成功地改变了一颗有害小行星的运行轨迹，这无疑是值得称赞的，但我们还需要做更多的工作，才能保证世界免受一些不可预测的小行星的威胁)”可推知，作者对于太空飞船改变小行星轨道是赞赏的态度。故选B。 主题语境06 人与自然-自然生态 Passage 1 （24-25高三上·北京朝阳·期中）A species can be termed temporarily “lost” after not being sighted for a decade, but researchers still hope to find it again eventually. In 2023, that hope led to the rediscovery of Attenborough’s echidna, unseen for half a century. Inspired, Thomas Evans and his team have created a database of 856 lost and 424 rediscovered species. The database keeps growing faster than explorers can keep up with, despite increasingly advanced technologies for tracing unseen creatures reaching an expertise level. The study indicates many rediscovered species appear to follow a rather similar trend: they are big, appealing mammals or birds tending to live near humans and in more-developed countries. Thus, Evans says if an animal is up to snuff but continues to be out of researchers’ sight after long searches, it’s probably gone forever. On the contrary, animals that don’t exhibit the pattern for easy rediscovery are very much alive out there. “Because they are generally difficult to come across and are therefore met with less exploratory attention, in most cases, small, unattractive species are more likely to be seemingly extinct but still alive,” Evans says. Evans hopes such details will help conservationists like Christina Biggs, who has been drawing upon a list of 25 “most wanted” species for Texas-based charity Re: wild since 2017. “Currenuly, Re: wild is finalizing its 2024 search lists, using the study’s results. We have to make hard decisions on where to put our money, and Evans’s research helps to direct us,” says Biggs. But is it always in a lost species’ best interest to be found? After a rediscovery, it can take months to secure an area from hunters or tourists. “In publicizing something you’ve rediscovered, you’re publicizing a food source for hunters,” says biologist James Kempton. Biggs notes, however, rediscoveries often strengthen protection efforts. When a species is rediscovered, protected areas will be made possible. Biggs adds that for some hard- to-find species, researchers could use Evans’s study to decide if a creature is likely still alive — and then draw broad protected areas around its general region, where other endangered species also live, rather than send possibly fruitless explorers to the area to prove the animal’s existence. Beyond the scientific gains, searching for lost species plays a crucial role in understanding and protecting our world. Once, the Yongsu Sapari community used Attenborough’s echidnas as a peace tool to settle arguments. “If brothers fought, they had to find an Attenborough’s echidna, a solution that is increasingly difficult,” Biggs says. “So, everything is connected. Every species behaves in an ecosystem and fulfills a purpose.” 1.What does the underlined phrase “is up to snuff” in Paragraph 2 probably mean? A. Fits the profile. B. Adapts well. C. Breaks the habit. D. Grows mature. 2.What can be inferred from the passage? A. Technology has reduced the number of missing species. B. Publicizing rediscovery secures the future of lost species. C. Larger animals face a higher extinction risk than smaller ones. D. Animals neighboring humans receive more attention in searches. 3.What might Christina Biggs agree with? A. The number of echidnas will increase after its rediscovery. B. Exploratory missions matter more than habitat preservation. C. Extinct species come with both ecological and cultural losses. D. Thomas Evans has instructed Re: wild to identify the 25 species. 【答案】1. A　2. D　3. C 【解析】【导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了研究人员如何通过创建数据库来追踪和重新发现“失联”物种，并讨论了重新发现物种对保护工作的影响以及公众宣传的双刃剑效应。 (1)题解析： 词句猜测题。根据第二段划线词前“The study indicates many rediscovered species appear to follow a rather similar trend: they are big, appealing mammals or birds tending to live near humans and in more-developed countries.(研究表明，许多重新发现的物种表现出相似的趋势：它们通常是生活在人类附近的大型、吸引人的哺乳动物或鸟类，且多生活在较发达国家)”及划线词后“but continues to be out of researchers’ sight after long searches, it’s probably gone forever.(但在长时间搜索后仍然不见踪影，那么它可能已经永远消失了)”可知，如果一个动物符合重新被发现的标准，即体型大、有吸引力、生活在人类附近或更发达的国家，但在长时间的搜寻后仍未被找到，那么它可能已经永远消失了。故划线词“is up to snuff”与A项“符合标准”意义相近。故选A。 (2)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第二段“The study indicates many rediscovered species appear to follow a rather similar trend: they are big, appealing mammals or birds tending to live near humans and in more-developed countries. Thus, Evans says if an animal is up to snuff but continues to be out of researchers’ sight after long searches, it’s probably gone forever. On the contrary, animals that don’t exhibit the pattern for easy rediscovery are very much alive out there. “Because they are generally difficult to come across and are therefore met with less exploratory attention, in most cases, small, unattractive species are more likely to be seemingly extinct but still alive,” Evans says.(研究表明，许多重新发现的物种表现出相似的趋势：它们通常是生活在人类附近的大型、吸引人的哺乳动物或鸟类，且多生活在较发达国家。因此，埃文斯说，如果一种动物符合标准，但在长时间搜索后仍然不见踪影，那么它可能已经永远消失了。相反，不符合容易重新发现模式的动物很可能仍然活着。“因为它们通常难以遇见，因此得到的探索关注较少，大多数情况下，小型、不吸引人的物种看起来已经灭绝，但实际上仍然活着，”埃文斯说)”可知，人类相邻的动物由于更容易被注意到和重新发现，因此它们受到的关注更多。故选D。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。根据最后一段“Beyond the scientific gains, searching for lost species plays a crucial role in understanding and protecting our world. Once, the Yongsu Sapari community used Attenborough’s echidnas as a peace tool to settle arguments. “If brothers fought, they had to find an Attenborough’s echidna, a solution that is increasingly difficult,” Biggs says. “So, everything is connected. Every species behaves in an ecosystem and fulfills a purpose.(除了科学上的收获，寻找失联物种在理解和保护我们的世界中发挥着关键作用。曾经，Yongsu Sapari社区使用爱登堡针鼹作为一种和平工具来解决争端。“如果兄弟们争吵，他们必须找到一只爱登堡针鼹，但这种情况越来越难，”比格斯说。“所以，一切都是相互关联的。每个物种在生态系统中都有其行为和作用)”可知，比格斯会同意的观点是：灭绝的物种不仅带来生态上的损失，还有文化上的损失。故选C。 Passage 2 （23-24高三上·北京第八中学·期中）Although it has been revealed in recent years that plants are capable of seeing, hearing and smelling, they are still usually thought of as silent. But now, for the first time, they have been recorded making ultrasonic cries when stressed, which researchers say could open up a new field of precision agriculture where farmers listen for water-starved crops. Itzhak Khait and his colleagues at Tel Aviv University in Israel found that tomato and tobacco plants made cries at frequencies humans cannot hear when stressed by a lack of water or when their stem is cut. Microphones placed 10 centimetres from the plants picked up sounds in the ultrasonic range of 20 to 100 kilohertz, which the team says insects and some mammals would be capable of hearing and responding to from as far as 5 metres away. A moth may decide against laying eggs on a plant that sounds water-stressed, the researchers suggest. Plants could even hear that other plants are short of water and react accordingly, they speculate. On average, drought-stressed tomato plants made 35 sounds an hour, while tobacco plants made 11. When plant stems were cut, tomato plants made an average of 25 sounds in the following hour, and tobacco plants 15. Unstressed plants produced fewer than one sound per hour, on average. It is even possible to distinguish between the sounds to know what the stress is. The researchers trained a machine-learning model to discriminate between the plants’ sounds and the wind, rain and other noises of the greenhouse, correctly identifying in most cases whether the stress was caused by dryness or a cut, based on the sound’s intensity and frequency. Water-hungry tobacco appears to make louder sounds than cut tobacco, for example. Enabling farmers to listen for water-stressed plants could “open a new direction in the field of precision agriculture”, the researchers suggest. They add that such an ability will be increasingly important as climate change exposes more areas to drought. “The suggestion that the sounds that drought-stressed plants make could be used in precision agriculture seems feasible if it is not too costly to set up the recording in a field situation,” says Anne Visscher at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in the UK. She warns that the results can’t yet be broadened out to other stresses, such as salt or temperature, because these may not lead to sounds. In addition, there have been no experiments to show whether moths or any other animal can hear and respond to the sounds the plants make, so that idea remains speculative（推测的）for now, she says. 1.The experiment by researchers at Tel Aviv University shows that_______. A. tobacco plants make louder sounds than tomato plants when hurt B. water-hungry tomato plants are more sensible than tobacco plants C. unstressed plants produced sounds of laughter when being watered D. plants respond to the sounds the plants make and protect themselves 2.What is Anne Visscher’s attitude towards the finding of the experiment? A. Appreciative B. Doubtful C. Cautious D. Optimistic 3.It can be learnt from the research that ________. A. greenhouse effects can be avoided B. soil condition can be adjusted in time. C. plant condition can be diagnosed faster. D. insects can be detected and removed easily. 4.What is the best title for the article? A. Plants Get Stressed Just Like Us B. Plants Scream in Presence of Stress C. Sounds of Plants Detected Far Away D. Sounds of Plants Break Farmers’ Hearts 【答案】1. B　2. C　3. C　4. B 【解析】 这是一篇说明文。文章讲述了，一项研究表明，植物在压力下会发出超声波叫声，这可能会开辟一个精确农业的新领域，让农民们倾听缺水作物的声音。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。由第四段中的“On average, drought-stressed tomato plants made 35 sounds an hour, while tobacco plants made 11.”（平均来说，干旱压力下的番茄植株每小时发出35个声音，而烟草植株每小时发出11个声音。），可知缺水番茄比烟草更敏感，干旱条件下，番茄植株发声多。故选B项。 (2)题解析： 推理判断题。由倒数第二段“The suggestion that the sounds that drought-stressed plants make could be used in precision agriculture seems feasible if it is not too costly to set up the recording in a field situation”（干旱压力下植物发出的声音可以用于精准农业的建议，如果在田间条件下设置录音成本不太高的话，这一建议似乎是可行的。）和最后一段中的“She warns that the results can’t yet be broadened out to other stresses, such as salt or temperature, because these may not lead to sounds. In addition, there have been no experiments to show whether moths or any other animal can hear and respond to the sounds the plants make, so that idea remains speculative（推测的）for now, she says.”（她警告说，研究结果还不能扩大到其他压力，如盐或温度，因为这些可能不会导致声音。此外，她还说，目前还没有实验证明飞蛾或其他动物是否能听到并对植物发出的声音做出反应，所以这个想法目前仍然是推测性的。），可推断出Anne Visscher对实验的发现抱有谨慎的态度。故选C项。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。由第一段中的“But now, for the first time, they have been recorded making ultrasonic cries when stressed, which researchers say could open up a new field of precision agriculture where farmers listen for water-starved crops.”（但现在，有人首次记录到它们在压力下会发出超声波叫声，研究人员说，这可能会开辟一个精确农业的新领域，让农民们倾听缺水作物的声音。）和第五段中的“The researchers trained a machine-learning model to discriminate between the plants’ sounds and the wind, rain and other noises of the greenhouse, correctly identifying in most cases whether the stress was caused by dryness or a cut, based on the sound’s intensity and frequency.”（研究人员训练了一个机器学习模型来区分植物的声音和温室里的风、雨和其他噪音，根据声音的强度和频率，在大多数情况下正确地识别出压力是由干燥还是割伤引起的。），可推断出此研究可以帮助人们更快地诊断出植物状况。故选C项。 (4)题解析： 主旨大意题。由第一段中的“But now, for the first time, they have been recorded making ultrasonic cries when stressed, which researchers say could open up a new field of precision agriculture where farmers listen for water-starved crops.”（但现在，有人首次记录到它们在压力下会发出超声波叫声，研究人员说，这可能会开辟一个精确农业的新领域，让农民们倾听缺水作物的声音。）和第二段“Itzhak Khait and his colleagues at Tel Aviv University in Israel found that tomato and tobacco plants made cries at frequencies humans cannot hear when stressed by a lack of water or when their stem is cut.”（以色列特拉维夫大学的伊扎克•哈伊特和他的同事们发现，番茄和烟草植物在缺水或茎被割下时发出的叫声频率是人类听不到的。），可知文章讲的是植物会在压力下发出人类听不到的超声波叫声，所以B选项“植物在压力下尖叫”，为短文最佳标题。故选B项。 主题语境01 人与社会-历史、社会与文化 （24-25高三上·北京第四中学·期中）Consider these facts: The tennis champion Williams sisters are a generation apart, according to the Pew Research Center. Venus, born in 1980, is labelled “Gen X”; Serena, born in 1981, is a “millennial”. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Michelle Obama both belong to the same generation. The former was born in 1946 while the latter was born in 1964, making them both “baby boomers”. Before you push these diverse personalities into generational stereotypes (刻板印象), let me stop you there: Just don’t. Generation labels, although widely adopted by the public, have no basis in social reality. In fact, in one recent survey, most people did not identify the correct generation for themselves, even when they were shown a list of options. This is not surprising since the labels are forced by survey researchers, journalists or marketing firms before the identities they are supposed to describe even exist. Instead of asking people which group they identify with and why, they just declare the labels and start making pronouncements about them. That’s not how social identity works. The practice of naming “generations” based on birth year goes back at least to the supposed “lost-generation” of the late 19th century. But as the tradition slid into a never-ending competition to be the first to propose the next name that sticks, it has produced gradually declining returns to social science and the public understanding. The supposed boundaries between generations are no more meaningful than the names they’ve been given. There is no research identifying the appropriate boundaries between generations, and there is no statistical basis for requiring the sweeping character traits (特征) that are believed to define them. In one article you might read that millennials are “liberal lions”, “downwardly mobile”, and “distrustful”; even though they also “get along well with their parents, respect their elders and work well with colleagues”. Ridiculous, clearly. But what’s the harm? Aren’t these labels just a bit of fun for writers? A method to attract readers and a way of communicating generational change, which no one would deny is a real phenomenon? We, in academic social science, study and teach social change, but we don’t study and teach these labels because they simply aren’t real. And in social science, reality still matters. Worse than irrelevant, such baseless labels drive people toward stereotyping and thoughtless character judgment. Measuring and describing social change is essential, and it can be useful to analyze the historical period in which people were born and raised, but drawing random lines between birth years and assigning names to them doesn’t help. Today there are lots of good alternatives to label generations. We can simply describe people by the decade in which they were born and define generational groups specifically related to a particular issue—such as 2020 school kids. With the arrival of “Generation Z”, there has never been a better time to get off this train. 1.What do the facts listed in Paragraph 1 imply? A. Different people have different opinions about generation labels. B. People with the same generation label may not be of similar age. C. Generational change can be measured by generation labels. D. Generation labels are widely adopted by celebrities. 2.The underlined word “sticks” in Paragraph 4 probably means ______. A. is understood B. is analyzed C. is described D. is accepted 3.According to the passage, the author may agree that ______. A. the generation label is a harmless device writers use to reflect reality B. generation boundaries are more meaningful than generation labels C. assigning character traits to a certain generation is misguided D. journalists should find alternative ways to judge character 4.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? A. Generation labels: It’s high time to retire them B. Generation labels: The ongoing debate will never end C. Generation labels: What do they say about who we are? D. Generation labels: Expand or bridge generational differences? 【答案】1. B　2. D　3. C　4. A 【解析】 这是一篇说明文。主要介绍了代际标签的制定，说明代际标签具有不可靠性，给一代人贴标签，有很多好的替代选择。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。根据第一段“Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Michelle Obama both belong to the same generation. The former was born in 1946 while the latter was born in 1964, making them both “baby boomers”.”（同时，唐纳德·特朗普和米歇尔·奥巴马都属于同一代人。前者出生于1946年，而后者出生于1964年，他们都属于“婴儿潮一代”。）可知，具有同一代标签的人可能年龄不同。故选B项。 (2)题解析： 词句猜测题。根据第四段“But as the tradition slid into a never-ending competition to be the first to propose the next name”（但是，随着这一传统滑向一场无休止的要成为第一个提出下一个名字的竞争，）以及“it has produced gradually declining returns to social science and the public understanding.”（社会科学和公众理解的回报率逐渐下降。）可知，句中the next name指的是为下一代取的名字，即可以被接受的一个名字，推测划线单词表示“接受”，与is accepted同义。故选D项。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第二段“Before you push these diverse personalities into generational stereotypes (刻板印象), let me stop you there: Just don’t.”（在你将这些不同的性格推入代际刻板印象之前，让我在这里阻止你：不要这样做。）以及第六段“We, in academic social science, study and teach social change, but we don’t study and teach these labels because they simply aren’t real. And in social science, reality still matters.”（在学术社会科学中，我们研究和教授社会变革，但我们不研究和教授这些标签，因为它们根本不是真实的。在社会科学中，现实仍然很重要。）可知，作者不同意将不同的性格推入代际刻板印象，认为代际标签是不真实的，可能同意将性格特征分配给某一代是错误的。故选C项。 (4)题解析： 主旨大意题。通读全文，文章主要说明了代际标签的制定以及一些代际标签制定的发展，说明了代际标签具有不可靠性，给一代人贴标签，有很多好的替代选择，所以“时代标签：是时候让它们退役了”可以作为文章标题。故选A项。 主题语境02 人与社会-文学、艺术与体育 （23-24高三上·北京第十三中学·期中）Do you listen to quiet music to help you wind down before sleep? However, this practice could be counter-productive, according to a new study by Michael K. Scullin and colleagues at Baylor University. The work, published in Psychological Medicine, found that bedtime music was associated with more sleep disruptions and that instrumental music is even worse than music with lyrics. In the first study, 199 online participants living in the US reported on their sleep quality and music listening frequency and timing, as well as their beliefs about how this affected their sleep. Almost all—87%—believed that music improves sleep, or at least does not disrupt it. However, the team found that more overall time spent listening to music was associated with poorer sleep and daytime sleepiness. Just over three quarters of the participants also reported experiencing frequent “earworms”—having a song or tune “stuck” and replaying in their minds. A quarter reported experiencing these during the night at least once per week, and these people were six times as likely to report poor sleep quality. The team’s analysis suggested that listening specifically to instrumental music near bedtime was linked to more sleep-related earworms and poorer sleep quality. The team then ran an experimental study on 48 young adults. After arriving at the sleep lab at 8:45 p. m., participants went to a quiet bedroom, where they completed questionnaires that included measures of stress, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. They also had electrodes applied, ready for the night-time polysomnography to record their brain wave activity, as well as heart rate and breathing, and reported on how relaxed, nervous, energetic, sleepy and stressed they felt. At 10:00 p. m., they were given some “downtime”, with quiet music playing. Half were randomized to hear three songs while the other half heard instrumental-only versions of these same songs. Participants reported decreases in stress and nervousness and increased relaxation after listening to either set of songs, and also showed decreases in blood pressure. So-as earlier studies have also suggested- quiet music at bedtime was indeed relaxing at the time. However, a quarter of the participants woke from sleep with an earworm, and the polysomnography data showed that instrumental versions of the songs were more likely to induce these awakenings as well as other sleep disruptions, such as shifts from deeper sleep to lighter sleep. Taken together, the findings represent “causal evidence for bedtime instrumental music affecting sleep quality via triggering earworms” the team writes. Why instrumental-only songs should have a bigger impact than music with lyrics isn’t clear. The three songs used in this study were chosen because they were likely to be familiar. Hearing them without the lyrics might have prompted the participant’s brains to try to add the words, which might have made earworms more likely. If this is the case, all instrumental music may not have the same effect. However, the data from the first study is consistent with the idea that instrumental music generally is more of a problem. 1.According to the passage, the participants in both studies______. A. were required to listen to light music B. felt their sleeping problems resolved C. had their sleeping quality monitored D. provided feedback on bedtime music 2.What does the underlined word “induce” in Paragraph 4 probably mean? A. Lead to. B. Impact on. C. Break in. D. Focus on. 3.What can we learn from the passage? A. Earworms are mainly caused by music with lyrics. B. Bedtime music leads to high blood pressure and anxiety. C. Quiet music improves sleeping quality while loud music harms sleep. D. Both familiar and unfamiliar instrumental music can cause sleeping problems. 4.The passage is mainly about______. A. how instrumental music disturbs sleep B. the possible negative effect of bedtime music C. how people can improve their sleep quality D. differences between music with and without lyrics 【答案】1. D　2. A　3. D　4. B 【解析】【导语】 本文是一篇说明文，介绍了一项最新研究表明：睡前音乐会导致更多的睡眠中断，乐器音乐甚至比有歌词的音乐更糟糕。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。文章第二段讲到“A quarter reported experiencing these during the night at least once per week, and these people were six times as likely to report poor sleep quality. (四分之一的人报告说，他们每周至少在夜间经历一次这种情况，而这些人报告睡眠质量差的可能性是其他人的六倍。)”以及第四段讲到“Participants reported decreases in stress and nervousness and increased relaxation after listening to either set of songs, and also showed decreases in blood pressure. (参与者报告说，听了这两首歌后，压力和紧张情绪减轻，放松感增强，血压也有所下降。)”可知，根据文章，两项研究的参与者都提供睡前音乐反馈。故选D。 (2)题解析： 词义猜测题。文章第四段讲到“However, a quarter of the participants woke from sleep with an earworm, and the polysomnography data showed that instrumental versions of the songs were more likely to induce these awakenings as well as other sleep disruptions, such as shifts from deeper sleep to lighter sleep. (然而，四分之一的参与者从睡梦中醒来时患上了耳虫，多导睡眠图数据显示，这些歌曲的器乐版本更有可能引发这些觉醒以及其他睡眠中断，例如从深度睡眠转变为轻度睡眠。)”可知，第4段中带下划线的单词“induce”可能的意思是“导致”。故选A。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。文章最后一段讲到“If this is the case, all instrumental music may not have the same effect. However, the data from the first study is consistent with the idea that instrumental music generally is more of a problem. (如果是这样的话，所有的器乐可能都不会有相同的效果。然而，第一项研究的数据与器乐通常更成问题的观点一致。)”可知，从这篇文章推断出熟悉和不熟悉的器乐都会导致睡眠问题。故选D。 (4)题解析： 主旨大意题。本文介绍了一项最新研究表明：睡前音乐会导致更多的睡眠中断，乐器音乐甚至比有歌词的音乐更糟糕。尤其文章第一段讲到“The work, published in Psychological Medicine,found that bedtime music was associated with more sleep disruptions and that instrumental music is even worse than music with lyrics. (这项发表在《心理医学》上的研究发现，睡前音乐与更多的睡眠中断有关，器乐甚至比有歌词的音乐更糟糕。)”可知，这篇文章主要是关于睡前音乐可能带来的负面影响。故选B。 主题语境03 人与社会-科学与技术 Passage 1 （24-25高三上·北京汇文中学·期中）Enlightening, challenging, stimulating, fun. These were some of the words that Nature readers used to describe their experiences of art-science collaborations in a series of articles on partnerships between artists and researchers. Nearly 40% of the roughly 350 people who responded to an accompanying poll, said they had collaborated with artists; and almost all said they would consider doing so in future. Such an encouraging result is not surprising. Scientists are increasingly seeking out visual artists to help them communicate their work to new audiences. “Artists help scientists reach a broader audience and make emotional connections that enhance learning,” one respondent said. One example of how artists and scientists have together rocked the scenes came last month when the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performed a reworked version of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. They reimagined the 300-year-old score by injecting the latest climate prediction data for each season-provided by Monash University’s Climate Change Communication Research Hub. The performance was a creative call to action ahead of November’s United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, UK. But a genuine partnership must be a two-way street. Fewer artists than scientists responded to the Nature poll; however, several respondents noted that artists do not simply assist scientists with their communication requirements. Nor should their work be considered only as an object of study. The alliances are most valuable when scientists and artists have a shared interest in a project, are able to jointly design it and can critique each other’s work. Such an approach can both prompt new research as well as result in powerful art. More than half a century ago, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology opened its Center for Advanced Visual Studies (CAVS) to explore the role of technology in culture. The founders deliberately focused their projects around light—hence the"visual studies"in the name. Light was something that both artists and scientists had an interest in, and therefore could form the basis of collaboration. As science and technology progressed, and divided into more sub-disciplines, the centre was simultaneously (同时地) looking to a time when leading researchers could also be artists, writers and poets, and vice versa. Nature’s poll findings suggest that this trend is as strong as ever, but, to make a collaboration work, both sides need to invest time, and embrace surprise and challenge. The reach of art-science tie-ups needs to go beyond the necessary purpose of research communication, and participant must not fall into the trap of stereotyping (对…产生成见) each other. Artists and scientists alike are immersed in discovery and invention, and challenge and critique are core to both, too. 1.According to Paragraph 1, art-science collaborations have ________. A. caught the attention of critics B. received favorable responses C. promoted academic publishing D. sparked heated public controversy 2.The reworked version of The Four Seasons is mentioned to show that ________. A. art can offer audiences easy access to science B. science can help with the expression of emotions C. public participation in science has a promising future D. art is effective in facilitating scientific innovations 3.What does the underlined world “alliances” in Paragraph 4 probably mean? A. associations B. attachments C. disputes D. involvements 4.According to the author, art-science collaborations A. are likely to go beyond public expectations B. will intensify interdisciplinary competition C. should do more than communicating science D. are becoming more popular than before 【答案】1. B　2. A　3. A　4. C 【解析】【导语】 这是一篇说明文。主要介绍了艺术-科学合作得到了良好的反响。在一系列关于艺术家和研究人员合作的文章中，《自然》杂志的读者用启发、挑战、刺激、有趣这些词来描述他们在艺术与科学合作方面的经历。在参与调查的350人中，近40%的人表示他们曾与艺术家合作过；几乎所有人都表示，他们会考虑在未来这么做。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。根据第一段“Enlightening, challenging, stimulating, fun. These were some of the words that Nature readers used to describe their experiences of art-science collaborations in a series of articles on partnerships between artists and researchers. Nearly 40% of the roughly 350 people who responded to an accompanying poll, said they had collaborated with artists; and almost all said they would consider doing so in future.(启发、挑战、刺激、有趣。在一系列关于艺术家和研究人员合作的文章中，《自然》杂志的读者用这些词来描述他们在艺术与科学合作方面的经历。在参与调查的350人中，近40%的人表示他们曾与艺术家合作过；几乎所有人都表示，他们会考虑在未来这么做)”可知，根据第1段内容可以了解到，艺术-科学合作得到了良好的反响。故选B项。 (2)题解析： 推理判断题。根据第二段中““Artists help scientists reach a broader audience and make emotional connections that enhance learning,” one respondent said.(“艺术家帮助科学家接触到更广泛的受众，并建立情感联系，从而增强学习能力。”一位受访者说)”以及第三段“One example of how artists and scientists have together rocked the scenes came last month when the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performed a reworked version of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. They reimagined the 300-year-old score by injecting the latest climate prediction data for each season-provided by Monash University’s Climate Change Communication Research Hub. The performance was a creative call to action ahead of November’s United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, UK.(上个月，悉尼交响乐团(Sydney Symphony Orchestra)演奏了安东尼奥·维瓦尔第(Antonio Vivaldi)的《四季》(the Four Seasons)的重做版本，这是艺术家和科学家一起震撼感官的一个例子。他们利用莫纳什大学气候变化传播研究中心提供的每个季节的最新气候预测数据，重新想象了300年前的分数。在11月于英国格拉斯哥举行的联合国气候变化会议之前，这一表演是一种创造性的行动呼吁)”可推知，重新制作的《四季》是为了说明艺术可以让观众更容易地接触科学。故选A项。 (3)题解析： 词句猜测题。根据前文“But a genuine partnership must be a two-way street. Fewer artists than scientists responded to the Nature poll; however, several respondents noted that artists do not simply assist scientists with their communication requirements. Nor should their work be considered only as an object of study.(但真正的伙伴关系必须是双向的。回应《自然》调查的艺术家比科学家少；然而，一些受访者指出，艺术家不仅仅是帮助科学家满足他们的沟通需求。他们的工作也不应该仅仅被视为研究的对象)”可知，本段真正的伙伴关系必须是双向的，也就是艺术家不仅仅是帮助科学家满足他们的沟通需求，而且能够共同设计这个项目，并能互相批评对方的工作，这种联盟是最有价值的，推知alliances应是“联盟”之意，和A项意思相近。故选A项。 (4)题解析： 推理判断题。根据最后一段“Nature’s poll findings suggest that this trend is as strong as ever, but, to make a collaboration work, both sides need to invest time, and embrace surprise and challenge. The reach of art-science tie-ups needs to go beyond the necessary purpose of research communication, and participant must not fall into the trap of stereotyping (对……产生成见) each other. Artists and scientists alike are immersed in discovery and invention, and challenge and critique are core to both, too.(《自然》杂志的民意调查结果表明，这种趋势一如既往地强劲，但是，为了使合作奏效，双方都需要投入时间，并接受惊喜和挑战。艺术与科学结合的范围需要超越研究交流的必要目的，参与者不能陷入彼此刻板印象的陷阱。艺术家和科学家都参与发现和发明，挑战和评论也是两者的核心)”可推知，根据作者的说法，作者认为艺术与科学的合作应该做的不仅仅是传播科学。故选C项。 Passage 2 （24-25高三上·北京朝阳·期中）Over the summer, the neuroscientist Christ of Koch accepted defeat on his 25-year bet with the philosopher David Chalmers, a lost wager that the science of consciousness would be all wrapped up by now. Despite decades of research, there’s little sign of shared understanding on consciousness, with several competing theories still being debated. In my new book entitled Why? , I take head-on the question of why it’s so hard to make progress on consciousness. The core difficulty is that consciousness cannot be easily observed. You can’t look inside someone’s brain and see their feelings and experiences. Science does deal with things that can’t be observed, such as fundamental particles (粒子), quantum wave functions (量子波函数), and maybe even other universes. But consciousness poses an important difference: in all of these other cases, we theorize about things we can’t observe in order to explain what we can observe. Uniquely with consciousness, the thing we are trying to explain cannot be publicly observed. How then can we investigate consciousness? I argue that we can account for the evolution of consciousness only if we reject reductionism (简化论) about it. Most consciousness researchers employ a reductionist view of the universe, where physics is running the show. Thus, insofar as there are some future possibilities left open by the arrangements of particles in our brains, they are settled by nothing more than the random chanciness implicit (含蓄的) in quantum mechanics. Some challenges have emerged lately to this reductionist model. The neuroscientist Kevin Mitchell argues that the free will of conscious organisms plays a role in determining what will happen in the brain, over and above what is settled by the laws of physics. Evolution offers one of the strongest challenges. Natural selection only cares about behavior, as it’s only behavior that matters for survival. Rapid progress in AI and robotics has made it clear, however, that extremely complex behaviour can exist in a system that entirely lacks conscious experience. For any adaptive behaviour associated with consciousness, there could be a nonconscious mechanism that inspires the same behaviour. Given this, it is a deep mystery why consciousness evolved at all. But suppose the emergence of biological consciousness brings into existence radically new forms of behavior, over and above what physics alone could produce. Perhaps organisms that have conscious awareness of the world around them, and thereby freely respond based on that awareness, behave very differently than mere mechanisms. Consequently, they survive much better. With these assumptions, we can make sense of natural selection’s preference for conscious organisms. As a philosopher, in Why? , I develop a radical form — the view that consciousness goes right down to the fundamental building blocks of reality — aimed at addressing the philosophical challenges of consciousness, as well as providing a framework for scientists to make progress on the scientific issues. It is a pincer movement (钳形运动) of science and philosophy that will, ultimately, crack the mystery of consciousness. 1.What can we learn about consciousness from this passage? A. Consciousness evolves from behavior. B. Scientists theorize consciousness to observe it. C. Consciousness lacks observable phenomena to study. D. Quantum wave functions help explain consciousness. 2.As for Kevin Mitchell’s argument, the author is . A. supportive. B. disapproving. C. neutral. D. uncertain. 3.What can be inferred from the passage? A. Physicists’ researches reject reductionism. B. Brain works independently of the physics principles. C. The nature of consciousness requires further investigation. D. Natural selection proves reductionist views of consciousness. 4.What is the best title of the passage? A. A Debate over the Nature of Consciousness. B. Consciousness and Behavior: A Philosophical Perspective. C. The Role of Natural Selection in Consciousness Development. D. Beyond Reductionism: Exploring the Evolution of Consciousness. 【答案】1. C　2. A　3. C　4. D 【解析】【导语】 这是一篇说明文。主要介绍当前意识研究领域面临的困境、挑战和新的探索方向，提出超越简化论来解释意识进化的新方向。 (1)题解析： 细节理解题。根据文章第二段“The core difficulty is that consciousness cannot be easily observed. You can’t look inside someone’s brain and see their feelings and experiences.（核心困难在于意识不容易被观察。你无法看到某人的大脑内部，无法看到他们的情感和体验。）”可知，意识在人脑内部，不易被观察，因此选项C“意识缺乏可观察的现象用以研究”符合题意。故选C项。 (2)题解析： 推理判断题。根据文章第四段“The neuroscientist Kevin Mitchell argues that the free will of conscious organisms plays a role in determining what will happen in the brain, over and above what is settled by the laws of physics.（神经科学家Kevin Mitchell认为，有意识生物体的自由意志在决定大脑中将发生什么方面起着作用，这超出了物理定律所决定的范围。）”以及接下来的内容“Given this, it is a deep mystery why consciousness evolved at all. But suppose the emergence of biological consciousness brings into existence radically new forms of behavior, over and above what physics alone could produce.（鉴于此，意识为何会进化仍然是一个深奥的谜团。但假设生物意识出现却带来了物理定律单独作用之外的全新行为模式。）”，可以看出作者对于Kevin Mitchell的观点是支持的。因此，选项A“支持的”符合题意。故选A项。 (3)题解析： 推理判断题。根据文章整体内容，特别是第一段“Despite decades of research, there’s little sign of shared understanding on consciousness, with several competing theories still being debated.（尽管经历了几十年的研究，但对意识的理解几乎没有达成共识的迹象，几个相互对立的理论仍在争论中。）”和最后一段“It is a pincer movement (钳形运动) of science and philosophy that will, ultimately, crack the mystery of consciousness.（科学和哲学的钳形运动，最终将揭开意识的神秘面纱。）”可知，从文中可推断出的是选项C的“意识的本质需进一步研究”。故选C项。 (4)题解析： 主旨大意题。根据全文内容，特别是第四段“How then can we investigate consciousness? I argue that we can account for the evolution of consciousness only if we reject reductionism (简化论) about it. （那么我们如何研究意识呢？我认为，只有当我们拒绝关于意识的简化论时，我们才能解释意识的进化。）”可知，文章主要讨论了关于意识的研究和进化，特别是反对简化论的观点，并提出了一个关于意识进化的新框架。因此，最合适本文的标题应是选项D的“超越简化论：探索意识的进化”。故选D项。 / 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $ 专题02 阅读理解（说明文） 主题语境01 人与社会-科学与技术 Passage 1 （24-25高三上·北京房山·期中）The human brain’s understanding of figure zero may have evolved from primitive neural pathways initially used for counting predators. This discovery could aid doctors in helping stroke patients who struggle with numerical comprehension. Zeros are integral to various fields, including astronomy, engineering, and literature. Researchers Benjy Barnett and Steve Fleming from University College London explored the origins of figure zero by using magnetoencephalography (MEG) to monitor the brain activity of 29 participants engaged in two tasks. In the first, people compared whether two consecutive patterns were made of the same number of dots, from 0 to 5, In the second, they saw 10 numbers, also from 0 to 5, each for 250 milliseconds. Half were orange and the rest blue. They then reported which colored numbers had the highest value. To compare people’s brain activity when they saw a “0” with them seeing other numbers, Barnett and Fleming input the MEG data into a machine-learning algorithm (算法). Previous research has shown that specific neurons respond to numbers like“1,” “2,” and so on, up to “9.” Barnett noted that their findings revealed that the neural response to “0” closely resembled that of “1,” while becoming less similar to larger numbers. This suggests that zero occupies a fundamental position on the neural number line, next to “1” and two less than “2.” They also examined similarities between the brain’s response to “0” and a blank screen, finding identical activity patterns. This suggests that our comprehension of zero may have evolved from recognizing absences. “If I’m an antelope on the grassland and I quickly scan to check if I can see any predators, the brain activity that leads me to decide ‘no, I haven’t seen anything’ might be the starting point for the number zero in the brain,” says Barnett. While humans and other animals recognize absence, humans have built upon this to apply zeros into numerical systems. Additionally, a previous study involving over 650 stroke patients revealed that approximately 15% struggled to process numbers containing zeros post-stroke. “Our results may well contribute to better understanding of this phenomenon and help inform potential treatments,” says Barnett. Jorge Morales at Northeastern University in Boston says that despite the importance of zero in mathematics and culture, this study suggests that the concept originates from the ability to notice absences, which we probably share with other animals. 1.How did the researchers explore the origin of figure zero? A. By comparing brain activity patterns. B. By monitoring brain function directly. C. By observing how people count dots. D. By studying people’s response for MEG. 2.What can we learn from the passage? A. Figure zero is unique to numerical system. B. Figure zero is important for noticing absence. C. The brain is more sensitive to process larger numbers. D. Stroke patients struggle to understand figure zero. 3.What does the author mainly intend to tell us? A. Figure zero is essential in various scientific disciplines. B. Recognizing absence helps in understanding figure zero. C. MEG is an effective tool for analyzing figure zero. D. Figure zero is primarily useful for counting. Passage 2 （23-24高三上·北京房山良乡中学·期中）The world’s oceans will likely lose about one-sixth of their fish and other creatures within 100 years if climate change continues on its current path. Every degree Celsius that the world’s oceans warm, their biomass is expected to drop five percent, a study found. The study predicts that if there is no change in the rate of worldwide greenhouse gas production, there will be a 17-percent loss of biomass by the year 2100. But, if the world reduces carbon pollution, biomass losses could be limited to only about 5 percent. Warming temperatures are the biggest issue. But climate change also produces oceans that are more acidic and have less oxygen. This also harms sea life. Much of the world depends on the oceans for food or work. The findings make sense and the possible effects of the predicted losses of animal life are huge. “Climate change has the potential to cause serious new conflicts over ocean resource use as the human population continues to grow,” said scientists. Marine biologist Boris Worm, who helped run the study, added that the “building blocks of marine life—plankton and bacteria—may decline less heavily.” “Those marine animals that we use directly, and care about most deeply, are predicted to suffer the most,” said Worm. He works at Canada’s Dalhousie University. Scientists had already believed climate change would likely reduce future ocean life. But past computer-based studies looked at only part of the picture or used only one model. The latest study used six different computer models to give the best picture look yet, William Cheung said. University of Georgia marine biologist Samantha Joye was not part of the research. But she praised the study as well researched and extremely detailed, and called it “an urgent call for action”. 1.What does the underlined word “biomass” in paragraph 1 refer to? A. Ocean temperature. B. Total marine life. C. Sea condition. D. Ocean level. 2.Why do scientists think that climate change might cause conflicts? A. It may reduce the sea resource. B. It leads to the extinction of marine life. C. It pollutes the environment of the ocean. D. It may increase the world population. 3.Which sea animals will be harmed the worst by sea warming? A. The largest ones. B. The ones in deep oceans. C. The bacteria on sea surface. D. Those we humans need most. Passage 3 （24-25高三上·北京北京师范大学第二附属中学·期中）Many people believe that working to the maximum is the secret to success, but research has found that moderation also gets results on the job. In a study led by Ellen Langer of Harvard University, researchers asked people to translate sentences into a new made-up language. Subjects who practiced the language moderately beforehand made fewer errors than those who practiced extensively or not at all. High levels of knowledge can make people too attached to traditional ways of viewing problems across fields - the arts, sciences, and politics. High conscientiousness is related to lower job performance, especially in simple jobs where it doesn’t pay to be a perfectionist. How long we stay on the clock and how we spend that time are under careful examination in many workplaces. The young banker who eats lunch at his desk is probably seen as a go-getter, while his colleagues who chat over a relaxed conference-room meal get dirty looks from the corner office. “People from cultures that value relationships more than ours does are shocked by the thought of eating alone in front of a computer,” says Art Markman, a professor of psychology at the university of Texas, Austin. Social interaction has been shown to lift mood and get people thinking in new directions and in ways that could help improve any post-lunch effort. Markman also promotes off-task time. “Part of being a good thinker is experiencing things that are seemingly unrelated to what you are working on at the moment but give you fresh ideas about your work,” he says. “Also, there is a lot of research showing that a positive mood leads to higher levels of productivity and creativity. So, when people do things to increase their life satisfaction, they also make themselves more effective at work.” 1.What does Ellen Langer’s study show? A. Simpler jobs require greater caution. B. It is worthwhile to be a perfectionist. C. Moderate effort produces the best result. D. Translation makes people knowledgeable. 2.What can be inferred from the last paragraph? A. Experience unrelated to your job is useless. B. Focusing on what you do raises productivity. C. A cheerful mood helps make a creative mind. D. A good thinker is able to inspire other people. 3.What does the text seem to advocate? A. Middle-of-the-road work habits. B. Balance between work and family. C. Long-standing cultural traditions. D. Harmony in the work environment. 主题语境02 人与自我-做人与做事 Passage 1 （24-25高三上·北京汇文中学·期中）In our hyper-connected world, information is being collected and shared every nanosecond. The problem is that your personal information might be used against you in the future in ways you can’t imagine today. So what do you have to worry about, and what can you do to protect yourself? If you’re worried about your personal information getting lifted... Don’t hand over your name, address, phone number, or email address unless the receiver really needs it. If pressed, you can always make something up. Opt a paper receipt or no receipt rather than getting one via text or email, which requires sharing your information and exposes you to possible data loss. If you prefer that your Internet searches stay private... Browse (浏览) with Firefox. Its privacy controls are stronger than other big-name browsers. Or use DuckDuckGo, and alternate service you can easily set as your default (默认) search partner at duckduckgo.com. If you’re worried about your phone acting as a tracker... Turn off Location Services for all apps except maps and others that need to know where you are, You can do this in Settings, under Privacy and Location. and Location. If you want companies to stop trying to sell you things... Stop ads from tracking you by opting out of information collecting. The website simpleoptout.com is a good place to start. You can also add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry at 1-888-382-1222 or donotcall.gov. If you’re worried about being tagged (标记) in photos on social media... Tell friends you don’t want to be tagged, and opt out of being automatically tagged in other people’s Facebook photos by going to Settings, then Face Recognition. Always keep in mind that Internet is not a private place and your privacy is not just about freedom from embarrassment. Although you can’t prevent all Internet Spying, you can minimize some unwanted spying by taking these steps. 1.Which of the following will most possibly reveal your personal information? A. Looking for information with Firefox. B. Receiving a receipt through text messages. C. Switching off Location Services in Settings. D. Giving your address to the receiver who needs it. 2.If you don’t want to be disturbed by ads, you can ________. A. avoid using simpleoptout.com. B. refuse a call from DuckDuckGo. C. delete your phone number at donotcall.gov. D. register your phone number at donotcall.gov. 3.The passage is intended to ________. A. give advice B. introduce websites C. show worries D. explain social media Passage 2 （25-26高三上·北京顺义·期中）For decades, scientists hypothesized that cognitively demanding tasks such as writing or solving math problems require more energy than easier tasks like scrolling short videos on the phone or looking out of the window. However, recent research proves the view wrong. Our brains perform massively complex and metabolically costly computations all day long. “Whether you’re engaged in a cognitively demanding task at work, or you’re staring off into space, your brain is using roughly the same amount of energy,” says neuroscientist Todd Braver of Washington University in St. Louis. In fact, what feels more challenging is when a task requires the brain to go against its usual habits. Cognitively demanding work often requires the coordination (协作) of many different brain regions in novel patterns, while silencing circuits that frequently fire (活跃的) together. Studies have found that pushing against our brain’s habits triggers an emotional response, making us feel uncomfortable. “It’s aversive, and it just feels bad,” says Michael Inzlicht, a psychologist from the University of Toronto. But he points out that emotional responses are subjective: They are interpretations of sensations in our bodies and brains. And we can influence how much we pay attention to these sensations and even how we interpret them. We often overestimate the struggle and pain required to complete cognitive tasks. This initial overestimation can lead us to procrastinate, or even avoid the task altogether. Studies suggest that if we can get past that initial hurdle (障碍) of starting a task, then thinking becomes easier. One way to do that is to pay attention to the benefits instead of the efforts required. In a study published in the journal Science in 2020, Andrew Westbrook, a neuroscientist at Rutgers University, and his colleagues gave participants the choice of solving an easy memory puzzle for a small amount of money or a much harder puzzle for more money. The options were displayed on a screen, and participants’ eye movements were tracked as they decided which puzzle to attempt. When people spent more time looking at the reward for the challenging puzzle, they were more likely to choose it. If our mind’s eye, or our attentional focus, is on the benefits of an option, over time we’re more likely to choose to do hard things. Performing complex mental tasks will also be less painful if the exertion of mental effort is habitualized. When we don’t have to make a decision to focus every day, we will save ourselves considering the costs or consequences. To make cognitively demanding tasks a habit, try to do them every day at the same time and in the same place. Add a ritual before the work starts, such as turning off the phone and launching an app to block distracting websites. After a few weeks, concentrating deeply won’t just feel easier; it will actually be easier. 1.People may feel certain cognitive task demanding because of ________. A. more brain energy consumption B. the complexity of computations C. the higher level of difficulty D. new coordination of brain parts 2.The author quotes the 2020 study mainly to ________. A. support a solution B. present a case C. analyze the causes D. challenge an assumption 3.Which of the following can make mental work feel easier? A. Receiving continuous support when feeling down. B. Seeking professional help when meeting a deadline. C. Reading thick literary classics for twenty minutes daily. D. Breaking down a challenging project into smaller tasks. 主题语境03 人与自我-生活与学习 （25-26高三上·北京顺义·期中）A hearing aid is a small electronic device you wear in or behind your ear to make sounds louder. A hearing aid has three basic parts: a microphone, an amplifier and a speaker. The hearing aid receives sound through a microphone, which changes the sound waves to electrical signals and sends them to an amplifier. The amplifier increases the power of the signals and sends them to the ear through a speaker. There are three styles of hearing aids. ·Behind-the-ear (BTE) aids are used by people of all ages. “Mini” BTE is a new kind. These small and open-fit aids fit behind the ear completely, with a narrow tube into the ear canal, enabling the canal to remain open. Thus, some people prefer it because their own voice does not sound “plugged up”. ·In-the-ear (ITE) aids fit completely inside the outer ear. Some ITE aids may have added features, such as a telecoil that allows users to receive sound through the circuitry of the hearing aid, rather than through its microphone. •Canal aids fit into the ear canal and are available in two styles. In-the-canal (ITC) aids are made to fit the size and shape of the ear canal. Completely-in-canal ( CIC) aids are hidden in the ear canal. The hearing aid that will work best for you depends on your hearing needs and lifestyle. Price is also a key consideration. However, just because one hearing aid is more expensive than another does not necessarily mean that it will better suit your needs. Other features to consider include parts or services covered by the guarantee, estimated costs for repair, and the hearing aid company’s reputation for quality and service. For more information, contact: nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov . 1.What helps strengthen the power of electrical signals in a hearing aid? A. The microphone. B. The amplifier. C. The speaker. D. The telecoil. 2.If preferring a hearing aid that keeps the ear canal open, you can choose______ . A. “Mini” BTE B. In-the-ear aids C. In-the-canal aids D. Completely-in-canal aids 3.To buy a suitable hearing aid, you should______ . A. increase your estimated costs B. find the one with more features C. give in to the after-sale services D. consider your needs and lifestyle 主题语境01 人与社会-历史、社会与文化 （23-24高三上·北京房山良乡中学·期中）My son just turned 14 and does not have a smartphone. When he graduated from Grade 8, he was the only kid in his class without one. He asks for a phone now that he’s going to high school. I say no, he asks why, I explain(yet again), and he pushes back. “You can choose to do things differently when you’re a parent,” I told him. But sometimes, I wonder if I’m being too stubborn or unfair. The more I research, the more confident I feel in my decision. Many studies link the current mental health crisis among adolescents to fundamental changes in how they socialize, namely, the shift from in-person to online interaction. But other parents challenge my perspective. “He must feel so left out!” Then there are the parents who tell me with profound sadness that they wish they had delayed their teenager’s phone ownership longer than they did. They urge me to hold out. If teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 are truly spending an average of 8 hours 39 minutes per day on their devices, as stated in a 2021 survey conducted by the non-profit research organization Common Sense Media, then what are they not doing? Kids absorbed in their devices are missing out on real life, and that strikes me as really sad. I want my son to have a childhood he feels satisfied with and proud of. I want it to be full of adventures, imaginative play and physical challenges which he must sort out himself—and emerge stronger—without asking for me at the push of a button. The easiest and simplest way to achieve these goals is to delay giving him a smartphone. Some think my son is missing out or falling behind, but he is not. He does well in school and extracurricular activities, hangs out with his friends in person, and moves independently around our small town. He swears (发誓) he’ll give his own 14-year-old a phone someday, and I tell him that’s fine. But recently, he admitted that he missed the beautiful scenery on a drive to a nearby mountain because he had been so absorbed in his friend’s iPad. If that is his version of admitting I’m right, I’ll take it. 1.What is the author’s primary concern regarding giving her son a smartphone? A. Her son’s social life. B. Her son’s well-being. C. Her son’s time management. D. Her son’s academic performance. 2.What is the main point the author intends to express in paragraph 5? A. Her doubts about the reliability of a teenage survey. B. The rise of smartphone addiction among teenagers. C. The potential negative effects of excessive phone usage. D. The factors contributing to teenage smartphone addiction. 3.What quality does the text suggest the author wants her son to develop in his childhood? A. Team spirit B. Leadership C. Self-reliance D. Critical thinking 4.What can be inferred about the author’s son? A. He is struggling academically. B. He no longer desires a smartphone. C. He is easily influenced by his friends. D. He has realized the drawbacks of excessive screen time. 主题语境02 人与社会-科学与技术 Passage 1 （24-25高三上·北京中国人民大学附属中学·期中）What a Messy Desk Says About You For some time, psychologists have been studying how personality traits affect health and health-related choices. Not surprisingly, they have found that people blessed with innate conscientiousness, meaning that they are organized and predictable, typically eat better and live longer than people who are disorderly. They also tend to have immaculate offices. What has been less clear is whether neat environments can produce good habits even in those who aren’t necessarily innately conscientious. To find out, researchers at the University of Minnesota conducted a series of experiments. In the first experiment, they randomly assigned a group of college-age students to spend time in two office spaces, one of which was very neat, the other wildly cluttered (乱堆) with papers and other work-related stuff. The students spent their time filling out questionnaires unrelated to the study. After 10 minutes, they were told they could leave with an apple or a chocolate bar. Those students who sat in the orderly office were twice as likely to choose the apple as those who sat among the mess. A second experiment, however, found that working in chaos has its advantages, too. In this one, college students were placed in a messy or a neat office and asked to dream up new uses for Ping-Pong balls. Those in messy spaces generated ideas that were significantly more creative, according to two independent judges, than those in offices where stacks of papers and other objects were neatly arranged. The results were something of a surprise, says Dr. Vohs, the leader of the study. Few previous studies found much virtue in disorder. The broken window theory, proposed decades ago, holds that even slight disorder and neglect can encourage indifference and poor discipline. But in the study by Dr. Vohs, disordered offices encouraged originality and a search for novelty. In the final portion of the study, adults were given the choice of adding a health “boost” to their lunchtime smoothie that was labeled either “new” or “classic.” The volunteers in the messy space were far more likely to choose the new one; those in the tidy office generally chose the classic version. “Disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition,” Dr. Vohs and her co-authors conclude in the study, “which can produce fresh insights.” The implications of these findings are also practical. “My advice would be, if you need to think outside the box for a future project”, Dr. Vohs says, “then let the clutter rise and free your imagination. But if your primary goal is to eat well or to go to the gym, pick up around your office first. By doing this, the naturally messy can acquire some of the discipline of the conscientious.” 1.The underlined word “immaculate” in paragraph 1 probably means ______. A. messy B. tidy C. terrible D. comfortable 2.Which of the following can best explain the broken window theory? A. Chaos begets chaos. B. Misfortune may be an actual blessing. C. Bad news has wings. D. When a door shuts, a window opens. 3.Which of the following will Dr. Vohs probably agree with? A. More virtue exists in organized people. B. Creativity results from tidiness and discipline. C. Disorderly surroundings help to create new ideas. D. Workers’ good habits guarantee the success of a project. 4.What can we conclude from the study results? A. The naturally neat people tend to be very creative. B. A messy office will cause quite low working efficiency. C. Environments can affect people’s way of thinking and behavior. D. People’s personalities are determined by their working environments. Passage 2 （23-24高三上·北京大兴·期中）If you’ve ever worried that we’ve solved all the mysteries of nature, fear not. Minnesota’s Devil’s Kettle Falls has been attracting hikers and geologists for generations. At the falls, along Lake Superior’s North shore, a river forks at a rock outcrop. While one side runs down a two-step stone bank and continues on like a normal waterfall, the other side vanishes into a deep hole and disappears apparently forever. And this baffling situation only gets strange when geologists start explaining Devil’s Kettle. Consider, for instance, the sheer quantity of water pouring into the kettle every minute of every day. While the idea of some kind of broad, underground river is an exciting device in movies, the reality is that those sorts of deep caves are rare. Another idea is that millions of years ago, a hollow lava tube may have formed beneath the falls, in the subsurface layer of basalt (玄武岩) . Over time, the theory suggests, the falling water eroded (侵蚀) the surface and fell straight down into the ancient lava tube, providing wide-open access to the floor of Lake Superior. Again, there are problems with this theory, because no lava tubes have ever been found in any of the hundreds of exposed basalt beds in the area. In February 2017, scientists said that water that disappears into the rock at Devil’s Kettle resurges in the stream below the falls. To confirm the theory, scientists plan on conducting a dye trace during a low-water flow period. They’ll pour a vegetable-based dye into the pothole and watch where the dye resurfaces. This is a fluorescent (发荧光的) , biodegradable dye that’s noticeable at 10 parts per billion, so the scientists will use only a few quarts. “What we think is happening is the water is going in the kettle, and coming up pretty close to immediately downstream of the falls,” Green said. Green admits that if the dye is found below the falls like the scientists suspect, then much of the Devil’s Kettle Falls mystery will be gone. “There’s a little bit of that,” he said, “that folks aren’t going to stand there and wonder. But it will still be a fascinating spot, and a beautiful spot.” 1.What is the purpose of writing the first paragraph? A. To explain the formation of waterfalls. B. To introduce a mysterious natural phenomenon. C. To describe a beautiful landscape scene. D. To recommend an unusual waterfall to readers. 2.What does the underlined word “baffling” mean? A. Astonishing. B. Interesting. C. Puzzling. D. Challenging. 3.What can we infer from the 2017 theory? A. It hasn’t been proved yet. B. It is considered ridiculous. C. It is deeply doubted. D. It is supported fully in evidence. 4.What is the most suitable title for the text? A. The exploration of Devil’s Kettle Falls B. The disappearance of Devil’s Kettle Falls C. The truth behind Devil’s Kettle Falls D. The mystery of Devil’s Kettle Falls Passage 3 （23-24高三上·北京第十三中学·期中）Habits are a funny thing. We reach for them mindlessly, setting our brains on auto-pilot and relaxing into the unconscious comfort of familiar routine. “Not choice, but habit rules the unreflecting creatures,” William Wordsworth said in the 19th century. In the ever-changing 21st century, even the word “habit” carries a negative meaning. So it seems contradictory to talk about habits in the same context as innovation. But brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel paths, and even entirely new brain cells, that can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks. Rather than dismissing ourselves as unchangeable creatures of habit, we can instead direct our own change by consciously developing new habits. In fact, the more new things we try, the more creative we become. But don’t bother trying to kill off old habits; once those ruts of procedure are worn into the brain, they’re there to stay. Instead, the new habits we deliberately press into ourselves create parallel pathways that can bypass those old roads. “The first thing needed for innovation is attraction to wonder,” says Dawna Markova, author of The Open Mind. “But we are taught instead to ‘decide’, just as our president calls himself ‘the Decider’.” She adds, however, that “to decide is to kill off all possibilities but one. A good innovational thinker is always exploring the many other possibilities.” “All of us work through problems in ways of which we’re unaware,” she says. Researchers in the late 1960s discovered that humans are born with the ability to approach challenges in four primary ways: analytically, procedurally, collaboratively and innovatively. At the end of adolescence, however, the brain shuts down half of that ability, preserving only those ways of thought that have seemed most valuable during the first decade or so of life. The current emphasis on standardized testing highlights analysis and procedure, meaning that few of us use our innovative and collaborative ways of thought. “This breaks the major rule in the American belief system — that anyone can do anything,” explains M. J. Ryan, author of the 2006 book This Year I Will…and Ms. Markova’s business partner. “That’s a lie that we have preserved, and it fosters commonness. Knowing what you’re good at and doing even more of it creates excellence.” This is where developing new habits comes in. 1.Brain researchers have discovered that . A. the forming of new habits can be guided B. the development of habits can be predicted C. the regulation of old habits can be transformed D. the track of new habits can be created unconsciously 2.The underlined word“ruts”in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to . A. zones B. connections C. situations D. tracks 3.Which of the following statements most probably agrees with Dawna Markova’s view? A. Decision makes no sense in choices. B. Curiosity makes creative minds active. C. Creative ideas are born of a relaxing mind. D. Formation of innovation comes from fantastic ideas. 4.The purpose of the author writing this article is to persuade us . A. to give up our traditional habits deliberately B. to create and develop new habits consciously C. to resist the application of standardized testing D. to believe that old habits conflict with new habits Passage 4 （25-26高三上·北京东直门·期中）For decades, scientists hypothesized that cognitively demanding tasks, such as writing or solving math problems, require more energy than easier tasks like scrolling short videos on the phone or looking out of the window. However, recent research proves the view wrong. Our brains perform massively complex and metabolically costly computations all day long. “Whether you’ re engaged in a cognitively demanding task at work, or you’ re staring off into space, your brain is using roughly the same amount of energy,” says neuroscientist Todd Braver of Washington University in St. Louis. In fact, what feels more challenging is when a task requires the brain to go against its usual habits. Cognitively demanding work often requires the coordination (协作) of many different brain regions in novel patterns, while silencing circuits that frequently fire together. Studies have found that pushing against our brain’s habits triggers an emotional response, making us feel uncomfortable. “It’s aversive, and it just feels bad,” says Michael Inzlicht, a psychologist from the University of Toronto. But he points out that emotional responses are subjective: They are interpretations of sensations in our bodies and brains. And we can influence how much we pay attention to these sensations and even how we interpret them. We often overestimate the struggle and pain required to complete cognitive tasks. This initial overestimation can lead us to procrastinate, or even avoid the task altogether. Studies suggest that if we can get past that initial hurdle of starting a task, then thinking becomes easier. One way to do that is to pay attention to the benefits instead of the efforts required. In a study published in the journal Science in 2020, Andrew Westbrook, a neuroscientist at Rutgers University, and his colleagues gave participants the choice of solving an easy memory puzzle for a small amount of money or a much harder puzzle for more money. The options were displayed on a screen, and participants’ eye movements were tracked as they decided which puzzle to attempt. When people spent more time looking at the reward for the challenging puzzle, they were more likely to choose it. If our mind’s eye, or our attentional focus, is on the benefits of an option, over time we’ re more likely to choose to do hard things. Performing complex mental tasks will also be less painful if the exertion of mental effort is habitized. When we don’t have to make a decision to focus every day, we will save ourselves considering the costs or consequences. To make cognitively demanding tasks a habit, try to do them every day at the same time and in the same place. Add a ritual before the work starts, such as turning off the phone and launching an app to block distracting websites. After a few weeks, concentrating deeply won’t just feel easier; it will actually be easier. 1.People may feel certain cognitive task demanding because of ________. A. more brain energy consumption B. the complexity of computations C. the higher level of difficulty D. new coordination of brain parts 2.The author quotes the 2020 study mainly to ________ . A. support a solution B. present a case C. analyze the causes D. challenge an assumption 3.What can be inferred from the passage? A. Overestimation promotes efficiency. B. Personal perception determines motivation. C. Focusing on rewards enhances performance. D. Brain counteraction triggers positive emotions. 4.Which of the following can make mental work feel easier? A. Receiving continuous support when feeling down. B. Seeking professional help when meeting a deadline. C. Reading thick literary classics for twenty minutes daily. D. Breaking down a challenging project into smaller tasks. 主题语境03 人与自我-做人与做事 （23-24高三上·北京第八中学·期中）Upskilling is the future—but it must work for everyone Automation and job replacement will be one of the most significant challenges for the global economy of the coming decades. A 2017 Mckinsey report established that 375 million workers will need to switch occupational categories by 2030. The World Economic Forum suggests that by 2022, automation will replace 75 million jobs globally—but create 133 million new ones. Research into the likelihood that a job will be impacted by digitization has largely focused on the “automatability” of the role and the following economic regional and political effects of this. What this research doesn’t take into account is something more important for the millions of taxi drivers and retail workers across the globe: their likelihood of being able to change to another job that isn’t automatable. Recent research suggests that the answer to this may be that the skills that enable workers to move up the ladder to more complex roles within their current areas might be less important than broader skills that will enable workers to change across divisions. In July, Amazon announced that it would spend $700 million retraining around 30% of its 300,000 US workforce. While praiseworthy, it will be interesting to see the outcome. In the UK, the National Retraining Scheme has largely been led by employers, meaning that those on zero-hours contracts and part-time workers—often low-skilled—will miss out. Governance will be a crucial element of ensuring that such schemes focus on individuals and life-long learning, rather than upskilling workers into roles that will soon also face automation. According to the Mckinsey report, “growing awareness of the scale of the task ahead has yet to translate into action. Public spending on labour-force training and support has fallen for years in most member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development,” which impacts more than just the low-skilled and poorly compensated. The global impact of automation is also put into relief by research demonstrating that, between 1988 and 2015, income inequality increased throughout the world. Billions of people do not have the essentials of life as defined by the UN Sustainable Development goals. Alongside climate change, automation is arguably tech’s biggest challenge. As with globalization, governments and employers—and us workers—ignore its potential consequences at risk to ourselves. 1.It can be known from Paragraph 2 that . A. recent research has found ways to face automation B. broad skills are of great significance in changing jobs C. regional economy can affect the automatability of a job D. it is even harder for workers to move up the social ladder 2.What is the author’s attitude towards retraining programs? A. Supportive. B. Critical. C. Skeptical. D. Sympathetic. 3.According to the author, what is one consequence of automation? A. Less spending on training. B. A slowdown of globalization. C. Social unrest and instability. D. An increase in income inequality. 4.The passage is written to . A. argue the urgency of creating new jobs B. compare globalization with automation C. analyze the automatability of certain jobs D. stress the importance of upskilling workers 主题语境04 人与自我-生活与学习 （24-25高三上·北京第四中学·期中）When served cauliflower or broccoli, some kids turn away in annoyance. Don’t blame them — a new study suggests specific enzymes (酶)in saliva (唾液)might make these vegetables taste terrible to some children. These enzymes, called cysteine lyases, are produced by bacteria in the mouth. The same enzymes are also locked away in the cells of Brassica vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. When we chew broccoli, these enzymes spill out of their storage containers while those in our mouth start to work. These enzymes break down a compound (化合物) called S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO) in these vegetables, and this breakdown process transforms the compound into sharp smell molecules (分子). Previous studies of adults suggest the level of cysteine lyase activity in a person’s saliva determines how much the SMCSO breaks down. This, in turn, influences how these vegetables taste to adults. According to these past studies, when different adults consume broccoli, there can be a huge difference in how many unpleasant smells the food lets off as their saliva-borne enzymes break it to bits. But the authors wondered whether the same difference can be seen in kids, who are usually more sensitive to bitter and sour tastes. They suspected that kids whose saliva produced the most smelly, SMCSO-sourced compounds would show the strongest dislike for broccoli. And the team’s new study proved their assumption. While both adults’ and kids’ saliva produced smelly compounds when exposed to cauliflower, these smells did not influence whether adults liked the vegetable. On the other hand, kids whose saliva produced high concentrations of these smells reported hating cauliflower the most. The new study included 98 pairs of parents and children aged 6 to 8. After taking samples of each participant’s saliva, the scientists mixed it into raw cauliflower powder. They measured the SMCSO-sourced smell compounds let off and found each participant’s saliva generated a different quantity of smells. Interestingly, the degree of sickly smell production was similar between parents’ saliva and their children’s. This indicates that parents and kids likely carry similar bacteria in their mouths, which would cause them to produce similar levels of cysteine lyases. Our senses of taste and smell are strongest in youth, which may make kids even more sensitive to these differences in flavor. The same preference pattern is not seen in adults, who also produce plenty of bad smells. This suggests that the adults came to tolerate the taste of Brassica vegetables. The findings agree with past studies of how our tastes change over time: we can learn to overcome our distaste for certain food by eating it more. 1.What are the first two paragraphs mainly about? A. The function of mouth bacteria. B. The cause of an unpleasant flavor. C. The feature of Brassica vegetables. D. The form of enzymes in our mouth. 2.What do previous studies indicate? A. SMCSO-breakdown depends on various enzymes. B. Enzymes determine the taste of Brassica vegetables, C. Individuals release varying amounts of smell molecules. D. Kids producing the most smells hate-broccoli particularly. 3.What can we conclude from the passage? A. We might accept some foods through repeated exposure. B. The level of smells may affect an adult’s taste preference. C. Parents’ and their kids’ saliva-borne enzymes don’t match D. Kids’ saliva could produce higher concentrations of smells. 主题语境05 人与自然-宇宙探索 （23-24高三上·北京市北京师范大学附属中学·期中）NASA’s spacecraft Dart hit an asteroid (小行星) 11.3 million kilometers away at a speed, changing the asteroid’s orbit and lowered its cycle period by 15 minutes, the space organization announced on Monday. Some said the move shows the world might now be able to prevent asteroids—the kind that made the dinosaurs extinct—from hitting the Earth. The asteroid that was controlled belonged to a double-asteroid system. It had a 160-meter diameter while the other asteroid’s diameter is over 500 meters. The bigger asteroid can be compared to the one that ended the dinosaur era 67 million years ago. A hit from an asteroid that size can cause unimaginable destruction. However, it is too early to assert that the world has gained the ability to prevent asteroids from hitting us. The asteroid that was controlled was only 160 meters in size. Its cycle period was changed, without changing its orbit significantly. It is still not clear if the orbit of a much larger asteroid headed toward the Earth can be changed successfully. In brief, NASA’s success in changing the course of a harmful asteroid is definitely praiseworthy, but much more needs to be done before we can say the world’s security from some unpredictable asteroid is guaranteed. It should be noted that changing the orbit of an asteroid involves more than just sending an object into space and commanding it to hit the asteroid. While it is hard enough to hit an asteroid, it is even more difficult to lock onto one in the first place. It means having the ability to observe approaching asteroids, measuring their respective speeds, and deciding which ones might pose a danger to the Earth. Therefore, there’s more to Dart hitting the asteroid than meets the eye. And these are key areas where global scientists need to work harder in the future. 1.What was the latest news about NASA? A. Its new program failed. B. Its manned spaceship hit an asteroid. C. Its spacecraft changed an asteroid’s orbit. D. Its spacecraft saved the earth from being destroyed. 2.What can we learn about the asteroid that was hit? A. It was comparatively small in size. B. Its orbit was changed significantly. C. It travelled at a higher speed than before. D. It was powerful enough to end dinosaur era. 3.What is the author’s attitude toward using spacecrafts to change the asteroids orbits? A. Neutral. B. Optimistic. C. Pessimistic. D. Not mentioned. 主题语境06 人与自然-自然生态 Passage 1 （24-25高三上·北京朝阳·期中）A species can be termed temporarily “lost” after not being sighted for a decade, but researchers still hope to find it again eventually. In 2023, that hope led to the rediscovery of Attenborough’s echidna, unseen for half a century. Inspired, Thomas Evans and his team have created a database of 856 lost and 424 rediscovered species. The database keeps growing faster than explorers can keep up with, despite increasingly advanced technologies for tracing unseen creatures reaching an expertise level. The study indicates many rediscovered species appear to follow a rather similar trend: they are big, appealing mammals or birds tending to live near humans and in more-developed countries. Thus, Evans says if an animal is up to snuff but continues to be out of researchers’ sight after long searches, it’s probably gone forever. On the contrary, animals that don’t exhibit the pattern for easy rediscovery are very much alive out there. “Because they are generally difficult to come across and are therefore met with less exploratory attention, in most cases, small, unattractive species are more likely to be seemingly extinct but still alive,” Evans says. Evans hopes such details will help conservationists like Christina Biggs, who has been drawing upon a list of 25 “most wanted” species for Texas-based charity Re: wild since 2017. “Currenuly, Re: wild is finalizing its 2024 search lists, using the study’s results. We have to make hard decisions on where to put our money, and Evans’s research helps to direct us,” says Biggs. But is it always in a lost species’ best interest to be found? After a rediscovery, it can take months to secure an area from hunters or tourists. “In publicizing something you’ve rediscovered, you’re publicizing a food source for hunters,” says biologist James Kempton. Biggs notes, however, rediscoveries often strengthen protection efforts. When a species is rediscovered, protected areas will be made possible. Biggs adds that for some hard- to-find species, researchers could use Evans’s study to decide if a creature is likely still alive — and then draw broad protected areas around its general region, where other endangered species also live, rather than send possibly fruitless explorers to the area to prove the animal’s existence. Beyond the scientific gains, searching for lost species plays a crucial role in understanding and protecting our world. Once, the Yongsu Sapari community used Attenborough’s echidnas as a peace tool to settle arguments. “If brothers fought, they had to find an Attenborough’s echidna, a solution that is increasingly difficult,” Biggs says. “So, everything is connected. Every species behaves in an ecosystem and fulfills a purpose.” 1.What does the underlined phrase “is up to snuff” in Paragraph 2 probably mean? A. Fits the profile. B. Adapts well. C. Breaks the habit. D. Grows mature. 2.What can be inferred from the passage? A. Technology has reduced the number of missing species. B. Publicizing rediscovery secures the future of lost species. C. Larger animals face a higher extinction risk than smaller ones. D. Animals neighboring humans receive more attention in searches. 3.What might Christina Biggs agree with? A. The number of echidnas will increase after its rediscovery. B. Exploratory missions matter more than habitat preservation. C. Extinct species come with both ecological and cultural losses. D. Thomas Evans has instructed Re: wild to identify the 25 species. Passage 2 （23-24高三上·北京第八中学·期中）Although it has been revealed in recent years that plants are capable of seeing, hearing and smelling, they are still usually thought of as silent. But now, for the first time, they have been recorded making ultrasonic cries when stressed, which researchers say could open up a new field of precision agriculture where farmers listen for water-starved crops. Itzhak Khait and his colleagues at Tel Aviv University in Israel found that tomato and tobacco plants made cries at frequencies humans cannot hear when stressed by a lack of water or when their stem is cut. Microphones placed 10 centimetres from the plants picked up sounds in the ultrasonic range of 20 to 100 kilohertz, which the team says insects and some mammals would be capable of hearing and responding to from as far as 5 metres away. A moth may decide against laying eggs on a plant that sounds water-stressed, the researchers suggest. Plants could even hear that other plants are short of water and react accordingly, they speculate. On average, drought-stressed tomato plants made 35 sounds an hour, while tobacco plants made 11. When plant stems were cut, tomato plants made an average of 25 sounds in the following hour, and tobacco plants 15. Unstressed plants produced fewer than one sound per hour, on average. It is even possible to distinguish between the sounds to know what the stress is. The researchers trained a machine-learning model to discriminate between the plants’ sounds and the wind, rain and other noises of the greenhouse, correctly identifying in most cases whether the stress was caused by dryness or a cut, based on the sound’s intensity and frequency. Water-hungry tobacco appears to make louder sounds than cut tobacco, for example. Enabling farmers to listen for water-stressed plants could “open a new direction in the field of precision agriculture”, the researchers suggest. They add that such an ability will be increasingly important as climate change exposes more areas to drought. “The suggestion that the sounds that drought-stressed plants make could be used in precision agriculture seems feasible if it is not too costly to set up the recording in a field situation,” says Anne Visscher at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in the UK. She warns that the results can’t yet be broadened out to other stresses, such as salt or temperature, because these may not lead to sounds. In addition, there have been no experiments to show whether moths or any other animal can hear and respond to the sounds the plants make, so that idea remains speculative（推测的）for now, she says. 1.The experiment by researchers at Tel Aviv University shows that_______. A. tobacco plants make louder sounds than tomato plants when hurt B. water-hungry tomato plants are more sensible than tobacco plants C. unstressed plants produced sounds of laughter when being watered D. plants respond to the sounds the plants make and protect themselves 2.What is Anne Visscher’s attitude towards the finding of the experiment? A. Appreciative B. Doubtful C. Cautious D. Optimistic 3.It can be learnt from the research that ________. A. greenhouse effects can be avoided B. soil condition can be adjusted in time. C. plant condition can be diagnosed faster. D. insects can be detected and removed easily. 4.What is the best title for the article? A. Plants Get Stressed Just Like Us B. Plants Scream in Presence of Stress C. Sounds of Plants Detected Far Away D. Sounds of Plants Break Farmers’ Hearts 主题语境01 人与社会-历史、社会与文化 （24-25高三上·北京第四中学·期中）Consider these facts: The tennis champion Williams sisters are a generation apart, according to the Pew Research Center. Venus, born in 1980, is labelled “Gen X”; Serena, born in 1981, is a “millennial”. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Michelle Obama both belong to the same generation. The former was born in 1946 while the latter was born in 1964, making them both “baby boomers”. Before you push these diverse personalities into generational stereotypes (刻板印象), let me stop you there: Just don’t. Generation labels, although widely adopted by the public, have no basis in social reality. In fact, in one recent survey, most people did not identify the correct generation for themselves, even when they were shown a list of options. This is not surprising since the labels are forced by survey researchers, journalists or marketing firms before the identities they are supposed to describe even exist. Instead of asking people which group they identify with and why, they just declare the labels and start making pronouncements about them. That’s not how social identity works. The practice of naming “generations” based on birth year goes back at least to the supposed “lost-generation” of the late 19th century. But as the tradition slid into a never-ending competition to be the first to propose the next name that sticks, it has produced gradually declining returns to social science and the public understanding. The supposed boundaries between generations are no more meaningful than the names they’ve been given. There is no research identifying the appropriate boundaries between generations, and there is no statistical basis for requiring the sweeping character traits (特征) that are believed to define them. In one article you might read that millennials are “liberal lions”, “downwardly mobile”, and “distrustful”; even though they also “get along well with their parents, respect their elders and work well with colleagues”. Ridiculous, clearly. But what’s the harm? Aren’t these labels just a bit of fun for writers? A method to attract readers and a way of communicating generational change, which no one would deny is a real phenomenon? We, in academic social science, study and teach social change, but we don’t study and teach these labels because they simply aren’t real. And in social science, reality still matters. Worse than irrelevant, such baseless labels drive people toward stereotyping and thoughtless character judgment. Measuring and describing social change is essential, and it can be useful to analyze the historical period in which people were born and raised, but drawing random lines between birth years and assigning names to them doesn’t help. Today there are lots of good alternatives to label generations. We can simply describe people by the decade in which they were born and define generational groups specifically related to a particular issue—such as 2020 school kids. With the arrival of “Generation Z”, there has never been a better time to get off this train. 1.What do the facts listed in Paragraph 1 imply? A. Different people have different opinions about generation labels. B. People with the same generation label may not be of similar age. C. Generational change can be measured by generation labels. D. Generation labels are widely adopted by celebrities. 2.The underlined word “sticks” in Paragraph 4 probably means ______. A. is understood B. is analyzed C. is described D. is accepted 3.According to the passage, the author may agree that ______. A. the generation label is a harmless device writers use to reflect reality B. generation boundaries are more meaningful than generation labels C. assigning character traits to a certain generation is misguided D. journalists should find alternative ways to judge character 4.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? A. Generation labels: It’s high time to retire them B. Generation labels: The ongoing debate will never end C. Generation labels: What do they say about who we are? D. Generation labels: Expand or bridge generational differences? 主题语境02 人与社会-文学、艺术与体育 （23-24高三上·北京第十三中学·期中）Do you listen to quiet music to help you wind down before sleep? However, this practice could be counter-productive, according to a new study by Michael K. Scullin and colleagues at Baylor University. The work, published in Psychological Medicine, found that bedtime music was associated with more sleep disruptions and that instrumental music is even worse than music with lyrics. In the first study, 199 online participants living in the US reported on their sleep quality and music listening frequency and timing, as well as their beliefs about how this affected their sleep. Almost all—87%—believed that music improves sleep, or at least does not disrupt it. However, the team found that more overall time spent listening to music was associated with poorer sleep and daytime sleepiness. Just over three quarters of the participants also reported experiencing frequent “earworms”—having a song or tune “stuck” and replaying in their minds. A quarter reported experiencing these during the night at least once per week, and these people were six times as likely to report poor sleep quality. The team’s analysis suggested that listening specifically to instrumental music near bedtime was linked to more sleep-related earworms and poorer sleep quality. The team then ran an experimental study on 48 young adults. After arriving at the sleep lab at 8:45 p. m., participants went to a quiet bedroom, where they completed questionnaires that included measures of stress, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. They also had electrodes applied, ready for the night-time polysomnography to record their brain wave activity, as well as heart rate and breathing, and reported on how relaxed, nervous, energetic, sleepy and stressed they felt. At 10:00 p. m., they were given some “downtime”, with quiet music playing. Half were randomized to hear three songs while the other half heard instrumental-only versions of these same songs. Participants reported decreases in stress and nervousness and increased relaxation after listening to either set of songs, and also showed decreases in blood pressure. So-as earlier studies have also suggested- quiet music at bedtime was indeed relaxing at the time. However, a quarter of the participants woke from sleep with an earworm, and the polysomnography data showed that instrumental versions of the songs were more likely to induce these awakenings as well as other sleep disruptions, such as shifts from deeper sleep to lighter sleep. Taken together, the findings represent “causal evidence for bedtime instrumental music affecting sleep quality via triggering earworms” the team writes. Why instrumental-only songs should have a bigger impact than music with lyrics isn’t clear. The three songs used in this study were chosen because they were likely to be familiar. Hearing them without the lyrics might have prompted the participant’s brains to try to add the words, which might have made earworms more likely. If this is the case, all instrumental music may not have the same effect. However, the data from the first study is consistent with the idea that instrumental music generally is more of a problem. 1.According to the passage, the participants in both studies______. A. were required to listen to light music B. felt their sleeping problems resolved C. had their sleeping quality monitored D. provided feedback on bedtime music 2.What does the underlined word “induce” in Paragraph 4 probably mean? A. Lead to. B. Impact on. C. Break in. D. Focus on. 3.What can we learn from the passage? A. Earworms are mainly caused by music with lyrics. B. Bedtime music leads to high blood pressure and anxiety. C. Quiet music improves sleeping quality while loud music harms sleep. D. Both familiar and unfamiliar instrumental music can cause sleeping problems. 4.The passage is mainly about______. A. how instrumental music disturbs sleep B. the possible negative effect of bedtime music C. how people can improve their sleep quality D. differences between music with and without lyrics 主题语境03 人与社会-科学与技术 Passage 1 （24-25高三上·北京汇文中学·期中）Enlightening, challenging, stimulating, fun. These were some of the words that Nature readers used to describe their experiences of art-science collaborations in a series of articles on partnerships between artists and researchers. Nearly 40% of the roughly 350 people who responded to an accompanying poll, said they had collaborated with artists; and almost all said they would consider doing so in future. Such an encouraging result is not surprising. Scientists are increasingly seeking out visual artists to help them communicate their work to new audiences. “Artists help scientists reach a broader audience and make emotional connections that enhance learning,” one respondent said. One example of how artists and scientists have together rocked the scenes came last month when the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performed a reworked version of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. They reimagined the 300-year-old score by injecting the latest climate prediction data for each season-provided by Monash University’s Climate Change Communication Research Hub. The performance was a creative call to action ahead of November’s United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, UK. But a genuine partnership must be a two-way street. Fewer artists than scientists responded to the Nature poll; however, several respondents noted that artists do not simply assist scientists with their communication requirements. Nor should their work be considered only as an object of study. The alliances are most valuable when scientists and artists have a shared interest in a project, are able to jointly design it and can critique each other’s work. Such an approach can both prompt new research as well as result in powerful art. More than half a century ago, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology opened its Center for Advanced Visual Studies (CAVS) to explore the role of technology in culture. The founders deliberately focused their projects around light—hence the"visual studies"in the name. Light was something that both artists and scientists had an interest in, and therefore could form the basis of collaboration. As science and technology progressed, and divided into more sub-disciplines, the centre was simultaneously (同时地) looking to a time when leading researchers could also be artists, writers and poets, and vice versa. Nature’s poll findings suggest that this trend is as strong as ever, but, to make a collaboration work, both sides need to invest time, and embrace surprise and challenge. The reach of art-science tie-ups needs to go beyond the necessary purpose of research communication, and participant must not fall into the trap of stereotyping (对…产生成见) each other. Artists and scientists alike are immersed in discovery and invention, and challenge and critique are core to both, too. 1.According to Paragraph 1, art-science collaborations have ________. A. caught the attention of critics B. received favorable responses C. promoted academic publishing D. sparked heated public controversy 2.The reworked version of The Four Seasons is mentioned to show that ________. A. art can offer audiences easy access to science B. science can help with the expression of emotions C. public participation in science has a promising future D. art is effective in facilitating scientific innovations 3.What does the underlined world “alliances” in Paragraph 4 probably mean? A. associations B. attachments C. disputes D. involvements 4.According to the author, art-science collaborations A. are likely to go beyond public expectations B. will intensify interdisciplinary competition C. should do more than communicating science D. are becoming more popular than before Passage 2 （24-25高三上·北京朝阳·期中）Over the summer, the neuroscientist Christ of Koch accepted defeat on his 25-year bet with the philosopher David Chalmers, a lost wager that the science of consciousness would be all wrapped up by now. Despite decades of research, there’s little sign of shared understanding on consciousness, with several competing theories still being debated. In my new book entitled Why? , I take head-on the question of why it’s so hard to make progress on consciousness. The core difficulty is that consciousness cannot be easily observed. You can’t look inside someone’s brain and see their feelings and experiences. Science does deal with things that can’t be observed, such as fundamental particles (粒子), quantum wave functions (量子波函数), and maybe even other universes. But consciousness poses an important difference: in all of these other cases, we theorize about things we can’t observe in order to explain what we can observe. Uniquely with consciousness, the thing we are trying to explain cannot be publicly observed. How then can we investigate consciousness? I argue that we can account for the evolution of consciousness only if we reject reductionism (简化论) about it. Most consciousness researchers employ a reductionist view of the universe, where physics is running the show. Thus, insofar as there are some future possibilities left open by the arrangements of particles in our brains, they are settled by nothing more than the random chanciness implicit (含蓄的) in quantum mechanics. Some challenges have emerged lately to this reductionist model. The neuroscientist Kevin Mitchell argues that the free will of conscious organisms plays a role in determining what will happen in the brain, over and above what is settled by the laws of physics. Evolution offers one of the strongest challenges. Natural selection only cares about behavior, as it’s only behavior that matters for survival. Rapid progress in AI and robotics has made it clear, however, that extremely complex behaviour can exist in a system that entirely lacks conscious experience. For any adaptive behaviour associated with consciousness, there could be a nonconscious mechanism that inspires the same behaviour. Given this, it is a deep mystery why consciousness evolved at all. But suppose the emergence of biological consciousness brings into existence radically new forms of behavior, over and above what physics alone could produce. Perhaps organisms that have conscious awareness of the world around them, and thereby freely respond based on that awareness, behave very differently than mere mechanisms. Consequently, they survive much better. With these assumptions, we can make sense of natural selection’s preference for conscious organisms. As a philosopher, in Why? , I develop a radical form — the view that consciousness goes right down to the fundamental building blocks of reality — aimed at addressing the philosophical challenges of consciousness, as well as providing a framework for scientists to make progress on the scientific issues. It is a pincer movement (钳形运动) of science and philosophy that will, ultimately, crack the mystery of consciousness. 1.What can we learn about consciousness from this passage? A. Consciousness evolves from behavior. B. Scientists theorize consciousness to observe it. C. Consciousness lacks observable phenomena to study. D. Quantum wave functions help explain consciousness. 2.As for Kevin Mitchell’s argument, the author is . A. supportive. B. disapproving. C. neutral. D. uncertain. 3.What can be inferred from the passage? A. Physicists’ researches reject reductionism. B. Brain works independently of the physics principles. C. The nature of consciousness requires further investigation. D. Natural selection proves reductionist views of consciousness. 4.What is the best title of the passage? A. A Debate over the Nature of Consciousness. B. Consciousness and Behavior: A Philosophical Perspective. C. The Role of Natural Selection in Consciousness Development. D. Beyond Reductionism: Exploring the Evolution of Consciousness. / 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $