2026届高考英语专题归纳与训练全国通用版——说明文体类阅读理解（含解析）

说明文体类阅读理解
所谓说明文，就是指研究自然科学与技术的文章。说明文是对事物或事理进行客观说明的一种文体，它以说明为主要表达方式，通过解说事物或阐明事理，达到教人以知识的目的，在结构上往往采用总分、递进等方式按一定的顺序（如时间、空间、从现象到本质） 进行说明。说明文的特点是客观、简练、语言准确、明了，文章很少表达作者的感情倾向。阅读说明文的重点在于读懂它说明的事物或事理， 了解事物的性质、构造、成因、功能等，了解事理的含意、特点等。
一、解题策略 1. 考情分析
最近五年，说明文的出现变化不大，一直很稳定，选材通常是各学科的前沿问题；高科技领域的科研成果；人们比较关心的社会问题；人文方面的经典。由于阅读理解题的设置采用渐进式，即由简到难的方式，因此说明文是高考试卷中阅读理解题中相对比较难的，通常后置。阅读理解试题的中要考点之一是考查学生对词汇和句式的掌握。说明文的词汇和句式的运用较别的体裁的文章难度更大。词汇运用灵活， 同一词的不同词性的用法交替出现，未列入考纲的生词较多，通常达到了 4-5%。不过考生可以通过说明文的语言特点来帮助理解语篇，例如，同位语、下定义、解释、举例、同义词、反义词、上下义词以及标点符号（如破折号、冒号都有表示解释和说明）等。
2. 得分要点
高考阅读理解中，说明文为主要体裁之一。高考阅读理解题的设问主要围绕以下四方面： 细节事实题、主旨大意题、推理判断题、猜测词义题。其中， 说明文主要以细节事实、主旨大意和猜测词义三方面问题为主。
一、词义猜测类题型
试卷第 1 页，共 36 页
阅读理解题中常要求学生猜测某些单词或短语的意思。历年英语高考题中均有此类题目， 有的文章尽管没有专门设题，但由于文章中常常出现生词，因此，词义的猜测还是贯穿在文章的阅读理解之中。解这类题目一般是通过上下文去理解或根据构词法去猜测。判断一个单词的意思不但离不开句子，而且还需要把句子放在上下文中，根据上下文提供的线索加以猜测。运用构词法,语境等推测关键词义，可以根据以下几种方法猜测：
（一）内在逻辑关系
根据内在逻辑关系推测词义是指运用语言知识分析和判断相关信息之间存在的逻辑关系，然后根据逻辑关系推断生词词义。
1.通过同义词和反义词的关系猜词
通过同义词猜词，一是要看由 and 或 or 连接的同义词词组，如 happy and gay，即使我们不认识 gay 这个词，也可以知道它是愉快的意思.这是高三册第八单元阅读第五段的句子：
The word ＂secure＂ in paragraph 5 line is closest in meaning to .
A.freefromanxiety B.anxious C.nervous D.happy根据上下文和同义词，可以选出答案 A。
二是看在进一步解释的过程中使用的同义词，如 Man has known something about the planets Venus ，Mars ，and Jupiter with the help of spaceships. 此句中的 Venus（金星）,Mars（火
星）,Jupiter（木星）均为生词，但只要知道 planets 就可猜出这几个词都属于＂行星＂这一义域.通过反义词猜词，一是看表转折关系的连词或副词，如 but ，while ，however 等；二是看与 not 搭配的或表示否定意义的词语，如：He is so homely ，not at all as handsome as his brother.根据 not at all...handsome 我们不难推测出 homely 的意思，即不英俊,不漂亮的意思。
2.根据因果关系猜测词义
通过因果关系猜词，首先是找出生词与上下文之间的逻辑关系，然后才能猜词。有时文章借助关联词（如 because ，as ，since ，for ，so ，thus ，as a result ，of course ，therefore 等等）表示前因后果。例如：
You shouldn’t have blamed him for that ，for it wasn’t his fault.通过 for 引出的句子所表示的原因（那不是他的错），可猜出 blame 的词义是＂责备＂。
3.通过定义或释义关系来推测词义
例如：But sometimes，no rain falls for a long，long time. Then there is a dry period，or drought.从 drought 所在句子的上文我们得知很久不下雨，于是便有一段干旱的时期，即drought，由此可见 drought 意思为＂久旱＂，＂旱灾＂。而a dryperiod 和drought 是同义语。这种同义
试卷第 2 页，共 36 页
或释义关系常由 is ，or ，that is ，in other words ，be called 或破折号等来表示。
4.通过句法功能来推测词义
例如：Bananas，oranges，pineapples，coconuts and some other kind of fruit grow in warm areas.假如 pineapples 和 coconuts 是生词，我们可以从这两个词在句中所处的位置来判断它们大致的意思。从句中不难看出 pineapples ，coconuts 和 bananas ，oranges 是同类关系，同属 fruit类，因此它们是两样水果，准确地说，是菠萝和椰子。
5.通过描述猜词
描述即作者为帮助读者更感性地了解某人或某物而对该人或该物作出的外在相貌或内在特征的描写。例如 The penguin is a kind of sea bird living in the South Pole. It is fat and walks in a funny way. Although it cannot fly ，it can swim in the icy water to catch the fish.从例句的描述中可以得知 penguin 是一种生活在南极的鸟类.后面更详尽地描述了该鸟类的生活习性。
（二）外部相关因素
外部相关因素是指篇章（句子或段落）以外的其他知识，有时仅靠分析篇章内在逻辑关系无法猜出词义。这时，就需要运用生活经验和普通常识确定词义。例如：The snakes lithered through the grass.根据有关蛇的生活习性的知识，我们可以推断出 slither 词义为＂爬行＂。
（三）构词法
在阅读文章时，我们总会遇上一些新词汇，有时很难根据上下文来推断其词意，而它们对文章的理解又有着举足轻重的作用，此时，如掌握了一些常用的词根,前缀,后缀,合成等构词法知识，这些问题便不难解决了。
1.根据前缀猜测词义
例如：He fell into a ditch and lay there ，semi-conscious ，for a few minutes.根据词根 conscious （清醒的，有意识的），结合前缀 semi（半，部分的，不完全的），我们便可猜出 semiconscious词义＂半清醒的，半昏迷的。＂I’m illiterate about such things.词根 lit-erate 意为＂有文化修养的，通晓的＂，前缀 il 表示否定，因此 illiterate 指＂一窍不通，不知道的＂。
2.根据后缀猜测词义
例如：Insecticide is applied where it is needed.后缀 cide 表示＂杀者，杀灭剂＂，结合大家熟悉的词根 insect（昆虫），不难猜出 insecticide 意为＂杀虫剂＂。Then the vapor may change into droplets.后缀 let 表示＂小的＂，词根 drop 指＂滴，滴状物＂。将两个意思结合起来，便可推断出 droplet 词义＂小滴，微滴＂。
3.根据复合词的各部分猜测词义
试卷第 3 页，共 36 页
例如：Growing economic problems were high-lighted by a slowdown in oil output. Hightlight 或
许是一个生词，但是分析该词结构后，就能推测出其含义。它是由 high（高的，强的）和 light （光线）两部分组成，合在一起便是＂以强光照射，使突出＂的意思。Bullfight is very popular in Spain. Bull（公牛）和 fight（打，搏斗）结合在一起，指一种在西班牙颇为流行的体育运
动—斗牛。
二、主旨大意类题型
主旨大意类题型主要测试学生对文章全面理解和概括的能力，提问的内容可能是全文的大意，也可能是某段的段落大意，一般不易在文中直接找到答案。怎样把握主旨大意题呢？通常有以下几种方法：
（一）阅读文章的标题或副标题
文章的标题是一篇文章的题眼，通过阅读标题或副标题可以迅速把握文章的主旨大意。
（二）寻找文章的主题句
分析篇章结构，找出文章主题。在许多情况下， 尤其在阅读说明文和议论文时，根据其篇章特点我们可以通过仔细阅读短文的第一句或第二句, 即文章的主题句来归纳出文章的主题.若短文由若干段组成，除仔细阅读第一段的首句外，还须仔细阅读每一段的第一句，即段落中心.通常文章的中心思想包含在文章的首句，有时也在文章的末句，其他句子都是用来说明和阐述主题句。因此， 在确定文章的中心思想时，要求学生重视阅读文章的首句和末句。但也有一些文章，中心思想常常贯穿在全文中，因此要求学生综观全文，对段落的内容要融会贯通，对文章透彻理解后归纳总结。主题句的特点是： 1.相对于其他句子，它表达的意思比较概括；2.主题句一般结构简单；3.段落中其他句子必定是用来解释,支撑或发展主题句所表达的思想的。
总之，为提高阅读理解能力，在阅读时应抓中心思想,作者意图及关键词语，运用联想, 比较,归纳,推测等方法，得出最佳结论，选择最佳答案，不能主观臆测，把自己的观点强加进去，与文章的观点混为一谈。经过长时间有计划,有目的的系统训练，使学生加快阅读速度，提 高阅读的正确性，使两者有机地统一起来，以提高学生阅读英语和运用英语进行交际的能力，为继续学习和运用英语切实打好基础. 阅读是一种综合性很强的语言实际活动。我们只有进 行大量的课内外阅读，掌握一定的阅读技巧，正确运用阅读方法，才能有效地提高阅读理解能力。
3. 常用解题方法
1.定位对照法：先阅读题干，然后根据问题的要求，按照题目顺序依次有针对性地结合题干
试卷第 4 页，共 36 页
中的关键词到文中定位，阅读相关部分并快速寻找有效信息。再将原文和选项进行比较。当问题与原文材料相同的时候，对号入座；如果问题与原文不同．则可以同义替换、归纳事实等。
2.选项分析法：根据题干中的关键词，找准相关句、段的内容。再仔细对照， 排除于文章内容不一致的错误信息，从而确定选项。
3.中心精确捕捉法：根据议论文特点对文章中心段或句进行精准分析。
4. 两种解题步骤
方式一：
1.读开头段，把握中心（中心明确）；
2.解“主旨题” 以及“主旨相关题”；
3.解“细节题”（先定段，后定句）。
方式二
1.读开头段，把握中心（中心不明确）；
2.解“细节题”（先定段，后定句）；
3.解“主旨题” 以及“主旨相关题”。
【注意事项】
1.不必通读全文，不必千方百计理解文章所有语句；
2.必须首先读好开头与结尾段，快速准确找出文章中心主旨；
3.注意并充分利用文章中所给出的中文提示词。
二、高考真题一、2021 年高考真题
1.【2025 新高考 1 卷 D 篇】
Microplastics have become a common source of pollution across the Earth —
they have settled in the deep sea and on the Himalayas, stuck inside volcanic rocks,
filled the stomachs of seabirds and even fallen in fresh Antarctic snow. They are even appearing inside humans.
Now, new research suggests that a simple, cheap measure may significantly
reduce the level of microplastics in water from your tap (水龙头): boiling and
filtering (过滤) it. In a study published Wednesday in Environmental Science &
Technology Letters, researchers from China found that boiling tap water for just five minutes — then filtering it after it cools — could remove at least 80 percent of its
试卷第 5 页，共 36 页
microplastics.
Crucially, this process relies on the water containing enough calcium carbonate (碳酸钙) to trap the plastics. In the study, boiling hard water containing 300
milligrams of calcium carbonate led to an almost 90 percent drop in plastics. But in
samples with less than 60 milligrams of calcium carbonate, boiling reduced the level of plastics by just 25 percent. Additionally, the research didn’t include all types of
plastics. The team focused only on three common types — polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene — and they didn’t study other chemicals previously found in water such as vinyl chloride.
Still, the findings show a potential path forward for reducing microplastic
exposure — a task that’s becoming increasingly difficult. Even bottled water,
scientists found earlier this year, contains 10 to 1,000 times more microplastics than originally thought.
Scientists are still trying to determine how harmful microplastics are — but
what they do know has raised concerns. The new study suggests boiling tap water
could be a tool to limit intake. “The way they demonstrated how microplastics were trapped through the boiling process was nice,” Caroline Gauchotte-Lindsay, an
environmental engineer of the University of Glasgow in Scotland who was not
involved in the research, tells New Scientist. “We should be looking into upgrading drinking water treatment plants so they remove microplastics.”
1 ．How does the author present the issue in the first paragraph
A ．By quoting an expert. B ．By defining a concept.
C ．By giving examples. D ．By providing statistics.
2 ．What determines the effectiveness of trapping microplastics in water
A ．The hardness of water. B ．The length of cooling time.
C ．The frequency of filtering. D ．The type of plastic in water.
3 ．What does the author try to illustrate by mentioning bottled water in paragraph 4
A．The importance of plastic recycling. B．The severity of the microplastic problem.
C．The danger in overusing pure water. D．The difficulty in treating polluted water.
试卷第 6 页，共 36 页
4 ．What is Gauchotte-Lindsay’s suggestion about
A ．Choice of new research methods. B ．Possible direction for further study.
C ．Need to involve more researchers. D ．Potential application of the findings.
2.【2025 新高考 II 卷 D 篇】
When Sonja Detrinidad opened her online shop selling houseplants, she didn’t have high hopes for it. But the opposite happened: She was flooded, shipping out
1,200 orders in June of 2020 alone. In the past year, Detrinidad sent out more than
70,000 plants. Her success is just one example of increased time at home leading to an explosion in the houseplant industry.
“Plants are in fashion right now,” says Dr. Melinda Knuth, a researcher from the University of Florida. “People who live in plant-rich environments report a higher life satisfaction rating, ” she says. “Adding more nature to our environment can change
our mood and how we think.” Plants can improve our state of mind in a few ways but the biggest is by decreasing our level of cortisol, the stress hormone (激素) in our
body.
“Students who are around plants perform better academically than students who are in a classroom without plants,” says Knuth. “This productivity also translates into the workplace for adults. Our study showed that there was a 30% decrease in sick
leave for people who were in plant-rich workplaces.”
If you’re among the groups of people who are enjoying the mental and physical health benefits of surrounding yourself with plants, don’t beat yourself up if one (or a few!) doesn’t make it. “Doctors practice medicine and lawyers practice law and you should allow yourself the practice it takes to sustain a plant. Tending to plants is an
exercise in patience and learning. Be invested in taking care of it, but ifit dies, go get another one,” Detrinidad says.
5 ．How was Detrinidad’s business when it started
A ．It faced tough competition. B ．It suffered a great loss.
C ．It got lots of financial support. D ．It went surprisingly well.
试卷第 7 页，共 36 页
6 ．What is one of Knuth’s findings about plants
A ．They appeal more to students. B ．They purify the environment.
C ．They raise the cortisol level. D ．They enhance productivity.
7 ．What does Detrinidad try to explain by mentioning doctors and lawyers
A ．The necessity of social skills. B ．The meaning of sustainability.
C ．The importance of repeated efforts. D ．The value of professional opinions.
8 ．What can be a suitable title for the text
A ．Time to Replace Houseplants B ．Plants Boost Your Mood
C ．Tips on Choosing Houseplants D ．Plants Brighten Your Home
3.【2025 北京卷 D 篇】
The call to “know yourself” has been there since ancient times, but our sense of self doesn’t always match what others perceive. Considering the stories we tell about ourselves can help us to change our minds for better.
For many years, psychologists saw identity as a combination of someone’s
values, beliefs, goals and social roles. Then, in the 1980s, Bob Johnson created the life story model of identity, in which he proposes that, as we go through life, these
core features are built in with our memories to create a personal story through which we understand our lives.
Our life story is something that starts coming together in our teenage years,
when we begin to organise our lives into chapters around key events or life changes, and begin to see ourselves as both the central character and, to a varying extent, the story’s author. People with more consistent stories tend to have a stronger sense of identity, and they feel their life has more meaning, direction and sense of purpose.
Such people show greater overall life satisfaction, too.
Johnson has also investigated the link between well-being and certain story
themes. He discovered that whether someone describes having had some control over events in their past is an important predictor of a person’s mental health. Another key theme involves finding some kind of positive meaning after stressful events. “People could talk about gaining knowledge or personal growth,” says Johnson. His research
试卷第 8 页，共 36 页
shows that this is often missing for people with mental health conditions. The good news is that there is evidence we can learn to change our own story.
Lisa Green, another researcher, sounds a few notes of caution (谨慎). For instance, hearing about the power of redemptive (拯救性的) stories, many people may feel forced to find a positive angle on horrible events. She says that Western culture already pushes people to look for the silver lining behind every cloud.
If you want to turn over a new leaf, though, one top tip is that it helps to choose a significant date that signals the start of a new “chapter”. Contrary to popular doubt, resolutions made on 1 January are more effective for this reason. So, whether your
goal is saving money or getting fit, there is no better time to become the author of our own destiny (命运).
9 ．What can be inferred about personal stories
A ．They are unrelated to health. B ．Consistent ones lead to stress.
C ．They are relevant to happiness. D ．Thematic ones hold back change.
10 ．What can we learn from this passage
A．Talking about gains from failure is negative. B．New Year resolutions are well received.
C ．The West tends to overvalue optimism. D ．Social roles fail to be highlighted.
11 ．What does the author mainly do in this passage
A ．Clarify a goal. B ．Analyse an event.
C ．Make a comparison. D ．Illustrate an approach.
12 ．What is the passage mainly about
A ．How self-identity works. B ．How story-tellers are made.
C ．How personal stories raise doubts. D ．How timing affects personal identity.
4.【2025 浙江 1 月 C 篇】
A novel design approach to gardening has been gaining in popularity
worldwide. Referred to as matrix planting, this approach aims for nature to do a lot more of the heavy lifting in the garden, and even some of the designing. Eschewing
试卷第 9 页，共 36 页
fertilizers (化肥) and power tools, it’s based on an elegantly simple principle: to garden more like nature does.
The concept was born when German city planners sought to plant large areas of parkland after World War II in a reproducible way that would need minimal
maintenance. Planners created planting mixes that could be used modularly (模块化). In a matrix garden, plants with similar cultural needs are grouped so that they will
grow together above and below ground, forming a cooperative ecosystem that conserves water and discourages weeds.
Dutch plantsman and designer Piet Oudolf’s gardens popularized this style,
adding artistic flavors to the planting mixes while playing with color and form,
including four-season interest and serving the needs of wildlife. Beautiful year-round, they invite you to enjoy the smallest detail, from the sound of grasses in the gentle
wind to the sculpture of odd-looking seed heads.
It takes a lot of thought to look this natural. While matrix gardens appear wild, they are carefully planned, with cultural needs the first consideration. Led by the
concept of“right plant, right place,” they match plants that enjoy the same soil, sun and weather conditions, and arrange them according to their patterns of growth.
The benefits are substantial for both gardener and planet. With human inputs
dramatically reduced, the garden’s ecology can develop well. Established matrix
gardens should not need the life support we give most gardens: fertilizer, dividing,
regular pared to traditional garden plots, they increase carbon
absorption, reduce stormwater runoff and boost habitat and biodiversity significantly.
13 ．What does the underlined word “Eschewing” in the first paragraph mean
A ．Running out of. B ．Keeping away from.
C ．Putting up with. D ．Taking advantage of.
14 ．Why was the idea of matrix planting introduced
A ．To control weeds in large gardens. B ．To bring in foreign species of plants.
C ．To conserve soil and water resources. D ．To develop low-maintenance parkland.
15 ．Which of the following best describes Piet Oudolf’s gardens
试卷第 10 页，共 36 页
A ．Traditional. B ．Odd-looking.
C ．Tasteful. D ．Well-protected.
16 ．Which of the following can be a suitable title for the text
A ．The future of gardening is WILD. B ．Nature treats all lives as EQUALS.
C ．Matrix gardens need more CARE. D ．Old garden plots work WONDERS.
5.【2025 浙江 1 月 D 篇】
As new technologies take on increasingly humanlike qualities, there’s been a
push to make them genderless. “People are stereotyping (形成刻板印象) their
gendered objects in very traditional ways,” says Ashley Martin, a Stanford associate professor of organizational behavior. Removing gender from the picture altogether
seems like a simple way to fix this. Yet as Martin has found in her work, gender is
one of the fundamental ways people form connections with objects, particularly those designed with human characteristics.
In her study, Martin asked participants to rate their attachment to male, female, and genderless versions of a digital voice assistant and a self-driving car known as
“Miuu.” It was found that gender increased users’ feelings of attachment to these devices and their interest in purchasing them. For example, participants said they would be less likely to buy a genderless voice assistant than versions with male or female voices.
While gendering a product may be good marketing, it may also strengthen
outdated or harmful ideas about power and identity. The stereotypes commonly
associated with men, such as competitiveness and dominance, are more valued than those associated with women. These qualities, in turn, are mapped onto products that have been assigned a gender.
Martin’s study also found that creating a genderless object was difficult. For instance, if an object’s name was meant to sound genderless, like Miuu, participants would still assign a gender to it — they would assume Miuu was a “he” or “she.”
Martin sees a silver lining, however: She believes that anthropomorphism (拟人
试卷第 11 页，共 36 页
化) “provides an opportunity to change stereotypes.” When women are put into
positions of leadership like running companies, it reduces negative stereotypes about women. Similarly, anthropomorphized products could be created to take on
stereotype-inconsistent roles — a male robot that assists with nursing or a female robot that helps do calculations, for instance.
17 ．What is the purpose of making new technologies genderless
A ．To reduce stereotypes. B ．To meet public demand.
C ．To cut production costs. D ．To encourage competition.
18 ．What were the participants probably asked to do in the study
A ．Design a product. B ．Respond to a survey.
C ．Work as assistants. D ．Take a language test.
19 ．Why is it difficult to create genderless objects
A ．They cannot be mass-produced. B ．Naming them is a challenging task.
C ．People assume they are unreliable. D ．Gender is rooted in people’s mind.
20 ．What does the last paragraph mainly talk about
A ．The quality of genderless products. B ．The upside of gendering a product.
C ．The meaning of anthropomorphism. D ．The stereotypes of men and women.
二、2024 年高考真题
1.【2024 新高考 I 卷 D 篇】
In the race to document the species on Earth before they go extinct, researchers and citizen scientists have collected billions of records. Today, most records of
biodiversity are often in the form of photos, videos, and other digital records. Though they are useful for detecting shifts in the number and variety of species in an area, a new Stanford study has found that this type of record is not perfect.
“With the rise of technology it is easy for people to make observations of
different species with the aid of a mobile application,” said Barnabas Daru, who is
lead author of the study and assistant professor of biology in the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences. “These observations now outnumber the primary data that
试卷第 12 页，共 36 页
comes from physical specimens (标本), and since we are increasingly using
observational data to investigate how species are responding to global change, I wanted to know: Are they usable ”
Using a global dataset of 1.9 billion records of plants, insects, birds, and animals, Daru and his team tested how well these data represent actual global biodiversity patterns.
“We were particularly interested in exploring the aspects of sampling that tend to bias (使有偏差) data, like the greater likelihood of a citizen scientist to take a
picture of a flowering plant instead of the grass right next to it,” said Daru.
Their study revealed that the large number of observation-only records did not
lead to better global coverage. Moreover, these data are biased and favor certain
regions, time periods, and species. This makes sense because the people who get
observational biodiversity data on mobile devices are often citizen scientists recording their encounters with species in areas nearby. These data are also biased toward
certain species with attractive or eye-catching features.
What can we do with the imperfect datasets of biodiversity
“Quite a lot,” Daru explained. “Biodiversity apps can use our study results to inform users of oversampled areas and lead them to places — and even species —
that are not well-sampled. To improve the quality of observational data, biodiversity apps can also encourage users to have an expert confirm the identification of their
uploaded image.”
21 ．What do we know about the records of species collected now
A ．They are becoming outdated. B ．They are mostly in electronic form.
C ．They are limited in number. D ．They are used for public exhibition.
22 ．What does Daru’s study focus on
A ．Threatened species. B ．Physical specimens.
C ．Observational data. D ．Mobile applications.
23 ．What has led to the biases according to the study
A ．Mistakes in data analysis. B ．Poor quality of uploaded pictures.
试卷第 13 页，共 36 页
C ．Improper way of sampling. D ．Unreliable data collection devices.
24 ．What is Daru’s suggestion for biodiversity apps
A ．Review data from certain areas. B ．Hire experts to check the records.
C ．Confirm the identity of the users. D ．Give guidance to citizen scientists.
2.【2024 新高考 II 卷 C 篇】
We all know fresh is best when it comes to food. However, most produce at the store went through weeks of travel and covered hundreds of miles before reaching the table. While farmer’s markets are a solid choice to reduce the journey, Babylon
Micro-Farm (BMF) shortens it even more.
BMF is an indoor garden system. It can be set up for a family. Additionally, it could serve a larger audience such as a hospital, restaurant or school. The innovative design requires little effort to achieve a reliable weekly supply of fresh greens.
Specifically, it’s a farm that relies on new technology. By connecting through the Cloud, BMF is remotely monitored. Also, there is a convenient app that provides growing data in real time. Because the system is automated, it significantly reduces the amount of water needed to grow plants. Rather than watering rows of soil, the
system provides just the right amount to each plant. After harvest, users simply replace the plants with a new pre-seeded pod (容器) to get the next growth cycle started.
Moreover, having a system in the same building where it’s eaten means zero emissions (排放) from transporting plants from soil to salad. In addition, there’s no need for pesticides and other chemicals that pollute traditional farms and the
surrounding environment.
BMF employees live out sustainability in their everyday lives. About half of them walk or bike to work. Inside the office, they encourage recycling and waste
reduction by limiting garbage cans and avoiding single-use plastic. “We are
passionate about reducing waste, carbon and chemicals in our environment,” said a BMF employee.
试卷第 14 页，共 36 页
25 ．What can be learned about BMF from paragraph 1
A ．It guarantees the variety of food. B ．It requires day-to-day care.
C ．It cuts the farm-to-table distance. D ．It relies on farmer’s markets.
26 ．What information does the convenient app offer
A ．Real-time weather changes. B ．Current condition of the plants.
C ．Chemical pollutants in the soil. D ．Availability of pre-seeded pods.
27 ．What can be concluded about BMF employees
A ．They have a great passion for sports.
B ．They are devoted to community service.
C ．They are fond of sharing daily experiences.
D ．They have a strong environmental awareness.
28 ．What does the text mainly talk about
A ．BMF’s major strengths. B ．BMF’s general management.
C ．BMF’s global influence. D ．BMF’s technical standards.
4. 【2024 新高考 II 卷 D 篇】
Given the astonishing potential ofAI to transform our lives, we all need to take action to deal with our AI-powered future, and this is where AI by Design: A Plan for Living with Artificial Intelligence comes in. This absorbing new book by Catriona
Campbell is a practical roadmap addressing the challenges posed by the forthcoming AI revolution (变革).
In the wrong hands, such a book could prove as complicated to process as the computer code (代码) that powers AI but, thankfully, Campbell has more than two decades’ professional experience translating the heady into the understandable. She writes from the practical angle of a business person rather than as an academic,
making for a guide which is highly accessible and informative and which, by the close, will make you feel almost as smart as AI.
As we soon come to learn from AI by Design, AI is already super-smart and will become more capable, moving from the current generation of“narrow-AI” to
Artificial General Intelligence. From there, Campbell says, will come Artificial
试卷第 15 页，共 36 页
Dominant Intelligence. This is why Campbell has set out to raise awareness of AI and its future now — several decades before these developments are expected to take
place. She says it is essential that we keep control of artificial intelligence, or risk being sidelined and perhaps even worse.
Campbell’s point is to wake up those responsible for AI—the technology
companies and world leaders—so they are on the same page as all the experts
currently developing it. She explains we are at a “tipping point” in history and must act now to prevent an extinction-level event for humanity. We need to consider how we want our future with AI to pan out. Such structured thinking, followed by global regulation, will enable us to achieve greatness rather than our downfall.
AI will affect us all, and if you only read one book on the subject, this is it.
29 ．What does the phrase “In the wrong hands” in paragraph 2 probably mean
A．If read by someone poorly educated. B．If reviewed by someone ill-intentioned.
C ．If written by someone less competent. D ．If translated by someone unacademic.
30 ．What is a feature of AI by Design according to the text
A ．It is packed with complex codes. B ．It adopts a down-to-earth writing style.
C ．It provides step-by-step instructions. D ．It is intended for AI professionals.
31 ．What does Campbell urge people to do regarding AI development
A ．Observe existing regulations on it.
B ．Reconsider expert opinions about it.
C ．Make joint efforts to keep it under control.
D ．Learn from prior experience to slow it down.
32 ．What is the author’s purpose in writing the text
A ．To recommend a book on AI. B ．To give a brief account of AI history.
C ．To clarify the definition of AI. D ．To honor an outstanding AI expert.
5. 【2024 全国甲卷 B 篇】
Animals can express their needs using a lot of ways. For instance, almost all animals have distinct vocals (声音) that they rely on to either ask for help, scare away any dangerous animals or look for shelter. But cats are special creatures who
试卷第 16 页，共 36 页
possess amazing vocalization skills. They are able to have entire conversations with humans using meows and you're able to interpret it. If a pet cat is hungry, it will keep meowing to attract attention and find food. However, when a cat is looking for
affection, they tend to produce stretched and soft meows. Meowing starts as soon as a baby cat is brought to life and uses it to get the mother's attention and be fed.
Cats have many heightened senses, but their sense of smell is quite impressive. They use their noses to assess their environment and look out for any signs of danger. They will sniff out specific areas before they choose a place to relax. However,
another way the cats are able to distinguish between situations is by looking for
familiar smells. Your cat will likely smell your face and store the smell in its memory and use it to recognize you in the future. That's why most pet cats are able to tell
immediately if their owners were around any other cats, which they don't usually like.
Dogs are known for their impressive fetching habit, but cats take this behavior up a notch. Many cats will find random objects outside and bring them to their
owners. This is a very old habit that's been present in all kinds of predators (食肉动物). Cats bring gifts for their owners to show they love you. These adorable little
hunters are just doing something that it's been in their nature since the beginning of time. So just go along with it!
33 ．What can be learned about cats' meowing from the first paragraph
A ．It's a survival skill. B ．It's taught by mother cats.
C ．It's hard to interpret. D ．It's getting louder with age.
34 ．How does a pet cat assess different situations
A ．By listening for sounds. B ．By touching familiar objects.
C ．By checking on smells. D ．By communicating with other cats.
35 ．Which best explains the phrase "take. . . up notch" in paragraph 3
A ．Perform appropriately. B ．Move faster. C ．Act strangely.
D ．Do better.
36 ．What is a suitable title for the text
A ．Tips on Finding a Smart Cat B ．Understanding Your Cat's Behavior
试卷第 17 页，共 36 页
C ．Have Fun with Your Cat D ．How to Keep Your Cat Healthy
6. 【2024 全国甲卷 C 篇】
The Saint Lukas train doesn’t accept passengers — it accepts only the sick. The Saint Lukas is one of five government-sponsored medical trains that travel to remote towns in central and eastern Russia. Each stop lasts an average of two days, and
during that time the doctors and nurses on board provide rural (乡村) populations with basic medical care, X-ray scans and prescriptions.
“People started queuing to make an appointment early in the morning,” says
Emile Ducke, a German photographer who traveled with the staff of the Saint Lukas for a two-week trip in November through the vast regions (区域) of Krasnoyarsk and Khakassia.
Russia’s public health care service has been in serious need of modernization.
The government has struggled to come up with measures to address the problem,
particularly in the poorer, rural areas east of the Volga River, including arranging
doctor’s appointments by video chat and expanding financial aid programs to
motivate doctors to practice medicine in remote parts of the country like Krasnoyarsk.
The annual arrival of the Saint Lukas is another attempt to improve the
situation. For 10 months every year, the train stops at about eight stations over two weeks, before returning to the regional capital to refuel and restock (补给). Then it starts all over again the next month. Most stations wait about a year between visits.
Doctors see up to 150 patients every day. The train’s equipment allows for basic checkups. “I was very impressed by the doctors and their assistants working and
living in such little space but still staying focused and very concerned,” says Ducke. “They were the best chance for many rural people to get the treatment they want. ”
37 ．How is the Saint Lukas different from other trains
A ．It runs across countries. B ．It reserves seats for the seniors.
C ．It functions as a hospital. D ．It travels along a river.
38 ．What can we infer from paragraph 3 about Krasnoyarsk
试卷第 18 页，共 36 页
A ．It is heavily populated. B ．It offers training for doctors.
C ．It is a modern city. D ．It needs medical aid.
39 ．How long can the Saint Lukas work with one supply
A ．About a year. B ．About ten months.
C ．About two months. D ．About two weeks.
40 ．What is Ducke’s attitude toward the Saint Lukas’ services
A ．Appreciative. B ．Doubtful C ．Ambiguous. D ．Cautious.
4. 【2024 北京卷 D 篇】
Franz Boas’s description of Inuit (因纽特人) life in the 19th century illustrates the probable moral code of early humans. Here, norms (规范) were unwritten and
rarely expressed clearly, but were well understood and taken to heart. Dishonest and violent behaviours were disapproved of; leadership, marriage and interactions with other groups were loosely governed by traditions. Conflict was often resolved in
musical battles. Because arguing angrily leads to chaos, it was strongly discouraged. With life in the unforgiving Northern Canada being so demanding, the Inuit’s
practical approach to morality made good sense.
The similarity of moral virtues across cultures is striking, even though the
relative ranking of the virtues may vary with a social group’s history and
environment. Typically, cruelty and cheating are discouraged, while cooperation,
humbleness and courage are praised. These universal norms far pre-date the concept
of any moralising religion or written law. Instead, they are rooted in the similarity of basic human needs and our shared mechanisms for learning and problem solving. Our social instincts (本能) include the intense desire to belong. The approval of others is rewarding, while their disapproval is strongly disliked. These social emotions prepare our brains to shape our behaviour according to the norms and values of our family and our community. More generally, social instincts motivate us to learn how to behave in a socially complex world.
The mechanism involves a repurposed reward system originally used to develop habits important for self-care. Our brains use the system to acquire behavioural
试卷第 19 页，共 36 页
patterns regarding safe routes home, efficient food gathering and dangers to avoid.
Good habits save time, energy and sometimes your life. Good social habits do
something similar in a social context. We learn to tell the truth, even when lying is
self-serving; we help a grandparent even when it is inconvenient. We acquire what we call a sense ofright and wrong.
Social benefits are accompanied by social demands: we must get along, but not put up with too much. Hence self-discipline is advantageous. In humans, a greatly
enlarged brain boosts self-control, just as it boosts problem-solving skills in the social as well as the physical world. These abilities are strengthened by our capacity for
language, which allows social practices to develop in extremely unobvious ways.
41 ．What can be inferred about the forming of the Inuit’s moral code
A ．Living conditions were the drive. B ．Unwritten rules were the target.
C ．Social tradition was the basis. D ．Honesty was the key.
42 ．What can we learn from this passage
A．Inconveniences are the cause of telling lies. B．Basic human needs lead to universal norms.
C ．Language capacity is limited by self-control. D ．Written laws have great influence on virtues.
43 ．Which would be the best title for this passage
A ．Virtues: Bridges Across Cultures B ．The Values of Self-discipline
C ．Brains: Walls Against Chaos D ．The Roots of Morality
5. 【2024 浙江 1 月 C 篇】
On September 7, 1991, the costliest hailstorm (雹暴) in Canadian history hit
Calgary’s southern suburbs. As a result, since 1996 a group of insurance companies have spent about $2 million per year on the Alberta Hail Suppression Project.
Airplanes seed threatening storm cells with a chemical to make small ice crystals (冰
试卷第 20 页，共 36 页
晶) fall as rain before they can grow into dangerous hailstones. But farmers in
east-central Alberta — downwind (下风处) of the hail project flights — worry that precious moisture (水分) is being stolen from their thirsty land by the cloud seeding.
Norman Stienwand, who farms in that area has been addressing public meetings on this issue for years. “Basically, the provincial government is letting the insurance companies protect the Calgary-Edmonton urban area from hail,” Mr Stienwand says, “but they’re increasing drought risk as far east as Saskatchewan.”
The Alberta hail project is managed by Terry Krauss, a cloud physicist who
works for Weather Modification Inc. of Fargo, North Dakota. “We affect only a very small percentage of the total moisture in the air, so we cannot be causing drought,”
Dr. Krauss says. “In fact, we may be helping increase the moisture downwind by creating wetter ground.”
One doubter about the safety of cloud seeding is Chuck Doswell, a research
scientist who just retired from the University of Oklahoma. “In 1999, I personally saw significant tornadoes (龙卷风) form from a seeded storm cell in Kansas,” Dr. Doswell says. “Does cloud seeding create killer storms or reduce moisture downwind No one really knows, of course, but the seeding goes on.”
Given the degree of doubt, Mr. Stienwand suggests, “It would be wise to stop cloud seeding.” In practice, doubt has had the opposite effect. Due to the lack of
scientific proof concerning their impacts, no one has succeeded in winning a lawsuit (官司) against cloud-seeding companies. Therefore, private climate engineering can continue in relative legal safety.
44 ．What does the project aim to do
A ．Conserve moisture in the soil. B ．Prevent the formation of hailstones.
C ．Forecast disastrous hailstorms. D ．Investigate chemical use in farming.
45 ．Who are opposed to the project
A ．Farmers in east-central Alberta. B ．Managers of insurance companies.
C ．Provincial government officials. D ．Residents of Calgary and Edmonton.
46 ．Why does Dr. Doswell mention the tornadoes he saw in 1999
试卷第 21 页，共 36 页
A ．To compare different kinds of seeding methods.
B ．To illustrate the development of big hailstorms.
C ．To indicate a possible danger of cloud seeding.
D ．To show the link between storms and moisture.
47 ．What can we infer from the last paragraph
A ．Scientific studies have proved Stienwand right.
B ．Private climate engineering is illegal in Canada.
C ．The doubt about cloud seeding has disappeared.
D ．Cloud-seeding companies will continue to exist.
6. 【2024 浙江 1 月 D 篇】
The Stanford marshmallow (棉花糖) test was originally conducted by
psychologist Walter Mischel in the late 1960s. Children aged four to six at a nursery school were placed in a room. A single sugary treat, selected by the child, was placed on a table. Each child was told if they waited for 15 minutes before eating the treat,
they would be given a second treat. Then they were left alone in the room. Follow-up studies with the children later in life showed a connection between an ability to wait long enough to obtain a second treat and various forms of success.
As adults we face a version of the marshmallow test every day. We’re not
tempted (诱惑) by sugary treats, but by our computers, phones, and tablets — all the devices that connect us to the global delivery system for various types of information that do to us what marshmallows do to preschoolers.
We are tempted by sugary treats because our ancestors lived in a calorie-poor
world, and our brains developed a response mechanism to these treats that reflected
their value — a feeling of reward and satisfaction. But as we’ve reshaped the world
around us, dramatically reducing the cost and effort involved in obtaining calories, we still have the same brains we had thousands of years ago, and this mismatch is at the
试卷第 22 页，共 36 页
heart of why so many of us struggle to resist tempting foods that we know we shouldn’t eat.
A similar process is at work in our response to information. Our formative
environment as a species was information-poor, so our brains developed a mechanism that prized new information. But global connectivity has greatly changed our
information environment. We are now ceaselessly bombarded (轰炸) with new
information. Therefore, just as we need to be more thoughtful about our caloric
consumption, we also need to be more thoughtful about our information consumption, resisting the temptation of the mental “junk food” in order to manage our time most
effectively.
48 ．What did the children need to do to get a second treat in Mischel’s test
A ．Take an examination alone. B ．Show respect for the researchers.
C ．Share their treats with others. D ．Delay eating for fifteen minutes.
49 ．According to paragraph 3, there is a mismatch between .
A ．the calorie-poor world and our good appetites B ．the shortage of sugar and our nutritional needs
C ．the rich food supply and our unchanged brains D ．the tempting foods and our efforts to keep fit
50 ．What does the author suggest readers do
A ．Absorb new information readily. B ．Be selective information consumers.
C ．Use diverse information sources. D ．Protect the information environment.
51 ．Which of the following is the best title for the text
A ．Eat Less, Read More B ．The Bitter Truth about Early Humans
C ．The Later, the Better D ．The Marshmallow Test for Grownups
三、模拟演练
一、
Born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, Gen Z is often labelled as “digital
试卷第 23 页，共 36 页
natives”. Therefore, it may come as a surprise that Gen Z is turning away from screens and heading outdoors. From forest bathing to camping trips, more young adults are embracing nature as part of their lives.
Digital burnout is driving change. Gen Z spends more time online than any
other generation, with daily screen time averaging 6-9 hours. According to a recent
survey by Pew Research Centre, over 60% of Gen Z respondents reported feeling
overwhelmed by the pressures of staying digitally connected. Therefore, nature offers
an escape. For Gen Z, being outdoors isn't just leisure, it’s a form of essential self-care.
Ironically, the very platforms driving digital burnout are now fuelling nature engagement. Social media is not just part of the problem but it’s also part of the
solution. Popular hashtags such as #Hiking, #Ice Bathing, #RunningClubs, and
#VanLife have received billions of views online. Health and lifestyle influencers
share experiences of these activities, reframing nature as desirable and reachable.
Although access to nature is still limited by safety concerns, cost, and urban density, Gen Z is adapting as best as they can. From sharing equipment to joining outdoor
clubs, they’re finding creative ways to reclaim public spaces.
Reconnecting with nature is also driven by environmental values. From
eco-tourism to zero-waste hiking, Gen Z approaches outdoor time with purpose. Gen Z is reshaping global movements, using social media to spread climate advocacy and redefine sustainable living. This generation is embracing outdoor experiences that are low-cost, low-tech, and deeply fulfilling. Amongst all these activities, run clubs and social fitness events have exploded in popularity.
With a growing number of Gen Z passionate about spending time outdoors, it’s evident that many are turning to nature to restore balance, foster connection, and
contribute to a healthier world.
52 ．What do the numbers in paragraph 2 show
A ．Gen Z’s digital overexposure. B ．Gen Z’s preference for screens.
C ．The necessity of digital connection. D ．The phenomenon of online addiction.
试卷第 24 页，共 36 页
53 ．Which best describes social media’s role for Gen Z
A ．Double-edged. B ．Problem-causing. C ．Fun-oriented.
D ．Ever-changing.
54 ．What can be inferred from paragraph 4
A ．Online platforms advocate eco-tourism. B ．Gen Z has strong environmental awareness.
C ．Engaging in outdoor activities is challenging. D ．Social fitness events require high-end equipment.
55 ．What can be a suitable title for the text
A ．From Clicks to Cliffs: The Call of the Wild B ．Beyond the Screen: The Truth of Outdoor Lives
C ．Gen Z is Swapping Screen Time for Green Time D ．Social Media is Leading Gen Z to Outdoor Trips
What is the trick to aging successfully If you’re curious about learning the
answer, you might already be on the right track, according to a new paper published in the journal PLOS One.
“Psychology literature shows that oftentimes, what’s known as trait curiosity, or a person’s general level of curiosity, tends to decline with age,” said UCLA
(University of California, Los Angeles) psychologist Alan Castel, who is the senior
author of the new paper. “But we thought that was a little bit strange and went against what we saw in some of the older adult participants in our experiments, who would
often be very engaged and interested in learning about memory.”
Castel and Mary Whatley, who led the research, wondered if the answer lay in a different type of curiosity called state curiosity, which is what psychologists call the kind of momentary feeling of curiosity people experience when they are asked about specific topics. Trait curiosity, on the other hand, is a personality trait. Some people, for example, might not be very curious by nature, being content to accept things more or less at face value (trait curiosity), but have a passionate thirst for knowledge in
specific topics or hobbies (state curiosity). All people possess varying degrees of both
试卷第 25 页，共 36 页
trait and state curiosity.
To distinguish the two types of curiosity, the researchers gathered participants aged 20 -84 to complete an online questionnaire designed to assess how curious they were in general, or their trait curiosity. Then, the researchers asked the participants a bout uncommon knowledge to measure state curiosity, such as identifying the first
country to give women voting rights. The researchers asked participants to guess answers, and then asked them how interested they were to know answers before showing the correct ones.
Analysis showed trait curiosity generally did decline with age. However, state curiosity, reflected in interest ratings for learning new information, dropped in early adulthood, then escalated after middle age and continued upward well into old age. The study suggests that older adults maintaining curiosity in their interests may
prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
56 ．What caused the researchers to question the psychology literature
A ．Some older adults’ strong learning interest.
B ．The conflicting data in psychology literature.
C ．The participants’ decline in memory loss.
D ．Older people’s better memories.
57 ．What is the function of paragraph 3
A ．To illustrate an idea. B ．To make predictions.
C ．To clarify conceptions. D ．To present an example.
58 ．How did the researchers measure the participants’ state curiosity
A ．By testing their memory abilities. B ．By observing their daily behaviors.
C ．By asking about unusual questions. D ．By conducting brain scans on them.
59 ．What does the underlined word “escalated” in the last paragraph mean
A ．Separated. B ．Stabilized. C ．Disappeared. D ．Increased.
Sometimes the simpler idea is the winner. That’s certainly the case with the
winner ofthe XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition, which was announced in April, 2025. Mati Carbon walked away with the $50 million grand prize for its enhanced
试卷第 26 页，共 36 页
rock weathering program that locks carbon in soils for thousands of years.
“It’s really been an honor to be selected among the experts in carbon removal who have been competing for this prize,” said Shantanu Agarwal, founder and CEO of Mati Carbon.
Mati’s carbon-removal technology is simple. The company grinds (碾碎) up
rocks that naturally change carbon dioxide (CO2) into stable minerals, increasing their surface area to help them absorb carbon more quickly. Then the rock dust is spread on farm fields where it mineralizes carbon and contributes micronutrients to the soil.
Several different types of rocks work for enhanced rock weathering, but Mati uses basalt, a volcanic rock that’s available in a number of regions around the globe. Mati applies basalt to the farmers’ fields free of charge. Costs are supported by
carbon-removal credit sales. The company expects to deliver about 5,000 to 6,000 metric tons of carbon-removal credits this year. Agarwal said that Mati is aiming to sell credits for less than $100 per metric ton by the early 2030s.
Around 200 million smallholder farmers could benefit from adding basalt to
their fields. Altogether, those small farms support about one billion people. “It’s about 800 million to 900 million acres of farmland,” Agarwal said. “You use that for carbon removal, and you get more than a gigaton (十亿公吨) of removal every year while
increasing income of these farmers who are desperately poor.”
After a season, farmers typically get 25% more productivity from soils that are fertilized (施肥). “This material is the difference between having a crop and having no crop. We’ve seen that in Zambia this year. Farmers put this in half of the field
while leaving the other half untreated. Due to the drought, the untreated half had no crops,” said Agarwal.
60 ．Why does the author mention the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition
A ．To explain its wide popularity. B ．To emphasize its great fairness.
C ．To introduce its grand prize project. D ．To show its competitive intensity.
61 ．How is Mati Carbon financially backed
A ．It sells carbon-removal credits. B ．It charges farmers some fees.
试卷第 27 页，共 36 页
C ．It boosts crop productivity. D ．It mines volcanic rocks globally.
62 ．What do the statistics in paragraph 5 show us about the technology
A ．Its increasing popularity. B ．Its potential impact.
C ．Its technical complexity. D ．Its financial challenges.
63 ．What’s a suitable title for the text
A ．Simplicity Wins in Innovation B ．Basalt: A Farmer’s Best Friend
C ．$50 Million Prize for Carbon Removal D ．Rock Dust: Carbon Remover and Crop Booster
Americans like to be straightforward when it comes to getting to know
someone. Their personal questions might seem offensive in some cultures. For
example, “Where did you go to school ” might annoy an Englishman, because the answer reveals his social status. Here, it is simply an attempt to speed up the
getting-to-know-you process.
While many Americans are very well-traveled, they’re in the minority. Don’t be offended if a comment about your country or culture seems insulting—it’s usually just a lack of information, and a gentle correction will be well accepted. What if the
conversation goes wrong to a topic that you find private, such as health or politics
Americans can’t always take a subtle hint when they’re being disturbing—a light-hearted comment and a change of subject will probably work.
If you’re from Europe, expect to hear how many famous ancestors of your
country appear in their family tree. And if you’re from Britain, that sudden odd way of speaking is probably an American’s attempt to imitate your accent—it’s meant to be joking. These days there is little in the United States that truly offends. As a
universal rule, it is also wise to avoid talking about religion, money, and politics.
So, now that you know what to expect, how do you go about meeting one of
those 315 million Americans As we have seen, Americans are doers, joiners, and
organizers. According to the old joke, if you put two British people on a desert island, they’ll form a committee. Two Americans are more likely to set up a boat-building
club, or a professional association for survivors. They can’t resist talking to someone
试卷第 28 页，共 36 页
who shares their particular passion, so whatever your professional or leisure interest, find a group and get involved.
64 ．What would Americans most probably do when they meet a European
A ．They would correct his English accent.
B ．They would hear his opinion of America.
C ．They would inquire about Europe’s health system.
D ．They would boast about their European ancestors.
65．According to the writer, what should a European do to get along with Americans
A ．Join their groups. B ．Set up a club for them.
C ．Talk about their history. D ．Keep them at a distance.
66 ．What is the writer’s attitude towards Americans
A ．Indifferent. B ．Objective.
C ．Critical. D ．Disappointed.
67 ．What is the best title for the passage
A ．Working with Europeans B ．Finding out Americans’ Passions
C ．Getting to Know Americans D ．Learning about European
Most birds go for ease when looking for drinking water. But the sulfur-crested cockatoos in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, often prefer to quench their thirst (止渴) with a challenging puzzle.
In the city’s western suburbs, some of the birds have figured out how to use public drinking fountains. The cockatoos skilfully use one foot to twist the handle open while their other claw presses the spout (出水口).
It’s unclear why the cockatoos go to the effort of using drinking fountains when there are plenty of accessible water sources nearby. They don’t seem to use them
more often during hot weather.
One possible explanation is that the task of operating the fountains is simply more fun than drinking water from the local streams.
“If you’re not dying of thirst, then why not do something you enjoy ” said
Barbara C. Klump, an author of a study of the birds published on Wednesday in the
试卷第 29 页，共 36 页
journal Biology Letters, and a behavioral ecologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany.
To find out, Dr. Klump and her colleagues tagged 24 birds from a population of as many as 150 living in a reserve in Western Sydney. They installed cameras in front of drinking fountains to catch the birds in action.
The cockatoos attempted to use the drinking fountains more than 500 times
during 44 days. While male cockatoos were better at flipping open heavy garbage-bin lids than females in earlier studies, both sexes were equally expert at operating the
drinking fountains.
Dr. Klump and her colleagues are taking a closer look at the behavior, such as how long it takes the cockatoos to master the skill. The researchers are also curious to know what the cockatoos will do next.
“I’d love to learn more about what else they have up their sleeves,” Dr. Klump said.
68 ．What puzzles the author according to Paragraph 1
A ．The way the cockatoos seek water. B ．The fact that the cockatoos lack water.
C ．The weather of the suburbs of Sydney. D ．The challenge cockatoos have in surviving.
69 ．Why does Dr. Klump think the cockatoos turn to drinking fountains
A ．They do it for fun. B ．They’re really thirsty.
C ．They prove to be smart. D ．They’re tired of old sources.
70 ．What can be inferred about the tagged cockatoos
A ．150 birds were tested in a reserve. B ．cameras were installed on the birds.
C．Female cockatoos are skillful as well. D．It takes them time to master new skills.
71 ．Where can you most probably read the text
A ．In a fashion magazine. B ．In a biology textbook.
C ．In an education brochure. D ．On a news website.
When we think about high school’s lasting impact, we often focus on grade point averages, extracurricular activities, and close friendships. But according to a
试卷第 30 页，共 36 页
new study, the influence of high school stretches far beyond the teenage years and into our very bodies.
The study tracked a nationally representative sample of individuals who were
high school sophomores (二年级的) and seniors in 1980. Researchers followed these participants into their early 50s and found strong links between high school
experience and midlife body mass index (BMI). This relationship held even when
accounting for college education, academic attainment, and weight during high school itself.
This research argues that high schools are more than institutions of learning — they are health shapers. For decades, we’ve known that educational attainment is
linked to health outcomes, including weight. But this study pushes the timeline back, suggesting that the process of becoming educated — especially the early stages that happen in high school — is just as crucial.
So, what parts of high school matter It turns out that attending private schools, being in high socioeconomic status (High-SES) environments, and enrolling in
advanced curricular tracks were associated with lower midlife BMI, especially for
women. These factors weren’t just minor contributors; they maintained their influence even after researchers controlled for a host of variables like college degrees and adult income.
Interestingly, popularity during high school also played a role for women. In a society where women and girls face heightened pressure around body image, early social acceptance may help establish healthier long-term habits and body ideals.
The gender differences in this study are striking. For women, both family and
school SES, along with popularity, were significantly linked to adult weight. For men, the connection existed but was less pronounced. One possible reason The cultural
landscape. Girls and women often deal with more pressure to be thin and face harsher judgment about their weight than boys and men. These pressures likely strengthen
how high school experiences — both academic and social — shape long-term behaviors and self-perceptions.
试卷第 31 页，共 36 页
72 ．What does the study mainly reveal about high schools
A ．They predict academic success. B ．They foster social relationships.
C ．They determine career achievements. D ．They shape long- term physical health.
73 ．Which factor relates to lower adult BMI for women
A ．Adult income status. B ．High school popularity.
C ．College degree level. D ．High school sports activities.
74 ．Why do gender differences exist in findings
A ．Social expectations. B ．Economic policies.
C ．Educational resources. D ．Biological distinctions.
75 ．What can be a suitable title for the text
A ．Gender Differences in Educational Environments
B ．The Link Between School Grades and Adult Success
C ．High School’s Long- Term Impact on Physical Health
D ．The Role of Social Activities in adolescent Development
With the help of artificial intelligence, MIT researchers have developed new antibiotics (抗生素) capable of combating two dangerous drug-resistant bacteria:
Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) . Using generative AI
models, the team designed over 36 million potential compounds and screened them for antibacterial properties. The most promising candidates exhibit unique chemical structures distinct from existing antibiotics and function by disrupting bacterial cell walls — a novel mechanism of action.
This innovative approach allows scientists to explore previously uncharted
chemical territories. Professor James Collins, senior author of the study, stated, “Our work demonstrates AI’s power in drug design and enables us to access much larger chemical spaces.” This breakthrough comes at a critical time when antibiotic
resistance causes nearly 5 million global deaths annually, while few truly new antibiotics have reached the market in recent decades.
The researchers tried two different approaches with AI. First, they asked the AI
试卷第 32 页，共 36 页
to design molecules (分子) based on a known antibacterial fragment, which produced a compound called NG1. This compound successfully treated drug-resistant
gonorrhea in laboratory tests and in mice. Second, they allowed the AI to freely create new molecules, which led to another compound named DN1 that cured MRSA skin
infections in mice. Both compounds work by attacking bacterial cell walls, making them effective against drug-resistant strains.
These discoveries provide new hope for solving the antibiotic resistance crisis. A nonprofit organization is now working to improve these compounds for possible human use, while the research team plans to use their AI method to fight other
dangerous bacteria in the future.
76 ．How do the newly created antibiotics work
A．By changing the genes