英语四级阅读的试题

英语四级阅读的试题

PartIReadingComprehension(40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Theconceptof"smartcities"isgainingtractionworldwide.Theseurbanareasusevarioustypesofelectronicmethodsandsensorstocollectdata.Insightsgainedfromthatdataareusedtomanageassets,resourcesandservicesefficiently;inreturn,thatdataisusedtoimprovetheoperationsacrossthecity.Thisincludesdatacollectedfromcitizens,devices,buildingsandassetsthatisthenprocessedandanalyzedtomonitorandmanagetrafficandtransportationsystems,powerplants,watersupplynetworks,wastemanagement,lawenforcement,informationsystems,schools,libraries,hospitals,andothercommunityservices.Thesmartcityconceptintegratesinformationandcommunicationtechnology(ICT),andvariousphysicaldevicesconnectedtotheInternetofthings(IoT)networktooptimizethe__1__ofthecity'soperationsandservicesandconnecttocitizens.Smartcitytechnologyallowscityofficialstointeractdirectlywithbothcommunityandcityinfrastructureandtomonitorwhatishappeninginthecityandhowthecityisevolving.ICTisusedtoenhancequality,performanceandinteractivityofurbanservices,toreducecostsandresource__2__,andtoimprovecontactbetweencitizensandgovernment.Smartcityapplicationsaredevelopedtomanageurbanflowsandallowforreal-timeresponses.Asmartcitymaythereforebemorepreparedtorespondtochallengesthanonewitha__3__"transactional"relationshipwithitscitizens.Yet,the__4__isnotwithoutitscritics.Privacyconcernsareattheforefront,asthelarge-scaledatacollectionnecessaryforsuchinitiativescanleadtomassivesurveillance.The__5__of"functioncreep"—wheredatacollectedforonepurposeislaterusedforanother—isasignificantrisk.Furthermore,thehighcostoftechnologycould__6__socioeconomicdisparities,benefitingwealthierdistrictswhileneglectingpoorerones.There'salsothedangerofcreatingsystemsthataretoocomplexandinterdependent,potentiallyleadingtolarge-scalefailuresifonecomponent__7__.Expertsarguethatforasmartcitytobetrulysuccessfulandsustainable,itmustprioritizeinclusivity,transparency,androbustdata__8__laws.Technologyshouldbeatooltoserveallcitizens,notanendinitself.Ultimately,thegoalistousedigitalinnovationtocreatemore__9__,efficient,andlivableurbanenvironments,butthismustbebalancedwiththeprotectionofindividualrightsandthepromotionofsocial__10__.A)consumptionB)conventionalC)efficiencyD)equityE)exacerbateF)failsG)governanceH)initiativeI)livableJ)potentialK)privacyL)prosperityM)securityN)traditionalO)withersSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.TheParadoxofChoice[A]Inmodernconsumersocieties,peoplearefacedwithanabundanceofchoiceseveryday.Fromdozensofvarietiesofcerealatthesupermarkettohundredsofchannelsontelevision,andcountlesscareerpaths,thefreedomtochooseiscelebratedasahallmarkofautonomyandwell-being.Conventionalwisdomsuggeststhatmorechoicesleadtogreatersatisfactionbecausetheyallowindividualstofindtheoptionthatbestfitstheiruniquepreferences.[B]However,psychologicalresearchoverthepastfewdecadeshasrevealedamorecomplexpicture.StudiesconductedbyscholarslikeSheenaIyengarandBarrySchwartzdemonstratethatwhilesomechoiceisundoubtedlybetterthannone,anoverabundanceofoptionscanleadtopsychologicaldistressanddecisionparalysis.Thisphenomenonisoftentermed"theparadoxofchoice."[C]Onesignificantnegativeeffectisdecisionfatigue.Makingdecisionsrequiresmentalenergy.Whenfacedwithtoomanyoptions,peopleexpendaconsiderableamountofcognitiveeffortjustevaluatingthealternatives.Thiscanleadtoexhaustion,makingsubsequentdecisionspoorerinquality.Forinstance,ashopperoverwhelmedby50typesofjammayleaveempty-handed,whereasonepresentedwith6varietiesismorelikelytomakeapurchase.[D]Anotherconsequenceisincreasedanxietyandregret.Withnumerousalternatives,thepressuretomakethe"perfect"choiceescalates.Afteradecisionismade,individualsmayexperience"buyer'sremorse"orcounterfactualthinking—dwellingontheattractivefeaturesoftheoptionstheyrejected.Thispost-decisionregretcandiminishsatisfactionwiththechosenoption,evenifitwasobjectivelygood.[E]Theparadoxalsoaffectsourexpectations.Inaworldoflimitlessoptions,people'sexpectationsrise.Theybelievethatwithsomuchavailable,theremustbeaperfectfitoutthere.Whentheireventualchoiceproveslessthanperfect—asallreal-worldchoicesare—disappointmentismoreacutecomparedtowhenoptionswerelimitedandexpectationswerelower.[F]Thisisnotmerelyaconsumerissue.Itextendstomajorlifedecisions.Youngadultsreportinghighlevelsofcareerchoice,forexample,oftenexperiencemoreanxietyandlesscommitmenttotheirchosenpaths.Thefearofmissingoutonabetteralternativecanpreventpeoplefromfullyinvestinginandenjoyingtheircurrentsituation.[G]So,whatcanbedonetomitigatethenegativeeffectsofchoiceoverload?Expertssuggestseveralstrategies.Oneistopractice"satisficing"—atermcoinedbyHerbertSimon—whichmeansaimingforachoicethatis"goodenough"ratherthanobsessivelyseekingtheabsolutebest.Satisficerstendtobehappierwiththeirdecisionsthan"maximizers,"whofeelcompelledtoexamineeverypossibility.[H]Anotherstrategyistolimitoptionsvoluntarily.Consumerscandecidetoshopatstoreswithcuratedselections.Companiescanhelpbyofferingsensibledefaultsandstreamlinedchoices.Forinstance,aretirementsavingsplanthatoffersafewwell-constructedportfoliooptionsismoreeffectivethanoneofferinghundredsofobscurefunds.[I]Cultivatinggratitudeandconsciouscommitmentisalsocrucial.Byconsciouslyappreciatingthepositiveaspectsofourchosenpathandconsciouslydecidingnottodwellonthe"roadsnottaken,"wecanincreaseourcontentment.Mindfulnesspracticescanhelpanchorusinthepresentrealityofourchoice.[J]Ultimately,recognizingtheparadoxofchoiceisthefirststep.Inaculturethatglorifiesendlesspossibility,itisempoweringtounderstandthatsometimes,lesstrulyismore.Byseekingsufficiencyoverperfection,andbymakingconsciouseffortstosimplifyourdecisionenvironments,wecanreclaimthefreedomandsatisfactionthatchoiceissupposedtoprovide.11.Thebeliefthathavingmorechoicesincreaseshappinessiscommoninmodernsocieties.12.Researchindicatesthattoomanyoptionscanpreventpeoplefrommakinganydecisionatall.13.Theeffortofevaluatingmanyalternativescantirepeopleoutandimpairtheirlaterdecisions.14.Afterchoosingfrommanyoptions,peopleoftenfeelregretfulabouttheoptionstheygaveup.15.Whenpeoplehavecountlessoptions,theytendtobelieveaperfectchoiceexists,leadingtogreaterdisappointment.16.Theanxietycausedbyexcessivechoiceisalsoevidentinsignificantareaslikecareerselection.17."Satisficing,"orchoosinga"goodenough"option,isrecommendedasawaytocombatchoiceoverload.18.Businessescanassistconsumersbyprovidingasmallernumberofwell-designedchoices.19.Learningtobethankfulforwhatonehaschosencanhelppeoplefeelmoresatisfied.20.Acknowledgingtheexistenceoftheparadoxofchoiceisessentialfordealingwithit.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).Youshoulddecideonthebestchoice.PassageOneQuestions21to25arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Thehumanbrain'scapacityforneuroplasticity—theabilitytoreorganizeitselfbyformingnewneuralconnectionsthroughoutlife—hasrevolutionizedourunderstandingoflearningandrecovery.Fordecades,itwasbelievedthatthebrain'sstructurewasrelativelyfixedafteracriticalperiodinchildhood.However,contemporaryneurosciencehasshownthatthebrainremainsmalleable,or"plastic,"wellintoadulthood.Thisplasticityisfundamentaltolearningnewskills,suchasplayingamusicalinstrumentorspeakingaforeignlanguage.Whenwepracticeanewactivityrepeatedly,specificneuralpathwaysarestrengthened.Thisprocess,knownaslong-termpotentiation,isthecellularbasisformemoryandskillacquisition.Conversely,neuralpathwaysthatarenotusedcanweakenovertime,aprinciplesometimessummarizedas"useitorloseit."Neuroplasticityalsoplaysacrucialroleinrecoveryfrombraininjuries,suchasthosecausedbystrokes.Whenonepartofthebrainisdamaged,otherregionscansometimesreorganizeandtakeoverthelostfunctions.Rehabilitationtherapiesaredesignedtoencouragethisrerouting.Forexample,constraint-inducedmovementtherapyforstrokepatientsinvolvesrestrictingtheuseofanunaffectedlimbtoforcetheuseandretrainingoftheaffectedone,therebystimulatingthebraintoformnewconnections.However,neuroplasticityisnotalwaysbeneficial.Maladaptiveplasticitycancontributetochronicpain,tinnitus(ringingintheears),andcertainpsychiatricdisorders.Inthesecases,thebrain'srewiringinresponsetoinjuryorexperienceperpetuatestheproblemratherthansolvingit.Understandingneuroplasticityunderscorestheimportanceoflifelonglearningandmentalstimulation.Itsuggeststhatourcognitiveabilitiesarenotfixedbutcanbecultivatedandimprovedwithdedicatedeffort.Thisknowledgeoffershopefortreatingneurologicalconditionsandempowersindividualstotakeanactiveroleinshapingtheirownbrainhealth.21.Whatwasthetraditionalviewaboutthehumanbrain'sstructure?A)Itcouldeasilyrepairitselfafterinjury.B)Itwashighlyflexibleeveninoldage.C)Itbecamemostlyfixedafterchildhood.D)Itwasconstantlychangingthroughoutlife.22.Whathappenstoneuralpathwayswhenanewskillispracticedrepeatedly?A)Theybecomepermanentlydamaged.B)Theyareweakenedduetooveruse.C)Theyarestrengthenedthroughaspecificprocess.D)Theyarereplacedbyentirelynewcells.23.Howdoesneuroplasticityaidrecoveryfromastroke?A)Bypreventinganybraindamagefromoccurring.B)Byallowingundamagedbrainareastoassumethefunctionsofdamagedones.C)Byquicklyregeneratingthedamagedbraintissue.D)Byreducingtheneedforanyrehabilitationtherapy.24.Theauthormentions"maladaptiveplasticity"toillustratethatplasticity______.A)isonlyusefulforlearninglanguagesB)cansometimeshavenegativeconsequencesC)isacompletelyuncontrollableprocessD)isirrelevanttomentalhealthissues25.Whatisthemainmessagetheauthorintendstoconveyaboutneuroplasticity?A)Itisadangerousphenomenonthatshouldbeinhibited.B)Itisarareabilityfoundonlyingeniuses.C)Ithighlightsthepotentialforcognitivegrowthandrecoverythroughoutlife.D)Itissolelyresponsibleforallbrain-relateddiseases.PassageTwoQuestions26to30arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Theriseofremotework,acceleratedbytheglobalpandemic,hasfundamentallyalteredtheprofessionallandscape.Whileofferingunprecedentedflexibilityandeliminatinggruelingcommutesformany,thisshifthasalsointroducedacomplexsetofchallenges,particularlyconcerningtheblurringofboundariesbetweenworkandpersonallife.Oneofthemostcitedbenefitsofremoteworkisautonomy.Employeescanoftensettheirownhours,managetheirtaskswithlessdirectsupervision,andcreateapersonalizedworkenvironment.Thiscanleadtoincreasedjobsatisfactionandproductivityforself-disciplinedindividuals.Companiesbenefitfromaccesstoawidertalentpool,reducedoverheadcostsforofficespace,andoften,higherretentionrates.However,theerosionofclearspatialandtemporalboundariesisasignificantdownside.Whenhomebecomestheoffice,itbecomesdifficultto"switchoff."Theconstantpresenceofdigitalcommunicationtoolscanleadtoan"always-on"culture,whereemployeesfeelpressuredtorespondtomessagesandemailsoutsidetraditionalworkinghours.Thiscanresultinburnout,increasedstress,andafeelingofbeingperpetuallyatwork,evenduringpersonalorfamilytime.Furthermore,remoteworkcanexacerbatefeelingsofisolationandhinderspontaneouscollaborationandnetworking.Thecasual"water-cooler"conversationsthatoftensparkideasandbuildteamcohesionarelargelyabsent.Fornewemployees,integratingintocompanycultureandbuildingmeaningfulrelationshipswithcolleaguescanbeparticularlychallengingfromadistance.Tonavigatethisnewterrainsuccessfully,bothemployersandemployeesneedtobeproactive.Companiesmustestablishclearpoliciesregardingcommunicationexpectationsandworkinghours.Theyshouldinvestintechnologythatfacilitatesseamlesscollaborationbutalsoencouragepracticesthatprotectemployees'timeoff.Fortheirpart,employeesneedtocreatephysicalandpsychologicalboundaries,suchasdesignatingaspecificworkspaceandadheringtoaconsistentroutinethatincludesadefinitiveendtotheworkday.Thefutureofworkmaybehybrid,butitssustainabilitydependsonconsciouslydesigningittopreservebothproductivityandwell-being.26.Whatispresentedasamajoradvantageofremoteworkforemployees?A)Guaranteedpromotions.B)Increasedautonomyandflexibility.C)Moretimeforcommuting.D)Lessneedforself-discipline.27.Whatisaprimaryproblemcausedbythe"always-on"cultureassociatedwithremotework?A)Reducedaccesstodigitaltools.B)Increasedoverheadcostsforcompanies.C)Difficultyindisconnectingfromwork,leadingtoburnout.D)Eliminationofallworkplacestress.28.Accordingtothepassage,whatisaspecificsocialdrawbackofremotework?A)Itcompletelyeliminatesteamwork.B)