2025年考研英语一真题及详解

2025年考研英语一真题及详解PartIUseofEnglishDirections:Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestword(s)foreachnumberedblankandmarkA,B,CorDontheANSWERSHEET.(10points)Theconceptof"digitalminimalism"hasgainedconsiderabletractioninrecentyears,emergingasanecessaryantidotetothepervasivenoiseofthemoderninternet.CoinedbyCalNewport,thephilosophyisnotabout1abandoningtechnology,butratheraboutbeing2withhowweuseit.Inaworldwhereourattentionistheprimarycommoditybeing3bytechgiants,reclaimingourfocusbecomesanactof4.Manypeoplefindthemselves5checkingtheirsmartphones,evenwhennonotificationhasarrived.Thisbehavior,often6as"phantomvibrationsyndrome,"isasymptomofadeepermalaise:wehavelosttheabilitytobe7.We8constantstimulation,fearingthatamomentofquietmightleadtoboredomor,worse,introspection.However,thisconstantconnectivitycomesatasteep9.Ourcognitiveresourcesarefinite,andwhentheyare10acrossthousandsofdailymicro-interactions,ourcapacityfordeepworkandmeaningfulthought11.Digitalminimalismsuggestsaradical12:a30-daybreakfromoptionaltechnologies.Thisperiodallowsindividualstorediscoveractivitiesthatprovidetruesatisfaction,13reading,hiking,orface-to-faceconversations.Afterthebreak,oneisencouragedtoonlyreintroducetechnologiesthatservea14purposeandaddsignificantvaluetolife.Thegoalistomovefrombeingapassive15ofcontenttoanactiveparticipantinone'sownlife.Criticsarguethatthisapproachis16forthosewhoselivelihoodsdependonstayingconnected.Yet,thedistinctionbetween"optional"and"necessary"technologyis17.Onemightneedemailforwork,butdoesoneneedtocheckit18duringdinner?ThephilosophydoesnotadvocateforareturntotheStoneAge;rather,itpromotesamore19relationshipwiththetoolsthatweresupposedto20us,notenslaveus.1.[A]radically [B]completely [C]superficially [D]reluctantly2.[A]careless [B]indifferent [C]intentional [D]enthusiastic3.[A]created [B]harvested [C]ignored [D]protected4.[A]aggression [B]submission [C]rebellion [D]charity5.[A]instinctively [B]reluctantly [C]occasionally [D]logically6.[A]cured [B]diagnosed [C]praised [D]defined7.[A]alone [B]busy [C]online [D]productive8.[A]crave [B]detest [C]ignore [D]misunderstand9.[A]price [B]profit [C]speed [D]value10.[A]concentrated [B]accumulated [C]scattered [D]invested11.[A]expands [B]diminishes [C]solidifies [D]stabilizes12.[A]compromise [B]experiment [C]failure [D]decline13.[A]avoiding [B]including [C]excluding [D]prioritizing14.[A]vague [B]specific [C]temporary [D]common15.[A]creator [B]critic [C]consumer [D]destroyer16.[A]ideal [B]impractical [C]essential [D]harmless17.[A]blurred [B]clear [C]absolute [D]irrelevant18.[A]compulsively [B]efficiently [C]rarely [D]publicly19.[A]toxic [B]casual [C]mindful [D]distant20.[A]liberate [B]entertain [C]educate [D]monitorPartIIReadingComprehensionSectionADirections:Eachofthepassagesbelowisfollowedbysomequestions.ForeachquestiontherearefouranswersmarkedA,B,CandD.Readthepassagescarefullyandchoosethebestanswertoeachofthequestions.MarkyouranswersontheANSWERSHEET.(40points)Text1Theriseofthe"gigeconomy"hasfundamentallyreshapedthelandscapeofworkinthe21stcentury.Characterizedbyshort-termcontractsandfreelanceworkasopposedtopermanentjobs,thismodeloffersunparalleledflexibilityforworkersandcost-efficiencyforbusinesses.However,beneaththeveneerofautonomyliesacomplexrealityfraughtwithinsecurityandregulatorychallenges.Proponentsarguethatthegigeconomyempowersindividualstobetheirownbosses.Workerscanchoosewhen,where,andhowmuchtheywork.ThisisparticularlyappealingtomillennialsandGenZ,whovaluework-lifebalanceandexperiencesovertherigidschedulesofthecorporateworld.PlatformslikeUber,Airbnb,andUpworkhavefacilitatedthisshift,creatingmarketplaceswhereserviceprovidersconnectdirectlywithconsumers.Yet,thisindependenceoftencomesatthecostoftraditionalemploymentbenefits.Gigworkersaretypicallyclassifiedasindependentcontractors,meaningtheyarenotentitledtominimumwageguarantees,paidsickleave,healthinsurance,orretirementplans.Whenagigworkerfallsillorfacesadryspell,thereisnosafetynet.Furthermore,thealgorithmsthatgoverntheseplatformscanactasdraconianmanagers,deactivatingworkerswhofailtomaintainarbitraryratingswithoutdueprocess.Thelegalstatusofgigworkershasbecomeabattleground.Invariousjurisdictions,courtsandlegislaturesaregrapplingwiththequestionofwhethertheseindividualsshouldbereclassifiedasemployees.Thisreclassificationwouldgrantthemessentialprotectionsbutcouldpotentiallyunderminethebusinessmodelsofplatformcompanies,whichrelyonlowlaborcoststooffercompetitiveprices.Somecompanieshaveattemptedtocompromisebyofferinglimitedbenefitswithoutgrantingfullemploymentstatus,amovethatcriticsdismissasahalf-measure.Ultimately,thefutureofthegigeconomydependsonfindingabalancebetweenflexibilityandsecurity.Astechnologycontinuestoautomateroutinetasks,thenatureofworkwillkeepevolving.Policymakersmustensurethatlaborlawskeeppacewiththesechanges,protectingworkerswithoutstiflinginnovation.Thegigeconomyisheretostay,butitscurrentformislikelyjustatransitionalphaseinalongerhistoryofeconomicrestructuring.21.The"gigeconomy"ischaracterizedby______.[A]permanentemploymentandhighsalaries[B]long-termcontractsandcorporaterigidity[C]short-termcontractsandfreelancework[D]governmentoversightandheavyregulation22.Accordingtothetext,thegigeconomyisappealingtoyoungergenerationsbecauseit______.[A]guaranteeshighincomeandrapidpromotion[B]providescomprehensivehealthinsurance[C]offersflexibilityandwork-lifebalance[D]requiresnospecificskillsorqualifications23.Theword"draconian"(Paragraph3)isclosestinmeaningto______.[A]benevolent [B]supportive [C]severe [D]indifferent24.Whatisthemainlegalcontroversysurroundinggigworkers?[A]Whethertheyshouldbeclassifiedasemployeesorcontractors.[B]Whethertheyshouldbeallowedtoworkremotely.[C]Whethertheyshouldpayhighertaxes.[D]Whethertheyshouldjoinlaborunions.25.Theauthor’sattitudetowardsthefutureofthegigeconomycanbebestdescribedas______.[A]optimisticanduncritical[B]pessimisticandfearful[C]objectiveandcautious[D]confusedanduncertainText2Intherealmofastrophysics,fewdiscoverieshavebeenastransformativeasthedetectionofgravitationalwaves.Ripplesinthefabricofspacetime,predictedbyAlbertEinsteinacenturyago,thesewaveswerefinallyobservedbytheLIGO(LaserInterferometerGravitational-WaveObservatory)collaborationin2015.Thedetectionconfirmedamajorpredictionofgeneralrelativityandopenedanentirelynewwindowontotheuniverse.Unlikelightwaves,gravitationalwavesarenotimpededbymatter.Theypassthroughplanets,stars,anddustcloudsunhindered,carryinginformationaboutcosmiceventsthatareotherwiseinvisible.Forinstance,themergeroftwoblackholes—aprocessthatemitsnolight—canbe"heard"throughthegravitationalwavesitgenerates.Thiscapabilityallowsastronomerstoprobethe"darkuniverse"andtestthelimitsofourphysicaltheories.Thesignificanceofthisdiscoveryextendsbeyondmereconfirmationofoldtheories.Itprovidesanewtoolforcosmology.Bystudyingthepropertiesofgravitationalwaves,scientistshopetounderstandthenatureofgravityitself,perhapsevenunifyingitwithquantummechanics.Additionally,theseobservationsofferinsightsintothelifecyclesofstarsandtheformationofheavyelements.Thecollisionofneutronstars,forexample,isbelievedtobeaforgeforgoldandplatinum.However,thetechnologyrequiredtodetectthesewavesismind-bogglinglyprecise.LIGOconsistsoftwointerferometers,eachwithtwo4-kilometerarmsarrangedinanLshape.Alaserbeamissplitandsentdownthearms,bouncingoffmirrorsandrecombining.Apassinggravitationalwaveslightlyaltersthelengthofthearms,changingtheinterferencepatternofthelaserlight.Thechangeisinfinitesimal—lessthanone-thousandththewidthofaproton.Detectingsuchaminutesignalrequiresisolatingtheinstrumentsfromallearthlynoise,fromseismicvibrationstotrafficrumble.Lookingahead,thenextgenerationofgravitationalwaveobservatories,suchasthespace-basedLISA(LaserInterferometerSpaceAntenna),promisestocaptureevenmorefaintanddistantsignals.Thesefutureprojectswilllikelydetectwavesfromtheearlyuniverse,sheddinglightontheBigBangitself.Aswestandatthethresholdofthisneweraofastronomy,onethingisclear:wearenolongerjustwatchingtheuniverse;wearelisteningtoitssong.26.Whatwastheprimarysignificanceofthe2015LIGOdetection?[A]ItdisprovedEinstein’stheoryofgeneralrelativity.[B]Itwasthefirstdirectobservationofgravitationalwaves.[C]Itdiscoveredtheexistenceofblackholes.[D]Itprovedthatlightwavesaresuperiortogravitationalwaves.27.Accordingtothepassage,gravitationalwavesareuniquebecausethey______.[A]travelfasterthanlight[B]areblockedbymatter[C]carryinformationaboutinvisiblecosmicevents[D]canonlybedetectedbythenakedeye28.Thecollisionofneutronstarsismentionedtoillustrate______.[A]howblackholesareformed[B]thecreationofheavyelements[C]thelimitationsofLIGOtechnology[D]thedangersofcosmicevents29.TheLIGOdetectionmethodreliesonmeasuring______.[A]changesinthecoloroflaserlight[B]theinterferencepatternoflaserlight[C]thespeedofseismicvibrations[D]thewidthofaproton30.Whichofthefollowingbestdescribestheauthor'stoneinthelastparagraph?[A]Skeptical [B]Celebratory [C]Technical [D]IndifferentText3Thenarrativeofthe"vanishingmiddleclass"hasbecomeastapleofpoliticaldiscourseintheWest.Statisticspaintastarkpicture:incomeinequalityhasrisentolevelsnotseensincetheGildedAge,andtheshareofnationalincomegoingtothemiddle60%ofhouseholdshasshrunk.Thiseconomicpolarizationisoftenattributedtothetwinforcesofglobalizationandtechnologicalchange,oftenreferredtoas"skill-biasedtechnologicalchange."Globalizationhasintegratedbillionsofmarketsintotheworldeconomy,exertingdownwardpressureonthewagesoflow-skilledworkersindevelopedcountries.Whenmanufacturingjobscanbeoutsourcedtoregionswithlowerlaborcosts,thebargainingpowerofdomesticworkersdiminishes.Simultaneously,automationandartificialintelligencehavebeguntoperformnotjustmanualtasksbutcognitiveonesaswell,hollowingoutthemiddle-skilljobsthatonceformedthebackboneofthemiddleclass.However,thiseconomicdeterminismignorestheroleofpolicyandinstitutions.Thedeclineofunions,thestagnationoftheminimumwage,andreductionsintaxprogressivityhaveallcontributedtotheconcentrationofwealthatthetop.Inthemid-20thcentury,the"GreatCompression"sawaboomingmiddleclass,notbecausetechnologywasstagnant,butbecausesocialnormsandpoliciesactivelyredistributedwealthandsupportedbroad-basedprosperity.Educationisoftentoutedasthesilverbullettosolvethiscrisis.Whileitistruethatindividualswithhigherdegreesgenerallyearnmore,simplyincreasingthenumberofcollegegraduatesmaynotbesufficientifthenumberofhigh-skilljobsdoesnotkeeppace.Furthermore,thecostofhighereducationhasskyrocketed,saddlingyoungpeoplewithdebtandpotentiallyreducingsocialmobility.Addressingthedeclineofthemiddleclassrequiresamulti-facetedapproach.Itinvolvesnotonlyinvestingineducationandinfrastructurebutalsorethinkinglabormarketinstitutions.Strengtheningthesocialsafetynet,exploringpolicieslikeuniversalbasicincome,andensuringthatcorporatepowerischeckedareessentialsteps.Themiddleclassisnotjustaneconomicstatistic;itisthefoundationofdemocraticstabilityandsocialcohesion.Itsrestorationisamatterofpoliticalwillasmuchaseconomicpolicy.31.The"vanishingmiddleclass"isprimarilyattributedto______.[A]thelackofnaturalresources[B]globalizationandtechnologicalchange[C]thelazinessofthecurrentworkforce[D]highinterestratesandinflation32.Whatdoestheauthorimplyaboutthe"GreatCompression"?[A]Itwasaperiodoftechnologicalstagnation.[B]Itwasdrivenbypolicyandsocialnorms.[C]Itresultedinhighincomeinequality.[D]ItoccurredbeforetheIndustrialRevolution.33.Whydoestheauthorthinkeducationalonemaynotsolvetheproblem?[A]Becausepeoplearenotinterestedinstudying.[B]Becausehigh-skilljobsmaynotincreasesufficiently.[C]Becauseonlineeducationisoflowquality.[D]Becausetechnologymakeseducationobsolete.34.Theauthorsuggeststhatrestoringthemiddleclassisimportantfor______.[A]increasingcorporateprofits[B]reducingtheneedforautomation[C]maintainingdemocraticstability[D]loweringthecostofliving35.Whichofthefollowingisthebesttitleforthetext?[A]TheEndofGlobalization[B]TheRiseofArtificialIntelligence[C]BeyondEconomicDeterminism:SavingtheMiddleClass[D]TheFailureoftheEducationSystemText4Theconceptof"culturalappropriation"hasignitedfiercedebatesinacademiaandthepublicsphere.Atitscore,itreferstotheadoptionofelementsfromaminorityculturebymembersofadominantculture,oftenwithoutunderstanding,respect,orcompensation.Criticsviewthisasaformofcolonialism—acontinuationofthehistoricaldynamicwherethepowerfulextractresourcesfromthepowerless.Proponentsofstrictboundariesagainstappropriationarguethatiterasesthemeaningofculturalsymbols.Whenasacredreligiousartifactismass-producedasafashionaccessory,itsspiritualsignificanceisstrippedaway.Moreover,whendominantculturemembersprofitfromthetraditionsofmarginalizedgroups,itperpetuateseconomicdisparities.Forexample,thefashionindustryhasfrequentlyfacedcriticismforusingpatternsfromIndigenouscommunitieswithoutpermissionorpayment.However,othersarguethatcultureisinherentlyfluidandthatexchangeistheengineofhumanprogress.Theycontendthatthepolicingofculturalboundariescanleadtoessentialism—theideathatculturesarestatic,monolithicentitiesownedbyspecificgroups.Historyisrepletewithexamplesofcross-culturalfertilization,fromtheSilkRoadtotheHarlemRenaissance.Ifwerigidlyenforceboundaries,weriskstiflingcreativityandcreatingaworldofsegregatedculturalsilos.Thechallengeliesindistinguishingbetweenappreciationandappropriation.Appreciationinvolvesengagement,learning,andhonoringthesource.Itoftenincludescollaborationwithandconsentfromtheoriginatingculture.Appropriation,incontrast,ischaracterizedbytakingwithoutgivingback,oftenreducingcomplextraditionstostereotypesorexotictrinkets.Navigatingthisterrainrequiressensitivityandcontext.Itisnotnecessarilywrongtocookacuisinefromanothercultureortolearnatraditionaldance.Theharmariseswhenpowerimbalancesareignored,andwhentheexchangeisexploitativeratherthanreciprocal.Associetiesbecomeincreasinglymulticultural,theabilitytoengagewithdifferencerespectfullyisnotjustamatterofpoliticalcorrectness,butanecessaryskillforglobalcitizenship.36.Culturalappropriationisdefinedinthetextas______.[A]themutualexchangeofculturalideas[B]theadoptionofelementsbyadominantculturefromaminorityone[C]thepreservationofancienttraditions[D]therejectionofforeigninfluences37.Criticsofculturalappropriationcompareittocolonialismbecause______.[A]itinvolvesmilitaryconquest[B]itinvolvestheextractionofresourcesbythepowerful[C]itpromotesglobaltrade[D]itencourageslearningaboutothercultures38.Somepeopleopposestrictboundariesagainstappropriationbecausetheybelieve______.[A]cultureisstaticandshouldnotchange[B]culturalexchangestiflescreativity[C]cultureisfluidandexchangepromotesprogress[D]dominantculturesshouldbeprotected39.Thekeydifferencebetweenappreciationandappropriationliesin______.[A]thepopularityoftheculturalelement[B]thelegalstatusoftheexchange[C]thepresenceofrespect,consent,andreciprocity[D]theageoftheculturaltradition40.Theauthorconcludesthatengagingwithdifferencerespectfullyis______.[A]impossibleinamulticulturalsociety[B]aformofpoliticalcorrectness[C]anecessaryskillforglobalcitizenship[D]onlyrelevantforacademicsSectionBDirections:Inthefollowingtext,somesentenceshavebeenremoved.Forthenumberedgaps41-45,choosethemostsuitableonefromthelistA-Gtofitintoeachofthenumberedgaps.Therearetwoextrasentencesthatyoudonotneedtouse.MarkyouranswersontheANSWERSHEET.(10points)Thepsychologicalimpactofurbanlivinghasbeenasubjectofstudyforoveracentury.Whilecitiesoffereconomicopportunitiesandculturalvibrancy,theyalsoimposeuniquestressorsonthehumanmind.Theconstantnoise,thelackofgreenspace,andthesheerdensityofpeoplecanleadtoaconditionknownas"urbanoverload."41.____________________.Thisconstantstateofalertnessdrainscognitiveresources,leadingtomentalfatigue.Unlikeourancestors,whodealtwiththreatsinnature,modernurbanitesfaceabarrageofsensoryinputthatthebrainwasnotevolvedtohandleefficiently.42.____________________.Researchhasshownthataccesstonaturesignificantlylowerscortisollevels,thehormoneassociatedwithstress.Evenasimpleviewofatreefromawindowcanspeeduprecoveryfromillness.Thisphenomenon,knownas"biophilia,"suggeststhathumanshaveaninnatebiologicalneedtoconnectwithotherformsoflife.43.____________________.Socialdensitycanleadtoaparadoxicalfeelingofisolation.Whilesurroundedbymillions,individualsmayfeellonelybecausethesheernumberofpeopleinhibitsmeaningfulsocialinteraction.Theanonymityofthecitycanbeliberating,butitcanalsoerodethesenseofcommunityandsupportfoundinsmallertowns.44.____________________.However,urbanplanningisbeginningtoaddresstheseissues.The"smartcity"conceptfocusesnotjustonefficiencybutonwell-being.Initiativestoexpandpublicparks,createpedestrianzones,andreducetrafficnoiseareattemptstohumanizetheurbanenvironment.45.____________________.Itisaboutdesigningspacesthatfostermentalhealth,notjusteconomicactivity.Astheworldcontinuestourbanize,thesuccessofourcitieswillbemeasurednotjustbytheirskylines,butbythehappinessoftheirinhabitants.[A]Furthermore,thesocialaspectofcitylifecanbeequallytaxing.[B]Oneoftheprimarysourcesofstressisthelackofprivacy.[C]Thehumanbrainiswiredtorespondtosubtlechangesinthenaturalenvironment.[D]Anothermajorfactoristhedisconnectionfromthenaturalworld.[E]Thesolutionisnottoabandoncities,buttoreimaginethem.[F]Thisispartlyduetothe"fightorflight"responsebeingtriggeredbyurbanstimuliliketrafficandcrowds.[G]Consequently,peoplelivinginruralareasaregenerallyhappierthanthoseincities.SectionCDirections:ReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.YourtranslationshouldbewrittenneatlyontheANSWERSHEET.(10points)Therapidadvancementofartificialintelligence(AI)hassparkedaglobaldebateaboutthefutureofwork.(46)Unlikepreviousindustrialrevolutions,whichreplacedphysicalmusclewithmachinery,theAIrevolutiontargetscognitiveabilities,potentiallyautomatingtasksthatwereonceconsideredtheexclusivedomainofhumanintellect.Thisshiftraisesprofoundquestionsaboutthevalueofhumanlaborandthedistributionofeconomicrewards.(47)OptimistsarguethatAIwillcomplementhumanworkers,augmentingtheircapabilitiesandcreatingnewindustriesthatwecanbarelyimagine.Theypointtohistory,showingthattechnologyhasgenerallyincreasedproductivityandstandardsofliving.However,thespeedandscopeofAIdevelopmentareunprecedented.(48)Thereisagenuineriskthatthistime,thedisplacementofworkerswillhappentoofastforsocietytoadapt,leadingtowidespreadunemploymentandsocialunrest.Moreover,thebenefitsofAIarelikelytobedistributedunevenly.(49)Capitalownersandhighlyskilledworkersmayreapthemajorityofthegains,whilelow-skilledworkersseetheirwagesdepressedortheirjobseliminatedentirely.Thiscouldexacerbateexistinginequalitiesandleadtoamorepolarizedsociety.(50)Therefore,thechallengeisnotmerelytechnologicalbutethicalandpolitical.WemustdecidehowtoharnessthepowerofAIforthecommongood,ensuringthatitserveshumanityratherthansubjugatingit.Thisrequiresrobustsocialpolicies,arethinkingofeducation,andanewsocialcontractbetweenlaborandcapital.PartIIIWritingSectionADirections:Supposeyouareamemberoftheuniversitylibrarycommittee.Writeanemailtothestudentstocollectsuggestionsonhowtoimprovethelibraryservices.Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.Donotuseyourownnameorthenameoftheuniversity.Use"LiMing"instead.Donotwritetheaddress.(10points)SectionBDirections:Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould1)interpretthechart,and2)giveyourcomments.Youshouldwriteabout150-200wordsneatlyontheANSWERSHEET.(20points)(ChartDescription:Abarcharttitled"ReadingPreferencesofCollegeStudentsin2024".Itshowsthreecategories:E-books(45%),PrintedBooks(35%),andAudiobooks(20%).)***KeyandExplanationsPartIUseofEnglish1.[B]completelyContext:Thephilosophyisnotaboutabandoningtechnologytotally."Completely"fitsthecontrastwithbeingintentional.2.[C]intentionalContext:Thecoreofdigitalminimalismisbeingdeliberateorpurposeful(intentional)aboutusage.3.[B]harvestedContext:Techgiants"harvest"orcollectattentionasacommodity.4.[C]rebellionContext:Reclaimingfocusfromtechgiantsisanactofresistanceorrebellion.5.[A]instinctivelyContext:Checkingphoneswithoutanotificationisanautomatic,instinctivebehavior.6.[D]definedContext:Thisbehaviorisoftendefinedortermedas"phantomvibrationsyndrome."7.[A]aloneContext:Wehavelosttheabilitytobealone/withoutstimulation.8.[A]craveContext:Wedesire(crave)constantstimulation.9.[A]priceContext:Connectivitycomesatasteep"price"orcost.10.[C]scatteredContext:Resourcesarespreadthin(scattered)acrossmanyinteractions.11.[B]diminishesContext:Whenscattered,thecapacityfordeepworkdecreases(diminishes).12.[B]experimentContext:The30-daybreakisasuggestedtrialorexperiment.13.[B]includingContext:Examplesofactivitiesareprovided,"including"reading,etc.14.[B]specificContext:Technologiesmustserveaclear,specificpurpose.15.[C]consumerContext:Movingfrompassiveconsumertoactiveparticipant.16.[B]impracticalContext:Criticssayitisunrealisticorimpracticalforsomeworkers.17.[A]blurredContext:Thelinebetweenoptionalandnecessaryisnotclear(blurred).18.[A]compulsivelyContext:Checkingemailduringdinnerimpliesacompulsive,unnecessaryaction.19.[C]mindfulContext:Promotingaconsciousormindfulrelationship.20.[A]liberateContext:Toolsshouldfree(liberate)us,notenslaveus.PartIIReadingComprehensionSectionAText121.[C]short-termcontractsandfreelanceworkThefirstsentenceexplicitlydefinesthegigeconomyas"Characterizedbyshort-termcontractsandfreelancework."22.[C]offersflexibilityandwork-lifebalanceParagraph2mentionsitisappealingtothosewho"valuework-lifebalanceandexperiencesovertherigidschedules."23.[C]severe"Draconian"referstoharshlawsorrules.Incontext,thealgorithmsactasharsh/severemanagersbydeactivatingworkersarbitrarily.24.[A]Whethertheyshouldbeclassifiedasemployeesorcontractors.Paragraph4discussesthelegalbattleovertheclassificationofworkers("reclassifiedasemployees").25.[C]objectiveandcautiousTheauthorpresentsbothsides(pros/cons)andconcludesthatabalancemustbefound,showinganobjectiveandcautioustone.Text226.[B]Itwasthefirstdirectobservationofgravitationalwaves.Paragraph1statestheywere"finallyobserved"in2015,confirmingaprediction.27.[C]carryinformationaboutinvisiblecosmiceventsParagraph2statestheycarryinformationaboutevents"otherwiseinvisible,"likeblackholemergers.28.[B]thecreationofheavyelementsParagraph3mentionsneutronstarcollisionsarea"forgeforgoldandplatinum."29.[B]theinterferencepatternoflaserlightParagraph4explainsthatthewavechangesthe"interferencepatternofthelaserlight."30.[B]CelebratoryTheauthorusespositivelanguage("transformative,""song,""newera"),indicatingacelebratorytone.Text331.[B]globalizationandtechnologicalchangeParagraph1attributesthepolarizationto"thetwinforcesofglobalizationandtechnologicalchange."32.[B]Itwasdrivenbypolicyandsocialnorms.Paragraph3statestheGreatCompressionhappenednotbecauseoftech,butbecause"socialnormsandpoliciesactivelyredistributedwealth."33.[B]high-skilljobsmaynotincreasesufficientlyParagraph4arguesthatincreasinggraduatesmightnothelpifthe"numberofhigh-skilljobsdoesnotkeeppace."34.[C]maintainingdemocraticstabilityThelastparagraphcallsthemiddleclassthe"foundationofdemocraticstability."35.[C]BeyondEconomicDeterminism:SavingtheMiddleClassThetextarguesthateconomicfactors(tech/globalization)arenottheonlycause;policymatters.OptionCcapturesthisnuancebest.Text436.[B]theadoptionofelementsbyadominantculturefromaminorityoneParagraph1definesitas"adoptionofelementsfromaminorityculturebymembersofadominantculture."37.[B]itinvolvestheextractionofresourcesbythepowerfulParagraph1comparesittocolonialismwhere"thepowerfulextractresource