2026年雅思《阅读》真题及答案解析

2026年雅思《阅读》真题及答案解析TheAcademicReadingtestcontainsthreesections.Eachsectioncontainsonelongtext.Thetextsareauthenticandaretakenfrombooks,journals,magazinesandnewspapers.Theyareontopicsofgeneralinteresttoawiderangeofpeople,especiallythosewhoareinterestedinuniversityorprofessionaleducation.Thetextsmaycontaindiagrams,graphs,orillustrations,andavarietyofquestiontypesareused,includingmultiplechoice,matchingheadings,True/False/NotGiven,sentencecompletion,andsummarycompletion.SECTION1TheRegenerativeRevolution:HealingtheSoiltoFeedtheFutureA.Forthepasthalf-century,thedominantmodelofagriculturehasbeenoneofextractionandintensification.Knownasthe"GreenRevolution,"thisperiodsawthewidespreadadoptionofsyntheticfertilizers,pesticides,andirrigationtechniquesthatallowedyieldstoskyrocket,keepingpacewithaboomingglobalpopulation.However,thissuccesshascomeatasteepenvironmentalcost.Topsoil—thefertileupperlayerofearthessentialforplantgrowth—iserodingatanalarmingrate,estimatedtobelosttentofortytimesfasterthanitisnaturallyreplenished.Furthermore,theheavyrelianceonchemicalinputshasdegradedsoilbiodiversity,turningonce-thrivingecosystemsintosterilegrowingmediumsthatrequireincreasingamountsofartificialinterventiontosustainproduction.B.Inresponsetothiscrisis,agrowingmovementoffarmers,scientists,andpolicymakersischampioning"regenerativeagriculture."Unlikesustainableagriculture,whichaimslargelytomaintainthestatusquoanddonofurtherharm,regenerativeagricultureseekstoactivelyrestoreandrevitalizetheecosystem.Thecorephilosophyisthathealthysoilcreateshealthyplants,whichinturnsupporthealthyanimalsandhumans.Thisapproachisnotmerelyasetoftechnicalfixesbutafundamentalshiftinhowweunderstandtherelationshipbetweenagricultureandnature.Itmovesawayfromthehumandesiretocontrolnaturethroughchemistryandmechanics,towardapartnershipwithnaturalsystems.C.Centraltotheregenerativeparadigmistheprincipleofminimizingsoildisturbance.Traditionalplowing,ortillage,flipsthesoilover,exposingittooxygen.Whilethisreleasesaburstofnutrientsthatfuelsaquickcropgrowth,italsorapidlyoxidizesorganicmatter,releasingcarbondioxideintotheatmosphereanddestroyingthefungalnetworksthathelpplantsaccessnutrients.Regenerativefarmersemploy"no-till"or"low-till"methods,usingspecializedseeddrillsthatplantseedsdirectlyintoundisturbedsoil.Thispreservesthesoilstructure,retainsmoisture,andkeepscarbonlockedunderground.D.Anothercriticalpillariskeepingthesoilcoveredwithlivingplantsasmuchaspossible.Inconventionalfarming,fieldsareoftenleftbarebetweenharvestandplanting,leavingthesoilvulnerabletowindandwatererosion.Regenerativestrategiesutilizecovercrops—suchasclover,rye,orvetch—plantedspecificallytoprotectthesoilsurfaceduringoff-seasons.Thesecovercropsalsoperformvitalbiologicalfunctions:legumesfixatmosphericnitrogen,anddeep-rootedvarietiesbreakupsoilcompaction.Whenthecovercropsareterminated,theyareoftenleftas"mulch"onthesurface,addingorganicmatterandsuppressingweedswithoutherbicides.E.Biodiversityistheenginethatdrivessoilregeneration.Monocultures—theplantingofasinglecropovervastareas—arehighlysusceptibletopestsanddiseasesanddisruptlocalecosystems.Regenerativesystemsemphasizecroprotation,wheredifferentcropsareplantedinsequencetobreakpestcyclesandbalancenutrientdemands.Moreradically,somefarmersareintegratinglivestockbackintocropfields.Inamethodknownas"silvopasture,"animalsgrazeoncovercropsorcropresidues,theirmanureprovidingnaturalfertilizerandtheirhoovesgentlyworkingthesoil,mimickingthesymbioticrelationshipsfoundinnaturalgrasslands.F.Theeconomicimplicationsofthistransitionarecomplex.Whileregenerativemethodscanultimatelyreduceinputcostsbyeliminatingexpensivefertilizersandpesticides,thetransitionperiodcanbefinanciallyperilous.Itoftentakesseveralyearsfordegradedsoiltorecoveritsfullproductivity.Duringthistime,yieldsmaydipastheecosystemself-repairs.Thiscreatesasignificantbarriertoentryforfarmersoperatingonthinmargins,particularlytenantfarmerswhomaynotreapthelong-termbenefitsofthelandtheywork.Consequently,advocatesarguethatgovernmentsubsidiesandfinancialincentivesmustberestructuredtorewardecosystemservices—suchascarbonsequestrationandwaterfiltration—ratherthanjustcommodityproduction.G.Despitethechallenges,thepotentialbenefitsextendfarbeyondthefarmgate.Regenerativeagricultureisincreasinglyviewedasavitaltoolinthefightagainstclimatechange.Soilisthelargestterrestrialcarbonsink;byadoptingpracticesthatsequestercarbon,agriculturecouldmovefrombeingamajorsourceofgreenhousegasestoasignificantpartofthesolution.Moreover,improvedsoilstructureactslikeasponge,absorbingheavyrainfallandreducingtheseverityoffloods,whileslowlyreleasingwaterduringdroughts,therebyenhancingclimateresilience.Astheworldfacesthedualthreatsoffoodinsecurityandclimateinstability,theshifttowardregenerationoffersapaththatpromisestohealtheplanetwhilefeedingitsinhabitants.Questions1-6Thetexthassevenparagraphs,A-G.Choosethecorrectheadingforeachparagraphfromthelistofheadingsbelow.Writethecorrectnumber,i-viii,inboxes1-6onyouranswersheet.ListofHeadingsi.Theroleofgovernmentinsupportingfarmersii.Minimizinginterferencewithsoilstructureiii.Afundamentalshiftinagriculturalphilosophyiv.Theenvironmentalcostofintensivefarmingv.Economicbarriersduringthetransitionphasevi.Enhancingbiodiversitythroughcroprotationvii.Thelong-termbenefitsfortheglobalclimateviii.Protectingsoilwithcontinuousvegetation1.ParagraphA2.ParagraphB3.ParagraphC4.ParagraphD5.ParagraphE6.ParagraphFQuestions7-10Lookatthefollowingstatements(Questions7-10)andthelistoftermsbelow.Matcheachstatementwiththecorrectterm,A,B,C,orD.Writethecorrectletter,A,B,C,orD,inboxes7-10onyouranswersheet.ListofTermsA.SustainableAgricultureB.TheGreenRevolutionC.RegenerativeAgricultureD.Monoculture7.Thismodelprioritizesdoingnofurtherharmratherthanrestoringecosystems.8.Thisapproachinvolvesplantingasinglecropoverlargeareas.9.Thisperiodischaracterizedbytheuseofsyntheticchemicalstoincreaseyields.10.Thisapproachaimstoactivelyimproveandrevitalizetheecosystem.Questions11-13Completethesentencesbelow.ChooseONEWORDONLYfromthetextforeachanswer.Writeyouranswersinboxes11-13onyouranswersheet.11.Traditionalplowingexposessoiltooxygen,whichreleasesaburstofnutrientsbutalsodestroysthe\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_thathelpplantsaccessnutrients.12.Covercropssuchaslegumesareusedtofixatmospheric\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_fromtheair.13.Improvedsoilstructureallowsthegroundtoactlikeasponge,absorbingrainfallandreducingtheriskof\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.SECTION2TheAmberRoom:TheEighthWonderoftheWorldA.ThehistoryoftheAmberRoomisoneofart,opulence,andmysterythatspansthreecenturies.Itbeganintheearly18thcenturyinPrussia.KingFrederickIofPrussiacommissionedamastercraftsman,AndreasSchlüter,andtheDanishambermasterGottfriedWolfram,tocreateanamberstudyforhispalaceinCharlottenburg.Amber,oftenreferredtoas"Balticgold,"wasnotmerelyadecorativestonebutasubstanceofimmensevalueandintrigueduetoitspreservationofprehistoriclife.TheroomwasdesignedtobeamasterpieceofBaroqueart,featuringpanelsofamberbackedwithgoldleafandmirrors.However,Frederickdiedbeforetheprojectwascompleted,andtheroomremainedunfinished.B.In1716,theAmberRoomcaughttheeyeofTsarPetertheGreatofRussiaduringadiplomaticvisittoPrussia.KingFrederickWilliamI,FrederickI'sson,giftedtheroomtoPetertheGreattocementaPrussian-RussianallianceagainstSweden.Theroomwasdismantled,packedinto18largeboxes,andshippedtoSt.Petersburg.There,itwasinitiallyinstalledintheWinterHouse,butitdidnotfinditspermanenthomeuntillater.ItwaseventuallymovedtotheCatherinePalaceinTsarskoyeSelo,justoutsideofSt.Petersburg,underthereignofEmpressElizabeth.C.ItwasEmpressElizabethwhotrulyexpandedtheAmberRoomintoitslegendaryform.Inthemid-18thcentury,shehiredtheItaliandesignerBartolomeoFrancescoRastrellitooverseetherenovation.Rastrelli,famousforhislavishRococostyle,addedmoreamber,additionalmirrors,andintricatecarvings.Theroomcoveredabout55squaremetersandcontainedoversixtonsofamber.Theilluminationfromthecandlesreflectedofftheamberandmirrors,creatingawarm,goldenglowthatwassaidtobealmostblindinginitsbeauty.Itbecameknownasthe"EighthWonderoftheWorld."D.TheAmberRoomremainedatreasuredpossessionoftheRussianimperialfamilyuntilthe20thcentury.DuringWorldWarII,theinvadingGermanarmyreachedTsarskoyeSelo.ThecuratorsofthepalaceattemptedtohidetheAmberRoombywallpaperingoverit,buttheNaziswereawareofitsvalueandlocation.Within36hours,Germansoldiersdismantledtheroomandpackeditintocrates.ItwastransportedtoKönigsbergCastleinEastPrussia,whereitwasreinstalledandputondisplayforpartofthewar.E.ThemysteryoftheAmberRoombeginsin1944.AstheAlliedforcesclosedinandtheRedArmylauncheditsoffensivetowardsKönigsberg,thefateoftheAmberRoombecameunclear.HitlerorderedtheremovalofvaluableculturalartifactsfromKönigsberg.Theroomwasdismantledagain,butitsdestinationisunknown.InAugust1944,KönigsbergCastlewaslargelydestroyedbyBritishbombingraids.WhethertheAmberRoomwasdestroyedinthefires,looted,orhiddenelsewhereremainsoneofthegreatestunsolvedmysteriesofthewar.F.Overthedecades,numeroustheorieshaveemergedregardingthefateoftheoriginalAmberRoom.Somebelieveitwasdestroyedinthecastlebombing.Othersspeculatethatitwasloadedontoaship,theWilhelmGustloff,whichwastorpedoedandsankintheBalticSea.TherehavealsobeenclaimsthatitwashiddeninminesintheOreMountainsorsecretbunkersinPoland.Despiteextensivesearchesbytreasurehunters,historians,andgovernments,noverifiabletraceoftheoriginalroomhaseverbeenfound.G.In1979,theSovietgovernmentdecidedtorecreatethelostAmberRoom.Usingoldphotographsanddrawings,craftsmenbeganthepainstakingprocessofreconstructingthemasterpiece.Theworkwasincrediblydifficultandexpensive,requiringtherediscoveryoflostamber-workingtechniques.Theprojecttooknearly25yearstocompleteandcostover$11million.Finally,in2003,thereconstructedAmberRoomwasunveiledintheCatherinePalacebyRussianPresidentVladimirPutinandGermanChancellorGerhardSchröder,symbolizingtherestorationofRussian-Germanculturalties.Whileitisamagnificentreplica,thequestionoftheoriginalroom'slocationcontinuestocaptivatetheworld.Questions14-19Dothefollowingstatementsagreewiththeinformationgiveninthepassage?Inboxes14-19onyouranswersheet,writeTRUEifthestatementagreeswiththeinformationFALSEifthestatementcontradictstheinformationNOTGIVENifitisimpossibletosaywhatthewriterthinksaboutthis14.TheAmberRoomwasoriginallycommissionedbyKingFrederickWilliamIofPrussia.15.TheroomwasgiftedtoRussiatostrengthenamilitaryalliance.16.BartolomeoFrancescoRastrelliwastheoriginalcreatoroftheAmberRoompanels.17.TheAmberRoomwasneverdisplayedinKönigsbergCastleduringthewar.18.ThereconstructionoftheAmberRoomwasfundedentirelybytheGermangovernment.19.TheoriginalAmberRoomiswidelybelievedtohavebeenontheshipWilhelmGustloff.Questions20-23Completethenotesbelow.ChooseONEWORDONLYfromthepassageforeachanswer.Writeyouranswersinboxes20-23onyouranswersheet.TheHistoryoftheAmberRoomOrigins:CommissionedbyFrederickI;createdbySchlüterandWolfram.Material:KnownasBalticgold;valuedforitsbeautyandabilitytopreserve\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.TransfertoRussia:GiftedbyFrederickWilliamItoPetertheGreat;packedinto\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_boxes.Expansion:EmpressElizabethhiredRastrellitoexpandtheroom;stylewas\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.WWIIFate:DismantledbyNazisandmovedtoKönigsberg;laterdisappeared,likelyduetobombingor\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.Questions24-26Choosethecorrectletter,A,B,C,orD.Writethecorrectletterinboxes24-26onyouranswersheet.24.WhydidthecuratorsoftheCatherinePalacewallpaperovertheAmberRoom?A.Toprotecttheamberfromsunlight.B.TohideitslocationfromtheGermanarmy.C.Becausetheamberwascrackingandneededrepair.D.Toprepareitfortransporttoasaferlocation.25.WhatmadethereconstructionoftheAmberRoomdifficult?A.Lackoffinancialsupportfromthegovernment.B.Theabsenceofanyphotographsordrawingsoftheoriginal.C.Theneedtorelearnforgottenamber-workingtechniques.D.Theshortageofhigh-qualityamberintheBalticregion.26.Whatwasthemainsignificanceofthe2003unveiling?A.Itmarkedtheendofthemysteryregardingtheoriginalroom.B.Itprovedthattheoriginalroomhadbeendestroyedin1944.C.ItsymbolizedthereconciliationbetweenRussiaandGermany.D.Itwasattendedbythedescendantsoftheoriginalcreators.SECTION3TheNeuroscienceofDecisionMaking:Intuitionvs.ReasonA.Forcenturies,philosophersandeconomistshavetreatedhumandecision-makingasarational,calculatedprocess.Themodelof"Homoeconomicus"suggeststhatwhenfacedwithachoice,individualsweighallavailableinformation,calculatetheprobabilitiesofdifferentoutcomes,andselecttheoptionthatmaximizestheirpersonalutility.However,researchinbehavioraleconomicsandneuroscienceoverthelastfewdecadeshasdismantledthisview.Thehumanbrain,itturnsout,isnotadispassionatesupercomputer.Itisabiologicalorganshapedbyevolution,emotionaldrives,andcognitiveshortcuts,oftenleadingustomakedecisionsthatareirrational,impulsive,ordeeplybiased.B.Attheheartofthisnewunderstandingisthedual-processtheoryofthebrain.Thistheorypositsthatwehavetwodistinctsystemsforthinking:System1andSystem2.System1isfast,automatic,emotional,andsubconscious.Itoperateswithlittleornoeffortandnosenseofvoluntarycontrol.Itisourintuition—the"gutfeeling"thatallowsustoreactinstantlytodanger,recognizeafriend’sface,orunderstandthegistofasentence.System2,conversely,isslower,deliberative,andlogical.Itisresponsibleforcomplexcomputations,carefulreasoning,andself-control.WhileweliketothinkofourselvesasgovernedbySystem2,neuroscientificevidencesuggeststhatSystem1isthedefaultdriver,andSystem2isoftenlazy,onlysteppinginwhenabsolutelynecessary.C.Theinterplaybetweenthesesystemsisvividlyillustratedinthebrain'sanatomy.Thelimbicsystem,oftenreferredtoasthe"emotionalbrain,"includesstructuresliketheamygdala,whichprocessesfearandthreat,andthenucleusaccumbens,whichispartofthebrain'srewardcircuitry.Theseregionsevolvedearlyinourhistorytoensuresurvival.Whenweperceiveapotentialthreatorreward,thelimbicsystemcanhijacktheneuralpathways,triggeringaphysicalresponsebeforetheprefrontalcortex—theseatofSystem2thinking—hasevenhadachancetoanalyzethesituation.Thismechanismexplainswhywemightfreezeinfrontofanoncomingcarorreachforasliceofcakedespitebeingonadiet.D.AntonioDamasio,aprominentneuroscientist,providedgroundbreakingevidencefortheessentialroleofemotionindecision-makingthroughhisstudyofpatientswithdamagetotheventromedialprefrontalcortex.ThesepatientsretainedtheirlogicalreasoningabilitiesandIQscoresbuthadlosttheabilitytoexperienceemotioninrelationtodecision-making.Surprisingly,theseindividualsbecameparalyzedwhenfacedwithchoices.Withoutthesubtleemotional"somaticmarkers"—gutfeelingsthattagoptionsasgoodorbadbasedonpastexperience—theycouldendlesslyanalyzeprosandconswithouteverreachingaconclusion.Thissuggeststhatpurereasonisnotjustinsufficientfordecision-making;itispotentiallyincapacitatingwithouttheguidingforceofemotion.E.However,relyingsolelyonintuitionhasitsownsignificantpitfalls.System1thinkingreliesheavilyonheuristics—mentalshortcutsthatallowustomakequickjudgments.Whileefficient,theseshortcutsarepronetosystematicerrorsknownascognitivebiases.Oneofthemostpervasiveisthe"confirmationbias,"thetendencytosearchforandinterpretinformationinawaythatconfirmsourpreexistingbeliefs.Anotheristhe"availabilityheuristic,"wherewejudgetheprobabilityofaneventbasedonhoweasilyanexamplecomestomind(e.g.,fearingplanecrashesmorethancaraccidentsbecauseplanecrashesaremoredramaticandpublicized).F.Themodernworldpresentsauniquechallengetoourdecision-makingmachinery.Ourbrainsevolvedtomakedecisionsaboutimmediatephysicalthreatsandsocialdynamicswithinsmalltribes.Today,wemustnavigatecomplexabstractproblemsinvolvinglong-termconsequences,suchassavingforretirementorassessingclimatechangerisks.ThesescenariosrequirethesustainedengagementofSystem2,whichismetabolicallyexpensiveandpronetofatigue.Consequently,weoftensufferfrom"decisionfatigue,"wherethequalityofourdeterioratesafteralongsessionofmakingchoices,leadingustoeitheractimpulsivelyorsimplydefaulttothestatusquo.G.So,howcanwemakebetterdecisions?Theanswerisnottosuppressourintuition,asitprovidesvaluablewisdomdrawnfromexperience,buttorecognizeitslimitations.Byunderstandingthebiologicalbasisofour"gutfeelings,"wecanlearntoidentifysituationswhereSystem1islikelytoleadusastray—suchashigh-stakesfinancialdecisionsorsituationsinvolvingstatisticaldata—andconsciouslyengageSystem2.This"metacognition,"orthinkingaboutourthinking,allowsustoauditourownreasoning,checkforbiases,andpausebeforereacting.Ultimately,thebestdecision-makersarethosewhocanseamlesslyintegratethespeedofintuitionwiththerigoroflogic.Questions27-31Choosethecorrectletter,A,B,C,orD.Writethecorrectletterinboxes27-31onyouranswersheet.27.Accordingtothepassage,whyisthemodelof"Homoeconomicus"consideredinaccurate?A.Itassumeshumansareincapableofcomplexcalculations.B.Itignorestheinfluenceofevolutionandbiologyonthebrain.C.Itoverestimatesthespeedofhumandecision-making.D.Itsuggeststhathumansalwaysactintheirownself-interest.28.WhatisthemaincharacteristicofSystem1thinking?A.Itisslowandrequiresalotofenergy.B.Itiscontrolledandvoluntary.C.Itisfastandoperatessubconsciously.D.Itisresponsibleforlearningnewskills.29.WhathappenedtothepatientsstudiedbyAntonioDamasio?A.Theylosttheirabilitytospeak.B.Theybecameunabletomakedecisions.C.Theymadedecisionsbasedpurelyonlogic.D.Theyexperiencedheightenedemotionalresponses.30.The"availabilityheuristic"isdefinedasjudgingprobabilitybasedonA.thestatisticaldataavailable.B.theadviceofexperts.C.howeasilyanexamplecanberecalled.D.thesimilaritytoaprevioussituation.31.Whyisdecisionfatigueproblematicinthemodernworld?A.Becausemoderndecisionsarerarelylife-threatening.B.BecauseSystem2thinkingistiringandconsumesenergy.C.Becausepeoplehavelesstimetomakedecisionstoday.D.Becauseintuitionisnolongerrelevantinmodernsociety.Questions32-35Completethesummarybelow.ChooseNOMORETHANTWOWORDSfromthepassageforeachanswer.Writeyouranswersinboxes32-35onyouranswersheet.Thedual-processtheorysuggestswehavetwothinkingsystems.System1isourintuition,whileSystem2islogicaland\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_32.Thelimbicsystem,whichhandlesemotions,canoverridetheprefrontalcortex,triggeringareactionbeforewehavetimetothink.However,System1relieson\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_33,whichcanleadtoerrorslikeconfirmationbias.Inthemodernworld,wefacecomplexproblemsthatrequirelong-termplanning.ThisrequirestheuseofSystem2,whichis\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_34.Tomakebetterdecisions,weneedtopractice\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_35,whichinvolvescheckingourownreasoningforbiases.Questions36-40Dothefollowingstatementsagreewiththeviewsofthewriterinthepassage?Inboxes36-40onyouranswersheet,writeYESifthestatementagreeswiththeviewsofthewriterNOifthestatementcontradictstheviewsofthewriterNOTGIVENifitisimpossibletosaywhatthewriterthinksaboutthis36.System2isthedefaultmodeofthinkingformostpeople.37.Thelimbicsystemevolvedtohelphumanssurviveinearlyenvironments.38.Emotionalresponsesarealwaysdetrimentaltologicalreasoning.39.Cognitivebiasesareasignoflowintelligence.40.Thebestdecision-makersarethosewhocancombineintuitionandlogic.AnswerKeyandExplanationsSection1:TheRegenerativeRevolution1.iv(ParagraphAdiscussestheenvironmentalcostoftheGreenRevolution,includingtopsoilerosionandbiodiversityloss.)2.iii(ParagraphBintroducesregenerativeagricultureasafundamentalshiftinphilosophyfromcontrollingnaturetopartneringwithit.)3.ii(ParagraphCfocusesonminimizingsoildisturbance,specificallythroughno-tillmethods.)4.viii(ParagraphDdiscusseskeepingthesoilcoveredwithlivingplants,specificallycovercrops.)5.vi(ParagraphEdiscussesbiodiversity,mentioningcroprotationandtheintegrationoflivestock.)6.v(ParagraphFdiscussestheeconomicimplications,specificallythefinancialperilduringthetransitionperiod.)7.A(Sustainableagricultureisdefinedasaimingto"donofurtherharm.")8.D(Monocultureisdefinedas"theplantingofasinglecropovervastareas.")9.B(TheGreenRevolutionisdescribedastheperiodadopting"syntheticfertilizers,pesticides...thatallowedyieldstoskyrocket.")10.C(Regenerativeagricultureisdefinedasseekingto"activelyrestoreandrevitalizetheecosystem.")11.fungalnetworks(Thetextstatesthatplowingdestroysthe"fungalnetworksthathelpplantsaccessnutrients.")12.nitrogen(Thetextmentionsthat"legumesfixatmosphericnitrogen.")13.floods(Thetextstatesthatimprovedsoilstructureabsorbs