江苏常州市2025年下半年全国英语等级考试（PETS）四级练习试题库

江苏常州市2025年下半年全国英语等级考试（PETS）四级练习试题库SectionI:ListeningComprehensionPartADirections:Youwillhearadialogueabouturbansustainability.ReadthefollowingfivequestionscarefullyandchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA,B,C,andD.1.Whatistheprimaryfocusofthenewurbanplanninginitiativementionedinthedialogue?A.Expandingthecity'sroadinfrastructuretoaccommodatemorevehicles.B.Integratinggreenspacesandsustainabletransportwithinresidentialareas.C.Relocatingindustrialzonestotheoutskirtstoreducedowntownpollution.D.Constructinghigh-densityresidentialbuildingstoaddresshousingshortages.2.Howdoesthefemalespeakerdescribetheconceptof"15-minutecities"?A.Asatheoreticalmodelthatistooexpensivetoimplement.B.Asapracticalapproachwhereresidentscanaccessessentialserviceswithinashortwalkorbikeride.C.Asastrategytoisolateneighborhoodsfromoneanother.D.Asatemporarysolutiontotrafficcongestionduringpeakhours.3.Whatconcerndoesthemalespeakerexpressregardingtheproposedchanges?A.Thattheconstructionprocesswillcausesignificantnoisepollution.B.Thatthelocalgovernmentlacksthenecessaryfunding.C.Thatsmallbusinessesmightbenegativelyaffectedbyreducedparkingspaces.D.Thatthepublictransportationsystemisnotadvancedenoughtohandletheshift.4.Accordingtothedialogue,whatistheroleofmicro-mobilityoptionslikee-scooters?A.Theyareconsideredanuisancebymostpedestrians.B.Theyareheavilyregulatedandrestrictedtocertainzones.C.Theyserveasacruciallast-milesolutionconnectingtransithubstohomes.D.Theyareprimarilyusedforrecreationalpurposesratherthancommuting.5.Whatconclusiondothespeakersreachattheendoftheconversation?A.Thattheinitiativewillfacestrongoppositionfromthepublic.B.Thatthesuccessoftheplandependsoncommunityengagementandpolicysupport.C.Thattheinitiativeshouldbedelayeduntiltheeconomyimproves.D.Thatthefocusshouldbeshiftedentirelytoelectricvehicles.PartBDirections:YouwillhearamonologueabouttheJamesWebbSpaceTelescope.Readthefollowingfivequestionsandchoosethebestanswer.6.WhatisthemainadvantageoftheJamesWebbSpaceTelescope(JWST)overtheHubbleSpaceTelescope?A.JWSTorbitstheEarthataloweraltitude,makingrepairseasier.B.JWSTobservestheuniverseprimarilyininfraredlight,allowingittoseethroughcosmicdust.C.JWSTusesalargermirrormadeofgold,whichreflectsmorevisiblelight.D.JWSTissignificantlyclosertothestarsitobserves.7.Whyistheobservationof"redshift"importantinthecontextofJWST?A.Ithelpsscientistsmeasurethetemperatureofdistantstars.B.Itprovidesevidencefortheexpansionoftheuniverseandallowsobservationofearlygalaxies.C.Itindicatesthepresenceofwateronexoplanets.D.Itallowsthetelescopetofilteroutbackgroundradiation.8.WhatisthesignificanceoftheL2LagrangepointwhereJWSTispositioned?A.ItistheonlyplacewherethetelescopecangetaclearviewoftheMoon.B.Itallowsthetelescopetoremaininathermallystableenvironmentwithcontinuoussolarpower.C.Itisagravitationallyneutralpoint,meaningthetelescoperequiresnofueltomaintainitsorbit.D.ItislocatedwithintheMilkyWay'sasteroidbelt.9.HowdoesJWSTanalyzetheatmospheresofdistantexoplanets?A.Bytakingdirecthigh-resolutionphotographsoftheplanets'surfaces.B.Bymeasuringtheslightdimmingofstarlightastheplanetpassesinfrontofitshoststar.C.Bycollectingphysicalsamplesoftheplanetaryatmospheres.D.Bybouncingradarsignalsofftheplanets'atmospheres.10.WhatistheoverarchinggoaloftheJWSTmissionasdescribedinthemonologue?A.Tofindhabitableplanetsforfuturehumancolonizationwithinthenextdecade.B.Tosearchforextraterrestrialintelligentlifesignals.C.TopiecetogetherthecosmictimelinefromtheBigBangtotheformationofoursolarsystem.D.Topredicttheexacttimelineoftheuniverse'seventualcollapse.SectionII:UseofEnglish(ClozeTest)Directions:Readthefollowingtexts.ChoosethebestwordforeachnumberfromthefourchoicesmarkedA,B,C,andD.Text1:ThePsychologicalImpactofArchitecturalDesignThespacesweinhabitprofoundlyinfluenceourpsychologicalwell-being,afactthathasgivenrisetothefieldofneuro-architecture.Traditionalarchitecturalparadigmsoftenprioritized(11)____overemotionalresonance.However,contemporaryresearchindicatesthatelementssuchasceilingheight,naturallight,andspatial(12)____cansignificantlyaltercognitivefunctionandemotionalstates.Forinstance,spaceswithhighceilingshavebeenshowntopromoteabstractthinkingandcreativity,whereaslowerceilingsaremoreconduciveto(13)____tasksrequiringfocusedattention.Furthermore,theintegrationofbiophilicdesign—theincorporationofnaturalelementslikewaterfeaturesandindoorvegetation—hasbeenempiricallylinkedtoreducedlevelsofthestresshormonecortisol.This(14)____suggeststhatourbrainsarehardwiredtorespondpositivelytoenvironmentsthatmimicthenaturalsavannaswhereearlyhumansevolved.Despitethisknowledge,manymodernurbancentersremaindominatedbystark,utilitarianstructuresthatofteninducesensorydeprivationor,conversely,sensory(15)____.Thechallengeforfuturearchitectsistobridgethegapbetweenaestheticinnovationandbiologicalnecessity,creatingenvironmentsthatnotonly(16)____ourbasicneedforshelterbutalsoactivelynurtureourmentalhealth.11.A.utilityB.aestheticsC.permanenceD.cost12.A.densityB.arrangementC.limitationD.constraint13.A.creativeB.mundaneC.analyticalD.physical14.A.findingB.hypothesisC.notionD.assumption15.A.adaptationB.overloadC.deprivationD.expansion16.A.meetB.fulfillC.satisfyD.requireText2:TheRoleofMycorrhizalNetworksinForestEcosystemsBeneaththeforestfloorliesacomplex,subterraneansocialnetworkoftenreferredtoasthe"WoodWideWeb."Thisnetworkiscomposedofmycorrhizalfungi,whichforma(17)____relationshipwiththerootsoftreesandplants.Thefungireceivecarbohydratesproducedbytheplantsthroughphotosynthesis,whiletheplantsbenefitfromthefungi'svastmycelialnetwork,whichdramaticallyincreasestheiraccesstowaterand(18)____nutrientslikephosphorusandnitrogen.Recentecologicalstudieshaverevealedthatthisnetworkfacilitatesinter-plantcommunication.Whenatreeisattackedbyherbivores,itcansendchemical(19)____throughthefungalnetwork,warningneighboringtreestobolstertheirchemicaldefenses.Furthermore,older,largertrees—knownas"hubtrees"or"mothertrees"—usethisnetworkto(20)____nutrientstoyoungersaplingsgrowingintheshade,effectivelysubsidizingtheirgrowthuntiltheycanreachthecanopy.Thedisruptionofthesefungalnetworks,oftencausedbyclear-cuttingloggingpractices,leavestheforestecosystemhighly(21)____todiseaseandenvironmentalstress.Understandingtheseintricateundergroundconnectionsisreshapingourperspectiveonforestmanagement,shiftingitfromviewingtreesas(22)____entitiestorecognizingthemasinterdependentcomponentsofahighlycooperativesuper-organism.17.A.parasiticB.symbioticC.competitiveD.predatory18.A.scarceB.abundantC.toxicD.soluble19.A.signalsB.compoundsC.structuresD.particles20.A.transportB.redirectC.returnD.confine21.A.resistantB.proneC.immuneD.accustomed22.A.isolatedB.unifiedC.dominantD.resilientSectionIII:ReadingComprehensionPartADirections:Readthefollowingtexts.AnswerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosingA,B,C,orD.Text1:TheEthicalDilemmasofCRISPRGeneEditingTheadventofCRISPR-Cas9technologyhasrevolutionizedthefieldofgenetics,offeringunprecedentedprecisioninalteringDNAsequences.Whilethetherapeuticpotentialisimmense—promisingcuresforgeneticdiseaseslikecysticfibrosisandsicklecellanemia—thetechnologyalsoharborsprofoundethicalrisks,particularlyconcerninggermlineediting.Unlikesomaticcellediting,whichaffectsonlytheindividualbeingtreated,germlinemodificationsaltertheDNAofembryos,meaningthesechangeswillbepasseddowntofuturegenerations.Thispermanenceraisesthespecterof"designerbabies,"wheregenetictraitssuchasintelligence,physicalappearance,orathleticabilitycouldbeselectedorenhanced.Aprimaryconcernamongbioethicistsistheissueofconsent;futuregenerationscannotconsenttothegeneticalterationsmadetotheirgenomes.Furthermore,thelong-termecologicalandevolutionaryconsequencesofintroducingengineeredgenesintothehumangenepoolareentirelyunpredictable.Thereisalsoasignificantriskofexacerbatingsocialinequalities.Ifgeneticenhancementsbecomeavailable,theywilllikelybeprohibitivelyexpensive,accessibleonlytothewealthy,potentiallycreatingapermanentbiologicaldividebetweentherichandthepoor.Proponentsofgermlineeditingarguethatthereisamoralimperativetousethistechnologytoeradicateseverehereditarydiseases,relievingfuturegenerationsofimmensesuffering.Theycontendthatstrictregulatoryframeworkscanpreventthetechnologyfromslidingintoeugenics.However,thelinebetweentherapeuticuseandenhancementisnotoriouslyblurry.Atreatmenttopreventdwarfism,forexample,couldeasilycrossintotheterritoryofselectingforheight.Theinternationalscientificcommunityremainsdivided,withsomecountriesbanninggermlineeditingoutright,whileotherspermitstrictlyregulatedresearch.Thechallengeliesinbalancingthepursuitofscientificprogressandhumanhealthagainsttheunpredictableandpotentiallyirreversibleconsequencesofrewritingthehumanblueprint.23.Accordingtothepassage,whatisthemaindifferencebetweensomaticcelleditingandgermlineediting?A.Somaticcelleditingismoreprecisethangermlineediting.B.Germlineeditingislimitedtocuringdiseases,whilesomaticeditingisusedforenhancements.C.Germlineeditingaffectsfuturegenerations,whereassomaticcelleditingaffectsonlytheindividual.D.Somaticcelleditingiscurrentlyillegal,butgermlineeditingispermitted.24.Whatistheprimaryethicalconcernregarding"designerbabies"mentionedinthetext?A.Thehighcostoftheprocedures.B.Theunpredictabilityoflong-termevolutionaryconsequencesandtheissueoffuturegenerations'consent.C.Thepossibilityofcuringallhereditarydiseases.D.ThelackofprecisionoftheCRISPR-Cas9technology.25.Howdoproponentsofgermlineeditingjustifyitsuse?A.Byarguingthatitwilleliminateallsocialinequalities.B.Byclaimingthatthereisamoraldutytoeliminateseverehereditarydiseases.C.Bysuggestingthatgeneticenhancementsshouldbeavailabletoeveryoneforfree.D.Bystatingthatthelinebetweentherapyandenhancementisclearandeasilyregulated.26.Theauthor'sattitudetowardsthefutureofgermlineeditingcanbestbedescribedas:A.Optimisticandwhollysupportive.B.Pessimisticanddismissive.C.Cautiouslyobjective,highlightingbothpotentialandrisks.D.Indifferenttotheethicaldebates.Text2:BehavioralEconomicsandRetirementSavingsTraditionaleconomictheorypositsthatindividualsarerationalagentswhomakedecisionstomaximizetheirutility.However,thefieldofbehavioraleconomicshasconsistentlydemonstratedthathumanbeingsaresubjecttocognitivebiasesandheuristicsthatleadtosuboptimaldecision-making.Oneofthemostglaringexamplesofthisisthewidespreadfailureofindividualstosaveadequatelyforretirement.Despitethemathematicalrealityofcompoundinterest,wheretheformulaforfuturevalueisA=Presentbiascausesindividualstoheavilydiscountfuturerewardsinfavorofimmediategratification.Thepainofsaving$100todayfeelsmuchmoreacutethantheabstractbenefitofhavingthousandsofdollarsdecadeslater.Tocombatthis,behavioraleconomistslikeRichardThalerandShlomoBenartzidevelopedthe"SaveMoreTomorrow"(SMarT)program.Thisprogramleveragesbehavioralquirksratherthanfightingagainstthem.Insteadofaskingpeopletosavemorenow,theSMarTprogramasksthemtocommitnowtosavingmoreinthefuture,specificallywhentheyreceivearaise.Becausethecommitmentispushedintothefuture,itbypassestheresistancecausedbypresentbias.Furthermore,becausetheincreaseinsavingscoincideswitharaiseinsalary,theemployeeneverexperiencesadecreaseintheirtake-homepay,therebyavoidinglossaversion—thepsychologicaltendencytostronglypreferavoidinglossesoveracquiringequivalentgains.TheresultsoftheSMarTprogramhavebeenremarkable,withsavingsratesoftentriplingwithinafewyears.Thisdemonstratesthatunderstandinghumanpsychologyisjustascriticalasunderstandingfinancialmathematicswhendesigningeffectiveeconomicpolicies.Bystructuringchoicesinwaysthatalignwithhumannature—aconceptknownas"nudging"—policymakerscansignificantlyimprovesocietaloutcomeswithoutrestrictingindividualfreedomofchoice.27.Accordingtobehavioraleconomics,whydomanypeoplefailtosaveforretirementdespitethebenefitsofcompoundinterest?A.Becausetheydonotunderstandthecompoundinterestformula.B.Becausetheyaresubjecttopresentbias,preferringimmediategratificationoverfuturerewards.C.Becausetheyarerationalagentstryingtomaximizetheircurrentutility.D.Becauseretirementsavingsaccountsaretoorisky.28.Howdoesthe"SaveMoreTomorrow"(SMarT)programovercome"lossaversion"?A.Byautomaticallyenrollingemployeesinaretirementplanwithouttheirconsent.B.Byincreasingsavingsratesonlywhentheemployeereceivesasalaryraise,sotake-homepaydoesnotdecrease.C.Byofferingaguaranteedhighrateofreturnoninvestments.D.Bypunishingemployeeswhofailtosave.29.Whatisthemainideaofthepassage?A.Traditionaleconomictheoryiscompletelyinvalidinmodernsociety.B.Humansareincapableofmakingrationalfinancialdecisions.C.Designingeffectivepoliciesrequiresanunderstandingofbothmathematicalrealityandhumanpsychology.D.Thecompoundinterestformulaistoocomplexfortheaveragepersontounderstand.30.Theword"nudging"inthelastparagraphmostlikelymeans:A.Forcingindividualstomakespecificchoicesthroughlegislation.B.Structuringchoicesinawaythatalignswithhumannaturetoguidebetterdecisions.C.Educatingindividualsaboutthemathematicalbenefitsofcompoundinterest.D.Restrictingthenumberofoptionsavailabletoconsumers.Text3:TheHistoryandDeclineoftheAralSeaOncethefourth-largestlakeintheworld,theAralSea,straddlingtheborderofKazakhstanandUzbekistan,hasbeenthesiteofoneoftheplanet'smostdramaticenvironmentaldisasters.Inthe1960s,theSovietUnioninitiatedamassiveirrigationprojecttodiverttheriversfeedingtheAralSea—theAmuDaryaandtheSyrDarya—tocultivatecottoninthearidplainsofCentralAsia.Cotton,ahighlywater-intensivecrop,wasdubbed"whitegold"foritseconomicvalue.However,theecologicalcostwascatastrophic.Asthewaterwassiphonedoff,theseabegantoshrink.Bythe2000s,ithadlostover90%ofitsoriginalvolume,splittingintoseparatebodiesofwater.Theexposedseabed,composedofsaltandtoxicagriculturalrunoff,becameasourceofsevereduststorms.Thesestormsspreadpesticide-ladendustacrosstheregion,leadingtoskyrocketingratesofrespiratorydiseases,cancers,andinfantmortalityamonglocalpopulations.Furthermore,thelocalfishingindustry,whichonceemployedtensofthousandsofpeople,completelycollapsedasthenativefishspecieswentextinct.Theregionalclimatealsoshifted,becomingmoreextremewithhottersummersandcolder,longerwinters,furtherdevastatingthelocalecosystem.ThetragedyoftheAralSeaservesasastarkillustrationoftheconsequencesofprioritizingshort-termeconomicgainsoverecologicalsustainability.Inrecentyears,effortshavebeenmadetorestorethenorthernpartofthesea.TheKok-AralDam,completedin2005,hassuccessfullyraisedwaterlevelsandseenthereturnofsomefishspeciesintheNorthernAral.However,thelargerSouthernAralSeacontinuestodesiccateandislargelyconsideredbeyondrecovery.TheAralSeastandsasamonumenttohumanhubris,remindingusthatthealterationofnaturalsystemsforagriculturalorindustrialpurposescantriggeracascadeofunintendedandirreversibleconsequences.31.WhatwastheprimaryreasontheSovietUniondivertedtheriversfeedingtheAralSea?A.Togeneratehydroelectricpowerforindustrialcities.B.Tosupplydrinkingwatertogrowingurbanpopulations.C.Toirrigatecottoncropsforeconomicpurposes.D.Topreventfloodinginthesurroundingagriculturallands.32.WhatisadirectenvironmentalconsequenceoftheshrinkingoftheAralSeamentionedinthetext?A.Anincreaseinlocalbiodiversityduetothecreationofnewsaltplains.B.Duststormscarryingtoxicagriculturalrunoffthatcausedseverehealthissues.C.Astabilizationoftheregionalclimate,makingitmoresuitableforcotton.D.Therapidgrowthofthelocalfishingindustryduetonewspeciesintroduction.33.WhatdoestheKok-AralDamprojectdemonstrate?A.ThattheentireAralSeacanbefullyrestoredtoits1960sstate.B.Thatenvironmentalrestorationisimpossibleonceanecosystemhascollapsed.C.Thattargetedengineeringprojectscanyieldpositiveecologicalresultsinspecificareas.D.ThattheSouthernAralSeaisrecoveringfasterthantheNorthernAral.34.Theword"desiccate"inthefinalparagraphisclosestinmeaningto:A.FloodB.FreezeC.DryoutD.PolluteText4:TheConceptof"Enshittification"inPlatformCapitalismTheevolutionofdigitalplatformsoftenfollowsapredictable,albeitdismal,trajectory.Initsnascentstage,aplatformoffershighlyfavorabletermstobothconsumersandcreatorstoattractacriticalmassofusers.Onceamonopolyoroligopolyisestablished,theplatformbeginstosqueezethecreatorsorsupplierstomaximizeprofits,finallyculminatinginaphasewheretheuserexperienceisseverelydegradedinthepursuitofshort-termshareholdervalue.Thislifecyclehasbeencolloquiallytermed"enshittification."Considerthecaseofearlyride-sharingapplications.Initially,theyofferedridesatpricessignificantlybelowmarketrates,subsidizedbyventurecapital,whileprovidingdriverswithlucrativeearnings.Thisaggressivecustomeracquisitionstrategywasdesignedtoeliminatetraditionaltaximonopolies.However,oncethemarketwascaptured,theplatformssystematicallyreduceddriverpayoutsandincreasedpassengerfares.Simultaneously,thequalityofservicedeclined,withusersexperiencinglongerwaittimesandaninfluxofunprofessionaldriversduetoloweredentrybarriers.Theplatform'sprimaryobjectiveshiftedfromfacilitatinggoodridestomaximizingthedataextractionandcommissionfeesfromeverytransaction.Thisphenomenonisnotuniquetoride-sharing;itisevidentacrosssearchengines,socialmedianetworks,ande-commercemarketplaces.Theunderlyingeconomicincentiveisthelackofcompetitivepressure.Whennetworkeffectslockusersintoasingleplatform,theplatformnolongerneedstoprioritizeusersatisfaction.Regulatoryinterventions,suchasenforcingdataportabilityandinteroperability,areoftenproposedasremediestoreducethesemonopolisticlock-ineffects.However,untilthereisafundamentalshiftintheregulatoryframeworkgoverningdigitalmonopolies,thelifecycleofplatformdegradationislikelytopersist,leavingconsumersandcreatorstrappedinanincreasinglyexploitativedigitalecosystem.35.Accordingtothepassage,whatisthefirststepinthelifecycleofadigitalplatform?A.Maximizingshareholdervaluebyreducingservicequality.B.Squeezingcreatorstoincreaseprofitmargins.C.Offeringfavorabletermstoattractalargeuserbase.D.Establishingamonopolythroughgovernmentregulation.36.Whydidearlyride-sharingappsofferridesbelowmarketrates?A.Becausetheyhadlowoperatingcostsandhighefficiency.B.Becausetheyweresubsidizedbyventurecapitaltocapturethemarketandeliminatecompetition.C.Becausetheyintendedtooperateasnon-profitorganizations.D.Becausethegovernmentprovidedtaxincentivesforride-sharing.37.Whatistherootcauseof"enshittification"mentionedinthetext?A.Thehighcostofmaintainingdigitalinfrastructure.B.Thelackofcompetitivepressureduetonetworkeffectsandmonopolisticlock-in.C.Thegreedofindividualcreatorsontheplatforms.D.Thestrictgovernmentregulationsondigitalbusinesses.38.Whatsolutionisproposedtocombatthedegradationofdigitalplatforms?A.Governmenttakeoversofdigitalmonopolies.B.Encouraginguserstoabandondigitalplatformsentirely.C.Regulatoryinterventionslikeenforcingdataportabilityandinteroperability.D.Increasingventurecapitalfundingfornewplatforms.PartBDirections:ReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.Theconceptofquantumentanglement,famouslydescribedbyAlbertEinsteinas"spookyactionatadistance,"representsoneofthemostprofoundandcounterintuitivephenomenainmodernphysics.(39)Whentwoormoreparticlesbecomeentangled,theirphysicalpropertiesbecomedeeplycorrelated,meaningthatthemeasurementofoneparticleinstantaneouslydictatesthestateoftheother,regardlessofthedistanceseparatingthem.Thisinstantaneousconnectionseeminglydefiestheclassicalphysicalprinciplethatinformationcannottravelfasterthanthespeedoflight.WhileEinsteinandhiscolleaguesarguedthatthisimpliedquantummechanicswasincomplete,subsequentexperimentshaveconsistentlyvalidatedtheexistenceofentanglement.(40)Today,thisoncepurelytheoreticalphenomenonhastransitionedfromtherealmofabstractphysicstothefoundationofgroundbreakingtechnologicalapplications,mostnotablyinthefieldsofquantumcomputingandquantumcryptography.Inquantumcomputing,entanglementallowsforthecreationofqubitsthatcanrepresentboth0and1simultaneously,vastlyincreasingcomputationalpowerforspecifictasks.(41)Furthermore,theutilizationofentangledparticlesinquantumcryptographyoffersanunprecedentedlevelofsecurity;anyattemptbyaneavesdroppertointerceptthecommunicationwillinevitablyalterthequantumstate,immediatelyalertingthelegitimatepartiestothebreach.(42)However,thepracticalimplementationofquantumnetworksfacesformidabletechnicalobstacles,primarilybecauseentangledstatesarehighlyfragileandsusceptibletoenvironmentalinterference,aphenomenonknownasquantumdecoherence.Maintainingentanglementoverlongdistancesandextendedperiodsrequiresextremelylowtemperaturesandsophisticatederror-correctionprotocols.(43)Despitethesechallenges,theongoingresearchintoquantumentanglementcontinuestopushtheboundariesofhumanknowledge,promisingafuturewheresecureglobalcommunicationandcomplexproblem-solvingareradicallytransformed.SectionIV:WritingDirections:Writeanessayof160-200wordsbasedonthefollowingtopic.Inrecentyears,therapiddevelopmentofartificialintelligence(AI)hassparkeddebatesaboutitsimpactonthejobmarket.SomepeoplebelieveAIwillcreatemorejobsthaniteliminates,whileothersfearwidespreadunemployment.Writeanessaytoexpressyouropiniononthisissue.Youressayshouldinclude:1.YourviewpointonwhetherAIisathreatoranopportunityforemployment.2.Twoorthreespecificreasonstosupportyourview.***答案与解析SectionI:ListeningComprehension听力原文PartAM:Haveyoubeenfollowingthecitycouncil'snewurbanplanninginitiative?Theyareproposingamassiveoverhaulofthedowntownarea.W:Yes,Iattendedtheirwebinaryesterday.Theprimaryfocusisnolongerjustexpandingroadinfrastructure.Theyareintegratinggreenspacesandsustainabletransportwithinresidentialareas.Theyareheavilyemphasizingthe"15-minutecity"concept.M:The15-minutecity?Youmeanwhereresidentscanaccessessentialserviceswithinashortwalkorbikeride?Ithinkthat’sagreatideaintheory,butIwonderhowsmallbusinesseswillreact.Ifwereduceparkingspacestomakeroomforbikelanes,won'ttheybenegativelyaffected?W:That'savalidconcern,buttheplannersarguethatpedestrian-friendlyzonesactuallyincreasefoottraffic,whichbenefitslocalcommerceinthelongrun.Moreover,theyareheavilyrelyingonmicro-mobilityoptions,likee-scootersandsharedbikes,toserveasacruciallast-milesolutionconnectingtransithubstohomes.M:Isupposethatmakessense.Butisn'tthepublictransportationsystemabitoutdatedtohandleacompleteshiftawayfrompersonalvehicles?W:That'spartoftheinitiative.Asignificantportionofthebudgetisallocatedtoupgradingthelightrailandbusnetworks.Ultimately,thesuccessofthisplandoesn'tjustrelyoninfrastructure;itdependsheavilyoncommunityengagementandpolicysupporttoencouragepeopletochangetheircommutinghabits.M:Let'shopethecitycouncilcanbalanceallthesefactorswithoutfacingtoomuchpublicopposition.W:Indeed.It’sadelicatebalance,butanecessarysteptowardsasustainableurbanfuture.PartBTheJamesWebbSpaceTelescope,orJWST,representsamonumentalleapinourabilitytoobservethecosmos.Unlikeitspredecessor,theHubbleSpaceTelescope,whichprimarilyobservestheuniverseinvisibleandultravioletlight,JWSTisdesignedtoobserveininfrared.Thisisacriticaldistinction.Becausetheuniverseisexpanding,lightfromtheearliestgalaxiesisstretchedout,shiftingittowardstheredendoftheelectromagneticspectrum—aphenomenonknownasredshift.Byobservingininfrared,JWSTcanpeerthroughthedensecosmicdustthatobscuresvisiblelight,allowingustoseetheveryfirststarsandgalaxiesthatformedaftertheBigBang.Toachievethis,JWSTcannotorbittheEarthlikeHubble.Instead,itispositionedatthesecondLagrangepoint,orL2,aboutamillionmilesawayfromEarth.Atthislocation,thegravitationalpulloftheSunandEarthcombineinawaythatallowsthetelescopetoremaininafixedpositionrelativeto