全国英语等级考试（PETS）三级复习试题库(2025年下半年甘肃陇南市)

全国英语等级考试（PETS）三级复习试题库(2025年下半年甘肃陇南市)SectionIListeningComprehensionDirections:ThissectionisdesignedtotestyourabilitytounderstandspokenEnglish.Youwillhearaselectionofrecordedmaterialsandyoumustanswerthequestionsthataccompanythem.Therearetwopartsinthissection,PartAandPartB.PartAYouwillhear5shortdialogues.Aftereachdialogue,thereisarecordedquestion.Thedialoguesandquestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Whenyouhearaquestion,youshoulddecideonthecorrectanswerfromthe4choicesmarkedA),B),C),andD)giveninyourtestbooklet.1.A)Thewomanshouldtakearest.B)Thewomanshouldfinishherreport.C)Thewomanshouldseeadoctor.D)Thewomanshouldchangeherworkingenvironment.2.A)Atanairport.B)Atarailwaystation.C)Atahotelreception.D)Atarestaurant.3.A)Heisnotinterestedintheexhibition.B)Hehastoprepareforapresentation.C)Hewillgototheexhibitionwiththewoman.D)Hethinkstheexhibitionistoofaraway.4.A)$15.B)$30.C)$45.D)$60.5.A)Themanisalwayslateformeetings.B)Themanarrivedearlyforthemeeting.C)Themeetingwascanceledunexpectedly.D)Themeetingstartedlaterthanscheduled.PartBYouwillhear4longerdialoguesorpassages.Aftereachdialogueorpassage,severalquestionswillbeasked.Thematerialsandquestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Whenyouhearaquestion,youshoulddecideonthecorrectanswerfromthe4choicesmarkedA),B),C),andD).Questions6to8arebasedonthefollowingconversation.6.A)Toaskforadviceonbuyingalaptop.B)Tocomplainaboutacomputerhebought.C)Toinquireaboutthewarrantyofaproduct.D)Torequestarefundforadefectiveproduct.7.A)Thescreengoesblackoccasionally.B)Thekeyboarddoesn'tworkproperly.C)Thebatterydrainsveryquickly.D)Thesystemcrasheswhenrunningsoftware.8.A)Takeittothenearestrepaircenter.B)Senditbacktothemanufacturerbymail.C)Waitforatechniciantovisithishome.D)Exchangeitforanewmodelinthestore.Questions9to12arebasedonthefollowingpassage.9.A)ThehistoryoftheEnglishlanguage.B)Thedifficultiesoflearningasecondlanguage.C)Thebenefitsofbeingbilingual.D)Theprocessofchildren'slanguageacquisition.10.A)Theyhavebettermemoryandconcentration.B)Theyarebetteratmathematicalcalculations.C)Theytendtohavehigherphysicalflexibility.D)Theyaremorelikelytoexcelinmusicalarts.11.A)Itcandelaytheonsetofmentaldecline.B)ItcancompletelycureAlzheimer'sdisease.C)Itcanincreasethebrain'sphysicalsize.D)Itcanspeeduptherecoveryfrombraininjuries.12.A)Childrenshouldbeforcedtolearnasecondlanguageearly.B)Adultscannotachievethesamelanguageproficiencyaschildren.C)Thecognitiveadvantagesofbilingualismareworththeeffort.D)Schoolsshouldreducethenumberoflanguageclasses.Questions13to15arebasedonthefollowingconversation.13.A)Becauseshelostherpart-timejob.B)Becauseshefailedanimportantexam.C)Becauseshehadaquarrelwithherroommate.D)Becausesheisstressedaboutheracademicworkload.14.A)Hesuggestsshedroponeofhercourses.B)Headviseshertotalktoherprofessors.C)Herecommendsjoiningastudygroup.D)Hesuggeststakingashortbreak.15.A)Shewilltrytofindanewroommate.B)Shewillgotothecounselingcenter.C)Shewillmanagehertimemoreefficiently.D)Shewilltalktoherroommatedirectly.Questions16to20arebasedonthefollowingpassage.16.A)Tostudythemigrationpatternsofbirds.B)Toinvestigatetheeffectsofurbannoiseonbirds.C)Torecordthedifferentsongsofurbanbirds.D)Tocomparethehealthofurbanandruralbirds.17.A)Theysingatahigherpitch.B)Theysingmuchlouder.C)Theysingonlyduringtheday.D)Theystopsingingaltogether.18.A)Toattractmatesinanoisyenvironment.B)Towarnoffothercompetingbirds.C)Toadapttothelow-frequencytrafficnoise.D)Tocommunicateoverlongerdistances.19.A)Thebirds'songsbecamemorecomplex.B)Thebirds'songsbecameshorterandsimpler.C)Thebirdsstoppedsingingduringrushhours.D)Thebirdsmovedtheirneststoquieterareas.20.A)Urbanbirdsareevolvingintoanewspecies.B)Animalscanadapttohuman-alteredenvironments.C)Noisepollutionismakingbirdsdeaf.D)Ruralbirdshavemorediversesongsthanurbanbirds.SectionIIUseofEnglishDirections:Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordorphraseforeachnumberedblankfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C),andD).Theconceptoflifelonglearninghasbecomeincreasinglyrelevantinthe21stcentury.Inaneracharacterizedbyrapidtechnologicaladvancementsandshiftingeconomiclandscapes,theskills21______yesterdaymaynotbesufficienttosolvetheproblemsoftomorrow.22______,individualsmustembraceamindsetofcontinuouseducation,23______formalschoolingends.Historically,thetraditionaleducationalmodel24______thatlearningwasaphaseoflife.Peoplewenttoschool,acquiredadegree,andthenenteredtheworkforce,25______theireducationwasconsideredcomplete.However,themodernknowledgeeconomyhascompletely26______thisassumption.Today,entireindustriescanbedisruptedovernightbynewtechnologies,27______artificialintelligenceandautomation.Professionalswho28______theirskillsetsquicklyfindthemselves29______inahighlycompetitivejobmarket.Lifelonglearningisnotjustaboutcareer30______;italsoplaysacrucialroleinpersonaldevelopmentandmentalwell-being.Engaginginnewlearningexperienceshelpstokeepthebrain31______andcandelaycognitivedeclineinolderadults.32______,acquiringanewlanguage,learningtoplayamusicalinstrument,ormasteringanewhobbycanprovideaprofound33______ofaccomplishmentandpurpose.Despiteitsclearbenefits,34______lifelonglearningintoadailyroutineremainsachallengeformany.Theprimary35______citedbyadultsarealackoftime,financialconstraints,andthe36______ofknowingwheretostart.Overcomingthesebarriersrequiresintentionalplanning.37______thantryingtodedicatehourseachday,individualscanstartwithjustfifteenminutesofreadingorlisteningtoeducationalpodcastsduringtheircommute.38______small,consistentstepsisthekeytomakinglearninga39______partoflife,ratherthana40______event.21.A)acquiredB)requiredC)inquiredD)inspired22.A)ThereforeB)HoweverC)MoreoverD)Meanwhile23.A)evenifB)asifC)incaseD)sothat24.A)predictedB)deniedC)assumedD)guaranteed25.A)unlessB)untilC)whileD)because26.A)reinforcedB)establishedC)shatteredD)validated27.A)forexampleB)suchasC)namelyD)including28.A)updateB)neglectC)maintainD)challenge29.A)advancingB)survivingC)progressingD)stagnating30.A)advancementB)movementC)replacementD)management31.A)passiveB)activeC)sensitiveD)attractive32.A)InsteadB)OtherwiseC)FurthermoreD)However33.A)lackB)senseC)amountD)number34.A)integratingB)separatingC)translatingD)reducing35.A)barriersB)advantagesC)motivationsD)outcomes36.A)certaintyB)awarenessC)confusionD)confidence37.A)RatherB)MoreC)LessD)Other38.A)TakingB)LeavingC)MakingD)Avoiding39.A)temporaryB)permanentC)occasionalD)rare40.A)one-timeB)dailyC)lifelongD)naturalSectionIIIReadingComprehensionPartADirections:Readthefollowingthreetexts.AnswerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosingA),B),C),orD).Text1Theriseofthe"gigeconomy"hastransformedthewaypeoplework,offeringflexibilityandautonomythattraditionalemploymentoftenlacks.PlatformslikeUber,Upwork,andFiverrhavemadeiteasierthaneverforindividualstomonetizetheirskillsandtime.However,thisshifttowardsfreelanceandcontractworkhasraisedsignificantconcernsregardinglaborrightsandfinancialstability.Inatraditionalemploymentsetting,workersenjoycertainprotections,suchasminimumwagelaws,overtimepay,andemployer-sponsoredhealthinsurance.Theyalsohaveaccesstoretirementplansandpaidleave.Incontrast,gigworkersaretypicallyclassifiedasindependentcontractors.Thisclassificationexemptstheplatformsfromprovidingtraditionalemployeebenefits.Consequently,gigworkersbearthefullbruntofeconomicdownturns,illness,andthecostsoftheirownequipmentandmaintenance.Proponentsofthegigeconomyarguethatthefreedomtochoosewhenandwheretoworkisafairtrade-offforthelackofbenefits.Theypointoutthatmanygigworkersusetheseplatformstosupplementtheirprimaryincome,ratherthanrelyingonthemfortheirentirelivelihood.Furthermore,thegigeconomycreatesopportunitiesforindividualswhomightstruggletofindtraditionalemployment,suchasstay-at-homeparentsorstudents.Despitethesearguments,thelackofasafetynetremainsacriticalissue.Arecentstudyfoundthatnearly40%ofgigworkersrelyontheirfreelanceincometomeetbasiclivingexpenses.Forthisdemographic,theabsenceofhealthinsuranceandpaidsickleaveisnotjustaninconvenience;itisaseverefinancialrisk.Inresponsetothesechallenges,lawmakersinvariouscountriesaredebatingnewlegislationthatwouldcreateathirdcategoryofworker—somewherebetweenanemployeeandanindependentcontractor—grantingthemcertainbasicprotectionswithoutstrippingawaytheirflexibility.41.Whatisthemainadvantageofthegigeconomymentionedinthetext?A)Stableincomeandhealthbenefits.B)Flexibilityandautonomyinwork.C)Guaranteedretirementplans.D)Protectionduringeconomicdownturns.42.Howaregigworkerstypicallyclassifiedbyplatforms?A)Full-timeemployees.B)Part-timeemployees.C)Independentcontractors.D)Unpaidinterns.43.Whatisthemainconcernforgigworkerswhorelyonfreelanceincomeforbasiclivingexpenses?A)Thelackofflexibleworkinghours.B)Theinabilitytochoosetheirprojects.C)Theabsenceofasafetynetlikehealthinsurance.D)Thehightaxesonindependentcontractors.44.Whatislawmakers'proposedsolutiontothegigeconomyissue?A)Abolishingthegigeconomyentirely.B)Forcingplatformstohireallworkersasfull-timeemployees.C)Creatinganewworkercategorywithbasicprotections.D)Providinggovernment-fundedhealthinsuranceforallgigworkers.Text2Theconceptofrewildinghasgainedsignificanttractioninconservationcirclesoverthepastdecade.Unliketraditionalconservation,whichoftenfocusesonpreservingaspecificlandscapeinastatic,historicalstate,rewildingaimstorestorenaturalprocessesandecosystemstoastatewheretheycansustainthemselveswithouthumanintervention.Thisofteninvolvesthereintroductionofkeystonespecies,suchaswolvesorbeavers,whichhaveadisproportionatelylargeimpactontheirenvironment.OneofthemostfamousexamplesofrewildingoccurredinYellowstoneNationalParkintheUnitedStates.In1995,afterwolveshadbeenabsentfornearly70years,theywerereintroducedintothepark.Theimpactwasprofound.Thewolvesnotonlycontrolledtheelkpopulation,whichhadgrownunsustainablylarge,buttheirpresencealsotriggeredaseriesofecologicalchangesknownasatrophiccascade.Astheelkchangedtheirgrazingpatternstoavoidwolves,willowandaspentreeswereabletoregenerate.This,inturn,providedhabitatforbeavers,birds,andotherspecies,fundamentallytransformingthepark'sbiodiversity.However,rewildingisnotwithoutitscritics.InEurope,proposalstoreintroducelargepredatorslikethelynxorthewolfhavemetwithfierceresistancefromruralcommunities,particularlyfarmerswhofearfortheirlivestock.Therearealsoconcernsabouttheunpredictabilityofrewilding.Ecosystemsarecomplex,andtheintroductionofaspeciescanhaveunintendedconsequences.Forinstance,insomeareaswherenon-nativespecieshavebeenintroducedforconservationpurposes,theyhavebecomeinvasive,outcompetingnativefloraandfauna.Toaddresstheseconcerns,modernrewildingprojectsemphasizeagradual,community-ledapproach.Ratherthanimposingtop-downdirectives,conservationistsworkcloselywithlocalstakeholderstoensurethatthebenefitsofrewilding,suchasincreasedeco-tourismandecosystemservices,areshared.Thegoalistofindabalancewherehumancommunitiesandnaturalecosystemscancoexistandthrivetogether.45.Whatistheprimarydifferencebetweentraditionalconservationandrewilding?A)Traditionalconservationrestoresnaturalprocesses,whilerewildingpreserveshistoricalstates.B)Traditionalconservationpreservesastaticstate,whilerewildingaimstorestoreself-sustainingecosystems.C)Traditionalconservationfocusesonkeystonespecies,whilerewildingfocusesonallspeciesequally.D)Traditionalconservationinvolveshumanintervention,whilerewildingexcludeshumanscompletely.46.WhathappenedafterwolveswerereintroducedtoYellowstone?A)Theelkpopulationgrewunsustainablylarge.B)Willowandaspentreesfailedtoregenerate.C)Atrophiccascadefundamentallytransformedbiodiversity.D)Thebeaverpopulationdeclinedsharply.47.WhydosomeruralcommunitiesinEuropeopposerewilding?A)Theyfearlargepredatorswillthreatentheirlivestock.B)Theybelieveitwilldecreaseeco-tourism.C)Theythinkrewildingwillleadtotheextinctionofnativespecies.D)Theywanttopreservethehistoricalstateofthelandscape.48.Howdomodernrewildingprojectsaddresstheconcernsoflocalcommunities?A)Byimposingstricttop-downdirectives.B)Byensuringagradual,community-ledapproach.C)Byexcludinglocalstakeholdersfromthedecision-makingprocess.D)Byintroducingnon-nativespeciestoreplacenativeones.Text3Intherealmofmodernengineeringandsystemdesign,reliabilityisoftenmeasuredbytheprobabilityofasystemfunctioningwithoutfailureoveraspecifiedperiod.Forcomplexsystems,suchasaerospacecraftsormedicaldevices,understandingthelikelihoodoffailureiscritical.Engineersoftencalculatetheoverallsystemreliabilityusingamathematicalmodel.Forasystemconsistingofmultipleindependentcomponentsinseries,theoverallreliabilityistheproductoftheindividualreliabilitiesofeachcomponent,expressedas=.Conversely,ifasystemusesparallelredundancy,wherethesystemfunctionsaslongasatleastonecomponentworks,thefailureprobabilityistheproductoftheindividualfailureprobabilities,andthereliabilityis=1−(Consideramedicalmonitoringdevicethatutilizesthreecriticalsensorsinparalleltomonitorheartrate.Ifthereliabilityofeachsensoroverayearis0.98,thefailureprobabilityofasinglesensoris1−0.98=0.02.TheoverallfailureprobabilityoftheparallelsensorsystemiscalculatedasHowever,mathematicalmodelsoftenassumeidealconditions.Inreality,common-causefailurescanoccur.Forinstance,ifallthreesensorsareexposedtothesameextremetemperatureorpowersurge,theymightfailsimultaneously,renderingtheparallelredundancyuseless.Tomitigatethis,engineersmustensurephysicalseparationanddiversepowersuppliesforredundantcomponents.49.Whatistheformulaforthereliabilityofasystemwithcomponentsinseries?A)=B)=C)=D)=50.Whatistheoverallreliabilityoftheparallelmedicalmonitoringsensorsystemdescribedinthetext?A)0.98B)0.999992C)0.000008D)0.0251.Whatisacommon-causefailure?A)Afailurecausedbyasinglesensor'sdefect.B)Asimultaneousfailureofmultipleindependentcomponentsduetoasharedexternalfactor.C)Amathematicalerrorincalculatingsystemreliability.D)Afailurethatoccurswhencomponentsarearrangedinseries.52.Howcanengineersmitigatecommon-causefailuresinaredundantsystem?A)Byusingidenticalcomponentsfromthesamemanufacturer.B)Byexposingallcomponentstothesameenvironmenttotesttheirlimits.C)Byensuringphysicalseparationanddiversepowersupplies.D)Byarrangingthecomponentsinaseriesratherthaninparallel.PartBDirections:ReadthefollowingtextanddecidewhetherthestatementsareTrue(T)orFalse(F).Theriseofremoteworkhashadanunintendedconsequence:theblurringofboundariesbetweenprofessionalandpersonallife.Whileworkingfromhomeeliminatesthedailycommuteandoffersamorecomfortableenvironment,italsocreatesan"always-on"culture.Employeesoftenfeelpressuredtorespondtoemailsandmessageslateatnightorduringweekends,leadingtoincreasedratesofburnoutandchronicstress.Tocombatthis,somecompanieshaveimplemented"righttodisconnect"policies,whichlegallyorculturallyprotectemployeesfrombeingrequiredtoengageinwork-relatedcommunicationsoutsideoftheirofficialworkinghours.Francewasoneofthefirstcountriestoenactsuchlegislation,recognizingthatemployees'mentalhealthisjustasimportantastheirphysicalsafety.However,criticsoftherighttodisconnectarguethatrigidenforcementofsuchpoliciescanstiflecollaboration,especiallyinglobalcompanieswhereteamsspanmultipletimezones.Theysuggestthatamoreflexibleapproach,whereemployeesaretrustedtomanagetheirownschedulesandsettheirownboundaries,mightbemoreeffectivethanablanketbanonafter-hourscommunication.53.Remoteworkhasmadetheboundarybetweenworkandpersonallifelessclear.54.The"always-on"culturehasdecreasedtheratesofburnoutamongemployees.55.Franceenacted"righttodisconnect"legislationtoprotectemployees'mentalhealth.56.Criticsbelievethatablanketbanonafter-hourscommunicationisthebestsolutionforglobalcompanies.SectionIVWritingPartADirections:Youhavereadanarticleinalocalnewspaperabouttheenvironmentalpollutioninthecity.Writealettertotheeditorofthenewspaper.Inyourletter,youshould:1)Expressyourconcernaboutthecurrentenvironmentalsituation.2)Suggestatleasttwopracticalmeasurestoimprovetheenvironment.3)Urgethepublictotakeaction.Youshouldwriteabout100words.Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.Donotwritetheaddress.PartBDirections:Belowisachartshowingthechangesinthepercentageofpeople'sdailyreadingmethodsfrom2010to2020.Lookatthechartandwriteanessayofabout120-150words.YouressaymustbewrittenclearlyontheANSWERSHEET.Youressayshouldcoverthefollowingpoints:1)Describethechangesshowninthechart.2)Analyzethepossiblereasonsforthesechanges.3)Giveabriefcommentorprediction.(Imagineabarcharthere:Thechartshowsthatin2010,80%ofpeoplereadprintedbooks/newspapers,and15%readondigitaldevices.In2020,30%readprintedmaterials,and65%readdigitally.)SectionIListeningComprehension1.A2.C3.B4.C5.D6.B7.A8.D9.C10.A11.A12.C13.D14.A15.D16.B17.A18.C19.B20.BSectionIIUseofEnglish21.B22.A23.A24.C25.B26.C27.B28.B29.D30.A31.B32.C33.B34.A35.A36.C37.A38.A39.B40.ASectionIIIReadingComprehension41.B42.C43.C44.C45.B46.C47.A48.B49.C50.B51.B52.C53.T54.F55.T56.FSectionIVWritingPartA参考范文DearEditor,Iamwritingtoexpressmydeepconcernregardingthesevereenvironmentalpollutioninourcity.Recently,theairqualityhasdeterioratedsignificantly,andlitteringinpublicspaceshasbecomeacommonsight.Thissituationnotonlydamagesthecity'simagebutalsoposesathreattoourhealth.Toimprovethesituation,Isuggestthegovernmentshouldimposestricterregulationsonfactoryemissionsandpromotetheuseofpublictransportation.Additionally,moretrashbinsshouldbeplacedinpublicareas.Furthermore,wemustlauncheducationalcampaignstoraisepublicawareness.Itishightimethateverycitizentookresponsibilityforprotectingourenvironment.Yourssincerely,LiMingPartB参考范文Thebarchartillustratesthesignificantchangesinpeople'spreferredreadingmethodsbetween2010and2020.In2010,avastmajorityofpeople,around80%,preferredreadingprintedmaterialssuchasbooksandnewspapers.Incontrast,only15%ofindividualsreadusingdigitaldevices.However,by2020,thetrendhadreverseddramatically.Theproportionofdigitalreaderssurgedto65%,whilethosewhochoseprintedmaterialsdroppedto30%.Thereareseveralreasonsbehindthisshift.Primarily,therapiddevelopmentoftechnologyhasmadesmartphones,tablets,ande-readershighlyaccessibleandaffordable.Furthermore,digitalreadingoffersunparalleledconvenience,allowingpeopletocarrythousandsofbooksandreadanywhereatanytime.Itisalsomoreenvironmentallyfriendlyasitreducespaperconsumption.Inmyopinion,thistrendtowardsdigitalreadingisinevitableandwillcontinueinthefuture.However,whiledigitaldevicesprovideconvenience,traditionalprintedreadingstillholdsvaluefordeeplearning.Therefore,abalancedapproachcombiningbothmethodswouldbethebestchoiceformodernreaders.SectionI听力原文PartA1.M:Youlookexhausted.You’vebeenworkingonthatreportforhours.Whydon'tyoutakeabreak?W:IwishIcould,butthedeadlineistomorrowmorning.Q:Whatdoesthemansuggestthewomando?2.M:Goodevening.IhaveareservationunderthenameofSmith.I'dliketocheckin.W:Welcome,Mr.Smith.CouldIseeyourID,please?Hereisyourroomkey.Youareonthefifthfloor.Q:Wheredoestheconversationmostlikelytakeplace?3.W:Thereisamodernartexhibitiondowntownthisweekend.Wouldyouliketogowithme?M:I'dloveto,butIhavetoprepareapresentationfortheboardmeetingonMonday.Q:Whycan'tthemangototheexhibition?4.M:Howmucharethesetickets?W:Theyare$15each.Butifyoubuythree,youcangeta50%discountonthethirdone.M:Okay,I'lltakethree.Q:Howmuchwillthemanpayintotal?5.W:Ithoughtthemeetingwassupposedtostartat9:00.It'salready9:15.M:Iknow.Themanagergotstuckintrafficandjustarrived.Weareabouttostart.Q:Whatcanwelearnfromtheconversation?PartBQuestions6to8arebasedonthefollowingconversation.W:ThankyouforcallingTechSupport.HowcanIhelpyoutoday?M:Hi,Iboughtalaptopfromyourstorelastweek,andI'mhavingsomeseriousproblemswithit.W:I'msorrytohearthat,sir.Couldyoutellmewhatseemstobetheissue?M:ThescreengoesblackoccasionallywhileI'mworking.It'sreallyfrustratingbecauseIlosemyunsavedwork.W:Isee.Doesithappenwhenyouarerunningspecificsoftware,orjustrandomly?M:Itseemsrandom.SometimesithappenswhenI'mjustbrowsingtheweb.I'dliketogetafullrefundbecauseit'sclearlydefective.W:Iunderstandyourfrustration,sir.However,ourstorepolicystatesthatforarefund,theitemmustbereturnedwithinsevendaysofpurchase.Sinceithasbeenoveraweek,wecannotprocessarefunddirectly.Butdon'tworry,yourlaptopcomeswithaone-yearmanufacturer'swarranty.Thebestoptionisforyoutobringittoournearestrepaircenter.Ourtechnicianswillrunafulldiagnostictestandfixitforyou.M:Fine,I'llbringitintomorrow.Questions9to12arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Intoday'sglobalizedworld,theabilitytospeakasecondlanguageisaninvaluableasset.Butbeyondtheobviouspracticaladvantages,researchhasshownthatbeingbilingualhasprofoundeffectsonthebrain.Theprocessoflearningandusingtwolanguagesrequiresthebraintoconstantlyjugglebetweendifferentlinguisticsystems,whichactsasaformofmentalexercise.Studieshaveconsistentlydemonstratedthatbilingualindividuals,especiallychildren,exhibitbettermemoryandconcentrationcomparedtotheirmonolingualpeers.Theyarebetteratmultitaskingandoftenscorehigheronstandardizedteststhatrequireproblem-solvingskills.Furthermore,thecognitivebenefitsofbilingualismextendintooldage.Numerousstudiessuggestthatspeakingasecondlanguagecanbuildupacognitivereserve.Thisreservehelpstodelaytheonsetofmentaldecline,suchasthatassociatedwithdementiaandAlzheimer'sdisease,byuptofiveyears.Itdoesn'tcurethedisease,butitstrengthensthebrain'sresilienceagainstthesymptoms.Inconclusion,whilelearninganewlanguageisundoubtedlychallenging,thelong-termcognitiveadvantagesmakeitahighlyrewardingendeavorforpeopleofallages.Questions13to15arebasedonthefollowingconversation.M:Youseemreallystressedlately,Sarah.What'sgoingon?W:Ijusthavetoomuchonmyplate.I'mtakingfivecoursesthissemester,andIalsohaveapart-timejob.Theworkloadisimpossibletomanage.M:Fivecourses?Thatsoundslikealot.Maybeyoushouldconsiderdroppingoneofyourcoursestoeasethepressure.It'snotworthburningyourselfout.W:Ican'tdropany.Ineedthecreditstograduateontime.AndIneedthemoneyfrommyjobtopayrent.Plus,myroommateismessyandplaysloudmusicatnight,soIcan'tevensleepproperly.M:Thatsoundslikeatoughsituation.Youknow,theuniversityoffersfreetimemanagementworkshopsatthecounselingcenter.Maybetheycanhelpyouorganizeyourschedulebetter.W:Idon'tthinkaworkshopwillgivememorehoursintheday.IthinkIneedtohaveaserioustalkwithmyroommateaboutrespectingmyspaceandstudytime.M:That'sagoodstart.Ifyouneedaquietplacetostudy,youcanalwaysusemyapartmentduringthedaywhenI'matwork.W:Thanks,Tom.I'lltalktomyroommatetonight.Questions16to20arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Urbanenvironmentsaredrasticallydifferentfromthenaturalhabitatsofmostwildlife.Oneofthemostsignificantdifferencesisthelevelofambientnoise.Citiesarefilledwiththeconstanthumoftraffic,construction,andhumanactivity.Forbirds,whichrelyheavilyonvocalcommunicationtoattractmatesanddefendterritories,thisnoisepollutionposesaseriouschallenge.Researcher