商洛市全国英语等级考试（PETS）四级全真模拟试题(2026年上半年)

商洛市全国英语等级考试（PETS）四级全真模拟试题(2026年上半年)SectionI:ListeningComprehensionDirections:ThissectionisdesignedtotestyourabilitytounderstandspokenEnglish.Therearethreepartsinthissection:PartA,PartBandPartC.PartAYouwillhearashortlectureaboutdeep-seaexploration.Listentoitandfillinthemissinginformationintheblanksnumbered1to5withtheexactwordsyouhear.Youwillhearthelectureonlyonce.Deep-seahydrothermalvents,discoveredinthelate1970s,representoneofthemostextremeenvironmentsonEarth.Despitetheabsenceofsunlight,theseventshostcomplexecosystems.Thefoundationofthisecosystemisnotphotosynthesis,butratheraprocesscalled(1)________,wherebacteriaconvertsulfurcompoundsintoenergy.Recentsubmersiblemissionshavealsorevealedthatcertaincrustaceanslivingneartheseventspossessaunique(2)________systemthatallowsthemtofilteroutheavymetals.Furthermore,researchershavediscoveredthatthetemperaturearoundtheseventscanfluctuaterapidly,rangingfromnearfreezingtoextremely(3)________temperatures.Thediscoveryoftheseventshasfundamentallyalteredourunderstandingofthe(4)________oflife,suggestingthatlifecanthriveinenvironmentspreviouslythoughttobecompletely(5)________.PartBYouwillhearaninterviewbetweenaradiohostandanurbanplannerregardingverticalfarming.Answerquestions6to10.Youwillheartheinterviewonlyonce.6.Whatistheprimaryreasonforthedecreaseintraditionalhorizontalfarmlandaccordingtotheurbanplanner?7.Howdoverticalfarmsprimarilyconservewatercomparedtotraditionalfarming?8.Whattechnologicalcomponentisessentialfortheoperationofaverticalfarm,asidefromwaterandseeds?9.Accordingtotheplanner,whatisthemainenvironmentalbenefitofbuildingverticalfarmswithinurbancenters?10.Whatdoestheplannerciteasthebiggestcurrentobstacletothewidespreadadoptionofverticalfarming?PartCYouwillhearthreedialoguesorpassages.Beforeeachone,youwillhavetimetoreadthequestionsrelatedtoit.Choosethebestanswertoeachquestion.Youwillheareachpieceonlyonce.Questions11to13arebasedonthefollowingtalkaboutthepsychologyofboredom.11.Accordingtothespeaker,whatisthetraditionalviewofboredom?[A]Itisacatalystforcreativity.[B]Itisasignoflazinessordepression.[C]Itisanecessaryemotionalstateforchildren.[D]Itisanindicationofhighintelligence.12.Whatdoesthespeakersayaboutthe"defaultmodenetwork"inthebrain?[A]Itisonlyactivewhenapersonissolvingcomplexmathproblems.[B]Itshutsdowncompletelywhenapersonfeelsbored.[C]Itbecomesactiveduringperiodsofmind-wanderingandboredom.[D]Itpreventspeoplefromdaydreaming.13.Howcanboredombebeneficialaccordingtorecentpsychologicalstudies?[A]Itforcesindividualstoseekoutnewgoalsandexplorenewideas.[B]Ithelpsindividualsfocusbetterontedioustasks.[C]Itreducestheoverallstresslevelsinadults.[D]Itimprovesshort-termmemoryretention.Questions14to16arebasedonaconversationbetweentwostudentsaboutaresearchproject.14.Whyisthemalestudentfrustratedwithhiscurrentresearchtopiconsleepdeprivation?[A]Thereisnotenoughexistingliteratureonthesubject.[B]Theethicalguidelinespreventthemfromconductingsleepdeprivationonhumans.[C]Hecannotfindenoughparticipantswillingtostayawakefor48hours.[D]Thevariablesaretoodifficulttocontrolinalaboratorysetting.15.Whatalternativetopicdoesthefemalestudentsuggest?[A]Theeffectsofcaffeineoncognitiveperformance.[B]Theimpactofscreentimeonthequalityofsleep.[C]Thecorrelationbetweendietandsleepduration.[D]Thepsychologicaleffectsofshiftwork.16.Whatwillthemalestudentmostlikelydonext?[A]Abandontheprojectentirelyandasktheprofessorforanewtopic.[B]Conductthesleepdeprivationstudyonanimalsubjectsinstead.[C]Narrowhistopictofocusontheeffectsofpartialsleepdeprivation.[D]Askthefemalestudenttoshareherresearchdatawithhim.Questions17to20arebasedonthefollowingnewsreportaboutspacedebris.17.Whatisthemainfocusofthenewsreport?[A]Thesuccessfullaunchofanewcommunicationsatellite.[B]Theincreasingthreatofspacedebristoactivesatellitesandastronauts.[C]Anewinternationaltreatybanningweaponsinspace.[D]ThediscoveryofanewasteroidpassingclosetoEarth.18.Howdidtherecentcollisionmentionedinthereportoccur?[A]AdefunctRussiansatellitecollidedwithanactiveAmericancommunicationssatellite.[B]ApieceofdebrishittheInternationalSpaceStation'ssolarpanels.[C]Twoactivesatellitesmalfunctionedandcrashedintoeachother.[D]AmeteoritestruckaChinesespacestation.19.Whatisthe"KesslerSyndrome"mentionedbytheexpert?[A]AtheorythattheEarth'sgravitywilleventuallypullallspacedebrisbackintotheatmosphere.[B]AscenariowherethedensityofobjectsinlowEarthorbitishighenoughtocauseacascadeofcollisions.[C]Apsychologicalconditionaffectingastronautswhospendtoomuchtimeinspace.[D]Aformulausedtocalculatethetrajectoryoffallingsatellites.20.Whatsolutioniscurrentlybeingtestedtocleanupspacedebris?[A]Usinggiantnetsdeployedfromthespacestationtocapturelargedebris.[B]Sendingastronautsonspacewalkstomanuallycollectthedebris.[C]Blastingthedebriswithlasersfromground-basedstations.[D]Deployingmagneticsweeperstoattractmetallicdebris.SectionII:UseofEnglishReadthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordforeachnumberedblankfromthefourchoicesA,B,C,andD.Theconceptofthe"digitalnomad"hastransitionedfromanichelifestyletoamainstreamphenomenonoverthepastdecade.Enabledbyhigh-speedinternetandcloud-basedcomputing,millionsofprofessionalsarenow(21)________toworkfromvirtuallyanywhereontheglobe.Thisshifthasprofound(22)________forbothindividualsandthecitiesthathostthem.Forindividuals,theprimaryappealliesinthe(23)________ofgeographicconstraints.Nolongertiedtoaspecificoffice,workerscandesigntheirlivesaroundpersonal(24)________ratherthancorporatemandates.However,thislifestyleisnotwithoutitschallenges.Digitalnomadsoftenstrugglewith(25)________isolation,asthetransientnatureoftheirlivingsituationsmakesitdifficulttoforgedeep,meaningfulrelationships.Furthermore,(26)________thelinebetweenworkandpersonallifecanbecomeblurredwhenone’slivingspacedoublesasanoffice.Forhostcities,particularlyindevelopingnations,the(27)________ofdigitalnomadscanbeadouble-edgedsword.Ononehand,theybringvaluableforeign(28)________,stimulatinglocaleconomiesandcreatingjobsinservicesectors.Ontheotherhand,theirarrivalcandriveupthecostoflivingforlocals,leadingtogentrificationandculturalfriction.CitieslikeLisbonandChiangMaihaveseenrentprices(29)________indirectcorrelationwiththeinfluxofremoteworkers.Toaddresstheseissues,somegovernmentsareimplementingtargetedvisaprogramsthat(30)________long-termstayswhileensuringthatnomadscontributetothelocaltaxbase.Ultimately,thesustainabilityofthedigitalnomadlifestyledependsonfindingabalancebetweenpersonalfreedomandsocial(31)________.21.[A]capable[B]able[C]enabled[D]entitled22.[A]implications[B]complications[C]comprehensions[D]compromises23.[A]liberation[B]release[C]delivery[D]dismissal24.[A]preferences[B]prejudices[C]references[D]proficiencies25.[A]sociable[B]social[C]societal[D]sociology26.[A]typing[B]drawing[C]blurring[D]reading27.[A]influx[B]reflection[C]deflection[D]reflection28.[A]currency[B]investment[C]income[D]capital29.[A]soar[B]tosoar[C]soaring[D]soared30.[A]forbid[B]facilitate[C]prohibit[D]complicate31.[A]responsibility[B]reliability[C]accessibility[D]adaptabilitySectionIII:ReadingComprehensionPartAReadthefollowingtexts.AnswerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosingA,B,C,orD.Text1Theproliferationofmicroplasticsintheenvironmenthasemergedasoneofthemostpressingenvironmentalchallengesofthe21stcentury.Whilethevisiblepollutionofwaterwaysandoceanshasgarneredsignificantmediaattention,theinvisiblecontaminationofsoilecosystemsposesanequally,ifnotmore,severethreattoglobalfoodsecurity.Microplastics,definedasplasticfragmentssmallerthan5millimeters,enteragriculturalsoilsthroughvariouspathways.Themostcommonsourcesincludetheapplicationofsewagesludgeasfertilizer,theuseofplasticmulchinginagriculture,andthedegradationoflargerplasticdebristhroughUVradiation.Onceinthesoil,theseparticlesareremarkablypersistent,takingdecadesorevencenturiestobreakdown.Recentstudieshaveshownthatmicroplasticscanalterthephysicalstructureofthesoil,affectingitswaterretentioncapacityandaeration.Furthermore,theycanbeingestedbysoilmicroorganismsandearthworms,causingphysicaldamageandoxidativestress.Astheseorganismsformthebedrockofthesoilfoodweb,theirdeclinedisruptsnutrientcycling,ultimatelyreducingcropyields.Perhapsmorealarmingly,microplasticsactasvectorsforotherpollutants.Duetotheirhighsurfacearea-to-volumeratio,theseparticlesreadilyabsorbheavymetalsandpersistentorganicpollutants(POPs)fromthesurroundingenvironment.Whenthesecontaminatedparticlesareingestedbyplantsoranimals,thesetoxiccompoundscanbioaccumulateandbiomagnifyupthefoodchain,eventuallyreachinghumanconsumers.Addressingthisinvisiblecrisisrequiresamultifacetedapproach.Reducingtherelianceonsingle-useplasticsisthemostimmediatestep,butagriculturalpracticesmustalsoevolve.Developingbiodegradablealternativestoplasticmulchingandimprovingthefiltrationofmicroplasticsinwastewatertreatmentplantsarecriticalcomponentsofalong-termsolution.32.Whatisthemainargumentofthepassage?[A]Oceanplasticpollutionislessseverethanpreviouslythought.[B]Microplasticcontaminationinsoilisacriticalbutoverlookedthreattofoodsecurity.[C]Sewagesludgeisthesolecauseofmicroplasticpollutioninagriculture.[D]Biodegradableplasticsaretheonlyviablesolutiontosoilcontamination.33.Accordingtothetext,howdomicroplasticsaffectsoilmicroorganisms?[A]Theyenhancetheirabilitytoretainwater.[B]Theyacceleratethebreakdownoforganicmatter.[C]Theycausephysicalharmandstress.[D]Theyimprovenutrientcyclingandincreasecropyields.34.Whatdoestheauthorimplyabouttheabsorptionofheavymetalsbymicroplastics?[A]Itpreventstheheavymetalsfromenteringthefoodchain.[C]Itmakestheheavymetalslesstoxictohumanbeings.[B]Itfacilitatesthetransferoftoxinsintothebiologicalfoodchain.[D]Ithelpstheheavymetalsdegrademorequickly.35.WhichofthefollowingisNOTmentionedasasourceofmicroplasticsinagriculturalsoils?[A]Sewagesludgeusedasfertilizer.[B]Plasticmulchinginagriculture.[C]Degradationoflargerplasticdebris.[D]Atmosphericpollutionfromindustrialemissions.36.Whatistheauthor’stoneinthefinalparagraph?[A]Completelypessimisticaboutthefutureofagriculture.[B]Cautiouslyoptimistic,advocatingforcomprehensivesolutions.[C]Indifferenttotheoutcomesofmicroplasticpollution.[D]Criticaloffarmerswhouseplasticmulching.Text2Theconceptof"boredom"hashistoricallycarriedanegativeconnotation,oftenassociatedwithapathy,lethargy,oralackofimagination.However,contemporaryneuroscienceischallengingthisperception,suggestingthatboredommightactuallybeacrucialcatalystforcreativityandself-reflection.Whenanindividualisdeeplyengagedinademandingtask,thebrain'sexecutivecontrolnetworkishighlyactive.However,whenapersonisbored—say,performingamonotonoustaskorstaringoutawindow—thebrainswitchestothe"defaultmodenetwork"(DMN).TheDMNisresponsibleformind-wandering,memoryconsolidation,andimaginativethinking.Duringthisstate,thebrainconnectsdisparateideas,drawingonpastexperiencesandprojectingintothefuture.Thissubconsciousassociativethinkingistheverybreedinggroundforcreativeinsights.Historically,manyprolificwritersandscientistscreditedperiodsofintenseboredomwiththeirbreakthroughideas.Withouttheconstantexternalstimulationprovidedbymoderntechnology,individualswereforcedtoturninwardtoentertainthemselves.Today,however,theubiquityofsmartphoneshaseffectivelyeradicatedboredom.Anymomentofpotentialidlenessisimmediatelyfilledwithastreamofnotifications,socialmediafeeds,orshort-formvideos.NeuroscientistswarnthatthisconstantstimulationdeprivesthebrainofthenecessarydowntimerequiredfortheDMNtoengage.Byconstantlyfloodingthebrainwithexternalinformation,wesacrificetheopportunityforinternalreflectionandspontaneouscreativity.Reclaimingboredom—allowingoneselftosimplysitwithone'sthoughtswithoutreachingforadevice—maybeoneofthemosteffective,yetdifficult,strategiesforboostingcreativeoutputinthedigitalage.37.Accordingtothepassage,whatisthetraditionalviewofboredom?[A]Itisavitaltoolforenhancingfocus.[B]Itisadriverofsubconsciousassociativethinking.[C]Itisanegativestateindicatingalackofimagination.[D]Itisnecessaryformemoryconsolidation.38.Howdoesthe"defaultmodenetwork"(DMN)functionwhenapersonisbored?[A]Itcompletelyshutsdowntoconservecognitiveenergy.[B]Itfocusesintenselyonexternalstimuli.[C]Itfacilitatesmind-wanderingandconnectsdisparateideas.[D]Itsuppressesimaginativethinkinginfavoroflogicalreasoning.39.Whatistheprimaryconcernraisedbyneuroscientistsregardingmoderntechnology?[A]Itcausespermanentdamagetothebrain'sexecutivecontrolnetwork.[B]Itcreatesanover-relianceonshort-formvideosforentertainment.[C]IteliminatesperiodsofboredomnecessaryfortheDMNtoactivate.[D]Itmakestraditionalmonotonoustasksunbearable.40.Whatdoestheauthorsuggestasastrategytoboostcreativity?[A]Engagingmoredeeplywithsocialmediafeeds.[B]Activelyembracingperiodsofboredomwithoutdigitaldistractions.[C]Performinghighlydemandingcognitivetasks.[D]Consolidatingmemoriesthroughstrictroutines.Text3Transparentsolartechnology,orsolarglass,representsaparadigmshiftinhowweharnessrenewableenergy.Traditionalsolarpanels,whileeffective,relyonbulkysiliconwafersthatareopaque,limitingtheirapplicationprimarilytorooftopsandlargesolarfarms.Transparentsolarcells,however,canbeappliedtoexistinginfrastructure,mostnotablythewindowsofcommercialandresidentialbuildings,turningentireskyscrapersintoverticalpowerplants.Themechanismbehindtransparentsolarpanelsreliesonselectiveabsorption.Thesepanelsaredesignedtocaptureultraviolet(UV)andnear-infrared(NIR)light—wavelengthsthatareinvisibletothehumaneye—whileallowingvisiblelighttopassthrough.Thecapturedphotonsarethendirectedtotheedgesoftheglass,whereultra-thinsolarcellsembeddedintheframeconvertthemintoelectricity.Theefficiency(η)ofatransparentsolarcelliscalculatedusingtheformulaη=,whereisthepoweroutputandistheincidentpower.Currently,theefficiencyofthesetransparentpanelshoversaround5%,whereastraditionalsiliconpanelsachieveabout20%.Ifatransparentsolarwindowreceivesanincidentpower()of1000Wattsandproducesapoweroutput()of50Watts,itsefficiencyisexactly5%.Despitethelowerefficiency,thesheersurfaceareaofwindowsinurbanenvironmentsprovidesamassivecumulativepotential.Researcherssuggestthatequippingallsuitableglasssurfacesinatypicalhigh-risecouldcoverasignificantportionofthebuilding'senergyneeds.Thechallengemovingforwardistoscaleupproductionandimprovethelifespanofthetransparentcoatings,whichcurrentlydegradefasterthantraditionalpanels.41.Whatistheprimaryadvantageoftransparentsolarpanelsovertraditionalsiliconpanels?[A]Theyhaveamuchhigherenergyconversionefficiency.[B]Theycanbeappliedtowindows,utilizingvasturbansurfaceareas.[C]Theyrelyonvisiblelightratherthanultravioletlight.[D]Theyarecheapertomanufactureonalargescale.42.Accordingtotheformulaprovidedinthepassage,ifatransparentsolarcellhasanefficiency(η)of5%andreceivesanincidentpower()of800Watts,whatisthepoweroutput()?[A]40Watts[B]50Watts[C]160Watts[D]4000Watts43.Howdotransparentsolarpanelsallowvisiblelighttopassthrough?[A]Byreflectingallnear-infraredlightawayfromtheglass.[B]Bycapturingonlyultravioletandnear-infraredwavelengths.[C]Byusingopaquesiliconwafersembeddedinthewindowframe.[D]Byconvertingvisiblelightintoultravioletlight.44.Whatisthemainchallengecurrentlyfacingtransparentsolartechnology?[A]Thelackofavailablesurfaceareaonurbanskyscrapers.[B]Theinabilitytocapturenear-infraredlight.[C]Therelativelyshortlifespanandlowerefficiencycomparedtotraditionalpanels.[D]Theexcessiveweightofthetransparentcoatings.45.Whatcanbeinferredaboutthefutureoftransparentsolartechnology?[A]Itwillcompletelyreplacetraditionalsiliconsolarfarmswithinthenextdecade.[B]Itisunlikelytoeverachieveanefficiencyhigherthan5%.[C]Itholdssignificantpotentialforintegrationintourbaninfrastructure.[D]Itwillonlybeapplicabletoresidentialbuildings,notcommercialones.PartBReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.Theconceptofemotionalintelligence(EI)hasgainedimmensetractioninbothacademicpsychologyandcorporatemanagementoverthepastfewdecades.(46)Traditionally,intelligencequotient(IQ)wasconsideredtheultimatepredictorofsuccess,butmodernresearchsuggeststhatemotionalintelligenceoftenplaysanequally,ifnotmore,significantroleinpersonalandprofessionalachievements.Emotionalintelligenceisgenerallydefinedastheabilitytoperceive,control,andevaluateone'sownemotions,aswellastheemotionsofothers.(47)AcriticalcomponentofEIisempathy,whichallowsindividualstonavigatecomplexsocialnetworksandbuildmeaningfulinterpersonalrelationships.Peoplewithhighemotionalintelligencearetypicallybetterequippedtohandleworkplaceconflicts,managestress,andleadteamseffectively.(48)Furthermore,studiesindicatethatindividualswithhighemotionalintelligencetendtoexhibitgreaterpsychologicalresilience.Whenfacedwithsetbacksorfailures,theyaremorelikelytoviewtheseexperiencesaslearningopportunitiesratherthaninsurmountableobstacles.Thiscognitivereframingisessentialinarapidlychangingworldwhereadaptabilityisparamount.However,thedevelopmentofemotionalintelligenceisnotlimitedtoinnatetraits;itcanbecultivatedandenhancedthroughoutone'slife.(49)Techniquessuchasmindfulnessmeditationandactivelisteninghavebeenshowntosignificantlyimproveanindividual'scapacityforemotionalregulation.Organizationsareincreasinglyinvestinginemotionalintelligencetrainingprograms,recognizingthataemotionallyintelligentworkforceisaprofoundcompetitiveadvantage.Despiteitswidespreadpopularity,thescientificcommunitycontinuestodebatetheexactparametersofemotionalintelligence.SomecriticsarguethatthemetricsusedtomeasureEIareoftensubjectiveandlacktherigorousstandardizationofIQtests.(50)Nevertheless,thepracticalbenefitsoffosteringemotionalintelligenceineducationalandprofessionalsettingsremainlargelyundisputed,ensuringitscontinuedrelevanceinthediscourseonhumanpotential.SectionIV:WritingYoushouldwriteyourresponsestothispartontheANSWERSHEET.PartAYouareamemberoftheuniversity'sstudentcouncil.Theuniversityhasrecentlydecidedtoincreasethetuitionfeefortheupcomingacademicyear.Writeanopenlettertotheuniversitypresidentexpressingtheconcernsofthestudentbody.Inyourletter,youshould:1.Acknowledgetheuniversity'sfinancialpressures.2.Expressthestudents'concernsregardingthetuitionincrease.3.Proposealternativesolutionsorcompromises(e.g.,phasedimplementation,enhancedfinancialaid).Youshouldwriteabout100words.Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.PartBBelowisachartshowingthechangesinthemodesoftransportationusedbycommutersinamajorcityfrom2015to2024.Writeanessaybasedonthechart.Inyouressay,youshould:1.Describethechartbriefly.2.Analyzethepossiblereasonsforthechanges.3.Giveyourcommentsonthetrend.ModesofTransportation:PrivateCars:45%(2015)->25%(2024)PublicTransit(Bus/Subway):35%(2015)->45%(2024)Bicycles/E-Scooters:5%(2015)->20%(2024)Others:15%(2015)->10%(2024)Youshouldwriteabout160-200words.***AnswerKeyandDetailedExplanationsSectionI:ListeningComprehensionPartA1.chemosynthesis2.filtration3.elevated4.origins5.inhospitablePartB6.Theexpansionofurbanareasisencroachingontraditionalhorizontalfarmland.7.Byusingclosed-loopsystemsthatrecyclewater.8.Advancedartificiallighting.9.Itsignificantlyreducesthecarbonfootprintassociatedwithtransportingfoodoverlongdistances.10.Thehighinitialcostofsettinguptheinfrastructure.PartC11.[B]12.[C]13.[A]14.[D]15.[B]16.[C]17.[B]18.[A]19.[B]20.[A]TranscriptsforListeningComprehensionPartADeep-seahydrothermalvents,discoveredinthelate1970s,Listentothefollowinglecture.Deep-seahydrothermalvents,discoveredinthelate1970s,representoneofthemostextremeenvironmentsonEarth.Despitetheabsenceofsunlight,theseventshostcomplexecosystems.Thefoundationofthisecosystemisnotphotosynthesis,butratheraprocesscalledchemosynthesis,wherebacteriaconvertsulfurcompoundsintoenergy.Recentsubmersiblemissionshavealsorevealedthatcertaincrustaceanslivingneartheseventspossessauniquefiltrationsystemthatallowsthemtofilteroutheavymetals.Furthermore,researchershavediscoveredthatthetemperaturearoundtheseventscanfluctuaterapidly,rangingfromnearfreezingtoextremelyelevatedtemperatures.Thediscoveryoftheseventshasfundamentallyalteredourunderstandingoftheoriginsoflife,suggestingthatlifecanthriveinenvironmentspreviouslythoughttobecompletelyinhospitable.PartBListentothefollowinginterview.Host:Today,wehaveurbanplannerSarahJenkinstodiscussverticalfarming.Sarah,what'sdrivingtheshifttowardsverticalfarming?Planner:Theprimaryreasonisthedecreaseintraditionalhorizontalfarmland.Asurbanareasexpand,we'relosingvaluableagriculturalland.Verticalfarmingallowsustogrowcropsinskyscraperswithinthecity.Host:Howdoesitcomparetotraditionalfarmingintermsofresourceusage?Planner:It'shighlyefficient.Verticalfarmsuseclosed-loopsystemsthatrecyclewater,reducingwaterusagebyupto95%comparedtotraditionalfarming.Ofcourse,asidefromwaterandseeds,advancedartificiallightingisessential.WeuseLEDlightstomimicsunlight,allowingplantstophotosynthesizeindoors.Host:Whataretheenvironmentalbenefitsofhavingthesefarmsinthecity?Planner:Themainbenefitisreducingthecarbonfootprint.Ifthefarmsarewithinurbancenters,weeliminatetheneedtotransportfoodoverlongdistances,cuttingdownonemissionsfromtrucksandplanes.Host:Ifit'ssogreat,whyisn'teveryonedoingit?Planner:Thebiggestobstaclerightnowisthehighinitialcost.Settinguptheinfrastructure,especiallythelightingandclimatecontrolsystems,requiresamassiveupfrontinvestmentthatmanytraditionalfarmerssimplycan'tafford.PartCQuestions11to13arebasedonthefollowingtalk.Historically,boredomhasbeenviewedquitenegatively.Teachersandparentsoftensawitasasignoflazinessorevenmilddepression,anemotionalstatetobeavoidedorimmediatelyremedied.However,modernneuroscienceisturningthatviewupsidedown.Whenyouarebored,yourbraindoesn'tjustshutoff.Instead,anetworkcalledthe"defaultmodenetwork"becomeshighlyactive.Thisnetworkisresponsibleformind-wandering,daydreaming,andsynthesizingmemories.Recentpsychologicalstudiessuggestthatboredomcanactuallybebeneficial.Itcreatesastateofdiscomfortthatforcesindividualstoseekoutnewgoals,explorenewideas,andengageincreativeproblem-solving.Withoutboredom,wemightneverfeelthepushtoinnovate.Questions14to16arebasedonaconversation.M:I'msofrustratedwiththisresearchproject.Iwantedtostudythecognitiveeffectsoftotalsleepdeprivation,butit'simpossible.Thevariablesinthelabarejusttoohardtocontrol.Theslightestnoiseruinsthedata.W:Haveyouthoughtaboutchangingthescope?Maybeyoudon'tneedtotaldeprivation.Whatifyoustudytheimpactofpartialsleepdeprivation?Like,restrictingsleeptofourhoursanight?It'smucheasiertocontrol,andtheliteratureonitisquiteextensive.M:Hmm,thatmightwork.Iwasreallystrugglingtofindparticipantswillingtostayawakefor48hoursanyway.I'llnarrowmytopictofocusonthepartialdeprivationeffectsonmemoryretention.Thanks!Questions17to20arebasedonthefollowingnewsreport.Theincreasingthreatofspacedebrishasbecomeacriticalconcernforinternationalspaceagencies.Lastweek,adefunctRussiansatellitecollidedwithanactiveAmericancommunicationssatellite,creatingthousandsofpiecesofshrapnel.ThisdebrisnowthreatensotheractivesatellitesandtheastronautsaboardtheInternationalSpaceStation.Expertswarnthatweareapproachingascenarioknownasthe"KesslerSyndrome."ThisisatheoreticalscenariowherethedensityofobjectsinlowEarthorbitissohighthatcollisionscascade,eachcollisioncreatingmoredebrisandtriggeringfurthercollisions.Toaddressthis,severalaerospacecompaniesaretestingcleanupmechanisms.Onepromisingsolutioncurrentlybeingtestedinvolvesdeployinggiantnetsfromspecializedspacecrafttocapturelargepiecesofdebrisanddragthembackintothe