2026年全国英语等级考试（PETS）五级测试题及答案二

2026年全国英语等级考试（PETS）五级测试题及答案二SectionIListeningComprehensionDirections:ThissectionisdesignedtotestyourabilitytounderstandspokenEnglish.Youwillhearaselectionofrecordedmaterialsandyoumustanswerthequestionsthataccompanythem.Therearethreepartsinthissection,PartA,PartBandPartC.Note:Asthisisatext-basedsimulation,the"audio"transcriptsareprovidedbeloweachtaskforyourreference.Intheactualexamination,youwouldonlyheartheaudioonce.PartAYouwillhearatalkaboutthedeep-seaminingindustry.Asyoulisten,answerQuestions1-5byfillingintheblankswiththeexactwordsyouhearonthetape.WriteyouranswersontheANSWERSHEET.Thedeep-seafloor,onceconsideredabarrendesert,isnowatthecenterofanewgoldrush.Unliketerrestrialmining,deep-seaminingtargetspolymetallicnodules,richinmanganese,copper,andcobalt.However,theextractionprocessposesseverethreatstothefragilebenthicecosystems.Scientistswarnthatsedimentplumesgeneratedbyminingequipmentcouldsmotherbenthicorganisms.Furthermore,thenoiseandlightintroducedintoanaturallydarkandsilentenvironmentmightdisruptthemigratorypatternsofmarinelife.RegulatoryframeworksarecurrentlybeingdebatedbytheInternationalSeabedAuthoritytobalanceeconomicinterestsandecologicalpreservation.1.Thedeep-seafloorisnolongerconsidereda________desert.2.Deep-seaminingtargetspolymetallicnodules,whicharerichinmanganese,copper,and________.3.Theextractionprocessposesseverethreatstothefragile________ecosystems.4.Sedimentplumesgeneratedbyminingequipmentcould________benthicorganisms.5.RegulatoryframeworksarebeingdebatedbytheInternational________Authority.PartBYouwillhearthreedialoguesortalks.Beforelisteningtoeachone,youwillhave5secondstoreadthequestions.Listencarefullyandchoosethecorrectanswerforeachquestion.Questions6-8arebasedonthefollowinginterviewwithamarinebiologist.Interviewer:Dr.Aris,yournewbookhighlightstheconceptof"shiftingbaselines"inmarinebiology.Couldyouexplainwhatthismeans?Dr.Aris:Certainly.Theshiftingbaselinesyndromereferstothegradualloweringofourstandardsforwhatconstitutesahealthyecosystem.Eachgenerationperceivesthestateoftheenvironmenttheygrewupinasthe"normal"baseline,completelyunawareofthehistoricaldegradationthatoccurredbeforetheirtime.Forinstance,amodernfishermightconsideracatchof50tonsasagoodyear,whereasacenturyago,astandardcatchwas500tons.Weforgetwhatwehavelost.Interviewer:Howdoesthisaffectconservationefforts?Dr.Aris:Itmakespeopleaimforartificiallylowrecoverytargets.Wearetryingtorestoreecosystemstoastatethatwasalreadyseverelydepleted.6.Whatisthemaintopicoftheinterview?[A]Thehistoryofdeep-seaexploration.[B]Thedeclineinglobalfishpopulations.[C]Theconceptofshiftingbaselinesinmarinebiology.[D]Theeconomicimpactofoverfishing.7.AccordingtoDr.Aris,whyisthe"shiftingbaseline"syndromedangerousforconservation?[A]Itcausesfishermentocatchlessfish.[B]Itleadstoartificiallylowrecoverytargets.[C]Itpreventsscientistsfrompublishingtheirbooks.[D]Itoverestimatesthehistoricalfishpopulations.8.Whatdoestheexampleofthefisherillustrate?[A]Theeconomicpressuresonthefishingindustry.[B]Thesubjectiveperceptionofwhatisconsiderednormal.[C]Thestrictregulationsimposedonmodernfisheries.[D]Theunpredictabilityofmarineecosystems.Questions9-11arebasedonthefollowingtalkabouturbanplanning.Speaker:Theconceptofthe"15-minutecity"hasgainedimmensepopularityinurbanplanningcirclesrecently.Theideaissimpleyetprofound:residentsshouldbeabletomeetalltheirbasicneeds—work,healthcare,education,andleisure—withina15-minutewalkorbikeridefromtheirhomes.Thismodelstandsinstarkcontrasttomodernurbansprawl,whereresidentialareasareoftensegregatedfromcommercialandindustrialzones,forcingcitizensintolong,carbon-intensivecommutes.However,criticsarguethatimplementingthe15-minutecitymodelinexistingmega-citiesispracticallyimpossibleduetorigidzoninglawsandexistinginfrastructure.Furthermore,thereareconcernsaboutgentrification,ashighlywalkableneighborhoodsoftenseeaspikeinpropertyvalues,displacinglower-incomeresidents.9.Whatisthecoreprincipleofthe15-minutecitymodel?[A]Eliminatingallcarsfromcitycenters.[B]Ensuringallbasicneedsareaccessiblewithina15-minuteactivecommute.[C]Buildingtallerskyscraperstoreduceurbansprawl.[D]Mergingresidentialandindustrialzonescompletely.10.Accordingtothespeaker,whatisamajorinfrastructureobstacletoimplementingthismodelinmega-cities?[A]Lackofpublictransportationfunding.[B]Rigidzoninglawsandexistinginfrastructure.[C]Thegeographyofcoastalcities.[D]Thelackofbicyclelanes.11.Whatsocialissueisassociatedwithcreatinghighlywalkableneighborhoods?[A]Increasedtrafficcongestion.[B]Adeclineinlocalcommerce.[C]Gentrificationandthedisplacementoflower-incomeresidents.[D]Adecreaseinpropertyvalues.Questions12-15arebasedonthefollowinglectureonbehavioraleconomics.Professor:Today,wewillexploretheconceptof"lossaversion,"afundamentalprincipleinbehavioraleconomics.CoinedbypsychologistsAmosTverskyandDanielKahneman,lossaversionpositsthatthepsychologicalpainoflosingsomethingisapproximatelytwiceasintenseasthejoyofgainingtheequivalentthing.Inmarketing,thisisexploitedbrilliantly.Considerafreetrialofasoftware.Onceyouhaveuseditfor30days,itbecomesintegratedintoyourworkflow.Itfeelslikeyoursoftware.Whenthetrialends,choosingnottobuyitfeelslikealoss,ratherthanafailuretogain.Thisasymmetryinhumanemotionexplainswhypeoplearemorelikelytoacttopreventalossthantoachieveagain.Forinstance,acampaigntellingpeople"Youwilllose500a12.Whooriginallydevelopedtheconceptof"lossaversion"?[A]AmosTverskyandDanielKahneman.[B]SigmundFreudandCarlJung.[C]AdamSmithandJohnMaynardKeynes.[D]RichardThalerandCassSunstein.13.Accordingtotheprincipleoflossaversion,howdoesthepainoflosingcomparetothejoyofgaining?[A]Itishalfasintense.[B]Itisequallyasintense.[C]Itistwiceasintense.[D]Itisthreetimesasintense.14.Howislossaversionappliedinsoftwarefreetrials?[A]Thesoftwareisofferedatapermanentdiscount.[B]Thetrialmakestheuserfeelownership,sonotbuyingfeelslikealoss.[C]Thesoftwarecompanythreatenstodeletetheuser'sdataiftheydon'tpay.[D]Thetriallimitsthefeaturestomaketheuserwanttoupgrade.15.Accordingtotheprofessor,whyisanegative-framedmessage("lose500"[A]Peopleprefernegativeinformation.[B]Peoplemisunderstandbasicmathematics.[C]Peoplearemoremotivatedtoacttopreventaloss.[D]Positiveframingisstrictlyregulatedbyadvertisinglaws.PartCYouwillhearamonologueaboutthehistoryoftheSilkRoad.Asyoulisten,answerQuestions16-20bychoosingthecorrectanswer.16.WhatwastheprimaryreasontheSilkRoadfellintodisuse?[A]TheoutbreakoftheBlackDeath.[B]ThediscoveryofnewsearoutesbyEuropeanexplorers.[C]ThecollapseoftheRomanEmpire.[D]TheunificationofChinaundertheMingDynasty.17.HowdidtheSilkRoadprimarilyaffectthetransmissionofreligion?[A]ItfacilitatedthespreadofBuddhismfromIndiatoChina.[B]ItcausedthedeclineofIslaminCentralAsia.[C]ItisolatedEuropeanChristianityfromAsianinfluences.[D]ItpreventedthespreadofZoroastrianism.18.Accordingtothespeaker,whatwasamajortechnologicaltransferalongsidegoods?[A]Theinventionoftheprintingpress.[B]Themanufacturingofgunpowder.[C]Thetechniqueofpapermaking.[D]Thedevelopmentofthemagneticcompass.19.Whydidthespeakermentionthephrase"CulturalCrossroads"?[A]Tohighlightthemilitaryconflictsalongtheroute.[B]TodescribethecosmopolitannatureofoasiscitieslikeSamarkand.[C]Tocriticizetheculturalhomogenizationcausedbytrade.[D]Topointoutthegeographicalintersectionsofmajorrivers.20.Whatisthespeaker'soveralltoneregardingthehistoricalsignificanceoftheSilkRoad?[A]Criticaloftheeconomicinequalitiesitcreated.[B]Neutralandpurelyfactual.[C]Appreciativeofitsroleincross-culturalexchange.[D]Dismissiveofitsimpactonmodernglobalization.SectionIIUseofEnglishDirections:Readthefollowingtext.Choosethebestwordorphraseforeachnumberedblankfromthefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C],and[D].MarkyouranswersontheANSWERSHEET.Theconceptofneuroplasticityhasrevolutionizedourunderstandingofthehumanbrain.Fordecades,theprevailingscientificdogmaheldthattheadultbrainwasastaticorgan,fundamentallyimmutableinitsstructure.Itwasbelievedthatonceapersonreachedadulthood,theneuralpathwayswere(21)________andcouldnotbealtered.However,pioneeringresearchinthelate20thcenturyshatteredthis(22)________,revealingthatthebrainisremarkablymalleablethroughoutanindividual'slife.Neuroplasticityreferstothebrain'sinherentabilitytoreorganizeitselfbyformingnewneuralconnections.Thisprocessallowsneuronstoadjusttheiractivitiesinresponsetonewsituationsorchangesintheirenvironment.Theimplicationsofthisdiscoveryare(23)________.Forinstance,intherealmofstrokerehabilitation,ithasbeenobservedthatundamagedareasofthebraincansometimes(24)________thefunctionsofdamagedregions.Throughtargetedandrepetitivephysicaltherapy,patientscaneffectively"rewire"theirbrains,(25)________motorskillsthatwerepreviouslythoughttobepermanentlylost.Moreover,neuroplasticityisnotsolelyrelevanttoinjuryrecovery;itplaysacrucialroleinlearningandmemory.Whenweacquireanewskill,suchasplayingamusicalinstrumentorspeakingaforeignlanguage,therepeatedactivationofspecificneuralcircuitsstrengthensthesynapticconnectionsbetweenneurons.Thisphenomenon,knownaslong-termpotentiation(LTP),(26)________thephysicalbasisofmemory.Conversely,synapticconnectionsthatarerarelyusedweakenovertime,aprocess(27)________synapticpruning.This"useitorloseit"principleunderscorestheimportanceofcontinuousmentalstimulation,especiallyasweage.Despitetheimmensepotentialofneuroplasticity,italsohasadarkerside.Thebrain'smalleabilitymeansitisequally(28)________tonegativechanges.Chronicstress,trauma,andsubstanceabusecan(29)________detrimentalneuralpathways,reinforcingnegativebehaviorsorcognitivebiases.Therefore,understandingneuroplasticitydemandsadegreeofresponsibility.Wemustbe(30)________oftheenvironmentsweimmerseourselvesinandthehabitswecultivate,astheyareconstantly(31)________theveryarchitectureofourbrains.Inconclusion,the(32)________ofthestaticbrainparadigminvitesustoviewhumanpotentialasdynamicratherthanfixed.Itsuggeststhatthroughdeliberatepractice,positivereinforcement,andawillingnesstolearn,wecanactively(33)________ourcognitivelandscapes.Therealizationthatourbrainsare(34)________changing,ratherthanbeingrigidlycastinstone,offersaprofoundsenseof(35)________forpersonalgrowthandlifelonglearning.21.[A]rigidlyfixed[B]dynamicallyshifting[C]completelydestroyed[D]partiallyrecovered22.[A]illusion[B]misconception[C]hypothesis[D]reality23.[A]trivial[B]profound[C]ambiguous[D]detrimental24.[A]abandon[B]replicate[C]assume[D]eliminate25.[A]regaining[B]losing[C]forgetting[D]ignoring26.[A]destroys[B]obscures[C]underlies[D]surpasses27.[A]knownas[B]dueto[C]similarto[D]definedby28.[A]immune[B]vulnerable[C]resilient[D]indifferent29.[A]dismantle[B]fortify[C]eradicate[D]forge30.[A]ignorant[B]cautious[C]mindful[D]critical31.[A]preserving[B]altering[C]protecting[D]damaging32.[A]dismantling[B]reinforcement[C]creation[D]preservation33.[A]destroy[B]sculpt[C]restrict[D]ignore34.[A]rarely[B]constantly[C]randomly[D]reluctantly35.[A]optimism[B]pessimism[C]destiny[D]limitationSectionIIIReadingComprehensionPartADirections:Readthefollowingtextandanswerthequestionsthatfollow.Forquestions36-40,choosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C],and[D].TheinventionoftheprintingpressbyJohannesGutenberginthemid-15thcenturyisoftencitedasoneofthemostpivotalmomentsinhumanhistory.PriortoGutenberg,bookswerecopiedbyhand,usuallybymonksinmonasteries.Thisprocesswaspainstakinglyslow,makingbooksincrediblyrareandexpensive,accessibleonlytotheelite.Theprintingpressdemocratizedknowledge,allowingforthemassproductionoftextsandtherapiddisseminationofideas.However,alessdiscussedconsequenceofthisinventionwasitsprofoundimpactonthestandardizationoflanguage.Beforetheprintingpress,vernacularlanguagesinEuropewerehighlylocalized.Dialectsvariedsignificantlyfromonetowntothenext.Therewasnoconceptofa"correct"waytospellorwritealanguage.Printers,however,facedacommercialdilemma.Tosellbookstoawideraudience,theyneededtousealanguagethatcouldbeunderstoodacrossdifferentregions.Asaresult,printersbegantoselectspecificdialects—oftenthedialectsofmajorpoliticalorcommercialcenterslikeLondonforEnglishorParisforFrench—andelevatethemtothestatusofthe"standard"language.Thisprocessofstandardizationhadbothpositiveandnegativeeffects.Ontheonehand,itfacilitatedcommunicationandcommerceacrossvastterritories.Itallowedforthecreationofnationalidentities,asasharedlanguagebecameaunifyingculturalforce.Ontheotherhand,itledtothemarginalizationofregionaldialectsandminoritylanguages.Languagesthatwerenotchosenbyprintersbegantobeviewedasinferior,uneducated,orbackward.Manyoftheselanguageseventuallydiedoutorwereseverelydiminishedintheirusage.Thestandardizationoflanguagealsohadaprofoundimpactontheconceptof"correctness"ingrammarandspelling.Earlydictionariesandgrammarguidesbegantoemerge,codifyingrulesthatwereoftenarbitrary.Theseruleswerethenenforcedthroughtheeducationsystem,creatingasocietalhierarchywherethosewhomasteredthestandardlanguagehadaccesstopowerandprivilege,whilethosewhospokenon-standarddialectsfaceddiscrimination.Thus,whiletheprintingpressisrightlycelebratedforunlockinghumanknowledge,italsoservedasatooloflinguistichomogenization.Itremindsusthattechnologicaladvancementsareneverneutral;theyinevitablyreshapethesocialandculturallandscapesinwaysthatarebothliberatingandconstraining.36.Whatisthemainargumentofthepassage?[A]Theprintingpresswasthemostimportantinventioninhumanhistory.[B]Theprintingpressdemocratizedknowledgebutalsostandardizedandmarginalizedlanguages.[C]Beforetheprintingpress,Europeanlanguageswereidentical.[D]Monksinmonasteriesopposedtheinventionoftheprintingpress.37.Accordingtothetext,whydidprinterschoosetousespecificregionaldialects?[A]Becausetheywereorderedtodosobymonarchs.[B]Tocreateaunifiednationalidentity.[C]Tosellbookstoawider,cross-regionalaudience.[D]Becauseregionaldialectswereeasiertoprint.38.Whatwasanegativeconsequenceoflanguagestandardizationmentionedinthetext?[A]Itmadebookstooexpensiveforthegeneralpublic.[B]Itsloweddowntheprocessofcommunication.[C]Itmarginalizedregionaldialectsandminoritylanguages.[D]Itreducedthenumberofbooksbeingproduced.39.Howdidtheconceptof"correctness"inlanguageemerge,accordingtothepassage?[A]Itwasnaturallydevelopedthrougheverydayspeech.[B]Itwascodifiedbyearlydictionariesandgrammarguides,oftenarbitrarily.[C]Itwasstrictlycontrolledbythechurch.[D]Itwasadirectresultofthemonasticcopyingprocess.40.Whatcanbeinferredabouttechnologicaladvancementsfromthepassage?[A]Theyarealwaysentirelybeneficialtosociety.[B]Theyhavenoeffectonsocialorculturallandscapes.[C]Theyareneutraltoolsthatdonotshapehumanbehavior.[D]Theyreshapesocialandculturallandscapesinbothpositiveandnegativeways.PartBDirections:Inthefollowingarticle,somesentenceshavebeenremoved.ChoosethemostsuitablesentencefromthelistA-Gtofitintoeachofthenumberedblanks(41-45).Therearetwoextrachoicesthatdonotfitinanyofthegaps.Thegigeconomy,characterizedbyshort-termcontracts,freelancework,andindependentcontracting,hasgrownexponentiallyinthelastdecade.(41)________.Whileitoffersflexibilityandautonomyforworkers,andcostsavingsforemployers,italsoraisesprofoundquestionsaboutlaborrightsandthefutureofsocialsafetynets.Oneoftheprimaryattractionsofgigworkistheabilitytobeyourownboss.Workerscanchoosewhen,where,andhowmuchtheywanttowork.(42)________.FormillennialsandGenZ,whooftenprioritizework-lifebalanceovercorporateloyalty,thismodelishighlyappealing.Furthermore,theriseofdigitalplatformslikeUber,Upwork,andFiverrhasmadeitincrediblyeasytomatchfreelancerswithclientsglobally.However,thisapparentfreedomoftenmasksdeepeconomicinsecurity.(43)________.Intraditionalemployment,workersareentitledtobenefitssuchashealthinsurance,paidleave,andretirementcontributions.Gigworkers,classifiedasindependentcontractors,aretypicallyexcludedfromtheseprotections.Whenagigworkerfallsillorfacesaneconomicdownturn,theyhavenopaidleavetofallbackon.Moreover,thegigeconomycanleadtoa"racetothebottom"intermsofwages.(44)________.Becauseworkersarecompetingonaglobalscale,thoseinregionswithalowercostoflivingcanaffordtochargesignificantlyless,drivingdowntheaveragewageforfreelancersindevelopedcountries.Thisdynamicforcesmanytoworkunsustainablehoursjusttomakeendsmeet,negatingthepromisedflexibility.Regulatorsarenowstrugglingtocatchupwiththisneweconomicreality.(45)________.Forexample,California'sAssemblyBill5(AB5)attemptedtoreclassifymanygigworkersasemployees,sparkingfiercebacklashfromtechcompanies.Findingabalancebetweenprotectingworkersandpreservingtheflexibilityofthegigmodelremainsoneofthemostcomplexpolicychallengesofourtime.[A]Thislevelofautonomyisparticularlyattractiveinafast-paced,moderneconomy.[B]Manyplatformsusealgorithmicmanagementtocontrolworkerswithouttheresponsibilitiesofanemployer.[C]Thisshiftisdrivenbytechnologicaladvancementsandchangingattitudestowardtraditionalemployment.[D]Thelegalclassificationof"employee"versus"independentcontractor"isattheheartofthedebate.[E]Ondigitalplatforms,clientscaneasilycomparepricesandreviews,creatingimmensedownwardpressureonfees.[F]Withouttraditionalemploymentcontracts,workerslackjobsecurityandsteadyincome.[G]Somearguethatthegigeconomyissimplyareturntothepre-industrialageofpieceworkanddaylabor.SectionIVWritingPartA:SummaryWritingDirections:Readthefollowingtextandwriteasummaryofapproximately150words.Yoursummaryshouldcoverthemainpointsofthetext.WriteyoursummaryontheANSWERSHEET.Theoverconsumptionofsugarhasbecomeoneofthemostpressingpublichealthcrisesofthe21stcentury.Historically,sugarwasarareluxury,butmodernindustrialagricultureandfoodprocessinghavemadeitaubiquitousandcheapingredient.Today,addedsugarsarefoundinalmostallprocessedfoods,fromobvioussourceslikesodasandcandiestohiddenoneslikebread,pastasauce,andyogurt.Thephysiologicaleffectsofexcessivesugarintakearewell-documented.Highconsumptionofrefinedsugars,particularlyfructose,overloadstheliver,leadingtonon-alcoholicfattyliverdisease.Furthermore,itcausesinsulinresistance,whichisaprecursortotype2diabetes.Thebodyrapidlyabsorbsliquidsugars,causingmassivespikesinbloodglucoselevels,followedbycrashesthatleaveindividualsfeelinglethargicandcravingmoresugar,creatingacycleofdependency.Beyondphysicalhealth,sugarhassignificantneurologicalimpacts.Sugarstimulatesthebrain'srewardcenterbyreleasingdopamine,similartotheeffectsofcertaindrugs.Overtime,thebrain'sreceptorsbecomedesensitized,requiringmoresugartoachievethesamelevelofpleasure,leadingtoaddiction-likeeatingbehaviors.Tocombatthiscrisis,publichealthadvocatesarecallingforcomprehensiveinterventions.Theseincludeimplementingsugartaxes,restrictingthemarketingofsugaryfoodstochildren,andenforcingclearfront-of-packagelabeling.Whileindividualwillpowerisimportant,thepervasivenatureofsugarinthemodernfoodenvironmentnecessitatessystemicchangestoprotectpublichealth.PartB:EssayWritingDirections:Writeanessayofabout250wordsonthefollowingtopic.WriteyouressayontheANSWERSHEET.IntheageofArtificialIntelligence,manytraditionaljobsarebeingautomated.SomepeoplebelievethatthegovernmentshouldprovideaUniversalBasicIncome(UBI)toallcitizenstoensurefinancialsecurityinajoblessfuture.Towhatextentdoyouagreeordisagreewiththisproposal?AnswerKeyandExplanationsSectionIListeningComprehensionPartA1.barren(Thetextstates:"Thedeep-seafloor,onceconsideredabarrendesert...")2.cobalt(Thetextstates:"...targetspolymetallicnodules,richinmanganese,copper,andcobalt.")3.benthic(Thetextstates:"...posesseverethreatstothefragilebenthicecosystems.")4.smother(Thetextstates:"...sedimentplumesgeneratedbyminingequipmentcouldsmotherbenthicorganisms.")5.Seabed(Thetextstates:"...debatedbytheInternationalSeabedAuthority.")PartB6.[C]Theinterviewexplicitlydiscussesthe"conceptofshiftingbaselinesinmarinebiology."OptionA,B,andDareeithermentionedtoobrieflyornotatall.7.[B]Dr.Arisstates:"Itmakespeopleaimforartificiallylowrecoverytargets."ThisdirectlycorrespondstoOptionB.8.[B]Theexampleofthefisherillustratesthat"Eachgenerationperceivesthestateoftheenvironmenttheygrewupinasthe'normal'baseline,"whichmeansthesubjectiveperceptionofwhatisnormal.OptionBiscorrect.9.[B]Thespeakerdefinesthe15-minutecitybysaying:"residentsshouldbeabletomeetalltheirbasicneeds...withina15-minutewalkorbikeridefromtheirhomes."OptionBperfectlycapturesthis.10.[B]Thespeakermentions"Rigidzoninglawsandexistinginfrastructure"asthemajorobstacletoimplementingthemodelinmega-cities.OptionBiscorrect.11.[C]Thespeakerexplicitlystatesthereare"concernsaboutgentrification,ashighlywalkableneighborhoodsoftenseeaspikeinpropertyvalues,displacinglower-incomeresidents."OptionCalignswiththis.12.[A]Theprofessorattributestheconceptto"AmosTverskyandDanielKahneman."13.[C]Theprofessorsays:"thepsychologicalpainoflosingsomethingisapproximatelytwiceasintenseasthejoyofgainingtheequivalentthing."OptionCiscorrect.14.[B]Theprofessorexplainsthatafterthetrial,thesoftware"feelslikeyoursoftware,"and"choosingnottobuyitfeelslikealoss,ratherthanafailuretogain."OptionBaccuratelysummarizesthismechanism.15.[C]Theprofessorconcludesthat"peoplearemorelikelytoacttopreventalossthantoachieveagain."OptionCreflectsthisbehavioralresponse.PartC16.[B]ThelecturementionsthattheSilkRoadfellintodisuseprimarilybecauseof"ThediscoveryofnewsearoutesbyEuropeanexplorers,"whichprovidedacheaperandsaferalternativetooverlandtrade.17.[A]ThespeakernotesthattheSilkRoad"facilitatedthespreadofBuddhismfromIndiatoChina,"highlightingitsroleinreligioustransmission.18.[C]Accordingtothelecture,alongsidegoods,"Thetechniqueofpapermaking"wasamajortechnologicaltransferfromEasttoWest.19.[B]Thespeakeruses"CulturalCrossroads""TodescribethecosmopolitannatureofoasiscitieslikeSamarkand,"wheredifferentculturesmetandexchangedideas.20.[C]Thespeaker'stonethroughoutthelectureisappreciative,emphasizingtheSilkRoad'spositiverolein"cross-culturalexchange."SectionIIUseofEnglish21.[A]rigidlyfixed.Theprevioussentencementionsthebrainwasconsidereda"staticorgan"and"immutable,"whichalignswith"rigidlyfixed."22.[B]misconception.Theoldviewthatthebraincouldnotbealteredisreferredtoasa"dogma,"andpioneeringresearchshatteredthis"misconception."23.[B]profound.Thediscoveriesregardingneuroplasticityhavedeep,significantimplications,making"profound"thecorrectchoice.24.[C]assume.Instrokerehabilitation,undamagedareascantakeoveror"assume"thefunctionsofdamagedregions.25.[A]regaining.Throughtherapy,patientscan"regain"orrecovermotorskillsthatwerepreviouslythoughtlost.26.[C]underlies.Long-termpotentiationformsthephysicalbasisor"underlies"memory.27.[A]knownas.Theprocesswhereunusedconnectionsweakenis"knownas"synapticpruning.28.[B]vulnerable.Thetextcontraststhepositivepotentialwithadarkerside,meaningthebrainisequally"vulnerable"tonegativechanges.29.[D]forge.Chronicstressandabusecancreateor"forge"detrimentalneuralpathways.30.[C]mindful.Theauthorsuggestswemustbe"mindful"(awareandcareful)ofourenvironmentsandhabits.31.[B]altering.Ourenvironmentsandhabitsareconstantlychangingor"altering"thearchitectureofourbrains.32.[A]dismantling.Theendofthestaticbrainparadigmmeansits"dismantling"(takingapart).33.[B]sculpt.Thetextargueswecanactivelyshapeor"sculpt"ourcognitivelandscapes.34.[B]constantly.Thebrainis"constantly"changing,notjustrarelyorrandomly.35.[A]optimism.Therealizationthatourbrainscanchangeoffersaprofoundsenseof"optimism"forpersonalgrowth.SectionIIIReadingComprehensionPartA36.[B]Themainargumentisclearlysta