专题11阅读理解说明文(议论文)(学生版)_北京高考全科_英语_五年（2021-2025）高考英语真题分类汇编（北京专用）

专题 11 阅读理解说明文(议论文)(北京专用)
五年考情（2021-2025）
考点分布
命题趋势
年份 体裁 词数 话题 细节 推理 主 旨 词义
理解 判断 大意 猜测
对社会比较这一观念的思考：并非所有 题材聚焦科技前沿（如 AI
议论文 406 社会比较都不健康，可加以利用促进自 0 1 1 1 伦理、航天技术）、社会热
点（如环保治理、心理健
2025 我提升
康）与文化传承，融入地域
个人故事与自我认同、幸福感之间关系 特色，凸显时代性与价值观
说明文 399 1 2 1 0
及如何改变个人故事。 引领。题型设计强化高阶思
维，推理判断题占比提升，
讨论科学问题：宇宙是否是由计算机模
议论文 408 0 3 0 1 要求分析论证逻辑（如因果
拟生成的
关系、对比结构）和作者隐
2024
人类道德准则的形成过程及人类建立 含态度，主旨题侧重提炼核
说明文 384 1 1 1 0
心观点或论证框架。语篇结
道德准则的标准
构复杂化，长难句（如定语
说明文 366 人类社会发展中人们的短视现象 0 3 0 0
从句、非谓语动词）和多重
2023
说明文 429 AI 对现代生活的影响 0 2 1 1 转折关系增多，需通过上下
文语义关联（如同义复现、
说明文 415 解决全球挑战的重要方法——系统思维 1 2 0 0
反义对比）解题。词汇难度
2022 量子计算真的会像它的宣传那样成功 适中但注重学术性，涉及科
议论文 400 1 1 1 1
吗？ 技术语和文化特定词汇，熟
词生义考查频率增加。命题
说明文 354 全球崩塌（global collapse）的概念 0 2 0 1
强调跨学科能力与批判性思
2021 文章通过讨论时间的定义，讲述了人们 维，引导考生辩证分析技术
议论文 480 1 2 1 0
应该和大自然和谐相处，保护环境。 发展与人文价值的关系。
(2025·北京·高考)
Not too long ago, on a cold winter night, there was a teenager who wanted more screen time and a parent who
said no. The teenager was advocating for her right to scroll (翻屏) for an extra 30 minutes. The parent argued that
none of her friends’ parents let them have screens after 9 o’clock. “I thought, in this family, we don’t compare
ourselves with other people, Dad?” the teenager replied. The parent — who was me, by the way — just got served.
Since they were young, I have told my kids not to compare themselves with other people. I have argued countless
times that comparisons are the “thief of joy”.
Although my daughter didn’t win, she did help expose one of the worst pieces of advice I have ever given. In
my defence, I did what we’ve all done before, which is repeat received wisdom without exploring the nuances. But
now is the time to set the record straight, which starts with questioning the idea that all social comparison isunhealthy.
Social comparisons do, of course, often get us into emotional trouble. But they can be harnessed (利用) for
our betterment if we understand how they work. The social comparisons we make — ones that lead us to feel good
or bad about ourselves — are vital to our ability to thrive (成长). Science provides a guide we can use to harness
the way we perform these comparisons to reduce their negative emotional impacts.
Comparing yourself with someone who is outperforming you could result in feelings of envy if you focus on
the things they have and you don’t, or it can be energizing and inspiring if you use these comparisons as a source of
motivation, for example, “If they can achieve that, so can I.” Comparing yourself with someone who is doing worse
than you could result in fear and worry if you think about how you could fall into similar circumstances, or it can
draw out feelings of gratitude and appreciation if you use that comparison to broaden your views — for example,
“Wow, things could be much worse; I’m doing great.”
What I wish I taught my daughter earlier are these nuances. How we feel about ourselves rests not just on
whom we compare ourselves with but also on how we think about that comparison. That’s something we all have
control over.
28. How did the author feel about his daughter’s argument?
A. Excited. B. Inspired. C. Energized. D. Relieved.
29. What does the word “nuances” underlined in Paragraph 2 most probably mean?
A. Major achievements. B. Complex feelings.
C. Significant impacts. D. Fine differences.
30. Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. Comparing Ourselves with Others Can Become a Healthy Habit
B. Comparing Ourselves with Others Can Strengthen Family Ties
C. Social Comparisons Can Get Us into Emotional Trouble
D. Social Comparisons Can Be Controlled by Science
(2025·北京·高考)
The call to “know yourself” has been there since ancient times, but our sense of self doesn’t always match
what others perceive. Considering the stories we tell about ourselves can help us to change our minds for better.
For many years, psychologists saw identity as a combination of someone’s values, beliefs, goals and social
roles. Then, in the 1980s, Bob Johnson created the life story model of identity, in which he proposes that, as we go
through life, these core features are built in with our memories to create a personal story through which we
understand our lives.
Our life story is something that starts coming together in our teenage years, when we begin to organise our
lives into chapters around key events or life changes, and begin to see ourselves as both the central character and, to
a varying extent, the story’s author. People with more consistent stories tend to have a stronger sense of identity,
and they feel their life has more meaning, direction and sense of purpose. Such people show greater overall life
satisfaction, too.
Johnson has also investigated the link between well-being and certain story themes. He discovered that
whether someone describes having had some control over events in their past is an important predictor of a person’smental health. Another key theme involves finding some kind of positive meaning after stressful events. “People
could talk about gaining knowledge or personal growth,” says Johnson. His research shows that this is often
missing for people with mental health conditions. The good news is that there is evidence we can learn to change
our own story.
Lisa Green, another researcher, sounds a few notes of caution (谨慎). For instance, hearing about the power of
redemptive (拯救性的) stories, many people may feel forced to find a positive angle on horrible events. She says
that Western culture already pushes people to look for the silver lining behind every cloud.
If you want to turn over a new leaf, though, one top tip is that it helps to choose a significant date that signals
the start of a new “chapter”. Contrary to popular doubt, resolutions made on I January are more effective for this
reason. So, whether your goal is saving money or getting fit, there is no better time to become the author of our
own destiny (命运).
31. What can be inferred about personal stories?
A. They are unrelated to health. B. Consistent ones lead to stress.
.
C They are relevant to happiness. D. Thematic ones hold back change.
32. What can we learn from this passage?
A. Talking about gains from failure is negative. B. New Year resolutions are well received.
C. The West tends to overvalue optimism. D. Social roles fail to be highlighted.
33. What does the author mainly do in this passage?
A. Clarify a goal. B. Analyse an event.
C. Make a comparison. D. Illustrate an approach.
34. What is the passage mainly about?
A. How self-identity works. B. How story-tellers are made.
C. How personal stories raise doubts. D. How timing affects personal identity.
(2024·北京·高考)
The notion that we live in someone else’s video game is irresistible to many. Searching the term “simulation
hypothesis” (模拟假说) returns numerous results that debate whether the universe is a computer simulation —— a
concept that some scientists actually take seriously. Unfortunately, this is not a scientific question. We will probably
never know whether it’s true. We can, instead, use this idea to advance scientific knowledge.
The 18th-century philosopher Kant argued that the universe ultimately consists of things-in-themselves that
are unknowable. While he held the notion that objective reality exists, he said our mind plays a necessary role in
structuring and shaping our perceptions. Modern sciences have revealed that our perceptual experience of the world
is the result of many stages of processing by sensory systems and cognitive (认知的) functions in the brain. No one
knows exactly what happens within this black box. If empirical (实证的) experience fails to reveal reality,
reasoning won’t reveal reality either since it relies on concepts and words that are contingent on our social, cultural
and psychological histories. Again, a black box.
So, if we accept that the universe is unknowable, we also accept we will never know if we live in a computer
simulation. And then, we can shift our inquiry from “Is the universe a computer simulation?” to “Can we model theuniverse as a computer simulation? ” Modelling reality is what we do. To facilitate our comprehension of the
world, we build models based on conceptual metaphors (隐喻) that are familiar to us. In Newton’s era, we
imagined the universe as a clock. In Einstein’s, we uncovered the standard model of particle (粒子) physics.
Now that we are in the information age, we have new concepts such as the computer, information processing,
virtual reality, and simulation. Unsurprisingly, these new concepts inspire us to build new models of the universe.
Models are not the reality, however. There is no point in arguing if the universe is a clock, a set of particles or an
output of computation. All these models are tools to deal with the unknown and to make discoveries. And the more
tools we have, the more effective and insightful we can become.
It can be imagined that comparable to the process of building previous scientific models, developing the
“computer simulation” metaphor-based model will also be a hugely rewarding exercise.
28. What does the author intend to do by challenging a hypothesis?
A. Make an assumption. B. Illustrate an argument.
C. Give a suggestion. D. Justify a comparison.
29. What does the phrase “contingent on” underlined in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A. Accepted by. B. Determined by. C. Awakened by. D. Discovered by.
30. As for Kant’s argument, the author is _________.
A. appreciative B. doubtful C. unconcerned D. disapproving
31. It is implied in this passage that we should _________.
A. compare the current models with the previous ones
B. continue exploring the classical models in history
C. stop arguing whether the universe is a simulation
D. turn simulations of the universe into realities up.
(2024·北京·高考)
Franz Boas’s description of Inuit (因纽特人) life in the 19th century illustrates the probable moral code of
early humans. Here, norms (规范) were unwritten and rarely expressed clearly, but were well understood and taken
to heart. Dishonest and violent behaviours were disapproved of; leadership, marriage and interactions with other
groups were loosely governed by traditions. Conflict was often resolved in musical battles. Because arguing angrily
leads to chaos, it was strongly discouraged. With life in the unforgiving Northern Canada being so demanding, the
Inuit’s practical approach to morality made good sense.
The similarity of moral virtues across cultures is striking, even though the relative ranking of the virtues may
vary with a social group’s history and environment. Typically, cruelty and cheating are discouraged, while
cooperation, humbleness and courage are praised. These universal norms far pre-date the concept of any moralising
religion or written law. Instead, they are rooted in the similarity of basic human needs and our shared mechanisms
for learning and problem solving. Our social instincts (本能) include the intense desire to belong. The approval of
others is rewarding, while their disapproval is strongly disliked. These social emotions prepare our brains to shape
our behaviour according to the norms and values of our family and our community. More generally, social instincts
motivate us to learn how to behave in a socially complex world.
The mechanism involves a repurposed reward system originally used to develop habits important for self-care.Our brains use the system to acquire behavioural patterns regarding safe routes home, efficient food gathering and
dangers to avoid. Good habits save time, energy and sometimes your life. Good social habits do something similar
in a social context. We learn to tell the truth, even when lying is self-serving; we help a grandparent even when it is
inconvenient. We acquire what we call a sense of right and wrong.
Social benefits are accompanied by social demands: we must get along, but not put up with too much. Hence
self-discipline is advantageous. In humans, a greatly enlarged brain boosts self-control, just as it boosts problem-
solving skills in the social as well as the physical world. These abilities are strengthened by our capacity for
language, which allows social practices to develop in extremely unobvious ways.
32. What can be inferred about the forming of the Inuit’s moral code?
A. Living conditions were the drive. B. Unwritten rules were the target.
C. Social tradition was the basis. D. Honesty was the key.
33. What can we learn from this passage?
A. Inconveniences are the cause of telling lies. B. Basic human needs lead to universal norms.
C. Language capacity is limited by self-control. D. Written laws have great influence on virtues.
34. Which would be the best title for this passage?
A. Virtues: Bridges Across Cultures B. The Values of Self-discipline
C. Brains: Walls Against Chaos D. The Roots of Morality
(2023·北京·高考)
In recent years, researchers from diverse fields have agreed that short-termism is now a significant problem
in industrialised societies. The inability to engage with longer-term causes and consequences leads to some of the
world’s most serious problems: climate change, biodiversity collapse, and more. The historian Francis Cole argues
that the West has entered a period where “only the present exists, a present characterised at once by the cruelty of
the instant and by the boredom of an unending now”.
It has been proved that people have a bias (偏向) towards the present, focusing on loud attractions in the
moment at the expense of the health, well-being and financial stability of their future selves or community. In
business, this bias surfaces as short-sighted decisions. And on slow-burning problems like climate change, it
translates into the unwillingness to make small sacrifices (牺牲) today that could make a major difference
tomorrow. Instead, all that matters is next quarter’s profit, or satisfying some other near-term desires.
These biased perspectives cannot be blamed on one single cause. It is fair to say, though, that our
psychological biases play a major role. People’s hesitancy to delay satisfaction is the most obvious example, but
there are others. One of them is about how the most accessible information in the present affects decisions about
the future. For instance, you might hear someone say: “It’s cold this winter, so I needn’t worry about global
warming.”Another is that loud and urgent matters are given too much importance, making people ignore longer-
term trends that arguably matter more. This is when a pop star draws far more attention than, say, gradual
biodiversity decline.
As a psychologist once joked, if aliens (外星人) wanted to weaken humanity, they wouldn’t send ships; they
would invent climate change. Indeed, when it comes to environmental transformations, we can develop a form of
collective “poor memory”, and each new generation can believe the state of affairs they encounter is nothing out ofthe ordinary. Older people today, for example, can remember a time with insect-covered car windscreens after long
drives. Children, on the other hand, have no idea that insect population has dropped dramatically.
28．The author quotes Francis Cole mainly to ________.
A．draw a comparison
B．introduce a topic
C．evaluate a statement
D．highlight a problem
29．What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A．Climate change has been forgotten.
B．Lessons of history are highly valued.
C．The human mind is bad at noting slow change.
D．Humans are unwilling to admit their shortcomings.
30．What does the author intend to tell us?
A．Far-sighted thinking matters to humans.
B．Humans tend to make long-term sacrifices.
C．Current policies facilitate future decision-making.
D．Bias towards the present helps reduce near-term desires.
(2023·北京·高考)
What is life? Like most great questions, this one is easy to ask but difficult to answer. The reason is simple:
we know of just one type of life and it’s challenging to do science with a sample size of one. The field of artificial
life-called ALife for short — is the systematic attempt to spell out life’s fundamental principles. Many of these
practitioners, so-called ALifers, think that somehow making life is the surest way to really understand what life is.
So far no one has convincingly made artificial life. This track record makes ALife a ripe target for criticism,
such as declarations of the field’s doubtful scientific value. Alan Smith, a complexity scientist, is tired of such
complaints. Asking about “the point” of ALife might be, well, missing the point entirely, he says. “The existence of
a living system is not about the use of anything.” Alan says. “Some people ask me, ‘So what’s the worth of artificial
life?’ Do you ever think, ‘What is the worth of your grandmother?’”
As much as many ALifers hate emphasizing their research’s applications, the attempts to create artificial life
could have practical payoffs. Artificial intelligence may be considered ALife’s cousin in that researchers in both
fields are enamored by a concept called open-ended evolution (演化). This is the capacity for a system to create
essentially endless complexity, to be a sort of “novelty generator”. The only system known to exhibit this is Earth’s
biosphere. If the field of ALife manages to reproduce life’s endless “creativity” in some virtual model, those same
principles could give rise to truly inventive machines.
Compared with the developments of Al, advances in ALife are harder to recognize. One reason is that ALife
is a field in which the central concept — life itself — is undefined. The lack of agreement among ALifers doesn’t
help either. The result is a diverse line of projects that each advance along their unique paths. For better or worse,
ALife mirrors the very subject it studies. Its muddled (混乱的) progression is a striking parallel (平行线) to theevolutionary struggles that have shaped Earth biosphere.
Undefined and uncontrolled, ALife drives its followers to repurpose old ideas and generated novelty. It may
be, of course, that these characteristics aren’t in any way surprising or singular. They may apply universally to all
acts of evolution. Ultimately ALife may be nothing special. But even this dismissal suggests something：perhaps,
just like life itself throughout the universe, the rise of ALife will prove unavoidable.
31．Regarding Alan Smith’s defence of ALife, the author is .
A．supportive B．puzzled C．unconcerned D．doubtful
32．What does the word “enamored” underlined in Paragraph 3 most probably mean?
A．Shocked. B．Protected. C．Attracted. D．Challenged.
33．What can we learn from this passage?
A．ALife holds the key to human future. B．ALife and AI share a common feature.
C．AI mirrors the developments of ALife. D．AI speeds up the process of human evolution.
34．Which would be the best title for the passage?
A．Life Is Undefined. Can AI Be a Way Out?
B．Life Evolves. Can AI Help ALife Evolve, Too?
C．Life Is Undefined. Can ALife Be Defined One Day?
D．Life Evolves. Can Attempts to Create ALife Evolve, Too?
(2022·北京·高考)
“What would the world be if there were no hunger?” It’s a question that Professor Crystal would ask her
students. They found it hard to answer, she wrote later, because imagining something that isn’t part of real life—
and learning how to make it real—is a rare skill. It is taught to artists and engineers, but much less often to
scientists. Crystal set out to change that, and helped to create a global movement. The result—an approach known
as systems thinking—is now seen as essential in meeting global challenges.
Systems thinking is crucial to achieving targets such as zero hunger and better nutrition because it requires
considering the way in which food is produced, processed, delivered and consumed, and looking at how those
things intersect (交叉 ) with human health, the environment, economics and society. According to systems
thinking, changing the food system—or any other network—requires three things to happen. First, researchers need
to identify all the players in that system; second, they must work out how they relate to each other; and third, they
need to understand and quantify the impact of those relationships on each other and on those outside the system.
Take nutrition. In the latest UN report on global food security, the number of undernourished (营养不良
)people in the world has been rising, despite great advances in nutrition science. Tracking of 150 biochemicals in
food has been important in revealing the relationships between calories, sugar, fat and the occurrence of common
diseases. But using machine learning and artificial intelligence, some scientists propose that human diets consist of
at least 26,000 biochemicals—and that the vast majority are not known.This shows that we have some way to travel
before achieving the first objective of systems t hinking - which,in this example, is to identify more constituent
parts of the nutrition system.
A systems approach to creating change is also built on the assumption that everyone in the system has equalpower. But as some researchers find, the food system is not an equal one. A good way to redress (修正 ) such
power imbalance is for more universities to do what Crystal did and teach students how to think using a systems
approach.
More researchers, policymakers and representatives from the food industry must learn to look beyond their
direct lines of responsibility and adopt a systems approach. Crystal knew that visions alone don’t produce results,
but concluded that “we’ll never produce results that we can’t envision”.
28. The author uses the question underlined in Paragraph 1 to ________.
A. illustrate an argument B. highlight an opinion
C. introduce the topic D. predict the ending
29. What can be inferred about the field of nutrition?
A. The first objective of systems thinking hasn’t been achieved.
B. The relationships among players have been clarified.
C. Machine learning can solve the nutrition problem.
D. The impact of nutrition cannot be quantified.
30. As for systems thinking, which would the author agree with?
A. It may be used to justify power imbalance.
B. It can be applied to tackle challenges.
C. It helps to prove why hunger exists.
D. It goes beyond human imagination.
(2022·北京·高考)
Quantum ( 量子 ) computers have been on my mind a lot lately. A friend has been sending me articles on
how quantum computers might help solve some of the biggest challenges we face as humans. I’ve also had
exchanges with two quantum-computing experts. One is computer scientist Chris Johnson who I see as someone
who helps keep the field honest. The other is physicist Philip Taylor.
For decades, quantum computing has been little more than a laboratory curiosity. Now, big tech companies
have invested in quantum computing, as have many smaller ones. According to Business Weekly, quantum
machines could help us “cure cancer, and even take steps to turn climate change in the opposite direction.” This is
the sort of hype ( 炒作 ) that annoys Johnson. He worries that researchers are making promises they can’t keep.
“What’s new,” Johnson wrote, “is that millions of dollars are now potentially available to quantum computing
researchers.”
As quantum computing attracts more attention and funding, researchers may mislead investors, journalists, the
public and, worst of all, themselves about their work’s potential. If researchers can’t keep their promises,
excitement might give way to doubt, disappointment and anger, Johnson warns. Lots of other technologies have
gone through stages of excitement. But something about quantum computing makes it especially prone to hype,
Johnson suggests, perhaps because “‘quantum’ stands for something cool you shouldn’t be able to understand.”
And that brings me back to Taylor, who suggested that I read his book Q for Quantum.
After I read the book, Taylor patiently answered my questions about it. He also answered my questions about
PyQuantum, the firm he co-founded in 2016. Taylor shares Johnson’s concerns about hype, but he says thoseconcerns do not apply to PyQuantum.
The company, he says, is closer than any other firm “by a very large margin ( 幅度 )” to building a “useful”
quantum computer, one that “solves an impactful problem that we would not have been able to solve otherwise.”
He adds, “People will naturally discount my opinions, but I have spent a lot of time quantitatively comparing what
we are doing with others.”
Could PyQuantum really be leading all the competition “by a wide margin”, as Taylor claims? I don’t know.
I’m certainly not going to advise my friend or anyone else to invest in quantum computers. But I trust Taylor, just
as I trust Johnson.
31. Regarding Johnson’s concerns, the author feels ________.
A. sympathetic B. unconcerned C. doubtful D. excited
32. What leads to Taylor’s optimism about quantum computing?
A. His dominance in physics. B. The competition in the field.
C. His confidence in PyQuantum. D. The investment of tech companies.
33. What does the underlined word “prone” in Paragraph 3 most probably mean?
A. Open. B. Cool. C. Useful. D. Resistant.
34. Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. Is Johnson More Competent Than Taylor?
B. Is Quantum Computing Redefining Technology?
C. Will Quantum Computers Ever Come into Being?
D. Will Quantum Computing Ever Live Up to Its Hype?
(2021·北京·高考)
Hundreds of scientists, writers and academics sounded a warning to humanity in an open letter published last
December: Policymakers and the rest of us must engage openly with the risk of global collapse. Researchers in
many areas have projected the widespread collapse as “a credible scenario(情景) this century”.
A survey of scientists found that extreme weather events, food insecurity, and freshwater shortages might
create global collapse. Of course, if you are a non-human species, collapse is well underway.
The call for public engagement with the unthinkable is especially germane in this moment of still-
uncontrolled pandemic and economic crises in the world's most technologically advanced nations. Not very long
ago, it was also unthinkable that a virus would shut down nations and that safety nets would be proven so
disastrously lacking in flexibility.
The international scholars’ warning letter doesn't say exactly what collapse will look like or when it might
happen. Collapseology, the study of collapse, is more concerned with identifying trends and with them the dangers
of everyday civilization. Among the signatories(签署者) of the warning was Bob Johnson, the originator of the
“ecological footprint” concept, which measures the total amount of environmental input needed to maintain a given
lifestyle. With the current footprint of humanity, “it seems that global collapse is certain to happen in some form,
possibly within a decade, certainly within this century,” Johnson said in an email.
“Only if we discuss the consequences of our biophysical limits,” the December warning letter says, “can we
have the hope to reduce their speed, severity and harm”. And yet messengers of the coming disturbance are likelyto be ignored. We all want to hope things will turn out fine. As a poet wrote,
Man is a victim of dope(麻醉品)
In the incurable form of hope.
The hundreds of scholars who signed the letter are intent(执着) on quieting hope that ignores preparedness.
“Let's look directly into the issue of collapse,” they say, “and deal with the terrible possibilities of what we see
there to make the best of a troubling future.”
28. What does the underlined word “germane” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. Scientific. B. Credible.
C. Original. D. Relevant.
29. As for the public awareness of global collapse, the author is________.
A. worried B. puzzled
C. surprised D. scared
30. What can we learn from this passage?
A. The signatories may change the biophysical limits.
B. The author agrees with the message of the poem.
C. The issue of collapse is being prioritized.
D. The global collapse is well underway.
(2021·北京·高考)
Early fifth-century philosopher St．Augustine famously wrote that he knew what time was unless someone
asked him．Albert Einstein added another wrinkle when he theorized that time varies depending on where you
measure it．Today's state-of-the-art atomic（原子的） clocks have proven Einstein right．Even advanced
physics can't decisively tell us what time is, because the answer depends on the question you're asking．
Forget about time as an absolute．What if，instead of considering time in terms of astronomy,we related time
to ecology？What if we allowed environmental conditions to set the tempo（节奏） of human life？We're
increasingly aware of the fact that we can't control Earth systems with engineering alone，and realizing that we
need to moderate（调节）our actions if we hope to live in balance．What if our definition of time reflected that？
Recently，I conceptualized a new approach to timekeeping that's connected to circumstances on our planet，
conditions that might change as a result of global warming．We're now building a clock at the Anchorage Museum
that reflects the total flow of several major Alaskan rivers，which are sensitive to local and global environmental
changes．We've programmed it to match an atomic clock if the waterways continue to flow at their present rate．
If the rivers run faster in the future on average，the clock will get ahead of standard time．If they run slower，
you'll see the opposite effect．
The clock registers both short-term irregularities and long-term trends in river dynamics．It's a sort of
observatory that reveals how the rivers are behaving from their own temporal frame（时间框架），and allows us
to witness those changes on our smartwatches or phones．Anyone who opts to go on Alaska Mean River Time will
live in harmony with the planet．Anyone who considers river time in relation to atomic time will encounter a
major imbalance and may be motivated to counteract it by consuming less fuel or supporting greener policies．Even if this method of timekeeping is novel in its particulars，early agricultural societies also connected time
to natural phenomena．In pre-Classical Greece，for instance，people“corrected”official calendars by shifting
dates forward or backward to reflect the change of season．Temporal connection to the environment was vital to
their survival ． Likewise ， river time and other timekeeping systems we're developing may encourage
environmental awareness．
When St．Augustine admitted his inability to define time， he highlighted one of time 's most noticeable
qualities：Time becomes meaningful only in a defined context．Any timekeeping system is valid，and each is as
praiseworthy as its purpose．
31.What is the main idea of Paragraph 1？
A. Timekeeping is increasingly related to nature．
B. Everyone can define time on their own terms．
C. The qualities of time vary with how you measure it．
D. Time is a major concern of philosophers and scientists．
32. The author raises three questions in Paragraph 2 mainly to________．
A. present an assumption B. evaluate an argument
C. highlight an experiment D. introduce an approach
33. What can we learn from this passage？
A. Those who do not go on river time will live an imbalanced life．
B. New ways of measuring time can help to control Earth systems．
C. Atomic time will get ahead of river time if the rivers run slower．
D. Modern technology may help to shape the rivers’ temporal frame．
34. What can we infer from this passage？
A. It is crucial to improve the definition of time．
B. A fixed frame will make time meaningless．
C. We should live in harmony with nature．
D. History is a mirror reflecting reality．
1
(2025届北京市精华学校高三下学期三模英语试题) Rising global carbon dioxide levels tied to global
warming may not be as crucial in determining the composition of plant communities as other localized climate
changes.
“Nobody really knows what the increases in carbon dioxide are going to entail in terms of future changes in
vegetation types,” said Mark Brenner, a University of Florida assistant professor of paleolimnology, the study of
ancient lakes. “It looks like climate changes in different areas may be more important than carbon dioxide, at leastcarbon dioxide by itself,” he said.
Brenner’s research team based their conclusions on an analysis of sediment (沉积物) from two lake bottoms,
one in northern Mexico and one in northern Guatemala. The researchers used new techniques that allowed them to
analyze only the remains of land plants, specifically their leaf waxes. By measuring the isotope composition of the
leaf waxes, the researchers were able to distinguish two broad categories of plants living in these areas — so-called
C3 and C4 plants, which have different photosynthetic (光合作用的) processes, the process by which green plants
turn carbon dioxide and water into food using energy from sunlight. Many C4 plants are tropical grasses, while
most tropical trees are C3 plants. The researchers analyzed sediments deposited over the last 27,000 years, from the
last ice age to the current geological period. Over this period, there was a worldwide, relatively uniform increase in
atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
Brenner said that if carbon dioxide played the major role in determining plant composition, one would
assume that analysis of the sediments would reveal very similar changes in relative abundance of C3 and C4 plants
in the two places over the study period. But, in fact, the researchers found that trends in the two types of plants
were different at the two locations. The changes were related not with carbon dioxide levels, but with shifts in
rainfall. “The result appears to be that climate factors, especially moisture availability, determine whether C4 or C3
plants dominate in an area, not carbon dioxide,” Brenner said.
Many scientists believe global warming will cause major variation in local climates worldwide, with some
wet areas becoming dry and dry areas becoming wet. If that happens, it could have more impact on relative C3
versus C4 plant distribution than the rising carbon dioxide levels.
1．What can be inferred in the first paragraph?
A．Climate change affects plant community composition more than rising CO levels.
2
B．Localized climate shifts may not be as crucial as carbon dioxide.
C．Nobody knows which one is important.
D．Carbon dioxide levels is crucial to the global warming.
2．According to the third paragraph, which one is NOT true?
A．Tropical grasses are usually C4 plants.
B．C3 and C4 plants used to live in northern Mexico and Guatemala.
C．C3 and C4 plants don’t have the same processes.
D．Tropical trees are all C3 plants.
3．Why were trends in C3 and C4 plants different at the two locations?
A．The assumption that carbon dioxide played the major role is wrong.
B．The carbon dioxide played an important role.
C．The moisture availability was different.
D．The carbon dioxide level was different.
4．What’s the main idea of the passage?
A．Climates factors determine the plant distribution and composition of plant communities.
B．Global warming will cause major variation.C．How has Brenner’s research team proved a truth.
D．C3 and C4 plants are important plants in determining the composition of plant communities.
2
(2025届北京市第十一中学高三下学期三模英语试题)Art has always occupied a special place in society.
Many people consider artists to be the ultimate authorities on the nature and expression of beauty. For much of
history, the practice of art was mysterious, and artists were viewed as being somewhat odd and often mad. Even the
word most commonly associated with artists — inspiration — has its own magical qualities. Literally, “inspiration”
is the breathing in of a spirit. Artists were thought of as people who were uniquely inspired to create.
Of course, artists themselves contributed to this myth. “Many artists credited their talents to the presence of
some paranormal power.” Whole movements of art have centered on the supposedly otherworldly nature of art.
For example, the Romantic poets believed that art was a term that meant an ultimate expression of beauty and truth.
The search for this ideal led them to explore both natural and divine themes in their works.
Another persistent view of art regarded its divorce from logic. Reason and logic were the province of
scientists and philosophers, whereas creativity and insight were the area of the artists. The two separate aspects of
the mind were supposed to remain distinct.
But in 1704, a major breakthrough occurred. Sir Isaac Newton, mathematician and physicist, published his
study of light, Opticks. One of Newton’s major discoveries was on the nature of color. Using a prism (棱镜),
Newton found that white light is actually composed of all the colors of the rainbow. He even provided a scientific
explanation for the presence of rainbows. The artistic community was shocked. A scientist had taken a beautiful
and magical experience and reduced it to the simple refraction of beams of light through the prism of a raindrop. A
scientist had ventured into their sacred territory.
More than a hundred years later, John Keats, one of the most famous Romantic poets, accused Newton of
reducing beauty by “unweaving the rainbow.” His colleague, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, famously remarked that the
souls of five hundred Newtons would be needed to make one Shakespeare. And yet, from another perspective,
Newton did not reduce the beauty of the rainbow; he enhanced it. In his search to uncover the secrets of the
rainbow, Newton demonstrated the wonder, creativity, and inspiration of an artist. He also gave the world another
opportunity to experience the sublime (绝妙的东西). Newton’s discovery paved the way for the development of
the science of spectroscopy (光谱学), a way of analyzing the chemical makeup of light. Now scientists can look at
the stars and know their composition. The sense of wonder this ability creates is not much different from the
wonder the poet or artist feels when staring at those same stars.
1．What does the word “paranormal” underlined in Paragraph 2 most probably mean?
A．Abnormal. B．Supernatural. C．Crazy. D．Spiritual.
2．How did the Romantic poets react to Newton’s discovery about light and color?
A．They credited Newton’s insights to mystical influences.
B．They felt it faded the poetic beauty of natural phenomena.
C．They were inspired to integrate more scientific themes in their poetry.
D．They believed it added a new dimension to the appreciation of beauty.
3．Why does the author mention John Keats’ and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s views on Isaac Newton?A．To show that Romantic poets objected to scientific progress.
B．To emphasize the superior creativity of poets over scientists.
C．To state that Shakespeare’s knowledge of beauty was unmatched.
D．To highlight the impact of scientific discoveries on artistic perception.
4．Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A．The Interplay of Art and Science
B．Isaac Newton’s Influence on Arts
C．The Contrast between Art and Logics
D．The Artistic Interpretation of Science
3
(2025届北京市中国人民大学附属中学高三下学期三模英语试题)The facts of climate change are widely
reported. It is noted that with a 2℃ increase in global temperatures, as compared with a 1.5℃ increase, about 61
million more people living in urban areas around the world will be exposed to severe drought. The problem with
communicating these numbers, however, is that math anxiety — the experience of tension, fear or worry when
facing mathematical problems — and the inability to understand and employ numerical concepts — are both quite
common.
Despite high rates of innumeracy (数学盲), there are reasons to think that people may not disengage when
they receive numbers. First, multiple past studies show that people often prefer getting numerical details over vague
( 模 糊 的 ) description or purely verbal communication. People also trust messages provided by medical
professionals or journalists more when that communication includes numbers than when it does not. The use of
specific numbers signals expertise to readers.
But trade-offs exist. Given people’s anxiety about math and level of mathematical ability, there is an upper
limit when communicating these kinds of details. In past research, it was found that people find numbers helpful, so
long as there aren’t too many of them. No hard-and-fast rule suggests how many is too many — it depends on the
complexity of the topic, people’s familiarity with the subject and their overall numeracy. Communicators therefore
need to know and attend to their audience: if a speaker sees someone looking bored, for example, it’s a sign to back
off on the numbers.
In addition to the possibility of being overloaded by numbers, their persuasive power could have
consequences that communicators need to consider. Based on the most recent findings, more negative feelings
about the posts containing numeric consequences of climate change are reported. To be clear, this doesn’t reflect
math anxiety. Instead, these posts resulted in negative emotions because the numerically precise messages were
stronger in conveying the disastrous consequences of climate change. If you can suggest actions that people feel
they can carry through, that could set off the negative feelings that arise when they consider climate change’s
consequences.
So whether you’re an environmentalist seeking to communicate more effectively over social media or
looking for strategies to persuade family over the dinner table, there are a few lessons here. Find the key numerical
data and share that. Think strategically about data presentation. When talking about climate change, include some
proposed action. Given that past work suggests that sharing numbers builds trust, your readers or listeners may bemore likely to follow your recommendations. When used wisely, numbers can help transform anxiety into action,
which could help turn the tide in our fight against climate change.
1．What role do numbers play when introduced into professional communication?
A．They can arouse people’s anxiety about math.
B．They leave the audience even more confused.
C．They help make the message more credible.
D．They make communication more engaging.
2．What can be inferred from the passage?
A．The use of numbers in communication calls for caution.
B．The more numbers used, the more persuasive the message.
C．Numerically precise messages brings negative outcomes.
D．The audience’s response to numbers should be prioritized.
3．According to the passage, which of the following is an effective climate message?
A．Sea level rise: a ticking time bomb for coastal cities!
B．Cycle 5 miles daily, save 50% on carbon emissions!
C．50% of species lost: a warning from climate change!
D．Plant more trees today, enjoy fresher air tomorrow!
4
(2025届北京市八一学校高三下学期考前适应性练习英语试题)In 1979, Archie Cochrane published an
essay condemning his fellow doctors. “It is surely a great criticism of our profession,” he wrote, “that we have not
organized a critical summary, by specialty or subspeciality, adapted periodically, of all relevant randomized
controlled trials.” The idea of “organizing a critical summary” may seem unworthy of Cochrane, yet he had struck
at the heart of the matter.
The basic building block of evidence in medicine is the randomized trial, as Cochrane understood. But some
trials are flawed (有错误的), others may have vanished from the academic record, unpublished because they didn’t
yield the hoped-for results. Even when trials are reported, the most robust evidence comes from synthesizing (合
成) them. Proper synthesis can turn inconclusive trials into a conclusive result, yet to turn those trials into a
structured body of knowledge takes work.
In 1993, Sir Iain Chalmers founded Cochrane, a non-profit now listing over 9,000 systematic reviews. But in
fields like education or policing, the picture is less rosy. Education is arguably of comparable importance to health
for any government. Yet, the UK government spends 18 times as much on research into health than it does on
research into education — or, to put it another way, education research is underfunded by a factor of 10.
If anything, that paints too optimistic a picture of research into social policy, because other countries spend
even less. And, perhaps, education research is probably the best of the rest when it comes to research funding. The
Campbell Collaboration, which aims to do for social policy what Cochrane does for medicine, boasts just 231
systematic reviews — reflecting that social policy research enjoys a fraction of the money and attention lavished on
medicine.More than a lack of spending, there’s a reluctance to support the infrastructure of systematic reviews, or to
fund their updates into “living evidence reviews”. Take the 3ie (International Initiative for Impact Evaluation),
admired for its Development Evidence Portal (门户网站), which struggles for steady funding. The portal could run
for a year at less cost than a typical study evaluating its effectiveness, yet “public goods tend by their nature to be
underfunded.”
On the bright side, more than £50mn of funding for evidence synthesis was recently announced. This modest
funding could significantly contribute to building an “evidence bank” for policymakers.
Systematic reviews bridge the gap between researchers and policymakers. Researchers focus on specific
interventions, while policymakers address broader problems. By synthesizing relevant research, systematic reviews
can answer policymaker questions. Furthermore, evidence synthesis highlights “known unknowns” — gaps in
research that can be filled through targeted funding, rather than more studies of familiar topics.
As Eleanor Chelimsky, one of the 20th century’s great policy evaluators explained, “I hoped that synthesis
could dramatize, for our legislative users, not only what was, in fact, known, but also what was not known.”
Dramatizing our ignorance is one of the most valuable things an evidence review can do.
1．What was Archie Cochrane’s major concern?
A．Doctors failed to put medical trials into summaries.
B．Medical trials were too flawed to be published.
C．Organizing medical summaries was seen as unworthy.
D．Medical profession received widespread criticism.
2．What be inferred from the passage?
A．Education is the top priority in research funding.
B．Social policy research funding has increased significantly.
C．Systematic reviews help make research funding more focused.
D．The 3ie portal was underfunded due to poor effectiveness evaluation.
3．What does the underlined word “dramatize” in paragraph 8 mean?
A．Call ... into question B．Bring attention to ...
C．Make up for… D．Turn … into a scene
4．Which of the following would be the best title for the article?
A．Why Systematic Reviews Are the Key
B．Will Gaps in Public Research Be Fixed
C．What to Expect from Known Unknowns
D．Who to Blame for Research Underfunding
5
(2025届北京市昌平区高三下学期二模英语试题)Microsoft Excel’s auto-correction has long annoyed
casual users. Dashes (破折号) before lists of numbers are misread as a minus sign. Phone numbers lose their
leading zeroes. Credit-card numbers get re-expressed in scientific notation, like 1.30521E + 17.
Geneticists struggle with a particular version of this problem. A gene (基因) called Membrane AssociatedRing-CH-type finger 1, commonly known as MARCH1, is, for instance, frequently re-encoded as the date March 1.
Something similar happens to genes in the Septin family, of which SEPT1 is a member, and to Basic Helix-Loop-
Helix Family Member E41, often known as DEC2.
This problem was first noticed in 2004, but was brought to wider attention in 2016 by Mark Ziemann of
Deakin University, in Australia. By surveying 166,000 genomics-related papers published between 2014 and 2020,
he and his co-authors showed that the number of papers using Excel has steadily increased, and the proportion with
auto-correct errors is at around 30%.
Errors have also been flagged by researchers in other languages. In Portuguese, for instance, AGO2
(Argonaute RISC Catalytic Component 2) rebrands itself as Agosto 2. Dutch users experience problems with MEII
(Meiotic Double-Stranded Break Formation Protein 1), “Mei” being the Dutch for “May”. And geneticists in
Finland, where the first month of the year is called Tammikuu, find TAMM41 encoding itself as 41st of January.
This continuing state of affairs is surprising. In August 2020, the committee which standardises gene names
renamed those beginning MARC, MARCH and SEPT to begin MTARC, MARCHF and SEPTIN, and rebranded
DEC1 as DELEC1. Other problematic gene names remained, but this was widely seen as a step in the right
direction. Dr Zieman’s latest paper, though, suggests that few researchers have taken it.
Such errors often seem amusing rather than dangerous. But they reflect a deeper problem, which is that
spreadsheets allow such silent errors, too well camouflaged for authors or their editors to spot, to go undetected
for years. To stop this, Dr Ziemann recommends researchers abandon software like Excel in favor of scheduled
code written with scientific applications in mind. Such programs are more difficult to be autocorrected and easier to
examine. Whether his advice will be taken this time remains to be seen.
1．As for Excel’s auto-correct issue, which statement might Dr Ziemann agree with?
A．Switching to science-specific coding tools.
B．Relying on Excel’s advanced function.
C．Adopting the renamed gene terms.
D．Avoiding auto-correct in papers.
2．What does the underlined word “camouflaged” in the last paragraph probably mean?
A．Decorated deliberately. B．Hidden unnoticeably.
C．Corrected automatically. D．Increased sharply.
3．What is the purpose of the passage?
A．To emphasize the drawback of autocorrection in scientific research.
B．To explain a problem-solving procedure for autocorrection.
C．To recommend a new software to replace Excel.
D．To advocate a campaign to abandon Excel.
6
(2025届北京市第十三中学高三下学期三模英语试题) Millions of migratory (迁徙的) birds occupy
seasonally favorable breeding grounds in the Arelie, but scientists know little about the formation, maintenance and
future of the migration routes of Arctic birds and the genetic determinants of migratory distance. In a new study, amultinational team of researchers under the leadership of Dr. ZHAN Xiangjiang from the Institute of Zoology of
the Chinese Academy of Sciences integrated two state-of-the-art techniques — satellite tracking and whole genome
sequencing (基因排序) — and established a continental-scale migration system of peregrine falcons in Eurasian
Arctic.
The researchers tracked 56 peregrine falcons from six Eurasian Arctic breeding populations and sequenced
35 genomes from four of these populations to study the migration of this species. They found that the birds used
five migration routes across Eurasia, probably established between the last Ice Age 22, 000 years ago and the
middle-Holocene 6,000 years ago. “Peregrine falcons initiated their autumn migration mainly in September, and
arrived at their wintering areas mainly in October,” said Professor Mike Bruford, an ecologist at Cardiff University.
“Peregrine falcons that depart from different breeding grounds use different routes, and winter at widely distributed
sites across four distinct regions. Individual birds that were tracked for more than one year exhibited strong path
repeatability during migration, complete loyalty to wintering locations and limited breeding dispersal (扩散).”
The researchers quantified the migration strategies and found that migration distance is the most significant
differentiation. They used whole genome sequencing and found a gene — ADCY8, which is known to be involved
in long-term memory in other animals in previous research — associated with differences in migratory distance.
They found ADCY8 had a variant at high frequency in long-distance migrant populations of peregrine falcons,
indicating this variant is being favorably selected because it may increase powers of long-term memory thought to
the essential for long-distance migration.
“Previous studies have identified several candidate genomic regions that may regulate migration — but our
work is the strongest demonstration of a specific gene associated with migratory behavior yet identified,” Professor
Bruford said. The researchers further looked at models of likely future migration behavior to predict the impact of
global warming. If the climate warms at the same rate as it has in recent decades, they predict peregrine populations
in western Eurasia have the highest probability of population decline and may stop migrating altogether.
“Our work is the first to begin to understand the way ecological factors may interact in migratory birds,” said
Dr. ZHAN Xiangjiang. “We hope it will serve as a cornerstone to help conserve migratory species in the world”
1．What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?
A．Five birds’ historical migration routes were rebuilt.
B．Peregrine falcons leave for Arctic regions in September.
C．Peregrine falcons stick to the areas where they winter.
D．Two novel research methods of migration were invented.
2．What can we infer about ADCY8?
A．It is a newly-discovered gene in the new study.
B．It serves as a fundamental part of long-distance migration.
C．It could be strengthened by the power of long-term memory.
D．It turned out to be more favored by birds than the other animals.
3．Which would be the best title for this passage?
A．Biologists Find Evidence of Migration Gene in BirdsB．Researchers Help Conserve Migratory Species
C．How Long-term Memory Helps Long-distance Migration
D．How Ecological Factors Affect Birds’ Migratory Distances
7
(2025届北京市精华学校高三下学期三模英语试题) A study published in the New England journal of
Medicine estimated that there are an average of 30 in-flight medical emergencies on U. S. flights everyday. Most of
them are not serious; fainting, dizziness and hyperventilation are the most frequent complaints. But 13% of them —
roughly four a day — are serious enough to require a pilot to change course. The most common of the serious
emergencies include heart trouble (46%), strokes and other neurological problems (18%) , and difficult breathing
(6%) .
Let’s face it: plane riders are stressful. For starters, cabin pressures at high altitudes are set at roughly what
they would be if you lived at 5,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. Most people can tolerate these pressures pretty
easily, but passengers with heart disease may experience chest pains as a result of the reduced amount of oxygen
flowing through their blood. Low pressure can also cause the air in body cavities (体腔) to expand — as much as
30%. Again, most people won’t notice anything beyond mild stomach cramping. But if you’ve recently had an
operation, your wound could open. And if a medical device has been implanted in your body — a splint, a
tracheotomy tube or a catheter — it could expand and cause injury.
Another common in-flight problem is deep venous thrombosis (静脉血栓) — the so-called economy-class
syndrome. When you sit too long in a cramped position, the blood in our legs tends to clot. Most people just get
sore calves. But blood clots, left untreated, could travel to the lungs, causing breathing difficulties and even death.
Such clots are readily prevented by keeping blood flowing; walk and stretch your legs when possible.
Whatever you do, don’t panic. Things are looking up on the in-flight-emergency front. Doctors who come to
passengers’ aid used to worry about getting sued (起诉); their fears have lifted somewhat since the 2024 Aviation
Medical Assistance Act gave them “good Samaritan” protection. And thanks to more recent legislation, flights with
at least one attendant are starting to install emergency medical kits with automated defibrillators to treat heart
attacks.
Are you still wondering if you are healthy enough to fly? If you can walk 150 feet, or climb a flight of stairs
without getting winded, you’ll probably do just fine. Having a doctor close by doesn’t hurt, either.
1．Heart disease takes up about ______ of the in-flight medical emergencies on U. S. flights.
A．13% B．46%
C．18% D．6%
2．According to the passage, the expansion of air in body cavities can result in ______.
A．heart attack B．chest pain
C．stomach cramping D．difficult breathing
3．According to the passage, why does deep venous thrombosis usually happen?
A．Because the economy class is not spacious enough.
B．Because there are too many economy-class passengers.C．Because passengers are not allowed to walk during the flight.
D．Because the low pressure in the cabin prevents blood flowing smoothly.
4．According to the 2024 Aviation Medical Assistance Act, Doctors who came to passengers’ aid ______.
A．do not have to be worried even if they give the patients improper treatment
B．will not be submitted to legal responsibility even if the patients didn’t recover
C．are assisted by advanced emergency medical kits
D．will be greatly respected by the patient and the crew
8
(2025届北京市丰台区高三下学期二模英语试题)In economic theories, people are typically represented as
analytical agents who learn from past experiences to optimize (优化) their performance, eventually reaching a
stable state in which they know how to maximise their earnings. This assumption surprised Garnier Brun at École
Polytechnique in France because, as a physicist, he knew that interactions in nature such as those between atoms
often result in chaos rather than stability.
To test whether economists are correct to assume that learning from the past can help people avoid chaos,
Brun and his colleagues devised a mathematical mode for a game featuring hundreds of simulated players. Each
player can choose between two actions, like buying or selling a stock. They also interact with each other, and the
players’ decision-making is influenced by what they have done before — meaning they are able to learn from
experience. The researchers could adjust the precise extent to which a player’s past experiences influenced their
subsequent decision-making. They could also control the interactions between the players to make them either
cooperate or compete with each other more.
With all these control knobs available to them, Brun and his colleagues used methods from statistical physics
to simulate different game situations on a computer. In some situations, the researchers expected that the game
would always result in chaos, with players unable to learn how to optimise their performance. Economic theory
would also suggest that, given the right set of parameters (参数), the players would settle into a stable state where
they had mastered the game — but the researchers found this wasn’t really the case. The most likely outcome was a
state that never settled.
Team member Jean Martin, also at École Polytechnique, says that, in the absence of one centralised and all-
knowing player who could coordinate everyone, regular players could only learn how to reach “satisficing” states.
That is a level that satisfied minimum expectations, but not much more. Players gained more than they would have
done by playing at random, so learning wasn’t useless, but they still gained less than they would have if past
experience had allowed them to truly optimise their performance.
Martin says the game model is too simple to be immediately adopted for making real-world predictions, but
she sees the study as a challenge to economists to drop many assumptions that currently go into theorising
processes, like merchants choosing suppliers or banks setting interest rates. The finding could also be important for
simulating processes like foraging decisions by animals or for some machine-learning applications, says Toby Galla
at the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems in Spain.
1．According to the passage, what inspired Brun to carry out the study?
A．The belief that chaos is a common outcome in natural systems.B．The conflicts between economic theories and interactions in nature.
C．The similarities in interaction patterns between atoms and humans.
D．The inability of economic theories to predict individual behaviours.
2．What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?
A．The research purpose. B．The research subjects.
C．The research methods. D．The research direction.
3．What can we infer from Martin’s words?
A．The “satisficing” state is an ideal outcome for players in the game.
B．Players can reach optimal performance with enough past experiences.
C．Centralised control is essential for players to reach their full potential.
D．Learning from past experiences isn’t sufficient to maximise one’s gains.
4．What can be the best title of the passage?
A．Economic Theories: Are They Reliable in Predicting Stability?
B．Learning from Mistakes: The Key to Optimal Decision-Making.
C．A Mathematical Model: Breaking Economic Stability Assumptions.
D．Game Model Findings: Spreading Influence Across Multiple Disciplines.
9
(2025届北京市丰台区高三下学期二模英语试题)In an era of big research, having confidence in scientists,
individually or collectively, involves trade-offs. Science is ideally built on evidence but in reality, for most people,
it is based on trust. Scientific evidence is hard to access. Journals are difficult to get and their articles, written in
specialised language, are only understandable to a few field experts. So, we trust experts’ results without being able
to question them ourselves, believing that if needed, someone knowledgeable will.
Historically, the reputation of individual scientists has been important in facilitating the spread of scıentific
theories and discoveries. If a scientist is, or can appear to be, trustworthy, so might that scientist’s ideas.
This can lead to odd consequences. Recognisable scientists receive more credit and trust, while
unrecognisable scientists often have their work overlooked. The history of science is filled with cases where basic
papers written by relatively unknown scientists were neglected for years. Consider the case of Joseph Fourier,
whose classic paper on the propagation of heat had to wait 13 years to be published.
Since recognisable scientists receive disproportionate ( 不 成 比 例 的 ) credit, their names become
disproportionately associated with discoveries. Statistics professor Stephen Stigler formulated “Stigler’s law of
eponymy” (斯蒂格勒命名法则), stating no scientific discovery is named after its original discoverer. For instance,
Pythagoras wasn't the first to discover the Pythagorean theorem, nor was Edwin Hubble the first to formulate
Hubble’s law.
However, modern science operates differently. Large collaborative (合作的) projects often produce papers
with hundreds of authors. The record for the number of authors on a single scientific paper is currently 5,154.
Furthermore, an editorial board composed of project group members actually wrote the papers. The papers were
then placed on an electronic bulletin board for criticism and comment by all. Some massive collaborative projectsconstantly maintain author lists of hundreds of names, which are automatically submitted on every publication.
If we can’t identify the thousands in big science projects or know their actual authors, who do we trust? I’d
say we trust “science” itself regardless of the individual scıentists’ integrity. We trust the organisations that are
considered scientific. Any clickbait news articles with “Science Says” in the title show this shift from trusting
individuals to trusting the scientific enterprise.
This shift to trusting “science” itself has risks. Misidentifying experts or trusting dishonest ones can abuse
scientific erodibility. A striking example is Merchants of Doubt, where experts hid truths about acid rain and global
warming. Authorship, then, serves one last function, which in some cases only benefits the historian like me:
accountability.
1．What is the passage mainly about?
A．The moral issues in scientific authorship and accountability.
B．The role of individual scientists in modern scientific research.
C．The evolution of trust in science from individuals to enterprises.
D．The challenges of confirming scientific evidence in the digital age.
2．Why is “Stigler’s law of eponymy” mentioned?
A．To justify an argument. B．To introduce an approach.
C．To challenge a convention. D．To evaluate an assumption.
3．According to the passage, the author may agree that ________.
A．modern science collaboration challenges the trust in individual scientists
B．the current trend of trusting science overlooks scientists’ sacrifices
C．authorship ought to be founded upon intellectual contributions
D．it is vital to identify the authors of large-scale science projects
4．What is the author’s attitude towards the shift to trusting science itself?
A．Sympathetic. B．Cautious. C．Disapproving. D．Puzzied.
10
(2025届北京市东城区高三下学期二模英语试题)For almost two centuries, newspapers have been on a
journey into the mass market which gave them scale, reputation and profit but which has now reached its end. They
mostly abandoned dependence on subscriptions and instead sold below production cost as a way to attract readers
to sell to advertisers.
Since the Internet took off, the print media’s advertising-supported business model has suffered. In the past
20 years, newspapers’ ad profits have fallen by about 80%, while circulation has roughly fallen by half. Though
online traffic has risen, profit from digital advertising has failed to offset (抵消) the profit draining out of print.
“Platforms have become the new kings of the media landscape,” says the Competition and Markets Authority, a
regulator.
This power shift has led newspapers in many countries to turn to authorities for help. Partly because they
have, by their very nature, a loud voice, they have generated sympathy. How much they deserve it is another matter.
The world is filled with businesses torn apart by the digital revolution without anyone rushing to the rescue.Why are newspapers different? One argument is that a thriving press supports grass-roots journalism, which,
though often loss-making, supports fairness and equality. That is reasonable. Yet it is mixed with other motivations,
such as the desire to choke the tech giants. The result is a range of interventions aimed at putting the pressure on
big tech.
Mindful of the outcry, big tech is offering a handout, promising $1bn over three years to newspapers to
provide news content for its site. Some publishers saw it as an unstated admission that big tech should pay for
news.
If anything, the gratitude for big tech’s generosity shows how desperate newspapers are for payment of any
kind. More to the point, it will not change the underlying economics of the global newspaper industry. That is
because the ad-funded business model was living on fumes even before the Internet ate the world this century.
Data show that newspapers have been losing share of ad dollars to TV since the 1950s — long before the web.
Circulation has also fallen relative to population, suggesting that profits were supported by economic and
population growth, not because the industry was producing a more popular product.
Claims that the tech giants are robbing newspapers for profit sound far-fetched, too. The real failure is that
papers have lost control of distribution to platforms, making it harder to monetise the traffic. This is a mistake some
content industries, such as video-streaming and music, have avoided. Moreover, some of the advertising dollars
made by big tech came from bringing new firms into the market, rather than taking online advertisers from
newspapers.
So ignore the complaining of old-media companies in distress and look instead at how some newspapers
have already adapted to the digital invasion. Also some digital publications with a newsworthy focus are thriving.
The question of who pays for public-interest journalism remains unanswered. But few think it ought to be tech
giants. That would “undermine the principles of an independent press”.
1．Why does the author cite the statistics in Paragraph 2?
A．To prove the decline of print media.
B．To emphasize the popularity of platforms.
C．To indicate the importance of digital advertising.
D．To demonstrate the inconsistency in subscriptions.
2．The underlined phrase “was living on fumes” in Paragraph 6 probably means ______.
A．was taking off B．was moving forward
C．was falling apart D．was struggling along
3．Which of the following may the author agree with?
A．The platform should support grass-roots journalism.
B．The old media should produce marketable products.
C．New online advertisers should be introduced.
D．Effective interventions should be made.
4．Which would be the best title for the passage?
A．Where is the Digital Age leading the press?B．Are online platforms really a way out?
C．How the Internet impacts old media?
D．Should big tech save newspapers?
11
(2025届北京通州区高三一模英语试题)In an era dominated by rapid technological advancements and the
increasing demand for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills, the value of liberal arts
education is under scrutiny. However, recent discussions and research suggest that liberal arts education remains
not only relevant but essential for addressing the complex challenges of the modern world.
Liberal arts education is often defined as a multidisciplinary approach to learning. One of the key arguments
in favor of liberal arts education is its role in fostering well-rounded individuals capable of navigating a rapidly
changing job market. While STEM degrees often lead to higher starting salaries and more immediate job
opportunities, liberal arts graduates tend to exhibit greater adaptability and versatility (多才多艺) over time.
Moreover, liberal arts provide a foundation for understanding the complexities of human society and culture. In a
globalized world, the ability to navigate diverse perspectives and engage with different cultures is increasingly
important. The study of history, literature, and philosophy helps students develop empathy and a deeper
understanding of the world around them, which is crucial in a globalized workforce where cross-cultural
communication is the norm.
Another significant aspect of liberal arts education is its role in fostering ethical and responsible citizens. In a
world where technology can have profound impacts on society, the humanities provide a framework for
understanding the ethical implications of new developments. For example, philosophers and ethicists are crucial in
addressing moral questions surrounding artificial intelligence and data privacy.
The integration of liberal arts and STEM education has also gained recognition in recent years. The STEAM
(STEM+Arts) movement emphasizes the importance of combining technical skills with creativity, critical thinking,
and ethical reasoning. By incorporating liberal arts into STEM education, students can develop a more well-
rounded skill set that prepares them to address complex, real-world problems.
Despite the challenges posed by the digital age, liberal arts education continues to play a vital role in shaping
adaptable, ethical, and culturally competent individuals. As Jeffrey Scheuer notes, “It’s the thinking, it’s the critical
thinking that I argue is the common thread, really the trunk on which all of these different disciplines grow.”
1．What does the phrase “under scrutiny” underlined in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
A．Being widely praised and encouraged.
B．Being overestimated and highly stressed.
C．Facing careful examination and questioning.
D．Receiving complete support without challenge.
2．What is the key advantage of liberal arts graduates compared to STEM graduates?
A．More flexible and diverse capabilities,
B．Specialized technical training for specific industries.
C．Expertise in ethical artificial intelligence development.D．Higher starting salaries and immediate job opportunities.
3．Why does the author mention philosophers and ethicists in Paragraph 3?
A．To point out their lack of technical skills.
B．To support the mentioned idea specifically.
C．To highlight their involvement in designing AI systems.
D．To show the crucial roles of philosophy and ethics in libera arts.
4．Which of the followings would be the most suitable title for the passage?
A．The Decline of Liberal Arts Education
B．The Integration of Liberal Arts and STEM
C．The Adaptability of Liberal Arts Graduates
D．The Value of Liberal Arts in the Digital Age
12
(2025届北京市房山区高三下学期一模英语试题) Earth is a bright spot of value in the universe, partly
because it contains human beings who, driven by curiosity and a non-instrumental desire to address hard questions,
engage in philosophy. Philosophical inquiry makes the entire planet better than it would otherwise be.
Is science better and more significant than philosophy, more central to the specialness of Earth? Of course,
science can extend our lifespans and empower us to transform the environment. But the longevity and power of one
species aren’t what make Earth special. Consider instead, the greatest achievements of science: the Copernican/
Galilean/ Newtonian revolution, Darwin’s theory of natural selection, Einstein’s theory of relativity, quantum
mechanics, breakthroughs in genetics and brain science. These transformed our understanding of the universe and
our place within it. The distinctive value of human science lies in its philosophical strength— its power to guide us
toward the broadest and most foundational questions about ourselves and the universe. Art is the same: at its best, it
goes beyond decoration and amusement, confronting us with the puzzles of human existence. In their most
ambitious forms, the arts and sciences merge into philosophy, expressing our philosophical urges.
A metaphor: as the circle of light expands, so too does the ring of darkness around it. Philosophy lives in that
ring of darkness. Within the circle of light lies what is straightforwardly knowable through common sense,
mainstream science or other established methods. In the penumbra (半影) are matters of guesses or ideas. There’s
no sharp line between light and dark, and no sharp beginning or end to the penumbra.
As the light grows, the penumbral ring expands to match. There will always be darkness beyond, and
philosophical questioning will chase it. We will never complete the project of understanding the fundamental
structure of the world. Generations of philosophers will die without getting satisfactory answers to their most
searching questions.
Billions of years ago, stars exploded, forming planets, and life emerged. Some beings developed the ability
to wonder about their place in the universe, their values, and their capacity for reflection. When we philosophize,
we become a means by which the universe, after billions of years, momentarily thinks about itself in doubt and
amazement. Nothing is more naturally valuable or worthy of respect and wonder.
1．What does the author intend to do by mentioning the brightness of Earth?A．Make an assumption. B．Present an argument.
C．Give a suggestion. D．Raise a question.
2．What does the phrase “merge into” underlined in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A．Change to. B．Replace with. C．Stand for. D．Combine into.
3．What can be inferred about philosophy from the metaphor of penumbra?
A．It will decline as knowledge advances. B．It will continue due to expanding unknowns.
C．It aims to distinguish between light and dark. D．It remains separate from established methods.
4．The author believes that _____.
A．the pursuit of endless questions is significant
B．human beings are a highly emotional species
C．science is the primary source of philosophical ideas
D．the physical characteristics of Earth make it exceptional
13
(2025届北京市海淀区高三下学期一模英语试题)If you find yourself with several million dollars more
than you need, how should you spend the money? One answer might be to do whatever you want, within the
bounds of the law. Another is to donate it to a charity. You may also support an organization that is working to
reduce existential risks.
The history of philosophy consists of attempts to shed light on such questions. However, philosophy’s open
secret is that these attempts don’t add up to anything decisive. When it comes to what we ought to do in any given
situation, different ethical systems offer different guidance. Conflict is baked into questions like, “What ought I to
do?”
Or is it? An awareness of difference is certainly crucial to such an inquiry. But this needn’t become a conflict
until you’re forced to pick a side. Some philosophers have sought to eliminate the conflict between ethical systems.
Derek Parfit, one of the most respected philosophers of the past fifty years, devoted the second half of his life to
precisely this task.
Unfortunately, the position that different ethical positions can be reconciled (和解) is itself a position others
may not accept. Parfit believed people could have a good reason to act morally,independent of their knowledge or
beliefs. If you find yourself in a position to alleviate (减轻) others’ suffering without significantly inconveniencing
yourself, then you should act. It is just a moral fact that there is a right thing that you ought to do. By contrast,
Bernard Williams argued it made no sense to talk about people’s reasons independently from their motivations.
Someone cannot have a reason to do something that they have no desire to do-because however wrong-headed their
preferences may be, subjectivity is the ground truth for “having a reason”.
As in Peter Singer’s parable (寓言) of a child drowning in a shallow pond, it self-evidently seems immoral
not to save this child if the only cost for you is a pair of new trainers. This is as clear as a philosophical argument
can get. However, as with all moral reasoning, you are free to reject the logic or assumptions behind Singer’s
argument, regardless of its clarity.
Parfit was a philosopher’s philosopher. Yet he suffered from the fact that irreconcilable ethical systems exist.Why? Because one conclusion that follows from this is that, if the differences between such systems cannot be
resolved by philosophical means, conflict of a literal kind will always exist beneath their differences.
As Karl Popper puts it, “ If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, then the tolerant
will be destroyed, and tolerance with them.” This is the rub. Philosophy is of the world as well as of the page-and
even the gentlest words may, sooner or later, need an army to defend them. “We should therefore claim,” Popper
continued, “in the name of the tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant.”
I’m not surprised that Parfit felt despair at the limits of his persuasiveness. What’s amazing is that more
philosophers don’t feel the same way.
1．What can we learn from the first three paragraphs?
A．Phiosophy can help resolve ethical conflicts.
B．Ethical inquiries aid in serving the public good.
C．Conflicting views exist between ethical systems.
D．Accepting conflicts is the basis of philosophical inquiry.
2．What can be inferred from the passage?
A．Philosophers stress logic over subjectivity.
B．Williamns holds moral reasoning forces acceptance.
C．Parfit believes moral acts require personal sacrifice.
D．Reconciling ethical systems has real-world implications.
3．According to Karl Popper, we can learn that .
A．intolerance originates in absolute tolerance
B．unlimited tolerance invites self-destruction
C．tolerance is for people who share the same values
D．philosophical ideals sometimes require military defense
4．How does the author feel towards Parfit’s pursuit?
A．Sympathetic. B．Hopeless.
C．Skeptical. D．Astonished.
14
(2025届北京市朝阳区高三下学期一模考试英语试题)In the field where philosophy and neuroscience
overlap, few questions have fascinated and confused humanity as deeply as the concept of free will. At first glance,
the idea that we have the power to make choices that are not predetermined seems intuitive (直觉的). However, a
closer examination reveals a complex web of philosophical arguments and scientific findings that challenge this
seemingly straightforward concept.
From a philosophical standpoint, the debate around free will has continued intensely for centuries.
Compatibilists argue free will can coexist with determinism, as long as our actions are a result of our own desires
and motivations. For example, choosing a music career out of passion is considered as a free choice within this
framework. In contrast, incompatibilists maintain free will and determinism are mutually exclusive. Hard
determinists view the universe as a closed system governed by strict laws of nature, where every event, includinghuman actions, is predetermined. In this view, the idea of free will is an illusion (幻觉).
Neuroscience has advanced markedly in decoding the brain, revealing that many actions are preceded (先于)
by neural activity. Studies on the brain’s reward system and neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine (多巴胺),
further challenge the nature of free will. Addictive behaviors, for instance, can be strongly influenced by the brain’s
response to dopamine. A person struggling with addiction may feel they lack the free will to resist it, as their brain
chemistry has been altered in a way that forces them into acting.
The scientific evidence is not conclusive, though. Some argue that the neural activity observed before
conscious decisions may not be the cause of the action but rather part of the preparatory process for a decision that
is still freely made. Additionally, the complexity of the human brain and the fact that much of its functioning is still
not fully understood leave room for the possibility of free will.
If free will is an illusion, it challenges our fundamental notions of moral responsibility. We praise and blame
people for their actions because we believe they could have acted differently. How can we hold individuals
accountable for their actions if they were never truly free to choose otherwise? Without free will, the essential
moral framework of our societies would collapse into chaotic indifference. Free will is only an illusion if you are,
too.
1．Which of the following situations reflects the compatibilists’ view?
A．Driven by dopamine, Tim keeps checking his social media.
B．Lucy speaks first after being randomly selected by software.
C．Exposed to a sudden blinding light, Lily quickly shuts her eyes.
D．Jerry shifts between companies of shared bikes based on discounts.
2．What can we learn from the passage?
A．The altered brain chemistry enhances free will.
B．Conscious decisions are independent of neural activities.
C．Hard determinists see free will vital to moral accountability.
D．Neuroscientists’ views on the causes of human actions differ.
3．As for the existence of free will, the author is ________.
A．neutral B．disapproving C．positive D．doubtful
4．Which would be the best title for the passage?
A．Does Neuroscience Threaten Free Will?
B．Why the Arguments Against Free Will Fail
C．Exploration into the Complexity of Free Will
D．Free Will: Bridging Neuroscience and Philosophy
15
(北京市东城区 2024-2025 学年高三上学期期末考试英语试题)The age of artificial intelligence has
begun, and it brings plenty of anxieties. Almost all of the conversations about risk have to do with the potential
consequences of AI systems pursuing goals that depart from what they were programmed to do and that are not in
the interests of humans. But this is only one side of the danger. Imagine what could unfold if AI does do whathumans want.
“What humans want,” of course, isn’t a monolith. Different people have countless ideas of what constitutes
“the greater good.” Even if we could get everyone to focus on the well-being of the entire human species, it’s
unlikely we’d be able to agree on what that might look like.
That seems to be the reason that DeepMind recently founded an internal organization focused on AI safety
and preventing its manipulation by bad actors. But it’s not ideal that what’s “bad” is going to be determined by a
handful of individuals at this one particular corporation — complete with their blind spots and personal and cultural
biases (偏见). The potential problem goes beyond humans harming other humans. What’s “good” for humanity has,
many times throughout history, come at the expense of other sentient (有知觉力的) beings. Such is the situation
today.
In the US alone, we have billions of animals kept in confinement, subjected to cruel treatment, and denial of
their basic psychological and physiological needs at any given time. Entire species are dominated and systemically
butchered so that we can have omelets, burgers and shoes.
If AI does exactly what “we” want it to, that would likely mean enacting this mass cruelty more efficiently,
at an even greater scale and with more automation and fewer opportunities for sympathetic humans to step in and
flag anything particularly horrifying.
A better goal than aligning AI with humanity’ s immediate interests would be what I would call “sentient
alignment” — AI acting in accordance with the interests of all sentient beings, including humans, all other animals
and, should it exist, sentient AI. This will strike some as aggressive, because what’s good for all sentient life might
not always agree with what’s good for humankind. It might sometimes, even often, be in opposition to what
humans want or what would be best for the greatest number of us.
Peter Singer, a philosopher, argued that an AI system’s ultimate goals and priorities are more important than
it being aligned with humans. “The question is really whether this super intelligent AI is going to be benevolent
and want to produce a better world,” Singer said, “and even if we don’t control it, it still will produce a better world
in which our interests will get taken into account.”
I’m with Singer on this. Decentering humankind to any extent, and especially to this extreme, is an idea that
will challenge people. But that’s necessary if we’re to prevent our current belief from spreading in new and awful
ways.
1．The author mentions the organization founded by DeepMind to __________.
A．question a solution B．clarify a belief
C．illustrate an example D．explain a practice
2．Which of the following can best present the idea of “sentient alignment”?
A．AI extends the same rights to living beings. B．AI promotes the interaction among species.
C．AI benefits from the development of humans. D．AI meets the demands of perceptive creatures.
3．What does the underlined word “benevolent” in Paragraph 7 probably mean?
A．Ambitious. B．Generous. C．Resourceful. D．Competitive.
4．The author’s major concern in developing AI is that __________.
A．AI poses a threat to the world B．society’s morals are in declineC．humans prioritize their own needs D．sentient beings deepen cultural biases