02 人与社会之历史，社会与文化
Passage 1
（2024·浙江·高考真题）The Stanford marshmallow(棉花糖) test was originally
conducted by psychologist Walter Mischel in the late 1960s. Children aged four to six at a nursery
school were placed in a room. A single sugary treat, selected by the child, was placed on a table.
Each child was told if they waited for 15 minutes before eating the treat, they would be given a
second treat. Then they were left alone in the room. Follow-up studies with the children later in
life showed a connect ion between an ability to wait long enough to obtain a second treat and
various forms of success.
As adults, we face a version( 版本 ) of the marshmallow test every day. We’re not
tempted(诱惑) by sugary treats, but by our computers, phones, and tablets —all the devices that
connect us to the global delivery system for various types of information that do to us what
marshmallows do to preschoolers.
We are tempted by sugary treats because our ancestors lived in a calorie-poor world, and
our brains developed a response mechanism(机制) to these treats that reflected their value —a
feeling of reward and satisfaction. But as we’ve reshaped the world around us, dramatically
reducing the cost and effort involved in obtaining(获取) calories, we still have the same brains we
had thousands of years ago, and this mismatch(不匹配) is at the heart of why so many of us
struggle to resist (抵抗) tempting foods that we know we shouldn’t eat.
A similar process is at work in our response to information. Our formative(有重大影响的)
environment as a species was information-poor, so our brains developed a mechanism that
prized(高度重视) new information. But global connectivity has greatly changed our information
environment. We are now endlessly bombarded(轰炸) with new information. Therefore, just as we
need to be more thoughtful(深思熟虑的) about our caloric consumption(热量消耗), we also need
to be more thoughtful about our information consumption, resisting the temptation of the mental
“junk food” in order to manage our time most effectively.
1．What did the children need to do to get a second treat in Mischel’s test?
A．Take an examination alone. B．Show respect for the researchers.
C．Share their treats with others. D．Delay eating for fifteen minutes.2．According to paragraph 3, there is a mismatch between ______.
A．the calorie-poor world and our good appetites B．the shortage of sugar and our
nutritional needs
C．the rich food supply and our unchanged brains D．the tempting foods and our efforts to
keep fit
3．What does the author suggest readers do?
A．Absorb new information readily(欣然地).B．Use diverse information sources.
C．Be selective information consumers. D．Protect the information environment.
4．Which of the following is the best title for the text?
A．Eat Less, Read More B．The Bitter Truth about Early Humans
C．The Marshmallow Test for Grownups D．The Marshmallow Test for Children.
【答案】1．D 2．C 3．C 4．C
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了斯坦福棉花糖实验的原理，以及将其类比到
成人面对信息诱惑时的自控挑战，强调在信息丰富的时代需谨慎选择信息消费。
1．细节理解题。根据第一段中“Each child was told if they waited for 15 minutes before
eating the treat, they would be given a second treat.(每个孩子都被告知，如果他们在吃之前等
待15分钟，他们将得到第二次奖励)”可知，孩子们需要等待15分钟后再吃糖果，才能得
到第二份奖励。故选D。
2．细节理解题。根据第三段“But as we’ve reshaped the world around us, dramatically
reducing the cost and effort involved in obtaining(获取) calories, we still have the same brains we
had thousands of years ago, and this mismatch(不匹配) is at the heart of why so many of us
struggle to resist (抵抗) tempting foods that we know we shouldn’t eat.(但是，随着我们重塑了
周围的世界，大大减少了获取热量的成本和努力，我们的大脑仍然和数千年前一样，而这
种不匹配是我们中许多人难以抗拒我们知道不应该吃的诱人食物的核心原因)”可知，丰富
的食物供应和我们不曾改变的大脑之间存在不匹配。故选C。
3．推理判断题。根据最后一段最后一句“Therefore, just as we need to be more thoughtful(深
思熟虑的) about our caloric consumption(热量消耗), we also need to be more thoughtful about
our information consumption, resisting the temptation of the mental “junk food” in order to
manage our time most effectively.(因此，正如我们需要对自己的热量消耗更加深思熟虑一样，
我们也需要对自己信息的消耗更加深思熟虑，抵制精神上“垃圾食品”的诱惑，才能最有效地管理我们的时间)”可知，作者建议读者做有选择性的信息消费者。故选C。
4．主旨大意题。根据全文内容及第二段“As adults, we face a version(版本) of the
marshmallow test every day. We’re not tempted(诱惑) by sugary treats, but by our computers,
phones, and tablets —all the devices that connect us to the global delivery system for various
types of information that do to us what marshmallows do to preschoolers.(作为成年人，我们每
天都要面对一个版本的棉花糖测试。我们不被甜食所诱惑，而是被我们的电脑、手机和平
板电脑所诱惑——所有这些设备都将我们连接到全球各种类型的信息传递系统，这些信息
对我们的影响就像棉花糖对学龄前儿童的影响一样)”可知，文章主要是讲在信息化时代我
们作为成年人每天都在面对的信息诱惑与自我控制问题，类比儿童面对棉花糖测试，信息
轰炸让我们摄入了太多精神“垃圾食品”，因此C选项“成年人的棉花糖测试”最适合作
为文章标题。故选C。
Passage 2
（23-24高二上·全国·课后作业）This year over twenty-three hundred teenagers (young
people aged from 13-19) from all over the world will spend about ten months in US homes. They
will attend US schools, meet US teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same
time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages
and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany
with George’s family. In turn, George’s son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America.
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months’ study
the language began to come to him. School was completely different from what he had expected—
much harder. Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen
subjects instead of the six that were usual in the United States. There were almost no outside
activities.
Family life, too, was different. The father’s word was law, and all activities were around the
family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a
car. “Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany,
you walk, but you soon learn to like it.”
At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea.“Isuppose I should criticise American schools,” he said. “It is far too easy by our level. But I have to
say that I like it very much.In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many
outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to
be some middle ground between the two.”
5．What’s Mike’s attitude towards American education?
A．Praise. B．Regret.
C．Ignore. D．Accuse.
6．What’s the purpose of the whole exchange program?
A．To help teenagers in other countries know the real America.
B．To send students in America to travel in Germany.
C．To let students learn something about other countries.
D．To have teenagers learn new languages.
7．What is particular in American schools?
A．There is some middle ground between the two teaching buildings.
B．There are a lot of outside activities.
C．Students usually take 14 subjects in all.
D．Students go outside to enjoy themselves in a car.
8．What did Mike think after experiencing the American school life?
A．A better education should include something good from both America and Germany.
B．German schools trained students to be better citizens.
C．American schools were not as good as German schools.
D．The easy life in American schools was more helpful to students.
【答案】5．D 6．C 7．B 8．A
【导语】这是一篇说明文。本文通过两个交换生的体验介绍了美国和德国的文化差异。
5．推理判断题。根据最后一段关键句““I suppose I should criticize American schools,” he
said. “It is far too easy by our level.”（“我想我应该批评美国学校，”他说。“以我们的水
平来说，这太容易了。”）”可知，Mike对美国学校的教育持批评的态度，他认为美国学
校的课程设置应该更难一些，由此可推断出，Mike对美国教育持指责态度。故选D项。
6．推理判断题。根据第一段关键句“They will attend US schools, meet US teenagers, and
form impressions of the real America.（他们将进入美国学校，遇见美国青少年，并形成对真实的美国的印象。）”和“At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will
go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
（与此同时，大约1300名美国青少年将前往其他国家学习新的语言，并对世界其他地区有
新的了解。）”可知，在这项交换活动中，世界其他国家的孩子将有机会了解美国，同时，
美国的孩子也将有机会了解世界其他地区。由此可知，整个交流计划主要是为了让学生了
解其他国家。故选C项。
7．细节理解题。根据最后一段关键句“In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take
part in many outside activities.（在德国，我们除了学习什么也不做。在这里，我们参加了许
多户外活动。）”可知，在美国，学生可以参加许多户外活动，句中的“Here”代指的是
“美国的学校”，由此可知，美国学校的特别之处在于有很多户外活动。故选B项。
8．推理判断题。根据最后一段关键句““I suppose I should criticize American schools,” he
said. “It is far too easy by our level.”（“我想我应该批评美国学校，”他说。“以我们的水
平来说，这太容易了。”）”和“I think that maybe your schools are better in training for
citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two.（我认为也许你们的学校在培
训公民方面更好。这两者之间应该有某种中间立场。）”可知，在Mike看来，美国学校的
课程设置应该更难一些，这是美国学校应该向德国学校学习的地方，但美国学校的学生能
够参加更多的户外活动，这是德国学校应该向美国学校学习的地方，由此可知，Mike在经
历了美国的学校生活后认为，更好的教育应该包括来自美国和德国的好的方面，包括双方
的优点。故选A项。
Passage3
（23-24高三上·湖北·阶段练习）I’m a grandma in my 60s. In the spring of 2020, like the
rest of the world, I spent a lot of time staring at a screen and that was when I first got into the
YouTube world. I discovered that onscreen offerings were truly endless. From one YouTuber I
learned how to plant my own vegetable garden. Someone else shared poetry from Robert Frost,
wise sayings from Confucius, and a smattering (一知半解) of other philosophical viewpoints, all
of which helped me through some dark days. Down the rabbit hole I went, scrolling for hours and
hours, watching other people living their lives and giving me advice on how to live mine.
As the months rolled by, YouTube turned my attention away from the hard reality of what
was going on in the world. I subscribed to several channels and waited anxiously for new weeklyofferings. I watched people reading poetry or painting by streams or looking out windows into
snowy landscapes. I found all this calming. Such lovely scenery, such beautiful background music,
such pretty clothes they were wearing!
At some point though, I got upset by these artistic and seemingly perfect lives. Who is
filming them? I wondered. Do they rehearse or just act on the spot? Isn’t it cold, stepping through
snowbanks in dresses? The questions kept bothering me while forcing comparisons to my own
somewhat more ordinary existence. I wanted to walk in a flowing dress through hilly green field
filled with wildflowers! Instead, I was marching through my neighborhood’s city streets in mom
jeans.
In a moment of insight, I realized that I had a full and happy life, which although it wouldn’t
win awards for perfection onscreen, suited me perfectly. I put my phone away and started paying
attention to my own life instead of watching other people live theirs. I still like checking in once in
a while. YouTube can be a rich source of entertainment and inspiration, but I’ve limited my
exposure. I am content with the knowledge that my addiction to life onscreen has been replaced by
life itself.
9．What can be learned about the author in the spring of 2020?
A．She experienced some hard times.
B．She taught others about gardening.
C．She developed an interest in poetry.
D．She shared her philosophical views online.
10．What effect did YouTube have on the author according to paragraph 2?
A．It made her more anxious.
B．It improved her taste in art.
C．It taught her to accept reality.
D．It brought some comfort to her.
11．How did the artistic lives presented on YouTube make the author feel?
A．Desperate. B．Connected. C．Envious. D．Proud.
12．What has the author decided to do in the end?
A．Seek inspiration from YouTube.
B．Stop using her phone in daily life.
C．Focus on her own life instead of others’.D．Continue watching other people’s lives.
【答案】9．A 10．D 11．C 12．C
【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了有一段时间作者觉得YouTube上的世
界很有意思，从中得到慰藉，度过了当时艰难的日子。但是逐渐地作者对那些
艺术的、看似完美的生活产生了不安和嫉妒，她突然意识到自己的生活实际上
是充实而幸福的，是最适合自己的，于是决定专注于自己的生活，而非他人的
生活。
9．细节理解题。根据第一段中的“Someone else shared poetry from Robert Frost,
wise sayings from Confucius, and a smattering (一知半解) of other philosophical
viewpoints, all of which helped me through some dark days. (还有人分享了罗伯特·
弗罗斯特的诗歌，孔子的名言，以及一知半解的其他哲学观点，所有这些都帮
助我度过了一些黑暗的日子)”可知，当时作者在经历困难的时期。故选A项。
10．推理判断题。根据第二段中的“As the months rolled by, YouTube turned my
attention away from the hard reality of what was going on in the world. (几个月过去
了，YouTube把我的注意力从世界上正在发生的残酷现实上转移开了)”和“I
found all this calming. Such lovely scenery, such beautiful background music, such
pretty clothes they were wearing! (我发现这一切都很平静。多么美丽的风景，多
么美妙的背景音乐，他们穿着多么漂亮的衣服)”可知，YouTube让作者不再那
么关注现实世界的残酷，让她感到平静。由此可知，它给她带来了一些安慰。
故选D项。
11．推理判断题。根据第三段中的“The questions kept bothering me while
forcing comparisons to my own somewhat more ordinary existence. I wanted to walk
in a flowing dress through hilly green field filled with wildflowers! Instead, I was
marching through my neighborhood’s city streets in mom jeans. (这些问题一直困扰
着我，同时迫使我把自己不知怎么的更普通的生活（与之）进行比较。我想穿
着飘逸的裙子，穿过长满野花的绿色田野！相反，我穿着妈妈式牛仔裤在我社
区的城市街道上前进)”可知，作者被YouTube上呈现的艺术的生活困扰，忍不
住觉得自己的生活非常普通，自己想过那样艺术的、诗意的生活，但现实却与
之相去甚远。由此可知，那样的生活让作者感到嫉妒。故选C项。12．细节理解题。根据最后一段中“I put my phone away and started paying
attention to my own life instead of watching other people live theirs. (我把手机收起
来，开始关注自己的生活，而不是看着别人过他们的生活)”可知，最后作者决
定专注于自己的生活，而非他人的生活。故选C项。
Passage 4
（22-23高一下·江西南昌·阶段练习）One morning soon, you’ll get on your bike and ride
from one end of America to the other, because the Great American Rail Trail is 53% complete,
making a cross-country bike ride closer to a reality.
The idea of a bike trail(小路) made up of scenic paths, trails and former rail lines from
Washington DC to Washington State has been 30 years in the making. Now, with more than 50%
of the trail up and running, the project, run by the Rails to Trails in cooperation with local
authorities, is building up, with hundreds of miles of trails in development now. Though not
entirely complete, the rail trail has drawn people of all types.
Last August, Ryan Gardill and a colleague biked 350 miles from Pittsburgh to Washington
DC． Their travels took them through some beautiful and historical parts of the American East.
“The trail connected me to our revolutionary and industrial history. Most of the towns on the trail
were once important to America.”
The major goal of the trail is to provide the American public with the opportunity to explore
their beautiful country, without getting in their car. A secondary objective is to bring prosperity(繁
荣) back to the small towns and cities that once prospered along the country’s now diminished
rail system, according to National Geographic.
One of these is Muncie, Indiana, a city located on a former rail system and a part of the Rail
Trail. The city is already seeing the economic benefits of the trail. “A large majority of our
customers are local, but the Rail Trail could help grow tourism,” said Jason Allardt, owner of the
historic Kirk’s Bike Shop.
This is the hope for many once-prosperous towns and cities all throughout America, though it
may take nearly 20 years to get the entire trail up and running.
13．What has made the trail attractive to people?
A．It’s a bike trail with good scenery. B．It’s a rail line across the country.
C．It offers good adventurous paths. D．Its construction lasted 30 years.14．What can be inferred about most towns along the trail?
A．They were the basic part of the U.S. railways.
B．They are mostly located in the mountains.
C．They enjoy great popularity as destinations.
D．They’re no longer important towns in America.
15．What does the underlined word “diminished” mean in Para. 4?
A．Enlarged. B．Protected. C．Decreased. D．Destroyed.
16．What can we learn about the city Muncie?
A．The Trail will link its scenery to the outside. B．The Trail will help its economic
recovery.
C．It has bike paths designed for local citizens. D．The railway has brought about its
prosperity.
【答案】13．A 14．D 15．C 16．B
【导语】本文是一篇新闻报道。主要介绍的是从美国华盛顿特区到华盛顿州的一条“美国
步道”横贯美国东西部，让自行车骑手能骑车探索曾经繁荣的铁路沿线小镇，回顾美国历
史，欣赏美景。
13．细节理解题。根据第二段中的“The idea of a bike trail(小路) made up of scenic paths,
trails and former rail lines from Washington DC to Washington State has been 30 years in the
making. Now, with more than 50% of the trail up and running, the project, run by the Rails to
Trails in cooperation with local authorities, is building up, with hundreds of miles of trails in
development now.(从华盛顿特区到华盛顿州，由风景优美的小路、小径和以前的铁路线组
成的自行车道的想法已经酝酿了30年。现在，超过50%的步道已经建成并投入使用，这个
由“铁路到步道”组织与当地政府合作运营的项目正在建设中，目前正在开发数百英里的
步道。)”可知，“美国铁路步道”沿途有风景小路、废弃的铁轨等，虽然现在还有几百英
里的步道还在修建中，但是已经吸引了人们来这里，所以是一条风景优美的自行车道吸引
着人们。故选A项。
14．推理判断题。根据第三段中的“The trail connected me to our revolutionary and industrial
history. Most of the towns on the trail were once important to America.(这条小径把我和我们的
革命和工业历史联系在一起。这条路上的大多数城镇曾经对美国很重要。)”可知，这条小
路上的很多小镇曾经是美国的重要部分，由此推断，这些小镇如今在美国不是很重要。故选D项。
15．词句猜测题。根据划线单词所在的句子“A secondary objective is to bring prosperity(繁
荣) back to the small towns and cities(第二个目标是使小城镇和城市恢复繁荣)”可知，还有一
个目标是将繁荣带回到这个小镇，由此可知，现在小镇不再繁荣，划线单词所在的句子为
定语从句修饰small towns and cities，由此可知，这里说的是这些小镇曾经都是美国铁路沿
线发达的地方，但是现在这些地方的铁路系统已经“衰落”，所以该单词的意思应与“衰
落”意义相近，decrease意为“衰减，减少”。故选C项。
16．推理判断题。根据第五段“One of these is Muncie, Indiana, a city located on a former rail
system and a part of the Rail Trail. The city is already seeing the economic benefits of the trail. “A
large majority of our customers are local, but the Rail Trail could help grow tourism,” said Jason
Allardt, owner of the historic Kirk’s Bike Shop.(其中之一是印第安纳州的梦溪小镇，这座城市
位于以前的铁路系统和铁路路线的一部分。这座城市已经看到了这条步道的经济效益。历
史悠久的柯克自行车店的老板Jason Allardt说：“我们的大部分顾客都是当地人，但这条
铁路可以帮助发展旅游业”。)”可知，位于美国印第安纳州的梦溪小镇，它坐落在往日的
一个铁路系统上，这个城市已经看到这条步道带来的经济发展的好处，且有利于旅游业的
发展。故选B项。
Passage 5
（23-24 高三下·河南·阶段练习）The National Heritage Responders is a volunteer
network of around 100 experts in cultural heritage conservation from around Puerto Rico. They
assist individuals and institutions in figuring out how to save important objects and buildings after
disasters. Their crisis hotline has been busier than ever in recent years because of more frequent
and severe weather brought on by climate change. In 2023, there have been around 70 calls so far,
up from fewer than 10 in 2008, when the hotline first appeared.
Ann Frellsen, the Atlanta-based book and paper conservator, is a longtime heritage
responder volunteer with more than three decades of experience in helping out cultural institutions
after disasters. She was among those sent to Puerto Rico over several visits starting a couple of
months after two hurricanes hit it in 2017.
After providing initial support via the phone, Frellsen and her team came in to help La Casa
del Libro and other local institutions in crisis with equipment, supplies and advice. In fact, muchof the advice the hotline provides is via phone or video-chat; volunteers are sent out into the field
in certain cases, on an as-needed basis.
“There were no stoplights and signs on the highways because they’d all been blown away,”
Frellsen said. She added that figuring out how to reach the more than 20 institutions that needed
assistance in Puerto Rico was challenging—not to mention the on-the-job hazards.
When Frellsen isn’t heading into disaster zones to help save artifacts (文物) from fires,
hurricanes and floods, she trains others in the heritage conservation field to do the same. Some of
the participants may eventually take the test to become National Heritage Responders. But at this
moment, they are deep in a hands-on training exercise, based on an imaginary situation cooked up
by Frellsen and her co-trainers.
17．What can we say about Puerto Rico?
A．It calls on people to keep in contact. B．Natural disasters are increasing there.
C．It works hard to build highways. D．The weather is really nice there.
18．What can be learned about the National Heritage Responders?
A．It teaches individuals how to protect themselves.
B．New volunteers can join it with no tests required.
C．Victims all over the world can contact it by hotline.
D．It sends experts to the disaster areas when necessary.
19．What does the underlined word “hazards” in paragraph 4 mean?
A．Dangers. B．Skills. C．Trainings. D．Rights.
20．What are Frellsen and her team busy doing at present?
A．Taking various tests. B．Entering a new disaster area.
C．Conducting a practical exercise. D．Restoring priceless artifacts.
【答案】17．B 18．D 19．A 20．C
【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要介绍了一个援助波多黎各的灾后保护文物的志愿者
组织NationlHeritage Responders及其中一名志愿者Ann Frellsen。
17．细节理解题。根据第一段中“Their crisis hotline has been busier than ever in recent years
because of more frequent and severe weather brought on by climate change. (近年来，由于气候
变化带来的更频繁、更恶劣的天气，他们的危机热线比以往任何时候都要忙。)”可知，发
生于波多黎各的自然灾害正在增加。故选B。18．细节理解题。根据第三段中“In fact, much of the advice the hotline provides is via phone
or video-chat; volunteers are sent out into the field in certain cases, on an as-needed basis. (事实
上，热线提供的大部分建议都是通过电话或视频聊天提供的；在某些情况下，志愿人员会
根据需要被派往实地。)”可知，National Heritage Responders在必要时会派专家去灾区。故
选D。
19．词句猜测题。根据画线词前“She added that figuring out how to reach the more than 20
institutions that needed assistance in Puerto Rico was challenging—not to mention the on-the-job
(她补充说，如何到达波多黎各需要援助的20多家机构是一个挑战，更不用说工作上的)”可
知，如何到达波多黎各需要援助的20多家机构是一个挑战，更不用说工作上的危险了。划
线词的意思是“危险”。A. Dangers危险；B. Skills技能；C. Trainings培训；D. Rights权
利。故选A。
20．细节理解题。根据最后一段中“But at this moment, they are deep in a hands-on training
exercise, based on an imaginary situation cooked up by Frellsen and her co-trainers. (但此时此刻，
他们正在深入实践训练，这是基于弗雷尔森和她的联合培训师虚构的一个情境。)”可知，
Frellsen 和她的团队正忙于模拟演习。故选C。
