英語四級閱讀，作為大學英語能力的重要評估指標，不僅檢驗了學生對詞匯、語法的掌握，更考察了其閱讀理解和信息篩選的能力。在全球化背景下，提升這一能力對于拓寬視野、增進跨文化交流至關重要。今天，小編將分享2024年12月大學英語四級閱讀真題以及答案（卷一）相關內(nèi)容，希望能為大家提供幫助！
Section A
Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
When Toni Morrison died in 2019, the world lost one of its most influential authors. But Morrison was not an early success. Her first novel was not published until she was 39, and her last appeared when she was 84. And Morrison was not 26 in this regard. Numerous writers produce masterpieces well into their 70s and beyond. Such 27 accomplishments highlight an important point. Our capacity to speak, write and learn new vocabulary does not seem to 28 with age. Our eyesight may dim and our recall may weaken, but, by comparison, our ability to produce and to 29 language is well preserved into older adulthood.
Indeed, the latest research that has emerged on language and aging shows that language mastery is a 30 that we begin as infants and continue on for the rest of our lives. Some aspects of our language abilities, such as our knowledge of word meanings, 31 improve during middle and late adulthood. One study, for example, found that adults over sixty had an average vocabulary size of over 21,000 words. The researchers also studied a 32 of college students and found that their average vocabulary contained 33 16,000 words. In another study, older adults, with an average age of 75, 34 better than participantsin their youth or middle years on tasks that required them to determine the meaning of words. Thus, language seems to be a skill that, contrary to what many might 35 , does not weaken with age.
A) actually
B) approximately
C) assume
D) component
E) comprehend
F) deteriorate
G) equivalent
H) journey
I) literary
J) performed
K) rarely
L) sample
M) undermined
N) unique
O) unit
Section B
Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.
Why it's wrong to look at work-life balance as an achievement
A) Few topics have been so endlessly analysed as work-life balance. The quest to attain this mysterious state has dominated discussion around careers for years——especially for working parents. The concept is often presented as something to achieve, or a goal to reach. And once you've reached it, congratulations: you've made it; you' re a successful human being of the 21st century.
B) But the problem is that we often tell ourselves:“I'm going to put in eight hours’worth of work, and then I'm going to put in eight hours’worth of‘me time’, which will include my family, my hobbies, my workout, my everything,”says Anat Lechner, clinical associate professor of management at New York University. “I don't think it's such a simple formula.”
C) And, according to new findings, it may not be. Some researchers are now encouraging us to stop thinking about work-life balance as an achievement that you either hit or don't. Instead, they suggest it may be more of a lifelong process——a continuous, never-ending exercise that requires self-awareness and timely adjustments. Researchers Ioana Lupu and Mayra Ruiz-Castro argue that work-life balance is“a cycle, not an achievement”. In their 2020 study, the researchers interviewed nearly 80 employees at two London-based firms——an equal number of men and women between the ages of 30 and 50, all with at least one dependent child——who worked in middle or senior management roles.
D) Although it sounds like the respondents had a lot in common, here's what separated them: about 30% of the men and 50% of the women reported resisting working long hours. The other respondents, meanwhile, all worked long hours because they thought that's what successful professionals should do.
E) Lupu and Ruiz-Castro looked at those who rejected the long hours and they found that those workers actually had strikingly similar strategies for maintaining their work-life balance. They had a tendency to reflect and question assumptions in the name of self-awareness and regularly took steps to adjust the things standing in their way to work-life balance.
F) Lupu and Ruiz-Castro identified five steps that the respondents in the study who had better work-life balance used in their jobs. First, they paused and reconsidered beliefs such as“I'm a professional, so I should work, work, work”, and asked themselves questions like, “What's currently causing me stress?” Second, after identifying the cause, they zeroed in on their resultant emotions. Did they feel angry, sad, energised? Third, they reprioritised, asking“Is working long hours really worth cutting back on family time?”, for example. Fourth, they considered their alternatives: is there anything at work that could be changed to accommodate these new priorities? And finally, they implemented changes, like asking their supervisor for greater flexibility, or deciding not to take on every project that comes their way.
G) This five-step process is something anyone can adopt. Going through the steps, and constantly checking in with yourself, can help you shift and adapt your professional life to something that will better harmonise with your personal one. “Awareness of your emotional state is essential in order to determine the changes you want to make in your work and in your life,” says Lupu.
H) New York University's Lechner agrees that finding that balance is an ongoing pursuit. It's not simply about dividing up the hours in your day between work, the gym, kids and chores. If the underlying emotional sources of stress are still there, then the time you actually spend at home may not be enjoyable. “We come home and even though physically we are there, mentally we still may be processing things that happened at work. We' re not present,” she says. What we call“work-life balance” is actually just a substitute to having a sense of fulfillment and contentment.
I) Of course, finding that balance probably shouldn't be something you have to do by yourself. Research by Erin Kelly, professor of work and organisation studies at MIT, shows companies and managers can play a key role in creating a better environment for workers. For her book Overload: How Good Jobs Went Bad and What to Do about It, she and co-author Phyllis Moen split more than 1,000 employees at a Fortune 500 company into two groups, one that worked under a management redesign and one that continued working within the existing management structure.
J) Under the management redesign, many steps were taken to ensure better work-life balance and prevent burnout(精疲力竭). Managers were regularly reminded to explicitly support their employees. Workers were allowed to make changes, like cancelling 9 am meetings. All of this was done in the name of increasing job satisfaction and giving workers greater flexibility, and to assure workers that it was something management was committed to. Unsurprisingly, Kelly and Moen found that employees in the redesign group reported less stress and less burnout. They were less likely to quit their jobs; indeed, over the next four years, they were 40% less likely to quit than those who kept working under the old policies.
K)“Work-life balance is understood to be an individual’s response, so people think‘it’s up to me to manage the craziness of my work life’”, says Kelly. But organisations need to examine the demands they’re placing on employees. “The root problem is not how the two pieces of work and life come together. It's that we have unrealistic expectations of what we' re asked to do on the work side.” If your workplace isn't an environment where work-life balance is possible in the first place, any effort you attempt to make toward it on a personal level will be in vain.
L) That's a conversation that appears to be gathering pace. The new prevalence of remote and flexible working models will likely all play important roles in how we balance our professional and personal lives. And if it seems like finding that perfect balance remains difficult to achieve, the experts say that keeping some perspective can help. For millions of people, work is about being able to put food on the table. Talking about work-life balance“is a very privileged conversation”, says Lechner. “If we’ re reflecting, maybe we should also reflect on that.”
36. According to a management expert, work-life balance is not as simple as giving equal amounts of time to work and personal life.
37. Research found that those who are given greater flexibility at work are less stressed and more likely to stay in their jobs.
38. Workers who rejected working long hours tended to make regular adjustments in order to achieve work-life balance.
39. Talking about work-life balance is said to be a privilege reserved for the better-off, not for those who barely make a living.
40. Knowing one's emotional state is of utmost importance in deciding what changes to make for a better work-life balance.
41. More female professionals reported being reluctant to work overtime than their male counterparts.
42. Without organisational support, any personal effort to maintain work-life balance will be unsuccessful.
43. The question of how to achieve work-life balance has long been the main subject of discussion among workers.
44. You may not actually experience emotional wellbeing at home if you remain occupied with what happened at work.
45. Some researchers suggest that work-life balance is not a goal to achieve, but a process for life to be adjusted promptly.
Section C
Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
The weakening of the human connection to nature might be good for economic growth but is bad for people. A tipping point was reached in 2020 when human-made materials——such as steel, concrete and plastic——were found to weigh more than all life on Earth. Continuing to grow concrete forests rather than real ones is shortsighted. Simply being in the nearest wood has such health benefits that the Woodland Trust successfully lobbied for it to be prescribed by doctors.
Yet slipping from popular culture is the wonder and beauty of the natural world. For every three nature-related words in hit songs of the 1950s, researchers found, there was only slightly more than one 50 years later. It is not a moment too soon that teenagers will be able to take a natural history test, given that for decades children have been able to name more video game characters than wildlife species.
Part of remedying this social disease would be for parliament to pass a“right to grow” law, allowing anyone to turn underused public spaces into vegetable and fruit gardens. The idea is for people to get back in touch with the soil—— while producing food sustainably.
Vegetable planting has a respectable tradition. In April 1649, locals responded to high prices and food shortages by cultivating vegetables on common land in Southern England. The practice of throwing seed bombs to turn vacant plots of land green took off in 1970s New York, and has been revived(使復活) by green-thumbed (有園藝才能的) social media influencers who defy local US regulations in a war on ugly spots in cities.
Apart from the urgent task of providing more healthy nutrients to those who increasingly can't afford them, publicly accessible fruit and vegetable gardens connect what we eat to where it comes from——the means of production, if you will. They can make unlovely spaces lovely, and marry use and beauty as well as help promote a sense of community. Plants are also, of course, our first defence against species loss and climate change. Such planting is a small step for humanity——in the right direction.
46. What does the author want to emphasise in the first paragraph?
A) The year 2020 was a big turning point in human history.
B) Economic growth benefits people little in the long run.
C) It is unwise to weaken the human connection to nature.
D) It is harmful to mankind to use human-made materials.
47. What did researchers find about popular culture?
A) It is increasingly detached from the natural world.
B) It is filled with all kinds of video game characters.
C) It is especially appealing to the taste of teenagers.
D) It is still impacted by the hit songs of the 1950s.
48. What does the author propose people do?
A) Take measures to ensure sustainable food development.
B) Reconnect with nature through the right to grow.
C) Stand by the parliament in fighting social diseases.
D) Cover public spaces with fruit trees and vegetable plants.
49. What do we learn from the passage about vegetable planting?
A) It all started in 1649 in Southern England.
B) It is protected by US government regulations.
C) It has long been used to increase food supply and improve urban landscape.
D) It has been popularised worldwide with the increasing influence of social media.
50. What can publicly accessible fruit and vegetable gardens do apart from their practical functions?
A) Raise people's environmental awareness.
B) Add to the great variety of plant species.
C) Act as the first defence against natural disasters.
D) Enhance people's community spirit.
Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
Engineering in the U. S. has long been a male-dominated profession. Fifty years ago, it looked like that might change.
In 1970, the percentage of women majoring in engineering was less than 1%. In 1979, that number was 9%.Many hoped women would continue to enter the field at the same rate. But that's not what happened. Today, only 21% of engineering majors are women,a number largely unchanged since 2000.
I am a historian who, along with my colleagues, surveyed 251 women engineers who graduated from college in the 1970s. These pioneers reflected on the challenges they faced—— and had advice for women entering the field today.
One survey taker explained, “The greatest challenge for me was continuing to believe in myself, when all the messages I was getting were that I would never be taken seriously or promoted or given raises at the same rate as men, who were clearly less qualified and not as smart as I was.”
A chemical engineer who worked in manufacturing agreed, “You have to prove yourself just because you are female. And you have to work twice as hard!”
A civil engineer said, “We are‘women engineers.’ People don’ t refer to a man as a‘man engineer’—— he’s an engineer. We are constantly reminded that we don't truly belong.” Another civil engineer stated, “On many levels, you' re never quite one of the groups.”
Women also talked about family caregiving responsibilities. A retired vice president from a major chemical company stated, “Young women engineers are on an equal footing until they have children, then they struggle to balance work and family——and compete with men who don't have the same household responsibilities.”
But over the years things have changed a lot. Young women engineers are more accepted mostly because there are just more of them.
Many women engineers hailed the benefits of their chosen career. A program manager in manufacturing stated that engineering is the best degree. A mechanical engineer said, “It will give you the flexibility to do almost anything. It is also satisfying to see the effects of what you have done.”
51. What does the passage say about the engineering profession in the United States?
A) It has seen a change in attitude towards women engineers since 1979.
B) It witnessed a significant increase in women engineers in the 1970s.
C) It has experienced the gradual weakening of male dominance.
D) It boasted the largest number of engineering majors in 2000.
52. What does one survey taker say was her greatest challenge?
A) Not to feel superior to less qualified male engineers.
B) Not to take seriously all the messages she was getting.
C) Not to think highly of her qualifications when promoted or given a pay raise.
D) Not to lose self-confidence though constantly discouraged or unfairly treated.
53. How do women engineers frequently feel according to the two civil engineers?
A) Disqualified on many levels.
B) Excluded from the group.
C) Overworked by their organizations.
D) Looked down upon by male colleagues.
54. What probably makes young women engineers more accepted nowadays?
A) Their success in gaining an equal footing.
B) Their ability to balance work and family.
C) The change in their responsibilities.
D) The increase in their number.
55. What can we conclude about many female engineers from the statement of a mechanical engineer?
A) They take great pride in their chosen career.
B) They have reaped the benefits of being flexible.
C) They enjoy doing engineering to the best degree.
D) They have proved capable of doing almost anything.
26.N)unique(adj.獨一無二的, 獨特的)
【語義判斷】上文提到，莫里森并非早期就獲得了成功，她的第一部小說直到39歲才出版，最后一部小說是在她84歲時問世的?？崭窈竺嬉痪涮岬?，許多作家在70多歲甚至更年長的時候仍能創(chuàng)作出杰作。也就是說，莫里森并不是孤例，許多人與她的情況一樣。代入選項可知，unique符合語境。
27.I)literary(adj.文學的; 書面的)
【語義判斷】空格前面一句提到，許多作家在70多歲甚至更年長的時候仍能創(chuàng)作出杰作?？崭袼诰渚湟鉃椤斑@樣的_____成就突出了重要的一點”。此句承上啟下, 引出下面的觀點。literary accomplishments意為“文學成就”，符合此處語境，故答案為literary。
28.F)deteriorate (v.惡化; 退化)
【語義判斷】上文提到“許多作家在70多歲甚至更年長的時候仍能創(chuàng)作出杰作。這樣的文學成就突出了重要的一點”，那么本句闡述這一點是什么，即“我們說話、寫作和學習新詞匯的能力似乎不會隨著年齡的增長而_____”。70多歲仍能創(chuàng)作出杰作說明寫作能力并不因年齡的增長而減弱，故deteriorate符合語境。
29.E)comprehend(v.理解, 領悟)
【語義判斷】該句句意為“我們的視力可能會變差，記憶力可能會減弱，但相比之下，我們產(chǎn)生和_____語言的能力卻能完好地保存到老年”。本句繼續(xù)解釋說明前一句“我們說話、寫作和學習新詞匯的能力似乎不會隨著年齡的增長而下降”的觀點。ability to produce and to comprehend language意為“產(chǎn)生和理解語言的能力”, 與上文語境相符, 故comprehend為答案。
30.H)journey(n.旅行, 旅程)
【語義判斷】空格后面that引導的定語從句作所填詞的定語，故該句意為“事實上，關于語言和衰老的最新研究表明，掌握語言是一段我們從嬰兒時期開始并持續(xù)一生的_____”，故journey符合此處語境。
31.A)actually(adv.事實上, 實際上)
【語義判斷】該句句意為“我們語言能力的一些方面，例如我們對單詞含義的理解，_____在中年和晚年期間會有所提高”。下文舉例論證這一說法，60歲以上的成年人的平均詞匯量比大學生群體的平均詞匯量要高，而且與中青年人相比，老年人對單詞含義的理解更好。代入選項可知，actually符合語境。
32.L)sample(n.樣本, 被抽選的一組人員)
【語義判斷】前面一句提到了一項研究的結(jié)果，此句闡述另一項研究及其結(jié)果。該句句意為“研究人員還研究了大學生_____, 發(fā)現(xiàn)他們的平均詞匯量包含_____16000個”, study a sample of意為“研究……的樣本”，符合此處語境，故答案為sample。
33.B)approximately (adv.大約, 大概)
【語義判斷】上文提到“我們語言能力的一些方面，例如我們對單詞含義的理解，實際上在中年和晚年期間會有所提高”。此處針對該觀點進行舉例說明，即60歲以上的成年人的平均詞匯量超過21000個，而大學生群體的平均詞匯量大約為16000個, 故approximately符合語境。
34.J)performed (v.表現(xiàn))
【語義判斷】此處闡述另一項研究結(jié)果，句意為“在另一項研究中，平均年齡為75歲的老年人在要求他們確定單詞含義的任務中比青年或中年的參與者_____得更好”，故performed符合語境。
35.C)assume(v.認為; 假設; 承擔; 呈現(xiàn))
【語義判斷】前面舉例之后，該句再次總結(jié)觀點，句意為“因此，語言似乎是一種技能，與許多人可能_____的相反，它不會隨著年齡的增長而減弱”。代入選項可知，assume符合語境。
36.題干譯文 根據(jù)一位管理專家的說法， 工作與生活的平衡并非給予工作和個人生活同等的時間那么簡單。
答案解析 B。 由題干關鍵信息a management expert、simple、equal amounts of time和 work and personal life定位到B段。該段提到，但問題是我們經(jīng)常告訴自己：“我要投入8小時的時間去工作，然后投入8小時的 ‘個人時間’ ，這包括我的家庭、我的愛好、我的鍛煉、我的一切，”紐約大學管理學臨床副教授阿納特·萊希納說，“我認為這不是一個簡單的公式?！庇纱丝梢?，題干是對該段的概括總結(jié)，其中amanagement expert對應原文中的 Anat Lechner, clinical associate professor of management, 而is not as simple as 對應原文中的don't think it's such a simple formula, 而giving equal amounts of time to work and personal life是對原文中引語“I’m going to put in eight hours’worth of work, and then I’m going to put in eight hours’worth of‘me time’…”的概括總結(jié)。
37.題干譯文 研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，那些在工作中獲得更大靈活性的人壓力更小，而且更有可能留在工作崗位上。
答案解析 J。由題干關鍵信息greater flexibility at work和less stressed and more likely to stay in their jobs定位到J段。該段最后兩句提到，不出所料，凱利和莫恩發(fā)現(xiàn)，在管理結(jié)構(gòu)重新設計組的員工報告的壓力和倦怠程度更低。他們辭職的可能性更小。由此可知，題干是對這兩句內(nèi)容的同義轉(zhuǎn)述。其中Researchfound對應原文中的 Kelly and Moen found, 而those who are given greater flexibility at work對應原文中的employees in theredesign group, 而are less stressed and more likely to stay in their jobs對應原文中的reported less stress and less burnout和were less likely to quit their jobs。
38.題干譯文 拒絕長時間工作的員工傾向于做定期調(diào)整，以實現(xiàn)工作與生活的平衡。
答案解析 E。由題干關鍵信息rejected working long hours和make regular adjustments定位到E段。該段指出,盧普和魯伊斯-卡斯特羅對那些拒絕長時間工作的人進行了研究??他們傾向于以自我意識的名義反思和質(zhì)疑假設，并定期采取措施調(diào)整阻礙他們實現(xiàn)工作與生活平衡的事情。由此可知，題干是對該段內(nèi)容的概括。題干中的Workers who rejected working long hours對應原文中的those who rejected the long hours, 而tended to對應原文中的had a tendency to, 而make regular adjustments in order to achieve work-life balance對應原文中的regularly took steps to adjust the things standing in their way to work-life balance。
39.題干譯文 據(jù)文章所說，談論工作與生活的平衡是留給富人的特權(quán)，而不是那些勉強維持生計的人的特權(quán)。
答案解析 L。 由題干關鍵信息Talking about work-life balance、a privilege reserved for the better-off和those whobarely make a living定位到L段。該段倒數(shù)第二、三句提到，對于數(shù)百萬人來說，工作就是為了能夠養(yǎng)家糊口。萊希納表示，談論工作與生活的平衡“是一種富有特權(quán)性質(zhì)的對話”。換言之，談論工作與生活的平衡是留給富人的特權(quán)，而不是那些勉強維持生計的人的特權(quán)，由此可見，題干是對這兩句的概括總結(jié)，其中Talking about work-life balance屬于原詞重現(xiàn), 而is said to be a privilege reserved for the better-off對應原文中的“is a very privileged conversation”, says Lechner, 而barely make a living對應原文中的being able to putfood on the table。
40.題干譯文 了解自己的情緒狀態(tài)對于決定做出什么改變來更好地平衡工作和生活至關重要。
答案解析 G。 由題干關鍵信息one's emotional state、utmost importance和deciding what changes to make for abetter work-life balance定位到G段。該段最后一句提到，盧普說：“意識到自己的情緒狀態(tài)對于決定你想在工作和生活中做出的改變至關重要?！庇纱丝芍?，題干是對原文內(nèi)容的同義轉(zhuǎn)述。其中題干中的Knowingone’s emotional state is of utmost importance對應原文中的Awareness of your emotional state is essential, 而deciding what changes to make for a better work-life balance對應原文中的determine the changes you want to make in your work and in your life。
41.題干譯文 與男性專業(yè)人士相比，更多的女性專業(yè)人士表示不愿意加班。
答案解析 D。由題干關鍵信息More female professionals、being reluctant to work overtime和male counterparts定位到D段。該段第一句提到，盡管聽起來受訪者有很多共同點，但他們之間的區(qū)別是：大約30%的男性和50%的女性稱抵制長時間工作。即與男性專業(yè)人士相比，更多的女性專業(yè)人士表示不愿意加班。由此可知, 題干是對原文內(nèi)容的概括總結(jié)。題干中的More female professionals reported... than their male counterparts對應原文中的about 30% of the men and 50% of the women reported, 而being reluctant to work overtime對應原文中的resisting working long hours。
42.題干譯文 沒有組織的支持，任何維持工作與生活平衡的個人努力都不會成功。
答案解析 K。由題干關鍵信息Without organisational support、any personal effort和unsuccessful定位到K段。該段最后一句提到，如果你的工作場所從一開始就不是一個工作與生活可能達到平衡的環(huán)境，那么你在個人層面上為平衡工作與生活所做的任何努力都將是徒勞的。由此可知，題干是對該句內(nèi)容的同義轉(zhuǎn)述。其中Without organisational support對應原文中的 If your workplace isn't an environment where work-life balance ispossible in the first place, 而any personal effort to maintain work-life balance will be unsuccessful對應原文中的any effort you attempt to make toward it on a personal level will be in vain。
43.題干譯文 長期以來，如何實現(xiàn)工作與生活的平衡這一問題一直是員工們討論的主要話題。
答案解析 A。由題干關鍵信息The question of how to achieve work-life balance和the main subject of discussionamong workers定位到A段。該段前兩句提到，很少有話題像工作與生活的平衡這樣被無休止地分析。多年來，對這種神秘狀態(tài)的追求主導了圍繞職業(yè)展開的討論。由此可知，題干是對原文內(nèi)容的概括總結(jié)。其中題干中的work-life balance屬于原詞重現(xiàn), The question of how to achieve work-life balance對應原文中的Thequest to attain this mysterious state, 而has long been the main subject of discussion among workers對應原文中的has dominated discussion around careers for years。
44.題干譯文 如果你仍然想著工作中發(fā)生的事情，那么你在家里可能不會真正體驗到情感上的幸福。
答案解析 H。由題干關鍵信息not actually experience emotional wellbeing at home和remain occupied with whathappened at work定位到H段。該段第三句提到，如果壓力的潛在情緒來源仍然存在，那么你在家里度過的時間可能并不愉快。接著文章引用萊希納的話提到：“我們回到家，盡管身體在家里，但精神上我們可能仍然在處理工作中發(fā)生的事情。我們并不是真的在家?！庇纱丝芍}干是對原文內(nèi)容的概括總結(jié)。其中You may not actually experience emotional wellbeing at home對應原文中的the time you actually spend at home may not be enjoyable, 而if you remain occupied with what happened at work對應原文中的 mentally we still may be processing things that happened at work。
45.題干譯文 一些研究人員認為，工作與生活的平衡不是 一個要實現(xiàn)的目標，而是 一個需要及時調(diào)整的終身過程。
答案解析 C。由題干關鍵信息Some Researchers、work-life balance is not a goal to achieve和a process for life tobe adjusted promptly定位到C段。該段第二、三句提到，一些研究人員現(xiàn)在鼓勵我們不要再把工作與生活的平衡視為一項你要么達到，要么沒有達到的成就。相反，他們認為它可能更像是一個終身的過程————一個需要自我意識和及時調(diào)整的、持續(xù)且永無止境的練習。由此可知，題干是對原文內(nèi)容的概括總結(jié)，其中Some researchers、work-life balance和suggest屬于原詞重現(xiàn), work-life balance is not a goal to achieve對應原文中的stop thinking about work-life balance as an achievement that you either hit or don't, 而a process for life tobe adjusted promptly對應原文中的a lifelong process... timely adjustments。
46.【定位】根據(jù)題干關鍵詞in the first paragraph定位到第一段。
C)【解析】文章第一段指出，人類與自然聯(lián)系的弱化可能有利于經(jīng)濟增長，但對人類不利。接著提到，2020年，人造材料的總重量超過了地球上所有生物的重量，這凸顯了環(huán)境問題的嚴重性。第一段圍繞著人類與自然的聯(lián)系弱化這一現(xiàn)象及其不良后果展開，強調(diào)了削弱人類與自然的聯(lián)系是不明智的。選項C與原文意思一致，故為答案。其他三項與原文內(nèi)容不符，可排除。
47.【定位】根據(jù)題干關鍵詞popular culture可將答案定位到第二段。
A)【解析】第二段首句指出，自然界的神奇與美麗卻在大眾文化中逐漸消失，隨后對比了20世紀50年代熱門歌曲中與自然相關的詞匯和50年后的情況，以及孩子們能說出更多電子游戲角色而非野生動物物種的名字，這些都體現(xiàn)出流行文化與自然界的脫節(jié)。選項A與原文意思一致，故為答案。文章中只提到孩子們能說出更多游戲角色的名字，并非說流行文化充滿游戲角色，可排除B。選項C的內(nèi)容文中未提及，可排除。選項D是利用文中片面信息杜撰的錯誤選項，可排除。
48.【定位】根據(jù)題干關鍵詞author propose people do定位到第三段。
B)【解析】第三段指出，議會應該通過一項“種植權(quán)”的法律，允許任何人將未充分利用的公共空間變成蔬果園，而這一想法的目的是讓人們重新與土地建立聯(lián)系，同時可持續(xù)地生產(chǎn)食物。選項B是對該段內(nèi)容的概括總結(jié)，符合題意，故為答案。選項A、C、D的說法在文中沒有依據(jù)，可排除。
49.【定位】根據(jù)題干關鍵詞vegetable planting定位到第四段。
C)【解析】第四段首先舉出1649年英格蘭南部居民通過種菜應對食物短缺的例子，然后提到20世紀70年代紐約用投擲種子炸彈的方式來綠化空地的做法，現(xiàn)在這種做法又被有園藝才能的社交媒體影響人士復興，可見蔬菜種植長期以來被用于增加食物供給以及改善城市景觀。選項C是對原文內(nèi)容的概括總結(jié)，故為答案。其他三項均與原文不符，可排除。
50.【定位】根據(jù)題干關鍵詞publicly accessible fruit and vegetable gardens定位到最后一段第二、三句。
D)【解析】最后一段第二句提到公眾可使用的蔬果園可以讓不可愛的空間變得可愛，將使用和美觀結(jié)合起來，并有助于增強社區(qū)意識。選項D中community spirit是原文a sense of community的同義轉(zhuǎn)述, 故選D。選項A和B文中未提及，可排除。本段第三句提到植物是應對物種損失和氣候變化的第一道防線，而非公眾可使用的蔬果園可以作為抵御自然災害的第一道防線，C項與原文不符，可排除。
51.【定位】根據(jù)題干關鍵詞engineering profession in the United States定位到文章前兩段。
B)【解析】文章第一段指出，美國的工程職業(yè)長期以來由男性主導，接著第二段提到在1970年女性主修工程學的比例不到1%，到1979年這一數(shù)字達到了9%，這說明在20世紀70年代女性工程師數(shù)量有顯著的增加。B項與原文表述一致，故為答案。其他三項均與文章內(nèi)容不符，故排除。
52.【定位】根據(jù)題干關鍵詞one survey take和greatest challenge定位到第四段。
D)【解析】第四段引述的一位受訪者的原話中提到，在她收到的所有信息都是關于自己受重視、獲得晉升或加薪的速度永遠也趕不上顯然不如自己有資格、也不如自己聰明的男性時，她最大的挑戰(zhàn)是要繼續(xù)相信自己。也就是說，她最大的挑戰(zhàn)是即使經(jīng)常受到挫折或不公平對待，也不能失去自信。D項與原文一致，故為答案。選項A和B文中未提及，可排除。原文中表達的是在收到不利消息時仍保持自信，C項與原文不符，故排除。
53.【定位】根據(jù)題干關鍵詞two civil engineers定位到第六段。
B)【解析】第六段中提到，一位土木工程師說人們稱呼她們是“女工程師”，而男性不會被稱為“男工程師”，感覺自己不屬于這個群體，另一位土木工程師也提到在很多層面上自己從來都不是其中的一員。這都體現(xiàn)出她們感覺自己被排除在群體之外。B項符合原文，故為答案。其他三項文中均未提及，故排除。
54.【定位】根據(jù)題干關鍵詞more accepted定位到倒數(shù)第二段。
D)【解析】倒數(shù)第二段明確指出，年輕的女工程師被更多人接受，主要是因為她們的人數(shù)增多了。選項D與原文一致，故為答案。其他三項均不是年輕女性工程師如今更易被接受的原因，均可排除。
55.【定位】根據(jù)題干關鍵詞a mechanical engineer定位到末段結(jié)尾句。
A)【解析】最后一段第一句提到，許多女工程師為自己選擇的職業(yè)所帶來的好處歡呼雀躍。最后一段結(jié)尾句引述了一位機械工程師的原話，即“它(工程學)能讓你靈活地做幾乎任何事情?？吹阶约核龉ぷ鳟a(chǎn)生的成效也會讓人感到滿足”。從以上兩點可以推斷，女工程師們對自己所選的職業(yè)感到自豪。選項A符合原文，故為答案。選項B中的being flexible雖與原文中的flexibility同義，但這是該機械工程師的直接陳述，無需推斷，故排除。C項和D項與原文不符，故排除。
