Gaokao English: Reading Comprehension Flashcards

Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: The human microbiome — the trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms living in and on the body — plays a critical role in health. These microorganisms help digest food, produce vitamins, and train the immune system to distinguish between harmful pathogens and harmless substances. Disruptions to the microbiome, caused by antibiotics, poor diet, or stress, have been linked to conditions ranging from obesity to mental health disorders. What function of the microbiome is NOT mentioned in the passage?

Answer: Regulating heart rate

The passage lists digestion, vitamin production, and immune training; regulating heart rate is not mentioned.

Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Public transportation systems are central to sustainable urban development. Buses and trains can move large numbers of people efficiently, reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions compared to private cars. Cities with well-developed transit networks also show lower rates of road accidents. Despite these benefits, many governments underinvest in public transit, often because its costs are highly visible while its benefits — reduced congestion, fewer accidents, cleaner air — are diffuse and harder to quantify. Why do governments often underinvest in public transit, according to the passage?

Answer: The benefits of transit are spread out and difficult to measure precisely.

The passage says governments underinvest because the benefits are 'diffuse and harder to quantify' even though they are real.

Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Ocean plastic pollution is a worsening global crisis. Each year, an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean. Larger plastic objects break down into tiny particles called microplastics, which have been found in fish, sea birds, drinking water, and even human blood. While much attention focuses on plastic bags and bottles, fibers shed from synthetic clothing during washing also contribute significantly to ocean microplastic pollution. What is a less obvious source of ocean microplastics mentioned in the passage?

Answer: Fibers shed from synthetic clothing during washing.

The passage notes that while plastic bags and bottles get the most attention, synthetic clothing fibers are also a significant, less recognized source.

Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power are growing rapidly. In 2023, renewables accounted for over 30% of global electricity generation. The cost of solar panels has fallen by more than 90% since 2010, making solar competitive with fossil fuels in many markets. However, the intermittent nature of wind and solar — they generate electricity only when the wind blows or sun shines — means that large-scale energy storage solutions are critical for a reliable clean energy grid. What challenge does the passage identify for wind and solar energy?

Answer: They generate electricity intermittently, requiring energy storage solutions.

The passage specifically identifies intermittency — generating power only when conditions allow — as the key challenge requiring storage solutions.

Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: The Silk Road was not a single road but a network of trade routes connecting China to Central Asia, the Middle East, and ultimately Europe. For centuries, merchants transported silk, spices, and other luxury goods across these routes. The Silk Road was also a conduit for the exchange of ideas, religions, and technologies. Buddhism, Islam, and paper-making all spread along these routes, illustrating that trade has always involved more than the movement of goods. What broader point does the author make about the Silk Road?

Answer: It shows that trade involves the exchange of culture and ideas, not only goods.

The final sentence explicitly states the Silk Road illustrates that trade involves more than goods — it also spreads ideas, religions, and technologies.

Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: The aging population is one of the defining demographic challenges of the 21st century. In many developed nations, birth rates have declined while life expectancy has increased, resulting in a growing proportion of elderly citizens. This shift strains pension systems, healthcare infrastructure, and labor markets. Some countries respond by encouraging immigration to replenish their workforce; others invest in automation and robotics to compensate for labor shortages. According to the passage, how do some countries address labor shortages caused by aging populations?

Answer: By encouraging immigration and investing in automation.

The passage explicitly states two responses: encouraging immigration and investing in automation and robotics.

Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: The concept of 'food miles' refers to the distance food travels from where it is produced to where it is consumed. Proponents argue that buying local food reduces transportation-related carbon emissions and supports local farmers. However, researchers have found that transportation often accounts for a small fraction of a food's total carbon footprint. The farming method used may matter more: air-freighted organic tomatoes from a nearby greenhouse may have a larger footprint than sea-shipped conventional ones from a distant country. What does the research finding suggest about the 'food miles' concept?

Answer: The carbon footprint of food depends on more than just the distance it travels.

The research shows transportation is a small fraction of total footprint and farming methods matter more — distance alone does not determine environmental impact.