Section B: Paragraph Matching

Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.

The Benefits of Solitude

A) I can be a reluctant socialiser. I’m sometimes secretly pleased when social plans are called off. I even once went on a free 10-day silent meditation retreat — not for the meditation, but for the silence.

B) So can relate to author Anneli Rufus... When parents on TV shows punished their kids by ordering them to go to their rooms, I was confused. I loved my room. Being there behind a locked door was a treat. To me a punishment was being ordered to play games with my cousin Louis.

C) Unsocial tendencies like these are often far from ideal. Abundant research shows the harms of social isolation, considered a serious public health problem in countries that have rapidly ageing populations... In the UK, the Royal College of General Practitioners says that loneliness has the same risk level for premature death as diabetes. Strong social connections are important for cognitive functioning...

D) This is especially clear from cases of extreme social isolation. Examples of people kept in captivity... solitary confinement all show how prolonged solitude can lead to hallucinations and other forms of mental instability.

E) But these are severe and involuntary cases of aloneness. For those of us who just prefer plenty of alone time, emerging research suggests some good news: there are upsides to being alone — for both our work lives and our emotional wellbeing.

F) Solitude is a time for reflection, for thinking about things more deeply. In a world increasingly focused on speed and competitiveness, solitude is precious and something to be treasured. And there are benefits in learning to love your solitude.

G) One key benefit of solitude is improved creativity. Gregory Feist... has defined creativity as thinking or activity with two key elements: originality and usefulness. He has found that personality traits commonly associated with creativity are openness... and a preference for being alone. Feist’s research on both artists and scientists shows that one of the most prominent features of creative folks is their lesser interest in socialising.

H) One reason for this is that such people are likely to spend sustained time alone working on their craft. Plus, Feist says, many artists are trying to make sense of their internal world... Solitude allows for the reflection and observation necessary for that creative process.

I) A recent justification... University at Buffalo psychologist Julie Bowker... was the first to show that a type of social withdrawal could have a positive effect — they found that creativity was linked specifically to unsociability. They also found that unsociability had no correlation with aggression...

J) Still, it turns out that solitude is important for more than creativity... One 2011 study showed that in branches of a pizza chain where employees were more active, introverted leaders were more effective. One reason for this is that introverted people are less likely to feel threatened by strong personalities... They’re also more likely to listen.

K) Since ancient times, meanwhile, people have been aware of a link between isolation and mental focus... One benefit of unsociability is the brain’s state of active mental rest... When another person is present, your brain can’t help but pay some attention. This can be a positive distraction. But it’s still a distraction.

L) Daydreaming in the absence of such distractions activates the brain’s default-mode network... Giving free rein to a wandering mind not only helps with focus in the long term but strengthens your sense of both yourself and others... And the occasional absence of focus ultimately helps concentration in the long run.

M) A more recent advocate... Susan Cain, author of Quiet... creativity... requires sustained attention and deep focus. Also, humans are such absorbent social beings that when we surround ourselves with others, we automatically take in their opinions and aesthetics. To truly chart our own path or vision, we have to be willing to isolate ourselves, at least for some period of time.

N) Still, the line between useful solitude and dangerous isolation can be blurry... Feist says, there’s a real danger with people who are never alone. It’s hard to examine one’s own thoughts, feelings and motives, to be self-aware... unless you have occasional solitude. In addition, introverts tend to have fewer but stronger friendships — which has been linked to greater happiness.

O) As with many things, quality reigns over quantity. Nurturing a few solid relationships without feeling the need to constantly populate your life with endless chatting ultimately may be better for you.

P) Thus, if your personality tends toward unsociability, you shouldn’t feel the need to change... as long as you have regular social contact... you have at least a few good friends and your solitude is good for your well-being or productivity, there’s no point agonising over how to fit a square personality into a round hole.

36. Lots of research demonstrates that being socially isolated is harmful to the elderly. (C)

37. Being alone enables artists to think and observe, which is a must for their creation. (H)

38. To one writer, being forced to play with others was a penalty while being kept alone in a room was quite a pleasure. (B)

39. Recent research shows for the first time that there is a specific link between being creative and being unsociable. (I)

40. We must be willing to stay alone at least for some time in order to plot our own course. (M)

41. According to new research, for people who prefer being alone, solitude can be beneficial to their work lives and emotional health. (E)

42. It may tum out to be better for one to cultivate a few steady relationships than to busy themselves socialising. (O)

43. Allowing your mind to wander freely is conducive to sharpening your focus in the long run. (L)

44. Research conducted on artists and scientists indicates that creative people are less interested in hanging out with others. (G)

45. According to Feist, you will have difficulty knowing yourself if you do not stay alone occasionally. (N)

Answers & Explanations (答案与解析)

Section B 解析

36. C。解析：定位段落C。提到社会隔离在“rapidly ageing populations”（快速老龄化的人群）中被认为是严重公共卫生问题。

37. H。解析：定位段落H。提到“Solitude allows for the reflection and observation necessary for that creative process”（独处为创作过程所需的反思和观察提供了可能）。

38. B。解析：定位段落B。作者Anneli Rufus写到独处是“treat”（款待/享受），而被命令玩游戏是“punishment”（惩罚/penalty）。

39. I。解析：定位段落I。Bowker的研究是“the first to show”（第一次展示）不爱社交（unsociability）与创造力有关。

40. M。解析：定位段落M。Susan Cain提到“To truly chart our own path... have to be willing to isolate ourselves”（要规划我们自己的道路，必须愿意孤立自己/独处）。

41. E。解析：定位段落E。提到独处有益处（upsides），包括“work lives”（工作生活）和“emotional wellbeing”（情感健康）。

42. O。解析：定位段落O。提到“Nurturing a few solid relationships... may be better for you”（培养一些稳固的关系可能对你更好）。

43. L。解析：定位段落L。提到“Giving free rein to a wandering mind... helps with focus in the long term”（让思维漫游长期来看有助于专注）。

44. G。解析：定位段落G。研究显示“one of the most prominent features of creative folks is their lesser interest in socialising”（创意人才最显著的特征之一是社交兴趣较低）。

45. N。解析：定位段落N。Feist提到“It’s hard to examine one’s own thoughts... to be self-aware... unless you have occasional solitude”（如果不偶尔独处，很难审视自己的思想，也很难自我觉察/认识自己）。

核心搭配与高分句型

【核心搭配】

chart one's own path：规划自己的道路 (M段)

quality reigns over quantity：质量胜过数量 (O段)

a far cry from：与...大相径庭 (N段)

give free rein to：放任，让...自由发挥 (L段)

【亮点句型解析】

Paradoxically structure:
"Paradoxically, therefore, periods of solitude actually help when it comes time to socialise once more."
（因此，矛盾的是，一段独处的时间实际上在再次社交时会有所帮助。）使用了 Paradoxically (矛盾地) 引起下文的反直觉结论。