Section B: Paragraph Matching
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.
The Benefits of Solitude
A) I can be a reluctant socialiser. I’m sometimes secretly pleased when social plans are called off. I get restless a few hours into a hangout. I even once went on a free 10-day silent meditation (冥想) retreat — not for the meditation, but for the silence.
B) So can relate to author Anneli Rufus, who wrote in Party of One: The Loners’ Manifesto: “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 (though talk of a ‘loneliness epidemic’ may be exaggerated). 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, motor function and a smoothly running immune system.
D) This is especially clear from cases of extreme social isolation. Examples of people kept in captivity, children kept isolated in abusive orphanages, and prisoners kept in solitary confinement all show how prolonged solitude can lead to hallucinations (幻觉) 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, who focuses on the psychology of creativity at California’s San Jose State University, 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 (receptiveness to new thoughts and experiences), self-confidence, and autonomy — which may include “a lack of concern for social norms” and “a preference for being alone”. In fact, 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 and a lot of internal personal experiences that they’re trying to give expression and meaning to through their art.” Solitude allows for the reflection and observation necessary for that creative process.
I) A recent justification of these ideas came from University at Buffalo psychologist Julie Bowker, who researches social withdrawal. Social withdrawal is usually categorised into three types: shyness caused by fear or anxiety; avoidance, from a dislike of socialising; and unsociability, from a preference for solitude. A paper by Bowker and her colleagues 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 (shyness and avoidance did). This was significant because while previous research had suggested that unsociability might be harmless, Bowker and colleagues’ paper showed that it could actually be beneficial. Unsociable people are likely to be “having just enough interaction,” Bowker says. “They have a preference for being alone, but they also don’t mind being with others.”
J) Still, it turns out that solitude is important for more than creativity. It’s commonly believed that leaders need to be sociable. But this depends, among other things, on the personalities of their employees. One 2011 study showed that in branches of a pizza chain where employees were more passive, outgoing bosses were associated with higher profits. But in branches where employees were more active, introverted (内向的) leaders were more effective. One reason for this is that introverted people are less likely to feel threatened by strong personalities and suggestions. They’re also more likely to listen.
K) Since ancient times, meanwhile, people have been aware of a link between isolation and mental focus. After all, cultures with traditions of religious hermits (隐士) believe that solitude is important for enlightenment. Recent research has given us a better understanding of why. One benefit of unsociability is the brain’s state of active mental rest, which goes handin-hand with the stillness of being alone. 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. Among other functions, this network helps to consolidate memory and understand others’ emotions. 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. Paradoxically, therefore, periods of solitude actually help when it comes time to socialise once more. And the occasional absence of focus ultimately helps concentration in the long run.
M) A more recent advocate of thoughtful and productive solitude is Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking and founder of Quiet Revolution, a company that promotes quiet and introvert-friendly workplaces. “These days, we tend to believe that creativity emerges from a decidedly unreserved socialising process, but in fact it requires sustained attention and deep focus,” she says. “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. “Almost anything can be adaptive and maladaptive, depending on how extreme they get,” Feist says. A disorder has to do with dysfunction. If someone stops caring about people and cuts off all contact, this could point to an irrational neglect of social relations. But creative unsociability is a far cry from this. In fact, 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, and fully relaxed 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. Of course, that comes with qualifications. But as long as you have regular social contact you are choosing solitude rather than being forced into it, 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.
全文翻译
A) 我是一个不太情愿社交的人。有时当社交计划被取消时，我暗自高兴。聚会进行几个小时后我就变得焦躁不安。我甚至曾经参加过一个免费的十天静默冥想静修——不是为了冥想，而是为了静默。
B) 所以我能理解作家安内利·鲁弗斯，她在《一个人的派对：孤独者宣言》中写道："当电视节目中的父母通过命令孩子回房间来惩罚他们时，我感到困惑。我爱我的房间。在那里，锁着门是一种享受。对我来说，惩罚是被命令去和我的表弟路易斯玩游戏。"
C) 像这样的不社交倾向通常远非理想。大量研究表明社会隔离的危害，在人口迅速老龄化的国家，社会隔离被视为一个严重的公共健康问题（尽管对"孤独流行病"的讨论可能被夸大了）。在英国，皇家全科医师学会表示，孤独感带来的早逝风险与糖尿病相当。强大的社会联系对认知功能、运动功能和免疫系统的顺畅运行都很重要。
D) 这在极端社会隔离的案例中尤其明显。被囚禁的人、被关在虐待性孤儿院中的儿童以及被单独监禁的囚犯的例子都表明，长时间的独处可能导致幻觉和其他形式的精神不稳定。
E) 但这些是严重且非自愿的独处情况。对于我们这些只是喜欢大量独处时间的人来说，新兴研究带来了一些好消息：独处有好处——对我们的工作生活和情感健康都有好处。
F) 独处是反思的时间，是更深入思考事物的时间。在一个越来越注重速度和竞争力的世界里，独处是珍贵的，值得珍惜的。而且学会热爱独处是有好处的。
G) 独处的一个关键好处是提高创造力。格雷戈里·费斯特专注于加州圣何塞州立大学的创造力心理学，他将创造力定义为具有两个关键要素的思维或活动：原创性和实用性。他发现，通常与创造力相关的个性特征包括开放性（对新思想和新体验的接受性）、自信和自主性——这可能包括"对社会规范缺乏关注"和"偏好独处"。事实上，费斯特对艺术家和科学家的研究表明，创造性人群最显著的特征之一是他们对社交的兴趣较低。
H) 一个原因是这些人可能会花长时间独处于他们的手艺上。此外，费斯特说，许多艺术家"试图理解他们的内心世界和大量内在的个人经历，他们试图通过他们的艺术来表达并赋予意义。"独处为创造过程所需的反思和观察提供了空间。
I) 最近对这些思想的论证来自布法罗大学的心理学家朱莉·鲍克，她研究社会退缩。社会退缩通常分为三种类型：由恐惧或焦虑引起的害羞；来自不喜欢社交的回避；以及来自偏好独处的不善社交。鲍克和她的同事的一篇论文率先表明一种类型的社会退缩可能产生积极效果——他们发现创造力与不善社交密切相关。他们还发现不善社交与攻击性没有任何相关性（害羞和回避有）。这很重要，因为虽然先前的研究表明不善社交可能是无害的，但鲍克及其同事的论文表明它实际上可能是有益的。不善社交的人很可能正在进行足够多的互动，鲍克说。他们有偏好的独处，但他们也不介意和别人在一起。
J) 然而，事实证明独处的重要性不仅限于创造力。人们普遍认为领导者需要善于社交。但这取决于，除其他因素外，他们员工的个性。2011年的一项研究表明，在员工更被动的披萨连锁店分店中，外向的老板与更高的利润相关。但在员工更主动的分店中，内向型领导者更有效。一个原因是内向的人不太可能被强势的个性和建议所威胁。他们也更可能倾听。
K) 自古以来，人们就已经意识到隔离与精神专注之间的联系。毕竟，有宗教隐士传统的文化相信独处对开悟很重要。最近的研究让我们更好地理解了原因。不善社交的一个好处是大脑的主动心理休息状态，这与独处的宁静密切相关。当另一个人在场时，你的大脑情不自禁地会给予一些注意。这可以是一个积极的分散注意力。但它仍然是一个分散注意力。
L) 在没有这种干扰的情况下做白日梦会激活大脑的默认模式网络。除其他功能外，这个网络有助于巩固记忆和理解他人的情绪。让思绪自由漫游不仅在长期内有助专注，而且强化了你对自己和他人的感知。因此，矛盾的是，独处的时期实际上有助于再次社交的时候。偶尔缺乏专注最终有助于长期的注意力集中。
M) 一位较近期的深思熟虑和富有成效的独处的倡导者是苏珊·凯恩，《安静：内向者在无法停止说话的世界中的力量》一书的作者，以及安静革命的创始人，这家公司推广安静和内向友好的工作场所。"如今，我们倾向于相信创造力来自一个明确毫不保留的社交过程，但实际上它需要持续的注意力和深度专注，"她说。"此外，人类是如此善于吸收的社交动物，当我们围绕在他人身边时，我们会自动吸收他们的意见和审美。要真正规划我们自己的道路或愿景，我们必须愿意孤立自己，至少在某段时间内。"
N) 然而，有益的独处与危险的隔离之间的界限可能模糊。"几乎任何事情都可以是适应性的和不适应的，取决于它们变得多极端，"费斯特说。障碍与功能障碍有关。如果某人不再关心他人并切断所有联系，这可能指向对社交关系的不理性忽视。但创造性的不善社交与此相去甚远。事实上，费斯特说，"从不独处的人存在真正的危险。"除非你偶尔独处，否则很难审视自己的思想、感受和动机，很难有自我意识，很难完全放松。此外，内向者倾向于拥有更少但更牢固的友谊——这与更大的幸福感相关。
O) 与许多事物一样，质量重于数量。培养几段稳固的关系，而不觉得需要不断用无休止的聊天来填满你的生活，最终可能对你更好。
P) 因此，如果你的性格倾向于不善社交，你不应该觉得需要改变。当然，这是有条件的。但只要你有定期的社交接触，你是选择独处而不是被迫独处，你至少有几个好朋友，你的独处对你的健康或生产力有益，就没有必要为如何把方的性格塞进圆的洞而烦恼。
Answers & Explanations (答案与解析)
Section B 段落匹配解析
36. C。解析：题干意为“大量研究表明，社会隔离对老年人有害”。定位至段落 C。文中提到 "Abundant research shows the harms of social isolation... in countries that have rapidly ageing populations"（大量研究显示了社会隔离的危害，在人口快速老龄化的国家中被视为严重的公共卫生问题）。"Lots of research" 对应 "Abundant research"；"the elderly" 对应 "ageing populations"。
37. H。解析：题干意为“独处使艺术家能够思考和观察，这是他们创作的必修课”。定位至段落 H 末尾。文中指出 "Solitude allows for the reflection and observation necessary for that creative process."（独处为创作过程提供了必要的反思和观察）。"think and observe" 对应 "reflection and observation"；"a must" 对应 "necessary"。
38. B。解析：题干意为“对一位作家来说，被迫与他人玩耍是一种惩罚，而被独自关在房间里则是一种乐趣”。定位至段落 B。作家 Anneli Rufus 回忆道："Being there behind a locked door was a treat. To me a punishment was being ordered to play games with my cousin Louis."（在一扇锁着的门后是一种享受。对我来说，惩罚是被命令和表哥路易斯玩游戏）。"penalty" 对应 "punishment"；"pleasure" 对应 "treat"。
39. I。解析：题干意为“最近的研究首次表明，在富有创造力和不合群之间存在特定的联系”。定位至段落 I。文中写道："A paper by Bowker and her colleagues 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."（鲍克及其同事的一篇论文首次表明……创造力与不合群有具体的联系）。"for the first time" 对应 "the first to show"；"specific link" 对应 "linked specifically"。
40. M。解析：题干意为“为了规划我们自己的路线，我们必须愿意至少独处一段时间”。定位至段落 M 末尾。Susan Cain 表示："To truly chart our own path or vision, we have to be willing to isolate ourselves, at least for some period of time."（为了真正规划我们自己的道路或愿景，我们必须愿意孤立自己，至少在一段时间内）。"plot our own course" 对应 "chart our own path"；"stay alone" 对应 "isolate ourselves"。
41. E。解析：题干意为“根据最新研究，对于喜欢独处的人来说，独处可能有益于他们的工作生活和情感健康”。定位至段落 E。文中提到："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."（对于喜欢独处的人……新兴研究表明……独处有好处——不仅对我们的工作生活，也对我们的情感健康）。"new research" 对应 "emerging research"；"beneficial" 对应 "upsides"。
42. O。解析：题干意为“事实可能证明，培养几段稳固的关系比忙于社交对一个人更好”。定位至段落 O。文中指出："Nurturing a few solid relationships without feeling the need to constantly populate your life with endless chatting ultimately may be better for you."（培养几个稳固的关系，而不必觉得需要不断地用无休止的聊天来填满你的生活，最终可能对你更好）。"cultivate" 对应 "Nurturing"；"steady" 对应 "solid"；"busy themselves socialising" 对应 "populate your life with endless chatting"。
43. L。解析：题干意为“从长远来看，让你的思绪自由漫游有助于提高你的专注力”。定位至段落 L 中间部分。"Giving free rein to a wandering mind not only helps with focus in the long term..."（让走神的思绪自由发挥，不仅从长远来看有助于集中注意力……）。"Allowing your mind to wander freely" 对应 "Giving free rein to a wandering mind"；"in the long run" 对应 "in the long term"。
44. G。解析：题干意为“对艺术家和科学家进行的研究表明，有创造力的人对与他人交往不太感兴趣”。定位至段落 G 末尾。文中写道："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."（费斯特对艺术家和科学家的研究表明，有创造力的人最突出的特征之一是他们对社交的兴趣较少）。"less interested in hanging out with others" 对应 "lesser interest in socialising"。
45. N。解析：题干意为“根据费斯特的说法，如果你不偶尔独处，你将很难了解你自己”。定位至段落 N 后半部分。Feist 表示："It’s hard to examine one’s own thoughts, feelings and motives, to be self-aware... unless you have occasional solitude."（除非你偶尔独处，否则很难审视自己的想法、感受和动机，很难有自我意识）。"knowing yourself" 对应 "examine one’s own thoughts... to be self-aware"；"do not stay alone occasionally" 对应 "unless you have occasional solitude"。
【核心同义替换归纳】
the elderly <=> ageing populations (老年人) [36 - C]
a must <=> necessary (必须，必要) [37 - H]
penalty <=> punishment (惩罚) [38 - B]
plot our own course <=> chart our own path (规划自己的道路) [40 - M]
cultivate a few steady relationships <=> Nurturing a few solid relationships (培养稳固的关系) [42 - O]
sharpening your focus <=> helps with focus (提高专注力) [43 - L]
knowing yourself <=> be self-aware (了解自己，有自我意识) [45 - N]