Section C: Reading Comprehension

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

Bill Thomas changed the game for seniors. In 1991, he moved from an emergency room to a medical director of a nursing home. He brought in animals and plants despite it being illegal at the time. The change was dramatic: a 50% drop in prescriptions and decrease in death rates.

The Eden Alternative allows for a more autonomous and creative living space. It erases the belief that growing old means growing useless. Thomas preaches that getting old is not a bad thing. Buildings are often too big, which is why residents use wheelchairs. His methods successfully shifted perspectives on aging and growth.

46. What has Bill Thomas been doing for a quarter of a century?

A) Lifestyle.

B) Education.

C) Philosophy.

D) Shifting people's perspective on aging.

47. Why did Bill Thomas try something different in the nursing home?

A) He wanted to make it more pleasant for seniors.

B) Practice.

C) Revolutionize.

D) Disappointed environment.

48. What do we learn about him bringing animals and plants into the nursing home?

A) Mess.

B) Professionals.

C) Support.

D) He acted in violation of the state law.

49. What has Bill Thomas been persistently advocating?

A) Privilege.

B) Size.

C) Getting old is by no means something miserable.

D) Run independently.

50. How is Bill Thomas's new concept received?

A) It is gaining ground in many countries.

B) Debated.

C) Revolutionary.

D) Approval.

Passage Two

Affluent and educated people consume higher-quality diets. Economically disadvantaged people report nutrient-poor and energy-dense diets. Research does not explain why this is the case. Approaches often presume less food literacy among low-income people. But adults in food-insecure households are just as proficient in cooking skills.

Disadvantaged groups are constrained by economic and social circumstances. Low income is the strongest predictor of food insecurity. Food prices are an important determinant of food choice. higher-quality diets are typically more costly. The internet is full of recipes for eating well on a budget.

51. What can we learn from research on diets in developed countries?

A) Not fit.

B) People from different social groups vary in their dietary habits.

C) Individual taste.

D) Consensus.

52. What is important in formulating policies to improve health?

A) A better understanding of the relationship between social class and health.

B) Cause.

C) Better nutrition.

D) Programs.

53. What does research reveal about adults in food-insecure households?

A) Eating habits.

B) Literacy.

C) Recipes.

D) They do not lack food knowledge or budgeting skills.

54. What would help improve food security among the disadvantaged groups in Canada?

A) Budgeting.

B) Choices.

C) Enabling them to have more access to nutritious foods.

D) Food supplies.

55. What does the author suggest disadvantaged people do to improve their health?

A) Positive attitude.

B) Choose diets that are both healthy and affordable.

C) Internet.

D) Consumption patterns.

Answers & Explanations

Passage One: Dr. Bill Thomas and the Eden Alternative

46. D。解析：题干问 Bill Thomas 这25年来（从1991年至今）一直在做什么。第二段最后一句明确总结了他的核心贡献：His methods successfully shifted perspectives on aging and growth（他的方法成功地改变了人们对衰老和成长的看法），对应 D 选项。

47. A。解析：题干问为什么 Bill Thomas 要在养老院尝试不同的做法。结合第一段和常理，养老院通常是沉闷的，他引入动植物是为了打破这种死气沉沉的环境，使其“more autonomous and creative”（更加自主和具有创造性），对应 A 选项 (He wanted to make it more pleasant for seniors 他想让老人们过得更愉快)。

48. D。解析：题干问关于他将动植物带入养老院，我们能了解到什么。第一段第三句指出：He brought in animals and plants despite it being illegal at the time（尽管当时这是非法的，他还是把动植物带了进来），illegal 等同于 in violation of the state law（违反州法律），对应 D 选项。

49. C。解析：题干问 Bill Thomas 一直在坚持主张什么。第二段指出：Thomas preaches that getting old is not a bad thing（托马斯宣扬变老并不是一件坏事），对应 C 选项 (Getting old is by no means something miserable 变老绝不是什么悲惨的事情)。

50. A。解析：题干问 Bill Thomas 的新理念反响如何。根据原文“成功改变了人们的视角”以及他在养老领域的深远影响（虽然简写版未列出具体国家，但通常四六级完整版中会提到推广到其他国家），对应 A 选项 (It is gaining ground in many countries 它在许多国家获得认可/取得进展)。

Passage Two: Socioeconomic Barriers to Healthy Eating

51. B。解析：题干问从发达国家饮食研究中能学到什么。第一段前两句指出，富裕且受过教育的人（Affluent and educated people）饮食质量高，而经济处于劣势的人（Economically disadvantaged people）饮食缺乏营养且高热量，这说明不同社会群体饮食习惯差异很大，对应 B 选项 (People from different social groups vary in their dietary habits)。

52. A。解析：题干问在制定改善健康的政策时，什么很重要。文章核心在探讨社会阶层（经济状况）对饮食和健康的影响（Socioeconomic Barriers），因此制定政策必须考虑到这一点，对应 A 选项 (A better understanding of the relationship between social class and health 更好地理解社会阶层与健康之间的关系)。

53. D。解析：题干问研究揭示了关于食物不安全家庭的成年人的什么信息。第一段末尾指出：But adults in food-insecure households are just as proficient in cooking skills（但是食品不安全家庭中的成年人烹饪技能同样熟练），这反驳了人们认为他们缺乏知识的偏见，对应 D 选项 (They do not lack food knowledge or budgeting skills 他们并不缺乏食物知识或预算技能)。

54. C。解析：题干问什么有助于改善弱势群体的食品安全。第二段指出他们的问题在于价格（Food prices are an important determinant... higher-quality diets are typically more costly），既然是被价格限制，解决之道就是让他们能获得营养食物，对应 C 选项 (Enabling them to have more access to nutritious foods 使他们能够有更多途径获得营养食品)。

55. B。解析：题干问作者建议弱势群体做些什么来改善健康。第二段末尾提到：The internet is full of recipes for eating well on a budget（网上充满了如何在预算内吃得好的食谱），说明要在有限预算内寻找健康饮食，对应 B 选项 (Choose diets that are both healthy and affordable 选择既健康又负担得起的饮食)。

核心搭配与高分句型

【核心搭配与高频短语】

• shift perspective on：改变对...的看法（shifted perspectives on aging）
• in violation of：违反...（acted in violation of the state law）
• by no means：绝不（is by no means something miserable）
• gain ground：取得进展，获得认可（gaining ground in many countries）
• economically disadvantaged：经济上处于劣势的（穷人）
• food literacy：饮食知识/素养（less food literacy among low-income people）
• proficient in：熟练于，精通于（just as proficient in cooking skills）
• on a budget：在预算有限的情况下（eating well on a budget）
• have access to：有途径获取（access to nutritious foods）

【亮点句型解析】

• Despite + 动名词复合结构 (让步状语)：
  "He brought in animals and plants despite it being illegal at the time."
  （尽管当时这是非法的，他还是把动植物带了进来。）`despite` 后接动名词的复合结构 `it being illegal`，比使用 `although it was illegal` 更加紧凑且书面化，是极佳的写作句式。
• Just as... (同级比较反驳偏见)：
  "But adults in food-insecure households are just as proficient in cooking skills."
  （但是食品不安全家庭中的成年人在烹饪技能上同样熟练。）通过 `just as + adj.` 强力反驳了前文提到的“人们常常认为穷人缺乏饮食知识”的刻板印象。