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

In the history of horse racing, few horses have captured the affection of the British public like Red Rum. Today, three decades after his retirement, he is still one of the best-known and most beloved racehorses of all time.

Red Rum was passed around to several owners before being purchased for Noel Le Mar. The agent who made the purchase was the now-legendary horse trainer Donald “Ginger” McCain.

It wasn't apparent at the time, but Red Rum had a serious bone disease in his foot. For many horses (and many trainers) this would mean the end of a racing career before it even began. For Ginger and Red Rum, though, it was just an obstacle to greatness that had to be overcome.

Red Rum's true talent came out in steeplechases. His power, speed and jumping ability carried him to his first Grand National title in 1973. The very next year, Red Rum returned to take his second title. He was the first horse to take successive firsts since Reynoldsstown in 1935-1936. Red Rum's spirit and grace had already begun to charm the leagues of Grand National fans.

In the following two years, Red Rum lost out on the title, coming in second both times. When he returned in 1977 to try again, he was largely regarded as past his prime. He was 12 years old and not expected to place highly. He surprised sporting fans around the world when he came in a remarkable 25 lengths ahead of the nearest horse, taking his third Grand National win. To this day, Red Rum's third win is known as one of the greatest moments in horse racing history.

46. What do we learn from the passage about Red Rum the racehorse?

A) He captured public affection long before he won national titles.

B) He won enormous fame and love from British people.

C) He became a myth three decades after his retirement.

D) He owed his great success to several well-known horse trainers.

47. What did the serious bone disease in Red Rum's foot mean to himself and his trainer?

A) It was simply a hindrance they had to get over to excel.

B) It was surely a disadvantage though not considered fatal.

C) It was actually the end of a racing career that had just begun.

D) It was really a major obstacle hard to overcome on their own.

48. What does the author say Red Rum did with his power, speed and jumping ability?

A) He won his first Grand National title at 12.

B) He took two firsts successively in 1935-1936.

C) He surprised sporting fans worldwide in 1973.

D) He took three Grand National wins in the 1970s.

49. What did people generally think of Red Rum when he returned to the racecourse in 1977?

A) He had already passed the peak of his racing life.

B) He would have no rival in Grand National steeplechases.

C) He had lost his charm with the leagues of Grand National fans.

D) He could be expected to repeat his glory in the prime of his career.

50. What became of Red Rum after his career ended?

A) He suffered from severe pain in a heel.

B) He spent almost all his time traveling.

C) He lived on various charity benefits.

D) He remained famous and popular.

Passage Two

People in business often make decisions based on their own personal feelings or instincts. It is quite horrifying to see people being guided by some unknown force. But how wise is it, really, to let your instincts drive your decisions?

In the decision-making process, relying on instincts only makes sense when you have a vast experience to support you. Simply “feeling” that something is right or should be done is highly subjective and can drown you.

On the other hand, there is a more rational approach to making decisions. Data and analysis have long been associated with informed decisions. These reduce the likelihood of errors and increase the chances of success. Big, systematic data is mostly the foundation of most of our decisions, personal and business alike. But with its extreme usability comes a complication: what do you do if you strongly feel something should not be done, even if the data insists that it should?

This seemingly easy question is what drives the need to understand the relationship between instincts and data in the decision-making process. Without making things complicated, the solution to this dilemma is using data and instincts in conjunction to arrive at the best possible decisions.

Instinctive decisions are always backed by previous experiences or information, which acknowledges that instinctive decisions have worked in the past. Decisions are not about making the choice and braving the consequences because you want to blindly trust your instincts. They are about combining your inner wisdom with the knowledge of systematic data to make the best decisions.

Sometimes, rational analysis and data are impractical to be employed in certain situations. Absence of definitive criteria, and time and resource constraints, and novel situations are instances which limit the practicality of data. The only feasible option is to rely on what your instincts tell you. In these situations, instincts can help you make effective and quick decisions.

Combining instinctive and rational analysis produces well-rounded decisions. It reduces the chances of making mistakes, and has increasingly become a favorite approach to decision-making among leaders of today.

51. What does the author say businesspeople often do?

A) Strive to make sense of some unknown forces.

B) Avoid being driven by their own feelings.

C) Draw on a vast wealth of past experience.

D) Rely on instincts in decision-making.

52. What should we take into account in order to make informed decisions?

A) The likelihood of errors.

B) Systematic data and analysis.

C) The complexity of circumstances.

D) Personal feelings and business strategies.

53. What should people do in a decision-making process if instincts disagree with data?

A) Resolve the dilemma with previous experience.

B) Figure out which of the two is more reliable.

C) Combine the two together.

D) Prioritize instincts over data.

54. What should we do when facing various factors that limit the practicality of data?

A) Make a rational and systematic analysis.

B) Explore the most feasible options.

C) Resort to our inner wisdom.

D) Apply definitive criteria.

55. What does it take for decisions to become the best according to the author?

A) Applying instincts and data in conjunction.

B) Assessing all factors when making a choice.

C) Recalling what has actually worked in the past.

D) Refraining from trusting instincts arbitrarily.

Answers & Explanations

Passage One: The Legend of Red Rum

46. B。解析：题干问从文章中我们能了解到赛马 Red Rum 的什么情况。定位第一段：In the history of horse racing, few horses have captured the affection of the British public like Red Rum.（在赛马史上，很少有马能像红朗姆那样俘获英国公众的喜爱）。这说明他赢得了英国人极大的名声和喜爱。对应选项 B (He won enormous fame and love from British people)。

47. A。解析：题干问红朗姆脚上严重的骨病对他和他的训练师意味着什么。定位第三段最后一句：For Ginger and Red Rum, though, it was just an obstacle to greatness that had to be overcome.（然而，对于 Ginger 和 Red Rum 来说，这只是一个通向伟大所必须克服的障碍）。obstacle（障碍）同义替换为 hindrance（阻碍），overcome（克服）同义替换为 get over。对应选项 A (It was simply a hindrance they had to get over to excel 这仅仅是他们为了取得优异成绩必须克服的障碍)。

48. D。解析：题干问作者说红朗姆用他的力量、速度和跳跃能力做了什么。定位第四、五段：他在1973年赢得了第一个冠军，1974年赢得了第二个，1977年赢得了第三个。这些都发生在20世纪70年代（the 1970s）。对应选项 D (He took three Grand National wins in the 1970s 他在20世纪70年代赢得了三次全国越野障碍赛马冠军)。

49. A。解析：题干问当他在1977年重返赛场时，人们普遍对红朗姆有什么看法。定位第五段第二句：When he returned in 1977 to try again, he was largely regarded as past his prime.（当他在1977年重返赛场再次尝试时，很大程度上被认为已经过了全盛时期）。past his prime（过了全盛时期）同义替换为 passed the peak of his racing life。对应选项 A (He had already passed the peak of his racing life 他已经过了他赛马生涯的巅峰)。

50. D。解析：题干问红朗姆的职业生涯结束后变成了什么样。定位第一段最后一句：Today, three decades after his retirement, he is still one of the best-known and most beloved racehorses of all time.（今天，在他退役三十年后，他仍然是有史以来最著名、最受喜爱的赛马之一）。对应选项 D (He remained famous and popular 他仍然著名和受欢迎)。

Passage Two: Instincts vs. Data

51. D。解析：题干问作者说商人们经常做什么。定位第一段第一句：People in business often make decisions based on their own personal feelings or instincts.（商人们经常根据他们自己的个人感受或直觉做出决定）。对应选项 D (Rely on instincts in decision-making 在决策中依赖直觉)。

52. B。解析：题干问为了做出明智的决定，我们应该考虑什么。定位第三段第二句：Data and analysis have long been associated with informed decisions.（数据和分析长期以来一直与明智的决定相关联）。对应选项 B (Systematic data and analysis 系统性的数据和分析)。

53. C。解析：题干问在决策过程中，如果直觉与数据不一致，人们该怎么做。定位第四段最后一句：...the solution to this dilemma is using data and instincts in conjunction to arrive at the best possible decisions.（解决这个困境的方法是将数据和直觉结合使用，以达成最佳可能的决定）。in conjunction（结合）对应选项 C (Combine the two together 将两者结合起来)。

54. C。解析：题干问当我们面临限制数据实用性的各种因素时，我们应该怎么做。定位第六段倒数第二句：The only feasible option is to rely on what your instincts tell you.（唯一可行的选项是依赖你的直觉告诉你的东西）。选项 C 的 inner wisdom（内在智慧）在第五段中（combining your inner wisdom with...）被用作 instincts 的同义替换。对应选项 C (Resort to our inner wisdom 诉诸我们内在的智慧/直觉)。

55. A。解析：题干问根据作者的说法，怎样才能做出最好的决定。定位最后一段：Combining instinctive and rational analysis produces well-rounded decisions.（结合直觉和理性分析能产生全面的决定）。这也呼应了第四段的 using data and instincts in conjunction（结合使用数据和直觉）。对应选项 A (Applying instincts and data in conjunction 结合应用直觉和数据)。

核心搭配与高分句型

【核心搭配与高频短语】

• capture the affection of：俘获...的喜爱，赢得...的感情（captured the affection of the British public）
• past one's prime：过了全盛时期，过了巅峰期（was largely regarded as past his prime）
• make sense：有意义，合乎情理（relying on instincts only makes sense when...）
• in conjunction：连同...一起，结合（using data and instincts in conjunction）
• resort to：诉诸于，求助于（Resort to our inner wisdom）
• brave the consequences：勇敢面对后果（braving the consequences because you want to blindly trust）
• well-rounded：全面的，面面俱到的（produces well-rounded decisions）

【亮点句型解析】

• With 引导的伴随状语 + 倒装句：
  "But with its extreme usability comes a complication: what do you do if..."
  （但是伴随着它极高的实用性而来的是一个复杂情况：如果...你该怎么办？）正常的语序是 `a complication comes with its extreme usability`，将 `with` 介词短语提前并进行倒装，使得句式的强调重点落在了后面的 `complication` 上，引出下文的困境。
• Without + 动名词复合结构：
  "Without making things complicated, the solution to this dilemma is using data and instincts in conjunction..."
  （为了不把事情弄得复杂，解决这个困境的方法是将数据和直觉结合使用...）`Without doing sth.` 作为伴随状语，在提出最终解决方案前，先设定了一个简洁明了的前提，是英文学术和商务写作中非常地道的过渡句型。