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
Lao Zi once said, “Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”
People-pleasing, or seeking self-worth through others' approval, is unproductive and an exhausting way to go through life. Why do we allow what others think of us to have so much power over how we feel about ourselves? If it's true that you can't please all people all of the time, wouldn't it make sense to stop trying?
Unfortunately, sense often isn't driving our behavior. For social beings who desire love and belonging, wanting to be liked, and caring about the effect we have on others, is healthy and allows us to make connections. However, where we get into trouble is when our self-worth is dependent upon whether we win someone's approval or not.
This need to be liked can be traced back to when we were children and were completely dependent on others to take care of us. Small children are not just learning how to walk and communicate, they are also trying to learn how the world works. We learn about who we are and what is expected of us based on interactions with others so, to a four-year-old, if Mommy or Daddy doesn't like him or her, there is the danger that they will abandon them. We need to understand that when we desperately want someone to approve of us, it's being driven by that little kid part of us that is still terrified of abandonment.
As you become more capable of providing yourself with the approval you seek, your need for external validation will start to vanish, leaving you stronger, more confident, and yes, happier in your life. Imagine how much time we lose each moment we restrain our authentic selves in an effort to be liked.
If we base our worth on the opinions of others, we cheat ourselves of the power to shape our experiences and embrace life not only for others but also for ourselves, because ultimately, there is no difference. So embrace the cliché and love yourself as it's highly doubtful that you'll regret it.
46. What can we conclude from Lao Zi's quotation?
47. What will happen if we base our self-worth on other people's approval?
48. What may account for our need to be liked or approved of?
49. What can we do when we become better able to provide ourselves with the desired approval?
50. What does the author advise us to do in the last paragraph?
Passage Two
Some people have said aging is more a slide into forgetfulness than a journey towards wisdom. However, a growing body of research suggests that late-in-life learning is possible. In reality, education does an aging brain good.
Throughout life, people's brains constantly renovate themselves. In the late 1960s, British brain scientist Geoffrey Raisman spied growth in damaged brain regions of rats through an electron microscope; their brains were forging new connections. This meant brains may change every time a person learns something new.
Of course, that doesn't mean the brain isn't affected by the effects of time. Just as height usually declines over the years, so does brain volume: Humans lose about 4 percent every decade starting in their 40s. But that reduction doesn't necessarily make people think slower; as long as we are alive and functioning, we can alter our brains with new information and experiences.
In fact, scientists now suspect accumulating novel experiences, facts, and skills can keep people's minds more flexible. New pathways can strengthen our ever-changing mental structure, even as the brain shrinks.
Conventional fixes like word puzzles and brain-training apps can contribute to mental durability. Even something as simple as taking a different route to the grocery store or going somewhere new on vacation can keep the brain healthy.
A desire for new life challenges can further boost brainpower. Research about aging adults who take on new enterprises shows improved function and memory as well as a reduced risk of mental disease. Openness — a characteristic defined by curiosity and a desire for knowledge — may also help folks pass brain tests. Some folks are born with this take-in-the-world attitude, but those who aren't as genetically gifted aren't necessarily out of luck. While genes can encourage an interest in doing new things, a 2012 study in the journal Psychology and Aging found completing reasoning tasks like puzzles and number games can enhance that desire for novel experiences, which can, in turn, refresh the brain. That's why brain scientist Richard Kennedy says “It's not that old dogs can't learn new tricks. It's that maybe old dogs don't realize why they should.”
51. What do some people think of aging adults?
52. What can we conclude from Geoffrey Raisman's finding?
53. What is one thing that helps maintain the health of our brain even as it shrinks?
54. What does the author say can contribute to the improvement of brain function?
55. What is the finding of the 2012 study in the journal Psychology and Aging?
Answers & Explanations
Passage One: The Pitfalls of People-Pleasing
46. C。解析：题干问从老子名言中得出什么结论。定位第一段：Lao Zi once said, "Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner."（老子曾说：“太在乎别人怎么想，你就会永远成为他们的囚徒。”）这意味过于在意别人的看法会让我们失去自由。对应选项 C (We can never be truly free if taking to heart others' opinion of us 如果把别人的看法放在心上，我们将永远无法获得真正的自由)。
47. B。解析：题干问如果我们把自我价值建立在别人的认可之上会发生什么。定位第二段第一句：People-pleasing, or seeking self-worth through others' approval, is unproductive and an exhausting way to go through life.（取悦他人，或者通过别人的认可来寻找自我价值，是一种毫无成效且令人精疲力竭的生活方式）。unproductive 对应 unfruitful。对应选项 B (Our life will be unfruitful and exhausting 我们的生活将毫无成效且令人精疲力竭)。
48. D。解析：题干问什么能解释我们渴望被喜欢或认可的需要。定位第四段最后一句：We need to understand that when we desperately want someone to approve of us, it's being driven by that little kid part of us that is still terrified of abandonment.（我们需要明白，当我们极度渴望得到某人的认可时，是源于我们内心深处那个仍然害怕被抛弃的小孩）。terrified of abandonment 对应 fear of being deserted。对应选项 D (Our early childhood fear of being deserted 我们童年早期对被遗弃的恐惧)。
49. A。解析：题干问当我们能够更好地为自己提供所需的认可时，我们能做什么。定位第五段第一句：As you become more capable of providing yourself with the approval you seek... leaving you stronger, more confident, and yes, happier in your life.（随着你越来越有能力为自己提供你所寻求的认可...让你在生活中变得更坚强、更自信，是的，也更快乐）。对应选项 A (Enjoy a happier life 享受更快乐的生活)。
50. D。解析：题干问最后一段作者建议我们做什么。定位最后一段最后一句：So embrace the cliché and love yourself as it's highly doubtful that you'll regret it.（所以，接受这句老话并爱你自己，因为你不太可能会后悔）。对应选项 D (Love ourselves as we are 爱真实的自己)。
全文翻译
老子曾说：「太在乎别人怎么想，你就会永远成为他们的囚徒。」取悦他人，或者通过别人的认可来寻找自我价值，是一种毫无成效且令人精疲力竭的生活方式。为什么我们允许别人对我们的看法对我们自己的感受有如此大的影响？如果确实不可能每时每刻取悦所有人，那停止尝试不是合乎情理吗？不幸的是，情理往往并不驱动我们的行为。对于渴望爱和归属感的社交动物来说，想要被喜欢、关心我们对他人产生的影响是健康的，并且能让我们建立联系。然而，出问题的地方在于，当我们的自我价值取决于是否能赢得某人的认可时。这种对被喜欢的需要可以追溯到我们小时候，那时我们完全依赖他人来照顾我们。小孩子不仅在学习走路和交流，他们也在试图了解世界是如何运作的。我们通过与他人的互动来了解自己是谁、别人对我们的期望是什么，因此，对于一个四岁的孩子来说，如果爸爸妈妈不喜欢他或她，就存在他们可能会抛弃他或她的危险。我们需要明白，当我们极度渴望某人认可我们时，这是被我们内心那个仍然害怕被抛弃的小孩所驱动的。随着你越来越有能力为自己提供你所寻求的认可，你对外部认可的需求将开始消失，让你在生活中变得更坚强、更自信，是的，也更快乐。想象一下，每当我们为了被人喜欢而压抑真实的自我时，我们浪费了多少时间。如果我们把自己的价值建立在别人的意见之上，我们就剥夺了自己塑造经历的力量，也剥夺了不仅为他人、更是为自己拥抱生活的能力——因为归根结底，这两者没有区别。所以，接受这句老话并爱你自己，因为你不太可能会后悔。
Passage Two: Aging and Brain Learning
51. B。解析：题干问一些人对老年人有什么看法。定位第一段第一句：Some people have said aging is more a slide into forgetfulness than a journey towards wisdom.（一些人认为，衰老与其说是走向智慧的旅程，不如说是滑向健忘）。slide into forgetfulness（滑向健忘）意味着记忆力衰退。对应选项 B (Their memory gradually deteriorates 他们的记忆力逐渐衰退)。
52. C。解析：题干问从 Geoffrey Raisman 的发现中能得出什么结论。定位第二段最后两句：...their brains were forging new connections. This meant brains may change every time a person learns something new.（...他们的大脑正在建立新的连接。这意味着每当一个人学习新事物时，大脑都会发生变化）。这说明大脑可以通过学习不断自我更新。对应选项 C (Brains can refresh and improve with learning 大脑能随着学习焕新和改善)。
53. D。解析：题干问即使大脑萎缩，什么有助于维持我们大脑的健康。定位第五段第二句：Even something as simple as taking a different route to the grocery store or going somewhere new on vacation can keep the brain healthy.（即便是走不同的路线去杂货店，或者去新的地方度假，这么简单的事情也能保持大脑健康）。这些都是用新颖的方式处理日常任务。对应选项 D (Approaching everyday tasks in novel ways 用新颖的方式处理日常任务)。
54. A。解析：题干问作者说什么是可以改善大脑功能的因素。定位第六段第三句：Openness — a characteristic defined by curiosity and a desire for knowledge — may also help folks pass brain tests.（开放性——一种被定义为好奇心和对知识渴望的特征——也可能帮助人们通过大脑测试）。对应选项 A (Being curious and desiring knowledge 充满好奇并渴望知识)。
55. C。解析：题干问 2012 年发表在《心理学与衰老》杂志上的研究发现了什么。定位最后一段：...a 2012 study... found completing reasoning tasks like puzzles and number games can enhance that desire for novel experiences, which can, in turn, refresh the brain.（...研究发现完成像拼图和数字游戏这样的推理任务可以增强对新奇体验的渴望，这反过来又可以使大脑焕然一新）。对应选项 C (Desiring new experiences can help to renovate the brain 渴望新体验有助于焕新大脑，renovate 替换了 refresh)。
全文翻译
有人说，衰老与其说是走向智慧的旅程，不如说是滑向健忘。然而，越来越多的研究表明，晚年学习是可能的。事实上，教育对衰老的大脑大有裨益。在整个人生中，人们的大脑不断地自我更新。在1960年代末，英国脑科学家Geoffrey Raisman通过电子显微镜观察到大鼠受损脑区的生长；它们的大脑正在建立新的连接。这意味着每当一个人学习新事物时，大脑都可能发生变化。当然，这并不意味着大脑不受时间的影响。正如身高通常随着岁月的流逝而下降一样，大脑的体积也是如此：人类从40多岁开始，每十年大约减少4%。但这种减少不一定让人思考得更慢；只要我们还活着并正常运转，我们就可以用新的信息和经历来改变我们的大脑。事实上，科学家现在推测，积累新颖的经历、事实和技能可以使人的思维更加灵活。新的通路可以加强我们不断变化的心理结构，即使大脑在萎缩。像单词拼图和脑力训练应用程序这样的常规方法有助于维持心智的持久力。即便是走不同的路线去杂货店，或者去新的地方度假，这么简单的事情也能保持大脑健康。对新生活挑战的渴望可以进一步提升脑力。关于接受新事业的老年人研究表明，他们的功能和记忆力得到改善，同时患精神疾病的风险也降低了。开放性——一种被定义为好奇心和对知识渴望的特征——也可能帮助人们通过大脑测试。有些人天生就具有这种拥抱世界的态度，但那些在基因上没有如此天赋的人也未必不走运。虽然基因可以鼓励人们对做新事物产生兴趣，但2012年发表在《心理学与衰老》杂志上的一项研究发现，完成推理任务——如拼图和数字游戏——可以增强对新奇体验的渴望，这反过来又可以使大脑焕然一新。这就是为什么脑科学家Richard Kennedy说：「问题不是老狗学不会新把戏，而是老狗可能不明白他们为什么应该学。」
核心搭配与高分句型
【核心搭配与高频短语】
- take to heart：把...放在心上，对...耿耿于怀（taking to heart others' opinion of us）
- trace back to：追溯到（can be traced back to when we were children）
- cheat somebody of：剥夺某人...，欺骗某人使失去（we cheat ourselves of the power to shape our experiences）
- a body of research：大量研究（a growing body of research suggests）
- take on：承担，接受（挑战、工作等）（aging adults who take on new enterprises）
- in turn：反过来，进而（which can, in turn, refresh the brain）
- out of luck：运气不好，倒霉（those who aren't as genetically gifted aren't necessarily out of luck）
【亮点句型解析】
- Where 引导的表语从句 (指代抽象的“情况/地步”)：
"However, where we get into trouble is when our self-worth is dependent upon whether we win someone's approval or not."
（然而，我们遇到麻烦的地方是，当我们的自我价值取决于我们是否能赢得某人的认可时。）`where` 在此不指代具体地点，而是指代“情况、方面”。这是一个极为地道的英语表达，`is` 后面紧跟 `when` 引导的时间状语从句作表语，逻辑嵌套非常精妙。 - Just as... so does... (正如...一样，...也如此)：
"Just as height usually declines over the years, so does brain volume:"
（正如身高通常随着岁月的流逝而下降一样，大脑的体积也是如此：）这是四六级写作中表示类比的王牌句型，后半句 `so does brain volume` 是部分倒装结构（助动词+主语），既起到了强调作用，又展现了极强的语法掌控力。