Section B: Information 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.

If we care about plastic waste, why won't we stop drinking bottled water?

We have all seen the damage plastic waste is doing around the world, but sales of bottled water have continued to grow.

[A] For all the innovation and choice that define the food and drink industries, if you want to make money, you could do a lot worse than fill a bottle with water and sell it. A litre of tap water, the stuff we have cleverly piped into our homes, costs less than half a penny. A litre of bottled water can cost well over a pound, especially for something fancy that has been sucked through a mountain.

[B] Yet the bottled water market is livelier than ever. It defies our increasing awareness of the harm plastics do to the environment and a broader, growing sense that something has to change. Sales in the UK were worth a record £558.4 million this past year, an increase of 7%, according to the latest figures from the market analyst Kantar. Separate data from other analysts show that last year the British consumed more than 2.2 billion litres of bottled water, including “take-home” and “on-the-go” products. That's an annual rise in volume of 8.5%.

[C] Environmental campaigners are struggling to understand why nations blessed with clean tap water grow only fonder of the bottle. “It's very surprising to me,” says Sam Chetan-Walsh, a political adviser at Greenpeace and campaigner against ocean plastic. “Public awareness has never been higher, but the message is not quite reaching all the people it needs to.” Where it is heard, the message is causing concern. Plastic water bottles require oceans of fossil fuels to make and ship. Additionally, single-use plastics of all types are polluting our cities and seas. Numerous documentaries have shown how plastic is ultimately killing wildlife.

[D] Moves against various plastics have gathered pace, from shopping bags to straws and plastic-lined coffee cups. Chetan-Walsh argues that bottled water is different because the alternatives are so obvious. “If a product that is so nakedly unnecessary can exist then the whole system is failing,” he says.

[E] Hope is not entirely out of reach. The rate of growth has begun to ease (sales were up 7% in the year, compared with 8% in the previous year).

[F] But even if large numbers of people are quitting bottled water because of care for the environment, others are taking it up. The introduction of the “sugar tax” on juices and soda drinks has pushed more people to bottled water, while health awareness has boosted its desirability. Tap water consumption is growing at roughly the same pace (UK consumers still drink almost three times as much tap water as bottled water).

[G] So the plastic tide only creeps higher. The industry is quick to point out that all its bottles are recyclable. “But collection rates are, at the most generous estimates, 56%, so the actual recycling rate will be lower than that,” Chetan-Walsh says. And while bottles may be recyclable, very few are made of recycled plastic. One water bottle company launched recycled half-litre “eco” bottles alongside its standard bottles. Another has pledged to use only recycled plastic across its range by 2025. Chetan-Walsh believes in a ban on single-use bottles. Bans do exist in some places. Organisers of a famous music festival announced that water bottles will not be sold this summer. San Francisco has banned them from city property and events. Last year, the UK government set out plans to ban single-use plastic from its estate.

[H] Water bottlers, unsurprisingly, don't support bans. But they raise concerns about health rather than profit margins. Last month one chief executive of a water bottling company said that bans would “result in greater consumption of sugary drinks, adding to all the health dangers of obesity, diabetes and tooth decay”. Kinvara Carey, general manager of an association of the biggest bottled water manufacturers, cites a survey in which people were asked what they would do if bottled water were not available. “Forty-four per cent would buy another drink which is not great, 14% would go without, and 4.5% said they would find a fountain.” she says. “The choice is important.”

[I] What if fountains were more numerous, and tap water more clearly available in cafes, restaurants and elsewhere? Dozens of fountains are being installed in London. There are similar initiatives elsewhere. Before plastic and the marketing that made people think they needed bottled water in the first place, fountains were an urban fixture. Greenpeace, among others, is also pushing for a “deposit return” scheme. This would mean tax on bottled water would be refunded to customers who returned the plastic for recycling.

[J] Even if bottled water sales are growing slightly more slowly, the industry is racing to adapt to changing concerns and tastes. Flavoured water is booming: sales of the sparkling variety shot up by 20%, according to the latest analyst data, Meanwhile, international water brands, as well as a range of new companies, are selling high-end reusable bottles. And if you must fill them with tap water, why not add flavouring?

[K] As the owner of multiple sugary drink brands and bottled water, PepsiCo is facing challenges on health and environmental fronts. Last year, the company bought SodaStream (a drinks company that sells machines for making tap water bubbly and then consumers add flavours) for $3.2 billion. It also launched a range of fancy bottles that work with tap water and flavour packets. The bottle is reusable. The packets? Not so much, and, yes, they are made of plastic, although the company invites users to post them back for recycling.

[L] As is so often the case, clever marketing can beat reason; awareness is rarely enough. “There is always this kind of slip between concern, intent and changed behaviour,” says Giles Quick an analyst of bottled water. “The best example is five a day, the recommendation to have at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Almost everyone is aware of this, but something like 15% of us achieve it.” Unless a far-reaching bottle ban does come into force, it will be up to consumers to not only demand change, but to act themselves.

36. Judging from the slowing rate of sales growth, there is still hope to combat bottled water.

37. Bottled water manufacturers base their arguments against bans of plastic bottles on health concerns rather than on profits.

38. Sales of bottled water in Britain hit a record high last year even though people are increasingly aware that plastics are environmentally unfriendly.

39. It often happens that people can lack reason when faced with skillful marketing.

40. One city on the west coast of America has banned single-use bottles from its property and events.

41. Manufacturing and shipping of plastic water bottles consume a tremendous amount of fossil fuels.

42. One large beverage company has adapted its operations when confronted with challenges from health and environmental advocates.

43. Bottled water is considerably more expensive than tap water.

44. Fountains could be seen in cities before bottled water became popular.

45. More people have taken to bottled water because of their health awareness.

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

Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

As a university student I've come to realise just how little I know about money. I've come to the brutal realisation that Australia's youth are being done a great disservice by not receiving any consistent financial education.

Diving headfirst into the crash course of starting university, I've quickly tried to get myself up to speed with the financial terms of the modern era to help manage my personal finances.

I've read some financial education books, done some online learning, and have spoken to my nearest and dearest for their pearls of financial wisdom.

There are undoubtedly hundreds of great resources out there for those wishing to improve their financial literacy, but while I was researching, I still kept wishing that I didn't have to play catch-up with the money world. I felt that I was sailing the financial seas with no skills and no life jacket!

However, after talking to my friends who felt the same, I quickly realised that it wasn't my ignorance but the lack of financial education in our schooling system that is leaving high schoolers seriously behind in the modern world of money.

Let's compare a theoretical financial education subject to the standard compulsory English class. On average, English may not be the most popular subject, but it's consistently on the schedule throughout high school, with all students graduating fluent in English.

A financial education subject should do just the same. It shouldn't be just a one-day event but a course integrated throughout the whole of high school that would allow students to gradually expand their financial literacy, and would prevent the need for a 'catch up' phase once we're out on our own after graduation.

In the same way that learning a language or new skills takes time, building financial skills requires practice and years to gradually accumulate bits and pieces of knowledge.

Giving young people the opportunity to become familiar with the world of money would provide them with a great advantage to enter adulthood with confidence and security so that they are able to manage their own money and look after themselves.

46. What has the author come to realise since entering university?

A) He needs a crash course on financial terms.

B) He is very much lacking in financial literacy.

C) It requires consistent education to be financially independent.

D) It is unrealistic to give all Australian youth a financial education.

47. How did the author feel in today's money world?

A) Badly equipped to survive.

B) Ignorant of financial literature.

C) Barely capable of moving ahead.

D) Overwhelmed by the resources online.

48. What did the author realise after talking to his friends?

A) They were as keen as he was on financial matters.

B) The schooling system was to blame for his trouble.

C) High schoolers knew nothing about the modern financial world.

D) Financial courses were as unpopular as compulsory English classes.

49. What is the author's idea of a financial education course?

A) It should foresee students' needs after graduation.

B) It should provide students with some basic knowledge.

C) It should be taught the same way as English is taught.

D) It should be integrated into high school education.

50. What would financial literacy do to young people?

A) Allow them to enter adulthood with financial security.

B) Enable them to look after themselves without worrying about money.

C) Render them confident and secure in terms of money management.

D) Help them become familiar with the world of money.

Answers & Explanations

Section B: Long Reading

36. E。解析：题干中的 slowing rate of sales growth（销售增长率放缓）对应 [E] 段的 The rate of growth has begun to ease（增长率已经开始放缓）；hope to combat bottled water（打败瓶装水仍有希望）对应 Hope is not entirely out of reach（希望并未完全遥不可及）。

37. H。解析：题干中的 base their arguments against bans of plastic bottles on health concerns rather than on profits（瓶装水制造商反对禁令的理由是出于健康考虑而不是利润）对应 [H] 段的 they raise concerns about health rather than profit margins（他们提出了关于健康的担忧，而不是利润率）。

38. B。解析：题干中的 hit a record high last year... increasingly aware that plastics are environmentally unfriendly（尽管人们越来越意识到塑料对环境不友好，但去年销量仍创下新高）对应 [B] 段的 defies our increasing awareness of the harm plastics do to the environment（无视我们对塑料对环境危害日益增长的意识）以及 Sales in the UK were worth a record £558.4 million this past year（去年英国的销售额达到了创纪录的5.584亿英镑）。

39. L。解析：题干中的 lack reason when faced with skillful marketing（当面对巧妙的营销时，人们往往会失去理智）对应 [L] 段首句 clever marketing can beat reason; awareness is rarely enough（聪明的营销可以打败理智；意识往往是不够的）。

40. G。解析：题干中的 One city on the west coast of America has banned single-use bottles（美国西海岸的一座城市已经禁止使用一次性瓶子）对应 [G] 段倒数第二句 San Francisco has banned them from city property and events（旧金山已经禁止在市政资产和活动中使用它们）。

41. C。解析：题干中的 Manufacturing and shipping... consume a tremendous amount of fossil fuels（制造和运输消耗大量化石燃料）对应 [C] 段的 Plastic water bottles require oceans of fossil fuels to make and ship（制造和运输塑料水瓶需要大量的化石燃料）。

42. K。解析：题干中的 One large beverage company has adapted its operations when confronted with challenges（一家大型饮料公司在面临挑战时调整了其运营）对应 [K] 段的 PepsiCo is facing challenges on health and environmental fronts. Last year, the company bought SodaStream... launched a range of fancy bottles（百事公司在健康和环境方面面临挑战。去年，该公司收购了SodaStream...推出了一系列新奇的瓶子）。

43. A。解析：题干中的 Bottled water is considerably more expensive than tap water（瓶装水比自来水贵得多）对应 [A] 段的 A litre of tap water... costs less than half a penny. A litre of bottled water can cost well over a pound（一升自来水...花费不到半便士。一升瓶装水花费远超一英镑）。

44. I。解析：题干中的 Fountains could be seen in cities before bottled water became popular（在瓶装水流行之前，城市里可以看到饮水机）对应 [I] 段的 Before plastic and the marketing that made people think they needed bottled water... fountains were an urban fixture（在塑料和让人们认为需要瓶装水的营销出现之前，饮水机是城市的标配）。

45. F。解析：题干中的 because of their health awareness（因为他们的健康意识）对应 [F] 段的 health awareness has boosted its desirability（健康意识提升了对瓶装水的渴望）。

Section C: Reading Comprehension (Passage One)

46. B。解析：题干问作者进入大学后意识到了什么。定位第一段首句：I've come to realise just how little I know about money.（我意识到自己对金钱的了解有多么少）。lacking in financial literacy（缺乏金融素养）是 little I know about money 的同义替换。对应选项 B (He is very much lacking in financial literacy 他非常缺乏金融素养/财商)。

47. A。解析：题干问作者在当今的金钱世界中感觉如何。定位第四段最后一句：I felt that I was sailing the financial seas with no skills and no life jacket!（我觉得自己就像在没有技能、没有救生衣的情况下在金融海洋里航行！）。这生动地表达了他在面对财务问题时毫无准备、缺乏自保能力。对应选项 A (Badly equipped to survive 装备糟糕，难以生存)。

48. B。解析：题干问作者在和朋友交谈后意识到了什么。定位第五段：...I quickly realised that it wasn't my ignorance but the lack of financial education in our schooling system that is leaving high schoolers seriously behind...（...我很快意识到，并不是我无知，而是学校教育系统中缺乏金融教育导致高中生严重落后...）。这说明他认为是学校教育体系的问题。对应选项 B (The schooling system was to blame for his trouble 学校教育体系应对他的困境负责)。

49. D。解析：题干问作者对金融教育课程的想法是什么。定位第七段：It shouldn't be just a one-day event but a course integrated throughout the whole of high school...（它不应该只是为期一天的活动，而应是一门贯穿整个高中的课程...）。integrated into high school education 完美对应。对应选项 D (It should be integrated into high school education 应该被融入到高中教育中)。

50. C。解析：题干问金融素养/财商会对年轻人有什么作用。定位最后一段：...provide them with a great advantage to enter adulthood with confidence and security so that they are able to manage their own money...（...为他们提供巨大的优势，让他们带着自信和安全感步入成年，从而能够管理好自己的金钱...）。对应选项 C (Render them confident and secure in terms of money management 让他们在金钱管理方面变得自信和有安全感)。

核心搭配与高分句型

【核心搭配与高频短语】

• defy awareness：无视意识，与...意识相悖（defies our increasing awareness of the harm）
• gather pace：加快步伐，加速（Moves against various plastics have gathered pace）
• be blessed with：有幸享有，被赐予（nations blessed with clean tap water）
• come into force：生效，实施（bottle ban does come into force）
• do a disservice：帮倒忙，造成伤害（Australia's youth are being done a great disservice）
• up to speed：跟上进度，了解最新情况（get myself up to speed with the financial terms）
• play catch-up：努力赶超，补课（didn't have to play catch-up with the money world）

【亮点句型解析】

• For all... (尽管有...)：
  "For all the innovation and choice that define the food and drink industries, if you want to make money, you could do a lot worse than fill a bottle with water and sell it."
  （尽管食品和饮料行业充满了创新和选择，但如果你想赚钱，把水装进瓶子里卖绝不是个坏主意。）`For all` 引导让步状语，相当于 `Despite`，是极具地道英语感的表达。`do a lot worse than` 意为“...不失为一种好选择 / 绝不是坏事”。
• It's not... but... that... (强调句+对比逻辑)：
  "...it wasn't my ignorance but the lack of financial education in our schooling system that is leaving high schoolers seriously behind..."
  （...并不是我无知，而是学校教育系统中缺乏金融教育导致高中生严重落后...）这是 `It is... that...` 强调句与 `not A but B` 结构的完美结合，重点强调了学校教育系统的失职，逻辑清晰，论证力极强。