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

New research suggests that pandas may be at risk of dying out because they are too comfortable. Experts say too much happiness can stop the bears from searching for new mates.

Environmentalists have long believed that building roads or homes near the bears may threaten their survival by “reducing or fragmenting their natural habitats”, The Times reported. But the new research suggests that a “modest degree of discomfort and fragmentation” may actually help preserve panda populations.

The research was conducted by scientists from Michigan State University. It concluded that pandas fail to wander off in search of new mates if they find their habitat too comfortable, resulting in a lack of vital genetic diversity.

For their study — outlined in a paper in the journal Conservation Biology — the team looked at genetic diversity and spread among a Chinese panda population. The ideal level of perfectly livable habitat was found to be only 80% of an area, with the remainder either too harsh or too affected by human activity.

The experts concluded that pandas should ideally “be happy enough to thrive, but not so content that they don't want to move around and find new mates”.

Their conclusions about what The Guardian described as this “sweet spot” are in line with the so-called Goldilocks principle: that there can be just the right amount of something. The concept has been applied to a wide range of disciplines, from developmental psychology to economics and engineering.

Claudio Sillero, a professor of conservation biology at Oxford University, told the newspaper that the new findings could have implications beyond panda conservation.

“Most large animals that eat meat live in increasingly fragmented landscapes,” said Sillero, who was not involved in the research. “It may well be that the messy nature of their relationship with human efforts induces more animals to scatter or travel further, and might result in greater genetic connectivity and enhanced population persistence.”

The most recent count of pandas found that there were more than 1,800 left in the wild, putting them on the list of vulnerable, but not endangered, species.

46. What do we learn from new research about pandas?

A) They are losing habitat due to the building of roads and houses.

B) They have stopped seeking new mates for reproduction.

C) They may not adapt to the fragmentation of their habitat.

D) They may cease to exist as a result of enjoying too good a life.

47. What can we conclude from the new research by scientists at Michigan State University?

A) Environmentalists' long-time belief regarding panda conservation may be misleading.

B) Housing development near pandas' homes may threaten their survival.

C) Pandas' natural habitats are becoming less suitable for reproduction.

D) The increased panda population is attributed to the fragmentation of their habitat.

48. What is the experts' conclusion regarding pandas?

A) It is urgent to provide an ideal habitat for them to thrive.

B) It is very important to preserve their genetic diversity.

C) Their chances of finding new mates have a lot to do with their habitat.

D) Their environment for survival has been continuously worsening.

49. What can we infer from the passage about the Goldilocks principle?

A) It needs to be confirmed by more studies on pandas.

B) It applies to the preservation of pandas too.

C) It has implications for future panda research.

D) It can be used to locate the right spot for pandas.

50. What can the new findings do according to Professor Sillero?

A) Help discover new ways for the conservation of pandas.

B) Help remove pandas from the list of endangered species.

C) Shed light on the conservation of most large meat-eating animals.

D) Show the complexity of interactions between humans and animals.

Passage Two

With those born with natural talents, it feels as if they excel without really trying. But what about those of us who don't have a natural talent? We've been told all our lives that if you work hard, you too can succeed. But with the release of Angela Duckworth's Grit, we are given a new key to success.

“As much as talent counts, effort counts twice,” says Duckworth in Grit. She introduces a new concept that talent may be overrated, and if you want real success, what you need is grit the perfect combination of passion and persistence. Even if you have natural talent it's nothing without grit.

Duckworth says grit is the difference between success and failure. A person who has grit is more likely to succeed than a person who does not. When we think about attaining success — whether it's landing that job or learning that new skill — our thoughts are immediately burdened by all the things we must first learn. If you want that new job, you have to learn the job skills, then the interview skills, then the dress part — and you must be perfect at all of them. Grit is different because it tells us that perfection isn't the goal.

Grit lifts the unreasonable expectations off our shoulders. Grit tells us that the door is open wider than we first thought possible. Grit allows us to redefine our goals. Think about it: what's something you've always wanted to do, but gave up because you “don't have the skills for it”? What's something you love but aren't good at?

The real workings of grit are to have sustainable passion and continue to try. Effort means more than your natural ability. Even if you haven't mastered a skill, grit tells you that you can still succeed if you can transform your passion into action. In a way, Duckworth is giving new hope to people who have shut the doors on their dreams. She is saying it is possible that you can accomplish anything. If at first you fail, then try one more time with grit.

51. What does the passage say about people born with natural talents?

A) They seem to outdo others without hard work.

B) They appear to know all the secrets to success.

C) They feel it only too logical to succeed.

D) They are bound to excel effortlessly.

52. What does Duckworth say about talent?

A) It is a new concept much too overrated.

B) It proves necessary for big achievements.

C) It plays a lesser role in one's success.

D) It is a guarantee for real success in life.

53. What does the passage say about people thinking of attaining success?

A) They are puzzled how to present their best to the employer.

B) They are burdened by their expectation of perfection.

C) They will try hard to land a job that fits their skills best.

D) They will find themselves lacking in all the skills they need.

54. How does the author think grit can be helpful to us?

A) It allows us to know what we are good at.

B) It opens our eyes to new opportunities.

C) It focuses our attention on what we do.

D) It lets us reconsider the goals to achieve.

55. What message does Duckworth try to convey in her book Grit?

A) We should perfect ourselves to ensure success.

B) We should stay persistent even in face of failures.

C) We can never master a skill without constant practice.

D) We can never expect to reach our goals without passion.

Answers & Explanations

Passage One: Panda Comfort and Conservation

46. D。解析：题干问从关于熊猫的新研究中我们能了解到什么。定位第一段：New research suggests that pandas may be at risk of dying out because they are too comfortable.（新研究表明，熊猫可能因为生活得太舒服而面临灭绝的风险）。dying out 对应 cease to exist（不复存在/灭绝），too comfortable 对应 enjoying too good a life。对应选项 D (They may cease to exist as a result of enjoying too good a life 它们可能因为享受过于美好的生活而灭绝)。

47. A。解析：题干问从密歇根州立大学科学家的新研究中可以得出什么结论。定位第二段：Environmentalists have long believed that building roads... But the new research suggests that a "modest degree of discomfort..." may actually help preserve panda populations.（环保人士长期以来一直认为建路...会威胁它们的生存。但新研究表明，“适度的不适和栖息地碎片化”实际上可能有助于保护熊猫种群）。这说明环保人士长期以来的观念可能是错的。对应选项 A (Environmentalists' long-time belief regarding panda conservation may be misleading 环保人士长期以来关于熊猫保护的信念可能是误导人的)。

48. C。解析：题干问专家对熊猫的结论是什么。定位第三段及第五段：It concluded that pandas fail to wander off in search of new mates if they find their habitat too comfortable...（结论是如果熊猫觉得栖息地太舒适，它们就不会漫游去寻找新配偶...）。说明寻找新配偶与栖息地的舒适度有很大关系。对应选项 C (Their chances of finding new mates have a lot to do with their habitat 它们寻找新配偶的机会与它们的栖息地有很大关系)。

49. B。解析：题干问从文章中关于“金发姑娘原则”能推断出什么。定位第六段：Their conclusions... are in line with the so-called Goldilocks principle...（他们的结论...符合所谓的“金发姑娘原则”：凡事都要恰到好处）。这说明该原则也适用于熊猫保护。对应选项 B (It applies to the preservation of pandas too 它也适用于大熊猫的保护)。

50. C。解析：题干问根据Sillero教授，新发现能做什么。定位第七、八段：the new findings could have implications beyond panda conservation... "Most large animals that eat meat live in increasingly fragmented landscapes..."（新发现可能对熊猫保护之外的领域产生影响...“大多数食肉的大型动物都生活在日益碎片化的环境中...”）。这说明新发现对保护其他大型食肉动物也有启发。Shed light on 意为“阐明、使...更清楚”。对应选项 C (Shed light on the conservation of most large meat-eating animals 照亮/启发了对大多数大型食肉动物的保护)。

Passage Two: The Power of Grit

51. A。解析：题干问文章对天生有才华的人说了什么。定位第一段第一句：With those born with natural talents, it feels as if they excel without really trying.（对于那些天生有才华的人来说，感觉他们似乎不怎么努力就能胜过别人）。excel without really trying 对应 outdo others without hard work。对应选项 A (They seem to outdo others without hard work 无论努力与否，他们似乎都能超过别人)。

52. C。解析：题干问 Duckworth 对天赋有什么看法。定位第二段：As much as talent counts, effort counts twice... talent may be overrated...（尽管天赋很重要，但努力的重要性是天赋的两倍... 天赋可能被高估了...）。说明努力比天赋更重要，天赋的作用相对较小。对应选项 C (It plays a lesser role in one's success 它在一个人的成功中扮演较次要的角色)。

53. B。解析：题干问文章对那些想着获得成功的人说了什么。定位第三段第三、四句：When we think about attaining success... our thoughts are immediately burdened by all the things we must first learn... and you must be perfect at all of them.（当我们思考如何获得成功时... 我们的思想立刻被所有必须首先学习的东西所压垮... 并且你必须在所有方面都完美）。对应选项 B (They are burdened by their expectation of perfection 他们被他们对完美的期望所拖累)。

54. D。解析：题干问作者认为坚毅对我们有何帮助。定位第四段：Grit lifts the unreasonable expectations off our shoulders... Grit allows us to redefine our goals.（坚毅卸下了我们肩上不合理的期望... 坚毅允许我们重新定义我们的目标）。redefine 对应 reconsider。对应选项 D (It lets us reconsider the goals to achieve 它让我们重新考虑要实现的目标)。

55. B。解析：题干问 Duckworth 在她的《坚毅》一书中试图传达什么信息。定位最后一段最后一句：If at first you fail, then try one more time with grit.（如果一开始你失败了，那就带着坚毅再试一次）。这强调了面对失败时要坚持不懈。对应选项 B (We should stay persistent even in face of failures 即使面对失败，我们也应该保持坚持)。

核心搭配与高分句型

【核心搭配与高频短语】

• at risk of dying out：处于灭绝的危险中（pandas may be at risk of dying out）
• wander off：漫步，偏离正轨（fail to wander off in search of new mates）
• in line with：与...一致，符合（are in line with the so-called Goldilocks principle）
• beyond：超出，除了...之外（implications beyond panda conservation）
• excel without trying：毫不费力地胜出（excel without really trying）
• lift sth. off one's shoulders：卸下某人肩上的重担（Grit lifts the unreasonable expectations off our shoulders）
• have a lot to do with：与...有很大关系（have a lot to do with their habitat）
• shed light on：阐明，使...更容易理解（Shed light on the conservation of...）

【亮点句型解析】

• It may well be that... (很有可能...)：
  "It may well be that the messy nature of their relationship with human efforts induces more animals to scatter..."
  （很有可能，它们与人类活动之间混乱的关系促使更多的动物分散开来...）`It may well be that` 是一个非常地道的学术推测句型，比单用 `maybe` 或 `probably` 更具说服力和严谨性，是四六级阅读中常见的考点句式。
• As much as 引导的让步状语从句 (尽管...)：
  "As much as talent counts, effort counts twice..."
  （尽管天赋很重要，但努力的重要性是天赋的两倍...）`As much as` 在句首通常表让步，意为“虽然，尽管”，用来对比天赋和努力的分量，这种对比结构（counts / counts twice）十分精妙，适合在四六级作文中模仿使用。