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.

Our society places a high value on physical beauty. Americans spend an average of over $722 each year on their appearance. One in ten Americans has tried to look like a star.

There's nothing wrong with trying to look our best but excessive focus on physical appearance misses the soulful aspects of what it means to be beautiful. Trying to look like the magazine pictures can take us on a long ride away from what beauty is really about.

Many of us spend far too much time, energy, and money trying to polish an image of what we think will bring attention, love, and connection. In the process, we may fail to attend to ourselves in a way that would move us toward deeper intimacy, fulfillment, and meaning.

It may sound trite, but beauty is only skin deep; it's not what brings love toward us. Just read about the latest Hollywood starlets whose seeming love turns into resentment and bitter court battles.

Outer beauty can be as much of a curse as a blessing. We may develop a habit of being so focused on maintaining a perfect appearance that we never cultivate the inner qualities necessary to sustain and deepen intimacy and connection. As I describe in my book, The Authentic Heart, it is the courage to be authentic that connects us in a deeper way.

While our initial attraction may be based in part on physical chemistry, it is the meeting of our inner worlds that creates the lasting intimacy and spiritual connection for which we long. If we redirect our attention toward cultivating inner qualities, we might find a magnetic attraction that moves us from something superficial to something that connects us to our depths.

The path toward cultivating inner beauty is really simple. But what is simple is not always easy. Not everyone will see us and appreciate us as we take the courageous risk to allow ourselves to be seen as we really are. But if they don't it is their loss, not ours. Eventually we'll find those compatible souls who appreciate us as we are.

46. What do we learn about American society from the first paragraph?

A) It sees lots of personal income wasted on beauty products.

B) It considers one's physical appearance very important.

C) It places a high value on the physical fitness of stars.

D) It expects every individual to look their very best.

47. What happens when people strive to look better?

A) They have to get prepared for resentment and bitter court battles.

B) They are better able to gain attention, love, and personal connection.

C) They may neglect to cultivate the inner qualities that matter more.

D) They feel much of their precious time, energy and resources is wasted.

48. What does the author say about outer beauty?

A) It may be inherited or cultivated.

B) It may lead to bad as well as good habits.

C) It may create connection or isolation.

D) It may do as much harm as good.

49. What brings about spiritual connection?

A) Meeting of minds.

B) Attraction at first sight.

C) Physical chemistry.

D) Frequent interaction.

50. What happens when we take the path toward cultivating inner beauty?

A) We may find a route toward other people's souls.

B) We may be appreciated more by people around us.

C) We will meet people who value us for who we are.

D) We will be discouraged from revealing our true selves.

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

Plant-based meats are coming soon to a dinner table near you, but do they deserve a spot on your plate? If you tried a vegetable burger years ago and dismissed it as rubbery and flavorless, it's a good time to give meatless meat another chance. Newer varieties imitate the look, flavor, and texture of meat. Analysts don't expect the meat-free movement to slow anytime soon; a 2021 report predicts the market will skyrocket to $74 billion by 2030 — a 957 percent surge.

Plant-based meats are no longer just for vegetarians. Companies such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat — the current superstars of the alternative protein sector — are pursuing consumers who enjoy meat but want to reduce their meat consumption for animal rights, health, or environmental reasons. So far, it's a winning strategy: More than nine out of ten consumers who buy Beyond Burger and Impossible Foods products also eat meat.

Many vegetarians don't actually care for food that resembles meat. When reporter Joan Solsman, a longtime vegetarian, tried a dish from Impossible Foods, she felt so sick that she couldn't finish it. “Maybe the best sign that Impossible Foods has cracked the code to realistic fake meat is that I couldn't stand to take another bite,” she wrote.

Meatless meats are generally a healthier choice than beef because they are cholesterol-free, plus they're a good source of vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber.

If meatless meat can help you stick to a plant-based diet, that in itself can lead to better health. Not only has red meat been linked to cancer, but studies show that people who ditch meat have lower blood pressure, lower average blood sugar, and lower cholesterol levels.

However, just because it's plant-based doesn't mean it's health food. Most imitation meats are highly processed and contain high amounts of sodium compared to traditional beef.

These new generations of alternate meat get all the attention, but don't forget about whole grains and vegetables. Beans are an especially excellent protein substitute. They're nutritious, inexpensive, and far more sustainable than any of the processed meatless substitutes on the market today.

51. What can we expect of plant-based meats?

A) An increasing interest in their analyses.

B) An enormous effort in their promotion.

C) A huge boost in their consumption.

D) A noticeable surge in their varieties.

52. What do we learn about consumers buying Beyond Burger and Impossible Foods products?

A) They are mostly non-vegetarians.

B) They are mostly animal-rights advocates.

C) Most of them refrain from eating meat for health reasons.

D) Most of them eat meatless meat to protect the environment.

53. What can we conclude about Impossible Foods' products from Joan Solsman's remark?

A) They more often appeal to meat-eaters.

B) They very much resemble animal meat.

C) Some have become its signature dishes.

D) Most of them are sold as true fake meat.

54. Why can the habit of eating a plant-based diet lead to better health?

A) It frees people from any known link to cancer.

B) It provides all the nutrients for staying healthy.

C) It helps maintain normal blood pressure and blood sugar.

D) It reduces various health risks posed by meat consumption.

55. What does the author recommend we eat at the end of the passage?

A) Naturally produced foods.

B) Processed protein substitutes.

C) Red meats like traditional beef.

D) New generations of alternate meat.

Answers & Explanations

Passage One: True Beauty

46. B。解析：题干问从第一段我们能了解到关于美国社会的什么信息。定位第一段首句：Our society places a high value on physical beauty.（我们的社会非常看重外在美）。places a high value on 对应 considers... very important。对应选项 B (It considers one's physical appearance very important 它认为一个人的外貌非常重要)。

47. C。解析：题干问当人们努力想要看起来更好时会发生什么。定位第五段第二句：We may develop a habit of being so focused on maintaining a perfect appearance that we never cultivate the inner qualities necessary...（我们可能会养成一种习惯，如此专注于保持完美的外表，以至于我们从不培养必要的内在品质...）。never cultivate 对应 neglect to cultivate。对应选项 C (They may neglect to cultivate the inner qualities that matter more 他们可能会忽略培养更重要的内在品质)。

48. D。解析：题干问关于外在美作者说了什么。定位第五段首句：Outer beauty can be as much of a curse as a blessing.（外在美既是祝福也是诅咒）。这句话的意思是外在美有利也有弊。对应选项 D (It may do as much harm as good 它可能既有好处也有坏处)。

49. A。解析：题干问什么带来了精神层面的联系。定位第六段第一句：...it is the meeting of our inner worlds that creates the lasting intimacy and spiritual connection for which we long.（...正是内心世界的交融创造了我们渴望的持久亲密和精神连接）。meeting of our inner worlds 对应 Meeting of minds。对应选项 A (Meeting of minds 思想的交融)。

50. C。解析：题干问当我们走上培养内在美的道路时会发生什么。定位最后一段最后一句：Eventually we'll find those compatible souls who appreciate us as we are.（最终我们会找到那些欣赏真实的我们的契合灵魂）。appreciate us as we are 对应 value us for who we are。对应选项 C (We will meet people who value us for who we are 我们会遇到重视我们真实自我的人)。

Passage Two: Plant-Based Meats

51. C。解析：题干问我们可以对植物基肉类期待什么。定位第一段最后一句：...a 2021 report predicts the market will skyrocket to $74 billion by 2030 — a 957 percent surge.（一份2021年的报告预测该市场到2030年将暴涨至740亿美元——增长957%）。skyrocket 和 surge 对应 huge boost，market 增长对应 consumption 的增加。对应选项 C (A huge boost in their consumption 其消费量的巨大增长)。

52. A。解析：题干问关于购买 Beyond Burger 和 Impossible Foods 产品的消费者，我们了解到了什么。定位第二段最后一句：More than nine out of ten consumers who buy... also eat meat.（超过九成的购买这些产品的消费者也吃肉）。既然他们也吃肉，说明他们大多不是素食主义者。对应选项 A (They are mostly non-vegetarians 他们大多是非素食者)。

53. B。解析：题干问从 Joan Solsman 的评论中我们可以推断出关于 Impossible Foods 产品什么结论。定位第三段：作为长期素食主义者的记者觉得这道菜恶心到吃不下去，她写道“也许最好的迹象表明 Impossible Foods 已经破解了制作逼真人造肉的密码，那就是我受不了再吃一口。”这说明人造肉已经做得非常像真肉了。对应选项 B (They very much resemble animal meat 它们非常像动物肉)。

54. D。解析：题干问为什么吃植物性饮食的习惯能带来更好的健康。定位第五段最后一句：Not only has red meat been linked to cancer, but studies show that people who ditch meat have lower blood pressure, lower average blood sugar, and lower cholesterol levels.（不仅红肉与癌症有关，研究还表明，不吃肉的人血压、血糖和胆固醇水平都较低）。这说明植物饮食避开了吃肉带来的各种健康风险。对应选项 D (It reduces various health risks posed by meat consumption 它减少了肉类消费带来的各种健康风险)。

55. A。解析：题干问在文章最后，作者推荐我们吃什么。定位最后一段：...but don't forget about whole grains and vegetables. Beans are an especially excellent protein substitute. They're nutritious, inexpensive, and far more sustainable than any of the processed meatless substitutes...（不要忘记全谷物和蔬菜。豆类是特别极好的蛋白质替代品。它们营养丰富，便宜，并且比任何加工过的无肉替代品更具可持续性）。这些推荐的食物（全谷物、蔬菜、豆类）都属于天然食品。对应选项 A (Naturally produced foods 天然生产的食物)。

核心搭配与高分句型

【核心搭配与高频短语】

• place a high value on：高度重视，看重（places a high value on physical beauty）
• as much of a curse as a blessing：既是祝福也是诅咒（有利有弊）（can be as much of a curse as a blessing）
• in part：部分地，在某种程度上（may be based in part on physical chemistry）
• crack the code：破解密码，找到成功的秘诀（cracked the code to realistic fake meat）
• ditch sth.：抛弃，丢弃（people who ditch meat）
• care for：关心，喜欢，照顾（don't actually care for food that resembles meat）
• skyrocket to：猛涨至，飙升至（predicts the market will skyrocket to $74 billion）

【亮点句型解析】

• So... that... 结果状语从句：
  "We may develop a habit of being so focused on maintaining a perfect appearance that we never cultivate the inner qualities necessary to sustain and deepen intimacy and connection."
  （我们可能会养成一种习惯，如此专注于保持完美的外表，以至于我们从不培养维持和加深亲密关系与联系所必需的内在品质。）`so + adj/adv + that` 是四六级必考的句型，用来表达强烈的因果关系，突出了过度关注外表的负面后果。
• Not only... but (also)... 倒装句型：
  "Not only has red meat been linked to cancer, but studies show that people who ditch meat have lower blood pressure..."
  （不仅红肉被发现与癌症有关，研究还表明，不吃肉的人血压更低...）当 `Not only` 位于句首时，其引导的句子需要部分倒装（将助动词 `has` 提至主语 `red meat` 之前）。这种倒装句式不仅起到了强调作用，也极大地提升了句子的学术和正式感，是英语写作中的加分神器。