Section A: Banked Cloze

Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

People tend to want as many choices as possible. They believe this will maximize their (26) ______ of making the best decision. But research shows that, when it comes to actually making a (27) ______ from all of these choices, people can become (28) ______ and avoid making a decision altogether. Even worse, when people finally do decide, they are generally less satisfied with their decision and feel more regretful over whatever choice they made.

Why does this happen? Research shows that when people choose from many options, they (29) ______ more in the decision, but feel less confident in their ability to decide well. In other words, when we are (30) ______ with more choices, making the “right” or “correct” decision begins to feel more (31) ______ and, at the same time, more difficult to do. This may contribute to the deep fear that we will make the wrong decision.

How can we solve this problem? I believe this fear could be tempered by putting decisions into perspective. It might help to remember that many of the choices you make, such as what to have for lunch, will not (32) ______ much in the future and that, even more important choices, like accepting a new job, can (33) ______ be changed. It could also help to (34) ______ these situations with clear guidelines and ideas of what you want from the (35) ______ of options, which can narrow the possible choices, and also make you more confident about your ability to make the right decision.

Word Bank

A) approximately

B) case

C) chance

D) confused

E) crucial

F) deposited

G) enter

H) invest

I) matter

J) presented

K) range

L) regular

M) seize

N) selection

O) ultimately

Answers & Explanations

26. C (chance)。解析：位于动词 maximize 和代词 their 之后，介词 of 之前，需要填入名词。固定搭配 chance of doing sth. 意为做某事的“机会/可能性”。这里指增加他们做出最佳决定的可能性 (chance)。

27. N (selection)。解析：位于不定冠词 a 之后，介词 from 之前，需要填入单数名词。意为从所有这些选择中进行一次“挑选/选择 (selection)”。

28. D (confused)。解析：位于系动词 become 之后，作表语，且与后面的 avoid 动作构成顺承关系，需要填入形容词或过去分词。描述人的心理状态，意为面对众多选择，人们会变得“困惑的 (confused)”。

29. H (invest)。解析：主语是 they，缺少谓语动词，且后接介词 in。固定搭配 invest in 意为在...上“投入/投资”。这里指在决定中投入更多精力 (invest)。

30. J (presented)。解析：位于系动词 are 之后，搭配介词 with，构成被动语态。固定搭配 be presented with 意为“面对.../被提供...”。当人们面临 (presented) 更多选择时。

31. E (crucial)。解析：位于系动词 feel 之后，与 more difficult 并列，需要填入形容词作表语。意为做出正确的决定开始感觉更加“至关重要的 (crucial)”。

32. I (matter)。解析：位于助动词 will not 之后，副词 much 之前，需要填入动词原形。固定搭配 matter much 意为“要紧/有重大影响”。午餐吃什么在未来并不会有多大影响 (matter)。

33. O (ultimately)。解析：位于情态动词 can 和被动语态 be changed 之间，需要填入副词修饰动作。意为即使是更重要的选择，如接受一份新工作，“最终 (ultimately)”也是可以改变的。

34. G (enter)。解析：位于动词不定式符号 to 之后，宾语 these situations 之前，需要填入及物动词原形。带着明确的指导方针“进入 (enter)”这些情况/场景会有所帮助。

35. K (range)。解析：位于定冠词 the 和介词 of 之间，需要填入名词。固定搭配 a range of 意为“一系列/范围”。这里指你从这一系列的选项 (range) 中想要什么。

核心搭配与高分句型

【核心搭配与高频短语】

• when it comes to (doing) sth.：当涉及到（做）某事时（when it comes to actually making a selection）
• feel regretful over sth.：对某事感到后悔（feel more regretful over whatever choice they made）
• contribute to：导致，促成，有助于（contribute to the deep fear）
• put sth. into perspective：客观地看待某事，正确看待（putting decisions into perspective）
• be presented with：面临...，被提供...（when we are presented with more choices）
• a range of：一系列的（from the range of options）
• narrow down：缩小（选择）范围（narrow the possible choices）

【亮点句型解析】

• Whatever 引导的宾语从句作介词宾语：
  "...feel more regretful over whatever choice they made."
  （...对他们做出的任何选择感到更加后悔。）`whatever choice they made` 作为介词 `over` 的宾语从句，表达了“无论哪种选择都会后悔”的无奈感，极大地增强了语气的递进。
• It might help to do sth. (做某事可能会有帮助)：
  "It might help to remember that many of the choices you make... will not matter much in the future..."
  （记住你做出的许多选择...在未来并没有多大影响，可能会有所帮助。）`It` 作形式主语，真正的主语是 `to remember that...`。这种句型非常适合在四六级作文中用来提出建议或缓解焦虑。