Gaokao Exam Gaokao English: Reading Comprehension 1

Question 1

Read the passage and answer the question.

Passage: Urban farming is gaining popularity as cities grow more crowded. Growing food in rooftop gardens, vertical farms, and community plots helps reduce the distance food must travel from farm to table. Supporters argue this lowers carbon emissions and improves access to fresh produce. However, critics note that urban farms require significant investment in infrastructure and may not produce enough food to meaningfully supplement city supplies.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Accepted Answer

Urban farming has both potential benefits and notable limitations.

Answer

Urban farming is the best solution to food shortages.

Answer

Critics have proven that urban farming is ineffective.

Answer

Rooftop gardens are the most popular form of urban farming.

Question 2

Read the passage and answer the question.

Passage: The Arctic ice cap is melting at an accelerating rate. Scientists record that the extent of summer sea ice has declined by roughly 13% per decade since 1979. This melting contributes to rising sea levels, disrupts ecosystems that polar bears and seals depend on, and weakens the reflective surface that normally bounces sunlight back into space — a process known as the albedo effect.

According to the passage, what is the 'albedo effect'?

Accepted Answer

The reflection of sunlight back into space by the ice surface.

Answer

The process by which sea ice melts due to warmer temperatures.

Answer

The disruption of polar ecosystems caused by ice loss.

Answer

The rising of sea levels due to melting Arctic ice.

Question 3

Read the passage and answer the question.

Passage: Libraries have traditionally been repositories of books. Yet modern libraries increasingly serve as community hubs: offering free internet access, hosting job-skill workshops, providing quiet study spaces, and even lending tools and seed collections. These changes reflect a shift in purpose from simply storing knowledge to actively serving community needs.

The phrase 'repositories of books' most likely means:

Accepted Answer

Places where books are stored and kept.

Answer

Places that sell books to the public.

Answer

Places that produce and publish books.

Answer

Places that review and rate books.

Question 4

Read the passage and answer the question.

Passage: Thomas Edison is often credited with inventing the light bulb, but this is an oversimplification. Other inventors, including Humphry Davy and Joseph Swan, developed working electric lights before Edison. Edison's key contribution was creating a practical, long-lasting filament and building an entire power distribution system to make electric lighting commercially viable.

What can be inferred about Edison from this passage?

Accepted Answer

Edison's real achievement was making electric lighting a practical commercial product.

Answer

Edison stole his ideas from other inventors.

Answer

Edison invented all major electrical devices of his era.

Answer

Edison and Joseph Swan invented the light bulb at the same time.

Question 5

Read the passage and answer the question.

Passage: Sleep deprivation is a growing problem in modern society. Research shows that consistently sleeping fewer than seven hours per night is linked to increased risks of obesity, heart disease, and cognitive impairment. Despite this evidence, many people sacrifice sleep in favor of work or entertainment. Health experts argue that viewing sleep as a luxury rather than a necessity is a dangerous attitude.

According to the passage, why do health experts find the current attitude toward sleep 'dangerous'?

Accepted Answer

Because treating sleep as optional ignores serious health risks.

Answer

Because people who sleep less tend to work less productively.

Answer

Because entertainment options keep people from sleeping.

Answer

Because sleeping too much can also be harmful.

Question 6

Read the passage and answer the question.

Passage: The Amazon rainforest produces approximately 20% of the world's oxygen and absorbs vast amounts of carbon dioxide. It is home to an estimated 10% of all species on Earth. Despite its importance, deforestation driven by agriculture and logging removes millions of acres each year. Scientists warn that if deforestation continues at its current pace, the forest could reach a tipping point — beyond which it would no longer be able to sustain itself.

What does the word 'tipping point' suggest in this context?

Accepted Answer

A critical threshold after which damage becomes irreversible.

Answer

A moment when the forest starts producing more oxygen.

Answer

The point at which loggers stop cutting down trees.

Answer

A scientific term for the edge of a forest.

Question 7

Read the passage and answer the question.

Passage: Volunteering offers individuals more than just a chance to help others. Studies show that people who volunteer regularly report higher levels of life satisfaction, lower rates of depression, and even improved physical health. Researchers attribute these benefits to the sense of purpose, social connection, and structured activity that volunteering provides.

Which of the following best describes the author's purpose in this passage?

Accepted Answer

To inform readers about the personal benefits of volunteering.

Answer

To argue that volunteering should be made compulsory.

Answer

To criticize people who do not volunteer.

Answer

To compare different types of volunteering activities.