Gaokao Exam Gaokao English: Reading Comprehension 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Social media platforms were designed to connect people, but research increasingly suggests they may also drive social division. Algorithms prioritize content that provokes strong emotional reactions — often outrage — because such content keeps users engaged longer. As a result, users are frequently exposed to extreme viewpoints, which can reinforce existing beliefs and deepen polarization between groups. According to the passage, why do social media algorithms favor emotionally provocative content?
- Because users have specifically requested more emotional content.
- Because it keeps users on the platform longer. (Correct answer)
- Because it is more truthful than neutral content.
- Because it helps reduce political polarization.
Correct answer: Because it keeps users on the platform longer.
The passage states algorithms prioritize provocative content because it keeps users engaged longer — a direct causal relationship.
Question 2: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor yet support approximately 25% of all marine species. They are sometimes called the 'rainforests of the sea.' Warming ocean temperatures cause corals to expel the algae living in their tissues, turning them white — a process called bleaching. Bleached corals are not dead but are under severe stress and can die if temperatures remain elevated. What does 'bleaching' refer to in the passage?
- The natural color change corals undergo each year.
- The process by which corals expel algae due to warm water, turning white. (Correct answer)
- A cleaning technique used to protect coral reefs.
- The death of coral reefs caused by pollution.
Correct answer: The process by which corals expel algae due to warm water, turning white.
The passage defines bleaching precisely as corals expelling algae due to warming, which turns them white.
Question 3: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Many people believe that multitasking increases productivity. However, cognitive scientists have found the opposite to be true. The human brain does not truly perform two tasks simultaneously; instead, it switches rapidly between tasks, incurring a 'switching cost' each time. This cost reduces accuracy and slows overall completion time, making multitaskers less efficient than those who focus on one task at a time. What can be inferred from the passage about multitasking?
- It is useful for creative tasks but not analytical ones.
- It is not as efficient as it is commonly believed to be. (Correct answer)
- It helps the brain become more flexible over time.
- It is only harmful when performed by beginners.
Correct answer: It is not as efficient as it is commonly believed to be.
The passage directly contradicts the popular belief in multitasking by citing scientific evidence of reduced accuracy and slower completion.
Question 4: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Throughout history, epidemics have shaped societies in profound ways. The Black Death of the 14th century killed an estimated one-third of Europe's population, disrupting the feudal system and accelerating social change. The 1918 influenza pandemic killed more people than World War I. These events remind us that infectious diseases are not merely health crises but forces capable of transforming economies and political structures. The author's main point in this passage is:
- The Black Death was the deadliest epidemic in human history.
- Epidemics are health problems that should be handled by doctors alone.
- Infectious diseases have far-reaching consequences beyond public health. (Correct answer)
- The 1918 influenza killed more people than any other disease.
Correct answer: Infectious diseases have far-reaching consequences beyond public health.
The passage argues that epidemics are not merely health crises but reshape economies and political structures — the broader impact is the main point.
Question 5: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: The discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century was one of medicine's greatest achievements. Diseases once considered death sentences became easily treatable. However, overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria, or 'superbugs.' The World Health Organization warns that antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health today. The word 'emergence' in the passage most nearly means:
- disappearance
- discovery
- rise and development (Correct answer)
- suppression
Correct answer: rise and development
'Emergence' in context refers to the rise and development of resistant bacteria as a new threat.
Question 6: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Water scarcity affects more than 40% of the global population. Agriculture accounts for roughly 70% of all freshwater withdrawals worldwide. Inefficient irrigation systems waste enormous volumes of water, much of which evaporates before reaching plant roots. Technologies such as drip irrigation, where water is delivered directly to the root zone, can reduce agricultural water use by up to 60%. Which problem does drip irrigation most directly address?
- The high cost of freshwater treatment plants.
- Water wasted through inefficient irrigation methods. (Correct answer)
- Pollution caused by agricultural runoff.
- The shortage of land available for farming.
Correct answer: Water wasted through inefficient irrigation methods.
The passage says drip irrigation reduces water use by delivering water directly to roots, addressing the waste caused by inefficient systems.
Question 7: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Space exploration has produced technologies we use every day. Memory foam, water purification filters, scratch-resistant lenses, and even the cameras in smartphones all trace their origins to NASA research. Critics argue that space programs consume resources that could be better spent on Earth's problems. Supporters counter that the technology developed for space eventually improves life on Earth in ways that are difficult to predict in advance. What is the supporters' argument as described in the passage?
- Space programs are too expensive and should be cut.
- Space technology always has immediate practical uses on Earth.
- Investments in space eventually yield benefits for life on Earth. (Correct answer)
- NASA should focus exclusively on developing consumer products.
Correct answer: Investments in space eventually yield benefits for life on Earth.
Supporters argue that space technology eventually improves life on Earth, even if those benefits cannot be predicted in advance.
Gaokao Exam Gaokao English: Reading Comprehension 2
Read the passage and answer the question.
Passage: Social media platforms were designed to connect people, but research increasingly suggests they may also drive social division.
Algorithms prioritize content that provokes strong emotional reactions — often outrage — because such content keeps users engaged longer.
As a result, users are frequently exposed to extreme viewpoints, which can reinforce existing beliefs and deepen polarization between groups.
According to the passage, why do social media algorithms favor emotionally provocative content?