Gaokao Exam Gaokao English: Reading Comprehension 2

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?

Accepted Answer

Because it keeps users on the platform longer.

Answer

Because users have specifically requested more emotional content.

Answer

Because it is more truthful than neutral content.

Answer

Because it helps reduce political polarization.

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?

Accepted Answer

The process by which corals expel algae due to warm water, turning white.

Answer

The natural color change corals undergo each year.

Answer

A cleaning technique used to protect coral reefs.

Answer

The death of coral reefs caused by pollution.

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?

Accepted Answer

It is not as efficient as it is commonly believed to be.

Answer

It is useful for creative tasks but not analytical ones.

Answer

It helps the brain become more flexible over time.

Answer

It is only harmful when performed by beginners.

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:

Accepted Answer

Infectious diseases have far-reaching consequences beyond public health.

Answer

The Black Death was the deadliest epidemic in human history.

Answer

Epidemics are health problems that should be handled by doctors alone.

Answer

The 1918 influenza killed more people than any other disease.

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:

Accepted Answer

rise and development

Answer

disappearance

Answer

discovery

Answer

suppression

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?

Accepted Answer

Water wasted through inefficient irrigation methods.

Answer

The high cost of freshwater treatment plants.

Answer

Pollution caused by agricultural runoff.

Answer

The shortage of land available for farming.

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?

Accepted Answer

Investments in space eventually yield benefits for life on Earth.

Answer

Space programs are too expensive and should be cut.

Answer

Space technology always has immediate practical uses on Earth.

Answer

NASA should focus exclusively on developing consumer products.