Gaokao English: Reading Comprehension Flashcards

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?

Answer: Urban farming has both potential benefits and notable limitations.

The passage presents both positive arguments (lower emissions, fresh produce) and criticisms (cost, limited scale), making the balanced evaluation the main idea.

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'?

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

The passage explicitly defines the albedo effect as the reflective surface of ice bouncing sunlight back into space.

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:

Answer: Places where books are stored and kept.

'Repository' means a place where things are stored; the contrast with active community services reinforces this meaning.

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?

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

The passage states Edison's key contribution was practicality and the supporting infrastructure, implying his greatness lay in commercialization rather than pure invention.

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'?

Answer: Because treating sleep as optional ignores serious health risks.

Experts warn against viewing sleep as a luxury because doing so ignores documented links to obesity, heart disease, and cognitive impairment.

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?

Answer: A critical threshold after which damage becomes irreversible.

In context, the 'tipping point' is the threshold beyond which the forest cannot sustain itself, implying irreversible collapse.

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?

Answer: To inform readers about the personal benefits of volunteering.

The passage presents research about benefits without making normative demands, so its purpose is informational — explaining personal benefits.