GEPT 中高級全真模擬試題 Mock 2

第一部分：聽力測驗（Listening Comprehension）

Part 1：問答（Question-Response）

說明： 每題會播放一個英文問句，請從三個選項中選出最適當的回應。

Question 1

I’m considering whether I should pursue a master’s degree right after graduation or work for a few years first. Both paths have their merits and I genuinely cannot decide.

(A) Most master’s programs take one to two years to complete. (B) Working first gives you practical experience and clarity about what you want to study, but going straight through means you won’t lose academic momentum. There’s no universally right answer. (C) Graduate school is very expensive and most people regret going.

Question 2

What’s your perspective on the argument that standardized testing is an inherently flawed measure of student ability and should be abolished?

(A) Students spend too much time preparing for standardized tests. (B) Standardized tests have clear limitations — they measure only certain types of intelligence and can be gamed through coaching. But they also provide a common metric that other assessments lack. I think reform, not abolition, is the answer. (C) I did very well on my standardized tests in high school.

Question 3

My supervisor keeps assigning me tasks outside my official job description, and I feel like I’m being taken advantage of, but I’m afraid if I say no it will hurt my career. What should I do?

(A) You can always find another job if you are unhappy. (B) Frame the conversation around your priorities rather than a complaint. Say something like, “I want to make sure I’m focused on what matters most for our team’s goals — can we look at my current workload together?” (C) Just keep doing the extra tasks and eventually you will be rewarded.

Question 4

Do you think the benefits of globalization have been distributed fairly, or has it primarily benefited wealthy nations at the expense of developing ones?

(A) Globalization has connected the world in unprecedented ways. (B) The evidence is mixed. Globalization has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty in countries like China and Vietnam. But it has also concentrated wealth within nations and left certain regions and communities behind. The issue is less globalization itself than the policies that govern it. (C) International trade has existed for thousands of years.

Question 5

With AI-generated art winning competitions and AI-written essays passing university exams, how should we redefine creativity and authorship?

(A) Artificial intelligence is improving very quickly. (B) These developments force us to ask uncomfortable questions. If creativity is defined by the novelty and value of the output, AI clearly demonstrates it. But if it requires intentionality and lived experience, humans remain unique. I suspect our definitions will evolve rather than remain fixed. (C) I prefer art created by human beings.

Question 6

Why do you think misinformation spreads so effectively on social media, even when fact-checking resources are readily available?

(A) Social media platforms prioritize engaging content over accurate content. (B) Part of the answer is emotional: false information is often designed to provoke outrage or fear, which makes it more shareable. But there’s also a psychological mechanism called “repetition-induced truth,” where repeated exposure to a claim, even a false one, increases its perceived truthfulness. (C) People should be more careful about what they share online.

Question 7

I’m moving to a new city for work next month, and I don’t know anyone there. How would you recommend building a social circle from scratch as an adult?

(A) Making friends as an adult is much harder than in school. (B) Consistent, low-stakes repeated exposure is key. Join a regular activity — a sports league, a language class, a volunteer organization — where you see the same people weekly. Friendships develop through repeated unplanned interactions, so create conditions for those to happen. (C) You can use dating apps to find friends.

Question 8

What’s your opinion on universities investing heavily in sports programs while cutting funding for humanities departments?

(A) Sports programs attract a lot of attention and donations. (B) I find it troubling because it signals what a society values. Sports have their place, but the humanities teach critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and cultural understanding — skills that are essential for democratic citizenship. When we treat universities as job-training centers rather than institutions for developing whole human beings, we all lose something. (C) Humanities departments have fewer students than science departments.

Question 9

Do you think the concept of work-life balance is realistic, or is it an unattainable ideal that sets people up for guilt and disappointment?

(A) Most people struggle to achieve work-life balance. (B) The term implies a clean separation that doesn’t match how life actually works. I prefer the concept of “work-life integration” — recognizing that some weeks work demands more, and other weeks personal life takes priority. The goal isn’t perfect daily balance but sustainable long-term patterns. (C) You should work hard when you’re young and rest later.

Question 10

How should public health officials communicate scientific uncertainty during a crisis, like the early stages of a pandemic, without losing public trust?

(A) Scientific uncertainty is unavoidable in any new situation. (B) This is incredibly difficult. Acknowledge what is known, what is unknown, and what is being done to reduce uncertainty. The mistake is pretending certainty doesn’t exist. Public trust erodes not when experts admit they don’t know something, but when they are proven wrong after claiming certainty. (C) The public doesn’t need to know every detail of the scientific process.

Question 11

Is happiness something that can be actively pursued, or is it more of a byproduct of living a meaningful life?

(A) Many people spend their entire lives searching for happiness. (B) I lean toward the latter view. Research by psychologists like Viktor Frankl suggests that happiness ensues from pursuing meaningful goals rather than being pursued directly. When people focus on happiness itself as a target, they often become more aware of its absence — the “hedonic paradox.” (C) Happiness means different things to different people.

Question 12

With housing prices in Taipei becoming increasingly unaffordable for young professionals, what policy solutions do you think are most viable?

(A) Taipei is one of the most expensive cities in Asia. (B) I think we need a multi-pronged approach: increasing housing supply through zoning reform and faster permitting, stronger renter protections, and targeted subsidies for first-time buyers. But the uncomfortable truth is that affordable housing in desirable cities is a genuinely hard problem — no country has completely solved it. (C) Many young people are choosing to live with their parents longer.

Question 13

What do you think about the trend of “quiet quitting” — doing the bare minimum at work rather than going above and beyond?

(A) Quiet quitting became a popular term during the pandemic. (B) I think it’s a rational response to workplaces that demand excessive loyalty and effort without offering meaningful rewards or recognition in return. However, doing the bare minimum indefinitely is unlikely to lead to career satisfaction. The healthier approach is to set clear boundaries while still finding engagement and meaning in your work. (C) Employers should fire employees who don’t work hard enough.

Question 14

How significant do you think the loss of biodiversity is compared to climate change? Is it a secondary concern or an equally urgent crisis?

(A) Climate change gets more media attention than biodiversity loss. (B) They are deeply interconnected crises of equal urgency. Biodiversity loss and climate change amplify each other — deforestation both destroys habitats and releases carbon. The distinction is partly artificial; they are both symptoms of the same underlying problem: humanity’s unsustainable relationship with the natural world. (C) There are still many species that have not been discovered yet.

Question 15

Do you agree with the saying that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? Have you found this to be true in your own experience?

(A) That saying is often attributed to the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. (B) I think the saying captures a partial truth but oversimplifies. Adversity can lead to growth, but only when a person has adequate support systems and the resources to process the experience. Trauma without support often leads to lasting damage rather than strength. Growth is not automatic — it requires reflection, support, and time. (C) I have been through many difficult experiences in my life.

Part 2：簡短對話（Short Conversations）

說明： 每段對話後有兩個問題，請從四個選項中選出最佳答案。

Conversation 1

Student: Professor Liu, I wanted to discuss my thesis progress. I’ve been reading the literature on urban inequality, but I feel like every paper I read takes me in a new direction. Professor Liu: That’s a common phase in the research process. The literature is vast, and it’s easy to get lost. Have you defined your research question yet? Student: That’s part of the problem. I started with an interest in income inequality and housing access, but now I’m reading about education inequality, healthcare access, and even environmental justice. It all seems connected. Professor Liu: It is connected, but a thesis needs a sharp focus. Here’s what I suggest: write down all the topics that interest you on a single page. Then draw lines connecting the ones you think are most strongly related. Look for where three or four lines converge — that intersection is usually a promising research question. Student: That’s a really concrete approach. I’ll try that tonight and send you a draft research question by Friday. Professor Liu: Good. And remember, a well-defined, narrow question explored deeply is vastly superior to a broad question treated superficially.

Question 16: What problem is the student experiencing?

(A) He cannot find enough academic papers on his topic. (B) He is overwhelmed by the vast literature and has not narrowed his research question. (C) His professor has rejected his initial thesis proposal. (D) He has missed the deadline for submitting his thesis topic.

Question 17: What technique does Professor Liu recommend?

(A) Reading ten more papers and writing summaries for each (B) Writing all topics on one page and looking for where lines of interest converge (C) Changing the thesis topic entirely to something more manageable (D) Interviewing experts in each field to narrow down the focus

Conversation 2

Client: I’ve been investing in individual stocks for the past three years, and honestly, my returns have been all over the place. Some big wins, but also some painful losses. I’m wondering if there’s a better approach. Financial Advisor: What you’re describing is actually quite typical for individual stock-pickers. Even professional fund managers struggle to consistently beat the market. Can I ask what your investment goals are? Client: Mainly long-term — I want to build enough for a comfortable retirement in about twenty-five years. I’m not trying to get rich overnight. Financial Advisor: In that case, I’d suggest considering a passive indexing strategy. Rather than trying to pick winning stocks, you invest in broad market index funds that track the overall market. It’s less exciting than stock-picking, but over a 25-year horizon, the data strongly favors this approach for most investors. Client: That makes sense intellectually, but I’ll admit I enjoy the thrill of researching companies and making investment decisions. It feels like I’m being proactive. Financial Advisor: You can do both. Allocate 80% of your portfolio to index funds for your core retirement goal, and keep 20% as a “satellite” portfolio where you can actively pick stocks. That way, you satisfy your interest without putting your long-term security at risk.

Question 18: What investment approach does the financial advisor recommend for long-term goals?

(A) Aggressive stock-picking with a focus on growth companies (B) A passive indexing strategy using broad market index funds (C) Investing primarily in real estate and fixed-income products (D) Hiring a professional stock-picker to manage the portfolio

Question 19: What compromise does the advisor suggest?

(A) Investing only in technology stocks for higher returns (B) Putting 80% in index funds and 20% in a satellite portfolio for active stock-picking (C) Selling all individual stocks and putting everything in savings accounts (D) Only investing in companies recommended by professional analysts

Conversation 3

Journalist: Dr. Nakamura, your new study on microplastics found them in human brain tissue. That’s an alarming finding. Can you help us understand what it means? Dr. Nakamura: First, I want to be careful not to overstate. We detected microplastic particles in brain tissue samples, yes. But ‘detection’ is not the same as ‘demonstrated harm.’ We’re at the stage of establishing that these particles can reach the brain. The next stage is determining whether and at what levels they cause damage. Journalist: Are there any theories about how they might affect brain function? Dr. Nakamura: There are hypotheses. Some lab studies suggest that microplastics can cause inflammation and oxidative stress in neural cells. But these are in vitro studies — petri dish experiments. Translating that to what happens inside a living human brain is a significant leap that we are not yet able to make. Journalist: Should people be worried? Dr. Nakamura: I think ‘concerned and attentive’ is the right posture, not panicked. The prudent step is to reduce unnecessary plastic exposure where practical — filtering drinking water, avoiding heating food in plastic containers, reducing single-use plastics. These are sensible precautions regardless of what the research ultimately finds. Journalist: What’s the next step for your research team? Dr. Nakamura: We’re launching a longitudinal study tracking both microplastic accumulation and cognitive function over five years in a cohort of 2,000 participants. That will give us much better data on the relationship, if any.

Question 20: According to Dr. Nakamura, what has his study established so far?

(A) That microplastics in the brain definitely cause cognitive decline (B) That microplastic particles can reach human brain tissue, but harm is not yet demonstrated (C) That filtering drinking water completely eliminates microplastic risk (D) That microplastics are more dangerous than previously thought

Question 21: What is Dr. Nakamura’s recommendation for the public?

(A) Immediately seek medical screening for microplastic contamination (B) Avoid all plastic products entirely (C) Take sensible precautions like filtering water without panicking (D) Wait for the longitudinal study results before taking any action

Conversation 4

Manager: Angela, I’ve been reviewing your team’s productivity metrics, and the numbers are down about 15% compared to last quarter. What’s your read on what’s happening? Angela: I’m aware of the drop, and I’ve been doing one-on-ones to understand it. There are a few factors. First, we lost two senior people last quarter to competitors, and the new hires are still ramping up. Second, the new project management software we adopted has a steeper learning curve than we anticipated. Manager: I see. On the software front, do you think it’s a temporary adjustment issue or a genuine mismatch with our workflow? Angela: I think it’s mostly temporary. The team is frustrated right now, but the people who’ve gotten comfortable with it say it’s actually more efficient once you know the shortcuts. I’d like to bring in a trainer for a half-day workshop to accelerate the learning process. The cost would be about $3,000. Manager: That seems reasonable. Go ahead and schedule it. And regarding the staffing issue — are there things we can do to improve retention more broadly? Angela: Honestly, the exit interviews revealed that compensation was a major factor. We’re about 10% below market for senior roles. I think we need to have a serious conversation about adjusting our salary bands. Manager: That’s going to be a bigger conversation with HR and finance. Let me set up a meeting for next week to discuss it. In the meantime, focus on what’s within your control — the training and supporting the new hires.

Question 22: What is NOT given as a reason for the productivity drop?

(A) Two senior employees left and new hires are still ramping up (B) The new project management software has a steep learning curve (C) The team has been reduced in size due to budget cuts (D) The combination of staff turnover and software transition issues

Question 23: What does the manager agree to do immediately?

(A) Approve a salary increase for all team members (B) Approve the $3,000 budget for a software training workshop (C) Hire two new senior employees to replace those who left (D) Switch back to the old project management software

Conversation 5

Roommate A: Hey, I noticed the electricity bill this month is almost double what it was last month. Do you have any idea why? Roommate B: Hmm, I did start working from home three days a week instead of going to the office. I guess the air conditioner has been running a lot more during the day. Roommate A: That makes sense. Also, you’ve been using the gaming PC a lot in the evenings — that thing is basically a space heater. Roommate B: Fair point. Look, since I’m the one using more electricity, why don’t I pay 60% of the bill this month instead of our usual 50-50 split? Roommate A: That seems fair. But maybe we should also talk about setting some ground rules going forward. Like, turning off the AC when no one’s in the common areas, or agreeing on a temperature setting. Roommate B: I’m on board with that. Let’s set the AC at 26 degrees and use fans when possible. And I’ll be more mindful about turning things off when I’m done. Roommate A: Great. I’ll write up a little shared checklist and stick it on the fridge. That way there’s no confusion.

Question 24: What caused the significant increase in the electricity bill?

(A) The landlord raised the electricity rates without notice (B) Roommate B has been working from home and using the gaming PC more (C) A major appliance broke and was consuming excess power (D) The city increased utility taxes for all residents

Question 25: What arrangement do the roommates agree upon?

(A) Roommate A will pay the entire bill this month (B) Roommate B will pay 60% of the bill and they will set energy-saving ground rules (C) They will both stop using air conditioning entirely (D) They will ask the landlord to include utilities in the rent

Conversation 6

Emma: Jack, you’ve been so quiet lately. I feel like I barely see you outside of class anymore. Is everything okay? Jack: (sighs) To be honest, not really. My parents have been fighting a lot, and it’s gotten worse since my dad lost his job. Home just feels tense all the time. I’ve been staying late at the library just to avoid going back. Emma: That sounds really rough. I’m sorry you’re going through that. Have you talked to anyone about how it’s affecting you? Jack: Not really. I don’t want to burden my friends with my family problems. And I feel like I should be able to handle it — it’s not about me directly. Emma: But it is affecting you, Jack. Just because it’s not your problem to solve doesn’t mean it’s not impacting your life. That’s not a burden — that’s what friends are for. Jack: I guess I’ve just gotten used to keeping it to myself. Emma: The university counseling center offers free sessions for students. I went when I was dealing with anxiety last semester, and it genuinely helped. No pressure, but just know the option is there. Jack: I’ll think about it. Thanks for saying something. It actually helps just knowing someone noticed.

Question 26: What is the source of Jack’s stress?

(A) He is failing several of his university courses. (B) His parents are fighting frequently after his father lost his job. (C) He is experiencing bullying from classmates at university. (D) He has developed a serious health condition that worries him.

Question 27: What does Emma suggest to Jack?

(A) That he should move out of his family home immediately (B) That he should confront his parents about their fighting (C) That he could consider using the university counseling center (D) That he should focus harder on his studies to distract himself

Conversation 7

Interviewer: Welcome back to the program. Joining us is Dr. Chen, an economist who has been studying the four-day workweek. Dr. Chen, the results of the largest four-day workweek trial came out recently. What did they show? Dr. Chen: Thank you for having me. The trial involved over 60 companies and nearly 3,000 employees in the UK over six months. The headline result was striking: 92% of participating companies chose to continue with the four-day week after the trial ended. Interviewer: That’s a very high retention rate. What was the impact on productivity? Dr. Chen: Company revenue stayed roughly the same over the trial period, and in some cases increased slightly. This supports the argument that reduced hours can maintain productivity if work processes are restructured. Employees reported working more intensely during their four days — fewer long meetings, less ‘presenteeism,’ and better prioritization. Interviewer: Were there any negative effects? Dr. Chen: The main challenge was implementation in customer-facing industries where service hours couldn’t easily be compressed. Manufacturing and retail had more difficulty than knowledge-work sectors. There was also some initial friction with clients who expected five-day availability. Interviewer: Do you see this becoming mainstream? Dr. Chen: I think we’re past the point of asking whether it works. The evidence is accumulating that it does, for many sectors. The barrier now is organizational inertia and the challenge of coordinating across companies with different schedules. I expect gradual adoption over the next decade rather than rapid transformation.

Question 28: What was the most notable result of the four-day workweek trial?

(A) 92% of participating companies chose to continue after the trial ended. (B) Company productivity dropped significantly in all participating companies. (C) Most employees said they wanted to go back to a five-day week. (D) The trial was stopped early due to the economic impact on businesses.

Question 29: According to Dr. Chen, what was the main implementation challenge?

(A) Employees were unwilling to work more intensely during their four workdays. (B) Customer-facing industries struggled to compress service hours. (C) Government regulations prohibited reduced working hours. (D) Managers refused to restructure work processes for efficiency.

Conversation 8

Dan: Rachel, I saw your presentation at the architecture conference last weekend. The concept of biophilic design you presented was fascinating. I’d never thought about how incorporating natural elements into buildings could measurably reduce stress. Rachel: Oh, you were there? I’m glad you found it interesting! The research on this is actually quite compelling. Hospital patients in rooms with a view of nature recover faster and require less pain medication than those facing a brick wall. It’s not just aesthetic preference — there are physiological effects. Dan: The part about circadian lighting especially caught my attention — lights that change color temperature throughout the day to match natural sunlight patterns. Is that technology actually being deployed, or is it still experimental? Rachel: It’s being deployed, though mainly in high-end commercial projects so far. The upfront cost is higher than standard lighting, but the energy savings and productivity benefits can offset that over time. I predict it’ll be standard in office buildings within ten years. Dan: I’d love to learn more. Do you have any recommendations for someone just getting into this field? Rachel: Absolutely. Start with Stephen Kellert’s book “Biophilic Design” — it’s pretty foundational. And the International Living Future Institute has an excellent online course that’s more accessible. I can send you the links if you want. Dan: That would be great. Send them over and I’ll dig in this weekend.

Question 30: According to Rachel, what is one demonstrated benefit of biophilic design in hospitals?

(A) It reduces the number of medical errors by hospital staff. (B) Patients with a view of nature recover faster and need less pain medication. (C) It eliminates the need for air conditioning systems entirely. (D) Doctors report higher job satisfaction in biophilic hospital environments.

Part 3：簡短獨白（Short Talks）

說明： 每段獨白後有三個問題，請從四個選項中選出最佳答案。

Talk 1

“Good afternoon. Today’s lecture is about confirmation bias — perhaps the most pervasive and consequential of all cognitive biases. Confirmation bias refers to our tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in ways that confirm our pre-existing beliefs while giving disproportionately less weight to information that challenges those beliefs.

What makes confirmation bias so dangerous is that it operates largely beneath our conscious awareness. We don’t feel biased when we’re being biased. Instead, we feel like we are being rational, dispassionate evaluators of evidence. This is what psychologists call the ‘bias blind spot’ — the ability to recognize bias in others while failing to see it in ourselves.

Consider a classic experiment conducted at Stanford University in the 1970s. Researchers recruited participants who either supported or opposed capital punishment. Both groups were shown the same two studies — one suggesting capital punishment deters crime, the other suggesting it does not. The result? Both groups rated the study that supported their pre-existing view as more methodologically sound and more convincing. Rather than converging toward consensus, exposure to the same mixed evidence pushed the two groups further apart.

In the digital age, confirmation bias has been supercharged by algorithmic content curation. Social media platforms and search engines show us content that aligns with our existing interests and beliefs, creating feedback loops that reinforce rather than challenge our worldviews. This has real-world consequences: from vaccine hesitancy to political polarization to the spread of conspiracy theories.

So what can be done? Research suggests that simply knowing about confirmation bias is not sufficient to overcome it. More effective strategies include actively seeking out disconfirming evidence — deliberately reading high-quality sources from perspectives you disagree with. Another technique is ‘considering the opposite’ — when you find yourself reaching a conclusion, pause and ask: ‘What evidence would convince me I am wrong? If I were wrong, how would I know?’”

Question 31: What is confirmation bias as defined in the talk?

(A) The tendency to agree with everything an authority figure says (B) The tendency to search for and interpret information in ways that confirm our pre-existing beliefs (C) A preference for receiving confirmation of important decisions in writing (D) The habit of seeking multiple opinions before making a judgment

Question 32: What was the result of the Stanford experiment described in the talk?

(A) Both groups of participants agreed on which study was more convincing. (B) Both groups rated the study that confirmed their existing beliefs as more convincing. (C) Neither group found either study convincing or useful. (D) The participants who opposed capital punishment changed their minds after reading the evidence.

Question 33: What strategy does the speaker recommend for overcoming confirmation bias?

(A) Avoiding all news and information sources that present strong opinions (B) Relying solely on academic research for all decision-making (C) Actively seeking out disconfirming evidence and “considering the opposite” (D) Trusting your gut instincts rather than analyzing information critically

Talk 2

“Welcome to ‘Science in Focus.’ Today, we explore the discovery and promise of CRISPR-Cas9, a gene-editing technology that has revolutionized molecular biology since its development in 2012 by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work in 2020.

At its core, CRISPR-Cas9 works like a pair of molecular scissors guided by a GPS system. The ‘scissors’ — the Cas9 protein — can cut DNA at a precise location. The ‘GPS’ — a guide RNA molecule — directs Cas9 to the specific sequence of DNA that researchers want to modify. Once the cut is made, the cell’s natural repair mechanisms kick in, and scientists can use this process to delete, replace, or insert genetic sequences.

The therapeutic potential is immense. Clinical trials are underway for CRISPR-based treatments for sickle cell disease, certain forms of inherited blindness, and various cancers. In 2023, the first CRISPR-based therapy was approved — a treatment for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia that modifies a patient’s own blood stem cells outside the body and re-infuses them.

However, CRISPR also raises profound ethical questions, particularly regarding its potential use in human embryos. Editing the DNA of embryos would create changes that are passed to future generations — so-called ‘germline editing.’ While this could theoretically eliminate devastating genetic diseases, it also opens the door to ‘designer babies’ and could fundamentally alter the human gene pool in ways that are difficult to predict or reverse.

The scientific community has largely coalesced around a cautious approach. An international summit in 2018 concluded that it would be ‘irresponsible’ to proceed with clinical germline editing until safety issues are resolved and broad societal consensus is reached. The challenge is that the technology is advancing faster than the ethical frameworks and regulatory structures needed to govern it. As Doudna herself has written, the power to edit the code of life carries with it a responsibility that extends far beyond the laboratory.”

Question 34: How does the talk describe the mechanism of CRISPR-Cas9?

(A) As a microscope that can observe individual DNA strands in real time (B) As molecular scissors with a GPS system that can cut DNA at precise locations (C) As a chemical solution that dissolves unwanted genetic material in cells (D) As a computer program that simulates genetic sequences for research

Question 35: What was the first CRISPR-based therapy approved?

(A) A treatment for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia (B) A cure for inherited forms of blindness (C) A therapy for advanced-stage lung cancer (D) A genetic modification for Huntington’s disease

Question 36: What ethical concern does the talk raise about germline editing?

(A) It is too expensive for most patients to afford. (B) Changes would be passed to future generations and could alter the human gene pool. (C) The technology has not been tested on any living organisms yet. (D) It could make human beings immune to all known diseases.

Talk 3

“Picture this: you’re scrolling through your phone at 11:30 p.m., telling yourself you’ll put it down after one more video. Two hours later, you’re still scrolling, and now you’re watching a documentary about deep-sea creatures you didn’t even know existed. You’re not alone. This phenomenon — the inability to stop an activity despite wanting to — is what experts call ‘digital addiction,’ and it’s designed into the very fabric of our technology.

The mechanism is well understood. When we receive a like on social media, a message from a friend, or even just see an interesting headline, our brains release dopamine — the same neurotransmitter involved in all addictive behaviors. Tech companies employ teams of behavioral psychologists and data scientists to maximize this effect. The infinite scroll feature — where content loads endlessly as you swipe down — was specifically designed to remove any natural stopping point. The pull-to-refresh gesture mimics a slot machine, where the anticipation of what might appear keeps us pulling.

The consequences are measurable. A 2024 meta-analysis of over 100 studies found significant correlations between heavy social media use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and sleep disruption among adolescents. The effect is particularly strong for teenage girls. Academic performance has also been affected; a study tracking university students found that even the mere presence of a smartphone on the desk — turned off — reduced cognitive performance on complex tasks, a phenomenon researchers call ‘brain drain.’

What makes digital addiction uniquely difficult to address is that complete abstinence is not a realistic option for most people. Unlike substance addiction, where the goal can be to eliminate the substance entirely, technology is interwoven with work, education, and social connection. The solution, according to experts, is not to abandon technology but to develop a more intentional relationship with it. This might involve turning off non-essential notifications, setting app time limits, keeping phones out of the bedroom at night, and consciously curating the content we consume to serve our goals rather than algorithms.”

Question 37: According to the talk, why was the “infinite scroll” feature designed?

(A) To help users find content more quickly (B) To remove natural stopping points and keep users engaged longer (C) To make websites load faster on mobile devices (D) To reduce the amount of data needed to display content

Question 38: What did the 2024 meta-analysis find?

(A) Heavy social media use had no significant effect on mental health. (B) Heavy social media use was correlated with increased anxiety, depression, and sleep disruption. (C) Social media use improved academic performance among university students. (D) The effects of social media were limited to adults, not adolescents.

Question 39: Why is digital addiction considered harder to address than substance addiction?

(A) Technology companies refuse to cooperate with researchers studying addiction. (B) Unlike substances, complete abstinence from technology is not realistic for most people. (C) The brain chemistry of digital addiction is fundamentally different from substance addiction. (D) There are no treatment programs available for digital addiction.

Talk 4

“Welcome to the weekly briefing. I’ll start with an update on our international expansion initiative, then move to the product development roadmap, and close with Q3 financial projections.

First, the Tokyo office. After nine months of groundwork, we officially opened our Japan operations on April 1st. The team currently stands at eighteen people — a mix of local hires and three expatriates from our Taipei headquarters. Revenue from the Japan market reached $1.3 million in Q2, which is 15% above our initial projection. However, customer acquisition costs in Japan are running about 20% higher than expected, largely due to higher-than-anticipated digital advertising rates in the Tokyo market. We’ll need to adjust our marketing mix — potentially shifting more budget into content marketing and partnerships rather than paid search.

Moving to Europe. We’ve identified Berlin as our next target, with a planned launch in Q1 of next year. The regulatory environment in the EU is significantly more complex than in Asia, particularly around data privacy compliance under GDPR. We have engaged a local law firm to guide us through the requirements, and we’re budgeting approximately $500,000 for compliance-related costs before launch. I want to be transparent: the European expansion carries more risk and longer timelines than our Asian markets, but the total addressable market is roughly three times larger.

Now, on the product side. Our AI-powered analytics dashboard — codenamed ‘Project Insight’ — is on track for its beta release in August. The beta will be limited to fifty existing enterprise clients. Early internal testing shows that the tool reduces the time clients spend generating reports by about 60%. If the beta results confirm this, we plan a full commercial launch in November.

Financial outlook for Q3. We expect total revenue of $52 mi ll i o n, re p rese n t in g 12$ 180 million.

I’ll now take your questions, starting with those from the analysts on the call.”

Question 40: What is the issue with the Japan market operations?

(A) Revenue is well below initial projections. (B) Customer acquisition costs are 20% higher than expected. (C) The Tokyo office has not yet hired enough local staff. (D) Japanese regulations have prevented the launch entirely.

Question 41: When is the planned launch for the Berlin office?

(A) Q2 of this year (B) Q3 of this year (C) Q1 of next year (D) Q4 of next year

Question 42: What is the projected Q3 operating margin, and why is it down from Q2?

(A) 19%, due to higher investment in European expansion and AI product development (B) 15%, due to declining sales in the Asian market (C) 22%, due to cost-cutting measures across the company (D) 12%, due to an economic downturn affecting all business units

Talk 5

“In the autumn of 1846, a young physician named Ignaz Semmelweis began working at the Vienna General Hospital’s maternity clinic. What he observed there troubled him deeply. The clinic had two wards: one staffed by doctors and medical students, the other by midwives. The mortality rate from childbed fever in the doctors’ ward was consistently two to three times higher than in the midwives’ ward — sometimes reaching as high as 18%.

Semmelweis became obsessed with understanding this discrepancy. He ruled out every variable he could think of — differences in patient demographics, overcrowding, even the psychological effect of a priest walking through the ward ringing a bell. The breakthrough came in 1847, after the death of his friend and colleague, Dr. Jakob Kolletschka, who had been accidentally cut by a scalpel during an autopsy and died of symptoms remarkably similar to childbed fever.

Semmelweis made a crucial connection: the doctors and medical students were performing autopsies in the morning and then examining patients in the maternity ward in the afternoon without washing their hands. The midwives did not perform autopsies. Semmelweis hypothesized that ‘cadaverous particles’ were being transferred from the autopsy room to the maternity ward on the hands of physicians.

He instituted a simple protocol: all medical staff must wash their hands with a chlorinated lime solution before examining patients. The result was dramatic and immediate. The mortality rate in the doctors’ ward dropped from over 10% to below 2% within months.

Yet the medical establishment largely rejected his findings. The germ theory of disease had not yet been established, and Semmelweis could not explain the mechanism behind his observations. He was dismissed from his position and his ideas were marginalized. It would be another twenty years before Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister established the germ theory and antiseptic practices gained acceptance.

Semmelweis died in 1865 in a mental institution, widely unrecognized. Today, he is remembered as a pioneer of antiseptic procedures and is often referred to as the ‘savior of mothers.’ His story serves as both an inspiration and a warning: a reminder that even life-saving truths can be rejected when they challenge entrenched beliefs and professional egos.”

Question 43: What did Semmelweis observe about the two maternity wards?

(A) Both wards had the same mortality rate from childbed fever. (B) The mortality rate in the doctors’ ward was consistently two to three times higher. (C) The midwives’ ward had a higher mortality rate. (D) Childbed fever was not present in either ward.

Question 44: What was the key insight that led to Semmelweis’s hand-washing protocol?

(A) He read about the germ theory in a French medical journal. (B) He realized his colleague’s death from an autopsy cut resembled childbed fever symptoms. (C) Midwives told him that they had a secret remedy for preventing infections. (D) He discovered that the hospital’s water supply was contaminated.

Question 45: Why did the medical establishment initially reject Semmelweis’s findings?

(A) Hand-washing was too expensive and time-consuming for hospitals to implement. (B) The germ theory of disease had not yet been established, and he could not explain the mechanism. (C) Other doctors were jealous of his success in reducing mortality rates. (D) The chlorine solution he recommended was later found to be ineffective.

第二部分：閱讀測驗（Reading Comprehension）

Part 1：詞彙和結構（Vocabulary & Structure）

說明： 請選出最適合填入空格的答案。

Question 46

The documentary provided a(n) ___ account of the refugee crisis, presenting the facts without emotional dramatization.

(A) biased (B) objective (C) exaggerated (D) fictional

Question 47

The research team’s hypothesis was ___ by the experimental data, which showed results in the opposite direction of what they had predicted.

(A) validated (B) substantiated (C) refuted (D) endorsed

Question 48

Were it not for the generous donations from alumni, the scholarship program ___ to continue operating.

(A) would not be able (B) would not have been able (C) cannot be able (D) could not been able

Question 49

The novel’s protagonist is a deeply ___ character whose motivations are never fully clear to the reader.

(A) transparent (B) straightforward (C) enigmatic (D) predictable

Question 50

The keynote speaker ___ the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing complex global challenges.

(A) underscored (B) undermined (C) underestimated (D) understated

Question 51

The city council voted unanimously to ___ the old theater rather than demolish it, recognizing its cultural and historical significance.

(A) abandon (B) restore (C) evacuate (D) occupy

Question 52

So rapidly ___ that it has outpaced the development of appropriate regulatory frameworks.

(A) the technology has advanced (B) has the technology advanced (C) advanced the technology (D) the technology advanced

Question 53

Her argument, ___ well-researched, failed to persuade the committee due to its overly technical presentation.

(A) however (B) while (C) despite (D) although it was

Question 54

The company’s aggressive expansion strategy proved to be ___, resulting in unsustainable debt and operational chaos.

(A) prudent (B) profitable (C) reckless (D) methodical

Question 55

He spoke with such ___ that even his critics found themselves nodding in agreement.

(A) hesitation (B) eloquence (C) indifference (D) hostility

Question 56

The athlete attributed her remarkable comeback not to talent but to sheer ___ — the determination to keep training when others would have given up.

(A) luck (B) privilege (C) perseverance (D) coincidence

Question 57

No sooner ___ the building than the fire alarm went off, forcing everyone to evacuate.

(A) had we entered (B) we had entered (C) did we entered (D) we entered

Question 58

The ambassador’s remarks, ___ to be off the record, were leaked to the press and sparked a diplomatic controversy.

(A) intended (B) intending (C) had intended (D) were intended

Question 59

It is essential that every employee ___ the confidentiality agreement before being granted access to the server room.

(A) signs (B) sign (C) signed (D) will sign

Question 60

The professor’s criticism, ___ harsh it may have sounded, was ultimately constructive and helped me improve my thesis significantly.

(A) however (B) whatever (C) how (D) no matter how

Part 2：段落填空（Cloze Test）

説明： 以下三篇短文各有五個空格，請選出最適合的答案。

Passage 1

The phenomenon of “cancel culture” has become one of the most contentious topics in contemporary discourse. Broadly defined, cancel culture refers to the practice of withdrawing support from public figures or organizations after they have done or said something (61) ___ objectionable or offensive. This withdrawal of support is often amplified through social media, where calls to “cancel” an individual can spread rapidly.

Proponents argue that cancel culture is a form of accountability. Historically, powerful figures were often (62) ___ from the consequences of their harmful speech or actions. Social media has democratized the ability to call out wrongdoing, giving a voice to marginalized communities that were previously ignored by traditional institutions.

Critics, however, see cancel culture as a threat to free expression. They argue that it creates an environment of fear where people self-censor rather than risk saying something that might be (63) ___ as offensive. The punishment, they contend, is often disproportionate to the offense — a single mistake can end a career built over decades. There is also concern about the lack of due process; accusations can spread and cause damage before the accused has any opportunity to respond or correct the record.

A more (64) ___ position, held by many scholars and commentators, is that the issue is not cancel culture itself but the absence of a calibrated spectrum of responses. Not every offense warrants the same consequence. The challenge is developing social norms that distinguish between genuine harm that deserves serious sanction and minor missteps that call for education and (65) ___ rather than destruction.

Question 61

(A) percieved (B) perceived (C) perceiving (D) perception

Question 62

(A) shielded (B) protected (C) exempt (D) insulated

Question 63

(A) interpreted (B) translated (C) transferred (D) transformed

Question 64

(A) polarized (B) radical (C) extreme (D) nuanced

Question 65

(A) punishment (B) exile (C) rehabilitation (D) condemnation

Passage 2

The circular economy represents a fundamental departure from the traditional linear economic model of “take, make, dispose.” Under the linear model, resources are extracted, transformed into products, used, and then discarded — a system that is (66) ___ unsustainable on a planet with finite resources and limited capacity to absorb waste.

A circular economy, by contrast, is designed to (67) ___ waste and pollution from the outset, keep products and materials in use for as long as possible, and regenerate natural systems. This involves rethinking product design so that items can be easily repaired, refurbished, or recycled. It also means developing new business models — such as product-as-a-service, where customers pay for the use of a product rather than owning it, creating an (68) ___ for manufacturers to build durable, long-lasting goods.

Several major corporations have begun to embrace circular principles. The furniture giant IKEA, for instance, has launched a buy-back program where customers can sell their used furniture back to the company for resale or recycling. The fashion brand Patagonia has long offered free repairs on its products and encourages customers to buy used Patagonia clothing through its Worn Wear program.

The (69) ___ to a circular economy faces significant hurdles, however. Many products currently on the market were not designed with circularity in mind. Recycling infrastructure is inadequate in most countries. And the economic incentives still heavily favor the linear model, where the environmental costs of waste are (70) ___ by society at large rather than by the producers.

Despite these challenges, the circular economy is gaining momentum, driven by a combination of resource scarcity, regulatory pressure, and growing consumer demand for sustainable products.

Question 66

(A) increasingly (B) vaguely (C) inherently (D) accidentally

Question 67

(A) generate (B) eliminate (C) manage (D) accumulate

Question 68

(A) obstacle (B) excuse (C) incentive (D) apology

Question 69

(A) resistance (B) transition (C) opposition (D) commitment

Question 70

(A) paid (B) earned (C) borne (D) carried

Passage 3

A growing body of research suggests that nature has a powerful, measurable effect on human well-being, a field of study sometimes referred to as “nature and health” or “ecotherapy.” Studies have found that spending time in natural (71) ___ — parks, forests, gardens, even tree-lined streets — is associated with lower blood pressure, reduced stress hormone levels, improved immune function, and decreased symptoms of anxiety and depression.

In Japan, the practice of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” has been embraced as a form of preventive healthcare since the 1980s. The practice is deceptively simple: spending unhurried time in a forest, engaging all the senses. Researchers have identified specific (72) ___ behind its effects. Trees release volatile organic compounds called phytoncides, which, when inhaled, have been shown to increase the activity of natural killer cells — a component of the immune system that fights cancer and viral infections.

The implications for urban planning are significant. If access to nature is a public health asset, then green spaces are not merely aesthetic (73) ___— they are infrastructure as essential as roads and utilities. Cities such as Singapore have led the way in integrating nature into the urban fabric, mandating green building standards and creating an extensive network of parks, rooftop gardens, and vertical greenery.

Yet access to nature is (74) ___ distributed. Studies in numerous countries have found that wealthier neighborhoods have significantly more tree cover and green space than lower-income neighborhoods. This disparity, sometimes termed the “green gap” or “nature deficit,” means that the health benefits of nature are unequally shared — (75) ___ the existing health disparities along socioeconomic lines.

Addressing this gap requires intentional urban greening policies that prioritize underserved neighborhoods, not just projects in already-green areas that offer the easiest path to visible results.

Question 71

(A) laboratories (B) environments (C) facilities (D) institutions

Question 72

(A) obstacles (B) barriers (C) mechanisms (D) interruptions

Question 73

(A) necessities (B) amenities (C) luxuries (D) requirements

Question 74

(A) evenly (B) generously (C) unequally (D) randomly

Question 75

(A) reversing (B) reducing (C) alleviating (D) reinforcing

Part 3：閱讀理解（Reading Comprehension）

說明： 閱讀以下短文，並根據文章內容回答問題。

Passage 1

The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain in the late 18th century and spread across Europe and North America over the following century, is rightly celebrated as a turning point in human history. For the first time, sustained economic growth became possible. Living standards, after an initial painful adjustment period, rose dramatically for large populations. Technologies that would have seemed miraculous to previous generations — railways, telegraphs, electric lighting — became commonplace.

However, the standard narrative of the Industrial Revolution has been challenged by a provocative line of research known as “new economic history” or “cliometrics,” which uses quantitative methods to reassess historical economic data. One of the most startling findings comes from research on human height.

Economic historians have discovered that average heights in Britain and the United States actually declined during the early decades of industrialization, only recovering to pre-industrial levels in the late 19th century. Height is considered a reliable indicator of net nutrition — the quality of diet after accounting for the energy demands of work and disease. The height decline suggests that, for the working classes at least, the nutritional quality of life worsened during early industrialization. People ate more calories, but the food was of lower quality. Meanwhile, crowded urban living conditions increased exposure to disease.

This finding complicates the triumphalist narrative of progress. It suggests that the benefits of industrialization were distributed very unevenly — that for several generations, the working classes paid a biological price for economic transformation. The factory owners and financiers grew wealthy; the factory workers grew shorter.

The height data also reveals something important about the process of reform. Public health legislation, cleaner water supplies, improved sanitation, and eventually labor laws that limited working hours — these reforms, enacted over the course of the 19th century, are what eventually allowed average health to improve. The lesson is that technological progress alone does not guarantee broad-based improvements in human welfare. Those improvements require deliberate social and political choices.

Question 76: What is the unexpected finding about human height during industrialization?

(A) Heights increased rapidly due to better food availability. (B) Average heights declined during the early decades of industrialization. (C) There was no reliable data on height before the 20th century. (D) Height remained constant throughout the industrial period.

Question 77: According to the passage, what is the main lesson from the height data?

(A) Industrialization should have been avoided entirely. (B) Technological progress alone does not guarantee welfare improvements; social and political choices are also needed. (C) Economic growth is always harmful to working-class populations. (D) Height is not a useful indicator when studying historical living standards.

Question 78: What eventually led to improvements in public health during industrialization?

(A) The natural progression of economic growth without government intervention (B) Public health legislation, improved sanitation, and labor laws (C) The decline of factories as the primary mode of production (D) Emigration of working-class populations to other countries

Passage 2

To: All Research Staff From: Institutional Review Board Subject: Mandatory Ethics Training Update

Dear Colleagues,

The Institutional Review Board has completed its annual review of research ethics compliance across the university. While the majority of research projects meet or exceed our ethical standards, the review identified several recurring issues that need to be addressed.

First, informed consent documentation continues to be the most frequent area of non-compliance. Several approved studies were found to be using consent forms that did not adequately explain the potential risks of participation in plain, accessible language. Consent documents must be written at a reading level appropriate for the target participant population. A consent form written at a graduate reading level is not appropriate for studies involving participants from the general public.

Second, we observed a troubling pattern regarding data privacy. Multiple research teams are storing identifiable participant data on personal devices or cloud services that have not been approved by the university’s IT security office. Effective immediately, all research data containing personally identifiable information must be stored on university-approved, encrypted systems. A list of approved platforms is available on the research compliance website.

Third, the review found inconsistencies in how research teams handle incidental findings — unexpected discoveries about a participant’s health or personal circumstances that emerge during the course of research. The board reminds all researchers that protocols for handling incidental findings must be specified in the initial ethics application and explained to participants during the consent process.

To address these issues, the board is implementing the following measures:

All principal investigators must complete an updated ethics training module by June 1, 2026.
A new Research Ethics Liaison will be available for one-on-one consultations starting next month.
Spot-check audits will be conducted on a random sample of active studies each quarter.

Research involving human subjects is a privilege that comes with profound responsibilities. Ethical lapses, even when unintentional, can cause real harm to participants and damage public trust in the research enterprise.

Sincerely, Professor Mei-Ling Huang Chair, Institutional Review Board

Question 79: What was the most frequent area of non-compliance identified?

(A) Inadequate informed consent documentation (B) Unauthorized use of university laboratory equipment (C) Failure to publish research findings on schedule (D) Inappropriate participant recruitment methods

Question 80: What is the new requirement regarding data containing personally identifiable information?

(A) It must be deleted within 30 days after the research concludes. (B) It must be stored on university-approved, encrypted systems. (C) It must be shared with the IRB for review every quarter. (D) It can only be collected with written permission from the university president.

Question 81: By when must principal investigators complete the updated ethics training?

(A) May 1, 2026 (B) June 1, 2026 (C) July 1, 2026 (D) The start of the next academic year

Passage 3

The Amish communities of North America present a fascinating case study in the relationship between technology and culture. Contrary to the common stereotype, the Amish are not opposed to technology in principle. They drive neither cars nor horse-drawn buggies because they believe cars are inherently sinful. Their approach is more subtle and, in many ways, more instructive.

The Amish practice what scholars call “technological selectivity.” Each new technology is evaluated not primarily on its efficiency or convenience — the metrics that dominate mainstream technological adoption — but on a single question: will this technology strengthen our community or weaken it? If a technology is judged likely to pull the community apart — by encouraging individualism, increasing dependence on outsiders, or creating status hierarchies — it is rejected or heavily restricted. If it can be adapted in ways that serve the community, it may be accepted.

This principle explains the seeming inconsistencies in Amish technology use that outsiders often find puzzling. Telephones, which could allow members to communicate without face-to-face interaction, were initially rejected as a threat to community cohesion. Yet many Amish communities now have shared “community phones” placed in small outbuildings, accessible to all but not in private homes — a compromise that allows essential communication while preserving the rhythm of in-person visiting. Similarly, some Amish businesses use computers and even the internet — but in the workshop only, never in the home, and for business purposes strictly separated from family life.

The Amish approach is not a model that can or should be replicated wholesale. Their communities are organized around religious commitments that most people do not share. But their practice of deliberate, collective technology evaluation offers a powerful counter-example to the dominant narrative that technological change is an unstoppable force to which we must simply adapt. The Amish remind us that technologies are choices, not inevitabilities — and that the most important question about any new tool is not what it can do, but what it will do to us.

Question 82: According to the passage, what is the Amish approach to technology?

(A) They reject all modern technology without exception. (B) They evaluate each technology based on whether it strengthens or weakens their community. (C) They exclusively use technology that is more than 100 years old. (D) They allow each family to make its own independent decisions about technology use.

Question 83: Why are telephones placed in shared outbuildings rather than private homes?

(A) The technology only works when phones are placed outdoors. (B) It allows essential communication while preserving the rhythm of in-person visiting. (C) The Amish cannot afford individual telephones for every household. (D) Government regulations require shared telephone access in Amish communities.

Question 84: What broader lesson does the passage draw from the Amish example?

(A) All modern societies should reject technology to build stronger communities. (B) Technological change is an unstoppable force that communities cannot resist. (C) Technologies are choices, not inevitabilities — the most important question is what they will do to us. (D) Religious communities are the only groups capable of making thoughtful technology decisions.

Passage 4

The Fermi Paradox, named after physicist Enrico Fermi, encapsulates one of the most haunting questions in science: given the vast number of stars in our galaxy — hundreds of billions — and the high probability that many have Earth-like planets, why haven’t we detected any evidence of extraterrestrial civilizations? If intelligent life is common in the universe, as our current understanding of planetary science suggests it could be, where is everybody?

Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to resolve the paradox. Some are relatively optimistic. Perhaps intelligent civilizations are common but choose not to broadcast their presence — the “radio silence” hypothesis. Perhaps they communicate using methods we haven’t yet discovered. Perhaps they are out there but obey a “prime directive” of non-interference with less advanced civilizations. Or perhaps our search methods — primarily listening for radio signals — are simply too primitive, analogous to searching for signs of other humans by listening for drumbeats in an age of fiber-optic communication.

Other hypotheses are more sobering. The most famous is the “Great Filter” theory, proposed by economist Robin Hanson. The Great Filter is some barrier or series of barriers that makes the emergence of a spacefaring, galaxy-colonizing civilization extremely improbable. The key question, according to Hanson, is whether the Great Filter lies behind us or ahead of us. If it is behind us — if the improbable step was, say, the emergence of the first self-replicating life, or the leap from single-celled to complex multicellular organisms — then we may have already passed the hardest hurdle, and the galaxy might be ours for the taking. But if the Great Filter lies ahead of us — for instance, in the form of self-destruction through nuclear war, engineered pandemics, runaway climate change, or uncontrolled artificial intelligence — then the silence of the cosmos is a very bad sign for our future.

The Fermi Paradox, in this reading, is not merely an abstract puzzle in astrobiology. It is a mirror held up to our own civilization. The silence of the universe may be telling us something about the fragility of intelligence, about the difficulty of surviving the very power that intelligence enables. It is a question that invites not only scientific investigation but also a sense of responsibility: we may be one of the few, or perhaps the only, instances of intelligent life in our galaxy. That possibility should inform how we treat each other and our planet.

Question 85: What is the Fermi Paradox?

(A) The contradiction between high estimates of extraterrestrial life and the lack of evidence for it (B) A mathematical paradox about the speed of light and interstellar travel (C) The puzzle of why Earth is the only planet with liquid water in the solar system (D) The conflict between religious and scientific explanations for the origin of life

Question 86: According to Robin Hanson’s “Great Filter” theory, what is the key question?

(A) Whether we should actively broadcast our presence to potential alien civilizations (B) Whether the improbable barrier to interstellar civilization lies behind us or ahead of us (C) How much funding should be allocated to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (D) Which radio frequency is most likely to be used by alien civilizations

Question 87: What does the passage suggest the Fermi Paradox implies for humanity?

(A) We should immediately begin building interstellar spacecraft for colonization. (B) The silence of the universe may warn of the fragility and self-destructive potential of intelligent civilizations. (C) There is almost certainly no other intelligent life in the universe, so our isolation is permanent. (D) Scientists have been using fundamentally wrong methods in the search for alien life.

Passage 5

In his 2006 book “Stumbling on Happiness,” Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert offers a counterintuitive thesis: human beings are remarkably bad at predicting what will make them happy. We make major life decisions — which career to pursue, whom to marry, where to live — based on predictions about how these choices will make us feel. Yet the evidence suggests that our emotional forecasting is systematically and predictably flawed.

One error Gilbert identifies is what he calls “impact bias” — the tendency to overestimate both the intensity and the duration of our emotional reactions to future events. We imagine that getting tenure will bring permanent joy, or that a romantic breakup will bring permanent misery. In reality, a psychological immune system kicks in. We rationalize, we reframe, we find silver linings. Most people who become paraplegics, Gilbert notes, report being reasonably happy within a year — a finding that astonishes non-paraplegics who are asked to predict how they would feel in that situation.

Another error is what might be called “miswanting” — wanting things that do not actually make us happier once we obtain them. Research on lottery winners and controls across multiple countries has been consistent: winning large sums of money produces a temporary spike in happiness, but within a year or two, lottery winners return to roughly their baseline level of happiness. The hedonic treadmill, as psychologists call it, keeps us running but not arriving.

Perhaps the most practical insight from this research concerns the power of social connection. When Gilbert and his colleagues survey what actually makes people happy across cultures, one factor consistently emerges as the strongest predictor: the quality of a person’s close relationships. The presence of a few deep, trusting bonds — with a partner, friends, or family — matters more than income, more than career success, more than health, and more than any material possession.

The irony, Gilbert points out, is that we systematically underinvest in precisely these relationships. We work late instead of having dinner with our families. We scroll through social media instead of having genuine conversations. We move cities to pursue career opportunities, weakening the social networks on which our happiness most depends. Our emotional forecasting errors are not merely academic curiosities — they lead us to make life choices that are systematically misaligned with our own well-being.

Question 88: What is “impact bias” as described in the passage?

(A) The tendency to underestimate the effect that major life events will have on us (B) The tendency to overestimate the intensity and duration of emotional reactions to future events (C) A bias toward making decisions based on immediate feelings rather than long-term considerations (D) The preference for events that have a strong emotional impact over neutral ones

Question 89: What does research on lottery winners show?

(A) Winning the lottery permanently increases happiness to very high levels. (B) Lottery winners are less happy than people who did not win. (C) Happiness spikes temporarily but returns to baseline within a year or two. (D) The effect of lottery winnings on happiness depends on the size of the prize.

Question 90: According to Gilbert’s research, what is the strongest predictor of happiness?

(A) Income and financial security (B) Career success and professional recognition (C) The quality of a person’s close relationships (D) Physical health and regular exercise

第三部分：寫作測驗（Writing）

Part 1：中譯英（Chinese-to-English Translation）

說明： 請將以下中文句子翻譯成英文。

Question 91

隨著全球人口持續老化，如何建立一個能夠滿足高齡者需求的醫療照護體系已成為各國政府的當務之急。

參考詞彙：aging population / healthcare system / meet the needs of / pressing priority

參考答案：As the global population continues to age, how to establish a healthcare system that can meet the needs of the elderly has become a pressing priority for governments around the world.

Question 92

這份調查報告揭露了一個令人擔憂的趨勢：年輕世代的閱讀時間在過去十年間減少了將近百分之四十。

參考詞彙：survey report / reveal / concerning trend / decline / approximately

參考答案：This survey report reveals a concerning trend: the reading time of the younger generation has declined by approximately forty percent over the past decade.

Question 93

許多研究指出，適度的壓力不僅不會對健康造成傷害，反而可以提升工作效率並激發創造力。

參考詞彙：studies indicate / moderate stress / harm / enhance productivity / stimulate creativity

參考答案：Many studies indicate that moderate stress not only does no harm to one’s health but can actually enhance productivity and stimulate creativity.

Question 94

雖然網路購物為消費者帶來了極大的便利，但實體店面的存在對於維持社區活力和人際互動仍然不可或缺。

參考詞彙：online shopping / bring great convenience / physical stores / maintain community vitality / interpersonal interaction / indispensable

參考答案：Although online shopping has brought great convenience to consumers, the existence of physical stores remains indispensable for maintaining community vitality and interpersonal interaction.

Question 95

這位作家透過細膩的描寫和深刻的洞察力，讓我們得以一窺現代社會中人與人之間日益疏離的困境。

參考詞彙：through vivid descriptions / profound insight / offer a glimpse into / alienation / plight

參考答案：Through vivid descriptions and profound insight, this writer offers us a glimpse into the plight of growing alienation among people in modern society.

Part 2：引導寫作（Guided Writing）

說明： 請根據以下提示，寫一篇約 150-200 字的英文短文。

題目：Should University Education Focus More on Practical Skills or Liberal Arts?

近年來，關於大學教育應該更注重實用技能培養還是通識人文教育的辯論越來越激烈。請撰寫一篇短文討論雙方的論點，並說明你的立場。

大綱建議：

簡介這場爭論的背景（大學學費上漲、就業壓力等）
支持實用技能培養的論點
支持通識人文教育的論點
你的立場與理由

參考答案（約 190 字）：

The debate over whether university education should prioritize practical skills or liberal arts has intensified in recent years, fueled by rising tuition costs and mounting pressure on graduates to secure stable employment.

Proponents of a practical-skills approach argue that universities have a responsibility to prepare students for the job market. They point to skills gaps in fields such as technology, healthcare, and engineering, and contend that students who graduate with marketable skills are better positioned to repay student loans and contribute to the economy. From this perspective, a university degree that does not lead to employment is a poor investment.

Advocates of liberal arts education counter that the purpose of university extends beyond job training. The liberal arts cultivate critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and the ability to engage with complex ideas — qualities essential for democratic citizenship and a meaningful life. They argue that the most successful professionals often credit their liberal arts background for their ability to adapt, communicate, and lead.

I believe this is a false choice. The best education integrates both approaches. Practical skills without intellectual breadth produces competent technicians but poor citizens. Liberal arts without practical application produces thoughtful souls who struggle to support themselves. A university education should aim to develop the whole person — someone who can both think deeply and act effectively.

第四部分：口說測驗（Speaking）

Part 1：朗讀（Reading Aloud）

說明： 請朗讀以下短文，注意發音、語調和意群斷句。

朗讀短文：

“I have come to believe that one of the greatest obstacles to clear thinking is the fear of being wrong. From an early age, we are taught that mistakes are failures, that being correct is a sign of intelligence, and that changing one’s mind is a sign of weakness. Yet the history of science, philosophy, and every field of human inquiry tells a different story. Progress is made not by those who cling most stubbornly to their views but by those who are willing to say, ‘I was mistaken.’ The ability to revise one’s beliefs in the face of better evidence is not a character flaw — it is the very engine of learning. Cultivating intellectual humility does not mean lacking conviction. It means holding one’s convictions with enough looseness that new evidence can slip through.”

發音重點：

obstacles：/ˈɑːbstəkəlz/，三個音節，重音在第一音節
inquiry：/ɪnˈkwaɪəri/ 或 /ˈɪnkwəri/，兩個發音都正確
stubbornly：/ˈstʌbərnli/，三個音節，注意 /ʌ/ 要短而輕
intellectual：/ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl/，五個音節，重音在第三音節
conviction：/kənˈvɪkʃən/，三個音節，注意 /v/ 和 /w/ 的區別

Part 2：回答問題（Question Response）

說明： 請用 3-5 句完整的英文回答以下問題。

Question 1: How has technology changed the way people form and maintain friendships compared to previous generations?

參考答案：Technology has fundamentally altered the architecture of friendship. For previous generations, friendships were largely constrained by geography — you were friends with neighbors, classmates, and colleagues who lived nearby. Today, technology allows us to maintain friendships across continents. I have close friends I speak to weekly whom I have met in person only once or twice. However, this comes with trade-offs. Digital communication strips away many of the nonverbal cues — tone of voice, facial expression, body language — that build intimacy. I think the generation growing up with these tools is more connected in terms of quantity but potentially less connected in terms of depth. The challenge is using technology to supplement rather than substitute for in-person connection.

Question 2: What do you believe is the purpose of education in a democratic society?

參考答案：I believe education in a democracy serves a dual purpose. The first is individual empowerment — giving each person the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities to navigate their own life effectively and pursue what they find meaningful. The second, which is equally important but often neglected in discussions about education, is civic preparation. A democracy cannot function without citizens who can evaluate competing claims, recognize manipulation, understand complex policy issues, and engage respectfully with those who disagree with them. When education is reduced purely to job training, we may produce competent workers but we fail to produce competent citizens. I think this civic dimension should be a core priority, not an optional extra.

Question 3: Some people argue that the traditional university lecture is outdated. Do you agree?

參考答案：I partially agree. The traditional lecture format — a professor speaking for an hour or more while students passively take notes — has significant limitations. Research on learning consistently shows that passive listening produces weak retention and understanding compared to active learning methods such as discussion, problem-solving, and teaching others. However, I would not say the lecture is entirely obsolete. In some contexts, a well-delivered lecture by an expert who brings coherence to a complex subject can be intellectually stimulating in ways that textbooks or videos cannot. The key, I think, is that lectures should be complemented by active learning components, not replaced by them. A blended approach — short, focused lectures interspersed with discussion, application, and peer interaction — capitalizes on the strengths of both formats.

Question 4: Do you think it is ethical for companies to collect detailed personal data from their users?

參考答案：The ethics of data collection are not binary — it depends on how the data is collected, for what purposes, and with what level of transparency and consent. The problem with the current system is that consent is largely an illusion. Users are presented with lengthy, jargon-filled privacy policies that virtually no one reads, and refusal often means being excluded from essential digital services. This is not meaningful consent. I believe the ethical baseline should include several elements: data collection should be opt-in rather than opt-out by default; users should be able to access and delete their data; the purposes for which data can be used should be clearly stated and limited; and the business model of surveillance advertising — where companies profit by building detailed behavioral profiles of users to manipulate their attention and purchases — deserves fundamental regulatory scrutiny. Personal data is a form of power, and consent without genuine agency is not consent at all.

Question 5: If you could change one thing about Taiwan’s education system, what would it be and why?

參考答案：I would reduce the overwhelming emphasis on standardized examination scores as the primary measure of student achievement. The current system has several negative effects. It encourages rote memorization over genuine understanding, because memorization is what standardized tests most easily measure. It creates immense psychological pressure on students, contributing to high rates of anxiety and depression. And it narrows the definition of success to a single dimension, failing to recognize and develop talents in creativity, practical skills, emotional intelligence, and collaborative ability. My ideal system would still use assessments to track progress, but would diversify the methods of assessment — including project-based evaluations, portfolios of student work, oral presentations, and peer and self-assessment — to capture a richer picture of what students can actually do. The goal should be to produce lifelong learners, not just high scorers.

Part 3：看圖申論（Picture-Based Discussion）

說明： 請觀察以下圖表／情境並回答問題。

情境描述： 一張圖表比較了四個國家（台灣、日本、韓國、新加坡）在 2015 年和 2025 年的「青年（20-29 歲）出國工作或留學比率」。台灣從 2015 年的 8% 上升到 2025 年的 15%，日本從 5% 上升到 7%，韓國從 12% 上升到 22%，新加坡從 18% 上升到 25%。一項附帶調查顯示，台灣青年選擇出國的主要原因是「薪資較高」（42%）、「國際經驗」（33%）和「國內就業市場狹小」（25%）。

Question A: What patterns do you observe in these data? What might explain the different rates across these countries?

參考答案：The data reveals several noteworthy patterns. First, all four countries show an increase in youth going abroad, but the rates differ dramatically. Singapore has the highest rate at 25%, while Japan has the lowest at 7%. The magnitude of change also varies — Korea’s rate nearly doubled from 12% to 22%, while Japan’s increased only marginally from 5% to 7%.

Several factors likely explain these differences. Singapore has long positioned itself as a global hub, and its education system actively encourages international exposure. Its small domestic market naturally pushes ambitious young people to look outward. Korea’s dramatic increase, I suspect, reflects the intense competition in its domestic job market and the cultural premium placed on prestigious international credentials. Japan’s low rate may reflect a combination of factors: a strong domestic job market for university graduates, linguistic barriers, and cultural norms that historically emphasized lifetime employment with a single company. Taiwan’s intermediate position — growing but not extreme — reflects an economy that offers reasonable domestic opportunities but where international experience is increasingly seen as a competitive advantage.

Question B: Based on Taiwan’s survey data, what do you think this brain drain trend means for Taiwan’s future?

參考答案：The survey data showing that higher salaries (42%) and a perceived narrow domestic job market (25%) drive Taiwanese youth abroad points to real structural challenges. This outflow of young talent represents both an opportunity and a risk.

On the opportunity side, Taiwanese who work or study abroad acquire skills, networks, and perspectives that can benefit Taiwan if they return. Many countries that experienced rapid development — including Taiwan itself in the 1980s and 1990s — did so partly through “brain circulation,” where citizens went abroad, gained expertise, and brought it back. Returnees often become conduits for international business connections and sources of innovation.

The risk, however, is real. If too many talented young people leave permanently, Taiwan loses its most valuable resource — human capital. This is particularly concerning given Taiwan’s already low birth rate and rapidly aging population. The loss is not just economic but also social and cultural. A society that cannot retain its young people is a society that is, in some fundamental sense, failing to offer them a compelling vision of the future.

The solution is not to restrict mobility — that would be both unethical and counterproductive. Rather, Taiwan needs to address the underlying push factors: creating more high-value job opportunities, investing in industries of the future, and making the cost of living, particularly housing, more manageable for young professionals. The goal should be to make staying an attractive choice, not the only choice.

Question C: How do you think the experience of living abroad changes a person’s perspective, and what value does this bring to their home country?

參考答案：Living abroad transforms perspective in ways that are difficult to achieve through any other experience. The first and most obvious shift is the development of what might be called “cognitive flexibility” — the recognition that practices and values you took as universal are, in fact, culturally specific. Simple daily routines — how people greet each other, how they queue, how they express disagreement — reveal deep assumptions about social organization that you never knew you had until you encountered alternatives.

A second transformation, more subtle but equally important, is the development of empathy. Being a foreigner means being the one who does not understand the rules, who makes embarrassing mistakes, who struggles to express complex thoughts. This experience of vulnerability, however uncomfortable in the moment, produces a lasting capacity to see situations from multiple perspectives. It is the foundation of cross-cultural competence.

The value this brings to the home country can be substantial. Returnees often serve as bridges — they understand both the home culture and the culture of the country where they lived, making them uniquely effective in roles that involve international collaboration. They bring back not just technical knowledge but also institutional knowledge — exposure to different ways of organizing workplaces, different approaches to problem-solving, different norms around hierarchy and communication. Perhaps most importantly, they bring back a certain restlessness with the status quo. Having seen that things can be done differently, they are less likely to accept “that’s just how it’s done here” as a final answer. This combination of expanded perspective and constructive impatience can be a powerful driver of innovation and reform.

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# Answer Key

Listening

Part 1: 問答

Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer
1	B	6	B	11	B
2	B	7	B	12	B
3	B	8	B	13	B
4	B	9	B	14	B
5	B	10	B	15	B

Part 2: 簡短對話

Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer
16	B	19	B	22	C	25	B
17	B	20	B	23	B	26	B
18	B	21	C	24	B	27	C
—	—	—	—	28	A	29	B
—	—	—	—	30	B	—	—

Part 3: 簡短獨白

Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer
31	B	36	B	41	B
32	B	37	B	42	A
33	C	38	B	43	B
34	B	39	B	44	B
35	A	40	B	45	B

Reading

Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer
46	B	56	C	66	C	76	B
47	C	57	A	67	B	77	B
48	B	58	A	68	C	78	B
49	C	59	B	69	B	79	A
50	A	60	A	70	C	80	B
51	B	61	B	71	B	81	B
52	B	62	D	72	C	82	B
53	B	63	A	73	B	83	B
54	C	64	D	74	C	84	C
55	B	65	C	75	D	85	A
—	—	—	—	—	—	86	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	87	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	88	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	89	C
—	—	—	—	—	—	90	C

解鎖內容

GEPT-中高級-Mock-2

GEPT 中高級全真模擬試題 Mock 2

第一部分：聽力測驗（Listening Comprehension）

Part 1：問答（Question-Response）

Part 2：簡短對話（Short Conversations）

Part 3：簡短獨白（Short Talks）

第二部分：閱讀測驗（Reading Comprehension）

Part 1：詞彙和結構（Vocabulary & Structure）

Part 2：段落填空（Cloze Test）

Part 3：閱讀理解（Reading Comprehension）

第三部分：寫作測驗（Writing）

Part 1：中譯英（Chinese-to-English Translation）

Part 2：引導寫作（Guided Writing）

第四部分：口說測驗（Speaking）

Part 1：朗讀（Reading Aloud）

Part 2：回答問題（Question Response）

Part 3：看圖申論（Picture-Based Discussion）

Listening

Part 1: 問答

Part 2: 簡短對話

Part 3: 簡短獨白

Reading

關係圖譜

目錄

Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer
16	B	19	B	22	C	25	B
17	B	20	B	23	B	26	B
18	B	21	C	24	B	27	C
—	—	—	—	28	A	29	B
—	—	—	—	30	B	—	—

Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer
46	B	56	C	66	C	76	B
47	C	57	A	67	B	77	B
48	B	58	A	68	C	78	B
49	C	59	B	69	B	79	A
50	A	60	A	70	C	80	B
51	B	61	B	71	B	81	B
52	B	62	D	72	C	82	B
53	B	63	A	73	B	83	B
54	C	64	D	74	C	84	C
55	B	65	C	75	D	85	A
—	—	—	—	—	—	86	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	87	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	88	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	89	C
—	—	—	—	—	—	90	C

Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer
16	B	19	B	22	C	25	B
17	B	20	B	23	B	26	B
18	B	21	C	24	B	27	C
—	—	—	—	28	A	29	B
—	—	—	—	30	B	—	—

Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer
46	B	56	C	66	C	76	B
47	C	57	A	67	B	77	B
48	B	58	A	68	C	78	B
49	C	59	B	69	B	79	A
50	A	60	A	70	C	80	B
51	B	61	B	71	B	81	B
52	B	62	D	72	C	82	B
53	B	63	A	73	B	83	B
54	C	64	D	74	C	84	C
55	B	65	C	75	D	85	A
—	—	—	—	—	—	86	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	87	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	88	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	89	C
—	—	—	—	—	—	90	C

GEPT-中高級-Mock-2

GEPT 中高級 全真模擬試題 Mock 2

第一部分：聽力測驗（Listening Comprehension）

Part 1：問答（Question-Response）

Part 2：簡短對話（Short Conversations）

Part 3：簡短獨白（Short Talks）

第二部分：閱讀測驗（Reading Comprehension）

Part 1：詞彙和結構（Vocabulary & Structure）

Part 2：段落填空（Cloze Test）

Part 3：閱讀理解（Reading Comprehension）

第三部分：寫作測驗（Writing）

Part 1：中譯英（Chinese-to-English Translation）

Part 2：引導寫作（Guided Writing）

第四部分：口說測驗（Speaking）

Part 1：朗讀（Reading Aloud）

Part 2：回答問題（Question Response）

Part 3：看圖申論（Picture-Based Discussion）

Listening

Part 1: 問答

Part 2: 簡短對話

Part 3: 簡短獨白

Reading

威威學習信

關係圖譜

目錄

GEPT 中高級全真模擬試題 Mock 2

Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer
16	B	19	B	22	C	25	B
17	B	20	B	23	B	26	B
18	B	21	C	24	B	27	C
—	—	—	—	28	A	29	B
—	—	—	—	30	B	—	—

Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer
46	B	56	C	66	C	76	B
47	C	57	A	67	B	77	B
48	B	58	A	68	C	78	B
49	C	59	B	69	B	79	A
50	A	60	A	70	C	80	B
51	B	61	B	71	B	81	B
52	B	62	D	72	C	82	B
53	B	63	A	73	B	83	B
54	C	64	D	74	C	84	C
55	B	65	C	75	D	85	A
—	—	—	—	—	—	86	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	87	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	88	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	89	C
—	—	—	—	—	—	90	C