GEPT 中高級全真模擬試題 Mock 3

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’ve been reading about the concept of slow living — the idea of deliberately slowing down the pace of daily life to focus on what’s truly meaningful. But in a society that constantly demands productivity and achievement, isn’t this approach a form of privilege that only well-off people can afford?

(A) Slow living is a lifestyle trend that became popular in recent years. (B) There’s some truth to that critique. Financial security certainly makes it easier to opt out of the rat race. But the principles — prioritizing quality over quantity, being present, reducing unnecessary consumption — can be applied at any income level in small ways. (C) People who adopt slow living tend to be happier and less stressed.

Question 2

Why do you think people so often make the same mistake of trusting charismatic leaders who turn out to be dishonest or incompetent, even when the warning signs are obvious in hindsight?

(A) Charismatic leaders tend to be very persuasive public speakers. (B) Charisma triggers an emotional response that bypasses rational evaluation. When someone is confident, articulate, and promises simple solutions to complex problems, our critical faculties often shut down. It’s not a failure of intelligence — it’s a vulnerability of human psychology. (C) Many historical leaders had very charismatic personalities.

Question 3

My professor assigned us to write a reflection paper on our deepest values, and I’m realizing I have no idea what my deepest values actually are. How does one go about figuring that out?

(A) You should write about what your professor expects you to say. (B) Start by noticing what reliably produces a sense of satisfaction or regret. Not what you think you should value, but what actually moves you. Look at how you spend your time and money — those are honest signals of what you prioritize, whether you admit it or not. (C) Most people share the same basic values like family and honesty.

Question 4

With the amount of personal information available online today, do you think the concept of privacy is effectively dead, or is it simply being redefined?

(A) Privacy laws have been updated in many countries recently. (B) I’d argue it’s being radically redefined, not eliminated. What we’ve lost is the assumption of privacy — the default state where your activities were unknown to others. What’s emerging is a world where privacy must be actively constructed and defended. It’s not dead, but it has become a skill and a privilege rather than a given. (C) Social media companies collect enormous amounts of personal data.

Question 5

I struggle with a persistent feeling that I’m not doing enough with my life, even though objectively I’m quite productive. Is this a common experience, or is there something wrong with me?

(A) You should probably see a therapist if you feel this way persistently. (B) This is extremely common and has a name — psychologists call it “productivity guilt” or “time anxiety.” It’s amplified by social media, where we see curated highlight reels of everyone else’s achievements. The feeling is not evidence of inadequacy; it’s evidence that you care about living meaningfully. The goal isn’t to eliminate the feeling but to stop letting it define your self-worth. (C) Most successful people work very long hours.

Question 6

How do you think the rise of artificial intelligence will affect the value we place on human creativity and artistic expression?

(A) AI tools can now generate images, music, and writing in seconds. (B) I think it will paradoxically increase the value of human creativity. When machine-generated content becomes abundant and cheap, what will stand out is work that carries a recognizable human perspective — the specific messiness, imperfection, and emotional truth that comes from lived experience. AI may make us appreciate human art more, not less. (C) Many artists are worried about losing their jobs to AI.

Question 7

My friends and I have very different political views, and it’s been straining our relationships. Is it better to try to find common ground or to avoid political topics entirely?

(A) Political disagreements have ended many friendships. (B) Avoidance may preserve surface harmony but creates distance. Genuine relationships can survive disagreement if both parties approach the conversation with curiosity rather than the goal of conversion. Try asking questions like, “What life experiences led you to that view?” rather than arguing about facts. You may not agree, but you can understand — and understanding preserves the relationship. (C) You should try to convince your friends that your views are correct.

Question 8

What’s your perspective on the argument that modern medicine, by keeping people alive longer, has actually reduced the overall quality of human life by extending periods of chronic illness and dependency?

(A) Life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past century. (B) This is a provocative argument that deserves serious engagement. Yes, we are living longer, and yes, those extra years often include periods of chronic illness. But the question assumes a false trade-off — it implies that longer life necessarily means poorer quality, when the evidence suggests that public health advances have compressed morbidity, meaning people stay healthier longer and experience serious illness only at the very end of life. (C) Many elderly people suffer from multiple chronic conditions.

Question 9

Do you believe that a sense of purpose is something you discover or something you create?

(A) Finding purpose is one of the most important challenges in life. (B) I lean toward “create.” The discovery model suggests your purpose is out there waiting for you, which can produce paralysis — what if you never find it? The creation model is more empowering: purpose emerges from engagement, from trying things, from committing to something and finding meaning in the work itself. Purpose is more a byproduct of action than a prerequisite for it. (C) Some people discover their purpose very early in life.

Question 10

How do you distinguish between a healthy act of self-care and an act of avoidance or procrastination?

(A) Self-care has become a very popular concept in recent years. (B) The honest test is to ask yourself: “Will this activity leave me better equipped to face what I’m avoiding, or is it simply postponing the discomfort?” The same activity — watching a movie, going for a walk — can be genuine restoration or avoidance, depending on your motivation. Self-care recharges you for engagement; avoidance depletes you through guilt. You usually know the difference if you’re honest with yourself. (C) You should schedule self-care activities regularly every week.

Question 11

With the decline of traditional media and the rise of personalized information ecosystems, do you think it’s still possible for a society to have a shared set of facts?

(A) Media fragmentation is a major challenge for democratic societies. (B) I think we are witnessing a fundamental epistemic shift. A shared set of facts requires shared institutions that the vast majority trusts — and those institutions are weakening. The alternative is not “alternative facts” but fragmented realities, where different segments of society inhabit different information worlds. Rebuilding shared facts probably requires rebuilding trust in institutions, which is a generational project. (C) People should get their news from multiple sources.

Question 12

I notice that I’m much kinder to other people than I am to myself. When a friend makes a mistake, I’m supportive; when I make the same mistake, I’m harsh and critical. How do you develop self-compassion?

(A) Being self-critical can motivate you to improve. (B) This pattern is so common that psychologists have a term for it — “the compassion gap.” One effective technique is to literally talk to yourself in the third person when you’re being self-critical: “Why is [your name] feeling this way?” or “What would I say to a friend in this situation?” The third-person perspective creates psychological distance that makes self-compassion more accessible. (C) You should focus on improving yourself so you make fewer mistakes.

Question 13

What do you think accounts for the fact that material wealth has increased dramatically over the past fifty years in developed countries, yet reported levels of happiness have remained essentially flat?

(A) Economic growth has not benefited everyone equally. (B) This is the Easterlin Paradox, named after the economist who first documented it. Several factors contribute. One is adaptation — we quickly adjust to higher living standards and use them as a new baseline. Another is relative comparison — we care more about how we compare to others than about our absolute level of wealth. And a third is that some of the things most correlated with happiness — close relationships, meaningful work, a sense of community — have arguably weakened during the same period. (C) Happiness is impossible to measure accurately using surveys.

Question 14

I’m about to graduate and I feel pressure to have my whole life figured out. But the idea of committing to a single career path for the next forty years feels utterly paralyzing. Is this normal?

(A) You should seek career counseling at your university’s career center. (B) Not only is it normal, but the premise is outdated. The idea of a single lifelong career is a 20th-century construct. Most people today will have multiple careers, not just multiple jobs. The more useful question is not “What will I do forever?” but “What do I want to learn next?” Framing your next step in terms of learning and growth rather than permanent commitment makes decisions feel navigable rather than existential. (C) Many people end up in careers unrelated to what they studied.

Question 15

If you had the opportunity to know the exact date of your death, would you want to know? Why or why not?

(A) Some people find comfort in knowing how much time they have left. (B) This is a classic thought experiment that reveals something about how one approaches life. Personally, I would decline. I think uncertainty about the future is what keeps us engaged — knowing the deadline might cause me to live in a state of countdown rather than presence. However, I can respect the opposite view: that knowing would focus the mind, eliminate trivial worries, and ensure one truly prioritizes what matters. (C) This question has been debated by philosophers for centuries.

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

Sophia: Dr. Grant, I’m struggling with the data analysis for my dissertation. I have all this interview data — nearly forty hours of transcribed conversations — but I can’t seem to find a coherent pattern. Dr. Grant: Forty hours is a lot of qualitative data. How are you approaching the coding process? Sophia: I’ve been reading through the transcripts and highlighting passages that seem important, but it feels random. Every time I think I have a theme, I find counterexamples. Dr. Grant: Counterexamples are not failures — they’re nuance. The goal of qualitative analysis isn’t to find a tidy story but to map the complexity. Let me suggest a different method. Try “thematic memoing” — for each potential theme, write a one-page memo that captures what the data says, including the variations and contradictions. The inconsistencies are often where the most interesting insights live. Sophia: So instead of trying to eliminate contradictions, I should lean into them? Dr. Grant: Exactly. A good qualitative finding isn’t “everyone said X.” It’s “the data suggest three distinct patterns, and here are the conditions under which each pattern emerges.” Write those three memos this week, and we’ll discuss them next Monday.

Question 16: What methodology is Sophia using for her dissertation?

(A) Quantitative statistical analysis using survey data (B) Qualitative analysis of interview data involving thematic coding (C) Experimental research involving control and treatment groups (D) Literary analysis of historical documents and archives

Question 17: What advice does Dr. Grant give about Sophia’s analytical approach?

(A) She should discard the contradictory data and focus on the main patterns. (B) She should identify distinct patterns, including contradictions, through “thematic memoing.” (C) She should collect more interview data to strengthen the statistical significance. (D) She should switch to a quantitative methodology for clearer results.

Conversation 2

Architect: Mr. and Mrs. Wang, thank you for coming in. I’ve reviewed the site and have a preliminary concept for your house renovation. Given that the plot has a significant slope, I’m proposing a split-level design. Mrs. Wang: What does split-level mean exactly? Architect: Instead of trying to flatten the land, we work with the natural slope. The living area, kitchen, and dining room would be on the upper level, connected to the street entrance. The bedrooms and study would be on the lower level, opening onto a garden. The two levels would be connected by a short staircase in the center of the house. Mr. Wang: That sounds more interesting than a flat layout. What about natural light? The site has beautiful eastern exposure. Architect: I’ve positioned the main living spaces on the upper level specifically to capture the morning light. The lower level will receive afternoon light through large sliding doors that open onto the garden. I’d also recommend a skylight above the central staircase — it would bring light into the heart of the house and create a sense of vertical connection between the two levels. Mrs. Wang: I love the skylight idea. What about the budget? Split-level sounds expensive. Architect: It’s actually often cost-comparable to extensive earthworks that would be required to flatten the site. By working with the existing slope, we save on excavation and retaining walls. I’ll have a detailed cost breakdown for you by next week.

Question 18: What is the main feature of the architect’s proposal?

(A) A completely flat single-level design with extensive earthworks (B) A split-level design that works with the natural slope of the land (C) A multi-story tower design to maximize ocean views (D) An underground extension beneath the existing structure

Question 19: Why is a split-level design cost-comparable, according to the architect?

(A) Split-level designs use cheaper construction materials. (B) It requires more expensive luxury finishes that increase the overall value. (C) Working with the slope saves on excavation and retaining wall costs. (D) The government offers subsidies for environmentally sensitive designs.

Conversation 3

Tina: Hey Raj, you look exhausted. Late night coding again? Raj: (rubs eyes) Yeah. We’re two weeks from the product launch, and we keep finding edge-case bugs. Every time we fix one, two more pop up. It’s like playing a game of whack-a-mole with code. Tina: That’s brutal. Is this normal for your team? Raj: Our engineering manager says it’s “normal-ish” for a product of this complexity, but honestly, I think the root issue is that we skipped too many code reviews early on trying to hit our deadlines. Now we’re paying for it. Tina: Are you at least prioritizing which bugs to fix? Not every edge case needs to be addressed for launch. Raj: We had a meeting about that this morning. We’ve classified the bugs into “blockers” — things that would crash the app — and “cosmetics” — minor display issues. The blockers are our focus. We’ve still got fourteen blockers to resolve. Tina: That’s a lot for two weeks. Is your manager aware of the risk to the launch date? Raj: He is. He’s considering pushing the launch back by a week, but marketing has already committed the date to our biggest enterprise client. It’s… politically complicated. Tina: Document everything. If a decision is made to launch with known issues, you want a paper trail showing that your team raised the concerns. Raj: Already doing that. Learned that lesson the hard way at my last job.

Question 20: What is Raj’s explanation for the high number of bugs?

(A) The software is running on outdated hardware that causes compatibility issues. (B) Code reviews were skipped early in development to meet deadlines. (C) The quality assurance team did not perform adequate testing. (D) The programming language used is inherently prone to errors.

Question 21: What is Tina’s practical advice to Raj?

(A) He should quit the project if the launch date is not extended. (B) He should document everything to have a paper trail of raised concerns. (C) He should work longer hours to fix all the bugs before the deadline. (D) He should go directly to the CEO to explain the situation.

Conversation 4

Daughter: Mom, I want to talk to you about something. I’ve been thinking a lot about my major, and I’m not sure computer science is right for me anymore. Mother: (pause) That’s a big shift. You were so excited about it last year. What changed? Daughter: I still like coding, but I realized that what I really enjoy is understanding why people behave the way they do — what motivates them, how groups make decisions. My psychology elective this semester has been the most interesting class I’ve taken. I actually look forward to the reading. Mother: And you’re worried about what? The job prospects? Daughter: Partly. Computer science is a “safe” major. Psychology feels… less safe. I don’t want you and Dad to think I’m wasting my education. Mother: Sweetheart, the “safe” choice that makes you miserable is not safe at all. People who are unhappy in their careers burn out, underperform, or quit. The safest path is the one that sustains your interest and energy. That said, have you considered combining the two? There’s a growing field called “human-computer interaction” that blends psychology and technology. Daughter: I didn’t even know that was a thing. That actually sounds perfect. Mother: Why don’t you research programs in that area and we’ll talk about it over the weekend? No decisions need to be made today.

Question 22: What caused the daughter to reconsider her major?

(A) She failed several computer science courses. (B) Her psychology elective sparked a deeper interest than her computer science coursework. (C) Her friends convinced her that computer science was a bad choice. (D) She had a conflict with a computer science professor.

Question 23: What suggestion does the mother offer?

(A) The daughter should stick with computer science because it is the safer choice. (B) The daughter should immediately switch her major to psychology. (C) The daughter should research the field of human-computer interaction as a potential blend of her interests. (D) The daughter should take a year off to figure out what she really wants.

Conversation 5

Passenger: Excuse me, I think there might be a problem with my ticket. The gate agent said my seat doesn’t exist. Airline Agent: Let me look into that for you. May I see your boarding pass and ID? Passenger: Here you go. I booked this ticket three months ago, and I even checked in online this morning. Everything looked fine. Airline Agent: (typing) I can see the booking, Mr. Chen. It appears that there was an aircraft change this morning due to mechanical issues with the originally scheduled plane. The replacement aircraft has a slightly different seating configuration, and your assigned seat — 23F — doesn’t exist on this plane. I’m very sorry about this. Passenger: Well, what does that mean? Am I going to be bumped from the flight? Airline Agent: Not at all. We have seats available in business class. Given that this was our error, I’m upgrading you at no additional cost. I’ve moved you to seat 2A, window, aisle access. The business class lounge is also available to you before boarding. Passenger: Oh. Wow. That’s… not the outcome I was expecting. Thank you. Airline Agent: It’s the least we can do for the inconvenience. Your new boarding pass is printing now. Boarding will begin in approximately twenty minutes. Enjoy the flight, Mr. Chen.

Question 24: Why did the passenger’s seat not exist?

(A) The airline overbooked the flight by selling more tickets than available seats. (B) The aircraft was changed due to mechanical issues, and the new plane has a different seating layout. (C) The passenger mistakenly booked a ticket for the wrong date. (D) A computer system error assigned the same seat to two different passengers.

Question 25: How did the airline resolve the problem?

(A) They rebooked the passenger on the next available flight. (B) They refunded the ticket and offered a future travel voucher. (C) They upgraded the passenger to business class at no additional cost. (D) They asked another passenger to give up their seat voluntarily.

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

“Welcome to this guest lecture on the psychology of procrastination. If you are a chronic procrastinator, I want to begin with a message that might surprise you: procrastination is not a time management problem. It is an emotion regulation problem.

This is the central finding of research by psychologists such as Tim Pychyl and Fuschia Sirois over the past two decades. When we procrastinate, we are not avoiding work; we are avoiding the negative emotions associated with the work — anxiety about doing it well enough, boredom with the task itself, frustration with its difficulty, or even resentment at having to do it at all. Procrastination is, fundamentally, a short-term mood repair strategy. We delay the task to escape the unpleasant feelings right now, trading our future self’s well-being for our present self’s comfort.

This understanding points to more effective interventions. The traditional advice — ‘just use a planner,’ ‘break the task into smaller pieces’ — fails because it addresses the symptom rather than the cause. If procrastination is emotional avoidance, then the solution must involve emotional regulation.

The single most effective technique identified in the research is surprisingly simple: just get started. Not ‘finish the task,’ not ‘do a good job,’ but simply begin, for even five minutes. Pychyl calls this ‘the five-minute rule.’ Once you start, the research shows, the anticipation of the task is almost always worse than the actual experience of doing it. The negative emotions recede, replaced by a sense of progress. The key insight is that motivation does not precede action — action precedes motivation.

Other effective strategies include ‘implementation intentions’ — making specific plans about when, where, and how you will do a task — and ‘temptation bundling,’ pairing a task you avoid with something you enjoy, like listening to your favorite podcast only while exercising or doing housework.”

Question 26: According to the talk, what is procrastination fundamentally about?

(A) Poor time management skills and lack of proper planning tools (B) Emotion regulation — avoiding negative feelings associated with the task (C) A lack of motivation caused by unclear personal goals and values (D) External distractions from technology and social environment

Question 27: What is the “five-minute rule”?

(A) Taking a five-minute break for every hour of focused work (B) Just getting started on a task for five minutes, as action precedes motivation (C) Completing five minutes of planning before beginning any important task (D) Taking five minutes each morning to list all tasks for the day

Question 28: What is “temptation bundling” as described in the talk?

(A) Promising yourself a reward only after completing the entire task (B) Working on multiple tasks simultaneously to keep things interesting (C) Pairing an avoided task with something enjoyable, like listening to a podcast (D) Making a bet with a friend about whether you will complete the task on time

Talk 2

“This is the BBC World Service. Today marks a significant milestone in space exploration as the first crewed mission to Mars’ orbit returned safely to Earth after a 540-day journey. The international crew of four — two Americans, one European, and one Japanese astronaut — splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 6:42 a.m. GMT, approximately 400 kilometers off the coast of Hawaii. Recovery vessels reached the capsule within thirty minutes, and initial medical assessments indicate all four crew members are in good condition despite the prolonged exposure to microgravity and cosmic radiation.

The mission, named ‘Ares Dawn,’ was never intended to land on the Martian surface. Its primary objectives were to test life support systems designed for deep-space missions, study the physiological and psychological effects of extreme-duration spaceflight on the human body, and lay the groundwork for a future landing mission currently targeted for the early 2030s.

Perhaps the most valuable data came from the psychological monitoring of the crew. Spending eighteen months in a space no larger than a studio apartment, with the same three people, cut off from direct communication with Earth for periods of up to 22 minutes due to the time lag at maximum distance, pushed the boundaries of human tolerances. Mission logs released in summary reveal that interpersonal tensions peaked around the nine-month mark — the halfway point — a phenomenon mission planners had anticipated based on isolation studies from Antarctic research stations.

The technological achievements were equally significant. The spacecraft’s closed-loop life support system — which recycles water, including urine, and generates oxygen from recycled carbon dioxide — achieved a 94% efficiency rating, exceeding the 85% target set by mission designers. This technology will be critical for any future permanent presence on the Moon or Mars.

This mission, while not the dramatic landing that the public might have hoped for, represents a quiet but profound step forward. It demonstrates that human beings can survive and function for the duration required to reach Mars and return. The question is no longer whether we can go — it is whether we should.”

Question 29: What was the primary purpose of the Ares Dawn mission?

(A) To land the first humans on the surface of Mars (B) To test life support systems and study the effects of long-duration spaceflight (C) To set a new world record for the longest spaceflight in history (D) To deploy a series of communication satellites around Mars

Question 30: What did psychological monitoring of the crew reveal?

(A) The crew experienced no significant interpersonal tensions throughout the mission. (B) Interpersonal tensions peaked around the nine-month mark of the journey. (C) The crew members developed lasting hostility toward each other by the end of the mission. (D) The 22-minute communication delay had no measurable effect on crew morale.

Question 31: What was the performance of the closed-loop life support system?

(A) It achieved 94% efficiency, exceeding the 85% target. (B) It failed shortly after launch and required emergency repairs. (C) It performed exactly at the 85% target set by designers. (D) It was not tested during this mission as it was a backup system.

Talk 3

“Good evening, and thank you for the invitation to speak at this year’s Journalism Ethics Symposium. I want to address a question that has become urgent in our profession: in the age of attention economics, what does journalistic objectivity actually mean?

For much of the 20th century, American journalism in particular operated under what might be called the ‘view from nowhere’ — a style of reporting that presented facts from a position of apparent neutrality, giving equal weight to competing claims regardless of their factual basis. This model had certain strengths: it disciplined journalists to check their own biases, and it produced a product that could reach the broadest possible audience.

But this model has broken down, and not primarily because journalists abandoned it. It broke because bad-faith actors learned to exploit its vulnerabilities. If a journalist’s commitment to ‘balance’ means giving equal time to scientific consensus and to scientifically-discredited claims, then objectivity has been weaponized into a tool for spreading misinformation. Climate change denial, vaccine skepticism, election fraud conspiracy theories — all have been amplified by well-meaning journalists who equated ‘objectivity’ with ‘presenting both sides’ without regard for the relative weight of evidence.

The alternative, which I believe our profession must embrace, is not partisan journalism. It is what some scholars call ‘weight-of-evidence reporting’ or ‘evidence-based journalism.’ Under this model, the journalist’s duty is not to be neutral between truth and falsehood, but to be transparent about the evidence. This means clearly stating when a claim is supported by overwhelming scientific consensus, when it is contested within the expert community, and when it is unsupported by credible evidence. It means declining to platform demonstrably false claims in the name of ‘balance.’

This approach does not require journalists to abandon fairness. It requires them to be fair to the evidence. The trust that journalism needs from the public is not the trust that we will always find a middle ground — it is the trust that we have done the work of verification, and that we will report honestly what that work reveals.”

Question 32: According to the speaker, what is the “view from nowhere”?

(A) An investigative approach where journalists go undercover (B) A reporting style that presents facts from an apparently neutral position (C) A method of sourcing news from anonymous government officials (D) A format of journalism that focuses exclusively on local community news

Question 33: How was journalistic objectivity exploited by bad-faith actors?

(A) They bribed journalists to publish false stories without verification. (B) They used the commitment to “balance” to get scientifically-discredited claims equal airtime. (C) They created fake news websites that mimicked legitimate journalistic outlets. (D) They sued news organizations that reported critically on their activities.

Question 34: What alternative does the speaker propose?

(A) Partisan journalism that explicitly takes sides on political issues (B) A return to strict “view from nowhere” practices with better enforcement (C) Weight-of-evidence reporting that is transparent about the strength of evidence (D) Government-regulated journalism with standardized truth verification protocols

Talk 4

“Good morning, team. The agenda for today’s standup is the post-mortem on the Q3 supply chain disruption. As you all know, we experienced significant delivery delays across our European markets in September and October, resulting in an estimated $12 million in lost revenue and, more concerningly, a measurable decline in customer satisfaction scores.

I’ve spent the past two weeks conducting interviews with everyone involved, from our procurement team to the warehouse managers in Rotterdam. What I found was not a single point of failure, but a cascade. The sequence began with our sole-source supplier for the Series-9 microcontrollers in Malaysia. They experienced a fire at their fabrication plant in August. We had a four-week safety stock, which should have been enough cushion. But simultaneously, our demand forecasting models — which we now know had not been recalibrated after the post-pandemic demand surge — underestimated Q3 orders by nearly 40%. So demand was surging just as supply was constrained.

The combination exhausted our buffer stock in half the expected time. By the time our procurement team sourced and qualified an alternative supplier in Vietnam, we had accumulated a seven-week backlog for the Series-9 line.

The lessons are clear. First, sole-source dependency on any critical component represents an unacceptable single point of failure. I’m recommending we move to a dual-source or multi-source model for all components classified as Critical A, meaning they have no viable substitute and would halt production if unavailable.

Second, our demand forecasting models need to be updated quarterly, not annually, to reflect rapidly changing market conditions. The post-pandemic demand patterns are fundamentally different from historical trends, and our models failed to capture this.

Third, we need to increase our safety stock for Critical A components from four weeks to eight weeks, accepting the increased carrying costs as insurance against supply shocks.

I’ll be presenting a detailed action plan with estimated costs and timelines at the executive review next Wednesday. In the meantime, the Vietnamese supplier is now fully qualified and producing at capacity. Backlogs should be cleared by mid-month.”

Question 35: What was the trigger event for the supply chain disruption?

(A) A cyberattack on the company’s logistics management system (B) A fire at the sole-source supplier’s fabrication plant in Malaysia (C) A strike by dock workers at the Rotterdam warehouse facility (D) A sudden increase in shipping container costs due to fuel prices

Question 36: What was the second contributing factor that made the disruption worse?

(A) The procurement team did not have any backup suppliers listed in their database. (B) Demand forecasting models had not been recalibrated and underestimated orders by 40%. (C) The Malaysian government imposed unexpected export restrictions on electronic components. (D) The Rotterdam warehouse experienced flooding that damaged stored inventory.

Question 37: What is the first lesson and recommendation from the post-mortem?

(A) Move to a dual-source or multi-source model for all Critical A components (B) Immediately terminate the relationship with the Malaysian supplier (C) Close the Rotterdam warehouse and relocate distribution to a different country (D) Outsource all supply chain management to a third-party logistics provider

Talk 5

“The ship on which I served as surgeon, the HMS Bounty, set sail from Spithead on the 23rd of December, 1787, bound for Tahiti to collect breadfruit plants for transplantation to the West Indies. The voyage, under the command of Lieutenant William Bligh, was beset from the outset by tensions that, in retrospect, made the eventual mutiny all but inevitable.

The crew of forty-six included no marines — a standard complement on naval vessels of the time to enforce discipline, a curious omission given Bligh’s reputation as a strict disciplinarian. The ship herself was small, just ninety feet in length, with quarters so cramped that the men slept almost atop one another. Into this confined space, Bligh brought his particular style of command: meticulous, demanding, and verbally caustic. His tongue could flay a man more painfully than the cat-o’-nine-tails.

The five-month stay in Tahiti proved a crucible of a different kind. The sailors, having endured the deprivations of a long sea voyage, found themselves in a land of extraordinary abundance and warmth. They formed attachments — some romantic, some deeply personal — with the Tahitian people. When the Bounty set sail again on the 4th of April, 1789, many of the men left a part of themselves behind.

The mutiny, when it came three weeks later, was led not by some hardened criminal but by Fletcher Christian, the master’s mate, a man Bligh had personally mentored and promoted. On the morning of April 28th, Christian and a group of armed men seized Bligh from his cabin, forced him and eighteen loyalists into a 23-foot open launch with scant provisions, and set them adrift in the vast Pacific.

What followed is the most remarkable part of the story — and why it has been told and retold for over two centuries. Bligh navigated that open boat 3,618 nautical miles over 47 days to reach Timor, in the Dutch East Indies, without charts and with only a quadrant and a pocket watch. He lost only one man — killed by hostile islanders during a landing attempt at Tofua. It remains, by any standard, one of the greatest feats of seamanship and survival in naval history.

The mutineers, meanwhile, eventually settled on Pitcairn Island, where they burned the Bounty to avoid detection. Their descendants live there still.”

Question 38: What does the speaker identify as a contributing factor to the mutiny?

(A) The ship was carrying valuable cargo that the crew wanted to steal. (B) Bligh’s verbally caustic command style and the cramped quarters of the small ship. (C) The crew was composed largely of convicted criminals and prisoners. (D) Fletcher Christian had been bribed by the French to sabotage the British mission.

Question 39: What role did the stay in Tahiti play in the events?

(A) The crew contracted tropical diseases that affected their judgment. (B) Supply shortages in Tahiti angered the crew toward Bligh’s leadership. (C) The crew formed attachments and found it difficult to leave the abundance of Tahiti. (D) Bligh’s behavior in Tahiti caused diplomatic tension with the local population.

Question 40: What is described as the most remarkable part of the story?

(A) The trial and execution of the mutineers who were later captured (B) Bligh’s navigation of an open boat 3,618 nautical miles to Timor in 47 days (C) The discovery of Pitcairn Island by a passing whaling vessel decades later (D) Fletcher Christian’s eloquent defense of the mutiny in his personal journal

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 41

The governor’s speech was carefully crafted to ___ criticism while appearing to address the concerns raised by the opposition.

(A) invite (B) deflect (C) confirm (D) amplify

Question 42

The archaeological team unearthed artifacts that ___ conventional theories about the timeline of human migration to the region.

(A) reinforced (B) contradicted (C) supported (D) validated

Question 43

___ it might seem counterintuitive, reducing the number of available options can actually increase consumer satisfaction by decreasing decision paralysis.

(A) While (B) Because (C) Unless (D) Provided

Question 44

The diplomat negotiated the agreement with such ___ that neither party felt they had conceded too much.

(A) hostility (B) clumsiness (C) finesse (D) negligence

Question 45

The committee’s report ___ several systemic failures that contributed to the disaster, rather than attributing blame to any single individual.

(A) obscured (B) concealed (C) highlighted (D) minimized

Question 46

Only after reviewing the data from three independent laboratories ___ willing to accept the validity of the controversial findings.

(A) the scientific community was (B) was the scientific community (C) the scientific community being (D) that the scientific community was

Question 47

The startup’s collapse served as a ___ tale for investors who had been drawn in by the charismatic founder’s promises without scrutinizing the business fundamentals.

(A) humorous (B) cautionary (C) celebratory (D) irrelevant

Question 48

Were the new vaccine to prove effective in phase three trials, it ___ the first immunization against a disease that has resisted treatment for decades.

(A) will represent (B) would represent (C) represents (D) represented

Question 49

Her analysis was ___ thorough that even the most skeptical reviewers could find no significant flaws in her methodology.

(A) so (B) such (C) very (D) much

Question 50

The streaming platform’s recommendation algorithm has been criticized for creating “filter bubbles” that ___ users from content that challenges their existing views.

(A) expose (B) insulate (C) connect (D) attract

Question 51

It is crucial that the environmental impact assessment ___ completed before any construction permits are issued.

(A) is (B) be (C) was (D) will be

Question 52

The documentary filmmaker’s approach was notable for its refusal to ___ complex issues into simple narratives of good versus evil.

(A) expand (B) reduce (C) elevate (D) enrich

Question 53

No sooner ___ the controversial study than a wave of criticism erupted from the academic community, questioning both the methodology and the conclusions.

(A) the journal had published (B) had the journal published (C) the journal published (D) did the journal publish

Question 54

The architect’s design ___ the natural landscape into the building rather than imposing a structure that ignored its surroundings.

(A) removed (B) integrated (C) separated (D) excluded

Question 55

___ hard the team tried to meet the deadline, the complexity of the project simply required more time than was available.

(A) However (B) Whatever (C) No matter (D) Although

Part 2：段落填空（Cloze Test）

說明： 以下三篇短文各有五個空格，請選出最適合的答案。

Passage 1

The concept of “blue zones” — regions where people live statistically longer, healthier lives — has captured the public imagination since it was popularized by researcher Dan Buettner in the early 2000s. The five identified blue zones are Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (California). Residents of these regions (56) ___ reach the age of 100 at rates significantly above the global average.

What explains this longevity? Buettner’s research identified several common factors, which he termed the “Power Nine.” Interestingly, these factors have less to do with supplements, superfoods, or high-tech medicine and more to do with lifestyle and social (57) ___. Blue zone residents tend to move naturally throughout the day — walking, gardening, doing housework — as part of their daily routine rather than through structured exercise. They have a sense of purpose, a reason to get up in the morning, which the Okinawans call “ikigai” and the Nicoyans call “plan de vida.”

Diet is important, but not in the way that health fads usually emphasize. Blue zone diets are (58) ___ plant-based, rich in beans, whole grains, and garden vegetables. Meat is eaten sparingly, often only a few times a month and in small portions. Moderate, regular consumption of alcohol — particularly red wine — is common, though the benefit comes from the social ritual of sharing a drink with friends and family rather than the alcohol itself.

Perhaps most importantly, blue zone residents are deeply (59) ___ in their communities. They maintain strong family ties, with multiple generations often living together or nearby. They belong to faith-based communities and have strong social circles that support healthy behaviors. Loneliness and social isolation — (60) ___ to be as damaging to health as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day — are rare in these communities.

Question 56

(A) commonly (B) rarely (C) never (D) occasionally

Question 57

(A) status (B) structure (C) media (D) isolation

Question 58

(A) rarely (B) occasionally (C) predominantly (D) scarcely

Question 59

(A) isolated (B) embedded (C) alienated (D) detached

Question 60

(A) estimated (B) proven (C) denied (D) prevented

Passage 2

The term “imposter syndrome” was first coined in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, who observed a pattern among high-achieving women who, despite their objective accomplishments, (61) ___ in a persistent fear of being exposed as frauds. Subsequent research has shown that the phenomenon affects both men and women and is remarkably widespread, with some studies suggesting that up to 70% of people experience it at some point in their careers.

Imposter syndrome is not a clinical diagnosis but a psychological pattern characterized by an inability to (62) ___ one’s own successes. Achievements are attributed to luck, timing, or having deceived others into thinking one is more competent than one actually is. Paradoxically, imposter syndrome tends to be most intense among high achievers — those who have the most objective evidence of their competence.

Several factors are thought to (63) ___ to imposter syndrome. Perfectionism plays a major role — the gap between one’s idealized standard of performance and the inevitably imperfect reality of actual work can feel like evidence of fraudulence. Family dynamics in childhood — being labeled the “smart one” or the “sensitive one” — can create pressure to live up to narrow expectations. And workplace cultures that reward confidence and penalize uncertainty can make normal feelings of doubt feel pathological.

Addressing imposter syndrome requires both individual and systemic approaches. On the individual level, cognitive behavioral techniques — (64) ___ the distorted thoughts that fuel imposter feelings — can be effective. Keeping a “success file” of positive feedback and concrete accomplishments provides tangible evidence to counter the internal narrative of fraudulence. On the systemic level, organizations can normalize the (65) ___ of uncertainty and create cultures where asking questions and admitting what one doesn’t know is seen as a strength rather than a weakness.

Question 61

(A) indulged (B) persisted (C) celebrated (D) triumphed

Question 62

(A) acknowledge (B) dismiss (C) fabricate (D) exaggerate

Question 63

(A) donate (B) yield (C) contribute (D) submit

Question 64

(A) reinforcing (B) challenging (C) ignoring (D) accepting

Question 65

(A) certainty (B) shame (C) expression (D) suppression

Passage 3

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, buried 130 meters inside a sandstone mountain on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, approximately 1,300 kilometers from the North Pole, is arguably the world’s most important insurance policy. Opened in 2008, the vault stores backup copies of the world’s crop seeds — more than 1.2 million seed samples from nearly every country on Earth. Its (66) ___ is simple: if a regional seed bank is destroyed by war, natural disaster, or equipment failure, the genetic diversity stored in Svalbard can be used to restore what was lost.

The vault was designed to function without human intervention. Its location deep within permafrost provides natural freezing, and an artificial cooling system maintains a constant temperature of minus 18 degrees Celsius. Even if the power fails, the permafrost alone would keep the seeds viable for decades. The seeds are sealed in three-ply foil packages inside sealed boxes, stored on shelves inside the vault. (67) ___ is restricted — seeds can only be withdrawn by the institution that deposited them, a model that has been described as a “safety deposit box for the world’s agriculture.”

In 2015, the vault was called upon for the first time. The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, originally based in Aleppo, Syria, had been (68) ___ to abandon its gene bank due to the Syrian civil war. Researchers had managed to save most of the collection and relocate it, but some unique varieties — particularly of wheat — had been lost. The seed vault provided the backup copies needed to restore them.

The vault is not (69) ___ to all threats, however. In 2017, unusually warm temperatures caused melting permafrost and heavy rain to breach the entrance tunnel — though the seeds themselves, stored deeper inside, were not threatened. The incident prompted a $13 million upgrade to the access tunnel, including waterproof walls and additional drainage.

The seed vault represents a rare example of long-term, cooperative thinking in international relations. It acknowledges a (70) ___ but uncomfortable truth: civilization rests on a thin layer of agricultural biodiversity, and that layer is far more fragile than we like to believe.

Question 66

(A) complexity (B) premise (C) decoration (D) ambition

Question 67

(A) Donation (B) Deposit (C) Access (D) Construction

Question 68

(A) forced (B) invited (C) permitted (D) inspired

Question 69

(A) vulnerable (B) immune (C) sensitive (D) resistant

Question 70

(A) comforting (B) trivial (C) humble (D) sobering

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 trolley problem is perhaps the most famous thought experiment in moral philosophy, but it is also one of the most misunderstood. First introduced by philosopher Philippa Foot in 1967 and later elaborated by Judith Jarvis Thomson, the classic version presents a stark choice: a runaway trolley is hurtling toward five people tied to the track. You can pull a lever to divert the trolley onto a side track, where it will kill one person instead. Do you pull the lever?

Most people say yes. The utilitarian calculus — sacrificing one to save five — seems straightforward. But then Thomson introduced a variation: what if, instead of pulling a lever, you must push a large man off a footbridge onto the track to stop the trolley? Suddenly, most people say no. The outcome is mathematically identical — one dies, five live — but the action of physically pushing someone feels morally different from pulling a lever at a distance.

This gap between what people say they would do in the lever case and the bridge case has generated decades of research in moral psychology. The dominant explanation involves a distinction between “personal” and “impersonal” harm. Pulling a lever feels impersonal — you are redirecting an existing threat. Pushing a person feels personal — you are initiating a new threat, using the person as a means to an end.

The trolley problem has been criticized as an academic parlor game with no real-world relevance. This criticism is misguided. The ethical dilemmas underlying the trolley problem — how to weigh harms to different people, whether there is a meaningful moral difference between action and inaction, when it is permissible to sacrifice one to save many — arise constantly, and with deadly seriousness, in public policy. How should a triage doctor allocate limited ventilators during a pandemic? Should an autonomous vehicle be programmed to sacrifice its passenger to avoid hitting a group of pedestrians? These are not hypothetical questions.

The trolley problem’s real value is not that it provides answers, but that it forces us to articulate why we feel differently about cases that are logically similar. The gap between our intuitions is not a bug in our moral reasoning; it is a feature worth understanding.

Question 71: In Thomson’s bridge variation, why do most people say they would not push the man?

(A) Pushing would sacrifice a larger person instead of a smaller one. (B) Because physically pushing someone feels morally different from pulling a lever. (C) Because the man on the bridge is not actually in danger from the trolley. (D) Because the lever scenario has been proven to be a more efficient solution.

Question 72: According to the passage, what is the distinction between the lever case and the bridge case?

(A) The lever case involves fewer victims than the bridge case. (B) Pulling a lever is “impersonal” while pushing a person is “personal.” (C) The lever case is legally permitted while the bridge case is illegal. (D) More people are saved in the lever case than in the bridge case.

Question 73: According to the passage, what is the real value of the trolley problem?

(A) It provides clear answers about what people should do in emergency situations. (B) It forces us to articulate why we feel differently about logically similar cases. (C) It demonstrates that utilitarianism is the only valid approach to moral reasoning. (D) It proves that moral philosophy has no relevance to real-world policy decisions.

Passage 2

Global Tech Solutions — Policy Update

Effective Date: June 1, 2026 Policy: Flexible Work Arrangement Policy (Revised)

1. Purpose

Global Tech Solutions is committed to providing flexible work arrangements that support employee well-being, productivity, and work-life integration while maintaining operational excellence. This revised policy supersedes the Temporary Remote Work Policy established during the pandemic.

2. Work Modes

Employees will be classified into one of three work modes based on their role requirements and manager approval:

On-Site (Category A): Required to work from a company office five days per week. Applies to roles requiring physical presence, such as lab technicians, hardware engineers working with proprietary equipment, and security personnel.

Hybrid (Category B): Required to work from a company office a minimum of three designated days per week, with the flexibility to work remotely on remaining days. Applies to most knowledge-worker roles. Team collaboration days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays unless otherwise specified by department leadership.

Remote-First (Category C): Primarily remote with required quarterly in-person attendance at team gatherings and company meetings. Travel expenses for quarterly visits are covered by the company. Applies to roles designated by executive leadership as suitable for predominately remote work.

3. Requesting a Different Classification

Employees who wish to be considered for a different classification than the one assigned to their role may submit a formal request through the HR portal. Requests must include a rationale addressing how the alternative arrangement would support both the employee’s performance and the team’s objectives. Decisions will be made within four weeks of submission.

4. Performance Expectations

Flexible work arrangements are not a reduction in expectations. All employees, regardless of work mode, are evaluated using the same performance criteria and are expected to be available during core collaboration hours (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., employee’s local time zone).

5. Equipment and Workspace

The company will provide a standard home-office equipment package (monitor, keyboard, mouse, docking station) to Hybrid and Remote-First employees. A stipend of $500 per year is available for additional home-office needs such as chairs, desks, or lighting.

6. Review Cycle

This policy will be reviewed annually. The first review is scheduled for May 2027.

For questions, contact hr-flexwork@globaltech.com.

Question 74: How many days per week must Hybrid employees be physically present in the office?

(A) One designated day (B) Two designated days (C) A minimum of three designated days (D) All five workdays

Question 75: What is required for Remote-First employees regarding in-person attendance?

(A) Monthly in-person attendance at the local office (B) Quarterly in-person attendance at team gatherings and company meetings (C) No in-person attendance is ever required (D) Weekly video conference calls with immediate supervisor

Question 76: When is the first review of this policy scheduled?

(A) December 2026 (B) March 2027 (C) May 2027 (D) June 2027

Passage 3

The Nobel Prize in Literature, awarded since 1901, is arguably the world’s most prestigious literary award. Yet its history is littered with what, in retrospect, appear to be staggering misjudgments. Leo Tolstoy, widely considered one of the greatest novelists who ever lived, never won. Neither did Marcel Proust, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Vladimir Nabokov, Jorge Luis Borges, or Chinua Achebe. Meanwhile, prizes were awarded to dozens of writers whose names are now known only to literary historians.

How does this happen? The most straightforward explanation is that the Swedish Academy’s judgments, like all human judgments, are shaped by the limitations of their time. Literary reputation is not fixed; it shifts across generations as critical tastes evolve, as once-radical innovations become familiar, and as the cultural biases that constrained earlier readers become visible in retrospect.

Consider the case of the first decade of the prize. The early Academy heavily favored what it termed “idealistic” literature — works that promoted moral uplift and spiritual aspiration. This criterion was used to exclude writers like Henrik Ibsen, whose grim social realism was seen as insufficiently edifying. The Academy’s definition of “idealistic” was, in essence, a reflection of the conservative literary tastes of late 19th-century Swedish cultural elite.

Geography and language have also played a significant role. For decades, the prize disproportionately recognized European writers working in major European languages. This was partly a structural problem — literature in smaller languages was less likely to be translated and therefore less likely to come to the Academy’s attention — and partly a cultural blind spot. Not until 1945 did the prize go to a Latin American writer (Gabriela Mistral), and not until 1988 to an Arabic-language writer (Naguib Mahfouz).

These historical missteps do not mean the prize is worthless, but they invite a certain humility about literary judgment. The books we dismiss today may be the ones our grandchildren read with reverence. The books we celebrate may be forgotten. The Nobel’s inconsistent history is, in an odd way, a testament to the impossibility of the task it has set for itself: to identify greatness in real time, without the clarifying filter of history.

Question 77: According to the passage, what explains the Academy’s “misjudgments”?

(A) The Academy members were not actually required to read the nominated books. (B) Judgments were shaped by the cultural biases and limitations of their time. (C) The prize was secretly awarded based on political rather than literary considerations. (D) Most of the writers mentioned actively declined the prize when it was offered.

Question 78: What criterion did the early Academy use that excluded writers like Ibsen?

(A) Works needed to be written in Swedish or Norwegian. (B) Literature should be “idealistic” — morally uplifting and spiritually aspirational. (C) Authors had to have published at least ten novels during their lifetime. (D) Nominees had to be personally recommended by a member of the Swedish royal family.

Question 79: When did the prize first go to an Arabic-language writer?

Passage 4

In 2025, a landmark legal case in South Korea captured international attention when a group of young plaintiffs argued that the government’s insufficient climate action constituted a violation of their constitutional rights. The case, known as “Woodpecker et al. v. South Korea,” named after a young plaintiff whose nickname was Woodpecker, was part of a global wave of climate litigation in which citizens are using courts to compel government action on emissions reduction.

The plaintiffs’ argument rested on a specific legal theory known as the “public trust doctrine.” This doctrine, which has roots in Roman law, holds that certain natural resources are held in trust by the government for the benefit of present and future generations. The atmosphere, the plaintiffs argued, was such a resource. By failing to set emissions targets sufficient to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, the government had breached its fiduciary duty to the young people whose futures would be most affected by climate change.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling was a partial victory for the plaintiffs. The court stopped short of requiring specific emissions targets, stating that determining precise targets was a matter for the legislative and executive branches, not the judiciary. However, it did rule that the government’s current climate framework was unconstitutional because it lacked binding, enforceable targets for the period beyond 2030. The court ordered the government to establish such targets by February 2028.

The case has significant implications beyond South Korea. It is one of a rapidly growing number of successful climate rights cases. In 2021, the German Constitutional Court issued a similar ruling, ordering the government to set more detailed emissions reduction targets after 2030. In 2023, a court in Montana, United States, ruled in favor of young plaintiffs who argued that a state law prohibiting consideration of climate impacts in environmental reviews violated their right to a clean and healthful environment.

These cases represent an emerging legal strategy that is gaining traction globally. The argument is elegant in its simplicity: governments do not have limitless discretion in environmental policy. They have duties to current and future citizens, and those duties can be enforced in court. Climate litigation may prove to be one of the most significant tools available to citizens who feel that the political process has failed to address the defining challenge of our time.

Question 80: What legal theory did the plaintiffs in the South Korean case rely on?

(A) The right to protest peacefully as guaranteed by democratic constitutions (B) The public trust doctrine — that natural resources are held in trust for present and future generations (C) The principle of eminent domain regarding government seizure of private property (D) The doctrine of international humanitarian law regarding environmental refugees

Question 81: What did the Constitutional Court rule?

(A) The government’s climate framework was fully constitutional and needed no changes. (B) The government must immediately reduce emissions by 50% from current levels. (C) The current climate framework was unconstitutional and required binding targets beyond 2030. (D) The case was dismissed because the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue.

Question 82: According to the passage, what is the emerging legal strategy’s central argument?

(A) Governments should be immune from legal challenges on environmental policy. (B) Only international courts can rule on climate change cases. (C) Governments have enforceable duties to current and future citizens on environmental matters. (D) Climate litigation should be limited to cases involving direct physical harm.

Passage 5

In 2024, researchers at the University of Tokyo published a study that challenged a deeply held assumption about language learning: that children are inherently better at learning new languages than adults. The study, which tracked 2,000 learners of Japanese as a second language across multiple age groups over five years, found that when you control for hours of study and immersion, adults actually outperform children in the acquisition of vocabulary and grammar rules in the early and intermediate stages of learning.

This finding aligns with a broader body of research that has been quietly accumulating for years. The “critical period hypothesis” — the idea that there is a window in childhood during which language acquisition is optimal and that this window closes after puberty — has been widely accepted in popular culture and even in some educational policy. But the evidence for a hard critical period is substantially weaker than commonly believed.

What the research actually suggests is more nuanced. Children do have certain advantages, particularly in acquiring native-like pronunciation and in mastering the phonological system of a language in ways that feel intuitive rather than analytical. These advantages seem most pronounced for sounds that do not exist in the learner’s first language. Adults, however, have significant advantages of their own: better-developed cognitive strategies for recognizing patterns, more sophisticated metacognitive skills for monitoring their own learning, richer conceptual frameworks for understanding grammatical explanations, and greater capacity for deliberate, sustained effort.

The practical implications are significant. The persistence of the critical period myth has led many adults to conclude, incorrectly, that they have “missed the window” and that serious language learning is no longer possible for them. This belief becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: because they believe they will fail, they either do not try or they give up at the first sign of difficulty.

The more accurate and empowering message is that adult language learning is not only possible but in many respects can be more efficient than child language learning — provided that the adult learner is willing to commit the time, embrace the discomfort of making mistakes, and use strategies appropriate to adult cognition rather than attempting to replicate the immersion experience of a child.

Question 83: What did the University of Tokyo study find about adult language learners?

(A) Adults cannot learn new languages at all after the age of 30. (B) When hours of study are controlled, adults outperform children in vocabulary and grammar. (C) Children and adults learn at exactly the same rate in all aspects of language. (D) Adults are only better than children at learning languages that use the same alphabet.

Question 84: According to the passage, what advantage do children genuinely have in language learning?

(A) Children are better at memorizing long lists of vocabulary through deliberate study. (B) Children have an advantage in acquiring native-like pronunciation and phonological intuition. (C) Children are better at understanding complex grammar rules through analytical reasoning. (D) The passage argues that children have no genuine advantages in language learning.

Question 85: What negative consequence does the “critical period myth” have?

(A) It leads governments to cut funding for adult language education programs. (B) It causes adults to believe they cannot learn languages, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. (C) It has led to a decline in the number of linguists studying second-language acquisition. (D) It encourages schools to start language education too early in childhood.

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 86

這項研究的獨特之處在於，它不僅分析了短期效果，更追蹤了參與者在長達十年期間的行為變化。

參考詞彙：uniqueness / lies in / not only…but also / track / behavioral changes / over a period of

參考答案：The uniqueness of this study lies in the fact that it not only analyzed short-term effects but also tracked the participants’ behavioral changes over a period of ten years.

Question 87

儘管面對來自各方的質疑，這位科學家仍然堅持自己的研究方向，最終獲得了突破性的發現。

參考詞彙：despite / skepticism / from all sides / persist with / research direction / eventually / groundbreaking discovery

參考答案：Despite facing skepticism from all sides, the scientist persisted with his research direction and eventually made a groundbreaking discovery.

Question 88

在資訊爆炸的時代，如何分辨事實與虛構已成為現代公民不可或缺的能力。

參考詞彙：in an age of / information explosion / distinguish between / fact and fiction / indispensable skill / modern citizen

參考答案：In an age of information explosion, the ability to distinguish between fact and fiction has become an indispensable skill for modern citizens.

Question 89

我們需要重新思考消費主義對環境造成的深遠影響，並尋找更符合永續發展的生活模式。

參考詞彙：reconsider / consumerism / far-reaching impact / in line with / sustainable development / lifestyle

參考答案：We need to reconsider the far-reaching impact of consumerism on the environment and seek lifestyles more in line with sustainable development.

Question 90

這本自傳最打動人心的地方，在於作者坦誠地揭露了自己的脆弱與失敗，而非僅僅展現成功的一面。

參考詞彙：autobiography / most touching aspect / honestly / reveal / vulnerability and failures / rather than / present / successful side

參考答案：The most touching aspect of this autobiography is that the author honestly reveals his vulnerability and failures rather than merely presenting the successful side.

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 Social Media Platforms Be Held Legally Responsible for Harmful Content on Their Sites?

近年來，各國開始討論是否應該讓社群媒體平台為其平台上的有害內容（如仇恨言論、假訊息、網路霸凌等）承擔法律責任。請撰寫短文探討此議題並說明你的立場。

大綱建議：

問題背景簡述
支持平台承擔責任的論點
反對平台承擔責任的論點
你的立場與建議

參考答案（約 190 字）：

The question of whether social media platforms should bear legal responsibility for harmful content has become one of the defining regulatory debates of our time. As platforms have evolved from neutral conduits to algorithmically-curated ecosystems that actively amplify certain content, the argument that they are merely “intermediaries” has weakened.

Proponents of legal liability argue that platforms profit enormously from user engagement while externalizing the social costs — polarization, misinformation, mental health harms — onto the public. They contend that if traditional publishers are liable for what they publish, platforms that algorithmically promote content should face similar accountability. The current system, they argue, creates a perverse incentive to maximize engagement regardless of harm.

Opponents of legal liability raise legitimate concerns. They warn that strict liability would produce over-censorship, with platforms removing controversial but legitimate speech to avoid legal risk. Smaller platforms, lacking the resources of tech giants for content moderation at scale, might be driven out of existence, further consolidating the power of the largest companies.

I believe the solution lies not in imposing full publisher liability but in requiring platform accountability around algorithmic amplification. Platforms should not be liable for everything users post — that is practically impossible at scale. But they should be legally required to disclose how their recommendation algorithms work, to provide users meaningful control over what they see, and to face consequences when their design choices demonstrably promote harmful content for profit.

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：

“The capacity to think critically — to evaluate evidence, to question assumptions, to distinguish between correlation and causation — is not something that human beings do naturally. It is a skill that must be deliberately cultivated and continuously practiced. Our default cognitive mode is to seek confirmation of what we already believe, to accept information that aligns with our existing worldview, and to dismiss or rationalize away what challenges it. Education, at its best, is a systematic program to override these default tendencies: to teach us to seek out disconfirming evidence, to hold our beliefs provisionally, and to change our minds when the weight of evidence demands it. In this sense, critical thinking is not just a cognitive skill; it is a moral discipline. It requires the courage to be wrong and the integrity to admit it.”

發音重點：

correlation：/ˌkɔːrəˈleɪʃən/，四音節，重音在第三音節，注意和 causation 的對比
causation：/kɔːˈzeɪʃən/，三音節，重音在第二音節
deliberately：/dɪˈlɪbərətli/，五音節，注意不要漏掉 r 的音
cultivation：/ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃən/，四音節，重音在第三音節
provisional：/prəˈvɪʒənəl/，四音節，重音在第二音節

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: Do you believe that a person’s character is primarily shaped by nature or by nurture?

參考答案：I believe character emerges from the interaction of both — neither is primary in isolation. Genetics provide a range of possible temperaments and predispositions, but environment determines how those predispositions are expressed. Twin studies provide particularly compelling evidence for this. Identical twins raised apart often show remarkable similarities in temperament, suggesting a genetic component. But they also differ in significant ways shaped by their unique experiences. The metaphor I find useful is that genetics provide the raw material and the range of possibilities, while environment, relationships, and personal choices are the sculptors that give that material its specific shape.

Question 2: Some people believe that failure is essential for success. Do you agree or disagree, and can you provide an example?

參考答案：I strongly agree, with an important qualification. Failure is valuable not inherently, but because it provides information that success does not. Success tells you that something worked; failure tells you why it didn’t work, which is often more instructive. A personal example: I once led a student event that was poorly attended. I could have dismissed it as bad luck with the timing. Instead, I surveyed potential attendees and learned that our promotional strategy had reached the wrong audience, our ticket pricing was too high for students, and our event overlapped with a popular campus tradition we hadn’t checked. The failure was painful but instructive. The next event I organized sold out. The key is that failure only becomes a stepping stone if one does the hard work of extracting lessons from it. Failure without reflection is just failure.

Question 3: What do you think is the relationship between technological progress and social equality?

參考答案：Technology and social equality have a historically complex and often paradoxical relationship. Technology can be a powerful equalizing force — the printing press democratized access to knowledge, the internet made information available to billions, and mobile phones brought banking and communication to communities that traditional infrastructure never reached. However, technology can also deepen inequality. Access to new technologies is almost always unequal in its early stages, creating what scholars call the “digital divide.” Moreover, technologies that automate jobs tend to disproportionately affect lower-skilled workers while increasing returns to those who own or design the technology. The outcome is not determined by the technology itself but by the social and political choices about how it is deployed, regulated, and made accessible.

Question 4: How do you think the concept of “truth” should be approached in the digital age?

參考答案：Truth in the digital age requires a more active and skeptical posture than in previous eras. In a world where anyone can publish anything, where manipulated media is increasingly indistinguishable from authentic media, and where algorithms prioritize engaging content over accurate content, the burden of verification has shifted from institutions to individuals. This is both empowering and dangerous. It is empowering because individuals are no longer entirely dependent on gatekeepers for information. But it is dangerous because most people lack the time, skills, or motivation to verify everything they encounter.

The approach I advocate has three components. First, a habit of sourcing — always asking “who is saying this and what is their basis?” Second, an awareness of one’s own biases — recognizing when a claim feels true because it aligns with what you already believe. Third, an understanding that truth is often probabilistic rather than binary — the question is rarely “is this true?” but “what is the balance of credible evidence?” These habits will not make us immune to misinformation, but they are our best defense in an information environment designed to overwhelm our critical faculties.

Question 5: If you had the power to solve one global problem, which would you choose and why?

參考答案：I would choose to solve the crisis of climate change, not only because of its direct consequences but because it is a problem that intersects with and amplifies nearly every other global challenge. Climate change is what analysts call a “threat multiplier.” It worsens food and water security, which in turn drives conflict and migration. It increases the frequency and severity of natural disasters, which disproportionately affect the world’s poorest communities — those least responsible for the emissions that cause it. It threatens biodiversity and ecosystem services on which human civilization depends. Addressing climate change would not solve all problems, but failing to address it will make almost every other problem harder to solve. I also choose this because, unlike some problems (such as the inevitability of death or the existence of human suffering), climate change is a problem of our own collective making — and therefore one we have the power to address, if we can summon the political will.

Part 3：看圖申論（Picture-Based Discussion）

說明： 請觀察以下情境並回答問題。

情境描述： 一張數據圖表顯示全球極端貧窮人口（每日生活費低於 2.15 美元）的變化趨勢：1990 年約為 19 億人（佔全球人口 36%），2000 年降為 17 億（28%），2010 年降為 12 億（17%），2019 年降為 6.5 億（8.5%）。然而，2020 年 COVID-19 疫情使數字回升到 7.2 億（9.3%），這是數十年來首次增長。預測顯示到 2030 年極端貧窮人口約為 5.7 億（6.6%），未達原先設定的「消滅極端貧窮」目標。

Question A: What story does the data tell about the fight against global poverty, and what does the COVID reversal reveal?

參考答案：The data tells a story of remarkable progress followed by a sobering interruption. From 1990 to 2019, extreme poverty fell from 36% to 8.5% of the global population — more than 1.2 billion people lifted out of the most desperate form of material deprivation. This is arguably one of the greatest achievements in human history, driven primarily by rapid economic growth in China, India, and other parts of Asia, combined with targeted poverty reduction programs and global health initiatives.

The COVID reversal is revealing in several ways. First, it demonstrates the fragility of poverty reduction. Many of those who had escaped extreme poverty were living just above the threshold — what economists call the “vulnerable poor.” A single economic shock was enough to push them back. Second, it highlights the unevenness of both the pandemic and the recovery. The poorest countries, with the weakest healthcare systems and the least fiscal capacity to support their populations during lockdowns, were hit hardest. The data essentially confirms that progress, while real, is not irreversible. Development gains can be quickly erased by crises, and building resilience against such crises is as important as promoting growth.

Question B: Do you think eliminating extreme poverty entirely by 2030 could still be achieved? What would it take?

參考答案：Realistically, achieving the complete elimination of extreme poverty by 2030 is now extremely unlikely, given both the setback from COVID and the ongoing economic headwinds from inflation, geopolitical conflict, and climate-related disruptions. However, coming close to that goal remains possible with an extraordinary coordinated effort.

What would it take? First, a massive increase in investment directed at sub-Saharan Africa, which now contains the majority of the world’s extreme poor and where progress has been slowest. This investment needs to go beyond aid — it must include infrastructure, education, healthcare, and the conditions for private-sector-led economic growth.

Second, targeted cash transfer programs, which research has shown to be one of the most effective tools for reducing poverty. India’s massive food subsidy and cash transfer programs during the pandemic, while imperfect, demonstrated that governments in developing countries can reach hundreds of millions of people quickly when the political will exists.

Third, debt relief for the poorest countries, many of which now spend more on debt service than on healthcare or education. This is not charity; it is recognizing that the current debt architecture creates a vicious cycle where the poorest countries pay the highest borrowing costs and have the least capacity to invest in their own development.

Fourth, climate adaptation finance. Climate change disproportionately affects the world’s poorest populations — farmers dependent on predictable rainfall, coastal communities exposed to flooding, households without air conditioning during heatwaves. Climate-resilient development is not a separate agenda from poverty reduction; it is a prerequisite for it.

Question C: Beyond income-based measures of poverty, what other dimensions of poverty should we consider when evaluating human well-being?

參考答案：Income-based measures, while useful and relatively easy to track, capture only one dimension of what it means to live in poverty. The Nobel laureate Amartya Sen argued that poverty should be understood as “capability deprivation” — the absence of the freedom to achieve the kind of life one has reason to value.

This broader framing suggests several dimensions beyond income. First, health — including not just life expectancy but the quality of health. Someone above the income poverty line who suffers from a chronic, untreated illness is poor in a meaningful sense. Second, education and literacy, particularly for women and girls. A family that can afford food but cannot afford to send its children to school is trapped in intergenerational poverty that income measures do not capture.

Third, social inclusion and dignity. People can have adequate income and still be excluded from full participation in society due to caste, ethnicity, gender, or disability. Fourth, vulnerability and resilience. A household with sufficient income this year but no savings, no insurance, and no assets to fall back on is in a fundamentally different position from one with the same income but a cushion against shocks.

Finally, agency and voice — the ability to participate in decisions that affect one’s life. Extreme poverty is often characterized not just by material deprivation but by powerlessness. The farmer who earns enough to eat but has no say in the water allocation decisions that determine whether his crops will survive next year is poor in a dimension that income does not capture. These multidimensional frameworks, such as the UN’s Multidimensional Poverty Index, provide a richer picture than income alone and help design more effective interventions.

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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
16	B	19	C	22	B
17	B	20	B	23	C
18	B	21	B	24	B
—	—	—	—	25	C

Part 3: 簡短獨白

Q	Answer	Q	Answer	Q	Answer
26	B	31	A	36	B
27	B	32	B	37	A
28	C	33	B	38	B
29	B	34	C	39	C
30	B	35	B	40	B

Reading

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

解鎖內容

GEPT-中高級-Mock-3

GEPT 中高級全真模擬試題 Mock 3

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
41	B	51	B	61	B	71	B
42	B	52	B	62	A	72	B
43	A	53	B	63	C	73	B
44	C	54	B	64	B	74	C
45	C	55	A	65	C	75	B
46	B	56	A	66	B	76	C
47	B	57	B	67	C	77	B
48	B	58	C	68	A	78	B
49	A	59	B	69	B	79	D
50	B	60	A	70	D	80	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	81	C
—	—	—	—	—	—	82	C
—	—	—	—	—	—	83	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	84	B
—	—	—	—	—	—	85	B

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

GEPT-中高級-Mock-3

GEPT 中高級 全真模擬試題 Mock 3

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 3

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