進階英文長篇閱讀：段落結構與推論練習

Section 1：長篇閱讀策略

〈The Democracy of Ideas〉先談印刷術如何擴大知識傳播，接著換到網路。讀到第四段的 Yet，文章又轉向錯誤資訊的風險。如果你只記住一串發明和年代，做到主旨題時就會漏掉這次轉折。長篇閱讀要留下的，是每一段怎麼把話接下去。

這是進階英文閱讀教材，不是現行分科測驗的考科指南。大考中心 116 學年度簡章（PDF）所列分科考科不含英文；準備升學英文時，請分清學測英文與其他英文能力練習。

1.1 Active Reading（主動閱讀）

Active Reading（主動閱讀）可以先做得很簡單：每讀完一段，停一下，確認它是在加例子、提出不同看法，還是補上限制。說不出來，就回頭找連接前後的那一句，不必整篇從頭重讀。

1.2 Note-Taking（筆記技巧）

筆記寫到能幫你回去找內容就好。下面的 P1、P2 表示第一、第二段，示範的是記錄方式，不代表每篇都要照這四段排列：

P1: [主旨句]（引入話題）
P2: [支持論點1]（舉例說明）
P3: [轉折]（反面觀點）
P4: [作者立場]（綜合結論）

每段留一個關鍵詞或短句就夠了。例如第一篇第三段可以記「網路讓更多人發表」，第四段記「缺少查核保障」。做題時看到資訊查核，就知道該回第四段，不用在整篇裡重找。

箭頭（→）可以表示因果或遞進，不確定的地方放問號（?），作者特別強調的地方再加驚嘆號（!）。符號夠用就好；如果整段都畫起來，回頭看時還是得全部重讀。

1.3 Structural Analysis（結構分析）

常見的長篇文章結構：

Section 2：Long Passages

Long Passage 1：The Democracy of Ideas

The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440 is often cited as one of the most transformative events in human history. Before the printing press, books had to be copied by hand, a slow, expensive process that made written knowledge available only to the wealthy and powerful. Monasteries and universities controlled the flow of information, and ordinary people had little access to the ideas that shaped their societies.

Gutenberg's innovation changed everything. By making it possible to produce hundreds of copies of a text quickly and cheaply, the printing press democratized knowledge. Within decades, printed books had spread across Europe, fueling the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution. Ideas that were once confined to a handful of scholars could now reach thousands, even millions, of readers. The printing press did not merely transmit information; it empowered ordinary people to question authority, challenge established beliefs, and participate in intellectual discourse.

Today, we are living through what many scholars describe as a second Gutenberg moment. The Internet and digital technology have reduced the cost of publishing to nearly zero, allowing anyone with a smartphone to share ideas with a global audience. Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and TikTok have become modern equivalents of the printing press, giving voice to people who were previously excluded from public conversation.

Yet this new information landscape presents serious challenges. While the printing press gave rise to professional editors, fact-checkers, and standards of accuracy, the Internet often lacks these safeguards. Misinformation, conspiracy theories, and propaganda can spread as quickly, or more quickly, than verified facts. The same technology that enables citizens to expose injustice also enables bad actors to manipulate public opinion on an unprecedented scale.

The question facing society today is whether we can develop the tools and institutions needed to preserve the benefits of open information while minimizing the harms. Just as the printing press eventually gave rise to newspapers, libraries, and educational systems that helped readers distinguish reliable information from falsehoods, the digital age may require new forms of media literacy and institutional accountability. The stakes are high: the democracy of ideas that Gutenberg launched depends on our ability to adapt.

Questions:

1. What is the main idea of this passage? (A) The printing press was more important than the Internet. (B) Both the printing press and the Internet democratized information, but the Internet poses new challenges. (C) Social media is harmful and should be regulated. (D) Gutenberg's invention was the greatest achievement in history.

2. According to the passage, what was one effect of the printing press? (A) It made books more expensive. (B) It reduced the number of books available. (C) It empowered ordinary people to question authority. (D) It strengthened the power of monasteries.

3. The word "safeguards" in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to ___. (A) dangers (B) protections (C) inventions (D) criticisms

4. It can be inferred that the author believes ___. (A) the Internet should be shut down (B) society will easily solve the problem of misinformation (C) new systems of media literacy are needed for the digital age (D) printed books are no longer useful

5. What is the author's purpose in comparing the Internet to the printing press? (A) To show that technology always improves society (B) To highlight the similarities and differences in how each technology affected the spread of information (C) To prove that the Internet is less important (D) To argue that both were invented in Europe

Long Passage 2：The Science of Memory

For most of human history, memory was regarded as a kind of mental filing cabinet, a passive storage system where experiences were neatly organized and preserved until needed. If you could not remember something, the common assumption was that the memory had been "lost" or "filed in the wrong place." Modern neuroscience has overturned this view entirely, revealing that memory is not a recording device but an active, creative process.

Every time we recall a memory, we do not simply retrieve a fixed record of the past. Instead, the brain reconstructs the memory from fragments, filling in gaps with assumptions, expectations, and current knowledge. This means that memories are not static: they change each time we access them. Psychologist Elizabeth Loftus demonstrated this dramatically in her famous "lost in the mall" experiment, in which she convinced nearly 25 percent of participants that they had once been lost in a shopping mall as a child, even though the event never happened. By subtly introducing false details through suggestion, Loftus showed that it is possible to implant entirely fabricated memories.

The implications of this research are profound, particularly for the criminal justice system. Eyewitness testimony, long considered one of the most reliable forms of evidence, has been shown to be far less accurate than most people assume. Studies suggest that eyewitness misidentification plays a role in approximately 70 percent of wrongful convictions later overturned by DNA evidence. Stress, poor lighting, racial bias, and the passage of time can all distort a witness's memory without the witness realizing it.

These findings do not mean that human memory is fundamentally unreliable. Our memories serve us well in most everyday situations, helping us navigate the world, maintain relationships, and learn from experience. However, they do suggest that we should approach memory with appropriate humility, recognizing that what we "know" about the past may not always be as accurate as it feels.

Questions:

1. What is the traditional view of memory that the author contrasts with modern neuroscience? (A) Memory is an active, creative process. (B) Memory is a passive storage system. (C) Memory cannot be trusted at all. (D) Memory improves with age.

2. What did Elizabeth Loftus's experiment demonstrate? (A) People have excellent memories of childhood events. (B) It is possible to implant false memories through suggestion. (C) Shopping malls are dangerous for children. (D) Most people enjoy recalling childhood memories.

3. According to the passage, eyewitness misidentification contributes to approximately ___ of wrongful convictions. (A) 25 percent (B) 50 percent (C) 70 percent (D) 90 percent

4. The author's attitude toward human memory can best be described as ___. (A) completely dismissive (B) appropriately cautious (C) extremely enthusiastic (D) indifferent

5. The passage is primarily concerned with ___. (A) arguing that all memories are false (B) explaining how memory reconstruction works and its implications (C) comparing different types of memory (D) describing the history of neuroscience

Long Passage 3：The Economics of Happiness

For centuries, economists operated on a simple assumption: more money leads to more happiness. This belief shaped public policy, corporate strategies, and individual aspirations around the world. Governments measured their success primarily through Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and citizens were encouraged to pursue higher incomes as the surest path to a better life. But in recent decades, a growing body of research has challenged this fundamental assumption.

The turning point came in 1974, when economist Richard Easterlin published a landmark study showing that, beyond a certain level of income, increases in wealth do not correspond to increases in self-reported happiness. This phenomenon, known as the "Easterlin Paradox," has been confirmed by numerous studies since then. In the United States, for example, real per capita income has more than doubled since the 1950s, yet the percentage of people who describe themselves as "very happy" has remained essentially flat.

Researchers have identified several reasons why money fails to deliver lasting satisfaction. One is "hedonic adaptation": the human tendency to quickly get used to improvements in circumstances. A raise at work feels exciting for a few weeks, but soon the higher income becomes the new normal, and the extra happiness fades. Another factor is "relative deprivation": people tend to evaluate their well-being not in absolute terms but by comparing themselves to others. As overall incomes rise, so do expectations, leaving people no more satisfied than before.

These insights have inspired a new approach to public policy. Countries like Bhutan, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates have begun incorporating measures of citizen well-being into their policy decisions, considering factors such as health, education, social connection, and environmental quality alongside traditional economic indicators. While GDP remains an important measure, these nations argue that it should not be the only one.

Questions:

1. What is the "Easterlin Paradox"? (A) Poor people are happier than rich people. (B) Beyond a certain income level, more wealth does not increase happiness. (C) Money cannot buy any happiness at all. (D) Happiness increases steadily with income.

2. The phrase "hedonic adaptation" refers to ___. (A) the tendency to compare ourselves to others (B) the process of adapting to poverty (C) the human tendency to quickly get used to improvements (D) the desire for more money

3. Which country is NOT mentioned as incorporating well-being into policy? (A) Bhutan (B) New Zealand (C) Japan (D) United Arab Emirates

4. It can be inferred that the author believes ___. (A) money is completely irrelevant to happiness (B) GDP should be abandoned as a measure (C) well-being involves more than just income (D) all countries should copy Bhutan's approach

5. What is the main idea of this passage? (A) Economics is an unreliable science. (B) The relationship between money and happiness is more complex than previously assumed. (C) Governments should stop measuring GDP. (D) People should stop trying to earn more money.

Long Passage 4：Artificial Intelligence and Creativity

When an AI-generated painting won first prize at the Colorado State Fair's art competition in 2022, it sparked a fierce debate about the nature of creativity. Can a machine truly be creative, or is creativity an exclusively human trait? The answer depends largely on how we define the term.

If creativity is defined as the ability to produce something new and valuable, then AI systems have already demonstrated impressive capabilities. Programs like DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion can generate images that are visually striking and technically sophisticated. Language models like ChatGPT can write poems, stories, and essays that are grammatically fluent and sometimes surprisingly inventive. Music generation AI can compose pieces in the style of classical composers or contemporary pop artists.

However, many artists and philosophers argue that this output does not constitute genuine creativity. True creativity, they contend, requires intentionality: the conscious desire to express an emotion, communicate an idea, or explore a question. When a human artist paints a portrait, every brushstroke reflects a deliberate choice informed by personal experience, cultural context, and emotional state. An AI, by contrast, generates output by identifying statistical patterns in vast datasets, without any understanding of meaning or emotion. It does not "know" what it is creating.

This distinction has important practical implications. If AI-generated works are considered truly creative, then they deserve the same legal protections as human-made art: copyright, attribution, and fair compensation. Courts in several countries are currently grappling with these questions, and the outcomes of these cases will shape the future of creative industries.

Ultimately, the debate over AI and creativity may say more about humans than about machines. Our desire to define and defend creativity reveals how deeply we value the human capacity for original thought and emotional expression. Whether or not AI can truly be creative, its rise challenges us to reflect on what makes human creativity special, and whether that specialness is as unique as we have always assumed.

Questions:

1. What event triggered the debate discussed in this passage? (A) A new AI law was passed. (B) An AI-generated painting won an art competition. (C) A famous artist used AI for the first time. (D) AI wrote a bestselling novel.

2. According to critics, what does genuine creativity require that AI lacks? (A) Speed (B) Intentionality (C) Data (D) Visual sophistication

3. The word "grappling" in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to ___. (A) celebrating (B) struggling with (C) ignoring (D) explaining

4. What does the author suggest about the AI creativity debate? (A) It proves that AI is more creative than humans. (B) It reveals how humans value their own creative capacity. (C) It will be resolved quickly by courts. (D) It is not worth discussing.

5. The passage structure can best be described as ___. (A) chronological narrative (B) presenting a debate and examining multiple perspectives (C) listing facts without analysis (D) advocating for one side of the argument

Long Passage 5：The Microplastic Crisis

In 2019, a study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology made headlines around the world. The researchers estimated that the average person ingests approximately five grams of plastic per week, roughly the weight of a credit card, through contaminated food and water. The primary culprits are microplastics: tiny plastic particles less than five millimeters in length that have infiltrated virtually every ecosystem on Earth.

Microplastics originate from two main sources. Primary microplastics are manufactured at a small size, such as the microbeads found in some cosmetics and personal care products. Secondary microplastics are created when larger plastic items (bottles, bags, fishing nets) break down over time through exposure to sunlight, waves, and wear. Once released into the environment, these particles are nearly impossible to remove. They have been found in the deepest ocean trenches, the most remote mountain lakes, the air we breathe, and even in human blood and placental tissue.

The health effects of microplastic consumption are not yet fully understood, but early research is troubling. Laboratory studies have shown that microplastics can cause inflammation, cell damage, and disruption of the endocrine system in animals. Some particles are small enough to penetrate cell membranes and cross the blood-brain barrier. Scientists are particularly concerned about the chemicals added to plastics during manufacturing, including bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which have been linked to hormonal disruptions, developmental problems, and certain cancers.

Addressing the microplastic crisis will require action at every level. Individuals can reduce their exposure by avoiding single-use plastics and using water filters. Governments can implement bans on unnecessary plastic products and invest in waste management infrastructure. Scientists are developing new technologies to capture and degrade microplastics, including enzymes that can break down plastic polymers. However, the most effective solution is also the simplest: producing less plastic in the first place.

Questions:

1. How much plastic does the average person ingest per week, according to the 2019 study? (A) One gram (B) Two grams (C) Five grams (D) Ten grams

2. What is the difference between primary and secondary microplastics? (A) Primary microplastics are larger than secondary ones. (B) Primary microplastics are manufactured small; secondary ones result from the breakdown of larger items. (C) Primary microplastics come from the ocean; secondary ones come from land. (D) There is no significant difference.

3. According to the passage, microplastics have been found in all of the following EXCEPT ___. (A) deep ocean trenches (B) human blood (C) outer space (D) mountain lakes

4. The author's purpose in the last paragraph is to ___. (A) describe the history of plastic production (B) suggest solutions to the microplastic crisis (C) criticize the plastic industry (D) compare different types of plastic

5. What is the main idea of this passage? (A) Microplastics are a widespread and growing environmental and health concern that requires comprehensive action. (B) People should stop drinking water. (C) Microplastics only affect ocean life. (D) The plastic industry should be shut down immediately.

Answer Key

Long Passage 1: The Democracy of Ideas

1. (B)：全文比較印刷術和網路的共同點（民主化資訊）和差異（網路缺乏查核機制）。
2. (C)："It empowered ordinary people to question authority."
3. (B)："safeguards" = protections，指保護資訊準確性的機制。
4. (C)："the digital age may require new forms of media literacy."
5. (B)：前兩段談印刷術，第三段把網路放進比較，第四段再指出查核機制的差異。這個比較同時談共同作用和新問題，沒有把兩項技術排出高下。

Long Passage 2: The Science of Memory

1. (B)："a passive storage system where experiences were neatly organized."
2. (B)：依文中的實驗敘述，受試者在暗示下相信了未曾發生的童年事件，對應 implant false memories。題目要找實驗支持的看法，沒有在問逛街安不安全。
3. (C)："approximately 70 percent of wrongful convictions."
4. (B)：末段先說記憶在日常生活中能幫上忙，再提醒回憶不一定像感覺中那麼準確。所以是謹慎看待，不能把前面的錯誤記憶例子推成「所有記憶都不可信」。
5. (B)：第二段解釋回憶如何重組，第三段談目擊證詞，末段給出看待記憶的態度。(B) 同時包含機制與影響，比只挑某個實驗更能涵蓋全文。

Long Passage 3: The Economics of Happiness

1. (B)：本篇把 Easterlin Paradox 描述成：收入到某個程度後，更多財富未必伴隨更高的自陳幸福感。要保留這個條件，不能選成「窮人一定比較快樂」或「錢毫無作用」。
2. (C)：緊接著的加薪例子就在解釋 hedonic adaptation：剛加薪很高興，過一陣子卻習慣了。這裡是對改善後的生活逐漸習以為常，和下一個「拿自己與別人比較」的概念不同。
3. (C)：Japan 未被提及。Bhutan, New Zealand, UAE 皆有提到。
4. (C)：作者認為幸福包含不止收入，還有健康、教育等。
5. (B)：文章從收入與幸福的假設，談到適應、比較，以及政策採用其他指標。(B) 留下這些複雜之處；末段仍承認 GDP 有用，沒有叫政府停止衡量它。

Long Passage 4: AI and Creativity

1. (B)：AI 畫作獲得藝術比賽首獎引發辯論。
2. (B)：第三段先提出 intentionality，隨即解釋成有意識地想表達情緒、傳達想法或探索問題。這是文中批評者判斷創意的條件，要分清楚是誰的看法。
3. (B)："grappling with" = struggling with。
4. (B)：末段把焦點轉回人類：我們為什麼這麼在意創造力的界線？作者說這反映了人類對原創想法和情感表達的重視，沒有宣布 AI 已勝過人類。
5. (B)：第二段先按「新穎且有價值」的定義討論 AI，第三段提出批評者要求的創作意圖，第四段再談法律問題。文章在檢視幾種觀點，並非只替其中一方辯護。

Long Passage 5: The Microplastic Crisis

1. (C)："approximately five grams of plastic per week."
2. (B)：Primary 是製造時就做成的小顆粒；Secondary 是較大的塑膠物品後來分解而成。差別在形成方式，不是來自海洋還是陸地。
3. (C)：Outer space 未被提及。
4. (B)：末段提出個人、政府、科學家層面的解決方案。
5. (A)：第二段談來源和分布，第三段談健康疑慮，第四段提出處理方式，(A) 能接住全文。健康影響那段仍寫 not yet fully understood，不能把「有疑慮」讀成每一項人體風險都已確認。

下一次練長篇，可以先把各段的第一句圈出來，寫下段落功能，再遮住筆記做題。訂正時比較：你回去找答案的位置，和原先標的段落功能有沒有對上？

第一篇第 3 題的 safeguards 很適合試：先靠筆記找到第四段，再用 editors、fact-checkers、standards of accuracy 判斷它指哪種保障。能找對段落之後，仍要讀這些細節，才有辦法把答案選準。