揽瓜阁训练营 第144天（含CR，RC和DI题目）

小白斩鸡

之前大家对揽瓜阁精读的反馈很好，就想着自己的时间开始把一些精读的文章根据JJ出题目～ 然后focus上线，IR需求 大家也大。就想着 把揽瓜阁的阅读 逻辑 IR 都放在这贴里打卡

每日的解析在揽瓜阁2024群更新

RC题源：揽瓜阁精读的文章+机经的题目
CR题源：本月中文JJ改编
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1.CR
In a certain African country, cooking bananas have long been a staple food. However, these bananas are particularly susceptible to a certain pest that can ruin the crop. To address this issue, scientists have proposed introducing a genetically modified variety of cooking banana that includes a protein, known as crystal (C) protein, which effectively prevents the pest from damaging the bananas. While introducing genetically modified crops often raises health concerns, proponents argue that this is not an issue in this case because the C protein is abundant in rice, which has been consumed for thousands of years by people in Asian and African countries without any adverse effects.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument that the genetically modified cooking bananas containing C protein are safe for consumption?
(A) The C protein is structurally different in rice and in the genetically modified cooking bananas.
(B) The levels of C protein in the genetically modified cooking bananas are significantly higher than those found naturally in rice.
(C) Consuming high levels of C protein may inhibit the absorption of certain essential nutrients found in cooking bananas.
(D) Some people in Asian countries have been found to have allergies to rice containing C protein.
(E) The genetic modification process used to introduce C protein into cooking bananas may have unintended effects on other genes within the banana genome.

In an effort to reduce the risk of theft, a university has decided to replace cash transactions at its cafeteria with a card payment system. Under the new system, students will use their university ID cards, which include their names and photographs, to make purchases. The university believes that this will deter potential thieves because cafeteria staff will be able to verify that the person using the card matches the photo on the card.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the university's argument that the new card payment system will reduce the risk of theft in the cafeteria?
(A) The university has not allocated additional funds to train cafeteria staff in card verification procedures.
(B) Students who lose their ID cards will be required to pay a fee to obtain a replacement card.
(C) The card payment system will also be used for other campus services, such as the library and gym facilities.
(D) Vending machines in the cafeteria, which account for a significant portion of sales, will also accept the new ID cards for payment.
(E) The university has plans to expand the card payment system to include off-campus vendors in the future.

答案:
CD


2.DI
Passage 1:
The proclivity of investors to succumb to cognitive biases, a phenomenon that has long captivated the attention of behavioral economists, has far-reaching implications for the efficiency and stability of financial markets. These biases, which often operate on a subconscious level, can lead investors to make decisions that deviate from the tenets of rational choice theory, resulting in suboptimal outcomes for both individual investors and the broader economy. One such bias, known as the home bias, stems from an irrational predilection for the familiar and induces investors to allocate a disproportionate share of their portfolio to domestic securities, even when the benefits of international diversification are well-established. This bias is particularly pervasive among retail investors, who may lack the expertise or resources to effectively navigate foreign markets, but it can also influence the decisions of institutional investors, who may be swayed by political or cultural factors. The status quo bias, another common cognitive pitfall, engenders a propensity among investors to maintain their extant investment strategies, even in the face of changing market conditions or new information that would dictate a divergent course of action. This bias can manifest in a reluctance to sell underperforming assets, a phenomenon known as the disposition effect, or in the tendency to passively acquiesce to default investment options, such as those offered by employer-sponsored retirement plans. The availability bias, which prompts investors to accord undue weight to recent and salient information, can exacerbate the impact of short-term market fluctuations on investment decisions. For example, during periods of rapid price appreciation, investors may extrapolate recent trends into the future, leading to speculative bubbles and eventual market corrections. Conversely, during market downturns, the availability bias may lead investors to overestimate the likelihood of further losses, resulting in panic selling and the realization of substantial losses. Finally, the overconfidence bias, which afflicts investors who harbor an irrational belief in their ability to consistently outperform the market, can lead to excessive risk-taking and a disregard for the importance of diversification. This bias is often accompanied by the illusion of control, whereby investors overestimate their ability to influence the outcome of their investments, and the self-attribution bias, which leads investors to attribute their successes to their own acumen while blaming external factors for their failures. Collectively, these cognitive biases pose a significant challenge to the effective functioning of financial markets, as they can contribute to the mispricing of assets, the misallocation of capital, and the amplification of market volatility. While regulatory interventions and investor education initiatives can help to mitigate the impact of these biases, it is ultimately the responsibility of individual investors to cultivate an awareness of their own cognitive limitations and to develop strategies for overcoming them.

Passage 2:
A recent study, conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Oxford and the London School of Economics, sought to examine the prevalence and impact of cognitive biases among a sample of 10,000 ardent supporters of English Premier League football clubs. The study, which was designed to shed light on the intersection between emotional attachment and financial decision-making, presented participants with a choice between investing in the publicly traded stock of their favored club or a globally diversified investment vehicle. The results of the study revealed a striking propensity among the supporters to allocate a substantial portion of their investment capital to their club's stock, with 70% of participants opting for this course of action and an average allocation of 60% of their portfolio. This trend persisted despite the availability of historical data indicating that Premier League club stocks had experienced a relatively modest 25% appreciation over the preceding year, a rate of return that was broadly in line with the performance of the wider market. However, the investment decisions of the supporters proved to be misguided, as the subsequent three-year period witnessed a marked underperformance of the club stocks relative to the globally diversified portfolio. On average, the club stocks trailed the diversified portfolio by a staggering 15% per annum, a differential that had profound implications for the wealth of the supporters. Those who had invested £10,000 in their club's stock at the outset of the study would have seen their holdings diminish to a mere £8,145 after three years, representing a loss of nearly 20% of their initial investment. In contrast, those who had opted for the diversified portfolio would have enjoyed a substantial appreciation of their wealth, with their holdings increasing to £11,576 over the same period. The stark divergence in outcomes between the two groups of investors can be attributed, in large part, to the influence of cognitive biases on the decision-making process of the club supporters.The home bias, which reflects an irrational preference for familiar investments, likely played a significant role in the supporters' decision to allocate a disproportionate share of their portfolio to their club's stock. This bias may have been reinforced by the emotional attachment that many supporters feel towards their club, leading them to view the stock as a tangible expression of their loyalty and support. The availability bias, which leads investors to place undue emphasis on recent and salient information, may have also contributed to the supporters' investment decisions. The 25% appreciation in Premier League club stocks over the preceding year, while relatively modest by historical standards, may have been viewed by the supporters as evidence of the clubs' financial strength and growth potential. This perception may have been reinforced by the extensive media coverage and public interest surrounding the clubs, which could have made the recent stock price gains appear more significant than they actually were. The overconfidence bias, which leads investors to overestimate their ability to make accurate predictions about the future performance of their investments, may have also played a role in the supporters' decision-making process. The emotional attachment that many supporters feel towards their club may have led them to believe that they possessed unique insights into the club's prospects, causing them to disregard objective data and analysis that might have pointed to the risks of overconcentration in a single stock. Finally, the status quo bias, which leads investors to maintain their existing investment strategies even in the face of new information or changing circumstances, may have made it difficult for the supporters to adjust their portfolios in response to the underperformance of the club stocks. Having made an initial decision to invest heavily in their club's stock, the supporters may have been reluctant to admit that they had made a mistake and take steps to reduce their exposure. The study's findings have important implications for both individual investors and policymakers. For individual investors, the results underscore the importance of maintaining a diversified portfolio that is not overly concentrated in any single stock or sector. While the emotional appeal of investing in a beloved sports team or other familiar entity may be strong, the risks of such a strategy are simply too great to ignore. For policymakers, the study highlights the need for continued efforts to promote financial literacy and investor education, particularly among vulnerable populations who may be more susceptible to the influence of cognitive biases. By empowering individuals to make informed and rational investment decisions, policymakers can help to promote the stability and efficiency of financial markets, while also protecting the wealth and well-being of individual investors. Ultimately, the study serves as a powerful reminder of the complex interplay between emotion, cognition, and decision-making in the world of finance. While the allure of investing in a cherished sports team or other beloved institution may be strong, the cold, hard reality of the market demands a more dispassionate and disciplined approach. Only by recognizing and overcoming the influence of cognitive biases can investors hope to achieve their long-term financial goals and secure their future prosperity.

Questions:
1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the first passage?
A. To provide a comprehensive overview of the various cognitive biases that can influence investment decisions
B. To argue that cognitive biases are the most significant factor contributing to market inefficiencies
C. To explore the specific ways in which cognitive biases can lead to suboptimal investment outcomes
D. To suggest that regulatory interventions are the most effective means of mitigating the impact of cognitive biases

2. According to the first passage, which of the following is a consequence of the home bias?
A. Investors may allocate a disproportionate share of their portfolio to domestic securities
B. Investors may be reluctant to sell underperforming assets
C. Investors may overestimate the likelihood of further losses during market downturns
D. Investors may attribute their investment successes to their own acumen

3. The second passage suggests that the emotional attachment of Premier League club supporters to their favored teams may have:
A. Helped them to make more rational investment decisions
B. Led them to view their club's stock as a tangible expression of their loyalty and support
C. Caused them to be more attentive to objective data and analysis about their club's financial prospects
D. Encouraged them to maintain a more diversified investment portfolio

4. Which of the following cognitive biases is most directly implicated in the tendency of investors to extrapolate recent price trends into the future?
A. Home bias
B. Status quo bias
C. Availability bias
D. Overconfidence bias

5. According to the second passage, which of the following statements about the performance of Premier League club stocks is true?
A. They outperformed the globally diversified portfolio over the three-year period following the study
B. They appreciated by 25% over the year preceding the study, which was significantly higher than the wider market
C. They underperformed the globally diversified portfolio by an average of 15% per annum over the three-year period following the study
D. They were more volatile than the globally diversified portfolio but generated similar returns over the long term

6. The second passage implies that the overconfidence bias may have led Premier League club supporters to:
A. Overestimate the potential risks associated with investing in their club's stock
B. Believe that they possessed unique insights into their club's financial prospects
C. Make investment decisions based on objective data and analysis
D. Underestimate the importance of maintaining a diversified investment portfolio

7. Which of the following best describes the main conclusion of the second passage?
A. The influence of cognitive biases on investment decisions can be entirely eliminated through investor education and regulatory interventions
B. The emotional attachment that investors feel towards a particular stock or sector is always detrimental to their financial well-being
C. Maintaining a diversified investment portfolio is the most effective way for individuals to mitigate the impact of cognitive biases on their financial outcomes
D. The underperformance of Premier League club stocks relative to the broader market is likely to persist indefinitely

8. The first passage suggests that the self-attribution bias can lead investors to:
A. Take excessive risks in their investment decisions
B. Attribute their investment successes to their own skills and knowledge
C. Overestimate the degree to which they can control the outcomes of their investments
D. Disregard the importance of diversification in their investment strategies

9. According to the second passage, the study's findings underscore the importance of:
A. Encouraging investors to allocate a significant portion of their portfolio to stocks with which they have an emotional connection
B. Promoting financial literacy and investor education, particularly among vulnerable populations
C. Discouraging individuals from investing in publicly traded sports teams or other familiar entities
D. Relying primarily on media coverage and public interest when making investment decisions

10. Which of the following statements best summarizes the overall message of both passages taken together?
A. Cognitive biases are the primary driver of market inefficiencies and investor losses
B. Regulatory interventions are the most effective means of promoting rational investment decision-making
C. Emotional attachment to a particular stock or sector is always incompatible with financial success
D. Recognizing and overcoming the influence of cognitive biases is essential for long-term investment success

1. A
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. C
6. B
7. C
8. B
9. B
10. D


3.RC
OTHER than being an ingredient of the more recherché sorts of salad, herbal tea or wine, dandelions are pretty useless plants. Or, at least, they were. But one species, a Russian variety called Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TKS), may yet make the big time. It produces molecules of rubber in its sap and if two research programmes, one going on in Germany and one in America, come to fruition, it could supplement—or even replace—the traditional rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis.

Despite the invention of synthetic rubbers, there is often no good substitute for the real thing, for nothing artificial yet matches natural rubber's resilience and strength. This is because natural-rubber molecules, the product of a stepwise synthesis by enzymes, have a more regular structure than the artificial ones made by chemical engineering. Around a fifth of an average car tyre is therefore made of natural rubber. In an aeroplane tyre that figure can be more than four-fifths. Moreover, the price of synthetic rubber is tied to that of the oil from which it is made, rendering it vulnerable to changes in the oil price. Because oil is likely to become more costly in the future, natural rubber looks an attractive alternative from an economic point of view as well as an engineering one.

Natural rubber has problems, though. Growing Hevea in the Americas is hard. A disease called leaf blight means the trees have to be spaced widely. Even in Asia, currently blight-free, planting new rubber trees often means cutting down rainforest, to general disapproval. And trees, being large, take time to grow to the point where they can yield a crop. A smaller plant that could be harvested for its rubber therefore has obvious appeal.

One proposal is to use guayule, a shrub that grows in arid regions and produces rubber that is free from allergenic proteins, which makes it useful for items such as surgical gloves. Desert plants, however, tend to be slow growing—guayule takes two years to mature. Yulex, a firm that has commercialised guayule, gets an annual crop of 400 kilograms per hectare. Hevea can yield four or five times that figure. Which is where TKS could come in. Dandelions are regarded as weeds for a reason—they are robust, fast-growing plants that can be pulled up for processing and resown easily, possibly yielding two harvests a year. If they could be turned into usable crops, they could outstrip even Hevea.

To this end, Christian Schulze Gronover of the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology in Aachen, Germany, and his colleagues have identified the genes that allow TKS to produce usable rubber. In particular, they have discovered an enzyme called polyphenoloxidase that is responsible for making its rubbery sap coagulate.

From the plant's point of view this coagulation is a good thing. The evolutionary purpose of rubber, and the reason why it has appeared independently in plants as diverse as trees, guayule and dandelions, is that it gums up the mouthparts of herbivorous insects. Human users, however, do not want it to coagulate too soon, and Dr Schulze Gronover has found a way to switch polyphenoloxidase off, using a technique called RNA interference. This intercepts and destroys the molecular messengers that carry instructions from the polyphenoloxidase gene to make the enzyme, meaning that rubber can be extracted more easily from the plant.

Meanwhile, in America Matthew Kleinhenz of Ohio State University is working on increasing the yield of rubber from TKS. Dr Kleinhenz is doing things the old-fashioned way, growing different strains of TKS, grinding up the roots (where most of the sap is found) to see which have the highest rubber content, and crossbreeding the winners. His aim is to create a plant that is both high-yielding and has roots chunky enough to be harvested mechanically by the sort of device now used to pick carrots.

Combining the two approaches—high-tech bioengineering and low-tech plant breeding—may produce that rarity in the modern world, a whole new crop species. It would also mark a step on a journey that some see as the way forward: a return to the use of plant-based products that have, briefly, been overshadowed by the transient availability of cheap oil.

1. The passage suggests that the development of TKS as a commercially viable source of natural rubber would likely have which of the following effects?
(A) A reduction in the market price of natural rubber due to increased supply
(B) A decrease in the demand for synthetic rubber as manufacturers switch to cheaper natural alternatives
(C) An increase in the number of products that use natural rubber instead of synthetic substitutes
(D) A shift in the geographic distribution of rubber production, with TKS being grown primarily in temperate regions
(E) An acceleration of the trend toward using sustainable, plant-based materials in industry

2. The author's attitude toward the research being conducted on TKS can best be described as:
(A) Skeptical about the potential for TKS to replace Hevea brasiliensis as a major source of natural rubber
(B) Optimistic about the prospects for developing TKS into a viable alternative to Hevea, while acknowledging the challenges involved
(C) Dismissive of the idea that genetic engineering could play a significant role in improving TKS as a rubber crop
(D) Unconvinced that there is a need for alternative sources of natural rubber, given the long history of successful Hevea cultivation
(E) Highly critical of the environmental impact of large-scale TKS cultivation, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas

3. According to the passage, one of the key challenges facing the cultivation of Hevea brasiliensis in the Americas is:
(A) The high cost of labor required for tapping and processing the rubber trees
(B) The lack of suitable land for establishing large-scale Hevea plantations
(C) The susceptibility of Hevea trees to a fungal disease known as leaf blight
(D) Competition from alternative cash crops that offer higher returns for farmers
(E) Government regulations that restrict the use of pesticides and other chemicals in rubber production

4. Which of the following best describes the function of the seventh paragraph in the context of the passage as a whole?
(A) It introduces a new argument that challenges the central thesis of the passage.
(B) It provides a specific example to illustrate the potential advantages of TKS over Hevea brasiliensis.
(C) It offers a counterpoint to the optimistic tone of the preceding paragraphs, highlighting the limitations of TKS as a rubber crop.
(D) It summarizes the key points made in the passage and suggests directions for future research on alternative rubber sources.
(E) It shifts the focus of the passage from the scientific aspects of TKS development to the broader economic and social implications.

5. Based on the information in the passage, which of the following factors is likely to be most important in determining whether TKS becomes a major source of natural rubber?
(A) The ability to modify TKS genetically to increase its rubber content and improve its growth characteristics
(B) The development of efficient methods for extracting and processing rubber from TKS plants
(C) The identification of TKS strains that are best suited to the growing conditions in different regions
(D) The willingness of farmers to adopt TKS as a new crop and dedicate land to its cultivation
(E) The level of funding and institutional support for research on TKS and other alternative rubber sources

6. The author's discussion of guayule in the fourth paragraph serves primarily to:
(A) Highlight the diversity of plant species that are capable of producing natural rubber
(B) Identify a key weakness of guayule as a potential alternative to Hevea brasiliensis
(C) Suggest that TKS and guayule could play complementary roles in meeting the global demand for natural rubber
(D) Argue that the success of guayule as a rubber crop depends on the development of improved processing methods
(E) Emphasize the importance of selecting rubber-producing plants that are well-suited to local growing conditions

7. The passage is most likely an excerpt from which of the following?
(A) A scientific journal article reporting the results of a specific study on TKS
(B) A government report assessing the economic viability of different natural rubber sources
(C) A popular science magazine article discussing recent developments in rubber production
(D) An industry white paper promoting investment in alternative rubber crops
(E) A book chapter exploring the history and future of natural rubber production

8. The author's concluding statement about "a return to the use of plant-based products" (last paragraph) primarily serves to:
(A) Summarize the main points made in the passage about the potential of TKS as a rubber source
(B) Introduce a new idea that is not fully explored in the passage but suggests potential areas for further research
(C) Place the development of TKS as a rubber crop in the broader context of a shift toward sustainable, bio-based materials
(D) Question the long-term viability of relying on plant-based products as alternatives to synthetic materials
(E) Argue that the move toward plant-based products is driven more by nostalgia than by sound scientific and economic reasoning

CBCBDBCC

NickPlus

Mark一下！               

xiaoyuzhou90

cr
我的答案：C；一个非洲国家，煮香蕉是主食，但是这种香蕉容易被一种害虫影响；为解决这个问题，科学家计划加入一个C蛋白到这个植物里来防止害虫侵害；改变基因让大家考虑到健康问题，但是支持者认为这个C蛋白在大米里有很多也长期被大家实用，所以不存在健康问题；---哪个为真，削弱C是safe的---C 食用太多C影响香蕉里其他营养的吸收；
我的答案：A；为了减少食堂的偷盗，学校打算用电子卡替换现金，卡上有学生的ID和照片；学校认为这样可以吓退偷盗，因为食堂的工作人员会核对卡上的照片；---哪个为真，削弱会减少食堂的盗窃---A 学校没有投入钱来培训食堂员工核对卡片的步骤；

杨翠花

CR，我的选项：CA，答案：CD
1. P：非洲cooking banana会被某种动物破坏，打算转基因，增加里面的C蛋白，动物就不会靠近去破坏。因为大米里也有C蛋白，亚洲人和非洲人吃了都没事
C：对banana基因改变的做法不会带来健康问题
削弱题，立场：增加banana里的C蛋白会带来健康问题
答案C：直接说消耗过多C担保会抑制相较里营养物质的吸收【直接说缺陷】

2. P：学校咖啡店为了防盗改成用学生校园卡，上面有学生名字 信息，店员可以用来核对
C：这样做可以降低咖啡店里的小偷偷盗的风险
削弱题，立场：换成校园卡并不能减低偷盗风险
我选A：店员没有经过训练如何验证校园卡是不是本人【推断会因为盗用别人的卡】
答案D：自动贩卖机也会接受ID 卡支付的方式【就没有店员来verify person using the card?? 所以仍然会有theft?】

杨翠花

Mark一下！               

Yeelin椰林

【CR】
1、E。A不成立，B文中没提到剂量，C不构成有害，D只是some people。
2、A。正因为不确认使用者信息，才会导致偷盗者可正常消费此卡。

qtVincent

看一下！               

longxuw

cbc

setmefree1

DAY144
CR
E C在大米中也有，说明新加入的C无害，可能是加入C过程中对其他产生了不良影响，选项C是说抑制必要营养元素的摄入，但是不会导致安全食用问题，只是没有营养而已
D 自动贩卖机是食堂的一大部分，不用检验卡片和人脸的比对

xuelin99

D144
1.削弱题
P：香蕉遭虫害，要引入一种基因C，可以有效防止虫害，但引发了大家对健康问题的担心
C：支持者认为米饭里很多C，但亚非国家吃了很多年都没有健康问题
A：转基因香蕉的C和米饭里的C不一样，削弱
B：香蕉中C的含量远高于米饭，削弱
C：食用C会妨碍香蕉中其他重要的营养物质的吸收，无关
D：亚洲一些国家对C过敏
E：引入C的过程中可能对香蕉中其他的基因产生副作用
我的答案：A  正确答案：C

2.削弱题
P：学校咖啡厅选择使用校园卡支付来代替现金支付，支付时店员可核对本人和校园卡照片
C：这可以阻止潜在的小偷
A：学校没有分配资金来培训员工核对的程序，削弱
B：丢失补办校园卡需要额外付费，无关
C：校园卡支付也可以用在其他地方，无关
D：最常用的自动售卖机也支持校园卡支付，无关
E：学校计划进一步扩大校园卡支付范围，无关
我的答案：A  正确答案：D