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Gaokao English practice questions

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Question 1Listening comprehension

Woman: The film starts at seven thirty, so let's leave home at seven. Man: Better make it a quarter to seven - the traffic is terrible on Fridays. What time will they leave home?

  1. At 7:15
  2. At 7:00
  3. At 6:45 Correct answer.
  4. At 7:30

Explanation

In English, 'a quarter to seven' means fifteen minutes before seven o'clock, that is 6:45. The phrase 'better make it' shows the man is proposing an earlier time than the woman's 7:00, not confirming hers. The film's start time of 7:30 is background information only.

Question 2Listening comprehension

Woman: Two tickets for the ten o'clock show, please. Man: Sorry, madam, the ten o'clock is sold out. The next one starts at twelve fifteen. Where does the conversation most probably take place?

  1. In a bank
  2. In a hotel
  3. In a library
  4. In a cinema Correct answer.

Explanation

Asking for 'two tickets for the ten o'clock show' points to a place that screens films and sells tickets for each showing. The reply that the show is 'sold out' and that the next one starts later confirms this setting. Libraries, banks and hotels do not handle timed ticket sales in this way.

Question 3Listening comprehension

Woman: Doctor, my son has had a fever since last night. Man: Let me take his temperature first. What is the probable relationship between the two speakers?

  1. Boss and secretary
  2. Doctor and mother Correct answer.
  3. Teacher and student
  4. Driver and passenger

Explanation

The woman addresses the man as 'Doctor' and describes her son's fever, and he replies by offering to take the child's temperature. These turn-taking signals show a medical consultation between a doctor and a parent.

Question 4Listening comprehension

Man: How much is this T-shirt? Woman: Forty dollars each, but if you take two, you pay seventy. How much will the man pay if he buys two T-shirts?

  1. 80 dollars
  2. 70 dollars Correct answer.
  3. 60 dollars
  4. 40 dollars

Explanation

Although each T-shirt costs 40 dollars, the woman states a special price of 70 dollars for two. The correct total is the pair price she offers, not the single price multiplied by two.

Question 5Listening comprehension

Woman: Take an umbrella with you. The radio says it will rain this afternoon. Man: But the sun is shining now. What will the weather be like this afternoon?

  1. Windy
  2. Rainy Correct answer.
  3. Snowy
  4. Sunny

Explanation

The woman quotes the radio forecast for the afternoon: it will rain, which is why she offers an umbrella. The man's remark about sunshine describes the present moment, not the afternoon weather.

Question 6Listening comprehension

Woman: I'll check your teeth now. Please open wide. Man: It has been aching for three days. What does the woman do?

  1. A singer
  2. A driver
  3. A cook
  4. A dentist Correct answer.

Explanation

Examining teeth and asking a patient to open wide are the typical actions of a dentist. The man's complaint about an aching tooth fits the same medical setting.

Question 7Listening comprehension

Man: I've finished the report. Woman: Good. Could you email it to the manager before noon? What will the man do next?

  1. Call the manager
  2. Write a report
  3. Have lunch
  4. Send an email Correct answer.

Explanation

The report is already finished, and the woman's request is that it be emailed to the manager, so sending the file is the next step. Writing the report and phoning the manager describe other actions that are not requested here.

Question 8Listening comprehension

Attention, passengers. Flight CA128 to Shanghai will be delayed by one hour because of heavy fog. Please wait in the departure hall. What is the announcement mainly about?

  1. A gate change
  2. A lost ticket
  3. A weather report
  4. A flight delay Correct answer.

Explanation

The key sentence states that the flight 'will be delayed by one hour'; the fog is given only as the reason. The rest of the announcement tells passengers where to wait during that delay.

Question 9Listening comprehension

Woman: I handed in my essay three days before the deadline. Man: Really? I was still typing mine at midnight last night. How does the man probably feel?

  1. Annoyed
  2. Confused
  3. Impressed Correct answer.
  4. Excited

Explanation

'Really?' followed by the sharp contrast between her early submission and his late-night typing shows admiration for her efficiency. There is no complaint or accusation in his words, so irritation is not supported.

Question 10Listening comprehension

Man: You're late again, Lucy. Woman: I'm sorry. The bus broke down and I had to walk from the bridge. Why was the woman late?

  1. She missed the bus
  2. She lost her way
  3. She got up late
  4. Her bus broke down Correct answer.

Explanation

The woman names the cause directly: the bus 'broke down', which forced her to walk part of the way. Missing a bus or oversleeping are different situations that she does not describe.

Question 11Listening comprehension

Woman: The concert hall is on the other side of town. Man: We'd better take a taxi, or we'll miss the opening song. What does the man suggest?

  1. Buying tickets online
  2. Taking a taxi Correct answer.
  3. Skipping the concert
  4. Walking to the hall

Explanation

The structure 'we'd better...' introduces a suggestion, and the action proposed is taking a taxi. His stated reason - not missing the opening song - shows he wants to arrive on time, not to cancel the outing.

Question 12Listening comprehension

Man: The train leaves at 9:15 and the journey takes two hours and forty minutes. When will the train arrive?

  1. At 11:45
  2. At 11:55 Correct answer.
  3. At 12:05
  4. At 11:15

Explanation

Adding the two whole hours to 9:15 gives 11:15, and adding the remaining forty minutes gives 11:55. Both the hours and the minutes must be carried correctly.

Question 13Listening comprehension

Woman: I'd like to borrow these three books. Man: The two novels are fine, but the dictionary is for reference only - it can't be taken out. What does the man say about the dictionary?

  1. It is too expensive
  2. It is being repaired
  3. It is sold out
  4. It can't be taken out Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase 'for reference only' means the book must be used inside the library, so it cannot be borrowed. The man accepts the two novels, which shows the restriction applies only to the dictionary.

Question 14Listening comprehension

Man: Hello, this is David from City Bikes. I'm calling about the bicycle you ordered last week. It has arrived and is ready for you to pick up. Why is the man calling?

  1. To ask about a repair
  2. To advertise a new bike
  3. To report a delivery Correct answer.
  4. To cancel an order

Explanation

The caller says the bicycle that was ordered 'has arrived', which is news that the customer can now collect it. No repair, cancellation or new sale is mentioned in the message.

Question 15Listening comprehension

Woman: I thought the ending of the film was wonderful - so unexpected. Man: Really? I found it confusing. I couldn't tell who the killer was. What does the man think of the ending?

  1. It was moving
  2. It was too long
  3. It was confusing Correct answer.
  4. It was funny

Explanation

The man uses the word 'confusing' and explains that he could not work out who the killer was, so he found it hard to follow. The woman's enthusiastic view is the opposite of his.

Question 16Listening comprehension

Man: How many students signed up for the trip? Woman: Twenty-five at first, but three changed their minds, so there is one more seat on the bus. How many students will go on the trip?

  1. 28
  2. 25
  3. 23
  4. 22 Correct answer.

Explanation

Begin with the 25 who signed up and subtract the 3 who dropped out, which leaves 22. The remark about 'one more seat' confirms that the number fell rather than rose.

Question 17Listening comprehension

Man: I've been learning Chinese for two years, but I still can't read a newspaper. Woman: That's normal. I've lived in Beijing for five years and I still look up words every day. Man: So it's not just me. What does the woman mean?

  1. The man should give up
  2. The man should work harder
  3. The man is doing fine Correct answer.
  4. Chinese is easier than English

Explanation

'That's normal' reassures the man that his difficulty is shared, and her own example shows that even long-term learners still check words. She is comforting him rather than criticising him.

Question 18Listening comprehension

Woman: Would you mind turning the music down? I'm trying to study. Man: Oh, sorry - I didn't realize it was that loud. What will the man probably do?

  1. Stop studying
  2. Lower the music Correct answer.
  3. Leave the room
  4. Turn off the light

Explanation

'Would you mind...?' is a polite request, and the man's apology shows that he accepts it, so he will reduce the volume. Turning off the light or leaving the room does not respond to what she asked.

Question 19Listening comprehension

Man: Is the museum open on Monday? Woman: It's closed on Mondays, but it opens from Tuesday to Sunday, nine to five. When can the man visit the museum?

  1. On Monday afternoon
  2. Only at weekends
  3. Every day from nine to five
  4. From Tuesday to Sunday Correct answer.

Explanation

The opening days are given as Tuesday to Sunday, with Monday as the closing day. 'Nine to five' states the daily hours rather than the days of opening.

Question 20Listening comprehension

Woman: Excuse me, I'm looking for a book on ancient Egypt, but I can't find it on this shelf. Man: Let me check the computer... It has been moved to the history section on the second floor. What will the woman do next?

  1. Go upstairs Correct answer.
  2. Pay for the book
  3. Ask for a computer
  4. Leave the library

Explanation

The book is now in the history section on the second floor, so she will go up to reach it. The computer was used by the man to check the location, not by the woman.

Question 21Listening comprehension

Man: How did your talk with the manager go? Woman: Well, he didn't say no, but he didn't say yes either. What does the woman mean?

  1. He said yes
  2. He said no
  3. He has not decided Correct answer.
  4. He was not listening

Explanation

Saying neither yes nor no means the manager gave no clear answer, so the decision is still open. This paired negative is a common way of reporting an unclear outcome.

Question 22Listening comprehension

Woman: The tickets are sixty dollars each, but students get twenty-five percent off. How much will a student pay for one ticket?

  1. 50 dollars
  2. 45 dollars Correct answer.
  3. 15 dollars
  4. 40 dollars

Explanation

A 25 percent discount means the student pays 75 percent of 60 dollars, which is 45 dollars. The discount itself, 15 dollars, is not the amount paid.

Question 23Listening comprehension

Man: I've told you three times now - the meeting starts at eight, not nine. Woman: There's no need to shout. I heard you the first time. How does the woman feel?

  1. Grateful
  2. Annoyed Correct answer.
  3. Sorry
  4. Frightened

Explanation

'There's no need to shout' is a reproach, and her claim to have heard him the first time shows irritation at being told repeatedly. She is not apologising, since she denies doing anything wrong.

Question 24Listening comprehension

Good evening, everyone. Before we begin, a reminder that the fire drill is at three tomorrow afternoon. When the alarm sounds, leave by the back stairs and go to the car park. Please do not use the lifts. What are the listeners asked to do when the alarm sounds?

  1. Take the lift
  2. Use the back stairs Correct answer.
  3. Wait in their offices
  4. Use the front stairs

Explanation

The instruction names the back stairs as the way out and explicitly forbids using the lifts. The car park is where people gather after leaving, not the route they take.

Question 25Listening comprehension

Man: I hear you're moving to Canada next month. Woman: That was the plan, but my company wants me to stay for another year. What will the woman do?

  1. Move to Canada
  2. Stay another year Correct answer.
  3. Take a long holiday
  4. Change jobs

Explanation

'That was the plan' places the move in the past as an intention that has changed, and the company's request keeps her where she is. The contrast between the old plan and the new situation is the key to the answer.

Question 26Listening comprehension

Man: Hello, I'd like to change my reservation for Saturday. I booked a table for six at seven o'clock, but two of my friends can't come after all. Woman: Certainly, sir. So that's a table for four at seven on Saturday evening. What change does the man make?

  1. He moves the booking to another day
  2. He reduces the number of guests Correct answer.
  3. He changes the time of the meal
  4. He cancels the reservation completely

Explanation

The man explains that two friends can no longer come, and the woman repeats the booking as a table for four instead of six. Every other detail she confirms - Saturday and seven o'clock - is unchanged. The only information that differs between the old and new booking is the party size, so that is the change being made.

Question 27Listening comprehension

Woman: Did you check the forecast for tomorrow? Man: Yes - sunny in the morning, but heavy rain from about four in the afternoon. Woman: Then I'd better leave the picnic blanket at home. What will the woman probably take with her?

  1. An umbrella Correct answer.
  2. A warm coat
  3. A picnic blanket
  4. A camera

Explanation

The forecast promises heavy rain in the afternoon, and the woman responds by deciding to leave the picnic blanket behind. The logical item to bring when rain is expected is something that keeps you dry. The other items are never mentioned in the exchange, so they cannot be supported by the text.

Question 28Listening comprehension

Man: Excuse me, how much is this guidebook? Woman: It's twelve pounds, and we also have maps of the old town for three pounds each. Man: I'll take the guidebook, then, and pay by card. Where does the conversation most probably take place?

  1. In a bookshop Correct answer.
  2. In a library
  3. In a bank
  4. In a post office

Explanation

The speakers discuss the price of a guidebook and of maps, and the man decides to buy one and pay by card. Items being priced and sold over a counter point to a retail setting that stocks books and maps. The place must therefore be a shop that sells reading material.

Question 29Listening comprehension

Man: The film starts at a quarter to eight and runs for two hours and fifteen minutes. Woman: So we'll be out at ten, then - just in time for the last bus. When does the film end?

  1. At a quarter to ten
  2. At half past nine
  3. At ten o'clock Correct answer.
  4. At nine o'clock

Explanation

The start time is 7:45 and the running time is two hours and fifteen minutes. Adding the two hours brings the clock to 9:45, and adding the remaining fifteen minutes brings it to 10:00. The woman's own conclusion confirms this result, so the answer must match her figure rather than a rounded guess.

Question 30Listening comprehension

Woman: Take one tablet three times a day, and always after a meal. Man: And before breakfast? Woman: No - never on an empty stomach. What does the woman say about the tablets?

  1. They must be taken only once a day
  2. They must be taken after meals Correct answer.
  3. They must be taken together with milk
  4. They must be taken before meals

Explanation

The instruction is given twice: the tablets are to be taken after a meal, and never on an empty stomach. The man's question about before breakfast is answered with a clear refusal. Instructions about dosage must be taken literally, so the timing relative to food is the key detail.

Question 31Listening comprehension

Man: Good morning, this is Peter Hale. I have an interview with Ms. Chen at eleven tomorrow, but my train has been cancelled. Woman: I see. Would two o'clock in the afternoon suit you instead? Why is the man calling?

  1. To complain about a delay
  2. To reschedule an interview Correct answer.
  3. To confirm a meeting room
  4. To ask about a train timetable

Explanation

The man states the time of his interview, explains that his train is cancelled, and the woman immediately offers a later hour. The purpose of a call is shown by what the other speaker does in response. Since the outcome is a new time for the interview, the call is about changing that appointment.

Question 32Listening comprehension

Radio announcer: The main road into the city is blocked after an accident near the station. Drivers heading for the airport should turn off at the bridge and follow the river road, which will add about ten minutes to the journey. What does the announcer advise airport drivers to do?

  1. Wait until the road reopens
  2. Leave their cars at the bridge
  3. Use the road beside the river Correct answer.
  4. Take the train instead

Explanation

The announcer names the blocked road, then gives a direct instruction: turn off at the bridge and follow the river road. Traffic advice of this kind always pairs a problem with an alternative route. The alternative named is the road running along the river, not any other means of travel.

Question 33Listening comprehension

Woman: Check-out is at eleven, but my flight isn't until six in the evening. Man: That's no problem - you can leave your bags with us at no charge and collect them whenever you like. What does the man offer to do?

  1. Call a taxi for her
  2. Extend her stay for free
  3. Change her room for her
  4. Keep her luggage for her Correct answer.

Explanation

The woman's problem is the long gap between check-out and her flight. The man's solution is to hold her bags free of charge until she returns for them. An offer is identified by the service it provides, and here the service concerns storing belongings rather than transport or accommodation.

Question 34Listening comprehension

Woman: Don't forget to pick up the keys from the agency before you go to the flat. Man: I know - I'll sign the contract at the office first, then get the keys, and drop the boxes off in the afternoon. What will the man do first?

  1. Move the boxes
  2. Collect the keys
  3. Sign the contract Correct answer.
  4. Visit the flat

Explanation

The man lists three actions and marks the order with 'first', 'then' and 'in the afternoon'. The word 'first' is the signal that identifies the earliest action in the sequence. Everything else he mentions comes later in his own plan.

Question 35Listening comprehension

Man: So how was the cooking course? Woman: Well, the teacher certainly knows her subject. But three hours of chopping onions wasn't quite what I had in mind. What does the woman mean?

  1. She thought the teacher was poorly prepared
  2. She wants to take another course
  3. She was disappointed with the course Correct answer.
  4. She found the course very useful

Explanation

The woman first gives a guarded compliment about the teacher, then contrasts it with 'wasn't quite what I had in mind'. That phrase signals that her expectations were not met. Praise for one element combined with a complaint about the experience as a whole points to disappointment overall.

Question 36Listening comprehension

Man: I've lost my student card and the exam is on Friday. Woman: Don't worry - go to the office with a passport photo and they'll print a new one while you wait. What does the woman advise the man to do?

  1. Go to the office with a photo Correct answer.
  2. Report the loss to the police
  3. Wait until after the exam
  4. Borrow a card from a classmate

Explanation

The woman's advice has two parts: the place to go and what to bring. She names the office and a passport photo, and adds that a new card can be printed on the spot. Advice questions are answered by following the speaker's instruction rather than by inventing a sensible-sounding alternative.

Question 37Listening comprehension

Woman: I've read your proposal twice, and I still can't see where the money is coming from. Man: I was hoping we could go through the figures later, once you've seen the full budget. What does the man imply?

  1. He has lost the budget figures
  2. The proposal must be rewritten
  3. The budget explains the costs Correct answer.
  4. She has misunderstood his idea

Explanation

The woman's objection is that the funding is unclear, and the man points her to a document she has not yet seen. By saying the figures will be clearer once she has seen the full budget, he suggests the answer already exists there. An implication is what the speaker expects to follow from his words, not a proposal to start again.

Question 38Listening comprehension

Man: The manager says we should finish the whole report by Friday. Woman: Oh, wonderful. And I suppose we're also expected to work through the weekend? What does the woman mean?

  1. She is pleased with the new plan
  2. The deadline is unreasonable Correct answer.
  3. She wants to work this weekend
  4. She has finished the report already

Explanation

The word 'wonderful' is delivered in a context that contradicts it, and the follow-up question about working through the weekend is clearly ironic. Tone and irony reverse the surface meaning of a positive word. What she actually communicates is that the Friday deadline is far too demanding.

Question 39Listening comprehension

Woman: The direct train gets in at nine, but the ticket is eighty pounds. Man: If we take the coach at six, we'd arrive at half past nine for only twenty-five pounds and still be in time for the ten o'clock meeting. What does the man suggest?

  1. Cancelling the meeting
  2. Buying the direct train ticket
  3. Taking the coach Correct answer.
  4. Leaving after ten o'clock

Explanation

The man compares two journeys and stresses that the coach is far cheaper and still arrives before the meeting. When a speaker sets out an alternative with clear advantages and no stated drawback, that alternative is being recommended. His suggestion is therefore the cheaper form of transport.

Question 40Listening comprehension

Announcement: Good morning, Year 10. The geography field trip leaves at eight on Thursday from the side gate. Bring a packed lunch and wear strong shoes; we will provide the maps and the clipboards. If it rains, the trip will still go ahead. What should the students bring with them?

  1. Maps and clipboards
  2. Lunch and strong shoes Correct answer.
  3. A raincoat and boots
  4. Money for the bus

Explanation

The announcer separates what students must supply from what the school supplies. The maps and clipboards are explicitly provided, while the lunch and strong shoes are listed as things to bring. The remark about rain is only there to say the trip will not be cancelled, not to add to the packing list.

Question 41Reading comprehension (multiple-choice passages)

Starting next month, the Riverside Library will stay open until 10 p.m. on weekdays, three hours later than before. The change follows a survey in which 68 percent of local students said they studied best after dinner. Library staff will work in two shifts, and the café on the ground floor will remain open for the whole evening. What is the passage mainly about?

  1. Why students prefer to study at night rather than during the day
  2. A library changes its opening hours Correct answer.
  3. The history of the Riverside Library building
  4. How a survey of local residents was carried out

Explanation

A main-idea question asks for the point that covers the whole passage, not one supporting detail. Every sentence here serves the news that the library is extending its weekday hours. The survey and the café are mentioned only as background and consequence.

Question 42Reading comprehension (multiple-choice passages)

In a recent experiment, researchers placed a piece of food at the bottom of a narrow tube. Crows that had never seen the task before picked up a straight stick, bent it with their feet, and fished the food out. When the same birds were later given a pre-bent stick, most ignored it at first. What did the untrained crows do in the experiment?

  1. They refused to touch the straight stick at all
  2. They bent a stick to reach the food Correct answer.
  3. They copied the behaviour of trained birds nearby
  4. They gave up and waited for help

Explanation

A detail question is answered by locating the sentence that reports the action directly. The passage states that the crows 'picked up a straight stick, bent it with their feet, and fished the food out'. No other option is supported by the text.

Question 43Reading comprehension (multiple-choice passages)

Mr. Okafor has run the corner shop for forty years. He is reluctant to sell it, he says, not because the offers are low but because he knows every customer by name. Which word is closest in meaning to "reluctant"?

  1. proud
  2. unwilling Correct answer.
  3. eager
  4. unable

Explanation

A vocabulary-in-context item is solved by substituting each option into the sentence and checking it against the surrounding clues. Mr. Okafor hesitates to sell despite good offers, which shows he does not want to. 'Unwilling' matches that meaning exactly.

Question 44Reading comprehension (multiple-choice passages)

The train was due at six. By half past six, Amina had read the timetable board three times and begun to pace the platform. When the announcement finally came, it was not the train's arrival but a change of platform that sent everyone hurrying through the underpass. What can be inferred about Amina?

  1. She works at the station as a guard
  2. She has missed her train this evening
  3. She has waited a long while Correct answer.
  4. She is travelling abroad for the first time

Explanation

An inference must follow from details in the text rather than from general knowledge. Reading the board three times and pacing suggest impatience, and the train due at six has still not arrived at half past six. Together these details support the conclusion that she has been waiting a considerable time.

Question 45Reading comprehension (multiple-choice passages)

The old bridge was closed in March for repairs. Engineers had expected the work to take six weeks, but it stretched on until August, forcing commuters to take a long detour. What does the word "it" in the second sentence refer to?

  1. The long detour
  2. The old bridge
  3. The March closure
  4. The repair work Correct answer.

Explanation

To resolve a pronoun, look at the nearest grammatically suitable noun and test it for sense. The verb 'stretched on' describes something that can last longer than expected, which fits the work rather than the bridge itself. The detour is a consequence of the delay, not its cause.

Question 46Reading comprehension (multiple-choice passages)

Few people would call the bicycle an invention of the digital age, yet cities that once removed their bike lanes are now rebuilding them at great cost. The lesson is not that planners were wrong to look forward, but that they looked forward in only one direction. What is the author's attitude toward the earlier removal of bike lanes?

  1. Supportive
  2. Critical Correct answer.
  3. Indifferent
  4. Puzzled

Explanation

Attitude is revealed by evaluative wording and by the point the writer builds toward. The word 'lesson' and the remark that planners 'looked forward in only one direction' present the removal as a mistake. The author is therefore critical of it.

Question 47Reading comprehension (multiple-choice passages)

Lena Marsh's new novel arrives with a cover full of praise, and for the first hundred pages it earns every word. What follows is harder to forgive: three chapters in which the plot stops entirely so that the author can explain what she has already shown. Marsh's admirers will call this depth. Others may call it something else. The phrase "something else" most likely suggests that the author finds these chapters

  1. beautifully written
  2. too brief
  3. confusing
  4. unnecessary Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase is ironic, so its meaning must be recovered from the clause before it. The complaint is that the plot 'stops entirely' while the author 'explains what she has already shown', which describes repetition rather than confusion. A polite alternative word for such repetition is that the chapters are unnecessary.

Question 48Reading comprehension (multiple-choice passages)

The museum's new wing opens on Saturday. Entry is free for anyone under eighteen, and on the first Sunday of each month the whole building opens an hour early for visitors who prefer a quiet space. According to the passage, who can enter the new wing without paying?

  1. Local schoolchildren who study art
  2. Visitors under eighteen Correct answer.
  3. Museum members
  4. Everyone who arrives on Saturday

Explanation

This is a straightforward detail question: find the clause that states the condition for free entry. The passage says entry is free 'for anyone under eighteen'. Age is the only condition given, so any answer adding another requirement is wrong.

Question 49Reading comprehension (multiple-choice passages)

For years, sleep researchers advised a fixed eight hours. Recent work suggests something different: what matters most is going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time each day, even if the total is closer to seven hours. Which statement best expresses the main idea?

  1. Eight hours is the ideal for adults
  2. A steady routine matters most Correct answer.
  3. Sleep research has produced no useful findings
  4. Seven hours is better than eight

Explanation

The main idea is carried by the contrast the passage sets up between old and new advice. The phrase 'what matters most' names the central claim, namely regularity of timing. The number of hours appears only as a secondary point.

Question 50Reading comprehension (multiple-choice passages)

The team's results were, by their own account, "modest". The sample was small, the effect vanished when two outliers were removed, and the authors themselves note that a larger trial is needed. Yet the press release described the finding as a "breakthrough". Which statement best describes the relationship between the results and the press release?

  1. The press release rejects the study
  2. The results fully justify the press release
  3. The results support the authors' own doubts
  4. The press release overstates the results Correct answer.

Explanation

The question asks about a contrast, so the answer must capture the gap between the cautious wording of the study and the enthusiastic wording of the release. The word 'Yet' signals that the release goes further than the evidence allows. 'Overstates' names that gap precisely.