Reading Passage 1
The Psychology of Procrastination
Procrastination is commonly defined as the voluntary delay of an intended course of action despite expecting to be worse off for the delay. While often regarded as a simple problem of poor time management, psychologists increasingly view procrastination as a complex failure of self-regulation. Research suggests that nearly everyone procrastinates occasionally, but around 20% of adults identify themselves as chronic procrastinators.
One explanation for procrastination is rooted in emotional regulation rather than laziness. When a task evokes negative emotions such as anxiety, boredom, or self-doubt, individuals may postpone it to avoid discomfort. This avoidance provides short-term emotional relief, even though it leads to long-term negative consequences such as stress and reduced performance.
Another influential theory is Temporal Motivation Theory, which argues that motivation is affected by four factors: expectancy, value, impulsiveness, and time. Tasks with distant deadlines tend to feel less urgent, making procrastination more likely. Conversely, as deadlines approach, motivation increases sharply, explaining why many people work more efficiently under pressure.
Recent studies using brain imaging suggest that procrastination may also be linked to differences in brain structure. Individuals who procrastinate frequently show weaker connections between the prefrontal cortex, which governs planning and decision-making, and the limbic system, which processes emotions. This imbalance makes it harder to resist immediate gratification.
Despite its negative reputation, some researchers argue that procrastination can occasionally foster creativity. Delaying tasks may allow ideas to incubate subconsciously, leading to more innovative solutions. However, this benefit appears limited to moderate procrastinators and does not apply to those who delay tasks excessively.
Questions 1–7
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage.
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Procrastination is now seen as a problem of _________ rather than time management.
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About _________ of adults are chronic procrastinators.
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Avoiding tasks can temporarily reduce negative _________.
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Temporal Motivation Theory includes expectancy, value, impulsiveness, and _________.
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Motivation tends to increase when _________ get closer.
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Brain scans show weaker connections involving the _________ cortex.
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Moderate procrastination may encourage _________ thinking.
Reading Passage 2
Urban Farming and the Future of Food
Urban farming refers to the cultivation of crops and livestock within cities and towns. Once dismissed as a marginal activity, it is now gaining attention as a potential solution to food insecurity, environmental degradation, and social inequality. Urban farms range from small rooftop gardens to large-scale vertical farms using hydroponic systems.
One of the main advantages of urban farming is its ability to shorten food supply chains. Produce grown close to consumers requires less transportation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and food spoilage. In addition, urban farms can provide fresh produce in “food deserts,” areas where residents lack access to affordable and nutritious food.
However, critics argue that urban farming cannot replace conventional agriculture due to space limitations. Cities simply do not have enough land to produce staple crops such as wheat or rice on a meaningful scale. Furthermore, start-up costs for high-tech urban farms can be prohibitively expensive.
Despite these challenges, urban farming offers significant social benefits. Community gardens have been shown to strengthen neighborhood ties, improve mental health, and provide educational opportunities. In some cities, local governments have begun supporting urban agriculture through policy reforms and financial incentives.
Technological innovation may further expand the potential of urban farming. Advances in LED lighting, automated irrigation, and data-driven monitoring systems are increasing yields while reducing water and energy consumption. As cities continue to grow, proponents argue that integrating food production into urban planning will become increasingly important.
Questions 8–14
Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage?
Write:
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TRUE if the statement agrees
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FALSE if the statement contradicts
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NOT GIVEN if there is no information
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Urban farming was always viewed as an important food source.
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Shorter supply chains reduce environmental impact.
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Urban farms can fully replace rural agriculture.
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High initial costs are a barrier to some urban farms.
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Community gardens improve social relationships.
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Governments universally oppose urban agriculture.
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Technology is increasing efficiency in urban farming.
Reading Passage 3
The Limits of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) has made remarkable progress in recent decades, particularly in areas such as image recognition, language translation, and game-playing. These advances have led some commentators to predict the imminent arrival of artificial general intelligence (AGI)—machines capable of performing any intellectual task that a human can do. However, many researchers argue that such expectations are overly optimistic.
One major limitation of current AI systems is their reliance on vast amounts of data. Machine learning models excel at identifying patterns in data but struggle when faced with novel situations that differ significantly from their training sets. Humans, by contrast, can apply abstract reasoning and common sense to unfamiliar problems.
Another challenge lies in explainability. Many advanced AI systems operate as “black boxes,” producing outputs without transparent reasoning processes. This lack of interpretability raises ethical and practical concerns, especially in high-stakes fields such as healthcare and criminal justice.
AI also lacks genuine understanding and consciousness. While machines can simulate aspects of human intelligence, they do not possess self-awareness or emotional experience. Philosophers debate whether consciousness can ever emerge from computation alone, but there is currently no scientific consensus.
Finally, the development of AGI faces not only technical hurdles but also social and ethical ones. Ensuring that advanced AI systems align with human values is a complex problem that extends beyond engineering. As a result, many experts caution against assuming that AGI will emerge in the near future.
Questions 15–26
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
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The passage suggests that predictions about AGI are
A. universally accepted
B. overly pessimistic
C. possibly unrealistic
D. scientifically proven -
Current AI systems struggle most with
A. pattern recognition
B. data storage
C. unfamiliar situations
D. logical rules -
The term “black boxes” refers to AI systems that
A. are physically inaccessible
B. lack transparency
C. use outdated data
D. operate independently -
According to the passage, AI lacks
A. speed and accuracy
B. access to data
C. abstract reasoning
D. consciousness -
Ethical concerns about AI are especially serious in
A. entertainment
B. education
C. healthcare
D. marketing -
The author’s overall attitude toward AGI is
A. enthusiastic
B. cautious
C. dismissive
D. indifferent
Questions 27–40
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage.
AI has advanced rapidly in tasks like image recognition and translation, but it still depends heavily on large _________ (27). Unlike humans, AI has difficulty dealing with _________ situations (28). Another issue is the lack of _________ (29), which creates ethical problems. Machines also lack true understanding and _________ (30). In addition to technical barriers, the creation of AGI involves serious _________ challenges (31).
✅ Answer Key
1–7
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self-regulation
-
20%
-
emotions
-
time
-
deadlines
-
prefrontal
-
creative
8–14
8. FALSE
9. TRUE
10. FALSE
11. TRUE
12. TRUE
13. FALSE
14. TRUE
15–20
15. C
16. C
17. B
18. D
19. C
20. B
27–31
27. data
28. novel
29. explainability
30. consciousness
31. ethical
