2013年12月大学英语六级考试真题试题二 - 备考族
2013年12月英语六级阅读真题及答案(卷二)
2013年12月英语六级阅读真题及答案(卷二)Part3 Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before asking your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.To get a sense of how women have progressed in science, take a quick tour of the physics department at the University of California, Berkeley. This is a storied place, the 36 of some of the most important discoveries in modern science--- starting with Ernest Lawrence’s invention of the cyclotron (回旋加速器)in 1931.A generation ago, female faces were 37 and, even today, visitors walking through the first floor of LeConte Hall will see a full corridor of exhibits 38 the many distinguished physicists who made history here, 39 all of them white males.But climb up to the third floor and you’ll see a 40 display. There, among the photos of current faculty members and students, are portraits of the 41 head of the department, Marjorie Shapiro, and four other women whose research 42 everything from the mechanics of the universe to the smallest particles of matter.A sixth woman was hired just two weeks ago. Althoughthey're still only about 10 percent of the physics faculty, women are clearly a presence here. And the real 43 may be in the smaller photos to the right: graduate and undergraduate students, about 20 percent of them female. Every year Berkeley sends its fresh female physics PhDs to the country's top universities. That makes Shapiro optimistic, but also 44 "I believe things are getting better," she says, "but they're not getting better as 45 as I would like."注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
2013年12月英语四级真题及答案 (2)
2013年12月英语四级真题及答案一、听力部分Section AA)Move the furniture.B)It is time to pay the rent.C)At the town hall.A)Go abroad.B)He has to do some tasks.A)The woman learned a lot from the trip.C)She prefers reading in silence.A)She doesn’t know where her purse is.B)He’s not sure where his rent check is.C)At a university.Section BB)It is a difficult maze.C)They are almost all identical.A)By writing messages on the walls.C)To confuse predators.D)They could feel it in their bodies.C)They did not notice any difference.B)They use landmarks to find food.C)Birds were attracted to the sound.A)They can guide the whales’ migration.D)She receives the most love from her children. Section CA)The world is full of wonders.C)The photographer’s perseverance.B)It is his most valuable treasure.C)By planning ahead.A)It can make the world a better place.二、阅读部分Passage OneA)To arrange interviews with important people.B)Their personal qualities may have beenoverlooked.D)To discover your own strong points.D) A wide range of skills.C)Set clear goals.Passage TwoB)Expectations for women’s appearances.D)Advertising is everywhere in people’s dailylives.A)How to manipulate women’s insecurities.C)Changing people’s perception of beauty.B)They are knowledgeable about a variety oftopics.Passage ThreeA)They were the first private schools in Britain.D)Those from wealthy families aspired to begentlemen.C)Discipline their bodies and minds.D)English gentlemen could set a good example.D)Influenced by their economic background. Passage FourA)It is often the small things that matter most.B)Men and women respond differently to stress.C)Tenderness is essential for a happyrelationship.D)Show affection and empathy.B)Prolonged stress can weaken the immunesystem.三、写作部分短文写作Directions: For this part, you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition based on the picture below. You should write at least 120 words, and base your composition on the outline (given in Chinese) below:写作要点:1. 描述图片内容:一辆大货车卡住了一个过道,不能向前行; 2. 分析产生的原因:大货车太大,通道太窄,驾驶员没有及时发现状况; 3. 谈谈你的看法:如何避免这种情况:修建更宽敞的通道、提高驾驶员的观察技巧等。
[全]2013年12月大学英语四级考试真题及答案(汇总共三套)--第二套
2013年12月大学英语四级考试真题(二)Part 1 writin g (30 minute s)Direct ions:For this part, you are allowe d 30 minute s to write a shortessay b asedon the pictur e below. You should startyour essaywith a briefaccoun t of the increa singuse of the mobile phonein people’s life and then explai n the conse q u ence s of overus ing it.You should writeat leastIW wordsbut no more than 180 words .People are crossi ng the street lookin g at theircell phones and usingwalki n g sticks in orderto see.Part 2 Listen ing Compre hensi on (30 minute s)Section ADirect ions: In this sectio n, you will hear 8 shortconver satio ns and 2 long conver satio ns. At the end of each conver satio n, one or more questi ons will be asked a boutwhat was said. Both the conver satio n and the questi ons will be spoken only once. Aftereach questi on therewill be a pause. During the pause,you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide whichthe best answer is. Then mark the corres pondi ng letter o" Answer Sheet 1 with a single line throug h the centr e.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2013年12月英语六级真题(含答案共3套)
2013 年 12 月大学英语六级考试真题(第 1 套)Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions orunfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Youshould decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with asingle line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.Among the government’ s most interesting reports is one that estimates what parents spend ontheir children. Not surprisingly, the costs are steep. For a middle-class, husband-and-wife family(average pretax income in 2009: $76,250), spending per child is about $12,000 a year. Withinflation the family’ s spending on a child will total $286,050 by. age 17The dry statistics ought to inform the ongoing deficit debate, because a budget is not just acatalog of programs and taxes. It reflects a society’ s priorities and values. Our society does not despite rhetoric (说辞 ) to the contrary — put much value on raising children. Present budgetpolicies tax parents heavily to support the elderly. Meanwhile, tax breaks for children are modest. Ifdeficit reduction aggravates these biases, more Americans may choose not to have children or tohave fewer children. Down that path lies economic decline.have stagnant (萧条的 ) or shrinking markets for goods and services. With older populations,theyresist change. To stabilize its population —discounting immigration — women must have anaverage of two children. That’ s a fertility2rate.0.Manyof countries with struggling economiesare well below that.Though having a child is a deeply personal decision, it ’shaped by culture, religion,economics, and government policy.“ Noa onegoodhanswer” asto why fertility varies amongcountries, says sociologist Andrew Cherlin of The Johns Hopkins University.Eroding religiousbelief in Europe may partly explain lowered birthrates. In Japan young women may be rebellingagainst their mothers ’isolated lives of child rearing. General optimism and pessimism count.Hopefulness fueled Ameri ca ’ babys boom.After the Soviet Union ’ collapse, says Cherlin,“ anxiety for the future” depressed birthratesRussiaandin Eastern Europe.the number of family workers and providing supports for parents in their old age. In wealthy societies,the logic often reverses. Government now supports the elderly, diminishing the need forchildren. By some studies, the safety nets for retirees have reduced fertility rates by 0.5 children inthe United States and almost 1.0 in Western Europe, reports economist Robert Stein in the journalNational Affairs. Similarly, some couples don ’ t have children because they don’ t want to sacrificetheir own lifestyles to the lime and expense of a family.Young Americans already face a bleak labor market that cannot instill (注入 ) confidenceabout having children. Piling on higher t axes won ’ t help,“ If higher taxes make it more expensiveto raise children,” says Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute,“ peopltwice about having another child.t seems” likeTha common sense, despite the multiple influences on becoming parents.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
2013年12月大学英语六级真题试卷(二)(题后含答案及解析)
2013年12月大学英语六级真题试卷(二)(题后含答案及解析)题型有:1. Writing 2. Listening Comprehension 3. 4. Reading Comprehension 5. TranslationPart I Writing1.For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay about the impact of the information explosion by referring to the saying “A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention. “ You can give examples to illustrate your point and then explain what you can do to avoid being distracted by irrelevant information. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.正确答案:Ways to Get Over Information Explosion As a popular saying goes, “A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.”Nowadays we are in an era of information explosion. More and more people complain that they are lost in the information age. Admittedly, no one can deny the fact that the new information age has brought us so much convenience that we are allowed to get plenty of information just with a simple click sitting in front of the computers. Nevertheless, we are also confused, annoyed, distracted and upset by an incredibly large quantity of information. For example, when searching for something online, people are easily misguided by irrelevant information and forget their original plan. Besides, some information often turns out to be useless. Therefore, it may be time-consuming and troublesome to search information online. Then what can we do to avoid being distracted by irrelevant information? Here are some useful tips: Firstly, make a list of what you really want before your searching. You can avoid some appealing, yet irrelevant information by this way. Then, find some credible and professional sources or websites and then save and categorize them. In this case, you can easily leave some advertisements and useless information behind.Part II Listening ComprehensionSection A听力原文:W: Has my order arrived yet? I have been expecting it last week. M: I called the company this morning. They had some labor problems, so your order will be shipped late. It should be here by the end of the week. Q: What has caused the delay of the shipment?2.A.Labor problems.B.Weather conditions.C.An error in the order.D.Misplacing of goods.正确答案:A解析:事实细节题。
2013年12月大学英语六级考试听力真题
2013年12月大学英语六级考试听力真题2013年12月大学英语六级考试Part ⅡListening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.1.A) The rock band needs more hours of practice.B) The rock band is going to play here for a month.C) He appr eciates the woman’s help with the band.D) Their hard work has resulted in a big success.2.A) Travel overseas on his own.B) Join a package tour to Mexico.C) Go on a diving tour in Europe.D) Add 300 dollars to his budget.3.A) Something unexpected has happened.B) In case some problem should occur.C) To avoid more work later on.D) To make better preparations.4.A) The man is going to renew his membership in a fitnesscenter.B) The woman asked for a free pass to try out the facilities.C) The man can try out the facilities before he becomes a member.D) The woman can give the man a discount if he joins the club now.5.A) He is not fit to study science.B) He is not afraid of challenge.C) He is worried about the test.D) He is going to drop the physics course.6.A) Buy something special for Gary.C) Pay for part of the picnic food.B) Invite Gary’s family to dinner.D) Take some food to the picnic.7.A) A labor dispute at a bus company.B) Bus drivers’ working conditions.C) A corporate takeover.D) Public transportation.8.A) Their sales overseas.B) The bank statement.C) The check just deposited.D) The payment for an order.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A) A private secretary.C) A shop assistant.B) A hotel receptionist.D) A sales manager.10.A) Appearance.B) Intelligence.C) Voice.D) Manners.11.A) Arrange one more interview.B) Report the matter to their boss.C) Offer the job to David Wallace.D) Hire Barber Jones on a trial basis.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A) He invented the refrigerator.B) He patented his first invention.C) He was admitted to university.D) He got a degree in Mathematics.13.A) He started to work on refrigeration.B) He became a professor of Mathematics.C) He fell in love with Natasha Willoughby.D) He distinguished himself in low temperature physics.14.A) Finding the true nature of subatomic particles.B) Their discovery of the laws of cause and effect.C) Laying the foundations of modern mathematics.D) Their work on very high frequency radio waves.15.A) To have a three-week holiday.C) To patent his inventions.B) To spend his remaining years.D) To teach at a university.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A) They have become a headache to the community.B) They have caused lots of damage to crops.C) They have become a tourist attraction.D) They have fallen prey to wolves.17.A) To cheer up the hunters.B) To celebrate their victory.C) To alert the deer.D) To scare the wolves.18.A) They would help to spread a fatal disease.B) They would endanger domestic animals.C) They would eventually kill off the deer.D) They would pose a threat to the children.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) She is a tourist guide.B) She is an interpreter.C) She is a domestic servant.D) She is from the royal family.20.A) It was frequently visited by heads of state.B) It is furnished like one in a royal palace.C) It was used by the family to hold dinner parties.D) It is situated at the foot of a beautiful mountain.21.A) It is elaborately decorated.B) It is very big, with only six slim legs.C) It has survived some 2,000 years.D) It is shaped like an ancient Spanish boat.22.A) They are interesting to look at.B) They have lost some of their legs.C) They do not match the oval table at all.D) They are uncomfortable to sit in for long.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23.A) It is a disease very difficult to diagnose.B) It destroys the patient’s ability to think.C) It is an uncommon infectious disease.D) It is the biggest crippler of young adults.24.A) Hurry up and live life.B) Search for the best cure.C) Write a book about her life.D) Exercise more and work harder.25.A) Aggressive.B) Sophisticated.C) Adventurous.D) Self-centered.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.It’s difficult to estimate the number of youngsters involved in home schooling, where children are not sent to school and receive their formal education from one or both parents. (26) and court decisions have made it legally possible in most states for parents to educate their children at home, and each year more people take advantage of that opportunity. Some states require parents or a home tutor to meet teacher certification standards, and many require parents to complete legal forms to verify that their children are receiving (27) in state approved curricula.Supporters of home educati on claim that it’s less expensive and far more (28) than mass public education. Moreover, they cite several advantages: alleviation of school overcrowding,strengthened family relationships, lower (29) rates, the fact that students are allowed to learn at their own rate, increased (30) , higher standardized test scores, and reduced (31) problems.Critics of the home schooling movement (32) that it creates as many problems as it solves. They acknowledge that, in a few cases, home schooling offers educational opportunities superior to those found in most public schools, but few parents can provide such educational advantages. Some parents who withdraw their children from the schools (33) home schooling have an inadequate educational background and insufficient formal training to provide a satisfactory education for their children. Typically, parents have fewer technological resources (34) than do schools. However, the relatively inexpensive computer technology that is readily available today is causing some to challenge the notion that home schooling is in any way (35) any highly structured classroom education.。
2013年12月大学英语四级真题试卷第二套+详细解答+听力原文
2013年12月大学英语四级真题试卷(二)全部题型 1.Writing2.Listening Comprehension3. 4.Reading Com prehension5.TranslationPart I Writing1.For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write a short essay based on the picture below.You should start your essay with a brief account of the increasing use of the mobile phone in people's life and then explain the consequences of overusing it.You should write at least120words but no more than180words.People are crossing the street looking at their cell phones and using walking sticks in order to see.Part II Listening ComprehensionSection A2.A.Go to a place he has visited.B.Make her own arrangements.C.Consult a travel agent.D.Join in a package tour.3.A.They are on a long trip by car.B.They are stuck in a traffic jam.C.They are used to getting up early.D.They are tired of eating out at night.4.A.He is a person difficult to deal with.B.He dislikes any formal gathering.C.He is unwilling to speak in public.D.He often keeps a distance from others.5.A.Work in another department.B.Pursue further education.C.Recruit graduate students.D.Take an administrative job.6.A.He would not be available to start the job in time. B.He is not quite qualified for the art director position. C.He would like to leave some more time for himself.D.He will get his application letter ready before May1.7.A.Cleaner.B.Mechanic.C.Porter.D.Salesman.8.A.Request one or two roommates to do the cleaning.B.Help Laura with her term paper due this weekend. C.Get Laura to clean the apartment herself this time. D.Ask Laura to put off the cleaning until another week. 9.A.A problem caused by the construction. B.An accident that occurred on the bridge.C.The building project they are working on. D.The public transportation conditions.10.A.To look for a job as a salesperson. B.To have a talk with Miss Thompson.C.To place an order for some products.D.To complain about a faulty appliance.11.A.The person in charge is not in the office. B.The supplies are out of stock for the moment. C.They failed to reach an agreement on the price. D.The company is re-cataloguing the items.12.A.0743,12536extension15.B.0734,21653extension51.C.0734,38750extension15.D.0743,62135extension51.13.A.Since he found a girlfriend.B.Since he took to heavy smoking.C.Since he began to exercise regularly.D.Since he started to live on his own.14.A.He is getting too fat.B.He smokes too much.C.He doesn't eat vegetables.D.He doesn't look well at all.15.A.They are overweight for their age.B.They are respectful to their parents.C.They are still in their early twenties.D.They dislike doing physical exercise.16.A.To quit smoking.B.To reduce his weight.C.To find a girlfriend.D.To follow her advice.Section B17.A.They have destroyed several small towns. B.They will soon spread to San Francisco.C.They have injured many residents.D.They are burning out of control.18.A.They have been hospitalized.B.They have got skin problems.C.They were Choked by the thick smoke.D.They were poisoned by the burning chemicals.19.A.It failed because of a sudden rocket explosion. B.It has been re-scheduled for a midday takeoff.C.It has been canceled due to technical problems.D.It was delayed for eleven hours and thirty minutes.A.They made frequent long-distance calls to each other. B.They illegally used government computers in New Jersey. C.They were found to be smarter than computer specialists. D.They were arrested for stealing government information.21.A.Peaceful.B.Considerate.C.Generous.D.Cooperative.22.A.Someone dumped the clothes left in the washer and dryer. B.Someone broke the washer and dryer by overloading them. C.Mindy Lance's laundry blocked the way to the laundry room. D.Mindy Lance threatened to take revenge On her neighbors.23.A.Asking the neighborhood committee for help. B.Limiting the amount of laundry for each wash.C.Informing the building manager of the matter.D.Installing a few more washers and dryers.24.A.She is both a popular and highly respected author. B.She is the most loved African novelist of all times.C.She is the most influential author since the1930's.D.She is the first writer to focus on the fate of slaves.25.A.The Book Critics Circle Award.B.The Nobel Prize for literature.C.The Pulitzer Prize for fiction.D.The National Book Award.A.She is a relative of Morrison's.B.She is a slave from Africa.C.She is a skilled storyteller.D.She is a black woman.Section CMany college students today own personal computers that cost anywhere from$1000to perhaps$5000or more.【B1】______,it is not uncommon for them to purchase【B2】_______costing another several hundred dollars.Twenty years ago,computers were【B3】______,but they were very large and extremely expensive.Few,if any,【B4】______purchased computers for home use.Over the years,the price of the"guts"Of a computer its memory—has declined to less than a thousandth of the price per unit of memory that prevailed twenty years ago.This is the main reason why computers cost so much less today than they used to.Moreover,【B5】______improvements have made it possible to 【B6】______memory circuitry that is small enough to fit into the portable personal computers that many of us own and use.【B7】______,as the price of computation has declined the average consumer and business have spent more on purchasing computers.【B8】______,improved agricultural technology,hybrid(杂交)seeds,【B9】______animal breeding,and so on have vastly increased the amount of output a typical farmer can produce.The prices of goods such as meats and grains have fallen sharply relative to the prices of most other goods and services.As agricultural prices have fallen,many households have decreased their total expenses on food.Even though the【B10】______of a product purchased generally increases when its price falls,total expenses on it may decline.27.【B1】28.【B2】29.【B3】30.【B4】31.【B5】32.【B6】33.【B7】34.【B8】35.【B9】36.【B10】Part III Reading ComprehensionSection ATo get a sense of how women have progressed in science,take a quick tour of the physics department at the University of California,Berkeley.This is a storied place,the【C1】______of some of the most important discoveries in modern science-starting with Ernest Lawrence's invention of the cyclotron(回旋加速器)in1931.A generation ago,female faces were【C2】______and,even today,visitors walking through the first floor of LeConte Hall will see a full corridor of exhibits【C3】______the many distinguished physicists who made history here,【C4】______all of them white males.But climb up to the third floor and you'll see a【C5】______display.There, among the photos of current faculty members and students,are portraits of the 【C6】______head of the department,Marjorie Shapiro,and four other women whose research【C7】______everything from the mechanics of the universe to the smallest particles of matter.A sixth woman was hired just two weeks ago. Although they're still only about10percent of the physics faculty,women areclearly a presence here.And the real【C8】______may be in the smaller photos to the right:graduate and undergraduate students,about20percent of them female.Every year Berkeley sends its fresh female physics PhDs to the country's top universities.That makes Shapiro optimistic,but also【C9】______."I believe things are getting better,"she says,"but they're not getting better as【C10】______as I would like."A)circumstance F)different K)presentlyB)confidence G)exposing L)rareC)covers H)fast M)realisticD)current I)honoring N)siteE)deals J)hope O)virtually37.【C1】38.【C2】39.【C3】40.【C4】41.【C5】42.【C6】43.【C7】44.【C8】45.【C9】46.【C10】Section BIs College a Worthy Investment?A)Why are we spending so much money on college?And why are we so unhappy about it?We all seem to agree that a college education is wonderful, and yet strangely we worry when we see families investing so much in this supposedly essential good.Maybe it's time to ask a question that seems almost sacrilegious(大不敬的):is all this investment in college education really worth it?B)The answer,I fear,is no.For an increasing number of kids,the extra time and money spent pursuing a college diploma will leave them worse off than they were before they set foot on campus.C)For my entire adult life,a good education has been the most important thing for middle-class households.My parents spent more educating my sister and me than they spent on their house,and they're not the only ones...and,of course,for an increasing number of families,most of the cost of their house is actually the cost of living in a good school district.Questioning the value of a college education seems a bit like questioning the value of happiness,or fun.D)The average price of all goods and services has risen about50percent.But the price of a college education has nearly doubled in that time.Is the education that today's students are getting twice as good?Are new workers twice as smart?Have they become somehow massively more expensive to educate? E)Perhaps a bit.Richard Vedder,an Ohio University economics professor,says, "I look at the data.and I see college costs rising faster than inflation up to the mid-1980s by1percent a year.Now I see them rising3to4percent a year over inflation.What has happened?The federal government has started dropping money out of airplanes."Aid has increased,subsidized(补贴的)loans have become available,and"the universities have gotten the money."Economist Bryan Caplan,who is writing a book about education,agrees:"It's a giant waste of resources that will continue as long as the subsidies continue."F)Promotional literature for colleges and student loans often speaks of debt as an"investment in yourself."But an investment is supposed to generate income to pay off the loans.More than half of all recent graduates are unemployed or in jobs that do not require a degree,and the amount of student-loan debt carried by households has increased more than five times since1999.These graduates were told that a diploma was all they needed to succeed,but it won't even get them out of the spare bedroom at Mom and Dad's.For many,the most visible result of their fouryears is the loan payments,which now average hundreds of dollars a month on loan balances in the tens of thousands.G)It's true about the money—sort of.College graduates now make80percent more than people who have only a high-school diploma,and though there are no precise estimates,the wage premium(高出的部分)for an outstanding school seems to be even higher.But that's not true of every student.It's very easy to spend four years majoring in English literature and come out no more employable than you were before you went in.Conversely,chemical engineers straight out of school can easily make almost four times the wages of an entry-level high-school graduate.H)James Heckman,the Nobel Prize-winning economist,has examined how the returns on education break down for individuals with different backgrounds and levels of ability."Even with these high prices,you're still finding a high return for individuals who are bright and motivated,"he says.On the other hand,"if you're not college ready,then the answer is no,it's not worth it."Experts tend to agree that for the average student,college is still worth it today,but they also agree that the rapid increase in price is eating up more and more of the potential return.For borderline students,tuition(学费)rise can push those returns into negative territory.I)Everyone seems to agree that the government,and parents,should be rethinking how we invest in higher education—and that employers need to rethink the increasing use of college degrees as crude screening tools for jobs that don't really require college skills."Employers seeing a surplus of college graduates and looking to fill jobs are just adding that requirement,"says Vedder. "In fact,a college degree becomes a job requirement for becoming abar-tender."J)We have started to see some change on the finance side.A law passed in2007 allows many students to cap their loan payment at10percent of their income and forgives any balance after25years.But of course,that doesn't control the cost of education;it just shifts it to taxpayers.It also encourages graduates to choose lower-paying careers,which reduces the financial return to education still further."You're subsidizing people to become priests and poets and so forth,"says Heckman."You may think that's a good thing,or you may not." Either way it will be expensive for the government.K)What might be a lot cheaper is putting more kids to work.Caplan notes that work also builds valuable skills—probably more valuable for kids who don't naturally love sitting in a classroom.Heckman agrees wholeheartedly:"People are different,and those abilities can be shaped.That's what we've learned,and public policy should recognize that."L)Heckman would like to see more apprenticeship-style(学徒式)programs, where kids can learn in the workplace—learn not just specific job skills,but thekind of"soft skills."like getting to work on time and getting along with a team, that are crucial for career success."It's about having mentors(指导者)and having workplace-based education,"he says."Time and again I've seen examples of this kind of program working."M)Ah,but how do we get there from here?With better public policy,hopefully, but also by making better individual decisions."Historically markets have been able to handle these things,"says Vedder."and I think eventually markets will handle this one.If it doesn't improve soon,people are going tp wake up and ask, 'Why am I going to college?'"47.Caplan suggests that kids who don't love school go to work.48.An increasing number of families spend more money on houses in a good school district.49.Subsidized loans to college students are a huge waste of money,according to one economist.50.More and more kids find they fare worse with a college diploma.51.For those who are not prepared for higher education,going to college is not worth it.52.Over the years the cost of a college education has increased almost by 100%.53.A law passed recently allows many students to pay no more than one tenth of their income for their college loans.54.Middle-class Americans have highly valued a good education. 55.More kids should be encouraged to participate in programs where they canlearn not only job skills but also social skills.56.Over fifty percent of recent college graduates remain unemployed or unable to find a suitable job.Section CA recent global survey of2000high-net-worth individuals found that60% were not planning on a traditional retirement.Among US participants,75% expected to continue working in some capacity even after stepping away from full-time jobs."Many of these people made their wealth by doing something they're passionate(有激情的)about,"says Daniel Egan,head of behavioral finance for Barclays Wealth Americas."Given the choice,they prefer to continue working."Barclays calls these people"nevertirees."Unlike many Americans compelled into early retirement by company restrictions,the average nevertiree often has no one forcing his hand.If106-year-old investor Irving Kahn,head of his own family firm,wants to keep coming to work every day,who's going to stop him?Seventy-eight-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's job security is guaranteed in the Constitution.It may seem that these elderly people are trying to cheat death.In fact,they are.And it's working,Howard Friedman,a professor at UC Riverside,found in his research that those who work hardest and are successful in their careers often live the longest lives."People are generally being given bad advice to slow down,take it easy,stop worrying,and retire to Florida,"he says.He described one study participant,still working at the age of100,who was recently disappointed to see his son retire."We're beginning to see a change in how people view retirement,"says George Leeson,co-director of the Institute of Population Ageing at Oxford. Where once retirement was seen as a brief reward after a long struggle through some miserable job,it is now akin(近似)to being cast aside.What Leeson terms "the Warren Buffett effect"is becoming more broadly appealing as individuals come to"view retirement as not simply being linked to economic productivity hut also about contribution."Observers are split on whether this is a wholly good thing.On the one hand,companies and financial firms can benefit from the wisdom of a resilient(坚韧的)chief.On the other,the new generation can find it more difficult to advance—an argument that typically holds little sway to a nevertiree.57.What do we learn about the so-called"nevertirees"?A.They are passionate about making a fortune,B.They have no choice but to continue working.C.They love what they do and choose not to retire.D.They will not retire unless they are compelled to.58.What do Irving Kahn and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have in common?A.Neither of them is subject to forced retirement. B.Neither of them desires reward for their work.C.Both cling to their positions despite opposition.D.Both are capable of coping with heavy workloads.59.What is the finding of Howard Friedman's research?A.The harder you work,the bigger your fortune will be. B.The earlier you retire,the healthier you will be.C.Elderly people have to slow down to live longer.D.Working at an advanced age lengthens people's life.60.What is the traditional view of retirement according to the passage?A.It means a burden to the younger generation.B.It is a symbol of a mature and civilized society.C.It is a compensation for one's life-long hard work.D.It helps increase a nation's economic productivity.61.What do critics say about"nevertirees"?A.They are an obstacle to a company's development.B.They lack the creativity of the younger generation.C.They cannot work as efficiently as they used to.D.They prevent young people from getting ahead.When we talk about Americans barely into adulthood who are saddled with unbearable levels of debt.the conversation is almost always about student loan debt.But there's a growing body of evidence suggesting that today's young adults are also drowning in credit-card debt—and that many of them will take this debt to their graves.More than20%overspent their income by more than$100every singlemonth.Since they haven't built up their credit histories yet.it's a safe bet that these young adults are paying relatively high interest rates on the resulting credit card debt.Although many young people blame"socializing"as a barrier to saving money,most of them aren't knocking back$20drinks in trendy(时尚的)lounges.They're struggling with much more daily financial demands.To a disturbingly large extent,the young and the broke are relying on credit cards to make it until their next payday.This obviously isn't sustainable in the long run.and it's going to put a huge drag on their spending power even after they reach their peak earning years,because they'll still be paying interest on that bottle of orange juice or box of spaghetti(意式面条)they bought a decade earlier.A new study out of Ohio State University found that young adults are accumulating credit card debt at a more rapid rate than other age groups,and that they're slower at paying it off."If what we found continues to hold true,we may have more elderly people with substantial financial problems in the future." warns Lucia Dunn,professor of economics at Ohio State."If our findings persist,we may be faced with a financial crisis among elderly people who can't pay off their credit cards."Dunn says a lot of these young people are never going to get out from under their credit card debt."Many people are borrowing on credit cards so heavily that payoff rates at these levels are not sufficient to recover their credit card debt by the end of their life,which could have loss implications for the credit card issuing banks."62.What is the main idea of the first paragraph?A.Many young Americans will never be able to pay off their debts. B.Credit cards play an increasingly important role in college life. C.Credit cards are doing more harm than student loans.D.The American credit card system is under criticism.63.Why do young people have to pay a higher interest on their credit card debt?A.They tend to forget about the deadlines.B.They haven't developed a credit history.C.They are often unable to pay back in time.D.They are inexperienced in managing money.64.What is said to be the consequence of young adults relying on credit cards to make ends meet?A.It will place an unnecessary burden on society.B.It will give them no motivation to work hard.C.It will exert psychological pressure on them.D.It will affect their future spending power.65.What will happen to young adults if their credit card debt keeps accumulating according to Lucia Dunn?A.They will have to pay an increasingly higher interest rate. B.They may experience a financial crisis in their old age.C.Their quality of life will be affected.D.Their credit cards may be cancelled.66.What does Lucia Dunn think might be a risk for the credit card issuing banks?A.They go bankrupt as a result of over-lending.B.They lose large numbers of their regular clients.C.Their clients leave their debts unpaid upon death.D.Their interest rates have to be reduced now and then.PartⅣTranslation67.中国结(the Chinese knot)最初是由手工艺人发明的,经过数百年不断的改进,已经成为一种优雅多彩的艺术和工艺。
2013年12月六级真题与答案(共三套)
2013 年 12 月大学英语六级考试真题(第 1 套)Part I Writing(30 minutes)(请于正式开考后半小时内完成该部分,之后将进行听力考试)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on happiness by referring to the saying“Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them.You”can cite examples to illustrate your point and then explain how you can develop your ability todeal with problems and be happy. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200words.Part II Listening Comprehension(30 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At theendof each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both theconversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause.During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is thebest answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through thecentre.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡 1 上作答。
2013年12月六级考试真题(二)考试历年试题训练
2013年12月六级考试真题(二)考试历年试题训练【考级真题】xx年12月六级考试真题(第二套)PartⅠ Writing Directions: For this part you are allowed30 minutes to write an essay on happiness by referring to the saying “Happiness is not the absence of problems, but theability to deal with them.” Yo u can cite exles to illustrate your point and then explain how you can develop your ability to deal with problems and be happy. You should write at least150 words but no more than200 words. Part II Listening prehension Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear8 short conversations and2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A). B), C)and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1 with a single line through the centre.1.A)The rock band needs more hours of practice. B)The rock band is going to play here for a month. C)He appreciates the woman’s help with the band. D)Their hard work has resulted in a big success.2. A)Travel overseas on his own.C)Go on a diving tour in Europe. B)Join a package tour to Mexico.D)Add300 dollars to his budget.3. A)Something unexpected has happened.C)To avoid more work later on. B)In case some problem should occur.D)To make better preparations.4. A)The man is going to renew his membership in a fitness center. B)The woman asked for a free pass to try out the facilities. C)The man can try out the facilities before he bees a member. D)The woman can give the man a discount if he joins the club now.5. A)He is not fit to study science.C)He is worried about the test. B)He is not afraid of challenge.D)He is going to drop the physics course.6. A)Buy something special for Gary. C)Pay for part of the picnic food. B)Invite Gary’s family to dinner. D)Take some food to the picnic.7. A labor dispute at a bus pany. C)A corporate takeover. B)Bus drivers’ working conditions. D)Public transportation.8. A)Their sales overseas. C)The check just deposited. B)The bank statement. D)The payment for an order. Questions9 to11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A)A private secretary. C)A shop assistant. B)A hotel receptionist. D)A sales manager.10. A)Appearance. C)Voice. B)Intelligence. D)Manners.11.A)Arrange one more interview. C)Offer the job to David Wallace. B)Report the matter to their boss. D)Hire Barbara Jones on a trail basis. Questions12 to15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A)He invented the refrigerator.C)He was admitted to university. B)He patented his first invention.D)He got a degree in Mathematics.13.A)He started to work on refrigeration. B)He became a professor of Mathematics. C)He fell in love with Natasha Willoughby. D)He distinguished himself in low temperature physics.14. A)Finding the true nature of subatomic particles. B)Their discovery of the laws of cause and effect. C)Laying the foundations of modem mathematics. D)Their work on very high frequency radio waves.15. A)To have a three-week holiday. C)To patent his inventions. B)To spend his remaining years. D)To teach at a university. Section B Directions: In this section, you will hear3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. Afteryou hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C)and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet1 with a single line through the centre. Passage One Questions16 to18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A)They have fallen prey to wolves. B)They have bee a tourist attraction. C)They have caused lots of damage to crops. D)They have bee a headache to the munity.17. A)To celebrate their victory. C)To scare the wolves. B)To cheer up the hunters. D)To alert the deer.18. A)They would help to spread a fatal disease. B)They would pose a threat to the children. C)They would endanger domestic animals. D)They would eventually kill off the deer. Passage Two Questions19 to22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A)She is an interpreter.C)She is a domestic servant. B)She is a tourist guide.D)Sheis from the royal family.20. A)It was used by the family to hold dinner parties. B)It is situated at the foot of a beautiful mountain. C) It was frequently visited by heads of state. D)It is furnished like one in a royal palace.21.A)It is elaborately decorated.C)It is very big, with only six slim legs. B)It has survived some2,000 years.D)It is shaped like an ancient Spanish boat.22. A)They are unfortable to sit in for long. B)They do not match the oval table at all. C)They have lost some of their legs. D)They are interesting to look at. Passage Three Questions23 to25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. A)It is an unmon infectious disease. B)It destroys the patient’s ability to think. C)It is a disease very difficult to diagnose. D)It is the biggest crippler of young adults.24. A)Search for the best cure.C)Write a book about her life. B)Hurry up and live life.D)Exercise more and work harder.25. A)Aggressive.C)Sophisticated. B)Adventurous.D)Self-centered. Section C Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. It’s difficult to estimate the numberof youngsters involved in home schooling, where children are not sent to school and receive their formal education from one or both parents.26 and court decisions have made it legally possible in most states for parents to educate their children at home, and each year more people take advantage of that opportunity. Some states require parents or a home tutor to meet teacher certification standards, and many require parents to plete legal forms to verify that their children are receiving27 in state-approved curricula. Supporters of home education claim that i t’s less expensive and far more28 than mass public education. Moreover, they cite several advantages: alleviation of school overcrowding, strengthened family relationships, lower29 rates, the fact that students are allowed to learn at their own rate, increased30 , higher standardized test scores, and reduced31 problems. Critics of the home schooling movement32 that it creates as many problems as it solves. They acknowledge that, in a few cases, home schooling offers educational opportunities superior to those found in most public schools, but few parents can provide such educational advantages. Some parents who withdraw their children from the schools33home schooling have an inadequate educational background and insufficient formal training to provide asatisfactory education for their children. Typically, parents have fewer technological resources34 than do schools. However, the relatively inexpensive puter technology that is readily available today is causing some to challenge the notion that home schooling is in any way35 more highly structured classroom education. Part III Reading prehension Section A Directions: Inthis section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. Questions J6 to45 are based on the following passage.Cell phones provide instant access to people. They are creating a major36 in the social experiences of both children and adolescents. In one recent U.S. survey, about half the teens polled said that their cell phonehad37 their munications with friends. Almost all saidthat their cell phone was the way they stayed in touchwith peers, one-third had used the cell phone to help a peer in need, and about80% said the phone made them feel safer. Teenagers in Australia,38 , said that their mobile phones provided numerous benefits and were an39 part of their lives; some were so40 to their phones that the researchers considered it an addiction. In Japan, too, researchers are concerned about cell phone addiction. Researchers in one study in Tokyo found that more thanhalf of junior high school students used their phones to exchange e-mails with schoolmates more than10 times a day. Cell phones41 social connections with peers across time and space. They allow young people to exchange moment-by-moment experiences in their daily lives with special partners and thus to have a more42 sense of connectionwith friends. Cell phones also can43 social tolerance because they reduce children’s interactions with others who are different from them. In addition to connecting peers, cell phones connect children and parents. Researchers studying teenagers in Israel concluded that,in that44 environment, mobile phones were regarded as“security objects” in parent-teen relationships —important because they provided the possibility of45 and munication at all times. A)affiliated I)hazardous B)attached J)improved C)contact K)instantaneous D)contend L)intrinsic E)continuous M)relatively F)diminish N)shift G)endurance O)similarly H)foster Section B Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph morethan once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet2. Waste Not, Want Not Feeding the9 Billion: The Tragedy of Waste[A] By2075, the United Nations’ mid-range projection for global population is about9.5 billion. This means that there could be an extra three billion mouths to feed by the end of the century, a period in which substantial changes are anticipated inthe wealth, calorie intake and dietary preferences of people in developing countries across the world. Such a projection presents mankind with wide-ranging social, economic, environmental and political issues that need to be addressed today to ensure a sustainable future for all. One key issue is how to produce more food in a world of finite resources.[B] Today, we produce about four billion metric tones of food per year. Yet due to poor practices in harvesting, storage and transportation, as well as market and consumer wastage, it is estimated that30-50% of all food produced never reaches a human stomach. Furthermore, thisfigure does not reflect the fact that large amounts of land, energy, fertilisers and water have also been lostin the production of foodstuffs which simply end up as waste. This level of wastage is a tragedy that cannot continue if we are to succeed in the challenge of sustainably meeting our future food demands. Where Food Waste Happens[C] In xx, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers identified three principal emerging population groups across the world, based on characteristics associated with their current and projected stage of economic development. • Fully developed, mature, post-industrial societies, such as those in Europe, characterised by stable or declining populations which are increasing in age. • Late-stage developing nations that are currently industrialising rapidly, for exle China, which will experience declining rates of population growth, coupled with increasing affluence (富裕)and age profile. • Newly developing countries that are beginning to industrialise, primarily in Africa, with high to very high population growth rates, and characterised by a predominantly young age profile.[D] Each group over the ing decades will need to address different issues surrounding food production, storage and transportation, as well as consumer expectations, if we are to continue to feed all our people.[E] In less-developed countries, such as those ofsub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, wastage tends to occur primarily at the farmer-producer end of the supply chain. Inefficient harvesting, inadequate local transportation and poor infrastructure(基础设施)meanthat produce is frequently handled inappropriately and stored under unsuitable farm site conditions.[F] In mature, fully developed countries such as the UK, more-efficient fanning practices and better transport, storage and processing facilities ensure that a larger proportion of the food produced reaches markets and consumers. However, characteristics associated with modem consumer culture mean produce is often wasted throughretail and customer behaviour.[G] Major supermarkets, in meeting consumer expectations, will often reject entire crops of perfectly edible fruit and vegetables at the farm because they donot meet exacting marketing standards for their physical characteristics, such as size and appearance.[H] Of the produce that does appear in the supermarket, monly used sales promotions frequently encourage customers to purchase excessive quantities which, in the case of perishable foodstuffs, inevitably generate wastage in the home. Overall between30% and50% of what has been bought in developed countries is thrown away by the purchaser. Better Use of Our Finite Resources[I] Wasting food means losing not only life-supporting nutrition but also precious resources, including land, water and energy. As a global society, therefore, tackling food waste will help contribute towards addressing a number of key resourc。
2013年12月英语六级考试听力真题及答案
Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section,you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conv ersations.Atthe end of each conversation,one or more questions will be aske d about what was said.Boththe conversation and the questions will be spoke n only once.After each question there will be apause.During the pause,you m ust read the four choices marked A),B),C)and D),and decidewhich is the best answer,Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a singleli ne through the centre.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
1.A) Dr.Smith's waiting room isn't tidy.B) Dr.Smith enjoys reading magazines.C) Dr.Smith has left a good impression on her.D) Dr.Smith may not be a good choice.2.A) The manwill rent the apartment when it is available.B) The manmade a bargain with the landlady over the rent.C) The maninsists on having a look at the apartment first.D) The manis not fully satisfied with the apartment.3.A) Packingup to go abroad.B)Brushing up on her English.C) Drawingup a plan for her English course.D)Applying for a visa to the United States.4.A) He isanxious to find a cure for his high blood pressure.B) Hedoesn't think high blood pressure is a problem for him.C) He wasnot aware of his illness until diagnosed with it.D) He didnot take the symptoms of his illness seriously.5.A) Toinvestigate the causes of AIDS.B) Toraise money for AIDS patients.C) Torally support for AIDS victims in Africa.D) To drawattention to the spread of AIDS in Asia.6.A) It hasa very long history.B) It is aprivate institution.C) It wasfounded by Thomas Jefferson.D) Itstresses the comprehensive study of nature.7.A) Theycan't fit into the machine.B) Theyhave not been delivered yet.C) Theywere sent to the wrong address.D) Theywere found to be of the wrong type.8.A) Thefood served in the cafeteria usually lacks variety.B) Thecafeteria sometimes provides rare food for the students.C) Thestudents find the service in the cafeteria satisfactory.D) The cafeteria tries hard to cater to the students'needs.Questions9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A) Hepicked up some apples in his yard.B) He cutsome branches off the apple tree.C) Hequarreled with his neighbor over the fence.D) Hecleaned up all the garbage in the woman's yard.10.A) Trimthe apple trees in her yard.B) Pick upthe apples that fell in her yard.C) Takethe garbage to the curb for her.D) Removethe branches from her yard.11.A) File alawsuit against the man.B) Ask theman for compensation.C) Havethe man's apple tree cut down.D) Throwgarbage into the man's yard.12.A) He wasready to make a concession.B) He wasnot prepared to go to court.C) He wasnot intimidated.D) He wasa bit concerned.Questions13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.13.A) Badweather.B) Humanerror.C)Breakdown of the engines.D) Failureof the communications system.14.A) Twothousand feet.B) Twelvethousand feet.C) Twentythousand feet.D)Twenty-two thousand feet.15.A)Accurate communication is of utmost importance.B) Pilotsshould be able to speak several foreign languages.C) Aircontrollers should keep a close watch on the weather.D) Cooperation between pilots and air controllers isessential.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, youwill hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions wi ll be spoken only once. Afteryou hear a question, you must choose the best a nswer from the four choices marked A), B), C)and D). Then mark the corresp onding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through thecentre.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2013年12月英语六级真的题目及问题详解下载(第二套)(word版)
2013年12月大学英语六级考试真题(第2套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay about the impact of the information explosion by referring to the saying "A wealth of information creates apoverty of attention. " You can give examples to illustrate your point and then explainwhat you can do to avoid being distracted by irrelevant information. You shouldwrite at least 150 words but no more than 200 words._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end ofeach conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both theconversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be apause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A., B., C. and D), anddecide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1with a single line through the centre.1.A. Labor problems.B. Weather conditions.C. An error in the order.D.Misplacing'of goods.2. A. What the woman says makes a lot of sense.B. The rich are opposed to social welfare.C. He is sympathetic with poor people.D.He agrees with Mr. Johnson's views.3. A. He will be practicing soccer.B. He has work to finish in time.C. He will be attending a meeting.D.He has a tough problem to solve.4. A. Mary should get rid of her pet as soon as possible.B. Mary will not be able to keep a dog in the building.C. Mary is not happy with the ban on pet animals.D.Mary might as well send her dog to her relative.5. A. The twins' voices are quite different.B. Lisa and Gale are not very much alike.C. He does not believe they are twin sisters.D.The woman seems a bit hard of hearing.6. A. The serious economic crisis in Britain. 、B. A package deal to be signed in November.C. A message from their business associates.D.Their ability to deal with financial problems.7. A. It is impossible to remove the stain completely.B. The man will be charged extra for the service.C. The man has to go to the main cleaning facility.D.Cleaning the pants will take longer than usual.8. A. European markets.B. A protest rally.C. Luxury goods.D.Imported products.Conversation OneQuestions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A. He made a business trip.B. He had a quarrel with Marsha.C. He talked to her on the phone.D.He resolved a budget problem.10. A. She may have to be fired for poor performance.B. She has developed some serious mental problem.C. She is in charge of the firm's budget planning.D.She supervises a number of important projects.11. A. She failed to arrive at the airport on time.B. David promised to go on the trip in her place,C. Something unexpected happened at her home. D.She was not feeling herself on that day.12. A. He frequently gets things mixed up.B. He is always finding fault with Marsha.C. He Ires been trying hard to cover for Marsha.D.He often fails to follow through on his projects.Conversation TwoQuestions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.13. A. They are better sheltered from all the outside temptations.B. They are usually more motivated to compete with their peers.C. They have more opportunities to develop their leadership skills.D.They take an active part in more extracurricular activities.14. A. Its chief positions are held by women.B. Its teaching staff consists of women only.C. Its students aim at managerial posts.D.Its students are role models of women.15. A. It is under adequate control.B. It is traditional but coloufful.C. They are more or less isolated from the outside world.D.They have ample opportunities to meet the opposite sex.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you willhearsome questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you heara question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A., B., C. andD ). Thenmark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line through thecentre. Passage OneQuestions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A. By invading the personal space of listeners.B. By making gestures at strategic points.C. By speaking in a deep, loud voice.D.By speaking with the local accent.17. A. To promote sportsmanship among business owners.B. To encourage people to support local sports groups.C. To raise money for a forthcoming local sports event.D.To show his family's contribution to the community.18. A. They are known to be the style of the sports world.B. They would certainly appeal to his audience.C. They represent the latest fashion in the business circles.D.They are believed to communicate power and influence.19. A. To cover up his own nervousness.B. To create a warm personal atmosphere.C. To enhance the effect of background music.D.To allow the audience to better enjoy his slides.Passage TwoQuestions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.20. A. She was the first educated slave of John Wheatley's.B. She was the greatest female poet in Colonial America.C. She was born about the time of the War of Independence.D.She was the first African-American slave to publish a book.21. A. Revise it a number of times.B. Obtain consent from her owner.C. Go through a scholarly examination.D.Turn to the colonial governor for help.22. A. Literary works calling for the abolition of slavery.B. Religious scripts popular among slaves in America.C. A rich stock of manuscripts left by historical figures.D.Lots of lost works written by African-American women.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. A. It is a trait of generous characterB. It is a reflection of self-esteem. .C. It is an indicator of high intelligence.D.It is a sign of happiness and confidence.24. A. Itwas self-defeating.B. It was aggressive.C. It was the essence of comedy.D.It was something admirable.25. A. It is a double-edged sword.B. It is a feature of a given culture.C. It is a unique gift of human beings.D.It is a result of both nature and nurture.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read forthe firsttime, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for thesecond time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have justheard.Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you havewritten.It is important that we be mindful of the earth, the planet out of which we are born andby which weare nourished, guided, healed—the planet, however, which we have 26________ to a considerable degree inthese past two centuries of 27________ exploitation. This exploitationhas reached such 28________that presently itappears that some hundreds of thousands of specieswill be 29________ before the end of the century.In our times, human shrewdness has mastered the deep 30________ of the earth at a levelfar beyond thecapacities of earlier peoples. We can break the mountains apart; we can drain therivers and flood thevalleys. We can turn the most luxuriant forests into throwaway paper products.We can 31________the greatgrass cover of the western plains and pour 32________chemicals intothe soil until the soft is dead and blowsaway in the wind. We can pollute the air with acids,the rivers with sewage (污水), the seas with oil. Wecan invent computers 33________processingten million calculations per second. And why? To increase thevolume and the speed with which wemove natural resources through the consumer economy to the junkpile or the waste heap. Our managerial skills are measured by the competence 34________in accelerating thisprocess. If inthese activities the physical features of the planet are damaged, if the environment is madeinhospitable for 35________living species, then so be it. We are, supposedly, creating a technological wonderworld.PartIII Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirection:In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select oneword foreach blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read thepassagethrough carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identifiedby a letter.Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with asingle line throughthe centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more thanonce~Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.Quite often, educators tell families of children who are learning English as a second languageto speakonly English, and not their native language, at home. Although these educators may havegood 36________,their advice to families is misguided, and it 37________from misunderstandingsabout the process of languageacquisition. Educators may fear that children hearing two languageswill become 38________ confused and thustheir language development will be 39________; thisconcern is not documented in the literature. Children arecapable of learning more than one language,whether 40________or sequentially (依次地). In fact, mostchildren outside of the United States are expected to become bilingual or even, in manycases,multilingual. Globally, knowing more than one language is viewed as an 41________ and evena necessity inmany areas. It is also of concern that the .misguided advice that students should speak only Englishis givenprimarily to poor families with limited educational opportunities, not to wealthierfamilies who have manyeducational advantages. Since children from poor families often are42________as at-risk for academic failure,teachers believe that advising families to speak Englishonly is appropriate. Teachers consider learning twolanguages to be too 43________for childrenfrom poor families, believing that the children are alreadyburdened by their home situations. If families do not know English or have limited English skills themselves, how can they communicatein English? Advising non-English-speaking families to speak only English is 44________to telling them not tocommunicate with or interact with their children. Moreover, the 45________message is that the family's nativelanguage is not important or valued.A. asset I.permanentlyB. delayed J. prevalentC. deviates K.simultaneouslyD.equivalent L. stemsE.identified M. successivelyF. intentions N. underlyingG.object O.visualizingH. overwhelmingSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Eachstatement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraphfrom which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Eachparagraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the correspondingletter on Answer Sheet 2.The Uses of DifficultyThe brain likes a challenge—and putting a few obstacles in its way may well boost its creativity.[A] Jack White, the former frontman of the White Stripes and an influential figure among fellowmusicians, likes to make things difficult for himself. He uses cheap guitars that won't stay in shape orin tune. When performing, he positions his instruments in a way that is deliberately inconvenient, sothat switching from guitar to organ mid-song involves a mad dash across the stage. Why? Becausehe's on the run from what he describes as a disease that preys on every artist: "ease of use". Whenmaking music gets too easy, says White, it becomes harder to make it sing.[ B] It's an odd thought. Why would anyone make their work more difficult than it already is? Yet weknow that difficulty can pay unexpected dividends. In 1966, soon after the Beatles had finished workon "Rubber Soul", Paul McCartney looked into the possibility of going to America to record theirnext album. The equipment in American studios was more advanced than anything in Britain, whichhad led the Beatles' great rivals, the Rolling Stones, to make their latest album, "Aftermath", in LosAngeles. McCartney found that EMI's (百代唱片) contractual clauses made it prohibitively expensiveto follow suit, and the Beatles had to make do with the primitive technology of Abbey Road.[C] Lucky for us. Over the next two years they made their most groundbreaking work, turning therecording studio into a magical instrument of its own. Precisely because they were working with oldofashioned machines, George Martin and his team of engineers were forced to apply every ounce oftheir creativity to solve the problems posed to them by Lennon and McCartney. Songs like"Tomorrow Never Knows", " Strawberry Fields Forever", and "A Day in the Life" featuredrevolutionary sound effects that dazzled and mystified Martin's American counterparts.[D] Sometimes it's only when a difficulty is removed that we realise what it was doing for us. For morethan two decades, starting in the 1960s, the poet Ted Hughes sat on the judging panelof an annualpoetry competition for British schoolchildren. During the 1980s he noticed an increasing number oflong poems among the submissions, with some running to 70 or 80 pages. These poems were verballyinventive and fluent, but also "strangely boring". After making inquiries Hughes discovered that theywere being composed on computers, then just finding their way into British homes.[E] You might have thought any tool which enables a writer to get words on to the page would be anadvantage. But there may be a cost to such facility. Ifi an interview with the Paris Review Hughesspeculated that when a person puts pen to paper, "you meet the terrible resistance of what happenedyour first year at it, when you couldn't write at all". As the brain attempts to force the unsteady handto do its bidding, the tension between the two results in a more compressed, psychologically denserexpression. Remove that resistance and you are more likely to produce a 70-page ramble (不找边际的长篇大论).[F] Our brains respond better to difficulty than we imagine. In schools, teachers and pupils alike oftenassume that if a concept has been easy to learn, then the lesson has been successful. But numerousstudies have now found that when classroom material is made harder to absorb, pupils retain more of it over the long term, and understand it on a deeper level.[G] As a poet, Ted Hughes had an acute sensitivity to the way in which constraints on self-expression,like the disciplines of metre and rhyme (韵律), spur creative thought. What applies to poets andmusicians also applies to our daily lives. We tend to equate (等同)happiness with freedom, but, asthe psychotherapist and writer Adam Phillips has observed, without obstacles to our desires it'sharder to know what we want, or where we're heading. He tells the story of a patient, a first-timemother who complained that her young son was always clinging to her, wrapping himself around herlegs wherever she went. She never had a moment to herself, she said, because her son was "alwaysin the way". When Phillips asked her where she would go if he wasn't in the way, she repliedcheerfully, "Oh, I wouldn't know where I was!"[H] Take another common obstacle: lack of money. People often assume that more money will makethem happier. But economists who study the relationship between money and happiness haveconsistently found that, above a certain income, the two do not reliably correlate. Despite the easewith which the rich can acquire almost anything they desire, they are just as likely to be unhappy asthe middle classes. In this regard at least, F. Scott Fitzgerald was wrong.[I] Indeed, ease of acquisition is the problem. The novelist Edward St Aubyn has a narrator remark ofthe very rich that, "not having to consider affordability, their desires rambled on like unstoppablebores, relentless (持续不断的) and whimsical (反复无常的) at the same time. " When BostonCollege, a private research university, wanted a better feel for its potential donors, it asked thepsychologist Robert Kenny to investigate the mindset of the super-rich. He surveyed 165 households,most of which had a net worth of $ 25m or more. He found that many of his subjects were confusedby the infinite options their money presented them with. They found it hard to know what to want,creating a kind of existential bafflement. One of them put it like this: "You know, Bob, you can justbuy so much stuff, and when you get to the point where you can just buy so much stuff, now what are you going to do?"[J] The Internet makes information billionaires out of all of us, and the architects of our onlineexperiences are catching on to the need to make things creatively difficult. Twitter's huge success isrooted in the simple but profound insight that in a medium'with infinite space for serf-expression, themost interesting thing we can do is restrict ourselves to 140 characters.The music service This Is MyJam helps people navigate the tens of millions of tracks now availableinstantly via Spotify andiTunes. Users pick their favourite song of the week to share with others.They only get to chooseone. The service was only launched this year,,but by the end of September650,000 jams had beenchosen. Its cofounder Matt Ogle explains its raison d'etre (存在的理由) likethis: "In an age ofendless choice, we were missing a way to say: This. This is the one you shouldlisten to'. "[K] Today's world offers more opportunity than ever to follow the advice of the Walker Brothersand make it easy on ourselves. Compared with a hundred years ago, our lives are less tightlybound bysocial norms and physics! Constraints. Technology has cut out much of life's donkeywork,and wehave more freedoms than ever: we can wear what we like and communicate with hundreds offriendsat once at the click of a mouse. Obstacles are everywhere disappearing. Few of us wishto turn theclock back, but perhaps we need to remind ourselves how useful the right obstaclescan be.Sometimes, the best route to fulfilment is the path of more resistance.46. The rigorous requirements placed on the writing of poetry stimulate the poet's creativity.47. With creativity, even old-fashioned instruments may produce spectacular sound effects.48. More money does not necessarily bring greater happiness.49. It is a false assumption that lessons should be made easier to learn.50. Obstacles deliberately placed in the creation of music contribute to its success.51. Thosewho enjoy total freedom may not find themselves happy.52. Ted Hughes discovered many long poems submitted for poetry competition were composed on computers.53. Maybe we need to bear in mind that the right obstacles help lead us to greater achievements.54. An investigation found that many of the super-rich were baffled by the infinite choices theirmoney made available.55. One free social networking website ttwned out to be successful because it limited each postingto one hundred and forty characters.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions orunfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A , B, C andD ). You shoulddecide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet 2 with a single linethrough the centre.Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.There was a time not long ago when new science Ph. D. s in the United States were expectedtopursue a career path in academ/a (学术界).But today, most graduates end up working outsideacademia, not only in industry but also in careers such as science policy, communications,and patentlaw. partly this is a result of how bleak the academic job market is, but there's alsoa rising awareness ofcareer options that Ph.D. scientists haven't trained for directly—but forwhich they have usefulknowledge, skills, and experience. Still, there's a huge disconnect betweenthe way we currently trainscientists and the actual employment opportunities available for them,and an urgent need for dramaticimprovements in training programs to help close the gap, One criticalstep that could help to drive changewould be to require Ph.D. students and postdoctoral scientiststo follow an individual development plan(IDP).In 2002, the U. S. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology recommendedthat everypostdoctoral researcher put together an IDP in consultation with an adviser. Since then, several academicinstitutions have begun to require IDPs for postdocs. And in June, the U. S. National Institutes of Health(NIH) Biomedical Research Workforce Working Group recommended that the NIH require IDPs for theapproximately 32,000 postdoctoral researchers they support. Other funding agencies, public and private,are moving in a similar direction.IDPs have long been used by government agencies and the private sector to achieve specific goals forthe employee and the organization. The aim is to ensure that employees have an explicit tool to help themunderstand their own abilities and aspirations, determine career possibilities , and set ( usually short-term)goals. In science, graduate students and new Ph.D. scientists can use an IDP to identify and navigate aneffective career path.A free Web application for this purpose, called myIDP, has become available this week. It's designed to guide early-career scientists through a confidential,,rigorous process of introspection (内省) to create acustomized career plan. Guided by expert knowledge from a panel of science-focused career advisers,each trainee's self-assessment is used to rank a set of career trajectories (轨迹). After the user hasidentified a long-term career goal, myIDP walks her or him through the process of setting short-term goalsdirected toward accumulating new skills and experiences important for that career choice.Although surveys reveal the IDP process to be useful, trainees report a need for additional resourcesto help them identify a long-term career path and complete an IDP. Thus, myIDP will be most effective.when it's embedded in larger career-development efforts. For example, universities could incorporate IDPsinto their graduate curricula to help students discuss, plan, prepare for, and achieve their long-termcareer goals.56. What do we learn about new science Ph.D. s in the United States today?A. They lack the skills and expertise needed for their jobs.B. They can choose from a wider range of well-paying jobs.C. They often have to seek jobs outside the academic circle.D.They are regarded as the nation's driving force of change.57. What does the author say about America's Ph, D. training?A. It should be improved to better suit the job market.B. It is closely linked to future career requirements.C. It should be re-oriented to careers outside academia.D.It includes a great variety of practical courses.58. What was recommended for Ph. D. s and postdoctoral researchers?A. They meet the urgent needs of the corporate world.B. A long-term career goal be set as early as possibleC. An IDP be made in consultation with an adviser.D.They acquire an explicit tool to help obtain jobs.59. Government agencies and the private sector often use IDPs to________A. bring into full play the skills and expertise of their postdoctoral researchersB. help employees make the best use of their abilities to achieve their career goalsC. place employees in the most appropriate positionsD.hire the most suitable candidates to work for them60. What do we know about myIDP?A. It is an effective tool of self-assessment and introspection for better career plans.B. It enables people to look into various possibilities and choose the career they love.C. It promises a long-term career path.D.It is part of the graduate curricula.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Just over a decade into the 21st century, women's progress can be celebrated across a rangeof fields.They hold the highest political offices from Thailand to Brazil, Costa Rica to Australia.A woman holds thetop spot at the International Monetary Fund; another won the Nobel Prize in economics. Self-madebillionaires in Beijing, tech innovators in Silicon Valley, pioneering justices in Ghana—in these andcountless other areas, women are leaving their mark. But hold the applause. In Saudi Arabia, women aren't allowed to drive. In Pakistan,1,000 womendie in honor killings every year. In the developed world, women lag behind men in pay and politicalpower. The poverty rate among women in the U.S. rose to I4.5% last year.To measure the state ofwomen's progress. Newsweek ranked 165 countries, looking at five areas thataffect women's lives: treatment under the law, workforce participation, political power, and access toeducation and health care. Analyzing data from the United Nations and the World EconomicForum,among others, and consulting with experts and academics, we measured 28 factorsto come up with ourmakings.Countries with the highest scores tend to be clustered in the West, where gender :discrimination isagain.st the law, and equal rightsare constitutionally enshrined (神圣化). But there were some surprises.Some otherwise high-'ranking countries had relatively low scores for political representation. Canadaranked third overall but 26th in power, behind countries such as Cuba and Burundi. Does this suggest thata woman in a nation's top office translates to better lives for women in general? Not exactly. "Trying toquantify or measure the impact of women in politics is hard because in very few countries have there beenenough womenin politics to make a difference," says Anne-Marie Goetz, peace and security adviser forU.N. Women.Of course, no index can account for everything. Declaring that one country is better than another inthe way that it treats more than half its citizens means relying on broad strokes and generalities. Somethings simply can't be measured. And cross-cultural comparisons can't accountfor differences of opinion.Certain conclusions are nonetheless clear. For one thing, our index backs up a simple but profoundstatement made by Hillary Clinton at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. "When weliberate the economic potential of women, we elevate the economic performance of communities, nations,and the world," she said. "There's a stimulative effect that kicks in when women have greater access tojobs and the economic lives of our countries: Greater political stability. Fewer military conflicts. Morefood. More educational opportunity for children. By harnessing the economic potential of all women, weboost opportunity for all people. "61. What does the author think about women's progress so far?A. It still leaves much to be desired.C. It has greatly changed women's fate.B. It is too remarkable to be measured.D.It is achieved through hard struggle.62. In what countries have women made the greatest progress?A. Where women hold key posts in government.。
2013年12月英语六级考试完整真题及参考答案
2013年12月英语六级考试一、Writing(共1题,合计15分)1For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on happiness by referring tothe saying "Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them. "You can cite examples to illustrate your point and then explain how you can developyour ability to deal with problems and be happy. You should write at least 150 wordsbut no more than 200 words.__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________二、听力部分(共2题,合计35分)回答2-26题:2A. The rock band needs more hours of practice.B.The rock band is going to play here for a month.C.Their hard work has resulted in a big success.D.He appreciates the woman's help with the band.3A. Go on a diving tour in Europe.B.Travel overseas on his own.C.Add 300 dollars to his budget.D.Join a package tour to Mexico.4A. In case some problem should occur.B.Something unexpected has happened.C.To avoid more work later on.D.To make better preparations.5A. The woman asked for a free pass to try out the facilities.B.The man is going to renew his membership in a fitness center.C.The woman can give the man a discount if he joins the club now.D.The man can try out the facilities before he becomes a member.6A. He is not afraid of challenge.B.He is not fit to study science.C.He is worried about the test.D.He is going to drop the physics course.7A. Pay for part of the picnic food.B.Invite Gary's family to dinner.C.Buy something special for Gary.D.Take some food to the picnic.8A. Bus drivers' working conditions.B. A labor dispute at a bus company.C.Public transportation.D. A corporate takeover.9A. The bank statement.B.Their sales overseas.C.The payment for an order.D.The check just deposited.10.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.A. A hotel receptionist.B. A private secretary.C. A shop assistant.D. A sales manager.11A. Voice.B.Intelligence.C.Appearance.D.Manners,12A. Arrange one more interview.B.Offer the job to David Wallace.C.Report the matter to their boss.D.Hire Barbara Jones on a trial basis.13.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.A. He invented the refrigerator.B. He patented his first invention.C.He got a degree in Mathematics.D.He was admitted to university.14A. He distinguished himself in low temperatu, re physics.B.He fell in love with Natasha Willoughby.C.He became a professor of Mathematics.D.He started to work on refrigeration.15A. Finding the true nature of subatoraic particles.B.Their work on very high frequency radio waves.ying the foundations of modern mathematics.D.Their discovery of the laws of cause and effect.16A. To teach at a university.B.To patent his inventions.C.To spend his remaining years.D.To have a three-week holiday.17.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.A. They have fallen prey to wolves,B. They have become a tourist attraction.C.They have caused lots of damage to crops.D.They have become a headache to the community.18A. To celebrate their victory.B.To cheer up the hunters.C.To scare the wolves.D.To alert the deer19A. They would help to spre, ada fatal disease.B.They would pose a threat to the children.C.They would endanger domestic animals.D.They would eventually kill off the deer.20.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.A. She is an interpreter.B.She is a tourist guide.C.She is a domestic servant.D.She is from the royal family.21A. It was used by the family to hold dinner parties.B.It is situated at the foot of a beautiful mountain.C.It was frequently visited by heads of state.D.It is furnished like one in a royal palace.22A. It is elaborately decorated.B.It has survived some 2,000 years.C.It is very big, with only six slim legs.D.It is shaped like an ancient Spanish boat.23A. They are uncomfortable to sit in for long.B.They do not match the oval table at all.C.They have lost some of their legs.D.They are interesting to look at.24.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.A. It is an uncommon infectious disease.B. It destroys the patient's ability to think,C. It is a disease very difficult to diagnose.D. It is the biggest crippler of young adults.25A. Search for the best cure.B.Hurry up and live life.C.Write a book about her life.D.Exercise more and work harder.26A. Aggressive.B.Adventurous.C.Sophisticated.D.Self-centered.回答27-36题It's difficult to estimate the number of youngsters involved in home schooling, where children are notsent to school and receive their formal education from one or both parents.26__________and court decisionshave made it legally possible in most states for parents to educate their children at home, and each yearmore people take advantage of that opportunity. Some states require parents or a home tutor to meetteacher certification standards, and many require parents to complete legal forms to verify that their children are receiving27__________in state-approved curricula.Supporters of home education claim that it's less expensive and far more 28__________ than mass publiceducation. Moreover, they cite several advantages: alleviation of school overcrowding, strengthenedfaintly relationships, lower 29_________ rates, the fact that students are allowed to learn at their ownrate,increased 30 _________, higher standardized test scores, and reduced 31_________ problems.Critics of the home schooling movement 32_________ that it creates as many problem as it solves.Theyacknowledge tha|, in a few cases, home schooling offers educational opportunities superior to those foundin most public schools, but few parents can provide such educational advantages. Some parents whowithdraw their children from the schools 33_________ home schooling have an inadequate educationalbackground and insufficient formal training to provide a satisfactory education for their children.Typically, parents have fewer technological resources 34_________than do schools. However, the relativelyinexpensive computer techoology that is readily available today is causing some to challenge the notionthat home schooling is in any way35_________ more highly structured classroom education.三、阅读理解(共4题,合计35分)Questions 37-46 are based on the following passage.Some performance evaluations require supervisors to take action. Employees who receive a veryfavorable evaluation may deserve some type of recognition or even a promotion. If supervisors do notacknowledge such outstanding performance, employees may either lose their 36_________ and reduce theireffort or search for a new job at a firm that will 37_________ them for high performance. Supervisors shouldacknowledge high performance so that the employee will continue to perform well in the future.Employees who receive unfavorable evaluations must also be given attention. Supervisors must38_________ the reasons for poor performance. Some reasons, such as a family illness, may have a temporaryadverse 39_________ on performance and can be corrected. Other reasons, such as a bad attitude, may not betemporary. When supervisors give employees an unfavorable evaluation, they must decide whether to takeany 40 _________action,s. If the, employees were unaware of their own deficiencies, the unfavorable evaluationcan pinpoint (指出) the deficiencies that employees must correct. In this case, the supervisor may simplyneed to monitor the employees 41_________and ensure that the deficiencies are corrected.If the employees were already aware of their deficiencies before the evaluation period, however, theymay be unable or unwilling to correct them. This situation is more serious, and the supervisor may need totake action. The action should be 42_________with the firm's guidelines and may include reassigning theemployees to new jobs,43_________them temporarily, or firingthem. A supervisor's action toward a poorlyperforming worker can 44_________ the attitudes of other employees. If no 45_________is imposed on an employeefor poor performance, other employees may react bv reducing their productivity as well.A. additionalB. affectC. aptlyD.assimilateE. circulationF. closelyG. consistentH, enthusiasmI.identifyJ.impactK.penaltyL. rewardM. simplifyingN. suspendingO.vulnerable回答47-56题The College Essay: Why Those,500 Words Drive Us Crazy[A] Meg is a lawyer-mom in suburban Washington, D. C., where lawyer-morns are thick on the ground.Her son Doug is one of several hundred thousand high-school seniors who had a painful fall. Thedeadline for applying to his favorite college was Nov.1, and by early October he had yet to fill outthe application. More to the point, he had yet to settle on a subject for the personal essayaccompanying the application. According to college folklore, awell-turned essay has the power toseduce (诱惑) an admissions committee. "He wanted to do one thing at a time," Meg says,explaining her son's delay. "But really, my son is a huge procrastinator (拖延者). The essay is thehardest thing to do, so he's put it off the longest. " Friends and other veterans of the process havewarned Meg that the back and forth between editing parent and writing student can be traumatic ( 痛苦的).[B] Back in the good old days--say, two years ago, when the last of my children suffered the ordea/( 折磨)--a high-school student applying to college could procrastinate all the way to New Year's Day oftheir senior year, assuming they could withstand the parental pestering (烦扰). But things changefast in thenail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and earlyaction among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline ofJanuary up toNov.1 or early December for many students.[C]If the time for heel-dragging has been shortened, the true source of the anxiety and panicremainswhat it has always been. And it's not the application itself. A college application is a relativelystraightforward questionnaire asking for the basics: name, address, family history, employmenthistory. It would all be innocent enough--20 minutes of busy work--except it comes attached to apersonal essay.[D]"There are good reasons it causes such anxiety," says Lisa Sohmer, director of collegecounseling atthe Garden School in Jackson Heights, N.Y. "It's not just the actual writing. By now everything elseis already set. Your course load is set, your grades are set, your test scores are set. But the essay issomething you can still control, and it's open-ended. So the temptation is to write and rewrite andrewrite. " Or stall and stall and stall.[E]The application essay, along with its mythical importance, is a recent invention. In the 1930s,whenonly one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee wascontent to ask for a sample of applicants' school papers to assess their writing ability. By the 1950s,most schools required a brief personal statement of why the student had chosen to apply to oneschool over another.[F] Today nearly 70 percent of graduating seniors go off to college, including two-year and fouryeariustitutions. Even ap .art from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterlytransformed from the one baby boomers knew. Nearly all application materials are submitted online,and the Common Application provides a one-size-fits form accepted by more than 400 schools,including the nation's most selective.[G]Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay,500 words maximum,isgenerally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions. Applicants areasked to describe an ethical dilemma they've faced and its impact on them, or discuss a public issueof special concern to them, or tell of a fictional character or creative work that has profoundlyinfluenced them. Another question invites them to write about theimportance (to them, again) ofdiversity -- a word that has assumed magic power in American higher education. The most popularoption: write on a topic of your choice.[H]“Boys in particular look at the other questions and say, ' Oh, that's too much work, ’ ” saysJohnBoshoven, a counselor in the Ann Arbor, Mich., public schools. "They think if they do a topic oftheir choice, ' I'll just go get that history paper I did last year on the Roman Empire and turn it into afirst-person application essay! ' And they end up producing something utterly ridiculous. "[I]Talking to admissions professionals like Boshoven, you realize that the list of "don'ts" inessaywriting is much longer than the "dos. ”“No book reports, no history papers, no character studies,"says Sohmer.[J]"It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into cliches ( 老生常谈) ," says Boshoven. "Theydon'trealize how typical their experiences are. 'I scored the winning goal in soccer against our arch-rival. ’‘ My grandfather served in World War H, and I hope to be just like him someday.That maymean a lot to that particular kid. But in the world of the application essay, it's nothing.You'll losethe reader in the first paragraph. "[K]"The greatest strength you bring to this essay," says the College Board's how-to book, "is 17 years or so of familiarity with the topic: YOU. The form and style are very familiar, and best of all, you arethe world-class expert on the subject of YOU... It has been the subject of your close scrutiny everymorning since you were tall enough to see into the bathroom mirror. " The key word in the CommonApplication prompts is "you. "[L]The college admission essay contains the grandest American themes--status anxiety, parentalpiety(孝顺), intellectual standards--and so it is only a matter of time before it becomes infected by thecountry's culture of excessive concern with self-esteem. Even if the question is ostensibly ( 表面上)about something outside the self ( describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics),the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?[M]"For all the anxiety the essay causes," says Bill McClintick of Mercersburg AcademyinPennsylvania, "it's a very small piece of the puzzle. I was in college admissions for 10 years. I sawldds and parents beat themselves up over this.And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not abig variable in the college's decision-making process. "[ N] Many admissions officers say they spend less than a couple of minutes on each application, includingthe essay. According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges saythe essay is of "considerable importance" in judging an application. Among public colleges anduniversities, the number drops to roughly one in 10. By contrast,86 percent place"considerableimportance" on an applicant's grades,70 percent on "strength of curriculum. "[O] Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high gradesand test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equallyqualified candidates. The thought is certainly enough to keep the pot boiling under parents like Meg,the lawyer-mom, as she tries to help her son choose an essay topic. For a moment the other day, shethought she might have hit on a good one. "His father's from France," she says. "I said maybe youcould write about that, as something that makes you different. You know;half French, halfAmerican. I said, ' You could write about your identity issues. ' He said, ' I don't have any identityissues!' And he's right. He's a well-adjnsted, normal kid. But that doesn't make for a good essay,does it?" 47Today many universities require their applicants to write an essay of up to five hundred words.48.One recent change in college admissions is that selective colleges and universities have moved the traditional deadline to earlier dates.49.Applicants and their parents are said to believe that the personal essay can sway the admissions committee.50.Applicants are usually better off if they can write an essay that distinguishes them from the rest.51.Not only is the competition getting more intense, the application process today is also totally different from what baby boomers knew.52.In writing about their own experiences many applicants slip into cliches, thus falling to engage the reader.53.According to a recent survey, most public colleges and universities consider an applicant's grades highly important.54.Although the application essay causes lots of anxiety, it does not play so important a role in thecollege's decision-making process.55.The question you are supposed to write about may seem outside the self, but the theme of the essay should center around its impact on you.56.In the old days, applicants only had to submit a sample of their school papers to show their writing ability.根据下列材料,回答57-61题Among the government's most interesting reports is one that estimates what parents spend on theirchildren. Not surprisingly, the costs are steep. For a middle-class, hnsband-and-wife family (averagepretax income in 2009: $76,250), spending per child is about $12,000 a year. With inflation the family's spending on a child will total $ 286,050 by age 17.The dry statistics ought to inform the ongoing deficit debate, because a budget is not just a catalog ofprograms and taxes. It reflects a society's priorities and values. Our society does not-despite rhetoric(说辞) to the contrary--put much value on raising children. Present bridget policies tax parents heavily tosupport the elderly. Meanwhile, tax breaks for children are modest. If deficit reduction aggravates thesebiases, more Americans may choose not to have children or to have fewer children. Down that path lieseconomic decline.Societies that cannot replace their populations discourage investment and innovation. They havestagnant (萧条的) or shrinking markets for goods and services. With older populations, they resistchange. To stabilize its population--discounting immigration--women must have an average of twochildren. That's a fertility rate of 2.0. Many countries with struggling economies are well below that.Though having a child is a deeply personal decision, it's shaped by culture, religion, economics, andgovernment policy. "No one has a good answer" as to why fertility varies among countries, sayssociologist Andrew Cherlin of The Johns Hopkins University. Eroding religious belief in Europe may partlyexplain lowered birthrates. In Japan young women may be rebelling against their mothers' isolated lives ofchild rearing. General optimism and pessimism count. Hopefulness fueled America's baby boom. After theSoviet Union's collapse, saysCherlin, "anxiety for the future" depressed birthrates in Russia and EasternEurope.In poor societies, people have children to improve their economicwell-being by increasing thenumber of family workers and providing support for parents in their old age. In wealthy societies, the logicoften reverses. Govenunent now supports the elderly, diminishing the need for children. By some studies,the safety nets for retirees have reduced fertility rates by 0.5 children in the United States and almost 1.0in Western Europe, reports economist Robert Stein in the journal National Affairs. Similarly, somecouples don't have children because they don't want to sacrifice their own lifestyles to the time andexpense of a family.Young Americans already face a bleak labor market that cannot instill (注入) confidence abouthaving children. Piling on higher taxes won't help, "If higher taxes make it more expensive to raisechildren," says Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute, "people will think twice abouthaving another child. " That seems like common sense, despite the multiple influences on becomingparents.57.What do we learn from the government report?A. Inflation increases families' expenses.B.Raising children is getting expensive.C.Budget reduction is around the corner.D.Average family expenditure is increasing.58.What is said to be the consequence of a shrinking population?A. Weakened national strength.B.Increased immigration.C.Economic downturn.D.Social instability.59.What accounted for America's baby boom?A. Optimism for the future.B.Improved living conditions.C.Religious beliefs.D.Economic prosperity.60.Why do people in wealthy countries prefer to have fewer children?A. They want to further improve their economic well-being.B. They cannot afford the time and expenses of rearing children.C. They are concerned about the future of the coming generation.D. They don't rely on their children to support them in old age.61.What is the author's purpose in writing the passage?A. To instill confidence in the young about raising children.B. To advise couples to think twice before having children.C.To encourage the young to take care of the elderly.D.To appeal for tax reduction for raising children.Questions 62-66are based on the following passage.Space exploration has always been the province of dreamers: The human imagination readily soarswhere human ingenuity (创造力) struggles to follow.A Voyage to the Moon, often cited as the firstscience fiction story, was written by Cyrano de Bergerac in 1649. Cyrano was dead and buried for a goodthree centuries before the first manned rockets started to fly.In 1961, when President Kennedy declared that America would send a man to the moon by thedecade's end, those words, too, had a dreamlike quality. They resonated (共鸣) with optimism and ambition in much the same way as the most famous dream speech of all, delivered by Martin Luther KingJr. two years later. By the end of the decade, both visions had yielded concrete results and transformedAmerican society. And yet in many ways the two dreams ended up at odds with each other.The fight forracial and economic equality is intensely pragmatic (讲求实用的) and immediate in its impact. The urgeto explore space is just the opposite, It is figuratively and literally otherworldly in its aims. When the dust settled, the space dreamers lost out. There was no grand follow-up to the Apollomissions. The technologically compromised space shuttle program has just come to an end, with nosuccessor. The perpetual argument is that funds are tight, that we have more pressing problems here onEarth. Amid the current concerns about the federal deficit, reaching toward the stars seems a dispensableluxury--as if saving one-thousandth of a single year's budget would solve our problems. But human ingenuity struggles on. NASA is developing a series of robotic probes that will get the mostbang from a buck. They will serve as modern Magellans, mapping out the solar system for whateverexplorers follow, whether man or machine. On the flip side, companies like Virgin Galactic are plotting abottom-up assault on the space dream by making it a reality to the public. Private spaceflight could liewithin reach of rich civilians in a few years. Another decade or two and it could go mainstream.The space dreamers end up benefiting all of us--not just because of the way they expand human knowledge, or because of the spin-off technologies they produce, but because the two types of dreamsfeed off each other. Both Martin Luther King and John Kennedy appealed to the idea that humans cantranscend what were once considered inherent limitations. Today we face seeming challenges in energy,the environment, health care. Tomorrow we will transcend these as well, and the dreamers will deserve alot of the credit. The more evidence we collect that our species is capable of greatness, the more we willactually achieve it.62.The author mentions Cyrano de Bergerac in order to show that__________ A. imagination is the mother of inventionB.ingenuity is essential for science fiction writersC.it takes patience for humans to realize their dreamsD.dreamers have always been interested in science fiction63.How did the general public view Kennedy's space exploration plan? A.It symbolized the American spirit.B. It was as urgent as racial equality.C.It sounded very much like a dream.D.It made an ancient dream come true.64.What does the author say about America's aim to explore space?A. It may not bring about immediate economic gains.B. It cannot be realized without technological innovation.C.It will not help the realization of racial and economic equality.D.It cannot be achieved without a good knowledge of the other worlds.65.What is the author's attitude toward space programs?A. Critical.B.Reserved.C.Unbiased.D.Supportive.66.What does the author think of the problems facing human beings?A. They pose a serious challenge to future human existence.B. They can be solved sooner or later with human ingenuity.C.Their solutions need joint efforts of the public and private sectors.D.They can only be solved by people with optimism and ambition.四、翻译(共1题,合计15分)67.中国园林(the Chinese garden)是经过三千多年演变丽成的独具一格的园林景观(1andscape)。
2013年12月英语四级真题及答案(第二套)
2013年12月大学英语四级考试真题(第2套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essaybased on the picture below. You should start you,:" essay with a brief account of the increasing use of the mobile phone in people's then and then explain the consequences of overusing it. You should write at least 120 words but no more than, 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must "read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line through the centre.1. A) Go to a place he has visited.B) Make her own arrangements.C) Consult a travel agent.D) Join in a package tour.2. A) They are on a long trip by car.B) They are stuck in a traffic jam.C) They are used to getting up early.D) They are tired of eating out at night.3. A) He is a person difficult to deal with.B) He dislikes any formal gathering.C) He is unwilling to speak in public.D) He often keeps a distance from others.4. A) Work in another department.B) Pursue further education.C ) Recruit graduate students.D) Take an administrative job.5. A) He would not be available to start the job in time.B) He is not quite qualified for the art director position.C) He would like to leave some more time for himself.D) He will get his application letter ready before May 1.6. A) Cleaner.B) Mechanic.C) Porter.D) Salesman.7. A) Request one or two roommates to do the cleaning.B) Help Laura with her term paper due this weekend.C) Get Laura to clean the apartment herself this time.D) Ask Laura to put off the cleaning until another week.8. A) A problem caused by the constryction.B) An accident that occurred on the bridge.C) The building project they are working on.D) The public transportation conditions.Question 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A) To look for a job as a salesperson.B) To have a talk with Miss Thompson.C) To place an order for some products.D) To complain about a faulty appliance.10. A) The person in charge is not in the office.B) The supplies are out of stock for the moment.C) They failed to reach an agreement on the price.D) The company is re-cataloguing the items.11. A) 0743, 12536 extension 15.B) 0734, 21653 extension 51.C) 0734, 38750 extension 15.D) 0743, 62135 extension 51.Questions 12 to 15rose based on the convermttion you have just heard.12. A) Since he found a girlfriend.B) Since he took to heavy smoking,C) Since he began to exercise regularly.D) Since he started to live on his own.13. A) He is getting too, fat.B) He smokes too much.C) He doesn't eat vegetables.D) He doesn't look well at all.14. A) They are ovenveight for their age.B) They are respectful to their parents.C) They are still in their early twenties.D) They dislike doing physical exercise.15. A) To quit smoking,B) To reduce his weight.C) To find a girlfriend.D) To follow her advice.Section BDircctions:In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A ), B), C) and D ). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line through the centre..Passage OneQuestions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) They have destroyed several small towns.B) They will soon spread to San Francisco.C) They have injured many residents.D) They are burning out of control.17. A) They have been hospitalizeded.B) They have got skin problems.C) They were choked by the thick smoke.D) They were poisoned by the burning chemical.18. A) It failed because of a sudden rocket explosion. B) Ithas been re, scheduled for a midday takeoff.C) It has been canceled due to technical problems.D) It was delayed for eleven hours and thirty minutes.19. A) They made frequent long, distance calls to each other.B) They illegally used government computers in New Jersey.C) They were found to be smarter than computer specially.D) They were arrested for stealing government information. Passage TwoQuestions 20 to 22 are basd on the passage you have just heard.20. A) Peaceful.B) Considerate.C) Generous.D) Cooperative.21. A) Someone dumped the clothes left in the washer and dryer.B) Someone broke the washer and dryer by overloading them.C) Mindy Lance's laundry blocked the way to the laundry room.D) Mindy Lance threatened to take revenge on her neighbors.22. A) Asking the neighborhood committee for help.B) Limiting the amount of laundry for each wash.C) Informing the building manager of the matter.D) Installing a few more washers and dryers.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. A) She is both a popular and highly respected author,B) She is the most love African novelist of a J1 times.C) She is the most influential author since the 1930's.D) She is the first writer to focus on the fate of slaves.24. A) The Book Critics Circle Award.B) The Nobel Prize for literature.C) The Pulitzer Prize for fiction.D) The National Book Award.25. A) She is a relative of Morrison's.B) She is a slave from Africa.C) She is a skirled storyteller.D) She is a black woman,Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read forthe first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read forthe second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard.Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Many college students today own personal computers that cost anywhere from $1,000 to perhaps $ 5,000or more. 26 , it is not uncommon for them to purchase 27 costing another several hundreddollars, Twenty years ago, computers were 28 , but they were very large and extremely expensive.Few, if any, 29 purchased computers for home use..Over the years the price of the "guts" ofa computer-its memory-has declined to less than a thousandth of the price per unit of memory thatprevailed twenty years ago. This is the main reason why computers cost so much less today thanthey used to. Moreover, 30 improvements have made it possible to 31 memory circuitry thatis small enou~ to fit into the portble personal computers that many of us own and use. 32 ,as the price of computation has declined the average consumer and business have spent more on purchasing computers. 33 , improved agricultural technology, hybrid (杂交) seeds, 34animal breeding, and so on have vastly increased the amount of output a typical farmer can produce.The prices of goods such as meats and grains have fallen sharply relative to the prices of mostother goods and services. As agricultural prices have fallen, many households have decreased theirtotal expenses on food. Even though the 35of a product purchased generally increase when its price falls, total expenses on it may decline.Part Ⅱ Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select oneword foreach blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read thepassage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identifed bya letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a singleline through the centre. Fou may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.To get a sense of how women have progressed in science, take a quick tour of the physics departmentat the University of California, Berkeley. This is a storied place, the 36 of some of the mostimportant discoveries in modern science--starting with Ernest Lawrence's invention of thecyclotron (回旋加速器) in1931. A generation ago, female faces were 37 and, even today, visitorswalking through the first floor of LeConte Hall will see a full corridor of exhibits 38 themany distinguished physicists who made history here, 39 all of them white males. But climb up to the third floor and you'll see a 40 display. There, among the photos of currentfaculty members and students, are portraits of the 41 head of the department, Marjorie Shapiro,and four other women whose research 42 everything from the mechanics of the universe to thesmallest particles of matter. A sixth woman was hired just two weeks ago. Although they're stillonly about 10 percent of the physics faculty, women are clearly a presence here. And the real43 may be in the smaller photos to the right: graduate and undergraduate students, about 20percent of them female. Every year Berkeley sends its fresh female physics PhDs to the country'stop universities. That makes Shapiro optimistic, but also 44 "I believe things are gettingbetter," she says, "but they're not getting better as 45 as I would like.A) circumstanceB) confidenceC) coversD) currentE) dealsF) differentG) exposingH) fastI) honoringJ) hopeK) presentlyL) rareM) realisticN) siteO) virtuallySection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information gi.ven in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraphis marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Is College a Worthy Investment?A) Why are we spending so much money on college? Andwhy are we so unhappy about it? We all seemto agree that a college education is wonderful, and yet strangely we worry when we see families investing so much in this supposedly essential good. Maybe it's time to ask a question that seems almost sacrilegious (大不敬) : is all this investment in college education really worth it?B) The answer. I fear, is no. For an increasing number of kids, the extra time and money spent pursuing a college diploma will leave them worse off than they were before they set foot on campus. C) For my entire adult life, a good education has been the most important thing for middle-class households. My parents spent more educating my sister and me than they spent on their house, and they're not the only ones.., and, of course, for an increasing number of families, most of the cost of their house is actually the cost of living in a good school district. Questioning the value of a college education seems a bit like questioning the value of happiness, or tim. D) The average price of all goods and services has risen about 50 percent. But the price of a college education has nearly doubled in that time. Is the education that today's students are getting twice as good? Are new workers twice as smart? Have they become somehow massively more expensive to educate?E ) Perhaps a bit. Richard Vedder, an Ohio University economics professor, says, "I look at the data, and I see college costs rising faster than inflation up to the mid-1980s by 1 percenta year. Now I see them rising 3to 4 percent a year over inflation. What has happened? The federal government has started dropping money out of airplanes. " Aid has increased, subsidized (补贴的) loans have become available, and "the universities have gotten the money. " EconomistBryan Caplan, who is writing a book about education, agrees: "It's a giant waste of resources that will continue as long as the subsidies continue. "F) Promotional literature for colleges and student loans often speaks of debt as an "investment in yourself. " But an investment is supposed to generate income to pay off the loans. More than haft of all recent graduates are tmemployed or in jobs that do not require a degree, and the amount of student- loan debt carried by households has increased more than five times since 1999. These graduates were told that a diploma was all they needed to succeed, but it won't even get them out of the spare bedroom at Mom and Dad's. For many, the most visible result of their four years is the loan payments, which now average hundreds of dollars a month on loan balances in the tens of thousands.G) It's true about the money--sort of. College graduates now make 80 percent more than people who have only a high-school diploma, and though there are no precise estimates, the wage premium (高出的部分) for an outstanding school seems to be even higher. But that's not true of every student. It's very easy to spend four years majoring in English literature and come out no more employable than you were before you went in. Conversely, chemical engineers straight out of school can easily make almost four times the wages of an entry-level high-sch0ol graduate.H) James Heckman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, has examined how the returns on education break down for individuals with different backgrounds and levels of ability. "Even with these high prices, you're still finding a high return for individuals who are bright and motivated," he says. On the other hand, "if you're not college ready, then the answer is no, it's not worth it. " Experts tend to agree that for the average student, college is still worth it today, but they also agree that the rapid increase in price is eating up more and more of the potential return. For borderline students, tuition ( 学费) rise can push those returns into negative territory.I) Everyone seems to agree that the government, and parents, should be rethinking how we invest in higher education-and that employers need to rethink the increasing use of college degrees as crude screening tools for jobs that don't really require college skills, "Employers seeing a surplus of college graduates and looking to fill jobs are just adding that requirement," says Vedder. "In fact, a college degree becomes a job requirement for becoming a bar-tender. " J) We have started to see some change on the fmance side. A law passed in 2007 allows many students to cap their loan payment at 10 percent of their income and forgives any balance after 25 years. Bnt of course, that doesn't control the cost of education; it just shifts it to taxpayers. It also encourages gradimtes to choose lower-paying careers, which reduces the financial return to education still further. "You're subsidizing people to become priests and poets and so forth," says Heckman. "You may think that's a good thing, or you may not. " Either way it will be expensive for the government.K) What might be a lot cheaper is putting more kids to work. Caplan notes that work also btfilds valuable skills--probably more valuable for kids who don't naturally love sitting in a classroom. Heckman agrees wholeheartedly:" People are different, and those abilities can be shaped. That's what we've learned, and public policy should recognize that. "L) Heckman would like to see more apprenticeship-style (学徒式) programs, where kids can learn in the workplace learn not just specific job skills, but the kind of "soft skills," like getting to work on time and getting along with a team, that are crucial for career success, "It's about having mentors (指导者) and having workplace-based education," he says. "Time and again I'veseen examples of this kind of program working. "M) Ah, but how do we get there from here? With better public policy, hopefully, but also by making better individual decisions. "Historically markets have been able to handle these things," says Vedder, "and I think eventually markets will handle this one. ff it doesn't improve soon, people are going to wake up and ask, 'Why am I going to college?'"46. Caplan suggests that kids who don't love school go to work,47. An increasing number of families spertd more money on houses in a good school district,48. Subsidized loans to college students are a huge waste of money, according to one economist.49. More and more kids find they fare worse with a college diploma,50. For those who are not prepared for higher education, going to College is not worth it.51. Over the years the cost of a college education has increased almost by 100%.52. A law passed recently allows many students to pay no more than one tenth of their income for their college loans.53. Middle-class Americans have highly valued a good education.54. More kids should be encouraged to participate in.programs where they can learn not only job skills but also social skills.55. Over fifty percent of recent college graduates remain unemployed or unable to fred a suitable job.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four Choices marked A), B), C) and D ). You should decide, on the best choice and mark the corresponding batter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.A recent global survey of 2,000 high-net-worth individUalS found that 60% were not planning on a traditional retirement. Among US participants, 75% expected to continue working in some capacity even after stepping away from full-time jobs. "Manyof these people made their wealth by doing sometting they're passionate (有激情的) about,”.says Daniel Egan, head of behavioral finance for Barclays Wealth Americas. " Given the.. choice, they prefer to continue workirtg, " Barclays calls these people"nevertirees."Unlike many Americans compelled into early retirement by company restrictiolls, the average nevertiree often has no one forcing his hand. tf 106-year-old investor Irving Kahn, head of his own family firm, wants to keep coming to work every day, who's going to stop him? Seventy-eight-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's job security is guaranteed in the Constitution.It may seem that these elderly people are trying to cheat death. In fact, they are. And it's working. Howard Friedman, a professor at UC Riverside, found in his research that those who work hardest and are successful in their careers often live the longest lives. "People are generally being given bad advice to slow down, take it easy, stop worrying, and retire to Florida,, he says. He described one study participant, still working at the age of 100, who was. recently disappointed to see his son retire."We're beginning to see a change in how people view retirement," says George LeeSon, codirectorof the Institute of Population Ageing at Oxford. Where once ret~rement was seen as a brief reward after a long struggle through some miserable job, it is now akin (近似) to being cast aside, What Leeson terms "the Warren Buffett effect" is becoming more broadly appealing as individuals come to "view retirement as not simply being linked to economic productivity but also about contribution, "Observers are split on whether this is a wholly good thing, On the one hand, companies and financial firms can benefit from the wisdom of a resilient ( 坚韧的 ) chief, On the other, the new generation can find it more difficult to advance--an argument that typically holds little sway to a nevertiree.56. What do we learn about the so-called "nevertiree$" ?A) They are passionate about making a fortune.B) They have no choice but to continue working.C) They love what they do and choose not to retire.D) They will not retire unless they are compelled to.57. What do Irving Kahn and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have in common?A) Neither of them is subject to forced retirement.B) Neither of them desires reward for their work.C) Both cling to their positions despite oppositionD) Both are capable of coping with heavy workloads.58, What is the finding of Howard Friedman's research?A) The harder you work, the bigger your fortune will be.B) The earlier you retire, the healthier you will be.C) Elderly people have to slow down to live longer.D) Working at an advanced age lengthens people's life.59. What is the traditional view of retirement according to the passage?A) It means a burden to the younger generation.B) It is a symbol of a mature and civilized society.C) It is a compensation for one's life-long hard Work.D) It helps increase a nation's economic productivity.60. What do critics say about "nevetfirees" ?A) They are an obstacle to a company's development,B) They lack the creativity of the younger generation.C) They cannot work as efficiently as they used to.D) They prevent young people from getting ahead.Passage TwoQuesUons 61 to 65 are based on the following paassage,When we talk about Americans barely into adulthood who are saddled with uttbearable levels of debt, the conversation is almost always about student loan debt. But there's a growing body of evidence suggesting that today's young adults are also drowning in credit-card debt-and that many of them will take this debt to their graves.More than 20% overspent their income by more than $100 every single month. Since they haven't built up their credit histories yet, it's a safe bet that theae young adults are paying relatively high interest rates on the resulting credit card debt.Although many young people blame "Socializing" a~ a barrier to saving money, most of them aren't knocking back $ 20 drinks in trendy ( 时尚的) lounges. They're struggling with much more dailyfinancial demands.To a disturbingly large extent, the young and the broke are relying on credit cards to make it until their next payday. This obviously isn't sustainable in the long run, and it's going -to put a huge drag on, their spending power even after they reach their peak earning years, becattse they'll sttll be paying intereston that bottle Of orange juice or box of spaghetti (意式面条) they bOUght a decade earlier.A new study out of Ohio State University found that young adults are accumulating credit card debt at a more rapid rate than other age groups, and that they're slower at paying it off, "If what we found continues to hold true, we may have more elderly people with substantial financial problems in the future," warns Lucia Duma, professor of economics at Ohio State, "If our persist, we may befaced with a financial crisis among elderly ,people who can't pay off their credit cards, " Dunn says a lot of these young people are never going to get out from under their credit card debt."Many people are borrowing on credit cards so heavily that payoff rates at these levels are not sufficient to recover their credit card debt by the end of their life, which could have loss implications for the credit card issuing banks. "61. Wilt is the main idea of the first paragraph?A) Many young Americans will never be able to pay off their debts.B) Credit cards play an increasingly important role in college life.C) Credit cards are doing more harm than student loans.D) The American credit card system is under criticism.62. Why do young people have to pay a higher interest on their credit card debt?A) They tend to forget about the deadlines.B) They haven't developed a credit history,C) They are often unable to pay back in time. -D) They are inexperienced in managing money.63. What is said to be the consequence of young adults relying on credit cards to make ends meet?A) It will place an unnecessary burden on society.B) It will give them no motivation to work hard.C) It will exert psychological pressure on them.D) It will affect their future spending power.64. What will happen to young adults if their credit card debt keeps accumulating according to Lucia Dunn?A) They will have to pay an increasingly higher interest rate.B) They may experience a financial crisis in their old age.C) Their quality of life will be affected.D) Their credit cards may be cancelled.65. What does Lucia Dunn think might be a risk for the credit card issuing banks?A) They go bankrupt as a result of over-lending.B) They lose large numbers of their regular clients.C) Their clients leave their debts unpaid upon death.D) Their interest rates have to be reduced now and then.Part IV Translation (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese intoEnglish. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2,中国结(the Chinese knot)最初是由手工艺人发明的,经过数百年不断的改进,已经成为一种优雅多彩的艺术和工艺。
2013年12月四级真题(2)
2013年12月大学英语四级考试真题(第2套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay based on the picture below. You should start your essay with a brief account of the increasing use of the mobile phone in people's life , then explain the consequences of overusing it. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must "read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which the best answer is. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.1. A) Go to a place he has visited.B) Make her own arrangements.C) Consult a travel agent.D) Join in a package tour.2. A) They are on a long trip by car.B) They are stuck in a traffic jam.C) They are used to getting up early.D) They are tired of eating out at night.3. A) He is a person difficult to deal with.B) He dislikes any formal gathering.C) He is unwilling to speak in public.D) He often keeps a distance from others.4. A) Work in another department.B) Pursue further education.C) Recruit graduate students.D) Take an administrative job.5. A) He would not be available to start the job in time.B) He is not quite qualified for the art director position.C) He would like to leave some more time for himself.D) He will get his application letter ready before May 1.6. A) Cleaner.B) Mechanic.C) Porter.D) Salesman.7. A) Request one or two roommates to do the cleaning.B) Help Laura with her term paper due this weekend.C) Get Laura to clean the apartment herself this time.D) Ask Laura to put off the cleaning until another week.8. A) A problem caused by the construction.B) An accident that occurred on the bridge.C) The building project they are working on.D) The public transportation conditions.Question 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A) To look for a job as a salesperson.B) To have a talk with Miss Thompson.C) To place an order for some products.D) To complain about a faulty appliance.10. A) The person in charge is not in the office.B) The supplies are out of stock for the moment.C) They failed to reach an agreement on the price.D) The company is re-cataloguing the items.11. A) 0743, 12536 extension 15.B) 0734, 21653 extension 51.C) 0734, 38750 extension 15.D) 0743, 62135 extension 51.Questions 12 to 15rose based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) Since he found a girlfriend.B) Since he took to heavy smoking,C) Since he began to exercise regularly.D) Since he started to live on his own.13. A) He is getting too, fat.B) He smokes too much.C) He doesn't eat vegetables.D) He doesn't look well at all.14. A) They are overweight for their age.B) They are respectful to their parents.C) They are still in their early twenties.D) They dislike doing physical exercise.15. A) To quit smoking,B) To reduce his weight.C) To find a girlfriend.D) To follow her advice.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) They have destroyed several small towns.B) They will soon spread to San Francisco.C) They have injured many residents.D) They are burning out of control.17. A) They have been hospitalized.B) They have got skin problems.C) They were choked by the thick smoke.D) They were poisoned by the burning chemical.18. A) It failed because of a sudden rocket explosion.B) It has been re, scheduled for a midday takeoff.C) It has been canceled due to technical problems.D) It was delayed for eleven hours and thirty minutes.19. A) They made frequent long, distance calls to each other.B) They illegally used government computers in New Jersey.C) They were found to be smarter than computer specially.D) They were arrested for stealing government information. Passage Two Questions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.20. A) Peaceful.B) Considerate.C) Generous.D) Cooperative.21. A) Someone dumped the clothes left in the washer and dryer.B) Someone broke the washer and dryer by overloading them.C) Mindy Lance's laundry blocked the way to the laundry room.D) Mindy Lance threatened to take revenge on her neighbors.22. A) Asking the neighborhood committee for help.B) Limiting the amount of laundry for each wash.C) Informing the building manager of the matter.D) Installing a few more washers and dryers.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. A) She is both a popular and highly respected author,B) She is the most love African novelist of a J1 times.C) She is the most influential author since the 1930's.D) She is the first writer to focus on the fate of slaves.24. A) The Book Critics Circle Award.B) The Nobel Prize for literature.C) The Pulitzer Prize for fiction.D) The National Book Award.25. A) She is a relative of Morrison's.B) She is a slave from Africa.C) She is a skilled storyteller.D) She is a black woman,Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard.Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Many college students today own personal computers that cost anywhere from $1,000 to perhaps $ 5,000 or more. 26 , it is not uncommon for them to purchase 27 costing another several hundred dollars, Twenty years ago, computers were 28 , but they were very large and extremely expensive. Few, if any, 29 purchased computers for home use. Over the years the price of the "guts" of a computer-its memory-has declined to less than a thousandth of the price per unit of memory that prevailed twenty years ago. This is the main reason why computers cost so much less today than they used to. Moreover, 30 improvements have made it possible to 31 own and use. 32 , as the price of computation has declined the average consumer and business have spent more on purchasing computers. 33 , improved agricultural technology,hybrid (杂交) seeds, 34 animal breeding, and so on have vastly increased the amount of output a typical farmer can produce. The prices of goods such as meats and grains have fallen sharply relative to the prices of most other goods and services. As agricultural prices have fallen, many households have decreased their total expenses on food. Even though the 35 of a product purchased generally increase when its price falls, total expenses on it may decline.Part ⅡReading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.To get a sense of how women have progressed in science, take a quick tour of the physics department at the University of California, Berkeley. This is a storied place, the 36 of some of the most important discoveries in modern science--starting with Ernest Lawrence's invention of the cyclotron (回旋加速器) in1931. A generation ago, female faces were 37 and, even today, visitors walking through the first floor of Leconte Hall will see a full corridor of exhibits 38 the many distinguished physicists who made history here, 39 all of them white males.But climb up to the third floor and you'll see a 40 display. There, among the photos of current faculty members and students, are portraits of the 41 head of the department, Marjorie Shapiro, and four other women whose research 42 everything from the mechanics of the universe to the smallest particles of matter. A sixth woman was hired just two weeks ago. Although they're still only about 10 percent of the physics faculty, women are clearly a presence here. And the real 43 may be in the smaller photos to the right: graduate and undergraduate students, about 20 percent of them female. Every year Berkeley sends its fresh female physics PhDs to the country's top universities. That makes Shapiro optimistic, but also 44 "I believe things are getting better," she says, "but they're not getting better as 45 as I would like.A) circumstanceB) confidenceC) coversD) currentE) dealsF) differentG) exposingH) fastI) honoringJ) hopeK) presentlyL) rareM) realisticN) siteO) virtuallySection BDirections:In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Is College a Worthy Investment?A) Why are we spending so much money on college? And why are we so unhappy about it? We all seem to agree that a college education is wonderful, and yet strangely we worry when we see families investing so much in this supposedly essential good. Maybe it's time to ask a question that seems almost sacrilegious (大不敬) : is all this investment in college education really worth it?B) The answer. I fear, is no. For an increasing number of kids, the extra time and money spent pursuing a college diploma will leave them worse off than they were before they set foot on campus.C) For my entire adult life, a good education has been the most important thing for middle-class households. My parents spent more educating my sister and me than they spent on their house, and they're not the only ones.., and, of course, for an increasing number of families, most of the cost of their house is actually the cost of living in a good school district. Questioning the value of a college education seems a bit like questioning the value of happiness, or fun.D) The average price of all goods and services has risen about 50 percent. But the price of a college education has nearly doubled in that time. Is the education that today's students are getting twice as good? Are new workers twice as smart? Have they become somehow massively more expensive to educate?E) Perhaps a bit. Richard V edder, an Ohio University economics professor, says, "I look at the data, and I see college costs rising faster than inflation up to the mid-1980s by 1 percent a year. Now I see them rising 3 to 4 percent a year over inflation. What has happened? The federal government has started dropping money out of airplanes. " Aid has increased, subsidized (补贴的) loans have become available, and "the universities have gotten the money". Economist Bryan Caplan, who is writing a book about education, agrees: "It's a giant waste of resources that will continue as long as the subsidies continue.”F) Promotional literature for colleges and student loans often speaks of debt as an "investment in y ourself.” But an investment is supposed to generate income to pay off the loans. More than haft of all recent graduates are employed or in jobs that do not require a degree, and the amount of student-loan debt carried by households has increased more than five times since 1999. These graduates were told that a diploma was all they needed to succeed, but it won't even get them out of the spare bedroom at Mom and Dad's. For many, the most visible result of their four years is the loan payments, which now average hundreds of dollars a month on loan balances in the tens of thousands.G) It's true about the money--sort of. College graduates now make 80 percent more than people who have only a high-school diploma, and though there are no precise estimates, the wage premium (高出的部分)for an outstanding school seems to be even higher. But that's not true of every student. It's very easy to spend four years majoring in English literature and come out no more employable than you were before you went in. Conversely, chemical engineers straight out of school can easily make almost four times the wages of an entry-level high-sch0ol graduate.H) James Heckman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, has examined how the returns on education break down for individuals with different backgrounds and levels of ability. "Even with these high prices, you're still finding a high return for individuals who are bright and motivated," he says. On the other hand, "if you're not college ready, then the answer is no, it's not worth it.” Expe rts tend to agree that for the average student, college is still worth it today, but they also agree that the rapid increase in price is eating up more and more of the potential return. For borderline students, tuition (学费) rise can push those returns into negative territory.I) Everyone seems to agree that the government, and parents, should be rethinking how we invest in higher education-and that employers need to rethink the increasing use of college degrees as crude screening tools for jobs that don't really require college skills, "Employers seeing a surplus of college graduates and looking to fill jobs are just adding that requirement," says Vedder. "In fact, a college degree becomes a job requirement for becoming a bar-tender.”J) We have started to see some change on the finance side. A law passed in 2007 allows many students to cap their loan payment at 10 percent of their income and forgives any balance after 25 years. But of course, that doesn't control the cost of education; it just shifts it to taxpayers. It also encourages graduates to choose lower-paying careers, which reduces the financial return to education still further. "You're subsidizing people to become priests and poets and so forth," says Heckman. "You may think that's a good thin g, or you may not.” Either way it will be expensive for the government.K) What might be a lot cheaper is putting more kids to work. Caplan notes that work also builds valuable skills--probably more valuable for kids who don't naturally love sitting in a classroom. Heckman agrees wholeheartedly:" People are different, and those abilities can be shaped. That's what we've learned, and public policy should recognize that. "L) Heckman would like to see more apprenticeship-style (学徒式) programs, where kids can learn in the workplace learn not just specific job skills, but the kind of "soft skills," like getting to work on time and getting along with a team, that are crucial for career success, "It's about having mentors (指导者)and havingworkplace-based educa tion," he says. "Time and again I've seen examples of this kind of program working.”M) Ah, but how do we get there from here? With better public policy, hopefully, but also by making better individual decisions. "Historically markets have been able to handle these things," says Vedder, "and I think eventually markets will handle this one. if it doesn't improve soon, people are going to wake up and ask, 'Why am I going to college?'"46. Caplan suggests that kids who don't love school go to work,47. An increasing number of families spend more money on houses in a good school district,48. Subsidized loans to college students are a huge waste of money, according to one economist.49. More and more kids find they fare worse with a college diploma,50. For those who are not prepared for higher education, going to College is not worth it.51. Over the years the cost of a college education has increased almost by 100%.52. A law passed recently allows many students to pay no more than one tenth of their income for their college loans.53. Middle-class Americans have highly valued a good education.54. More kids should be encouraged to participate in programs where they can learn not only job skills but also social skills.55. Over fifty percent of recent college graduates remain unemployed or unable to find a suitable job.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four Choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide, on the best choice and mark the corresponding batter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.A recent global survey of 2,000 high-net-worth individuals found that 60% were not planning on a traditional retirement. Among US participants, 75% expected to continue working in some capacity even after stepping away from full-time jobs. "Many of these people made their wealth by doing something they're passionate (有激情的) about,” says Daniel Egan, head of behavioral finance for Barclays Wealth Americas. “Given the choice, they prefer to continue working,” Barclays calls these people "nevertirees."Unlike many Americans compelled into early retirement by company restrictions, the average nevertiree often has no one forcing his hand. If 106-year-old investor Irving Kahn, head of his own family firm, wants to keep coming to work every day, who's going to stop him? Seventy-eight-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's job security is guaranteed in the Constitution.It may seem that these elderly people are trying to cheat death. In fact, they are. And it's working. Howard Friedman, a professor at UC Riverside, found in his research that those who work hardest and are successful in their careers often live the longest lives. "People are generally being given bad advice to slow down, take it easy, stop worrying, and retire to Florida,, he says. He described one study participant, still working at the age of 100, who was recently disappointed to see his son retire."We're beginning to see a change in how people view retirement," says George Leeson, codirector of the Institute of Population Ageing at Oxford. Where once retirement was seen as a brief reward after a long struggle through some miserable job, it is now akin (近似)to being cast aside, What Leeson terms "the Warren Buffett effect" is becoming more broadly appealing as individuals come to "view retirement as not simply being linked toeconomic productivity but also about contribution, "Observers are split on whether this is a wholly good thing, On the one hand, companies and financialfirms can benefit from the wisdom of a resilient ( 坚韧的) chief, On the other, the new generation can find it more difficult to advance--an argument that typically holds little sway to a nevertiree.56. What do we learn about the so-called "nevertiree" ?A) They are passionate about making a fortune.B) They have no choice but to continue working.C) They love what they do and choose not to retire.D) They will not retire unless they are compelled to.57. What do Irving Kahn and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have in common?A) Neither of them is subject to forced retirement.B) Neither of them desires reward for their work.C) Both cling to their positions despite oppositionD) Both are capable of coping with heavy workloads.58, What is the finding of Howard Friedman's research?A) The harder you work, the bigger your fortune will be.B) The earlier you retire, the healthier you will be.C) Elderly people have to slow down to live longer.D) Working at an advanced age lengthens people's life.59. What is the traditional view of retirement according to the passage?A) It means a burden to the younger generation.B) It is a symbol of a mature and civilized society.C) It is a compensation for one's life-long hard Work.D) It helps increase a nation's economic productivity.60. What do critics say about "nevertirees" ?A) They are an obstacle to a company's development,B) They lack the creativity of the younger generation.C) They cannot work as efficiently as they used to.D) They prevent young people from getting ahead.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage,When we talk about Americans barely into adulthood who are saddled with unbearable levels of debt, the conversation is almost always about student loan debt. But there's a growing body of evidence suggesting that today's young adults are also drowning in credit-card debt-and that many of them will take this debt to their graves. More than 20% overspent their income by more than $100 every single month. Since they haven't built up their credit histories yet, it's a safe bet that these young adults are paying relatively high interest rates on the resulting credit card debt.Although many young people blame "Socializing" a~ a barrier to saving money, most of them aren't knocking back $ 20 drinks in trendy ( 时尚的) lounges. They're struggling with much more daily financial demands.To a disturbingly large extent, the young and the broke are relying on credit cards to make it until their next payday. This obviously isn't sustainable in the long run, and it's going -to put a huge drag on, their spending power even after they reach their peak earning years, because they'll still be paying intereston that bottle Of orange juice or box of spaghetti (意式面条) they bought a decade earlier.A new study out of Ohio State University found that young adults are accumulating credit card debt at a more rapidrate than other age groups, and that they're slower at paying it off, "If what we found continues to hold true, we may have more elderly people with substantial financial problems in the future," warns Lucia Duma, professor of economics at Ohio State, "If our findings persist, we may befaced with a financial crisis among elderly ,people who can't pay off their credit cards, "Dunn says a lot of these young people are never going to get out from under their credit card debt."Many people are borrowing on credit cards so heavily that payoff rates at these levels are not sufficient to recover their credit card debt by the end of their life, which could have loss implications for the credit card issuing banks. "61. Wilt is the main idea of the first paragraph?A) Many young Americans will never be able to pay off their debts.B) Credit cards play an increasingly important role in college life.C) Credit cards are doing more harm than student loans.D) The American credit card system is under criticism.62. Why do young people have to pay a higher interest on their credit card debt?A) They tend to forget about the deadlines.B) They haven't developed a credit history,C) They are often unable to pay back in time. -D) They are inexperienced in managing money.63. What is said to be the consequence of young adults relying on credit cards to make ends meet?A) It will place an unnecessary burden on society.B) It will give them no motivation to work hard.C) It will exert psychological pressure on them.D) It will affect their future spending power.64. What will happen to young adults if their credit card debt keeps accumulating according to Lucia Dunn?A) They will have to pay an increasingly higher interest rate.B) They may experience a financial crisis in their old age.C) Their quality of life will be affected.D) Their credit cards may be canceled.65. What does Lucia Dunn think might be a risk for the credit card issuing banks?A) They go bankrupt as a result of over-lending.B) They lose large numbers of their regular clients.C) Their clients leave their debts unpaid upon death.D) Their interest rates have to be reduced now and then.Part IV Translation (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2,中国结(the Chinese knot)最初是由手工艺人发明的,经过数百年不断的改进,已经成为一种优雅多彩的艺术和工艺。
201312大学英语四级真题第二套
2013.12 英语四级考试真题试卷(第二套)2013年12月英语四级考试真题试卷(2)2013.12 英语四级考试真题试卷(第二套)201312第二套Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay. You should start your essay with a brief account of the increasing use of the mobile phone in people's life and then explain the consequences of overusing it. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.注意:此部分试题在答题卡1上________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________201312(2)1. A) Go to a place he has visited. B) Make her own arrangements.C) Consult a travel agent. D) Join in a package tour.2. A) They are on a long trip by car. B) They are stuck in a traffic jam.C) They are used to getting up early. D) They are tired of eating out at night.3. A) He is a person difficult to deal with. B) He dislikes any formal gathering.C) He is unwilling to speak in public. D) He often keeps a distance from others.4. A) Work in another department. B) Pursue further education.C) Recruit graduate students. D) Take an administrative job.5. A) He would not be available to start the job in time.B) He is not quite qualified for the art director position.C) He would like to leave some more time for himself.D) He will get his application letter ready before May 1.6. A) Cleaner. B) Mechanic. C) Porter. D) Salesman.7. A) Request one or two roommates to do the cleaning.B) Help Laura with her term paper due this weekend.C) Get Laura to clean the apartment herself this time.D) Ask Laura to put off the cleaning until another week.8. A) A problem caused by the construction. B) An accident that occurred on the bridge.C) The building project they are working D) The public transportation conditions.9. A) To look for a job as a salesperson. B) To have a talk with Miss Thompson.C) To place an order for some products. D) To complain about a faulty appliance.10. A) The person in charge is not in the office. B) The supplies are out of stock for the moment.C) They failed to reach an agreement on the price.D) The company is re-cataloguing the items.11. A) 0743, 12536 extension 15. B) 0734, 21653 extension 51.C) 0734, 38750 extension 15. D) 0743, 62135 extension 51.12. A) Since he found a girlfriend. B) Since he took to heavy smoking.C) Since he began to exercise regularly. D) Since he started to live on his own.13. A) He is getting too fat. B) He smokes too much.C) He doesn't eat vegetables. D) He doesn't look well at all.14. A) They are overweight for their age. B) They are respectful to their parents.C) They are still in their early twenties. D) They dislike doing physical exercise.15. A) To quit smoking. B) To reduce his weight.C) To find a girlfriend. D) To follow her advice. Passage One Questions 16 to 19 are based on the conversation you have just heard.16. A) They have destroyed several small towns. B) They will soon spread to San Francisco.C) They have injured many residents. D) They are burning out of control.17. A) They have been hospitalized. B) They have got skin problems.C) They were choked by the thick smoke. D) They were poisoned by the burning chemicals.18. A) It failed because of a sudden rocket explosion.B) It has been re-scheduled for a midday takeoff.C) It has been canceled due to technical problems.D) It was delayed for eleven hours and thirty minutes.19. A) They made frequent long-distance calls to each other.B) They illegally used government computers in New Jersey.C) They were found to be smarter than computer specialists.D) They were arrested for stealing government information.Passage Two Questions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.20. A) Peaceful. B) Considerate. C) Generous. D) Cooperative.21. A) Someone dumped the clothes left in the washer and dryer.B) Someone broke the washer and dryer by overloading them.C) Mindy Lance's laundry blocked the way to the laundry room.D) Mindy Lance threatened to take revenge on her neighbors.22. A) Asking the neighborhood committee for help.B.) Limiting the amount of laundry for each wash.C) Informing the building manager of the matter.D) Installing a few more washers and dryers.Passage Three Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. A) She is both a popular and highly respected author.B) She is the most loved African novelist of all times.C) She is the most influential author since the 1930's.D) She is the first writer to focus on the fate of slaves.24. A) The Book Critics Circle Award. B) The Nobel Prize for literature.C) The Pulitzer Prize for fiction. D) The National Book Award.25. A) She is a relative of Morrison's. B) She is a slave from Africa.C) She is a skilled storyteller. D) She is a black woman.Many college students today own personal computers that cost anywhere from $1000 to perhaps $5000 or more. __26__, it is not uncommon for them to purchase __27__ costing another several hundred dollars. Twenty years ago, computers were __28__, but they were very large and extremely expensive. Few, if any. __29__ purchased computers for home use. Over the years, the price of the "guts" of a computer-its memory-has declined to less than a thousandth of the price per unit of memory that prevailed twenty years ago. This is the main reason why computers cost so much less today than they used to. Moreover. __30__ improvements have made it possible to __31__ memory circuitry that is small enough to fit into the portable personal computers that many of us own and use. __32__, as the price of computation has declined the average consumer and business have spent more on purchasing computers.__33__ improved agricultural technology, hybrid(杂交) seeds. __34__ animal breeding, and so on have vastly increased the amount of output a typical farmer can produce. The prices of goods such as meats and grains have fallen sharply relative to the prices of most other goods and services. As agricultural prices have fallen, many households have decreased their total expenses on food. Even though the __35__ of a product purchased generally increases when its price falls, total expenses on it may decline.(201312)-2 To get a sense of how women have progressed in science, take a quick tour of the physics department at the University of California, Berkeley. This is a storied place, the __36__ of some of the most important discoveries in modern science-starting with Ernest Lawrence's invention of the cyclotron (回旋加速器) in 1931. A generation ago, female faces were __37__ and, even today, visitors walking through the first floor of LeConte Hall will see a full corridor of exhibits __38__ the many distinguished physicists who made history here. __39__ all of them white males.But climb up to the third floor and you'll see a __40__ display. There, among the photos of current faculty members and students, are portraits of the __41__ head of the department, Marjorie Shapiro, and four other women whose research __42__ everything from the mechanics of the universe to the smallest particles of matter. A sixth woman was hired just two weeks ago. Although they're still only about 10 percent of the physics faculty, women are clearly a presence here. And the real __43__ may be in the smaller photos to the right: graduate and undergraduate students, about 20 percent of them female. Every year Berkeley sends its fresh female physics PhDs to the country's top universities. That makes Shapiro optimistic, but also __44__. "I believe things are getting better," she says, "but they're not getting better as __45__ as I would like."(201312) --1What does it take to be a well-trained nurse? The answer used to be two-year associate's or four-year bachelor's degree programs. But as the nursing shortage __36__ . a growing number of schools and hospitals are establishing "fast-track programs" that enable college graduates with no nursing __37__ to become registered nurses with only a year or so of __38__ training. In 1991. there were only 40 fast-track curricula; now there are more than 200. Typical is Columbia University's Entry to Practice program. Students earn their bachelor of science in nursing in a year. Those who stay on for an __39__ two years can earn a master's degree that __40__ them as nurse practitioners(执业护士) or clinical nurse specialists.Many students are recent __41__; others are career switchers. Rudy Guardron, 32, a 2004 graduate of Columbia's program, was a premedical student in college and then worked for a pharmaceutical (药物的) research company. At Columbia, he was __42__ as a nurse practitioner. "I saw that nurses were in high __43__ and it looked like a really good opportunity," he says. "Also. I didn't want to be in school for that long. "The fast-track trend fills a need, but it's also creating some __44__ between newcomers and veterans. "Nurses that are still at the bedside __45__ these kids with suspicion," says Linda Pellico, who has taught nursing at Yale University for 18 years. "They wonder, how can they do it quicker?" The answer is they don't.Is College a Worthy Investment?A) Why are we spending so much money on college? And why are we so unhappy about it? We all seem to agree that a college education is wonderful, and yet strangely we worry when we see families investing so much in this supposedly essential good. Maybe it's time to ask a question that seems almost sacrilegious (大不敬的): is all this investment in college education really worth it?B) The answer, I fear, is no. For an increasing number of kids, the extra time and money spent pursuing a college diploma will leave them worse off than they were before they set foot on campus.C) For my entire adult life, a good education has been the most important thing for middle-class households. My parents spent more educating my sister and me than they spent on their house, and they're not the only ones... and, of course, for an increasing number of families, most of the cost of their house is actually the cost of living in a good school district. Questioning the value of a college education seems a bit like questioning the value of happiness, or fun.D) The average price of all goods and services has risen about 50 percent. But the price of a college education has nearly doubled in that time. Is the education that today's students are getting twice as good? Are new workers twice as smart? Have they become somehow massively more expensive to educate?E) Perhaps a bit. Richard Vedder, an Ohio University economics professor, says, "I look at the data, and I see college costs rising faster than inflation up to the mid-1980s by 1 percent a year. Now I see them rising 3 to 4 percent a year over inflation. What has happened? The federal government has started dropping money out of airplanes. " Aid has increased, subsidized(补贴的) loans have become available, and "the universities have gotten the money." Economist Bryan Caplan, who is writing a book about education, agrees: "It's a giant waste of resources that will continue as long as the subsidies continue."F) Promotional literature for colleges and student loans often speaks of debt as an "investment in yourself." But an investment is supposed to generate income to pay off the loans. More than half of all recent graduates are unemployed or in jobs that do not require a degree, and the amount of student-loan debt carried by households has increased more than five times since 1999. These graduates were told that a diploma was all they needed to succeed, but it won't even get them out of the spare bedroom at Mom and Dad's. For many, the most visible result of their four years is the loan payments, which now average hundreds of dollars a month on loan balances in the tens of thousands.G) It's true about the money-sort of. College graduates now make 80 percent more than people who have only a high-school diploma, and though there are no precise estimates, the wage premium (高出的部分) for an outstanding school seems to be even higher. But that's not true of every student. It's very easy to spend four years majoring in English literature and come out no more employable than you were before you went in. Conversely, chemical engineers straight out of school can easily make almost four times the wages of an entry-level high-school graduate.H) James Heckman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, has examined how the returns on education break down for individuals with different backgrounds and levels of ability. "Even with these high prices, you're still finding a high return for individuals who are bright and motivated," he says. On the other hand, "if you're not college ready, then the answer is no, it's not worth it." Experts tend to agree that for the average student, college is still worth it today, but they also agree that the rapid increase in price is eating up more and more of the potentialreturn. For borderline students, tuition(学费) rise can push those returns into negative territory.I) Everyone seems to agree that the government, and parents, should be rethinking how we invest in higher education and that employers need to rethink the increasing use of college degrees as crude screening tools for jobs that don't really require college skills. "Employers seeing a surplus of college graduates and looking to fill jobs are just adding that requirement." says Vedder. "In fact, a college degree becomes a job requirement for becoming a bar-tender."J) We have started to see some change on the finance side. A law passed in 2007 allows many students to cap their loan payment at 10 percent of their income and forgives any balance after 25 years. But of course, that doesn't control the cost of education! it just shifts it to taxpayers. It also encourages graduates to choose lower-paying careers, which reduces the financial return to education still further. "You're subsidizing people to become priests and poets and so forth," says Heckman. "You may think that's a good thing, or you may not." Either way it will be expensive for the government.K) What might be a lot cheaper is putting more kids to work. Caplan notes that work also builds valuable skills- probably more valuable for kids who don't naturally love sitting in a classroom. Heckman agrees wholeheartedly: "People are different, and those abilities can be shaped. That's what we've learned, and public policy should recognize that."L) Heckman would like to see more apprenticeship-style(学徒式) programs, where kids can learn in the workplace-learn not just specific job skills, but the kind of "soft skills," like getting to work on time and getting along with a team- that are crucial for career success. "It's about having mentors(指导者) and having workplace-based education," he says. "Time and again I've seen examples of this kind of program working."M) Ah, but how do we get there from here? With better public policy, hopefully, but also by making better individual decisions. "Historically markets have been able to handle these things," says Vedder. "and I think eventually markets will handle this one. If it doesn't improve soon, people are going to wake up and ask, 'Why am I going to college?'"46. Caplan suggests that kids who don't love school go to work.47. An increasing number of families spend more money on houses in a good school district.48. Subsidized loans to college students are a huge waste of money, according to one economist.49. More and more kids find they fare worse with a college diploma.50. For those who are not prepared for higher education, going to college is not worth it.51. Over the years the cost of a college education has increased almost by 100%.52. A law passed recently allows many students to pay no more than one tenth of their income for their college loans.53. Middle-class Americans have highly valued a good education.54. More kids should be encouraged to participate in programs where they can learn not only job skills but also social skills.55. Over fifty percent of recent college graduates remain unemployed or unable to find a suitable job.Passage One Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.A recent global survey of 2000 high-net-worth individuals found that 60% were not planning on a traditional retirement. Among US participants, 75% expected to continue working in some capacity even after stepping away from full-time jobs. "Many of these people made their wealth by doing something they're passionate (有激情的) about." says Daniel Egan, head of behavioral finance for Barclays Wealth Americas. "Given the choice, they prefer to continue working." Barclays callsthese people "nevertirees."Unlike many Americans compelled into early retirement by company restrictions, the average nevertiree often has no one forcing his hand. If 106-year-old investor Irving Kahn, head of his own family firm, wants to keep coming to work every day. who's going to stop him? Seventy-eight-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's job security is guaranteed in the Constitution.It may seem that these elderly people are trying to cheat death. In fact, they are. And it's working. Howard Friedman, a professor at UC Riverside, found in his research that those who work hardest and are successful in their careers often live the longest lives. "People are generally being given bad advice to slow down, take it easy, stop worrying, and retire to Florida," he says. He described one study participant, still working at the age of 100, who was recently disappointed to see his son retire."We're beginning to see a change in how people view retirement," says George Leeson, co-director of the Institute of Population Ageing at Oxford. Where once retirement was seen as a brief reward after a long struggle through some miserable job, it is now akin (近似) to being cast aside. What Leeson terms "the Warren Buffett effect" is becoming more broadly appealing as individuals come to "view retirement as not simply being linked to economic productivity but also about contribution."Observers are split on whether this is a wholly good thing. On the one hand, companies and financial firms can benefit from the wisdom of a resilient(坚韧的) chief. On the other, the new generation can find it more difficult to advance-an argument that typically holds little sway to a nevertiree.56. What do we learn about the so-called "nevertirees"?A) They are passionate about making a fortune.B) They have no choice but to continue working.C) They love what they do and choose not to retire.D) They will not retire unless they are compelled to.57. What do Irving Kahn and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have in common?A) Neither of them is subject to forced retirement.B) Neither of them desires reward for their work.C) Both cling to their positions despite opposition.D) Both are capable of coping with heavy workloads.58. What is the finding of Howard Friedman's research?A) The harder you work, the bigger your fortune will be.B) The earlier you retire, the healthier you will be.C) Elderly people have to slow down to live longer.D) Working at an advanced age lengthens people's life.59. What is the traditional view of retirement according to the passage?A) It means a burden to the younger generation.B) It is a symbol of a mature and civilized society.C) It is a compensation for one's life-long hard work.D) It helps increase a nation's economic productivity.60. What do critics say about "nevertirees"?A) They are an obstacle to a company's development.B) They lack the creativity of the younger generation.C) They cannot work as efficiently as they used to.D) They prevent young people from getting ahead.Passage Two Questions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.When we talk about Americans barely into adulthood who are saddled with unbearable levels of debt, the conversation is almost always about student loan debt. But there's a growing body of evidence suggesting that today's young adults are also drowning in credit-card debt and that many of them will take this debt to their graves.More than 20% overspent their income by more than $100 every single month. Since they haven't built up their credit histories yet, it's a safe bet that these young adults are paying relatively high interest rates on the resulting credit card debt.Although many young people blame "socializing" as a barrier to saving money, most of them aren't knocking back $20 drinks in trendy (时尚的) lounges. They're struggling with much more daily financial demands.To a disturbingly large extent, the young and the broke are relying on credit cards to make it until their next payday. This obviously isn't sustainable in the long run. and it's going to put a huge drag on their spending power even after they reach their peak earning years, because they'll still be paying interest on that bottle of orange juice or box of spaghetti (意式面条) they bought a decade earlier.A new study out of Ohio State University found that young adults are accumulating credit card debt at a more rapid rate than other age groups, and that they're slower at paying it off. "If what we found continues to hold true, we may have more elderly people with substantial financial problems in the future," warns Lucia Dunn, professor of economics at Ohio State. "If our findings persist, we may be faced with a financial crisis among elderly people who can't pay off their credit cards."Dunn says a lot of these young people are never going to get out from under their credit card debt. "Many people are borrowing on credit cards so heavily that payoff rates at these levels are not sufficient to recover their credit card debt by the end of their life, which could have loss implications for the credit card issuing banks."61. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?A) Many young Americans will never be able to pay off their debts.B) Credit cards play an increasingly important role in college life.C) Credit cards are doing more harm than student loans.D) The American credit card system is under criticism.62. Why do young people have to pay a higher interest on their credit card debt?A) They tend to forget about the deadlines. B) They haven't developed a credit history.C) They are often unable to pay back in time. D) They are inexperienced in managing money.63. What is said to be the consequence of young adults relying on credit cards to make ends meet?A) It will place an unnecessary burden on society.B) It will give them no motivation to work hard.C) It will exert psychological pressure on them.D) It will affect their future spending power.64. What will happen to young adults if their credit card debt keeps accumulating according to Lucia Dunn?A) They will have to pay an increasingly higher interest rate.B) They may experience a financial crisis in their old age.C) Their quality of life will be affected.D) Their credit cards may be cancelled.65. What does Lucia Dunn think might be a risk for the credit card issuing banks?A) They go bankrupt as a result of over-lending.B) They lose large numbers of their regular clients.C) Their clients leave their debts unpaid upon death.D) Their interest rates have to be reduced now and then.中国结(the Chinese knot)最初是由手工艺人发明的,经过数百年不断的改进.已经成为一种优雅多彩的艺术和工艺。
2013年12月大学英语六级考试真题之第二套(含答案)
2013年12月大学英语六级考试真题之第二套(含答案)2013年12月大学英语六级考试真题(第II套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)(请于正式开考后半小时内完成该部分,之后将进行听力考试)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay about the impact of the information explosion by referring to the saying “A wealth of information crea tes a poverty of attention.” You can give examples to illustrate your point and then explain what you can do to avoid being distracted by irrelevant information. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.1. A) Labor problems.B) Weather conditions.C) An error in the order.D) Misplacing of goods.2. A) What the woman says makes a lot of sense.B) The rich are opposed to social welfare.C) He is sympathetic with poor people.D) He agrees with Mr. Johnson?s views.3. A) He will be practicing soccer.B) He has work to finish in time.C) He will be attending a meeting.D) He has a tough problem to solve.4. A) Mary should get rid of her pet as soon as possible.B) Mary will not be able to keep a dog in the building.C)Mary is not happy with the ban on pet animals.D)Mary might as well send her dog to her relative.5.A) The twins? voices are quite different.B) Lisa and Gale are not very much alike.C) He does not believe they are twin sisters.D) The woman seems a bit hard of hearing.6.A) The serious economic crisis in Britain.B) A package deal to be signed in November.C) A message from their business associates.D) Their ability to deal with financial problems.7.A) It is impossible to remove the stain completely.B) The man will be charged extra for the service.C) The man has to go to the main cleaning facility.D) Cleaning the pants will take longer than usual.8.A) European markets.B) A protest rally.C) Luxury goods.D) Imported products.Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A) He made a business trip.B) He had a quarrel with Marsha.C) He talked to her on the phone.D) He resolved a budget problem.10.A) She may have to be fired for poor performance.B) She has developed some serious mental problem.C) She is in charge of the firm?s budget planning.D) She supervises a number of important projects.11.A) She failed to arrive at the airport on time.B) David promised to go on the trip in her place.C) Something unexpected happened at her home.D) She was not feeling herself on that day.12.A) He frequently gets things mixed up.B) He is always finding fault with Marsha.C) He has been trying hard to cover for Marsha.D) He often fails to follow through on his projects.Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.13.A) They are better sheltered from all the outside temptations.B) They are usually more motivated to compete with their peers.C) They have more opportunities to develop their leadership skills.D) They make an active part in more extracurricular activities.14.A) Its chief positions are held by women.B) Its teaching staff consists of women only.C) Its students aim at managerial posts.D) Its students are role models of women.15.A) It is under adequate control.B) It is traditional but colourful.C) They are more or less isolated from the outside world.D) They have ample opportunities to meet the opposite sex.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choicesmarked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A) By invading the personal space of listeners.B) By making gestures at strategic points.C) By speaking in a deep, loud voice.D) By speaking with the local accent.17.A) To promote sportsmanship among business owners.B) To encourage people to support local sports groups.C) To raise money for a forthcoming local sports event.D) To show his family?s contribution to the community.18.A) They are known to be the style of the sports world.B) They would certainly appeal to his audience.C) They represent the latest fashion in the business circles.D) They are believed to communicate power and influence.19.A) To cover up his own nervousness.B) To create a warm personal atmosphere.C) To enhance the effect of background music.D) To allow the audience to better enjoy his slides.Passage TwoQuestions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.20.A) She was the first educated slave of John Whitley?s.B) She was the greatest female poet in Colonial America.C) She was born about the time of the War of Independence.D) She was the first African-American slave to publish a book.21.A) Revise in a number of times.B) Obtain consent from her owner.C) Go through a scholarly examination.D) Turn to the colonial governor for help.22.A) Literary works calling for the abolition of slavery.B) Religious scripts popular among slaves in America.C) A rich stock of manuscripts left by historical figures.D) Lots of lost works written by African-American women.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23.A) It is a trait of generouscharacter.B) It is a reflection of self-esteem.C) It is an indicator of high intelligence.D) It is a sign of happiness and confidence.24.A) It was self-defeating.B) It was aggressive.C) It was the essence of comedy.D) It was something admirable.25.A) It is a double-edged sword.B) It is a feature of a given culture.C) It is a unique gift of human beings.D) It is a result of both nature and nurture.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for thesecond time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.It is important that we be mindful of the earth, the planet out of which we are born and by which we are nourished, guided, healed—the planet, however, which we have(26)_______to a considerable degree in these past two centuries of (27)_______ exploitation. This exploitation has reached such (28)_______ that presently it appears that some hundreds of thousands of species will be (29)_______ before the end of the century.In our times, human shrewdness has mastered the deep (30)_______ of the earth at a level far beyond the capacities of earlier peoples. We can break the mountains apart; we can drain the rivers and flood the valleys. We can turn the most luxuriant forests into throwaway paper products. We can (31)_______ the great grass cover of the western plains and pour (32)_______ chemicals into the soil until the soil is dead and blows away in the wind. We can pollute the air with acids, the rivers with sewage(污水), the seas with oil. We can invent computers (33)_______ processing ten million calculations per second. And why?To increase the volume and the speed with which we move natural resources through the consumer economy to the junk pile or the waste heap. Our managerial skills are measured by the competence (34)_______ in accelerating this process. If in these activities the physical features of the planet are damaged, if the environment is made inhospitable for (35)_______ living species, then so be it. We are, supposedly, creating a technological wonderworld.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: Inthis section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.Quite often, educators tell families of children who are learning English as a second language to speak only English, and not their native language, at home. Although theseeducators may have good36 ,their advice to families is misguided, and it 37 from misunderstandings about the process of language acquisition. Educators may fear that children hearing two languages will become 38 confused and thus their language development will be 39 ;this concern is not documented in the literature. Children are capable of learning more than one language, whether 40 or sequentially(依次地). In fact, most children outside of the United States are expected to become bilingual or even, in many cases, multilingual. Globally, knowing more than one language is viewed as an 41 and even a necessity in many areas.It is also of concern that the misguided advice that students should speak only English is given primarily to poor families with limited educational opportunities, not to wealthier families who have many educational advantages. Since children from poor families often are 42 as at-risk for academic failure, teachers believe that advising families to speak English only is appropriate.Teachers consider learning two languages to be too 43 for children from poor families, believing that the children are already burdened by their home situations.If families do not know English or have limited English skills themselves, how can they communicate in English? Advising non-English-speaking families to speak only English is 44 to telling them not to communicate with or interact with their children. Moreover, the 45message is that the family's native language is not important or valued.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
2013年12月英语六级考试听力真题及答案
Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section,you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conv ersations.Atthe end of each conversation,one or more questions will be aske d about what was said.Boththe conversation and the questions will be spoke n only once.After each question there will be apause.During the pause,you m ust read the four choices marked A),B),C)and D),and decidewhich is the best answer,Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a singleli ne through the centre.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
1.A) Dr.Smith's waiting room isn't tidy.B) Dr.Smith enjoys reading magazines.C) Dr.Smith has left a good impression on her.D) Dr.Smith may not be a good choice.2.A) The manwill rent the apartment when it is available.B) The manmade a bargain with the landlady over the rent.C) The maninsists on having a look at the apartment first.D) The manis not fully satisfied with the apartment.3.A) Packingup to go abroad.B)Brushing up on her English.C) Drawingup a plan for her English course.D)Applying for a visa to the United States.4.A) He isanxious to find a cure for his high blood pressure.B) Hedoesn't think high blood pressure is a problem for him.C) He wasnot aware of his illness until diagnosed with it.D) He didnot take the symptoms of his illness seriously.5.A) Toinvestigate the causes of AIDS.B) Toraise money for AIDS patients.C) Torally support for AIDS victims in Africa.D) To drawattention to the spread of AIDS in Asia.6.A) It hasa very long history.B) It is aprivate institution.C) It wasfounded by Thomas Jefferson.D) Itstresses the comprehensive study of nature.7.A) Theycan't fit into the machine.B) Theyhave not been delivered yet.C) Theywere sent to the wrong address.D) Theywere found to be of the wrong type.8.A) Thefood served in the cafeteria usually lacks variety.B) Thecafeteria sometimes provides rare food for the students.C) Thestudents find the service in the cafeteria satisfactory.D) The cafeteria tries hard to cater to the students'needs.Questions9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A) Hepicked up some apples in his yard.B) He cutsome branches off the apple tree.C) Hequarreled with his neighbor over the fence.D) Hecleaned up all the garbage in the woman's yard.10.A) Trimthe apple trees in her yard.B) Pick upthe apples that fell in her yard.C) Takethe garbage to the curb for her.D) Removethe branches from her yard.11.A) File alawsuit against the man.B) Ask theman for compensation.C) Havethe man's apple tree cut down.D) Throwgarbage into the man's yard.12.A) He wasready to make a concession.B) He wasnot prepared to go to court.C) He wasnot intimidated.D) He wasa bit concerned.Questions13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.13.A) Badweather.B) Humanerror.C)Breakdown of the engines.D) Failureof the communications system.14.A) Twothousand feet.B) Twelvethousand feet.C) Twentythousand feet.D)Twenty-two thousand feet.15.A)Accurate communication is of utmost importance.B) Pilotsshould be able to speak several foreign languages.C) Aircontrollers should keep a close watch on the weather.D) Cooperation between pilots and air controllers isessential.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, youwill hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions wi ll be spoken only once. Afteryou hear a question, you must choose the best a nswer from the four choices marked A), B), C)and D). Then mark the corresp onding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through thecentre.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
第二套 2013.12大学英语六级
2013年12月大学英语六级考试真题(第2套)Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.Quite often, educators tell families of children who are learning English as a second language to speak only English, and not their native language, at home. Although these educators may have good36 , their advice to families is misguided, and it 37 from misunderstandings about the process of language acquisition. Educators may fear that children hearing two languages will become 38 confused and thus their language development will be 39 ; this concern is not documented in the literature. Children are capable of learning more than one language, whether 40 or sequentially(依次地). In fact, most children outside of the United States are expected to become bilingual or even, in many cases, multilingual. Globally, knowing more than one language is viewed as an 41 and even a necessity in many areas. It is also of concern that the misguided advice that students should speak only English is given primarily to poor families with limited educational opportunities, not to wealthier families who have many educational advantages. Since children from poor families often are 42 as at-risk for academic failure, teachers believe that advising families to speak English only is appropriate. Teachers consider learning two languages to be too 43 for children from poor families, believing that the children are already burdened by their home situations.If families do not know English or have limited English skills themselves, how can they communicate in English? Advising non-English-speaking families to speak only English is 44 to telling them not to communicate with or interact with their children. Moreover, the 45 message is that the family's native language is not important or valued.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
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2013年12月大学英语六级考试真题(第2套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)(请于正式开考后半小时内完成该部分,之后将进行听力考试)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay about the impact of the information explosion by referring to the saying “A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.” You can give examples to illustrate your point and then explain what you can do to avoid being distracted by irrelevant information. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.1. A) Labor problems.B) Weather conditions.C) An error in the order.D) Misplacing of goods.2. A) What the woman says makes a lot of sense.B) The rich are opposed to social welfare.C) He is sympathetic with poor people.D) He agrees with Mr. Johnson’s views.3. A) He will be practicing soccer.B) He has work to finish in time.C) He will be attending a meeting.D) He has a tough problem to solve.4. A) Mary should get rid of her pet as soon as possible.B) Mary will not be able to keep a dog in the building.C) Mary is not happy with the ban on pet animals.D) Mary might as well send her dog to her relative.5. A) The twins’ voices are quite different.B) Lisa and Gale are not very much alike.C) He does not believe they are twin sisters.D) The woman seems a bit hard of hearing.6. A) The serious economic crisis in Britain.B) A package deal to be signed in November.C) A message from their business associates.D) Their ability to deal with financial problems.7. A) It is impossible to remove the stain completely.B) The man will be charged extra for the service.C) The man has to go to the main cleaning facility.D) Cleaning the pants will take longer than usual.8. A) European markets.B) A protest rally.C) Luxury goods.D) Imported products.Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A) He made a business trip.B) He had a quarrel with Marsha.C) He talked to her on the phone.D) He resolved a budget problem.10. A) She may have to be fired for poor performance.B) She has developed some serious mental problem.C) She is in charge of the firm’s budget planning.D) She supervises a number of important projects.11. A) She failed to arrive at the airport on time.B) David promised to go on the trip in her place.C) Something unexpected happened at her home.D) She was not feeling herself on that day.12. A) He frequently gets things mixed up.B) He is always finding fault with Marsha.C) He has been trying hard to cover for Marsha.D) He often fails to follow through on his projects.Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.13. A) They are better sheltered from all the outside temptations.B) They are usually more motivated to compete with their peers.C) They have more opportunities to develop their leadership skills.D) They make an active part in more extracurricular activities.14. A) Its chief positions are held by women.B) Its teaching staff consists of women only.C) Its students aim at managerial posts.D) Its students are role models of women.15. A) It is under adequate control.B) It is traditional but colourful.C) They are more or less isolated from the outside world.D) They have ample opportunities to meet the opposite sex.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) By invading the personal space of listeners.B) By making gestures at strategic points.C) By speaking in a deep, loud voice.D) By speaking with the local accent.17. A) To promote sportsmanship among business owners.B) To encourage people to support local sports groups.C) To raise money for a forthcoming local sports event.D) To show his family’s contribution to the community.18. A) They are known to be the style of the sports world.B) They would certainly appeal to his audience.C) They represent the latest fashion in the business circles.D) They are believed to communicate power and influence.19. A) To cover up his own nervousness.B) To create a warm personal atmosphere.C) To enhance the effect of background music.D) To allow the audience to better enjoy his slides.Passage TwoQuestions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.20. A) She was the first educated slave of John Whitley’s.B) She was the greatest female poet in Colonial America.C) She was born about the time of the War of Independence.D) She was the first African-American slave to publish a book.21. A) Revise in a number of times.B) Obtain consent from her owner.C) Go through a scholarly examination.D) Turn to the colonial governor for help.22. A) Literary works calling for the abolition of slavery.B) Religious scripts popular among slaves in America.C) A rich stock of manuscripts left by historical figures.D) Lots of lost works written by African-American women.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. A) It is a trait of generous character.B) It is a reflection of self-esteem.C) It is an indicator of high intelligence.D) It is a sign of happiness and confidence.24. A) It was self-defeating.B) It was aggressive.C) It was the essence of comedy.D) It was something admirable.25. A) It is a double-edged sword.B) It is a feature of a given culture.C) It is a unique gift of human beings.D) It is a result of both nature and nurture.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.It is important that we be mindful of the earth, the planet out of which we are born and by which we are nourished, guided, healed—the planet, however, which we have (26)_______to a considerable degree in these past two centuries of (27)_______ exploitation. This exploitation has reached such (28)_______ that presently it appears that some hundreds of thousands of species will be (29)_______ before the end of the century.In our times, human shrewdness has mastered the deep (30)_______ of the earth at a level far beyond the capacities of earlier peoples. We can break the mountains apart; we can drain the rivers and flood the valleys. We can turn the most luxuriant forests into throwaway paper products. We can (31)_______ the great grass cover of the western plains and pour (32)_______ chemicals into the soil until the soil is dead and blows away in the wind. We can pollute the air with acids, the rivers with sewage(污水), the seas with oil. We can invent computers (33)_______ processing ten million calculations per second. And why?To increase the volume and the speed with which we move natural resources through the consumer economy to the junk pile or the waste heap. Our managerial skills are measured by the competence (34)_______ in acceleratingthis process. If in these activities the physical features of the planet are damaged, if the environment is made inhospitable for (35)_______ living species, then so be it. We are, supposedly, creating a technological wonder world.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.Quite often, educators tell families of children who are learning English as a second language to speak only English, and not their native language, at home. Although these educators may have good __36__,their advice to families is misguided, and it __37__ from misunderstandings about the process of language acquisition. Educators may fear that children hearing two languages will become __38__ confused and thus their language development will be __39__;this concern is not documented in the literature. Children are capable of learning more than one language, whether __40__ or sequentially(依次地). In fact, most children outside of the United States are expected to become bilingual or even, in many cases, multilingual. Globally, knowing more than one language is viewed as an __41__ and even a necessity in many areas.It is also of concern that the misguided advice that students should speak only English is given primarily to poor families with limited educational opportunities, not to wealthier families who have many educational advantages. Since children from poor families often are __42__ as at-risk for academic failure, teachers believe that advising families to speak English only is appropriate. Teachers consider learning two languages to be too __43__ for children from poor families, believing that the children are already burdened by their home situations.If families do not know English or have limited English skills themselves, how can they communicate in English? Advising non-English-speaking families to speak only English is __44__ to telling them not to communicate with or interact with their children. Moreover, the __45__ message is that the family's native language is not important or valued.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。