2015考试题——2014至2015年大学英语六级阅读理解模拟精选试题

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2015年6月大学英语六级考试及答案——模拟题三

模拟题三Part ⅡReading Comprehension (35 minutes)Directions: There are four passages in this part. 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 letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.Questions 21 to 23 are based on the following passage:The Caledonian Market in London is a clearing house of the junk (旧货、废弃物) of the universe. Here, rubbish is a commodity and rubbish picking is a sport. Somebody, somewhere, wanted these things, perhaps just to look at. You learn here the incredible obscurity of human needs and desires. People grope (摸索), with fascinated curiosity, among the turned out debris (废墟) of thousands of attic rooms. Junk pours in twice a week, year in and year out. The Market is the penultimate (倒数第二的) resting place of banished vases, musical instruments that will not play, sewing machines that will not sew, paralyzed perambulator, epileptic bicycles and numerous other articles from which all morale and hope have long departed. There are stories of fortunes being picked up in the Market. Once seven hundred gold sovereigns were found in a secret drawer of a crazy old bureau. And book buyers have discovered valuable editions of Milton and Dickens and Carlyla. There is nothing one can not buy in the Market.21. The title below that best expresses the idea of this passage is____.A) Why People Buy What They DoB) Reflections on A Famous Junk MarketC) The Cause for Fascinated CuriosityD) What Happens to Attic Debris22. The articles for sale in the Caledonian Market____A) are wanted to look atB) are collected 100 times a yearC) reveal obscure needs and desiresD) bring fortune to the buyers23. From the style of this passage one might assume that it was taken from____.A) a report on marketingB) a guide bookC) directions for a stage settingD) an information essayQuestions 24 to 30 are based on the following passage:A llelomimetic behavior may be defined as behavior in which two or more individual animals do the same thing, with some degree of mutual simulation and coordination. It can only involve in species with sense organs that are well enough developed so that continuous sensory contact can be maintained. It is found primarily in vertebrates(脊椎动物), in those species that are diurnal, and usually in those that spend much of their lives in the air, in open water or on open plains.In birds, allelomimetic behavior is the rule rather than the exception, though it may occasionally be limited to particular seasons of the year as it is in the redwing blackbird. Its principal function is that of providing safety from predators(掠食者), partly because the flock can rely on many pairs of eyes to watch for enemies, and partly because if one bird reacts to danger, the whole flock is warned.Among mammals, allelomimetic behavior is very rare in rodents(啮齿动物), which almost never move in flocks or herds. Even when they are artificially crowded together, they do not conform in their movements. On the other hand, such behavior is a major system among large hoofed mammals,such as sheep.In the pack hunting carnivores(食肉类飞禽), allelomimetic behavior has another function of cooperative hunting for large prey(被捕食者) animals,such as moose. Wolves also defend their dens as a group against larger predators, such as bears.Finally, allelomimetic behavior is highly developed among most primate groups, where it has the principal function of providing warning against predators,as though combined defensive behavior is also seen in troops of baboons(狒狒).24. The main topic of the passage is the ____A) value of allelomimetic behavior in vertebrate and invertebrate speciesB) definition and distribution of allelomimetic behaviorC) relationship of allelomimetic behavior to the survival of the fittestD) personality factors that determine when an individual animal will show allelomimetic behavior25. Which of the following places is the most likely setting for allelomimetic behavior?A) A lake. B) A cave.C) An underground tunnel. D) A thick forest.26. The author implies that allelomimetic behavior occurs most often among animals that ____A) prey on other animalsB) are less intelligent than their enemiesC) move in groupsD) have one sense organ that dominates perception27. Which of the following is the most clear example of allelomimetic?A) Bears hunting for carnivores.B) Cattle fleeing from a fire.C) Horses running at a racetrack.D) Dogs working with police officers.28. According to the passage the primary function of allelomimetic behavior in bird is to ____.A) defend nests against predatorsB) look at each otherC) locate preyD) warn against predators29. According to the passage, what happens to the behavior of rodents when they are artificially crowded together?A) Their allelomimetic behavior increases.B) Continuous cooperation between them is maintained.C) They become aggressive and attack each other.D) They show little allelomimetic behavior.30. Which of the following groups of human beings would probably show the greatest amount of allelomimetic behavior？A) A group of students taking a test.B) Tennis players competing in a tournament.C) A patrol of soldiers scouting for the enemy.D) Drivers waiting for a traffic light to change.Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage:The American Heart Association and other groups have said for many years that people could reduce the chance of suffering a heart attack by eating less of the foods rich in cholesterol(胆固醇). These include such foods as meats, milk products and eggs. The Heart Association noted a number of studies which show that nations where people eat a lot of high cholesterol foods have a higher number of deaths from heart disease.However, the new report disagrees. It was made by the Food and Nutrition Board of the United States National Academy of Sciences. The new report by a team of 15 scientists said there is no evidence to link cholesterol in food directly to heart disease. It noted seven major studies involving people whose diet was changed to include only foods low in cholesterol. The studies found only a very small reduction in the number of heart attacks and there was no reduction in the number of heart attack deaths.Other studies have shown similar results. They found that a change to low cholesterol foods will have only a minor effect on the amount of cholesterol in a person's blood and only a minor effect on the number of deaths.Medical scientists hope that two huge new studies may settle the cholesterol dispute. The tests are designed to learn if low cholesterol foods or anticholesterol drugs, or both, can reduce the amount of the substance in the blood and reduce the chance of a heart attack. The two new studies will be finished in the next year or two.The new Academy of Sciences report also discussed other possible links between food and disease. The scientists, in general, they are deeply concernedabout some of the recent advice given about food. They noted that a number of private groups, government agencies and several popular books have advised that people can prevent heart disease, cancer and other sicknesses by changing the kinds of foods they eat. The new report said there is often no good scientific evidence to support such advice. In fact, the scientists said such ideas often produce only false hopes or unnecessary fears.31. According to the passage, people could reduce the chance of suffering heart attack by ____A) eating less foods with a lot of cholesterolB) eating less of low cholesterol foodsC) eating a lot of high cholesterol foodsD) eating drugs32. High cholesterol foods include ____A) eggs, meats and milk productsB) potatoes, green vegetables and tomatoesC) corn, wheat and beefD) sugar, rice and butter33. Some scientists believe that there is no evidence that cholestrol in food is directly linked to ____A) blood disease B) heart diseaseC) infectious disease D) mental disorder34. Medical scientists believe that ____A) tests have been designed to settle the cholesterol disputeB) drugs have been tested to reduce the amount of the substance in bloodC) low cholesterol foods or anti cholesterol drugs or both can reduce the chance of a heart attackD) none of the statements mentioned above is correct35. Which of the following statements in NOT true?A) One can avoid a heart disease by eating less foods with little cholesterol.B) One can avoid a heart disease by taking the doctor's advice to eat low cholesterol foods and anti cholesterol drugs or both.C) There has been good scientific evidence that cholesterol foods can produce the chance of suffering a heart disease.D) People usually believe that cholesterol foods are directly linked to heart disease.Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:The most interesting architectural phenomenon of the 1970's was the enthusiasm for refurbishing old buildings. Obviously, this was not an entirely new phenomenon. What is new is the wholesale interest in reusing the past, in recycling, in adaptive rehabilitation. A few trial efforts, such as Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, proved their financial viability in the 1960's, but it was in the 1970's, with strong government support through tax incentives and rapid depreciation, as well as growing interest in ecology issues, that recycling became a major factor on the urban scene.One of the most comprehensive ventures was the restoration and transformation of Boston's eighteenth century Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Market, designed in 1824. This section had fallen on hard times, but beginning with the construction of a new city hall immediately adjacent, it has returned to life with the intelligent reuse of these fine old buildings under the design leadership of BenjaminThompson. He has provided a marvelous setting for dining, shopping, professional offices, and simply walking.Butler Square, in Minneapolis, examplifies major changes in its complex of offices, commercial space, and public amenities carved out of a massive pile designed in 1906 as a hardware warehouse. The exciting interior timber structure of the building was highlighted by cutting light courts through the interior and adding large skylights.San Antonio, Texas, offers an object lesson for numerous other cities combating urban decay. Rather than bringing in the bulldozers, San Antonio's leaders rehabilitated existing structures, while simultaneously cleaning up the San Antonio River, which meanders through the business district.36. What is the main idea of the passage?A) During the 1970's, old buildings in many cities were recycled for modern use.B) Recent interest in ecology issues has led to the cleaning up of many rivers. C) The San Antonio example shows that bulldozers are not the way to fight urban decay.D) Strong government support has made adaptive rehabilitation a reality in Boston.37. What is the space at Quincy Market now used for?A) Boston's new city hall.B) Sports and recreational facilities.C) Commercial and industrial warehouses.D) Restaurants, offices, and stores.38. According to the passage, Benjamin Thompson was the designer for a project in ____A) San Francisco B) BostonC) Minneapolis D) San Antonio39. When was the Butler Square building originally built?A) In the eighteenth century.B) In the early nineteenth century.C) In the late nineteenth century.D) In the early twentieth century.40. What is the author's opinion of the San Antonio project?A) It is clearly the best of the projects discussed.B) It is a good project that could be copied in other cities.C) The extensive use of bulldozers made the project unnecessarily costly.D) The work done on the river was more important than the work done on the buildings.Part ⅢVocabulary (20 minutes)Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A), B),C)and D). Choose the ONE that best completes the sentence.Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.41. The undersea world is well known as a source of natural beauty and a____ to human fantasy.A) gleam B) magnitudeC) faction D) stimulus42. Too many hotels have been built and this has____down prices, making holidays cheaper.A) forced B) slowedC) cut D) reduced43. The climber was____from the top of the cliff on a rope held by his friends.A) exhausted B) relievedC) suspended D) isolated44. We can't understand Uncle George, for he always____whatever he says.A) masters B) mumblesC) molests D) muzzles45. You haven't really answered the question, for what you said is not ____A) eligible B) pertinentC) provident D) expeditious46. Always a clear diplomat, he ____one potential eney of his country against another, so he kept them divided.A) played down B) played onC) played with D) played off47. His illness would ____his progress of study.A) cast B) concludeC) obstruct D) block48. A beautiful autumn day like this ____for the wet summer we have had.A) compensates B) revengesC) balances D) compels49. Do you have a ____of ownership for this car?A) document B) labelC) passport D) certificate50. Ronny's steps ____, and there was a moment of absolute silence.A) died down B) died awayC) died off D) died out51. After practising for several weeks, Peter decided to ___.A) contrive B) compriseC) confirm D) compete52. When the pipe broke, the water ____ out violently.A) trickled B) gushedC) stirred D) flitted53. Few people ____ this department store because it didn't sell good clothing.A) accused B) recitedC) patronized D) advertized54. The ____ between them has been made.A) contention B) concordC) conjunction D) commune55. It's hard to ____ someone so selfish.A) feel like B) feel outC) feel for D) feel towards56. The apple tree ____the field, dropping its flowers on the grass.A) leaned on B) leaned toC) leaned over D) leaned towards57. Why are you always so ____? You never smile or look cheerful.A) angry B) sorryC) unfortunate D) miserable58. You must remember to ____all your belongs out of this classroom today.A) fetch B) take awayC) bring D) take59. The ____, while worrying, does not mean a total loss, as the jewels were insured for $ 30,000.A) robber B) robberyC) rubbish D) robot60. I have often wondered who first ____ that simple but profound truth.A) urged B) utteredC) buttered D) sponsored61. We'd better wait inside until the storm ____.A) transmits B) distortsC) migrates D) subsides62. I have not found my book yet; in fact, I am not sure____ I could have done with it.A) whether B) whereC) when D) what63. His mother bought a ____ chunk of meat.A) massive B) excessiveC) extravagant D) plentiful64. He was interested only in the story and____all those passages of landscape description.A) thought badly of B) went overC) made fun of D) passed over65. If you don't return the article to the shop within a week, you will ____ the chance of getting your money back.A) take B) forfeitC) stand D) get66. The winter was close____, she had no clothes, and now she was out of work.A) severe B) far awayC) mild D) at hand67. Jim and Mike tried to move the large rock but they could not____ it.A) arouse B) provokeC) budge D) dodge68. His ____and experience make him an excellent person for this job.A) competence B) complacencyC) compensation D) compunction69. In that year the ____of infectious diseases in theUnited Kingdom was high.A) rate B) ratioC) frequency D) incidence70. I think I've grasped your main proposals, but would you mind ____them once again?A) running out B) running intoC) running through D) running forPart ⅤWriting (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic “The 1998 Summer Flood”. You should write at least 150 words and you should base your composition on the outline (given in Chinese) below:1. 洪水所造成的损失：受灾面积……，伤亡人数……，经济损失……元，受灾最为严重的省份是……2. ******、党中央十分关心受灾地区和人民，亲自指挥抗洪抢险，取得了最后胜利。

大学英语六级英语阅读真题及答案（2015.6）

引导语：为了⽅便⼤家对英语阅读的学习，以下是百分⽹店铺整理的2015年6⽉⼤学英语六级卷⼀阅读真题及答案，欢迎阅读! 卷⼀： Part III Reading Comprehension (40minutes) Section A Direction: 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 follwing the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making choices. Each choie in the bank is identificated by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answere Sheet2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. Question 36 to 45 are based on the following passage. It’s our guilty pleasure: Watching TV is the most common everyday activity,after work and sleep, in many parts of the world. Americans view five hours of TV each day, and while we know that spending so much time sitting ___36___ can lead to obesity(肥胖症) and other diseases, researchers have now quantified just how___37___being a couch potato can be. In an analysis of data from eight large ___38___published studies, a Harvard-led group reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association that for every two hours per day spent channel ___39___,the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes(糖尿病)rose 20% over 8.5 years, the risk of heart disease increased 15% over a ___40___, and the odds of dying permaturely___41___ 13% during a seven-year follow-up .All of these___42____are linked to a lack of physical exercise. But compared with other sedentary(久坐的)activities, like knitting ,viewing TV may beespecially__43___at promoting unhealthy habits. For one, the sheer number of hours we pass watching TV dwarfs the time we spend on anything else. And other studies have found that watching ads for beer and popcorn may make you more likely to ___44___them. Even so, the authors admit that they didn’t compare different sedentary activities to___45___whether TV watching was linked to a greater risk of diabetes,heart disease or clearly death compared with, say, reading. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

2014年6月大学英语六级阅读练习题附答案及解析水印版

2014年6月大学英语六级阅读练习题附答案及解析目录2014年6月大学英语六级阅读练习题附答案及解析 (1)2014年6月大学英语六级仔细阅读练习题附答案及解析(1) (2)2014年6月英语六级长篇阅读匹配练习题附答案解析(1) (11)2014年6月英语六级选词填空习模拟练习附答案(1) (17)2014年6月大学英语六级仔细阅读练习题附答案及解析(2) (21)2014年6月英语六级长篇阅读匹配练习题附答案解析(2) (30)2014年6月英语六级选词填空习模拟练习附答案(2) (37)2014年6月大学英语六级仔细阅读练习题附答案及解析(1) Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based an the following passage.Dropping out of university to launch a start-up is old hat. The twist with Joseph Cohen, Dan Getelman and Jim Grandpre is that their start-up aims to improve how universities work. In May 2011 the three founders quit the University of Pennsvlvania. to launch Coursekit,soon renamed as Lore.whichhas already raised $ 6m to develop what Mr. Cohen, its 21-year-old chief executive, describes as a social-learning network for the classroom".Lore is part of a trend that builds on the familiarity with social networking that has come with the success of Facebook. It customizes the rules of a network to meet the specific needs of students. Anyone teaching a class would reasonably worry that students using Facebook were gossiping rather than learning useful information from their network of friends. Lore allows teachers to control exactly who is in the network by issuing a class-membership code and to see how they are using it. They can also distribute course materials, contact students, manage tests and grades, and decide what to make public and what to keep private. Students can also interact with each other.In the academic year after launching its first version last November, Lore was used in at least one class in 600 diversities and colleges. Its goal for its second year, about to begin, is to spread rapidly within those 600 institutions, not least to see what the effects of scale are from having lots of classes signed up within the same institution.The firm has a fast-growing army of fans in the faculty common room. Lore, says Edward Boches, who uses it for his advertising classes at Boston University, makes teaching "more interactive, extends it beyond the classroom and stimulates students to learn from each other rather than just the professor."Among other challenges for the company, there remains the small matter offiguring out a business model. For the moment it has none. Mr. Cohen hopes that eventually Lore could become the primary marketplace for everything from courses to textbooks, but so far the service is free and carries no advertising. Blackboard, the industry incumbent (占有者), charges users for its course-management software. It remains to be seen how it will respond to the upstart(新贵).The lack of a plan does not appear to bother Lore's founders or investors, -who seem content to learn a lesson from another university drop-out, Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook: achieve critical mass in your network and the profits will follow. And after that perhaps they can expect an honorary degree from the a/ma mater(母校).56. What do we learn from the first paragraph about Lore?A．It specializes in producing old hats.B．It aims to improve the way universities work.C．It invests $ 6m in the development of social network.D．It promotes the communication among classmates.57. What does Lore enable teachers to do?A．Meet specific needs of students.B．Learn useful information from friends.C．Control the online class membership.D．Monitor students' personal privacy.58. For its second-year goal, Lore is to __A．increase fans in the faculty common roomB．launch its second version in 600 universitiesC．make more classes from 600 institutions signed upD．spread its influence within the same institution59. Concerning the prospect of Lore, Mr. Cohen expects it toA．confront with Blackboard as an equalB．offer free service to the advertisersC．cover businesses from courses to textbooksD．Develop its own come-management software60. What do we learn about Lore's founders?A．They can't be bothered to design a business model.B．They learn a lesson from the success of Facebook.C．They will not make profits without drawing mass users.D．They desire to receive an honorary degree from the alma mater.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.A bull grazes on dry wheat husks(Phi) in Logan, Kansas, one of the regions hit by the record drought that has affected more than half of the U. S. and is expected to drive up food prices.Leadinu water scientists have issued one of the sternest warnings yet about global food supplies, saying that the world's population may have to switch almost completely to a vegetarian diet over the next 40 years to avoid catastrophic shortages.Adopting a vegetarian diet is one option to increase the amount of water available to grow more food in an increasingly climate-unstable world, the scientists said. Animal protein-rich food consumes 5 to 10 times more water than a vegetarian diet. One third of the world's arable(适于耕种的) land is used to grow crops to feed animals. Other options to feed people include eliminating waste and increasing trade between countries in food surplus and those in deficit."900 million people already go hungry and 2 billion people are malnourished in spite of the fact that per capita food production continues to increase," they said. "With 70% of all available water being in agriculture, growing more food to feed an additional 2 billion people by 2050 will place greater pressure on available water and land."The report is being released at the start of the annual world water conference in Stockholm, Sweden, where 2,500 politicians, UN bodies, non-governmental groups and researchers from 120 countries meet to address global water supply problems.Competition for water between food production and other uses will intensifypressure on essential resources, the scientists said. "The UN predicts that we must increase food production by 70% by mid-century. This will place additional pressure on our 'already stressed water resources, at a time when we also need to allocate more water to satisfy global energy demand--which is expected to rise 60% over the coming 30 years--and to generate electricity for the 1.3 billion people currently without it," said the report.Overeating, undernourishment and waste are all on the rise and increased food production may face future constraints from water scarcity."We will need a new recipe to feed the world in the future," said the report's editor, Anders Jagerskog.A separate report from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) said the best way for countries to protect millions of farmers from food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia was to help them invest in small pumps and simple technology, rather than to develop expensive, large-scale irrigation projects."Farmem across the developing world are increasingly relying on and benefiting from small-scale,locally-relevant water solutions. These techniques could increase yields up to 300% and add tens of billions of U. S. dollars to household revenues across sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. " said Dr. Colin Chartres, the director general.61. What can be inferred from the water scientists' warning?A．The record drought forces half of the U. S. to go hungry.B．The record drought drives up food prices m the U. S.C．Severe food shortage may happen without proper measures.D．A vegetarian diet is the only option to avoid disastrous shortages.62. What do the scientists say can be done to increase food supply?A．Grow more animal protein-rich food.B．Turn pastures into arable lands.C．Promote trade between countries self-sufficient in food.D．Increase the amount of water for food production.63. According to the water scientists' report,A．per capita food production has been increasingB．reduced food supply will make more people malnourishedC．70% of water will be used to feed 2 billion people by 2050D．researchers begin to seek solutions to tackle water problem64. In regard to the problem of water supply, scientists believeA．more water should be allocated to satisfy energy demandB．food production must be increased to 70% by mid-centuryC．energy demand will intensify pressure on water resourcesD．electricity generation must be increased by 60% 30 years later65. What does the IWMI say is the best solution to food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia?A．Applying small pumps and simple technology.B．Launching large-scale irrigation projects.C．Increase the local household revenues.D．Investing in a new expensive irrigation project.答案解析：56 B）。

大学英语六级阅读理解试题及答案

大学英语六级阅读理解试题及答案2015年大学英语六级阅读理解试题及答案Beauty and Body Image in the Media[A] Images of female bodies are everywhere. Women—and their body parts—sell everything from food to cars. Popular film and television actresses are becoming younger, taller and thinner. Some have even been known to faint on the set from lack of food. Women’s magazines are full of articles urging that if they can just lose those last twenty pounds, they’ll have it all—the perfect marriage, loving children, great sex, and a rewarding career.[B] Why are standards of beauty being imposed on women, the majority of whom are naturally larger and more mature than any of the models? The roots, some analysts say, are economic. By presenting an ideal difficult to achieve and maintain, the cosmetic and diet product industries are assured of growth and profits. And it’s no accident that youth is increasingly promoted, along with thinness, as an essential criterion of beauty. If not all women need to lose weight, for sure they’re all aging, says the Quebec Action Network for Women’s Health in its 2001 report. And, according to the industry, age is a disaster that needs to be dealt with.[C] The stakes are huge. On the one hand, women who are insecure about their bodies are more likely to buy beauty products, new clothes, and diet aids. It is estimated that the diet industry alone is worth anywhere between 40 to 100 billion (U.S.)a year selling temporary weight loss (90% to 95% of dieters regain the lost weight). On the other hand, research indicates that exposure to images of thin, young, air-brushed female bodies islinked to depression, loss of self-esteem and the development of unhealthy eating habits in women and girls.[D ] The American research group Anorexia Nervosa & Related Eating Disorders, Inc. says that one out of every four college-aged women uses unhealthy methods of weight control—including fasting, skipping meals, excessive exercise, laxative (泻药)abuse, and self-induced vomiting. The pressure to be thin is also affecting young girls: the Canadian Women’s Health Network warns that weight control measures are now being taken by girls as young as 5 and 6. American statistics are similar. Several studies, such as one conducted by Marika Tiggemann and Levina Clark in 2006 titled “Appearance Culture in 9- to 12-Year-Old Girls: Media and Peer Influences on Body Dissatisfaction,” indicate that nearly half of all preadolescent girls wish to be thinner, and as a result have engaged in a diet or are aware of the concept of dieting. In 2003, Teen magazine reported that 35 percent of girls 6 to 12 years old have been on at least one diet, and that 50 to 70 percent of normal weight girls believe they are overweight. Overall research indicates that 90% of women are dissatisfied with their appearance in some way. Media activist Jean Kilbourne concludes that, “Women are sold to the diet industry by the magazines we read and the television programs we watch, almost all of which make us feel anxious about our weight.”[ E] Perhaps the most disturbing is the fact that media images of female beauty are unattainable for all but a very small number of women. Researchers generating a computer model of a woman with Barbie-doll proportions, for example, found that her back would be too weak to support the weight of her upper body, and her body would be too narrow to contain more than half aliver and a few centimeters of bowel. A real woman built that way would suffer from chronic diarrhea (慢性腹泻)and eventually die from malnutrition. Jill Barad, President of Mattel (which manufactures Barbie), estimated that 99% of girls aged 3 to 10 years old own at least one Barbie doll. Still, the number of real life women and girls who seek a similarly underweight body is epidemic, and they can suffer equally devastating health consequences. In 2006 it was estimated that up to 450, 000 Canadian women were affected by an eating disorder.[F ] Researchers report that women’s magazines have ten and one-half times more ads and articles promoting weight loss than men’s magazines do, and over three-quarters of the covers of women’s magazines include at least one message about how to change a woman’s bodily appearance—by diet, exercise or cosmetic surgery. T elevision and movies reinforce the importance of a thin body as a measure of a woman’s worth. Canadian researcher Gregory Fouts reports that over three-quarters of the female characters in TV situation comedies are underweight, and only one in twenty are above average in size. Heavier actresses tend to receive negative comments from male characters about their bodies (“How about wearing a sack?，，)，and 80 percent of these negative comments are followed by canned audience laughter.[G] There have been efforts in the magazine industry to buck (才制，反抗)the trend. For several years the Quebec magazine Coup de Pouce has consistently included full-sized women in their fashion pages and Chatelaine has pledged not to touch up photos and not to include models less than 25 years of age. In Madrid, one of the world’s biggest fashion capitals, ultra-thin models were banned from the runway in 2006. FurthermoreSpain has recently undergone a project with the aim to standardize clothing sizes through using a unique process in which a laser be am is used to measure real life women’s bodies in order to find the most true to life measurement.[ H] Another issue is the representation of ethnically diverse women in the media. A 2008 study conducted by Juanita Covert and Travis Dixon titled “A Changi ng View: Representation and Effects of the Portrayal of Women of Color in Mainstream Women’s Magazines” found that although there was an increase in the representation of women of colour, overall white women were overrepresented in mainstream women’s magazines from 1999 to 2004.[I] The barrage of messages about thinness, dieting and beauty tells “ordinary” women that they are always in need of adjustment—and that the female body is an object to be perfected. Jean Kilbourne argues that the overwhelming presence of media images of painfully thin women means that real women’s bodies have become invisible in the mass media. The real tragedy, Kilbourne concludes, is that many women internalize thesestereotypes, and judge themselves by the beauty industry’s standards. Women learn to compare themselves toother women, and to compete with them for male attention. This focus on beauty and desirability “effectively destroys any awareness and action that might help to change that climate.”46. A report in Teen magazine showed that 50% to 70% girls with normal weight think that they need to lose weight.47. On the whole, for 6 years white women had been occupying much more space in mainstream women’s magazines since 1999.48. Some negative effects such as depression and unhealthy eating habits in females are related to their being exposed to images of thin and young female bodies.49. The mass media has helped boost the cosmetic and the diet industries.50. It is reported that there is at least one message about the methods for women to change their bodily appearance on more than three-quarters of the covers of women’s magazines.51. Some film and television actresses even faint on the scene due to eating too little.52. Too much concern with appearance makes it impossible to change such abnormal trend.53. Researchers found that a real woman with Barbie-doll proportions would eventually die from malnutrition.54. The Quebec magazine Coup (e Pouce resists the trend by consistently including full-sized women in their fashion pages for several years.5 5. According to some analysts, the fundamental reason of imposing standards of beauty on women is economic profits.【参考答案】：46. [D]题干意为，《青少年》杂志上的一项报道称，有50%到70%体重正常的女孩认为自己需要减肥。

2014年6月至2015年6月英语六级长阅读理解真题及问题详解【9套卷全】

2014.06【1】Lessons From a Feminist ParadiseA．On the surface, Sweden appears to be a feminist paradise. Look at any global survey of gender equalityand Sweden will be near the top. Family-friendly policies are its norm--with 16 months of paid parent all eave, special protections for part-time workers, and state-subsidized preschools where, according to a government website, "gender-awareness education is increasingly common." Due to an unofficial quotasystem, women hold 45 percent of positions in the Swedish parliament. They have enjoyed the protection of government agencies with titles like the Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality and the Secretariat of Gender Research. So why are American women so far ahead of their Swedish counterpartsin breaking through the glass ceiling?B．In a 2012 report, the World Economic Forum found that when it comes to closing the gender gap in"economic participation and opportunity," the United States is ahead of not only Sweden but also Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Iceland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Sweden's rank in there port can largely be explained by its political quota system. Though the United States has fewer women in the workforce(68 percent compared to Sweden's 77 percent), American women who choose to beemployed are far more likely to work full-time and to hold high-level jobs as managers or professionals.They also own more businesses, launch more start-ups (新创办的企业), and more often work in traditionally male fields. As for breaking through the glass ceiling in business, American women are well in the lead.C．What explains the American advantage? How can it be that societies like Sweden, where gender equalityis vigorously pursued and enforced, have fewer female managers, executives, professionals, and business owners than the laissez-faire (自由放任的) United States? A new study by Cornell economists Francine Blau and Lawrence Kahn gives an explanation.D．Generous parental leave policies and readily available part-time options have unintended consequences:instead of strengthening women's attachment to the workplace, they appear to weaken it. In addition toa 16-month leave, a Swedish parent has the right to work six hours a day (for a reduced salary) until hisor her child is eight years old. Mothers are far more likely than fathers to take advantage of this law. But extended leaves and part-time employment are known to be harmful to careers--for both genders. Andwith women a second factor comes into play: most seem to enjoy the flexible-time arrangement (onceknown as the"mommy track") and never find their way back to full-time or high-level employment. Insum: generousfamily-friendly policies do keep more women in the labor market, but they also tend to diminish their careers.E．According to Blau and Kahn, Swedish-style paternal (父亲的) leave policies and flexible-time arrangements pose a second threat to women's progress: they make employers cautious about hiring women for full-time positions at all. Offering a job to a man is the safer bet. He is far less likely to takea year of parental leave and then return on a reduced work schedule for the next eight years.F． I became aware of the trials of career-focused European women a few years ago when I met a post-doctoral student from Germany who was then a visiting fellow at Johns Hopkins. She was astonished bythe professional possibilities afforded to young American women. Her best hope in Germany was a government job-prospects for women in the private sector were dim. "In Germany," she told me, "we have all the benefits, but employers don't want to hire us."G． Swedish economists Magnus Henrekson and Mikael Stenkula addressed the following question in their2009 study: why are there so few female top executives in the European egalitarian (平等主义的)welfare states? Their answer:"Broad-based welfare-state policies hinder women's representation in elitecompetitive positions."H． It is tempting to declare the Swedish policies regressive (退步的) and hail the American system assuperior. But that would be shortsighted. The Swedes can certainly take a lesson from the United Statesand look for ways to clear a path for their ambitious female careerists. But most women are notcommitted careerists. When the Pew Research Center recently asked American parents to identify their"ideal" life arrangement,47 percent of mothers said they would prefer to work part-time and 20 percentsaid they would prefer not to work at all. Fathers answered differently: 75 percent preferred full-timework. Some version of the Swedish system might work well for a majority of American parents, but theUnited States is unlikely to fully embrace the Swedish model. Still, we can learn from their experience.I) Despite its failure to shatter the glass ceiling, Sweden has one of the most powerful and in novative economies in the world. In its 2011-2012 survey, the World Economic Forum ranked Sweden as the world's third most competitive economy; the United States came in fifth. Sweden, dubbed the "rocks tar of the recovery" in the Washington Post, also leads the world in life satisfaction and happiness. It is a society well worth studying, and its efforts to conquer the gender gap impart a vital lesson--though notthe lesson the Swedes had in mind.J) Sweden has gone farther than any other nation on earth to integrate the sexes and to offer women the same opportunities and freedoms as men. For decades, these descendants of the Vikings have been trying to show the world that the right mix of enlightened policy, consciousness raising, and non-sexist child rearing would close the gender divide once and for all. Yet the divide persists.K) A 2012 press release from Statistics Sweden bears the title"Gender Equality in Sweden Treading (踩)Water" and notes:~ The total income from employment for all ages is lower for women than for men.~ One in three employed women and one in ten employed men work part-time.~ Women's working time is influenced by the number and age of their children, but men's working time is not affected by these factors.~ Of all employees, only 13 percent of the women and 12 percent of the men have occupations with an even distribution of the sexes.L) Confronted with such facts, some Swedish activists and legislators are demanding more extreme and far-reaching measures, such as replacing male and femalepronouns with a neutral alternative and monitoring children more closely to correct them when they gravitate (被吸引) toward gendered play. When it came to light last year that mothers, far more than fathers, chose to stay home from work to care for their sickkids, Ulf Kristersson, minister of social security, quickly commissioned a study to determine the causes of and possible cures for this disturbing state of affairs.M) Swedish family policies, by accommodating women's preferences effectively, are reducing the number of women in elite competitive positions. The Swedes will find this paradoxical and try to find solutions. Letus hope these do not include banning gender pronouns, policing children's play, implementing moregender quotas, or treating women's special attachment to home and family as a social injustice. Most mothers do not aspire to (向往) elite, competitive full-time positions: the Swedish policies have given them the freedom and opportunity to live the lives they prefer. Americans should look past the gender rhetoric and consider what these Scandinavians have achieved. On their way to creating a feminist paradise, the Swedes have unintentionally created a haven (避风港) for normal mortals.46. Sweden has done more than other nations to close the gender gap, but it continues to exist.【J】47. Sweden is one of the most competitive economies in the world and its people enjoy the greatest life satisfaction.【I】48. More American women hold elite job positions in business than Swedish women.【B】49. Swedish family-friendly policies tend to exert a negative influence on women's careers.【D】50. The quota system in Sweden ensures women's better representation in government.【A】51. Though the Swedish model appears workable for most American parents, it may not be accepted by them in its entirety.【H】52. Swedish women are allowed the freedom and opportunity to choose their own way of life.【M】53. Swedish employers are hesitant about hiring women for full-time positions because of the family-friendly policies.【E】54. Gender-awareness education is becoming more and more popular in state-subsidized preschools in Sweden.【A】55. Some lawmakers in Sweden propose that gender less pronouns be used in the Swedish language.【L】2014.06【2】The Street-Level SolutionA． When I was growing up, one of my father's favorite sayings (borrowed from the humorist Will Rogers) was: "It isn't what we don't know that causes the trouble; it's what we think we know that just ain't so. "One of the main insights to be taken from the 100 000 Homes Campaign and its strategy to end chronic homelessness is that, until recently, our society thought it understood the nature of homelessness, but it didn't.B． That led to a series of mistaken assumptions about why people become homeless and what they need. Many of the errors in our homelessness policies have stemmed from the conception that the homeless are a homogeneous group. It's only in the past 15 years that organizations like Common Ground, and others, have taken a street-level view of the problem--distinguishing the "episodically homeless" from the,"chronically homeless" in order to understand their needs at an individual level. This is why we can now envisage a different approach--and get better results.C． Most readers expressed support for the effort, although a number were skeptical, and a few utterly dismissive, about the chances of long-term homeless people adapting well to housing. This is to be expected; it's hard to imagine what we haven't yet seen. As Niccol6 Machiavelli wrote in The Prince, one of the major obstacles in any effort to advance systemic change is the "incredulity of men," which is to say that people "do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them. " Most of us have witnessed homeless people on the streets for decades. Few have seen formerly homeless people after they have been housed successfully. We don't have reference points for that story. So we generalize from what we know--or think we know.D． But that can be misleading, even to experts. When I asked Rosanne Haggerty, founde of Common Ground, which currently operates 2 310 units ofsupportive housing (with 552 more under construction), what had been her biggest surprise in this work, she replied: "Fifteen years ago, I would not have believed that people who had been so broken and stuck in homelessness could thrive to the degree that they do in our buildings." And Becky Kanis, the campaign's director, commented:"There is this sense in our minds that someone who's on the streets is almost in their DNA different from someone who has a house. The campaign is creating a first-hand experience for many people that that is really not the case."E． One of the startling realizations that I had while researching this column is that anybody could become like a homeless person--all it takes is a traumatic (创伤的) brain injury. A bicycle fall, a car accident, a slip on the ice, or if you're a soldier, a head wound--and your life could become unrecognizable. James O'Connell, a doctor who has been treating the most vulnerable homeless people on the streets of Boston for 25 years, estimates that 40 percent of the long-term homeless people he's met had such a brain injury. "For many it was a head injury prior to the time they became homeless," he said. "They became unpredictable. They'd have mood swings, fits of explosive behavior. They couldn't hold onto their jobs. Drinking made them feel better. They'd end up on the streets."F． Once homeless people return to housing, they're in a much better position to rebuild their lives. But it's important to note that housing alone is not enough. As with many complex social problems, when you get through the initial crisis, you have another problem to solve which is no less challenging. But it is a better problem.G． Over the past decade, O'Connell has seen this happen. "I spend half my time on the streets or in the hospital and the other half making house calls to people who lived for years on the streets," he said. "So from a doctor's point of view it's a delightful switch, but it's not as if putting someone in housing is the answer to addressing all of their problems. It's the first step."H． Once in housing, formerly homeless people can become isolated and lonely. If they've lived on the streets for years, they may have acquired a certain standing as well as a sense of pride in their survival skills. Now indoors, those aspects of their identity may be stripped away. Many also experience a profound disorientation at the outset. "If you're homeless for more than six months, you kind of lose your bearings," says Haggerty. "Existence becomes not about overcoming homelessness but about finding food, begging, looking for a job to survive another day. The whole process of how you define stability gets reordered."I． Many need regular, if not continuous, support with mental health problems, addictions and illnesses-and, equally important, assistance in the day-to-day challenges of life, reacquainting with family, building relationships with neighbors, finding enjoyable activities or work, managing finances, and learning how to eat healthy food.J． For some people, the best solution is to live in a communal (集体) residence, with special services. This isn't available everywhere, however. In Boston, for example, homeless people tend to be scattered in apartments throughout the city.K． Common Ground's large residences in New York offer insight into the possibilities for change when homeless people have a rich array of supports. Inaddition to more traditional social services, residents also make use of communal gardens, classes in things like cooking, yoga, theatre and photography, and job placement. Last year, 188 formerly homeless tenants in four of Common Ground's residences, found jobs.L． Because the properties have many services and are well-managed, Haggerty has found posthousing problems to be surprisingly rare. In the past 10 years, there have been only a handful of incidents of quarrels between tenants. There is very little graffiti (破坏) or vandalism (涂鸦). And the turnover is almost negligible. In the Prince George Hotel in New York, which is home to 208 formerly homeless people and 208 low-income tenants, the average length of tenancy is close to seven years. (All residents pay 30 percent of their income for rent for the formerly homeless, this comes out of their government benefits. ) When people move on, it is usually because they've found a preferable apartment.M． "Tenants also want to participate in shaping the public areas of the buildings," said Haggerty. "They formed a gardening committee. They want a terrace on the roof. Those are things I didn't count on." The most common tenant demand? "People always want more storage space--but that's true of every New Yorker," she adds. "In many ways, we're a lot like a normal apartment building. Our tenants look like anyone else."N． As I mentioned, homelessness is a catch-all for a variety of problems. A number of readers asked whether the campaign will address family homelessness, which has different causes and requires a different solution. I've been following some of the promising ideas emerging to address and prevent family homelessness. Later in 2011, I'll explore these ideas in a column. For now, l'11 conclude with an update on the 100 000 Homes Campaign. Since Tuesday, New Orleans and a few other communities have reported new results. The current count of people housed is 7 043.46. Tenants in Common Ground's residences all want more room for storage.【M】47. Homes Campaign provides first-hand proof that the homeless are not what they were once believed to be.【D】48. Common Ground's residences are well-managed and by and large peaceful.【L】49. Housing the homeless is only the first step to solving all their problems.【G】50. A large percent of the chronically homeless have suffered from brain injury.【E】51. After being housed many homeless people become confused at first as to how to deal with life off the street.【H】52. Some people think the best way to help the homeless is to provide them with communal housing.【J】53. The homeless with health problems should be given regular support in their daily lives.【I】54. Until recently American society has failed to see what homelessness is all about.【A】55. Many formerly homeless tenants in New York's Common Ground's residences got hired.【K】2014.06【3】What If Middle-Class Jobs Disappear?A． The most recent recession in the United States began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. However, two years after the official end of the recession, few Americans would say that economic troubles are behind us. The unemployment rate, in particular, remains above 9%. Some labor market indicators, such as the proportion of long-term unemployed, are worse now than for any postwar recession.B． There are two widely circulated narratives to explain what's going on. The Keynesian narrative is that there has been a major drop in aggregate demand. According to this narrative, the slump can be largely cured by using monetary and fiscal (财政的) stimulus. The main anti-Keynesian narrative is that businesses aresuffering from uncertainty and over-regulation. According to this narrative, the slump can be cured by having the government commit to and follow a more hands-off approach.C． I want to suggest a third interpretation. Without ruling out a role for aggregate demand or for the regulatory environment, I wish to suggest that structural change is an important factor in the current rate of high unemployment. The economy is in a state of transition, in which the middle-class jobs that emerged after World War [[ have begun to decline. As Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee put it in a recent e-book Race Against the Machine :"The root of our problems is not that we're in a great recession, or a great stagnation (停滞), but rather that we are in the early throes (阵痛) of a great restructuring."D． In fact, I believe the Great Depression of the 1930s can also be interpreted in part as an economic transition. The impact of the internal combustion engine (内燃机) and the small electric motor on farming and manufacturing reduced the value of uneducated laborers. Instead, by the 1950s, a middle class of largely clerical (从事文秘工作的) workers was the most significant part of the labor force.Between 1930 and 1950, the United States economy underwent a great transition. Demand fell for human effort such as lifting, squeezing, and hammering. Demand increased for workers who could read and follow directions. The evolutionary process eventually changed us from a nation of laborers to a nation of clerks.E．The proportion of employment classified as "clerical workers" grew from 5.2% in 1910 to a peak of 19.3% in 1980. (However, by 2000 this proportion had edged down to 17.4%.) Overall, workers classified as clerical workers, technical workers, managers and officials exceeded 50% of the labor force by 2000. Corresponding declines took place in the manual occupations. Workers classified as laborers, other than farm hands or miners, peaked at 11.4% of the labor force in 1920 but were barely 6% by 1950 and less than 4% by 2000. Farmers and farm laborers fell from 33% of the labor force in 1910 to less than 15% by 1950 and only 1.2% in 2000.F．The introduction of the tractor and improvements in the factory rapidly reduced the demand for uneducated workers. By the 1930s, a marginal farm hand could not produce enough to justify his employment. Sharecropping, never much better than a subsistence occupation, was no longer viable (可行的). Meanwhile, machines were replacing manufacturing occupations like cigar rolling and glass blowing for light bulbs.G．The structural-transition interpretation of the unemployment problem of the 1930s would be that the demand for uneducated workers in the United States had fallen, but the supply remained high. The high school graduation rate was only 8.8% in 1912 and still just 29% in 1931. By 1950, it had reached 59%. With a new generation of workers who had completed high school, the mismatch between skills and jobs had been greatly reduced.H．What took place after World War [[ was not the revival of a 1920s economy, with its small farmingunits, urban manufacturing, and plurality of laborers. Instead, the 1950s saw the creation of a new suburban economy, with a plurality of white-collar workers. With an expanded transportation and communications infrastructure (基础设施), businesses needed telephone operators, shipping clerks and similar occupations. If you could read, follow simple instructions, and settle into a routine, you could find a job in the post-war economy.I． The trend away from manual labor has continued. Even within the manufacturing sector, the share of production and non-supervisory workers in manufacturing employment went from over 85% just after World War [I to less than 70% in more recent years. To put this another way, the proportion of white-collar work in manufacturing has doubled over the past 50 years. On the factory floor itself, work has become less physically demanding. Instead, it requires more cognitive skills and the ability to understand and carry out well-defined procedures.J．As noted earlier, the proportion of clerical workers in the economy peaked in 1980. By that date, computers and advanced communications equipment had already begun to affect telephone operations and banking. The rise of the personal computer, and the Internet has widened the impact of these technologies to include nearly every business and industry.K．The economy today differs from that of a generation ago. Mortgage and consumer loan underwriters (风险评估人) have been replaced by credit scoring. Record stores have been replaced by music downloads. Book stores are closing, while sales of books on electronic readers have increased. Data entry has been moved off shore. Routine customer support also has been outsourced (外包) overseas.L．These trends serve to limit the availability of well-defined jobs. If a job can be characterized by a précis eset of instructions, then that job is a candidate to be automated or outsourced to modestly educated workers in developing countries. The result is what David Aut or calls the polarization of the American job market.M．Using the latest Census Bureau data, Matthew Slaughter found that from 2000 to 2010 the real earnings of college graduates (with no advanced degree) fell by more in percentage terms than the earnings of high school graduates. In fact, over this period the only education category to show an increase in earnings was those with advanced degrees.N．The outlook for mid-skill jobs would not appear to be bright. Communications technology and computer intelligence continue to improve, putting more occupations at risk. For example, many people earn a living as drivers, including trucks and taxicabs. However, the age of driverless vehicles appears to be moving closer. Another example is in the field of education. In the fall of 2011, an experiment with an online course in artificial intelligence conducted by two Stanford professors drew tens of thousands of registrants (报名者). This increases the student-teacher ratio by a factor of close to a thousand. Imagine the number of teaching jobs that might be eliminated if this could be done for math, economics, chemistry, and so on.O．It's important to bear in mind that when we offer a structural interpretation of unemployment, a "loss of jobs" means an increase in productivity. Traditionally, economists have argued that productivity increases are a good thing, even though they may cause unemployment for some workers in the short run. In the long run, the economy does not run out .of jobs. Rather, new jobs emerge as old jobs disappear.The story we tell is that average well-being rises, and the more people are able to adapt, the more widespread the improvement becomes。

2014年6月大学英语六级阅读练习题附答案及解析水印版

2015年5月英语六级阅读理解模拟试题及答案

2015年5月英语六级阅读理解模拟题及答案Which is safer-staying at home，traveling to work on public transport，or working in the office? Surprisingly，each of these carries the same risk，which is very low. However，what about flying compared to working in the chemical industry? Unfortunately，the former is 65 times riskier than the latter! In fact，the accident rate of workers in the chemical industry is less than that of almost any of human activity，and almost as safe as staying at home.The trouble with the chemical industry is that when things go wrong they often cause death to those living nearby. It is this which makes chemical accidents so newsworthy. Fortunately，they are extremely rare. The most famous ones happened at Texas City (1947)，Flixborough (1974)，Seveso (1976)，Pemex (1984) and Bhopal (1984)。

Some of these are always in the minds of the people even though the loss of life was small. No one died at Seveso，and only 28 workers at Flixborough. The worst accident of all was Bhopal，where up to 3，000 were killed. The Texas City explosion of fertilizer killed 552. The Pemex fire at a storage plant for natural gas in the suburbs of Mexico City took 542 lives，just a month before the unfortunate event at Bhopal.Some experts have discussed these accidents and used each accident to illustrate a particular danger. Thus the Texas City explosion was caused by tons of ammonium nitrate(硝酸铵)，which is safe unless stored in。

2015年5月大学英语六级模拟试题A

2015年5月大学英语六级模拟试题A一、写作(共1题，合计15分)My View on Spending Craze During Graduation______________________________________________________________________________________二、阅读理解(共4题，合计35分)根据以下内容回答37-46题When studying human talent, the temptation is usually to concentrate on the upper reaches.Understandably so: we all admire the Einsteins and Mozarts of this world and 36 to imitate them.In comparison, studying the opposite end of the spectrum might seem pointless,patronizing(摆出恩赐态度的)or downright tasteless. Lack of intelligence is shameful enough withouttreating people like lab rats.Yet it often takes a different viewpoint to find new insights into an old problem. Stupidity is tooimportant and interesting to ignore. The science of stupidity is producing results that 37 ourconcepts of intelligence and that should be humbling for many of the smart people who run the world.It turns out that a tendency for entertaining 38 , foolish or illogical ideas is not necessarily theresult of a low IQ. This measure of intelligence is largely 39 of rationality. Just becauseyou score on the high end of one scale doesn't mean that you won'tfall at the bottom of the other.Importantly, no one is 40 to the biases that lead to stupid decisions. Yet our respect for IQ andeducation means that it is easy to rest on the laure/s (桂冠) of our qualifications and assume thatwe are,by definition, not stupid.That can be 41 on a personal level: regardless of IQ, people who score badly on rationality testsare more likely to have unplanned pregnancies or fall into serious debt.Large scale stupidity is even more damaging. Business cultures that 42 encourage it, for example,mayhave contributed to the economic crisis. Indeed, the effects may have been so damaging preciselybecause banks assumed that intelligent people act logically while at the same time rewarding rashbehavior based on intuition rather than 43 . As one researcher puts it: "The more intelligentsomeone is, the more disastrous the results of their stupidity". The same surely applies topoliticians: the tenth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq serves as a 44 that clever people cando monumentally stupid things.If we want to avoid making similar mistakes in the future, everybody--especially the mostintelligent and powerful--would do well to humbly 45 their own weaknesses. To quote Oscar Wilde:"There is no sin except stupidity. "A)acknowledge I) independentB)aspire J)negligibleC)challenge K)nominationD)commemorate DperpetuallyE)damaging M)rashF)deliberation N)recipientG)immune O)reminderH)inadvertently37请回答36题_____38请回答37题_____39请回答38题_____40请回答39题_____41请回答40题_____42请回答41题_____43请回答42题_____44请回答43题_____45请回答44题_____46请回答45题_____根据以下内容回答47-56题Technology, Costs, Lack of Appeal Slow E-Textbook Adantian[ A] Textbooks are often a luxury for college senior Vatell Martin. The accounting major atVirginia State University got by in several courses with study groups and professors' lectures."It's not that I didn't want to buy,"he says. "Sometimes, I just didn't have the money for a $ 200book. "VSU knows Martin isn't the only one. More than half of its students routinely skip buyingtextbooks. For a solution, the school is turning to e-textbooks.[ B ] VSU partnered with Flat World Knowledge, a start-up publisher that produces exclusively written e-books with "open" contentthat can be modified by professors. In a trial with 14 businesscourses,students would be required to pay $20 and receive a Flat World e-book and digital learningsupplements. The university and a local grant have been covering the cost, so far. "That'snothing.It's what I put in my gas tank," says Martin, who participated in the trial. "If I waswalking into a discussion on a topic, I can just download and take out the book and read it on myphone. "[ C] With their promise of ubiquity (无处不在), convenience and perhaps affordability, e-textbookshave arrived in fits and starts throughout college campuses. And publishers and book resellers arespending millions attracting students to their online stores and e-reader platforms as mobiletechnology improves the readability of the material on devices such as tablet computers. SiliconValley start-ups,such as Inkling and Kno, are also aggressively reinventing textbooks withinteractive graphics, videos and social-media features.[ D] Despite emerging attempts at innovation, the industry has been slowed by clumsy technology, thelasting appeal of print books, skeptical students who search online for cheaper alternatives, andcustomer confusion stemming from too many me-too e-textbook platforms that have failed to stand out.[ E ] The late Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, believed textbooks to be an $ 8 billion market ripe for"digital destruction," biographer Walter Issacson writes in Steve Jobs. Apple isexpected to make anannouncement Thursday about its new education products. The market is small but growing. Sales for e-textbooks in the U. S. higher education market grew 44. 3% to $267. 3 million in 2011,according toSimba Information, a publishing industry research firm.Print still rules[ F] So far, students have been less than impressed and more likely to choose print books. About 11%of college students have bought e-textbooks, according to market research firm Student Monitor.Availability isn't the chief problem. Most popular textbooks have a digital version, andthey're available online. But students have largely stayed away because the most readily availabletechnology today -- PDF (portable docmnent format) or other document reader versions of the printbook—is clumsy and eye-straining to read.[ G ] When Andrea Soto, a freshman biology major at the University of Maryland, bought Principles ofBiology, the $192 price tag came with a free online version. She prefers the touchable presence of athick book on her lap. "You can't highlight or underline things in the e-book. I find it more of atrouble," she says. However, digital books aren't necessarily cheaper, either. While priced lowerthan new print books, they're often more expensive than buying or renting used books online, says Kathy Mickey, an analyst at Simba. A federally funded pilot study at Daytona State College in Florida found that some students who rented ane-textbook paid only a dollar less than students whobought a print edition. And e-textbook users couldn't sell the book back after the class ended.[ H ] Despite e-textbooks' shortcomings, most agree that the print market is ripe for a technological overhaul (彻底改革). Prices of new books are rising sharply. Authors complain aboutused book sales that don't generate royalties. Professors and students axe annoyed at new editionsthat seemingly add little in content VS the previous one.[ I] "This is an industry that's failing everyone--parents, authors, professors, and students," saysBrad Wheeler, chief information officer at Indiana University, which is running a program thatdistributes cheaper e-textbooks but requires all students in the class to buy. Publishers areeager for a quicker transition to the format because e-textbooks cost less to publish and wouldgenerate income from every student who buys one. Digital books can't be resold, at least, not legally. "We'd prefer that all of it to go digital," says Vineet Madan, senior vice President of newventures at McGraw-Hill Education. "There isn't a secondary market for e-books. "Seeking market niche (商机)[ J ] If current e-textbooks are mostly unappealing, what's next? Like online music in its infancy,the textbook industry's key players--publishers, resellers, bookstores, tech companies, even someuniversities--are all scrambling to offer their digital solutions, an effort that has only intensified with the arrival of tablet computers and app stores.。

2015年大学英语六级CET6阅读考前模拟试题

C.Americans want to have their incomes increased.
D.Americans want to increase the purchasing power of their incomes.
2.The first two sentences in the second paragraph clarity the idea to us that ___.
An important factor in a market-oriented economy is the mechanism by which consumer demands can beexpressed and responded to by producers. In the American economy，this mechanism is provided by a price system，a process in which prices rise and fall in response to relative demands of consumers and supplies offered by seller-producers. If the product is in short supply relative to the demand，the price will be bid up and some consumers will be eliminated from the market. If，on the other hand，producing more of a commodity results in reducing its cost，this will tend to increase the supply offered by seller-producers，which in turn will lower the price and permit more consumers to buy the product. Thus，price is the regulating mechanism in the America economic system.

2015年6月大学英语六级考试模拟试题及答案

2015年6月大学英语六级考试模拟试题及答案2015年6月大学英语六级考试模拟试题(有答案)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Should One Expect a Reward When Doing a Good Deed? You shouldwrite at least 150 words following the outline given below.1. 有人做好事期望得到回报；2. 有人认为应该像雷锋那样做好事不图回报；3. 我的观点。

Should One Expect a Reward When Doing a Good Deed?Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1.For questions 1-4, markY (for YES) if the statement agrees with the informationgiven in the passage;N (for NO) if statement contradicts the informationgiven in the passage;NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in thepassage.For questions 5-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Seven Steps to a More Fulfilling JobMany people today find themselves in unfulfilling work situations. In fact, one in four workers is dissatisfied with their current job, according to the recent “Plans for 2004” survey. Their career path may be financially rewarding, but it doesn’tmeet their em otional, social or creative needs. They’re stuck, unhappy, and have no idea what to do about it, except move to another job.Mary Lyn Miller, veteran career consultant and founder of the Life and Career Clinic, says that when most people are unhappy about their work, their first thought is to get a different job. Instead, Miller suggests looking at the possibility of a different life. Through her book, 8 Myths of Making a Living, as well as workshops, seminars and personal coachingand consulting, she has helped thousands of dissatisfied workers reassess life and work.Like the way of Zen, which includes understanding of oneself as one really is, Miller encourages job seekers and those dissatisfied with work or life to examine their beliefs about work and re cognize that “in many cases your beliefs are what brought you to where you are today.” You may have been raised to think that women were best at nurturing and caring and, therefore, should be teachers and nurses. So that’s what you did. Or, perhaps you were brought up to believe that you should do what your father did, so you have taken over the family business, or become a dentist “just like dad.” If this sounds familiar, it’s probably time to look at the new possibilities for your future.Miller developed a 7-step process to help potential job seekers assess their current situation and beliefs, identify their real passion, and start on a journey that allows them to pursue their passion through work.Step 1: Willingness to do something different.Breaking the cycle of doing what you have always done is one of the most difficult tasks for job seekers. Many find it difficult to steer away from a career path or make a change, evenif it doesn’t feel right. Miller urges job seekers to open their minds to other possibilities beyond what they are currently doing.Step 2: Commitment to being who you are, not who or what someone wants you to be.Look at the \gifts and talents you have and make a commitment to pursue those things that you love most. If you love the social aspects of your job, but are stuck inside an office or “chained to your desk” most of the time, vow to follow your instinct and investigate alternative careers and work that allow you more time to interact with others. Dawn worked as a manager for a large retail clothing store for several years. Though she had advanced within the company, she felt frustrated and longed to be involved with nature and the outdoors. She decided to go to school nights and weekends to pursue her true passion by earning her master’s degree in forestry. She now works in the biotech forestry division of a major paper company.Step 3: Self-definitionMiller suggests that once job seekers know who they are, they need to know how to sell themselves. “In the job market, you are a product. And just like a product, you most know the features and benefits that you have to offer a potential client, or employer.” Examine the skills and knowledge that you have identify how they can apply to your desired occupation. Your qualities will exhibit to employers why they should hire you over other candidates.Step 4: Attain a level of self-honoring.Self-honoring or self-love may seem like an odd step for job hunters, but being able to accept yourself, without judgment, helps eliminate insecurities and will make you more self-assured. By accepting who you are – all your emotions, hopes and dreams,your personality, and your unique way of being –you’ll project more confidence when networking and talking with potential employers. The power of self-honoring can help to break all the falsehoods you were programmed to believe – those that made you feel that you were not good enough, or strong enough, or intelligent enough to do what you truly desire.Step 5: Vision.Miller suggests that job seekers develop a vision that embraces the answer to “What do I really want to do?” one should create a solid statement in a dozen or so sentences that describe in detail how they see their life related to work. For instance, the secretary who longs to be an actress describes a life that allows her to express her love of Shakespeare on stage. A real estate agent, attracted to his current job because her loves fixing up old homes, describes buying properties that need a little tender loving care to make them more saleable.Step 6: Appropriate risk.Some philosophers believe that the way to enlightenment comes through facing obstacles and difficulties. Once people discover their passion, many are too scared to do anything about it. Instead, they do nothing. With this step, job seekers should assess what they are willing to give up, or risk, in pursuit of their dream. For one working mom, that meant taking night classes to learn new computer-aided design skills, while still earning a salary and keeping her day job. For someone else, it may mean quitting his or her job, taking out loan and going back to school full time. You’ll move one step closer to your ideal work life if you identify how much risk you are willing to take and the sacrifices you are willing to make.Step 7: Action.Some teachers of philosophy describe action in this way, “If one wants to get to the top of a mountain, just sitting at the foot thinking about it will not bring one there. It is by making the effort of climbing up the mountain, step by step, that eventually the summit is reached.” All too often, it is the lack of action that ultimately holds people back from attaining their ideals. Creating a plan and taking it one step at a time can lead to new and different job opportunities. Job-hunting tasks gain added meaning as you sense their importance in your quest for a more meaningful work life. The plan can include researching industries and occupations, talking to people who are in your desired area of work, taking classes, or accepting volunteer work in your targeted field.Each of these steps will lead you on a journey to a happier and more rewarding work life. After all, it is the journey, not the destination, that is most important.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

2015年6月大学英语六级考试(cet6)真题及答案(全三套)

2015年6月英语六级真题及答案（第一套）Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying"Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it. " You can give an example or two to illustrate your point of view. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

PartⅡListening Comprehension (30 minutes)听力音频地址：/englishlistening/CET6/zhenti/2015-12-20/411536.htmlSection 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.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

2014-2015年大学英语六级考试(CET-6)真题及答案(4×3共12套)

2014年6月大学英语六级考试真题(一)Part I Writing (30 minutes)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 care fully 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 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.For investors who desire low risk and guaranteed income, US government bonds are a secure investment because these bonds have the financial backing and full faith and credit of the federal government. Municipal bonds, also secure, are offered by local governments and often have 36 such as tax-free interest. Some may even be 37. Corporate bonds are a bit more risky.Two questions often 38 first-time corporate bond investors. The first is "If I purchase acorporate bond, do I have to hold it until the maturity date?" The answer is no. Bonds are bought and sold daily on 39 securities exchanges. However, if you decide to sell your bond before its maturity date,you're not guaranteed to get the face value of the bond. For example, if your bond does not have 40 that make it attractive to other investors, you may be forced to sell your bond at a 41 ,i.e., a price less than the bond's face value. But if your bond is highly valued by other investors, you maybe able to sell it at a premium, i. e., a price above its face value. Bond prices generally 42 inversely (相反地) with current market interest rates. As interest rates go up, bond prices fall, and viceversa (反之亦然). Thus, like all investments, bonds have a degree of risk.The second question is "How can I 43 the investment risk of a particular bond issue?"Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service rate the level of risk of many corporate and government bonds. And 44 , the higher the market risk of a bond, the higher the interest rate. Investors will invest in a bond considered risky only if the 45 return is high enough. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

2015大学英语六级阅读理解练习题

2015大学英语六级阅读理解练习题Pronouncing a language is a skill. Every normal person is expert in the skill of pronouncing his own language; but few people are even moderately proficient at pronouncing foreign languages. Now there are many reasons for this， some obvious，some perhaps not so obvious. But I suggest that the fundamental reason why people in general do not speak foreign languages very much better than they do is that they fail to grasp the true nature of the problem of learning to pronounce， and consequently neverset about tackling it in the right way. Far too many people fail to realize that pronouncing a foreign language is a skill—one that needs careful training of a special kind， and one that cannot be acquired by just leaving it to take care of itself. I think even teachers of language，while recognizing the importance of a good accent， tend to neglect， in their practical teaching， the branch of study concerned with speaking the language. So the first point I want to make is that English pronunciation must be taught; the teacher should be prepared to devote some of the lesson time to this， and should get the student to feel that here is a matter worthy of receiving his close attention. So， there should be occasions when other aspects of English， such as grammar or spelling， are allowed for the moment to take second place.Apart from this question of the time given to pronunciation， there are two other requirements for the teacher： the first， knowledge; the second， technique.It is important that the teacher should be in possession of the necessary information. This can generally be obtained from books. It is possible to get from books some idea of the mechanics of speech， and of what we call general phonetic theory. It is also possible inthis way to get a clear mental picture of the relationship between the sounds of different languages， between the speech habits of English people and those， say， of your students. Unless the teacher has such a picture， any comments he may make on his students‘ pronunciation are unlik ely to be of much use， and lesson time spent on pronunciation may well be time wasted.26. What does the writer actually say about pronouncing foreign languages?A. Only a few people are really proficient.B. No one is really an expert in the skill.C. There aren’t many people who are even fairly good.D. There are even some people who are moderately proficient.27. The writer argues that going about the problem of pronunciation in the wrong way isA. an obvious cause of not grasping the problem correctlyB. a fundamental consequence of not speaking wellC. a consequence of not grasping the problem correctlyD. not an obvious cause of speaking poorly28. The best way of learning to speak a foreign language， he suggests， is by_______.A. picking it up naturally as a childB. learning from a native speakerC. not concentrating on pronunciation as suchD. undertaking systematic work29. The value the student puts on correct speech habits depends upon_______.A. how closely he attends to the matterB. whether it is English that is being taughtC. his teacher‘s approach to pronunciationD. the importance normally given to grammar and spelling30. How might the teacher find himself wasting lesson time?A. By spending lesson time on pronunciation.B. By making ill-informed comments upon pronunciation.C. By not using books on phonetics in the classroom.D. By not giving students a clear mental picture of the difference between sounds.答案：26. C 27. C 28. D 29. C。

2015年12月英语六级考试模拟试卷及答案（8）

21.According to the passage, applications of television are easily accepted in ____.
A) metropolitan area
B) deep space exploration
C) programs about entertainment and news
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage:
Television is one of today's most powerful and widespread means of mass communication. It directly influences our lives on both a short and long term basis; it brings worldwide situations into our homes; it affords extensive opportunities for acquiring higher education; and it performs these tasks in a convenient yet effective manner. We are all aware of the popularly accepted applications of television, particularly those relative to entertainment and news broadcasting.
D) remote areas
22.Which of the following statements is true in the eyes of the writer?

2015年12月英语六级阅读真题及答案

2015年12⽉英语六级阅读真题及答案第⼀套：第⼆套第三套选词填空 As it is，sleep is so undervalued that getting by on fewer hours has become a badge on Plus， we live in a culturethat（36） to the late neighter， from 24 hour grocery store to ? shopping site that never close。

It’s no surprise，then， that more than half of American adults get the 7 to 9 hours of shut-eye every night as （37）by sleep experts。

Whether or not we can catch up on sleep on the weekend， say- is a hotly （38） among sleep researchers。

The latest evidence suggests that while it isn’t （39）， it might ? when Liu， the UCLA sleep researcher and professor of medicine，brought （40） sleep-rest people into the lab for a weekend of sleep during which they lagged about 10 hours per night。

showed （41）in the ability of insulin（胰岛素） to process blood sugar。

That suggests up sleep may undo some but not all of the damage that sleep （42） causes， which is encouraging ? given how many adults don’t get the hours they need each night。

2014年6月至2015年6月英语六级阅读理解真题及答案【9套卷全】

Passage OneWhen the right person is holding the right job at the right moment, that person's influence is greatly expanded. That is the position in which Janet Yellen, who is expected to be confirmed as the next chair of the Federal Reserve Bank (FeD. in January, now finds herself. If you believe, as many do, that unemployment is the major economic and social concern of our day, then it is no stretch to think Yellen is the most powerful person in the world right now.56. What do many people think is the biggest problem facing Janet Yellen?【C】A. Lack of money.B. Subprime crisis.C. Unemployment.D. Social instability.57. What did Yellen help the Fed do to tackle the 2008 financial crisis?【D】A. Take effective measures to curb inflation.B. Deflate the bubbles in the American economy.C. Formulate policies to help financial institutions.D. Pour money into the market through asset buying.58. What is a greater concern of the general public?【B】A.Recession.B. Deflation.C. Inequality.D. Income.59. What is Yellen likely to do in her position as the Fed chief?【C】A. Develop a new monetary program.B. Restore public confidence.C. Tighten financial regulation.D. Reform the credit system.60. How does Alan Blinder portray Yellen?【A】A. She possesses strong persuasive power.B. She has confidence in what she is doing.C. She is one of the world's greatest economists.D. She is the most powerful Fed chief in history. Passage TwoAir pollution is deteriorating in many places around the world. The fact that public parks in cities become crowded as soon as the sun shines proves that people long to breathe in green, open spaces. They do not all know what they are seeking but they flock there, nevertheless. And, in these surroundings, they are generally both peaceful and peaceable. It is rare to see people fighting in a garden. Perhaps struggle unfolds first, not at an economic or social level, but over the appropriation of air, essential to life itself.61. What does the author assume might be the primary reason that people would struggle with each other【A】A. To get their share of clean air.B. To pursue a comfortable life.C. To gain a higher social status.D. To seek economic benefits.62. What does the author accuse western politicians of?【D】A. Depriving common people of the right to clean air.B. Giving priority to theory rather than practical action.C. Offering preferential treatment to wealthy countries.D. Failing to pass laws to curb environmental pollution.63. What does the author try to draw our closest attention to?【B】A. The massive burning of fossil fuels.B. Our relationship to the plant world.C. The capacity of plants to renew polluted air.D. Large-scale deforestation across the world.64. How can human beings accomplish the goal of protecting the planet according to the a?【D】A. By showing respect for plants.B. By preserving all forms of life.C. By tapping all natural resources.D. By pooling their efforts together.65. What does the author suggest we do in order not just to survive?【C】A. Expand the sphere of living.B. Develop nature's potentials.C. Share life with nature.D. Allocate the resources.Passage OneI'll admit I've never quite understood the obsession (难以破除的成见) surrounding genetically modified (GM) crops.56. How do environmentalist opponents view GM foods according to the passage?【B】A. They will eventually ruin agriculture and the environment.B. They are used by big businesses to monopolize agriculture.C. They have proved potentially harmful to consumers' health.D. They pose a tremendous threat to current farming practice.57. What does the author say is vital to solving the controversy between the two sides of the debate? 【D】A. Breaking the GM food monopoly.B. More friendly exchange of ideas.C. Regulating GM food production.D. More scientific research on GM crops.58. What is the main point of the Nature articles? 【A】A. Feeding the growing population makes it imperative to develop GM crops.B. Popularizing GM technology will help it to live up to its initial promises.C. Measures should be taken to ensure the safety of GM foods.D. Both supporters and opponents should make compromises.59. What is the author's view on the solution to agricultural problems? 【D】A. It has to depend more and more on GM technology.B. It is vital to the sustainable development of human society.C. GM crops should be allowed until better alternatives are found.D. Whatever is useful to boost farming efficiency should be encouraged.60.What does the author think of the ongoing debate around GM crops? 【C】A. It arises out of ignorance of and prejudice against new science.B. It distracts the public attention from other key issues of the world.C. Efforts spent on it should be turned to more urgent issues of agriculture.D. Neither side is likely to give in until more convincing evidence is found.Passage TwoEarly decision--you apply to one school, and admission is binding--seems like a great choice for nervous applicants.61. What are students obliged to do under early decision?【B】A. Look into a lot of schools before they apply.B. Attend the school once they are admitted.C. Think twice before they accept the offer.D. Consult the current students and alumni.62. Why do schools offer early decision?【A】A. To make sure they get qualified students.B. To avoid competition with other colleges.C. To provide more opportunities for applicants.D. To save students the agony of choosing a school.63. What is said to be the problem with early decision for students?【C】A. It makes their application process more complicated.B. It places too high a demand on their research ability.C. It allows them little time to make informed decisions.D. It exerts much more psychological pressure on them.64. Why are some people opposed to early decision?【D】A. It interferes with students' learning in high school.B. It is biased against students at ordinary high schools.C. It causes unnecessary confusion among college applicants.D. It places students from lower-income families at a disadvantage.65. What does the author advise college applicants to do?【B】A. Refrain from competing with students from privileged families.B. Avoid choosing early decision unless they are fully prepared.C. Find sufficient information about their favorite schools.D. Look beyond the few supposedly thrilling options.Passage OneThe report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was just as gloomy as anticipated．Unemployment in January jumped to a l6一year high of 7．6 percent，as 598 000 jobs were slashed from US payrolls in the worst single-month decline since December，1974．With l．8 million iobs lost in the last three months．there is urgent desire to boost the economy as quickly as possible．But Washington would do well to take a deep breath before reacting to the grim numbers．56．What d0 we learn from the first paragraph?【A】A.1me US economic situation is going from bad to worse．B.Washington is taking drastic measures to provide more jobs．C.111e US government is slashing more jobs from its payrolls．D.The recent economic crisis has taken the US by surprise．57．、Ⅳhat does the author think of the unemployment figures and other statistics? 【D】A.They form a solid basis for policy makin9．B.The．y represent the current situation．C.They signal future economic trend．D.They do not fully reflect the reality．58．One problem with the payroll survey is that________．【B】A.it does not include all the businessesB.it fails to count in the self—employedC.it magnifies the number of the joblessD.it does not treat all companies equally59．111e household survey can be faulty in that_________．【C】A)people tend to lie when talking on the phone B.not everybody is willing or ready to respond C.some people won’t provide truthful information D.the definition of unemployment is too broad 60．At the end of the passage，the author suggests that_______．【B】A.statisticians improve their data assembling methodsB.decision makers view the statistics with a critical eyeC.politicians listen more before making policy decisionsD.Democrats and Republicans cooperate on crucial issuesPassage TwoAt some point in 2008，someone，probably in either Asia or Africa，made the decision to move from the countryside to the city．This nameless person pushed the human race over a historic threshold，for it was in that year that mankind became，for the first time in its history，a predominantly urban species．61．In what way is the year 2008 historic? 【A】A.For the first time in history，urban people outnumbered rural people．B.An influential figure decided to move from the countryside to the city．C.It is in this year that urbanisation made a start in Asia and Africa．D.The population increase in cities reached a new peak in Asia and Africa．62．What does the author say about urbanisation? 【B】A.Its impact is not easy to predict．B.Its process will not slow down．C.It is a milestone in human progress．D.It aggravates the squalor of cities．63．How does the author comment on Peter Smith’s new book?【D】A.It is but an ordinary coffee—table book．B.It is flavoured with humourous stories．C.It serves as a guide to arts and commerce．D.It is written in a lively and interesting style．64．What does the author say in the chapter on skyscrapers? 【D】A.The automatic lift is indispensable in skyscrapers．B.People enjoy living in skyscrapers with a view．C.Skyscrapers are a sure sign of a city’s prosperity．D.Recession closely follows a skyscraper boom．65．What may be one criticism of Mr．Smith’s book?【C】A)It does not really touch on anything serious．B.It is too long for people to read from cover to cover．C.It does not deal with any aspect of city life in depth．D.It fails to provide sound advice to city dwellers．Passage OneInternational governments’ inaction concerning sustainable development is clearly worrying but the proactive (主动出击的) approaches of some leading-edge companies are encouraging. Toyota, Wal-Mart, DuPont, M&S and General Electric have made tackling environmental wastes a key economic driver.56.What does the author say about some leading-edge companies? 【B】A. They operate in accordance with government policies.B. They take initiatives in handling environmental wastes.C. They are key drivers in their nations’ economic growth.D. They are major contributors to environmental problems.57.What motivates Toyota and Wal-Mart to make commitments to environmental protection? 【C】A. The goodness of their hearts.B. A strong sense of responsibility.C. The desire to generate profits.D. Pressure from environmentalists.58.Why are so many companies reluctant to create an environment-friendly business system? 【C】A. They are bent on making quick money.B. They do not have the capital for the investment.C. They believe building such a system is too costly.D. They lack the incentive to change business practices.59.What is said about the lean and green model of business? 【A】A. It helps businesses to save and gain at the same time.B. It is affordable only for a few leading-edge companies.C. It is likely to start a new round of intense competition.D. It will take a long time for all companies to embrace it.60.What is the finding of the studies about companies committed to environmental goals? 【B】A. They have greatly enhanced their sense of social responsibility.B. They do much better than their counterparts in terms of revenues.C. They have abandoned all the outdated equipment and technology.D. They make greater contributions to human progress than their rivals.Passage TwoIf you asked me to describe the rising philosophy of the day, I’d say it is data-ism. We now have the ability to gather huge amounts of data. This ability seems to carry with it certain cultural assumptions — that everything that can be measured should be measured; that data is a transparent and reliable lens that allows us to filter out emotionalism and ideology; that data will help us do remarkable things — like foretell the future.61.What do data-ists assume they can do? 【D】A. Transform people’s cultural identity.B. Change the way future events unfold.C. Get a firm grip on the most important issues.D. Eliminate emotional and ideological bias.62.What do people running for political office think they can do? 【B】A. Use data analysis to predict the election result.B. Win the election if they can raise enough funds.C. Manipulate public opinion with favorable data.D. Increase the chances of winning by foul means.63.Why do many teachers favor the idea of tailoring their presentations to different students? 【C】A. They think students prefer flexible teaching methods.B. They will be able to try different approaches.C. They believe students’ learning styles vary.D. They can accommodate students with special needs.64.What does James Pennebaker reveal in The Secret Life of Pronouns? 【D】A. The importance of using pronouns properly.B. Repeated use of first-person pronouns by self-centered people.C. Frequent use of pronouns and future tense by young people.D. A pattern in confident people’s use of pronouns.65.Why is the author skeptical of the data revolution? 【C】A. Data may not be easily accessible.B. Errors may occur with large data samples.C. Data cannot always do what we imagine it can.D. Some data may turn out to be outdated.Passage OneNothing succeeds in business books like th e study of success. The current business-book boom was launched in 1982 by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman with In Search of Excellence. The trend has continued with a succession of experts and would-be experts who promise to distil the essenceof excellence into three (or five or seven) simple rules.56.What kind of business books are most likely to sell well?【A】A. Books on excellence.B. Guides to management.C. Books on business rules.D. Analyses of market trends.57.What does the author imply about books on success so far?【C】A. They help businessmen one way or another.B. They are written by well-recognised experts.C. They more or less fall into the same stereotype.D. They are based on analyses of corporate leaders.58.How does The Three Rules differ from other success books according to the passage? 【B】A. It focuses on the behaviour of exceptional businessmen.B. It bases its detailed analysis on large amounts of data.C. It offers practicable advice to businessmen.D. It draws conclusions from vivid examples.59.What does the passage say contributes to the success of exceptional companies? 【A】A. Focus on quality and revenue.B. Management and sales promotion.C. Lower production costs and competitive prices.D. Emphasis on after-sale service and maintenance.60.What is the author’s comment on The Three Rules?【D】A. It can help to locate profitable niches.B. It has little to offer to business people.C. It is noted for its detailed data analysis.D. It fails to identify the keys to success.Passage TwoUntil recently, the University of Kent prided itself on its friendly image. Not any more.Over the past few months it has been working hard, with the help of media consultants, to play down its cosy reputation in favour of something more academic and serious.61.What was the University of Kent famous for?【A】A. Its comfortable campus life.B. Its up-to-date course offerings.C. Its distinguished teaching staff.D. Its diverse academic programmes.62.What are universities trying to do to attract students? 【D】A. Improve their learning environment.B. Offer more scholarships to the gifted.C. Upgrade their campus facilities.D. Present a better academic image.63.What does Rob Behrens suggest universities do in marketing themselves? 【C】A. Publicise the achievements of their graduates.B. Go to extr a lengths to cater to students’ needs.C. Refrain from making promises they cannot honour.D. Survey the expectations of their prospective students.64.What is students’ chief consideration in choosing a university?【B】A. Whether it promises the best job prospects.B. Whether it is able to deliver what they want.C. Whether it ranks high among similar institutions.D. Whether it offers opportunities for practical training.65.What must universities show to win recruitment campaigns? 【D】A. They are positioned to meet the future needs of society.B. They are responsible to students for their growth.C. They are ever ready to improve themselves.D. They are unique one way or another.Passage OneIt is easy to miss amid the day-to-day headlines of global economic recession,but there is a less conspicuous kind of social upheaval (剧变) underway that is fast altering both the face of the planet and the way human beings live. That change is the rapid acceleration of urbanization.56.What issue does the author try to draw people’s attention to?【D】A. The shrinking biodiversity worldwide.B. The rapid increase of world population.C. The ongoing global economic recession.D. The impact of accelerating urbanization.57.In what sense are humans the ultimate invasive species?【C】A. They are much greedier than other species.B. They are a unique species born to conquer.C. They force other species out of their territories.D. They have an urge to expand their living space.58.In what way is urbanization in poor countries good for the environment?【B】A. More land will be preserved for wildlife.B. The pressure on farmland will be lessened.C. Carbon emissions will be considerably reduced.D. Natural resources will be used more effectively.59.What does the author say about living comfortably in the city?【A】A. It incurs a high environmental price.B. It brings poverty and insecurity to an end.C. It causes a big change in people’s lifestyle.D. It narrows the gap between city and country.60.What can be done to minimize the negative impact of urbanization according to Seto?【C】A. Slowing down the speed of transition.B. Innovative use of advanced technology.C. Appropriate management of the process.D. Enhancing people’s sense of responsibility. Passage TwoWhen Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg launched in Feb. 2004, even he could not imagine the forces it would let loose. His intent was to connect college students. Facebook, which is what this website rapidly evolved into, ended up connecting the world.61.What was the purpose of Facebook when it was first created?【B】A. To help students connect with the outside world.B. To bring university students into closer contact.C. To help students learn to live in a connected era.D. To combine the world into an integral whole.62.What difference does social media make to learning?【D】A. Local knowledge and global knowledge will merge.B. Students will become more curious and ambitious.C. People are able to learn wherever they travel.D. Sources of information are greatly expanded.63. What is the author’s greatest concern with social media technology?【A】A. Individuals and organizations may use it for evil purposes.B. Government will find it hard to protect classified information.C. People may disc lose their friends’ information unintentionally.D. People’s attention will be easily distracted from their work in hand.64.What do businesses use social media for?【B】A. Creating a good corporate image.B. Anticipating the needs of customers.C. Conducting large-scale market surveys.D. Minimizing possible risks and dangers.65.What does the author think of social media as a whole?【A】A. It will enable human society to advance at a faster pace.B. It will pose a grave threat to our traditional ways of life.C. It is bound to bring about another information revolution.D. It breaks down the final barriers in human communication.Passage OneTexting has long been bemoaned (哀叹) as the downfall of the written word, "penmanship for illiterates," as one critic called it. To which the proper response is LOL. Texting properly isn't writing at all. It's a "spoken" language that is getting richer and more complex by the year.56. What do critics say about texting?【C】A．It is mainly confined to youngsters. B．It competes with traditional writing.C．It will ruin the written language. D．It is often hard to understand.57. In what way does the author say writing is different from talking? 【A】A．It is crafted with specific skills. B．It expresses ideas more accurately.C．It does not have as long a history. D．It is not as easy to comprehend.58. Why is LOL much used in texting? 【A】A．It brings texters closer to each other. B．It shows the texter's sophistication.C．It is a trendy way to communicate D．It adds to the humor of the text.59.Examples like meat and silly are cited to show . 【D】A．the difference between writing and talking B．how differently words are used in texting C．why people use the words the way they do D．the gradual change of word meaning 60. What does the author think of texting? 【B】A．It facilitates exchange of ideas among people. B．It is a new form of verbal communication. C．It deteriorates people's composition skills. D．It hastens the decline of the written word. Passage TwoIt's possible to admire Oprah Winfrey and still wish Harvard hadn't awarded her an honorary doctor of law degree and the commencement (毕业典礼) speaker spot at yesterday's graduation.61. What do we learn about Oprah Winfrey from the passage? 【B】A．She was a distinguished graduate of Harvard School of Law.B．She worked her way to success in the entertainment industry.C．She used to abuse her children when she was a young mother.D．She achieved her fame through persistent advocacy of fake science.62. Why does the author deem it inappropriate for Harvard to confer an honorary degree on Oprah Winfrey? 【B】A．She did not specialize in the study of law.B．She was known as s supporter of fake science.C．She was an icon of the entertainment industry.D．She had not distinguished herself academically.63. How did Harry Lewis react to Harvard's decision in his blog post? 【A】A．He was strongly against it. B．He considered it unpopular.C．He thought it would help enhance Harvard's reputation.D．He thought it represented the will of the Harvard community.64.What is the author's regret about many American universities? 【C】A．They show inadequate respect for evidence-based inquiry.B．They fall short of expectations in teaching and research.C．They attach too much importance to public relations.D．They are tolerant of political and religious nonsense.65. What does the author think a prestigious university like Harvard should focus on? 【D】A．Cultivation of student creativity. B．Defense of the scientific method.C．Liberation of the human mind. D．Pursuit of knowledge and truth.Passage OneTechnology can make us smarter or stupider, and we need to develop a set of principles to guide our everyday behavior and make sure that tech is improving and not hindering our mental processes. One of the big questions being debated today is: What kind of information do we need to have stored in our heads, and what kind can we leave "in the cloud," to be accessed as necessary?56. What is the author's concern about the use of technology?【D】A．It may leave knowledge "in the cloud". B．It may misguide our everyday behavior.C．It may cause a divide in the circles of education.D．It may hinder the development of thinking skills.57. What is the view of educators who advocate digital literacy? 【D】A．It helps kids to navigate the virtual world at will.B．It helps kids to broaden their scope of knowledge.C．It increases kids' efficiency of acquiring knowledge.D．It liberates kids from the burden of memorizing facts.58. What does evidence from cognitive science show? 【B】A．Knowledge is better kept in long-term memory.B．Critical thinking is based on factual knowledge.C．Study skills are essential to knowledge acquisition.D．Critical thinking means challenging existing facts.59. What does the author think is key to making evaluations? 【C】A．Gathering enough evidence before drawing conclusions.B．Mastering the basic rules and principles for evaluation.C．Connecting new information with one's accumulated knowledge.D．Understanding both what has happened and why it has happened.60. What is the author's purpose in writing the passage? 【D】A．To warn against learning through memorizing facts.B．To promote educational reform in the information age.C．To explain human brains' function in storing information.D．To challenge the prevailing overemphasis on digital literacy.Passage TwoAmerica's recent history has been a persistent tilt to the West--of people, ideas, commerce and even political power. California and Texas are the twin poles of the West, but very different ones. For most of the 20th century the home of Silicon Valley and Hollywood has been the brainier and trendier of the two.61. What does the author say about California and Texas in Paragraph 17【B】A．They have been competing for the leading position.B．California has been superior to Texas in many ways.C．They are both models of development for other states.D．Texas's cowboy culture is less known than California's.62. What does the author say about today's California? 【C】A．Its debts are pushing it into bankruptcy. B．Its budgets have been cut by $26 billion. C．It is faced with a serious financial crisis. D．It is trying hard to protect the vulnerable.63. In what way is Texas different from California? 【A】A．It practices small government. B．It is home to traditional industries. C．It has a large Hispanic population. D．It has an enviable welfare system.64. What problem is Texas confronted with? 【C】A．Its Hispanic population is mostly illiterate. B．Its sunrise industries are shrinking rapidly. C．Its education cannot meet the needs of the knowledge economy.D．Its immigrants have a hard time adapting to its cowboy culture.65. What do we learn about American politics from the passage? 【A】A．Each state has its own way of governing. B．Most states favor a bipartisan approach. C．Parties collaborate in drawing public policies.D．All states believe in government for the people.Passage One"Deep reading"--as opposed to the often superficial reading we do on the Web--is an ending erer practice, one we ought to take steps to preserve as we would a historic building or a significant work of art..56. What does the author say about "deep reading"?【B】A．It serves as a complement to online reading. B．It should be preserved before it is too late. C．It is mainly suitable for reading literature. D．It is an indispensable part of education.57. Why does the author advocate the reading of literature? 【A】A．It helps promote readers' intellectual and emotional growth.B．It enables readers to appreciate the complexity of language.C．It helps readers build up immersive reading habits.D．It is quickly becoming an endangered practice.58. In what way does printed-page reading differ from online reading? 【B】A．It ensures the reader's cognitive growth. B．It enables the reader to be fully engaged. C．It activates a different region of the brain. D．It helps the reader learn rhetorical devices.59. What do the studies show about online reading? 【D】A．It gradually impairs one's eyesight. B．It keeps arousing readers' curiosity.C．It provides up-to-date information. D．It renders reading less enjoyable.60. What do we learn from the study released by Britain's National Literacy Trust? 【A】A．Onscreen readers may be less competent readers.B．Those who do reading in print are less informed.C．Young people find reading onscreen more enjoyable.D．It is now easier to find a favorite book online to read.Passage TwoMany current discussions of immig ration issues talk about immigrants in general, as if they were abstract people in an abstract world. But the concrete differences between immigrants from different countries affect whether their coming here is good or bad for the American people.61. What does the author say about immigrants in America? 【C】A．They all hope to gain citizenship and enjoy the welfare.B．They come to America with different dreams and purposes.C．Their background may determine whether they benefit the American people.D．Their cultures affect the extent to which they will achieve success in America.62. What does the author try to say by citing Milton Friedman's remark? 【A】A．It is hardly practical to find an ideal solution to America's immigration problem.B．Ideal outcomes could be produced only by comprehensive immigration reform.C．As for immigration, good results cannot be achieved without good intentions.D．The proper solution of immigration issues is an ideal of the American public.63. What is the author's view regarding America's immigration policy? 【C】A．America should open its borders to immigrants from different countries.B．Immigrants have contributed greatly to the welfare of American people.C．Unrestricted immigration will undermine the American welfare state.D．There is no point building a wall around the American welfare state.64. What is the author's purpose in citing the recent terrorist attacks on the streets of Boston and London? 【D】A．To show that America should join hands with Europe in fighting terrorists.B．To prove that it is high time America made comprehensive immigration reforms.C．To prove that terrorism is the most dangerous threat to America and the world in general. D．To show that immigrants' cultural incompatibility with the host country has consequences. 65. What is the author's attitude towards "comprehensive immigration reform"?【B】A．Supportive. B．Negative.C．Wait-and-see. D．Indifferent.。

2015年6月大学英语六级考试真题及答案(共三套)

2015年6月大学英语六级考试真题（第一套）Reading comprehension Section A Innovation, the elixir (灵丹妙药) of progress, has always cost people their jobs. In the Industrial Revolution hand weavers were ___36___ aside by the mechanical loom. Over the past 30 years the digital revolution has ___37___ many of the mid-skill jobs that underpinned 20th-century middle-class life. Typists, ticket agents, bank tellers and many production-line jobs have been dispensed with, just as the weavers were. For those who believe that technological progress has made the world a better place, such disruption is a natural part of rising ___38___. Although innovation kills some jobs, it creates new and better ones, as a more ___39___ society becomes richer and its wealthier inhabitants demand more goods and services. A hundred years ago one in three American workers was ___40___ on a farm. Today less than 2% of them produce far more food. The millions freed from the land were not rendered ___41___, but found better-paid work as the economy grew more sophisticated. Today the pool of secretaries has___42___, but there are ever more computer programmers and web designers. Optimism remains the right starting-point, but for workers the dislocating effects oftechnology may make themselves evident faster than its ___43___. Even if new jobs and wonderful products emerge, in the short term income gaps will widen, causing huge social dislocation and perhaps even changing politics. Technology's ___44___ will feel like a tornado (旋风), hitting the rich world first, but ___45___ sweeping through poorer countries too. No government is prepared for it.Section BWhy the Mona Lisa Stands Out[A] Have you ever fallen for a novel and been amazed not to find it on lists of great books? Or walked around a sculpture renowned as a classic, struggling to see what the fuss is about? If so, you‟ve prob ably pondered the question Cutting asked himself that day: how does a work of art come to be considered great?[B] The intuitive answer is that some works of art are just great: of intrinsically superior quality. The paintings that win prime spots in galleries, get taught in classes and reproduced in books are the ones that have proved their artistic value over time. If you can‟t see they‟re superior, that‟s your problem. It‟s an intimidatingly neat explanation. But some social scientists have been asking awkward questions of it, raising the possibility that artistic canons are little more than fossilised historical accidents.[C] Cutting, a professor at Cornell University, wondered if a psychological mechanism known as the “mere-exposure effect” played a role in deciding which paintings rise to the top of the cultural league. Cutting designed an experiment to test his hunch. Over a lecture course he regularly showed undergraduates works of impressionism for two seconds at a time. Some of the paintings were canonical, included in art-history books. Others were lesser known but of comparable quality. These were exposed four times as often. Afterwards, the students preferred them to the canonical works, while a control group of students liked the canonical ones best. Cutting‟s students had grown to like those paintings more simply because they had seen themmore.[D] Cutting believes his experiment offers a clue as to how canons are formed. He points out that the most reproduced works of impressionism today tend to have been bought by five or six wealthy and influential collectors in the late 19th century. The preferences of these men bestowed prestige on certain works, which made the works more likely to be hung in galleries and printed in anthologies. The fame passed down the years, gaining momentum from mere exposure as it did so. The more people were exposed to, the more they liked it, and the more they liked it, the more it appeared in books, on posters and in big exhibitions. Meanwhile, academics and critics created sophisticated justifications for its pre-eminence. After all, it‟s not just the masses who tend to rate what they see more often more highly. As contemporary artists like Warhol and Damien Hirst have grasped, critical acclaim is deeply entwined with publicity. “Scholars”, Cutting argues, “are no different from the public in the effects of mere exposure.” [E] The process described by Cutting evokes a principle that the sociologist Duncan Watts calls “cumulative advantage”: once a thing become s popular, it will tend to become more popular still.A few years ago, Watts, who is employed by Microsoft to study the dynamics of social networks, had a similar experience to Cutting in another Paris museum. After queuing to see the “MonaLisa” in its climate-controlled bulletproof box at the Louvre, he came away puzzled: why was it considered so superior to the three other Leonardos in the previous chamber, to which nobody seemed to be paying the slightest attention?[F] When Watts looked into the histo ry of “the greatest painting of all time”, he discovered that, for most of its life, the “Mona Lisa” remained in relative obscurity. In the 1850s, Leonardo da Vinci was considered no match for giants of Renaissance art like Titian and Raphael, whose works were worth almost ten times as much as the “Mona Lisa”. It was only in the 20th century that Leonardo‟s portrait of his patron‟s wife rocketed to the number-one spot. What propelled it there wasn‟t a scholarly re-evaluation, but a theft.[G] In 1911 a ma intenance worker at the Louvre walked out of the museum with the “Mona Lisa” hidden under his smock. Parisians were aghast at the theft of a painting to which, until then, they had paid little attention. When the museum reopened, people queued to see the gap where the “Mona Lisa” had once hung in a way they had never done for the painting itself. From then on, the “Mona Lisa” came to represent Western culture itself.[H] Although many have tried, it does seem improbable that the painting‟s unique status can be attributed entirely to the quality of its brushstrokes. It has been said that the subject‟s eyes follow the viewer around the room. But as the painting‟s biographer, Donald Sassoon, dryly notes, “In reality the effect can be obtained from any portrait.” Duncan Watts proposes that the “Mona Lisa” is merely an extreme example of a general rule. Paintings, poems and pop songs are buoyed or sunk by random events or preferences that turn into waves of influence, rippling down the generations.[I] “Saying that cultural objects have value,” Brian Eno once wrote, “is like saying that telephones have conversations.” Nearly all the cultural objects we consume arrive wrapped in inherited opinion; our preferences are always, to some extent, someone else‟s. Visitors to the “Mona Lisa” know they are about to visit the greatest work of art ever and come away appropriately impressed—or let down. An audience at a performance of “Hamlet” know it is regarded as a work of genius, so that is what they mostly see. Watts even calls the pre-eminence of Shakespeare a “historical accident”.[J] Although the rigid high-low distinction fell apart in the 1960s, we still use culture as a badge of identity. Today‟s fashion for eclecticism—“I love Bach, Abba and Jay Z”—is, Shamus Khan , a Columbia University psychologist, argues, a new way for the middle class to distinguish themselves from what they perceive to be the narrow tastes of those beneath them in the social hierarchy. [K] The intrinsic quality of a work of art is starting to seem like its least important attribute. But perhaps it‟s more significant than our social scientists allow. First of all, a work needs a certain quality to be eligible to be swept to the top of the pile. The “Mona Lisa” may not be a worthy world champion, but it was in the Louvre in the first place, and not by accident. Secondly, some stuff is simply better than other stuff. Read “Hamlet” after reading even the greatest of Shakespeare‟s contemporaries, and the difference may strike you as unarguable. [L] A study in the British Journal of Aesthetics suggests that the exposure effect doesn‟t work the same way on everything, and points to a different conclusion about how canons are formed. The social scientists are right to say that we should be a little skeptical of greatness, and that we should always look in the next room. Great art and mediocrity can get confused, even by experts. But that‟s why we need to see, and read, as much as we can. The more we‟re exposed to the goodand the bad, the better we are at telling the difference. The eclecticists have it.46. According to Duncan Watts, the superiority of the "Mona Lisa" to Leonardo's other works resulted from the cumulative advantage.47. Some social scientists have raised doubts about the intrinsic value of certain works of art.48. It is often random events or preferences that determine the fate of a piece of art.49. In his experiment, Cutting found that his subjects liked lesser known works better than canonical works because of more exposure.50. The author thinks the greatness of an art work still lies in its intrinsic value.51. It is true of critics as well as ordinary people that the popularity of artistic works is closely associated with publicity.52. We need to expose ourselves to more art and literature in order to tell the superior from the inferior.53. A study of the history of the greatest paintings suggests even a great work of art could experience years of neglect.54. Culture is still used as a mark to distinguish one social class from another.55. Opinions about and preferences for cultural objects are often inheritable.Section C Passage OneWhen the right person is holding the right job at the right moment, that person's influence is greatly expanded. That is the position in which Janet Yellen, who is expected to be confirmed as the next chair of the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) in January, now finds herself. If you believe, as many do, that unemployment is the major economic and social concern of our day, then it is no stretch to think Yellen is the most powerful person in the world right now.Throughout the 2008 financial crisis and the recession and recovery that followed, central banks have taken on the role of stimulators of last resort, holding up the global economy with vast amounts of money in the form of asset buying. Yellen, previously a Fed vice chair, was one of the principal architects of the Fed's $3.8 trillion money dump. A star economist known for her groundbreaking work on labor markets, Yeilen was a kind of prophetess early on in the crisis for her warnings about the subprime（次级债）meltdown. Now it will be her job to get the Fed and the markets out of the biggest and most unconventional monetary program in history withoutderailing the fragile recovery.The good news is that Yellen, 67, is particularly well suited to meet these challenges. She has a keen understanding of financial markets, an appreciation for their imperfections and a strong belief that human suffering was more related to unemployment than anything else.Some experts worry that Yellen will be inclined to chase unemployment to the neglect of inflation. But with wages still relatively flat and the economy increasingly divided between the well-off and the long-term unemployed' more people worry about the opposite, deflation（通货紧缩）that would aggravate the economy's problems.Either way, the incoming Fed chief will have to walk a fine line in slowly ending the stimulus. It must be steady enough to deflate bubbles（去泡沫）and bring markets back down to earth but not so quick that it creates another credit crisis.Unlike many past Fed leaders, Yellen is not one to buy into the finance industry's argument that it should be left alone to regulate itself. She knows all along the Fed has been too slack on regulation of finance.Yellen is likely to address right after she pushes unemployment below 6%, stabilizes markets and makes sure that the recovery is more inclusive and robust. As Princeton Professor Alan Blinder says' "She's smart as a whip, deeply logical, willing to argue but also a good listener. She can persuade without creating hostility." AH those traits will be useful as the global economy's new power player takes on its most annoying problems.56. What do many people think is the biggest problem facing Janet Yellen?A) Lack of money. B) Subprime crisis. C) Unemployment. D) Social instability.57. What did Yellen help the Fed do to tackle the 2008 financial crisis?A) Take effective measures to curb inflation. B) Deflate the bubbles in the American economy.C) Formulate policies to help financial institutions.D) Pour money into the market through asset buying.58. What is a greater concern of the general public?A) Recession. B) Deflation. C) Inequality. D) Income.59. What is Yellen likely to do in her position as the Fed chief?A) Develop a new monetary program. B) Restore public confidence.C) Tighten financial regulation. D) Reform the credit system.60. How does Alan Blinder portray Yellen?A) She possesses strong persuasive power. B) She has confidence in what she is doing.C) She is one of the world's greatest economists. D) She is the most powerful Fed chief in history.Passage TwoAir pollution is deteriorating in many places around the world. The fact that public parks in cities become crowded as soon as the sun shines proves that people long to breathe in green, open spaces. They do not all know what they are seeking but they flock there, nevertheless. And, in these surroundings, they are generally both peaceful and peaceable. It is rare to see people fighting in a garden. Perhaps struggle unfolds first, not at an economic or social level, but over the appropriation of air, essential to life itself. If human beings can breathe and share air, they don't need to struggle with one another.Unfortunately, in our western tradition, neither materialist nor idealist theoreticians give enough consideration to this basic condition for life. As for politicians, despite proposing curbs onenvironmental pollution, they have not yet called for it to be made a crime. Wealthy countries are even allowed to pollute if they pay for it.But is our life worth anything other than money? The plant world shows us in silence what faithfulness to life consists of. It also helps us to a new beginning, urging us to care for our breath, not only at a vital but also at a spiritual level. The interdependence to which we must pay theclosest attention is that which exists between ourselves and the plant world. Often described as "the lungs of the planet", the woods that cover the earth offer us the gift of breathable air by releasing oxygen. But their capacity to renew the air polluted by industry has long reached its limit. If we lack the air necessary for a healthy life, it is because we have filled it with chemicals and undercut the ability of plants to regenerate it. As we know, rapid deforestation combined with the massive burning of fossil fuels is an explosive recipe for an irreversible disaster.The fight over the appropriation of resources will lead the entire planet to hell unless humans learn to share life, both with each other and with plants. This task is simultaneously ethical and political because it can be discharged only when each takes it upon herself or himself and only when it is accomplished together with others. The lesson taught by plants is that sharing life expands and enhances the sphere of the living, while dividing life into so-called natural or human resources diminishes it. We must come to view the air, the plants and ourselves as the contributors to the preservation of life and growth, rather than a web of quantifiable objects or productive potentialities at our disposal. Perhaps then we would finally begin to live, rather than being concerned with bare survival.61. What does the author assume might be the primary reason that people would struggle with each other?A) To get their share of clean air. B) To pursue a comfortable life.C) To gain a higher social status. D) To seek economic benefits.62. What does the author accuse western politicians of?A) Depriving common people of the right to clean air.B) Giving priority to theory rather than practical action.C) Offering preferential treatment to wealthy countries.D) Failing to pass laws to curb environmental pollution.63. What does the author try to draw our closest attention to?A) The massive burning of fossil fuels. B) Our relationship to the plant world.C) The capacity of plants to renew polluted air. D) Large-scale deforestation across the world. 64. How can human beings accomplish the goal of protecting the planet according to the author?A) By showing respect for plants. B) By preserving all forms of life.C) By tapping all natural resources. D) By pooling their efforts together.65. What does the author suggest we do in order not just to survive?A) Expand the sphere of living. B) Develop nature's potentials.C) Share life with nature. D) Allocate the resources.Part IV Translation (30 minutes)中国传统的待客之道要求饭菜丰富多样，让客人吃不完。

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In 1968, a nation-wide survey of malnutrition was made for the first time. It found that 10 million people are suffering in health through inadequate feeding; the causes of their plight（困境）were varied. Unemployment over a long period should be considered as the main factor. And unemployment, strange to say, nine times out of ten results from automation, both in industrial and agricultural areas. For example, in the rural South when a cotton plantation suddenly cuts its force from 100 people to three, the problem to help the displaced arises. So is the case with industrial automation. In fact, probably 2 million jobs are made unnecessary each year in the whole country as a result of the automation process, thus making unemployment a chief social concern. According to government statistics, the number of people unemployed was over5 percent for the period from 1958 to 1963. In July 1981, it rose to 7.8 percent. As a matter of fact, it has long been known that even during the most prosperous periods there have been people without enough to eat. So I think that’s why President Kennedy said in his inauguration speech in 1961, if the government did not help the poor, it could not save the rich.
A. many Americans receive benefits from the special welfare program
B. some poor people can receive help for some reason or other
C. there is the anti-poverty program in the U.S.
B. disaΒιβλιοθήκη ledC. sickD. poor
4. The word “eligible”(Line 6, Para.3) is synonymous with “_______”
A. necessary
B. urgent
C. needed
D. worthy
5. Americans are living a better life than those in most of other countries because, to some degree, _____.
In 1966, the Social Security Administration calculated that a family of four needed an income of $3,355 a year to be above the line of poverty. And in 1977, the average poverty line of the country was slightly more than $6,200 annual income for a non-farm family of four. According to the Social Security Act, families of that size below poverty line are eligible to receive benefits from the special welfare program. The average weekly payment of benefits now is equivalent to 36 percent of the worker’s normal wage. And the number of people who receive government benefits is increasing. In 1973, social insurance payments by governments, mainly to old age pensioners and people who had lost their jobs or were off work through illness, amounted to $86,000 million. Those not fully qualified for insurance payments received $29,000 million in public aid.
1. The United States is called a country on wheels because______.
A. about one-fourth Americans own two cars
B. a bit over one out of four households are the owners of two cars
A. inadequate feeding
B. malnutrition
C. unemployment
D. automation
3. The author use ”the displaced”(Line 9, Para. 2) to refer to those who are _______.
A. unemployed
2014至
As you all know, the United States is a country on wheels. Nearly eight million new cars are made each year; four households out of five own at least one ear, and more than a quarter have two each. Yet you’ll be surprised to learn that some of the car-owners even suffer from malnutrition（营养不良）.
D. social welfare programs have some measure settled the problems of those below the poverty line.
参考答案：B C A D D
C. nearly 8 million new cars drive in the country every year
D. 80% Americans have at least one car
2. According to a 1968 survey, ten million Americans found themselves in a difficult health situation chiefly due to _______.
But problems still exist. Many people are not reached by the anti-poverty program, because local authorities and agencies do not want to play their part or do not gave the resources to do so. Some poor people will not accept help for various reasons. Of course, there are some more important factors which lie in the structure of the society, but I don’t consider it necessary to dig into them here. Yet we will perhaps agree that social welfare programs have solved to some extent the problems of feeding, clothing and housing those below the poverty line. On the whole, it perhaps might be said that American people are living a better life than people in most other countries.