PartⅢ Reading Comprehension
Section A
As it is, sleep is so undervalued that getting by on fewer hours has become a badge of honor. Plus, we live in a culture that_____(37)to the late-nighter, from 24-hour grocery stores to online shopping sites that never close. It's no surprise, then, that more than half of American adults don't get the 7 to 9 hours of shut-eye every night as_____(38)by sleep experts.
Whether or not we can catch up on sleep-on the weekend,
say-is a hotly_____(39)topic among sleep researches. The latest evidence suggests that while it isn't_____(40), it might help. When Liu, the UCLA sleep researcher and professor of medicine, brought_____(41)sleep-restricted people into the lab for a weekend of sleep during which they logged about 10 hours per night, they showed_____(42)in the ability of insulin(胰岛素)to process blood sugar. That suggests that catchup sleep may undo some but not all of the damage that sleep_____(43)causes, which is encouraging given how many adults don't get the hours they need each night. Still, Liu isn't_____(44)to endorse the habit of sleeping less and making up for it later.
Sleeping pills, while helpful for some, are not_____(45)an effective remedy either. “A sleeping pill will_____(46)one area of the brain, but there's never going to be a perfect sleeping pill, because you couldn't really replicates(复制)the different chemicals moving in and out of different parts of the brain to go through the different stages of sleep," says Collop, director of the Emory University Sleep Center.
37.【题干】_____
【选项】
【答案】B
【解析】cater to表示“迎合”的意思，空白处前提到a culture，所以用第三人称单数caters。
38.【题干】_____
【选项】
【答案】M
【解析】空白处后有介词by，因此空白处前要填一个动词，与后文匹配，recommended by符合题意，大多数美国人都达不到由睡眠专家建议的7——9小时睡眠时间。
39.【题干】_____
【选项】
【答案】D
【解析】空白处前有hotly这个词，后有topic，说明这是个热门的话题，要填一个形容词，debated讨论的，符合题意。
40.【题干】_____
【选项】
【答案】F
【解析】通过while...might help. 可以看出，文章中提到尽管在假日补充睡眠并不是理想的，ideal符合语境。
41.【题干】_____
【选项】
【答案】C
【解析】空白处后为形容词，空白处需要填副词做修饰，chronically意思为“长期地”修饰“有睡眠困扰的人”符合题意。
42.【题干】_____
【选项】【答案】G
【解析】空白处前有showed，因此空白处填一个名词更贴切，G选项improvements符合语境。
43.【题干】_____
【选项】
【答案】E
【解析】题意为：补眠可以修复一部分并不是全部的由睡眠( )造成的损害。所以sleep后面应该接一个名词，组成“睡眠匮乏”符合语境。
44.【题干】_____
【选项】
【答案】L
【解析】根据文中“没有…去做某事”，推测出空格内填一个形容词，选ready表示“Liu尚未准备好去接受这个习惯”。
45.【题干】_____
【选项】
【答案】H
【解析】空格内应该填一个副词修饰be动词。“必须地”符合语境，“尽管安眠药对于一些人是有效的，但并不一定是一个有效的解决良方”。
46.【题干】_____
【选项】
【答案】O
【解析】情态动词will后要跟一个动词原形，target符合，表示“一片安眠药会瞄准大脑的一个区域。
Section B
Climate change may be real, but it's still not easy being green.
[A]The road to climate hell is paved with our good intentions. Politicians may tackle polluters while scientists do battle with carbon emissions. But the most pervasive problem
is less obvious: our own behavior. We get distracted before we can turn down the heating. We break our promise not to fly
after hearing about a neighbour's trip to India. Ultimately, we can't be bothered to change our attitude. Fortunately for the planet, social science and behavioural economics may be able to do that for us.
[B]Despite mournful polar bears and charts showing carbon emissions soaring, most people find it hard to believe that global warming will affect them personally. Recent polls by the Pew Research Centre in Washington, DC, found that 75-80 per cent of participants regarded climate change as an important issue. But respondents ranked it last on a list of priorities.
[C]This inconsistency largely stems from a feeling of powerlessness. "When we can't actually remove the source of our fear, we tend to adapt psychologically by adopting a range of defence mechanisms," says Tom Crompton, change strategist for the environmental organization Word Wide Fund for Nature.
[D]Part of the fault lies with our inner caveman. Evolution has programmed humans to pay most attention to issues that will have an immediate impact. "We worry most about now because if we don't survive for the next minute, we're not going to be
around in ten years' time," says Professor Elke Weber of the Centre for Research on Environmental Decision at Columbia University in New York. If the Thames for Research on Environmental Decision at Columbia University in New York. If the Thams were lapping around Big Ben, Londoners wound face up to the problem of emissions pretty quickly. But in practice, our brain discounts the risks-and benefits-associated with issues that lie some way ahead.
[E]Matthew Rushworth, of the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, sees this in his lab every day. "One of the ways in which all agents seem to make decisions is that they assign a lower weighting to outcomes
that are going to be further away in the future," he says. "This is a very sensible way for an animal to make decisions in the wild and would have been very helpful for humans for thousands of years."
[F] Not any longer. By the time we wake up to the threat posed by climate changes, it could well be too late. And it
we're not going to make rational decisions about the future, others may have to help us to do so.
[G] Few political libraries are without a copy of Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health. Wealth and Happiness, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein. They argue that governments should persuade us into making better decisions-such as saving more in our pension plans-by changing the default options. Professor Weber believes that environmental policy can make use of similar tactics. If, for example, building codes included green construction guidelines, most developers would too lazy to challenge them.
[H] Defaults are certainly part of the solution. But social scientists are most concerned about crafting messages that exploit our group mentality(心态). "We need to understand what motivates people, what it is that allows them to make change." says Professor Neil Adger, of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in Norwich. "It is actually about what their peers think of them, what their social norms are, what is seen as desirable in society." In other words, our inner caveman is continually looking over his shoulder to see what the rest of the tribe are up to.
[I] The passive attitude we have to climate change as individuals can be altered by continuing us in-and measuring us
against-our peer group. "Social norms are primitive and elemental," says Cialdini, author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. "Birds flock together, fish school together, cattle herd together…… just perceiving norms is enough to cause people to adjust their behavior in the direction of the crowd."
[J] These norms can take us beyond good intensions. Caldini conducted a study in San Diego in which coat hangers bearing messages about saving energy were hung on people's doors. Some of the messages mentioned the environment, some financial savings, others social responsibility. But it was the ones that mentioned the actions of neighbours that drove down power use.
[K] Other studies show that simply providing the facility for people to compare their energy use with the local average
is enough to cause them to modify their behaviour. The Conservatives plan to adopt this strategy by making utility companies print the average local electricity and gas usage on people's bills.
[L] Social science can also teach politicians how to avoid our collective capacity for self-destructive behavior. Environmental campaigns that tell us how many people drive SUVs
unwittingly(不经意地)imply that this behavior is widespread and thus permissible. Cialdini recommends some careful framing of the message. "Instead of normalizing the undesirable buys yet another SUV, it reduces our ability to be energy-independent."
[M] Tapping into how we already see ourselves is crucial. The most successful environmental strategy will marry the green message to our own sense of identify. Take your average trade union member, chances are they will be politically motivated and be used to collective action-much like Erica Gregory. A retired member of the Public and Commercial Services Union, she is setting up one of 1,100 action groups with the support of Climate Solidarity, a two-year environmental campaign aimed at trade unionists.
[N] Erica is proof that a great-grandmother can help to lead the revolution if you get the psychology right-in this case, by matching her enthusiasm for the environment with a fondness for organizing groups. "I think it's a terrific idea," she says of the campaign. "The union backing it makes members think there must be something in it." She is expecting up to 20 people at the first meeting she has called, at her local pub in the Cornish village of Polperro.
[O] Nick Perks, project director for Climate Solidarity, believes this sort of activity is where the future of environmental action lies. "Using existing civil society structures or networks is a more effective way of creating change…… and obviously trade unions are one of the biggest civil society networks in the UK," he says. The "Love Food, Hate Waste" campaign entered into a collaboration last year with another such network-the Women's Institute. Londoner Rachel Taylor joined the campaign with the aim of making new friends. A year on, the meetings have made lasting changes to what she throws away in her kitchen. "It's always more of an incentive if you're doing it with other people," she says. "It motivates you more if you know that you've got to provide feedback to a group."
[P]The power of such simple psychology in fighting climate change is attracting attention across the political establishment. In the US, the House of Representatives Science Committee has approved a bill allocating $10 million a year to studying energy-related behavior. In the UK, new studies are in development and social scientists are regularly spotted in British government offices. With the help of psychologists, there is fresh hope that we might go green after all.
47.【题干】When people find they are powerless to change a situation, they tend to live with it.
【选项】
六级真题 2017 年大学英语六级真题试卷及答案(二) Part I Writing (30 minutes) ( 请于正式开考后半小时内完成该部分，之后将进行听力考试) Directions: Suppose you are asked to give advice on whether to major in science or humanities at college，write an essay to state your opinion. You are required to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 1 上作答。 Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 1. A) Doing enjoyable work. B) Earning a competitive salary. 2. A) 20%. B) 25%. 3. A) Those full of skilled workers. B) Those that are well managed. C) Those run by women. D) Those of a small size. C) Having friendly colleagues. D) Working for supportive bosses. C) 31%. D) 73%.
20XX年6月大英语六级考试真题及答案解析 Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on living in the virtual world. Try to imagine what will happen when people spend more and more time in the virtual world instead of interacting in the real world. You are required to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C)and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 1. A)Project organizer B)Public relations officer. C)Marketing manager. D)Market research consultant. 2.A)Quantitative advertising research. B)Questionnaire design. C)Research methodology. D)Interviewer training. 3.A)They are intensive studies of people’s spending habits. B)They examine relations between producers and customers. C)They look for new and effective ways to promote products. D)They study trends or customer satisfaction over a long period. 4.A)The lack of promotion opportunity. B)Checking charts and tables. C)Designing questionnaires. D)The persistent intensity. Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 5.A)His view on Canadian universities. B)His understanding of higher education. C)His suggestions for improvements in higher education. D)His complaint about bureaucracy in American universities. 6.A)It is well designed. B)It is rather inflexible.
大学英语六级CET6真题及答案 part i listening comprehension (20 minutes) section a 1.a) the dean should have consulted her on the appointment. b) dr. holden should have taken over the position earlier. c) she doesn’t think dr. holden has made a wise choice. d) dr. holden is the best person for the chairmanship. 2 .a) they’ll keep in touch during the summer vacation b) they’ll hold a party before the summer vacation c) they’ll do odd jobs together at the school library d) they’ll get back to their school once in a while 3. a)peaches are in season now. b)peaches are not at their best now. c)the woman didn’t know how to bargain. d)the woman helped the man choose the fruit. 4.a)they join the physics club. b)they ask for an extension of the deadline. c)they work on the assignment together. d)they choose an easier assignment. 5.a)she admires jean’s straightforwardness b)she thinks dr. brown deserves the praise c)she will talk to jean about what happened d)she believes jean was rude to dr. brown 6.a)he liked writing when he was a child b)he enjoyed reading stories in reader’s digest c)he used to be an editor of reader’s digest d)he became well known at the age of six 7.a)he shows great enthusiasm for his studies b)he is a very versatile person c)he has no talent for tennis d)he does not study hard enough 8 a) john has lost something at the railway station b) there are several railway stations in the city c) it will be very difficult for them to find john d) the train that john is taking will arrive soon 9. a)its rapid growth is beneficial to the world
2016年6月大英语六级考试真题及答案解析 Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on living in the virtual world. Try to imagine what will happen when people spend more and more time in the virtual world instead of interacting in the real world. You are required to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C)and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 1. A)Project organizer B)Public relations officer. C)Marketing manager. D)Market research consultant. 2.A)Quantitative advertising research. B)Questionnaire design. C)Research methodology. D)Interviewer training. 3.A)They are intensive studies of people’s spending habits. B)They examine relations between producers and customers. C)They look for new and effective ways to promote products. D)They study trends or customer satisfaction over a long period. 4.A)The lack of promotion opportunity. B)Checking charts and tables. C)Designing questionnaires. D)The persistent intensity. Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 5.A)His view on Canadian universities. B)His understanding of higher education. C)His suggestions for improvements in higher education. D)His complaint about bureaucracy in American universities. 6.A)It is well designed. B)It is rather inflexible.
文档编号：YLWK239517 2017 年6 月大学英语六级考试真题(第1 套) Part ⅠWriting (30 minutes) Directions: Suppose you are asked to give advice on whether to attend a vocational college or a university, write an essay to state your opinion. You are required to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. Part ⅡListening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section A Directions : In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 1.A) He would feel insulted. B) He would feel very sad. C) He would be embarrassed. D) He would be disappointed. 2.A) They are worthy of a prize. B) They are of little value. C)They make good reading. D) They need improvement. 3.A) He seldom writes a book straight through. B)He writes several books simultaneously. C)He draws on his real-life experiences. D)He often turns to his wife for help. 4.A) Writing a book is just like watching a football match. B)Writers actually work every bit as hard as footballers. C)He likes watching a football match after finishing a book. D)Unlike a football match, there is no end to writing a book. Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 5.A) A chievements of black male athletes in college. B)Financial assistance to black athletes in college. C)High college dropout rates among black athletes. D)Undergraduate enrollments of black athletes. 6.A) They display great talent in every kind of game. B)They are better at sports than at academic work. C)They have difficulty finding money to complete their studies. D)They make money for the college but often fail to earn a degree. 7.A) About 15%. B) Around 40%. C)Slightly over 50%. D) Approximately 70%. 8.A) Coaches lack the incentive to graduate them. B)College degrees do not count much to them. C)They have little interest in academic work. D)Schools do not deem it a serious problem. Section B
2019年6月大学英语六级真题试卷及答案（三套 全） 目录 2018年6月大学英语六级真题试卷及答案（一） (1) 快速对答案 (16) 2018年6月大学英语六级真题试卷及答案（二） (17) 快速对答案 (32) 2018年6月大学英语六级真题试卷及答案（三） (32) 快速对答案 (43) 2018年6月大学英语六级真题试卷及答案（一） Part I Writing (30 minutes) (请于正式开考后半小时内完成该部分，之后将进行听力考试) Directions: For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write an essay on the importance of building trust between employers and employees.You can cite examples to illustrate your views.you should write at least150words but no more than200words. Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section A Directions:In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. 第1页共43
P a r tⅢR e a d i n g C o m p r e h e n s i o n Section A As it is, sleep is so undervalued that getting by on fewer hours has become a badge of honor. Plus, we live in a culture that_____(37)to the late-nighter, from 24-hour grocery stores to online shopping sites that never close. It's no surprise, then, that more than half of American adults don't get the 7 to 9 hours of shut-eye every night as_____(38)by sleep experts. Whether or not we can catch up on sleep-on the weekend, say-is a hotly_____(39)topic among sleep researches. The latest evidence suggests that while it isn't_____(40), it might help. When Liu, the UCLA sleep researcher and professor of medicine, brought_____(41)sleep-restricted people into the lab for a weekend of sleep during which they logged about 10 hours per night, they showed_____(42)in the ability of insulin(胰岛素)to process blood sugar. That suggests that catchup sleep may undo some but not all of the damage that sleep_____(43)causes, which is encouraging given how many adults don't get the hours they need each night. Still, Liu isn't_____(44)to endorse the habit of sleeping less and making up for it later. Sleeping pills, while helpful for some, are not_____(45)an effective remedy either. “A sleeping pill will_____(46)one area of the brain, but there's never going to be a perfect sleeping pill, because you couldn't really replicates(复制)the different chemicals moving in and out of different parts of the brain to go through the different stages of sleep," says Collop, director of the Emory University Sleep Center. 37.【题干】_____ 【选项】
学习-----好资料 2006年12月英语六级真题(B卷) Part l Listening Comprehension (20 minutes) Section A 1. A) The foggy weather has affected Mary's mood. B) They are puzzled about Mary's tow spirits. C) Mary is dissatisfied with her promotion. D) Mary cares too much about her looks. 2. A) Go to an art exhibition. B) Dine out with an old friend. C) Attend the opening night of a play. D) See his paintings on display. 3. A) Her mother was quite outstanding in academic work. B) She was not particularly interested in going to school. C) Her parents laid great emphasis on academic excellence. D) She helped upgrade the educational level of immigrants. 4. A) The machines there were ill maintained. B) Tickets for its members were cheaper. C) It was filled with people all the time. D) It had a reputation for good service. 5. A) Both Sarah and Tom have been awarded doctoral degrees. B) Tom has arranged to meet his bride Sarah in Hawaii. C) Tom was more excited than Sarah at the wedding. D) A double blessing has descended upon Tom. 6. A) There were too many questions in the examination. B) The examination was well beyond the course content. C) The examination questions were somewhat too difficult. D) The course prepared him adequately for the examination. 7. A) It's less time-consuming. B) His wife is tired of cooking. C) It's part of his job. D) He is sick of home-cooked meals. 8. A) He has just started to teach piano lessons. B) He seldom takes things seriously.
2002年6月大学英语六级(CET-6)真题试卷及答案 试卷一 Part I Listening Comprehension (20 minutes) Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question 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 the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre. Example: You will hear: You will read: A) 2 hours. B) 3 hours. C) 4 hours. D) 5 hours. From the conversation we know that the two are talking about some work they will start at 9 o’clock in the morning and have to finish at 2 in the afternoon. Therefore, D)“5 hours”is the correct answer. Y ou should choose [D] on the Answer Sheet and mark it with a single line through the centre. Sample Answer [A] [B] [C] [D] 1. A) Registering for courses. B) Getting directions. C) Buying a new computer. D) Studying sociology. 2. A) The man will probably have to find a roommate. B) The man is unlikely to live in the suburbs. C) The man will probably have to buy a car. D) The man is unlikely to find exactly what he desires. 3. A) Painting a picture. B) Hosting a program.
2017 年6 月大学英语六级考试真题(第1 套) Part ⅠWriting (30 minutes) Directions: Suppose you are asked to give advice on whether to attend a vocational college or a university, write an essay to state your opinion. You are required to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. Part ⅡListening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section A Directions : In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 1.A) He would feel insulted. B) He would feel very sad. C) He would be embarrassed. D) He would be disappointed. 2.A) They are worthy of a prize. B) They are of little value. C)They make good reading. D) They need improvement. 3.A) He seldom writes a book straight through. B)He writes several books simultaneously. C)He draws on his real-life experiences. D)He often turns to his wife for help. 4.A) Writing a book is just like watching a football match. B)Writers actually work every bit as hard as footballers. C)He likes watching a football match after finishing a book. D)Unlike a football match, there is no end to writing a book. Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 5.A) A chievements of black male athletes in college. B)Financial assistance to black athletes in college. C)High college dropout rates among black athletes. D)Undergraduate enrollments of black athletes. 6.A) They display great talent in every kind of game. B)They are better at sports than at academic work. C)They have difficulty finding money to complete their studies. D)They make money for the college but often fail to earn a degree. 7.A) About 15%. B) Around 40%. C)Slightly over 50%. D) Approximately 70%. 8.A) Coaches lack the incentive to graduate them. B)College degrees do not count much to them. C)They have little interest in academic work. D)Schools do not deem it a serious problem. Section B
PartⅢ Reading Comprehension Section A As it is, sleep is so undervalued that getting by on fewer hours has become a badge of honor. Plus, we live in a culture that_____(37)to the late-nighter, from 24-hour grocery stores to online shopping sites that never close. It's no surprise, then, that more than half of American adults don't get the 7 to 9 hours of shut-eye every night as_____(38)by sleep experts. Whether or not we can catch up on sleep-on the weekend, say-is a hotly_____(39)topic among sleep researches. The latest evidence suggests that while it isn't_____(40), it might help. When Liu, the UCLA sleep researcher and professor of medicine, brought_____(41)sleep-restricted people into the lab for a weekend of sleep during which they logged about 10 hours per night, they showed_____(42)in the ability of insulin(胰岛素)to process blood sugar. That suggests that catchup sleep may undo some but not all of the damage that sleep_____(43)causes, which is encouraging given how many adults don't get the hours they need each night. Still, Liu isn't_____(44)to endorse the habit of sleeping less and making up for it later. Sleeping pills, while helpful for some, are not_____(45)an effective remedy either. “A sleeping pill will_____(46)one area of the brain, but there's never going to be a perfect sleeping pill, because you couldn't really replicates(复制)the different chemicals moving in and out of different parts of the brain to go through the different stages of sleep," says Dr.Nancy Collop, director of the Emory University Sleep Center. 37.【题干】_____ 【选项】 A.alternatively B.caters C.chronically D.debated
2011年6月大学英语六级真题及答案详解 一、真题部分 Part I writting Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay o n the topic of Certificate Craze. You should write at least 150 words followin g the outline given below: 1. 现在许多人热衷于各类证书考试 2. 其目的各不相同 3. 在我看来 Part II R eading 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 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage. Minority Report American universities are accepting more minorities than ever. Graduating them is another matter. Barry Mills, the president of Bowdoin College, was justifiably proud of Bowdoin's efforts to recruit minority students. Since 2003 the small, elite liberal arts school in Brunswick, Maine, has boosted the proportion of so-called under-represented minority students in entering freshman classes from 8% to 13%. "It is our responsibility to reach out and attract students to come to our kinds of places," he told a NEWSWEEK reporter. But Bowdoin has not done quite as well when it comes to actually graduating minorities. While 9 out of 10 white students routinely get their diplomas within six years, only 7 out of 10 black students made it to graduation day in several recent classes. "If you look at who enters college, it now looks like America," says Hilary Pennington, director of postsecondary programs for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has closely studied enrollment patterns in higher education. "But if you look at who walks across the stage for a diploma, it's still largely the white, upper-income population." The United States once had the highest graduation rate of any nation. Now it stands 10th. For the first time in American history, there is the risk that the rising generation will be less well educated than the previous one. The graduation rate among 25- to 34-year-olds is no better than the rate for the 55- to 64-year-olds who were going to college more than 30 years ago. Studies show that more and