2013年12月大学英语六级真题及答案真题+听力原文+答案详解

2013年12月大学英语六级考试真题（第3套）Part I Writing (30 minutes)（请于正式开考后半小时内完成该部分，之后将进行听力考试）请用黑色签字笔在答题卡1指定区域内作答作文题，在试题册上的作答无效！Part ⅡListening Comprehension(30 minutes)Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section AQuestions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.Cell phones provide instant access to people. They are creating a major 36 in the social experiences of both children and adolescents. In one recent U.S. survey, about half the teens polled said that their cell phone had 37 their communication with friends. Almost all said that their cell phone was the way they stayed in touch with peers, one-third had used the cell phone to help a peer in need, and about 80% said the phone made them feel safer. Teenagers in Australia, 38 ,said that their mobile phones provided numerous benefits and were an39 part of their lives; some were so 40 to their phones that the researchers considered it an addiction. In Japan, too, researchers are concerned about cell phone addiction. Researchers in one study in Tokyo found that more than half of junior high school students used their phones to exchange e-mails with schoolmates more than 10 times a day.Cell phones 41 social connections with peers across time and space. They allow young people to exchange moment-by-moment experiences in their daily lives with special partners and thus to have a more 42 sense of connection with friends. Cell phones also can 43 social tolerance because they reduce children's interactions with others who are different from them. In addition to connecting peers, cell phones connect children and parents. Researchers studying teenagers in Israel concluded that, in that 44 environment, mobile phones were regarded as "security objects" in parent-teen relationships―im portant because they provided the possibility of 45 and communication at all times.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答A) affiliatedB) attachedC) contactD) contendE) continuousF) diminishG) enduranceH) foster I) hazardous J) improved K) instantaneous L) intrinsicM) relatively N) shiftO) similarlySection BWaste Not, Want Not Feeding the 9 Billion: The Tragedy of Waste[A] By 2075, the United Nations' mid-range projection for global population is about 9.5 billion.This means that there could be an extra three billion mouths to feed by the end of the century,a period in which substantial changes are anticipated in the wealth, calorie intake and dietarypreferences of people in developing countries across the world. Such a projection presents mankind with wide-ranging social, economic, environmental and political issues that need to be addressed today to ensure a sustainable future for all. One key issue is how to produce more food in a world of finite resources.[B] Today, we produce about four billion metric tonnes of food per year. Yet due to poor practicesin harvesting, storage and transportation, as well as market and consumer wastage, it is estimated that 30-50% of all food produced never reaches a human stomach. Furthermore, this figure does not reflect the fact that large amounts of land, energy, fertilisers and water have also been lost in the production of foodstuffs which simply end up as waste. This level of wastage is a tragedy that cannot continue if we are to succeed in the challenge of sustainably meeting our future food demands. |Where Food Waste Happens[C] In 2010,the Institution of Mechanical Engineers identified three principal emerging populationgroups across the world, based on characteristics associated with their current and projected stage of economic development.• Fully developed, mature, post-industrial societies, such as those in Europe, characterised by stable or declining populations which are increasing in age.• Late-stage developing nations that are currently industrialising rapidly, for example China, which will experience declining rates of population growth, coupled with increasing affluence (富裕）and age profile.• Newly developing countries that are beginning to industrialise, primarily in Africa, with high to very high population growth rates, and characterised by a predominantly young age profile.[D] Each group over the coming decades will need to address different issues surrounding foodproduction, storage and transportation, as well as consumer expectations, if we are to continue to feed all our people.[E] In less-developed countries, such as those of sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, wastagetends to occur primarily at the farmer-producer end of the supply chain. Inefficient harvesting, inadequate local transportation and poor infrastructure (基础设施)mean that produce is frequently handled inappropriately and stored under unsuitable farm site conditions.[F] In mature, fully developed countries such as the UK, more-efficient farming practices andbetter transport, storage and processing facilities ensure that a larger proportion of the food produced reaches markets and consumers. However, characteristics associated with modern consumer culture mean produce is often wasted through retail and customer behaviour. [G] Major supermarkets, in meeting consumer expectations, will often reject entire crops ofperfectly edible fruit and vegetables at the farm because they do not meet exacting marketing standards for their physical characteristics, such as size and appearance.[H] Of the produce that does appear in the supermarket, commonly used sales promotionsfrequently encourage customers to purchase excessive quantities which, in the case of perishable foodstuffs, inevitably generate wastage in the home. Overall between 30% and 50% of what has been bought in developed countries is thrown away by the purchaser.Better Use of Our Finite Resources[I] Wasting food means losing not only life-supporting nutrition but also precious resources,including land, water and energy. As a global society, therefore, tackling food waste will help contribute towards addressing a number of key resource issues.[J] Land Usage: Over the last five decades, improved farming techniques and technologies have helped to significantly increase crop yields along with a 12% expansion of farmed land use.However, a further increase in farming area without impacting unfavourably on what remains of the world's natural ecosystems appears unlikely. The challenge is that an increase in animal-based production will require more land and resources, as livestock (牲畜)farming demands extensive land use.[K] Water Usage: Over the past century, human use of fresh water has increased at more than double the rate of population growth. Currently about 3.8 trillion m3of water is used by humans per year. About 70% of this is consumed by the global agriculture sector, and the level of use will continue to rise over the coming decades.[L] Better irrigation can dramatically improve crop yield and about 40% of the world's food supply is currently derived from irrigated land. However, water used in irrigation is often sourced unsustainably.In processing foods after the agricultural stage, there are large additional uses of water that need to be tackled in a world of growing demand. This is particularly crucial inthe case of meat production, where beef uses about 50 times more water than vegetables. In the future, more effective washing techniques, management procedures, and recycling and purification of water will be needed to reduce wastage.[M]Energy Usage: Energy is an essential resource across the entire food production cycle, with estimates showing an average of 7-10 calories of input being required in the production of one calorie of food. This varies dramatically depending on crop, from three calories for plant crops to 35 calories in the production of beef. Since much of this energy comes from the utilisation of fossil fuels, wastage of food potentially contributes to unnecessary global warming as well as inefficient resource utilisation.[N] In the modem industrialised agricultural process—which developing nations are moving towards in order to increase future yields—energy usage in the making and application of fertilisers and pesticides represents the single biggest component. Wheat production takes 50% of its energy input for these two items alone. Indeed, on a global scale, fertiliser manufacturing consumes about 3-5% of the world's annual natural gas supply. With production anticipated to increase by 25% between now and 2030, sustainable energy sourcing will become an increasingly major issue. Energy to power machinery, both on the farm and in the storage and processing facilities, adds to the energy total, which currently represents about 3.1% of annual global energy consumption.Recommendations[O] Rising population combined with improved nutrition standards and shifting dietary preferences will exert pressure for increases in global food supply. Engineers, scientists and agriculturalists have the knowledge, tools and systems that will assist in achieving productivity increases. However, pressure will grow on finite resources of land, energy and water. The potential to provide 60-100% more food by simply eliminating losses, while simultaneously freeing up land, energy and water resources for other uses, is an opportunitythat should not be ignored. In order to begin tackling the challenge, the Institution recommends that:•The UN Food and Agriculture Organisat ion work with the international engineering community to ensure governments of developed nations put in place programmes that transfer engineering knowledge, design know-how, and suitable technology to newly developing countries. This will help improve produce handling in the harvest, and immediate post-harvest stages of food production.• Governments of rapidly developing countries incorporate waste minimisation thinking into the transport infrastructure and storage facilities currently being planned, engineered and built.• Governments in developed nations devise and im plement policy that changes consumer expectations. These should discourage retailers from wasteful practices that lead to the rejection of food on the basis of cosmetic characteristics, and losses in the home due to excessive purchasing by consumers.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

2013年12月六级听力原文Part ⅡListening ComprehensionSection A1. CM: The biological project is now in trouble. You know, my colleague and I have completely different ideas about how to proceed.W: Why don’t you compromise? Try to make it a win-win situation for you both.Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?【听前预测】1．四项均以动词原形开头。

2．两项提到同事(colleague)。

结论：对话应该是工作场景，可能提问接下来要怎么做或建议某人做什么。

【解析】本题是建议题，考查女士建议男士如何做，应重点关注女士所说内容。

男士说生物项目遇到麻烦了，他的同事和他意见不同。

女士建议他们相互妥协，尝试达到双赢。

可见女士建议男士妥协，故选C。

反问句Why don’t you do sth. ?常用于提建议。

2．BM: How does Nancy like the new dress she bought in Rome?W: She said she would never have bought an Italian style dress if she had known Mary had already got such a dress.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?【听前预测】1．四项提及两个人物——Mary和Nancy。

2．三项均与服饰、时尚有关(style，dress，fashion)，两项与购物有关(buying，shopping)。

结论：对话很可能与买衣服有关，注意区分两个人物的行为。

2013年6月大学英语六级考试真题(一)答案与详解Part ⅠWriting1、审题:这是一篇评论性话题作文。

首先，抓住题目中的主题词life 和meaningful ,避免跑题。

接着，借助谚语内容（将生命花在比生命更长远的事上，就是尽用生命），谚语与题目相结合，可提炼出主题：怎样使生命更有意义。

然后，弄清题目与谚语的关系：主题与例证关系勒最后，确定行文思路：引出话题+提出观点+举例论证+总结建议；总结时，注意要观点明确，贴合所给主题，切勿模棱两可。

2、写作思路：第一段：以“总一分一总”形式引出话题，解释谚语。

第二段：提出观点，指出自己将怎样做，并举例论证。

第三段：做出呼吁，提出建议，总结全文。

How to Live a Meaningf ul Lif ePeople always say that the greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.On the one hand,life is spent on something for the future,or for our offspring.For example,people work to build the Three Gorges Dam to make electricity.On the other hand,doing some little but meaningful things can also show the greatest use of life,such as offering a seat to a woman with a child.I will do the following things to make my life meaningful.First,I will plant trees every year to contribute my effort to make the sky blue and the water clean.Second,I will learn my major biology well to cure some diseases,such as cancers.Third,as the saying goes,to do your own job is to contribute your effort to the society.Only by spending our life for something that will outlast it can we contribute to our society.For one thing,we should learn from Lei Feng who did little but meaningful things.For another,we can do whatever we can to protect the environment.In a word,we can make our life meaningful by doing meaningful things.Part ⅡListening Comprehension1.听力原文：W:Has my order arrived yet?I had been expecting it since last week.M:I called the company this morning.They had some labor problems,so your order will be shipped late.It should be here by the end of the week.Q:What has caused the delay of the shipment?【预测】选项中的weather conditions,labor problems 和an error in the order 均为可能导致送货推迟的原因表明，对话可能与送货推迟的原因有关。

大学英语六级真题2013年12月-（3）附参考答案大学英语六级真题2013年12月-(3)Part ⅠWriting1、 Directions: For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the remark "The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." You can give examples to illustrate your point and then explain what you will do to make your life more meaningful. You should write at least 150 words but no more that 200 words.Part ⅡListening ComprehensionSection ADirections:In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question their 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 witha single line through the centre.2、 A. Dr. Smith's waiting room isn't tidy.B. Dr. Smith enjoys reading magazines.C. Dr. Smith has left a good impression on her.D. Dr. Smith may not be a good choice.3、 A. The man will rent the apartment when it is available.B. The man made a bargain with the landlady over the rent.C. The man insists on having a look at the apartment first.D. The man is not fully satisfied with the apartment.4、 A. Packing up to go abroad.B. Brushing up on her English.C. Drawing up a plan for her English course.D. Applying for a visa to the United States.5、 A. He is anxious to find a cure for his high blood pressure.B. He doesn't think high blood pressure is a problem for him.C. He was not aware of his illness until diagnosed with it.D. He did not take the symptoms of his illness seriously.6、 A. To investigate the causes of AIDS.B. To raise money for AIDS patients.C. To rally support for AIDS victims in Africa.D. To draw attention to the spread of AIDS in Asia.7、 A. It has a very long history.B. It is a private institution.C. It was founded by Thomas Jefferson.D. It stresses the comprehensive study of nature.8、 A. They can't fit into the machine.B. They have not been delivered yet.C. They were sent to the wrong address.D. They were found to be of the wrong type.9、 A. The food served in the cafeteria usually lacks variety.B. The cafeteria sometimes provides rare food for the students.C. The students find the service in the cafeteria satisfactory.D. The cafeteria fries hard to cater to the students' needs.10、 A. He picked up some apples in his yard.B. tie cut some branches off the apple tree.C. He quarreled with his neighbor over the fence.D. He cleaned up all the garbage in the woman's yard.11、 A. Trim the apple trees in her yard.B. Pick up the apples that fell in her yard.C. Take the garbage to the curb for her.D. Remove the branches from her yard.12、 A. File a lawsuit against the man.B. Ask the man for compensation.C. Have the man's apple tree cut down.D. Throw garbage into the man's yard.13、 A. He was ready to make a concession.B. He was not prepared to go to court.C. He was not intimidated.D. He was a bit concerned.14、 A. Bad weather.B. Human error.C. Breakdown of the engines.D. Failure of the communications system.15、 A. Two thousand feet.B. Twelve thousand feet.C. Twenty thousand feet.D. Twenty-two thousand feet.16、 A. Accurate communication is of utmost importance.B. Pilots should be able to speak several foreign languages.C. Air controllers should keep a close watch on the weather.D. Cooperation between pilots and air controllers is essential.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Passage One17、 A. His father caught a serious disease.B. His mother pressed away.C. His mother left: him to marry a rich businessman.D. His father took to drinking.18、 A. He disliked being disciplined.B. He was expelled by the university.C. He couldn't pay his gambling debts.D. He enjoyed working for a magazine.19、 A. His poems are heavily influenced by French writers.B. His stories are mainly set in the State of Virginia.C. His work is difficult to read.D. His language is not refined.20、 A. He grieved to death over the loss of his wife.B. He committed suicide for unknown reasons.C. He was shot dead at the age of 40.D. He died of heavy drinking.Passage Two21、 A. Women.B. Prisoners.C. Manual workers.D. School age children.22、 A. He taught his students how to pronounce the letters first.B. He matched the letters with the sounds familiar to the learners.C. He showed the learners how to combine the letters into simple words.D. He divided the letters into groups according to the way they are written.23、 A. It can help people to become literate within a shorttime.B. It was originally designed for teaching the English language.C. It enables the learners to master a language within three months.D. It is effective in teaching any alphabetical language to Brazilians.Passage Three24、 A. The crop's blooming period is delayed.B. The roots of crops are cut off.C. The topsoil is seriously damaged.D. The growth of weeds is accelerated.25、 A. It's a new way of applying chemical fertilizer.B. It's an improved method of harvesting crops.C. It's a creative technique for saving labor.D. It's a fanning process limiting the use of ploughs.26、 A. In areas with few weeds and unwanted plants.B. In areas with a severe shortage of water.C. In areas lacking in chemical fertilizer.D. In areas dependent on imported food.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. Adults are getting smarter about how smart babies are. Not long ago, researchers learned that 4-day-old could understand 27 and subtraction. Now, British research psychologist Graham Schaferhas discovered that infants can learn words for uncommon things long before they can speak. He faired that 9-month-old infants could be taught, through repeated show-and-tell, to 28 the names of objects that were foreign to them, a result that 29 in some ways the received wisdom that, apart from learning to 30 things common to their daily lives, children don't begin to build vocabulary until well into their second year. "It's no 31 that children learn words, but the words they tend to know are words linked to 32 situations in the home," explains Schafer. "This is the Fast demonstration that we can choose what words the children will learn and that they can respond to them with an unfamiliar voice 33 in an unfamiliar setting. "Figuring out how humans acquire language may 34 why some children learn to read and write later than others, Schafer says, and could lead to better treatments for developmental problems. What's more, the study of language 35 offers direct insight into how humans learn. "Language is a test case for human cognitive development," says Schafer. But parents eager to teach their infants should take note: even without being taught new words, a control group 36 the other infants within a few months. "This is not about advancing development," he says. "It's just about what children can do at an earlier age than what educators have often thought. "Part ⅢReading ComprehensionSection ADirections:In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Pleasemark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of" the words in the bank more than once.Cell phones provide instant access to people. They are creating a major 37 in the social experiences of both children and adolescents. In one recent U. S. survey, about haft the teens polled said that their cell phone had 38 their communication with friends. Almost all said that, their cell phone was the way they stayed in touch with peers, one-third had used the cell phone to help a peer in need, and about 80% said the phone made them feel safer. Teenagers in Australia, 39 said that their mobile phones provided numerous benefits and were an 40 part of their lives: some were so 41 to their phones that the researchers considered it an addiction. In Japan, too, researchers are concerned about cell phone addiction. Researchers in one study in Tokyo found that more than half of junior high school students used their phones to exchange e-mails with schoolmates more than l0 times a day.Cell phones 42 social connections with peers across time and space. They allow young people to exchange moment-by-moment experiences in their daily lives with special partners and thus to have a more 43 sense of connection with friends. Cell phones also can 44 social tolerance because they reduce children's interactions with others who are different from them. In addition to connecting peers, cell phones connect children and parents. Researchers studying teenagers in Israel concluded that, in that 45 environment, mobile phones were regarded as "security objects" in parent-teen relationships - important because they provided the possibility of 46 and communication at all times.A. affiliatedB. attachedC. contactD. contendE. continuousF. diminishG. enduranceH. fosterI. hazardousJ. improvedK. instant ruinousL. intrinsicM. relativelyN. shiftO. similarlySection BDirections:In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Waste Not, Want NotFeeding the 9 Billion: The Tragedy of WasteA. By 2075, the United Nations' mid-range projection for global population is about 9.5 billion. This means that there could be an extra three billion mouths to feed by the end of the century, a period in which substantial changes are anticipated in the wealth, calorie intake and dietary preferences of people indeveloping countries across the world. Such a projection presents mankind with wide-ranging social, economic, environmental and political issues that need to be addressed today to ensure a sustainable future for all. One key issue is how to produce more food in a world of finite resources,B. Today, we produce about four billion metric tonnes of food per year. Yet due to poor practices in harvesting, storage and transportation, as well asmarket and consumer wastage, it is estimated that 30-50% of all food produced never reaches a human stomach. Furthermore, this figure does not reflect the fact that large amounts of land, energy, fertilisers and water have also been lost in the production of foodstuffs which simply end up as waste. This level of wastage is a tragedy that cannot continue if we are to succeed in the challenge of sustainably meeting our future food demands.Where Food Waste HappensC. In 2010, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers identified three principal emerging population groups across the world, based on characteristics associated with their current and projected stage of economic development.· Fully developed, mature, post-industrial societies, such as those in Europe, characterised by stable or declining populations which are increasing in age.· Late-stage developing nations that are currently industrialising rapidly, for example China, which will experience declining rates of population growth, coupled with increasing affluence (富裕) and age profile. · Newly developing countries that are beginning to industrialise, primarily in Africa, with high to very high population growth rates, and characterised by apredominantly young age profile.D. Each group over the coming decades will need to address different issues surrounding food production, storage and transportation, as well as consumer expectations, if we are to continue to feed all ore people.E. In less-developed countries, such as those of sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, wastage tends to occur primarily at the farmer-producer end of the supply chain. Inefficient harvesting, inadequate local transportation and poor infrastructure (基础设施) mean that produce is frequently handled inappropriately and stored under unsuitable farm site conditions.F. In mature, fully developed countries such as the UK, more-efficient fanning practices and better transport, storage and processing facilities ensure that a larger proportion of the food produced reaches markets and consumers. However, characteristics associated with modem consumer culture mean produce is often wasted through retail and customer behaviour.G. Major supermarkets, in meeting consumer expectations, will often reject entire crops of perfectly edible fruit and vegetables at the farm because they do not meet exacting marketing standards for their physical characteristics, such as size and appearance.[H] Of the produce that does appear in the supermarket, commonly used sales promotions frequently encourage customers to purchase excessive quantities which, in the case of perishable foodstuffs, inevitably generate wastage in the home. Overall between 30% and 50% of what has been bought in developed countries is thrown away by the purchaser.Better Use of Our Finite Resources[I] Wasting food means losing n9t only life-supportingnutrition but also precious resources, including land, water and energy. As a global society, therefore, tackling food waste will help contribute towards addressing a number of key resource issues.[J] Land Usage: Over the last five decades, improved farming techniques and technologies have helped to significantly increase crop yields along with a 12% expansion of farmed land use. However, a further increase in farming area without impacting unfavourably on what remains of the world's natural ecosystems appears unlikely. The challenge is that an increase in animal-based production will require more land and resources, as livestock (牲畜) farming demands extensive land use.[K] Water Usage: Over the past century, human use of fresh water has increased at more than double the rate of population growth. Currently about 3.8 trillion m3 of water is used by humans per year. About 70% of this is consumed by the global agriculture sector, and the level of use will continue to rise over the coming decades.[L] Better irrigation can dramatically improve crop yield and about 40% of the world's food supply is currently derived from irrigated land. However,water used in irrigation is often sourced unsustainably. In processing foods after the agricultural stage, there are large additional uses of water that need to be tackled in a world of growing demand. This is particularly crucial in the case of meat production, where beef uses about 50 times more water than vegetables. In the future, more effective washing techniques, management procedures, and recycling and purification of water will be needed to reduce wastage.[M] Energy Usage: Energy is an essential resource across theentire food production cycle, with estimates showing an average of 7-10 calories of input being required in the production of one calorie of food. This varies dramatically depending on crop, from three calories for plant crops to 35 calories in the production of beef. Since much of this energy comes from the utilisation of fossil fuels, wastage of food potentially contributes to unnecessary global warming as well as inefficient resource utilisation. [N] In the modem industrialised agricultural process - which developing nations are moving towards in order to increase future yields - energy usage in the making and application of fertilizers and pesticides represents the single biggest component. Wheat production takes 50% of its energy input for these two items alone. Indeed, on a global scale, fertiliser manufacturing consumes about 3-5% of the world's annual natural gas supply. With production anticipated to increase by 25% between now and 2030, sustainable energy sourcing will become an increasingly major issue. Energy to power machinery, both on the farm and in the storage and processing facilities, adds to the energy total, which currently represents about 3.1% of annual global energy consumption.Recommendations[O] Rising population combined with improved nutrition standards and shifting dietary preferences will exert pressure for increases in global food supply. Engineers, scientists and agriculturalists have the knowledge, tools and systems that will assist in achieving productivity increases. However, pressure will grow on finite resources of land, energy and water. The potential to provide 60-100% more food by simply eliminating losses, while simultaneously freeing up land, energy and water resources for other uses, is an opportunity that should not be ignored. Inorder to begin tackling the challenge, the Institution recommends that:· The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation work with the international engineering community to ensure governments of developed nations put in place programmes that transfer engineering knowledge, design know-how, and suitable technology to newly developing countries. This will help improve produce handling in the harvest, and immediate post-harvest stages of food production. · Governments of rapidly developing countries incorporate waste minimisation thinking into the transport infrastructure and storage facilities currently being planned, engineered and built.· Governments in developed nations devise and implement policy that changes consumer expectations. These should discourage retailers from wasteful practices that lead to the rejection of food on the basis of cosmetic characteristics, and losses in the home due to excessive purchasing by consumers.47、 Elimination of waste alone can potentially provide over sixty percent more food for the growing world population.48、The production and application of fertilisers and pesticides account for the largest part of energy use in the modem industrialised agricultural process.49、 Consumers in developed countries throw away nearly half of their food purchases because they tend to buy in excessive quantities.50、It is recommended that engineering knowledge and suitable technology in developed countries be introduced to developing countries to improve produce handling in the harvest.51、The predicted global population growth means that ways have to be found to produce more food with finiteresources.52、 A further expansion of farming area will adversely impact on the world's natural ecosystems.53、 Perfectly eatable fruit and vegetable crops often fail to reach supermarkets due to their size or physical appearance.54、 Poor practices in harvesting, storage and transportation have resulted in a waste of much of the food we produce and thus a waste of land and resources.55、 Food waste in less-developed countries happens mainly at the producers' end.56、Beef consumes far more water to produce than vegetables.Section CDirections:There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneCall it the "learning paradox" : the more you struggle and even fail while you're trying to learn new information, the better you're likely to recall and apply that information later.The learning paradox is at the heart of "productive failure," a phenomenon identified by researcher Manu Kapur. Kapur points out that while the model adopted by many teachers when introducing students to new knowledge - providing lots of structure and guidance early on, until the students show that they can do it on their own - makes intuitive sense, it may not be the best way to promote learning. Rather, it's better to let the learners wrestle (较劲) with the material on their own for a while,refraining from giving them any assistance at the start. In a paper published recently, Kapur applied the principle of productive failure to mathematical problem solving in three schools.With one group of students, the teacher provided strong"scaffolding" - instructional support - and feedback. With the teacher's help, these pupils were able to find the answers to their set of problems. Meanwhile, a second group was directed to solve the same problems by collaborating with one another, without any prompts from their instructor. These students weren't able to complete the problems correctly. But in the course of trying to do so, they generated a lot of ideas about the nature of the problems and about what potential solutions would look like. And when the two groups were tested on what they'd learned, the second group"significantly outperformed" the first.The apparent struggles of the floundering (挣扎的) group have what Kapur calls a "hidden efficacy" : they lead people to understand the deep structure of problems, not simply their correct solutions. When these students encounter a new problem of the same type on a test, they're able to transfer the knowledge they've gathered more effectively than those who were the passive recipients of someone else's expertise.In the real world, problems rarely come neatly packaged, so being able to discern their deep structure is key. But, Kapur notes, none of us like to fail, no matter how often Silicon Valley entrepreneurs praise the beneficial effects of an idea that fails or a start-up company that crashes and burns. So we need to " design for productive failure" by building it into the learning process. Kapur has identified three conditions that promote this kind of beneficial struggle. First, choose problems to work on that"challenge but do not frustrate. " Second, provide learners with opportunities to explain and elaborate on what they're doing. Third, give learners the chance to compare and contrast good and bad solutions to the problems. And to those students who protest this tough-love teaching style: you'll thank me later.57、 Why does the author call the learning process a paradox?A. Pains do not necessarily lead to gains.B. What is learned is rarely applicable in life.C. Failure more often than not breeds success.D. The more is taught, the less is learnt.58、 What does Kapur disapprove of in teaching?A. Asking students to find and solve problems on their own.B. Developing students' ability to apply what they learn.C. Giving students detailed guidance and instruction.D. Allowing students a free hand in problem solving.59、What do people tend to think of providing strong "scaffolding" in teaching?A. It will make teaching easier.B. It is a sensible way of teaching.C. It can motivate average students.D. It will enhance students' confidence.60、 What kind of problem should be given to students to solve according to Kapur?A. It should be able to encourage collaborative learning.B. It should be easy enough so as not to frustrate students.C. It should be solvable by average students with ease.D. It should be difficult enough but still within their reach.61、What can be expected of "this tough-love teaching style" ( Line 8, Para. 5)?A. Students will be grateful in the 10ng run.B. Teachers will meet with a lot of resistance.C. Parents will think it too harsh on their kids.D. It may not be able to yield the desired results.Passage TwoVernon Bowman, a 75-year-old farmer from rural Indiana, did something that got him sued. He planted soybeans (大豆) sold as cattle feed. But Monsanto, the agricultural giant, insists it has a patent on the kind of genetically modified seeds Bowman used - and that the patent continues to all of the progeny (后代) of those seeds.Have we really gotten to the point that planting a seed can lead to a high-stakes Supreme Court patent lawsuit? We have, and that case is Bowman vs. Monsanto, which is being argued on Tuesday. Mousanto's critics have attacked the company for its "merciless legal battles against small farmers," and they are hoping this will be the case that puts it in its place. They are also hoping the court's ruling will rein in patent law, which is increasingly being used to claim new life forms as private property. Monsanto and its supporters, not surprisingly, see the case very differently. They argue that when a company like Monsanto goes to great expense to create a valuable new genetically modified seed, it must be able to protect its property interests. If farmers like Bowman are able to use these seeds without paying the designated fee, it will remove the incentives for companies like Monsanto to innovate.Monsanto accused Bowman of patent infringement and won an $ 84,456 damage award. Rather than pay up or work out a settlement, Bowman decided to appeal - all the way to the Supreme Court. He said "Monsanto should not be able, just because they've got billions of dollars to spend on legal fees, totry to terrify farmers into obeying their agreements by massive force and threats. "The central issue in the case is whether patent rights to living things extend to the progeny of those things. Monsanto argues that its patents extend to later generations. But Bowman's supporters argue that Monsanto is trying to expand the scope of patents in ways that would enrich big corporations and hurt small farmers. They say that ff Monsanto wins, the impact will extend far beyond agriculture - locking up property rights in an array of importantareas. Knowledge Ecology International contends that the Supreme Court's ruling could have "profound effects" on other biotech industries. If this were a Hollywood movie, the courageous old Indiana farmer would beat the profit-minded corporation before the credits rolled. But this is a real-life argument before a Supreme Court that has a well-earned reputation for looking out for the interests of large corporations. This case gives the court an opportunity to rein in the growing use of patents to protect genetically engineered crops and other life forms - but the court may well use it to give this trend a powerful new endorsement.62、 Why did Vernon Bowman get sued?A. He used genetically modified seeds to feed his cattle.B. He planted soybeans without paying for the patent.C. He made a profit out of Monsanto's commercial secrets.D. He obtained Monsanto's patented seeds by illegal means.63、 What are Monsanto's critics hoping the Supreme Court will do?A. Allow small farmers to grow genetically modified soybeans.。

2013年12月大学英语六级考试真题（第1套）Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.Some performance evaluations require supervisors to take action. Employees who receive a very favorable evaluation may deserve some type of recognition or even a promotion. If supervisors do not acknowledge such outstanding performance, employees may either lose their36 and reduce their effort or search for a new job at a firm that will37 them for high performance. Supervisors should acknowledge high performance so that the employee will continue to perform well in the future.Employees who receive unfavorable evaluations must also be given attention. Supervisors must 38 the reasons for poor performance. Some reasons, such as a family illness, may have a temporary adverse 39 on performance and can be corrected. Other reasons, such as a bad attitude, may not be temporary. When supervisors give employees an unfavorable evaluation, they must decide whether to take any 40 actions. If the employees were unaware of their own deficiencies, the unfavorable evaluation can pinpoint(指出) the deficiencies that employees must correct. In this case, the supervisor may simply need to monitor the employees 41 and ensure that the deficiencies are corrected.If the employees were already aware of their deficiencies before the evaluation period, however, they may be unable or unwilling to correct them. This situation is more serious, and the supervisor may need to take action. The action should be 42 with the f irm‟s guidelines and may include reassigning the employees to new jobs, 43 them temporarily, or firing them. A supervisor‟s action toward a poorly performing worker can 44 the attitudes of other employees. If no 45 isimposed on an employee for poor performance, other employees may react by reducing their productivity as well.Section BDirections:In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.The College Essay: Why Those 500 Words Drive Us CrazyA) Meg is a lawyer-mom in suburban Washington, D.C., where lawyer-moms are thick on theground. Her son Doug is one of several hundred thousand high-school seniors who had a painful fall. The deadline for applying to his favorite college was Nov. 1,and by early October he had yet to fill out the application. More to the point, he had yet to settle on a subject for the personal essay accompanying the application. According to college folklore, a well-turned essay has the power to seduce (诱惑) an admissions committee. “He wanted to do one thing ata time,”Meg says, explaining her son‟s delay. “But really, my son is a huge procrastinator (拖延者). The essay is the hardest thing to do, so he‟s put it off the longest.” Friends and other veterans of the process have warned Meg that the back and forth between editing parent and writing student can be traumatic (痛苦的).B) Back in the good old days—say, two years ago, when the last of my children suffered theordeal (折磨)—a high-school student applying to college could procrastinate all the way to New Year‟s Day of their senior year, assuming they could withstand the paren tal pestering (烦扰).But things change fast in the nail-biting world of college admissions.The recent trend toward early decision and early action among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline of January up to Nov. 1 or early December for many students.C) If the time for heel-dragging has been shortened, the true source of the anxiety and panicremains what it has always been. And it‟s not the application itself. A college application is a relatively straightforward questionnaire asking for the basics: name, address, family history employment history. It would all be innocent enough—20 minutes of busy work—except it comes attached to a personal essay.D) “There are good reasons it causes such anxiety,” says Lisa Sohmer, directo r of collegecounseling at the Garden School in Jackson Heights, N.Y. “It‟s not just the actual writing. By noweverything else is already set. Your course load is set, your grades are set, your test scores are set. But the essay is something you can still control, and it‟s open-ended. So the temptation is to write and rewrite and rewrite.” Or stall and stall and stall.E) The application essay, along with its mythical importance, is a recent invention. In the1930s,when only one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissionscommit tee was content to ask for a sample of applicants‟ school papers to assess their writing ability. By the 1950s, most schools required a brief personal statement of why the student had chosen to apply to one school over another.F) Today nearly 70 percent of graduating seniors go off to college, including two-year andfour-year institutions. Even apart from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterly transformed from the one baby boomers knew. Nearly all application materials are submitted online, and the Common Application provides a one-size-fits form accepted by more than 400 schools, including the nation‟s most selective.G) Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay, 500 words maximum,is generally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions.Applicants are asked to describe an ethical dilemma they‟ve faced and its impact on them, or discuss a public issue of special concern to them, or tell of a fictional character or creative work that has profoundly influenced them. Another question invites them to write about the importance (to them, again) of diversity―a word that has assumed magic power in American higher education. The most popular option: write on a topic of your choice.H) “Boys in particular look at the other questions and say, …Oh, that‟s too much work,‟” says JohnBoshoven, a counselor in the Ann Arbor, Mich., public schools. “They think if they do a topic of their choice, “I‟ll just go get that history paper I did last year on the Roman Empire and turn it into a first-person application essay!‟ And they end up producing something utterly ridiculous.”I) Talking to admissions professionals like Boshoven, you realize that the list of “don‟ts” in essaywriting is much longer than the “dos.”“No book reports, no history papers, no character studies,”says Sohmer.J) “It drives you cra zy, how easily kids slip into clichés(老生常谈),”says Boshoven. “They don‟t realize how typical their experiences arc. …I scored the winning goal in soccer against our arch-rival.‟…My grandfather served in World War II, and I hope to be just like him someday.‟That may mean a lot to that particular kid. But in the world of the application e ssay, it‟s nothing. You‟ll lose the reader in the first paragraph.”K) “The greatest strength you bring to this essay,” says the College Board‟s how-to book, “is 17 years or so of familiarity with the topic: YOU. The form and style are very familiar, and best of all, you are the world-class expert on the subject of YOU ... It has been the subject of your close scrutiny every morning since you were tall enough to see into the bathroom mirror.”Thekey word in the Common Application prompts is “you.”L) The college admission essay contains the grandest American themes―status anxiety, parental piety (孝顺), intellectual standards—and so it is only a matter of time before it becomes infected by the country‟s culture of excessive concern with self-esteem. Even if the question is ostensibly (表面上) about something outside the self (describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics), the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?M)“For all the anxiety the essay causes,”says Bill McClintick of Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, “it‟s a very small piece of the puzzle. I was in college admissions for 10 years. I saw kids and parents beat themselves up over this. And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the college‟s decision-making process.”N) Many admissions officers say they spend less than a couple of minutes on each application, including the essay. According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges sa y the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application.Among public colleges and universities, the number drops to roughly one in 10. By contrast,86 percent place “considerable importance” on an applicant‟s grades, 70 percent on “strengthof curriculum.”O) Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equally qualified candidates. The thought is certainly enough to keep the pot boiling under parents like Meg, the lawyer-mom, as she tries to help her son choose an essay topic. For a moment the other day, she thought she might have hit on a good one. “His father‟s fromFrance,” she says. “I said maybe you could write about that, as something that makes you different. You know: half French, half American. I said, …You could write about your identity issues.‟He said, …I don‟t have any identity issues!‟And he‟s right. He‟s a well-adjusted, normal kid. B ut that doesn‟t make for a good essay, does it?”注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

2013年12月大学英语六级真题试卷（一）(题后含答案及解析)题型有：1. Writing 2. Listening Comprehension 3. 4. Reading Comprehension 5. TranslationPart I Writing1．For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on happiness by referring to the saying “Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them. “ You can cite examples to illustrate your point and then explain how you can develop your ability to deal with problems and be happy. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.正确答案：The Way to Happiness When it comes to the topic of happiness, everybody has his own interpretation. But an inspiring idea goes that happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them, which reveals the nature of happiness. Happiness will be achieved only when we show great courage to confront problems and develop the capacity to solve them. There is no denying that we will encounter many problems in our life, but that doesn’t mean we are deprived of happiness. Many people have set great examples for us to follow: Nelson Mandela was sentenced to 27 years in prison, but he was optimistic and finally became successful in fighting against racial segregation. Steve Jobs was abandoned by his biological parents and dropped out of university but still managed to change the world. In our lives, no one is definitely immune to problems, but we may achieve happiness through striving. Therefore, it is of great necessity to equip ourselves with the ability to cope with problems. To be more specific, we need to be cooperative, persistent and decisive, and have a positive attitude toward problems. Only when we are proficient in dealing with problems can we fully enjoy happiness and live a merry life.Part II Listening ComprehensionSection A听力原文：W: What a wonderful performance! Your rock band has never sounded better. M: Many thanks. I guess all those hours of practice in the past month are finally paying off. Q: What does the man mean?2．A．The rock band needs more hours of practice.B．The rock band is going to play here for a month.C．Their hard work has resulted in a big success.D．He appreciates the woman’s help with the band.正确答案：C解析：语义理解题。

2013年12月英语六级听力答案+原文第1套1-25 CDADB ABCAC BDCBA DDCBA CADBB26. Legislation27. instruction28. efficient29. dropout30. motivation31. discipline32. contend33. in favor of34. at their disposal35.inferior to听力短对话1.W: What a wonderful performance! Yourrockband has never sounded b etter.M: Many thanks. I guess all those hoursofpractice in the past month are f inally paying off.Q：What does the manmean?2.M: I can't decide what to do for my summervacation. I either want to go on a bike tour ofEurope or go diving in Mexico.W: Well, we're offering an all-inclusivetwo-week trip to Mexico for only 3 00 dollars.Q：What does the womansuggest the man do for his vacation?3. W: How long do you think this projectmight take?M: I'd say about three months, but it couldtake longer if something unex pected happened.Maybe we'd better allow an extramonth, so we won‘t have to worry about being late.Q: Why does the man say extra time shouldbe allowed for the project?4. M: I'm thinking about becoming a memberhere, and I'd like some info rmation.W: Sure. A three-month membership costs 150dollars, and that includes use of the wait-room, sauna and pool. I'll give youa free path so that you can try out the facilities before youdecide.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?5.W: I'm sorry to hear that you failed thePhysics course, Ted.M: Let's face it. I'm just not cut out tobe a scientist.Q: What does the man mean?6.M: Gary insisted on buying the food for thepicnic.W: That's pretty generous of him. Butshouldn't we at least offer to shar e the expenses?He has a big family tosupport.Q: What does the woman suggest they do?7.W: Did you see the headlines in the paperthis morning?M: Year. Apparently the bus company will belaying off its employees if th ey can't reach anagreement on wages by midnight.Q: What did the man read about?8.W: Have we received payment for theoverseas order we delivered last month?M: Yes. The cheque came in yesterdayafternoon. I'll be depositing it whe n I go the banktoday.Q:What is the woman concerned about?听力长对话原文1Conversation OneW: OK, that's it. Now we have to makeadecision. We might as well do th at now, don't youthink?M: Sure, let's see. First we saw FrankBrisenski. What did you think of hi m?W: Well, he's certainly a very polite youngman.M: And very relaxed, too.W: But his appearance…M:En… He wasn't well dressed. He wasn'teven wearing a tie.W: But he did have a nice voice. He soundedgood on the telephone.M: True. And I thought he seemed veryintelligent. He answered Dona's q uestions very well.W: That's true, but dressing well isimportant. Well, let's think about the others. Now whatabout Barbara Jones?She had a nice voice, too. She sounde d good on the telephone, and shewas welldressed, too.M:En… She did look very neat, very nicelydressed, but…W: But so shy. She wouldn't be very good attalking to people at the front desk.M:En…OK. Now who was the next? Ar…Yes,David Wallace. I thought he was very good,had a lot of potential. What do youthink?W:En… He seemed like a very bright guy. Hedressed very nicely, too. An d he had a reallynice appearance.M: He seemed relaxed to me, the type ofperson people feel comfortable with right away.W: He was polite, but also very friendlyand relaxed as you say. I think h e'll be good withthe guests at the frontdesk.M: He had a very pleasant voice, too.W: That's right. OK, good! I guess we haveour receptionist then, don't yo u?M: Yes, I think so. We'll just offer thejob to…Q9: What are the speakers looking for?Q10: What is Frank Brisenski's weakness?Q11: What do the speakers decide to do?听力长对话原文2Conversation TwoW: Hello.M: Hello. Is that the reference library?W: Yes, can I help you?M: I hope so. I ran earlier and asked forsome information about Dennis H utton, thescientist. You asked me to ring back.W: Oh, yes. I have found something.M: Good. I've got a pencil and paper.Perhaps you could read out what it says.W: Certainly. Hutton Dennis, bornDarlington, 1836, died New York, 1920.M: Yes, got that.W: Inventor and physicist, the son of afarmworker. He was admitted to t he University ofLondon at the age of 15.M: Yes.W: He graduated at 17 with the first classdegree in physics and mathem atics. All right?M: Yes, all right.W: He made his first notable achievement atthe age of 18. It was a m ethod ofrefrigeration which rolls from his work inlow temperature physics. H e became professor ofmathematics at the Universityof Manchester at 24, whe re he remained for twelve years. Duringthat time, hemarried one of his stude nts, Natasha WilloughbyM: Yes, go on.W: Later working together in London, theylaid the foundations of modern physics byshowing that normal laws of cause andeffect do not apply at the le vel of subatomic particles.For this he and hiswife received the Nobel Prize for physics in 1910, and did so again in 1912fortheir work on very high frequenc y radio waves. In his lifetime, Hutton patented244inventions. Do you want an y more?M: Yes, when did he go to America?W: Let me see. In 1920 he went to teach inNew York and died there sud denly after onlythree weeks. Still he was a goodage.M: Yes, I suppose so. Well, thanks.Question 12: What do we learn about DennisHutton when he was 15?Question 13: What did Dennis Hutton do atthe age of 24?Question 14: For what were Dennis Huttonand his wife awarded the Nob el Prize a secondtime?Question15: Why did Dennis Hutton go to New York?听力短文原文Passage OneIn America, white tailed deer are morenumerousthan ever before, so abu ndant in fact that they'vebecome a suburban nuisanceand a health hazard.Why can't the herd be thinned theold-fashioned way? The small commu nity of NorthHaven on Long Island is home tosome six hundred to seven hun dred deer. The department ofEnvironmentalConservation estimates the optim um population at 60. The town has beenbrowsedbare of vegetation except where gardens and shrubs are protected by highfences.Drivers routinely collide with deer andthere are so many dead bodies lef t by the side of theroad that the town hasmade it a deal with a local pet ceme tery to collect and dispose of thebodies.Some people in the town have become ill from deer transmitted diseases. Ontheoccasions when hunting has been tried, local animal rights people have workedto secure court orders against t he hunts. And when that is failed, they stopthe hunters, banging on potsand p ans to alert the deer. Town meetings calledto discuss the problem inevitably dissolved into confrontations.The activists believe simply that the deerare not the problem. Some com munities have evendiscussed the possibility ofbringing wolves back into the e cological mix. That means wolves inthe suburbsof New York. It is almost too wonderful not to try it. The wolves would killdeer ofcourse. They would also te rrorize and kill dogs and cats which is notwhat the suburban dwellershave in mind.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passageyou have just heard Q16. What do we learn about white-taileddeer in North Haven?Q17. Why do local animal rights people bangon pots and pans?Q18.What would happen if wolves were brought back into the ecologica l mix?Passage TwoAnd now, if you'll walk this way, ladiesand gentlemen, the next room we' re going to see isthe room in which the familyused to hold their formal dinner parties and even occasionallyentertain headsof state and royalty. However, they managed to keep this room friendlyandintimate. And I think you'll agree . It has a very informal atmosphere, quiteunlike somegrand houses you visit . The curtains were never drawn, even atnight, so guests got a view ofthe lak e and fountains outside which were lit upat night – a very attractive sight. A s you cansee, ladies and gentlemen, theguests were seated very informally ar ound this oval table, whichwould add tothe relaxed atmosphere. The table da tes from the 18th century and is madefromSpanish oak. It's rather remarka ble for the fact that although it's extremelybig, it'ssupported by just six rathe r slim legs. However, it seems to havesurvived like that for 200years. So it's probably going to last a bit longer.The chairs which go with the table are not acomplete set. There wereoriginally six of them. They are interesting for the f act that they areveryplain and undecorated for the time, with only one plain central panel at theback and noarmrests. I myself find them rather uncomfo rtable to sit in forvery long, but people were usedto more discomfort in the past. And now, ladiesand gentlemen, if you'd like to follow me intothe great h all…Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passageyou have just heardQ19. What do we learn about the speaker?Q20. What does the speaker say about theroom they are visiting?Q21. What is said about the oval table in theroom?Q22.What does the speaker say about the chairs?Passage ThreeJanet James was 22 years old when she wasdiagnosed with MS—a diseas e that attacks thebody's nerves. She has justgraduated from college and got a job at an advertising agency whenshe began tosense that something strang e was going on inside her body. When Jamesrealizedhow severe her illness w as, she knew she had better hurry up and live life. MSis thebiggest crippler of young adults. And although she didn't have many symptoms,she knew it wasj ust a matter of time. First on her agenda was to pursue herdream of hosting a pop musicprogramme. She worked at a radio station for ayear, always awa re that her body wasdegenerating. Then her best friend movedaway. And one night James began screaming,"I gotto go! I got togo!" Two weeks later, she arrived at Alaska, thousands of miles from herfriends,her family and her past."Everything fell into a place", sherecalls. A 23-year-old girl with anincurable d isease can fly to Alaska andeverything can work out. The MS attacks came an d went.And most of the timethey hardly slowed her down. James hiked, fishe d, learnt to sailandexperimented with hot air ballooning."I lived for adventure", shesays."Nobody ever had abetter time or did more exotic strange thingsthan I did in an 80-year period." Inevitablyhowever, the day came whenshe was so weake ned that she had to return to Pittsburgh, herhome town. Thereshe began relie ving her adventures by writing a book about them. Her bookwaspublished in 1993.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passageyou have just heard.Q23. What does the speaker say about MS?Q24. What did Janet James decide to do after herdisease was diagnosed?Q25. What's sort of person can we infer JanetJames is? the ecological mix?听力填空It‘s difficult to estimate the number ofyoungstersinvolved in home schooling where children are notsent to school andreceive their formal education fromo ne or both parents. Legislation and courtdecisionshave made it legally possible in most states forparents to educatetheir children at home and each year m ore people take advantage ofthatopportunity.Some states require parents or a home tutorto meet teacher certificatio n standards, andmany require parents to completelegal forms to verify that t heir children are receiving instruction in stateapproved curriculum.Supporters of home education claim that itis less expensive and far mor e efficient than mass public education. Moreoverthey site several advantages : alleviation of schoolovercrowding, strengthenfamily relationships, lower drop out rates, the facts that students areallowedto learn at their own rate, increas ed motivation, higher standardized testscores, andreduced discipline proble ms.Criticsof the home schooling movement content that it creates as many problems asitsolves. They acknowledge that, in a few cases, home schooling offerseducationalopportunities superior to those found in most public school s, butfew parents can provide sucheducational advantages. Some parents wh o withdrawtheir children from the schools in favor ofhome schooling have an i nadequateeducational background and insufficient formal training toprovide a satisfactoryeducation for their children. Typically, parents have fewertechnol ogicalresources at their disposal than do schools. However, the relativelyinex pensivecomputer technology that is readily available today is causing somet o challenge the notionthat home schooling is in any way inferior to morehig hly structured classroom education.2013年12月英语六级听力答案+原文第2套1-25 ADCBB CDBCA ACCAD ABDBD CDDBA26. abused27.industrial28.extremes29.extinguished30.mysteries31. tearapart32. toxic33.capable of34.manifested35. a multitude of听力短对话1.W: Hasmy order arrived yet? I have beenexpecting it last week.M：I called the company thismorning. They hadsome labor problems, so your ord er will be shipped late. Itshould be here by the end of theweek.Q；What has caused the delayof the shipment?2.W: Idon‘t agree with Mr. Johnson‘s views on social welfare. He seems to suggest thepoorare robbing the rich.M: Hemight have used better words to express his idea, but I think what he saidmakes a lotof sense.Q：What does the man mean?3.M：Liz, I just found out Ihave a meeting and I can‘t pick up the kids after their so ccerpractice. Wouldyou be able to pick them up in time?W：Yes, that won‘t be aproblem. I think I can finish early today.Q：Why does the man say he can‘tpick up the kids?4.W: Maryis going to get a little dog from one of her relatives.M: Really?But I hear her apartment building is about to place a ban on p et animals.Q：What does the man imply?5.W：I can never tell whether it‘sLisa or Gale on the phone. Their voices sound incr ediblysimilar.M: That‘sabout the only thing they have in common for twins, believe it o r not.Q：What does the man mean?6.W: Jay,what does the fax from our associates in Britain say?M：They want to know if theeconomic crisis would affect our ability to carry out t he deal wesigned lastNovember.Q：What are the speakerstalking about?7.M: Doyou think you'll be able to get this ink stain out of my pants?W: Itwon't be a problem, but I need to send them over to our main clean ing facility.That‘san extra day‘s time.Q：What does the woman mean?8.W: Thatlooks like a protest rally. I wonder what they are protesting agai nst.M: Thatsign says they are against importing luxury goods from Europe. They seemed tobegetting so worked up about that.Q：What are the speakerstalking about?听力长对话原文1Conversation OneW：What isit, Bob?(9)You sounded prettyserious on the phone. Have we still got abudgetproble m?M：I don‘ know. I hope not. Themeeting's on Friday. But that‘s not what I want t o talk toyou about. Er, closethe door, will you? It‘s Marsha.W: Marsha?What about her?M: I'mworried. I don‘t know what to do.(10)She‘s just not performing. We may have tolether go.W: Fireher? She‘s been with us a long time, Bob. If she leaves, it‘ll be a b ig loss tous. She‘sdone really excellent work.M：Yes. But lately, the lastmonth or so, in fact, there have been a lot of problems . She‘schanged. Notonly does she have a tendency to be moody all the time, but shemissesappointments, doesn‘t follow through on projects, and doesn't seem to plananything tillthe last minute.W: Em, didshe ever explain why she didn‘t show up for the Denver trip?M：No. She said she was sorryand that it w ouldn‘t happen again. (11) Something about amix-up onarrangements to get to the airport. Now, whenever anybody mentions the subjecttoher, she just goes silent. I don‘t kno w. Thank goodness, David pulled us outof the hole on thatone.W: Yes, hedid a really fine job, filling in for Marsha like that at the last mi nute.M：(12)I don‘t think it was thefirst time he‘s had to do that. If we knew all the fa cts, I thinkwe‘d findthat he's been covering for Marsha on quite a few project s.9. Whatdid the man do before he came to see the woman?10. Whatdoes the man say about Marsha?11. Howdid Marsha explain why she didn't show up for the Denver trip?12. Whatdoes the man say about David?听力长对话原文2Conversation TwoM：You also hire the mistressesof Oxford High School for girls. How many girls do you havehere?W：We have 615 girls.M: in yourexperience, do girls do better academically and later profession ally insingle-sexschools?W：Yes. I think they do betteracademically and you can measure that very crude ly fromthe examinationresults,(13) I also think they do better academically because they havemoreopportun ities to take the leading role in discussions and in managerial responsibilities.( 14)Ithink they see the role models of the chief positions in the school beinghe ld by women.M：I wonder if you could saythen in a few words what the advantages are for a gi rl at asingle-sex school.Well, I think within the classroom, she‘s going to have full opportunity toexpress her own opinions. She isn‘t going to be shouted d own by over-confidentyounggentlemen.W: Areteenagers in particular, do you think, sheltered too much from c ontact withtheopposite sex? Does this cause them difficulties when they find t hemselves inmixed groups?M：Well, I would like to findthe parents who could shelter girls from the oppositesex ifthey live in Oxford.(15)They encounter boys all the time socially out of school, andthroughdebating societies and things like that, some school activit ies as well.M: So, nodisadvantages at all?W：I don‘t think there are anydisadvantages. I think that it‘s grossly overstated t hat oneneeds to havecontact with the opposite sex right through the whole of life, in the classroomandoutside the classroom and at all ages.13. Whatdoes the woman say about the girls in her school?14. Whatdo we learn about the woman's school?15. What does the woman say about the girls' social life?听力短文原文Passage OneLarry arrivedearly for his speaking engagement.He positioned the table so that he couldmove closeto the audience that's the strategic point in thesp eech.(16)He hadread that speakers can be more persuasive if they invade the pe rsonalspace oflisteners, encouraging an emotional response. For the same r eason, he placedthechairs close to each other and raised the temperature toa slightlyuncomfortable level.(17)Thepurpose of the speech was to encourage theaudience of corporate executives and localbusiness owners to support localsports groups. To enhan ce his credibility with the audience,Larry had broughtsome slides of his famil y attending sports events. One photo showed him atanaward ceremony, whe re he had been honored for his financial contribution to alocal baseball team . Realizing that this particular audience would find hisregional accent unattra ctive, Larry planned to speak with an accent that wouldbe more acceptable to hisaudience.(18)After reading a book on how to addressfor success, he had purchased ane xpensive dark navy suit and golden tie. Hechose colors and styles known to c ommunicate power and influence.(19)Justbefore people began entering the hall, Larry dimmed the lights andtur ned upthe sound system, which was playing soft music, hoping to create a wa rmpersonalatmosphere for the speech. He hoped that these added effects wo uldencourage his audience tosupport local sports teams. He had also planned thecontent of his speech to focus on theteams with the best records, the ones that had won the most games in the last season.16.How cana speaker make himself more persuasive when delivering a speech?17.Forwhat purpose was Larry going to make a speech?18.Why didLarry purchase an expensive navy suit and golden tie?19.Why didLarry dim the lights and turn up the sound system before peo ple enteredthehall?Passage TwoPhillisWheatley was a young African-American slave who belonged to lan downerJohnWheatley in Colonial America.(20)She was also a poet and the firstAfrican-American everto publish a book. Her poems on various subjects,religious and moral were printed in Boston in1 773, three years before thesigning of the Declaration of Independence. Early slaves weregenerally deniededucation, but Wheatley was allowed by her owne r to study poetry, Latin andtheBible. And by the time she reached her late tee ns, she had written enoughpoetry to puttogether a slender book of verse. E ven so, publication wasdifficult.(21)The publisher, fearful of being cheated, forced her to submit tohis schola rly examination by a board of educatedmen, including the colonialgovernor. T he board of judges questioned Wheatley extensively andruled thatshe was e ducated enough to have written the book. Only then waspublicationpermitted. Wheatley may have been the first, but she was not the only slave towriteboo ks during the growing days of the Republic. Unfortunately, most of theearly p opular African-American writers have been all but forgotten in moderntimes u ntil now. A chronicleprofessor, Henry Louis Gates, recently studied aresearch project looking into 19th centuryAfrican-American fiction and poetry.(22)In t he process he uncovered numerous lost works,almost half of which werewri tten by African-American women. In very literary styles, thenewlyresurfaced manuscripts offered a rich stock of African-American culture,recreating amon gother things the early days of slavery and the importance ofreligion to the sl aves.20. Whatdoes the speaker say about Phillis Wheatley?21. Whatwas Wheatley forced to do to get her book published?22. Whatdid Prof. Henry Louis Gates uncover in the process of his resear ch?Passage ThreeIn today'spersonality stakes, nothing is more highly valued than the sens e of humor.Weseek it out in others and are proud to claim it in ourselves, perhaps even morethan goodlooks or intelligence.(23) If someone has a great sense of humor, wereason, it means thatthey are happy, socially confident and have a healthyperspective on life.(24)This attitudewould have surprised the ancient Greeks,who believed humo r to be essentially aggressive.And in fact our admiration forthe comically gifted is relatively new and not very well-founded,says RodMartin‘s a psycho logist at the University of Western Ontario."Being funnyisn'tnecessarily an indicator of good social skills and well-being ,‖ hisresearch has shown, "it mayjust exactly be a sign of personalityflaws."(25)He has found that humor is a double-edged sword. It can forgebetter rela tionships and help you cope with life, or it can be corrosiveeatingaway your se lf-esteem and irritating others."It‘s a form of communicationlike speech,and we all use it differently*" says Martin. We use bondinghumor to enhance our social connections* but we als o may employ it as a way ofexcluding or rejecting an outsider. Thoughhumor is essentially social, how youuse it says a lot about your sense of self. Those who useself-defeating humor,making fun of themselves, of the enjoyment of others, tend to maintainthathostility toward themselves even when alone. S imilarly, those who are able toview the worldwith amused tolerance are ofte n equally forgiving of their ownshortcomings.23. How dopeople today view humor according to the speaker?24. Whatdid ancient Greeks think of humor?25. What has psychologist Rod Martin found about humor?听力填空It isimportant that we be mindful of the earth, the planet out of which we a re bornand by which we arenourished, guided, healed-the planet, however,w hich wehave abused to a considerable degree inthese past two centuries of i ndustrialexploitation.This exploitation has reached such extremes that pres ently itappears that some hundreds ofthousands of species will be extinguish ed beforethe end of the century.In our times, human shrewdness has mastered the deep mysteriesof the earth at a level farbeyond the capacities of earlier peoples. We canbreak the mountains apart; we can drain therivers and flood the valleys. Wecan turn th e most luxuriant forests into throwaway paperproducts. We can tear apartth e great grass cover of the western plains and pour toxic chemicals into thesoil until the soil is dead and blows away in the wind. We can pollute theairwith a cids, the rivers with sewage(污水), the seas with oil. We caninvent computers capable of processing ten milli on calculations per second. Andwhy"? To increase the volume and thespeed w ith which we move naturalresources through the consumer economy to the ju nk pile orthe waste heap. Ourmanagerial skills are measured by the compet ence manifested inacceleratingthis process. If in these activities the physical f eatures of the planet aredamaged, ifthe environment is made inhospitabl e for a multitude of living species,then so be it. We are,supposedly, creating a technological wonder world.2013年12月英语六级听力答案+原文第3套1-25 DCBCD ABABD ACBCA BCCDA DACDB26.addition27.recognize28.challenges29.identify30. secret31.specific32. givinginstructions33. shedlight on34.acquisition35. caught up with听力短对话1.M：I need to find a dentist.You said you knowDr. Smith well. Do you recommend her?W: Well, Ihad to see her a few times, but what impressed me most were t he magazines inher waiting room.Q：What does the woman imply?2.W：I‘m afraid I can‘t show youthe apartment at the moment, because the tenantis stillliving in it. It‘sreally a lovely place with a big kitchen and a sunny windo w, for only $200amonth.M：Sounds good, but we reallycan‘t rent an apartment without seeing it first.Q：What do we learn from theconversation?3.M：So, that's what‘s beenkeeping you so busy recently!W: Yes, I‘vebeen tied up with my studies. You know I‘m planning to go to theUnitedStates this coming summer, but I'm a bit nervous about my Englis h.Q：What is the woman busydoing?4.W：How did you feel when youfound out you had high blood pressure?M:Shocked! The problem for me was that there were no symptoms. It se emed to havesneakedup on me.Q：What does the man mean?5.W: So,you're just back from a trip to India. What were you doing there?M：The trip was intended tobring to the world's attention the fact that AIDS is no t just anAfricandisease. It's also endangering other countries, notably, India a nd Thailand.Q：What was the purpose of theman‘s trip to India?6.M：It‘s quite clear for myvisit. This is a full size, comprehensive university. So wh y is it stillcalleda college?W：The College of William andMary is the second oldest institution of higher learn ing inthis country. Wehave nurtured great minds like Thomas Jefferson and w e are proud of ourname.Q：What do we learn from thisconversation about the College of William and Mar y?7.M: Havethe parts we need for the photo copying machine arrived yet?W: Iordered them last week, but something is holding them up.Q：What does thewoman say about the parts needed for the photo copying mach ine?8.W：The cafeteria provided manykinds of dishes for us today. Did you notice that?M: Yes,kind of rare, isn‘t it?Q：What does the man imply?听力长对话原文1Conversation OneW:Hello‘Patrick, Is that you?M：Yeah, Jane. What can I dofor you?W: (9)Iwas calling about the apple tree that you were trimming yesterda y.M: Thatwas hard work!W：I'm sure it was. It truelooked difficult.M：Yeah, I‘m glad it‘sfinished. Hauling the branches to the front for garbage pick-up was nofuneither.W：Well, I don't think you'requite finished yet.(10)Some of the larger branches fell overinto my yard, andI think you should come and get them.M: Listen,Jane. I don't see why I should do that. You‘ve eaten all the app les that fallin youryard and you‘ve never complained about that before.W：Well, it‘s easier to pickup apples than to drag tree branches all the way to the curb. Mykids pick upthe apples, and the branches are just too big for them t o drag.M：Well, I guess you‘ll justhave to do it yourself, Jane.W:Patrick, I wish you would reconsider. We‘ve always gotten along fairl y well,but I thinkyou‘re out of line here. The branches are your responsibility.M：Sorry, Jane. I disagree!You take the benefits of the apple tree, but refuse to。

2013年12月英语六级真题答案完整版作文部分范文一：Happiness – Go for itIn this long journey we call "life", everybody is in pursuit of happiness and has their own interpretation of happiness. An inspiring idea is that happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them, which reveals the very truth about happiness. It cannot be achieved through waiting, but only through striving.There is no way that life always progresses as we wish. Problems may occur and we find ourselves in trouble, but it doesn't mean we are deprived of happiness. There are numerous examples for us to follow: disabled people overcoming obstacles, patients fighting against disease, poverty-stricken people achieving their dreams -- all these inspiring heroes. Their lives are definitely not problem-free, but they have found happiness by courageously solving problems.Therefore, it is essential to develop the ability to deal with problems. We need to muster our courage and confidence to face the fact. Meanwhile, we need to find effective ways to cope with them.In a word, if we stay strong and approach problems effectively, there will be no storm in life that we cannot weather. And after the storm, happiness is within our reach.范文二：Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the remark “the greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.” You can give examples to illustrate your point and then explain what you will do to make your life more meaningful. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.How to Live a Meaning LifeAmong all the highlighted topics, there is “how to live a meaning life?” Everyone has his or her own opinion. As the saying h as it, “the greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”I cannot agree any more.If our life is just to pursue something for ourselves, we will surely feel fruitless and meaningless when we grow old. From Steve Jobs’s bibliogra phy, we can get that the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do. Steve Jobs has brought a great many changes to our world. His life, although short, definitely outlast. That’s a life worth living.Therefore, if t here is a way to make my life meaningful, it should be to find something I’m interested in and also helpful to others or the whole society. Only in this way can I keep my passion throughout my life until I finally fulfil my life.范文三：For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay about the impact of information explosion by referring to the saying "a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention". You can cite examples to illustrate your point and then explain what you can do to avoid being distracted by irrelevant information? You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.Ways to Get Over Information ExplosionAs a famous saying goes, “A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention”. No wadays we are in the Information Age. Some people keep complaining about distraction by the information explosion.Admittedly, the new information age has brought us so much convenience that we are allowed to get enough information just with a simple click sitting in front of the computers. Nevertheless, we are also confused, annoyed, distracted and upset by an incredibly large quantity of information. For example, when searching for something online, people are easily carried away by irrelevant information and forget their original plan. Besides, some information often turns out to be useless and actually advertisement. Therefore, it can be time-consuming and troublesome to search information online.Then what we can do to avoid being distracted by irrelevant information? Here I have some useful tips: Firstly, make a list of what you really want before your searching. This will help you to refuse some appealing, yet irrelevant information. Secondly, find some trustful and professional sources or websites and then save and categorize them. In this case, you can easily leave some ads and useless information behind.听力部分【短对话】1.W: What a wonderful performance! Your rock band has never sounded better.M: Many thanks. I guess all those hours of practice in the past month are finally paying off.Q：What does the man mean?2.M: I can't decide what to do for my summer vacation. I either want to go on a bike tour of Europe or go diving in Mexico.W: Well, we're offering an all-inclusive two-week trip to Mexico for only 300 dollars.Q：What does the woman suggest the man do for his vacation?3. W: How long do you think this project might take?M: I'd say about three months, but it could take longer if something unexpected happened. Maybe we'd better allow an extra month, so we won’t have to worry about being late.Q: Why does the man say extra time should be allowed for the project?4. M: I'm thinking about becoming a member here, and I'd like some information.W: Sure. A three-month membership costs 150 dollars, and that includes use of the wait-room, sauna and pool. I'll give you a free path so that you can try out the facilities before you decide.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?5.W: I'm sorry to hear that you failed the Physics course, Ted.M: Let's face it. I'm just not cut out to be a scientist.Q: What does the man mean?6.M: Gary insisted on buying the food for the picnic.W: That's pretty generous of him. But shouldn't we at least offer to share the expenses? He has a big family to support.Q: What does the woman suggest they do?7.W: Did you see the headlines in the paper this morning?M: Year. Apparently the bus company will be laying off its employees if they can't reach an agreement on wages by midnight.Q: What did the man read about?8.W: Have we received payment for the overseas order we delivered last month?M: Yes. The cheque came in yesterday afternoon. I'll be depositing it when I go the bank today.Q: What is the woman concerned about?【六级听力长对话原文1】W: OK, that's it. Now we have to make a decision. We might as well do that now, don't you think?M: Sure, let's see. First we saw Frank Brisenski. What did you think of him?W: Well, he's certainly a very polite young man.M: And very relaxed, too.W: But his appearance…M: En…He wasn't well dressed. He wasn't even wearing a tie.W: But he did have a nice voice. He sounded good on the telephone.M: True. And I thought he seemed very intelligent. He answered Dona's questions very well.W: That's true, but dressing well is important. Well, let's think about the others. Now what about Barber Jones? She had a nice voice, too. She sounded good on the telephone, and she was well dressed, too.M: En…She did look very neat, very nicely dressed, but…W: But so shy. She wouldn't be very good at talking to people at the front desk.M: En…OK. Now who was the next? Ar…Yes, David Wallace. I thought he was very good, had a lot of potential. What do you think?W: En…He seemed like a very bright guy. He dressed very nicely, too. And he had a really nice appearance.M: He seemed relaxed to me, the type of person people feel comfortable with right away.W: He was polite, but also very friendly and relaxed as you say. I think he'll be good with the guests at the front desk.M: He had a very pleasant voice, too.W: That's right. OK, good! I guess we have our receptionist then, don't you?M: Yes, I think so. We'll just offer the job to…Question 9: What are the speakers looking for?Question 10: What is Frank Brisenski's weakness?Question 11: What do the speakers decide to do?【六级听力长对话原文2】W: Hello.M: Hello. Is that the reference library?W: Yes, can I help you?M: I hope so. I ran earlier and asked for some information about Dennis Hutton, the scientist. You asked me to ring back.W: Oh, yes. I have found something.M: Good. I've got a pencil and paper. Perhaps you could read out what it says.W: Certainly. Hutton Dennis, born Darlington, 1836, died New York, 1920.M: Yes, got that.W: Inventer and physicist, the son of a farmworker. He was admitted to the University of London at the age of 15.M: Yes.W: He graduated at 17 with the first class degree in physics and mathematics. All right?M: Yes, all right.W: He made his first notable achievement at the age of 18. It was a method of refrigeration which rolls from his work in low temperature physics. He became professor of mathematics at the University of Manchester at 24, where he remained for twelve years. During that time, he married one of his students, Natasha WilloughbyM: Yes, go on.W: Later working together in London, they laid the foundations of modern physics by showing that normal laws of cause and effect do not apply at the level of subatomic particles. For this he and his wife received the Nobel Prize for physics in 1910, and did so again in 1912 for their work on very high frequency radio waves. In his lifetime, Hutton patented 244 inventions. Do you want any more?M: Yes, when did he go to America?W: Let me see. In 1920 he went to teach in New York and died there suddenly after only three weeks. Still he was a good age.M: Yes, I suppose so. Well, thanks.Question 12: What do we learn about Dennis Hutton when he was 15?Question 13: What did Dennis Hutton do at the age of 24?Question 14: For what were Dennis Hutton and his wife awarded the Nobel Prize a second time?Question 15: Why did Dennis Hutton go to New York?In America, white tailed deer are more numerous than ever before, so abundant in fact that they've become a suburban nuisance and a health hazard.Why can't the herd be thinned the old-fashioned way? The small community of North Haven on Long Island is home to some six hundred to seven hundred deer. The department of Environmental Conservation estimates the optimum population at 60. The town has been browsed bare of vegetation except where gardens and shrubs are protected by high fences.Drivers routinely collide with deer and there are so many dead bodies left by the side of the road that the town has made it a deal with a local pet cemetery to collect and dispose of the bodies. Some people in the town have become ill from deer transmitted diseases. On the occasions when hunting has been tried, local animal rights people have worked to secure court orders against the hunts. And when that is failed, they stop the hunters, banging on pots and pans to alert the deer. Town meetings called to discuss the problem inevitably dissolved into confrontations.The activists believe simply that the deer are not the problem. Some communities have even discussed the possibility of bringing wolves back into the ecological mix. That means wolves in the suburbs of New York. It is almost too wonderful not to try it. The wolves would kill deer of course. They would also terrorize and kill dogs and cats which is not what the suburban dwellers have in mind.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heardQ16. What do we learn about white-tailed deer in North Haven?Q17. Why do local animal rights people bang on pots and pans?Q18. What would happen if wolves were brought back into the ecological mix?六级短文2原文And now, if you'll walk this way, ladies and gentlemen, the next room we're going to see is the room in which the family used to hold their formal dinner parties and even occasionally entertain heads of state and royalty. However, they managed to keep this room friendly and intimate. And I think you'll agree. It has a very informal atmosphere, quite unlike some grand houses you visit. The curtains were never drawn, even at night, so guests got a view of the lake and fountains outside which were lit up at night – a very attractive sight. As you can see, ladies and gentlemen, the guests were seated very informally around this oval table, which would add to the relaxed atmosphere. The table dates from the 18th century and is made from Spanish oak. It's rather remarkable for the fact that although it's extremely big, it's supported by just six rather slim legs. However, it seems to have survived like that for 200 years. So it's probably going to last a bit longer. The chairs which go with the table are not a complete set. There were originally six of them. They are interesting for the fact that they are very plain and undecorated for the time, with only one plain central panel at the back and no armrests. I myself find them rather uncomfortable to sit in for very long, but people were used to more discomfort in the past. And now, ladies and gentlemen, if you'd like t o follow me into the great hall…Q19. What do we learn about the speaker?Q20. What does the speaker say about the room they are visiting?Q21. What is said about the oval table in the room?Q22. What does the speaker say about the chairs?六级短文3原文Janet James was 22 years old when she was diagnosed with MS—a disease that attacks the body's nerves. She has just graduated from college and got a job at an advertising agency when she began to sense that something strange was going on inside her body.When James realized how severe her illness was, she knew she had better hurry up and live life. MS is the biggest cripplerof young adults. And although she didn't have many symptoms, she knew it was just a matter of time. First on her agenda was to pursue her dream of hosting a pop music programme. She worked at a radio station for a year, always aware that her body was degenerating. Then her best friend moved away. And one night James began screaming, "I got to go! I got to go!" Two weeks later, she arrived at Alaska, thousands of miles from her friends, her family and her past. "Everything fell into a place", she recalls. A 23-year-old girl with an incurable disease can fly to Alaska and everything can work out. The MS attacks came and went. And most of the time they hardly slowed her down. James hiked, fished, learnt to sail and experimented with hot air ballooning. "I lived for adventure", she says. "Nobody ever had a better time or did more exotic strange things than I did in an 80-year period." Inevitably however, the day came when she was so weakened that she had to return to Pittsburgh, her home town. There she began relieving her adventures by writing a book about them. Her book was published in 1993.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.Questions 23What does the speaker say about MS?Questions 24What did Janet James decide to do after her disease was diagnosed?Questions 25What's sort of person can we infer Janet James is?the ecological mix?2013年12月大学英语六级考试听力填空原文It’s difficult to estimate the number of youngsters involved in home schooling where children are not sent to school and receive their formal education from one or both parents. Legislation and court decisions have made it legally possible in most states for parents to educate their children at home and each year more people take advantage of that opportunity.Some states require parents or a home tutor to meet teacher certification standards, and many require parents to complete legal forms to verify that their children are receiving instruction in state approved curriculum.Supporters of home education claim that it is less expensive and far more efficient than mass public education. Moreover they site several advantages: alleviation of school overcrowding, strengthen family relationships, lower dropout rates, the facts that students are allowed to learn at their own rate, increased motivation, higher standardized test scores, and reduced discipline problems.Critics of the home schooling movement content that it creates as many problems as itsolves. They acknowledge that, in a few cases, home schooling offers educational opportunities superior to those found in most public schools, but few parents can provide such educational advantages. Some parents who withdraw their children from the schools in favor of home schooling have an inadequate educational background and insufficient formal training to provide a satisfactory education for their children. Typically, parents have fewer technological resources at their disposal than do schools. However, the relatively inexpensive computer technology that is readily available today is causing some to challenge the notion that home schooling is in any way inferior to more highly structured classroom education. 1. 答案：D) Their hard work has resulted in a big success.2. 答案：B) Join a package tour to Mexico.3. 答案：B) In case some problem should occur.4. 答案：C) The man can try out the facilities before he becomes a member.5. 答案：A) He is not fit to study science.6. 答案：C) Pay for part of the picnic food.7. 答案：A) A labor dispute at a bus company.8. 答案：D) The payment for an order.9. B) A hotel receptionist.10. A) Appearance.11. C) Offer the job to David Wallace.12 C) He was admitted to university.13. B) He became a professor of Mathematics.14. D) Their work on very high frequency radio waves.15. D) To teach at a university.16. A They have become a headache to the community.17. C To alert the deer.18. B They would endanger domestic animals.19. A She is a tourist guide.20. C It was used by the family to hold dinner parties.21. B It is very big, with only six slim legs.22. D They are uncomfortable to sit in for long.23. D It is the biggest crippler of young adults.24. A Hurry up and live life.25. B Adventurous.26. Legislation27. instruction28. efficient29. dropout30. motivation31. discipline32. contend33. in favor of34. at their disposal35. inferior to36 enthusiasm37 reward38 determine39 impact40 additional41 closely42 consistent43 suspending44 affect45 penalty46. G47. C48. H49. F50. A51. G52. D53. K54. I55. J56. C. They often have to seek job outside the academic circle.57. A. It should be improved to better suit the job market.58. C. An IDP be made in communication with an adviser.59. B. help employees make the best use of their abilities to achieve their goals.60. A. It is the effective tool of self-awareness and introspection for better career plans.61. A) It still leaves much to be desired.62. B) Where women's rights are protected by law.63. D) They are underrepresented in politics.64. B) It does not guarantee a better life for the nation's women.65. D) Tap women's economic potential.翻译部分翻译一： Since ancient times, the Chinese people usually celebrate harvest in the Mid-Autumn, which is similar to the custom of celebrating Thanksgiving in the North America. The Mid-Autumn has become popular all over China in the Early Tang Dynasty. The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, is a day for worshiping the moon. At that day, family members get together and enjoy the bright moon in the sky at night. In 2006, the Mid-Autumn was listed as a China cultural heritage, and in 2008 designated as a public holiday. The moon cake, an indispensable food of the Festival, is often used as a gift for relatives and friends or enjoyed in the family party. Traditional moon cakes are imprinted with Chinese characters with such meanings as “longevity”, “happiness” or “harmony”.翻译二： The world-renowned Silk Road is a series of routes connecting the East and the West. It extended more than 6,000 kilometers. The Silk Road was named after ancient China’s silk trade which played an important role in the civilization development of China, South Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It was through the Silk Road that papermaking, gunpowder, compass and printing of the four great inventions of ancient China were introduced around the world. Similarly, Chinese silk, tea and porcelain spread all over the world. Europe also exported various goods and plants through the Silk Road to meet the needs of the Chinese market.。

A) Asset I) permanentlyB) Delayed j) prevalentC) Deviates k) simultaneouslyD) Equivalent L) stemsE) Identified M) successivelyF) Intentions N) underlyingG) Object O) visualizingH) overwhelmingQuite often, educators tell families of children who are learning English as a second language to speak only English, and not their native language, at home. Although these educators may havemisunderstandings about the process of language acquisition. Educators may fear that childrenIn fact, most children outside of the United States are expected to become bilingual or even, in many cases, multilingual. Globally, knowing more than one language is viewed as an (41) asset and even a necessity in many areas. It is also of concern that the misguided advice that students should speak only English is given primarily to poor families with limited educational opportunities, not to wealthier families who have many educational advantages. Since childrenadvising families to speak English only is appropriate. Teachers consider learning two languagesalready burdened by their home situations.If families do not know English or have limited English skills themselves, how can they communicate in English? Advising non-English-speaking familiesimportant or valued.Just over a decade into the 21st century, women’s progress can be celebrated across a range of fields. They hold the highest political offices from Thailand to Brazil, Costa Rica to Australia.A woman holds the top spot at the International Monetary Fund; another won the Nobel Prize in economics. Self-made billionaires in Beijing, tech innovators in Silicon Valley, pioneering justices in Ghana—in these and countless other areas, women are leaving their mark.But hold the applause. In Saudi Arabia, women aren’t allowed to drive. In Pakistan, 1,000women die in honor killings every year. In the developed world, women lag behind men in pay and political power. The poverty rate among women in the U.S. rose to 14.5% last year.To measure the state of women’s progress. Newsweek ranked 165 countries, looking at five areas that affect women’s lives; treatment under th e law, workforce participation, political power, and access to education and health care. Analyzing data from the United Nations and the WorldEconomic Forum, among others, and consulting with experts and academics, we measured 28 factors to come up with our rankings.Countries with the highest scores tend to be clustered in the West, where gender discrimination is against the law, and equal rights are constitutionally enshrined(神圣化). But there were some surprises. Some otherwise high-ranking countries had relatively low scores for political representation. Canada ranked third overall but 26th in power, behind countries such as Cuba and Burundi. Does this suggest that a woman in a nation’s top office translates to better lives for women in general? Not exact ly.“Trying to quantify or measure the impact of women in politics is hard because in very few countries have there been enough women in politics to make a difference,”says Anne-Marie Goetz, peace and security adviser for U.N. Women.Of course, no index can account for everything. Declaring that one country is better than another in the way that it treats more than half its citizens means relying on broad strokes and generalities. Some things simply can’t be measured. And cross-cultural comparisons can t account for difference of opinion.Certain conclusions are nonetheless clear. For one thing, our index backs up a simple but profound statement made by Hillary Clinton at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. “When we liberate the economic pot ential of women, we elevate the economic performance of communities, nations, and the world,” she said. “There’s a stimulative effect that kicks in when women have greater access to jobs and the economic lives of our countries: Greater political stability. Fewer military conflicts. More food.More educational opportunity for children. By harnessing the economic potential of all women, we boost opportunity for all people.”61. What does the author think about women’s progress so far?A) It still leaves much to be desired.B) It is too remarkable to be measured.C) It has greatly changed women’s fate.D) It is achieved through hard struggle.62. In what countries have women made the greatest progress?A) Where women hold key posts in government.B) Where women’s rights are protected by law.C) Where women’s participation in management is high.D) Where women enjoy better education and health care.63. What do Newsweek rankings reveal about women in Canada?A) They care little about political participation.B) They are generally treated as equals by men.C) They have a surprisingly low social status.D) They are underrepresented in politics.64. What does Anne-Marie Goetz think of a woman being in a nation’s top office?A) It does not necessarily raise women’s political awareness.B) It does not guarantee a better life for the nation’s women.C) It enhances women’s status.D) It boosts women’s confidence.65. What does Hillary Clinton suggest we do to make the world a better place?A) Give women more political power. B) Stimulate women’s creativity.C) Allow women access to education. D) Tap women’s economic potential.。

2013年12月英语六级考试一、Writing(共1题，合计15分)1For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on happiness by referring tothe saying "Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them. "You can cite examples to illustrate your point and then explain how you can developyour ability to deal with problems and be happy. You should write at least 150 wordsbut no more than 200 words.__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________二、听力部分(共2题，合计35分)回答2-26题：2A. The rock band needs more hours of practice.B.The rock band is going to play here for a month.C.Their hard work has resulted in a big success.D.He appreciates the woman's help with the band.3A. Go on a diving tour in Europe.B.Travel overseas on his own.C.Add 300 dollars to his budget.D.Join a package tour to Mexico.4A. In case some problem should occur.B.Something unexpected has happened.C.To avoid more work later on.D.To make better preparations.5A. The woman asked for a free pass to try out the facilities.B.The man is going to renew his membership in a fitness center.C.The woman can give the man a discount if he joins the club now.D.The man can try out the facilities before he becomes a member.6A. He is not afraid of challenge.B.He is not fit to study science.C.He is worried about the test.D.He is going to drop the physics course.7A. Pay for part of the picnic food.B.Invite Gary's family to dinner.C.Buy something special for Gary.D.Take some food to the picnic.8A. Bus drivers' working conditions.B. A labor dispute at a bus company.C.Public transportation.D. A corporate takeover.9A. The bank statement.B.Their sales overseas.C.The payment for an order.D.The check just deposited.10．Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.A. A hotel receptionist.B. A private secretary.C. A shop assistant.D. A sales manager.11A. Voice.B.Intelligence.C.Appearance.D.Manners,12A. Arrange one more interview.B.Offer the job to David Wallace.C.Report the matter to their boss.D.Hire Barbara Jones on a trial basis.13．Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.A. He invented the refrigerator.B. He patented his first invention.C.He got a degree in Mathematics.D.He was admitted to university.14A. He distinguished himself in low temperatu, re physics.B.He fell in love with Natasha Willoughby.C.He became a professor of Mathematics.D.He started to work on refrigeration.15A. Finding the true nature of subatoraic particles.B.Their work on very high frequency radio waves.ying the foundations of modern mathematics.D.Their discovery of the laws of cause and effect.16A. To teach at a university.B.To patent his inventions.C.To spend his remaining years.D.To have a three-week holiday.17．Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.A. They have fallen prey to wolves,B. They have become a tourist attraction.C.They have caused lots of damage to crops.D.They have become a headache to the community.18A. To celebrate their victory.B.To cheer up the hunters.C.To scare the wolves.D.To alert the deer19A. They would help to spre, ada fatal disease.B.They would pose a threat to the children.C.They would endanger domestic animals.D.They would eventually kill off the deer.20．Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.A. She is an interpreter.B.She is a tourist guide.C.She is a domestic servant.D.She is from the royal family.21A. It was used by the family to hold dinner parties.B.It is situated at the foot of a beautiful mountain.C.It was frequently visited by heads of state.D.It is furnished like one in a royal palace.22A. It is elaborately decorated.B.It has survived some 2,000 years.C.It is very big, with only six slim legs.D.It is shaped like an ancient Spanish boat.23A. They are uncomfortable to sit in for long.B.They do not match the oval table at all.C.They have lost some of their legs.D.They are interesting to look at.24．Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.A. It is an uncommon infectious disease.B. It destroys the patient's ability to think,C. It is a disease very difficult to diagnose.D. It is the biggest crippler of young adults.25A. Search for the best cure.B.Hurry up and live life.C.Write a book about her life.D.Exercise more and work harder.26A. Aggressive.B.Adventurous.C.Sophisticated.D.Self-centered.回答27-36题It's difficult to estimate the number of youngsters involved in home schooling, where children are notsent to school and receive their formal education from one or both parents.26__________and court decisionshave made it legally possible in most states for parents to educate their children at home, and each yearmore people take advantage of that opportunity. Some states require parents or a home tutor to meetteacher certification standards, and many require parents to complete legal forms to verify that their children are receiving27__________in state-approved curricula.Supporters of home education claim that it's less expensive and far more 28__________ than mass publiceducation. Moreover, they cite several advantages: alleviation of school overcrowding, strengthenedfaintly relationships, lower 29_________ rates, the fact that students are allowed to learn at their ownrate,increased 30 _________, higher standardized test scores, and reduced 31_________ problems.Critics of the home schooling movement 32_________ that it creates as many problem as it solves.Theyacknowledge tha|, in a few cases, home schooling offers educational opportunities superior to those foundin most public schools, but few parents can provide such educational advantages. Some parents whowithdraw their children from the schools 33_________ home schooling have an inadequate educationalbackground and insufficient formal training to provide a satisfactory education for their children.Typically, parents have fewer technological resources 34_________than do schools. However, the relativelyinexpensive computer techoology that is readily available today is causing some to challenge the notionthat home schooling is in any way35_________ more highly structured classroom education.三、阅读理解(共4题，合计35分)Questions 37-46 are based on the following passage.Some performance evaluations require supervisors to take action. Employees who receive a veryfavorable evaluation may deserve some type of recognition or even a promotion. If supervisors do notacknowledge such outstanding performance, employees may either lose their 36_________ and reduce theireffort or search for a new job at a firm that will 37_________ them for high performance. Supervisors shouldacknowledge high performance so that the employee will continue to perform well in the future.Employees who receive unfavorable evaluations must also be given attention. Supervisors must38_________ the reasons for poor performance. Some reasons, such as a family illness, may have a temporaryadverse 39_________ on performance and can be corrected. Other reasons, such as a bad attitude, may not betemporary. When supervisors give employees an unfavorable evaluation, they must decide whether to takeany 40 _________action,s. If the, employees were unaware of their own deficiencies, the unfavorable evaluationcan pinpoint (指出) the deficiencies that employees must correct. In this case, the supervisor may simplyneed to monitor the employees 41_________and ensure that the deficiencies are corrected.If the employees were already aware of their deficiencies before the evaluation period, however, theymay be unable or unwilling to correct them. This situation is more serious, and the supervisor may need totake action. The action should be 42_________with the firm's guidelines and may include reassigning theemployees to new jobs,43_________them temporarily, or firingthem. A supervisor's action toward a poorlyperforming worker can 44_________ the attitudes of other employees. If no 45_________is imposed on an employeefor poor performance, other employees may react bv reducing their productivity as well.A． additionalB． affectC． aptlyD．assimilateE． circulationF． closelyG． consistentH, enthusiasmI．identifyJ．impactK．penaltyL． rewardM． simplifyingN． suspendingO．vulnerable回答47-56题The College Essay: Why Those,500 Words Drive Us Crazy[A] Meg is a lawyer-mom in suburban Washington, D. C., where lawyer-morns are thick on the ground.Her son Doug is one of several hundred thousand high-school seniors who had a painful fall. Thedeadline for applying to his favorite college was Nov.1, and by early October he had yet to fill outthe application. More to the point, he had yet to settle on a subject for the personal essayaccompanying the application. According to college folklore, awell-turned essay has the power toseduce (诱惑) an admissions committee. "He wanted to do one thing at a time," Meg says,explaining her son's delay. "But really, my son is a huge procrastinator (拖延者). The essay is thehardest thing to do, so he's put it off the longest. " Friends and other veterans of the process havewarned Meg that the back and forth between editing parent and writing student can be traumatic ( 痛苦的).[B] Back in the good old days--say, two years ago, when the last of my children suffered the ordea/( 折磨)--a high-school student applying to college could procrastinate all the way to New Year's Day oftheir senior year, assuming they could withstand the parental pestering (烦扰). But things changefast in thenail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and earlyaction among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline ofJanuary up toNov.1 or early December for many students.[C]If the time for heel-dragging has been shortened, the true source of the anxiety and panicremainswhat it has always been. And it's not the application itself. A college application is a relativelystraightforward questionnaire asking for the basics: name, address, family history, employmenthistory. It would all be innocent enough--20 minutes of busy work--except it comes attached to apersonal essay.[D]"There are good reasons it causes such anxiety," says Lisa Sohmer, director of collegecounseling atthe Garden School in Jackson Heights, N.Y. "It's not just the actual writing. By now everything elseis already set. Your course load is set, your grades are set, your test scores are set. But the essay issomething you can still control, and it's open-ended. So the temptation is to write and rewrite andrewrite. " Or stall and stall and stall.[E]The application essay, along with its mythical importance, is a recent invention. In the 1930s,whenonly one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee wascontent to ask for a sample of applicants' school papers to assess their writing ability. By the 1950s,most schools required a brief personal statement of why the student had chosen to apply to oneschool over another.[F] Today nearly 70 percent of graduating seniors go off to college, including two-year and fouryeariustitutions. Even ap .art from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterlytransformed from the one baby boomers knew. Nearly all application materials are submitted online,and the Common Application provides a one-size-fits form accepted by more than 400 schools,including the nation's most selective.[G]Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay,500 words maximum,isgenerally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions. Applicants areasked to describe an ethical dilemma they've faced and its impact on them, or discuss a public issueof special concern to them, or tell of a fictional character or creative work that has profoundlyinfluenced them. Another question invites them to write about theimportance (to them, again) ofdiversity -- a word that has assumed magic power in American higher education. The most popularoption: write on a topic of your choice.[H]“Boys in particular look at the other questions and say, ' Oh, that's too much work, ’ ” saysJohnBoshoven, a counselor in the Ann Arbor, Mich., public schools. "They think if they do a topic oftheir choice, ' I'll just go get that history paper I did last year on the Roman Empire and turn it into afirst-person application essay! ' And they end up producing something utterly ridiculous. "[I]Talking to admissions professionals like Boshoven, you realize that the list of "don'ts" inessaywriting is much longer than the "dos. ”“No book reports, no history papers, no character studies,"says Sohmer.[J]"It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into cliches ( 老生常谈) ," says Boshoven. "Theydon'trealize how typical their experiences are. 'I scored the winning goal in soccer against our arch-rival. ’‘ My grandfather served in World War H, and I hope to be just like him someday.That maymean a lot to that particular kid. But in the world of the application essay, it's nothing.You'll losethe reader in the first paragraph. "[K]"The greatest strength you bring to this essay," says the College Board's how-to book, "is 17 years or so of familiarity with the topic: YOU. The form and style are very familiar, and best of all, you arethe world-class expert on the subject of YOU... It has been the subject of your close scrutiny everymorning since you were tall enough to see into the bathroom mirror. " The key word in the CommonApplication prompts is "you. "[L]The college admission essay contains the grandest American themes--status anxiety, parentalpiety(孝顺), intellectual standards--and so it is only a matter of time before it becomes infected by thecountry's culture of excessive concern with self-esteem. Even if the question is ostensibly ( 表面上)about something outside the self ( describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics),the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?[M]"For all the anxiety the essay causes," says Bill McClintick of Mercersburg AcademyinPennsylvania, "it's a very small piece of the puzzle. I was in college admissions for 10 years. I sawldds and parents beat themselves up over this.And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not abig variable in the college's decision-making process. "[ N] Many admissions officers say they spend less than a couple of minutes on each application, includingthe essay. According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges saythe essay is of "considerable importance" in judging an application. Among public colleges anduniversities, the number drops to roughly one in 10. By contrast,86 percent place"considerableimportance" on an applicant's grades,70 percent on "strength of curriculum. "[O] Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high gradesand test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equallyqualified candidates. The thought is certainly enough to keep the pot boiling under parents like Meg,the lawyer-mom, as she tries to help her son choose an essay topic. For a moment the other day, shethought she might have hit on a good one. "His father's from France," she says. "I said maybe youcould write about that, as something that makes you different. You know；half French, halfAmerican. I said, ' You could write about your identity issues. ' He said, ' I don't have any identityissues!' And he's right. He's a well-adjnsted， normal kid. But that doesn't make for a good essay,does it?" 47Today many universities require their applicants to write an essay of up to five hundred words.48．One recent change in college admissions is that selective colleges and universities have moved the traditional deadline to earlier dates.49．Applicants and their parents are said to believe that the personal essay can sway the admissions committee.50．Applicants are usually better off if they can write an essay that distinguishes them from the rest.51．Not only is the competition getting more intense, the application process today is also totally different from what baby boomers knew.52．In writing about their own experiences many applicants slip into cliches, thus falling to engage the reader.53．According to a recent survey, most public colleges and universities consider an applicant's grades highly important.54．Although the application essay causes lots of anxiety, it does not play so important a role in thecollege's decision-making process.55．The question you are supposed to write about may seem outside the self, but the theme of the essay should center around its impact on you.56．In the old days, applicants only had to submit a sample of their school papers to show their writing ability.根据下列材料，回答57-61题Among the government's most interesting reports is one that estimates what parents spend on theirchildren. Not surprisingly, the costs are steep. For a middle-class, hnsband-and-wife family (averagepretax income in 2009: $76,250), spending per child is about $12,000 a year. With inflation the family's spending on a child will total $ 286,050 by age 17.The dry statistics ought to inform the ongoing deficit debate, because a budget is not just a catalog ofprograms and taxes. It reflects a society's priorities and values. Our society does not-despite rhetoric(说辞) to the contrary--put much value on raising children. Present bridget policies tax parents heavily tosupport the elderly. Meanwhile, tax breaks for children are modest. If deficit reduction aggravates thesebiases, more Americans may choose not to have children or to have fewer children. Down that path lieseconomic decline.Societies that cannot replace their populations discourage investment and innovation. They havestagnant (萧条的) or shrinking markets for goods and services. With older populations, they resistchange. To stabilize its population--discounting immigration--women must have an average of twochildren. That's a fertility rate of 2.0. Many countries with struggling economies are well below that.Though having a child is a deeply personal decision, it's shaped by culture, religion, economics, andgovernment policy. "No one has a good answer" as to why fertility varies among countries, sayssociologist Andrew Cherlin of The Johns Hopkins University. Eroding religious belief in Europe may partlyexplain lowered birthrates. In Japan young women may be rebelling against their mothers' isolated lives ofchild rearing. General optimism and pessimism count. Hopefulness fueled America's baby boom. After theSoviet Union's collapse, saysCherlin, "anxiety for the future" depressed birthrates in Russia and EasternEurope.In poor societies, people have children to improve their economicwell-being by increasing thenumber of family workers and providing support for parents in their old age. In wealthy societies, the logicoften reverses. Govenunent now supports the elderly, diminishing the need for children. By some studies,the safety nets for retirees have reduced fertility rates by 0.5 children in the United States and almost 1.0in Western Europe, reports economist Robert Stein in the journal National Affairs. Similarly, somecouples don't have children because they don't want to sacrifice their own lifestyles to the time andexpense of a family.Young Americans already face a bleak labor market that cannot instill (注入) confidence abouthaving children. Piling on higher taxes won't help, "If higher taxes make it more expensive to raisechildren," says Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute, "people will think twice abouthaving another child. " That seems like common sense, despite the multiple influences on becomingparents.57．What do we learn from the government report?A. Inflation increases families' expenses.B.Raising children is getting expensive.C.Budget reduction is around the corner.D.Average family expenditure is increasing.58．What is said to be the consequence of a shrinking population?A. Weakened national strength.B.Increased immigration.C.Economic downturn.D.Social instability.59．What accounted for America's baby boom?A. Optimism for the future.B.Improved living conditions.C.Religious beliefs.D.Economic prosperity.60．Why do people in wealthy countries prefer to have fewer children?A. They want to further improve their economic well-being.B. They cannot afford the time and expenses of rearing children.C. They are concerned about the future of the coming generation.D. They don't rely on their children to support them in old age.61．What is the author's purpose in writing the passage?A. To instill confidence in the young about raising children.B. To advise couples to think twice before having children.C.To encourage the young to take care of the elderly.D.To appeal for tax reduction for raising children.Questions 62-66are based on the following passage.Space exploration has always been the province of dreamers: The human imagination readily soarswhere human ingenuity (创造力) struggles to follow.A Voyage to the Moon, often cited as the firstscience fiction story, was written by Cyrano de Bergerac in 1649. Cyrano was dead and buried for a goodthree centuries before the first manned rockets started to fly.In 1961, when President Kennedy declared that America would send a man to the moon by thedecade's end, those words, too, had a dreamlike quality. They resonated (共鸣) with optimism and ambition in much the same way as the most famous dream speech of all, delivered by Martin Luther KingJr. two years later. By the end of the decade, both visions had yielded concrete results and transformedAmerican society. And yet in many ways the two dreams ended up at odds with each other.The fight forracial and economic equality is intensely pragmatic (讲求实用的) and immediate in its impact. The urgeto explore space is just the opposite, It is figuratively and literally otherworldly in its aims. When the dust settled, the space dreamers lost out. There was no grand follow-up to the Apollomissions. The technologically compromised space shuttle program has just come to an end, with nosuccessor. The perpetual argument is that funds are tight, that we have more pressing problems here onEarth. Amid the current concerns about the federal deficit, reaching toward the stars seems a dispensableluxury--as if saving one-thousandth of a single year's budget would solve our problems. But human ingenuity struggles on. NASA is developing a series of robotic probes that will get the mostbang from a buck. They will serve as modern Magellans, mapping out the solar system for whateverexplorers follow, whether man or machine. On the flip side, companies like Virgin Galactic are plotting abottom-up assault on the space dream by making it a reality to the public. Private spaceflight could liewithin reach of rich civilians in a few years. Another decade or two and it could go mainstream.The space dreamers end up benefiting all of us--not just because of the way they expand human knowledge, or because of the spin-off technologies they produce, but because the two types of dreamsfeed off each other. Both Martin Luther King and John Kennedy appealed to the idea that humans cantranscend what were once considered inherent limitations. Today we face seeming challenges in energy,the environment, health care. Tomorrow we will transcend these as well, and the dreamers will deserve alot of the credit. The more evidence we collect that our species is capable of greatness, the more we willactually achieve it.62．The author mentions Cyrano de Bergerac in order to show that__________ A. imagination is the mother of inventionB.ingenuity is essential for science fiction writersC.it takes patience for humans to realize their dreamsD.dreamers have always been interested in science fiction63．How did the general public view Kennedy's space exploration plan? A.It symbolized the American spirit.B. It was as urgent as racial equality.C.It sounded very much like a dream.D.It made an ancient dream come true.64．What does the author say about America's aim to explore space?A. It may not bring about immediate economic gains.B. It cannot be realized without technological innovation.C.It will not help the realization of racial and economic equality.D.It cannot be achieved without a good knowledge of the other worlds.65．What is the author's attitude toward space programs?A. Critical.B.Reserved.C.Unbiased.D.Supportive.66．What does the author think of the problems facing human beings?A. They pose a serious challenge to future human existence.B. They can be solved sooner or later with human ingenuity.C.Their solutions need joint efforts of the public and private sectors.D.They can only be solved by people with optimism and ambition.四、翻译(共1题，合计15分)67．中国园林(the Chinese garden)是经过三千多年演变丽成的独具一格的园林景观(1andscape)。

2013 年12月大学英语六级考试真题（第 1 套）Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions 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 Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage One Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.Among the government 's most interesting reports is one that estimates what parents spend on their children. Not surprisingly, the costs are steep. For a middle-class, husband-and-wife family (average pretax income in 2009: $76,250), spending per child is about $12,000 a year. With inflation the family 's spending on a child will total $286,050 by. age 17 The dry statistics ought to inform the ongoing deficit debate, because a budget is not just acatalog of programs and taxes. It reflects a society 's priorities and values. Our society does not despite rhetoric (说辞) to the contrary —put much value on raising children. Present budget policies tax parents heavily to support the elderly. Meanwhile, tax breaks for children are modest.If deficit reduction aggravates these biases, more Americans may choose not to have children or to have fewer children. Down that path lies economic decline.Societies that cannot replace their populations discourage investment and innovation. They have stagnant (萧条的) or shrinking markets for goods and services. With older populations,theyresist change. To stabilize its population —discounting immigration —women must have an average of two children. That 's a fertility2r.0a.tMe aofny countries with struggling economiesare well below that.Though having a child is a deeply personal decision, it 'sshaped by culture, religion, economics, and government policy. “Noa ognoeodh a snswer ” asto why fertility varies amongcountries, says sociologist Andrew Cherlin of The Johns Hopkins University. Eroding religious belief in Europe may partly explain lowered birthrates. In Japan young women may be rebelling against their mothers 'isolated lives of child rearing. General optimism and pessimism count. Hopefulness fueled Ameri ca ' bsaby boom. After the Soviet Union ' scollapse, says Cherlin, “ anxiety for the future ” depressed bRiruthsrsaiateasnidn Eastern Europe.In poor societies, people have children to improve their economic well-being by increasing the number of family workers and providing supports for parents in their old age. In wealthy societies, the logic often reverses. Government now supports the elderly, diminishing the need for children. By some studies, the safety nets for retirees have reduced fertility rates by 0.5 children in the United States and almost 1.0 in Western Europe, reports economist Robert Stein in the journal National Affairs. Similarly, some couples don't have children because they don 't want to sacrificetheir own lifestyles to the lime and expense of a family.Young Americans already face a bleak labor market that cannot instill (注入) confidence about having children. Piling on higher t axes won 't help, “If higher taxes make it more expensiveto raise children, ” says Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute,“ peopletwice about havi ng ano ther child. t seer”s Theacom mon sen se, despite the multiple in flue nceson beco ming pare nts.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section,you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conv ersations.Atthe end of each conversation,one or more questions will be aske d about what was said.Boththe conversation and the questions will be spoke n only once.After each question there will be apause.During the pause,you m ust read the four choices marked A),B),C)and D),and decidewhich is the best answer,Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a singleli ne through the centre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

1.A) Dr.Smith's waiting room isn't tidy.B) Dr.Smith enjoys reading magazines.C) Dr.Smith has left a good impression on her.D) Dr.Smith may not be a good choice.2.A) The manwill rent the apartment when it is available.B) The manmade a bargain with the landlady over the rent.C) The maninsists on having a look at the apartment first.D) The manis not fully satisfied with the apartment.3.A) Packingup to go abroad.B)Brushing up on her English.C) Drawingup a plan for her English course.D)Applying for a visa to the United States.4.A) He isanxious to find a cure for his high blood pressure.B) Hedoesn't think high blood pressure is a problem for him.C) He wasnot aware of his illness until diagnosed with it.D) He didnot take the symptoms of his illness seriously.5.A) Toinvestigate the causes of AIDS.B) Toraise money for AIDS patients.C) Torally support for AIDS victims in Africa.D) To drawattention to the spread of AIDS in Asia.6.A) It hasa very long history.B) It is aprivate institution.C) It wasfounded by Thomas Jefferson.D) Itstresses the comprehensive study of nature.7.A) Theycan't fit into the machine.B) Theyhave not been delivered yet.C) Theywere sent to the wrong address.D) Theywere found to be of the wrong type.8.A) Thefood served in the cafeteria usually lacks variety.B) Thecafeteria sometimes provides rare food for the students.C) Thestudents find the service in the cafeteria satisfactory.D) The cafeteria tries hard to cater to the students'needs.Questions9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A) Hepicked up some apples in his yard.B) He cutsome branches off the apple tree.C) Hequarreled with his neighbor over the fence.D) Hecleaned up all the garbage in the woman's yard.10.A) Trimthe apple trees in her yard.B) Pick upthe apples that fell in her yard.C) Takethe garbage to the curb for her.D) Removethe branches from her yard.11.A) File alawsuit against the man.B) Ask theman for compensation.C) Havethe man's apple tree cut down.D) Throwgarbage into the man's yard.12.A) He wasready to make a concession.B) He wasnot prepared to go to court.C) He wasnot intimidated.D) He wasa bit concerned.Questions13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.13.A) Badweather.B) Humanerror.C)Breakdown of the engines.D) Failureof the communications system.14.A) Twothousand feet.B) Twelvethousand feet.C) Twentythousand feet.D)Twenty-two thousand feet.15.A)Accurate communication is of utmost importance.B) Pilotsshould be able to speak several foreign languages.C) Aircontrollers should keep a close watch on the weather.D) Cooperation between pilots and air controllers isessential.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, youwill hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions wi ll be spoken only once. Afteryou hear a question, you must choose the best a nswer from the four choices marked A), B), C)and D). Then mark the corresp onding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through thecentre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

2013年12月英语六级真题答案完整版第一篇：2013年12月英语六级真题答案完整版2013年12月全国大学生英语六级考试试卷Part ⅠWriting(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic Digital Age.You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below:1．如今数字化产品得到越来越广泛的使用，例如……2．数字化产品的使用对人们的工作、学习、生活产生的影响。

Digital Age ____________________________________________________________________ _______ Part ⅢReading Comprehension(40 min utes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks.You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter.Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.Women in 2011 made no significant gains in winning more top US business jobs, according to a study, but the head of the study said women are poised to make36in the year ahead.The number of women who were board directors, corporate officers or top earners at Fortune 500 companies remained37unchanged, said the study by Catalyst, a nonprofit group that38opportunities for women in business.The percentage of companies with women on the board of directors was 15.1 percent this year, compared with 14.8 percent in 2010,Catalyst said.Also, the percentage of corporate officer positions39by women was 15.7 percent in 2011 and 15.4percent in 2010, it said.The percentage of top earners in 2011 who were women was 6.2 percent, compared to 6.7percent in 2010, it said.The research on the Fortune 500 companies was40on data as of March 31, 2011.The slight changes in the numbers are not considered41significant, Catalyst said.Nevertheless, given the changes in U.S.politics, the future for women in business looks more42, said Ilene Lang, president and chief executive43of Catalyst.“Overall we’re44to see change next year,” Lang said.“When we look at shareholders, decision makers, the general public, they’re looking for change.”“What they’re basically saying is, ‘Don’t give us45of the status quo(现状).Get new ideas in there, get some fresh faces, ’” shesaid.A)officerB)changesC)basedD)positionsE)moreF)promisingG) businesslikeH)surveyingI)essentiallyJ)stridesK)promotesL)statisticallyM)c onfusedN)heldO)expectingSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it.Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs.Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived.You may choose a paragraph more than once.Each paragraph is marked with a letter.Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.How Marketers Target KidsA)Kids represent an important demographic to marketers because they have their own purchasing power, they influence their parents’ buying decisions and they are the adultconsumers of the future.Industry spending on advertising to children has exploded in the past decade, increasing from a mere $100 million in 1990 to more than $2 billion in 2000.B)Parents today are willing to buy more for their kids because trends such as smaller family size, dual incomes and postponing children until later in life mean that families have more disposable income.As well, guilt can play a role in spending decisions as time-stressed parents substitute material goods for time spent with their kids.Here are some of the strategies marketers employ to target kids:Pester(纠缠)PowerC)Today’s kids have more autonomy and decision-making power within the family than in previous generations, so it follows that kids are vocal about what they want their parents to buy.“Pester power” refers to children’ ability to nag their parents into purchasing items they may not otherwise buy.Marketing to children is all about creating pester power, because advertisers know what a powerful force it can be.D)According to the 2001 marketing industry book Kidfluence, pestering or nagging can be divided into two categories—“persistence” and “importance”.Persistence nagging(a plea, that is repeated over and over again)is not as effective as the more sophisticated “importance nagging”.This latter method appeals to parents’ desire to provide the best for their children, and plays on any guilt they may have about not having enough time for their kids.The Marriage of Psychology and MarketingE)To effectively market to children, advertisers need to know what makes kids tick.With the help of well-paid researchers and psychologists, advertisers now have access to in-depth knowledge about children’s developmental, emotion al andsocial needs at different ing research that analyzes children’s behaviour, fantasy’ lives, art work, even their dreams, companies are able to craft sophisticated marketing strategies to reach young people.F)The issue of using child psychologists to help marketers target kids gained widespread public attention in 1999, when a group of U.S.mental health professionals issued a public letter to the American Psychological Association(APA)urging them to declare the practice unethical.The APA is currently studying the issue.Building Brand Name LoyaltyG)Canadian author Naomi Klein tracks the birth of “brand” marketing in her 2000 book No Logo.According to Klein, the mid-1980s saw the birth of a new kind of corporation—Nike, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, to name a few—which changed their primary corporate focus from producing products to creating an image for their brand name.By moving their manufacturing operations to countries with cheap labour, they freed up money to create their powerful marketing messages.It has been a tremendously profitable formula, and has led to the creation of some of the most wealthy and powerful multi-national corporations the world has seen.H)Marketers plant the seeds of brand recognition in very young children, in the hopes that the seeds will grow into lifetime relationships.According to the Center for a New American Dream, babies as young as six months of age can form mental images of corporate logos and mascots.Brand loyalties can be established as early as age two, and by the time children head off to school most can recognize hundreds of brand logos.While fast food, toy and clothing companies have been cultivating brand recognition in children for years, adult-oriented businesses such as banks andautomakers are now getting in on the act.Buzz or Street MarketingI)The challenge for marketers is to cut through the intense advertising clutter(杂乱)in young people’s lives.Many companies are using “buzz marketing” —a new twist on the tried-and-true “word of mouth” method.The idea is to find the coolest kids in a community and have them use or wear your product in order to create a buzz around it.Buzz, or “street marketing”, as it’s also called, can help a company to successfully connect with the elusive(难找的)teen market by using trendsetters to give them products “cool” status.J)Buzz marketing is particularly well-suited to the Internet, where young “Net promoters” use chat rooms and blogs to spread the word about music, clothes and other products among unsuspecting mercialization in EducationK)School used to be a place where children were protected from the advertising and consumer messages that permeated their world—but not anymore.Budget shortfalls(亏空，差额) are forcing school boards to allow corporations access to students in exchange for badly needed cash, computers and educational materials.L)Corporations realize the power of the school environment for promoting their name and products.A school setting delivers a captive youth audience and implies the endorsement of teachers and the educational system.Marketers are eagerly exploiting this medium in a number of ways, including: 1)sponsored educational materials;2)supplying schools with technology in exchange for high company visibility;3)advertising posted in classrooms, school buses, on computers in exchange for funds;4)contests andincentive programs: for example, the Pizza Hut reading incentives program in which children receive certificates for free pizza if they achieve a monthly reading goal;5)sponsoring school events.The InternetM)The Internet is an extremely desirable medium for marketers wanting to target children.It’s part of youth culture.This generation of young people is growing up with the Internet as a daily and routine part of their lives.Kids are often online alone, without parental supervision.Unlike broadcasting media, which have codes regarding advertising to kids, the Internet is unregulated.Sophisticated technologies make it easy to collect information from young people for marketing research, and to target individual children with personalized advertising.Marketing Adult Entertainment to KidsN)Children are often aware of and want to see entertainment meant for older audiences because it is actively marketed to them.In a report released in 2000, the U.S.Federal Trade Commission(FTC)revealed how the movie, music and video games industries routinely market violent entertainment to young children.O)The FTC studied 44 films rated “Restricted”, and discovered that 80 per cent were targeted to children under17.Marketing plans included TV commercials run during hours when young viewers were most likely to be watching.The FTC report also highlighted the fact that toys based on characters from mature entertainment are often marketed to young children.Mature rated video games are advertised in youth magazines;and toys based on “Restricted” movies and M-rated video games are marketed to children as young as four.46.Guilt can affect parents’ spending decisions because they don’t have enough time for their kids.47.The Center for a NewAmerican Dream pointed out that brand loyalties could be formed as early as age two.48.School boards allow corporations to access to students because they need money and educational materials badly.49.The FTC report highlighted the fact that toys based on characters from mature entertainment are often marketed to young children.50.For this generation of young people, the Interact is a daily and routine part of their lives.51.According to Kidfluence, “persistence nagging” is less effec tive than the more sophisticated “importance nagging”.52.According to a report released by the U.S.Federal Trade Commission, the movie, music and video games industries usually market violent entertainment to young children.53.Buzz marketing is well-suited to the Internet because the interactive environment can spread messages effectively.54.A group of U.S.mental health professionals think that it is unethical to use child psychologists to help marketers target kids.55.According to the Pizza Hut reading incentives program, children will receive certificates for free pizza if they achieve a monthly reading goal.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section.Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements.For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C)and D).You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage One Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.Like most people, I’ve long understood that I will be judged by my occupation, that my profession is a gauge people use to see how smart or talented I am.Recently, however, I was disappointed to see that it also decides how I’m treated as a st year I left a professional position as a small-town reporter and took ajob waiting tables.As someone paid to serve food to people, I had customers say and do things to me I suspect they’d never say or do to their most casual acquaintances.One night a man talking on his cell phone waved me away, then beckoned(示意)me back with his finger a minute later, complaining he was ready to order and asking where I’d been.I had waited tables during summers in college and was treated like a peon(勤杂工)by plenty of people.But at 19 years old, I believed I deserved inferior treatment from professional adults.Besides, people responded to me differently after I told them I was in college.Customers would joke that one day I’d be sitting at their table, waiting to be served.Once I graduated I took a job at a community newspaper.From my first day, I heard a respectful tone from everyone who called me.I assumed this was the way the professional world worked—cordially.I soon found out differently.I sat several feet away from an advertising sales representative with a similar name.Our calls would often get mixed up and someone asking for Kristen would be transferred to Christie.The mistake was immediately evident.Perhaps it was because money was involved, but people used a tone with Kristen that they never used with me.My job title made people treat me with courtesy.So it was a shock to return to the restaurant industry.It’s no secret that there’s a lot to put up with when waiting tables, and fortunately, much of it can be easily forgotten when you pocket the tips.The service industry, by definition, exists to cater to others’ needs.Still, it seemed that many of my customers didn’t get the difference between server and servant.I’m now applying to graduate school, which means someday I’ll return to a profession where people need to be nice to me in order to get what they want.I think I’ll take themto dinner first, and see how they treat someone whose only job is to serve them.56.The author was disappointed to find that ________.A)one’s position is used as a gauge to measure one’s intelligenceB)talented people like her should fail to get a respectable jobC)one’s occupation affects the way one is treated as a personD)professionals tend to look down upon manual workers57.What does the author intend to say by the example in the second paragraph?A)Some customers simply show no respect to those who serve them.B)People absorbed in a phone conversation tend to be absent-minded.C)Waitresses are often treated by customers as casual acquaintances.D)Some customers like to make loud complaints for no reason at all.58.How did the author feel when waiting tables at the age of 19?A)She felt it unfair to be treated as a mere servant by professionals.B)She felt badly hurt when her customers regarded her as a peon.C)She was embarrassed each time her customers joked with her.D)She found it natural for professionals to treat her as inferior.59.What does the author imply by saying “...many of my customers didn’t get the difference between server and servant”(Line 3, Para.7)?A)Those w ho cater to others’ needs are destined to be looked down upon.B)Those working in the service industry shouldn’t be treated as servants.C)Those serving others have to put up with rough treatment to earn a living.D)The majority of customers tend to look on a servant as a server nowadays.60.The author says she’ll one day take her clients to dinner in order to ________.A)see what kind of person they areB)experience the feeling of being servedC)show her generosity towards people inferior to herD)arouse their sympathy for people living a humblelifePassage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.What’s hot for 2007 among the very rich? A $7.3 million diamond ring.A trip to Tanzania to hunt wild animals.Oh, and income inequality.Sure, some leftish billionaires like George Soros have been railing against income inequality for years.But increasingly, centrist and right-wing billionaires are starting to worry about income inequality and the fate of the middle class.In December, Mortimer Zuckerman wrote a column in U.S.News & World Report, which lie owns.“Our nation’s core bargain with the middle class is disintegrating, ” lamented(哀叹)the 117th-riehest man in America.“Most of our economic gains have gone to people at the very top of the income ladder.Average income for a household of people of working age, by contrast, has fallen five years in a row.” He noted that “Tens of millions of Americans live in fear that a major health problem can reduce them to bankruptcy.”Wilbur Ross Jr.has echoed Zuckerman’s anger over the bitter struggles faced by middle-class Americans.“It’s an outrage that any American’s life expectancy should be shortened simply because the company they worked for went bankrupt and ended health-care coverage, ” said the former chairman of the International Steel Group.What’s happening? The very rich are just as trendy as you and I, and can be so when it comes to politics and policy.Given the recent change of control in Congress, the popularity of measures like increasing the minimum wage, and efforts by California’s governor to offer universal health care, these guys don’t need their own personal weathermen to know which way the wind blows.It’s possible that plutocrats(有钱有势的人)areexpressing solidarity with the struggling middle class as part of an effort to insulate themselves from confiscatory(没收性的)tax policies.But the prospect that income inequality will lead to higher taxes on the wealthy doesn’t keep plutocrats up at night.They can live with that.No, what they fear was that the political challenges of sustaining support for global economic integration will be more difficult in the United States because of what has happened to the distribution of income and economic insecurity.In other words, if middle-class Americans continue to struggle financially as the ultrawealthy grow ever wealthier, it will be increasingly difficult to maintain political support for the free flow of goods, services, and capital across borders.And when the United States places obstacles in the way of foreign investors and foreign goods, it’s likely to encourage reciprocal action abroad.For people who buy and sell companies, or who allocate capital to markets all around the world, that’s the real nightmare.61.What is the current topic of common interest among the very rich in America?A)The fate of the ultrawealthy people.B)The disintegration of the middle class.C)The inequality in the distribution of wealth.D)The conflict between the left and the right wing.62.What do we learn from Mortimer Zuckerman’s lamentation?A)Many middle-income families have failed to make a bargain for better welfare.B)The American economic system has caused many companies to go bankrupt.C)The American nation is becoming more and more divided despite its wealth.D)The majority of Americans benef it little from the nation’s growing wealth.63.From the fifth paragraph we can learn that ________.A)the very rich are fashion-consciousB)the very rich arepolitically sensitiveC)universal health care is to be implemented throughout AmericaD)Congress has gained popularity by increasing the minimum wage64.What is the real reason for plutocrats to express solidarity with the middle class?A)They want to protect themselves from confiscatory taxation.B)They know that the middle class contributes most to society.C)They want to gain support for global economic integration.D)They feel increasingly threatened by economic insecurity.65.What may happen if the United States places obstacles in the way of foreign investors and foreign goods?A)The prices of imported goods will inevitably soar beyond control.B)The investors will have to make great efforts to reallocate capital.C)The wealthy will attempt to buy foreign companies across borders.D)Foreign countries will place the same economic barriers in return.Part ⅣTransl ation(30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English.You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.中医(Traditional Chinese Medicine)是中华文化不可分割的一部分，为振兴华夏做出了巨大的贡献。

2013年英语六级听力试题及答案:12月英语6
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2013年英语六级听力试题及答案:12月英语6级听力试题
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2013年12月英语六级真题答案完整版及解析【六级听力长对话原文1】W: OK, that's it. Now we have to make a decision. We might as well do that now, don't you think?M: Sure, let's see. First we saw Frank Brisenski. What did you think of him? W: Well, he's certainly a very polite you ng man. M: And very relaxed, too. W: But his appearance…M: En… He wasn't well dressed. He wasn't even wearing a ti e. W: But he did have a nice voice. He sounded good on the telephone.M: True. And I thought he seemed very intelligent. He answe red Dona's questions very well.W: That's true, but dressing well is important. Well, let's think about the others. Now what about Barbara Jones? She had a nice voice, too. She sounded good on the telephone, a nd she was well dressed, too.M: En… She did look very neat, very nicely dressed, but…W: But so shy. She wouldn't be very good at talking to peop le at the front desk. M: En…OK. Now who was the next? Ar…Yes, David Wallace. I thought he was very good, had a lot o f potential. What do you think?W: En… He seemed like a very bright guy. He dressed very n icely, too. And he had a really nice appearance.M: He seemed relaxed to me, the type of person people feel comfortable withright away.W: He was polite, but also very friendly and relaxed as you say. I think he'll be good with the guests at the front de sk.M: He had a very pleasant voice, too.W: That's right. OK, good! I guess we have our receptionist then, don't you? M: Yes, I think so. We'll just offer the job to… Question 9: What are the speakers looking for? Que stion 10: What is Frank Brisenski's weakness? Question 11: What do the speakers decide to do? 【六级听力长对话原文2】 W: Hello.M: Hello. Is that the reference library?W: Yes, can I help you?M: I hope so. I ran earlier and asked for some information about Dennis Hutton, the scientist. You asked me to ring ba ck. W: Oh, yes. I have found something.M: Good. I've got a pencil and paper. Perhaps you could rea d out what it says. W: Certainly. Hutton Dennis, born Darlington, 1836, died New York, 1920. M: Yes, got that.W: Inventer and physicist, the son of a farmworker. He was admitted to the University of London at the age of 15. M: Y es.W: He graduated at 17 with the first class degree in physic s and mathematics. All right? M: Yes, all right.W: He made his first notable achievement at the age of 18. It was a method of refrigeration which rolls from his work in low temperature physics. He becameprofessor of mathematics at the University of Manchester at 24, where he remained for twelve years. During that time, he married one of his students, Natasha Willoughby M: Yes, go on.W: Later working together in London, they laid the foundati ons of modern physics by showing that normal laws of cause and effect do not apply at the level of subatomic particles . For this he and his wife received the Nobel Prize for phy sics in 1910, and did so again in 1912 for their work on ve ry high frequency radio waves. In his lifetime, Hutton pate nted 244 inventions. Do you want any more?M: Yes, when did he go to America?W: Let me see. In 1920 he went to teach in New York and died there suddenly after only three weeks. Still he was a goo d age.M: Yes, I suppose so. Well, thanks.Question 12: What do we learn about Dennis Hutton when he w as 15? Question 13: What did Dennis Hutton do at the age of 24?Question 14: For what were Dennis Hutton and his wife award ed the Nobel Prize a second time?Question 15: Why did Dennis Hutton go to New York? 【短对话】 1.W: What a wonderful performance! Your rock band has never s ounded better. M: Many thanks. I guess all those hours of p ractice in the past month are finallypaying off.Q：What does the man mean?2.M: I can't decide what to do for my summer vacation. I eith er want to go on a bike tour of Europe or go diving in Mexi co.W: Well, we're offering an all-inclusive two-week trip to M exico for only 300 dollars.Q：What does the woman suggest the man do for his vacation? 3. W: How long do you think this project might take?M: I'd say about three months, but it could take longer if something unexpected happened. Maybe we'd better allow an e xtra month, so we won’t have to worry about being late. Q: Why does the man say extra time should be allowed for th e project? 4. M: I'm thinking about becoming a member here, and I'd like someinformation.W: Sure. A three-month membership costs 150 dollars, and th at includes use of the wait-room, sauna and pool. I'll give you a free path so that you can try out the facilities bef ore you decide.Q: What do we learn from the conversation? 5.W: I'm sorry to hear that you failed the Physics course, Te d. M: Let's face it. I'm just not cut out to be a scientist . Q: What does the man mean?6.M: Gary insisted on buying the food for the picnic.W: That's pretty generous of him. But shouldn't we at least offer to share the expenses? He has a big family to suppor t. Q: What does the woman suggest they do?7.W: Did you see the headlines in the paper this morning? M: Year. Apparently the bus company will be laying off its employees if they can't reach an agreement on wages by midn ight. Q: What did the man read about? 8.W: Have we received payment for the overseas order we deliv ered last month? M: Yes. The cheque came in yesterday after noon. I'll be depositing it when I go the bank today.Q: What is the woman concerned about六级短文1原文In America, white tailed deer are more numerous than ever b efore, so abundant in fact that they've become a suburban n uisance and a health hazard.Why can't the herd be thinned the old-fashioned way? The sm all community of North Haven on Long Island is home to some six hundred to seven hundred deer. The department of Envir onmental Conservation estimates the optimum population at 60. The town has been browsed bare of vegetation except where gardens and shrubs are protected by high fences. Drivers routinely collide with deer and there are so many d ead bodies left by the side of the road that the town has m ade it a deal with a local pet cemetery to collect and dispose of the bodies. Some people in the town have become ill from deer transmitted diseases. On the occasions when hunti ng has been tried, local animal rights people have worked t o secure court orders against the hunts. And when that is f ailed, they stop the hunters, banging on pots and pans to a lert thedeer. Town meetings called to discuss the problem inevitabl y dissolved into confrontations.The activists believe simply that the deer are not the prob lem. Somecommunities have even discussed the possibility of bringing wolves back into the ecological mix. That means wolves in the suburbs of New York. It is almost too wonderful not to try it. The wolves would kill deer of course. They would al soterrorize and kill dogs and cats which is not what the subu rban dwellers have in mind.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just h eard Q16. What do we learn about white-tailed deer in North Haven? Q17. Why do local animal rights people bang on pots and pans?Q18. What would happen if wolves were brought back into theecological mix? 听力填空原文It’s difficult to estimate the number of youngsters involved i n home schooling where children are not sent to school and receive their formal education from one or both parents. Le gislation and court decisions have made it legally possible in most states for parents to educate their children at ho me and each year more people take advantage of that opportu nity.Some states require parents or a home tutor to meet teacher certification standards, and many require parents to compl ete legal forms to verify that their children are receiving instruction in state approved curriculum.Supporters of home education claim that it is less expensiv e and far more efficient than mass public education. Moreov er they site several advantages: alleviation of school over crowding, strengthen family relationships, lower dropout ra tes, the facts that students are allowed to learn at their own rate, increased motivation, higher standardized test sc ores, and reduced discipline problems.Critics of the home schooling movement content that it crea tes as many problems as it solves. They acknowledge that, in a few cases, home schooling offers educational opportunit ies superior to those found in most public schools, but few parents can provide such educational advantages. Some pare nts whowithdraw their children from the schools in favor of home s chooling have an inadequate educational background and insu fficient formal training to provide a satisfactory educatio n for their children. Typically, parents have fewer technol ogical resources at their disposal than do schools. However , the relatively inexpensive computer technology that is re adily available today iscausing some to challenge the notion that home schooling is in any way inferior to more highly structured classroom ed ucation.【选词填空部分答案】36 intentions37 stems 38 permanently39 delayed40 simultaneously41 asset42 identified43overwhelming44 equivalent45 underlying【原文】Quite often, educators tell families of children who are le arning English as a second language to speak only English, and not their native language, at home. Although these educ ators may have good (36) intentions, their advice to famili es is misguided, and it (37) stemsfrom misunderstandings ab out the process of language acquisition. Educators may fear that children hearing two languages will become (38) perma nentlyconfused and thus their language development will be (39) delayed; this concern is not documented in the literat ure. Children are capable of learning more than one languag e, whether (40)simultaneouslyor sequentially(依次地). In fact, most children outside of the United States ar e expected to become bilingual or even, in many cases, mult ilingual. Globally, knowing more than one language is viewe d as an (41) assetand even a necessity in many areas.It is also of concern that the misguided advice that studen ts should speak onlyEnglish is given primarily to poor families with limited ed ucational opportunities,not to wealthier families who have many educational advanta ges. Since children from poor families often are (42) iden tified as at-risk for academic failure, teachers believe th at advising families to speak English only is appropriate. Teachers consider learning two languages to be too (43) ove rwhelming for children from poor families, believing that t he children are already burdened by their home situations. If families do not know English or have limited English ski lls themselves, how can they communicate in English? Advisi ng non-English-speaking families to speak only English is ( 44) equivalent to telling them not to communicate with or i nteract with their children. Moreover, the (45) underlying message is that the family's native language is not importa nt or valued.【阅读匹配文章点评】本文涉及近年来较热的话题“第二外语习得”及“幼儿早教”，批判了一些所谓“教育专家”教育幼儿学习英语的方式，说明要求家长不说母语，只说英语的教育方式并不科学。

A) Asset I) permanentlyB) Delayed j) prevalentC) Deviates k) simultaneouslyD) Equivalent L) stemsE) Identified M) successivelyF) Intentions N) underlyingG) Object O) visualizingH) overwhelmingQuite often, educators tell families of children who are learning English as a second language to speak only English, and not their native language, at home. Although these educators may havemisunderstandings about the process of language acquisition. Educators may fear that childrenIn fact, most children outside of the United States are expected to become bilingual or even, in many cases, multilingual. Globally, knowing more than one language is viewed as an (41) asset and even a necessity in many areas. It is also of concern that the misguided advice that students should speak only English is given primarily to poor families with limited educational opportunities, not to wealthier families who have many educational advantages. Since childrenadvising families to speak English only is appropriate. Teachers consider learning two languagesalready burdened by their home situations.If families do not know English or have limited English skills themselves, how can they communicate in English? Advising non-English-speaking familiesimportant or valued.Just over a decade into the 21st century, women’s progress can be celebrated across a range of fields. They hold the highest political offices from Thailand to Brazil, Costa Rica to Australia.A woman holds the top spot at the International Monetary Fund; another won the Nobel Prize in economics. Self-made billionaires in Beijing, tech innovators in Silicon Valley, pioneering justices in Ghana—in these and countless other areas, women are leaving their mark.But hold the applause. In Saudi Arabia, women aren’t allowed to drive. In Pakistan, 1,000women die in honor killings every year. In the developed world, women lag behind men in pay and political power. The poverty rate among women in the U.S. rose to 14.5% last year.To measure the state of women’s progress. Newsweek ranked 165 countries, looking at five areas that affect women’s lives; treatment under th e law, workforce participation, political power, and access to education and health care. Analyzing data from the United Nations and the WorldEconomic Forum, among others, and consulting with experts and academics, we measured 28 factors to come up with our rankings.Countries with the highest scores tend to be clustered in the West, where gender discrimination is against the law, and equal rights are constitutionally enshrined(神圣化). But there were some surprises. Some otherwise high-ranking countries had relatively low scores for political representation. Canada ranked third overall but 26th in power, behind countries such as Cuba and Burundi. Does this suggest that a woman in a nation’s top office translates to better lives for women in general? Not exact ly.“Trying to quantify or measure the impact of women in politics is hard because in very few countries have there been enough women in politics to make a difference,”says Anne-Marie Goetz, peace and security adviser for U.N. Women.Of course, no index can account for everything. Declaring that one country is better than another in the way that it treats more than half its citizens means relying on broad strokes and generalities. Some things simply can’t be measured. And cross-cultural comparisons can t account for difference of opinion.Certain conclusions are nonetheless clear. For one thing, our index backs up a simple but profound statement made by Hillary Clinton at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. “When we liberate the economic pot ential of women, we elevate the economic performance of communities, nations, and the world,” she said. “There’s a stimulative effect that kicks in when women have greater access to jobs and the economic lives of our countries: Greater political stability. Fewer military conflicts. More food.More educational opportunity for children. By harnessing the economic potential of all women, we boost opportunity for all people.”61. What does the author think about women’s progress so far?A) It still leaves much to be desired.B) It is too remarkable to be measured.C) It has greatly changed women’s fate.D) It is achieved through hard struggle.62. In what countries have women made the greatest progress?A) Where women hold key posts in government.B) Where women’s rights are protected by law.C) Where women’s participation in management is high.D) Where women enjoy better education and health care.63. What do Newsweek rankings reveal about women in Canada?A) They care little about political participation.B) They are generally treated as equals by men.C) They have a surprisingly low social status.D) They are underrepresented in politics.64. What does Anne-Marie Goetz think of a woman being in a nation’s top office?A) It does not necessarily raise women’s political awareness.B) It does not guarantee a better life for the nation’s women.C) It enhances women’s status.D) It boosts women’s confidence.65. What does Hillary Clinton suggest we do to make the world a better place?A) Give women more political power. B) Stimulate women’s creativity.C) Allow women access to education. D) Tap women’s economic potential.。

2013年12月全国大学生英语六级考试试卷Part ⅠWriting (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic Digital Age. You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below: 1．如今数字化产品得到越来越广泛的使用，例如……2．数字化产品的使用对人们的工作、学习、生活产生的影响。

Digital Age__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________Part ⅡListening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.1. A) Proceed in his own way. C) Compromise with his colleague.B) Stick to the original plan. D) Try to change his colleague’s mind.2. A) Mary has a keen eye for style. C) Nancy and Mary went shopping together in Rome.B) Nancy regrets buying the dress. D) Nancy and Mary like to follow the latest fashion.3. A) Wash the dishes. C) Pick up George and Martha.B) Go to the theatre. D) Take her daughter to hospital.4. A) She enjoys making up stories about other people.B) She can never keep anything to herself for long.C) She is eager to share news with the woman.D) She is the best informed woman in town.5. A) A car dealer. C) A driving examiner.B) A mechanic. D) A technical consultant.6. A) The shopping mall has been deserted recently.B) Shoppers can only find good stores in the mall.C) Lots of people moved out of the downtown area.D) There isn’t much business downtown nowadays.7. A) He will help the woman with her reading.B) The lounge is not a place for him to study in.C) He feels sleepy whenever he tries to study.D) A cozy place is rather hard to find on campus.8. A) To protect her from getting scratches. C) To prevent mosquito bites.B) To help relieve her of the pain. D) To avoid getting sunburnt.Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A) In a studio. C) At a beach resort.B) In a clothing store. D) At a fashion show.10. A) To live there permanently. C) To find a better job to support herself.B) To stay there for half a year. D) To sell leather goods for a British company.11. A) Designing fashion items for several companies.B) Modeling for a world-famous Italian company.C) Working as an employee for Ferragamo.D) Serving as a sales agent for Burberrys.12. A) It has seen a steady decline in its profits.B) It has become much more competitive.C) It has lost many customers to foreign companies.D) It has attracted a lot more designers from abroad.Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.13. A) It helps her to attract more public attention.B) It improves her chance of getting promoted.C) It strengthens her relationship with students.D) It enables her to understand people better.14. A) Passively. B) Positively. C) Skeptically. D) Sensitively.15. A) It keeps haunting her day and night.B) Her teaching was somewhat affected by it.C) It vanishes the moment she steps into her role.D) Her mind goes blank once she gets on the stage.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1with a single line through the centre. Passage OneQuestions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) To win over the majority of passengers from airlines in twenty years.B) To reform railroad management in western European countries.C) To electrify the railway lines between major European cities.D) To set up an express train network throughout Europe.17. A) Major European airlines will go bankrupt.B) Europeans will pay much less for traveling.C) Traveling time by train between major European cities will be cut by half.D) Trains will become the safest and most efficient means of travel in Europe.18. A) Train travel will prove much more comfortable than air travel.B) Passengers will feel much safer on board a train than on a plane.C) Rail transport will be environmentally friendlier than air transport.D) Traveling by train may be as quick as, or even quicker than, by air.19. A) In 1981. B) In 1989. C) In 1990. D) In 2000. Passage TwoQuestions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.20. A) There can be no speedy recovery for mental patients.B) Approaches to healing patients are essentially the same.C) The mind and body should be taken as an integral whole.D) There is no clear division of labor in the medical profession.21. A) A doctor’s fame strengthens the patients’ faith in them.B) Abuse of medicines is widespread in many urban hospitals.C) One third of the patients depend on harmless substances for cure.D) A patient’s expectations of a drug have an effect on their recovery.22. A) Expensive drugs may not prove the most effective.B) The workings of the mind may help patients recover.C) Doctors often exaggerate the effect of their remedies.D) Most illnesses can be cured without medication.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. A) Enjoying strong feelings and emotions. C) Being fond of making sensational news.B) Defying all dangers when they have to. D) Dreaming of becoming famous one day.24. A) Working in an emergency room. C) Listening to rock music.B) Watching horror movies. D) Doing daily routines.25. A) A rock climber. B) A psychologist.C) A resident doctor. D) A career consultant.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are top of a global league table of university reputation—in a top 100 26 by U.S. institutions.Cambridge and Oxford make the top 10—but other U.K. universities have 27 , while Asian institutions have risen.The rankings are based on the 28 of 17,000 academics. This list is an attempt to quantify the elusive but important quality of 29 in higher education—with its findings 30 the opinions of academics around the world.The fast such ranking by the Times Higher Education magazine, published last year, had the same top five as this year—with the two Boston-based 31 , Harvard and M1T, in first and second place.Cambridge was once again the highest ranking U.K. university in third place, 32 Stanford and University of California, Berkeley. But Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education rankings, says there is an 33 picture of U.K. universities downwards—with fewer in the top 100 and a 34 for others including Imperial College London and University College London. "Our global reputation as the home of outstanding universities has been hit," he said.Reflecting the rise of Asian countries as the new education superpowers, there is an increasing presence for countries such as People’s Republic of China, Japan, Singapore and SouthKorea.35 its size and population, Switzerland is also seen as performing well, with three universities in the world’s top 100 universities.Such rankings published by the Times Higher Education magazine do not have an official status, but they have become an increasingly significant part of how universities market themselves to students, particularly as higher education has become more globalized.Part ⅢReading Comprehension (40 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.Women in 2011 made no significant gains in winning more top US business jobs, according to a study, but the head of the study said women are poised to make 36 in the year ahead.The number of women who were board directors, corporate officers or top earners at Fortune 500 companies remained 37 unchanged, said the study by Catalyst, a nonprofit group that 38 opportunities for women in business.The percentage of companies with women on the board of directors was 15.1 percent this year, compared with 14.8 percent in 2010, Catalyst said.Also, the percentage of corporate officer positions 39 by women was 15.7 percent in 2011 and 15.4percent in 2010, it said. The percentage of top earners in 2011 who were women was 6.2 percent, compared to 6.7percent in 2010, it said.The research on the Fortune 500 companies was 40 on data as of March 31, 2011. The slight changes in the numbers are not considered 41 significant, Catalyst said.Nevertheless, given the changes in U. S. politics, the future for women in business looks more 42 , said Ilene Lang, president and chief executive 43 of Catalyst."Overall we’re 44 to see change next year," Lang said. "When we look at shareholders, decision makers, the general public, they’re looking for change. ""What they’re basically saying is, ‘Don’t give us 45 of the status quo (现状). Get new ideas in there, get some fresh faces, ’" she said.A) officer I) essentiallyB) changes J) stridesC) based K) promotesD) positions L) statisticallyE) more M) confusedF) promising N) heldG) businesslike O) expectingH) surveyingSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.How Marketers Target KidsA) Kids represent an important demographic to marketers because they have their own purchasing power, they influence their parents’ buying decisions and they are the adult consumers of the future. Industry spending on advertising to children has exploded in the past decade, increasing from a mere $100 million in 1990 to more than $2 billion in 2000.B) Parents today are willing to buy more for their kids because trends such as smaller family size, dual incomes and postponing children until later in life mean that families have more disposable income. As well, guilt can play a role in spending decisions as time-stressed parents substitute material goods for time spent with their kids. Here are some of the strategies marketers employ to target kids:Pester(纠缠)PowerC) Today’s kids have more autonomy and decision-making power within the family than in previous generations, so it follows that kids are vocal about what they want their parents to buy. "Pester power" refers to children’ ability to nag their parents into purchasing items they may not otherwise buy. Marketing to children is all about creating pester power, because advertisers know what a powerful force it can be.D) According to the 2001 marketing industry book Kidfluence, pestering or nagging can be divided into two categories—"persistence" and "importance". Persistence nagging (a plea, that is repeated over and over again) is not as effective as the more sophisticated "importance nagging". This latter method appeals to parents’ desire to provide the best for their children, and plays on any guilt they may have about not having enough time for their kids.The Marriage of Psychology and MarketingE) To effectively market to children, advertisers need to know what makes kids tick. With the help of well-paid researchers and psychologists, advertisers now have access to in-depth knowledge about children’s developmental, emotional and social needs at different ages. Using research that analyzes children’s behaviour, fantasy’ lives, art work, even their dreams, companies are able to craft sophisticated marketing strategies to reach young people.F) The issue of using child psychologists to help marketers target kids gained widespread public attention in 1999, when a group of U. S. mental health professionals issued a public letter to the American Psychological Association (APA) urging them to declare the practice unethical. The APA is currently studying the issue.Building Brand Name LoyaltyG) Canadian author Naomi Klein tracks the birth of "brand" marketing in her 2000 book No Logo. According to Klein, the mid-1980s saw the birth of a new kind of corporation—Nike, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, to name a few—which changed their primary corporate focus from producing products to creating an image for their brand name. By moving their manufacturing operations to countries with cheap labour, they freed up money to create their powerful marketing messages. It has been a tremendously profitable formula, and has led to the creation of some of the most wealthy and powerful multi-national corporations the world has seen.H) Marketers plant the seeds of brand recognition in very young children, in the hopes that the seeds will grow into lifetime relationships. According to the Center for a New American Dream, babies as young as six months of age can form mental images of corporate logos and mascots. Brand loyalties can be established as early as age two, and by the time children head off to school most can recognize hundreds of brand logos. While fast food, toy and clothingcompanies have been cultivating brand recognition in children for years, adult-oriented businesses such as banks and automakers are now getting in on the act.Buzz or Street MarketingI) The challenge for marketers is to cut through the intense advertising clutter( 杂乱) in young people’s lives. Many companies are using "buzz marketing" —a new twist on the tried-and-true "word of mouth" method. The idea is to find the coolest kids in a community and have them use or wear your product in order to create a buzz around it. Buzz, or "street marketing", as it’s also called, can help a company to successfully connect with the elusive (难找的) teen market by using trendsetters to give them products "cool" status.J) Buzz marketing is particularly well-suited to the Internet, where young "Net promoters" use chat rooms and blogs to spread the word about music, clothes and other products among unsuspecting users.Commercialization in EducationK) School used to be a place where children were protected from the advertising and consumer messages that permeated their world—but not anymore. Budget shortfalls ( 亏空，差额) are forcing school boards to allow corporations access to students in exchange for badly needed cash, computers and educational materials.L) Corporations realize the power of the school environment for promoting their name and products. A school setting delivers a captive youth audience and implies the endorsement of teachers and the educational system. Marketers are eagerly exploiting this medium in a number of ways, including: 1) sponsored educational materials; 2) supplying schools with technology in exchange for high company visibility; 3) advertising posted in classrooms, school buses, on computers in exchange for funds; 4) contests and incentive programs: for example, the Pizza Hut reading incentives program in which children receive certificates for free pizza if they achieve a monthly reading goal; 5) sponsoring school events.The InternetM) The Internet is an extremely desirable medium for marketers wanting to target children. It’s part of youth culture. This generation of young people is growing up with the Internet as a daily and routine part of their lives. Kids are often online alone, without parental supervision. Unlike broadcasting media, which have codes regarding advertising to kids, the Internet is unregulated. Sophisticated technologies make it easy to collect information from young people for marketing research, and to target individual children with personalized advertising.Marketing Adult Entertainment to KidsN) Children are often aware of and want to see entertainment meant for older audiences because it is actively marketed to them. In a report released in 2000, the U. S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) revealed how the movie, music and video games industries routinely market violent entertainment to young children.O) The FTC studied 44 films rated "Restricted", and discovered that 80 per cent were targeted to children under 17. Marketing plans included TV commercials run during hours when young viewers were most likely to be watching. The FTC report also highlighted the fact that toys based on characters from mature entertainment are often marketed to young children. Mature rated video games are advertised in youth magazines; and toys based on "Restricted" movies and M-rated video games are marketed to children as young as four.46. Guilt can affect parents’ spending decisions because they don’t have enough time for theirkids.47. The Center for a New American Dream pointed out that brand loyalties could be formed as early as age two.48. School boards allow corporations to access to students because they need money and educational materials badly.49. The FTC report highlighted the fact that toys based on characters from mature entertainment are often marketed to young children.50. For this generation of young people, the Interact is a daily and routine part of their lives.51. According to Kidfluence, "persistence nagging" is less effective than the more sophisticated "importance nagging".52. According to a report released by the U. S. Federal Trade Commission, the movie, music and video games industries usually market violent entertainment to young children.53. Buzz marketing is well-suited to the Internet because the interactive environment can spread messages effectively.54. A group of U. S. mental health professionals think that it is unethical to use child psychologists to help marketers target kids.55. According to the Pizza Hut reading incentives program, children will receive certificates for free pizza if they achieve a monthly reading goal.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.Like most people, I’ve long understood that I will be judged by my occupation, that my profession is a gauge people use to see how smart or talented I am. Recently, however, I was disappointed to see that it also decides how I’m treated as a person.Last year I left a professional position as a small-town reporter and took a job waiting tables. As someone paid to serve food to people, I had customers say and do things to me I suspect they’d never say or do to their most casual acquaintances. One night a man talking on his cell phone waved me away, then beckoned ( 示意) me back with his finger a minute later, complaining he was ready to order and asking where I’d been.I had waited tables during summers in college and was treated like a peon (勤杂工) by plenty of people. But at 19 years old, I believed I deserved inferior treatment from professional adults. Besides, people responded to me differently after I told them I was in college. Customers would joke that one day I’d be sitting at their table, waiting to be served.Once I graduated I took a job at a community newspaper. From my first day, I heard a respectful tone from everyone who called me. I assumed this was the way the professional world worked—cordially.I soon found out differently. I sat several feet away from an advertising sales representative with a similar name. Our calls would often get mixed up and someone asking for Kristen would be transferred to Christie. The mistake was immediately evident. Perhaps it was because money was involved, but people used a tone with Kristen that they never used with me.My job title made people treat me with courtesy. So it was a shock to return to the restaurant industry.It’s no secret that there’s a lot to put up with when waiting tables, and fortunately, much of it can be easily forgotten when you pocket the tips. The service industry, by definition, exists to cater to others’ needs. Still, it seemed that many of my customers didn’t get the difference between server and servant.I’m now applying to graduate school, which means someday I’ll return to a profession where people need to be nice to me in order to get what they want. I think I’ll take them to dinner first, and see how they treat someone whose only job is to serve them.56. The author was disappointed to find that ________.A) one’s position is used as a gauge to measure one’s intelligenceB) talented people like her should fail to get a respectable jobC) one’s occupation affects the way one is treated as a personD) professionals tend to look down upon manual workers57. What does the author intend to say by the example in the second paragraph?A) Some customers simply show no respect to those who serve them.B) People absorbed in a phone conversation tend to be absent-minded.C) Waitresses are often treated by customers as casual acquaintances.D) Some customers like to make loud complaints for no reason at all.58. How did the author feel when waiting tables at the age of 19?A) She felt it unfair to be treated as a mere servant by professionals.B) She felt badly hurt when her customers regarded her as a peon.C) She was embarrassed each time her customers joked with her.D) She found it natural for professionals to treat her as inferior.59. What does the author imply by saying ". . . many of my customers didn’t get the difference between server and servant" (Line 3, Para. 7)?A) Those who cater to others’ needs are destined to be looked down upon.B) Those working in the service industry shouldn’t be treated as servants.C) Those serving others have to put up with rough treatment to earn a living.D) The majority of customers tend to look on a servant as a server nowadays.60. The author says she’ll one day take her clients to dinner in order to ________.A) see what kind of person they areB) experience the feeling of being servedC) show her generosity towards people inferior to herD) arouse their sympathy for people living a humble lifePassage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.What’s hot for 2007 among the very rich? A $7.3 million diamond ring. A trip to Tanzania to hunt wild animals. Oh, and income inequality.Sure, some leftish billionaires like George Soros have been railing against income inequality for years. But increasingly, centrist and right-wing billionaires are starting to worry about income inequality and the fate of the middle class.In December, Mortimer Zuckerman wrote a column in U. S. News & World Report, which lie owns. "Our nation’s core bargain with the middle class is disintegrating, " lamented (哀叹) the117th-riehest man in America. "Most of our economic gains have gone to people at the very top of the income ladder. Average income for a household of people of working age, by contrast, has fallen five years in a row. " He noted that "Tens of millions of Americans live in fear that a major health problem can reduce them to bankruptcy. "Wilbur Ross Jr. has echoed Zuckerman’s anger over the bitter struggles faced by middle-class Americans. "It’s an outrage that any American’s life expectancy should be shortened simply because the company they worked for went bankrupt and ended health-care coverage, " said the former chairman of the International Steel Group.What’s happening? The very rich are just as trendy as you and I, and can be so when it comes to politics and policy. Given the recent change of control in Congress, the popularity of measures like increasing the minimum wage, and efforts by California’s governor to offer universal health care, these guys don’t need their own personal weathermen to know which way the wind blows.It’s possible that plutocrats (有钱有势的人) are expressing solidarity with the struggling middle class as part of an effort to insulate themselves from confiscatory (没收性的) tax policies. But the prospect that income inequality will lead to higher taxes on the wealthy doesn’t keep plutocrats up at night. They can live with that.No, what they fear was that the political challenges of sustaining support for global economic integration will be more difficult in the United States because of what has happened to the distribution of income and economic insecurity.In other words, if middle-class Americans continue to struggle financially as the ultrawealthy grow ever wealthier, it will be increasingly difficult to maintain political support for the free flow of goods, services, and capital across borders. And when the United States places obstacles in the way of foreign investors and foreign goods, it’s likely to encourage reciprocal action abroad. For people who buy and sell companies, or who allocate capital to markets all around the world, that’s the real nightmare.61. What is the current topic of common interest among the very rich in America?A) The fate of the ultrawealthy people.B) The disintegration of the middle class.C) The inequality in the distribution of wealth.D) The conflict between the left and the right wing.62. What do we learn from Mortimer Zuckerman’s lamentation?A) Many middle-income families have failed to make a bargain for better welfare.B) The American economic system has caused many companies to go bankrupt.C) The American nation is becoming more and more divided despite its wealth.D) The majority of Americans benefit little from the nation’s growing wealth.63. From the fifth paragraph we can learn that ________.A) the very rich are fashion-consciousB) the very rich are politically sensitiveC) universal health care is to be implemented throughout AmericaD) Congress has gained popularity by increasing the minimum wage64. What is the real reason for plutocrats to express solidarity with the middle class?A) They want to protect themselves from confiscatory taxation.B) They know that the middle class contributes most to society.C) They want to gain support for global economic integration.。

作文题Directions：信息爆炸篇For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay about the impact of information explosion by referring to the saying "a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention". You can cite examples to illustrate your point and then explain what you can do to avoid being distracted by irrelevant information? You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.Ways to Get Over Information ExplosionAs a famous saying goes, “A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention”. Nowadays we are in the Information Age. Some people keep complaining about distraction by the information explosion.Admittedly, the new information age has brought us so much convenience that we are allowed to get enough information just with a simple click sitting in front of the computers. Nevertheless, we are also confused, annoyed, distracted and upset by an incredibly large quantity of information. For example, when searching for something online, people are easily carried away by irrelevant information and forget their original plan. Besides, some information often turns out to be useless and actually advertisement. Therefore, it can betime-consuming and troublesome to search information online.Then what we can do to avoid being distracted by irrelevant information? Here I have some useful tips: Firstly, make a list of what you really want before your searching. This will help you to refuse some appealing, yet irrelevant information. Secondly, find some trustful and professional sources or websites and then save and categorize them. In this case, you can easily leave some ads and useless information behind.【短对话】1.W: What a wonderful performance! Your rock band has never sounded better.M: Many thanks. I guess all those hours of practice in the past month are finally paying off.Q：What does the man mean?2.M: I can't decide what to do for my summer vacation. I either want to go on a bike tour of Europe or go diving in Mexico.W: Well, we're offering an all-inclusive two-week trip to Mexico for only 300 dollars.Q：What does the woman suggest the man do for his vacation?3. W: How long do you think this project might take?M: I'd say about three months, but it could take longer if something unexpected happened. Maybe we'd better allow an extra month, so we won’t have to worry about being late.Q: Why does the man say extra time should be allowed for the project?4. M: I'm thinking about becoming a member here, and I'd like some information.W: Sure. A three-month membership costs 150 dollars, and that includes use of the wait-room, sauna and pool. I'll give you a free path so that you can try out the facilities before you decide.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?5.W: I'm sorry to hear that you failed the Physics course, Ted.M: Let's face it. I'm just not cut out to be a scientist.Q: What does the man mean?6.M: Gary insisted on buying the food for the picnic.W: That's pretty generous of him. But shouldn't we at least offer to share the expenses? He has a big family to support.Q: What does the woman suggest they do?7.W: Did you see the headlines in the paper this morning?M: Year. Apparently the bus company will be laying off its employees if they can't reach an agreement on wages by midnight.Q: What did the man read about?8.W: Have we received payment for the overseas order we delivered last month?M: Yes. The cheque came in yesterday afternoon. I'll be depositing it when I go the bank today.Q: What is the woman concerned about?【六级听力长对话原文1】W: OK, that's it. Now we have to make a decision. We might as well do that now, don't you think?M: Sure, let's see. First we saw Frank Brisenski. What did you think of him?W: Well, he's certainly a very polite young man.M: And very relaxed, too.W: But his appearance…M: En… He wasn't well dressed. He wasn't even wearing a tie.W: But he did have a nice voice. He sounded good on the telephone.M: True. And I thought he seemed very intelligent. He answered Dona's questions very well.W: That's true, but dressing well is important. Well, let's think about the others. Now what about Barbara Jones? She had a nice voice, too. She sounded good on the telephone, and she was well dressed, too.M: En… She did look very neat, very nicely dressed, but…W: But so shy. She wouldn't be very good at talking to people at the front desk.M: En…OK. Now who was the next? Ar…Yes, David Wallace. I thought he was very good, had a lot of potential. What do you think?W: En… He seemed like a very bright guy. He dres sed very nicely, too. And he had a really nice appearance.M: He seemed relaxed to me, the type of person people feel comfortable with right away.W: He was polite, but also very friendly and relaxed as you say. I think he'll be good with the guests at the front desk.M: He had a very pleasant voice, too.W: That's right. OK, good! I guess we have our receptionist then, don't you?M: Yes, I think so. We'll just offer the job to…Question 9: What are the speakers looking for?Question 10: What is Frank Brisenski's weakness?Question 11: What do the speakers decide to do?【六级听力长对话原文2】W: Hello.M: Hello. Is that the reference library?W: Yes, can I help you?M: I hope so. I ran earlier and asked for some information about Dennis Hutton, the scientist. You asked me to ring back.W: Oh, yes. I have found something.M: Good. I've got a pencil and paper. Perhaps you could read out what it says.W: Certainly. Hutton Dennis, born Darlington, 1836, died New York, 1920.M: Yes, got that.W: Inventer and physicist, the son of a farmworker. He was admitted to the University of London at the age of 15.M: Yes.W: He graduated at 17 with the first class degree in physics and mathematics. All right?M: Yes, all right.W: He made his first notable achievement at the age of 18. It was a method of refrigeration which rolls from his work in low temperature physics. He became professor of mathematics at the University of Manchester at 24, where he remained for twelve years. During that time, he married one of his students, Natasha WilloughbyM: Yes, go on.W: Later working together in London, they laid the foundations of modern physics by showing that normal laws of cause and effect do not apply at the level of subatomic particles. For this he and his wife received the Nobel Prize for physics in 1910, and did so again in 1912 for their work on very high frequency radio waves. In his lifetime, Hutton patented 244 inventions. Do you want any more?M: Yes, when did he go to America?W: Let me see. In 1920 he went to teach in New York and died there suddenly after only three weeks. Still he was a good age.M: Yes, I suppose so. Well, thanks.Question 12: What do we learn about Dennis Hutton when he was 15?Question 13: What did Dennis Hutton do at the age of 24?Question 14: For what were Dennis Hutton and his wife awarded the Nobel Prize a second time?Question 15: Why did Dennis Hutton go to New York?六级短文1原文In America, white tailed deer are more numerous than ever before, so abundant in fact that they've become a suburban nuisance and a health hazard.Why can't the herd be thinned the old-fashioned way? The small community of North Haven on Long Island is home to some six hundred to seven hundred deer. The department of Environmental Conservation estimates the optimum population at 60. The town has been browsed bare of vegetation except where gardens and shrubs are protected by high fences.Drivers routinely collide with deer and there are so many dead bodies left by the side of the road that the town has made it a deal with a local pet cemetery to collect and dispose of the bodies. Some people in the town have become ill from deer transmitted diseases. On the occasions when hunting has been tried, local animal rights people have worked to secure court orders against the hunts. And when that is failed, they stop the hunters, banging on pots and pans to alert the deer. Town meetings called to discuss the problem inevitably dissolved into confrontations.The activists believe simply that the deer are not the problem. Some communities have even discussed the possibility of bringing wolves back into the ecological mix. That means wolves in the suburbs of New York. It is almost too wonderful not to try it. The wolves would kill deer of course. They would also terrorize and kill dogs and cats which is not what the suburban dwellers have in mind.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heardQ16. What do we learn about white-tailed deer in North Haven?Q17. Why do local animal rights people bang on pots and pans?Q18. What would happen if wolves were brought back into the ecological mix?听力填空原文It’s difficult to estimate the number of youngsters involved in home schooling where children are not sent to school and receive their formal education from one or both parents. Legislation and court decisions have made it legally possible in most states for parents to educate their children at home and each year more people take advantage of that opportunity.Some states require parents or a home tutor to meet teacher certification standards, and many require parents to complete legal forms to verify that their children are receiving instruction in state approved curriculum.Supporters of home education claim that it is less expensive and far more efficient than mass public education. Moreover they site several advantages: alleviation of school overcrowding, strengthen family relationships, lower dropout rates, the facts that students are allowed to learn at their own rate, increased motivation, higher standardized test scores, and reduced discipline problems.Critics of the home schooling movement content that it creates as many problems as it solves. They acknowledge that, in a few cases, home schooling offers educational opportunities superior to those found in most public schools, but few parents can provide such educational advantages. Some parents who withdraw their children from the schools in favor of home schooling have an inadequate educational background and insufficient formal training to provide a satisfactory education for their children. Typically, parents have fewer technological resources at their disposal than do schools. However, the relatively inexpensive computer technology that is readily available today is causing some to challenge the notion that home schooling is in any way inferior to more highly structured classroom education.【选词填空部分答案】36 intentions37 stems38 permanently39 delayed40 simultaneously41 asset42 identified43overwhelming44 equivalent45 underlying【原文】Quite often, educators tell families of children who are learning English as a second language to speak only English, and not their native language, at home. Although these educators may have good (36) intentions, their advice to families is misguided, and it (37) stemsfrom misunderstandings about the process of language acquisition. Educators may fear that children hearing two languages will become (38) permanentlyconfused and thus their language development will be (39) delayed; this concern is not documented in the literature. Children are capable of learning more than one language, whether (40)simultaneouslyor sequentially(依次地). In fact, most children outside of the United States are expected to become bilingual or even, in many cases, multilingual. Globally, knowing more than one language is viewed as an (41) assetand even a necessity in many areas.It is also of concern that the misguided advice that students should speak only English is given primarily to poor families with limited educational opportunities, not to wealthier families who have many educational advantages. Since children from poor families often are (42) identified as at-risk for academic failure, teachers believe that advising families to speak English only is appropriate. Teachers consider learning two languages to be too (43) overwhelming for children from poor families, believing that the children are already burdened by their home situations.If families do not know English or have limited English skills themselves, how can they communicate in English? Advising non-English-speaking families tospeak only English is (44) equivalent to telling them not to communicate with or interact with their children. Moreover, the (45) underlying message is that the family's native language is not important or valued.仔细阅读56. C. They often have to seek job outside the academic circle.57. A. It should be improved to better suit the job market.58. C. An IDP be made in communication with an adviser.59. B. help employees make the best use of their abilities to achieve their goals.60. A. It is the effective tool of self-awareness and introspection for better career plans.中译英1.【丝绸之路】The world-renowned Silk Road is a series of routes connecting the East and the West. It extended more than 6,000 kilometers. The Silk Road was named after ancient China’s silk trade which played an important role in the civilization development of China, South Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It was through the Silk Road that papermaking, gunpowder, compass and printing of the four great inventions of ancient China were introduced around the world. Similarly, Chinese silk, tea and porcelain spread all over the world. Europe also exported various goods and plants through the Silk Road to meet the needs of the Chinese market.2.【中秋节】Since ancient times, the Chinese people usually celebrate harvest in the Mid-Autumn, which is similar to the custom of celebrating Thanksgiving in the North America. The Mid-Autumn has become popular all over China in the Early Tang Dynasty. The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, is a day for worshiping the moon. At that day, family members get together and enjoy the bright moon in the sky at night. In 2006, the Mid-Autumn was listed as a China cultural heritage, and in 2008 designated as a public holiday. The moon cake, an indispensable food of the Festival, is often used as a gift for relatives and friends or enjoyed in the family party.Traditional moon cakes are imprinted with Chinese characters with such meanings as “longevity”, “happiness” or “harmony”.。