2015年大学英语六级答案
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2015年6月英语六级真题及答案(第三套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying “If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. ’’You can cite examples to illustrate your point of view. You should write at least l50 words but no more than 200 words.注意: 此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or, more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A, B, C and D and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet, with a single line through the centre.注意: 此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2015年12月19日全国大学英语六级答案一.六级选词填空参考答案:下面是第一套答案,后面还有第二套答案36. B. caters37. M. recommended38. D. debated39. F. ideal40. C. chronically41. G. improvements42. E. deprivation43. L. ready44. H. necessarily45. O. target详细解析:本文节选自New research shows a good night’s restisn’t a luxury–it’s critical for your brain and for your health As it is,sleep is so undervalued that getting by on fewer hours has become a badge of honor. Plus,we live in a culture that caters to the late-nighter,from 24-hour grocery stores to online shopping sites that never close. It’s no surprise,then,that more than half of American adults don’t get the 7 to 9 hours of shut-eye every night as recommendedby sleep experts.Whether or not we can catch up on sleep–on the weekend,say–is a hotly debated topic among sleep researchers;the latest evidence suggests that while it isn’t ideal,it might help. When Liu,the UCLA sleep researcher and professor of medicine,brought chronically sleep-restricted people into the lab for a weekend of sleep during which they logged about 10 hours per night,they showed improvements in the ability of insulin to process blood sugar. That suggests that catch-up sleep may undo some but not all of the damage that sleep deprivation causes,which is encouraging given how many adults don’t get the hours they need each night. Still,Liu isn’t ready to endorse the habit of sleeping less and making up for it later.Sleeping pills,while helpful for some,are not necessarily a silver bullet either. “A sleeping pill will target one area of the brain,but there’s never going to be a perfect sleeping pill,because you couldn’t really replicate the different chemicals moving in and out of different parts of the brain to go through the different stages of sleep,”says Dr. Nancy Collop,director of the Emory University Sleep Center.36. B. caters 空格左是定语从句引导词that,并且that指代的是前面的a culture,所以空格内应该填一个第三人称单数形式的动词与介词to搭配.cater to表示“迎合”,原句译为:“另外,我们生活在一个迎合着晚睡者的文化里,从24小时营业的杂货店到线上售货店都从不关门.”37. M. recommended 空格左是as,右边是介词by,推测空格内应该填一个动词的过去分词形式,结合语义,7到9小时睡眠应该是专家XX的,所以选择“推荐”.38. D. debated 空格左边有hotly,右边为topic,空格内应填一个形容词,理解为“热烈地xxx的话题”,结合语义,故选“被讨论的”39. F. ideal 空格与左边的it isn’t共同构成主系表结构,空格内一般选择形容词或带冠词的名词,结合...while...might help. 理解为“尽管它是xxx的,它仍然是有用的”,所以选”理想的”,符合语境.40. C. chronically brought为谓语,空格右边是形容词,空格内应该填副词修饰右边的形容词.结合语义,选“长期地”来修饰“失眠的人”.41. G. improvements 空格左边直接就是谓语show,空格内极有可能是一个复数名词,而且“进步”也符合原意.42. E. deprivation that引导一个定语从句修饰the damage,第二套答案36 O vulnerable37 J permanent 38A advocates 39N tighten 40K restricted 41E facilities 42G investigating 43M statistical 44C correlation 45D exercise二.六级翻译真题及答案[六级真题原文1]在帮助国际社会于2030年前消除极端贫困过程中,中国正扮演着越来越重要的角色。
2015年6⽉英语六级答案(完整版) 听⼒试题 长对话⼀ 9. C) Export bikes to foreign markets. 10. B) The government has control over bicycle imports. 11. A) Extra costs might eat up their profits abroad. 12. C) Conduct a feasibility study. 长对话⼆ 13. B) Anything that can be used to produce power. 14. D) Oil production will begin to decline worldwide by 2025. 15. B) Start developing alternative fuels. 短⽂1 答案 16. A) The ability to predict fashion trend. 17. D) Purchasing handicrafts from all over the world. 18. B) She is doing what she enjoys doing. 短⽂2 答案 19. B) Get involved in his community. 20. A) Deterioration in the quality of life. 21. D) They are too big for individual efforts. 22. C) He had done a small deed of kindness. 23. B) Pressure and disease. 24. A) It experienced a series of misfortunes. 25. C) They could do nothing to help him. 26. are supposed to 27. inserting 28. drawing-out 29. distinguished 30. spark 31. flame 32. schooling 33. controversies 34. are concerned with 35. dissatisfaction 36 N swept 37 B displaced 38 I prosperity 39 H productive 40 C employed 41 F jobless 42 M shrunk 43 A benefits 44 E impact 45 D eventually 56 C) Unemployment 57 D) Pour money into the market through asset buying. 58 B) Deflation. 59 C) Tighten financial regulation. 60 C) She is one of the world’s greatest economists.(B和C有争议) 阅读试题 36 N swept 37 B displaced 38 I prosperity 39 H productive 40 C employed 41 F jobless 42 M shrunk 43 A benefits 44 E impact 45 D eventually 56 C) Unemployment 57 D) Pour money into the market through asset buying. 58 B) Deflation. 59 C) Tighten financial regulation. 60 C) She is one of the world’s greatest economists.(B和C有争议) 翻译 中国传统的待客之道要求饭菜丰富多样,客⼈吃不完,中国宴席上典型的菜单包括开席的⼀套凉菜及其后的热菜,例如⾁类、鸡鸭、蔬菜等。
2015年6月英语六级真题及答案(第二套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions For this part, you are allowed 80 minutes to write an essay commenting on Alert Einstein's remark “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” You can give an example or two to illustrate your point of view. You should write at least 15 words but no more than 200 words.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
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 mustread the four choices marked A ), B., C. and D., and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2015年6月大学英语六级考试真题1Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section A1. A) Prepare for his exams. B) Catch up on his work.C) Attend the concert. D) Go on a vacation.2. A) Three crew members were involved in the incident.B) None of the hijackers carried any deadly weapons.C) The plane had been scheduled to fly to Japan.D) None of the passengers were injured or killed.3. A) An article about the election. B) A tedious job to be done.C) An election campaign. D) A fascinating topic.4. A) The restaurant was not up to the speakers' expectations.B) The restaurant places many ads in popular magazines.C) The critic thought highly of the Chinese restaurant.D) Chinatown has got the best restaurant in the city.5. A) He is going to visit his mother in the hospital.B) He is going to take on a new job next week.C) He has many things to deal with right now.D) He behaves in a way nobody understands.6. A) A large number of students refused to vote last night.B) At least twenty students are needed to vote on an issue.C) Major campus issues had to be discussed at the meeting.D) More students have to appear to make their voice heard.7. A) The woman can hardly tell what she likes.B) The speakers like watching TV very much.C) The speakers have nothing to do but watch TV.D) The man seldom watched TV before retirement.8. A) The woman should have retired earlier. 4B) He will help the woman solve the problem.C) He finds it hard to agree with what the woman says.D) The woman will be able to attend the classes she wants.Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. A) Persuade the man to join her company. B) Employ the most up-to-date technology.C) Export bikes to foreign markets. D) Expand their domestic business.10. A) The state subsidizes small and medium enterprises.B) The government has control over bicycle imports.C) They can compete with the best domestic manufactures.D) They have a cost advantage and can charge higher prices.11. A) Extra costs might eat up their profits abroad.B) More workers will be needed to do packaging.C) They might lose to foreign bike manufacturers.D) It is very difficult to find suitable local agents.12. A) Report to the management. B) Attract foreign investments.C) Conduct a feasibility study. D) Consult financial experts.Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.13. A) Coal burnt daily for the comfort of our homes.B) Anything that can be used to produce power.C) Fuel refined from oil extracted from underground.D) Electricity that keeps all kinds of machines running.14. A) Oil will soon be replaced by alternative energy sources.B) Oil reserves in the world will be exhausted in a decade.C) Oil consumption has given rise to many global problems.D) Oil production will begin to decline worldwide by 2015.15. A) Minimize the use of fossil fuels. B) Start developing alternative fuels.C) Find the real cause for global warming. D) Take steps to reduce the greenhouse effect.Section BPassage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) The ability to predict fashion trends. B) A refined taste for artistic works.C) Years of practical experience. D) Strict professional training.17. A) Promoting all kinds of American hand-made specialities.B) Strengthening cooperation with foreign governments.C) Conducting trade in art works with dealers overseas.D) Purchasing handicrafts from all over the world.18. A) She has access to fashionable things. B) She is doing what she enjoys doing.C) She can enjoy life on a modest salary. D) She is free to do whatever she wants.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) Join in neighborhood patrols. B) Get involved in his community.C) V oice his complaints to the city council. D) Make suggestions to the local authorities.20. A) Deterioration in the quality of life. B) Increase of police patrols at night.C) Renovation of the vacant buildings. D) Violation of community regulations.21. A) They may take a long time to solve. B) They need assistance form the city.C) They have to be dealt with one by one. D) They are too big for individual efforts.22. A) He had got some groceries at a big discount.B) He had read a funny poster near his seat.C) He had done a small deed of kindness.D) He had caught the bus just in time.Passage ThreeQuestions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.23. A) Childhood and family growth. B) Pressure and disease.C) Family life and health. D) Stress and depression.24. A) It experienced a series of misfortunes. B) It was in the process of reorganization.C) His mother died of a sudden heart attack. D) His wife left him because of his bad temper.25. A) They would give him a triple bypass surgery.B) They could remove the block in his artery.C) They could do nothing to help him.D) They would try hard to save his life.Section CWhen most people think of the word “education”, they think of a pupil as a sort of animate sausage casing. Into this empty casting, the teachers (26) stuff “education.”But genuine education, as Socrates knew more than two thousand years ago, is not (27) the stuffing of information into a person, but rather eliciting knowledge from him; it is the (28) of what is in the mind.“The most important part of education,” once wrote William Ernest Hocking, the (29) Harvard philosopher, “is this instruction of a man in what he has inside of him.”And, as Edith Hamilton has reminded us, Soc rates never said, “I know, learn from me。
2015年12月六级真题答案(完整版)六级翻译中国减贫China is playing an increasingly important role in helping the international community to eliminate extreme poverty by 2030。
China has lifted as many as four hundred million people out of poverty, since the implementation of the reform and opening upin the late 1970s. In the next five years,China will provide supports to other developing countries in reducing poverty, development education,agricultural modernization, environmental protection and medical care,etc。
China has seen notable improvements in reducing poverty,and has madeunremitting efforts in promoting economic growth。
This will encourage otherpoor countries to strike back challenges when developing themselves。
Whenpursuing the developing path with their own characteristics , these countries can learn from China’sexperience.2答案:Recently, the Chinese government decided to upgrade its industry. China is now involved in the construction of high-speed trains, ocean—going vessels, robots, and even aircrafts. Not long ago,China obtained the contract for construction of a high—speed rail in Indonesia. It has also signed a contract with Malaysia to provide high—speed trains. This proves that people have faith in China—made products. China—made products are gaining popularity, for which China has paid a price。
2015年6月英语六级真题及答案(第三套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying “If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. ‟‟Y ou can cite examples to illustrate your point of view. Y ou should write at least l50 words but no more than 200 words.注意: 此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or, more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A, B, C and D and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet, with a single line through the centre.注意: 此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2015年12月大学英语六级考试真题(第1套)Part I Writing(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay based on the picturebelow. You should focus on the impact of social networking websites on reading.You arereauired to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words._______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ Part IIListening Comprehension(30 minutes)听力音频地址:/englishlistening/CET6/zhenti/2016-05-28/427638.htmlSection ADirections : In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A., B., C. and. D., and decide which is the best answer. Thenmark the eorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.1. A. The restaurant offers some specials each day.B. The restaurant is known for its food varieties.C. The dressing makes the mixed salad very inviting.D. The woman should mix the ingredients thoroughly.2. A. He took over the firm from Mary.C. He failed to foresee major problems.B. He is running a successful business.D. He is opening a new consulting firm.3. A. Someone should be put in charge of office supplies.B. The man can leave the discs in the office cabinet.C. The man may find the supplies in the cabinet.D. The printer in the office has run out of paper.4.A. He has to use a magnifying glass to see clearly.B. The woman can use his glasses to read.C. He has the dictionary the woman wants.D. The dictionary is not of much help to him.5.A. Redecorating her office.B. Majoring in interior design.C. Seeking professional advice.D. Adding some office furniture.6.A. Problems in port management.B. Improvement of port facilities.C. Delayed shipment of goods.D. Shortage of container ships.7.A. Their boss.B. A colleague.C. Their workload.D. A coffee machine.8.A. Call the hotel manager for help.B. Postpone the event until a later date.C. Hold the banquet at a different place.D. Get an expert to correct the error.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A. He shares some of the household duties.B. He often goes back home late for dinner.C. He cooks dinner for the family occasionally.D. He dines out from time to time with friends.10.A. To take him to dinner.B. To talk about a budget plan.C. To discuss an urgent problem.D. To pass on an important message.11. A. Foreign investors are losing confidence in India's economy.B. Many multinational enterprises are withdrawing from India.C. There are wild fluctuations in the international money market.D. There is a sharp increase in India's balance of payment deficit. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A. They have unrealistic expectations about the other half.B. They may not be prepared for a lifelong relationship.C. They form a more realistic picture of life.D. They try to adapt to their changing roles.13. A. He is lucky to have visited many exotic places.B. He is able to forget all the troubles in his life.C. He is able to meet many interesting people.D. He is lucky to be able to do what he loves.14.A. It is stressful.B. It is full of tim.C. It is all glamour.D. It is challenging15. A. Bothered.B. Amazed.C. Puzzled.D. Excited.Section BDirections : In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hearsome questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After youhear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A., B.,C. and D . Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single linethrough the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A. Maintain the traditional organizational culture.B. Learn new ways of relating and working together.C. Follow closely the fast development of technology.D. Learn to be respectful in a hierarchical organization.17. A. How the team integrates with what it is supposed to serve.B. How the team is built to keep improving its performance.C. What type of personnel the team should be composed of.D. What qualifications team members should be equipped with.18. A. A team manager must set very clear and high objectives.B. Teams must consist of members from different cultures.C. Team members should be knowledgeable and creative.D. A team manager should develop a certain set of skills.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A. It is a platform for sharing ideas on teaching at the University of Illinois.B. It was mainly used by scientists and technical people to exchange text.C. It started off as a successful program but was unable to last long.D. It is a program allowing people to share information on the Web.20. A. He visited a number of famous computer scientists.B. He met with an entrepreneur named Jim Clark.C. He sold a program developed by his friends.D. He invested in a leading computer business.21.A. They had confidence in his new ideas.B. They trusted his computer expertise.C. They were very keen on new technology.D. They believed in his business connections.Passage ThreeQuestions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A. Prestige advertising.B. Institutional advertising.C. Wordofmouth advertising.D. Distributing free trial products.23.A. To sell a particular product.B. To build up their reputation.C. To promote a specific service.D. To attract high-end consumers.24. A. By using the services of large advertising agencies.B. By hiring their own professional advertising staff.C. By buying media space in leading newspapers.D. By creating their own ads and commericais.25.A. Decide on what specific means of communication to employ.B. Conduct a large-scale survey on customer needs.C. Specify the objectives of the campaign in detail.D. Pre-test alternative ads or commercials in certain regions.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hoar a passage three times. When the passage is read for thofirst time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When tho passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in tho blanks with the exact words you have justhoard. Finally, when tho passage is read for the third time, you should chock what youhave written.Extinction is difficult concept to grasp. It is an26concept. It's not at all like the killing ofindividual lifeforms that can be renewedthrough normal processes of reproduction. Nor is it simply27numbers. Nor is it damage that can somehow be remedied or for which some substitute can beound. Nor is it something that simply affects our own generation. Nor is it something that could beremedied by some supernatural power. It is rather an28and final act for which there is no remedy on earth or in heaven. A species once extinct is gone forever. However many generations29us incoming centuries, none of them will ever see this species that we extinguish.Not only are we bringing about the extinction of life30, we are also making the land and theair and the sea so toxic that the very conditions of life are being destroyed.31basic naturalresources, not only are the nonrenewable resources being32in a frenzy ( 疯狂) of processing,consuming, and33, but we are also mining much of our renewable resources, such as the verysoil itself on which terrestrial (地球上的) life depends.The change that is taking place on the earth and in our minds is one of the greatest changes ever totake place in human affairs, perhaps the greatest, since what we are talking about is not simply anotherhistorical change or cultural34, but a change of geological and biological as well as psychologicalorder of35Part III Reading Comprehension(40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one wordfor each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read thopassage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank isidentified by a letter. Please mark tho corresponding letter for each item on AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through tho centre. You may not use any of tho words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage. It seems to be a law in thetechnology industry that leading companies eventually lose theirpositions, often quickly and brutally.Mobile phone champion Nokia, one of Europe's biggesttechnology success stories, was no36, losing its market share in just a few years.In 2007, Nokia accounted for more than 40% of mobile phone sales37But consumers' preferences were already38toward touch-screen smartphones. With the introduction of Apple'siPhone in the middle of that year, Nokia's market share39rapidly and revenue plunged. By theend of 2013, Nokia had sold its phone business to Microsoft. What sealed Nokia's fate was a series of decisions made by Stephen Elop in his position as CEO,which he40in October 2010. Each day that Elop spent in charge of Nokia, the company's marketvalue declined by $ 23 million, making him, by the numbers, one of the worst CEOs in history. But Elop was not the only person at41Nokia's board resisted change, making it impossiblefor the company to adapt to rapid shifts in the industry. Most42, Jorma Ollila, who had ledNokia's transition from an industrial company to a technology giant, was too fascinated by thecompany's43success to recognize the change that was needed to sustain its competitiveness. The company also embarked on a44cost-cutting program, which included the elimination of which hadmotivated employees to take risks and make miracles. Good leaders left the company, taking Nokia'ssense of vision and directions with them. Not surprisingly, much of Nokia's most valuable design andprogramming talent left as well.A)assumed I) previousB. bias J) relayedC. desperateK) shiftingD. deteriorationL) shrankE) exceptionM) subtleF) faultN) transmittingG) incidentallyO) worldwideH) notablySection BDirections : In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Eachstatement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraphfrom which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once.Each paragraph is marked with a letter.Answer the questions by .marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2. First-Generation College-Goers: Unprepared and Behind Kids who are the first in their families to brave the world of higher education come on campus withlittle academic know—how and are much more likely than their peers to drop out before graduation.[ A] When Nijay Williams entered college last fall as a first—generation student and Jamaican immigrant,he was academically unprepared for the rigors of higher education. Like many first—generationstudents, he enrolled in a medium-sized state university many of his high school peers were alsoattending, received a Pell Grant, and took out some small federal loans to cover other costs.Given the high price of room and board and the closeness of the school to his family, he chose tolive at home and worked between 30 and 40 hours a week while taking afull class schedule.[ B] What Nijay didn't realize about his school—Tennessee State University—was its frighteningly lowgraduation rate: a mere 29 percent for its first-generation students. At the end of his first year,Nijay lost his Pell Grant of over $ 5,000 after narrowly missing the 2.0 GPA cut-off, making itimpossible for him to continue paying for school.[ C ]Nijay represents a large and growing group of Americans: first—generation college students whoenter school unprepared or behind. To make matters worse, these schools are ill-equipped tograduate these students—young adults who face specific challenges and obstacles. They typicallycarry financial burdens that outweigh those of their peers, are more likely to work while attendingschool, and often require significant academic remediation (补习).[ D ] Matt Rubinoff directs I'm First, a nonprofit organization launched last October to reach out to thisspecific population of students. He hopes to distribute this information and help prospectivecollege-goers fmd the best post-secondary fit. And while Rubinoff believes there are a goodnumber of four—year schools that truly care about these students and set aside significant resourcesand programs for them, he says that number isn't high enough.[ E ] "It's not only the selective and elite institutions that provide those opportunities for a small subsetof this population," Rubinoff said, adding that a majority of first-generation undergraduates tendtoward options such as online programs, two—year colleges, and commuter state schools."Unfortunately, there tends to be a lack of information and support to help students think biggerand broader. "[ F] Despite this problem, many students are still drawn to these institutions--and two-year schools inparticular. As a former high school teacher, I saw students choose familiar, cheaper options yearafter year. Instead of skipping out on higher education altogether, they chose community collegesor state schools with low bars for admittance.[ G]"They underestimate themselves when selecting a university,"said Dave Jarrat, a marketingexecutive for Inside Track, a for—profit organization that specializes in coaching low-income studentsand supporting colleges in order to help students thrive. "The reality of it is that a lot of low-incomekids could be going to elite tufiversities on a full ride scholarship and don't even realize it. "[ H] "Many students are coming from a situation where no one around them has the experience ofsuccessfully completing higher education, so they are coming in questioning themselves and theircollege worthiness," Jarrat continued. That helps explain why, as I'm First's Rubinoff indicated,the schools to which these students end up resorting can end up being some of the poorestmatches for them. The University of Tennessee in Knoxville offers one example of this dilemma. Aflagship university in the South, the school graduates just 16 percent of its first—generationstudents, despite its overall graduation rate of 71 percent. Located only a few hours apart, TheUniversity of Tennessee and Tennessee State are worth comparing. Tennessee State's overallgraduation rate is a tiny 39 percent, but at least it has a smallergap between the outcomes forfirst—generat.ion students and those of their peers.[I] Still, the University of Tennessee deserves credit for being transparent. Many large institutionskeep this kind of data secret—or at least make it incredibly difficult to find The University ofNorth Carolina at Chapel Hill, for instance, admits only that the graduation rate for its first—generation pupils is "much lower" than the percentage of all students who graduate within fouryears (81 percent). [J] It is actually quite difficult to fred reliable statistics on the issue for many schools.Highereducation institutions are, under federal law, required to report graduation rates, but thesereports typically only include Pell recipient numbers —not necessarily rates specific to fLrst—generation students. Other initiatives fail to break down the data, too. Imagine how intimidating itcan be for prospecitive students unfamiliar with the complexities of higher education to navigatethis kind of information and then identify which schools are the best fit.[ K] It was this lack of information that prompted the launch of I'm First in 2013, originally as an annof its umbrella organization, the Center For Student Opportunity."If we can help to directstudents to more of these types of campuses and help students to understand them to be realisticand accessible places, have them apply to these schools at greater frequency and ultimately get inand enroll, we are going to raise the success rate," Rubinoff said, citing a variety of colleges ranging from large state institutions to smaller private schools.[ L] Chelsea Jones, who now directs student programming at I'm First, was a first —generation college student at Howard. Like other student new to the intimidating higher—education world, she often struggled on her path to college, "There wasn't really a college—bound cnlture at my high school," she said. "I wanted to go to college but I didn't really know the process. " Jones became involved with a college —access program through Princeton University in high school. Now, she attributes much of her understanding of college to that: "But once I got to campus, it was a completely different ball game that no one really prepared me for. "[ M] She was fortunate, though. Howard, a well—regarded historically black college, had an array of resources for its first—generation students, including matching kids with counselors, comecting first— generation students to one another, and TRIO, a national program that supported 200 students onHoward's campus. Still, Jones represents a small percentage of first-generation students who areable to gain entry into more elite universities, which are often known for robust financial aidpackages and remarkably high graduation rates for first—generation students.(Harvard, for example, boasts a six—year graduation rate for underrepresented minority groups of 98 percent. )[ N]Christian Vazquez, a first—generation Yale graduate, is another exception, his success story settinghim far apart from students such as Nijay. "There is a lot of support at Yale, to an extent, after awhile, there is too much support," he said, half—joking about the countless resources available atthe school. Students are placed in small groups with counselors ( trained seniors on campus) ;they have access to cultural and ethnic affinity (联系) groups, tutoring centers and also have a summer orientation specifically for first—generation students ( the latter beingone of the mostcommon programs for students).[ O]"Our support structure was more like : ' You are going to get through Yale; you are going to dowell,' " he said, hinting at mentors (导师), staff, and professors who all provided significantsupport for students who lacked confidence about "belonging" at such a top institution.46. Many first—generation college—goers have doubts about their abilities to geta college degree.47. First—generation college students tend to have much heavier financial burdens than their peers.48. The graduation rate of first—generation students at Nijay's university was incredibly low.49. Some top institutions like Yale seem to provide first—generation students with more support than they actually need.50. On entering college, Nijay Williams had no idea how challenging college education was.51. Many universities simply refuse to release their exact graduation rates for first-generation students.52. According to a marketing executive, many students from low-income families don't know they could have a chance of going to an elite university.53. Some elite universities attach great importance to building up the first—generation students' serf—confidence.54. I'm First distributes information to help first-generation college-goers find schools that are most suitable for them.55. Elite universities tend to graduate fn'st-generation students at a higher rate. 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. andD . You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.Saying they can no longer ignore the rising prices of health care, some of the most influentialmedical groups in the nation are recommending that doctors weigh the costs, not just the effectivenessof treatments, as they make decisions about patient care.The shift, little noticed outside the medical establishment but already controversial inside it,suggests that doctors are starting to redefine their roles, from being concerned exclusively aboutindividual patients to exerting influence on how healthcare dollars are spent. In practical terms, the new guidelines being developed could result in doctors choosing one drugover another for cost reasons or even deciding that a particular treatment—at the end of life, forexample—is too expensive. In the extreme, some critics have said that making treatment decisionsbased on cost is a form of rationing. Traditionally, guidelines have heavily influenced the practice of medicine, and the latest ones areexpected to makedoctors more conscious of the economic consequences of their decisions, eventhough there's no obligation to follow them. Medical society guidelines are also used by insurancecomoanies to help determine reimbursement (报销) policies. Some doctors see a potential conflict in trying to be both providers of patient care and fmancial Overseers."There should be forces in society who should be concerned about the budget, but they shouldn'tbe functioning simultaneously as doctors," said Dr. Martin Samuels at a Boston hospital. He saiddoctors risked losing the trust of patients if they told patients, "I'm not going to do what I think is bestfor you because I think it's bad for the healthcare budget in Massachusetts. " Doctors can face some grim trade —offs. Studies have shown, for example, that two drugs are aboutequally effective in treating macular degeneration, and eye disease. But one costs $ 50 a dose and theother close to $ 2,000. Medicare could save hundreds of millions of dollars a year if everyone used thecheaper drug, Avastin, instead of the costlier one, Lucentis. But the Food and Drug Administration has not approved Avastin for use in the eye. and using itrather than the alternative, Lucentis, might carry an additional, although slight, safety risk. Shoulddoctors consider Medicare's budget in deciding what to use?"I think ethically (在道德层面上) we are just worried about the patient in front of us and nottrying to save money for the insurance industry or society as a whole," said Dr. Donald Jensen. Still, some analysts say that there's a role for doctors to play in cost analysis because not manyothers are doing so. "In some ways," said Dr. Daniel Sulmasy, "it represents a failure of wider society to take up the issue. "56. What do some most influential medical groups recommend doctors do?A. Reflect on the responsibilities they are supposed to take.B. Pay more attention to the effectiveness of their treatments.C. Take costs into account when making treatment decisions.D. Readjust their practice in view of the cuts in health care.57. What were doctors mainly concerned about in the past?A. Specific medicines to be used.B. Effects of medical treatment.C. Professional advancement.D. Patients' trust.58. What may the new guidelines being developed lead to?A. The redefining of doctors' roles.B. Overuse of less effective medicines.C. Conflicts between doctors and patients.D. The prolonging of patients' suffering.59. What risk do doctors see in their dual role as patient care providers and financial overseers?A. They may be involved in a conflict of interest.B. They may be forced to divide their attention.C. They may have to use less effective drugs.D. They may lose the respect of patients.60. What do some experts say about doctors' involvement in medical cost analysis?A. It may add to doctors' already heavy workloads.B. It will help to save money for society as a whole.C. It results from society's failure to tackle the problem.D. It raises doctors' awareness of their social responsibilities.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Economic inequality is the "defining challenge of our time," President Barack Obama declared in aspeech last month to the Center for American Progress. Inequality is dangerous, he argued, not merelybecause it doesn't look good to have a large gap between the rich and the poor, but because inequalityitself destroys upward mobility, making it harder for the poor to escape from poverty. "Increasedinequality and decreasing mobility pose a fundamental threat to the American Dream," he said. Obama is only the most prominent public figure to declare inequality Public Enemy No. 1 and thegreatest threat to reducing poverty in America. A number of prominent economists have also arguedthat it's harder for the poor to climb the economic ladder today because the rungs (横档 ) in that ladderhave grown farther apart.For all the new attention devoted to the 1 percent, a new damset from the Equality of OpportunityProject at Harvard and Berkeley suggests that, if we care about upward mobility overall, we're vastlyexaggerating the dangers of the rich—poor gap. Inequality itself is not a particularly strong predictor ofeconomic mobility, as sociologist Scott Winship noted in a recent article based on his analysis of this data. So what factors, at the community level, do predict if poor children will move up the economicladder as adtdts? what explains, for instance, why the Salt Lake City metro area is one of the 100largest metropolitan areas most likely to lift the fortunes of the poor and the Atlanta metro area is oneof the least likely?Harvard economist Raj Cherty has pointed to economic and racial segregation, community density,the size of a community's middle class, the quality of schools, commtmity religiosity, and familystructure, which he calls the "single strongest correlate of upward mobility. " Chetty finds thatcommunities like Salt Lake City, with high levels of two-parent families and religiosity, are much morelikely to see poor children get ahead than communities like Atlanta, with high levels of racial andeconomic segregation. Chetty has not yet issued a comprehensive analysis of the relative predictive power of each of thesefactors. Based on my analyses of the data. of the factors that Chetty has highlighted, the followingthree seem to be most predictive of upward mobility in a given community:1. Per-capita (人均) income growth2. Prevalence of single mothers ( where correlation is strong, but negative)3. Per-capita local government spending In other words, communities with high levels of per-capita income growth, high percentages oftwo-parent families, and high local government spending-which may stand for good schools-are themost likely to help poor children relive Horatio Alger's rags-to-riches story.61. How does Obama view economic inequality?A. It is the biggest obstacle to social mobility.B. It is the greatest threat to social stability.。
Part I Writing(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay based on the should focus on the harm caused by misleading information arerequired to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)听力音频地址:Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long the endof each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was theconversation and the questions will be spoken only each question there will bea the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), D),and decide which is the best mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet I with a single line through the centre.has completely recovered.went into shock after an operation.is still in a critical condition.is getting much better.a breakfast.a hotel room.a train ticket.a compartment.borrowers never returned the books to her.man is the only one who brought her book back.never expected anyone to return the books to her.of the books she lent out came back without jackets.left her work early to get some bargains last Saturday.attended the supermarket's grand opening ceremony.drove a full hour before finding a parking space.failed to get into the supermarket last Saturday.is bothered by the pain in his neck.cannot do his report without a computer.cannot afford to have a coffee break.feels sorry to have missed the report.top art students can show their works in the gallery.gallery space is big enough for the man's paintings.woman would like to help with the exhibition layout.man is uncertain how his art works will be received.woman needs a temporary replacement for her assistant.man works in the same department as the woman does.woman will have to stay in hospital for a few days.man is capable of dealing with difficult people.was better than the previous one.distorted the mayor's speech.exaggerated the city's economic problems.reflected the opinions of most economists.Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard. inform him of a problem they face.request him to purchase control desks.discuss the content of a project report.ask him to flX the dictating machine.quote the best price in the market.manufacture and sell office furniture.cannot deliver the steel sheets on time.cannot produce the steel sheets needed.marking down the trait price.accepting the penalty clauses.allowing more time for delivery.promising better after-sales service.the customer a ten percent discount.compensation from the steel suppliers.the Buying Department to change suppliers.the contract with the customer.Questions 13 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard....computer programming.certain natural phenomena.global population growth.national financial health.different educational backgrounds.attitudes toward nature.theory and its applications.current global economic BDirections : In this section, you will hear 3 short the end of each passage, you will hearsome the passage and the questions will be spoken only youhear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), D ).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single linethrough the centre. Passage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard. lay great emphasis on hard work.name 150 star engineers each year.require high academic degrees.have people with a very high IQ.years of job training.emotional intelligence.academic qualifications.to the advance of science.interpersonal relationships.working experience.equipment.motivation.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard. diary.fairy tale.history textbook.biography.was a sports fan.loved adventures.disliked school.liked hair-raising stories.people to undertake adventures.his colorful and unique life stories.people's environmental awareness.people to America's national parks.Passage ThreeQuestions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.first infected victim.coastal village in Africa.doctor who lust identified it.river running through the Congo.exhibit similar symptoms.can be treated with the same drug.have almost the same mortality rate.have both disappeared for good.inhaling air polluted with the virus.contacting contaminated body fluids.drinking water from the Congo River.eating food grown in Sudan and Zalre.strains will evolve from the Ebola virus.will eventually fred cures for Ebola.Ebola epidemic may erupt sooner or later.infected, one will become immune to CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three the passage is read for the irst time, you should listen carefully for its general the passage is read forthe second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have , when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what youhave written.The ideal companion machine would not only look, feel, and sound friendly but would also beprogrammed to behave in an agreeable 26 that make interaction with other peopleenjoyable would be simulated as closely as possible, and the machine would 27 charming,stimulating, and informal conversational style would makeinteraction comfortable, andyet the machine would remain slightly 28 and therefore its first encounter it might besomewhat hesitant and unassuming, but as it came to know the user it would progress to a more 29 and intimate machine would not be a passive 30 but would add its ownsuggestions, information, and opinions; it would sometimes 31 developing or changing the topicand would have a personality of its own.The machine would convey presence: We have all seen how a computer's use of personal namesoften 32 people and leads them to treat the machine as if it were almost features areeasily written into the introducing 33 forcefulness and humor, the machine could bepresented as a vivid and unique character.Friendships are not made in a day, and the computer would be more acceptable as a friend if it 34 the gradual changes that occur when one person is getting to know an 35 timeit might also express the kind of affection that stimulates attachment and intimacy.Part m Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten are required to select one wordfor each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the thepassage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank isidentified by a mark the corresponding letter for each item on AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through the may not use any of the words in thebank more than once. Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.As it is, sleep is so undervalued that getting by on fewer hours has become a badge of , we live in a culture that 36 to the late-nighter, from 24-hour grocery stores to onlineshopping sites that never 's no surprise, then, that more than half of American adults don't getthe 7 to 9 hours of shut-eye every night as 37 by sleep experts.Whether or not we can catch up on sleep--on the weekend, say--is a hotly 38 topicamongsleep latest evidence suggests that while it isn't 39 , it might Liu, theUCLA sleep researcher and professor of medicine, brought 40 sleep-restricted people into the labfor a weekend of sleep during which they logged about 10 hours per night, they showed 41 in theability of insulin (胰岛素) to process blood suggests that catch-up sleep may undo somebut not all of the damage that sleep 42 causes, which is encouraging, given how many adults don'tget the hours they need each , Liu isn't 43 to endorse the habit of sleeping less andmaking up for it later.Sleeping pills, while helpful for some, are not 44 an effective remedy either."A sleeping pillwill 45 one area of the brain, but there's never going to be a perfect sleeping pill, because youcouldn't really replicate (复制 ) the different chemicals moving in and out of different parts of the brainto go through the different stages of sleep," says Collop, director of the Emory UniversitySleep Center.Section BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to contains information given in one of the the paragraphfrom which the information is may choose a paragraph more than paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2. Climate change may be real, but it's still not easy being greenHow do we convince our inner caveman to be greener? We ask some outstanding social scientists.[A] The road to climate hell is paved with our good may tackle polluters whilescientists do battle with carbon the most pervasive problem is less obvious: ourown get distracted before we can turn down the break our promise notto fly after hearing about a neighbour's trip to , we can't be bothered to changeour for the planet, social science and behavioural economics may be able todo that for us. [B] Despite mournful polar beats and charts showing carbon emissions soaring, most people find ithard to believe that global warming will affect them polls by the Pew ResearchCentre in Washington, DC, found that 75-80 per cent of participants regarded climate change as animportant respondents ranked it last on a list of priorities.[C] This inconsistency largely stems from a feeling of powerlessness."When we can't actually removethe source of our fear, we tend to adapt psychologically by adopting a range of defencemechanisms," says Tom Crompton, change strategist for the environmental organisation WorldWide Fund for Nature.[ D] Part of the fault lies with our inner has programmed humans to pay mostattention to issues that will have an immediate impact."We worry most about now because if wedon't survive for the next minute, we're not going to be around in ten years' time," says ProfessorElke Weber of the Centre for Research on Environmental Decisions atColumbia University in the Thames were lapping around Big Ben, Londoners would face up to the problem ofemissions pretty in practice, our brain discounts the risks--and benefits--associatedwith issues that lie some way ahead.[E] Matthew Rushworth, of the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford,sees this in his lab every day."One of the ways in which all agents seem to make decisions is thatthey assign a lower weighting to outcomes that are going to be further away in the future," hesays."This is a very sensible way for an animal to make decisions in the wild and would havebeen very helpful for humans for thousands of years."[F] Not any the time we wake up to the threat posed by climate change, it could well betoo ff we're not going to make rational decisions about the future, others may have tohelp us to do so.[G] Few political libraries are without a copy of Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealthand Happiness, by Richard Thaler and Cass argue that governments shouldpersuade us into making better decisions--such as saving more in our pension plans--by changingthe default Weber believes that environmental policy can make use of , for example, building codes included green construction guidelines, most developerswould be too lazy to challenge them.[H] Defaults are certainly part of the social scientists are most concerned about craftingmessages that exploit our group mentality (,~, ~ )."We need to understand what motivatespeople, what it is that allows them to make change," says Professor Neil Adger, of the TyndallCentre for Climate Change Research in Norwich."It is actually about what their peers think ofthem, what their social norms are, what is seen as desirable in society." In other words, ourinner caveman is continually looking over his shoulder to see what the rest of the tribe are up to.[ I ] The passive attitude we have to climate change as individuals can be altered by counting us in--and measuring us against--our peer group."Social norms are primitive andelemental," says Cialdini, author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion."Birds flock together, fishschool together, cattle herd together...just perceiving norms is enough to cause people to adjusttheir behaviour in the direction of the crowd."[J] These norms can take us beyond good conducted a study in San Diego inwhich coat hangers bearing messages about saving energy were hung on people's ofthe messages mentioned the environment, some financial savings, others social was the ones that mentioned the actions of neighbours that drove down power use.[K] Other studies show that simply providing the facility for people to compare their energy use withthe local average is enough to cause them to modify their Conservatives plan toadopt this strategy by making utility companies print the average local electricity and gas usage onpeople's bills.[L] Social science can also teach politicians how to avoid our collective capacity for campaigns that tell us how many people drive SUVs unwittingly (不经意的) imply that this behaviour is widespread and thus recommends somecareful framing of the message."Instead of normalising the undesirable behaviour, the messageneeds to marginalise it, for example, by stating that if even one person buys yet another SUV, itreduces our ability to be energy-independent."[M] Tapping into how we already see ourselves is most successful environmental strategywill marry the green message to our own sense of your average trade unionmember, chances are they will be politically motivated and be used to collective action--muchlike Erica retired member of the Public and Commercial Services Union, she is settingup one of 1,i00 action groups with the support of Climate Solidarity, a two-year environmentalcampaign aimed at trade unionists.[N] Erica is proof that a great-grandmother can help to lead the revolution if you get the psychologyright--in this case, by matching her enthusiasm for the environment with a fondness for organisinggroups."I think it's a terrific idea,"she says of the campaign."The union backing it makesmembers think there must be something in it." She is expecting up to 20 people at the firstmeeting she has called, at her local pub in the Cornish village of Polperro.[O] Nick Perks, project director for Climate Solidarity, believes this sort of activity is where the futureof environmental action lies. "Using existing civil society structures or networks is a more effective way of creating change.., and obviously trade unions are one of the biggest civil societynetworks in the UK," he says. The " Love Food, Hate Waste" campaign entered into acollaboration last year with another such network--the Women's Rachel Taylorjoined the campaign with the aim of making new year on, the meetings have madelasting changes to what she throws away in her kitchen."It's always more of an incentive if you'redoing it with other people," she says."It motivates you more if you know that you've got toprovide feedback to a group."[P]The power of such simple psychology in fighting climate change is attracting attention across thepolitical the US, the House of Representatives Science Committee has approveda bill allocating $10 million a year to studying energy-related the UK, new studiesare in development and social scientists are regularly spotted in British government help of psychologists, there is fresh hope that we might go green after all.people find they are powerless to change a situation, they tend to live with it. be effective, environmental messages should be carefully framed.is the government's responsibility to persuade people into making environment-friendly decisions.are beginning to realise the importance of enlisting psychologists' help in fighting climatechange.find effective solutions to climate change, it is necessary to understand what motivates people to make change.their evolution, humans have learned to pay attention to the most urgent issues instead of long-term concerns.study shows that our neighbours' actions are influential in changing our behaviour. clear signs of global warming, it is not easy for most people to believe climate change will affect their own lives.should take our future into consideration in making decisions concerning climate change before it is too late.social networks can be more effective in creating change in people's C Directions: There are 2 passages in this passage is followed by some questions orunfinished each of them there are four choices marked A), B), ).You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.More than a decade ago, cognitive scientists John Bransford and Daniel Schwartz, both then atVanderbilt University, found that what distinguished young adults from children was not the ability toretain facts or apply prior knowledge to a new situation but a quality they called "preparation for futurelearning." The researchers asked fifth graders and college students to create a recovery plan to protectbald eagles from extinction. Shockingly, the two groups came up with plans of similar quality(although the college students had better spelling skills ). From the standpoint of a traditionaleducator, this outcome indicated that schooling had failed to help students think about ecosystems andextinction, major scientific ideas.The researchers decided to go deeper, asked both groups to generate questionsabout important issues needed to create recovery this task, they found large students focused on critical issues of interdependence between eagles and their hab/tats (栖息地).Fifth graders tended to focus on features of individual eagles ( "How big are they?" and "What dothey eat?" ).The college students had cultivated the ability to ask questions, the cornerstone of had learned how to learn.Museums and other institutions of informal learning may be better suited to teach this skill than elementary and secondary the Exploratorium in San Francisco, we recently studied howlearning to ask good questions can affect the quality of people's scientific found that whenwe taught participants to ask "What if?" and "How can?" questions that nobody present would knowthe answer to and that would spark exploration, they engaged in better inquiry at the next exhibit--asking more questions, performing more experiments and making better interpretations of their , their questions became more comprehensive at the new than merely askingabout something they wanted to try, they tended to include both cause and effect in their juicy questions appears to be a transferable skill for deepening collaborative inquiry into thescience content found in exhibits. This type of learning is not confined to museums or institutional learningenvironments tolerate failure better than many teachers have too little time to allowstudents to form and pursue their own questions and too much ground to cover in the must acquire this skill society depends on them being able to make criticaldecisions about their own medical treatment, say, or what we must do about global energy needs that, we have a robust informal learning system that gives no grades, takes all comers,and is available even on holidays and weekends.is traditional educators' interpretation of the research outcome mentioned in the first paragraph ?are not able to apply prior knowledge to new problems.students are no better than fifth graders in memorizing facts.has not paid enough attention to major environmental issues.has failed to lead students to think about major scientific ideas.what way are college students different from children?have learned to think critically.are concerned about social issues.are curious about specific features.have learned to work independently.is the benefit of asking questions with no ready answers?arouses students' interest in things around them.cultivates students' ability to make scientific inquiries.trains students' ability to design scientific experiments.helps students realize not every question has an answer.is said to be the advantage of informal learning?allows for failures.is entertaining.charges no tuition.meets practical needs.does the author seem to encourage educators to do at the end of the passage?students to think about global issues.more interactive classroom activities.full use of informal learning resources.collaborative inquiry in the TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage."There's an old saying in the space world: amateurs talk about technology, professionals talkabout insurance." In an interview last year with The Economist, George Whitesides, chief executive ofspace-tourism fu'm Virgin Galactic, was placing his company in the latter insurance willbe cold comfort following the failure on October 31st of VSS Enterprise, resulting in the death of onepilot and the severe injury to another.On top of the tragic loss of life, the accident in California will cast a long shadow over the future of space tourism, even before it has properly begun.The notion of space tourism took hold in 2001 with a $ 20 million flight aboard a Russianspacecraft by Dennis Tito, a millionaire engineer with an adventurous haft a dozen holiday-makers have reached orbit since then, for similarly astronomical price tags. But more recently,companies have begun to plan more affordable "suborbital" flights--briefer ventures just to the edge ofspace's vast Galactic had, prior to this week's accident, seemed closest to startingregular company has already taken deposits from around 800 would-be space tourists,including Stephen Hawking.After being dogged by technical delays for years, Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic's founder,had recently suggested that a SpaceShipTwo craft would carry its first paying customers as soon asFebruary 2015. That now seems an impossible timeline. In July, a sister craft of the crashedspaceplane was reported to be about other half will have to walt, as authorities ofAmerica's Federal Aviation Administration National Transportation Safety Board work out:what went wrong.In the meantime, the entire space tourism industry will be on tenterhooks (坐立不安).The 2004Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act, intended to encourage private space vehicles andservices, prohibits the transportation secretary (and thereby the regulating the design oroperation of private spacecraft, unless they have resulted in a serious or fatal injury to crew means that the FAA could suspend Virgin Galactic's licence to could also insiston checking private manned spacecraft as thoroughly as it does commercial that may:make suborbital travel safer, it would add significant cost and complexity to an emerging industry thathas until now operated largely as the playground of billionaires and dreamy engineers. How Virgin Galactic, regulators and the public respond to this most recent tragedy will determinewhether and how soon private space travel can transcend that is nodoubt that space flight entails risks, and to pioneer a new mode of travel is to face those risks, and to reduce the benefit of hard-won experience.is said about the failure of VSS Enterprise?may lead to the bankruptcy of Virgin Galactic.has a strong negative impact on space tourism.may discourage rich people from space travel.has aroused public attention to safety issues.do we learn about the space-tourism firm Virgin Galactic?has just built a craft for commercial flights.has sent half a dozen passengers into space.was about ready to start regular business.is the first to launch "suborbital" flights.is the purpose of the 2004 Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act?ensure space travel safety.limit the FAA's functions.legalize private space explorations.promote the space tourism might the FAA do after the recent accident in California? more rigid safety standards.certifying new space-tourist agencies.its 2004 Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act.Virgin Galactic's licence to take passengers into space.does the author think of private space travel?is worth promoting despite the risks involved.should not be confined to the rich only.should be strictly regulated.is too risky to carry on.Part IV Translation(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30minutes to translate a passage from Chinese should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.在帮助国际社会于2030年前消除极端贫困过程中,中国正扮演着越来越重要的角色。
2015年12月大学英语六级考试真题(第1套)Part I Writing(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay based on the picturebelow. You should focus on the impact of social networking websites on reading.You arereauired to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words._______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ Part IIListening Comprehension(30 minutes)听力音频地址: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. Thenmark the eorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.1. A. The restaurant offers some specials each day.B. The restaurant is known for its food varieties.C. The dressing makes the mixed salad very inviting.D. The woman should mix the ingredients thoroughly.2. A. He took over the firm from Mary.C. He failed to foresee major problems.B. He is running a successful business.D. He is opening a new consulting firm.3. A. Someone should be put in charge of office supplies.B. The man can leave the discs in the office cabinet.C. The man may find the supplies in the cabinet.D. The printer in the office has run out of paper.4.A. He has to use a magnifying glass to see clearly.B. The woman can use his glasses to read.C. He has the dictionary the woman wants.D. The dictionary is not of much help to him.5.A. Redecorating her office.B. Majoring in interior design.C. Seeking professional advice.D. Adding some office furniture.6.A. Problems in port management.B. Improvement of port facilities.C. Delayed shipment of goods.D. Shortage of container ships.7.A. Their boss.B. A colleague.C. Their workload.D. A coffee machine.8.A. Call the hotel manager for help.B. Postpone the event until a later date.C. Hold the banquet at a different place.D. Get an expert to correct the error.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9.A. He shares some of the household duties.B. He often goes back home late for dinner.C. He cooks dinner for the family occasionally.D. He dines out from time to time with friends.10.A. To take him to dinner.B. To talk about a budget plan.C. To discuss an urgent problem.D. To pass on an important message.11. A. Foreign investors are losing confidence in India's economy.B. Many multinational enterprises are withdrawing from India.C. There are wild fluctuations in the international money market.D. There is a sharp increase in India's balance of payment deficit. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A. They have unrealistic expectations about the other half.B. They may not be prepared for a lifelong relationship.C. They form a more realistic picture of life.D. They try to adapt to their changing roles.13. A. He is lucky to have visited many exotic places.B. He is able to forget all the troubles in his life.C. He is able to meet many interesting people.D. He is lucky to be able to do what he loves.14.A. It is stressful.B. It is full of tim.C. It is all glamour.D. It is challenging15. A. Bothered.B. Amazed.C. Puzzled.D. Excited.Section BDirections : In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hearsome questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After youhear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A., B.,C. and D . Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet I with a single linethrough the centre.Passage OneQuestions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A. Maintain the traditional organizational culture.B. Learn new ways of relating and working together.C. Follow closely the fast development of technology.D. Learn to be respectful in a hierarchical organization.17. A. How the team integrates with what it is supposed to serve.B. How the team is built to keep improving its performance.C. What type of personnel the team should be composed of.D. What qualifications team members should be equipped with.18. A. A team manager must set very clear and high objectives.B. Teams must consist of members from different cultures.C. Team members should be knowledgeable and creative.D. A team manager should develop a certain set of skills.Passage TwoQuestions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A. It is a platform for sharing ideas on teaching at the University of Illinois.B. It was mainly used by scientists and technical people to exchange text.C. It started off as a successful program but was unable to last long.D. It is a program allowing people to share information on the Web.20. A. He visited a number of famous computer scientists.B. He met with an entrepreneur named Jim Clark.C. He sold a program developed by his friends.D. He invested in a leading computer business.21.A. They had confidence in his new ideas.B. They trusted his computer expertise.C. They were very keen on new technology.D. They believed in his business connections.Passage ThreeQuestions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A. Prestige advertising.B. Institutional advertising.C. Wordofmouth advertising.D. Distributing free trial products.23.A. To sell a particular product.B. To build up their reputation.C. To promote a specific service.D. To attract high-end consumers.24. A. By using the services of large advertising agencies.B. By hiring their own professional advertising staff.C. By buying media space in leading newspapers.D. By creating their own ads and commericais.25.A. Decide on what specific means of communication to employ.B. Conduct a large-scale survey on customer needs.C. Specify the objectives of the campaign in detail.D. Pre-test alternative ads or commercials in certain regions.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hoar a passage three times. When the passage is read for thofirst time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When tho passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in tho blanks with the exact words you have justhoard. Finally, when tho passage is read for the third time, you should chock what youhave written.Extinction is difficult concept to grasp. It is an26concept. It's not at all like the killing ofindividual lifeforms that can be renewedthrough normal processes of reproduction. Nor is it simply27numbers. Nor is it damage that can somehow be remedied or for which some substitute can beound. Nor is it something that simply affects our own generation. Nor is it something that could beremedied by some supernatural power. It is rather an28and final act for which there is no remedy on earth or in heaven. A species once extinct is gone forever. However many generations29us incoming centuries, none of them will ever see this species that we extinguish.Not only are we bringing about the extinction of life30, we are also making the land and theair and the sea so toxic that the very conditions of life are being destroyed.31basic naturalresources, not only are the nonrenewable resources being32in a frenzy ( 疯狂) of processing,consuming, and33, but we are also mining much of our renewable resources, such as the verysoil itself on which terrestrial (地球上的) life depends.The change that is taking place on the earth and in our minds is one of the greatest changes ever totake place in human affairs, perhaps the greatest, since what we are talking about is not simply anotherhistorical change or cultural34, but a change of geological and biological as well as psychologicalorder of35Part III Reading Comprehension(40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one wordfor each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read thopassage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank isidentified by a letter. Please mark tho corresponding letter for each item on AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through tho centre. You may not use any of tho words in the bank more than once.Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage. It seems to be a law in the technology industry that leading companies eventually lose theirpositions, oftenquickly and brutally.Mobile phone champion Nokia, one of Europe's biggesttechnology success stories, was no36, losing its market share in just a few years.In 2007, Nokia accounted for more than 40% of mobile phone sales37But consumers' preferences were already38toward touch-screen smartphones. With the introduction of Apple'siPhone in the middle of that year, Nokia's market share39rapidly and revenue plunged. By theend of 2013, Nokia had sold its phone business to Microsoft. What sealed Nokia's fate was a series of decisions made by Stephen Elop in his position as CEO,which he40in October 2010. Each day that Elop spent in charge of Nokia, the company's marketvalue declined by $ 23 million, making him, by the numbers, one of the worst CEOs in history. But Elop was not the only person at41Nokia's board resisted change, making it impossiblefor the company to adapt to rapid shifts in the industry. Most42, Jorma Ollila, who had ledNokia's transition from an industrial company to a technology giant, was too fascinated by thecompany's43success to recognize the change that was needed to sustain its competitiveness. The company also embarked on a44cost-cutting program, which included the elimination of which hadmotivated employees to take risks and make miracles. Good leaders left the company, taking Nokia'ssense of vision and directions with them. Not surprisingly, much of Nokia's most valuable design andprogramming talent left as well.A)assumed I) previousB. bias J) relayedC. desperateK) shiftingD. deteriorationL) shrankE) exceptionM) subtleF) faultN) transmittingG) incidentallyO) worldwideH) notablySection BDirections : In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Eachstatement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraphfrom which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once.Each paragraph is marked with a letter.Answer the questions by .marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2. First-Generation College-Goers: Unprepared and Behind Kids who are the first in their families to brave the world of higher education come on campus withlittle academic know—how and are much more likely than their peers to drop out before graduation.[ A] When Nijay Williams entered college last fall as a first—generation student and Jamaican immigrant,he was academically unprepared for the rigors of higher education. Like many first—generationstudents, he enrolled in a medium-sized state university many of his high school peers were alsoattending, received a Pell Grant, and took out some small federal loans to cover other costs.Given the high price of room and board and the closeness of the school to his family, he chose tolive at home and worked between 30 and 40 hours a week while taking a full class schedule.[ B] What Nijay didn't realize about his school—Tennessee State University—was its frighteningly lowgraduation rate: a mere 29 percent for its first-generation students. At the end of his first year,Nijay lost his Pell Grant of over $ 5,000 after narrowly missing the 2.0 GPA cut-off, making itimpossible for him to continue paying for school.[ C ]Nijay represents a large and growing group of Americans: first—generation college students whoenter school unprepared or behind. To make matters worse, these schools are ill-equipped tograduate these students—young adults who face specific challenges and obstacles. They typicallycarry financial burdens that outweigh those of their peers, are more likely to work while attendingschool, and often require significant academic remediation (补习).[ D ] Matt Rubinoff directs I'm First, a nonprofit organization launched last October to reach out to thisspecific population of students. He hopes to distribute this information and help prospectivecollege-goers fmd the best post-secondary fit. And while Rubinoff believes there are a goodnumber of four—year schools that truly care about these students and set aside significant resourcesand programs for them, he says that number isn't high enough.[ E ] "It's not only the selective and elite institutions that provide those opportunities for a small subsetof this population," Rubinoff said, adding that a majority of first-generation undergraduates tendtoward options such as online programs, two—year colleges, and commuter state schools."Unfortunately, there tends to be a lack of information and support to help students think biggerand broader. "[ F] Despite this problem, many students are still drawn to these institutions--and two-year schools inparticular. As a former high school teacher, I saw students choose familiar, cheaper options yearafter year. Instead of skipping out on higher education altogether, they chose community collegesor state schools with low bars for admittance.[ G]"They underestimate themselves when selecting a university,"said Dave Jarrat, a marketingexecutive for Inside Track, a for—profit organization that specializes in coaching low-income studentsand supporting colleges in order to help students thrive. "The reality of it is that a lot of low-incomekids could be going to elite tufiversities on a full ride scholarship and don't even realize it. "[ H] "Many students are coming from a situation where no one around them has the experience ofsuccessfully completing higher education, so they are coming in questioning themselves and theircollege worthiness," Jarrat continued. That helps explain why, as I'm First's Rubinoff indicated,the schools to which these students end up resorting can end up being some of the poorestmatches for them. The University of Tennessee in Knoxville offers one example of this dilemma. Aflagship university in the South, the school graduates just 16 percent of its first—generationstudents, despite its overall graduation rate of 71 percent. Located only a few hours apart, TheUniversity of Tennessee and Tennessee State are worth comparing. Tennessee State's overallgraduation rate is a tiny 39 percent, but at least it has a smaller gap between the outcomes forfirst—generat.ion students and those of their peers.[I] Still, the University of Tennessee deserves credit for being transparent. Many large institutionskeep this kind of data secret—or at least make it incredibly difficult to find The University ofNorth Carolina at Chapel Hill, for instance, admits only that the graduation rate for its first—generation pupils is "much lower" than the percentage of all students who graduate within fouryears (81 percent). [J] It is actually quite difficult to fred reliable statistics on the issue for many schools.Highereducation institutions are, under federal law, required to report graduation rates, but thesereports typically only include Pell recipient numbers —not necessarily rates specific to fLrst—generation students. Other initiatives fail to break down the data, too. Imagine how intimidating itcan be for prospecitive students unfamiliar with the complexities of higher education to navigatethis kind of information and then identify which schools are the best fit.[ K] It was this lack of information that prompted the launch of I'm First in 2013, originally as an annof its umbrella organization, the Center For Student Opportunity."If we can help to directstudents to more of these types of campuses and help students to understand them to be realisticand accessible places, have them apply to these schools at greater frequency and ultimately get inand enroll, we are going to raise the success rate," Rubinoff said, citing a variety of colleges ranging from large state institutions to smaller private schools.[ L] Chelsea Jones, who now directs student programming at I'm First, was a first —generation college student at Howard. Like other student new to the intimidating higher—education world, she often struggled on her path to college, "There wasn't really a college—bound cnlture at my high school," she said. "I wanted to go to college but I didn't really know the process. " Jones became involved with a college —access program through Princeton University in high school. Now, she attributes much of her understanding of college to that: "But once I got to campus, it was a completely different ball game that no one really prepared me for. "[ M] She was fortunate, though. Howard, a well—regarded historically black college, had an array of resources for its first—generation students, including matching kids with counselors, comecting first— generation students to one another, and TRIO, a national program that supported 200 students onHoward's campus. Still, Jones represents a small percentage of first-generation students who areable to gain entry into more elite universities, which are often known for robust financial aidpackages and remarkably high graduation rates for first—generation students.(Harvard, for example, boasts a six—year graduation rate for underrepresented minority groups of 98 percent. )[ N]Christian Vazquez, a first—generation Yale graduate, is another exception, his success story settinghim far apart from students such as Nijay. "There is a lot of support at Yale, to an extent, after awhile, there is too much support," he said, half—joking about the countless resources available atthe school. Students are placed in small groups with counselors ( trained seniors on campus) ;they have access to cultural and ethnic affinity (联系) groups, tutoring centers and also have a summer orientation specifically for first—generation students ( the latter being one of the mostcommon programs for students).[ O]"Our support structure was more like : ' You are going to get through Yale; you are going to dowell,' " he said, hinting at mentors (导师), staff, and professors who all provided significantsupport for students who lacked confidence about "belonging" at such a top institution.46. Many first—generation college—goers have doubts about their abilities to geta college degree.47. First—generation college students tend to have much heavier financial burdens than their peers.48. The graduation rate of first—generation students at Nijay's university was incredibly low.49. Some top institutions like Yale seem to provide first—generation students with more support than they actually need.50. On entering college, Nijay Williams had no idea how challenging college education was.51. Many universities simply refuse to release their exact graduation rates for first-generation students.52. According to a marketing executive, many students from low-income families don't know they could have a chance of going to an elite university.53. Some elite universities attach great importance to building up the first—generation students' serf—confidence.54. I'm First distributes information to help first-generation college-goers find schools that are most suitable for them.55. Elite universities tend to graduate fn'st-generation students at a higher rate. 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. andD . You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on AnswerSheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.Saying they can no longer ignore the rising prices of health care, some of the most influentialmedical groups in the nation are recommending that doctors weigh the costs, not just the effectivenessof treatments, as they make decisions about patient care.The shift, little noticed outside the medical establishment but already controversial inside it,suggests that doctors are starting to redefine their roles, from being concerned exclusively aboutindividual patients to exerting influence on how healthcare dollars are spent. In practical terms, the new guidelines being developed could result in doctors choosing one drugover another for cost reasons or even deciding that a particular treatment—at the end of life, forexample—is too expensive. In the extreme, some critics have said that making treatment decisionsbased on cost is a form of rationing. Traditionally, guidelines have heavily influenced the practice of medicine, and the latest ones areexpected to make doctors more conscious of the economic consequences of their decisions, eventhoughthere's no obligation to follow them. Medical society guidelines are also used by insurancecomoanies to help determine reimbursement (报销) policies. Some doctors see a potential conflict in trying to be both providers of patient care and fmancial Overseers."There should be forces in society who should be concerned about the budget, but they shouldn'tbe functioning simultaneously as doctors," said Dr. Martin Samuels at a Boston hospital. He saiddoctors risked losing the trust of patients if they told patients, "I'm not going to do what I think is bestfor you because I think it's bad for the healthcare budget in Massachusetts. " Doctors can face some grim trade —offs. Studies have shown, for example, that two drugs are aboutequally effective in treating macular degeneration, and eye disease. But one costs $ 50 a dose and theother close to $ 2,000. Medicare could save hundreds of millions of dollars a year if everyone used thecheaper drug, Avastin, instead of the costlier one, Lucentis. But the Food and Drug Administration has not approved Avastin for use in the eye. and using itrather than the alternative, Lucentis, might carry an additional, although slight, safety risk. Shoulddoctors consider Medicare's budget in deciding what to use?"I think ethically (在道德层面上) we are just worried about the patient in front of us and nottrying to save money for the insurance industry or society as a whole," said Dr. Donald Jensen. Still, some analysts say that there's a role for doctors to play in cost analysis because not manyothers are doing so. "In some ways," said Dr. Daniel Sulmasy, "it represents a failure of wider society to take up the issue. "56. What do some most influential medical groups recommend doctors do?A. Reflect on the responsibilities they are supposed to take.B. Pay more attention to the effectiveness of their treatments.C. Take costs into account when making treatment decisions.D. Readjust their practice in view of the cuts in health care.57. What were doctors mainly concerned about in the past?A. Specific medicines to be used.B. Effects of medical treatment.C. Professional advancement.D. Patients' trust.58. What may the new guidelines being developed lead to?A. The redefining of doctors' roles.B. Overuse of less effective medicines.C. Conflicts between doctors and patients.D. The prolonging of patients' suffering.59. What risk do doctors see in their dual role as patient care providers and financial overseers?A. They may be involved in a conflict of interest.B. They may be forced to divide their attention.C. They may have to use less effective drugs.D. They may lose the respect of patients.60. What do some experts say about doctors' involvement in medical cost analysis?A. It may add to doctors' already heavy workloads.B. It will help to save money for society as a whole.C. It results from society's failure to tackle the problem.D. It raises doctors' awareness of their social responsibilities.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Economic inequality is the "defining challenge of our time," President Barack Obama declared in aspeech last month to the Center for American Progress. Inequality is dangerous, he argued, not merelybecause it doesn't look good to have a large gap between the rich and the poor, but because inequalityitself destroys upward mobility, making it harder for the poor to escape from poverty. "Increasedinequality and decreasing mobility pose a fundamental threat to the American Dream," he said. Obama is only the most prominent public figure to declare inequality Public Enemy No. 1 and thegreatest threat to reducing poverty in America. A number of prominent economists have also arguedthat it's harder for the poor to climb the economic ladder today because the rungs (横档 ) in that ladderhave grown farther apart.For all the new attention devoted to the 1 percent, a new damset from the Equality of OpportunityProject at Harvard and Berkeley suggests that, if we care about upward mobility overall, we're vastlyexaggerating the dangers of the rich—poor gap. Inequality itself is not a particularly strong predictor ofeconomic mobility, as sociologist Scott Winship noted in a recent article based on his analysis of this data. So what factors, at the community level, do predict if poor children will move up the economicladder as adtdts? what explains, for instance, why the Salt Lake City metro area is one of the 100largest metropolitan areas most likely to lift the fortunes of the poor and the Atlanta metro area is oneof the least likely?Harvard economist Raj Cherty has pointed to economic and racial segregation, community density,the size of a community's middle class, the quality of schools, commtmity religiosity, and familystructure, which he calls the "single strongest correlate of upward mobility. " Chetty finds thatcommunities like Salt Lake City, with high levels of two-parent families and religiosity, are much morelikely to see poor children get ahead than communities like Atlanta, with high levels of racial andeconomic segregation. Chetty has not yet issued a comprehensive analysis of the relative predictive power of each of thesefactors. Based on my analyses of the data. of the factors that Chetty has highlighted, the followingthree seem to be most predictive of upward mobility in a given community:1. Per-capita (人均) income growth2. Prevalence of single mothers ( where correlation is strong, but negative)3. Per-capita local government spending In other words, communities with high levels of per-capita income growth, high percentages oftwo-parent families, and high local government spending-which may stand for good schools-are themost likely to help poor children relive Horatio Alger's rags-to-riches story.61. How does Obama view economic inequality?A. It is the biggest obstacle to social mobility.B. It is the greatest threat to social stability.C. It is the No. 1 enemy of income growth.。
2015年6月英语六级真题及答案(第一套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying"Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it. " You can give an example or two to illustrate your point of view. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
PartⅡListening Comprehension (30 minutes)听力音频地址:/englishlistening/CET6/zhenti/2015-12-20/411536.htmlSection ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A., B., C. and D ), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2015年6月大学英语六级真题答案完整版写作:In this constantlychangingworld, how to put the knowledge acquired every day into reality hasintrigued numerous people. As a proverb goes, “Knowledge is atreasure, but practice is the key to it.” Apparently,this sayingaims to deliver the message that if we truly want to master theknowledge we learn, we ought not to stoppracticingit.第一段三句话,用核心词引入+带出引言+引言的目的There are severalreasonsaccountable for this statement. To begin with, human being areforgetful beings; therefore, only when we use knowledge, makemistakes, and try to use it again will we be able to rememberit byour heart. Moreover, knowledge has become growingly complicated andwe can seldom genuinely grasp the essence of it ifwe do notpractice it and ponder it over again and again. For instance, thereused to be simple diseases, such as the cold and measles, and adoctor might have the knowledge to treat all the common ones.However, with our living environment becoming ever increasinglyharsher, the diseases have evolved into weird, irremediable, andunpredictable ones. Therefore, the medication has been divided intonumerous branches, and doctors of each one have to practice foryears only in order to cure the diseases belonging tothe similarsort.第二段,解释引言。
2015年6月大学英语六级考试真题(第一套)Reading comprehension Section A Innovation, the elixir (灵丹妙药) of progress, has always cost people their jobs. In the Industrial Revolution hand weavers were ___36___ aside by the mechanical loom. Over the past 30 years the digital revolution has ___37___ many of the mid-skill jobs that underpinned 20th-century middle-class life. Typists, ticket agents, bank tellers and many production-line jobs have been dispensed with, just as the weavers were. For those who believe that technological progress has made the world a better place, such disruption is a natural part of rising ___38___. Although innovation kills some jobs, it creates new and better ones, as a more ___39___ society becomes richer and its wealthier inhabitants demand more goods and services. A hundred years ago one in three American workers was ___40___ on a farm. Today less than 2% of them produce far more food. The millions freed from the land were not rendered ___41___, but found better-paid work as the economy grew more sophisticated. Today the pool of secretaries has___42___, but there are ever more computer programmers and web designers. Optimism remains the right starting-point, but for workers the dislocating effects of technology may make themselves evident faster than its ___43___. Even if new jobs and wonderful products emerge, in the short term income gaps will widen, causing huge social dislocation and perhaps even changing politics. Technology's ___44___ will feel like a tornado (旋风), hitting the rich world first, but ___45___ sweeping through poorer countries too. No government is prepared for it.Section BWhy the Mona Lisa Stands Out[A] Have you ever fallen for a novel and been amazed not to find it on lists of great books? Or walked around a sculpture renowned as a classic, struggling to see what the fuss is about? If so, you‟ve probably pondered the question Cutting asked himself that day: how does a work of art come to be considered great?[B] The intuitive answer is that some works of art are just great: of intrinsically superior quality. The paintings that win prime spots in galleries, get taught in classes and reproduced in books are the ones that have proved their artistic value over time. If you can‟t see they‟re superior, that‟s your problem. It‟s an intimidatingly neat explanation. But some social scientists have been asking awkward questions of it, raising the possibility that artistic canons are little more than fossilised historical accidents.[C] Cutting, a professor at Cornell Univer sity, wondered if a psychological mechanism known as the “mere-exposure effect” played a role in deciding which paintings rise to the top of the cultural league. Cutting designed an experiment to test his hunch. Over a lecture course he regularly showed undergraduates works of impressionism for two seconds at a time. Some of the paintings were canonical, included in art-history books. Others were lesser known but of comparable quality. These were exposed four times as often. Afterwards, the students preferred them to the canonical works, while a control group of students liked the canonical ones best. Cutting‟s students had grown to like those paintings more simply because they had seen them more.[D] Cutting believes his experiment offers a clue as to how canons are formed. He points out that the most reproduced works of impressionism today tend to have been bought by five or six wealthy and influential collectors in the late 19th century. The preferences of these men bestowed prestige on certain works, which made the works more likely to be hung in galleries and printed in anthologies. The fame passed down the years, gaining momentum from mere exposure as it did so. The more people were exposed to, the more they liked it, and the more they liked it, the more it appeared in books, on posters and in big exhibitions. Meanwhile, academics and critics created sophisticated justifications for its pre-eminence. After all, it‟s not just the masses who tend to rate what they see more often more highly. As contemporary artists like Warhol and Damien Hirst have grasped, critical acclaim is deeply entwined with publicity. “Scholars”, Cutting argues, “are no different from the public in the effects of mere exposure.”[E] The process described by Cutting evokes a princi ple that the sociologist Duncan Watts calls “cumulative advantage”: once athing becomes popular, it will tend to become more popular still. A few years ago, Watts, who is employed by Microsoft to study the dynamics of social networks, had a similar experience to Cutting in another Paris museum. After queuing to see the “Mona Lisa” in its climate-controlled bulletproof box at the Louvre, he came away puzzled: why was it considered so superior to the three other Leonardos in the previous chamber, to which nobody seemed to be paying the slightest attention?[F] When Watts looked into the history of “the greatest painting of all time”, he discovered that, for most of its life, the “Mona Lisa” remained in relative obscurity. In the 1850s, Leonardo da Vinci was considered no match for giants of Renaissance art like Titian and Raphael, whose works were worth almost ten times as much as the “Mona Lisa”. It was only in the 20th century that Leonardo‟s portrait of his patron‟s wife rocketed to the number-one spot. W hat propelled it there wasn‟t a scholarly re-evaluation, but a theft.[G] In 1911 a maintenance worker at the Louvre walked out of the museum with the “Mona Lisa” hidden under his smock. Parisians were aghast at the theft of a painting to which, until then, they had paid little attention. When the museum reopened, people queued to see the gap where the “Mona Lisa” had once hung in a way they had never done for the painting itself. From then on, the “Mona Lisa” came to represent Western culture itself.[H] Although many have tried, it does seem improbable that the painting‟s unique status can be attributed entirely to the qua lity of its brushstrokes. It has been said that the subject‟s eyes follow the viewer around the room. But as the painting‟s biogra pher, Donald Sassoon, dryly notes, “In reality the effect can be obtained from any portrait.” Duncan Watts proposes that the “Mona Lisa” is merely an extreme example of a general rule. Paintings, poems and pop songs are buoyed or sunk by random events or preferences that turn into waves of influence, rippling down the generations.[I] “Saying that cultural objects have value,” Brian Eno once wrote, “is like saying that telephones have conversations.” Nea rly all the cultural objects we consume arrive wrapped in inherited opinion; our preferences are always, to some extent, someone else‟s. Visitors to the “Mona Lisa” know they are about to visit the greatest work of art ever and come away appropriately impressed—or let down. An audience at a performance of “Hamlet” know it is regarded as a work of genius, so that is what they mostly see. Watts even calls the pre-eminence of Shakespeare a “historical accident”.[J] Although the rigid high-low distinction fell apart in the 1960s, we still use culture as a badg e of identity. Today‟s fashion for eclecticism—“I love Bach, Abba and Jay Z”—is, Shamus Khan , a Columbia University psychologist, argues, a new way for the middle class to distinguish themselves from what they perceive to be the narrow tastes of those beneath them in the social hierarchy. [K] The intrinsic quality of a work of art is starting to seem like its least important attribute. But perhaps it‟s more significant than our social scientists allow. First of all, a work needs a certain quality to be eligible to be swept to the top of the pile. The “Mona Lisa” may not be a worthy world champion, but it was in the Louvre in the first place, and not by accident. Secondly, some stuff is simply better than other stuff. Read “Hamlet” after reading even the gr eatest of Shakespeare‟scontemporaries, and the difference may strike you as unarguable.[L] A study in the British Journal of Aesthetics suggests that the exposure effect doesn‟t work the same way on everything, a nd points to a different conclusion about how canons are formed. The social scientists are right to say that we should be a little skeptical of greatness, and that we should always look in the next room. Great art and mediocrity can get confused, even by experts. But that‟s why we need to see, and read, as much as we can. The more we‟re exposed to the good and the bad, the better we are at telling the difference. The eclecticists have it.46. According to Duncan Watts, the superiority of the "Mona Lisa" to Leonardo's other works resulted from the cumulative advantage.47. Some social scientists have raised doubts about the intrinsic value of certain works of art.48. It is often random events or preferences that determine the fate of a piece of art.49. In his experiment, Cutting found that his subjects liked lesser known works better than canonical works because of more exposure.50. The author thinks the greatness of an art work still lies in its intrinsic value.51. It is true of critics as well as ordinary people that the popularity of artistic works is closely associated with publicity.52. We need to expose ourselves to more art and literature in order to tell the superior from the inferior.53. A study of the history of the greatest paintings suggests even a great work of art could experience years of neglect.54. Culture is still used as a mark to distinguish one social class from another.55. Opinions about and preferences for cultural objects are often inheritable.Section C Passage OneWhen the right person is holding the right job at the right moment, that person's influence is greatly expanded. That is the position in which Janet Yellen, who is expected to be confirmed as the next chair of the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) in January, now finds herself. If you believe, as many do, that unemployment is the major economic and social concern of our day, then it is no stretch to think Yellen is the most powerful person in the world right now.Throughout the 2008 financial crisis and the recession and recovery that followed, central banks have taken on the role of stimulators of last resort, holding up the global economy with vast amounts of money in the form of asset buying. Yellen, previously a Fed vice chair, was one of the principal architects of the Fed's $3.8 trillion money dump. A star economist known for her groundbreaking work on labor markets, Yeilen was a kind of prophetess early on in the crisis for her warnings about the subprime(次级债)meltdown. Now it will be her job to get the Fed and the markets out of the biggest and most unconventional monetary program in history without derailing the fragile recovery.The good news is that Yellen, 67, is particularly well suited to meet these challenges. She has a keen understanding of financial markets, an appreciation for their imperfections and a strong belief that human suffering was more related to unemployment than anything else.Some experts worry that Yellen will be inclined to chase unemployment to the neglect of inflation. But with wages still relatively flat and the economy increasingly divided between the well-off and the long-term unemployed' more people worry about the opposite, deflation(通货紧缩)that would aggravate the economy's problems.Either way, the incoming Fed chief will have to walk a fine line in slowly ending the stimulus. It must be steady enough to deflate bubbles(去泡沫)and bring markets back down to earth but not so quick that it creates another credit crisis.Unlike many past Fed leaders, Yellen is not one to buy into the finance industry's argument that it should be left alone to regulate itself. She knows all along the Fed has been too slack on regulation of finance.Yellen is likely to address right after she pushes unemployment below 6%, stabilizes markets and makes sure that the recovery is more inclusive and robust. As Princeton Professor Alan Blinder says' "She's smart as a whip, deeply logical, willing to argue but also a good listener. She can persuade without creating hostility." AH those traits will be useful as the global economy's new power player takes on its most annoying problems.56. What do many people think is the biggest problem facing Janet Yellen?A) Lack of money. B) Subprime crisis. C) Unemployment. D) Social instability.57. What did Yellen help the Fed do to tackle the 2008 financial crisis?A) Take effective measures to curb inflation. B) Deflate the bubbles in the American economy.C) Formulate policies to help financial institutions.D) Pour money into the market through asset buying.58. What is a greater concern of the general public?A) Recession. B) Deflation. C) Inequality. D) Income.59. What is Yellen likely to do in her position as the Fed chief?A) Develop a new monetary program. B) Restore public confidence.C) Tighten financial regulation. D) Reform the credit system.60. How does Alan Blinder portray Yellen?A) She possesses strong persuasive power. B) She has confidence in what she is doing.C) She is one of the world's greatest economists. D) She is the most powerful Fed chief in history.Passage TwoAir pollution is deteriorating in many places around the world. The fact that public parks in cities become crowded as soon as the sun shines proves that people long to breathe in green, open spaces. They do not all know what they are seeking but they flock there, nevertheless. And, in these surroundings, they are generally both peaceful and peaceable. It is rare to see people fighting in a garden. Perhaps struggle unfolds first, not at an economic or social level, but over the appropriation of air, essential to life itself. If human beings can breathe and share air, they don't need to struggle with one another.Unfortunately, in our western tradition, neither materialist nor idealist theoreticians give enough consideration to this basiccondition for life. As for politicians, despite proposing curbs on environmental pollution, they have not yet called for it to be made a crime. Wealthy countries are even allowed to pollute if they pay for it.But is our life worth anything other than money? The plant world shows us in silence what faithfulness to life consists of. It also helps us to a new beginning, urging us to care for our breath, not only at a vital but also at a spiritual level. The interdependence to which we must pay the closest attention is that which exists between ourselves and the plant world. Often described as "the lungs of the planet", the woods that cover the earth offer us the gift of breathable air by releasing oxygen. But their capacity to renew the air polluted by industry has long reached its limit. If we lack the air necessary for a healthy life, it is because we have filled it with chemicals and undercut the ability of plants to regenerate it. As we know, rapid deforestation combined with the massive burning of fossil fuels is an explosive recipe for an irreversible disaster.The fight over the appropriation of resources will lead the entire planet to hell unless humans learn to share life, both with each other and with plants. This task is simultaneously ethical and political because it can be discharged only when each takes it upon herself or himself and only when it is accomplished together with others. The lesson taught by plants is that sharing life expands and enhances the sphere of the living, while dividing life into so-called natural or human resources diminishes it. We must come to view the air, the plants and ourselves as the contributors to the preservation of life and growth, rather than a web of quantifiable objects or productive potentialities at our disposal. Perhaps then we would finally begin to live, rather than being concerned with bare survival.61. What does the author assume might be the primary reason that people would struggle with each other?A) To get their share of clean air. B) To pursue a comfortable life.C) To gain a higher social status. D) To seek economic benefits.62. What does the author accuse western politicians of?A) Depriving common people of the right to clean air.B) Giving priority to theory rather than practical action.C) Offering preferential treatment to wealthy countries.D) Failing to pass laws to curb environmental pollution.63. What does the author try to draw our closest attention to?A) The massive burning of fossil fuels. B) Our relationship to the plant world.C) The capacity of plants to renew polluted air. D) Large-scale deforestation across the world. 64. How can human beings accomplish the goal of protecting the planet according to the author?A) By showing respect for plants. B) By preserving all forms of life.C) By tapping all natural resources. D) By pooling their efforts together.65. What does the author suggest we do in order not just to survive?A) Expand the sphere of living. B) Develop nature's potentials.C) Share life with nature. D) Allocate the resources.Part IV Translation (30 minutes)中国传统的待客之道要求饭菜丰富多样,让客人吃不完。
2015年6月大学英语六级考试真题(第一套)Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section AQuestions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage."That which does not kill us makes us stronger." But parents can't handle it when teenagers put this 36____ into practice. Now technology has become the new field for the age-old battle between adults and their freedom-seeking kids.Locked indoors, unable to get on their bicycles and hang out with their friends, teens have turned to social media and their mobile phones to socialize with their peers. What they do online often 37____ what they might otherwise do if their mobility weren't so heavily 38____ in the age of helicopter parenting. Social media and smart-phone apps have become so popular in recent years because teens need a place to call their own. They want the freedom to 39____ their identity and the world around them. Instead of 40____ out, they jump online.As teens have moved online, parents have projected their fears onto the Internet, imaginingall the 41____ dangers that youth might face 一from 42____ strangers to cruel peers to pictures orwords that could haunt them on Google for the rest of their lives.Rather than helping teens develop strategies for negotiating public life and the risks of 43____with others, fear-full parents have focused on tracking, monitoring and blocking. These tactics(策略)don't help teens develop the skills they need to manage complex social situations, 44____ risks and get help when they're in trouble. "Protecting" kids may feel like the right thing to do, but it 45____ the learning that teens need to do as they come of age in a technology-soaked world.A) assess B) constrained C) contains D) exploreE) influence F) interacting G) interpretation H) magnifiedI) mirrors J) philosophy K) potential L) sneakingM) sticking N) undermines O) violentSection BInequality Is Not Inevitable[A] A dangerous trend has developed over this past third of a century. A country that experienced shared growth after World War II began to tear apart, so much so that when the Great Recession hit in late 2007, one could no longer ignore the division that had come to define the American economic landscape. How did this "shining city on a hill" become the advanced country with the greatest level of inequality?[B] Over the past year and a half, The Great divide, a series in The New York Times, has presenteda wide range of examples that undermine the notion that there are any truly fundamental laws of capitalism. The dynamics of the imperial capitalism of the 19th century needn't apply in the democracies of the 21st. we don't need to have this much inequality in America.[C] Our current brand of capitalism is a fake capitalism. For proof of this go back to our response to the Great Recession, where we socialized losses, even as we privatized gains. Perfect competition should drive profits to zero, at least theoretically, but we have monopolies making persistently high profits. C.E.O.s enjoy incomes that are on average 295 times that of the typical worker, a much higher ratio than in the past, without any evidence of a proportionate increase inproductivity.[D] If it is not the cruel laws of economics that have led to America's great divide, what is it? The straightforward answer: our policies and our politics. People get tired of hearing about Scandinavian success stories, but the fact of the matter is that Sweden, Finland and Norway have all succeeded in having about as much or faster growth in per capita(人均的)incomes than the United States and with far greater equality.[E] So why has America chosen these inequality-enhancing policies? Part of the answer is that as World War II faded into memory, so too did the solidarity it had created. As America triumphed inthe Cold War, there didn't seem to be a real competitor to our economic model. Without this international competition, we no longer had to show that our system could deliver for most of our citizens.[F] Ideology and interests combine viciously. Some drew the wrong lesson from the collapse of the Soviet system in 1991. The pendulum swung from much too much government there to much too little here. Corporate interests argued for getting rid of regulations, even when those regulations had done so much to protect and improve our environment, our safety, our health and the economy itself.[G] But this ideology was hypocritical(虚伪的). The bankers, among the strongest advocates of laissez-faire(自由放任的)economics, were only too willing to accept hundreds of billions of dollars from the government in the aid programs that have been a recurring feature of the global economy since the beginning of the Thatcher-Reagan era of "free" markets and deregulation. [H] The American political system is overrun by money. Economic inequality translates into political in-equality, and political inequality yields increasing economic inequality. So corporate welfare increases as we reduce welfare for the poor. Congress maintains subsidies for rich farmers as we cut back on nutritional support for the needy. Drug companies have been given hundreds of billions of dollars as we limit Medicaid benefits. The banks that brought on the global financial crisis got billions while a tiny bit went to the homeowners and victims of the same banks' predatory(掠夺性的)lending practices. This last decision was particularly foolish. There were alternatives to throwing money at the banks and hoping it would circulate through increased lending.[I] Our divisions are deep. Economic and geographic segregation has immunized those at the top from the problems of those down below. Like the kings of ancient times' they have come to perceive their privileged positions essentially as a natural right.[J] Our economy, our democracy and our society have paid for these gross inequalities. The true test of an economy is not how much wealth its princes can accumulate in tax havens(庇护所), but how well off the typical citizen is. But average incomes are lower than they were a quarter-century ago. Growth has gone to the very, very top, whose share has almost increased four times since 1980. Money that was meant to have trickled(流淌)down has instead evaporated in the agreeable climate of the Cayman Islands.[K] With almost a quarter of American children younger than 5 living in poverty, and with America doing so little for its poor, the deprivations of one generation are being visited upon the next. Of course, no country has ever come close to providing complete equality of opportunity. But why is America one of the advanced countries where the life prospects of the young are most sharply determined by the income and education of their parents?[L] Among the most bitter stories in The Great Divide were those that portrayed the frustrations of the young, who long to enter our shrinking middle class. Soaring tuitions and declining incomes have resulted in larger debt burdens. Those with only a high school diploma have seen their incomes decline by 13 percent over the past 35 years.[M] Where justice is concerned, there is also a huge divide. In the eyes of the rest of the world and a significant part of its own population, mass imprisonment has come to define America—a country, it bears repeating, with about 5 percent of the world's population but around a fourth of the world 's prisoners.[N] Justice has become a commodity, affordable to only a few. While Wall Street executives used their expensive lawyers to ensure that their ranks were not held accountable for the misdeeds that the crisis in 2008 so graphically revealed, the banks abused our legal system to foreclose(取消赎回权)on mortgages and eject tenants, some of whom did not even owe money.[O] More than a half-century ago, America led the way in advocating for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948. Today, access to health care is among the most universally accepted rights, at least in the advanced countries. America, despite the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, is the exception. In the relief that many felt when the Supreme Court did not overturn the Affordable Care Act, the implications of the decision for Medicaid were not fully appreciated. Obamacare's objective 一to ensure that all Americans have access to health care — has been blocked: 24 states have not implemented the expanded Medicaid program, which was the means by which Obamacare was supposed to deliver on its promise to some of the poorest.[P] We need not just a new war on poverty but a war to protect the middle class. Solutions to these problems do not have to be novel. Far from it. Making markets act like markets would be a good place to start. We must end the rent-seeking society we have gravitated toward, in which the wealthy obtain profits by manipulating the system.[Q] The problem of inequality is not so much a matter of technical economics. It's really a problem of practical politics. Inequality is not just about the top marginal tax rate but also about our children's access to food and the right to justice for all. If we spent more on education, health and infrastructure(基础设施), we would strengthen our economy, now and in the future.46. In theory, free competition is supposed to reduce the margin of profits to the minimum.47. The United States is now characterized by a great division between the rich and the poor.48. America lacked the incentive to care for the majority of its citizens as it found no rival for its economic model.49. The wealthy top have come to take privileges for granted.50. Many examples show the basic laws of imperial capitalism no longer apply in present-day America.51. The author suggests a return to the true spirit of the market.52. A quarter of the world's prisoner population is in America.53. Government regulation in America went from one extreme to the other in the past two decades.54. Justice has become so expensive that only a small number of people like corporate executives can afford it.55. No country in the world so far has been able to provide completely equal opportunities for all. Section CPassage OneQuestions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.I'll admit I've never quite understood the obsession(难以破除的成见)surrounding genetically modified (GM) crops. To environmentalist opponents, GM foods are simply evil, an understudied, possibly harmful tool used by big agricultural businesses to control global seed markets and crush local farmers. They argue that GM foods have never delivered on their supposed promise, that money spent on GM crops would be better channeled to organic farming and that consumers should be protected with warning labels on any products that contain genetically modified ingredients. To supporters, GM crops are a key part of the effort to sustainably provide food to meet a growing global population. But more than that, supporters see the GM opposition of many environmentalists as fundamentally anti-science, no different than those who question the basics of man-made climate change.For both sides, GM foods seem to act as a symbol: you're pro-agricultural business oranti-science. But science is exactly what we need more of when it comes to GM foods, which is why I was happy to see Nature devote a special series of articles to the GM food controversy. The conclusion: while GM crops haven't yet realized their initial promise and have been dominated by agricultural businesses, there is reason to continue to use and develop them to help meet the enormous challenge of sustainably feeding a growing planet.That doesn't mean GM crops are perfect, or a one-size-fits-all solution to global agriculture problems. But anything that can increase farming efficiency 一the amount of crops we can produce per acre of land 一will be extremely useful. GM crops can and almost certainly will be part of that suite of tools' but so will traditional plant breeding, improved soil and crop management 一and perhaps most important of all, better storage and transport infrastructure(基础设施), especially in the developing world. (It doesn't do much good for farmers in places like sub-Saharan Africa to produce more food if they can't get it to hungry consumers.) I'd like to see more non-industry research done on GM crops—not just because we'd worry less about bias, but also because seed companies like Monsanto and Pioneer shouldn't be the only entities working to harness genetic modification. I'd like to see GM research on less commercial crops, like com. I don't think it's vital to label GM ingredients in food, but I also wouldn't be against it 一and industry would be smart to go along with labeling, just as a way of removing fears about the technology.Most of all, though, I wish a tenth of the energy that's spent endlessly debating GM crops was focused on those more pressing challenges for global agriculture. There are much bigger battles to fight.56. How do environmentalist opponents view GM foods according to the passage?A) They will eventually ruin agriculture and the environment.B) They are used by big businesses to monopolize agriculture.C) They have proved potentially harmful to consumers' health.D) They pose a tremendous threat to current farming practice.57. What does the author say is vital to solving the controversy between the two sides of the debate?A) Breaking the GM food monopoly. B) More friendly exchange of ideas.C) Regulating GM food production. D) More scientific research on GM crops.58. What is the main point of the Nature articles?A) Feeding the growing population makes it imperative to develop GM crops.B) Popularizing GM technology will help it to live up to its initial promises.C) Measures should be taken to ensure the safety of GM foods.D) Both supporters and opponents should make compromises.59. What is the author's view on the solution to agricultural problems?A) It has to depend more and more on GM technology.B) It is vital to the sustainable development of human society.C) GM crops should be allowed until better alternatives are found.D) Whatever is useful to boost farming efficiency should be encouraged.60. What does the author think of the ongoing debate around GM crops?A) It arises out of ignorance of and prejudice against new science.B) It distracts the public attention from other key issues of the world.C) Efforts spent on it should be turned to more urgent issues of agriculture.D) Neither side is likely to give in until more convincing evidence is found.Passage TwoQuestions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.Early decision — you apply to one school, and admission is binding — seems like a great choice for nervous applicants. Schools let in a higher percentage of early-decision applicants, which arguably means that you have a better chance of getting in. And if you do, you're done with the whole agonizing process by December. But what most students and parents don't realize is that schools have hidden motives for offering early decision.Early decision, since it's binding, allows schools to fill their classes with qualified students; it allows ad-missions committees to select the students that are in particular demand for their college and know those students will come. It also gives schools a higher yield rate, which is often used as one of the ways to measure college selectivity and popularity.The problem is that this process effectively shortens the window of time students have tomake one of the most important decisions of their lives up to that point. Under regular admissions, seniors have until May 1 to choose which school to attend; early decision effectively steals six months from them, months that could be used to visit more schools, do more research, speak to current students and alumni(校友)and arguably make a more informed decision.There are, frankly, an astonishing number of exceptional colleges in America, and for anygiven student, there are a number of schools that are a great fit. When students become too fixated (专注)on a particular school early in the admissions process, that fixation can lead to severe disappointment if they don't get in or, if they do, the possibility that they are now bound to go to a school that, given time for further reflection, may not actually be right for them.Insofar as early decision offers a genuine admissions edge, that advantage goes largely to students who already have numerous advantage. The students who use early decision tend to be those who have received higher-quality college guidance, usually a result of coming from a more privileged background. In this regard, there's an argument against early decision, as students fromlower-income families are far less likely to have the admissions know-how to navigate the often confusing early deadlines.Students who have done their research and are confident that there's one school they wouldbe thrilled to get into should, under the current system, probably apply under early decision. But for students who haven't yet done enough research, or who are still constantly changing their minds on favorite schools, the early-decision system needlessly and prematurely narrows the field of possibility just at a time when students should be opening themselves to a whole range of thrilling options.61. What are students obliged to do under early decision?A) Look into a lot of schools before they apply. B) Attend the school once they are admitted.C) Think twice before they accept the offer. D) Consult the current students and alumni.62. Why do schools offer early decision?A) To make sure they get qualified students.B) To avoid competition with other colleges.C) To provide more opportunities for applicants.D) To save students the agony of choosing a school.63. What is said to be the problem with early decision for students?A) It makes their application process more complicated.B) It places too high a demand on their research ability.C) It allows them little time to make informed decisions.D) It exerts much more psychological pressure on them.64. Why are some people opposed to early decision?A) It interferes with students' learning in high school.B) It is biased against students at ordinary high schools.C) It causes unnecessary confusion among college applicants.D) It places students from lower-income families at a disadvantage.65. What does the author advise college applicants to do?A) Refrain from competing with students from privileged families.B) Avoid choosing early decision unless they are fully prepared.C) Find sufficient information about their favorite schools.D) Look beyond the few supposedly thrilling options.Part IV Translation (30 minutes)2011 年是中国城市化(urbanization)进程中的历史性时刻,其城市人口首次超过农村人口。
2015年12月英语六级真题及答案三套完整版2015 年 12 月大学英语六级考试真题(一)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay based on the picture below. You should focus on the impact of social networking websites on reading. You are required to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.My favorite book is Facebook *.”Facebook is the name of a social networkingwebsite. 注意:此部分试题请在答题卡 1 上作答。
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.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡 1 上作答。
2015年6⽉⼤学英语六级考试真题及答案解析(第⼆套)2015年6⽉英语六级真题及答案(第⼆套)Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on Einstein's remark "I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious." You should give an example or two to illustrate your point of mew. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
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 with a single line through the centre.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。
2015大学英语六级真题答案完整版听力答案短对话答案1. C. Attend the concert.2. D. None of the passengers were injured or killed.3. A. An article about the election.4. A. The restaurant was not up to the speaker’s expectations.5. C. He has many things to deal with right now.6. D. More students have to appear to make their voice heard.7. B. The speakers like watching TV very much.8. D. The woman will be able to attend the classes she wants.长对话一9. C) Export bikes to foreign markets.10. B) The government has control over bicycle imports.11. A) Extra costs might eat up their profits abroad.12. C) Conduct a feasibility study.长对话二13. B) Anything that can be used to produce power.14. D) Oil production will begin to decline worldwide by 2025.15. B) Start developing alternative fuels.写作答案The Impact of Interest on People’s SuccessAs is known to all, the success of a person needs the right guidance and interest is undoubtedly the best teacher. Even Albert Einstein, the world-renowned physicist, said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” So it is high time that people explore and cultivate their own interest.Passionate curiosity can be developed in one’s childhoodor in one’s sixties, but once it is ignited, it can change people’s way of study, work and living. On the one hand, interest makes one’s pursuit of knowledge successful and enjoyable. For instance, the pianist Langlang, who plays piano with great love, is awarded a lot of prizes at home and abroad. On the other hand, curiosity helps to resolve difficulties constantly. A worker with curiosity is more likely to dig into the essence of the problem and thus accomplish more creative tasks.I would like to end up with the famous educator Herbert Spencer’s words which I can’t agree more, “If the interest and enthusiasm among us are cultivated smoothly in the first place, most people will become talents or geniuses.”阅读答案选词填空答案36. J) philosophy37. I) mirrors38. B) constrained39. D) explore40. L) sneaking41. K) potential42. O) violent43. F) interacting44. A) assess45. N) undermines长篇阅读46. In theory, free competition is supposed to reduce the margin of profits to the minimum.C) Our current brand of capitalism is a fake c apitalism…47. The United States is now characterized by a great division between the rich and the poor.A) A dangerous trend has developed over this past third of a century…48. America lacked the incentive to care for the majority of its citizens as it found no rival for its economic model.E) So why has America chosen these inequality-enhancing policies?...49. The wealthy top have come to take privileges for granted.I) Our division are deep…50. Many examples show the basic laws of imperial capitalism no longer apply in present-day America.B) Over the past year and a half, the Great Divide…51. The author suggests a return to the true spirit of the market.P) We need no just a new war on poverty but a war to protect the middle class…52. A quarter of t he world’s prisoner population is in America.M) Where justice is concerned, there is also…53. Government regulation in America went from one extreme to the other in the past two decades.F) Ideology and interests combined viciously…54. Justice has become so expensive that only a small number of people like corporate executives can afford it.N) Justice has become a commodity, affordable to only a few…55. No country in the world so far has been able to provide completely equal opportunities for all.K) With almost a quarter of American children younger than 5 living…仔细阅读Passage One56 A) To get their share of clean air.57 C) Offering preferential treatment to wealthy countries.58 B) Our relationship to the plant world.59 D) By pooling their efforts together.60 C) Share life with nature.Passage Two61 B) Attend the school once they are admitted.62 A) To make sure they get qualified students.63 C) It allows them little time to make informed decisions.64 D) It places students from lower-income families at a disadvantage.65 B) Avoid choosing early decision unless they are fully prepared.翻译答案2011年是中国城市化(urbanization)进程中的历史性时刻,其城市人口首次超过农村人口。
2015年6月英语六级真题答案完整版(试卷一)听力真题Short conversations1.W: Can you come to the concert with me this weekend or do you have to prepare for exams?M: I still have a lot to do. But maybe a break will do me good.Q: What will the man probably do?2.W: What does the paper say about the horrible incident that happened this morning on Flight 870 to Hong Kong?M: It ended with the arrest of the three hijackers. They have forced the plane to fly to Japan. But all the passengers and the crewmembers landed safely.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?3.M: Helen, this is the most fascinating article I’ve ever come across. I think you should spare some time to read it.W: Oh, really? I thought that anything about the election would be tedious.Q: What are the speakers talking about?4.W: I’m not going to trust the restaurant critic from that magazine again. The food here doesn’t taste anything like what we had in Chinatown.M: It definitely wasn’t worth the wait.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?5.W: Do you know what’s wrong with Mark? He’s been acting very strangely lately.M: Come on. With his mother hospitalized right after he’s taking on a new job, he's just got a lot on his mind.Q: What do we learn from the conversation about Mark?6.W: There were only 20 students at last night’s meeting, so nothing could be voted on.M: That’s too bad. They'll have to turn up in greater numbers if they want a voice on campus issues.Q: What does the man mean?7.M: I try to watch TV as little as possible. But it’s so hard.W: I didn’t watch TV at all before I retired. But now I can hardly tear myself away from it.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?8.W: I’m having a problem registering for the classes I want.M: That’s too bad. But I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to work everything out before the semester starts.Q: What does the man mean?长对话1Long Conversation 1W: Jack, sit down and listen. This is important. We have to tackle the problems of exporting step by step. And the first move is to get an up-to-date picture of where we stand now.M: Why don't we just concentrate on expanding here at home?W: Of course we should hold on to our position here, but you must admit the market here is limited.M: Yes, but it's safe. The government keeps out foreigners with import controls. So I must admit I feel sure we could hold our own against the foreign bikes.W: I agree. That’s why I'm suggesting exporting, because I feel we can compete with the best of them.M: What you are really saying is that we'd make more profit by selling bikes abroad, where we have a cost advantage and can charge higher prices.W: Exactly.M: But…Wait a minute! Packaging, shipping, financing, etc. will push up our costs and we could end up no better-off. Maybe worse-off.W: Okay. Now there are extra costs involved. But if we do it right, they can be built into the price of the bike, and we can still be competitive.M: How sure are you about our chances of success in the foreign market?W: Well, that's the sticky one. It's going to need a lot of research. I'm hoping to get your help. Oh, come on Jack! Is that worth it or not?M: There'll be a lot of problems.W: Nothing we can't handle.M: Um…I'm not that hopeful. But…yes, I think we should go ahead with the feasibility study.W: Marvelous, Jack. I was hoping you be on my side.Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.9. What does the woman intend to do?10. Why does the man think it’s safe to focus on the home market?11. What is the man's concern about selling bikes abroad?12. What do the speakers agree to do?Long conversation2长对话二W: What does the term alternative energy source mean?M: When you think of energy or fuel for our homes and cars, we think of petroleum or fossil fuel processed from oil removed from the ground of which there is a limited supply. But alternative fuels can be many things, wind, sun and water can all be used to create fuel.W: Is the threat of running out of petroleum real?M: It has taken thousands of years to create the natural stores of petroleum we have now. We are using what is available at a much faster rate than it has been produced over time. The real controversy surrounding the amounts of petroleum we have is how much we need to keep in reserve for future use. Most experts agree that by around 2025 the amount of petroleum we use will reach a peak then production and availability will begin to seriously decline. This is not to say there will be no petroleum at this point, but it willbecome very difficult and therefore expensive to extract.W: Is that the most important reason to develop alternative fuel and energy sources?M: There're two very clear reasons to do so. One is that whether we have 60 or 600 years of fossil fuels left, we have to find other fuel sources eventually, so the sooner we start, the better off we will be. The other big argument is that when you burn fossil fuels, you release substances trapped in the ground for a long time, which leads to some long term negative effects like global warming and greenhouse effect.13. What do we usually refer to when we talk about energy according to the man?14. What do most experts agree on according to the man?15. What does the man think we should do now?短文一Passage OneKaren Smith is a buyer for a department store in New York. Department store buyerspurchase the goods that their stores sell. They not only have to know what is fashionable at the moment, but also have to guess what will become fashionable next season or next year.Most buyers work for just one department in a store, but the goods that Karen finds may be displayed and sold in several different sections of the store. Her job involves buying handicrafts from all over the world.Last year, she made a trip to Morocco, and returned with rugs, pots, dishes, and pans. The year before, she visited Mexico, and brought back hand-made table cloths, mirrors with frames of tin, and paper flowers. The paper flowers are bright and colorful, so they were used to decorate the whole store. This year, Karen is traveling in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Many of the countries that Karen visits have government offices that promote handicrafts. They officials are glad to cooperate with her, by showing her the products that are available.Karen especially likes to visit markets and small towns and villages whenever she can arrange for it. She’s always looking for interesting and unusual items. Karen thinks she has the best job she could have found. She loves all the traveling that she has to do,because she often visits markets and small out-of-the-way places. She sees much more of the country she visits than an ordinary tourists would. As soon as she gets back to New York from one trip, Karen begins to plan another.16. What is said to make a good department store buyer?17. What does Karen’s job involve?18. Why does Karen think she has got the best job?Passage TwoMark felt that it was time for him to take part in his community, so he went to the neighborhood meeting after work. The area city council woman was leading a discussion about how the quality of life was on the decline. The neighborhood faced many problems. Mark looked at the charts taped to the walls. There were charts for parking problems, crime, and for problems i n vacant buildings. Mark read from the charts, “Police patrols cut back, illegal parking up 20%”. People were supposed to suggest solutions to the council woman. It was too much for Mark. “The problems are too big”, he thought. He turned to the man next to him and said, “I think this is a waste of my time. Nothing I can do would make a difference here.”As he neared the bus stop on his way home, Mark saw a woman carrying a grocery bag, and a baby. As Mark got closer, her other child, a little boy, suddenly darted into the street. The woman tried to reach for him, but as she moved, her bag shifted, and groceries started to fall out. Mark ran to take the boy’s arm and led him back to his mother. “You gotta stay with mom,” he said. Then he picked up the stra y groceries while and the woman smiled in relief. “Thanks,” she said, “You’ve got great timing.” “Just being neighborly,” Mark said. As he rode home, he glanced at the poster near his seat in the bus. Small acts of kindness add up. Mark smiled and thought, “Maybe that’s agood place to start.”19. What did Mark think he should start doing?20. What was being discussed when Mark arrived at the neighborhood meeting?21. What did Mark think of the community’s problems?22. Why did Mark smile on his ride home?Passage ThreeAnd if stress in childhood can lead to heart disease, what about current stresses? Longer work hours, threats of layoffs, collapse in pension funds. A study last year in the Lancered examined more than 11,000 heart attack sufferers from 52 countries. It found that in the year before their heart attacks, patients have been under significantly more stress than some 13,000 healthy control subjects. Those stresses came from work, family, financial trouble, depression and other causes.Each of these factors individually was associated with increased risk, says Dr. Salim Yosef, professor of medicine at Canada’s McMaster University, and senior investigator on the study. Together they accounted for 30% of overall heart attack risk, but people respond differently to high pressure work situations. Whether it produces heart problems seems to depend on whether you have a sense of control over life, or live at the mercy of circumstances and superiors.That was the experience of Jano Cano, a roughed Illinois laboratory manager, who suffered his first heart attack in 1996 at the age of 56. In the two years before, his mother and two of his children had suffered serious illnesses, and his job had been ch anged in a reorganization. “My life seemed completely out of control,” he says, “I had no idea where I would end up.” He ended up in hospital due to a block in his artery. Two months later, he had a triple bypass surgery. A second heart attack when he was 58 left his doctor shaking his head. “There’s nothing more we can do for you,” doctors told him.23. What does the passage mainly discuss?24. What do we learn about Jano Cano’s family?25. What did Jano Cano’s doctors tell him when he had a second heart attack?Spot DictationWhen most people think of the word “education”, they think of a pupil as a sort of animate sausage casing. Into this empty casting, the teachers are supposed to stuff “education.”But genuine education, as Socrates knew more than two thousand years ago, is not inserting the stuffing of information into a person, but rather eliciting knowledge from him; it is thedrawing-out of what is in the mind.“The most important part of education,”once wrote William Ernest Hocking, the distinguished Harvard philosopher, “is this instruction of a man in what he has inside of him.”And, as Edith Hamilton has reminded us, Socrates never said, “I know, learn from me.”He said, rather, “Look into your own selves and find the spark of the truth that God has put into every heart and that only you can kindle to a flame.”In a dialogue, Socrates takes an ignorant slave boy, without a day of schooling, and proves to the amazed observers that the boy really “knows”geometry –because the principles of geometry are already in his mind, waiting to be called out.So many of the discussions and controversies about the content of education are useless and inconclusive because they are concerned with what should “go into”the student rather than with what should be taken out, and how this can best be done.The college student who once said to me, after a lecture, “I spend so much time studying that I don’t have a chance to learn anything,”was clearly expressing his dissatisfaction with the sausage casing view of education.翻译真题中国传统的待客之道要求饭菜丰富多样,让客人吃不完。