六级考前冲刺试题三

英语六级真题考前冲刺题Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on living in the virtual world. Try to imagine what will happen when people spend more and more time inthe virtual world instead of interacting in the real world. You are required to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.The robotics revolution is set to bring humans face to face with an old fear-man-made creations as smart and capable as we are without a moral compass. As robots take on ever more complex roles, the question naturally_____(27). Who will be responsible when they do something wrong? Manufacturers? Users? Software writers? The answer depends on the robot.Robots already save us time, money and energy. In the future, they will improve our health care, social welfare and standard of living. The _____(28)of computational power and engineering advances will _____(29)enable lower-cost in-home care for the disabled,_____(30)use of driverless cars that may reduce drunk and distracted-driving accidents and countless home and service-industry uses from street cleaning to food preparation.But there are _____(31)to be problems. Robot cars will crash. A drone (遥控飞行器)operator will _____(32)someone's privacy. A robotic lawn mower(割草机)will run over a neighbor's cat. Juries sympathetic to the _____(33)of machines will punish entrepreneurs with company-crushing _____(34)and damages What should government do to protect people while _____(35), space for innovation?Big. complicated systems on which much public safety depends, like driverless cars, should be built _____(36)and sold by manufacturers who take responsibility for ensuring safety and are liable for accidents. Governments should set safety requirements and then let insurers price the risk of the robots based on the manufacturer's driving record. not the passenger's.A.arisesB.ascendsC.boundbinationE.definiteF.eventuallyG.interfereH.invadeI.manifestingJ.penaltiesK.preservingL.programmedM.proximatelyN.victimsO.widespreadSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Reform and Medical Costs[A]American are deeply concerned about the relentless rise in health care costs and health insurance premiums. They need to know if reform will help solve the problem. The answer is that no once has an easy fix rising medical costs. The fundamental fix—reshaping how care is delivered and how doctors are paid in a wasteful, abnormal system—is likely to be a achieved only through trial and incremental(渐进的)gains.[B]The good news is that a bill just approved by the House and a bill approved by the Senate Finance Committee would implement or test many reforms that should help slow the rise in medical costs over the long term. As report in The New England Journal of Medicine concluded. "Pretty much every proposed innovation found in the health policy Iiterature these days is contained in these measures."[C]Medical spending, which typically rises faster than wages and the overall economy, is propelled by two things: the high prices charged for medical services in this country and the volume of unnecessary care delivered by doctors and hospitals, which often perform a lot more tests and treatments than patient really needs.[D]Here are some of the important proposals in the House and Senate bills to try to address those problem, and why it is hard to know how well they will work.[E]Both bills would reduce the rate of growth in annual Medicare payments to hospital, nursing homes and other providers by amounts comparable to the productivity savings routinely made in other industries with the help of new technologies and new ways to organize work. This proposal could save Medicare more than $100 billion over the next decade. If private plans demanded similar productivity savings from providers, and refused to let providers shift additional costs to them, the savings could be much larger. Critics say Congress will give in to lobbyists and let inefficient provider off the hook(放过). That is far less likely to happen if Congress also adopts strong "pay-go" rules requiring that any increase in payments to providers be offset by new taxes or budge cuts.[F]The Senate Finance bill would impose an excise tax(消费税)on health insurance plans that cost more than $8,000 for an individual or $21,000 for a family. It would most likely cause Insures to redesign plans to fall beneath the threshould. Enrollees would have to pay more money for many services out of their own pockets, and that would encourage them to think twice about whether an expensive or redundant testwas worth it. Economists project that most employers would shift money from expensive health benefits into wages, The House bill has no similar tax. The final legislation should.[G]Any doctor who has wrestled with multiple forms from different insurers, or patients who have tried to understand their own parade of statements, know that simplification ought to save money. When the health insurance industry was still cooperating in reform efforts, its trade group offered to provide standardized forms for automated processing. It estimated that step would save hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade. The bills would lock that pledge into law.[H]The stimulus package provided money to convert the inefficient, paper-driven medical system to electronic records that can be easily viewed and transmitted .This requires open investments to help doctors convert. In time it should help restrain costs by eliminating redundant test, preventing drug inter actions, and helping doctors find the best treatments.[I]Virtually all experts agree that the fee-for-service system—doctors are rewarded for that the cost of care is so high. Most agree that the solution is to push doctors to accept fixed payments to care for a particular illness or for a patient's needs over a year. No one knows how to make that happen quickly. The bills in both houses would start pilot projects within Medicare. They include such measures as accountable care organizations to take charge of a patient's needs with an eye on both cost and quality, and chronic disease management to make sure the seriously ill, who are responsible for the bulk of all health care costs, are treated properly. For the most part, these experiments rely on incentive payments to get doctors to try them.[J]Testing innovations do no good unless the good experiments are identified and expanded and the bad ones arc dropped. The Senate bill would create an independent commission to monitor the pilot programs and recommend changes in Medicare's payment policies to urge providers to adopt reforms that work. The changes would have to be approved or rejected as a whole by Congress, making it hard for narrow-interest lobbies to bend lawmakers to their will.[K]The bills in both chambers would create health insurance exchanges on which small businesses and individuals could choose from an array of private plans and possibly a public option. All the plans would have to provide standard benefit packages that would be easy to compare. To get access to millions of new customers, insures would have a strong incentive to sell on the exchange. And the head-to-head competition might give them a strong incentive to lower their prices, perhaps by accepting slimmer profit margins or demanding better deals from providers.[L]The final legislation might throw a public plan into the competition, but thanks to the fierce opposition of the insurance industry and Republican critics, it might not save much money. The one in the House bill would have to negotiate rates with providers, rather than using Medicare rates, as many reformers wanted.[M]The president's stimulus package is pumping money into research to compare how well various treatments work. Is surgery, radiation or careful monitoring best for prostate(前列腺)cancer? Is the latest and most expensive cholesterol-loweringdrug any better than its common competitors? The pending bills would spend additional money to accelerate this effort.[N]Critics have charged that this sensible idea would lead to rationing of care. (That would be true only if you believe that patients should have an unrestrained right to treatments proven to be inferior.) As a result, the bills do not requires, as they should, that the results of these studies be used to set payment rates in Medicare.[O]Congress needs to find the courage to allow Medicare to pay preferentially for treatments proven to be superior. Sometimes the best treatment might be the most expensive. But overall, we suspect that spending would come down through elimination of a lot of unnecessary or even dangerous tests and treatments.[P]The House bill would authorize the secretary of health and human services to negotiate drug prices in Medicare and Medicaid. Some authoritative analysts doubt that the secretary would get better deals than private insurers already get. We believe negotiation could work. It does in other countries.[Q] Missing from these bills is any serious attempt to rein in malpractice costs. Malpractice awards do drive up insurance premiums for doctors in high-risk specialties, and there is some evidence doctors engage in "defensive medicine" by performing tests and treatments primarily to prove they are not negligent should they get sued.36.With a tax imposed on expensive health insurance plans, most employers will likely transfer money from health expenses into wages.37.Changes in policy would be approved or rejected as a whole so that lobbyists would find it hard to influence lawmakers.'38.It is not easy to curb the rising medical costs in America.49.Standardization of forms for automatic processing will save a lot of medical 40.Republicans and insurance industry are strongly opposed to the creation of a public insurance plan.41.Conversion of paper to electronic medical records will help eliminate redundant tests and prevent drug interactions.42.The high cost of medical services and unnecessary tests and treatments have driven up medical expenses.43.One main factor that has driven up medical expenses is that doctors are compensated for the amount of care rather than its effect.44.Contrary to analysts' doubts, the author believes drug prices may be lowered through negotiation.45.Fair competition might create a strong incentive for insurers to charge less.Section CPassage OneQuestions 47 to 51 are based on the following passage.Facing water shortages and escalating fertilizer costs, farmers in developing countries are using raw sewage(下水道污水)to irrigate and fertilize nearly 49million acres of cropland, according to a new report-and it may not be a bed thing.While the practice carries serious health risks for many, those dangers are outweighed by the social and economic gains for poor urban farmers and consumers who need affordable food."There is a large potential for wastewater agriculture to both help and hurt great numbers of urban consumers," said Liqa Raschid-Sally, who led the study.The report focused on poor urban areas, where farms in or near cities supply relatively inexpensive food. Most of these operations draw irrigation water from local rivers or lakes. Unlike developed cities, however, these areas lack advanced water-treatment facilities, and rivers effectively become sewers.(下水道) When this water is used for agricultural irrigation, farmers risk absorbing disease-causing XX, as do consumers who eat the produce raw and unwashed. Nearly 2.2 million people die a year because of diarrhea-related(与腹泻相关的)diseases, according to WHO statistics. XXX than 80% of those cases can be attributed to contant with contaminated water and a lack of XXX anitation. But Pay Drechsel, an environmental scientist, argues that the social and economic benefits of using untreated human waste to grow food outweigh the health risks.Those dangers can be addressed with farmer and consumer education, he said, while the free water and nutrients from human waste can help urban farmers in developing countries to escape poverty.Agriculture is a water-intensive business, accounting for nearly 70% of global fresh water consumption.In poor, dry regions, untreated wastewater is the only viable irrigation source to keep farmers in business. In some cases, water is so scarce that farmers break open sewage pipes transporting waste to local rivers.Irrigation is the primary agricultural use of human waste in the developing world. But frequently untreated human waste is used on grain crops, which are eventually cooked, minimizing the risk of transmitting water-borne diseases. With fertilizer prices jumping nearly 50% per metric ton over the last year in some places, human waste is an attractive, and often necessary, alternative.In cases where sewage mud is used, expensive chemical fertilizer us can be avoided. The mud contains the same critical nutrients."Overly strict standards often fail," James Bartram, a WHO water-health expert, said. "We need to accept that fact across much of the planet, so waste with little or no treatment will be used in agriculture for good reason."46.What does the author say about the use of raw sewage for farming?A.Its risks cannot be overestimated.B.It should be forbidden altogether.C.Its benefits outweigh the hazards involved.D.It is polluting millions of acres of cropland.47.What is the main problem caused by the use of wastewater for irrigation?A.Rivers and lakes nearby will gradually become contaminated.B.It will drive producers of chemical fertilizers out of business.C.Farmers and consumers may be affected by harmful bacteria.D.It will make the farm produce less competitive on the market.48.What is environmental scientist Pay Drechsel's attitude towards the use of untreated human waste in agriculture?A.Favorable.B.Indifferent.C.Skeptical.D.Responsible.49.What does Pay Dreschsel think of the risks involved in using untreated human waste for farming?A.They have been somewhat exaggerated.B.They can be dealt with through education.C.They will be minimized with new technology.D.They can be addressed by improved sanitation.50.What do we learn about James Bartram's position on the use of human waste for farming?A.He echoes Pay Drechsel's opinion on the issue.B.He chaltenges Liqa Raschid-Sally's conclusionC.He thinks it the only way out of the current food erisis.D.He deems it indispensable for combating global poverty.Passage TwoThese days, nobody needs to cook. Families graze on high-cholesterol take-aways and microwaved ready-meals. Cooking is an occasional hobby and a vehicle for celebrity chefs. Which makes it odd that the kitchen has become the heart of the modern house, what the great hall was to the medieval castle, the kitchen is to the 21st-century home.The money spent on kitchens has risen with their status. In America the kitchen market is now worth $170 billion, five times the country's film industry. In the year to August 2007, IKEA, a Swedish furniture chain, sold over one million kitchens worldwide. The average budget for a "major" kitchen overhaul in 2006, calculates Remodeling magazing, was a staggering $54,000, even a "minor" improvement cost on average $18,000.Exclusivity, more familiar in the world of high fashion, has reached the kitchen: Robinson&Cornish, a British manufacturer of custom-made kitchens, offers a Georgian-style one which would cost £145,000-155,000—excluding building, plumbing and electrical work. Its big selling point is that nobody else will have it :"You won't see this kitchen anywhere else in the word."The elevation of the room that once belonged only to the servants for the modem family tells the story of a century of social change. Right into the early 20th century, kitchens were smoky, noisy places, generally located underground, or to the back of the house, as far from living space as possible. That was as it should be: kitchens were for servants, and the aspiring middle classes wanted nothing to do with them.But as the working classes prospered and the servant shortage set in, housekeeping became a natter of interest to the educated classes. One of the pioneers of a radical new way of thinking about the kitchen was Catharine Esther Beecher, sister of Harriet Beecher Stowe. In American human's Home、published in 1869, the Beecher sisters recommended a scientific approach to use hold management, designed to enhance the efficiency of a woman's work and promote order. Many contemporary ideas about kitchen design can be traced back to another American, Chris Frederick, who set about enhancing the efficiency of the housewife. Her 1919 work, House-Engineering: Scientific Management in the Home, was based on detailed observation of a wife's daily routine. She borrowed the Principle of efficiency on the factory floor and applied mestic tasks on the kitchen floor.Frederick's central idea, that "stove,sink and kitchen table must be placed in such a relation that useless steps are avoided entirely". Inspired the first fully fitted kitchen, designed in the 1920s by Mangarete Schutter. Libotsky. It was a modernist triumph, and many elements remain central features of today's kitchen.51.What does the author say about the kitchen of today?A.It is where housewives display their cooking skills.B.It is where the family entertains important guests.C.It has become something odd in a modern house.D.It is regarded as the center of a modern home.52.Why does the Georgian-style kitchen sell at a very high price?A.It is believed to have tremendous artistic value.B.No duplicate is to be found in any other place.C.It is manufactured by a famous British company.D.No other manufacturer can produce anything like it.53.What does the change in the status of the kitchen reflect?A.Improved living conditions.B.Technological progress.C.Women's elevated status.D.Social change.54.What was the Beecher sisters' idea of a kichen?A.A place where women could work more efficiently.B.A place where high technology could be applied.C.A place of interest to the educated people.D.A place to experiment with new ideas.55.What do we learn about today's kitchen?A. It represents the rapid technological advance in people's daily life.B.Many of its central features are no different from those of the 1920s.C.It has been transformed beyond recognition.D.Many of its functions have changed greatly.Part IV Translation (30minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.深圳是中国广东省一座新开发的城市。

英语六级考试考前模拟试题与详细解析Part I: Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C), and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the center.1. A) They were not happy with the meal.B) There was a long waiting line at the restaurant.C) There was something wrong with their reservation.D) They could not find the restaurant at first.2. A) Traveling to Australia is generally quite affordable.B) Going to Australia is not as expensive as people think.C) The cost of living in Australia is very high.D) Only wealthy people can afford to visit Australia.3. A) They offer a wide range of services.B) They provide free medical consultations.C) They offer special discounts for local residents.D) They have well-trained staff members.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C), and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the center.Conversation One4. A) They are planning to celebrate the man's birthday tonight.B) The woman doesn't think the man's birthday is important.C) The man wants to keep his birthday low-key this year.D) The woman thinks it is necessary to throw a big party for the man.5. A) To go to a concert.B) To have dinner at her place.C) To watch a movie at home.D) To have dinner at a new restaurant.6. A) His friend will be visiting him from another city.B) Their favorite restaurant has just reopened.C) The woman has invited many friends over for dinner.D) They will celebrate the man's birthday with a big party.Conversation Two7. A) To thank the professor for his encouragement.B) To ask the professor for personal advice.C) To talk about the academic program in more detail.D) To apologize for not being well-prepared for the meeting.8. A) They have many financial difficulties.B) They are not good at socializing with others.C) They need support from their professors.D) They feel pressure from their classmates.9. A) Go to the library more frequently.B) Attend academic conferences.C) Form study groups with classmates.D) Discuss their ideas with professors.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three recordings of lectures or talks followed by three or four questions. The lectures or talks will be played only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C), and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the center.10. A) Scientists' contribution to society.B) Two different perspectives on science and technology.C) The relationship between science and society.D) Ways of promoting the development of science.11. A) They have proven to be effective in promoting health.B) They are affordable for everyday people to use.C) They are widely available and accessible.D) They have a positive impact on the economy.12. A) It helps create job opportunities.B) It brings convenience to people's lives.C) It promotes the growth of the education sector.D) It encourages creativity and innovation.Part II: Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.13. □□□□□ □□□□ □□□□□ □□□□□□ □□□□□□□□□□□ □□□□ □□□ □□□□ □□□□□□□ □□□□□ □□□□ □□□□□□ □□□□□ □□□□□□ □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ □□□ □□□□□□□ □□ □□□□□ □□□□ □□□□□ □□□□□□□□□□□□□□ □□□ □□□ □□□□□□□□□□ □□□ □□□ □□□□□□□Section BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.14. In general, more sustainable diets would require more plant-based foods and fewer animal-based foods.15. The average dietary footprint varies dramatically across different countries and regions.16. Researchers have found that the environmental impacts of different foods vary greatly.17. Agricultural production is blamed for the loss of biodiversity and deforestation.18. The livestock industry has contributed to global warming and climate change.19. The water scarcity in some regions can be attributed to livestock farming.20. Land degradation is another consequence of livestock production.21. A shift toward sustainable diets would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.22. Addressing the global food crisis requires changes in consumer behavior.23. Sustainable diets can provide adequate nutrition for everyone while preserving the environment.Part III: Writing (60 minutes)Section AWrite an essay of 160-200 words based on the following pictures. In your essay, you should1) describe the pictures briefly,2) explain the influence of online shopping on traditional retail stores, and3) give your opinion on whether traditional retail stores will eventually disappear.Section BWrite a letter of about 100-120 words to apply for a job. You should include the following details in your letter:1) Introduce yourself briefly,2) Explain why you are writing,3) State your qualifications, and4) Ask for an interview.注意事项：1. 可以适当增加字数限制；2. 文章需符合论述要求，结构完整；3. 不要出现“小节一”、“小标题”等词语；4. 请不要写在答题纸上，直接回复给我。

大学英语六级考试冲刺试题附答案大学英语六级考试冲刺试题附答案today, give a stranger one of your smiles. it might be the only sunshine he sees all day.以下是店铺为大家搜索整理的大学英语六级考试冲刺试题附答案，希望能给大家带来帮助!Anne Whitney, a sophomore (大学二年级学生) at Colorado State University, first had a problem taking tests when she began college. "I was always well prepared for my tests. Sometimes I studied for weeks before a test. Yet I would go in to take the test, only to find I could not answer the questions correctly. I would blank out because of nervousness and fear. I couldn't think of the answer. My low grades on the tests did not show what I knew to the teacher. " Another student in biology had similar experiences. He said, "My first chemistry test was very difficult. Then, on the second test, I sat down to take it, and I was so nervous that I was shaking. My hands were moving up and down so quickly that it was hard to hold my pencil. I knew the material and I knew the answers. Yet I couldn't even write them down!"These two young students were experiencing something called test anxiety. Because a student worries and is uneasy about a test, his or her mind does not work as well as it usually does. The student cannot write or think clearly because of the extreme tension and nervousness. Although poor grades are often a result of poor study habits, sometimes test anxiety causes the low grades. Recently, test anxiety has been recognized as a real problem, not just an excuse or a false explanation of lazy students.Special university advising courses try to help students. In these courses, advisors try to help students by teaching them how to manage test anxiety. At some universities, students taketests to measure their anxiety. If the tests show (heir anxiety is high, the students can take short courses to help them deal with (heir tensions. These courses teach students how to relax their bodies. Students are trained to become calm in very tense situations. By controlling their nervousness, they can let their minds work at ease. Learned information then comes out without difficulty on a test.An expert • at the University of California explains, " With almost all students, relaxation and less stress are felt after taking our program. Most of them experience better control during their tests. Almost all have some improvement. With some, the improvement is very great. "26. To "blank out" is probably______.A. to be like a blanketB. to be sure of an answerC. to be unable to think clearlyD. to show knowledge to the teacher27. Poor grades are usually the result of______.A. poor sleeping habitB. lazinessC. lack of sleepD. inability to form good study habits28. Test anxiety has been recognized as______.A. an excuse for lazinessB. the result of poor study habitsC. a real problemD. something that cannot be changed29. To deal with this problem, students say they want to______.A. take a short course on anxietyB. read about anxietyC. be able to manage or understand their anxietyD. take tests to prove they are not anxious30. A University of California advisor said______.A. all students could overcome the anxiety after taking a special test anxiety programB. almost all students felt less stress after taking a University of California advising courseC. students found it difficult to improve even though they had taken a special test anxiety courseD. students found it easy to relax as soon as they entered a University of California advising course参考答案26. C 27. D 28. C 29. A 30. B。

英语六级考前指导试题及答案Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.以下是为大家搜索的考前指导试题及答案，希望能给大家带来帮助!更多精彩内容请及时关注我们!There are two factors which determine an individual's intelligence. The first is the sort of brain he is born with. Human brains differ considerably , some being more capable than others. But no matter how good a brain he has to begin with, an individual will have a low order of intelligence unless he has opportunities to learn. So the second factor is what happens to the individual— the sort of environment in which he is brought up. If an individual is handicapped(不利) environmentally, it is likely that his brain will fail to develop and he will never attain the level of intelligence of which he is capable.The importance of environment in determining an individual's intelligence can be demonstrated by the case history of the identical twins, Peter and Mark. Being identical, the twins had identical brains at birth, and their growth processes were the same. When the twins were three months old, their parents died, and they were placed in separate foster homes. Peter was raised by parents of low intelligence in an isolated munity with pooreducational opportunities. Mark was reared in the home of well-to-do parents who had been to college. He was read to as a child, sent to good schools, and given every opportunity to be stimulated intellectually. This environmental difference continued until the twins were in their late teens, when they were given tests to measure their intelligence. Mark's I. Q. was 125, twenty-five points higher than the average and fully forty points higher than his identical brother. Given equal opportunities, the twins, having identical brains, would have tested at roughly the same level.21. This selection can best be titled .A. Measuring Your IntelligenceB. Intelligence and EnvironmentC. The Case of Peter and MarkD. How the Brain Influences Intelligence22. The best statement of the main idea of this passage is that .A. human brains differ considerablyB. the brain a person is born with is important in determining his intelligenceC. environment is crucial in determining a person's intelligenceD. persons having identical brains will have roughly the same intelligence23. Aording to the passage, the average I. Q. is .A. 85 .B. 100C. 110D. 12524. The case history of the twins appears to support the conclusion that .A. individuals with identical brains seldom test at the same levelB. an individual's intelligence is determined only by his environmentC. lack of opportunity blocks the growth ofintelligenceD. changes of environment produce changes in the structure of the brain25. This passage suggests that an individual's I. Q. .A. can be predicted at birthB. stays the same throughout his lifeC. can be increased by educationD. is determined by his childhood。

6级冲刺试题（三）六级冲刺试题（三）Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the topic of Should Enterprises Hold an Annual Meeting?. You should write at least 150 words according to the outline given below.现在有不少单位热衷于组织年会1. 对这种做法有人表示支持2. 有人并不赞成3. 我认为……Should Enterprises Hold an Annual Meeting?________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ __________________ Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions:In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.The Truth about LyingRicky Gervais’s new film, The Invention of Lying, is a bout a world where lying doesn’t exist, which means that everybody tells the truth, and everybody believes everything everybody else says. “I’ve always hated you,” a man tells a work colleague.“He seems nice, if a bit fat,” a woman says about her date. It’s all truth, all the time, at whatever the cost. Until one day, when Mark, a down-on-his-luck loser played by Gervais, discovers a thing called “lying” and what it can get him. Within days, Mark is rich, famous, and courting the girl of his dreams. And because nobody knows what “lying” is, he goes on, happily living what has become a complete and utter farce (喜剧).It’s meant to be funny, but it’s also a more serious commentary on us all. As Americans, we like to think we value the truth. Time and time again, public-opinion polls show that honesty is among the top five characteristics we want in a leader, friend, or lover; the world is full of sad stories about the tragic consequences of betrayal. At the same time, deception is all around us. We are lied to by government officials and public figures to a disturbing degree; many of our social relationships are based on little white lies we tell each other. We deceive our children, only to be deceived by them in return. And the average person, says psychologist Robert Feldman, the author of a new book on lying, tells at least three lies in the first l0 minutes of a conversation. “There’s always been a lot of lying,” says Feldman, whose new book, The Liar in Your Life, came out this month. “But I do think we’re seeing a kind of cultural shift where w e’re lying more, it’s easier to lie, and in some ways it’s almost more acceptable.”As Paul Ekman, one of Feldman’s longtime lying colleagues and the inspiratio n behind the Fox IV series “Lie T o Me” defines it, a liar is a person who “intends to mislead,” “deliberately,”without being asked to do so by the target of the lie. Which doesn’t mean that all lies are equally toxic: some are simply habitual —“My pleasure!” —while others might be well-meaning white lies. But each, Feldman argues, is harmful, because of the standard it creates. And the more lies we tell, even if they’re little white lies, the more deceptive we and society become.We are a culture of liars, to put it bluntly, with deceit so deeply ingrained in our mind that wehardly even notice we’re engaging in it. Junk e-mail, deceptive advertising, the everyday pleasantries (客套话) we don’t really mean —“It’s so great to meet you!” “I love that dress” —hav e, as Feldman puts it, become “a white noise we’ve learned to neglect.” And Feldman also argues that cheating is more common today than ever. The Josephson Institute, a nonprofit focused on youth ethics, concluded in a 2008 survey of nearly 30,000 high school students that “cheating in school continues to be rampant (猖獗), and it’s getting worse.” In that survey, 64 percent of students said they’d cheat ed on a test during the past year, up from 60 percent in 2006. Another recent survey, by Junior Achievement, revealed that more than a third of teens believe lying, cheating, or plagiarizing (抄袭) can be necessary to succeed, while a brand-new study, commis sioned by the publishers of Feldman’s book, shows that 18- to 34-year-olds — those of us fully reared in this lying culture —deceive more frequently than the general population.Teaching us to lie is not the purpose of Feldman’s book. His subtitle, in fact, is “the way to truthful relationships.” But if his book teaches us anything, it’s that we should sharpen our skills —and use them with abandon.Liars get what they want. They avoid punishment, and they win others’ affection. Liars make themselves sound smart andintelligent, they attain power over those of us who believe them, and they often use their lies to rise up in the professional world. Many liars have fun doing it. And many more take pride in getting away with it.As Feldman notes, there is an evolutionary basis for deception: in the wild, animals use deception to “play dead” when threatened. But in the modern world, the motives of our lying are more selfish. Research has linked socially successful people to those who are good liars. Students who succeed academically get picked for the best colleges, despite the fact that, as one recent Duke University study found, as many as 90 percent of high-schoolers admit to cheating. Even lying adolescents are more popular among their peers.And all it takes is a quick flip of the remote to see how our public figures fare when they get caught in a lie: Clinton keeps his wife and goes on to become a national hero. Fabricating author James Frey gets a million-dollar book deal. Eliot Spitzer’s wi fe stands by his side, while “Appalachian hiker” Mark Sanford still gets to keep his post. If everyone else is being rewarded for lying, don’t we need to lie, too, just to keep up?But what’s funny is that even as we admit to being liars, study after s tudy shows that most of us believe we can tell when others are lying to us. And while lying may be easy, spotting a liar is far from it. A nervous sweat or shifty eyes can certainly mean a person’s uncomfortable,but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re lyi ng. Gaze aversion, meanwhile, has more to do with shyness than actual deception. Even polygraph(测谎器) machines are unreliable. And according to one study, by researcher Bella DePaulo, we’re only able to differentiate a lie from truth only 47 percent of the time,less than if we guessed randomly. “Basically everything we’ve heard about catching a liar is wrong,” says Feldman, who heads the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.Ekman, meanwhile, has spent decades studying micro-facial expressions of liars: the split-second eyebrow arch that shows surprise when a spouse asks who was on the phone; the furrowed(皱起的) nose that gives away a hint of disgust when a person says “I love you.” He’s trained everyone from the Secret Service to the TSA, and believes that with close study, it’s possible to identify those tiny emotions. The hard part, of course, is proving t hem. “A lot of times, it’s easier to believe,”says Feldman. “It takes a lot of cognitive effort to think about whether someone is lying to us.”Which means that more often than not, we’re like the poor dumb souls of The Inve ntion of Lying, hanging on a liar’s every word, no matter how untruthful they may be.1. What do we know about Mark in the film The Invention of Lying?A) His looks too thin for his date. B) He is the most honest man.C) Lying changes his life completely. D) He lives in a lying world.2. According to Robert Feldman, the author of The Liar in Your Life,Americans now .A) regard the truth as very importantB) tend to lie more often than beforeC) start a conversation with three liesD) hate to be deceived by their children3. How does Robert Feldman see little white lies?A) They do harm to both people and the society.B) They are more acceptable than habitual lies.C) They are necessary in the social relationships.D) They are good-intentioned and thus harmless.4. The survey of the Josephson Institute revealed in 2008 that .A) most students passed the examinations by cheatingB) few students realized the harm of deceivingC) lying had become a habit of many studentsD) cheating was spreading unrestrainedly in schools5. What did the survey of Junior Achievement show about the teenagers?A) Quite a few of them believe that cheating is genetic.B) Many of them see deceiving as essential for success.C) Cheating occurs more commonly among them.D) They are the victims of the lying culture in fact.6. When people manage to get away with lying, many of them .A) are proud of themselves B) will make lying a habitC) feel ashamed and guilty D) are held in great affection7. Feldman cited the example of wild animals to show that .A) wild animals are good at protecting their lifeB) deceiving formed in the process of evolutionC) human beings lie in the same way with animalsD) modern people are more selfish than animals8. Judging from Duke University’s recent study,even students recruited by top colleges seem to havebefore.9. Compared with being liars, it is to detect a liar according to the study.10. According to Ekman who studies facial expressions, a wrinkled nose probably shows one’s.Part III Listening Comprehension (35 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 2 witha single line through the centre.11. A) The first house they saw is too expensive.B) She is happy with the price set by the seller.C) They may save some money for the time being.D) Less money will be spent in maintaining the house.12. A) Enjoyable. B) Inspiring. C) Moving. D) Dull.13. A) Be hostile to Nancy. B) Ask Nancy to come out.C) Talk to Nancy herself. D) Write Nancy a letter.14. A) To apply for a job.B) To offer her a position in the company.C) To find out her position in the company.D) To make an appointment with the sales manager.15. A) The stories probably weren’t true.B) Tom usually doesn’t tell funny stories.C) She’s surprised Tom was so serious last night.D) She wants to know where Tom heard the stories.16. A) Find a hotel nearby again in a few days.B) Accommodate his parents in his dormitory.C) Ask his parents not come until he finds a proper hotel.D) Phone a hotel farther from the campus for a reservation.17. A) He is always punctual for his class.B) He rarely notices which students are late.C) He wants his students to be on time for class.D) He doesn’t allow his students to tell jokes in class.18. A) The man forgot to sign for the seminar. B) The signing is just a reassurance.C) The seminar was actually cancelled. D) The woman likes the seminar very much. Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) 5:15. B) 4:45. C) 5:45. D) 4:15.20. A) He shouted at his wife. B) He just stood there.C) He crawled under the table. D) He lost consciousness.21. A) They just lived in the first floor.B) Their apartment building is lower than normal.C) The floor below their apartment was totally flattened.D) The ground was heightened because of the earthquake.22. A) It was gone completely.B) It stayed where it was before the earthquake.C) It moved to another place and collapsed totally.D) It kept standing there though moved.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23. A) They don’t get rid of flabby arms. B) They can damage arm muscles.C) They aren’t acceptable to most people. D) They can raise one’s blood pressure.24. A) Exercising the entire body.B) Having your blood pressure taken daily.C) Losing weight prior to exercising.D) Weighing in before each exercise session.25. A) Wearing arm weights while you are swimming.B) Jogging vigorously in one place for a long time.C) Using bicycles that require you to use both your arms and legs.D) Walking slowly while swinging your arms back and forth.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you heara 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 2with a single line through thecentre.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. A) It finds some imported goods cause environmental damage.B) UK wastes a lot of money importing food products.C) It thinks people waste energy buying food from other countries.D) Growing certain vegetables cause environmental damage.27. A) The distance that a food product travels to a market from its source area.B) The distance between UK and other food producing countries.C) The distance that a food product travels from one market to another.D) The distance between a Third World country and a First World food market.28. A) Ghanaian tomatoes taste better than British ones.B) British tomatoes are healthier than Ghanaian ones.C) Protecting the environment may cost a lot of money.D) Cutting down food miles may not necessarily save fuel.29. A) A supporter of free global trade.B) A member of the Food Commission.C) A supporter of First World food markets.D) A member of an energy development group.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. A) It made people save less money. B) It increased the number of the poor.C) It made people consume less. D) It encouraged luxury consumption.31. A) Food, education and automobiles.B) Education, entertainment and tourism.C) Food, automobiles and entertainment.D) Education, automobiles and entertainment.32. A) People were more money-conscious.B) People were more health-conscious.C) The price of fruit dropped dramatically.D) People had to spend more on transportation and furniture.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. A) They thought she was too young.B) They thought she was small in size.C) They thought she did not play well enough.D) They thought she did not show much interest.34. A) They were both famous actresses. B) They were both popular all their lives.C) They were both rich and kind-hearted. D) They were both successful when very young.35. A) Turning herself into a legend. B) Collecting money for the poor.C) Doing business and helping others. D) Going about research and education work. Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exactwords you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill inthe missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have justheard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is readfor the third time, you should check what you have written.Dogs were first domesticated from wolves at least 17,000 years ago, but perhaps as early as 150,000 years ago based upon recent genetic fossil and DNA evidence. In this time, the dog has developed into hundreds of breeds with a great degree of (36) _______. For example, heights at the (37) _______ range from just a few inches to roughly three feet, and colors range from white toblack, with reds, grays, and browns (38) _______ in tremendous patterns.Dogs are highly social animals and this similarity in their (39) _______ behavioral systemaccounts for their trainability, playfulness, and ability to fit into human (40) _______ and social situations. This has earned dogs a unique position in the (41) _______ of interspecies relationships. The loyalty and (42) _______ that dogs demonstrate as a part of their natural instincts are (43) _______ to be reflections of the human idea of love and friendship, leading many dog owners to view their pets as full fledged family members. (44) ____________________________________________________________________ ______. Dogs play a variety of roles in society and are often trained as working dogs. (45) ____________________________________________________________________ ______. In many countries, the most common and perhaps most important role of dogs are as a companion. (46) ____________________________________________________________________ ______.Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes) Section ADirections:In this section, there is a short passage with 5 questions or incomplete statements. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewestpossible words. Please write your answers on Answer Sheet 2.Questions 47 to 51 are based on the following passage.Marriage may improve your sleep, and better sleep may improve your marriage, two new studies suggest.Women who are married or who have stable partners appear to sleep better than women who have never married or lost a partner, according to research from an eight-year study presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies annual meeting. They also found that marital(婚姻的) happiness lowers the risk of sleep problems ,while marital conflict heightens the risk.Although married women overall slept more soundly than unmarried women, the researchers, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, did identify a “ne wly-wed” effect. Women who were single at the start of the study but gained a partner had more restless sleep than women who were already married. The researchers speculated that newly married women were less adjusted to sleeping with their partner than those who had been married longer.The study included 360 middle-aged African-American, Caucasian(高加索的) and Chinese-American women who had taken part in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Researchers used in-home sleep studies, activity monitors to track sleep-wake patterns and relationship histories to look at the effect stable marriages, unstable marriages and marital transitions, such as a divorce, had on sleep.Another small study of 29 couples found that on a daily basis, the quality of a couple’srelationship and the quality of their sleep are closely linked.In that study, from the University of Arizona, 29 heterosexual (异性的) couples who shared a bed and did not have children completed sleep and relationship diaries for a week. The results showed that when men get better sleep, they are more likely to feel positive about their relationship the next day. And for women,problems in the relationship were strongly associated with poor sleep for both themselves and their partner.“When we look at the data on a day-by-day basis, there seems to be a vicious cycle in which sleep affects next-day relationship functioning, and relationship functioning affects the subsequent night’s sleep,” said principal investigator Brant Hasler, a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Arizona, in a press release. “In this cycle, conflict with one’s partner during the day leads to worse sleep that night, which leads to more conflict the following day. “The data from both studies suggest that sleep and relationship happiness are closely linked. The lesson for couples, especially those who are struggling with problems, is that paying attention to sleep habits may help solve other issues in the relationship.47. After eight years’ study, researchers found that compared with single women, married women seem to sleep better48. Recently-married wome n can’t sleep as soundly as those ma rried longer because they may bewith their husband.49. To see how states of marriage influenced sleep, researchers installed some equipment in subjects’ home to monitor their and record how their relationships went.50. The study involving 29 couples of different sexes revealed that husbands with good sleep probablyabout the relationship.51. That bad relationship may cause worse sleep, which may worsen the relationship, suggests that sleep and relationship are .Section BDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D).You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2with a single line through the centrePassage OneQuestions 52 to 56 are based on the following passage.It is becoming increasingly clear that the story of the global economy is a tale of two worlds. In one, there is only gloom and doom, and in the other there is light and hope. In the traditional centers of wealth and power —America, Europe and Japan —it is difficult to find much good news. Butthere is a new world out there —China, India, Indonesia, Brazil —in which economic growth continues to power ahead, in which governments are not buried under a mountain of debt and in which citizens remain remarkably optimistic about their future.Compare the two worlds. On the one side is the West (plus Japan), with banks that are over-utilized and thus dysfunctional(无法正常工作的), governments groaning under debt, and consumers who are rebuilding their broken balance sheets. America is having trouble selling its IOUs at attractive prices (the last three Treasury auctions have gone badly); its largest state, California, is heading toward total fiscal collapse; and its budget deficit is going to surpass 13 percent of GDP — a level last seen during World War II. With all these burdens, even if there is a recovery, the United States might not return to fast-paced growth for a while. And it’s probably more dynamic than Europe or Japan.Meanwhile, emerging-market banks are largely healthy andprofitable. (Every Indian bank, government-owned and private, posted profits in the last quarter of 2008!) The governments are in good fiscal shape. China’s strengths are well known —$2 trillion in reserves, a budget deficit that is less than 3 percent of GDP —but consider Brazil, which is now posting a current account surplus. Or Indonesia, which has reduced its debt from 100 percent of GDP nine years ago to 30 percent today. And unlike in the West —where governments have run out of ammunition (弹药) and are now praying that their medicine will work — these countries still have options. Only a year ago, their chief concern was an overheated economy and inflation. Brazil has cut its interest rate substantially, but only to 10.25 percent, which means it can drop it further if things deteriorate even more.The mood in many of these countries remains surprisingly optimistic. Their currencies are appreciating against the dollar because the markets see them as having better fiscal discipline as well as better long-term growth prospects than the United States. Their bonds are rising. This combination of indicators, all pointing in the same direction, is unprecedented.The United States remains the richest and most powerful country in the world. Its milita ry spans the globe. But from the Spanish Empire of the 16th century to the British Empire in the 20th century, great global powers have always found that their fortunes begin to turn when they get overburdened with debt and stuck in a path of slow growth. These are early warnings. Unless the United States gets its act together, and fast, the ground will continue to shift beneath its feet, slowly but surely.52. It can be drawn from the first paragraph that .A) most of the eastern countries enjoy fast-paced economic growthB) trade conflicts may be foreseen between two parts of the worldC) sharp differences exist between some once-rich and once-poor countriesD) the traditional rich countries have come bottom in the world economy53. One of the problems that the West faces now is .A) impossible economic recoveryB) debt-dragged governmentsC) fiscal breakdownD) extremely high inflation54. What do we learn about Japan from the passage?A) It now belongs to the western hemisphere.B) Its economic situation goes even worse than the US.C) Its financial systems collapsed as other western countries did.D) Its economy will recover sooner than other Asian countries.55. What does the author say about countries in the new world?A) Most of the banks are still making a gain.B) The growth of economy is slowing down.C) The governments are free from foreign debt.D) Consumers lose confidence in the economy.56. Spain and UK are mentioned in the passage to indicate that .A) traditional powerful countries are doomed to fadeB) too much debt will surely slow the economic growthC) The US will survive and maintain its global presenceD) America might follow suit if it failed to react quicklyPassage TwoQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.Google must be the most ambitious company in the world. Its stated goal, “to organize the world’s information and make it universal ly accessible and useful,” deliberately omits the word “web” to indicate that the company is reaching for absolutely all information everywhere and in every form. From books to health records and videos, from your friendships to your click patterns and physical location, Google wants to know. To some people this sounds uplifting, with promises of free access to knowledge and help in managing our daily lives. To others, it is somewhat like another Big Brother, no less frightening than its totalitarian (极权主义的) ancestors for being in the private information.Randall Stross, a journalist at the New York Times, does a good job of analyzing this unbounded ambition in his book “Planet Google”. One chapter is about the huge data centers that Google is building with a view to storing all that information, another about the sets of rules at the heart of its web search and advertising technology, another about its approach to information bound in books, its vision for geographical information and so forth. He is at his best when explaining how Google’s mission casually but fatally smashes into long-existing institutions such as, say, copyright law or privacy norms.And yet, it’s puzzling that he mostly omits the most fascinating component of Google, its people. Google is what it is because of its two founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who see themselves as kindly elites and embody the limitless optimism about science, technology and human nature that is native to Silicon V alley. The world is perfectible, and they are the ones who。

六级考前冲刺试题三Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Career or Marriage?. You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below.1. 目前许多大四女生不忙求职忙相亲2. 产生这种现象的原因3. 我的看法Career or Marriage?Part II Reading Comprehension(Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions:In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1–7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8–10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.Auto-Tune: Why Pop Music Sounds PerfectIf you haven‟t been listening to pop radio in the past few months, you‟ve missed the rise of two seemingly opposing trends. In a medium in which mediocre (平庸的) singing has never been a bar to entry, a lot of pop vocals suddenly sound great. Better than great: note- and pitch-perfect, as if there‟s been an unspoken tightening of standards at record labels or an evolutionary leap in the development of vocal cords. At the other extreme are a few hip-hop singers who also hit their notes but with a precision so exaggerated that on first listen, their songs sound comically artificial, like a chorus of …50s robots singing Motown.The force behind both trends is an ingenious plug-in called Auto-Tune, a downloadable studio trick that can take a vocal and instantly nudge it onto the proper note or move it to the correct pitch. It‟s like Photoshop for the human voice. Auto-Tune doesn‟t make it possible for just anyone to sing like a pro, but used as its creator intended, it can transform a wavering(颤抖的) performance into something technically flawless. “Right now, if you listen to pop, everything is in perfect pitch, perfect time and perfect tune,” says producer Rick Rubin. “That‟s how widespread Auto-Tune is.”Auto-Tune‟s inventor is a man named Andy Hildebrand, who worked for years interpreting seismic (i.e. relating to earthquakes) data for the oil industry. Using a mathematical formula called autocorrelation, Hildebrand would send sound waves into the ground and record their reflections, providing an accurate map of potential drill sites. It‟s a technique that saves oil companies lots of money and allowed Hildebrand to retire at 40. He was debating the next chapter of his life at a dinner party when a guest challenged him to invent a box that would allow her to sing in tune. After he worked on autocorrelation for a few months, Auto-Tune was born in late 1996.Almost immediately, studio engineers adopted it as a trade secret to fix flubbed (搞砸了的) notes, saving them the expense and trouble of having to redo sessions. The first time common ears heard Auto-Tune was on the immensely irritating 1998 Cher hit “Believe.” In the first verse, when Chersings “I can‟t break through” as though she‟s standing behind an electric fan, that‟s Auto-Tune — but it‟s not the way Hildebrand meant it to be used. The program‟s retune speed, which adjusts the singer‟s voice, can be set from zero to 400. “If you set it to 10, that means that the output pitch will get halfway to the target pitch in 10 milliseconds,” says Hildebrand. “But if you let that parameter go to zero, it finds the nearest note and changes the output pitch instantaneously” —eliminating the natural transition between notes and making the singer s ound jumpy and automated. “I never figured anyone in their right mind would want to do that,” he says.Like other trends set by Cher, the creative abuse of Auto-Tune quickly went out of fashion, although it continued to be an indispensable part of the engi neer‟s toolbox. But in 2003, T-Pain (Faheem Najm), a little-known rapper and singer, accidentally stumble onto the Cher effect while Auto-Tuning some of his vocals. “It just worked for my voice,” says T-Pain in his natural Tallahassee accent. “And there wasn‟t anyone else doing it.”Since his 2005 first album, T-Pain has sent a dozen mechanically cheery singles into the Top 10. He contributed to four nominated songs at this year‟s Grammys on Feb. 8, and his influence is still spreading. When Kanye West was looking for an effect to match some heartbroken lyrics, he flew T-Pain to Hawaii to see how many ways they could adjust Auto-Tune. Diddy gave a percentage of his upcoming album‟s profits to T-Pain in exchange for some lessons. Even Prince is rumored to be experimenting with Auto-Tune on his new record. “I know Auto-Tune) better than anyone,” says T-Pain. “And even I‟m just figuring out all the ways you can use it to change the mood of a record.”Rubin, who‟s produced artists as diverse as the Dixie Chicks and Metallica, worries that the safety net of Auto-Tune is making singers lazy. “Sometimes a singer will do lots of takes when they‟re recording a song, and you really can hear the emotional difference when someone does a great performance vs. an average o ne,” says Rubin. “If you‟re pitch-correcting, you might not bother to make the effort. You might just get it done and put it through the machine so it‟s all in tune.” Rubin has taken to having an ethical conversation before each new recording session. “I e ncourage artists to embrace a natural process,” he says.With the exception of Milli Vanilli‟s, pop listeners have always been fairly indulgent about performers‟ ethics. It‟s hits that matter, and the average person listening to just one pop song on the radio will have a hard time hearing Auto-Tune‟s impact; it‟s effectively deceptive. But when track after track has perfect pitch, the songs are harder to differentiate from one another — which explains why pop is in a pretty serious lull (停滞) at the moment. It also changes the way we hear unaffected voices. “The other day, someone was talking about how Aretha Franklin at the Inauguration was a bit pitchy,” says Anderson. “I said, …Of course! She was singing!‟ And that was a musician talking. People are gettin g used to hearing things dead on pitch, and it‟s changed their expectations.”Despite Randy Jackson‟s stock American Idol critique —“A little pitchy, dawg” —many beloved songs are actually off-pitch or out of tune. There‟s Ringo Starr on “With a Little H elp from My Friends,” of course, and just about every blues song slides into notes as opposed to hitting them dead on. Even Norah Jones, the poster girl of pure vocals, isn‟t perfect. “There‟s some wonderful imperfections of pitch on …Don‟t Know Why‟ from Come Away with Me,” says Anderson, “and most of the other tunes on the album as well. But I wouldn‟t want to change a single note.”Let‟s hope that pop‟s fetish for uniform perfect pitch will fade, even if the spread of Auto-Tune shows no signs of slowing. A $99 version for home musicians was released in November 2007, and T-Pain and Auto-Tune‟s parent company are finishing work on an iPhone app. “It‟s gonna be real cool,” says T-Pain. “Basically, you can add Auto-Tune to your voice and send it to your friends and put it on the Web. You‟ll be able to sound just like me.” Asked if that might render him no longer unique, T-Pain laughs: “I‟m not too worried. I got lots of tricks you ain‟t seen yet. It‟s everybody else that needs to step up their game.”1. What is the force of the rise of two trends which appear opposite to each other?A) The development of pop radio. B) Photoshop that can edit human voice.C) A vocal software called Auto-Tune. D) The popularity of a pop singer named Cher.2. Originally the creator intended to use Auto-Tune to ________.A) change a poorly-sung song into a perfect oneB) make everyone sing like a professional singerC) inject some vitality into the pop industryD) bring the flaw of pop songs into public3. Before Andy Hildebrand retired at 40, he worked for ________.A) the seismological bureau B) Auto-Tune‟s parent companyC) oil companies D) a tape-recorder factory4. Studio engineers benefit greatly from Auto-Tune in that ________.A) they no longer need to correct wrong notesB) it helps them keep songs secret before going publicC) it is totally free and thus saves them lots of moneyD) they don‟t have to waste time on recording music again5. What does the author say about the craze for Auto-Tune which trendy Cher started?A) It faded soon. B) It lasted for many years.C) It made engineers lazy. D) It harmed people‟s creativity.6. According to the passage, what happened to T-Pain since 2005?A) He had to give up Auto-Tune.B) He became very successful.C) He made a fortune working for the Prince.D) He won fame as teachers of well-known singers.7. According to Rubin, the effect of Auto-Tune on singers may be ________.A) positive B) negative C) exaggerated D) underestimated8. During the recording session, singers are encouraged by Rubin to sing in away.9. In general, when it comes to the issue of pop singers‟ ethics, average listenersare .10. Although many songs in Norah Jones‟s album were out of tune, Anderson would rather make noto the songs.Part III Listening Comprehension (35 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 2 with a single line through the centre.11. A) She originally proposed it.B) She‟s quite sure it will take place.C) Its success depends on the weather.D) She doesn‟t think it will be held as proposed.12. A) The library has already chosen some people to work there.B) The library is looking for more applicants.C) She is going to give the man a job offer.D) The man should hurry up.13. A) Antibiotics. B) Cough medicine.C) Honey and whisky. D) Over-the-counter medicines.14. A) The woman is a housewife. B) The woman is an excellent cook.C) Mary helped a lot in cooking the dish. D) The woman has never cooked before.15. A) She is not a very famous actress.B) She is not so fortunate as other actresses.C) She is not very much tempted by big money.D) She has no idea of how to make advertisements.16. A) The man should buy a new camera.B) The man can have his camera fixed here.C) She will probably fix the man‟s camera herself.D) The camera should have been brought in earlier.17. A) The so-early start-working hour.B) The advanced equipment in the laboratory.C) The terrible working habit of his colleagues.D) The interval between the start-working hours of two places.18. A) She thinks the man should stay with his sister at home.B) She invites the man and his sister to her party.C) She will go with the man to meet his sister.D) She will cancel her birthday party.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) IT industry. B) Education industry.C) Medicine industry. D) Engineering industry.20. A) Health insurance, paid vacation, and a company vehicle.B) Paid vacation, opportunities for advancement, and medicare.C) Opportunities for advancement, insurance, and a free bus pass.D) Paid vacation, opportunities for promotion, and health insurance.21. A) Expanding and secure. B) Contracting, yet stable.C) Growing, yet uncertain. D) Promising, yet shrinking.22. A) He has a Bachelor‟s degree. B) He didn‟t finish the college.C) He is now a college student. D) He is now studying in a night school. Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23. A) He has finished the first draft. B) He has just got started.C) He has finished the main body. D) He has handed the paper in.24. A) Strict and picky. B) Responsible and nice.C) Helpful and patient. D) Responsible but too direct.25. A) Have dinner with him. B) Write the paper for him.C) Go to classes with him. D) Help him with the paper.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. A) To write a business letter. B) To provide proof of the deal.C) To find out the mistakes of a letter. D) To finish reading the letter quickly.27. A) Students with higher SAT verbal scores who use the grammar and spelling software.B) Students with lower SAT verbal scores who use the grammar and spelling software.C) Students with higher SAT verbal scores who don‟t use the grammar and spelling software.D) Students with lower SAT verbal scores who don‟t use the grammar and s pelling software.28. A) The technical specialist should improve the software.B) The software can not solve the students‟ problems at all.C) The software is designed for editors and writers, not the students.D) Students should have their own judgment when using the software.Passage TwoQuestions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.29. A) More and more people are used to the Internet.B) Postcards are in the danger of extinction in Britain.C) Cell phones are becoming an important part of our life.D) Communications between people are becoming easier.30. A) They are useful and practical. B) They are of great importance.C) They are imaginative and personal. D) They are fashioned and quick to arrive.31. A) Coins, stamps and sports. B) Coins, sports and postcards.C) Coins, stamps and postcards. D) Stamps, sports and postcards.Passage ThreeQuestions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.32. A) They treated their workers more humanely.B) They completely ignored consumers‟ health.C) They turned out more unhealthy products at will.D) They were controlled less strictly by the authorities.33. A) Hardly ever looked into the causes of tragedies.B) Imposed safety rules as soon as accidents took place.C) Seldom introduced safety laws before disasters occurred.D) Paid much attention to the results of scientific discoveries.34. A) A company with dangerous working conditions is likely to be punished.B) There are altogether three departments which protect customers and workers.C) Stores dealing in foods and drugs are controlled by the local government.D) The protection of workers‟ health and safety is still not well ensured.35. A) Industries in the past and at present.B) Changes in the development of industries.C) The freedom of industries today and in the past.D) The protection of industrial workers and customers.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.Scotland is a unique place. It has some of the most beautiful cities in Europe, a living evidence of a splendid and proud past.Its people‟s ancient love to the hard land and their struggle against nature are (36) ________ within the walls of the Angus Folk Museum. You are able to get a feel of the (37) ________ rural atmosphere of times past from the everyday (38) ________ displayed in this museum.Perhaps the most (39) ________ moment for Scottish autonomy is the one (40) ________ inside this ancient abbey (修道院) of Arbroath, where, in 1320, the Declaration of Independence was (41) ________, at the instigation (煽动) of King Robert the Bruce. He carried out the plan for autonomy drawn up by the great popular hero William Wallace, to whom cinema has (42) ________ the wonderful film Braveheart, the winner of five Oscars.The Glamis Castle is often remembered for being the (43) ________ of King Macbeth and Queen Elizabeth in her childhood. Among the most regular guests here are the inevitable ghosts, which are nourished by ancient popular beliefs. (44) __________________________________________.The true flag of Scotland, tartan, is recognizable from the brightly colored plaid patterns which are used to distinguish the various clans. (45) __________________________________________.The typical Scottish garment, the kilt, is socially necessary when the Scots play the Great High land bagpipes, especially when they march in parades.Bagpipes and dancing open the competitions of local sporting events, which are called Highland Gatherings. (46) __________________________________________.Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a short passage with 5 questions or incomplete statements. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest possible words. Please write your answers on Answer Sheet 2.Questions 47 to 51 are based on the following passage.More than two million people in Europe now have fibre broadband direct to their home, suggests a survey.The latest figures on superfast broadband delivered by fibre to the home (FTTH) shows 18% growth over the last survey compiled in late 2008.The continued growth suggests that the global economic downturn has not hit plans to build a fibre infrastructure (基础设施).Sweden tops the list of nations rolling out the technology, with 10.9% of its broadband customers using fibre.Karel Helsen, president of Europe‟s Fibre-To-The-Home Council, said the growth matched predictions that were revised when the credit crunch (信用紧缩) started to make itself felt.“The numbers in 2009 are in line with the latest forecasts,” said Mr. Helsen.By 2012, the FTTH Council expects that 13 million people across 35 European nations will have their broadband delivered by fibre. Such services would start at speeds of 100 megabits per second (mbps), said Mr. Helsen.Around Europe more than 233 projects were underway to lay the fibres that would connect homes or buildings to the net, said Mr. Helsen. Many of those, he said, were being operated by local governments or smaller net firms.Local governments were interested in FTTH because of the economic and social benefits it brought in its wake, said Mr. Helsen.The low latency or delay inherent in high-speed fibre networks made possible novel uses of broadband, he said. “No delay is very important,” he said, “specifically if you talk about applications that are time-dependent such as personal communications, conference calls or video calls where delays cause a lot of interference.”While early FTTH services were concentrated in cities, said Mr. Helsen, many more were reaching out to rural areas for e-health and e-learning projects.Separate studies show that an FTTH infrastructure can have a direct impact on local economic output, said Mr. Helsen.The UK, France and Germany have yet to break into the list of top ten FTTH nations.﹡TOP FIBRE NATIONS:1) Sweden - 10.9% 2) Norway - 10.2% 3) Slovenia - 8.9% 4) Andorra - 6.6% 5) Denmark- 5.7% 6) Iceland - 5.6% 7) Lithuania - 3.3% 8) Netherlands - 2.5% 9) Slovakia - 2.5% 10) Finland - 2.4%47. Despite the worsening global economy, the number of Europeans using fibrebroadband .48. When the credit crunch emerged, people‟s forecasts about the growth of FTTHwere .49. According to Karel Helsen, who were mainly in charge of European‟s fibre-laying projects?50. Superfast broadband delivered by fibre saves users of instant communication from delayswhich .51. Different from the past, now more and more fibre projects are carried outin .Section BDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 52 to 56 are based on the following passage.Musicians — from karaoke singers to professional cello players — are better able to hear targeted sounds in a noisy environment, according to new research that adds to evidence that music makes the brain work better.“In the past ten years there‟s been an explosion of research on music and the brain,” Aniruddh Patel, Senior Fellow at the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego, said today at a press briefing.Most recently brain-imaging studies have shown that music activates many diverse parts of the brain, including an overlap in where the brain processes music and language.Language is a natural aspect to consider in looking at how music affects the brain, Patel said. Like music, language is “universal, there‟s a strong learning component, and it carries complex meanings.”For example, brains of people exposed to even casual musical training have an enhanced ability to generate the brain wave patterns associated with specific sounds, be they musical or spoken, said study leader Nina Kraus, director of the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory at Northwestern University in Illinois.But for people without a trained ear for music, the ability to make these patterns decreases as background noise increases, experiments show. Musicians, by contrast, have subconsciously trained their brains to better recognize selective sound patterns, even as background noise goes up.At the same time, people with certain developmental disorders, such as dyslexia (诵读困难), have a harder time hearing sounds amid the continuing loud confused noise —a serious problem, for example, for students straining to hear the teacher in a noisy classroom.Musical experience could therefore be a key therapy for children with dyslexia and similar language-related disorders, Kraus said.In a similar vein, Harvard Medical School neuroscientist Gottfried Schlaug has found that stroke patients who have lost the ability to speak can be trained to say hundreds of phrases by singing them first.In research also presented today at the AAAS meeting Schlaug demonstrated the results of intensive musical therapy on patients with lesions (损伤) on the left sides of their brains, those areas most associated with language.Before the therapy, these stroke patients responded to questions with largely incoherent sounds and phrases. But after just a few minutes with therapists (治疗师), who asked them to sing phrases and tap their hands to the rhythm, the patients could sing “Happy Birthday,” recite their addresses, and communicate if they were thirsty.“The underdeveloped systems on the right side of the brain that respond to music became enhanced an d changed structures,” Schlaug said.Overall, Schlaug said, the experiments show that “music might be an alternative medium for engaging parts of the brain that are otherwise not engaged.”52. What do we learn from the first paragraph?A) Music training can improve the function of the brain.B) Singers or instrument players tend to have better hearing.C) There has been little evidence to prove the power of music.D) Musicians are born with ability to hear targeted sound amid noise.53. According to Aniruddh Patel, language is usually under consideration when ________.A) musicians explain the complex meaning behind the musicB) therapists try to treat patients who suffer from strokeC) people research the connection between music and the brainD) researchers study the functions of different parts of the brain54. Whether people can hear selective sounds amid noise depends on their ability to ________.A) neglect the influence of the noise B) remember the meaning of the soundsC) make the associated brain wave patterns D) tell musical sounds from spoken ones55. According to Kraus, the significance of identifying the link between music and brain is that________.A) music training can be a way to enhance poor hearingB) singing can be used to treat people with language disordersC) intensive musical therapy may make a mute person speakD) all brain disorders can be cured by learning musical sounds56. The musical training therapists gave to the stroke patients actually _______.A) enhanced the parts of the left brain which are under constant useB) restored the language function of the damaged system in the left brainC) hindered the damaged systems in the brain from deteriorating sharplyD) changed the structures of the underdeveloped systems in the right brainPassage TwoQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.As Sesame Street kicks off its 40th anniversary season Tuesday, with first lady Michelle Obama and Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda as guests, it is indisputably the most be loved children‟s show in history, and one of television‟s biggest and most enduring success stories.The series holds a record 122 Emmy Awards, not including a lifetime-achievement trophy (奖±) award, and has been adapted in more than 120 countries and territories around the globe. An estimated 100,000 Sesame products have been made available internationally, from T-shirts and costumes to high-tech toys such as Elmo Live.Sesame’s cross-cultural, multi-generational appeal has a lot to do with the specific age group it targets. “The bulk of our audience is in the 2s and 3s, though we shoot for 2 to 4,” says executive producer Carol-Lynn Parente. At that early stage, says Spinney — who is 75, and has been with the show since Day 1 (he plays Oscar as well) —“children are basically the same, and have been through the years.”But if preschoolers‟ fundamental needs and sensibilities haven‟t changed much, the world around them has — not least of all on the media landscape, where Sesame Street now competes with many other kids‟ shows and an ever-expanding array of new media.In 2000, the Children‟s Television Workshop, the organization through which creator Joan Ganz Cooney launched Sesame Street on PBS predecessor NET, changed its title to Sesame Workshop, to reflect its expansion into the digital, interactive age.Content and presentation continue to evolve on TV as well. The show‟s famously catchy theme song, Sunny Day, now has a hip-hop beat and a jazzier arrangement. Parente stresses that it‟s just as important “to keep our curriculum current. The ABC‟s and 123‟s are always there, but we stay relevant by incorporating other things that are interesting and meaningful.”“We focus on all aspects of d evelopment — cognitive needs, social and emotional needs, health needs —and bring in advisers who are experts in each area, to make sure we‟re age-appropriate,” says Rosemarie Truglio, vice president of education and research, Sesame Workshop. “But we nev er talk down to children, and we‟re not afraid to explore sensitive topics.”Sesame has had its critics in the academic community as well.For Mary Lynn Crow, a clinical psychologist and professor of education at the University of Texas-Arlington, “shows l ike Sesame Street lack the potentially deep, personal emotional imprint (影响) that can and should occur between a student and teacher in an early educational experience.”On the other hand, Crow considers Sesame Street“a beautiful model of what I call high-tech learning. They can teach children about letters, numbers, color and size through repetition in ways traditional education can‟t, and provide early information about attitudes, values and relationships.”57. What do we learn about Sesame Street from the first two paragraphs?A) It rose to fame because of the first lady‟s role.B) It‟s successful and gains international popularity.C) It still has to win a lifetime-achievement award.。

六级冲刺备考阅读练习3The poor old consumer! Hed have to pay a great deal more if advertising didnt create mass markets for products. It is precisely because of the heavy advertising that consumer goods are so cheap. But we get the wrong idea if we think the only purpose of advertising is to sell goods. Another equally important function is to inform. A great deal of the knowledge we have about household goods derives largely from the advertisements we read. Advertisements introduce us to new products or remind us of the existence of ones we already know about. Supposing you wanted to buy a washing machine, it is more than likely you would obtain details regarding performance, price, etc., from an advertisement.Lots of people pretend that they never read advertisements, but this claim may be seriously doubted. It is hardly possible not to read advertisements these days. And what fun they often are, too! Just think what a railway station or a newspaper would be like without advertisements. Would you enjoy gazing at a blank wall or reading railway byelaws while waiting for a train? Would you like to read only closely printed columns of news in your daily paper? A cheerful, witty advertisement makes such a difference to a drab wall or a newspaper full of the daily rationof calamities.We must not forget, either, that advertising makes a positive contribution to our pockets. Newspapers, commercial radio and television companies could not subsist without this source of revenue. The fact that we pay so little for our daily paper, or can enjoy so many broadcast programmes is due entirely to the money spent by advertisers. Just think what a newspaper would cost if we had to pay its full price!Another thing we mustnt forget is the small ads. which are in virtually every newspaper and magazine. What a tremendously useful service they perform for the community! Just about anything can be accomplished through these columns. For instance, you can find a job, buy or sell a house, announce a birth, marriage or death in what used to be called the hatch, match and dispatch column but by far the most fascinating section is the personal or agony column. No other item in a newspaper provides such entertaining reading or offers such a deep insight into human nature. Its the best advertisement for advertising there is!1. What is main idea of this passage?A. Advertisement.B. The benefits of advertisement.C. Advertisers perform a useful service to communities.D. The costs of advertisement.2. The attitude of the author toward advertisers isA. appreciative.B. trustworthy.C. critical.D. dissatisfactory.3. Why do the critics criticize advertisers?A. Because advertisers often brag.B. Because critics think advertisement is a waste of money.C. Because customers are encouraged to buy more than necessary.D. Because customers pay more.The poor old consumer! Hed have to pay a great deal more if advertising didnt create mass markets for products. It is precisely because of the heavy advertising that consumer goods are so cheap. But we get the wrong idea if we think the only purpose of advertising is to sell goods. Another equally important function is to inform. A great deal of the knowledge we have about household goods derives largely from theadvertisements we read. Advertisements introduce us to new products or remind us of the existence of ones we already know about. Supposing you wanted to buy a washing machine, it is more than likely you would obtain details regarding performance, price, etc., from an advertisement.Lots of people pretend that they never read advertisements, but this claim may be seriously doubted. It is hardly possible not to read advertisements these days. And what fun they often are, too! Just think what a railway station or a newspaper would be like without advertisements. Would you enjoy gazing at a blank wall or reading railway byelaws while waiting for a train? Would you like to read only closely printed columns of news in your daily paper? A cheerful, witty advertisement makes such a difference to a drab wall or a newspaper full of the daily ration of calamities.We must not forget, either, that advertising makes a positive contribution to our pockets. Newspapers, commercial radio and television companies could not subsist without this source of revenue. The fact that we pay so little for our daily paper, or can enjoy so many broadcast programmes is due entirely to the money spent by advertisers. Just think what a newspaper would cost if we had to pay its full price!4. Which of the following is Not True?A. Advertisement makes contribution to our pockets and we may know everything.B. We can buy what we want.C. Good quality products dont need to be advertised.D. Advertisement makes our life colorful.5. The passage isA. Narration.B. Description.C. Criticism.D. Argumentation.。

６级考前冲刺试题三Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Can Knowledge Change One’s Destiny?You should write at least 150 words following the outline givenbelow.1. 有人相信知识能改变命运2. 有人则认为当今社会光靠知识已经很难改变命运3. 我认为……Can Knowledge Change One’s Destiny?________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the fourchoices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with theinformation given in the passage.Comparing Y ourself to Others: It’s Not All Bad“To compare is to despair,” the saying goes, and I‟ve generally found it to be true. If I try hard enough (and sometimes even if I don‟t) I can usually find someone who performs better or has more. And I can feel bad about it.I objectively know that my own life is pretty good, but this upward comparison, as economists and psychologists call it, can somehow dim my own accomplishments. “Comparison is rife with danger, but it‟s understandable why we do it,” said Heidi Grant Halvorson, a social psychologist. “We‟re human beings and we naturally seek information.”One way to get information, Ms. Halvorson said, is to turn to experts. Another way is to look at those around us.And often what we see in our neighborhood or community is more important, in our minds, than anything else. Economic studies have shown, for example, that once they make a certa in amount of money to cover basics, most people care more about relative, rather than absolute, income. That is, most of us feel better if we make, say, $100,000 if the majority of our neighbors make $75,000 than if we earn $150,000 when most of our friends bring in $200,000.One such study, “Neighbors as Negatives: Relative Earnings and Well-Being,” published in 2005 in The Quarterly Journal of Economics, found that “higher earnings of neighbors were associated with lower levels of self-reported happiness.” The paper cites the oft-quoted saying by the economist and philosopher John Stuart Mill: “Men do not desire to be rich, but to be richer than other men.”Erzo F. P. Luttmer, the author of the study and an associate professor of economics at Dartmouth Col lege, said in a telephone interview that neighbors “influence what you think is a normal lifestyle, and you struggle to keep up.”We‟re often told to avoid comparing, but this is both difficult and not necessarily wise advice in all situations.Ms. Halvors on, who is also author of the book “Succeed: How We Can Reach Our Goals” (Hudson Street Press, 2010), said we needed to think about why we were seeking the information. “Upward comparison can be punishing and make you feel terrible,” she said. “But you can also lookupward to learn.”If we feel bad, for example, about how well we just played in a game of tennis, we can check out those who play worse to make ourselves feel better, and avoid watching the semi-pros on the other court. Or, if we believe that we can improve and learn by looking at others — and not just feel inferior about playing worse — then we can watch the better players.There are also pros and cons to comparing ourselves with people worse off than ourselves. It‟s not good if we‟re just tryin g to gain a sense of superiority or avoiding challenging ourselves to do better. But such downward comparisons can remind us of our own fortune. They can also help us when we think about the things we regret but we cannot change.As part of a study co-written by Isabelle Bauer, a clinical psychologist in Toronto, 104 people of various ages were asked to complete a survey about their greatest misgivings — choosing the wrong career path, or failing to make amends to someone who passed away or marrying the wro ng person.The study found that those who felt that other people had regrets that were “more” or “much more” severe reported an increase in positive emotions when reassessed four months later compared with those who said that other people‟s regrets were “less” or “much less” severe.“If you can‟t change what you did, then downward social comparison helps us gain perspective,” Ms. Bauer said. “And those people are able to move on and re-engage in other goals. If you compare upward about things you can‟t change, then you seem to just feel stuck.” But those who compared themselves downward and had the opportunity to do something about their regrets didn‟t feel any more positive over time, she said.Comparisons can also serve as a reality check, particularly when speaking about money.My colleague Ron Lieber, for example, wrote about NetworthIQ, a site that allows people to anonymously post their own net worth. Would we be happier and healthier, he asked readers, if we knew the net worth of our friends, colleagues and neighbors?The overwhelming response was no. As one commenter put it: “I am sickened by the idea of calculating one‟s …net worth‟ in terms of money. It‟s good to have savings and it‟s good to have a nest in which one can nestle when one exceeds productive years. However, to express your worth in terms of the …how much?‟ question is one more step toward dehumanization. I‟d rather figure out my net worth in terms of how much I am worth to the world in which I live.”Not everyone feels that way, of course, and plenty of people have posted their profiles on .ING Retirement, a United States-based division of the Dutch financial services group, a few years ago introduced , which allows you to anonymously type in your profile —your age, income, gender and marital status.Then you answer some personal finance questions, like the amount of money you‟ve put asidefor retirement, your mortgage payments, what you think you‟ll need to save to retire comfortably and so on. Y ou are then instantly compared with your peers.I answered some of the questions and seemed pretty average. I guess I was pleased our retirement savings were slightly higher than those of the other 1,071 people who answered the question with a similar profile, but I also wasn‟t sure if I should be. Might it just mean that all of us are saving too little? Was I getting a false sense of security?Not at all, said Denis-Martin Monty, vice president of emerging product development at ING Retirement. Rather, it is a useful tool to get us to think about things we often don‟t want to —like how much (or little) we‟ve put away for retirement.The site was initially tested among 28,000 employees of ING‟s larger clients. When asked at the end of the survey, 64 percent of those who measured themselves chose to take some sort of positive action, like enroll in a retirement plan or increase their savings rate.Mr. Monty also pointed out that studies show that most of us think we‟re above average, what he called the Lake Wobegon effect.“We tend to overestimate where we stand in comparison to other people,” he said. So people aren‟t necessarily looking at how much more they‟re actually saving than other people, he said, but how much more they thought they were saving.The site recently hit the million-user mark, Mr. Monty said.David Laibson, a professor of economics at Harvard University, who has looked at the impact of providing peer information on retirement savings decisions (it can be helpful, but not always) agreed that such comparisons can serve a purpose.“Comparisons to large groups of peers are often useful,” he said. “It‟s never the final word on what I should do, but it does give me food for thought.”I doubt most of us are ever going to stop comparing ourselves with others. The most important point to keep in mind, however, is as Ms. Halvorson said: “There‟s a lot of imperfect comparison going on. We never see the whole picture.”1. What is Heidi Grant Halvorson‟s view of comparison?A) It highlights people‟s achievemen ts in some way.B) It can be accepted as a way of getting information.C) It should be blamed for causing hopelessness.D) It makes people feel satisfied with their own life.2. According to economic studies, what do most people do when they are able to meet their basic need?A) They are more interested in relative income.B) They devote themselves to community causes.C) They desire to become richer and richer.D) They associate their happiness with their income.3. The author said the advice that people should avoid comparing is _______.A) sensible B) constructive C) unwise D) impossible to follow4. What is the advantage of upward comparison according to Ms. Halvorson?A) It can lighten people‟s mood. C) It gains people a sense of superiority.B) It motivates people to improve. D) It helps people get rid of bad habits.5. What did the study co-written by Isabella Bauer reveal?A) People tend to compare themselves with those worse off.B) Most people make wrong decisions in their whole life.C) Downward comparison makes people feel more positive.D) Upward comparing is more helpful than downward comparing.6. If there is nothing people can do about their regrets, Ms. Bauer suggested that people _______.A) reflect on their failures alone C) look at the past to gain a perspectiveB) look upward to learn and improve D) make downward social comparison7. According to Ron Lieber‟s article, many people thought that knowing the net worth of others _______.A) helped check their spending C) was the source of their miseryB) had influenced their lifestyle D) would not make them happier8. Finding her retirement savings were a little more than her peers, the author doubted if she was getting a wrong ______________________________.9. Denis-Martin Monty said that people tend to ______________________________ their position when comparing themselves to other people.10. According to David Laibson, comparing with large groups of peers helps because it gives people______________________________.Part III Listening Comprehension(35 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 theconversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be apause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), anddecide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2with a single line through the centre.11. A) He doesn‟t have any good ideas. C) He doesn‟t put his ideas into practice.B) He has many interesting dreams. D) He sleeps a lot without doing anything.12. A) He has just quitted his former job. C) He is applying for a job.B) He has graduated last June. D) He has some work experience.13. A) His boss doesn‟t agree.C) He has chosen some part-time courses.B) He has to pay the tuition fee first. D) He can‟t afford to study without salary.14. A) He is a full-time student.B) He is a part-time worker.C) He is going to take refresher courses.D) He has known all the details about the course.15. A) He knows nothing about the other assignment.B) He doesn‟t think it‟s necessary to ask for a long time.C) He asks the woman to hand in her assignment on time.D) He will give the woman an extension for her assignment.16. A) He was arrogant about it. C) He was not surprised about it.B) He found it unbelievable. D) He found the truth unacceptable.17. A) To ask the man to read the book together.B) To request the man to write a term paper for her.C) To complain about the numbers of reading materials.D) To ask for some advice on how to select the reading materials.18. A) He had better assess his own ability.B) He should try to solve some easier problems now.C) He must study hard to solve the difficult problems.D) He should find some more complicated problems to solve.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) She has finished her work. C) Her kids will arrive home after school.B) She is too exhausted to work. D) The man does not ask her to go back to the office.20. A) It is weird. C) It is comfortable.B) It is convenient. D) It is exhausting.21. A) The woman does not like it. C) One can see a lot of strange things in it.B) It is produced by weird people. D) The man is determined to watch it tonight.22. A) His boss might ask him to stay up late.B) The woman will record tonight‟s program.C) He may have to prepare for tomorrow‟s business trip.D) He will be having a meeting with his boss at that time.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23. A) He has a lot of free time. C) Many of his friends are actors.B) She knows he likes acting. D) He‟s looking for an acting job.24. A) He hasn‟t been in a play for a long time.B) He has to rearrange his evening schedule.C) He might not like the way the group works.D) His schoolwork has taken up most of his time.25. A) Enjoy their rehearsal. C) See her on Wednesday.B) Learn his part quickly. D) Pick her up on Thursday.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and questions will be spoken only once. Afteryou hear a question, you must choose the best answer f rom the four choices markedA), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2with asingle line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. A) A study on whether social connections can keep us healthier.B) A study on whether social connections make us happier.C) A study on factors that influence psychologic health.D) A study on the relationship between psychology and longevity.27. A) 200,000. B) 300,000. C) 500,000. D) 700,000.28. A) Teenagers should go to see psychologist frequently.B) People should make as many friends as possible.C) Policy makers should consider relationships as a health issue.D) People should place relationships at first place.Passage TwoQuestions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.29. A) Y our reputation will be damaged. C) Y ou‟ll get into trouble.B) Y ou have to change your name. D) Y ou can‟t be a doctor any more.30. A) He had helped Booth murder Lincoln. C) He had concealed the facts.B) He had made a diagnostic error. D) He had given Booth help in some way.31. A) He would have suffered a lot from the name.B) He would have been thought of as a criminal forever.C) He would have been sentenced to four years‟ prison life.D) He would have spent the rest of his life in prison.Passage ThreeQuestions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.32. A) Japanese car sales are down.B) Economy in Japan is from bad to worse.C) The main consumers of cars in Japan are middle-aged people.D) Japan is heavily depended on the foreign market.33. A) A tool. C) A symbol of status.B) A sign of wealth. D) An article of consumption.34. A) Cars are still too expensive. C) Gas prices and parking lot fees are costly.B) Traffic is heavy on the road. D) Traffic accidents are more and more serious.35. A) They have reduced their products prices.B) They have laid off plenty of short-term contract workers.C) They have laid off many full-time salaried employees.D) They have narrowed down their foreign market.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for thesecond time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exactwords you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill inthe missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you havejust heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage isread for the third time, you should check what you have written.Although they may not die from lack of love, adults also need a great amount of affection and (36) _________. In the past, many people spent their (37) _________ lives in the communities in which they were born and (38) _________. Many more people continued to live with their parents, brothers and sisters after they were married and had children of their own. By remaining in (39) _________ communities with relatives nearby, families had enough (40) _________ for friendly contact and support in time of trouble.Recent studies (41) _________ that family arrangements in Western societies have not changed as much in the last few centuries as is (42) _________ believed. Y et most sociologists agree that in modern societies, there are fewer opportunities for friendship and support from relatives outside the (43) _________ family. Parents and children often live apart from other relatives, and seldom visit them. Also, (44) ___________________________________________________________________. Together, loneliness and mobility force immediate family members to depend heavily on one another for affection and companionship.(45) ___________________________________________________________________, a high percentage of people continue to marry, even though it is possible for a single man and woman to live together without marrying. On the other hand, because affection and companionship have become so important, (46) ___________________________________________________________________ —even if all other family functions are being satisfactorily performed, and in this sense, affection and companionship have become the touchstone of the modern family.Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, there is a short passage with 5 questions or incomplete statements. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewestpossible words. Please write your answers on Answer Sheet 2.Questions 47 to 51 are based on the following passage.Schools looking to ban cell phones may have a new excuse: a growing number of people are developing an allergy (过敏) to metal in the devices. We all know that food allergies are on the rise — a study last year placed the rate at 1 per 70 children, compared with 1 in 250 in the 1970s. But at last month‟s meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, allergists reported that many substances that once seemed harmless are now leading to allergic reactions too.Allergies can develop when young bodies come into contact with a new substance, and an increasing number of kids have early exposure to tech tools and “adult” products that can lead to a lifetime of reactions. For instance, the nickel hardware often used on phone trim and faceplates can lead to red, itchy(发痒的) skin where the phone is pressed against the face of someone who developed a nickel allergy at a young age. It‟s especially problematic for women, says Luz Fonacier, an allergist who presented at the conference. Y oung girls are often first exposed to nickel when theyget their ears pierced, and therefore are more likely to develop a sensitivity to the metal that can cause allergic reactions later on.Temporary tattoos (刺青) could be another new allergy trigger. They share a coloring matter used in hair dyes, which can lead to problems down the line. “Y ou might have kids developing the sensitivity now, and then finding out only when they‟re much older and decide to dye their hair, then have an attack,” says Fonacier. Foods that were once considered low risk, like pumpkin, are now causing some allergic reactions too.So what‟s behind all these new allergens? Some researchers believe that as humans live in cleaner, safer, more disease-free environments, the immune system —given less to do thanks to antibiotics and Clorox — turns on substances once considered safe. Others note that children are being exposed to more and more new foods and foreign substances at earlier ages, which could up the chances of developing a sensitivity. To be safe, Fonacier recommends that children avoid piercing until after age 10. And it‟s all just another reason to keep those cell phones and temporary tats away from young hands.47. Allergists said some allergic reactions are now caused by many substances once considered_____________________.48. Phone trim with nickel can lead to allergic reactions if the phone user _____________________ tonickel at a young age.49. Temporary tattoos could _____________________ allergy because of a coloring mattering theycontain.50. According to some researchers, humans‟ _____________________ is becoming sensitive to somesubstances due to the use of antibiotics and Clorox.51. To reduce the chance of developing a sensitivity, children are advised to _____________________before 10.Section BDirections:There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D).You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 52 to 56 are based on the following passage.Researchers at the University of California-Berkeley are challenging our long-held belief that humans are hard-wired to be selfish. Darwin‟s theory of evolution by natural selection was misinterpreted by his male popularizers, the researchers say. Rather than “every man for himself”, Darwin believed that humans are successful as a species precisely because of our nurturing, selfless and compassionate traits.Why has it taken so long for Darwin‟s central revelation to be properly interpreted? “We‟ve had too many men in social science,” Berkeley psychology professor Dacher Keltner told me in an interview. “Female scientists acknowledge that …fight or flight‟ is part of human nature, but so is caring for people.” This is no touchy-feely feminist theory. Hard science is showing how the human capacity to care is wired into our brains and nervous systems.In my book Passages in Caregiving, I urge women who assume the whole responsibility for taking care of an elderly parent or chronically ill spouse to build a Circle of Care. Reach out to your brothers and sisters, friends, neighbors and community volunteers to help you care, because no one can perform this overwhelming role alone. Y ou will be as stunned as I to learn how the most selfless caregivers are rewarded with greater longevity(寿命). Stephanie Brown, associate professor of preventive medicine at SUNY-Stony Brook, followed a group of older adults caring for family members with dementia and other illnesses. If they offered care more than 14 hours a week, they were less likely to die in a seven-year period than their peers.“Survival of the Kindest” is not just a th eory. It is becoming a revolutionary cultural movement. There are many signs that caring is gaining currency. Keltner, who has been studying the science of this instinct for 15 years, says we are coming to the end of our cycle of greed. Berkeley and Stanford universities now have compassion centers devoted to the study and teaching of this theory. It will run up against hostility among the Hobbesians. Ayn Rand wrote, “If any civilization is to survive, it is the morality of selfishness that men have to reje ct.” As Americans, we have a cultural bias against caring.Oh, sure, we give our families gifts generously during the holiday season, but in a capitalist system based on unrestrained competition, we worry that if we care, we lose. Compassion is a woman‟s word. In men, it‟s cast as weak, when in fact it makes us stronger under stress and more highly respected by our peers. For so long we have repeated the careless saying “Nice guys finish last.” But the 40 richest Americans who took the Giving Pledge to comm it half their fortunes to doing good are no spring chickens. Here is my reinterpretation: Nice guys die last.52. According to the Berkeley researchers, Darwin‟s central revelation is that .A) humans are born to be selfish C) fight is not part of human natureB) selfless makes us a successful species D) care is related to our nervous system53. Professor Dacher Keltner holds that caring for people .A) takes people‟s time and put them at a disadvantageB) is the nature of humans just like “fight or flight”C) isn‟t a human capacity connected with our brainsD) isn‟t supported by males due to fierce competition54. What does Stephanie Brown‟s study reveal?A) Selfless caregivers tend to have a longer lifespan.B) Caregivers are more likely to die from heavy workload.C) Caregivers should turn to community volunteers for help.D) The longer a person offers care, the less likely he is to die.55. The author quotes Ayn Rand to support the opinion that .A) women should be selfless in order to live longerB) people must be selfless to maintain the societyC) the cycle of greed must be ended immediatelyD) compassion centers are necessary to a civilization56. The author suggests a man with compassion .A) will live longer than those without it C) is more likely to be respected by his peersB) is often regarded as a coward and loser D) has much greater difficulty in successPassage TwoQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.Compared with elderly parents and adult children in five other industrialized nations, Americans are twice as likely to have “disharmonious” relationships, a new multinational study has found. And we‟re correspondingly less likely to have “friendly” relationships marked by str ong affection and relatively free of conflict. The study of nearly 2,700 parents over age 65, published recently in The Journal of Marriage and Family, turned up significant national differences. German and Spanish parents described relationships with their adult children as more detached. The English reported the most friendly families. Israelis operated with a high degree of ambivalence (正反感情并存), meaning。

Part I ritingou are a owe m z nutes to write a short essay entitled Say No to Directions: For this part, y ll d 30·Cell Phones in Class. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200words. Write your essay on Answer Sheet 1.1.手机方便快捷，在学生中应用普遍。

2.过度依赖手机甚至上课玩手机的弊端。

3.我的观点。

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

Part II Listening ComprehensionSection ADirections: In th· zs section ,you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each con v ersa—tion, you will hear some questions. Both the conversation and the questions will bespoken only once. Af ter you hear a question, you must choose the best answer fromthe four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letteron 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。

Conversation OneQuestions 1 to 4 will be based on the conversation you have just heard.1.A) They should make several observations of the same child.B)They should observe several children at the same time.C)They should find an ideal location for the observations.D)They should observe at the time most convenient for themselves.2.A) The behavioral patterns of children at different time.B)The influence of environment on a child's behavior.C)The impact of observation on a child's behavior.D)The interactive influence of children's behavior.3.A) He doesn't change the deadline of the assignment.B)He delays the deadline of the assignment.C)He cancels the assignment.D)He asks them to hand in the assignment ahead of the deadline.4.A) Ignore the presentation.C)Omit some chapters.B)Divide the assignment.D)Listen more carefully.Conversation TwoQuestions 5 to 8 will be based on he conversation you have just heard.5.A) To attend the orientation.C)To find some books.3大学英语六级考试（第3套）Part I ritingSay No to Cell Phones in ClassWith the development of economy and improvement of living conditions, cell phones are increasingly popular among college students even schoolchildren. Many parents buy their children a cell phone which gives those working parents a little sense of control and security to know their children's location and conditions.Although cell phones bring great convenience to the users, they have some obvious disadvantages. Some students tend to be "cell phone-addicted" even chatting on the phone and sending text messages in class, which will certainly affect their academic achievement. Moreover, they may be facing a frightening bill at the end of the month. Worse still, cell phones in schools can lead to classroom distractions, text-message cheating and even privacy release.As college students with the main task of study, we should definitely say No to cell phones in class. Besides, parental control and teachers'supervision must be exercised in the use of the phone. Only in this way can the students be the masters of the active class instead of the slaves to cell phones.Part II Listening Comprehension1 ,,..____ 5 : ABABC16 r--..,,, 20 : ACCBDSection AConversation One6 r--...,, 1 O: BBCBC21r--...,,25 : ABDDC11,,,____,15 : CAADDW: Good afternoon, Dr. Bishop. Do you have a couple of minutes? You see, I have some dif f i­cul t y with my project.M: Sure. You have about 10 minutes before I leave for my lecture. What is your problem? W: Our team has finished the observations of the children. Should we just put the notes down or should we do some further research and draw a conclusion?M: Well, first, you mentioned children. [l]What I require is to make observations of the same child, at different time and different locations.W: Oh dear! We must have misunderstood the requirement. Does that mean we must do the observations from the very beginning?M: I'm afraid so. [2] Then, after that, what you need to do is to study your notes, and see what kind of behavior is influenced by the environment and what kind of behavior is not affect­ed. You should put your findings in the paper and you also need to find published theories that support your conclusion.W: Dr. Bishop, is it possible that we submit the paper a few days later, just in case that we can't make it?3。

参考答案Part I Writing【参考范文】Lack of Credit Among College StudentsIn recent years, lack of credit among college students has become quite a serious problem in modern society. One of the typical examples is that many college students can not pay off in time or even do not return their student loans after graduation. In addition, quite a few employers complain college students change or break the contracts too casually, or make fraud in their resumes.Though not all the students should be blamed for this phenomenon, the short of credit among some college students can bring negative effects. Above all, it damages the overall image of college students. Also, it will be very unfavorable tocollege students’ employment and development. Moreover, it makes the gove rnment and the enterprises suffer a lot, which directly inhibits the development of the whole society.Undoubtedly, it is quite urgent for us college students to enhance our credit. Firstly, universities should strengthen honesty education. Secondly, college students should supervise each other and realize the importance of credit in their study and life. Thirdly, some necessary warning or punishment should be given to those college students who lack credit. Only in this way can college students build up a good public image.Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)1. B)2. C)3. C)4. A)5. D)6. D)7. B)8. risk price rises 9. far stricter 10. taxedPart III Listening Comprehension11. C) 12. C) 13. D) 14. C) 15. C) 16. B) 17. D) 18. B)19. C) 20. B) 21. C) 22. C) 23. B) 24. D) 25. A)26. A) 27. B) 28. C)29. A) 30. D) 31. D)32. A) 33. A) 34. C) 35. B)36. companionship 37. entire 38. raised 39. familiar40. opportunities 41. suggest 42. generally 43. immediate44. the family moves when a parent accepts a job in another place or when it decides to live in a better neighborhood45. Because the family is one of the few ongoing sources of affection and companionship in modern societies46. families are more likely to break up if the husband’s or wife’s emotional needs are not met within the familycirclePart IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth)47. provide assistance48. the generation of revenue49. reluctance50. ill equipped51. responsive and collaborative52. C) 53. A) 54. A) 55. D) 56. A)57. C) 58. A) 59. B) 60. B) 61. D)Part V Cloze62. B) 63. D) 64. A) 65. B) 66. A) 67. C) 68. D) 69. B) 70. C) 71. D)72. C) 73. A) 74. B) 75. B) 76. A) 77. D) 78. C) 79. D) 80. A) 81. C)Part VI Translation82. when he named it after his name83. are estimated to have exceeded what the government expected84. became the only witness of the case85. unless you manage to find the experts concerned86. more likely to undergo extreme miseries录音文本Part III Listening ComprehensionSection A11. M: You call Henry a dreamer, but I think he’s got a lot of good ideas.W: Well, good ideas are only useful if you make something out of them. I don’t think a day-dreamer can be a good entrepreneur.Q: What does the woman think of Henry?12. W: I have been looking through your application. You seem to have many of the qualifications needed for thisposition. Do you have any work experience?M: Actually, I am scheduled to finish school in June. To be honest, this is the first job I am looking for.Q: What do we learn about the man?13. W: Right, so you do not really want to do the full-time course, then?M: You know, I got a financial problem. My company just agreed to pay the tuition fee. So I have to ask for no-pay leave, if I choose the full-time course.Q: Why doesn’t the man choose full-time course?14. M: I’ve been referred to you because I’d like to get to know a bit more about them.W: OK. We run quite a few different short courses for students who are either retiring to study or studying part-time. Let me show you our refresher courses arrangement.Q: What can you learn about the man from the conversation?15. W: Excuse me, Dr. Johnson. I’m having a bit of trouble with the second assignment, and it is due in 12 days. Ispent all the time on another big assignment so...M: Extensions are normally given only for medical or compassionate reasons.Q: What does the man imply?16. W: Congratulations! You’re to be appointed as Sales Manager!M: Incredible. It’s too good to be true. You must be kidding. I’ve only been working for two months in this department, and this is totally a huge surprise!Q: How does the man react to the news?17. W: There are about twenty reading materials in the list, and I am not sure which one would be the most useful orimportant.M: They are all useful, but I don’t expect anyone to read them all, because a number of them deal with the same issues.Q: Why does the woman visit the man?18. W: I would not bother with the complicated problem at this stage, if I were you.M: OK, I won’t bother with this one. Then what kind of problems should I focus on now?Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?Now you will hear the two long conversations.Conversation OneW: What a day! I’m exhausted.M: Well it’s not over yet.W: Yeah, but it’s over for me. I have to go back home and be there when the kids get home.M: Oh, that’s right. I have to go back to the office. My lawyer is waiting there to talk about a contract dispute we have with one of our clients. How long does it usually take you to get home from here?W: It depends on traffic. Sometimes I can get home within half an hour. I should be home today around 5 p.m.M: It’s so convenient that your office is close to the fourth ring road. I sometimes have to fight traffic for an hour just to get to the third ring.W: I know. Hey, will you get home tonight in time to watch “That’s Incredible!”?M: I hope so. That’s my favorite program. I love all those weird things people do.W: I’ll be watching it too. Well, if your meeting goes too late, give me a call and I’ll record it.M: Thanks. I may do that. I might have to miss it tonight if my boss decides on our business trip to Shanghai tomorrow.Then I’ll have to stay later to get ready.W: Oh, I hate going to Shanghai.M: It’s not that bad. I would like to know earlier, however.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. Why was the woman anxious to go back home?20. What did the man think of the woman’s t rip between office and home?21. What do you know about the program “That’s Incredible!”?22. Why might the man miss the program?Conversation TwoM: Hello!W: Hello. This is Lily Wilson. May I speak to Ted Robinson, please?M: Hi, Lily! It’s Ted, What can I do for you?W: Well, I’m calling about the theatre group I belong to, the Princeton Players. We’re looking for more people to join, especially men. And I thought you would be interested.M: Oh! You know how much I love acting, but I’m taking some very hard courses. I might be able to learn my part, but I would hardly have time to come to the rehearsal.W: Well, actually we practice only one night a week, Thursdays, from seven to ten. So we wouldn’t have to put in extra time before a performance.M: Only once a week, you say? Well, could you give me time to think it over?W: Sure, but look, why don’t you come and watch our practice next Thursday? I think you’ll like the way we work.When you see how much fun it is, you’ll want to join right away.M: OK. I’ll come to a rehearsal, but I can’t promise more than that.W: Great! I’ll give you a call on Wednesday to remind you. Talk to you then. Bye now!M: Bye, Lily!Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23. Why does Lily think Ted might be interested in the theatre group?24. Why does Ted ask for time to think about whether he will join the group?25. What does Lily expect Ted to do?Section BPassage OneHumans are social animals, and most of us treasure our relationships with family and friends. An emerging lineof research suggests that relationships can keep us healthier. And a new study finds those social connections may also help us live longer. This new study combined a large number of previous studies and concluded that a lack of social interactions ranks right up with smoking, obesity, and alcoholism as a risk factor for death. Researchers from Brigham Young University analyzed 148 studies with a total of some 300,000 participants, tracking their social relationships and whether they survived to the end of their particular study, which averaged about seven years. “Those who scored higher on those measures of social relationships were 50 percent more likely to be alive at that follow-up than people who scored low on those m easures,” said Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad, one of the authors of the study. She pointed out several ways relationships can affect our health. They can help us cope with stress. They can help us maintain healthy habits like eating well, exercising or s eeing a doctor. And there’s increasing research that shows a direct but poorly-understood link between relationships and physiological processes in the body. “So for instance, our relationships have been linked to lower blood pressure, better immune functi oning, and even inflammatory processes that are implicated in a number of diseases,” said Holt-Lunstad. “And so our relationships can influence our health in a variety of ways that are all very important.” Julianne Holt-Lunstad said her research suggests that policy makers need to consider relationships as a health issue.Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. What is the passage mainly about?27. How many participants were involved in the study?28. What does Julianne Holt-Lun stad’s research suggest?Passage TwoTime and time again, one may be warned, “Your name will be mud”. Many have used the expression in the mistaken belief that it has something to do with the kind of dirt found in the streets or on unclean river bottoms. But the expression comes from the name of Doctor Samuel Alexander Mudd, a physician who fixed the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth, the man who killed President Abraham Lincoln. Doctor Mudd treated Booth’s injured leg without knowing who he was. A small gro up helped Booth to plan Lincoln’s murder. They were all caught and sentenced to death or prison terms. Doctor Mudd had nothing to do with Lincoln’s murder or with any of the men who had planned it. All seemed to show that he was an innocent man. But he had given some kind of help only to leave Booth to escape. This in itself was a crime then. And so, Doctor Mudd was sentenced to prison for life. In prison, Doctor Mudd saved many prisoners and guards in a yellow fever outbreak. President Andrew Johnson pardoned him in 1869, after the doctor had spent almost four years in prison. The American people considered themurder of Lincoln a heavy blow to them. It filled them with bitterness that lasted many years. They hated Booth very much and they also hated anybody who had helped the murderer in any way. Doctor Mudd was freed, but people never forgave him and his name passed into American folk speech as something bad, hateful. The Mudd family had also suffered a lot because of the name until not long ago.Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.29. What does the expression “Your name will be mud” mean, according to the passage?30. Why was Mudd sentenced to life imprisonment?31. What would have happened to Mudd but for President Andrew Joh nson’s pardon?Passage ThreeIn spite of some signs that the recession in Japan could be easing, the important export market is down nearly 46 percent, compared to a year ago. At the center of the downturn, are Japan’s car manufacturers —heavily dependent on foreign markets. It is not only a lack of demand from abroad that has hurt these companies, but growing disinterest in car ownership at home, too. The Japan Automotive Manufacturers Association forecasts that, for the first time in almost three decades, less than five million automobiles will be sold domestically this year. This is not only because of the recession, but a change in the way Japanese consumers regard owning a vehicle. A generation ago, car ownership in Japan was seen as a sign of wealth and affluence. But Martin Schultz, senior economist at the Fujitzu Research Institute in Tokyo, says that mindset is a thing of the past. “For younger people in Japan, the car is simply not a status symbol anymore. It is a tool,” Schultz said. “Japan has w onderful infrastructure beyond roads. For younger people, having a car is basically a costly and cumbersome affair. ”Surging gas prices and parking lot fees that put drivers back hundreds of dollars a month are just some of the reasons why young Japanese would rather spend their money elsewhere. Japanese automakers have seen this trend coming for a while. And, in part, that is why they focus so much attention on foreign markets. To offset the slump in sales, manufacturers have laid off hundreds of thousands of short-term contract workers. There is concern here that, if the production does not pick back up soon, companies may have to resort to letting go of full-time salaried employees.Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.32. What is the passage mainly about?33. What do Japanese younger people regard car ownership as, according to Schultz?34. What might be the reason that young Japanese don’t want to buy cars?35. What have Japanese automakers done to offset the slump in sales?Section CAlthough they may not die from lack of love, adults also need a great amount of affection and (36) companionship. In the past, many people spent their (37) entire lives in the communities in which they were born and (38) raised. Many more people continued to live with their parents, brothers and sisters after they were married and had children of their own. By remaining in (39) familiar communities with relatives nearby, families had enough (40) opportunities for friendly contact and support in time of trouble.Recent studies (41) suggest that family arrangements in Western societies have not changed as much in the last few centuries as is (42) generally believed. Yet most sociologists agree that in modern societies, there are fewer opportunities for friendship and support from relatives outside the (43) immediate family. Parents and children often live apart from other relatives, and seldom visit them. Also, (44) the family moves when a parent accepts a job in another place or when it decides to live in a better neighborhood. Together, loneliness and mobility force immediate family members to depend heavily on one another for affection and companionship.(45) Because the family is one of the few ongoing sources of affection and companionship in modern societies,a high percentage of people continue to marry, even though it is possible for a single man and woman to live together without marrying. On the other hand, because affection and companionship have become so important, (46) families are more likely to break up if the husband’s or wife’s emotional needs are not met within the family circle —even if all other family functions are being satisfactorily performed, and in this sense, affection and companionship have become the touchstone of the modern family.。