2010年12月英语六级考试模拟试题及答案(1)

2010年12月英语六级考试答案完整版(新东方)[真题]2010年12月英语六级考试真题完整版[估分]2010年12月英语六级真题在线估分[点评]2010年12月英语六级真题答案视频解析[下载]2010年12月英语六级真题及答案下载2010年12月英语六级考试答案完整版写作Directions: For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled My View on University Ranking. You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below.1. 目前高校排名相当盛行2. 对这种做法人们看法不一3. 我认为……My View on University RankingThere is no denying the fact that it has become a prevailing trend for some individuals or organizations to rank universities. Taking a look around, we can find examples too many to list. To this phenomenon people’s attitudes differ sharply.Some hold the positive view. They claim that ranking universities can help high school graduates or their parents to make a sound choice when enrolling in a university or college. Besides, this practice can help promote the level of higher education as a whole in that many universities will exert efforts to elevate their position.Others, however, hold the opposite view. They point out that the result of ranking is not always credible, for many individuals or institutions do it merely for the purpose of colleting money. Furthermore, some universities overemphasize the result of ranking and waste large amounts of resources.。

之月大学英语六级级2012年12月大学英语六全真预测试题三及答案解析主编：汤敏2010年12月大学英语六级全真预测试题三及答案解析一、阅读理解第1题：Racket,din clamor,noise.Whatever you want to call it,unwanted sound is America's most widespread nuisance.But noise is more than just a nuisance.It constitutes a real and present danger to people's health.Day and night,at home,at work,and at play,noise can produce serious physical and psychological stress.No one is immune to this stress.Though we seem to adjust to noise by ignoring it,the ear,in fact,never closes and the body still responds—sometimes with extreme tension,as to a strange sound in the night.The annoyance we feel when faced with noise is the most common outward symptom of the stress building up inside us.Indeed,because irritability is so apparent,legislators have made public annoyance the basis of many noise abatement(消除)programs.The more subtle and more serious health hazards associated with stress caused by noise traditionally have been given much less attention.Nevertheless,when we are annoyed or made irritable by noise,we should consider these symptoms fair warning that other things may be happening to us,some of which may be damaging to our health.Of the many health hazards related to noise,hearing loss is the most clearly observable and measurable by health professionals.The other hazards are harder to pin down.For many of us, there may be a risk that exposure to the stress of noise increases susceptibility to disease and infection.The more susceptible among us may experience noise as a complicating factor in heart problems and other diseases.Noise that causes annoyance and irritability in healthy persons may have serious consequences for those already ill in mind or body.Noise affects us throughout our lives.For example,there are indications of effects on the unborn child when mothers are exposed to industrial and environmental noise.During infancy and childhood,youngsters exposed to high noise levels may have trouble falling asleep and obtaining necessary amounts of rest.why,then,is there not greater alarm about these dangers?Perhaps it is because the link between noise and many disabilities or diseases has not vet been conclusively demonstrated. Perhaps it is because we tend to dismiss annoyance as a price to pay for living in the modern world.It may also be because we still think of hearing loss as only an occupational hazard.1.The phrase"immune to"(Line3,Para.1)are used to mean________.[A]unaffected by[B]hurt by[C]unlikely to be seen by[D]unknown by2.The author's attitude toward noise would best be described as________.[A]unrealistic[B]traditional[C]concerned[D]hysterical3.Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?[A]Noise is a major problem;most people recognize its importance.[B]Although noise can be annoying,it is not a major problem.[C]Noise is a major problem and has not yet been recognized as such.[D]Noise is a major problem about which nothing can be done.4.The author condemns noise essentially because it________.[A]is against the law[B]can make some people irritable[C]is a nuisance[D]is a danger to people's health5.The author would probably consider research about the effects noise has on people to be ________.[A]unimportant[B]impossible[C]a waste of money[D]essential1小题>、【正确答案】：A2小题>、【正确答案】：C3小题>、【正确答案】：C4小题>、【正确答案】：D5小题>、【正确答案】：D【参考解析】：1.A语义题。

2010年12月大学英语六级考试真题Part I Writing (30 minutes)Direction: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled My Views on University Ranking. You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below.1. 目前高校排名相当盛行;2. 对于这种做法人们看法不一;3. 在我看来……My Views on University RankingPart 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.Into the UnknownThe world has never seen population ageing before. Can it cope?Until the early 1990s nobody much thought about whole populations getting older. The UN had the foresight to convene a “world assembly on ageing” back in 1982, but that came and went. By 1994 the World Bank had noticed that something big was happening. In a report entitled “Averting the Old Age Crisis”, it argued that pension arrangements in most countries were unsustainable.For the next ten years a succession of books, mainly by Americans, sounded the alarm. They had titles like Young vs Old, Gray Dawn and The Coming Generational Storm, and their message was blunt: health-care systems were heading for the rocks, pensioners were taking young people to the cleaners, and soon there would be intergenerational warfare.Since then the debate has become less emotional, not least because a lot more is known about the subject. Books, conferences and research papers have multiplied. International organisations such as the OECD and the EU issue regular reports. Population ageing is on every agenda, from G8 economic conferences to NATO summits. The World Economic Forum plans to consider the future of pensions and health care at its prestigious Davos conference early next year. The media, including this newspaper, are giving the subject extensive coverage.Whether all that attention has translated into sufficient action is another question. Governments in rich countries now accept that their pension and health-care promises will soon become unaffordable, and many of them have embarked on reforms, but so far only timidly. That is not surprising: politicians with an eye on the next election will hardly rush to introduce unpopular measures that may not bear fruit for years, perhaps decades.The outline of the changes needed is clear. To avoid fiscal (财政) meltdown, public pensions and health-care provision will have to be reined back severely and taxes may have to go up. By far themost effective method to restrain pension spending is to give people the opportunity to work longer, because it increases tax revenues and reduces spending on pensions at the same time. It may even keep them alive longer. John Rother, the AARP’s head of policy and strategy, points to studies showing that other things being equal, people who remain at work have lower death rates than their retired peers.Younger people today mostly accept that they will have to work for longer and that their pensions will be less generous. Employers still need to be persuaded that older workers are worth holding on to. That may be because they have had plenty of younger ones to choose from, partly thanks to the post-war baby-boom and partly because over the past few decades many more women have entered the labour force, increasing employers’ choice. But the reservoir of women able and willing to take up paid work is running low, and the baby-boomers are going grey.In many countries immigrants have been filling such gaps in the labour force as have already emerged (and remember that the real shortage is still around ten years off). Immigration in the developed world is the highest it has ever been, and it is making a useful difference. In still-fertile America it currently accounts for about 40% of total population growth, and in fast-ageing western Europe for about 90%.On the face of it, it seems the perfect solution. Many developing countries have lots of young people in need of jobs; many rich countries need helping hands that will boost tax revenues and keep up economic growth. But over the next few decades labour forces in rich countries are set to shrink so much that inflows of immigrants would have to increase enormously to compensate: to at least twice their current size in western Europe’s most youthful countries, and three times in the older ones. Japan would need a large multiple of the few immigrants it has at present. Public opinion polls show that people in most rich countries already think that immigration is too high. Further big increases would be politically unfeasible.To tackle the problem of ageing populations at its root, “old”countries would have to rejuvenate (使年轻) themselves by having more of their own children. A number of them have tried, some more successfully than others. But it is not a simple matter of offering financial incentives or providing more child care. Modern urban life in rich countries is not well adapted to large families. Women find it hard to combine family and career. They often compromise by having just one child.And if fertility in ageing countries does not pick up? It will not be the end of the world, at least not for quite a while yet, but the world will slowly become a different place. Older societies may be less innovative and more strongly disinclined to take risks than younger ones. By 2025 at the latest, about half the voters in America and most of those in western European countries will be over 50—and older people turn out to vote in much greater number than younger ones. Academic studies have found no evidence so far that older voters have used their power at the ballot box to push for policies that specifically benefit them, though if in future there are many more of them they might start doing so.Nor is there any sign of the intergenerational warfare predicted in the 1990s. After all, older people themselves mostly have families. In a recent study of parents and grown-up children in 11 European countries, Karsten Hank of Mannheim University found that 85% of them lived within 25km of each other and the majority of them were in touch at least once a week.Even so, the shift in the centre of gravity to older age groups is bound to have a profound effect on societies, not just economically and politically but in all sorts of other ways too. RichardJackson and Neil Howe of America’s CSIS, in a thoughtful b ook called The Graying of the Great Powers, argue that, among other things, the ageing of the developed countries will have a number of serious security implications.For example, the shortage of young adults is likely to make countries more reluctant to commit the few they have to military service. In the decades to 2050, America will find itself playing an ever-increasing role in the developed world’s defence effort. Because America’s population will still be growing when that of most other developed countries is shrinking, America will be the only developed country that still matters geopolitically (地缘政治上).Ask me in 2020There is little that can be done to stop population ageing, so the world will have to live with it. But some of the consequences can be alleviated. Many experts now believe that given the right policies, the effects, though grave, need not be catastrophic. Most countries have recognised the need to do something and are beginning to act.But even then there is no guarantee that their efforts will work. What is happening now is historically unprecedented. Ronald Lee, director of the Centre on the Economics and Demography of Ageing at the University of California, Berkeley, puts it briefly and clearly: “We don’t really know what population ageing will be like, because nobody has done it yet. “注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

2010年12月英语六级考试预测试题及答案四Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic: Salary or Interest. Y ou should write at least 150 words following the outline given below:1. 如今的大学毕业生面临的职业选择：兴趣重要还是工资重要2. 你的观点3. 结论Salary or InterestPart II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer sheet 1. For questions 1-4, markY (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.For questions 5-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.April Fools' Special: History's HoaxesHappy April Fools' Day. To mark the occasion, National Geographic News has compiled a list of some of the more memorable hoaxes in recent history. They are the lies, darned(可恨的) lies, and whoppers(弥天大谎)that have been perpetrated on the gullible(易受骗的)and unsuspecting to fulfill that age-old desire held by some to put the joke on others.Internet HoaxesThe Internet has given birth to a proliferation(增殖)of hoaxes. E-mail inboxes are bombarded on an almost daily basis with messages warning of terrible computer viruses that cause users to delete benign(良性)chunks of data from their hard drives, or of credit card scams that entice the naive to give all their personal information, including passwords and bank account details, to identity thieves. Other e-mails give rise to wry(歪曲的)chuckles, which is where this list begins.Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide(一氧化二氢)City officials in Aliso Viejo, California, were so concerned about the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide that they scheduled a vote last month on whether to ban foam(泡沫)cups from city-sponsored events after they learned the chemical was used in foam-cup production.Officials called off the vote after learning that dihydrogen monoxide is the scientific term for water."It's embarrassing," city manager David J. Norman told the Associated Press. "We had a paralegal(律师助手)who did bad research."Indeed, the paralegal had fallen victim to an official-looking Web site touting the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide. An e-mail originally authored in 1990 by Eric Lechner, then a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, claimed that dihydrogen monoxide "is used as an industrial solvent and coolant, and is used in the production of Styrofoam(聚苯乙烯泡沫塑料)."Other dangers pranksters(爱开玩笑的人)associated with the chemical included accelerated corrosion and rusting, severe burns, and death from inhalation.V ersions of the e-mail continue to circulate today, and several Web sites, including that of theCoalition to Ban DHMO, warn, tongue-in-cheek, of water's dangers.Alabama Changes V alue of PiThe April 1998 newsletter put out by New Mexicans for science and Reason contains an article titled "Alabama Legislature Lays Siege to Pi". It was penned by April Holiday of the Associmated Press (sic) and told the story of how the Alabama state legislature voted to change the value of the mathematical constant Pi from 3.14159 to the round number of 3.The ersatz(假的)news story was written by Los Alamos National Laboratory physicist Mark Boslough to parody(滑稽地模仿)legislative and school board attacks on the teaching of evolution in New Mexico.At Boslough's suggestion, Dave Thomas, the president of New Mexicans for science and Reason, posted the article in its entirety to the Internet newsgroup Talk. Origins on April 1. (The newsgroup hosts a lively debate on creation vs. evolution.) Later that evening Thomas posted a full confession to the hoax. He thought he had put all rumors to bed.But to Thomas's surprise, however, several newsgroup readers forwarded the article to friends and posted it on other newsgroups.When Thomas checked in on the story a few weeks later, he was surprised to learn that it had spread like wildfire. The telltale signs of the article's satirical intent, such as the April 1 date and misspelled "Associmated Press" dateline, had been replaced or deleted.Alabama legislators were bombarded with calls protesting the law. The legislators explained that the news was a hoax. There was not and never had been such a law.TV and Newspaper HoaxesBefore the advent of the Internet, and even today, traditional media outlets such as newspapers, radio, and television, have sometimes hoaxed their audiences. The deceptions run the gamut from purported natural disasters to wishful news.Swiss Spaghetti (意大利式细面条) HarvestAlex Boese, curator of the Museum of Hoaxes, a regularly updated Web site that also appeared in book form in November 2002, said one of his favorite hoaxes remains one perpetrated by the British Broadcasting Company.On April 1, 1957, the BBC aired a report on the television news show Panorama about the bumper spaghetti harvest in southern Switzerland.Viewers watched Swiss farmers pull pasta off spaghetti trees as the show's anchor, Richard Dimbleby, attributed the bountiful harvest to the mild winter and the disappearance of the spaghetti weevil.The broadcaster detailed the ins and outs of the life of the spaghetti farmer and anticipated questions about how spaghetti grows on trees. Thousands of people believed the report and called the BBC to inquire about growing their own spaghetti trees, to which the BBC replied, "Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.""It was a great satirical effect about British society," Boese said. "British society really was like that at that time. The British have a tendency to be a bit insulated(绝缘的) and do not know that much about the rest of Europe."Taco Liberty BellOn April 1, 1996, readers in five major U.S. cities opened their newspapers to learn from a full page announcement that the Taco Bell Corporation had purchased the Liberty Bell from the U.S. government. The announcement reported that the company was relocating the historic bellfrom Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Irvine, California. The move, the corporation said in the advertisement, was part of an "effort to help the national debt".Hundreds of other newspapers and television shows ran stories related to the press release on the matter put out by Taco Bell's public relations firm, PainePR. Outraged citizens called the Liberty Bell National Historic Park in Philadelphia to express their disgust. A few hours later the public relations firm released another press announcement stating that the stunt was a hoax.White House press secretary Mike McCurry got into the act when he remarked that the government would also be "selling the Lincoln Memorial to Ford Motor Company and renaming it the Lincoln-Mercury Memorial".Crop CirclesStrange, circular formations began to appear in the fields of southern England in the mid-1970s, bringing busloads of curious onlookers, media representatives, and believers in the paranormal out to the countryside for a look.A sometimes vitriolic(讽刺的)debate on their origins has since ensued(跟着发生), and the curious formations have spread around the world, becoming more and more elaborate as the years go by.Some people consider the crop formations to be the greatest works of modern art to emerge from the 20th century, while others are convinced they are signs of extraterrestrial communications or landing sites of UFOs.The debate rages even today, although in 1991 Doug Bower and Dave Chorley, two elderly men from Wiltshire County, came forward and claimed responsibility for the crop circles that appeared there over the preceding 20 years. The pair made the circles by pushing down nearly ripe crops with a wooden plank suspended from a rope.Moon Landing—a Hoax?Ever since NASA sent astronauts to the moon between 1969 and 1972, skeptics have questioned whether the Apollo missions were real or simply a ploy to one-up(领先)the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The debate resurfaced and reached crescendo levels in February 2001, when For television aired a program called Conspiracy Theory: Did We Land on the Moon?Guests on the show argued that NASA did not have the technology to land on the moon. Anxious to win the space race, NASA acted out the Apollo program in movie studios, they said. The conspiracy theorists pointed out that the pictures transmitted from the moon do not include stars and that the flag the Americans planted on the moon is waving, even though there is though to be no breeze on the moon.NASA quickly refuted these claims in a series of press releases, stating that any photographer would know it is difficult to capture something very bright and very dim on the same piece of film. Since the photographers wanted to capture the astronauts striding across the lunar surface in their sunlit space suits, the background stars were too faint to see.As for the flag, NASA said that the astronauts were turning it back and forth to get in firmly planted in the lunar soil, which made it wave.1. Some people have the age-old desire to put the joke on others.2. According to the passage, the only form of Internet hoaxes is e-mail hoax.3. Dihydrogen monoxide is a very dangerous chemical, which is often used as an industrial solvent.4. Dihydrogen monoxide can accelerate corrosion and rusting, and cause sever burns andeven death from inhalation.5. The reason why the ersatz news that Alabama changed the value of Pi spread wildly was that ________ forwarded the article to friends and posted it on other newsgroups.6. Traditional media outlets such as ________ may still hoax their audiences nowadays.7. According to Boese, many people believed the report of Swiss spaghetti harvest because the British did not know ________.8. According to a hoax announcement, the Taco Bell Corporation bough the Liberty Bell and moved it to Irvine to help ________.9. The crop circles were thought to be the greatest works of modern art, the signs of ________ or landing sites of UFOs.10. Some people thought that NASA acted out the Apollo program in movie studios partially because the pictures transmitted from the moon do not include ________.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 center.11. [A] She's enjoying the music.[B] The music will keep her awake.[C] The music doesn't bother her.[D] She would prefer a different style of music.12. [A] She will take the subway.[B] She will hurry to the conference.[C] She will skip the conference and go sightseeing[D] She will take a bus.13. [A] She thinks big parties are too impersonal.[B] She would like to invite friends to a big party.[C] She feels she has to spend a lot of money in holding big parties.[D] She would like to be invited to small parties.14. [A] It is quite unexpected.[B] She has already got the news.[C] She has confidence in the man.[D] It is not exciting to learn about it.15. [A] He is not satisfied with the pay.[B] He is not able to enjoy paid holidays.[C] The job is not very challenging for him.[D] There is no hope of promotion.16. [A] He has to change the topic for his composition.[B] He has fallen behind others in English class.[C] He hasn't made up his mind as to what to write about.[D] The book he borrowed will be due tomorrow.17. [A] She is against the man's plan.[B] She thinks it needs a lot of money.[C] They need some time to think about it.[D] It's good for his career development.18. [A] She should present him a book on music.[B] The teacher has some interests other than reading.[C] It's a good idea because the teacher loves reading.[D] The teacher would like to have a book on language teaching.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. [A] He is a professional electrician.[B] He possesses a basic knowledge of electricity.[C] He knows nothing about electricity.[D] Electricity is his major.20. [A] To wire her office. [B] To fix the transformer.[C] To wire her building. [D] To fix the wires.21. [A] The transformer. [B] The battery.[C] The fuses. [D] The wires.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. [A] At a public forum. [B] In an auditorium.[C] On TV. [D] In a classroom.23. [A] Exposing oneself to the target culture.[B] Attending regularly a good language program.[C] Coming up with a study plan.[D] Developing good note-taking skills.24. [A] A realistic goal for learners is to reach a certain level of language proficiency, not native fluency.[B] Students can achieve native-like pronunciation through focused study.[C] Learners should interact with native speakers to gain greater fluency.[D] Teachers need to help students foster a good self-esteem and confidence.25. [A] Remembering as many words as possible.[B] Learning only useful words.[C] Remembering a lot of words a day.[D] Learning to use a few words a day.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some question. 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 center.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. [A] Food is no longer a basic need for us, while it was for primitive people.[B] We eat a wide variety of food.[C] We no longer eat fruit that primitive people ever ate.[D] We eat more food than primitive people did.27. [A] It is needed to adjust the temperature of our bodies.[B] It is our second need.[C] We need clothing to cover our bodies.[D] Weather is changing all the time.28. [A] The climate. [B] One's social position.[C] The materials available. [D] Family size.29. [A] Human Basic Needs. [B] Material Comfort.[C] Food: Human Basic Need. [D] Basic Necessities of Life.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. [A] The meaning of facial expressions depends on situations.[B] Facial expressions can cause misunderstanding across culture.[C] People from one culture may lack facial expressions because they experience less emotion.[D] Facial expressions may disguise true feelings.31. [A] They smile to cover embarrassment[B] It is an unusual and even suspicious behavior.[C] They smile to show politeness.[D] It is an expression of pleasure.32. [A] We shouldn't judge people by reading their faces.[B] We shouldn't smile in the wrong place.[C] We shouldn't cover our true feelings.[D] We shouldn't express our emotions too openly.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. [A] In 1938. [B] In 1946. [C] In 1955. [D] During World War II.34. [A] It reflects commercial interests.[B] It is a fashionable professional event.[C] It is an essential affair for international cinema.[D] It is more concerned with the art of film than with financial interests.35. [A] It is awarded to the best film of the festival.[B] It was introduced in 1959.[C] It was introduced by a commercial organization.[D] Only American directors have received this award.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.Taking your dog on vacation may have been (36) ________ a decade ago, but today it's free.(37) ________ the pet-friendly hotel, where dogs are just part of the family, the LoewsMiami Beach has had more than 1,200 (38) ________ guests so far this year. Dogs, like kids, stay free there.A lot of people just want to travel with their animals, so the hotel (39) ________ guests to come with their pets. The hotel has a special (40) ________ for them from the time they enter the door till the time they leave.There are fresh grapes by the pool for the discerning dog and a cup of ice cubes for the hot dog. And don't forget the special doggie dinner menu. The hotel kitchen (41) ________ to canines as well as their masters. The most popular dog dish is a (42) ________ of beef, vegetables and rice. It's really great. (43) ________, the people food is even better.(44) ________________________. Some of them don't have children, and the dogs may fill that gap for them. (45) ________________________. But what pet wouldn't want to be welcomed back to a welcome meal that includes an all-beef hamburger bone?(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 on Answer Sheet 2.Questions 47 to 51 are based on the following passage.Wild ducks and other migratory(迁移的) birds could be important carriers of deadly bird flu, researchers say. Even so, the infectious-disease experts say there is no solid basis for killing wild birds to protect poultry and minimize the risk of human infection.The European team investigating the global spread of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza(禽流感)says certain duck species may be infecting wild bird populations. Geese and wading birds are also possible vectors(带菌者)of the virus, the team says.The team's study was led by Björn Olsen of Umea University in Sweden. Olsen runs Europe's largest wild-bird flu monitoring program.Studies have shown that influenza viruses in lake water, generally passed via bird feces(粪), can stay infectious for up to 30 days. The migration or feeding behavior of dabbling ducks could at least partially explain the spread of the H5N1 strain of bird flu, the researchers add.This group of duck species includes mallards, teal, pintails, and others that feed at or near the surface, where viruses in water are most likely to be picked up. Perhaps as a result, dabblers have the highest known rates of avian influenza infection, the study says. For instance, nearly 13 percent of mallards tested positive for bird flu. Other species tested include the American black duck (18.1 percent), blue-winged teal (11.5 percent), and northern pintail (11.2 percent).However, bird flu viruses appear to exist in ducks in a low-pathogenic form, meaning infection doesn't usually lead to severe illness and death."Dabbling ducks are for sure the prime hosts for low pathogenic viruses," said study co-author Ron Fouchier, a virologist at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands. "But the big question is, how much of our knowledge about these viruses can we translate to high-pathogenic viruses such as the H5N1 strain of bird flu?"In poultry avian viruses can mutate(变异)into more virulent influenza strains, including H5N1. If this mutated virus then finds its way back into wild populations, the birds could then spread the disease through migration.Some scientists have argued that wild birds infected with HN51 would be too ill to migrate. Swans, for instance, appear to be particularly vulnerable to the strain. "Swans apparently drop dead quite easily, but they are unlikely to be the vector because they are not going to fly very far if they are dead," Fouchier said.But the study team says that some birds that have been purposely infected for the sake of research show that wild birds can survive H5N1. "For some reason H5N1 has adapted so it no longer kills dabbling ducks," Fouchier said. This means the ducks may be able to spread the virus over a wide area.The study team says migratory geese may also be vectors, because they often graze in huge flocks, a practice that could encourage transmission.Migrating ducks, the researchers add, "could provide an intercontinental bridge" for bird flu to North America, which has not yet had any known cases of H5N1.47. According to the author, what may be the possible carriers of bird flu?48. The main sources of influenza viruses in lake water are ________, which may stay infectious for up to 30 days.49. By saying "bird flu viruses appear to exist in ducks in a low-pathogenic form" (Para. 6), the author suggests that infection ________.50. On what condition can the birds spread the influenza through migration?51. According to the study team, ________ is a practice that can encourage transmission of the bird flu.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]. Y ou should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center.Passage OneQuestions 52 to 56 are based on the following passage.For about three centuries we have been doing science, trying science out, using science for the construction of what we call modern civilization. Every dispensable item of contemporary technology, from canal locks to dial telephones to penicillin, was pieced together from the analysis of data provided by one or another series of scientific experiments. Three hundred years seems a long time for testing a new approach to human inter-living, long enough to set back for critical appraisal of the scientific method, maybe even long enough to vote on whether to go on with it or not. There is an argument.V oices have been raised in protest since the beginning, rising in pitch and violence in the nineteenth century during the early stages of the industrial revolution, summoning urgent crowds into the streets on the issue of nuclear energy. "Give it back," say some of the voices, "It doesn't really work, we've tried it and it doesn't work. Go back three hundred years and start again on something else less chancy for the race of man."The principle discoveries in this century, taking all in all, are the glimpses of the depth of our ignorance of nature. Things that used to seem clear and rational, and matters of absolute certainty-Newtonian mechanics, for example-have slipped through our fingers; and we are left with a new set of gigantic puzzles, cosmic uncertainties, and ambiguities. Some of the laws of physics are amended every few years; some are canceled outright; some undergo revised versionsof legislative intent as if they were acts of Congress.Just thirty years ago we call it a biological revolution when the fantastic geometry of the DNA molecule was exposed to public view and the linear language of genetics was decoded. For a while, things seemed simple and clear: the cell was a neat little machine, a mechanical device ready for taking to pieces and reassembling, like a tiny watch. But just in the last few years it has become almost unbelievably complex, filled with strange parts whose functions are beyond today's imagining.It is not just that there is more to do, there is everything to do. What lies ahead, or what can lie ahead if the efforts in basic research are continued, is much more than the conquest of human disease or the improvement of agricultural technology or the cultivation of nutrients in the sea. As we learn more about fundamental processes of living things in general we will learn more about ourselves.52. What CANNOT be inferred from the first paragraph?[A] Scientific experiments in the past three hundred years have produced many valuable items.[B] For three hundred years there have been people holding a hostile attitude toward science.[C] Modern civilization depends on science so man supports scientific progress unanimously.[D] Some people think three hundred years is not long enough to set back for critical appraisal of scientific method.53. The principle discovery in this century shows ________.[A] man has overthrown Newton's laws of physics[B] man has solved a new set of gigantic puzzles[C] man has lost many scientific discoveries[D] man has given up some of the once accepted theories54. Now scientists have found in the past few years ________.[A] the exposure of DNA to the public is unnecessary[B] the tiny cell in DNA is a neat little machine[C] man knows nothing about DNA[D] man has much to learn about DNA55. The writer's main purpose in writing the passage is to say that ________.[A] science is just at its beginning[B] science has greatly improved man's life[C] science has made profound progress[D] science has done too little to human beings56. The writer's attitude towards science is ________.[A] critical [B] approving [C] neutral [D] regretfulPassage TwoQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.Here amid the steel and concrete canyons, green grass grows. A hawthorn tree(山楂树) stands in new soil, and freshly dug plants bend in the wind.But Chicago City Hall here seems an unlikely spot for a garden of any variety—especially 20,000 square feet of gardens—on its roof.As one of a handful of similar projects around the country, the garden is part of a $1.5 million demonstration projected by the city to reduce its "urban heat islands", said William Abolt, thecommissioner of the Department of Environment.Heat islands-dark surfaces in the city, like rooftops-soak up heat. The retention can bake a building, making it stubborn to cooling.The roof of City Hall, a 90-year-old gray stone landmark on LaSalle Street in the heart of downtown, has been known to reach temperature substantially hotter than the actual temperature on the street below.The garden will provide greenery and shade. "And that," said the city officials, "will save the city dollars on those blistering summer days." The project savings from cooling is about $4,000 a year on a new roof whose life span is about 50 percent longer than that of a traditional roof.The sprawling open-air rooftop garden is being carefully built on a multi-tiered bed of special soil, polystyrene, egg-carton-shaped cones and "waterproof membrane" mall to keep the roof from leaking, or caving under the normal combined weight of soil, rain and plant life.The design calls for soil depths of 4 inches to 18 inches. When the last plants and seedlings are buried and the last bit of compost is laid, the garden will have circular brick stepping-stones winding up to hills."The primary focus of what we want to do was to establish this laboratory on the top of City Hall to get people involved and understanding their impact on the environment and how the little things can make an impact on the quality of life", Mr. Abolt said, adding that the plants also help to clear the air.Rooftop gardens, in places where concrete jungles have erased plants and trees, are not new, not even in Chicago. Arms of greenery dangling over terraces or sprouting from rooftops, common in Europe, are becoming more so in the United States as people become increasingly conscious about the environment.Richard M. Daley, who urged the environmental department to look into the project after noticing rooftop gardens in Hamburg, Germany a few years ago, has praised the garden as the first of its kind on a public building in the country.It will hold thousands of plants in more than 150 species-wild onion and butterfly weed, sky-blue aster and buffalo grass-to provide data on what species adapt best. Small plants requiring shallow soil depths were chiefly selected.57. The rooftop garden project ________.[A] is common and popular in the country[B] is a demonstration project and costs the city government 1.5 million dollars[C] will make the ordinary cooling down of the city in summer unnecessary[D] aims at getting people involved and understanding their impact on the environment58. What can we learn about the City Hall?[A] It was built ninety years ago and is the most outstanding feature in the center of the city.[B] It is originally proper to build a garden on the top of the City Hall.[C] The temperature on its top is a little bit lower than that on the street below.[D] It is the first building in America to have a garden on it.59. Which of the following statements is TRUE?[A] Every year, Chicago spends about $ 4,000 on cooling the city.[B] The design of the garden on the City Hall specially takes into consideration the weight the roof can stand.[C] The Mayor urged the environmental department to look into rooftop gardens in Hamburg。

2010年12月英语六级听力原文完整版和答案听力原文Section A短对话（11~18）11W: This is one of our best and least expensive two-bedroom listings. It‟s located in a quiet building and it‟s close to bus lines.M: That maybe true. But look at it, it‟s awful, the paint has peeled off and carpet is worn and the stove is ancient.Q: What can we infer from the conversation?12M: The pictures we took at the botanical garden should be ready tomorrow.W: I can‟t wait to see them, I‟m wondering if the shots I took are as good as I thought.Q: What is the woman eager to know?13W: The handle of the suitcase is broken. Can you have it fixed by next Tuesday?M: Let me see, I need to find a handle that matches but that shouldn‟t take too long.Q: What does the man mean?14M: This truck looks l ike what I need but I‟m worried about maintenance. For us it‟ll have to operate for long periods of time in very cold temperatures.W: We have several models that are especially adaptive for extreme conditions. Would you like to see them?Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?15M: I think your boss would be very upset when he gets your letter of resignation.W: That may be so. But in the letter, I just told him frankly I could no longer live with his poor management and stupid decisions.Q: What do we learn about the woman?16W I‟d like to exchange the shirt. I‟ve learned that the person bought it for allergic to wool.M Maybe we can find something in cotton or silk. Please come this way.Q；What does the women want to do？17M: Excuse me, Miss？Did anyone happen to turn in a new handbag? You know, it‟s a birthday gift for my wife.W: Let me see. Oh, we‟ve got quite a lot of women‟s bags here. Can you give me more detailed information, such as the color, the size and the trademark?Q: Where does this conversation most probably take place?18M What are you going to do with the old house you are in heritage from your grandfather?W I once intended to sell it, but now, I‟m thinking of turning it into a guest house, because it's still a solid structure.Q: What does the man plan to do with his old house?长对话（19~25）W: When you write a novel, do you know where you‟re going, Dr. James?M: Yes, you must, really, if you‟re writing the classical detective story, because it must be so carefully plotted and so carefully clued. I have schemes. I have charts. I hav e diagrams. It doesn‟t mean to say that I always get it right, but I do plan before I begin writing. But what is so fascinating is how a book changes during the process of writing. It seems to me that creative writing is a process of revelation, really, rather than of creativity in the ordinary sense.W: When you‟re planning the basic structure, do you like to go away to be sure that you‟re by yourself?M: I need to be by myself certainly, absolutely. I can‟t even bare anybody else in the house. I don‟t mind much where I am as long as I‟ve got enough space to write, but I need to be completely alone.W: Is that very important to you?M: Oh, yes. I‟ve never been lonely in all my life.W: How extraordinary! Never?M: No, never.W: You‟re very lucky. Someone once said that there‟s a bit of ice at the heart of every writer.M: Yes. I think this is true. The writer can stand aside from experience and look at it, watch it happening. There is this …detachment‟ and I realize that there are obviously experiences which would overwhelm everyone. But very often, a writer can appear to stand aside, and this detachment makes people feel there‟s a bit of ice in the heart.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. What is the key to write a good classical detective story according to the man?20. What does the man mainly need when working on a book?21. What does the man say about writers?W: There is an element there about competition then, isn‟t there? Because British railways are a nationaliz ed industry. There‟s only one railway system in the country. If you don‟t like a particular kind of big beans, you can go and buy another. But if you don't like a particular railway, you can‟t go and use another.M: Some people who write to me say this. Th ey say that if you didn‟t have monopoly, you wouldn‟t be able to do the things you do. Well, I don‟t think we do anything deliberately to upset our customers. We have particular problems. Since 1946, when the Transport Act came in, we were nationalized.W: Do you think that‟s a good thing? Has it been a good thing for the railways, do you think, to be nationalized?M: Oh I think so, yes. Because in general, modes of transport are all around. Let‟s face the fact. The car arrived. The car is here to stay. There is no question about that.W: So what are you saying then? Is it if the railways happen being nationalized, they would simply have disappeared?M: Oh, I think they would have. They‟re disappearing fast in America. Er, the French railways lose 1 billion ponds a year. The German railways, 2 billion ponds a year. But you see, those governments are preparing to pour money into the transport system to keep it going.W: So in a sense, you cope between two extremes. On the one hand, you‟re trying not to lose to o much money. And on the other hand, you‟ve got to provide the best service.M: Yes, you are right.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. What does the woman say about British railways?23. What do some people who write to the man complain about?24. What does the man say threatens the existence of railways?25. What does the man say about railways in other countries?Section BPassage OneAmong global warming‟s most frightening threats is the prediction is that the polar ice-caps will melt, raising sea level so much that coastal cities from New York to Los Angles to Shanghai will be flooded. Scientists agree that key player in this scenario is the West Antarctic ice sheet, a Brazil-size mass of frozen water that is much as 7000 feet thick. Unlike floating ice shelves which have little impact on sea level when they break up, the ice sheet is anchored to bedrock will blow the sea surface. Surrounded by open ocean, it is also vulnerable, but Antarctic experts disagree strongly on just how unstable it is. Now, new evidence reveals that all or most of the Antarctic ice sheet collapsed at least once during the past 1.3 million years, a period when global temperatures probably were not significantly higher than they are today. And the ice sheet was assumed to have been stable. In geological time, a million years is recent history. The proof, which was published last week in Science, comes from a team of scientists from Uppsala University in Sweden and California Institute of Technology who drew deep holes near the edge of ice sheet. Within samplescollected from the solid substances lying beneath the ice. They found fossils of microscopic marine plants which suggest that the region was once open ocean not solid ice. As Herman Engleheart, a co-author from the California Institute of Technology says, …the West Antarctic ice sheet disappear once and can disappear again.‟26. What is one of the most frightening threats of global warming according to the passage?27. What did scientists disagree on?28. What is the latest information revealed about the West Antarctic ice sheet?29. What the scientists‟ latest findings suggest?Passage TwoIt's always fun to write about research that you can actually try out for yourself.Try this: Take a photo and upload it to Facebook, then after a day or so, note what the URL link to the picture is and then delete it. Come back a month later and see if the link works. Chances are: It will.Facebook isn't alone here. Researchers at Cambridge University have found that nearly half of the social networking sites don't immediately delete pictures when a user requests they be removed. In general, photo-centric websites like Flickr were found to be better at quickly removing deleted photos upon request.Why do "deleted" photos stick around so long? The problem relates to the way data is stored on large websites: While your personal computer only keeps one copy of a file, large-scale services like Facebook rely on what are called content delivery networks to manage data and distribution. It's a complex system wherein data is copied to multiple intermediate devices, usually to speed up access to files when millions of people are trying to access the service at the same time. But because changes aren't reflected across the content delivery networks immediately, ghost copies of files tend to linger for days or weeks.In the case of Facebook, the company says data may hang around until the URL in question is reused, which is usually "after a short period of time", though obviously that time can vary considerably.30. What does the speaker ask us to try out?31. What accounts for the failure of some websites to remove photos immediately?32. When will the unwanted data eventually disappear from Facebook according to the company?Passage ThreeEnjoying an iced coffee? Better skip dinner or hit the gym afterwards, with a cancer charity warning that some iced coffees contain as many calories as a hot dinner.The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) conducted a survey of iced coffees sold by some popular chains in Britain including Starbucks, Caffe Nero and Costa Coffee to gauge the calories as studies increasingly link obesity with cancer.The worst offender - a coffee from Starbucks -- had 561 calories. Other iced coffees contained more than 450 calories and the majority had an excess of 200.Health experts advise that the average woman should consume about 2,000 calories a day and a man about 2,500 calories to maintain a healthy weight. Dieters aim for 1,000 to 1,500 calories a day."The fact that there is an iced coffee on the market with over a quarter of a woman's daily calories allowance is alarming," Dr Rachel Thompson, science programme manager at London-based WCRF, said in a widely-reported statement."This is the amount of calories you might expect to have in an evening meal, not in a drink."The WCRF has estimated that 19,000 cancers a year in Britain could be prevented if people lost their excess weight with growing evidence that excess body fat increases the risk of various cancers."If you are having these types of coffee regularly then they will increase the chances of you becoming overweight, which in turn increases your risk of developing cancer, as well as other diseases such as heart disease." she added.33. What warning did some health experts give?34. What does the author suggest people do after they have an iced coffee?35. What could British people expect if they maintain a normal body weight according to the WCRF?Section CPsychologists are finding that hope plays a surprisingly vital role in giving people a measurable advantage in rounds as diverse as academic achievement, bearing up in tough jobs, and coping with tragic illness. And, by contrast, the loss of hope, is turning out to be a stronger sign that a person may commit suicide than other factors long thought to be more likely risks. …Hope has proven a powerful predictor of outcome in every study we've done so far,‟ said Doctor Charles R. Snyder, a psychologist, who has devised a scale to assess how much hope a person has. Forexample, in research with 3920 college students, Doctor Snyder and his colleagues found that the level of hope among freshmen at the beginning of their first semester was a more accurate predictor of their college grades, than were their SAT scores or their grade point averages in high school, the two measures most commonly used to predict college performance. …Students with high hope set themselves higher goals and know how to work to attain them,‟ Doctor Snyder said. …When you comp are students of equivalent intelligence and past academic achievements, what sets them apart is hope.‟ In devising a way to assess hope scientifically, Doctor Snyder went beyond the simple notion that hope is merely the sense that everything will turn out all right. …That notion is not concrete enough and it blurs two key components of hope,‟ Doctor Snyder said, …Having hope means believing you have both the will and the way to accomplish your goals, whatever they may be.‟2010年12月英语六级听力考试试题答案Listening ComprehensionSection A11. What can we infer from the conversation?【答案】A The man is the manager of the apartment building【解析】从对话中看出女士在找apartment building，不是男士。

2010年12月大学英语六级考试真题Part I Writing (30 minutes)Direction:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled My Views on University Ranking. You should write at least 150 words following the outl ine given below.1. 目前高校排名相当盛行;2. 对于这种做法人们看法不一;3. 在我看来……My Views on University Ranking...Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions:In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly an d answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer fro m the four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D]. For questions 8-10, complete the senten ces with the information given in the passage.Into the UnknownThe world has never seen population ageing before. Can it cope?Until the early 1990s nobody much thought about whole populations getting older. Th e UN had the foresight to convene a “world assembly on ageing” back in 1982, but that came and went. By 1994 the World Bank had noticed that something big was happening. In a report entitled “Averting the Old Age Crisis”, it argued that pension arrangements i n most countries were unsustainable.For the next ten years a succession of books, mainly by Americans, sounded the alar m. They had titles like Young vs Old, Gray Dawn and The Coming Generational Storm, and their message was blunt: health-care systems were heading for the rocks, pensioners were taking young people to the cleaners, and soon there would be intergenerational warfa re.Since then the debate has become less emotional, not least because a lot more is kno wn about the subject. Books, conferences and research papers have multiplied. Internationa l organisations such as the OECD and the EU issue regular reports. Population ageing is on every agenda, from G8 economic conferences to NATO summits. The World Economic Forum plans to consider the future of pensions and health care at its prestigious Davos c onference early next year. The media, including this newspaper, are giving the subject ext ensive coverage.Whether all that attention has translated into sufficient action is another question. Gov ernments in rich countries now accept that their pension and health-care promises will soo n become unaffordable, and many of them have embarked on reforms, but so far only tim idly. That is not surprising: politicians with an eye on the next election will hardly rush t o introduce unpopular measures that may not bear fruit for years, perhaps decades.The outline of the changes needed is clear. To avoid fiscal (财政) meltdown, public pensions and health-care provision will have to be reined back severely and taxes may ha ve to go up. By far the most effective method to restrain pension spending is to give peo ple the opportunity to work longer, because it increases tax revenues and reduces spending on pensions at the same time. It may even keep them alive longer. John Rother, the AA RP’s head of policy and strategy, points to studies showing that other things being equal, people who remain at work have lower death rates than their retired peers.Younger people today mostly accept that they will have to work for longer and that their pensions will be less generous. Employers still need to be persuaded that older work ers are worth holding on to. That may be because they have had plenty of younger ones to choose from, partly thanks to the post-war baby-boom and partly because over the past few decades many more women have entered the labour force, increasing employers’ cho ice. But the reservoir of women able and willing to take up paid work is running low, an d the baby-boomers are going grey.In many countries immigrants have been filling such gaps in the labour force as have already emerged (and remember that the real shortage is still around ten years off). Immi gration in the developed world is the highest it has ever been, and it is making a useful difference. In still-fertile America it currently accounts for about 40% of total population growth, and in fast-ageing western Europe for about 90%.On the face of it, it seems the perfect solution. Many developing countries have lots of young people in need of jobs; many rich countries need helping hands that will boost tax revenues and keep up economic growth. But over the next few decades labour forces in rich countries are set to shrink so much that inflows of immigrants would have to incre ase enormously to compensate: to at least twice their current size in western Europe’s m ost youthful countries, and three times in the older ones. Japan would need a large multip le of the few immigrants it has at present. Public opinion polls show that people in most rich countries already think that immigration is too high. Further big increases would be politically unfeasible.To tackle the problem of ageing populations at its root, “old” countries would have t o rejuvenate (使年轻) themselves by having more of their own children. A number of the m have tried, some more successfully than others. But it is not a simple matter of offerin g financial incentives or providing more child care. Modern urban life in rich countries is not well adapted to large families. Women find it hard to combine family and career. Th ey often compromise by having just one child.And if fertility in ageing countries does not pick up? It will not be the end of the w orld, at least not for quite a while yet, but the world will slowly become a different plac e. Older societies may be less innovative and more strongly disinclined to take risks than younger ones. By 2025 at the latest, about half the voters in America and most of those in western European countries will be over 50—and older people turn out to vote in muc h greater number than younger ones. Academic studies have found no evidence so far that older voters have used their power at the ballot box to push for policies that specifically benefit them, though if in future there are many more of them they might start doing s o.Nor is there any sign of the intergenerational warfare predicted in the 1990s. After al l, older people themselves mostly have families. In a recent study of parents and grown-u p children in 11 European countries, Karsten Hank of Mannheim University found that 85% of them lived within 25km of each other and the majority of them were in touch at l east once a week.Even so, the shift in the centre of gravity to older age groups is bound to have a pr ofound effect on societies, not just economically and politically but in all sorts of other w ays too. Richard Jackson and Neil Howe of America’s CSIS, in a thoughtful book called The Graying of the Great Powers, argue that, among other things, the ageing of the devel oped countries will have a number of serious security implications.For example, the shortage of young adults is likely to make countries more reluctant to commit the few they have to military service. In the decades to 2050, America will fin d itself playing an ever-increasing role in the developed w orld’s defence effort. Because A merica’s population will still be growing when that of most other developed countries is s hrinking, America will be the only developed country that still matters geopolitically (地缘政治上).Ask me in 2020There is little that can be done to stop population ageing, so the world will have to live with it. But some of the consequences can be alleviated. Many experts now believe t hat given the right policies, the effects, though grave, need not be catastrophic. Most coun tries have recognised the need to do something and are beginning to act.But even then there is no guarantee that their efforts will work. What is happening n ow is historically unprecedented. Ronald Lee, director of the Centre on the Economics and Demography of Ageing at the University of California, Berkeley, puts it briefly and clearly: “We don’t really know what population ageing will be like, because nobody has done it yet. “注意：此部分题库请在答题卡1上作答。

正保远程教育旗下品牌网站美国纽交所上市公司(NYSE:DL)外语教育网外语学习的网上乐园2010年12月大学英语六级考试真题Part I Writing （30 minutes）Direction: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled My Views on University Ranking. You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below.1. 目前高校排名相当盛行;2. 对于这种做法人们看法不一;3. 在我看来……My Views on University RankingPart 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.Into the UnknownThe world has never seen population ageing before. Can it cope?Until the early 1990s nobody much thought about whole populations getting older. The UN had the foresight to convene a "world assembly on ageing" back in 1982, but that came and went. By 1994 the World Bank had noticed that something big was happening. In a report entitled "Averting the Old Age Crisis", it argued that pension arrangements in most countries were unsustainable.For the next ten years a succession of books, mainly by Americans, sounded the alarm. They had titles like Young vs Old, Gray Dawn and The Coming Generational Storm, and their message was blunt: health-care sysTEMs were heading for the rocks, pensioners were taking young people to the cleaners, and soon there would be intergenerational warfare. 【外语教育&网】Since then the debate has become less emotional, not least because a lot more is known about the subject. Books, conferences and research papers have multiplied. International organisations such as the OECD and the EU issue regular reports. Population ageing is on every agenda, from G8 economic conferences to NATO summits. The World Economic Forum plans to consider the future of pensions and health care at its prestigious Davos conference early next year. The media, including this newspaper, are giving the subject extensive coverage.Whether all that attention has translated into sufficient action is another question. Governments in rich countries now accept that their pension and health-care promises will soon become unaffordable, and many of them have。

2010年12月英语六级听力原文Section A11、W: This is one of our best and least expensive two-bedroom listings. It’s located ina quiet building and it’s close to bus lines.M: That maybe true. But look at it, it’s awful, the paint has peeled off and carpet is worn and the stove is ancient.Q: What can we infer from the conversation?12、M: The pictures we took at the botanical garden should be ready tomorrow.W: I can’t wait to see them, I’m wondering if the shots I took are as good as I thought. Q: What is the woman eager to know?13、W: The handle of the suitcase is broken. Can you have it fixed by next Tuesday? M: Let me see, I need to find a handle that matches but that shouldn’t take too long. Q: What does the man mean?14、M: This truck looks like what I need but I’m worried about maintenance. For us it’ll have to operate for long periods of time in very cold temperatures.W: We have several models that are especially adaptive for extreme conditions. Would you like to see them?Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?15、M: I think your boss would be very upset when he gets your letter of resignation. W: That may be so. But in the letter, I just told him frankly I could no longer live with his poor management and stupid decisions.Q: What do we learn about the woman?16、W I’d like to exchange the shirt. I’ve learned that the person bought it for allergic to wool.M Maybe we can find something in cotton or silk. Please come this way.Q；What does the women want to do？17、: Excuse me, Miss？Did anyone happen to turn in a new handbag? You know, it’s a birthday gift for my wife.W: Let me see. Oh, we’ve got quite a lot of women’s bags here. Can you give me more detailed information, such as the color, the size and the trademark?Q: Where does this conversation most probably take place?18、M What are you going to do with the old house you are in heritage from your grandfather?W I once intended to sell it, but now, I’m thinking of turning it into a guest house, because it's still a solid structure.Q: What does the man plan to do with his old house?长对话（19~25）W: When you write a novel, do you know where you’re going, Dr. James?M: Yes, you must, really, if you’re writing the classical detective story, because it must be so carefully plotted and so carefully clued. I have schemes. I have charts. I have diagrams. It doesn’t mean to say that I always get it right, but I do plan before I begin writing. But what is so fascinating is how a book changes during the process of writing. It seems to me that creative writing is a process of revelation, really, rather than of creativity in the ordinary sense.W: When you’re planning the basic structure, do you like to go away to be sure that you’re by yourself?M: I need to be by myself certainly, absolutely. I can’t even bare anybody else in the house. I don’t mind much where I am as long as I’ve got enough space to write, but I need to be completely alone.W: Is that very important to you?M: Oh, yes. I’ve never been lonely in all my life.W: How extraordinary! Never?M: No, never.W: You’re very lucky. Someone once said that there’s a bit of ice at the heart of every writer.M: Yes. I think this is true. The writer can stand aside from experience and look at it, watch it happening. There is this ‘detachment’ and I realize that there are obviously experiences which would overwhelm everyone. But very often, a writer can appear to stand aside, and this detachment makes people feel there’s a bit of ice in the heart. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. What is the key to write a good classical detective story according to the man?20. What does the man mainly need when working on a book?21. What does the man say about writers?W: There is an element there about competition then, isn’t there? Bec ause British railways are a nationalized industry. There’s only one railway system in the country. If you don’t like a particular kind of big beans, you can go and buy another. But if you don't like a particular railway, you can’t go and use another.M: So me people who write to me say this. They say that if you didn’t have monopoly, you wouldn’t be able to do the things you do. Well, I don’t think we do anything deliberately to upset our customers. We have particular problems. Since 1946, when the Transport Act came in, we were nationalized.W: Do you think that’s a good thing? Has it been a good thing for the railways, do you think, to be nationalized?M: Oh I think so, yes. Because in general, modes of transport are all around. Let’s face the fact. The car arrived. The car is here to stay. There is no question about that. W: So what are you saying then? Is it if the railways happen being nationalized, they would simply have disappeared?M: Oh, I think they would have. They’re disappearing fast in America. E r, the French railways lose 1 billion ponds a year. The German railways, 2 billion ponds a year. But you see, those governments are preparing to pour money into the transport system to keep it going.W: So in a sense, you cope between two extremes. On the one hand, you’re trying not to lose too much money. And on the other hand, you’ve got to provide the best service.M: Yes, you are right.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. What does the woman say about British railways?23. What do some people who write to the man complain about?24. What does the man say threatens the existence of railways?25. What does the man say about railways in other countries?Section BPassage OneAmong global warming’s most frightening threa ts is the prediction is that the polar ice-caps will melt, raising sea level so much that coastal cities from New York to Los Angles to Shanghai will be flooded. Scientists agree that key player in this scenario is the West Antarctic ice sheet, a Brazil-size mass of frozen water that is much as 7000 feet thick. Unlike floating ice shelves which have little impact on sea level when they break up, the ice sheet is anchored to bedrock will blow the sea surface. Surrounded by open ocean, it is also vulnerable, but Antarctic experts disagree strongly on just how unstable it is. Now, new evidence reveals that all or most of the Antarctic ice sheet collapsed at least once during the past 1.3 million years, a period when global temperatures probably were not significantly higher than they are today. And the ice sheet was assumed to have been stable. In geological time, a million years is recent history. The proof, which was published last week in Science, comes from a team of scientists from Uppsala University in Sweden and California Institute of Technology who drew deep holes near the edge of ice sheet. Within samples collected from the solid substances lying beneath the ice. They found fossils of microscopic marine plants which suggest that the region was once open ocean not solid ice. As Herman Engleheart, a co-author from the California Institute of Technology says, ‘the West Antarctic ice sheet disappear once and can disappear again.’26. What is one of the most frightening threats of global warming according to the passage?27. What did scientists disagree on?28. What is the latest information revealed about the West Antarctic ice sheet?29. What the scientists’ latest findings suggest?Passage TwoIt's always fun to write about research that you can actually try out for yourself.Try this: Take a photo and upload it to Facebook, then after a day or so, note what the URL link to the picture is and then delete it. Come back a month later and see if the link works. Chances are: It will.Facebook isn't alone here. Researchers at Cambridge University have found that nearly half of the social networking sites don't immediately delete pictures when a user requests they be removed. In general, photo-centric websites like Flickr were found to be better at quickly removing deleted photos upon request.Why do "deleted" photos stick around so long? The problem relates to the way data is stored on large websites: While your personal computer only keeps one copy of a file, large-scale services like Facebook rely on what are called content delivery networks to manage data and distribution. It's a complex system wherein data is copied to multiple intermediate devices, usually to speed up access to files when millions of people are trying to access the service at the same time. But because changes aren't reflected across the content delivery networks immediately, ghostcopies of files tend to linger for days or weeks.In the case of Facebook, the company says data may hang around until the URL in question is reused, which is usually "after a short period of time", though obviously that time can vary considerably.30. What does the speaker ask us to try out?31. What accounts for the failure of some websites to remove photos immediately?32. When will the unwanted data eventually disappear from Facebook according to the company?Passage ThreeEnjoying an iced coffee? Better skip dinner or hit the gym afterwards, with a cancer charity warning that some iced coffees contain as many calories as a hot dinner.The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) conducted a survey of iced coffees sold by some popular chains in Britain including Starbucks, Caffe Nero and Costa Coffee to gauge the calories as studies increasingly link obesity with cancer.The worst offender - a coffee from Starbucks -- had 561 calories. Other iced coffees contained more than 450 calories and the majority had an excess of 200.Health experts advise that the average woman should consume about 2,000 calories a day and a man about 2,500 calories to maintain a healthy weight. Dieters aim for 1,000 to 1,500 calories a day."The fact that there is an iced coffee on the market with over a quarter of a woman's daily calories allowance is alarming," Dr Rachel Thompson, science programme manager at London-based WCRF, said in a widely-reported statement "This is the amount of calories you might expect to have in an evening meal, not in a drink."The WCRF has estimated that 19,000 cancers a year in Britain could be prevented if people lost their excess weight with growing evidence that excess body fat increases the risk of various cancers."If you are having these types of coffee regularly then they will increase the chances of you becoming overweight, which in turn increases your risk of developing cancer, as well as other diseases such as heart disease." she added.33. What warning did some health experts give?34. What does the author suggest people do after they have an iced coffee?35. What could British people expect if they maintain a normal body weight according to the WCRF?2010年12月英语六级听力考试试题答案考后第一时间发布Section A11.【答案】A【解析】从对话中看出女士在找apartment building，不是男士。

学英语简单吗？肯定会有许多学生说：“难死了”。

为什么有好多学生对英语的学习都感到头疼呢？答案只有一个：“不得法。

” 英语与汉语一样都是一种语言，为什么你说汉语会如此流利？那是因为你置身于一个汉语环境中，如果你在伦敦呆上半年，保准说起英语来会非常流利。

但很多中学生没有很好的英语环境，那么你可以自己设置一个英语环境，坚持“多说”、“多听”、“多读”、“多写”，那么你的英语成绩肯定会很出色。

一、多“说”。

自己多创造机会与英语教师多讲英语，见了同学，尤其是和好朋友在一起时尽量用英语去问候，谈心情……这时候你需随身携带一个英汉互译小词典，遇到生词时查一下这些生词，也不用刻意去记，用的多了，这个单词自然而然就会记住。

千万别把学英语当成负担，始终把它当成一件有趣的事情去做。

或许你有机会碰上外国人，你应大胆地上去跟他打招呼，和他谈天气、谈风景、谈学校……只是别问及他的年纪，婚史等私人问题。

尽量用一些你学过的词汇，句子去和他谈天说地。

不久你会发现与老外聊天要比你与中国人谈英语容易的多。

因为他和你交谈时会用许多简单词汇，而且不太看重说法，你只要发音准确，准能顺利地交流下去。

只是你必须要有信心，敢于表达自己的思想。

如果没有合适的伙伴也没关系，你可以拿过一本书或其它什么东西做假想对象，对它谈你一天的所见所闻，谈你的快乐，你的悲伤等等，长此坚持下去你的口语肯定会有较大的提高。

二、多“听”寻找一切可以听英语的机会。

别人用英语交谈时，你应该大胆地去参与，多听听各种各样人的发音，男女老少，节奏快的慢的你都应该接触到，如果这样的机会少的话，你可以选择你不知内容的文章去听，这将会对你帮助很大，而你去听学过的课文的磁带，那将会对你的语言语调的学习有很大的帮助。

三、多“读”。

“读”可以分为两种。

一种是“默读”。

每天给予一定时间的练习将会对你提高阅读速度有很大的好处，读的内容可以是你的课本，但最好是一些有趣的小读物，因为现在的英语高考越来越重视阅读量和阅读速度。

2010年12月大学英语六级考试真题Part I Writing (30 minutes)Direction: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled My Views on University Ranking. Y ou should write at least 150 words following the outline given below.1. 目前高校排名相当盛行；2. 对于这种做法人们看法不一；3. 在我看来……My Views on University RankingPart 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.Into the UnknownThe world has never seen population ageing before. Can it cope?Until the early 1990s nobody much thought about whole populations getting older. The UN had the foresight to convene a “world assembly on ageing” back in 1982, but that came and went. By 1994 the World Bank had noticed that something big was happening. In a report entitled “Averting the Old Age Crisis”, it argued that pension arrangements in most countries were unsustainable.For the next ten years a succession of books, mainly by Americans, sounded the alarm. They had titles like Y oung vs Old, Gray Dawn and The Coming Generational Storm, and their message was blunt: health-care systems were heading for the rocks, pensioners were taking young people to the cleaners, and soon there would be intergenerational warfare.Since then the debate has become less emotional, not least because a lot more is known about the subject. Books, conferences and research papers have multiplied. International organisations such as the OECD and the EU issue regular reports. Population ageing is on every agenda, from G8 economic conferences to NA TO summits. The World Economic Forum plans to consider the future of pensions and hea lth care at its prestigious Davos conference early next year. The media, including this newspaper, are giving the subject extensive coverage.Whether all that attention has translated into sufficient action is another question. Governments in rich countries now accept that their pension and health-care promises will soon become unaffordable, and many of them have embarked on reforms, but so far only timidly. That is not surprising: politicians with an eye on the next election will hardly rush to introduce unpopular measures that may not bear fruit for years, perhaps decades.The outline of the changes needed is clear. To avoid fiscal (财政) meltdown, public pensions and health-care provision will have to be reined back severely and taxes may have to go up. By far the most effective method to restrain pension spending is to give people the opportunity to work longer, because it increases tax revenues and reduces spending on pensions at the same time. It may even keep them alive longer. John Rother, the AARP’s head of policy and strategy, points to studies showing that other things being equal, people who remain at workY ounger people today mostly accept that they will have to work for longer and that their pensions will be less generous. Employers still need to be persuaded that older workers are worth holding on to. That may be because they have had plenty of younger ones to choose from, partly thanks to the post-war baby-boom and partly because over the past few decades many more women have entered the labour force, increasing employers’ choice. But the reservoir of women able and willing to take up paid work is running low, and the baby-boomers are going grey.In many countries immigrants have been filling such gaps in the labour force as have already emerged (and remember that the real shortage is still around ten years off). Immigration in the developed world is the highest it has ever been, and it is making a useful difference. In still-fertile America it currently accounts for about 40% of total population growth, and in fast-ageing western Europe for about 90%.On the face of it, it seems the perfect solution. Many developing countries have lots of young people in need of jobs; many rich countries need helping hands that will boost tax revenues and keep up economic growth. But over the next few decades labour forces in rich countries are set to shrink so much that inflows of immigrants would have to increase enormously to compensate: to at least twice their current size in western Europe’s most youthful countries, and three times in the older ones. Japan would need a large multiple of the few immigrants it has at present. Public opinion polls show that people in most rich countries already think that immigration is too high. Further big increases would be politically unfeasible.To tackle the problem of ag eing populations at its root, “old” countries would have to rejuvenate (使年轻) themselves by having more of their own children. A number of them have tried, some more successfully than others. But it is not a simple matter of offering financial incentives or providing more child care. Modern urban life in rich countries is not well adapted to large families. Women find it hard to combine family and career. They often compromise by having just one child.And if fertility in ageing countries does not pick up? It will not be the end of the world, at least not for quite a while yet, but the world will slowly become a different place. Older societies may be less innovative and more strongly disinclined to take risks than younger ones. By 2025 at the latest, about half the voters in America and most of those in western European countries will be over 50—and older people turn out to vote in much greater number than younger ones. Academic studies have found no evidence so far that older voters have used their power at the ballot box to push for policies that specifically benefit them, though if in future there are many more of them they might start doing so.Nor is there any sign of the intergenerational warfare predicted in the 1990s. After all, older people themselves mostly have families. In a recent study of parents and grown-up children in 11 European countries, Karsten Hank of Mannheim University found that 85% of them lived within 25km of each other and the majority of them were in touch at least once a week.Even so, the shift in the centre of gravity to older age groups is bound to have a profound effect on societies, not just economically and politically but in all sorts of other ways too. Richard Jackson and Neil Howe of America’s CSI S, in a thoughtful book called The Graying of the Great Powers, argue that, among other things, the ageing of the developed countries will have a number of serious security implications.For example, the shortage of young adults is likely to make countries more reluctant to commit the few they have to military service. In the decades to 2050, America will find itself playing an ever-increasing role in the developed world’s defence effort. Because America’s population will still be growing when that of most other(地缘政治上).Ask me in 2020There is little that can be done to stop population ageing, so the world will have to live with it. But some of the consequences can be alleviated. Many experts now believe that given the right policies, the effects, though grave, need not be catastrophic. Most countries have recognised the need to do something and are beginning to act.But even then there is no guarantee that their efforts will work. What is happening now is historically unprecedented. Ronald Lee, director of the Centre on the Economics and Demography of Ageing at the University of California, Berkeley, puts it brie fly and clearly: “We don’t really know what population ageing will be like, because nobody has done it yet. “1. In its 1994 report, the World Bank argued that the current pension system in most countries could ______.［A］not be sustained in the long term［B］further accelerate the ageing process［C］hardly halt the growth of population［D］help tide over the current ageing crisis2. What message is conveyed in books like Y oung vs Old?［A］The generation gap is bound to narrow.［B］Intergenerational conflicts will intensify.［C］The younger generation will beat the old.［D］Old people should give way to the young.3. One reason why pension and health care reforms are slow in coming is that ______.［A］nobody is willing to sacrifice their own interests to tackle the problem［B］most people are against measures that will not bear fruit immediately［C］the proposed reforms will affe ct too many people’s interests［D］politicians are afraid of losing votes in the next election4. The author believes the most effective method to solve the pension crisis is to ______.［A］allow people to work longer ［C］cut back on health care provisions5. The reason why employers are unwilling to keep older workers is that ______.［A］they are generally difficult to manage［B］the longer they work, the higher their pension［C］their pay is higher than that of younger ones［D］younger workers are readily available6. To compensate for the fast-shrinking labour force, Japan would need ______.［A］to revise its current population control policy［B］large numbers of immigrants from overseas［C］to automate its manufacturing and service industries［D］a politically feasible policy concerning population7. Why do many women in rich countries compromise by having only one child?［A］Small families are becoming more fashionable.［B］They find it hard to balance career and family.［C］It is too expensive to support a large family.［D］Child care is too big a problem for them.8. Compared with younger ones, older societies are less inclined to ______________________________.9. The predicted intergenerational warfare is unlikely because most o f the older people themselves _________________________.10. Countries that have a shortage of young adults will be less willing to commit them to ____________________________.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 corresponding11. ［A］The man is the manager of the apartment building.［B］The woman is very good at bargaining.［C］The woman will get the apartment refurnished.［D］The man is looking for an apartment.12. ［A］How the pictures will turn out. ［C］What the man thinks of the shots. ［B］Where the botanical garden is. ［D］Why the pictures are not ready.13. ［A］There is no replacement for the handle.［B］There is no match for the suitcase.［C］The suitcase is not worth fixing.［D］The suitcase can be fixed in time.14. ［A］He needs a vehicle to be used in harsh weather.［B］He has a fairly large collection of quality trucks.［C］He has had his truck adapted for cold temperatures.［D］He does routine truck maintenance for the woman.15. ［A］She cannot stand her boss’s bad temper.［B］She has often been criticized by her boss.［C］She has made up her mind to resign.［D］She never regrets any decisions she makes.16. ［A］Look for a shirt of a more suitable color and size.［B］Replace the shirt with one of some other material.［C］Visit a different store for a silk or cotton shirt.［D］Get a discount on the shirt she is going to buy.17. ［A］At a “Lost and Found”. ［C］At a trade fair.［B］At a reception desk. ［D］At an exhibition.［B］Pass it on to his grandson. ［D］Sell it for a good price.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. ［A］Unique descriptive skills. ［C］Colourful world experiences. ［B］Good knowledge of readers’ tastes. ［D］Careful plotting and clueing.20. ［A］A peaceful setting. ［C］To be in the right mood. ［B］A spacious room. ［D］To be entirely alone.21. ［A］They rely heavily on their own imagination.［B］They have experiences similar to the characters’.［C］They look at the world in a detached manner.［D］They are overwhelmed by their own prejudices.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. ［A］Good or bad, they are there to stay.［B］Like it or not, you have to use them.［C］Believe it or not, they have survived.［D］Gain or lose, they should be modernised.23. ［A］The frequent train delays. ［C］The food sold on the trains. ［B］The high train ticket fares. ［D］The monopoly of British Railways. 24. ［A］The low efficiency of their operation.［B］Competition from other modes of transport.［C］Constant complaints from passengers.［D］The passing of the new transport act.25. ［A］They will be de-nationalised. ［C］They are fast disappearing.［B］They provide worse service. ［D］They lose a lot of money.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 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. ［A］The whole Antarctic region will be submerged.［B］Some polar animals will soon become extinct.［C］Many coastal cities will be covered with water.［D］The earth will experience extreme weathers.27. ［A］How humans are to cope with global warming.［B］How unstable the West Antarctic ice sheet is.［C］How vulnerable the coastal cities are.［D］How polar ice impacts global weather.28. ［A］It collapsed at least once in the past 1.3 million years.［B］It sits firmly on solid rock at the bottom of the ocean.［C］It melted at temperatures a bit higher than those of today.［D］It will have little impact on sea level when it breaks up.29. ［A］The West Antarctic region was once an open ocean.［B］The West Antarctic ice sheet was about 7,000 feet thick.［C］The West Antarctic ice sheet was once floating ice.［D］The West Antarctic region used to be warmer than today.Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. ［A］Whether we can develop social ties on the Internet.［B］Whether a deleted photo is immediately removed from the web.［C］Whether our blogs can be renewed daily.［D］Whether we can set up our own websites.31. ［A］The number of visits they receive. ［C］The files they have collected.［B］The way they store data. ［D］The means they use to get information.32. ［A］When the system is down. ［C］When the URL is reused.［B］When new links are set up. ［D］When the server is restarted.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. ［A］Some iced coffees have as many calories as a hot dinner.［B］Iced coffees sold by some popular chains are contaminated.［C］Drinking coffee after a meal is more likely to cause obesity.［D］Some brand-name coffees contain harmful substances.34. ［A］Have some fresh fruit. ［C］Take a hot shower.［B］Exercise at the gym. ［D］Eat a hot dinner.35. ［A］They could enjoy a happier family life.［B］They could greatly improve their work efficiency.［C］Many cancer cases could be prevented.［D］Many embarrassing situations could be avoided.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.Psychologists are finding that hope plays a surprisingly vital role in giving people a measurable advantage in realms as (36) _____________ as academic achievement, bearing up in tough jobs and coping with (37) ______________ illness. And, by contrast, the loss of hope is turning out to be a stronger sign that a person may“Hope has proven a powerful predictor of (39) ______________ in every study we’ve done so far,” said Dr. Charles R. Snyder, a psychologist who has devised a (40) ______________ to assess how much hope a person has.For example, in research with 3,920 college students, Dr. Snyder and his (41) ______________ found that the level of hope among freshmen at the beginning of their first semester was a more (42) ______________ predictor of their college grades than were their S.A.T. scores or their grade point (43) ______________ in high school, the two measures most commonly used to predict college performance.(44)”_______________________________________________________________________________________ ____,” Dr. Snyder said. “Wh en you compare students of equivalent intelligence and past academic achievements, what sets them apart is hope.”In devising a way to assess hope scientifically, Dr. Snyder (45)_______________________________________________________. “T hat notion is not concrete enough, and it blurs two key components of hope,” Dr. Snyder said. (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.Most young boys are trained to believe that men should be strong, tough, cool, and detached. Thus, they learn early to hide vulnerable emotions such as love, joy, and sadness because they believe that such feelings are feminine and imply weakness. Over time, some men become strangers to their own emotional lives. It seems that men with traditional views of masculinity are more likely to suppress outward emotions and to fear emotions, supposedly because such feelings may lead to a loss of composure (镇定). Keep in mind, however, that this view is challenged by some researchers. As with many gender gaps, differences in emotionality tend to be small, inconsistent, and dependent on the situation. For instance, Robertson and colleagues found that males who were more traditionally masculine were more emotionally expressive in a structured exercise than when they were simply asked to talk about their emotions.Males’ difficulty with “tender” emotions has serious consequences. First, suppressed emotions can contribute to stress-related disorders. And worse, men are less likely than women to seek help from health professionals. Second, men’s emotional inexpr essiveness can cause problems in their relationships with partners and children. For example, men who endorse traditional masculine norms report lower relationship satisfaction, as do their female partners. Further, children whose fathers are warm, loving, and accepting toward them have higher self-esteem and lower rates of aggression and behavior problems. On a positive note, fathers are increasinglyresponsibility for their children than their working wives do.One emotion males are allowed to express is anger. Sometimes this anger translates into physical aggression or violence. Men commit nearly 90 percent of violent crimes in the United States and almost all sexual assaults.47. Most young boys have been trained to believe that men who show tender feelings are considered to be ______________.48. Some men believe that if they expressed their emotions openly they might ______________.49. According to the author, men who suppress their emotions may develop ______________.50. Men who observe traditional masculine norms are said to derive less satisfaction from ______________.51. When males get angry, they can become ______________ or even commit violence.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］Y ou 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.In the early 20th century, few things were more appealing than the promise of scientific knowledge. In a world struggling with rapid industrialization, science and technology seemed to offer solutions to almost every problem. Newly created state colleges and universities devoted themselves almost entirely to scientific, technological, and engineering fields. Many Americans came to believe that scientific certainty could not only solve scientific problems, but also reform politics, government, and business. Two world wars and a Great Depression rocked the confidence of many people that scientific expertise alone could create a prosperous and ordered world. After World War Ⅱ, the academic world turned with new enthusiasm to humanistic studies, which seemed to many scholars the best way to ensure the survival of democracy. American scholars fanned out across much of the world—with support from the Ford Foundation, the Fulbright program, etc.—to promote the teaching of literature and the arts in an effort to make the case for democratic freedoms.In the America of our own time, the great educational challenge has become an effort to strengthen the teaching of what is now known as the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and math). There is considerable and justified concern that the United States is falling behind much of the rest of the developed world in these essential disciplines. India, China, Japan, and other regions seem to be seizing technological leadership.At the same time, perhaps inevitably, the humanities—while still popular in elite colleges and universities—have experienced a significant decline. Humanistic disciplines are seriously underfunded, not just by the government and the foundations but by academic institutions themselves. Humanists are usually among the lowest-paid faculty members at most institutions and are often lightly regarded because they do not generate grant income and because they provide no obvious credentials (资质) for most nonacademic careers.politicians about the state of American universities today is focused on the absence of “real world” education—which means preparation for professional and scientific careers. But the idea that institutions or their students must decide between humanities and science is false. Our society could not survive without sc ientific and technological knowledge. But we would be equally impoverished (贫困的) without humanistic knowledge as well. Science and technology teach us what we can do. Humanistic thinking helps us understand what we should do.It is almost impossible to imagine our society without thinking of the extraordinary achievements of scientists and engineers in building our complicated world. But try to imagine our world as well without the remarkable works that have defined our culture and values. We have always needed, and we still need, both.52. In the early 20th century Americans believed science and technology could _______.［A］solve virtually all existing problems ［C］help raise people’s living standards［B］quicken the pace of industrialization ［D］promote the nation’s social progress53. Why did many American scholars become enthusiastic about humanistic studies after World WarⅡ?［A］They wanted to improve their own status within the current education system.［B］They believed the stability of a society depended heavily on humanistic studies.［C］They could get financial support from various foundations for humanistic studies.［D］They realized science and technology alone were no guarantee for a better world.54. Why are American scholars worried about education today?［A］The STEM subjects are too challenging for students to learn.［B］Some Asian countries have overtaken America in basic sciences.［C］America is lagging behind in the STEM disciplines.［D］There are not enough scholars in humanistic studies.55. What accounts for the significant decline in humanistic studies today?［A］Insufficient funding. ［C］Shortage of devoted faculty.［B］Shrinking enrollment. ［D］Dim prospects for graduates.56. Why does the author attach so much importance to humanistic studies?［A］They promote the development of science and technology.［B］They help prepare students for their professional careers.［C］Humanistic thinking helps define our culture and values.［D］Humanistic thinking helps cultivate students’ creativity.Passage TwoQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.Will there ever be another Einstein? This is the undercurrent of conversation at Einstein memorial meetings throughout the year. A new Einstein will emerge, scientists say. But it may take a long time. After all, more than 200 years separated Einstein from his nearest rival, Isaac Newton.Many physicists say the next Einstein hasn’t been born yet, or is a baby now. That’s because the quest for a unified theory that would account for all the forces of nature has pushed current mathematics to its limits. New math must be created before the problem can be solved.But researchers say there are many other factors working against another Einstein emerging anytime soon.For one thing, physics is a much different field today. In Einstein’s day, there were only a few thousand physicists worldwide, and the theoreticians who could intellectually rival Einstein probably would fit into a streetcar with seats to spare.Education is different, too. One crucial aspect of Einstein’s training that is overlooked is the years of philosophy he read as a teenager—Kant, Schopenhauer and Spinoza, among others. It taught him how to think independently and abstract ly about space and time, and it wasn’t long before he became a philosopher himself.“The independence created by philosophical insight is—in my opinion—the mark of distinction between a mere artisan (工匠) or specialist and a real seeker after truth,” Einstein wrote in 1944.And he was an accomplished musician. The interplay between music and math is well known. Einstein would furiously play his violin as a way to think through a knotty physics problem.Today, universities have prod uced millions of physicists. There aren’t many jobs in science for them, so they go to Wall Street and Silicon V alley to apply their analytical skills to more practical—and rewarding—efforts.“Maybe there is an Einstein out there today,” said Columbia University physicist Brian Greene, “but it would be a lot harder for him to be heard.”Especially considering what Einstein was proposing.“The actual fabric of space and time curving? My God, what an idea!” Greene said at a recent g athering at the Aspen Institute. “It takes a certain type of person who will bang his head against the wall because you believe you’ll find the solution.”Perhaps the best examples are the five scientific papers Einstein wrote in his “miracle year” of 1905. These “thought experiments” were pages of calculations signed and submitted to the prestigious journal Annalen der Physik by a virtual unknown. There were no footnotes or citations.What might happen to such a submission today?。