英语六级考试王【长喜标准阅读】

最牛英语口语培训模式：躺在家里练口语，全程外教一对一，三个月畅谈无阻！洛基英语，免费体验全部在线一对一课程：/ielts/xd.html（报名网址）Is language，like food，like food，a basic human need without which a child at a critical period of life can be starved and damaged？Judging from the drastic experiment of Frederick I in the thirteenth century，it may be hoping to discover what language a child would speak if he heard no mother tongue，he told the nurses to keep silent.All the infants died before the first year. But clearly there was more than lack of language here. What was missing was good mothering. Without good mothering，in the first year of life especially，the capacity to survive is seriously affected.Today no such severe lack exists as that ordered by Frederick. Nevertheless，some children are still backward in speaking. Most often the reason for this is that the mother is insensitive to the signals of the infant，whose brain is programmed to learn language rapidly. If these sensitive periods are neglected，the ideal time for acquiring skills passes and they might never be learned so easily again. A bird learns to sing and to fly rapidly at right time，but the process is slow and hard once the critical stage has passed.Experts suggest that speech stages are reached in a fixed sequence and at a constant age，but there are cases where speech has started late in a child who eventually turns out to be of high IQ. At twelve weeks a baby smiles and makes bowel –like sounds；at twelve months he can speak simple words and understand simple commands；at eighteen months he has a vocabulary of three to fifty words. At three he knows about 1，000 words which he can put into sentences，and at four his language differs from that of his parents in born with the capacity to speak. What is special about man‘s brain，compared with that of the monkey，is the complex system which enables a child to commect the sight and feel of，say，a toy –bear with the sound pattern “toy –bear”。

Recent research has claimed that an excess of positive ions in the air can have an ill effect on people's physical or psychological health. What are positive ions？Well，the air is full of ions，electrically charged particles，and generally there is a rough balance between the positive and the negative charged. But sometimes this balance becomes disturbed and a larger proportion of positive ions are found. This happens naturally before thunderstorm，earthquakes when winds such as the Mistral，Hamsin or Sharav are blowing in certain countries. Or it can be caused by a build-up of static electricity indoors from carpets or clothing made of man-made fibres，or from TV sets，duplicators or computer display screens. When a large number of positive ions are present in the air many people experience unpleasant effects such as headaches，fatigue，irritability，and some particularly sensitive people suffer nausea or even mental disturbance. Animals are also affected，particularly before earthquakes，snakes have been observed to come out of hibernation，rats to flee from their burrows，dogs howl and cats jump about unaccountably. This has led the US Geographical Survey to fund a network of volunteers to watch animals in an effort to foresee such disasters before they hit vulnerable areas such as California. Conversely，when large numbers of negative ions are present，then people have a feeling of well-being. Natural conditions that produce these large amounts are near the sea，close to waterfalls or fountains，or in any place where water is sprayed，or forms a spray. This probably accounts for the beneficial effect of a holiday by the sea， or in the mountains with tumbling streams or waterfalls. To increase the supply of negative ions indoors，some scientists recommend the use of ionisers：small portable machines，which generate negative ions. They claim that ionisers not only clean and refresh the air but also improve the health of people sensitive to excess positive ions. Of course，there are the detractors，other scientists，who dismiss such claims and are skeptical about negative/positive ion research. Therefore people can only make up their own minds by observing the effects on themselves，or on others，of a negative rich or poor environment. After all it is debatable whether depending on seismic readings to anticipate earthquakes is more effective than watching the cat. 1.What effect does exceeding positive ionization have on some people？ A.They think they are insane. B.They feel rather bad-tempered and short-fussed. C.They become violently sick. D.They are too tired to do anything. 2.In accordance with the passage，static electricity can be caused by___. ing home-made electrical goods. B.wearing clothes made of natural materials. C.walking on artificial floor coverings. D.copying TV programs on a computer. 3.A high negative ion count is likely to be found___. A.near a pound with a water pump. B.close to a slow-flowing river. C.high in some barren mountains. D.by a rotating water sprinkler. 4.What kind of machine can generate negative ions indoors？ A.Ionisers. B.Air-conditioners. C.Exhaust-fans D.Vacuum pumps. 5.Some scientists believe that___. A.watching animals to anticipate earthquakes is more effective than depending on seismography. B.the unusual behavior of animals cannot be trusted. C.neither watching nor using seismographs is reliable. D.earthquake 答案：ＢＣＤＡＡ。

６级考前冲刺试题三Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Lack of Credit Among College Students following the outline given below. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.1. 近年来大学生中出现一些“信用缺失”现象，如拖欠助学贷款、撕毁就业合同等2. 尽管这种“信用缺失”现象并不普遍，但却带来了极坏的影响3. 大学生应该加强诚信Lack of Credit Among College Students________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the fourchoices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with theinformation given in the passage.There's a price to be paid for our cheap foodThe big food companies should be taxed for the damage they cause to our bodies and the planet The world is throwing away a shocking amount of food. A report last week claimed that at least a third of the 4 billion tonnes of food the world produces each year never gets as far as our mouths. Between 30% and 50% of food purchased in Europe and the US is thrown away. The research is questioned, not least by the supermarkets, but it does echo the results of an exercise in Britain six years ago, when researchers for the government-funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) went through the nation's rubbish bins. It concluded that we were throwing away 30% of the food we'd bought while it was still edible (可食用的).Britain – and much of the rich world – has got used to filling the fridge with what looks nice, not what it actually needs. The cost of that indulgence (放纵) is, says the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, £10bn annually. Globally, the cost, in money, energy and ever-scarcer water, is unquantifiable.Our future food security has been climbing the top 10 of current global worries. The prospect of feeding a mid-century planet of around 9 billion people looks impossible without major and potentially unattractive changes to farming and our diet. If you accept the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation's call for production to be increased by 70% to feed the population of 2050, most of the work will be achieved just by being a bit more thrifty (节俭的). All we have to do is to use better what is already there.However, throwing food out is easy. Using it sensibly, especially the less attractive bits, is not. The urge to bin and buy again, encouraged by multimillion pound advertising campaigns, is all the less resistible now because, despite recent price rises, for most of us, food is cheap. At Christmas, the average family spent just over £100 on the big meal, a quarter of what it spent on presents. Stopping the waste will take more than a few celebrity chefs telling us how to use the roast chicken leftovers or asking the supermarkets to relax a bit with buy one, get one free offers.Education of consumers and voluntary agreements with the retail industry have all been tried: Wrap is 13 years old this year and has not impressed. Its critics say that its expensive information campaigns under slogans such as "Love Food Hate Waste" lack targets and convincingly audited (审计) results. Like so many toothless quangos(半官方机构), it can only cajole (利诱) business rather than bring it firmly to heel. More households may be portion-planning and recycling now,because of Wrap's adverts, but the slight reduction in the tonnage of food estimated to have been thrown away in British households (from 8.3m in 2006/07 to 7.2m in 2010) is probably accounted for by the price rises and stall in incomes that followed the global economic crash of 2008.Here we come to the uncomfortable core of the problem. Price is the key factor in our behaviour with food and food may, simply, be too cheap. Certainly, in Britain it is cheaper than at any time in history: we spend less than 10% of household income on food and drink. In 1950, we spent around 25%. In the developing world, 50% or more of income is spent on food. Tellingly, Britain spends less than any other country in Europe. Worldwide, it seems that the lower a country's food/income ratio, the higher its incidence of obesity(肥胖). Presumably, the higher also the proportion of food it chucks out.Observers of food policy certainly believe that cheap food is a problem or, as Professor Tim Lang of City University tells it, that too much of the true cost of food is born not by the consumer or the retailer. The environmental and health damage caused by modern food production and its transport, as well as by excessive consumption, entails vast costs, often picked up by people far away from Tesco's catchments. But it is the supermarkets' eternal price wars –their one-track marketing philosophy where "value" trumps all other qualities in food – that have driven prices so low. Without restoring a sense of the real value of food, how will we stop all but the hungry wasting it?Food inflation is a key political indicator, yet no government is going to risk price rises for all the good it might do for our health or our environment, let alone the chance of stopping the landfill. Supermarkets, with their powerful lobbying arms and political donations, habitually wriggle away from legislation and Competition Commission criticism merely with the threat that any new regulation will raise prices. That has to stop. A far tougher position is required.The government's promise to abolish the use of "sell by" and "display until" labels has been parlayed into voluntary Food Standards Agency "advice". Because of industry resistance, Wrap has never fully measured waste caused upstream from the household, even though the retailers and manufacturers are certainly to blame for more of the tonnage that goes to landfill. It may always be easier to blame the consumer but what is required is far stricter regulation of the food giants.So how could we regulate? Producers complain that the major supermarket chains enslave them in very harsh contracts that set up a damaging chain reaction. Producers then pay low wages, which are in turn subsidised by taxpayers via tax credits. These boost incomes that are still so low that families are forced to buy inferior food. (Supermarket chains –hugely profitable –also pay risibly low wages to workers.) Ending this vicious cycle is not simply about food pricing, it's a far larger debate. Even in austerity, the profits of the "big food" companies continue to rise. This isabout more than pricing – it's about a sense of responsibility about what's fair.An alternative to voluntary change is to tax the food industry in just proportion to the damage it causes. Another idea gaining ground across Europe is for a sugar tax – the cheap processed foods and soft drinks that carry the largest profit margins (and which are a key cause of obesity) depend hugely on sugar for their appeal. Food price rises would result and the supermarkets' vast profits might have to take a hit. Those who would really suffer are the poor and their children and that is a challenge to be met fairly with a living wage, not by caps on benefits or food banks.There are lots of ideas around for the "zero-waste economy" that successive governments have repeatedly promised. But first and foremost, politicians have to conquer their fear of "big food".1. What did a research reveal last week?A) Nearly half of the food purchased is not edible.B) More than a third of the food is thrown away.C) There is a disguised increase in the food price.D) British households waste most food in the world.2. What does the author say about households in much of the rich world?A) They only purchase things to meet their basic needs.B) They have to spend more income on food and drinks.C) They are accustomed to buying food that looks nice.D) Few of them live a life of wealth and indulgence.3. According to the author, it is impossible to feed 9 billion people of 2050 unless ______.A) we make a fine adjustment to farmingB) the UN takes actions to curb wastingC) we now make big changes to our dietD) people accept genetically modified foods4. People find it hard to resist the urge to throw food away and buy again because ______.A) food is not expensive for themB) some food has a short shelf lifeC) the food price fluctuates sharplyD) there is an abundant supply of food5. What do we learn about Wrap’s information campaigns?A) They persuaded millions to be thrifty.B) They have achieved the original goals.C) They forced stores to give up free offers.D) They are criticized for lacking targets.6. Food waste was reduced slightly from 2010 to 2006 probably because of ______.A) the consumer educationB) Wrap’s advertisementsC) people’s recyclingD) the price increases7. What has driven food prices so low according to the author?A) The cheap raw materials imported.B) The supermarkets’ continuing price wars.C) The usage of intensive farming techniques.D) The poor consumer demand for food.8. The government is unwilling to __________________________ even though it might do the environment good.9. To curb food waste, it is necessary that the government impose __________________________ regulations on food giants.10. The author suggests that the food industry should be __________________________ in proportion to the damage it causes.Part III Listening Comprehension(35 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end ofeach conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both theconversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be apause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), anddecide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2with a single line through the centre.11. A) He doesn’t have any good ideas. C) He doesn’t put h is ideas into practice.B) He has many interesting dreams. D) He sleeps a lot without doing anything.12. A) He has just quitted his former job. C) He is applying for a job.B) He has graduated last June. D) He has some work experience.13. A) His boss doesn’t agree.C) He has chosen some part-time courses.B) He has to pay the tuition fee first. D) He can’t afford to study without salary.14. A) He is a full-time student.B) He is a part-time worker.C) He is going to take refresher courses.D) He has known all the details about the course.15. A) He knows nothing about the other assignment.B) He doesn’t think it’s necessary to ask for a long time.C) He asks the woman to hand in her assignment on time.D) He will give the woman an extension for her assignment.16. A) He was arrogant about it. C) He was not surprised about it.B) He found it unbelievable. D) He found the truth unacceptable.17. A) To ask the man to read the book together.B) To request the man to write a term paper for her.C) To complain about the numbers of reading materials.D) To ask for some advice on how to select the reading materials.18. A) He had better assess his own ability.B) He should try to solve some easier problems now.C) He must study hard to solve the difficult problems.D) He should find some more complicated problems to solve.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. A) She has finished her work. C) Her kids will arrive home after school.B) She is too exhausted to work. D) The man does not ask her to go back to the office.20. A) It is weird. C) It is comfortable.B) It is convenient. D) It is exhausting.21. A) The woman does not like it. C) One can see a lot of strange things in it.B) It is produced by weird people. D) The man is determined to watch it tonight.22. A) His boss might ask him to stay up late.B) The woman will record tonight’s program.C) He may have to prepare for tomorrow’s business trip.D) He will be having a meeting with his boss at that time.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.23. A) He has a lot of free time. C) Many of his friends are actors.B) She knows he likes acting. D) H e’s looking for an acting job.24. A) He hasn’t been in a play for a long time.B) He has to rearrange his evening schedule.C) He might not like the way the group works.D) His schoolwork has taken up most of his time.25. A) Enjoy their rehearsal. C) See her on Wednesday.B) Learn his part quickly. D) Pick her up on Thursday.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and questions will be spoken only once. Afteryou hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices markedA), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2with asingle line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. A) A study on whether social connections can keep us healthier.B) A study on whether social connections make us happier.C) A study on factors that influence psychologic health.D) A study on the relationship between psychology and longevity.27. A) 200,000. B) 300,000. C) 500,000. D) 700,000.28. A) Teenagers should go to see psychologist frequently.B) People should make as many friends as possible.C) Policy makers should consider relationships as a health issue.D) People should place relationships at first place.Passage TwoQuestions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.29. A) Your reputation will be damaged. C) You’ll get into trouble.B) You have to change your name. D) You can’t be a doctor any more.30. A) He had helped Booth murder Lincoln. C) He had concealed the facts.B) He had made a diagnostic error. D) He had given Booth help in some way.31. A) He would have suffered a lot from the name.B) He would have been thought of as a criminal forever.C) He would have been sentenced to four years’ prison life.D) He would have spent the rest of his life in prison.Passage ThreeQuestions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.32. A) Japanese car sales are down.B) Economy in Japan is from bad to worse.C) The main consumers of cars in Japan are middle-aged people.D) Japan is heavily depended on the foreign market.33. A) A tool. C) A symbol of status.B) A sign of wealth. D) An article of consumption.34. A) Cars are still too expensive. C) Gas prices and parking lot fees are costly.B) Traffic is heavy on the road. D) Traffic accidents are more and more serious.35. A) They have reduced their products prices.B) They have laid off plenty of short-term contract workers.C) They have laid off many full-time salaried employees.D) They have narrowed down their foreign market.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for thesecond time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exactwords you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill inthe missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you havejust heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage isread for the third time, you should check what you have written.Although they may not die from lack of love, adults also need a great amount of affection and (36) _________. In the past, many people spent their (37) _________ lives in the communities in which they were born and (38) _________. Many more people continued to live with their parents, brothers and sisters after they were married and had children of their own. By remaining in (39) _________ communities with relatives nearby, families had enough (40) _________ for friendly contact and support in time of trouble.Recent studies (41) _________ that family arrangements in Western societies have not changed as much in the last few centuries as is (42) _________ believed. Yet most sociologists agree that in modern societies, there are fewer opportunities for friendship and support from relatives outside the (43) _________ family. Parents and children often live apart from other relatives, and seldom visit them. Also, (44) ___________________________________________________________________.Together, loneliness and mobility force immediate family members to depend heavily on one another for affection and companionship.(45) ___________________________________________________________________, a high percentage of people continue to marry, even though it is possible for a single man and woman to live together without marrying. On the other hand, because affection and companionship have become so important, (46) ___________________________________________________________________ —even if all other family functions are being satisfactorily performed, and in this sense, affection and companionship have become the touchstone of the modern family.Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, there is a short passage with 5 questions or incomplete statements. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewestpossible words. Please write your answers on Answer Sheet 2.Questions 47 to 51 are based on the following passage.When students arrive on campus with their parents, both parties often assume that the school will function in loco parentis (代替父母), watching over its young charges, providing assistance when needed. Colleges and universities present themselves as supportive learning communities —as extended families, in a way. And indeed, for many students they become a home away from home. This is why graduates often use another Latin term, alma mater, meaning "nourishing mother." Ideally, the school nurtures its students, guiding them toward adulthood. Lifelong friendships are formed, teachers become mentors, and the academic experience is complemented by rich social interaction. For some students, however, the picture is less rosy. For a significant number, the challenges can become overwhelming.In reality, administrators at American colleges and universities are often obliged to focus as much on the generation of revenue as on the new generation of students. Public institutions in particular are often faced with tough choices about which student support services to fund, and how to manage such things as soaring health-care costs for faculty and staff. Private schools are feeling the pinch as well. Ironically, although tuition and fees can increase as much as 6.6 percent in a single year, the high cost of doing business at public and private institutions means that students are not necessarily receiving more support in return for increased tuition and fees. To compound the problem, students may bereluctant to seek help even when they desperately need it.Just as colleges are sometimes ill equipped to respond to the challenges being posed by today's students, so students themselves are sometimes ill equipped to respond to the challenges posed by college life. Although they arrive on campus with high expectations, some students struggle with chronic shyness or perfectionism, learning disabilities, addiction, or eating disorders. Still others may have an unreliable moral compass, and some go wild when they realize that the only real prohibition against things like alcohol, drugs, and sex is their own willpower. Most experience failed relationships; some suffer from acute loneliness, mental illness, or even rage.Unfortunately, higher education is sometimes more of an information delivery system than a responsive, collaborative process. We have created cities of youth in which students can pass through unnoticed, their voices rarely heard, their faces rarely seen. As class size grows in response to budget cuts, it becomes even less likely that troubled students, or even severely disturbed students, will be noticed. When they're not, the results can be tragic.47. Schools are expected to protect the students and _____________________ when their students need help.48. Both public and private schools have to focus on _____________________ besides looking aftertheir students.49. Students’ _____________________ to seek help may exaggerate sch ools’ inability to help them.50. S ome of today’s students are sometimes _____________________ in face of overwhelmingchallenges in college.51. Higher education should be responsive and _____________________ to avoid students beingrarely heard and seen during their college life.Section BDirections:There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D).You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 52 to 56 are based on the following passage.Higher education institutions are predictably cool to President Obama’s proposal to shift fe deral aid away from colleges that fail to control rising tuition. Even though the details of his plan, which would require Congressional approval, will not be fleshed out until later this month, the idea behind it is sound.The federal government must do more to rein in tuition costs at the public colleges that educate more than 70 percent of the nation’s students. By one estimate, the cost of four-year public college tuition has tripled since the 1980s, outpacing both inflation and family income. The increase in the tuition burden is largely caused by declining state support for higher education in the past three decades. In both good times and bad, state governments have pushed more of the costs onto students, forcing many to take out big loans or be priced out of once affordable public colleges at a time when a college education is critical in the new economy.While financial aid is available to some low-income students, many are driven away by tuition sticker shock. At the same time, many colleges have failed to find more cost-effective ways to deliver education and get the average student to graduation in four years. President Obama was on the mark when he said that this needs to change.An analysis by State Higher Education Executive Officers, a nonprofit group, shows clearly what has happened in public higher education since 1985. In Michigan, for example, the net tuition paid per student after financial aid rose from about $3,900 in 1985 to nearly $9,000 in 2010, in inflation adjusted dollars. In response, students have turned to loans. In the last decade, federal college loan debt has more than doubled from $41 million to $103 million, according to the College Board.President Obama’s proposed reform plan would require colleges that receive federal aid to create ―a scoreboard‖ that gives actual costs, graduation rates and potential earnings for graduates. His idea for establishing a $1 billion fund to provide grants to states that improve graduation rates and reduce costs is a good one. He also calls for expanding campus-based aid — mainly loans and work-study programs —to more than $10 billion from the current $2.7 billion. And, for the first time, the government would punish colleges that failed to control tuition or that did not provide good value by shifting money to other schools that do a better job.Determining what amounts to good value will be difficult, and persuading Congress to move forward on any of these ideas will be hard. But Mr. Obama is right that the federal government should begin leveraging (利用) its sizable investment in higher education for reform.52. Obama’s proposal about federal aid intends to ______.A) impel colleges to attach importance to their finance managementB) withdraw federal aid from collegesC) urge colleges to bring down the tuition costsD) reduce the number of colleges53. What mainly led to the rising of students’ tuition burden in the past three decades?A) The lack of state support.B) The higher inflation.C) The shrinking of family income.D) The weakening of loan support.54. The analysis by State Higher Education Executive Officers further shows that ______.A) financial aid doesn’t efficiently help poor students receive higher educationB) the development of higher education lags behind the growth of economyC) the tuition has been going up faster than inflationD) higher education institutions are turning into profit-making organizations55. The initiative of Obama’s reform plan is reflected in ______.A) increasing the funding in educationB) creating campus-based aidC) making the use of federal aid transparentD) linking federal aid to the value provided by colleges56. What’s the author’s attitude towards Obama’s reform plan?A) Positive. B) Negative. C) Skeptical. D) Indifferent.Passage TwoQuestions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.Compared with elderly parents and adult children in five other industrialized nations, Americans are twice as likely to have ―disharmonious‖ relationships, a new multinational study has found. And we’re correspondingly less likely to have ―friendly‖ relationships marked by strong affection and relatively free of conflict. The study of nearly 2,700 parents over age 65, published recently in The Journal of Marriage and Family, turned up significant national differences. German and Spanish parents described relationships with their adult children as more detached. The English reported the most friendly families. Israelis operated with a high degree of ambivalence (正反感情并存), meaning they indicated strong positive and negative emotions. Norwegians placed somewhere in the middle.。

英语六级考试标准阅读(4)If the old maxim that the customer is always right still has meaning， then the airlines that ply the world's busiest air route between London and Paris have a flight on their hands.The Eurostar train service linking the UK and French capitals via the Channel Tunnel is winning customers in increasing numbers. Inlate May， it carried its one millionth passenger， having run only a limited service between London， Paris and Brussels since November 1994， starting with two trains a day in each direction to Paris and Brussels. By 1997， the company believes that it will be carrying ten million passengers a year， and continue to grow from there.From July， Eurostar steps its service to nine trains each way between London and Paris， and five between London and Brussels. Each train carries almost 800 passengers， 210 of them in first class.The airlines estimate that they will initially lose around 15%-20% of their London-Paris traffic to the railways once Eurostarstarts a full service later this year （1995）， with 15 trains a day each way. A similar service will start to Brussels. The damage will be limited， however， the airlines believe， with passenger numbers returning to previous levels within two to three years.In the short term， the damage caused by the 1 million people-levels traveling between London and Paris and Brussels on Eurostar trains means that some air services are already suffering. Some of the major carriers say that their passenger numbers are down by less than 5% and point to their rivals-Particularly Air France-as having suffered the problems. On the Brussels route， the railway company had less success， and the airlines report anything from around a 5% drop to no visible decline in traffic.The airlines' optimism on returning traffic levels is based on historical precedent. British Midland， for example， points to its experience on Heathrow Leeds Bradford service which saw passenger numbers fold by 15% when British Rail electrified and modernized the railway line between London and Yorkshire. Two years later， travel had risen between the two destinations to the point where the airline was carrying record numbers of passengers.。

英语六级考试标准阅读(23)Improbable as it may seem， an increasing number of Germans are giving up their elegant Mercedeses， sleek BMWs and ferociously fast Porsches and getting behind the wheels of imported American models –fro plush Cadillacs to more prosaic Fords. Unlike the cars producedby Detroit‘s European subsidiaries， these cars are as American as apple pie and watery beer. And thanks to a favorable exchange rate，they are more affordable than ever Last year Germans bought 12 477 new U.S. –built cars； sales are expected to double this year.Like blue jeans， this buy – America fad appeals to Germans from all walks of life. Once regarded as faulty， flashy， gas – guzzling Goliaths， American autos are – thanks in large measure to foreign competition –more stylish and reliable than in years past. Tugged，off- road vehicles like the four-wheel drive Jeep Cherokee are nowthe hot wheels to drive among Germany‘s thirty- something set. Owners and Aficionados of American – made care also boast their cars are cheaper to maintain.But that‘s not the main reason German motorists are choosing U.S. imports –It’s their price. Even after the cost of overseasshipping is included， American – made cars offer more value – and deluxe features – for less money than German models. A Chrysler LeBaron convertible sells for 35 000 marks； a BMW 320i convertible，by comparison， commands 10 000 marks more. And U.S. autos come with standard equipment – electric windows， automatic locks and sunroofs –that‘s available only as expens ive options on German models.Owning an American car in Germany is not for everybody. Butthe worst headaches come form the German bureaucracy. Johann Erben，a Greiburg dental lab technician， purchased a LeBaron convertible during a U.S. trip in November – and has yet to drive it one kilometer. First， he waited months for the proper registration documents to arrive； then he spent more than 1 000 marks to have it comply with German regulations. Even so， safety inspectors refusedto approve it until he changed the headlights and windows to European Community standards. “There I was with my supermodern， $ 20，000car and unable to get it through inspection，” Erben recalled.。

英语六级考试标准阅读(11)A controversy erupted in the scientific community in early 1998 over the use of DNA （deoxyribonucleic acid ） fingerprinting in criminal investigations. DNA fingerprinting was introduced in 1987 as a method to identify individuals based on a pattern seen in their DNA， the molecule of which genes are made. DNA is present in every cell of the body except red blood cells. DNA fingerprinting has been used successfully in various ways， such as to determine paternity where it is not clear who the father of a particular child is. However， it is in the area of criminal investigations that DNA fingerprinting has potentially powerful and controversial uses.DNA fingerprinting and other DNA analysis techniques have revolutionized criminal investigations by giving investigators powerful new tools in the attempt to trove guilt， not just establish innocence. When used in criminal investigations， a DNA fingerprint pattern from a suspect is compared with a DNA fingerprint pattern obtained from such material as hairs or blood found at the scene of a crime. A match between the two DNA samples can be used as evidence to convict a suspect.The controversy in 1998 stemmed form a report published in December 1991 by population geneticists Richard C. Lewontin of Harvard University in Cambridge， Mass.， and Daniel L. Hartl called into question the methods to calculate how likely it is that a match between two DNA fingerprints might occur by chance alone. In particular， they argued that the current method cannot properly determine the likelihood that two DNA samples will match because they came from the same individual rather than simply from two different individuals who are members of the same ethnic group. Lewontin and Hartl called for better surveys of DNA patterns methods are adequate.In response to their criticisms， population geneticists Ranajit Chakraborty of the University of Texas in Dallas and Kenneth K.Kiddof Yale University in New Haven， Conn.， argued that enough data are already available to show that the methods currently being used are adequate. In January 1998， however， the federal Bureau of Investigation and laboratories that conduct DNA tests announced that they would collect additional DNA samples form various ethnic groupsin an attempt to resolve some of these questions. And， in April， a National Academy of Sciences called for strict standards and systemof accreditation for DNA testing laboratories.。

英语六级考试标准阅读(6)The discovery of the Antarctic not only proved one of the most interesting of all geographical adventures， but created what mightbe called “the heroic age of Antarctic exploration”。

By their tremendous heroism， men such as Shakleton， Scott， and Amundsen caused a new continent to emerge from the shadows， and yet that heroic age， little more than a century old， is already passing. Modern science and inventions are revolutionizing the endurance，future journeys into these icy wastes will probably depend on motor vehicles equipped with caterpillar traction rather than on the dogs that earlier discoverers found so invaluable and hardly comparable.Few realize that this Antarctic continent is almost equal in size to South America， and enormous field of work awaits geographers and prospectors. The coasts of this continent remain to be accurately charted， and the maping of the whole of the interior presents a formidable task to the cartographers who undertake the work. Oncetheir labors are completed， it will be possible to prospect the vast natural resources which scientists believe will furnish one of the largest treasure hoards of metals and minerals the world has yet known， and almost inexhaustible sources of copper， coal， uranium，and many other ores will become available to man. Such discoverieswill usher in an era of practical exploitation of the Antarctic wastes.The polar darkness which hides this continent for the six winter months will be defeated by huge batteries of light， and makepossible the establishing of air-fields for the future inter-continental air services by making these areas as light as day. Present flying routes will be completely changed， for the Antarctic refueling bases will make flights from Australia to South America comparatively easy over the 5，000 miles journey.The climate is not likely to offer an insuperable problem， for the explorer Admiral Byrd has shown that the climate is possible even for men completely untrained for expeditions into those frozen wastes. Some of his parties were men who had never seen snow before， and yet he records that they survived the rigors of the Antarctic climate comfortably， so that， provided that the appropriate installations are made， we may assume that human beings from all countries could live there safely. Byrd even affirms that it is probably the most healthy climate in the world， for the intense cold of thousands of years has sterilize this continent， and rendered it absolutely。

2020年大学英语六级考试标准阅读(1)Recent research has claimed that an excess of positiveions in the air can have an ill effect on people's physicalor psychological health. What are positive ions？Well，theair is full of ions，electrically charged particles，and generally there is a rough balance between the positive andthe negative charged. But sometimes this balance becomes disturbed and a larger proportion of positive ions are found. This happens naturally before thunderstorm，earthquakes when winds such as the Mistral，Hamsin or Sharav are blowing in certain countries. Or it can be caused by a build-up ofstatic electricity indoors from carpets or clothing made of man-made fibres，or from TV sets，duplicators or computer display screens.When a large number of positive ions are present in theair many people experience unpleasant effects such as headaches，fatigue，irritability，and some particularly sensitive people suffer nausea or even mental disturbance. Animals are also affected，particularly before earthquakes，snakes have been observed to come out of hibernation，rats to flee from their burrows，dogs howl and cats jump about unaccountably. This has led the US Geographical Survey tofund a network of volunteers to watch animals in an effort to foresee such disasters before they hit vulnerable areas suchas California.Conversely，when large numbers of negative ions are present，then people have a feeling of well-being. Natural conditions that produce these large amounts are near the sea，close to waterfalls or fountains，or in any place where wateris sprayed，or forms a spray. This probably accounts for the beneficial effect of a holiday by the sea， or in the mountains with tumbling streams or waterfalls.To increase the supply of negative ions indoors，some scientists recommend the use of ionisers：small portable machines，which generate negative ions. They claim that ionisers not only clean and refresh the air but also improve the health of people sensitive to excess positive ions. Of course，there are the detractors，other scientists，who dismiss such claims and are skeptical about negative/positive ion research. Therefore people can only make up their own minds by observing the effects on themselves，or on others，of a negative rich or poor environment. After all it is debatable whether depending on seismic readings to anticipate earthquakes is more effective than watching the cat.What effect does exceeding positive ionization have on some people？A.They think they are insane.B.They feel rather bad-tempered and short-fussed.C.They become violently sick.D.They are too tired to do anything.2.In accordance with the passage，static electricity can be caused by___.ing home-made electrical goods.B.wearing clothes made of natural materials.C.walking on artificial floor coverings.D.copying TV programs on a computer.3.A high negative ion count is likely to be found___.A.near a pound with a water pump.B.close to a slow-flowing river.C.high in some barren mountains.D.by a rotating water sprinkler.4.What kind of machine can generate negative ions indoors？A.Ionisers.B.Air-conditioners.C.Exhaust-fansD.Vacuum pumps.5.Some scientists believe that___.A.watching animals to anticipate earthquakes is more effective than depending on seismography.B.the unusual behavior of animals cannot be trusted.C.neither watching nor using seismographs is reliable.D.earthquake答案：ＢＣＤＡＡ。

英语六级考试标准阅读(22)The government-run command post in Tunis is staffed around the clock by military personnel， meteorologists and civilians. On the wall are maps， crisscrossed with brightly colors arrows that painstakingly track the fearsome path of the enemy.What kind of invader gives rise to such high-level monitoring？Not man， not beast， but the lowly desert locust.（蝗虫） In recent months， billions of the 3-inch-long winged warriors have descended on Algeria， Libya， Morocco and Tunisia， blackening the sky and eating up crops and vegetation. The insect invasion， the worst in 30 years， is already creating great destruction in the Middle East and is now treating southern Europe. The current crisis began in late 1985 near the Red Sea. Unusually rainy weather moistened the sands of the Sudan， making them ideal breeding grounds for the locust， which lays its eggs in the earth. The insect onslaught threatens to create yet another African famine. Each locust can eat its weight （not quite a tenth of an ounce） in vegetation every 24 hours. A good-size swarm of 50 billion insects eats up 100，000 tons of grass， trees and crops in a single night.All ﹩150 million may be needed this year. The U.S. has provided two spraying planes and about 50，000 gal. of pesticide. The European Community has donated ﹩3.8 million in aid and the Soviet Union，Canada， Japan and China have provided chemical-spraying aircraft to help wipe out the pests. But relief efforts are hampered by the relative mildness of approved pesticides， which quickly lose their deadly punch and require frequent replications. The most effective locust killer dieldrin has been linked to cancer and is banned by many Western countries and some of the affected African nations. More then 5 million acres have been dusted with locust-killing chemicals；another 5 million will be treated by the end of June.On May 30， representatives of Tunisia， Algeria， Libya，Morocco and Mauritania will meet in Algiers to discuss tactics to wipe out the ravenous swarms. The move is an important step， but whatever plan is devised， the locust plague promised to get worse before the insects can be brought under control.。

leave.[C] They should serve that man immediately.[D] That man is old enough to order things he likes.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conver sation you have just heard.19. [A] She loved it.[B] She disagreed with too much of it to enjoy.[C] She thought it was just so so.[D] She liked the class but disagreed with the Professor.20. [A] Early America was undemocratic.[B] There has never been democracy in America.[C] Early leaders of America had no desire for democracy.[D] Democracy took time to develop in America.21. [A] The basic foundations of democracy were created ov er 50 y ears ag o.[B] Early leaders loved democracy.[C] America is no different now than 200 years ago.[D] The meaning of democracy has changed over time.22. [A] She is afraid he may discover her ignorance.[B] She is afraid it may affect her grade.[C] She is not completely sure of her own opinion.[D] She is too busy and has no time to waste.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conver sation you have just heard.23. [A] He was returning home from a party.[B] He just got off work when he saw the UFO.[C] He was driving home from a restaurant.[D] He was coming home from a police station.24. [A] The man was out of mind.[B] He drank a few beers in the party.[C] He lost his directions to his home.[D] He took some drugs in the party.25. [A] They should call the fire department.[B] The man should go to the party again.[C] The man should contact the newspaper.[D] The man should seek counseling.Section BPassage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. [A] A research on space.[B] An event of imagination.[C] A historic discovery.[D] A scientific adventure.27. [A] Huge waves.[B] An earthquake.[C] Damages to American cities. [D] An Earth ex plosi on.28. [A] The land is covered with water.[B] Wars break out among countries.[C] People there can not live at the temperature of zero.[D] The light and heat from the sun can not reach the earth.29. [A] The human beings will die out in 2094.[B] Animals could not live in the cold climate.[C] The Earth could be hit by other objects in space.[D] What happened 65 million years ago was an invented story. Passage TwoQuestions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.30. [A] She is not used to the life there now.[B] She has lived there for seventeen years.[C] She prefers to live in an old-fashioned house.[D] She has to be polite to everyone she meets there.31. [A] In a cafe.[B] In a pub.[C] In a restaurant.[D] In a nightclub.32. [A] He didn’t like the British idea of family.[B] He was from a typical French family.[C] He had never been to France.[D] He felt lonely in England.Passage ThreeQuestions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.33. [A] To protect beachfront property.[B] To reduce the traffic on beach roads.[C] To provide privacy for homeowners.[D] To define property limits.34. [A] By sending water directly back to the sea with great force.[B] By reducing wave energy.[C] By reducing beach width.[D] By stabilizing beachfront construction.35. [A] Protecting roads along the shore.[B] Building on beaches with seawalls.[C] Adding sand to beaches with seawalls.[D] Stopping building seawalls.标准听力（十）Part III ,Listening Comprehension ,(35 minutes)Section A11. [A] The woman is the man’s boss.[B] The man is the woman’s husband.[C] The woman is the headmaster of a school.[D] The woman wants to know something about a student.12. [A] She suggests the man to go to a farther place to trim his hair.[B] She offers to cut the man’s hair herself at the price of 10.[C] She tells the man a cheaper but bu si er pl ace to h av e hi s h air cut.[D] She used to trim her hair in a luxurious saloon.13. [A] Encourage them. [B] Stop them immedi ately.[C] Give some explanation. [D] Leave th em alon e.14. [A] The man was the only survivor of an air crash.[B] People on board were frightened and tried to escape.[C] The man has always been very lucky in accidents.[D] A few passengers came back home safe and sound.15. [A] He was taking pictures of the campus.[B] His photographs were on the evening news.[C] He went to see a film on campus.[D] His television appearance was unintentional.16. [A] He didn’t know the woman was late for work.[B] He asked why the woman wasn’t there on time.[C] He doesn’t have a habit of being on time, either.[D] He wants the woman to keep a habit of being punctual.17. [A] They both graduated from art schools.[B] They majored in different areas of art.[C] They are equally competent for the job.[D] They are both willing to draw the posters.18. [A] Public buses are fast and cheap.[B] Parking is becoming a big problem.[C] Buses and taxis are easy to find parking.[D] People can find nowhere to park their cars.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conver sation you have just heard.19. [A] Putting up posters for her works. [B] Attending an art class.[C] Decorating her dorm room. [D] Organizing a gl obal tour.20. [A] Two-dimensional. [B] Three-dimensional.[C] Colorful.[D] Detailed.21. [A] She earned a lot of money. [B] She learned m any things.[C] She was acquainted with many people.[D] She became an art major.22. [A] Hold an exhibition on campus.[B] Go to New Y ork City.[C] Register for the tour to Boston.[D] Meet the European painters.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conver sation you have just heard.23. [A] She does some teaching work.[B] She does her homework.[C] She works as a babysitter.[D] She attends weekend lessons to improve her English.24. [A] One of her teachers recommended her to do it.[B] One of her friends introduced it to her.[C] She got it through a notice near the bus stop.[D] She happened to meet a person who offered the job.25. [A] To put up notices on community bulletin boards.[B] To post notices on wire poles.[C] To ask his teachers for help.[D] To register in job center of the university.Section BPassage OneQuestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.26. [A] Parents share more interests with their children.[B] Parents put more trust in their children’s abilities.[C] Parents and children talk more about sex and drugs.[D] Parents help their children develop interests in m ore activities.27. [A] More confusion among parents.[B] Less respect for parents from children.[C] New equality between parents and children.[D] More strictness and authority on the part of parents.28. [A] Today’s parents can set a li mit to the change.[B] Today’s parents follow the trend of the change.[C] Today’s parents fail to take the change seriously.[D] Today’s parents have little difficulty adjusting to change.29. [A] To describe the difficulties today’s parents have met with.[B] To discuss the development of the parent-child relationship.[C] To suggest the ways to handle the parent-child relationship.[D] To compare today’s par ent-child relati on ship with th at in the past.Passage Two. [A] To compete with online bill paying.[B] To reduce the cost of printing 2- or 3-cent stamps.[C] To respond to the complaints about rising postal rates.[D] To help save the consumers’ cost on first-class mailing.31. [A] America will be the first country to issue “forever stamps”.[B] 2- or 3-cent stamps will no longer be printed in the future.[C] The design of the “forever stamps” remains to be revealed.[D] The investment in “forever stamps” will bring adequate reward.32. [A] New interest will be aroused in collecting “forever stamps”.[B] Postal workers will benefit most from the sal es of“forev er stamps”.。