2008年12月英语六级阅读真题及答案
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2008年12月六级听力原文、答案及mp3下载来源:壹壹英语11.M: I’m asked to pick up the guest speaker Bob Russel at the airport this afternoon, do you know what he looks like?W: Well, he’s in his sixties, he stands out, he’s bald, tall and thin and has a beard.Q: What do we conclude from the woman’s remarks about Bob Russel?12. W: I’m considering dropping my dancing class. I’m not making any progressM: If I were you, I’d stick with it. It's definitely worth time and effort.Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?13. W: You see I still have this pain in my back, this medicine the doctor gave me was supposed to make me feel better by now.M: Maybe you should’ve taken it three times a day as you were told.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?14. M: Frankly, when I sat at the back of the classroom, I can’t see the words on the board clearly.W: Well, you’ve been wearing those same glasses as long as I’ve known you. Why not get a new pair, it won’t cost you too much.Q: What does the woman imply about the man’s glasses?15. W: How come the floor is so wet? I almost slipped, what happened?M: Oh, sorry! The phone rang the moment I got into the shower, anyway, I’ll wipe it up right now.Q: Why was the floor wet according to the man?16. M: The instructions on the package say that you need to some assembly yourself. I’ve spent all afternoon trying in vain to put this bookcase together,W: I know what you mean, last time I tried to assemble a toy train for my son and I almost gave up.Q: What does the man find difficult?17. M: I’m getting worried about Jenny’s school work. All she talks about these days is volleyball games and all she does is practice, training and things like that.W: Her grades on the coming exams will fall for sure. It’s high time we talk(ed) some sense to her.(壹壹英语)Q: What are the speakers probably going to do?18. W: Do you understand why the local people are opposed to the new dam up the river?M: They are worried about the potential danger if the dam should break. The river is very wide above the proposed site.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?2008年12月六级听力长对话1原文----------------------------------- Longer conversations W: Mr. White, What changes have you seen in the champagne market in the last ten to fifteen years? M: well , the biggest change has been the decrease in sales since the great boom years in 1980s when champagne production and sales reached record levels. W: Which was the best year?来源:壹壹英语 M: Well, the record was in 1989 when 249 million bottles of champagne was sold. The highest production level was reached in 1990 with a total of 293 million bottles. Of course since those boom years , sales have fallen. W: Has the marker been badly hit by the recession? M: Oh, certainly. The economic problems in champagne's export ? markets that's Europe , the United States ,Japan, and of course , the domestic market in France. The economic problems have certainly been one reason for the decrease in champagne sales. W:And the other reasons? M:Another important factor has been price. In the early 90s, champagne was very overpriced, so many people stopped buying it. Instead, they bought sparkling wines from other countries, in particular, from Australia, and Spain. And then, there was another problem for champagne in early 90s. W: What was that? M: There was a lot of rather bad champagne on the market. This meant the popularity of good sparkling wines increased even more. People were surprised by their quality, and of course they were a lot cheaper than champagne. W: Do you think the champagne market will recover in the future? M: Oh, I am sure it will. When the economic situation improves, I believe the market will recover. Q19: What does the man say about champagne in 1990s? Q20: Why sparkling wine more popular than champagne in early 1990s? Q21: What dose the man think of the champagne market in the future?2008年12月六级听力长对话2原文---------------------------------- W: Right, well, in the studio this morning, for our interview spot is Peter Wilson. Peter works for Green Peace. So, Peter, welcome. M: Thanks a lot. It's good to be here. W: Great! Now, Peter, perhaps you can tell us something about Green Peace and your job there. M: Sure. Well, I'll start by telling you roughly what Green Peace is all about. I actually work in London for the Green Peace organization. We've been going for a few decades and we're a non-violent, non-political organization. We're involved in anti-nuclear activity, conservation and protection of animals and protection and support of our eco-system. I'm the action organizer and arrange any protests. W: Right! A pretty important role, Peter. What sort of protest would you organize? M: Well, recently we've been involved in anti-nuclear campaigns. I, personally arranged for the demonstration against radioactive waste dumpingin the Atlantic Ocean. We've got a few small Green Peace boats that we harass the dumping ship with. W: Say? Hold on, Peter. I thought you said your organization was non-violent. What do you mean by "harass"? M: Well, we circle round and round the ships and get in the way when they try to dump the drums of nuclear waste in the sea. We talk to the men and try to change, you know, yell at them to stop. We generally make ourselves as much of a nuisance as possible. M: Well, people may think differently of your methods, but there's no doubt you're doing a great job. Keep it up and good luck. And thanks for talking with us. W: Thanks for having me.壹壹英语考试 Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 22. What is the man's chief responsibility in the Green Peace organization? 23. What has Green Peace been involved in recently? 24. How does Green Peace try to stop people from dumping nuclear waste? 25. What is the woman's attitude towards the Green Peace's campaigns?----------------2008年12月六级听力短文 Passage One: To find out what the weather is going to be, most people go straight to the radio, television, or newspaper, to get an expert weather forecast. But if you know what to look for, you can use your own senses to make weather predictions. There're many science that can help you. For example, in fair weather, the air pressure is generally high, the air is still, and often full of dust. And far away objects may look vague. But when a storm is blowing, the pressure drops, and you are often able to see things more clearly. Sailors took note of this long ago, and came up with a saying:" The farther the sight, the nearer the rain." Your sense of smell can also help you detect weather changes. Just before it rains, odors become stronger. This is because odors are repressed in a fair high pressure center. When a bad weather low moves in, air pressure lessens, and odors are released. You can also hear an approaching storm. Sounds bounce off heavy storm clouds and return to earth with increased force. An old saying describes to this way:" Sound traveling far and wide, a stormy day will be tied." And don't laugh at your grandmother if she says she can feel a storm coming. It is commonly known that many people feel pains in their bones or joints when humidity rises. The pressure drops, and bad weather is on the way. 26. Why does the speaker say we can see far away objects more clearly as a storm is approaching? 27. What does the speaker want to show by quoting a couple of old sayings? 28. What does the passage mainly talk about? 2008年12月六级听力Passage Two: Many days seem to bring numerous tasks and responsibilities. All of which apparently must be tackled right away. You spend a day putting out files, but by the end of the day, you haven't accomplished any of the really important things you set out to do. In desperation, you draft a "to-do" list, but most days, you can make little progress with it. When you look at the list each morning, a big fat cloud of doom is right at the top. Those difficult, complex, important tasks, that are so crucial to get done, and so easy to avoid. Plenty of us create a "to-do" list to address feelings of being overwhelmed, but we rarely use these tools to their best effect. They wind out being guilt-provoking reminders of the fact that will over-committed and losing control of our priorities. According to T.P, a professor of psychology at Carlton University in Ottawa, people often draw up a "to-do" list, and then that's it. The list itself becomes the day's achievement, allowing us to feel we've done something useful without taking on any real work. In fact, drawing up the list becomes a way of avoiding the work itself. Too often, the list is seen as the accomplishment for the day, reducing the immediate guilt of not working on the tasks at hand by investing energy in the list, says P. When a list is used like this, it's simply another way in which we lie to ourselves. 29. What is the problem that troubles many people nowadays according to the speaker? 30. According to the speaker, what too many people do to cope with their daily tasks? 31. According to psychologist T.P, what do people find by the end of the day? 2008年12月六级听力Passage 3 In many stressful situations, the body's responses can improve our performance. We become more energetic, more alert, better able to take effective action. But when stress is encountered continually, the body's reactions are more likely to be harmful than helpful to us. The continual speeding up of bodily reactions and production of stress related hormones seem to make people more susceptible to heart disease. And stress reactions can reduce the disease fighting effectiveness of the body's immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to illnesses ranging from colds to cancer. Stress may also contribute to disease in less direct ways by influencing moods and behavior. People under stress may become anxious or depressed, and as a result may eat too much or too little, have sleep difficulties or fail to exercise. These behavioral changes may in turn be harmful to the health. In addition, people are more likely to pay attention to certain bodily sensations such as aches and pains when they are under stress and to think that they're sick. If the person were not under stress, the same bodily sensations might not be perceived as symptoms and the person might continue to feel well. Some researchers have suggested that assuming the role of a sick person is one way in which certain people try to cope with stress. Instead of dealing with the stressful situation directly, these people fall sick. After all, it is often more acceptably in our society to be sick and to seek medical help than it is to admit that one can not cope with the stresses of life. 32. What does the speaker say about people who encounter stress once in a while? 33. What does the speaker say frequent stress reactions may lead to? 34. What are people more likely to do when they are under stress? 35. What does the passage mainly talk about?2008年12月六级听力复合式听写 O ne of the most common images of an advanced, Western-style culture is that of a busy, traffic-filled city. Since their first(36) appearance on American roadways, automobiles have becomea (37) symbol of progress, a source of thousands of jobs and an almost inalienable right for citizens’ personal freedom of movement. In recent (38) decades, our “love affair” with the car is being (39) exported directly to the developing world, and it is increasingly (40) apparent that this transfer is leading to disaster.American’s almost complete dependence on automobiles has been a terrible mistake. As late as the 1950s, a large (41) percentage of the American public used mass transit. A (42) combination of public policy decisions and corporate scheming saw to it that countless (43) convenient and efficient urban streetcar and intra-city rail systems were dismantled. (44) Our air quality now suffers from the effects of pollutants emitted directly from our cars. Our lives have been planned along a road grid -- homes far from work, shopping far from everything, with ugly stretches of concrete and blacktop in between.Developing countries are copying Western-style transportation systems down to the last detail. (45) The problems caused by motorized vehicles in the West are often magnified in developing nations. Pollution control measures are either not strict or nonexistent, leading to choking clouds of smog. Gasoline still contains lead, which is extremely poisonous to humans. (46) Movement in some cities comes to avirtual standstill as motorized traffic competes with bicycles and pedestrians.In addition to pollution and traffic jams, auto safety is a critical issue in developing nations.。
Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 longconversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questionswill be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and thequestions 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), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through thecentre.Now let’s begin with the eight short conversations:11. M: I’m asked to pick up the guest speaker Bob Russel at the airport this afternoon, do you know what he looks like?W: Well, he’s in his sixties, he stands out, he’s bald, tall and thin and has a beard.Q: What do we conclude from the woman’s remarks about Bob Russel?12. M: I am considering dropping my dancing class. I am not making any progress. W: If I were you, I stick with it. It’s definit ely worth time and effort.Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?13. W: You see I still have this pain in my back, this medicine the doctor gave me was supposed to make me feel better by now.M: Maybe you should’ve taken it three times a day as you w ere told.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?14. M: Frankly, when I sat the back of the classroom, I can’t see the words on the board clearly.W: Well, you’ve been wearing those same glasses as long as I’ve known you. Why not get a new pair? It wo uldn’t cost you too much.Q: What does the woman imply about the man’s glasses?15. W: How come the floor is so wet? I almost slipped, what happened?M: Oh, sorry! The phone rang the moment I got into the shower, anyway, I’ll wipe it up right now.Q: Why was the floor wet according to the man?16. M: The instructions on the package say that you need to some assembly yourself. I’ve spent all afternoon trying in vain to put this bookcase together.W: I know what you mean, last time I tried to assemble a toy train for my son and I almost gave up.Q: What does the man find difficult?17. M: I’m getting worried about Jenny’s school work. All she talks about these days is volleyball games and all she does is practice, training and things like that.W: Her grade s on the coming exams will fall for sure. It’s high time we talk(ed) some sense to her.Q: What are the speakers probably going to do?18. W: Do you understand why the local people are opposed to the new dam up the river?M: They are worried about the potential danger if the dam should break. The river is very wide above the proposed site.Q: What do we learn from the conversation?Now you’ll hear the two long conversations:Conversation OneW: Mr. White, what changes have you seen in the champagne market in the last ten to fifteen years?M: Well the biggest change has been the decrease in sales since the great boom years of the 1980s when champagne production and sales reached record levels.W: Which was the best year?M: Well the record was in 1989 when 249 million bottles of champagne was sold. The highest production level was reached in 1990 with a total of 293 million bottles. Of course since those boom years sales have fallen.W: Has the market been badly hit by the recession?M: Oh certainly, the economic problems in champagnes’ export markets that’s Europe, the United States, Japan, and of course the domestic market in France, the economic problems have certainly been one reason for the decrease in champagne sales.W: And the other reasons?M: Another important factor has been price. In the early 90s, champagne was very overpriced, so many people stop buying it. Instead they bought sparkling wines from other countries, in particular from Australia and Spain. And then there was another problem for champagne in the early 90s.W: What was that?M: There was a lot of rather bad champagne on the market. This meant the popularity of good sparkling wines increased even more. People was surprised by their quality and of course they were a lot cheaper than champagne.W: Do you think the champagne market will recover in the future?M: Oh, I’m sure it will. When the economic situation improves, I believe the market will recover.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.19. What does the man say about champagne in the 1980s?20. Why did sparkling wines become more popular than champagne in the early 90s?21. What does the man think of the champagne market in the future?Conversation TwoW: Right, well, in the studio this morning, for our interview spot is Peter Wilson. Peter works for Green Peace. So, Peter, welcome.M: Thanks a lot. It’s good to be here.W: Great! Now, Peter, perhaps you can tell us something about Green Peace and your job there.M: Sure. Well, I’ll start by telli ng you roughly what Green Peace is all about. I actually work in London for the Green Peace organization. We’ve been going for a few decades and we’re a non-violent, non-political organization. We’re involved in anti-nuclear activity, conservation and protection of animals and protection and support of our eco-system. I’m the action organizer and arrange any protests.W: Right! A pretty important role, Peter. What sort of protest would you organize? M: Well, recently we’ve been involved in anti-nuclear campaigns. I, personally arranged for the demonstration against radioactive waste dumping in the Atlantic Ocean. We’ve got a few small Green Peace boats that we harass the dumping ship with.W: Say? Hold on, Peter. I thought you said your organization was non-violent. What do you mean by "harass"?M: Well, we circle round and round the ships and get in the way when they try to dump the drums of nuclear waste in the sea. We talk to the men and try to change, you know, yell at them to stop. We generally make ourselves as much of a nuisance as possible.M: Well, people may think differently of your methods, but there’s no doubt you’re doing a great job. Keep it up and good luck. And thanks for talking with us.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversations you have just heard.22. What is the man’s chief responsibility in the Green Peace organization?23. What has Green Peace been involved in recently?24. How does Green Peace try to stop people from dumping nuclear waste?25. What is the woman’s attitude towards the Green Peace’s campaigns?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 bespoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the bestanswer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through thecentre.Passage OneTo find out what the weather is going to be, most people go straight to the radio, television, or newspaper to get an expert weather forecast. But if you know what to look for, you can use your own senses to make weather predictions. There are many signs that can help you. For example, in fair weather the air pressure is generally high, the air is still and often full of dust, and far away objects may look vague. But when the storm is brewing, the pressure drops, and you are often able to see things more clearly. Sailors took note of this long ago, and came up with the saying, “Th e farther the sight, the nearer the rain.” Your sense of smell can also help you detect the weather changes. Just before it rains, odors become stronger, this is because odors are repressed in a fair high pressure center. When a bad weather low moves in, airpressure lessens and odors are released. You can also hear an approaching storm. Sounds bounce off heavy storm clouds and return to earth with increased force. An old saying describes it this way, “Sounds traveling far and wide a stormy day will be tied”. And don’t laugh at your grandmother if she says she can feel a storm coming. It is commonly known that many people feel pains in their bones or joints while the humidity rises, the pressure drops, and bad weather is on the way.Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard:26. Why does the speaker say we can see far away objects more clearly as a storm is approaching?27. What does the speaker want to show by quoting a couple of old sayings?28. What does the passage mainly talk about?Passage TwoMany days seem to bring numerous tasks and responsibilities. All of which apparently must be tackled right away. You spend a day putting out files, but by the end of the day, you haven’t accomplished any of the really important things you set out to do. In desperation, you draft a “to-do” list, but most days, you can make little progress with it. When you look at the list each morning, a big fat cloud of doom is right at the top. Those difficult, complex, important tasks, that are so crucial to get done, and so easy to avoid. Plenty of us create a “to-do” list to address feelings of being overwhelmed, but we rarely use these tools to their best effect. They wind out being guilt-provoking reminders of the fact that will over-committed and losing control of our priorities. According to Timothy Pikle, a professor of psychology at Carlton University in Ottawa, people often draw up a “to-do” list, and then that’s it. The list itself becomes the day’s achievement, allowing us to feel we’ve done something useful without taking on any real work. In fact, drawing up the list becomes a way of avoiding the work itself. Too often, the list is seen as the accomplishment for the day, reducing the immediate guilt of not working on the tasks at hand by invest ing energy in the list, says Pikle. When a list is used like this, it’s simply another way in which we lie to ourselves.Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have heard.29. What is the problem that troubles many people nowadays according to the speaker?30. According to the speaker, what too many people do to cope with their daily tasks?31. According to psychologist Timothy Pikle, what do people find by the end of the day?Passage ThreeIn many stressful situations, the body’s responses can improve our performance. We become more energetic, more alert, better able to take effective action. But when stress is encountered continually, the body’s reactions are more likely to be harmful than helpful to us. The continual speeding up of bodily reactions and production of stress related hormones seem to make people more susceptible to heart disease. And stress reactions can reduce the disease fighting effectiveness of the body’s immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to illnesses ranging from colds to cancer. Stress may also contribute to disease in less direct ways by influencing moods and behavior. People under stress may become anxious or depressed, and as a result may eat too much or too little, have sleep difficulties or fail to exercise. These behavioral changes may in turn be harmful to the health. In addition, people are more likely to pay attention to certain bodily sensations such as aches and pains when they are under stress and to think that they’re sick. If the person were not un der stress, the same bodily sensations might not be perceived as symptoms and the person might continue to feel well. Some researchers have suggested that assuming the role of a sick person is one way in which certain people try to cope with stress. Instead of dealing with the stressful situation directly, these people fall sick. After all, it is often more acceptably in our society to be sick and to seek medical help than it is to admit that one can not cope with the stresses of life.Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.32. What does the speaker say about people who encounter stress once in a while?33. What does the speaker say frequent stress reactions may lead to?34. What are people more likely to do when they are under stress?35. What does the passage mainly talk about?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 inthe blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have justheard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in themissing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact wordsyou 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 checkwhat you have written.Now listen to the passage:One of the most common images of an advanced, Western-style culture is that of a busy, traffic-filled city. Since their first(36)appearance on American roadways, automobiles have become a(37)symbol of progress, a source of thousands of jobs and an almost inalienable right for citizens’ personal freedom of movement. In recent(38)decades, our “love affair” with the car is being(39)exported directly to the developing world, and it is increasingly(40)apparent that this transfer is leading to disaster.American’s almost complete dependence on automobiles has been a terrible mistake. As late as the 1950s, a large(41)percentage of the American public used mass transit. A(42)combination of public policy decisions and corporate scheming saw to it that countless(43)convenient and efficient urban streetcar and intra-city rail systems were dismantled(拆除).(44)Our air quality now suffers from the effects of pollutants emitted directly from our cars. Our lives have been planned along a road grid — homes far from work, shopping far from everything, with ugly stretches of concrete and blacktop in between.Developing countries are copying Western-style transportation systems down to the last detail.(45)The problems caused by motorized vehicles in the West are often magnified in developing nations. Pollution control measures are either not strict or nonexistent, leading to choking clouds of smog. Gasoline still contains lead, which is extremely poisonous to humans.(46)Movement in some cities comes to a virtual standstill as motorized traffic competes with bicycles and pedestrians.In addition to pollution and traffic jams, auto safety is a critical issue in developing nations.。
PART ONE WRITINGShould parents send their kids to art classes?A child’s world is supposed to be fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. Unfortunately, this is not the case for some kids, especially for those born and bred in cities --- their joys are dimmed and even lost because a majority of them are forced to attend various art classes.Some claim that it is beneficial for children’s development. They might have their reasons because most parents are convinced that their kids are gifted gifts from the god. They presume that the earlier their children are exposed to arts, the more likely it is to find out the artistic potential hidden in them. Even if their children fail to become another child prodigy like Lang Lang or Li Yundi, the interests in arts, say, in music, cultivated in childhood will be of great value in their whole life.In spite of the possible benefits mentioned, I, like others, am strongly against it. The major harm is that it might deprive children of their pleasure to play after school. Faced with competition and contest for better universities, most children are buried in piles of homework. Forcing them to art classes will leave them less time to enjoy the beauty of the nature or to find their talent in things they are really interested in.To sum up, childhood is a time for children to play as they wish. Rather than cramming knowledge, it is more important to pave the way for their desire to know than toput them on a diet of facts they are not ready to assimilate.PART TWO Reading Comjprehension (Skimming and Scanning)1. B) benefits of the practice of teleworking2. C) more employees work to full capacity at home3. C) more businesses have adopted remote working solution4. B) They look for reliable business-only provider5. A) offering sophisticated voice services6. D) support its employees with children to take care of7. B) keep highly qualified staff8. home life9. productive10. increase her own productivityPART THREE Listening ComprehensionNo.11 A They prefer to carry cash when traveling abroad. No.12 D He had long dream of the dean’s position.No.13 A The concert is very impressive.No.14 B They have known each other since their schooldays. No.15 D Stop for the night.No.16 A Survey result.No.17 D He would rather the w oman didn’t buy the blouse.No.18 C The notice may not be reliable.No.19 D A manager at a computer store.No.20 A Handling customer complains.No.21 C She wants to be with her husband.No.22 D Early next month.No.23 B It will be a major economic power by the mid-21st century. No.24 D The huge gap between the haves and have-nots.No.25 C They attach great importance to education.No.26 A She engaged in field research on environmental pollution. No.27 A The job restricted her from revealing her findings.No.28 B Many toxic sites in America have been cleaned up.No.29 D Her ability to communicate through public speaking.No.30 D The accelerated pace of globalization.No.31 B Gain a deep understanding of their own culture.No.32 C The labor market is getting globalized.No.33 B Brown haired women are rated as more capable.No.34 A They are shrewd and dishonest.No.35 C They hinder our perception of individual differences. No.36 derivedNo.37 immenseNo.38 convenientNo.39 accuracyNo.40 largelyNo.41 instinctNo.42 recallsNo.43 textureNo.44 This means that any thought about a certain subject will often bring up more memories that are related to it.No.45 The associations do not have to be logical. They just have to make a good link.No.46 If you remember the shape of Italy, it is because you have been told at sometime that Italy is shaped like a boot.PART FOUR Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth)47. a driver’s attention48. equivalent in difficulty to driving49. more time50. more complicated task51. punishment52. D) the shrinking primary care resources53. C) the more doctors taking care of a patient, the better54. A) see more patients at the expense of quality55. B) The current system works against primary care.56. D) Bridge the salary gap between specialists and primary care physicians.57. B) The air quality around Berkeley’s school campuses is poor.58. B) Widespread panic59. A) They didn’t know who to believe.60. B) Attention should be paid to toxic chemical exposure61. A) the uncertainPART FIVE Cloze62. B launching62. D brands64. B condemn65. A in66. C industry67. A discourage68. D including69. C. unnecessary70. D for71. B incentives72. C strategic73. A spokesman74. D. under way75. B responsiblility76. B on77. C minimise78. C so79. C individual80. A despite81. D tacklePART SIX Translation82. How long does a jacket like this last me? ————————(这要看你多长时间穿一次。
Conversation II M: Hi, Sue. Where have you been? W: Oh. Hi, Dan. I was just at the library. I have to hand in my biology paper tomorrow. M: Tomorrow? Oh, no! I thought it wasn't due till Monday. W: Oh. Don't worry. It is due Monday. But I'm going away for the weekend and won't be back till Monday night. M: Oh, where are you going? W: California. We're having a family reunion. It's my grandmother's ninetieth birthday, so all the cousins and aunts and uncles are going. She planned the whole thing herself. M: Wow. That's great. How many people will be there? W: Around sixty. My family is big and spread up but we're pretty close. So have you started working on your biology paper? M: Yeah. I'm doing it on bees and how they're able to recognize whether another bee is related to them. W: How can they tell? M: They use their sense of smell. The sweat bees guard their nest this way. If another bee approaches the nest, the guard determines if the new bee is familiar. If it is, it's allowed to enter. W: Interesting. Can other insects do this? Well, the paper wasps can. Each wasp nest has a special combination of plant fibers and so the wasps that live there have a unique smell. Those two are the only kinds I've read about so far. M: Well, you've still got time. It sounds like that the bees are picky about who comes to their family reunion. 23. What is the relationship between the speakers? 24. Why was the man worried at first? 25. According to the man, how do some bees use their sense of smell? Section B Passage 1 OK, in the last class we talked about the classification of trees and we ended up with a basic description of angiosperm. You remember that those are plants with true flowers and seeds that develop into fruits. The common broad leaf trees we have on campus fall into this category. But our pines don't. Now I hope you all followed my advice and wore comfortable shoes because as I said today we are going to do a little field study. To get started let me describe a couple of broadleaf trees we have in front of us. I'm sure you've all noticed that this big tree next to Brett Hall. It's a black walnut that must be 80 feet tall. As a matter of fact there is a plaque identifying. It is the tallest black walnut in the state. And from here we can see the beautiful archway of trees at the commons. They are American elms. The ones along the commons were planted when the college was founded 120 years ago. They have distinctive dark green leaves that lock lopsided because the two sides of the leaf are unequal. I want you to notice the elm right outside the Jackson Hall. Some of the leaves have withered and turned yellow, maybe due to Dutch elm disease. Only a few branches seem affective so far but if this tree is sick it'll have to be cut down. Well, let's move on and I'll describe what we see as we go. 26. What are the students going to do during this class period? 27. In what class is this lecture probably being given? 28. What is remarkable about the black walnut tree outside Brett Hall? 29. What is the problem with the elm tree near Jackson Hall? Passage 2 What was the most popular mix about the United States in the 19th Century was that of the free and simple life of the farmer. It was said that the farmers worked hard on their own land to produce whatever their families' needed. They might sometimes trade with their neighbors, but in general they could get along just fine by relying on themselves, not oncommercial ties with others. This is how Thomas Jefferson idealized the farmers at the beginning of the 19th century. And at that time, this may have been close to the truth especially on the frontier. But by the mid century sweeping changes in agriculture were well under way as farmers began to specialized in the raising of crops such as cotton or corn or wheat. By late in the century revolutionary invents in farm machinery has vastly increased the production of specialized crops and extensive network of railroads had linked farmers throughout the country to market in the east and even overseas. By raising and selling specialized crops, farmers could afford more and finer goods and achieved much higher standard of living but at a price. Now farmers were no longer dependent just on the weather and their own efforts, their lives were increasing controlled by the banks, which had powder to grant or deny loans for new machinery, and by the railroads which set the rates for shipping their crops to the market. As businessmen, farmers now had to worry about national economic depression and the implement of world supply and demand on for example, the of price of wheat in hands. And so by the end of the 19th century, the era of Jefferson's independent farmer had come to a close. 30. What is the main topic of the talk? 31. According to the professor, what was the major change in the agriculture during the 19th century? 32. According to the professor, what was one result of the increased use of machinery on farms of the United States? Passage 3 It is common knowledge that music can have a powerful effect on our emotions. In fact, since 1930s, music therapists have relied on music to soothe patients and help control pain. Now psychologists are confirming that music can also help relieve depression and improve concentration. For instance, in a recent study, 15 surgeons were given some highly stressed math problems to solve. They were divided into three groups: one worked in silence, and in another, the surgeons listened to music of their choice on headphones; the third listened to classic music chosen by the researchers. The results of the study may surprise you. The doctors who got to choose their music experienced less stress and scored better than the others. One possible explanation is that listening to music you like stimulates the Alfa-wave in the brain, increases the heart rate and expands the breathing. That helps to reduce stress and sharpen concentration. Other research suggests a second relation between the music and the brain: by examining the students’ blood after they listening to a variety of classic music collections, the researchers found that some students showed a large increase in endorphin, a natural pain reliever, this supports what music therapists have known for years: Music can help rejuvenate or soothe the patient. 33. According to the speaker how is the music therapy currently used in medicine? 34 What did the study done with surgeons show? 35. In the study of students exposed to classic music, what effect did the music have? Part III Compound dictation Sleep is part of a person's daily activity cycle. There are several different stages of sleep and they occur in cycles, If you are an average sleeper, your sleep cycle is as follows. When you first drift off into slumber, your eyes will roll about a bit, your temperature will drop slightly, your muscles will relax, and your breathing will slow and become quite regular. Your brain waves slow down a bit too with the alpha rhythm of rather fast waves predominating for the first few minutes. This is called stage 1 sleep. For the next half hour or so as you relax more and more you will drift down through stage 2 and stage 3 sleeps. The lower your stage of sleep the slower your brain waves will be. Then about 40 to 60 minutes after you lose consciousness you will have reached the deepest sleep of all. Your brain waves will show the large slow waves that are known as the delta rhythm. This is stage 4 sleep. You do not remain at this deep fourth stage all night long, but instead about 80 minutes after you fall into slumber, your brain activity level will increase again slightly. The delta rhythm will disappear to be replaced by the activity pattern of brain waves. Your eyes will begin to dart around under your closed eyelids as if you were looking at something occurring In front of you. This period of rapid eye movement lasts for some ~ to 15 minutes and is called REM sleep. It is during REM sleep that most dreams seem to occur. Provided that you do not wake up during the first sleep period, your body will soon relax again, your breathing will grow slow and regular once more .You will slip gently back from stage I to 4 .。
12月英语六级阅读精选考试题及解析考试时间安排英语六级考试通常在每年的6月和12月进行,是大学生英语能力测试的一个重要标准之一。
考试安排以官方公告为准,考试时间一般为8:30-11:10,考试时长2小时40分钟。
其中,阅读时间为45分钟,共15篇阅读理解文章,考生需要在规定的时间内阅读完所有文章,并选择正确的答案。
阅读理解考试题目分析英语六级阅读理解考试共15个题目,每个题目配有一篇文章。
常见的题目类型包括:1. 主旨大意题在这种题目中,考生需要阅读文章全文,以较为简洁和准确的方式写出文章的主旨大意。
主旨大意题也是考试中出现频率最高的题型之一。
例题:What is the main idea of the passage?A. An introduction to a new type of mobile phone.B. A report on the decline of the mobile phone industry.C. A discussion of the benefits of different mobile phone models.D. An argument for the superiority of a certain type of mobile phone.答案:A2. 细节题在这种题目中,考生需要在文章中准确地找到与题目相关的细节信息。
细节题需要考生仔细阅读文章,并关注特定的信息和细节。
例题:According to the passage, what are the benefits of exercise?A. Improved mood and greater creativity.B. Stronger muscles and greater stamina.C. Lower risk of heart disease and better lung function.D. Improved immune system and better digestion.答案:C3. 推断题在这种题目中,考生需要根据文章中的信息进行推断,回答一些问题。
Passage Nine (The Continuity of the Religious Struggle in Britain)Though England was on the whole prosperous and hopeful, though by comparison with her neighbors she enjoyed internal peace, she could not evade the fact that the world of which she formed a part was torn by hatred and strife as fierce as any in human history. Men were still for from recognizing that two religions could exist side by side in the same society; they believed that the toleration of another religion different from their own. And hence necessarily false, must inevitably destroy such a society and bring the souls of all its members into danger of hell. So the struggle went on with increasing fury within each nation to impose a single creed upon every subject, and within the general society of Christendom to impose it upon every nation. In England the Reformers, or Protestants, aided by the power of the Crown, had at this stage triumphed, but over Europe as a whole Rome was beginning to recover some of the ground it had lost after Martin Luther’s revolt in the earlier part of the century. It did this in two ways, by the activities of its missionaries, as in parts of Germany, or by the military might of the Catholic Powers, as in the Low Countries, where the Dutch provinces were sometimes near their last extremity under the pressure of Spanish arms. Against England, the most important of all the Protestant nations to reconquer, military might was not yet possible because the Catholic Powers were too occupied and divided: and so, in the 1570’s Rome bent her efforts, as she had done a thousand years before in the days of Saint Augustine, to win England back by means of her missionaries.These were young Englishmen who had either never given up the old faith, or having done so, had returned to it and felt called to become priests. There being, of course, no Catholic seminaries left in England, they went abroad, at first quite easily, later with difficulty and danger, to study in the English colleges at Douai or Rome: the former established for the training of ordinary or secular clergy, the other for the member of the Society of Jesus, commonly known as Jesuits, a new Order established by St, Ignatius Loyola same thirty years before. The seculars came first; they achieved a success which even the most eager could hardly have expected. Cool-minded and well-informed men, like Cecil, had long surmised that the conversion of the English people to Protestantism was for from complete; many—Cecil thought even the majority—had conformed out of fear, self-interest or—possibly the commonest reason of all—sheer bewilderment at the rapid changes in doctrine and forms of worship imposed on them in so short a time. Thus it happened that the missionaries found a welcome, not only with the families who had secretly offered them hospitality if they came, but with many others whom their first hosts invited to meet them or passed them on to. They would land at the ports in disguise, as merchants, courtiers or what not, professing some plausible business in the country, and make by devious may for their first house of refuge. There they would administer the Sacraments and preach to the house holds and to such of the neighbors as their hosts trusted and presently go on to some other locality to which they were directed or from which they received a call.1. The main idea of this passage is[A]. The continuity of the religious struggle in Britain in new ways.[B]. The conversion of religion in Britain.[C]. The victory of the New religion in Britain.[D]. England became prosperous.2. What was Martin Luther’s religions?[A]. Buddhism. [B]. Protestantism. [C]. Catholicism. [D]. Orthodox.3. Through what way did the Rome recover some of the lost land?[A]. Civil and military ways. [B]. Propaganda and attack.[C]. Persuasion and criticism. [D]. Religious and military ways.4. What did the second paragraph mainly describe?[A]. The activities of missionaries in Britain.[B]. The conversion of English people to Protestantism was far from complete.[C]. The young in Britain began to convert to Catholicism[D]. Most families offered hospitality to missionaries.Vocabulary1. evade 避开,回避2. creed 教义,信条,主义3. the Crown 原义皇冠,在英国代表王权,王室/君主4. low Countries 低地国,指荷兰,卢森堡,比利时5. last extremity 最后阶段,绝境,临终。
12月大学英语六级考试真题及答案(4) Directions: In this section, there is a short passage with 5 questions or inplete statements. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or plete 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.Leadership is the most significant word in today's petitive business environment because it directs the manager of a business to focus inward on their personal capabilities and style. Experts on leadership will quickly point out that "how things get done" influences the suess of the outes and indicates a right way and a wrong way to do things. When a noted leader on the art of management, Peter Drucker, coined the phrase "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things," he was seeking to clarify the distinctions he associates with the terms.When Stephen Covey, founder and director of the Leadership Institute, explored leadership styles in the past decade, he focused on the habits of a great number of highly effective individuals. His Seven Habits of Highly Effective People became a popular bestseller very quickly. His ideas forced a reexamination of the early leadership paradigm (范例), which he observed centered on traits foundin the character ethic and the personality ethic. The former ethic suggested suess was founded on integrity, modesty, loyalty, courage, patience, and so forth. The personality ethic suggested it was one's attitude, not behavior, that inspired suess, and this ethic was founded on a belief of positive mental attitude. In contrast to each of these ideas, Covey advocates that leaders need to understand universal principles of effectiveness, and he highlights how vital it is for leaders to first personally manage themselves if they are to enjoy any hope of outstanding suess in their work environments. To achieve a desired vision for your business, it is vital that you have a personal vision of where you are headed and what you value. Business leadership means that managers need to "put first things first," which implies that before leading others, you need to be clear on your own values, abilities, and strengths and be seen as trustworthy.注意:此局部试题请在答题卡2上作答。
12月考研英语六级阅读理解精选练习题汇总There are two factors which determine an individual's intelligence. the first is the sort of brain he is born with. human brains differ considerably , some being more capable than others. but no matter how good a brain he has to begin with, an individual will have a low order of intelligence unless he has opportunities to learn. so the second factor is what happens to the individual— the sort of environment in which he is brought up. if an individual is handicapped(不利) environmentally, it is likely that his brain will fail to develop and he will never attain the level of intelligence of which he is capable.The importance of environment in determining an individual's intelligence can be demonstrated by the case history of the identical twins, peter and mark. being identical, the twins had identical brains at birth, and their growth processes were the same. when the twins were three months old, their parents died, and they were placed in separate foster(抚养) homes. peter was raised by parents of low intelligence in an isolated community with poor educational opportunities. mark was reared in the home of well-to-do parents who had been to college. he was read to as a child, sent to good schools, and given every opportunity to be stimulated intellectually. this environmental difference continued until the twins were in their late teens, when they were given tests to measure their intelligence. mark's i. q. was 125, twenty-five points higher than the average and fully forty points higher than his identical brother. given equal opportunities, the twins, having identical brains, would have tested at roughly the same level.1. This selection can best be titled____________.A. Measuring your intelligenceB. Intelligence and environmentC. The case of peter and markD. How the brain influences intelligence2. The best statement of the main idea of this passage is that _______.A. Human brains differ considerablyB. The brain a person is born with is important in determining his intelligenceC. Environment is crucial in determining a person's intelligenceD. Persons having identical brains will have roughly the same intelligence3. According to the passage, the average i. q. is_______.A. 85 .B. 100C. 110D. 1254. The case history of the twins appears to support the conclusion that_______.A. Individuals with identical brains seldom test at the same levelB. An individual's intelligence is determined only by his environmentC. Lack of opportunity blocks the growth of intelligenceD. Changes of environment produce changes in the structure of the brain5. This passage suggests that an individual's i. q. _______.A. Can be predicted at birthB. Stays the same throughout his lifeC. Can be increased by educationD. Is determined by his childhood12月考研英语六级阅读理解精选练习题汇总Glacier National Park in Montana shares boundarieswith Canada, an American Indian reservation, and anational forest. Along the North Fork of the FlatheadRiver, the park also borders about 17,000 acres ofprivate lands that are currently used for ranching, timber, and agriculture. This land is animportant part of the habitat andmigratory routes for several endangered species thatfrequent the park. These private lands are essentially the only ones available fordevelopment in the region.With encouragement from the park, local landowners initiated a land use planning effort toguide the future of the North Fork. The park is a partner in an inter local agreement that callsfor resource managing agencies to work together and with the more than 400 private owners inthe area. A draft plan has been prepared, with objective of maintaining traditional economicuses but limiting new development that would damage park resources. Voluntary action bylandowners, in cooperation with the park and the county, is helping to restrict small lotsubdivisions, maintain wildlife corridors, and minimize any harmful impact on theenvironment.The willingness of local landowners to participate in this protection effort may have beenstimulated by concerns that congress would impose a legislative solution. Nevertheless,many local residents want to retain the existing character of the area. Meetings between parkofficials and landowners have led to a dramatically improved understanding of all concerns.1. The passage mainly discusses______.A. the endangered species in Glacier National ParkB. the protection of lands surrounding Glacier National ParkC. conservation laws imposed by the state of MontanaD. conservation laws imposed by Congress2. Why are the private lands surrounding Glacier National Park so important?A. They function as a hunting preserve.B. They are restricted to government use.C. They are heavily populated.D. They contain natural habitats of threatened species.3. The relationship between park officials and neighboring landowners may best be describedas______.A. indifferentB. intimateC. cooperativeD. disappointing4. It can be inferred from the passage that a major interest of the officials of Glacier NationalPark is to______.A. limit land development around the parkB. establish a new park in MontanaC. influence national legislationD. settle border disputes with Canada答案解析:12月考研英语六级阅读理解精选练习题汇总Open up most fashion magazines and you will seeincredibly thin models with impossible hair andwearing unreasonably expensive, impracticably styledclothes. But shouldn't clothes be comfortablydurable and make a principle of being simple forthe individual who wears them? Why are weconstantly told that we need to buy new clothesand add fresh pieces to our collection?Fashions change year after year so lots of people can make piles of money. If folks areconvinced that they need a different look each season, that this year's sweater's length andshoes style are important, they can be persuaded to buy. The fashion industry would have youignore your shortcomings and just make you feel beautiful and happy. In fact it is not only aphenomenon we can find in people's dressing.Fashion controls our lives. Fashion controls what we wear, what we eat, what we drink, the waywe cut our hair, the makeup We buy and use, the color of the cars we drive. Fashion evencontrols our ideas.You don't believe me? How many. Of your friends are vegetarians? Why are they vegetarians?Because it is fashionable!Where does fashion come from? Often the reasons are quite logical. Scientists and historiansstudy the fashions of the past and discover the secrets of each fashion.When girls see an attractive guy, their blood pressure rises and their lips become redder.That's why guys think that girls wearing lipstick are beautiful.Why do guys shave their heads? In the past soldiers shaved their heads to kill the insects thatlived in their hair. Now guys shave their heads so that they look strong and masculine, likesoldiers.People spend a lot of time and money on fashion. But are they wasting their money? Changesin fashion help to develop new technologies. Changes in style create work for people all over theworld. Many people work in the fashion industry, particularly in the fashion capitals of London,New York, Paris and Milan.And finally, fashion makes you feel good, doesn't it? When you are dressed in the latest style,dancing to the most fashionable music, after watching the latest hit film, you feel great, don'tyou?1. What's the author's viewpoint about the models and their hairstyles and clothes?A. Unbiased.B. Indifferent.C. Critical.D. Appreciative.2. It is indicated by the author that clothes should beA. comfortable and durable.B. new and fresh.C. expensive and fashionable.D. simple and unique3. The fashion industry makes profits byA. selling the products at high prices.B. creating a need in you.C. helping you get rid of your shortcomings.D. making you look more beautiful.4. The author thinks what has been found about fashions by the scientists and the. historiansisA. incredible.B. amazing.C. reasonable.D. creative.5. The passage mentions the advantages of fashion EXCEPT thatA. it can help promote technological development.B. it enables people to remain up-to-date.C. it can create more job opportunities for people.D. it can make people achieve a great feeling.参考答案12月考研英语六级阅读理解精选练习题汇总A history of longand effortless success can be a dreadful handicap, but, if properly handled, itmay become a driving force. When the United States entered just such a glowingperiod after the end of the Second World War, it had a market eight timeslarger than any competitor, giving its industries unparalleled economies ofscale. Its scientists were the world's best, its workers the most skilled.America and Americans were prosperous beyond the dreams of the Europeans andAsians whose economies the war had destroyed.It was inevitable that this primacy should have narrowed as othercountries grew richer. Just as inevitably, the retreat from predominance provedpainful. By the mid-1980s Americans had found themselves at a loss over theirfading industrial competitiveness. Some huge American industries, such asconsumer electronics, hadshrunk or vanished in the face of foreigncompetition. By 1987 there was only one American television maker left, Zenith.(Now there is none: Zenith was bought by South Korea's LG Electronics in July。
12月英语六级阅读理解练习题I live in the land of Disney, Hollywood and year-round sun. You may think people in such a glamorous, fun-filled place are happier than others. If so, you have some mistaken ideas about the nature of happiness.Many intelligent people still equate happiness with fun. The truth is that fun and happiness have little or nothingin mon. Fun is what we experience during an act. Happinessis what we experience after an act. It is a deeper, more abiding emotion.Going to an amusement park or ball game, watching a movie or television, are fun activities that help usrelax, temporarily forget our problems and maybe even laugh. But they do not bring happiness, because their positive effects end when the fun ends.I have often thought that if Hollywood stars have arole to play, it is to teach us that happiness has nothing to do with fun. These rich, beautiful individuals have constant aess to glamorous parties, fancy cars, expensive homes,everything that spells “happiness”。
12月大学英语六级考试真题及答案(3)20. A) Most of them are specially made for his shop.B) All of them are manufactured in his own plant.C) The kitchenware in his shop is of unique design.D) About half of them are unavailable on the market.21. A) They specialise in one product only. C) They run chain stores in central London.B) They have outlets throughout Britain. D) They sell by mail order only.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.22. A) It publishes magazines. C) It runs sales promotion campaigns.B) It sponsors trade fairs. D) It is engaged in product design.23. A) The ad specifications had not been given in detail.B) The woman's company made last-minute changes.C) The woman's company failed to make payments in time.D) Organising the promotion was really time-consuming.24. A) Extend the campaign to next year. C) Run another four-week campaign.B) Cut the fee by half for this year. D) Give her a 10 percent discount.25. A) Stop negotiating for the time being. C) Reflect on their respective mistakesB) Calm down and make peace. D) Improve their promotion plans.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you willhear some questions. Both thepassage 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.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
2008年12月英语六级阅读真题及答案 Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes) Section A Directions: 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. One of the major producers of athletic footwear, with 2002 sales of over $10 billion, is a company called Nike, with corporate headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Forbes magazine identified Nike’s president, Philip Knight, as the 53rd-richestman in the world in 2004. But Nike has not always been a large multimillion-dollar organization. In fact, Knight started the company by selling shoes from the back of his car at track meets. In the late1950s Philip Knight was a middle-distance runner on the University of Oregon track team, coached by Bill Bowerman. One of the top track coaches in the U.S., Bowerman was also known for experimenting with the design of running shoes in an attempt to make them lighter and more shock-absorbent. After attending Oregon, Knight moved on to do graduate work at Stanford University; his MBA thesis was on marketing athletic shoes. Once he received his degree, Knight traveled to Japan to contact the Onitsuka Tiger Company, a manufacturer of athletic shoes. Knight convinced the company’s officials of the potential for its product in the U.S. In 1963 he received his first shipment of Tiger shoes, 200 pairs in total. In 1964, Knight and Bowerman contributed $500 each to from Blue Ribbon Sports, the predecessor of Nike. In the first few years, Knight distributed shoes out of his car at local track meets. The first employees hired by Knight were former college athletes. The company did not have the money to hire “experts”, and there was no established athletic footwear industry in North America from which to recruit those knowledgeable in the field. In its early years the organization operated in an unconventional manner that characterized its innovative and entrepreneurial approach to the industry. Communication was informal; people discussed ideas and issues in the hallways, on a run, or over a beer. There was little task differentiation. There were no job descriptions, rigid reporting systems, or detailed rules and regulations. The team spirit and shared values of the athletes on Bowerman’s teams carried over and provided the basis for the collegial style of management that characterized the early years of Nikes. 47. While serving as a track coach, Bowerman tried to design running shoes that were _____________________. 48. During his visit to Japan, Knight convinced the officials of the Onitsuka Tiger Company that its product would have____________________________________. 49. Blue Ribbon Sports as unable to hire experts due to the absence of____________________ in North America. 50. In the early years of Nike, communication within the company was usually carried out____________. 51. What qualities of Bowerman’s teams formed the basis of Nike’s early management style? _______________________________________________________________. Section B Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D]. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. Passage One Questions 52 to 56 are based on the following passage. Sustainable development is applied to just about everything from energy to clean water and economic growth, and as a result it has become difficult to question either the basic assumptions behind it or the way the concept is put to use. This is especially true in agriculture, where sustainable development is often taken as the sole measure of progress without a proper appreciation of historical and cultural perspectives. To start with, it is important to remember that the nature of agriculture has changed markedly throughout history, and will continue to do so .medieval agriculture in northern Europe fed, clothed and sheltered a predominantly rural society with a much lower population density than it is today. It had minimal effect on biodiversity, and any pollution it caused was typically localized. In terms of energy use and the nutrients(营养成分)captured in the product it was relatively inefficient. Contrast this with farming since the start of the industrial revolution. Competition from overseas led farmers to specialize and increase yields. Throughout