2011年12月英语六级真题及答案

2011年12月大学英语六级真题及答案

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled The Way to Success by commenting on Abraham Lincoln's famous remark, "Give me six hours to

chop down a tree, and I will spend, the first four sharpening the axe." You should

write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.

The Way to Success

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

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 thequestions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the

four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with

the information given in the passage.

Google's Plan for World's Biggest Online Library: Philanthropy Or Act of Piracy?

In recent years, teams of workers dispatched by Google have been working hard to

make digital copies of books. So far, Google has scanned more than 10 million titles from libraries in America and Europe - including half a million volumes held by the Bodleian in Oxford. The

exact method it uses is unclear; the company does not allow outsiders to observe the process.

Why is Google undertaking such a venture? Why is it even interested in all those

out-of-printlibrary books, most of which have been gathering dust on forgotten shelves for decades? Thecompany claims its motives are essentially public-spirited. Its overall mission, after all, is to "organise the world's information", so it would be odd if that information did not include books.

The company likes to present itself as having lofty aspirations. "This really isn't about making money. We are doing this for the good of society." As Santiago de la Mora, head of Google Books for Europe, puts it: "By making it possible to search the millions of books that exist today, we hope to expand the frontiers of human knowledge."

Dan Clancy, the chief architect of Google Books, does seem genuine in his conviction that thisis primarily a philanthropic (慈善的) exercise. "Google's core business is search and find, soobviously what helps improve Google's search engine is good for Google," he says. "But we havenever built

a spreadsheet (电子数据表) outlining the financial benefits of this, and I have neverhad to justify the amount I am spending to the company's founders."

It is easy, talking to Clancy and his colleagues, to be swept along by their missionary passion. But Google's book-scanning project is proving controversial. Several opponents have recently emerged, ranging from rival tech giants such as Microsoft and Amazon to small bodies representing authors and publishers across the world. In broad terms, these opponents have levelled two sets of criticisms at Google.

First, they have questioned whether the primary responsibility for digitally archiving the

world's books should be allowed to fall to a commercial company. In a recent essay in the New

YorkReview of Books, Robert Darnton, the head of Harvard University's library, argued that because such books are a common resource – the possession of us all – only public, not-for-profit bodiesshould be given the power to control them.

The second related criticism is that Google's scanning of books is actually illegal. This allegation has led to Google becoming mired in (陷入) a legal battle whose scope and complexity makes the Jarndyce and Jarndyce case in Charles Dickens' Bleak House look straightforward.

At its centre, however, is one simple issue: that of copyright. The inconvenient fact about

most books, to which Google has arguably paid insufficient attention, is that they are protected

by copyright. Copyright laws differ from country to country, but in general protection extends for

the duration of an author's life and for a substantial period afterwards, thus allowing the author's heirs to benefit. (In Britain and America, this post-death period is 70 years.) This means, of course,

that almost all of the books published in the 20th century are still under copyright – and the last century saw more books published than in all previous centuries combined. Of the roughly 40 million books in US libraries, for example, an estimated 32 million are in copyright. Of these, some 27 million are out of print.

Outside the US, Google has made sure only to scan books that are out of copyright and thus in the "public domain" (works such as the Bodleian's first edition of Middlemarch, which anyone canread for free on Google Books Search).

But, within the US, the company has scanned both in-copyright and out-of-copyright works. Inits defence, Google points out that it displays only small segments of books that are in copyright– arguing that such displays are "fair use". But critics allege that by making electronic copies of these books without first seeking the permission of copyright holders, Google has committed piracy.

"The key principle of copyright law has always been that works can be copied only

once authors have expressly given their permission," says Piers Blofeld, of the Sheil Land literary agency in London. "Google has reversed this – it has simply copied all these works without bothering toask."

In 2005, the Authors Guild of America, together with a group of US publishers, launched a class action suit (集团诉讼) against Google that, after more than two years of negotiation, endedwith an announcement last October that Google and the claimants had reached an out-of-courtsettlement. The full details are complicated - the text alone runs to 385 pages– and trying tosummarise it is no easy task. "Part of the problem is that it is basically incomprehensible," saysBlofeld, one of the settlement's most vocal British critics.

Broadly, the deal provides a mechanism for Google to compensate authors and

publishers whose rights it has breached (including giving them a share of any future revenue it generates fromtheir works). In exchange for this, the rights holders agree not to sue Google in future.

This settlement hands Google the power - but only with the agreement of individual rights holders – to exploit its database of out-of-print books. It can include them in subscription deals sold to libraries or sell them individually under a consumer licence. It is these commercial provisions that are proving the settlement's most controversial aspect.

Critics point out that, by giving Google the right to commercially exploit its database, thesettlement paves the way for a subtle shift in the company's role from provider of information to seller. "Google's business model has always been to provide information for free, and sell advertising

on the basis of the traffic this generates," points out James Grimmelmann, associate professor at New York Law School. Now, he says, because of the settlement's provisions, Google could become a significant force in bookselling.

Interest in this aspect of the settlement has focused on "orphan" works, where there is noknown copyright holder – these make up an estimated 5-10% of the books Google has scanned. Under the settlement, when no rights holders come forward and register their interest in a work, commercial control automatically reverts to Google. Google will be able to display up to 20% oforphan works for free, include them in its subscription deals to libraries and sell them to individual buyers under the consumer licence.

It is by no means certain that the settlement will be enacted (执行) – it is the subject of afairness hearing in the US courts. But if it is enacted, Google will in effect be off the hook as far

as copyright violations in the US are concerned. Many people are seriously concerned by this - and the company is likely to face challenges in other courts around the world.

No one knows the precise use Google will make of the intellectual property it has gained byscanning the world's library books, and the truth, as Gleick, an American science writer and member of the Authors Guild, points out, is that the company probably doesn't even know itself. But what is certain is that, in some way or other, Google's entrance into digital bookselling will have a significant impact on the book world in the years to come.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

1. Google claims its plan for the world's biggest online library is _____.

A) to serve the interest of the general public

B) to encourage reading around the world

C) to save out-of-print books in libraries

D) to promote its core business of searching

2. According to Santiago de la Mora, Google's book-scanning project will _____.

A) broaden humanity's intellectual horizons

B) help the broad masses of readers

C) revolutionise the entire book industry

D) make full use of the power of its search engine

3. Opponents of Google Books believe that digitally archiving the world's books should be controlled by _____.

A) non-profit organisations C) multinational companies

B) the world's leading libraries D) the world's tech giants

4. Google has involved itself in a legal battle as it ignored _____.

A) the copyright of authors of out-of-print books

B) the copyright of the books it scanned

C) the interest of traditional booksellers

D) the differences of in-print and out-of-print books

5. Google defends its scanning in-copyright books by saying that _____.

A) it displays only a small part of their content

B) it is willing to compensate the copyright holders

C) making electronic copies of books is not a violation of copyright

D) the online display of in-copyright books is not for commercial use

6. What do we learn about the class action suit against Google?

A) It ended in a victory for the Authors Guild of America.

B) It was settled after more than two years of negotiation.

C) It failed to protect the interests of American publishers.

D) It could lead to more out-of-court settlements of such disputes.

7. What remained controversial after the class action suit ended?

A) The compensation for copyright holders.

B) The change in Google's business model.

C) Google's further exploitation of its database.

D) The commercial provisions of the settlement.

8. While _____, Google makes money by selling advertising.

9. Books whose copyright holders are not known are called _____.

10. Google's entrance into digital bookselling will tremendously _____ in the future.

Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes)

Section A

Directions:In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said.

Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question

there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B),

C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter

on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

11. A) Cancel the trip to prepare for the test.

B) Review his notes once he arrives in Chicago.

C) Listen to the recorded notes while driving.

D) Prepare for the test after the wedding.

12. A) The woman will help the man remember the lines.

B) The man lacks confidence in playing the part.

C) The man hopes to change his role in the play.

D) The woman will prompt the man during the show.

大学英语六级真题试卷及答案

六级真题 2017 年大学英语六级真题试卷及答案(二) Part I Writing (30 minutes) ( 请于正式开考后半小时内完成该部分，之后将进行听力考试) Directions: Suppose you are asked to give advice on whether to major in science or humanities at college，write an essay to state your opinion. You are required to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 1 上作答。 Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 1. A) Doing enjoyable work. B) Earning a competitive salary. 2. A) 20%. B) 25%. 3. A) Those full of skilled workers. B) Those that are well managed. C) Those run by women. D) Those of a small size. C) Having friendly colleagues. D) Working for supportive bosses. C) 31%. D) 73%.

2011年12月大学六级真题+听力原文+答案详解

2011年12月大学英语六级真题 Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled The Way to Success by commenting on Abraham Lincoln's famous remark, "Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend, the first four sharpening the axe." You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. The Way to Success 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。 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 thequestions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage. Google's Plan for World's Biggest Online Library: Philanthropy Or Act of Piracy? In recent years, teams of workers dispatched by Google have been working hard to make digital copies of books. So far, Google has scanned more than 10 million titles from libraries in America and Europe - including half a million volumes held by the Bodleian in Oxford. The exact method it uses is unclear; the company does not allow outsiders to observe the process. Why is Google undertaking such a venture? Why is it even interested in all those out-of-printlibrary books, most of which have been gathering dust on forgotten shelves for decades? Thecompany claims its motives are essentially public-spirited. Its overall mission, after all, is to "organise the world's information", so it would be odd if that information did not include books. The company likes to present itself as having lofty aspirations. "This really isn't about making money. We are doing this for the good of society." As Santiago de la Mora, head of Google Books for Europe, puts it: "By making it possible to search the millions of books that exist today, we hope to expand the frontiers of human knowledge." Dan Clancy, the chief architect of Google Books, does seem genuine in his conviction that thisis primarily a philanthropic (慈善的) exercise. "Google's core business is search and find, soobviously what helps improve Google's search engine is good for Google," he says. "But we havenever built a spreadsheet (电子数据表) outlining the financial benefits of this, and I have neverhad to justify the amount I am spending to the company's founders." It is easy, talking to Clancy and his colleagues, to be swept along by their missionary passion. But Google's book-scanning project is proving controversial. Several opponents have recently emerged, ranging from rival tech giants such as Microsoft and Amazon to small bodies representing authors and publishers across the world. In broad terms, these opponents have levelled two sets of criticisms at Google. First, they have questioned whether the primary responsibility for digitally archiving the world's books should be allowed to fall to a commercial company. In a recent essay in the New

2014年6月大学英语六级真题及答案最全.doc

Part I Writing ( 30minutes) 1、Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay explaining why it is unwise to put all your eggs in one basket. You can give examples to illustrate your point .You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. 2、Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay explaining why it is unwise a person by their appearance. You can give examples to illustrate your point .You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.（小编写的就是这篇，还行~~） 3、Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay explaining why it is unwise to jump to conclusions upon seeing or hearing something. You can give examples to illustrate your point .You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200words. Part Ⅲ Reading Comprehension (40 minutes) For investors who desire low risk and guaranteed income, US government bonds are a secure investment because these bonds have the financial backing and full faith and credit of the federal government. Municipal bonds, also secure, are offered by local governments and often have___ 36___such as tax-free interest. Some may even be___37___. Corporate bonds are a bit more risky. Two questions often___38___first-time corporate bond investors. The first is “If I purchase a corporate bond, do I have to hold it until the maturity date?” The answer is no. Bonds are bought and sold daily on___39___securities exchanges. However, if you decide to sell your bond before its maturity date, you’re not guaranteed to get the face value of the bond. For example, if your bond does not have___40___ that make it attractive to other investors, you may be forced to sell your bond at a___ 41___, i.e., a price less than the bond's face value. But if your bond is highly valued by other investors, you may be able to sell it at a premium, i. e ., a price above its face value. Bond prices generally___42___inversely (相反地) with current market interest rates. As interest rates go up, bond prices fall, and vice versa (反之亦然）. Thus, like all investments, bonds have a degree of risk. The second question is “ How can I___43___the investment risk of a particular bond issue?” Standard & Poor's and Moody’s Investors Service rate the level of risk of many corporate and government bonds. And___44___, the higher the market risk of a bond, the higher the interest rate. Investors will invest in a bond considered risky only if the 45 return is high enough. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2作答。

英语六级考试真题试卷附答案和解析卷一

2015年6月英语六级考试真题试卷附答案和解析(第1套) 六级写作 Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the saying"Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it. " You can give an example or two to illustrate your point of view. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。 听力选择题 Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After

each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A., B., C. and D ), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。 1. A. Prepare for his exams. B. Catch up on his work. C. Attend the concert. D. Go on a vacation. 2. A. Three crew members were involved in the incident. B. None of the hijackers carried any deadly weapons. C. The plane had been scheduled to fly to Japan. D. None of the passengers were injured or killed. 3. A. An article about the election.

大学英语六级CET6真题及答案

大学英语六级CET6真题及答案 part i listening comprehension (20 minutes) section a 1.a) the dean should have consulted her on the appointment. b) dr. holden should have taken over the position earlier. c) she doesn’t think dr. holden has made a wise choice. d) dr. holden is the best person for the chairmanship. 2 .a) they’ll keep in touch during the summer vacation b) they’ll hold a party before the summer vacation c) they’ll do odd jobs together at the school library d) they’ll get back to their school once in a while 3. a)peaches are in season now. b)peaches are not at their best now. c)the woman didn’t know how to bargain. d)the woman helped the man choose the fruit. 4.a)they join the physics club. b)they ask for an extension of the deadline. c)they work on the assignment together. d)they choose an easier assignment. 5.a)she admires jean’s straightforwardness b)she thinks dr. brown deserves the praise c)she will talk to jean about what happened d)she believes jean was rude to dr. brown 6.a)he liked writing when he was a child b)he enjoyed reading stories in reader’s digest c)he used to be an editor of reader’s digest d)he became well known at the age of six 7.a)he shows great enthusiasm for his studies b)he is a very versatile person c)he has no talent for tennis d)he does not study hard enough 8 a) john has lost something at the railway station b) there are several railway stations in the city c) it will be very difficult for them to find john d) the train that john is taking will arrive soon 9. a)its rapid growth is beneficial to the world

2011年12月大学英语六级真题

正保远程教育旗下品牌网站美国纽交所上市公司(NYSE:DL) 外语教育网外语学习的网上乐园https://www.wendangku.net/doc/6615409505.html, 2011年12月大学英语六级真题 Part I：Writing (30 minutes) Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled The Way to Success by commenting on Abraham Lincoln's famous remark, "Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend, the first four sharpening the axe." You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. The Way to Success 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。 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 thequestions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage. Google's Plan for World's Biggest Online Library: Philanthropy Or Act of Piracy? In recent years, teams of workers dispatched by Google have been working hard to make digital copies of books. So far, Google has scanned more than 10 million titles from libraries in America and Europe - including half a million volumes held by the Bodleian in Oxford. The exact method it uses is unclear; the company does not allow outsiders to observe the process. Why is Google undertaking such a venture? Why is it even interested in all those out-of-printlibrary books, most of which have been gathering dust on forgotten shelves for decades? Thecompany claims its motives are essentially public-spirited. Its overall mission, after all, is to "organise the world's information", so it would be odd if that information did not include books. The company likes to present itself as having lofty aspirations. "This really isn't about making money. We are doing this for the good of society." As Santiago de la Mora, head of Google Books for Europe, puts it: "By making it possible to search the millions of books that exist today, we hope to expand the frontiers of human knowledge." Dan Clancy, the chief architect of Google Books, does seem genuine in his conviction that thisis primarily a philanthropic (慈善的) exercise. "Google's core business is search and find, soobviously what helps improve Google's search engine is good for Google," he says. "But we havenever built a spreadsheet (电子数据表) outlining the financial benefits of this, and I have neverhad to justify the amount I am spending to the company's founders." It is easy, talking to Clancy and his colleagues, to be swept along by their missionary passion. But Google's book-scanning project is proving controversial. Several opponents have recently emerged, ranging from rival tech giants such as Microsoft and Amazon to small bodies representing authors and publishers across the world. In broad terms, these opponents have levelled two sets of criticisms at Google. First, they have questioned whether the primary responsibility for digitally archiving the world's books should be allowed to fall to a commercial company. In a recent essay in the New YorkReview of Books, Robert Darnton, the head of Harvard University's library, argued that because such books are a common resource – the possession of us all – only public, not-for-profit bodiesshould be given the power to control them. The second related criticism is that Google's scanning of books is actually illegal. This allegation has led to Google becoming mired in (陷入) a legal battle whose scope and complexity makes the Jarndyce and Jarndyce case in Charles Dickens' Bleak House look straightforward.

英语六级真题及答案解析

20XX年6月大英语六级考试真题及答案解析 Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on living in the virtual world. Try to imagine what will happen when people spend more and more time in the virtual world instead of interacting in the real world. You are required to write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C)and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 1. A)Project organizer B)Public relations officer. C)Marketing manager. D)Market research consultant. 2.A)Quantitative advertising research. B)Questionnaire design. C)Research methodology. D)Interviewer training. 3.A)They are intensive studies of people’s spending habits. B)They examine relations between producers and customers. C)They look for new and effective ways to promote products. D)They study trends or customer satisfaction over a long period. 4.A)The lack of promotion opportunity. B)Checking charts and tables. C)Designing questionnaires. D)The persistent intensity. Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 5.A)His view on Canadian universities. B)His understanding of higher education. C)His suggestions for improvements in higher education. D)His complaint about bureaucracy in American universities. 6.A)It is well designed. B)It is rather inflexible.

2019年6月大学英语六级真题试卷及答案(三套全)

2019年6月大学英语六级真题试卷及答案（三套 全） 目录 2018年6月大学英语六级真题试卷及答案（一） (1) 快速对答案 (16) 2018年6月大学英语六级真题试卷及答案（二） (17) 快速对答案 (32) 2018年6月大学英语六级真题试卷及答案（三） (32) 快速对答案 (43) 2018年6月大学英语六级真题试卷及答案（一） Part I Writing (30 minutes) (请于正式开考后半小时内完成该部分，之后将进行听力考试) Directions: For this part,you are allowed30minutes to write an essay on the importance of building trust between employers and employees.You can cite examples to illustrate your views.you should write at least150words but no more than200words. Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes) Section A Directions:In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. 第1页共43

2010年12月英语六级真题及答案详解

2010年12月大学英语六级真题 Part I Writing (30 minutes) Direction: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled My Views on University Ranking. You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below. 1. 目前高校排名相当盛行; 2. 对于这种做法人们看法不一; 3. 在我看来…… My Views on University Ranking Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D]. For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage. Into the Unknown The world has never seen population ageing before. Can it cope? Until the early 1990s nobody much thought about whole populations getting older. The UN had the foresight to convene a “world assembly on ageing” back in 1982, but that came and went. By 1994 the World Bank had noticed that something big was happening. In a report entitled “Averting the Old Age Crisis”, it argued that pension arrangements in most countries were unsustainable. For the next ten years a succession of books, mainly by Americans, sounded the alarm. They had titles like Young vs Old, Gray Dawn and The Coming Generational Storm, and their message was blunt: health-care systems were heading for the rocks, pensioners were taking young people to the cleaners, and soon there would be intergenerational warfare. Since then the debate has become less emotional, not least because a lot more is known about the subject. Books, conferences and research papers have multiplied. International organisations such as the OECD and the EU issue regular reports. Population ageing is on every agenda, from G8 economic conferences to NATO summits. The World Economic Forum plans to consider the future of pensions and health care at its prestigious Davos conference early next year. The media, including this newspaper, are giving the subject extensive coverage. Whether all that attention has translated into sufficient action is another question. Governments in rich countries now accept that their pension and health-care promises will soon become unaffordable, and many of them have embarked on reforms, but so far only timidly. That is not surprising: politicians with an eye on the next election will hardly rush to introduce unpopular measures that may not bear fruit for years, perhaps decades. The outline of the changes needed is clear. To avoid fiscal (财政) meltdown, public pensions and health-care provision will have to be reined back severely and taxes may have to go up. By far the most effective method to restrain pension spending is to give people the opportunity to work longer, because it increases tax revenues and reduces spending on pensions at the same time. It may even keep them alive longer. John Rother, the AARP’s head of policy and strategy, points to studies showing that other things being equal, people who remain at work have lower death rates than their retired peers. Younger people today mostly accept that they will have to work for longer and that their pensions will be less generous. Employers still need to be persuaded that older workers are worth holding on to. That may be because they have had plenty of younger ones to choose from, partly thanks to the post-war baby-boom and partly because over the past few decades many more women have entered the labour force, increasing employers’ choice. But the reservoir of women able and willing to take up paid work is running low, and the baby-boomers are going grey. In many countries immigrants have been filling such gaps in the labour force as have already emerged (and remember that the real shortage is still around ten years off). Immigration in the developed world is the highest it has ever been, and it is making a useful difference. In still-fertile America it currently accounts for about 40% of total population growth, and in fast-ageing western Europe for about 90%. On the face of it, it seems the perfect solution. Many developing countries have lots of young people in need of jobs; many rich countries need helping hands that will boost tax revenues and keep up economic growth. But over the next few decades labour forces in rich countries are set to shrink so much that inflows of immigrants would have to increase enormously to compensate: to at least twice their current size in western Europe’s most youthful countries, and three times in the older ones. Japan would need a large multiple of the few immigrants it has at present. Public opinion polls show that people in most rich countries already think that immigration is too high. Further big increases would be politically unfeasible. To tackle the problem of ageing populations at its r oot, “old” countries would have to rejuvenate (使年轻) themselves by having more of their own children. A number of them have tried, some more successfully than others. But it is not a simple matter of offering financial incentives or providing more child care. Modern urban life in rich countries is not well adapted to large families. Women find it hard to combine family and career. They often compromise by having just one child. And if fertility in ageing countries does not pick up? It will not be the end of the world, at least not for quite a while yet, but the world will slowly become a different place. Older societies may be less innovative and more strongly disinclined to take risks than younger ones. By 2025 at the latest, about half the voters in America and most of those in western European countries will be over 50—and older people turn out to vote in much greater number than younger ones. Academic studies have found no evidence so far that older voters have used their power at the ballot box to push for policies that specifically benefit them, though if in future there are many more of them they might start doing so. Nor is there any sign of the intergenerational warfare predicted in the 1990s. After all, older people themselves mostly have families. In a recent study of parents and grown-up children in 11 European countries, Karsten Hank of Mannheim University found that 85% of them lived within 25km of each other and the majority of them were in touch at least once a week. Even so, the shift in the centre of gravity to older age groups is bound to have a profound effect on societies, not just economically and politically but in all sorts of other ways too. Richard Jackson and Neil Howe of America’s CSIS, in a thoughtful book called The Graying of the Great Powers, argue that, among other things, the ageing of the developed countries [C] hardly halt the growth of population [D] help tide over the current ageing crisis [C] The younger generation will beat the old. [D] Old people should give way to the young.