大学英语阅读练习

1993年1月大学英语六级考试试题

(2012年5月21日星期一1)

Protests at the use of animals in research have taken a new and fearful character in Britain with the attempted murder of two British scientists by the terrorist technique of the pre-planted car-bomb.

The research community will rightly be alarmed at these developments, which have two objectives: to arouse public attention and to frighten people working in research with animals. The first need is that everything should be done to identify those responsible for the crimes and to put them on trail. The Defence Research Society has taken the practical step of offering a reward of 10,000 pounds for information leading to those responsible, but past experience is not encouraging. People are unlikely to be tempted by such offers. The professional police will similarly be confronted by the usual problem of finding a needle in a haystack.

That is why the intellectual (知识分子) community in Britain and elsewhere must act more vigorously in its own defence. There are several steps that can be taken, of which the chief one is to demand of all the organizations that exist with the declared objectives of safeguarding the interests of animals that they should declare clearly where they stand on violence towards people. And it will not be enough for the chairmen and chairwomen of these organizations to utter placatory (安抚的) statements on behalf of all their members. These people should also undertake that it will be a test of continuing membership in their organizations that members and would be members should declare that they will take no part in acts of violence against human beings. Even such undertakings would not be fully effective: people, after all, can lie. But at least they would distinguish the organizations entitled to a continuing voice in the dialogue with the research community about the rights of animals in research from the organizations that deserve no say.

21. The words ―these developments‖ (Para. 2, Line 1) most probably refer to ________.

A) the acts of violence against scientists

B) the use of animals in research

C) the techniques of planting bombs in cars

D) the establishment of new animal protection organization

22. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A) The police abandoned their efforts to find the criminals.

B) The terrorists escaped with the help of their organizations.

C) The attempted murder caused grave anxiety among British scientists.

D) People sympathized murder caused grave anxiety among British scientists.

23. The aut hor‘s purpose in writing his article is to demand that animal-protecting

organizations ________.

A) declare their objectives clearly

B) give up the use of violence

C) continue the dialogue with the scientific community

D) help to find those responsible for the attempted murder

24. In the author‘s opinion ________.

A) since people can lie, the problem about their rights of scientists can‘t be solved

B) animal-protecting organizations about be held responsible for acts of violence

against scientists

C) animal protection organizations should be declared illegal

D) the scientists should take effective measures to protect themselves

25. What does the word ―they‖ (Para. 3) refer to?

A) The animal-protecting organizations.

B) The organizations that will talk with the research community.

C) Those who support the use of animals in research.

D) Those who support the animal-protection organizations.

(2012年5月21日星期一2)

The earlier type of suburb, which was most dependent on the railroad, had a special advantage that could be fully appreciated only after it had disappeared. These suburbs, spread out along a railroad line, were discontinuous and properly spaced; and without the aid of legislation (法规) they were limited in population as well as area; for the biggest rarely held as many as ten thousand people, and under five thousand was more usual. In 1950, for example, Bronxville, New York, a typical upper-class suburb, had 6,778 people, while Riverside, Illinois, founded as early as 1869, had only 9.153.

The size and scale of the suburb, that of neighborhood unit, was not entirely the result of its open planning, which favored low densities. Being served by a railroad line, with station stops from three to five miles apart, there was a natural limit to the spread of any particular community. House had to be sited ―within easy walking distance of the railroad station,‖ as some old residents would point out; and only those wealthy enough to afford a horse and a carriage dared to penetrate farther into the open country.

Through its spaced station stops, the railroad suburb was at first kept from spreading or excessively increasing in numbers, for a natural greenbelt, often still under cultivation as park, gardens, remained between the suburbs and increased the available recreation area. Occasionally, in a few happy areas like Westchester, between 1915 and 1935 a parkway, like the Bronx River parkway, accompanied by continuous strip of park for pedestrian (散步的人) use, not yet overrun by a constant stream of urban traffic, added to the perfection of the whole suburban pattern. Whatever one might say of the social disadvantages this was in many ways a perfect physical environment. But it lasted less than a generation.

26. What was the special advantage of the old type of suburb?

A) Its nearness to the railroad. B) The vastness of its open space.

C) Its small size in area and population. D) The high social status of its residents.

27. The size of the old suburb was limited because ________.

A) people wanted to live near a railroad station

B) it was originally planned by railroad companies

C) there was a law governing the size of the suburb

D) local inhabit ants didn‘t like to out in the country

28. ―Happy areas‖ (Para. 3) were areas where ________.

A) life was enjoyed by everyone

B) more roads were built to bypass the heavy traffic

C) a greenbelt was available solely for recreation

D) people could have lots of fun

29. It is evident that the writer ________.

A) finds urban life uncomfortable B) prefers life in the countryside

C) feels disappointed in the changes of suburbs

D) advocates the idea of returning to nature

30. The topic discussed in the passage is ―________‖.

A) the size and scale of suburban neighborhood units

B) the advantage of old-type suburbs

C) the location of railroad stations

D) the concept of the suburban pattern

(2012年5月22日星期二1)

Recent stories in the newspapers and magazines suggest that teaching and research contradict each other, that research plays too prominent a part in academic promotions, and that teaching is badly underemphasized. There is an element of truth in these statements, but they also ignore deeper and more important relationships.

Research experience is an essential element of hiring and promotion at a research university because it is the emphasis on research that distinguishes such a university from an arts college. Some professors, however, neglect teaching for research and that presents a problem.

Most research universities reward outstanding teaching, but the greatest recognition is usually given for achievements in research. Part of the reason is the difficulty of judging teaching. A highly responsible and tough professor is usually appreciated by top students who want to be challenged, but disliked by those whose records are less impressive. The mild professor gets overall ratings that are usually high, but there is a sense of disappointment in the part of the best students, exactly those for whom the system should present the greatest challenges. Thus, a university trying to promote professors primarily on the teaching qualities would have to confront this confusion.

As modern science moves faster, two forces are exerted on professor: one is the time needed to keep on with the profession; the other is the time needed to teach. The training of new scientists requires outstanding teaching at the research university as well as the arts college. Alth ough scientists are usually ―made‖ in the elementary schools, scientists can be ―lost‖ by poor teaching at the college and graduate school levels. The solution is not to separate teaching and research, but to recognize that the combination is difficult but vital. The title of professor should be given only to those who profess, and it is perhaps time for universities to reserve it for those willing to be an earnest part of the community of scholars. Professor unwilling to teach can be called ―distinguished research investigators‖ or something else.

The pace of modern science makes it increasingly difficult to be a great researcher and a great teacher. Yet many are described in just those terms. Those who say we can separate teaching and research simply do not understand the system but those who say the problem will disappear are not fulfilling their responsibilities.

31. What idea does the author want to convey in the first paragraph?

A) It is wrong to overestimate the importance of teaching.

B) Teaching and research are contradictory to each other.

C) Research can never be emphasized too much.

D) The relationship between teaching and research should not be simplified.

32. In academic promotions research universities still attach more importance to research

partly because ________.

A) research improves the quality of teaching

B) students who want to be challenged appreciate research professors

C) it is difficult to evaluate teaching quality objectively

D) professor with achievements in research are usually responsible and tough

33. According to the fourth paragraph, which of the following will the author probably

agree with?

A) Distinguished professors at research universities should concentrate on research

only.

B) The separation of teaching from research can lower the quality of future scientists.

C) It is of utmost importance to improve teaching in elementary schools in order to

train new scientists.

D) The rapid developments of modern science make it impossible to combine

teaching with research.

34. The title of professor should be given only to those who, first and foremost, do ____.

A) teaching. B) field work C) scientific research D) investigation

35 The phrase ―the problem‖ (Para. 5) refers to ________.

A) raising the status of teaching B) the combination of teaching with research

C) the separations of teaching from research D) improving the status of research

(2012年5月22日星期二2)

I have had just about enough of being treated like a second-class citizen, simply because I happened to be that put upon member of society-a customer. The more I go into shops and hotels, banks and post offices, railway stations, airport s and the like, the more I‘m convinced that things are being run solely to suit the firm, the system, or the union. There seems to be a

new motto (座右铭) for the so-called ?service‘ organization-Staff Before Service. How often, for example, have you queued for what seems like hours at the Post Office or the supermarket because there aren‘t enough staff on duty at all the service counters? Surely in these days of high unemployment it must be possible to increase counter staff. Yet supermarkets, hinting darkly at higher prices, claim that bringing all their cash registers into operation at any time would increase expenses. And the Post Office says we cannot expect all their service counters to be occupied ?at times when demand is low‘.

It‘s the same with hotels.Because waiters and kitchen staff must finish when it suits them, dining rooms close earlier or menu choice is diminished. As for us guests (and how the meaning of that word has been cut away little by little), we just have to put up with it. There‘s also the nonsense of so many friendly hotel night porters having been gradually with drawn from service in the interests of ?efficiency‘ (i.e. profits) and replaced by coin-eating machines which supply everything from beer to medicine, not to mention the creeping threat of the tea-making set in your room: a kettle with teabags, milk bags sugar. Who wants to wake up to a raw teabag? I don‘t, especially when I am paying for ?service‘.

Our only hope is to hammer our irritation whenever and wherever we can and, if all else fails, restore that other, older saying-Take Our Custom (买卖) Elsewhere.

36. The author feels that nowadays customers are ________.

A) not worthy of special treatment B) not provided with proper service

C) considered to be inferior members of society D) regarded as privileged

37. In the author‘s opinion, the quality of service is changing because ________.

A)the staff are less considerate than employers

B)customers are becoming more demanding

C)customers unwilling to pay extra money

D)more consideration is given to the staff than customers

38. According to the author, long queues at counters are caused by ________.

A) the diminishing supply of good staff B) lack of cooperation among staff

C) inefficient staff D) deliberate understaffing

39. The disappearance of old-style hotel porters can be attributed to the fact that ______.

A)self-service provides a cheaper alternative

B)the personal touch is less appreciated nowadays

C)machines are more reliable than human beings

D)few people are willing to do this type of work

40. The author‘s final solution to the problem discussed in the passage is ________.

A)to put up with whatever service is provided

B)to make strong complaints wherever necessary

C)to fully utilize all kinds of coin-eating machines

D)to go where good service is available

1993年6月大学英语六级

(2012年5月23日星期三1)

―There is a senseless notion that children grow up and leave home when they‘re 18, and the truth is far from that,‖ says sociologist Larry Bumpass of the University of Wisconsin. Today, unexpecte d numbers of young adults are living with their parents, ―There is a major shift in the middle class,‖ declares sociologist Allan Schnaiberg of Northwester University, whose son, 19, moved back in after an absence of eight months.

Analysts cite a variety of reasons for this return to the nest. The marriage age is rising, a condition that makes home and its pleasantness particularly attractive to young people. A high divorce rate and a declining remarriage rate are sending economically pressed and emotionally hurt survivors back to parental shelters. For some, the expense of an away-from-home college education has become so excessively great that many students now attend local schools. Even after graduation, young people find their wings clipped by skyrocketing housing costs.

Living at home, says Knighton, a school teacher, continues to give her security and moral

support. Her mother agreed, ―It‘s ridiculous for the kids to pay all that money for rent. It makes sense for kids to stay at home.‖ But sharing the family home requires adjustments for all. There are the hassles over bathrooms, telephones and privacy (不受干扰的生活). Some families, however, manage the delicate balancing act. But for others, it proves too difficult. Michelle Del Turco, 24, has been home three times-and left three times. ―What I considered a social drink, my dad considered an alcohol problem,‖ she explains. ―He never liked anyone I dated (约会), so I either had to hide away or meet them at friends‘ house.‖

Just how long should adult children live with their parents before moving on? Most psychologists feel lengthy homecomings are a mistake. Children, struggling to establish separate identities, can end up with ―a sense of inadequacy, defeat and failure.‖ And aging parents, who should be enjoying some financial and personal freedom, find themselves stuck with responsibilities. Many agree that brief visits, however, can work beneficially.

21. According to the author, there was once a trend in the U.S. ________.

A)for young adults to leave their parents and live independently

B)for middle class young adults to stay with their parents

C)for married young adults to move back home after a lengthy absence

D)for young adults to get jobs nearby in order to live with their parents

22. Which of the following does not account for young adults returning to the nest?

A)Young adults find housing costs too high.

B)Young adults are psychologically and intellectually immature.

C)Young adults seek parental comfort and moral support.

D)Quite a number of young adults attend local schools.

23. One of the disadvantages of young adults returning to stay with their parents is that

A)there will inevitably be inconveniences in every day life

B)most parents find it difficult to keep

C)the young adults tend to be overprotected by their parents

D)public opinion is against young adults staying with their parents

24. The word ―hassles‖ in the passage (Para. 3) probably means ________.

A) agreements B) worries C) disadvantages D) quarrels

25. According to the passage what is the best for both parents and children?

A)They should adjust themselves to sharing the family expenses.

B)Children should leave their parents when they are grown-up.

C)Adult children should visit their parents from time to time.

D)Parents should support their adult children when they are in trouble.

(2012年5月23日星期三2)

The word conservation has a thrifty (节俭) meaning. To conserve is to save and protect, to leave what we ourselves enjoy in such good condition that others may also share the enjoyment. Our forefathers had no idea that human population would increase faster than the supplies of raw materials; most of them, even until very recently, had the foolish idea that the treasures were ―limitless‖ and ―inexhaustible‖. Most of the citizens of earlier generations knew little or nothing about the complicated and delicate system that runs all through nature, and which means that, as in a living body, an unhealthy condition of one part will sooner or later be harmful to all the others.

Fifty years ago nature study was not part of the school work; scientific forestry was a new idea; timber was still cheap because it could be brought in any quantity from distant woodlands; soil destruction and river floods were not national problems; nobody had yet studied long-terms climatic cycles in relation to proper land use; even the word ―conservation‖ had nothing of the meaning that it has for us today.

For the sake of ourselves and those who will come after us, we must now set about repairing the mistakes of our forefathers. Conservation should, therefore, be made a part of everyone‘s daily life. To know about the water table (水位) in the ground is just as important to us as a knowledge of the basic arithmetic formulas. We need to know why all watersheds (上

游源头森林地带集水区) need the protection of plant life and why the running current of streams and rivers must be made to yield their full benefit to the soil before they finally escape to the sea. We need to be taught the duty of planting trees as well as of cutting them. We need to know the importance of big, mature trees, bec ause living space for most of man‘s fellow creatures on this planet is figured not only in square measure of surface but also in cubic volume above the earth. In brief, it should be our goal to restore as much of the original beauty of nature as we can.

26. The author‘s attitude towards the current situation in the exploitation of natural

resources is ________.

A) positive B) neutral C) suspicious D) critical

27. According to the author, the greatest mistake of our forefathers was that ________.

A)they had no idea about scientific forestry

B)they had little or no sense of environmental protection

C)they were not aware of the significance of nature study

D)they had no idea of how to make good use of raw materials

28. It can be inferred from the third paragraph that earlier g enerations didn‘t realize ___.

A)the interdependence of water, soil, and living things

B)the importance of the proper use of land

C)the harmfulness of soil destruction and river floods

D)the value of the beauty of nature

29. To avoid correcting the mistake of our forefathers, the author suggests that ______.

A) we plant more trees B) natural science be taught to everybody

C) environmental education be directed toward everyone D) we return to nature

30. What does the author imply by saying ―living space... is figured... also in cubic

volume above the earth‖ (Para. 3)?

A)Our living space on the earth is getting smaller and smaller.

B)Our living space should be measured in cubic volume.

C)We need to take some measure to protect space.

D)We must preserve good living conditions for both birds and animals.

(2012年5月24日星期四1)

Judging from recent surveys, most experts in sleep behavior agree that there is virtually an epidemic (流行病) of sleepiness in the nation. ―I can‘t think of a single study that hasn‘t found Americans getting less sleep than they ought to,‖ says Dr. David. Even people who think they are sleeping enough would probably be better off with more rest.

The beginning of our sleep-deficit (睡眠不足) crisis can be traced to the invention of the light bulb a century ago. From diary entries and other personal accounts from the 18th and 19th centuries, sleep scientists have reached the conclusion that the average person used to sleep about 9.5 hours a night. ―The best sleep habits once were forced on us, when we had nothing to do in the evening down on the f arm, and it was dark.‖ By the 1950s and 1960s, the sleep schedule had been reduced dramatically, to between 7.5 and eight hours, and most people had to wake to an alarm clock. ―People cheat on their sleep, and they don‘t even realize they‘re doing it,‖ says Dr. David. ―They think they‘re okay because they can get by on 6.5 hours, when they really need 7.5, eight or even more to feel ideally vigorous.‖

Perhaps the most merciless robber of sleep, researchers say is the complexity of the day. Whenever pressures from work, family, friends and community mount, many people consider sleep the least expensive item on his programme. ―In our society, you‘re considered dynamic if you say you only need 5.5 hours‘ sleep. If you‘re got to get 8.5 hours, people think you l ack drive and ambition.‖

To determine the consequences of sleep deficit, researchers have put subjects through a set of psychological and performance tests requiring them, for instance, to add columns of numbers or recall a passage read to them only minute s earlier. ―We‘ve found that if you‘re in sleep deficit, performance suffers,‖ says Dr. David. ―Short-term memory is weakened, as are

abilities to make decisions and to concentrate.‖

31. People in the 18th and 19th centuries used to sleep about 9.5 hours a night because

they had ________.

A) no drive and ambition B) no electric lighting

C) the best sleep habits D) nothing to do in the evening

32. According to Dr. David, Americans ________.

A)are ideally vigorous even under the pressure of life

B)often neglect the consequences of sleep deficit

C)do not know how to relax themselves properly

D)can get by on 6.5 hours of sleep

33. Many Americans believe that ________.

A) sleep is the first thing that can be sacrificed when one is busy

B) they need more sleep to cope with the complexities of everyday life

C) to sleep is something one can do at any time of the day

D) enough sleep promotes people‘s drive and ambition

34. The word ―subjects‖ (Para. 4) refers to ________.

A) the performance tests used in the study of sleep deficit

B) special branches of knowledge that are being studied

C) people whose behavior or reactions are being studied

D) the psychological consequences of sleep deficit

35. It can be concluded from the passage that one should sleep as many hours as is

necessary to ________.

A) improve one‘s memory dramatically B) be considered dynamic by other people

C) maintain one‘s daily schedule D) feel energetic and perform adequately

(2012年5月24日星期四2)

The concept of personal choice in relation to health behaviors is an important one. An estimated 90 percent of all illness may be preventable if individuals would make sound personal health choices based upon current medical knowledge. We all enjoy our freedom of choice and do not like to see it restricted when it is within the legal and moral boundaries of society. The structure of American society allows us to make almost all our own personal decisions that may concern our health. If we so desire, we can smoke, drink excessively, refuse to wear seat belts, eat whatever food we want, and live a completely sedentary life-style without any exercise. The freedom to make such personal decisions is a fundamental aspect of our society, although the wisdom of these decisions can be questioned. Personal choices relative to health often cause a difficulty. As one example, a teenager may know the facts relative to smoking cigarettes and health but may be pressured by friends into believing it is the socially accepted thing to do.

A multitude of factors, both inherited and environmental, influence the development of health-related behaviors, and it is beyond the scope of this text to discuss all these factors as they may affect any given individual. However, the decision to adopt a particular health-related behavior is usually one of personal choice. There are healthy choices and there are unhealthy choices. In discussing the morals of personal choice, Fries and Crapo drew a comparison. They suggest that to knowingly give oneself over to a behavior that has a statistical probability of shortening life is similar to attempting suicide. Thus, for those individuals who are interested in preserving both the quality and quantity of life, personal health choices should reflect those behaviors that are associated with a statistical probability of increased vitality and longevity.

36. The concept of personal choice concerning health is important because ________.

A)personal health choices help cure most illness

B) it helps raise the level of our medical knowledge

C) it is essential to personal freedom in American society

D) wrong decisions could lead to poor health

37. To ―live a completely sedentary life-style‖ (Para. 1) in the passage means ________.

A) to ―live an inactive life‖B) to ―live a decent life‖

C) to ―live a life with complete freedom‖D) to ―live a life of vice‖

38. Sound personal health choice is often difficult to make because ________.

A) current medical knowledge is still insufficient

B) there are many factors influencing our decisions

C) few people are willing to trade the quality of life

D) people are usually influenced by the behavior of their friends

39. To knowingly allow oneself to purse unhealthy habits is compared by Fried and

Crapo to ________.

A) improving the quality of one‘s li fe B) limiting one‘s personal health choice

C) deliberately ending one‘s life D) breaking the rules of social behavior

40. According to Fries and Crapo sound health choices should be based on ________.

A) personal decisions B) society‘s laws

C) statistical evidence D) friends‘ opinions

1994年1月大学英语六级

(2012年5月25日星期五1)

There are desert plants which survive the dry season in the form of inactive seeds. There are aim desert insects which survive as inactive larvae (幼虫). In addition, difficult as it is to believe, there are desert fish which can survive through years of drought (干旱) in the form of inactive eggs. These are the shrimps (小虾) that live in the Mojave Desert, an intensely dry region in the south- west of the United States where shade temperatures of over 50C are often recorded.

The eggs of the Mojave shrimps are the size and have the appearance of grains of sand. When sufficient spring rain falls to form a lake, once every two to five years, these eggs hatch(孵化). Then the water is soon filled with millions of tiny shrimps about a millmetre long which feed on tiny plant and animal organisms which also grow in the temporary desert lake.

Within a week, the shrimps grow from their original 1 millimetre to a length of about 1.5 centimetres. Throughout the time that the shrimps are rapidly maturing, the water in the lake equally rapidly evaporates. Therefore, for the shrimps it is a race against time. By the twelfth day, however, when they are about 3 centimetre 10ng, hundreds of tiny eggs form on the underbodies of the females. Usually by this time, all that remains of the lake is a large, muddy patch of wet soil. On the thirteenth day and the next, during the final hours of their brief lives, the shrimp slay their eggs in the mud. Then, having ensured that their species will survive, the shrimps die as the last of the water evaporates.

If sufficient rain falls the next year to form another lake, the eggs hatch, and once again the shrimps pass rapidly through their cycle of growth, adulthood, egg - laying, and death. Some years there is insufficient rain to form a lake: in this case, the eggs will remain dormant for another year, or even longer if necessary. Very, very occasionally, perhaps twice in a hundred years, sufficient rain falls to form a deep lake that lasts a month or more. In this case, the species passes through two cycles of growth, egg - laying, and death. Thus, on such occasions, the species multiplies considerably, which further ensures its survival.

21. Which of the following is the MOST distinctive feature of Mojave shrimps?

A)Their lives are brief.

B)They feed on plant and animal organisms.

C)Their eggs can survive years of drought.

D)They lay their eggs in the mud.

22. By saying "for the shrimps it is a race against time" (Para. 3) the author means

A) they have to swim fast to avoid danger in the rapidly evaporating lake

B) they have to swim fast to catch the animal organisms on which they survive

C) they have to multiply as many as possible within thirteen days

D) they have to complete their life cycle within a short span of time permitted by the

environment

23. The passage mainly deals with

A) the life span of the Mojave shrimps B) the survival of desert shrimps

C) the importance of water to life D) life in the Mojave Desert

24. The word "dormant"( Para. 4) most probably means

A) inactive B) strong C) alert D) soft

25. It may be inferred from the passage that

A)appearance and size are most important for life to survive in the desert

B) a species must be able to multiply quickly in order to survive

C)for some species one life cycle in a year is enough to survive the desert drought

D)some species develop a unique life pattern to survive in extremely harsh

conditions

(2012年5月25日星期五2)

Opportunities for rewarding work become fewer for both men and women as they grow older. After age 40, job hunting becomes even more difficult. Many workers stay at jobs they are too old for rather than face possible rejection. Our youth-oriented, throw-away culture sees little value in older people. In writer Lilian Hellman' s words, they have "the wisdom that comes with age that we can't make use of."

Unemployment and economic need for work is higher among older women, especially minorities, than among younger white women. A national council reports these findings: Though unemployed longer when seeking work, older women job - hunt harder, hold a job longer with less absenteeism (缺勤), perform as well or better, are more reliable, and are more willing to learn than men or younger women. Yet many older women earn poor pay and face a future of poverty in their retirement years. When "sexism meets ageism, poverty is no longer on the doorstep - it moves in," according to Tish Sommers, director of a special study on older women for the National Organization for Women.

Yet a 1981 report on the White Hosuse Conference on Aging shows that as a group, older Americans are the "wealthiest, best fed, best housed, healthiest, most self- reliant older population in our history. "This statement is small comfort to those living below the poverty line, but it does explode some of the old traditional beliefs and fears. Opportunities for moving in and up in a large company may shrink but many older people begin successful small businesses, volunteer in satisfying activities, and stay active for many years. They have few role models because in previous generations the life span was much shorter and expectations of life were fewer. They are ploughing new ground.

Employers are beginning to recognize that the mature person can bring a great deal of stability and responsibility to a position. One doesn't lose ability and experience on the eve of one's 65th or 70th birthday any more than one grows up instantly at age 21.

26. After the age of 40, _______

A) most workers are tired of their present jobs

B) many workers tend to stick to their present jobs

C) people find their jobs more rewarding than before

D) people still wish to hunt for more suitable jobs

27. From Heilman' s remark, we can see that

A) full use has been made of the wisdom of older people

B) the wisdom of older people is not valued by American society

C) older people are no less intelligent than young people

D) the wisdom of older people is of great value to American society

28. Tish Sommers argues that

A) older women find it hard to escape poverty

B) older women usually perform better in their jobs

C) the major cause of the poverty of older women is sexism

D) more people have come to believe in sexism and ageism

29. According to the third paragraph, it can be seen that older Americans

A) have more job opportunities than young people

B) live below the poverty line

C) have new opportunities to remain active in society

D) no longer believe in the promise of a happy life upon retirement

30. It can be concluded from the passage that the writer

A) calls attention to the living conditions of older Americans

B) believes that the valus of older people is gaining increasing recognition

C) attempts to justify the youth - oriented, throw - away culture of the United States

D) argues people should not retire at the age of 65 or 70

(2012年5月26日星期六1)

The most exciting kind of education is also the most personal. Nothing can exceed the joy of discovering for yourself something that is important to you! It may be an idea or a bit of information you come across accidentally- or a sudden insight, fitting together pieces of informa tion or working through a problem. Such personal encounters are the "payoff‖ in education. A teacher may direct you to learning and even encourage you in it - but no teacher can make the excitement or the joy happen. That's up to you.

A research paper, assigned in a course and perhaps checked at various stages by an instructor, leads you beyond classrooms, beyond the texts for classes and into a process where the joy of discovery and learning can come to you many times. Preparing the research paper is an active and individual process, and ideal learning process. It provides a structure within which you can make exciting discoveries, of knowledge and of self, that are Basic to education. But the research paper also gives you a chance to individualize a school assignment, to suit a piece of work to your own interests and abilities, to show others what you can do. Writing a research paper is more than just a classroom exercise. It is an experience in searching out, understanding and synthesizing, which forms the basis of many skills applicable to both academic and nonacademic tasks. It is, in the fullest sense, a discovering, an education. So, to produce a good research paper is both a useful and a thoroughly satisfying experience!

To some, the thought of having to write an assigned number of pages, often more than ever produced before, is disconcerting. To others, the very idea of having to work independently is threatening. But there is no need to approach the research paper assignment with anxiety, and nobody should view the research paper as an obstacle to overcome. Instead, consider it a goal to accomplish, a goal within reach if you use the help this book can give you.

31. According to the writer, personal discoveries

A) will give one encouragement and direction

B) are helpful in finding the right information

C) are the most valuable part of one's personal education

D) will help one to successfully complete school assignments

32. It can be inferred from the passage that writing a research paper gives one chances

A) to fully develop one's personal abilities

B) to use the skills learnt in the classroom

C) to prove that one is a productive writer

D) to demonstrate how well one can accomplish school assignment

33. From the context, the word "disconcerting" (Para. 3) most probably means

A) misleading B) embarrassing C) stimulating D) upsetting

34. The writer argues in the passage that

A) one should explore new areas in research

B) one should trust one's own ability to meet course requirements

C) one should consider research paper writing a pleasure, not a burden

D) one should use all one's knowledge and skills when doing research

35. What will probably follow this passage?

A) How to write a research paper.

B) The importance of research in education.

C) How to make new discoveries for oneself.

D) The skill of putting pieces of information together.

(2012年5月26日星期六2)

In our culture, the sources of what we call a sense of "mastery" - feeling important and worthwhile - and the sources of what we call a sense of "pleasure" - finding life enjoyable – are not always identical. Women often are told "You can' t have it all. "Sometimes what the speaker really is saying is: "You chose a career, so you can' t expect to have closer relationships or a happy family life. "or "You have a wonderful husband and children - what' s all this about wanting a career?" But women need to understand and develop both aspects of well - being, if they are to feel good about themselves.

Our study shows that, for women, well - being has two dimensions. One is mastery, which includes self- esteem (自尊), a sense of control over your life, and low levels of anxiety and depression. Mastery is closely related to the "doing" side of life, to work and activity. Pleasure is the other dimension, and it is composed of happiness, satisfaction and optimism (乐观). It is tied more closely to the "feeling" side of life. The two are independent of each other. A woman could be high in mastery and low in pleasure, and vice versa. For example, a woman who has a good job, but whose mother has just died, might be feeling very good about herself and in control of her work life, but the pleasure side could be damaged for a time.

The concepts of mastery and pleasure can help us identify the sources of well - being for women, and remedy past mistakes. In the past, women were encouraged to look only at the feeling side of life as the source of all well - being. But we know that both mastery and pleasure are critical. And mastery seems to be achieved largely through work. In our study, all the groups of employed women rated significantly higher in mastery than did women who were not employed.

A woman's well-being is enhanced(增进) when she takes on multiple roles. At least by middle adulthood, the women who were involved in a combination of roles - marriages, motherhood, and employment - were the highest in well - being, despite warnings about stress and strain.

36. It can be inferred from the first paragraph that

A) for women, a sense of "mastery" is more important than a sense of "pleasure"

B) for women, a sense of "pleasure" is more important than a sense of "mastery"

C) women can't have a sense of "mastery" and a sense of "pleasure" at the same time

D) a sense of "mastery" and a sense of "pleasure" are both indispensable to women

37. The author's attitude towards women having a career is

A) critical B) positive C) neutral D) realistic

38. One can conclude from the passage that if a woman takes on several social roles,

A) it will be easier for her to overcome stress and strain

B) she will be more successful in her career

C) her chances of getting promoted will be greater

D) her life will be richer and more meaningful

39. Which of the following can be identified as a source of "pleasure" for women?

A) Family life. B) Regular employment.

C) Multiple roles in society. D) Freedom from anxiety.

40. The most appropriate title for the passage would be

A) The well - being of Career Women B) Sources of Mastery and Pleasure

C) Two Aspects of Women' s Well - Being D) Multiple Roles of Women in Society

1995年1月大学英语六级考试试题

(2012年5月27日星期日1)

The process of perceiving other people is rarely translated (to ourselves or others) into cold, objective terms. ―She was 5 feet 8 inches tall, had fair hair, and wore a colored skirt.‖ More often, we try to get inside the other person to pinpoint his or her attitudes, emotions, motivations, abilities, ideas and characters. Furthermore, we sometimes behave as if we can

accomplish this difficult job very quickly-perhaps with a two-second glance.

We try to obtain information about others in many ways. Berger suggests several methods for reducing uncertainties about others: watching, without being noticed, a person interacting with others, particularly with others who are known to you so you can compare the observed person‘s behavior with the known others‘ behavior; observing a person in a situation where social behavior is relatively unrestrained or where a wide variety of behavioral responses are called for; deliberately structuring the physical or social environment so as to observe the person‘s responses to specific stimuli; asking people who have had or have frequent contact with the person about him or her; and using various strategies in face-to-face interaction to uncover information about another person-questions, self-disclosures (自我表露), and so on. Getting to know someone is a never-ending task, largely because people are constantly changing and the methods we use to obtain information are often imprecise. You may have known someone for ten years and still know very little about him. If we accept the idea that we won‘t ever fully know another person, it enables us to deal more easily with those things that get in the way of accurate knowledge such as secrets and deceptions. It will also keep us from being too surprised or shocked by seemingly inconsistent behavior. Ironically (讽刺性地) those things that keep us from knowing another person too well (e.g., secrets and deceptions) may be just as important to the development of satisfying relationship as those things that enable us to obtain accurate knowledge about a person (e.g., disclosure and truthful statements).

21. The word ―pinpoint‖ (Para. 1) basically means ________.

A) appreciate B) obtain C) interpret D) identify

22. What do we learn from the first paragraph?

A) People are better described in cold, objective terms.

B) The difficulty of getting to know a person is usually underestimated.

C) One should not judge people by their appearances.

D) One is usually subjective when assessing other people‘s personality.

23. It can be inferred from Berger‘s suggestions that ________.

A) people do not reveal their true self on every occasion

B) in most cases we should avoid contacting the observed person directly

C) the best way to know a person is by making comparisons

D) face-to-face interaction is the best strategy to uncover information about a person

24. In developing personal relationships, secrets and deceptions, in the author‘s opinion,

are ________.

A) personal matters that should be seriously dealt with

B) barriers that should be done away with

C) as significant as disclosures and truthful statements

D) things people should guard against

25. The author‘s purpose in writing the passage is ________.

A) to give advice on appropriate conduct for social occasions

B) to provide ways of how to obtain information about people

C) to call the read er‘s attention to the negative side of people‘s characters

D) to discuss the various aspects of getting to know people

(2012年5月27日星期日2)

The competition among producers of personal computers is essentially a race to get the best, most innovative products to the marketplace. Marketers in this environment frequently have to make a judgment as to their competitors‘ role when making marketing strategy decisions. If major competitors are changing their products, then a marketer may want to follow suit to remain competitive. Apple Computer, Inc. has introduced two new, faster personal computers, the Mackintosh II and Mackintosh SE, in anticipation of the introduction of a new PC by IBM, one of Apple‘s major competitors.

Apple‘s new computers are much faster an d more powerful than its earlier models. The

improved Mackintosh is able to run programs that previously were impossible to run on an Apple PC, including IBM-compatible (兼容的) programs. This compatibility feature illustrates computer manufactures‘ new attit ude of giving customers the features they want. Making Apple computers capable of running IBM software is Apple‘s effort at making the Mackintosh compatible with IBM computers and thus more popular in the office, where Apple hopes to increase sales. Users of the new Apple can also add accessories (附件) to make their machines specialize in specific uses, such as engineering and writing.

The new computers represent a big improvement over past models, but they also cost much more. Company officials do not think the higher price will slow down buyers who want to step up to a more powerful computer. Apple wants to stay in the high-price end of the personal computer market to finance research for even faster, more sophisticated computers.

Even though Apple and IBM are major competitors, both companies realize that their competitor‘s computers have certain features that their own models do not. The Apple line has always been popular for its sophisticated color graphics (图形), whereas the IBM machines have always been favored in offices. In the future, there will probably be more compatibility between the two companies‘ products, which no doubt will re quire that both Apple and IBM change marketing strategies.

26. According to the passage, Apple Computer, Inc, has introduced the Mackintosh II

and the Mackintosh SE because ________.

A) IBM is changing its computer models continuously

B) it wants to make its machines specialize in specific uses

C) it wants to stay ahead of IBM in the competitive computer market

D) it expects its major competitor IBM to follow its example

27. Apple hopes to increase Mackintosh sales chiefly by ________.

A) making its new models capable of running IBM software

B) improving the color graphics of its new models

C) copying the marketing strategies of IBM

D) giving the customers what they want

28. Apple sells its new computer models at a high price because ________.

A) they have new features and functions

B) they are more sophisticated than other models

C) they have new accessories attached

D) it wants to accumulate funds for future research

29. It can be inferred from the passage that both Apple and IBM try to gain a competitive

advantage by ________.

A) copying each other‘s technology

B) incorporating features that make their products distinctive

C) making their computer more expensive

D) making their computers run much faster

30. The best title for the passage would be ________.

A) Apple‘s Efforts to Stay Ahead of IBM B) Apple‘s New Computer Technology

C) Apple‘s New personal Computers D) Apple‘s Research Activities

(2012年5月28日星期一1)

It is a curious paradox that we think of the physical sciences as ―hard‖, the social sciences as ―soft‖, and the biological sciences as somewhere in between. This is interpreted to mean that our knowledge of physical systems is more certain than our knowledge of biological systems, and these in turn are more certain than our knowledge of social systems. In terms of our capacity to sample the relevant universes, however, and the probability that our images of these universes are at least approximately correct, one suspects that a reverse order is more reasonable. We are able to sample earth‘s social systems with some degree of confidence that we have a reasonable sample of the total universe being investigated. Our knowledge of social systems, therefore, while it is in many ways extremely inaccurate, is not likely to be seriously

overturned by new discoveries. Even the folk knowledge in social systems on which ordinary life is based in earning, spending, organizing, marrying, taking part in political activities, fighting and so on, is not very dissimilar from the more sophisticated images of the social system derived from the social sciences, even though it is built upon the very imperfect samples of personal experience.

In contrast, our im age of the astronomical universe, of even of earth‘s geological history, can easily be subject to revolutionary changes as new data comes in and new theories are worked out. If we define the ―security‖ our image of various parts of the total system as the probability of their suffering significant changes, then we would reverse the order of hardness and see the social sciences as the most secure, the physical sciences as the least secure, and again the biological sciences as somewhere in between. Our image of the astronomical universe is the least secure of all simply because we observe such a fantastically small sample of it and its record-keeping is trivial as compared with the rich records of the social systems, or even the limited records of biological systems. Records of the astronomical universe, despite the fact that we see distant things as they were long ago, are limited in the extreme.

Even in regard to such a close neighbour as the moon, which we have actually visited, theories about its origin and history are extremely different, contradictory, and hard to choose among. Our knowledge of physical evolution is incomplete and highly insecure.

31. The word ―paradox‖ (Para. 1) means ―________‖.

A) implication B) contradiction C) interpretation D) confusion

32. According to the author, we should reverse our classification of the physical sciences

as‖ hard‖ and the social sciences as ―soft‖ because ________.

A) a reverse ordering will help promote the development of the physical sciences

B) our knowledge of physical systems is more reliable than that of social systems

C) our understanding of the social systems is approximately correct

D) we are better able to investigate social phenomena than physical phenomena 33. The author believes that our knowledge of social systems is more secure than that of

physical systems because ________.

A) it is not based on personal experience

B) new discoveries are less likely to occur in social sciences

C) it is based on a fairly representative quantity of data

D) the records of social systems are more reliable

34. The chances of the physical sciences being subject to great changes are the biggest

because ________.

A) contradictory theories keep emerging all the time

B) new information is constantly coming in

C) the direction of their development is difficult to predict

D) our knowledge of the physical world is inaccurate

35. We know less about the astronomical universe than we do about any social system

because ________.

A) theories of its origin and history are varied

B) our knowledge of it is highly insecure

C) only a very small sample of it has been observed

D) few scientists are involved in the study of astronomy

(2012年5月28日星期一2)

In the early days of nuclear power, the United States made money on it. But today opponents have so complicated its development that no nuclear plants have been ordered or built here in 12 years.

The greatest fear of nuclear power opponents has always been a reactor ―meltdown‖ (堆内熔化). Today, the chances of a meltdown that would threaten U.S. public health are very little. But to even further reduce the possibility, engineers are testing new reactors that rely not on human judgement to shut them down but on the laws of nature. Now General Electric is

already building two advance d reactors in Japan. But don‘t expect them ever on U.S. shores unless things change in Washington.

The procedure for licensing nuclear power plants is a bad dream. Any time during, or even after, construction, an objection by any group or individual can bring everything to a halt while the matter is investigated or taken to court. Meanwhile, the builder must add nice-but-not-necessary improvements, some of which force him to knock down walls and start over. In every case where a plant has been opposed, the Nuclear Regulation Commission has ultimately granted a license to construct or operate. But the victory often costs so much that the utility ends up abandoning the plant anyway.

A case in point is the Shoreham plant on New York‘s Long Island. Shoreham was a virtual twin to the Millstone plant in Connecticut, both ordered in the mid-‘60s. Millstone, completed for $101 million, has been generating electricity for two decades. Shoreham, however, was singled out by anti-nuclear activists who, by sending in endless protests, drove the cost over $5 billion and delayed its use for many years.

Shoreham finally won its operation license. But the plant has never produced a watt of power. Governor Mario Cuomo, an opponent of a Shoreham start-up, used his power to force New York‘s public-utilities commission to accept the following settlement; the power company could pass the cost of Shoreham along to its consumers only if it agreed not to operate the plant! Today, a perfectly good facility, capable of servicing hundreds of homes, sits rusting.

36. What has made the procedure for licensing nuclear power plants a bad dream?

A) The inefficiency of the Nuclear Regulation commission.

B) The enormous cost of construction and operation.

C) The length of time it takes to make investigations.

D) The objection of the opponents of nuclear power.

37. It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that ________.

A)it is not technical difficulties that prevent the building of nuclear power plants in

the U.S.

B)there are not enough safety measures in the U.S. for running new nuclear power

plants

C)there are already more nuclear power plants than necessary in the U.S.

D)the American government will not allow Japanese nuclear reactors to be

installed in the U.S.

38. Any objection, however trivial it may be, can ________.

A) force the power companies to cancel the project

B) delay the construction or operation of a nuclear plant

C) cause a serious debate within the Nuclear Regulation Commission

D) take the builders to court

39. Governor Mari o‘s chief intention in proposing the settlement was to ________.

A) stop the Shoreham plant from going into operation

B) help the power company to solve its financial problems

C) urge the power company to further increase its power supply

D) permit the Shoreham plant to operate under certain conditions

40. The author‘s attitude towards the development of nuclear power is ________.

A) negative B) neutral C) positive D) questioning

1995年6月大学英语六级考试试题

(2012年5月29日星期二1)

A new era is upon us. Call it what you will: the service economy, the information age, the knowledge society. It all translates to a fundamental change in the way we work. Already we're partly there. The percentage of people who earn their living by making things has fallen dramatically in the Western World. Today the majority of jobs in America, Europe and Japan (two thirds or more in many of these countries) are in the service industry, and the number is on the rise. More women are in the work force than ever before. There are more part-time jobs.

More people are self-employed. But the breadth of the economic transformation can't be measured by numbers alone, because it also is giving rise to a radical new ways of thinking about the nature of work itself. Long-held notions about jobs and careers, the skills needed to succeed, even the relation between individuals and employers-all these are being challenged.

We have only to look behind us to get some sense of what may lie ahead. No one looking ahead 20 years possibly could have foreseen the ways in which a single invention, the chip（集成块）, would transform our world thanks to its applications in personal computers, digital communications and factory robots. Tomorrow's achievements in biotechnology, artificial intelligence or even some still unimagined technology could produce a similar wave of dramatic changes. But one thing is certain: information and knowledge will become even more vital, and the people who possess it, whether they work in manufacturing or services, will have the advantage and produce the wealth. Computer knowledge will become as basic a requirement as the ability to read and write. The ability to solve problems by applying information instead of performing routine tasks will be valued above all else. If you cast your mind ahead 10 years, information services will be predominant. It will be the way you do your job.

21. A characteristic of the information age is that _______.

A) the service industry is relying more and more on the female work force

B) manufacturing industries are steadily increasing

C) people find it harder and harder to earn a living by working in factories

D) most of the job opportunities can now be found in the service industry

22. One of the great changes brought about by the knowledge society is that _______.

A) the difference between the employee and the employer has become insignificant

B) people's traditional concepts about work no longer hold true

C) most people have to take part-time jobs

D) people have to change their jobs from time to time 23. By referring to computers and other inventions, the author means to say that ______.

A) people should be able to respond quickly to the advancement of technology

B) future achievements in technology will bring about inconceivable dramatic

changes

C) the importance of high technology has been overlooked

D) computer science will play a leading role in the future information services

24. The future will probably belong to those who ________.

A) possess and know how to make use of information

B) give full play to their brain potential

C) involve themselves in service industries

D) cast their minds ahead instead of looking back

25. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A) Computers and the Knowledge Society

B) Service Industries in Modern Society

C) Features and Implications of the New Era.

D) Rapid Advancement of Information Technology

(2012年5月29日星期二2)

Beauty has always been regarded as something praiseworthy. Almost everyone thinks attractive people are happier and healthier, have better marriages and have more respectable occupations. Personal consultants give them better advice for finding jobs. Even judges are softer on attractive defendants（被告）. But in the executive circle, beauty can become a liability.

While attractiveness is a positive factor for a man on his way up the executive ladder, it is harmful to a woman.

Handsome male executives were perceived as having more integrity than plainer men; effort and ability were thought to account for their success.

Attractive female executives were considered to have less integrity than unattractive ones; their success was attributed not to ability but to factors such as luck.

All unattractive women executives were thought to have more integrity and to be more capable than the attractive female executives. Interestingly, though, the rise of the unattractive overnight successes was attributed more to personal relationships and less to ability than was that of attractive overnight successes.

Why are attractive women not thought to be able? An attractive woman is perceived to be more feminine（女性的）and an attractive man more masculine（男性的）than the less attractive ones. Thus, an attractive woman has an advantage in traditionally female jobs, but an attractive woman in a traditionally masculine position appears to lack the "masculine" qualities required.

This is true even in politics. "When the only clue is how he or she looks, people treat men and women differently," says Anne Bowman, who recently published a study on the effects of attractiveness on political candidates. She asked 125 undergraduate students to rank two groups of photographs, one of men and one of women, in order of attractiveness. The students were told the photographs were of candidates for political offices. They were asked to rank them again, in the order they would vote for them.

The results showed that attractive males utterly defeated unattractive men, but the women who had been ranked most attractive invariably received the fewest votes.

26. The word "liability" (Para.1) most probably means "_________".

A) misfortune B) instability C) disadvantage D) burden

27. In traditionally female jobs, attractiveness _______.

A) reinforces the feminine qualities required

B) makes women look more honest and capable

C) is of primary importance to women

D) often enables women to succeed quickly

28. Bowman's experiment reveals that when it comes to politics, attractiveness ______.

A) turns out to be an obstacle to men

B) affects men and women alike

C) has as little effect on men as on women

D) is more of an obstacle than a benefit to women

29. It can be inferred from the passage that people's views on beauty are often ________.

A) practical B) prejudiced C) old-fashioned D) radical

30. The author writes this passage to _________.

A) discuss the negative aspects of being attractive

B) give advice to job-seekers who are attractive

C) demand equal rights for women

D) emphasize the importance of appearance

(2012年5月30日星期三1)

The importance and focus of the interview in the work of the print and broadcast journalist is reflected in several books that have been written on the topic. Most of these books, as well as several chapters, mainly in, but not limited to, journalism and broadcasting handbooks and reporting texts, stress the "how to" aspects of journalistic interviewing rather than the conceptual aspects of the interview, its context, and implications. Much of the "how to" material is based on personal experiences and general impressions. As we know, in journalism as in other fields, much can be learned from the systematic study of professional practice. Such study brings together evidence from which broad generalized principles can be developed.

There is, as has been suggested, a growing body of research literature in journalism and broadcasting, but very little significant attention has been devoted to the study of the interview itself. On the other hand, many general texts as well as numerous research articles on interviewing in fields other than journalism have been written. Many of these books and articles present the theoretical and empirical（经验的）aspects of the interview as well as the

training of the interviewers. Unhappily, this plentiful general literature about interviewing pays little attention to the journalistic interview. The fact that the general literature on interviewing does not deal with the journalistic interview. The fact that the general literature on interviewing does not deal with the journalistic interview seems to be surprising for two reasons. First, it seems likely that most people in modern Western societies are more familiar, at least in a positive manner, with journalistic interviewing than with any other form of interviewing. Most of us are probably somewhat familiar with the clinical interview, such as that conducted by physicians and psychologists. In these situations the professional person or interviewer is interested in getting information necessary for the diagnosis（诊断）and treatment of the person seeking help. Another familiar situation is the job interview. However, very few of us have actually been interviewed personally by the mass media, particularly by television. And yet, we have a vivid acquaintance with the journalistic interview by virtue of our roles as readers, listeners, and viewers. Even so, true understanding of the journalistic interview, especially television interviews, requires thoughtful analyses and even study, as this book indicates.

31. The main idea of the first paragraph is that ______.

A)generalized principles for journalistic interviews are the chief concern for writers

on journalism

B)B) importance should be attached to the systematic study of journalistic

interviewing

C)concepts and contextual implications are of secondary importance to journalistic

interviewing

D)personal experiences and general impressions should be excluded from

journalistic interviews

32. Much research has been done on interviews in general ______.

A)so the training of journalistic interviewers has likewise been strengthened

B)though the study of the interviewing techniques hasn't received much attention

C)but journalistic interviewing as a specific field has unfortunately been neglected

D)and there has also been a dramatic growth in the study of journalistic

interviewing

33. Westerners are familiar with the journalistic interview, ______.

A) but most of them wish to stay away from it

B) and many of them hope to be interviewed some day

C) and many of them would like to acquire a true understanding of it

D) but most of them may not have been interviewed in person

34. Who is the interviewee in a clinical interview?

A) The patient. B) The physician. C) The journalist. D) The psychologist.

35. The passage is most likely a part of ______.

A) a news article B) a journalistic interview

C) a research report D) a preface

(2012年5月30日星期三2)

The relationship between the home and market economies has gone through two distinct stages. Early industrialization began the process of transferring some production processes (e.g. clothmaking, sewing and canning foods) from the home to the marketplace. Although the home economy could still produce these goods, the processes were laborious（费力的）and the market economy was usually more efficient. Soon, the more important second stage was evident-the marketplace began producing goods and services that had never been produced by the home economy, and the home economy was unable to produce them (e.g. electricity and electrical appliances, the automobile, advanced education, sophisticated medical care). In the second stage, the question of whether the home economy was less efficient in producing these new goods and services was irrelevant; if the family were to enjoy these fruits of industrialization, they would have to be obtained in the marketplace. The traditional ways of taking care of these needs in the home, such as in nursing the sick, became socially

unacceptable (and, in most serious cases, probably less successful). Just as the appearance of the automobile made the use of the horse-drawn carriage illegal and then impractical, and the appearance of television changed the radio from a source of entertainment to a source of background music, so most of the fruits of economic growth did not increase the options available to the home economy to either produce the goods or services or purchase them in the market. Growth brought with it increased variety in consumer goods, but not increased flexibility for the home economy in obtaining these goods and services. Instead, economic growth brought with it increased consumer reliance on the marketplace. In order to consume these new goods and services, the family had to enter the marketplace as wage earners and consumers. The neoclassical（新古典主义的）model that views the family as deciding whether to produce goods and services directly or to purchase them in the marketplace is basically a model of the first stage. It cannot accurately be applied to the second (and current) stage.

36. The reason why many production processes were taken over by the marketplace was

that_________.

A) it was necessary step in the process of industrialization

B) they depended on electricity available only to the market economy

C) it was troublesome to produce such goods in the home

D) the marketplace was more efficient with respect to these processes

37. It can be seen from the passage that in the second stage ______.

A)some traditional goods and services were not successful when provided by the

home economy

B)the market economy provided new goods and services never produced by the

home economy

C)producing traditional goods at home became socially unacceptable

D)whether new goods and services were produced by the home economy became

irrelevant. 38. During the second stage, if the family wanted to consume new goods and services,

they had to enter the marketplace _____.

A) as wage earners B) both as manufacturers and consumers

C) both as workers and purchasers D) as customers

39. Economic growth did not make it more flexible for the home economy to obtain the

new goods and services because _______.

A)the family was not efficient in production

B)it was illegal for the home economy to produce them

C)it could not supply them by itself

D)the market for these goods and services was limited

40. The neoclassical model is basically a model of the first stage, because at this stage __.

A)the family could rely either on the home economy or on the marketplace for the

needed goods and services

B)many production processes were being transferred to the marketplace

C)consumers relied more and more on the market economy

D)the family could decide how to transfer production processes to the marketplace

1996年1月大学英语六级考试试题

(2012年5月31日星期四1)

Material culture refers to the touchable, material "things"-physical objects that can be seen, held, felt, used-that a culture produces. Examining a culture's tools and technology can tell us about the group's history and way of life. Similarly, research into the material culture of music can help us to understand the music-culture. The most vivid body of "things" in it, of course, are musical instruments. We cannot hear for ourselves the actual sound of any musical performance before the 1870s when the phonograph（留声机）was invented, so we rely on instruments for important information about music-cultures in the remote past and their development. Here we have two kinds of evidence: instruments well preserved and instruments

pictured in art. Through the study of instruments, as well as paintings, written documents, and so on, we can explore the movement of music from the Near East to China over a thousand years ago, or we can outline the spread of Near Eastern influence to Europe that resulted in the development of most of the instruments on the symphony orchestra.

Sheet music or printed music, too, is material culture. Scholars once defined folk music-cultures as those in which people learn and sing music by ear rather than from print, but research shows mutual influence among oral and written sources during the past few centuries in Europe, Britain, and America, printed versions limit variety because they tend to standardize any song, yet they stimulate people to create new and different song. Besides, the ability to read music notation（乐谱）has a far-reaching effect on musicians and, when it becomes widespread, on the music-culture as a whole.

One more important part for music's material culture should be singled out: the influence of the electronic media-radio, record player, tape recorder, television, and videocassette, with the future promising talking and singing computers and other developments. This is all part of the "information revolution," a twentieth-century phenomenon as important as the industrial revolution was in the nineteenth. These electronic media are not just limited to modern nations; they have affected music-music-cultures all over the globe.

21. Research into the material culture of a nation is of great importance because _______.

A) it helps produce new cultural tools and technology

B) it can reflect the development of the nation

C) it helps understand the nation's past and present

D) it can demonstrate the nation's civilization

22. It can be learned from this passage that _______.

A)the existence of the symphony was attributed to the spread of Near Eastern and

Chinese music.

B)Near Eastern music had an influence on the development of the instruments in

the symphony orchestra

C)the development of the symphony shows the mutual influence of Eastern and

Western music

D)the musical instruments in the symphony orchestra were developed on the basis

of Near Eastern music

23. According to the author, music notation is important because _____.

A)it has a great effect on the music-culture as more and more people are able to

read it

B)it tends to standardize folk songs when it is used by folk musicians

C)it is the printed version of standardized folk music

D)it encourages people to popularize printed versions of songs

24. It can be concluded from the passage that the introduction of electronic media into the

world of music _______.

A) has brought about an information revolution

B) has speeded up the arrival of a new generation of computes

C) has given rise to new forms of music culture

D) has led to the transformation of traditional musical instruments

25. Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of the passage?

A)Musical instruments developed through the years will sooner or later be replaced

by computers.

B)Music cannot be passed on to future generation unless it is recorded.

C)Folk songs cannot be spread far unless they are printed on music sheets.

D)The development of music culture is highly dependent on its material aspect.

(2012年5月31日星期四2)

The question of whether war is inevitable is one which has concerned many of the world's great writers. Before considering this question, it will be useful to introduce some related

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