2005-2010年六级阅读真题

2005年12月24日PassageoneToomanyvulnerablechild-freeadultsarebeingruthlessly(无情的)manipulatedintoparent-hoodbytheirparents,whothinkthathappinessamongolderpeopledependsonhavingagrand-childtospoil.Weneedanorganizationtohelpbeatdownthepersistentcampaignsofgrandchildlessparents.It’stimetoestablishPlannedGrandparenthood,whichwouldhavemanyglobalandlocalbenefits.Partofitsmissionwouldbetopromotetherisksandrealitiesassociatedwithbeingagrandparent.Thestaffwouldincludedepressedgrandparentswhowouldexplainhowgrandkidsbreaklamps,bite,screamandkick.Otherswoulddetailhowanhourofbaby-sittingoftenturnsintoacryingmarathon.Moregrandparentswouldtestifythattheyhadtopayfortheirgrandchild’sexpensivecollegeeducation.Plannedgrandparenthood’scarefullywrittenliteraturewoulddetailallthejoysoflifegrand-child-freeacalmlivingroom,extramoneyforluxuriesduringthegoldenyears,etc.Potentialgrandparentswouldberemindedthat,withoutgrandchildrenaround,it’spossibletohaveaconversationwithyourkids,who—incidentally—wouldhavemoretimefortheirownparents.Meanwhile,mostchildrenarevulnerabletotheenormousinfluenceexertedbygrandchildlessparentsaimingtopersuadetheirkidstoproducechildren.Theywilltakeacallfromapersistentparent,evenifthey’reloadedwithworks.Inaddition,someparentsmakehandsomemoneyofferspayableuponthegrandchild’sbirth.Sometimesthesegiftsnotonlycoverexpensesassociatedwiththeinfant’sbirth,butextras,too,likeavacation.Inanycase,cashgiftscanweakentheresolveofeventhenoblestperson.AtPlannedGrandparenthood,childrentargetedbytheirparentstoreproducecouldobtainnon-biasedinformationabouttheinsanityofhavingtheirownkids.Thecatastrophicpsychologicalandeconomiccostsofchildbearingwouldbeemphasized.Thesymptomsofmorningsicknesswouldbelistedandhorrorsofchildbirthpictured.Amonthlynewsletterwouldcontainstoriesaboutoverwhelmedparentsandofferguidanceonhowchildlessadultscanrespondtothedifferentlobbyingtacticsthatwould-begrandparentsemploy.WhenIthinkaboutalltheproblemsofouroverpopulatedworldandlookatourboygrabbingatthelampbythesofa,IwishIcouldhaveturnedtoPlannedGrandparenthoodwhenmyparentswereputtingthegrandchildsqueezeonme.IfIcouldhave,Imightnotbeinthisparenthoodpredicament(窘境).Buthere’sthecrazyirony,Idon’twantmychild-freelifeback.Dylan’stoomuchfun.21.What’sthepurposeoftheproposedorganizationPlannedGrandparenthood?A)Toencouragechildlesscouplestohavechildren.B)Toprovidefacilitiesandservicesforgrandchildlessparents.C)Tooffercounselingtopeopleonhowtoraisegrandchildren.D)Todiscouragepeoplefrominsistingonhavinggrandchildren.（D）22.PlannedGrandparenthoodwouldincludedepressedgrandparentsonitsstaffinorderto________.A)showthemthejoysoflifegrandparentsmayhaveinraisinggrandchildrenB)drawattentiontothetroublesanddifficultiesgrandchildrenmaycauseC)sharetheirexperienceinraisinggrandchildreninamorescientificwayD)helpraisefundstocoverthehighexpenseofeducationforgrandchildren（B）23.Accordingtothepassage,somecouplesmayeventuallychoosetohavechildrenbecause________.A)theyfindithardtoresistthecarrot-and-stickapproachoftheirparentsB)theyhavelearnfromotherparentsaboutthejoysofhavingchildrenC)theyfeelmoreandmorelonelyadtheygrowolderD)theyhavefounditirrationaltoremainchildless（A）24.Bysaying“...myparentswereputtingthegrandchildsqueezeonme”(Line2-3,Para.6),theauthormeansthat________.A)herparentskeptpressuringhertohaveachildB)herparentslikedtohaveagrandchildintheirarmsC)herparentsaskedhertosavefortheexpensesofraisingachildD)herparentskeptblamingherforherchild’sbadbehavior（A）25.Whatdoestheauthorreallyoftheideaofhavingchildren?A)Itdoesmoreharmthangood.B)Itcontributestooverpopulation.C)Itistroublesomebutrewarding.D)Itisapsychologicalcatastrophe.（C）PassageTwoQuestions26to30arebasedonthefollowingpassage.AskmostpeoplehowtheydefinetheAmericanDreamandchancesarethey’llsay,“Success.”ThedreamofindividualopportunityhasbeenhomeinAmericansinceEuropeansdiscovereda“newworld”intheWesternHemisphere.EarlyimmigrantslikeHectorSt.JeandeCrevecoeurpraisedhighlythefreedomandopportunitytobefoundinthisnewland.HisglowingdescriptionsofaclasslesssocietywhereanyonecouldattainsuccessthroughhonestyandhardworkfiredtheimaginationsofmanyEuropeanreaders:inLettersfromanAmericanFarmer(1782)hewrote.“Weareallexcitedatthespiritofanindustrywhichisunfettered(无拘无束的)andunrestrained,becauseeachpersonworksforhimself...Wehavenoprinces,forwhomwetoil(干苦力活)，starve,andbleed:wearethemostperfectsocietynowexistingintheworld.”Thepromiseofalandwhere“therewardsofaman’sindustryfollowwithequalstepstheprogressofhislabor”drewpoorimmigrantsfromEuropeandfuelednationalexpansionintothewesternterritories.Ournationalmythology(神化)isfullofillustrationtheAmericansuccessstory.There’sBenjaminFranklin,theverymodeloftheself-educated,self-mademan,whorosefrommodestoriginstobecomeawell-knownscientist,philosopher,andstatesman.Inthenineteenthcentury,HoratioAlger,awriteroffictionforyoungboys,becameAmerican’sbest-sellingauthorwithrags-to-richestales.Thenotionofsuccesshauntsus:wespendmillioneveryyearreadingabouttherichandfamous,learninghowto“makeafortuneinrealestatewithnomoneydown,”and“dressingforsuccess.”Themythofsuccesshaseveninvadedourpersonalrelationships:todayit’sasimportanttobe“successful”inmarriageorparenthoodsasitistocomeoutontopinbusiness.Butdreamseasilyturnintonightmares.EveryAmericanwhohopesto“makeit”alsoknowsthefearoffailure,becausethemythofsuccessinevitablyimpliescomparisonbetweenthehavesandthehave-nots,thestarsandtheanonymouscrowd.Underpressureofthemyth,webecomeindulgedinstatussymbols:wetrytoliveinthe“right”neighborhoods,wearthe“right”clothes,eatthe“right”foods.Thesesymbolsofdistinctionassureusandothersthatwebelievestronglyinthefundamentalequalityofall,yetstriveashardaswecantoseparateourselvesfromourfellowcitizens.26.WhatistheessenceoftheAmericanDreamaccordingtoCrevecoeur?A)Peoplearefreetodeveloptheirpowerofimagination.B)Peoplewhoarehonestandworkhardcansucceed.C)Peoplearefreefromexploitationandoppression.D)Peoplecanfullyenjoyindividualfreedom.（D）27.Bysaying“therewardsofaman’sindustryfollowwithequalstepstheprogressofhislabor”(Line10,Para.1),theauthormeans________.A)themorediligentoneis,thebiggerhisreturnsB)laboriousworkensuresthegrowthofanindustryC)aman’sbusinessshouldbedevelopedstepbystepD)acompany’ssuccessdependsonitsemployees’hardwork（A）28.ThecharactersdescribedinHoratioAlger’snovelsarepeoplewho________.A)succeedinrealestateinvestmentB)earnedenormousfortunesbychancesC)becamewealthyafterstartinglifeverypoorD)becamefamousdespitetheirmodestorigins（C）29.Itcanbeinferredfromthelastsentenceofthesecondparagraphthat________.A)businesssuccessoftencontributestoasuccessfulmarriageB)AmericanswishtosucceedineveryaspectoflifeC)goodpersonalrelationshipsleadtobusinesssuccessD)successfulbusinesspeopleprovidegoodcarefortheirchildren（B）30.WhatistheparadoxofAmericancultureaccordingtotheauthor?A)TheAmericanroadtosuccessisfullofnightmares.B)Statussymbolsarenotarealindicatorofaperson’swealth.C)TheAmericanDreamisnothingbutanemptydream.D)WhatAmericansstriveafteroftencontradictstheirbeliefs.（D）PassageThreeQuestions31to35arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Publicdistrustofscientistsstemsinpartfromtheblurringofboundariesbetweenscienceandtechnology,betweendiscoveryandmanufacture.Mostgovernment,perhapsallgovernments,justifypublicexpenditureonscientificresearchintermsoftheeconomicbenefitsthescientificenterprisehabroughtinthepastandwillbringinthefuture.Politiciansremindtheirvotersofthesplendidmachines‘ourscientists’haveinvented,thenewdrugstorelieveoldailments(病痛),andthenewsurgicalequipmentandtechniquesbywhichpreviouslyintractable(难治疗的)conditionsmaynowbetreatedandlivessaved.Atthesametime,thepoliticiansdemandofscientiststhattheytailortheirresearchto‘economicsneeds’,thattheyawardahigherprioritytoresearchproposalsthatare‘nearthemarket’andcanbetranslatedintothegreatestreturnoninvestmentintheshortesttime.Dependent,astheyare,onpoliticiansformuchoftheirfunding,scientistshavelittlechoicebuttocomply.Liketherestofus,theyaremembersofasocietythatratesthecreationofwealthasthegreatestpossiblegood.Manyhavereservations,butkeepthemtothemselvesinwhattheyperceiveasaclimatehostiletothepursuitofunderstandingforitsownsakeandtheideaofaninquiring,creativespirit.Insuchcircumstancesnooneshouldbetoohardonpeoplewhoaresuspiciousofconflictsofinterest.Whenwelearnthatthedistinguishedprofessorassuringusofthesafetyofaparticularproductholdsaconsultancywiththecompanymakingit,wecannotbeblamedforwonderingwhetherhisfeemightconceivablycloudhisprofessionaljudgment.当我们获知向我们保证某件产品的安全性能的著名教授其实是该产品生产企业的顾问时，会怀疑他所得到的酬金是否很有可能会蒙蔽他的专业判断，而这样想是有情可原的。Eveniftheprofessorholdsnoconsultancywithanyfirm,somepeoplemanystilldistrusthimbecauseofhisassociationwiththosewhodo,oratleastwonderaboutthesourceofsomehisresearchfunding.Thisattitudecanhavedamagingeffects.Itquestionstheintegrityofindividualsworkinginaprofessionthatprizesintellectualhonestyasthesupremevirtue,andplaysintothehandsofthosewhowouldliketodiscreditscientistsbyrepresentingthenavenal(可以收买的).Thismakesiteasiertodismissallscientificpronouncements,butespeciallythosemadebythescientistswhopresentthemselvesas‘experts’.Thescientistmostlikelytounderstandthesafetyofanuclearreactor,forexample,isanuclearengineerdeclaresthatareactorisunsafe,webelievehim,becauseclearlyitisnottohisadvantagetolieaboutit.Ifhetellsusitissafe,ontheotherhand,wedistrusthim,becausehemaywellbeprotectingtheemployerwhopayshissalary.31.Whatisthechiefconcernofmostgovernmentswhenitcomestoscientificresearch?A)Supportfromthevotes.B)Thereductionofpublicexpenditure.C)Quickeconomicsreturns.D)Thebudgetforaresearchproject.（B）32.Scientisthavetoadapttheirresearchto‘economicneeds’inorderto________.A)impressthepublicwiththeirachievementsB)pursueknowledgeforknowledge’ssakeC)obtainfundingfromthegovernmentD)translateknowledgeintowealth（C）33.Whywon’tscientistscomplainaboutthegovernment’spolicyconcerningscientificresearch?A)Theythinktheyworkinanenvironmenthostiletothefreepursuitofknowledge.B)Theyareaccustomedtokeepingtheiropinionstothemselves.C)Theyknowittakespatiencetowinsupportfromthepublic.D)Theythinkcompliancewithgovernmentpolicyisintheinterestsofthepublic.（A）34.Accordingtotheauthor,peoplearesuspiciousoftheprofessionaljudgmentofscientistsbecause________.A)theirpronouncementsoftenturnouttobewrongB)sometimestheyhidethesourceoftheirresearchfundingC)someofthemdonotgiveprioritytointellectualhonestyD)theycouldbeinfluencedbytheirassociationwiththeprojectconcerned（D）35.Whydoestheauthorsaythatpublicdistrustofscientistscanhavedamagingeffects?A)Itmakesthingsdifficultforscientistsseekingresearchfunds.B)Peoplewouldnotbelievescientistsevenwhentheytellthetruth.C)Itmaydampentheenthusiasmofscientistsforindependentresearch.D)Scientiststhemselvesmaydoubtthevalueoftheirresearchfindings.（B）PassageFourQuestions36to40arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Inmanyways,today’sbusinessenvironmenthaschangedqualitativelysincethelate1980s.TheendoftheColdWarradicallyalteredtheverynatureoftheworld’spoliticsandeconomics.Injustafewshortyears,globalizationhasstartedavarietyoftrendswithprofoundconsequences:theopeningofmarkets,trueglobalcompetition,widespreadderegulation(解除政府对…的控制)ofindustry,andanabundanceofaccessiblecapital.Wehaveexperiencedboththebenefitsandrisksofatrulyglobaleconomy,withbothWallStreetandMainStreet(平民百姓)feelingthepainsofeconomicdisorderhalfaworldaway.Atthesametime,wehavefullyenteredtheInformationAge,Startingbreakthroughsininformationtechnologyhaveirreversiblyalteredtheabilitytoconductbusinessunconstrainedbythetraditionallimitationsoftimeorspace.Today,it’salmostimpossibletoimagineaworldwithoutintranets,e-mail,andportablecomputers.Withstunningspeed,theInternetisprofoundlychangingthewaywework,shop,dobusiness,andcommunicate.Asaconsequence,wehavetrulyenteredthePost-Industrialeconomy.Wearerapidlyshiftingfromaneconomybasedonmanufacturingandcommoditiestoonethatplacesthegreatestvalueoninformation,services,support,anddistribution.Thatshift,inturn,placeanunprecedentedpremiumon“knowledgeworkers,”anewclassofwealthy,educated,andmobilepeoplewhoviewthemselvesasfreeagentsinaseller’smarket.Beyondtherealmofinformationtechnology,theacceleratedpaceoftechnologicalchangeinvirtuallyeveryindustryhascreatedentirelynewbusiness,wipedoutothers,andproducedaPervasive(广泛的)demandforcontinuousinnovation.Newproduct,process,anddistributiontechnologiesprovidepowerfulleversforcreatingcompetitivevalue.Morecompaniesarelearningtheimportanceofdestructivetechnologies—innovationsthatholdthepotentialtomakeaproductline,orevenanentirebusinesssegment,virtuallyoutdated.Anothermajortrendhasbeenthefragmentationofconsumerandbusinessmarkets.There’sagrowingappreciationthatsuperficiallysimilargroupsofcustomersmayhaveverydifferentpreferencesintermsofwhattheywanttobuyandhowtheywanttobuyit.Now,newtechnologymakesiteasier,faster,andcheapertoidentifyandservetargetedmicro-marketsinwaysthatwerephysicallyimpossibleorprohibitivelyexpensiveinthepast.Moreover,thetrendfeedsonitself,abusiness’sabilitytoservesub-marketsfuelscustomers’appetitesformoreandmorespecializedofferings.36.Accordingtothefirstparagraph,thechancesinthebusinessenvironmentinthepastdecadescanbeattributedto________.A)technologicaladvancesB)worldwideeconomicdisorderC)thefiercecompetitioninindustryD)theglobalizationofeconomy（D）37.whatideadoestheauthorwanttoconveyinthesecondparagraph?A)Therapiddevelopmentofinformationtechnologyhastakenbusinessmenbysurprise.B)Informationtechnologyhasremovedtherestrictionsoftimeandspaceinbusinesstransactions.C)TheInternet,intranets,e-mail,andportablecomputershavepenetratedeverycorneroftheworld.D)Thewaywedobusinesstodayhasbroughtaboutstartlingbreakthroughsininformationtechnology.（B）38.IfabusinesswantstothriveinthePost-Industrialeconomy,________.A)ithastoinvestmorecapitalinthetrainingoffreeagentstooperateinaseller’smarketB)itshouldtryitsbesttosatisfytheincreasingdemandsofmobileknowledgeablepeopleC)itshouldnotoverlooktheimportanceofinformation,services,support,anddistributionD)ithastoprovideeachofitsemployeeswiththelatestinformationaboutthechangingmarket（C）39.Intheauthor’sview,destructivetechnologiesareinnovationswhich________.A)caneliminateanentirebusinesssegmentB)demandaradicalchangeinprovidingservicesC)maydestroythepotentialofacompanytomakeanyprofitD)callforcontinuousimprovementinwaysofdoingbusiness（A）40.Withthefragmentationofconsumerandbusinessmarkets________.A)anincreasingnumberofcompanieshavedisintegratedB)manufacturersmustfocusononespecialproducttoremaincompetitiveinthemarketC)itisphysicallyimpossibleandprohibitivelyexpensivetodobusinessintheoldwayD)businesseshavetomeetindividualcustomers’specificneedsinordertosucceed（D）2006年6月17日PassageOneQuestions21to25arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Therearegoodreasonstobetroubledbytheviolencethatspreadsthroughoutthemedia.Movies,Televisionandvideogamesarefullofgunplayandbloodshed,andonemightreasonablyaskwhat’swrongwithasocietythatpresentsvideosofdomesticviolenceasentertainment.Mostresearchersagreethatthecausesofreal-worldviolencearecomplex.A1993studybytheU.S.NationalAcademyofScienceslisted“biological,individual,family,peer,school,andcommunityfactors”asallplayingtheirparts.Viewingabnormallylargeamountsofviolenttelevisionandvideogamesmaywellcontributetoviolentbehaviorincertainindividuals.Thetroublecomeswhenresearchersdownplayuncertaintiesintheirstudiesoroverstatethecaseforcausality(因果关系).SkepticsweredismayedseveralyearsagowhenagroupofsocietiesincludingtheAmericanMedicalAssociationtriedtoendthedebatebyissuingajointstatement:“Atthistime,wellover1,000studies...pointoverwhelminglytoacausalconnectionbetweenmediaviolenceandaggressivebehaviorinsomechildren.”Freedom-of-speechadvocatesaccusedthesocietiesofcateringtopoliticians,andevendisputedthenumberofstudies(mostwerereviewarticlesandessays,theysaid).WhenJonathanFreedman,asocialpsychologistattheUniversityofToronto,reviewedtheliterature,hefoundonly200orsostudiesoftelevision-watchingandaggression.Andwhenheweededout“themostdoubtfulmeasuresofaggression”,only28%supportedaconnection.Thecriticalpointhereiscausality.Thealarmistssaytheyhaveprovedthatviolentmediacauseaggression.Buttheassumptionsbehindtheirobservationsneedtobeexamined.Whenlabelinggamesasviolentornon-violent,shouldaheroeatingaghostreallybecountedasaviolentevent?Andwhenexperimentersrecordthetimeittakesgameplayerstoread‘aggressive’or‘non-aggressive’wordsfromalist,canwebesurewhattheyareactuallymeasuring?TheintentofthenewHarvardCenteronMediaandChildHealthtocollectandstandardizestudiesofmediaviolenceinordertocomparetheirmethodologies,assumptionsandconclusionsisanimportantstepintherightdirection.Anotherappropriatestepwouldbetotonedownthecriticismuntilweknowmore.Severalresearcherswrite,speakandtestifyquitealotonthethreatposedbyviolenceinthemedia.Thatis,ofcourse,theirprivilege.Butwhendoingso,theyoftencomeoutwithstatementsthatthematterhasnowbeensettled,drawingcriticismfromcolleagues.Inresponse,thealarmistsaccusecriticsandnewsreportersofbeingdeceivedbytheentertainmentindustry.Suchclasheshelpneithersciencenorsociety.21.Whyistheresomuchviolenceshowninmovies,TVandvideogames?A)Thereisalotofviolenceintherealworldtoday.B)Somethinghasgonewrongwithtoday’ssociety.C)Manypeoplearefondofgunplayandbloodshed.D)Showingviolenceisthoughttobeentertaining.（D）22.Whatistheskeptics(Line3.Para.3)viewofmediaviolence?A)Violenceontelevisionisafairlyaccuratereflectionofreal-worldlife.B)Moststudiesexaggeratetheeffectofmediaviolenceontheviewers.C)Acausalrelationshipexistsbetweenmediaandreal-worldviolence.D)Theinfluenceofmediaviolenceonchildrenhasbeenunderestimated.（B）23.Theauthorusestheterm“alarmists”(Line1.Para.5)torefertothosewho________.A)usestandardizedmeasurementsinthestudiesofmediaviolenceB)initiatedthedebateovertheinfluenceofviolentmediaonrealityC)assertadirectlinkbetweenviolentmediaandaggressivebehaviorD)useappropriatemethodologyinexaminingaggressivebehavior（C）24.Inrefutingthealarmists,theauthoradvanceshisargumentbyfirstchallenging________.A)thesourceandamountoftheirdataB)thetargetsoftheirobservationC)theirsystemofmeasurementD)theirdefinitionofviolence（D）25.Whatdoestheauthorthinkofthedebateconcerningtherelationshipbetweenthemediaandviolence?A)Morestudiesshouldbeconductedbeforeconclusionsaredrawn.B)Itshouldcometoanendsincethematterhasnowbeensettled.C)Thepaststudiesinthisfieldhaveprovedtobemisleading.D)Hemorethanagreeswiththeviewsheldbythealarmists.（A）PassageTwoQuestions26to30arebasedonthefollowingpassage.You’reintroubleifyouhavetobuyyourownbrand-nameprescriptiondrugs.Overthepastdecade,pricesleapedbymorethandoubletheinflationrate.Treatmentsforchronicconditionscaneasilytop$2,000amonth-nowonderthatoneinfourAmericanscan’saffordtofilltheirprescriptions.Thesolution?Aheartychorusof“OCanada.”Northoftheborder,wherepricecontrolsreign,thosesamebrand-namedrugscost50%to80%less.TheCanadianoptionisfastbecomingapoliticalwake-upcall,“Ifourneighborscanbuydrugsatreasonableprices,whycan’twe?Eventowhisperthatthoughtprovokesanger.“Un-American!”And-thepropagandists’trumpcard(王牌)—“Wreckourbrillianthealth-caresystem.”Supersizedrugprices,theyclaim,fundtheresearchthatsparksthenextgenerationofwonderdrugs.Nosky-highdrugpricetoday,nocureforcancertomorrow.Soshutupandpayup.Commonsensetellsyouthat’safalsealternative.Therewardforfinding,say,acancercureissohugethatnoone’sgoingtohangitup.Nevertheless,ifCanada-levelpricingcametotheUnitedStates,theindustry’sprofitmarginswoulddropandthepaceofnew-drugdevelopmentwouldslow.HereliestheAmericandilemma.Whoisallthissplendidmedicinefor?Shouldourhealth-caresystemcontinueitsdrivetowardthebestofthebest,eventhoughrisingnumbersofpatientscan’taffordit?Orshouldwedirectourwealthtowardlettingeveryoneinontoday’slevelofcare?Measuredbysavedlives,thelatterisalmostcertainlythebettercourse.Todefendtheirprofits,thedrugcompanieshavewarnedCanadianwholesalersandpharmacies(药房)nottoselltoAmericansbymail,andarecuttingbacksuppliestothosewhodare.Meanwhile,theadministrationisplayingthefearcard.OfficialsfromtheFoodandDrugAdministrationwillarguethatCanadiandrugsmightbefake,mishandled,orevenapotentialthreattolife.DobaddrugsflyaroundtheInternet?Sure-andthemorewelook,themorewe’llfind,ButIhaven’theardofanyragingepidemicsamongthehundredsofthousandsofpeoplebuyingcrossborder.Mostusersofprescriptiondrugs