历年六级真题听力原文
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超详细历年六级真题听力原文至09年12月
2005年12月
Section A
11. M: The dean just announced that Dr. Holden’s going to take over as Chairman of the History Department.
W: I knew it all along! He’s the obvious choice. All the other candidates are no match for him!
Q: What does the woman mean?
12.W: Hey, let me know how your summer’s going! I’ll miss you guys while I’m here working in the library.
M: I’ll be working, too! But I’ll send you an e-mail or call you once in a while. When we all get back to school, we can have a party or something.
Q: What do we learn about the two speakers?
13.M: The assignment on physics is a real challenge. I don’t think I can finish it on time all by myself.
W: Why don’t we join our efforts together? It may be easier then. Q: What does the woman suggest?
14.M: Jean really lost her temper in Dr. Brown’s class this morning.
W: Oh? Did she? But I think her frankness is really something to be appreciated.
Q: What does the woman mean?
15.W: We heard that when you were a kid, you submitted a story to Reader’s Digest.
M: Well, I don’t remember the story exactly, but my idea of a great time then was a pad of lined paper and a new blue pen. I thought myself as a Reader’s Digest staff member at the age of six.
Q: What do we learn about the man from the conversation?
16.M: Your son certainly shows a lot of enthusiasm on the tennis court.
W: I only wish he’d show as much for his studies.
Q: What does the woman imply about her son?
17.W: We’re supposed to meet John here at the railway station. M: That’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Q: What does that man imply?
18.W: Our school has just built some new apartments near campus, but one bedroom runs for 500 dollars a month.
M: That’s a bit beyond the reach of most students!
Q: What does the man mean? Now you’ll hear the two long conversations.
Conversation One
W:So you are up to some tennis this afternoon or what?
M: Well, to tell you the truth, I’m not feeling so hot today.
W: Come on…How long has it been since we played?
M: A couple of days.
W: A couple of days? Come on. It’s been more than a couple of days.
M: Yeah. I guess you’re right. It’s been almost a week.
W: It’s been exactly a week. And we used to play at least three times this week.
M: I know. Playing right after class was something to look forward to.
W: Yeah. And it was right before dinner. So we built up our appetite.
M: I’ve just been very busy. I guess. And my stomach is bothering me today.
W: But you look ok to me.
M: Well, I was up late with Steve in the library working on a project. We got to do it by tomorrow. We've been working on it all weekend. And I was drinking a lot of coffee. I guess, I just drank
too much.
W: Listen. I took that class last semester. And I could meet you in the library later tonight and help you with it if you want. And then you have time to play tennis this afternoon.
M: Yeah. I guess my stomach doesn’t hurt that bad. And I could certainly use your help. But it’s also….
W: Is there something else bothering you?
M: Well, to be honest.., I’m getting tired…
W: Ok, don’t worry. You may take some time to rest. We will meet for tennis some time later.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
19. What are the students mainly discussing?
20. What does the man think is the reason for his stomach?
21. What does the woman offer to do for the man?
Conversation Two
M: hi, Cathy. I am here because I visited caves all over North America. Since you are going to study cave formations, Dr. Bow asked me to come to share some of my experiences with you.
W: Hi, Bill. So wonderful! I can’t wait to hear about it!
M: Recently, I visited the La Chagire Cave in New Mexico, my dream has always been to discover a new passage way. I had a chance there, because La Chagire is so large that discoveries are frequently made there.
W: Was it newly discovered?
M: The cave was not even discovered until 1986. However, people in that area had figured that there must be a cave nearby, because of the strong wind that blew from behind the huge rock that covered the entrance. Enormous amount of air enter and exit the cave in order to maintain balance of the pressure with the inside air.
W: You must have had to fight heavy wind when you were in the cave.
M: Exactly, I had to fight 45 mile per hour winds. After all that effort, I had to be extremely careful maintaining my energy level.
People who are tired tend to be careless, and may be more concerned about getting out of the cave than taking care of it.
W: Anything interesting or thrilling in the cave?
M: There are formations in La Chagire that look like ocean waves, Christmas trees and other stuff no one has ever seen before.
W: Caves are normally created by carbonic acid, right?
M: But this cave sculpted out by very powerful sulfuric acid that swells up from below.
Questions22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
22. Why was the lecturer especially excited about visiting La
Chagire cave?
23. What did the speaker say about the entrance into the cave?
24. What did the speaker say about the cavers who get tired?
25. What makes the formations of La Chagire so unusual?
Section B
Passage One
I had flown from San Francisco to Virginia to attend a conference
on multiculturalism.
Hundreds of educators from across the country were meeting to discuss the need for greater cultural diversity in the school curriculum. I took a taxi to my hotel. On the way, my driver and I chatted about the weather and the tourists. The driver was a white man in his forties. ―How long have you been in this country?‖ he asked. ―All my life!‖ I replied, ―I was born in the United States.‖ With a strong southern accent, he remarked, ―I was wondering
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because your English is excellent.‖ Then I explained as I had done many times before. ―My grandfather came here from China in the 1880s. My family has been here in America for over a hundred years. ‖ He glanced at me in the mirror. Somehow, I didn’t look American to him. My appearance looked foreign. Questions like the one my taxi driver asked make me feel uncomfortable. But I can understand why he could not see me as an American. He had a narrow but widely shared sense of the past: a history that has viewed Americans as descendants of Europeans. Race has functioned as something necessary to the construction of American character and quality. In the creation of our national identity—American has been defined as white. But America has been racially diverse since our very beginning on the Virginian shore, where the first group of Englishmen and Africans arrived in the 17th century. And this reality is increasingly becoming visible everywhere. Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. What was the theme of the conference the speaker was to attend?
27. Why did the taxi driver ask the speaker how long he had been in the US?
28. What message does the speaker wish to convey?
Passage Two
Laws have been written to govern the use of the American national flag, and to ensure proper respect for the flag. Custom has also governed the common practice in regard to its use. All the armed services have precise regulations on how to display the national flag. This may vary somewhat from the general rules. The national flag should be raised and lowered by hand. Do not raise the flag while it is folded. Unfold the flag first, and then hoist it quickly to the top of the flagpole. Lower it slowly and with dignity. Place no objects on or over the flag. Do not use the flag as part of a costume or athletic uniform. Do not print it upon cushions, handkerchiefs, paper napkins or boxes. A federal law provides that a trademark cannot be registered if it comprises the flag, coat of arms or badges of the United States. When the flag is used in unveiling a statue or monument, it shouldn’t serve as a covering of the object to be unveiled. If it is displayed on such occasions, do not allow the flag to fall to the ground, but let it be carried high up in the air to form a feature of the ceremony. Take every precaution to prevent the flag from becoming soiled. It should not be allowed to touch the ground or floor, nor to brush against objects.
Questions 29 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.
29. How do Americans ensure proper respect for the national flag?
30. What is the regulation regarding the raising of the American national flag?
31. How should the American national flag be displayed at an unveiling ceremony?
32. What do we learn about the use of the American national flag? Passage Three
In some large American city schools, as many as 20-40% of the students are absent each day. There are two major reasons for such absences: one is sickness, and the other is truancy, that is , staying away from school without permission. Since school officials can’t do much about illness, they are concentrating on reducing the number of truants. One of the most promising schemes has been tried in Florida. The pupils there with good attendance have been given free hamburgers, toys and T-shirts. Classes are told that if they show improved rates of attendance, they can win additional gifts. At the same time, teachers are being encouraged to inspire their students to come to school regularly. When those teachers are
successful, they are also rewarded. ―We’ve been punishing truants for years, but that hasn’t brought them back to school, ‖ one school principal said. ―Now we are trying the positive approach. Not only do you learn by showing up every day, but you earn. ‖In San Francisco, the Board of Education has had a somewhat similar idea.
Schools that show a decrease in deliberate destruction of property can r eceive the amount of money that would’ve been spent on repairs and replacements. For example, 12, 000 dollars had been set aside for a school’s property damages every year. Since repair expenses of damaged property required only 4, 000 dollars, the remaini ng 8, 000 dollars was turned over to the Student Activities’ Fund. ―Our democracy operates on hope and encouragement,‖ said
a school board member. ―Why not provide some positive goals for
students and teachers to aim at?‖
Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
33. Which reason for students’ absences is discussed in great
detail?
34. Who will benefit from the scheme being tried in Florida?
35. What measure has been taken in San Francisco to reduce
destruction of school property?
Section C
Natural resources provide a living and shelter for hundreds of millions of people in the developing world. As those life supporting natural resources come under threat so does the personal security of millions who rely on them. Climate change, water shortage and population growth are some of the most powerful and least understood environmental hazards. Using the subjects of water, climate, land, forests and minerals, the exhibition demonstrates not only the ways in which environmental deterioration can lead to conflicts and new security threats, but also how environmental cooperation can contribute to security and stability. The exhibit, assembled by Adelphi Research, focuses on how man-made environmental changes affect both foreign and domestic policy. ―It draws a direct connection between natural resources, poverty and stability in various parts of the world,‖ Adelphi Research Director Alexander Carius explained. In addition, the exhibition displays the link between environment and security in Central Asia, the area of the southern provinces of the former Soviet Union. The exhibition also shows that the sustainable use of natural resources across national borders can contribute to conflict prevention and confidence building. Speakers at the exhibition predict that climate change will alter our lives. Great climate pattern changes will alter available water resources, as well as the availability of usable agricultural land. A number of extreme weather events may render cities and tidal regions uninhabitable, resulting in mass migration.
They believe that the traditional patterns of our lifestyle must change and that we have to accept that we live in a global village dependent on each other. Now the passage will be read again.
2006年06月
Section A
11. M: Mary, could you please tell Thomas to contact me? I was
hoping he be able to help out with the freshman orientation program next week.
W: I would certainly tell him if I saw him, but I haven’t seen him around for quite a few days.
Q: What does the woman mean?
12. M: Susan, I am going to change the light bulb above the dining
room table. Will you hold the ladder for me?
W: No problem. But be careful while you’re up there.
Q: What does the man want the woman to do?
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13. W: It’s freezi ng cold. Let me make some coffee to warm us up. Do you want a piece of pie as well?
M: Coffee sounds great! But I am going to have dinner with some friends in a while, so I’d better skip the pie.
Q: What does the man mean?
14. M: Hello, Mary. This is Paul at the bank. Is Tony home?
W: Not yet, Paul. I don’t think you can reach him at the office now, either. He phoned me five minutes ago to say he was stopping for a haircut on his way home.
Q: Who do you think the woman probably is?
15. W: Oh! Boy! I do n’t understand how you got a ticket today. I always thought you were slow even driving on the less crowded fast lane.
M: I am usually careful, but this time I thought I could get through the intersection before the light turned.
Q: What do we learn about the man?
16. M: I’m afraid there won’t be time to do another tooth today. Make sure you don’t eat anything like steaks for the next few hours and we will fill the other cavity tomorrow.
W: All right. Actually I must hurry to the library to return some books.
Q: Where does the conversation most probably take place?
17. W: I am worried about Jenny going to college. College students are so wild nowadays.
M: Actually only a few are like that. Most students are too busy studying to have time to cause trouble.
Q: What does the man imply?
18. W: You didn’t seem terribly enthusiastic about the performance. M: You must be kidding. I couldn’t have clapped any harder. My hands are still hurting.
Q: What does the man think of the performance?
Conversation One
M: Excuse me, Prof. Thomson. I know your office hours are tomorrow, but I was wondering if you have a few minutes free now to discuss something.
W: Sure, John. What do you want to talk about?
M: Well, I have some quick problems about how to write the research project that I do this semester about Climate Changes. W: Oh, yes. You were looking for changes in climate in the G city area, right? How far have you been gotten?
M: I’ve gotten my data, so I’m starting to summarize it now, preparing graph and s tuff. But I’m just…I’m looking at it and I’m afraid that is not enough, but I’m not sure what else to put into the report.
W: I hear the same thing from every student. You know, you have to remember now that you are the expert on what you have done. So th ink about what you need to include if you’re going to explain your research project to someone with general or casual knowledge about the subject like your parents. That’s usually my rule… Would my parents understand this?
M: Uhh, I get it. I was wondering if I should also include the notes from the research journals you suggest.
W: Yes, definitely. Be sure you include good reference section where all your published and unpublished data came from.
M: Yes. … I have data more than just in the G city area, so I also include regional data in the report. With everything else, it should be a pretty good indication of climate of this part of the state.
W: Sounds good. I’ll be happy to look over a draft before you hand the final copy if you wish.
M: Great. I plan to get you the draft of the paper by next Friday.
Thanks very much. See you.
W: Ok.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
19. What did the student want to talk with the professor?
20. What is the professor’s suggestion to the student?
21. What will probably happen next?
Conversation Two
M: I’d like to share with you today my experience with a new approach to building a house. It’s called Envelop Building.
W: Hmm, it sounds interesting. Please share with us. What does it mean?
M: Essentially, what it means is that as you are building a house, you try to leave the landscape feature on the land, especially the vegetation in the original condition. So what you are not doing is the usual practice of land-scraping. By which I mean literally scraping or cleaning the land of any and all the original plants.
W: Why is the approach called Envelop Building?
M: Good question! Because instead of clearing everything away, you let your original landscape elements envelop or surround your house. Let the vegetation physical features such as hills and slopes or interesting rock formations, constitute a significant part of the character of the building site. The design of the house should take these features of the land into account.
W: Any more information about Envelop Building? It is a recent technology?
M: Actually integrating your original wild landscape with a house is not that new. The famous American architect Wright was doing it about 65 years ago. Envelop Building is not as easy as it sounds though. It’s not just that you build your house and leave the land alone. By building, you are already damaging the original landscape. But as architects, we should try to work with environment, not against it. A creative architect can find ways to incorporate natural landscape into the overall design.
W: I guess this technology will be acknowledged by more architects.
Questions22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
22. According to the professor, what does the term ―land scaping‖
refer to?
23. In Envelop Building, what is done with the landscape features
of a building site?
24. Why does the professor mention the architect Wright?
25. What suggestion did the professor give to architects?
Section B
Passage One
Born and raised in central Ohio, I am a country girl through and through. I am currently studying to become a physical therapist, a career path that marks a greater achievement for me. At the Ohio State University, admission into the physical therapy program is intensively competitive. I made it pass the first cut the first year I applied, but was turned down for admission. I was crushed because for years I have been determined to become a physical therapist. I received the advice from friends and relatives about changing my major and finding another course for my life. I just couldn’t do it. I knew I could not be as happy in another profession. So I stilled myself, began to work seriously for another year and reapplied.
Happily I received notice of my admission. Later I found out that less than 15% of the applicants had been offered positions that year.
Now, in the first two years’ professional training, I could not be
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happier with my decision not to give up all my dream. My father told me that if I wanted it badly enough, I would get in. Well, daddy, I wanted it, so there. After graduation, I would like to travel to another country, possibly a Latin-American country and work in a children’s hospital for a year or two. So many of children there are physically handicap ped, but most hospitals don’t have the funding to hire a trained staff to care for them properly. I would like to change that somehow.
Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.
26. What is the speaker’s field of study?
27. According to the speaker, what contributed to her admission to Ohio State University?
28. Why does the speaker want to go to a Latin-American country? Passage Two
Gabriela Mistral was once an ordinary teacher in a small village school in Northern Chile. Towering mountains separated her village from the world outside. Gabriela Mistral was only fifteen when she began teaching, but she was a good teacher. She helped the minds of her students scale the mountain walls and reached out to the world beyond. For eighteen years, Gabriela devoted her life to the poor farm children of Chile’s northern valleys. During part of this time, she was director of schools in all of the Chile. Before long, many countries recognized her as a great friend of children and a leader in education. In 1922, she was invited to Mexico to help organize the Rural School System. Two years later, Gabriela Mistral came to the United States where she served as a visiting professor in several colleges. In New York City, a group of teachers helped to finance the publication of her first book of poetry. Some of her books have been translated into six different languages. She gave the income from some of her books to help poor and neglected children. Beginning in the 1920s, her interests reached out to broader fields. Statesmen asked her advice on international problems. She tried to break through the national barriers that hindered the exchange of ideas among the Spanish-speaking people of South America. She tried to develop a better understanding between the United States and countries of Latin America. In 1945, she gained worldwide recognition by winning the Nobel Prize in literature, the first South American to win the prize.
Questions 29 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.
29. Where did Gabriela Mistral start her teaching career?
30. How did Gabriela Mistral help the poor children of her hometown?
31. Why did many countries think highly of Gabriela Mistral?
32. How did Gabriela Mistral become famous all over the world? Passage Three
Over time animals have developed many ways to stay away from predators. A predator is an animal that hunts and eats other animals. Hiding is one of the best ways to stay alive. Some animals hide by looking like the places where they live. To see how this works, le t’s look at the sea dragon. It is a master of disguise. The sea dragon is covered with skin that looks like leaves. The skin helps the dragon look like a piece of seaweed. A hungry meat-eater would stay away from anything that looks like seaweed. Other animals stay safe by showing their colors. They want other animals to see them. Scientists call these bright colors warning colors. You have probably seen animals that have warning colors. Some grasshoppers show off their own bright colors. Those colors don’t just look attractive. They tell the enemies to stay away. Of course, hungry predators sometimes ignore the warning. They still go after the grasshopper. If that happens, the grasshopper has a backup of defense. It makes lots of foam. The foam tastes so bad that the predator won’t do it again. Color doesn’t offer enough protection for some other animals. They have different defenses that help them survive in the wild. Many fish live in groups or schools. That’s because there is safety in numbers. At the fir st sign of trouble, schooling fish swim as close together as they can get. Then the school of fish makes lots of twists and turns. All that movement makes it hard for predators to see individuals in a large group. Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
33. What is the speaker mainly talking about?
34. What protects the sea dragon from a meat-eater’s attack?
35. According to the passage, why do many fish stay in groups? Section C
For some educators, there is nothing wrong with fun and games. A group called the Education Arcade recently held a conference in Los Angeles to discuss the future of educational games, and it brings together international game designers, publishers, teachers and policymakers. The Education Arcade commenced at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, near Boston. Professors cooperated with the Microsoft Company to create what they called the Games-to-Teach Project. The group began to explore techniques to use technology in teaching and learning. They worked with game designers to develop ideas about how mathematics and science could associate with game playing. The group recently announced that a ―Games for Learning‖ statement will be placed on some products. The goal is to help people find games that are recreational but will also teach. The Entertainment Software Association says approximately fifty percent of all Americans at age six and older play computer and video games. Sales of such games in the United States grew eight percent last year, to seven-thousand-million dollars. Experts say developing a successful computer game can take millions of dollars and years of work. They say many companies are not willing to invest that much money and time in educational games when other kinds sell better. Still, companies have been creating systems like hand-held educational devices made by LeapFrog. And new educational role-playing games are being developed on the basis of the results from recent surveys and related research. For example, M.I.T. is developing a game so that players will get to experience the American Revolution online.
2006年06月23日
Section A
11. W: Do you know why Mary has such a long face today?
M: I don’t have the foggiest idea! She should be happy especially since she got a promotion yesterday.
Q: What did the speakers mean?
12. M: Hi, Donna! Are you interested in going to an art exhibition on Sunday? A friend of mine is showing some of her paintings there. It’s the opening night. Free drinks and food!.
W: Well, actually, I don’t have anything planned. It sounds kind of fun!
Q: What did the man invite the woman to do on Sunday?
13. M: You did an excellent job in school! You were indeed a great student! Where did your drive come from?
W: Academic achievements were important to my parents as immigrants. Education is where it all begins. My mother in particular tries to get me interested in school.
Q: What do we learn about the woman from the conversation? 14. M: I hear the Sunflower Health Club on Third Street is good! W: Not right now! I used to go there. I thought it was great because
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it was real cheap. But the problem was it was always crowded. Sometimes, I had to wait to use the machines.
Q: What does the woman say about the Sunflower Health Club? 15. W: Tom is very excited! Just yesterday he received his doctoral degree and in a few minutes he’ll be putting the ring on Sarah’s finger
M: He’s really such a lucky dog! Sarah is a lovely bride and tonight they are going to Hawaii on their honeymoon!
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
16. W: Your wife told me that you eat out four or five times a week,
I really envy you!
M: Don’t envy me! It’s for business. In fact, I’m sick and tired of restaurant food! Sometimes, I just prefer a home-cooked meal.
Q: Why does the man say he often eats out?
17. W: I was amazed when I heard Tony play the piano so expertly! From the way he talked, I thought he was just starting his lessons M: Oh, no! That’s the way he always talks!
Q: What can we infer about Tony from the conversation?
18. M: I’m terribly sorry, ma’am, but your flight has been cancelled.
I won’t be able to put you on another one until tomorrow morning. W: Well, I certainly hope the airline is going to put me up somewhere tonight.
Q: What did the woman request the airline do?
Conversation One
M: Hi, Hellen, How are you doing?
W: Pretty good. Thanks. Have you helped me look at my graduate school application, and the statement of purpose I wrote?
M: Well, yeah. Basically it’s good. What you might actually do is to take some of the different points here and actually break them out into separate paragraphs, like your purpose for applying for graduate study, specialty, and why do you want to do the area you specify, what you want to do with your degree when you get it. W: Ok, right.
M: So you may expand on each point. Expand some more on what’s happened in your life and what shows your motivation and interest in this area?—geology.
W: Ok, so make it a little more personal? That’s ok?
M: That’s fine. They look for that stuff. It’s critical that somebody see what your passion is and your personal motivation for doing this. You might give a little more explanation about your unique undergraduate background, like the music program. What you got from that and why you decided to change. I mean it is kind of unusual to go from music to geology. Right?
W: Yeah. I was, I was afraid of that, you know, maybe the personal type stuff wouldn’t be what they want. But…
M: You know, I think probably your music background is the most unique thing that you get your records.
W: Right.
M: So you see, you get to make yourself stand out from a couple of a hundred of applications. Does that help any?
W: Yeah, it does. It gives me some good ideas.
M: Also, think about presentation. I mean the presentation formats, your grammar, and all that stuff they are looking at in your materials at the same time.
W: Right. Ok.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard
19. What did the woman ask the man to do?
20. What was the woman’s major as an undergraduate student?
21. What was the last suggestion given by the man? Conversation Two
.
W: This evening, the guest speaker with us is Dr. Bush. He’s going to talk about copyrighting works of art.
M: Well, a copyright is a proof of authorship. It protects artists against someone else using their work without their permission. W: So, all artists’ works will be protected by copyright law?
M: It’s important to remember that United States Copyright Law protects artistic expressions such as paintings, but does not protect any ideas, concepts, procedures or techniques.
W: How can artists obtain copyright protection?
M: The law has changed in 1978 and again in 1989. For artists the current law means everything they create is automatically and immediately copyrighted. They don’t have to file any documents and under the protection of the Copyright Law, any recreations of their original work such as prints are also covered by the artist’s copyright. Further more, any changes artists made to their original works are covered. The Law also makes it clear that when someone buys the work of art, they are not allowed to destroy or change that work of art.
W: What if the work was sold to a new owner?
M: Artists keep the copyright even after selling the work of art. The purchaser may buy the physical work, but the right to make prints or copies is still the artists’and the buyer does not automatically have any right to make and sell prints or copies of work.
W: Do you have any suggestions to our artist in this area?
M: Although works are automatically copyrighted, artists are encouraged to register their work with United States Copyright Office. Registering art provides additional legal protection and also gives the people around the world the ability to approach the honors about licensing and purchasing right.
Questions22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
22. What is the talk mainly about?
23. What does the professor say about American Copyright Law?
24. When does the Artist Copyright start?
25. What does American Copyright Law state about a work of art that is sold?
Section B
Passage One
You have probably heard of the DuPont company, which was founded by a family of the same name. But do you know about the museum that one of the family members began? Henry Francis du Pont was an heir to Delaware’s DuPont Company fortune. He was one of the first serious collectors of American decorative art objects—furniture, textiles, paintings and other objects made in the United States between 1640 and 1840. American furniture and household objects had been considered inferior to those from Europe. But du Pont helped develop a new appreciation of American decorative arts. He created a legendary show plays for these objects on his family estate just outside Wilmington, Delaware. In 1951, it was open to the public as the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum. The museum assembled objects from du Pont’s collection into 175 period rooms, each with examples of American antiques and decorative arts that followed a certain theme or period in early American history. For example, the DuPont dining room has furniture dating from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. And because this was the time when the United States became a new nation, there’s a patriotic theme in the room. Another example is the Chinese parlor, which has
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furnishings that would reflect American’s fa scination with Asian culture during the 18th century. In these period rooms, du Pont believed he could tell the story of the early United States through furniture and other decorative arts.
Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.
26. What is Henry Francis du Pont noted for?
27. What was the purpose of du Pont’s efforts?
28. How were the objects on display arranged?
Passage Two
According to David Grattle, a British language expert, the idea that English will become the world language is outdated. And people are more likely to switch between two or more languages for routine communication in the future. The share of the world’s population that speaks English as a native language is falling. Instead, English will play a growing role as a second language. A population speaking more than one language is already the case in much of the world and is becoming more common in the United States. Indeed, the census bureau reported last year that nearly one American in five speaks a language other than English at home, with Spanish taking the lead, followed by Chinese. Grattle works for British consulting and publishing business. He anticipates a world with the share of people who are native English speakers slips from 9% in the mid 1990s to 5% in 2050. Grattle says, ―Up until 1995, English was the second most common native tongue in the world, trailing only Chinese. By 2050, Chinese will continue its predominance with Hindi Woodoo of India and Arabic climbing past English and Spanish nearly equal t o it.‖ In contrast, an American language expert, David Harrison noted that the global share of English is much larger if you count second language speakers, and will continue to rise even as the proportion of native speakers declines. Harrison disputed listing Arabic in the top three languages because varieties of Arabic spoken in such countries as Egypt and Morocco are mutually incomprehensible.
Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard. 29. What does David Grattle say about the use of languages for daily communication in the future?
30. Why doesn’t David Harrison include Arabic as one of the top three languages?
31. What can we infer from the passage?
Passage Three
There are about 1 million blind people in the United States. The largest and most influential organization of blind people in this country is the National Federation of the Blind. Its officials say the nation doesn’t have any colleges or universities that serve only blind students. They say the reason for this is that blind people must learn to live among people who can see. American colleges and universities do accept blind and visually impaired students, and they provide services to help these students succeed. For example, colleges find people who write down what the professor say in class and they provide technology that can help blind students with their work. However, experts say colleges can best help blind students by making it clear that the students should learn to help themselves. One blind American student named Timcordez recently made news because he graduated from medical school at the University of Wisconsin. He said technology was one of the reasons he succeeded. He used a computer that read into his earphone what he was typing. He also used a small printer that permitted him to write notes about his patients in the hospital. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. National Federation of the Blind officials say
blind students from other nations do come to the United States to attend college. Some can even get financial aid. The Federation awards about 30 scholarships each year that have no citizenship requirement.
Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
32. According to officials of the National Federation of the Blind,
why are there no special colleges for blind students only?
33. According to experts, how can colleges best help blind
students?
34. What is one of the reasons given by Timcodez , a blind student ,
for his success?
35. What can blind students from overseas do to study in America
according to the National Federation of the Blind?
Section C
People could eat more cocoa-rich products such as dark chocolate but not drink tea if they want to lower their blood pressure, German researchers reported Monday. A team of researchers from the University Hospital of Cologne analyzed data from previous studies that looked at the benefits of tea and cocoa. They found eating foods affluent in cocoa resulted in lower blood pressure levels. Their report consisted of exactly 10 studies on cocoa with a total of 173 participants, a third of whom had high blood pressure and were followed for a two-week period, and five tea studies with 343 people for a four-week period. The fall in blood pressure credited to cocoa could be expected to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks by 10-20 percent, the report said. The benefits are believed to come from certain compounds, explained Dr. Dirk Taubert, a leading author of the report. While tea and cocoa are both rich in such compounds, cocoa contains more of the type. This suggests that different kinds of plant compounds may make contributions to lowering blood pressure in different ways.
Compared to cocoa compounds, tea compounds appear to be less effective. However, the researchers cautioned that while their findings should not be taken as a widespread recommendation for higher cocoa intake to decrease blood pressure, it appears reasonable that cocoa products could be substituted for other high calorie and high fat desserts. Drug treatment is the basis of blood pressure control, Taubert said, and it should always be accompanied by lifestyle measures such as exercise and proper diet.
2006年12月24日
Section A
11.M: I need to find a dentist, you said you know Dr. Smith well,
do you recommend her?
W: Well, I had to see her a few times, but what impressed me most were the magazines in her waiting room.
Q: What does the woman imply?
12.W: I’m afraid I can’t show you the apartment at the moment,
because the tenant is still living in it. It’s really a lovely place with
a big kitchen and a sunny window, for only $200 a month.
M: Sounds good, but we really can’t rent an apartment without seeing it first.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
13.M: So, that’s what’s been ke eping you so busy recently!
W: Yes, I’ve been tied up with my studies. You know I’m planning to go to the United States this coming summer, but I’m a bit nervous about my English.
Q: What is the woman busy doing?
14.W: How did you feel when you found out you had high blood
pressure?
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M: Shocked! The problem for me was that there were no symptoms; it seemed to have sneaked up on me.
Q: What does the man mean?
15.W: So, you’re just back from a trip to India. What were you doing there?
M: The trip was intended to bring to the world’s attention the fact that AIDS is not just an African disease; it’s also endangering other countries, notably, India and Thailand.
Q: What was the purpose of the man’s trip to India?
16.M: It’s quite clear for my visit, this is a full size, comprehensive university. So why is it still called a college?
W: The College of William and Mary is the second oldest institution of higher learning in this country. We have nurtured great minds like Thomas Jefferson and we are proud of our name. Q: What do we learn from this conversation about the College of William and Mary?
17.M: Have the parts we need for the photo copying machine arrived yet?
W: I ordered them last week, but something is holding them up. Q: What does the woman say about the parts needed for the photo copying machine?
18.W: The cafeteria provided many kinds of dishes for us today. Did you notice that?
M: Yes, kind of rare, isn’t it?
Q: What does the man imply?
Conversation One
W: Hello, Patrick, is that you?
M: Yeah Jane, what can I do for you?
W: I was calling about the apple tree that you were trimming yesterday.
M: That was hard work!
W: I’m sure it was. It true looked difficult.
M: Yeah, I’m glad it’s finished. Hauling the branches to the front for garbage pick-up was no fun either.
W: Well, I don’t think you’re quite finished yet, some of the larger branches fell over into my yard, and I think you should come and get them.
M: Listen Jane, I don’t see why I should do that. You’ve eaten all the apples that fall in your yard and you’ve never complained about that before.
W: Well, it’s easier to pick up apples than to drag tree branches all the way to the curb. My kids pick up the apples, and the branches are just too big for them to drag.
M: Well, I guess you’ll just have to do it yourself Jane.
W: Patrick, I wish you would reconsider. We’ve always gotten along fairly well, but I think you’re out of line here. The branches are your responsibility.
M: Sorry Jane, I disagree! You take the benefits of the apple tree, but refuse to dea l with the bad side of it! Besides, it won’t take you any time to get the branches out front!
W: Get the branches off my property or I’ll have to sue you.
M: Yeah? For what?! You’re taking those law classes too seriously! I’ve gotta go, I have to pick up m y son.
W: You’ll be hearing from me.
M: Yeah, yeah. See you in court Jane.
Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
19. What did the man do yesterday?
20. What did the woman ask the man to do?
21. What did the woman threaten to do? 22. What was the man’s reaction to the woman’s threat? Conversation Two
M: Did you hear about the air crash that occurred in South America recently? It was quite a tragic accident!
W: No, I didn’t see anything in the news about it. What happened? M: A foreign airliner was attempting to land at night in a mountainous area of Argentina and flew into a hill!
W: That sounds really terrible! Did anyone survive?
M: No, everyone aboard, including the crew, was killed instantly. W: What were the circumstances? Was there bad weather, a fire, or engine failure?
M: Apparently, there were some low clouds in the area, but mostly it was just miscommunication between the pilots and the air traffic controllers.
W: Weren’t they both speaking in English, the official int ernational aviation language?
M: Yes, they were. But the transmission from poor quality radios was slightly distorted and the accents of the Spanish speaking controllers were so strong that the pilots misunderstood a vital instruction.
W: How could a misunderstanding like that caused such a serious accident?
M: The pilots were told to descend to two-two thousand feet. The instruction actually meant 22,000 feet, but they thought they heard descend to 2,000 feet. That’s a huge difference, and it should have been confirmed, but it was not. Unfortunately, the terrain of the mountains in Norweija extends up 20,000 feet.
W: So the pilots did descend to the wrong altitude then, thinking they were following the air controllers'instructions.
M: Sadly enough, yes they did. It was a really bad mistake. Many people died as a result of the simple misunderstanding.
W: Wow, that’s a powerful lesson on how important it can be to accurately communicate to each other.
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
23. What was the cause of the tragedy?
24. How high are the mountains in Norweija?
25. What lesson could be drawn from the accident?
Section B
Passage One
Edgar Allen Poe, an American writer, was born in 1809. His parents were actors. Edgar was a baby when his father left the family. He was two years old when his mother died. He was taken into the home of a wealthy businessman named John Allen. He then received his new name, Edgar Allen Poe. As a young man, Poe attended the University of Virginia. He was a good student, but he liked to drink alcohol and play card games for money. As an unskilled game player, he often lost money. Since he couldn’t pay off his gambling debt, he left university and began working for magazines. He worked hard, yet he was not well paid, or well known. At the age of 27, he got married. For a time it seemed that Poe would find some happiness, but his wife was sick for most of their marriage, and died in 1847. Through all his crises, Poe produced many stories and poems which appeared in different publications, yet he didn’t become famous until 1845, when his poem, The Raven, was published. There is a question, however, about Poe’s importance in American Literature. Some critics say Poe was one of America’s best writers, and even had a great influence on many French writers, but others disagree. They say Poe’s work is difficult to understand and most of his writing
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describes many unpleasant situations and events. Edgar Allen Poe died in 1849 when he was 40 years old. It is said that he was found dead after days of heavy drinking.
Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. What happened to Edgar Allen Poe’s family, when he was only two years old?
27. Why did Edgar Allen Poe leave the University of Virginia?
28. What do some critics say about Edgar Allen Poe?
29. How did Edgar Allen Poe’s life come to an end?
Passage Two
More than fifty years ago, the United Nations declared that literacy is a basic human right. It’s very important for improving the live s of individuals, however, it is estimated that 880 million adults around the world are illiterate, that is, they are unable to read or write. A majority of them are women. More than 110 million school age children in the world do not attend school. Many others complete school or fail to finish their studies without learning to read or write. Many countries depend on the efforts of people who offer their time to help illiterate individuals. For example, John Mogger became concerned about the problem of illiteracy three years ago, so he started teaching five prisoners in Brazil. In his teaching, he developed a system with this group of prisoners. He says his way of teaching can help anyone learn how to read and write with about thirty hours of study. To learn his system, people must first know how to write letters of the alphabet and learn which sounds they represent. The system divides letters into three groups. The first group of letters can be written between two lines. The second can be written between two lines but part of the letters is above the top line. The third group has letters that are partly written below the lower line. John Mogger taught his students to write simple words from the letters, in this way, his students learned more than 700 words. Many of them can now write to family members. They also can read newspapers and magazines. Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard. 30. According to the speaker, which group of people makes up of the majority of the illiterate population?
31. What is the most important feature of John Mogger’s method of teaching the alphabet?
32. What does John Mogger say about his teaching method? Passage Three
Farmers usually use ploughs to prepare their fields for planting crops. Plows cut into the ground, and lift up weeds and other unwanted plants. However, plowing is blamed for causing severe damage to topsoil by removing the plants that protect soil from being blown or washed away. Many farmers in South Asia are now trying a process called Low Till Farming. Low Till Farming limits the use of ploughs. In this method of farming seeds and fertilizer are put into the soil through a small cut made in the surface of the ground. Low Till Agriculture leaves much or all of the soil and remains of plants on the ground. They serve as a natural fertilizer and help support the roots of future crops. They take in rain and allow it to flow into the soil instead of running off. It has been proved that Low Till Farming increases harvests and reduces water use, and this method reduces the need for chemical products because there are fewer unwanted plants. Scientists say Low Till Farming is becoming popular in South Asia, which is facing a severe water shortage. They say the area will become dependent on imported food unless water is saved through methods like Low Till Farming. Currently, more than 150 million people in South Asia depend on local rice and wheat crops. Farmers grow rice during
wet weather. During the dry season they grow wheat in the same fields. Farmers are using the Low Till method to plant wheat after harvesting rice. Scientists say Low Till Agriculture is one of the best examples in the world of technologies working for both people, and the environment.
Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
33. What is the main problem caused by the usual way of plowing?
34. What does the speaker say about Low Till Farming?
35. Where is Low Till Farming becoming popular?
Section C
Adults are getting smarter about how smart babies are. Not long ago, researchers learned that 4-day-olds could understand addition and subtraction. Now, British research psychologist Graham Schafer has discovered that infants can learn words for uncommon things long before they can speak. He found that 9-month-old infants could be taught, through repeated show-and-tell, to recognize the names of objects that were foreign to them, a result that challenges in some ways the received wisdom that, apart from learning to identify things common to their daily lives, children don’t begin to build vocabulary until well into their second year.
―It’s no secret that children learn words, but the words they tend to know are words linked to specific situations in the home, ‖explains Schafer. ―This is the first demonstration that w e can choose what words the children will learn and that they can respond to them with an unfamiliar voice giving instructions in an unfamiliar setting.‖ Figuring out how humans acquire language may shed light on why some children learn to read and write later than others, Schafer says, and could lead to better treatments for developmental problems. What’s more, the study of language acquisition offers direct insight into how humans learn. ―Language is a test case for human cognitive development,‖ says Scha fer. But parents eager to teach their infants should take note:even without being taught new words a control group caught up with the other infants within a few months. ―This is not about advancing development,‖ he says. ―It’s just about what children can do at an earlier age than what educators have often thought.‖
2007年06月
Section A
11. W: Jim, you are on the net again! When are you going to get off?
It’s time for the talk show.
M: Just a minute dear! I’m looking at a new jewelry site. I want to make sur e I get the right gift for mom’s birthday.
Q: What is the man doing right now?
12. W: I have never seen you have such confidence before in the
exam!
M: It’s more than confidence! Right now I feel that if I get less than an A, it will be the fault of the exam itself.
Q: What does the man mean?
13. W: Just look at this newspaper! Nothing but murder, death and
war! Do you still believe people are basically good?
M: Of course, I do! But newspapers hardly ever report stories about peace and generosity. They are not news!
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
14. M: Tom must be joking when he said he plans to sell his shop
and go to medical school.
W: You are quite right! He’s just kidding! He’s also told me time and time again he wished to study for some profession instead of going into business.
Q: What will Tom probably do according to the conversation?
15. W: I hear your boss has a real good impression of you, and he is
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thinking about giving you two more days off each month.
M: I hope not. I’d rather get more work hours , so I can get enough bucks to help out my two kids at college.
Q: What does the man truly want?
16. M: I heard you took a trip to Mexico last month. How did you like it?
W: Oh, I got sick and tired of the hotels and hotel food! So now I un derstand the thing: East, west, home’s best!
Q: What does the woman mean?
17. W: I’m worried about Anna. She’s really been depressed lately. All she does is staying in her room all day.
M: That sounds serious! She’d better see a psychiatrist at the counseling center.
Q: What does the man suggest Anna do?
18. M: I could hardly recognize Sam after he got that new job! He’s always in a suit and tie now.
W: Yeah. He was never liked that in college. Back then, he went around in old T-shirts and jeans.
Q: What do the speakers say about Sam?
Conversation One
M: Hi, Ann! Welcome back! How was your trip to the States?
W: Very busy. I had a lot of meetings, so, of course, I didn’t have much time to see New York.
M: What a pity! Actually, I have a trip there myself next week. W: Do you? Then take my advice, do the well-being in the air program. It really works.
M: Oh, I read about that in a magazine. You say it works?
W: Yes, I did the program on the flight to the States, and when I arrived in New York, I didn’t have an y problem, no jet lag at all. On the way back, I didn’t do it, and I felt terrible.
M: You’re joking!
W: Not at all, it really made a lot of difference.
M: En. So what did you do?
W: Well, I didn’t drink any alcohol or coffee, and I didn’t eat any meat or rich food. I drink a lot of water, and free juice, and I ate the meals on the well-being menu. They’re lighter. They have fish, vegetables, and noodles, for example, and I did some of the exercises in the program.
M: Exercises? On a plane?
W: Yes. I didn’t do many, of course, there isn’t much space on a plane.
M: How many passengers do the exercises?
W: Not many.
M: Then how much champagne did they drink?
W: A lot! It was more popular than mineral water.
M: So, basically, it's a choice. Mineral water and exercises, or champagne and jet lag.
W: That’s right! It’s a difficult choice.
Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
19. Why did the woman go to New York?
20. What does the woman say about the well-being in the air program?
21. What did the woman do to follow the well-being menu?
22. What did the woman say about other passengers? Conversation Two
W: Morning. Can I help you?
M: Well, I’ m not really sure. I' m just looking.
W: I see. Well, there’s plenty to look at it again this year. I’m sure you have to walk miles to see each stand.
M: That’s true.
W: Er..., would you like a coffee? Come and sit down for a minute, no obligation.
M: Well, that’s very kind of you, but…
W: Now, please. Is this the first year you’ve been to the fai r, Mr...
M: Yes, Johnson, James Johnson.
W: My name's Susan Carter. Are you looking for anything in particular, or are you just interested in computers in general?
M: Well, actually, I have some specific jobs in mind. I own a small company, we’ve grown qu ite dramatically over the past 12 months, and we really need some technological help to enable us to keep on top of everything.
W: What’s your line of business, Mr. Johnson?
M: We’re a training consultancy.
W: I see. And what do you need ―to keep on top‖?
M: The first thing is correspondence. We have a lot of standard letters and forms. So I suppose we need some kind of word processor.
W: Right. Well, that’s no problem. But it may be possible for you to get a system that does a lot of other things in addition to word processing. What might suit you is the MR5000. That’s it over there! It’s IBM compatible.
M: What about the price?
W: Well, the MR5000 costs 1,050 pounds. Software comes free with the hardware.
M: Well, I’ll think about it. Thank you.
W: Here’s my card. Please feel free to contact me.
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
23. Where did the conversation take place?
24. What are the speakers talking about?
25. What is the man’s line of business?
Section B
Passage One
The new year always brings with the cultural tradition of new possibilities. We see it as a chance for renewal. We begin to dream of new possible selves. We design our ideal self or an image that is quite different from what we are now. For some of us, we roll at dreamy film in our heads just because it’s the beginning of a new year. But we aren’t serious about making changes. We just make some half-hearted resolution and it evaporates after a week or two.
The experience makes us feel less successful and leads us to discount our ability to change in the future. It’s not the changes impossible but that it won’t last unless our resolutions are supported with plans for implementation. We have to make our intentions manageable by detailing the specific steps that will carry us to our goal. Say your goal is to lose weight by dieting and cutting off sweets. But one night you just have to have a cookie.
And you know there’s a bag of your favorites in the cupboard. You want one, you eat two, you check the bag and fi nd out you’ve just shot 132 calories. You say to yourself, ―What the hell!‖ and polish off the whole bag. Then you begin to draw all kinds of unpleasant conclusions about yourself. To protect your sense of self, you begin to discount the goal. You may think –"Well, dieting wasn’t that important to me and I won’t make it anyhow.‖ So you abandon the goal and return to your bad habits.
Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.
26. What do people usually wish to do at the beginning of a new
year?
27. How can people turn their new year’s resolutions into reality?
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超详细历年六级真题听力原文至09年12月
28. Why does the speaker mention the example of sweets and cookies?
Passage Two
25 years ago, Ray Anderson, a single parent with a one-year-old son witnessed a terrible accident which took place when the driver of a truck ran a red light and collided with the car of Sandra D. The impact of the collision killed Sandra instantly. But her three-month-old daughter was left trapped in the burning car. While others looked on in horror, Andersen jumped out of his vehicle and crawled into the car through the shadowed rear window to try to free the infant. Seconds later, the car was enclosed in flames. But to everyone’s amazement, Andersen was able to pull the baby to safety. While the baby was all right, Andersen was seriously injured. Two days later he died. But his heroic act was published widely in the media. His son was soon adopted by relatives. The most remarkable part of the story unfolded only last week. Karen and her boyfriend Michael were looking through some old boxes When they came across some old newspaper clippings. ―This is me when I was a new born baby. I was rescued from a burning car. But my mother died in the accident,‖ explained Karen. Although Michael knew Karen’s mother had died years earlier, he never fully understood the circumstances until he skimmed over the newspaper article. To Karen’s surprise, Michael was absorbed in the details of the accident. And he began to cry uncontrollably. Then he revealed that the man that pulled Karen from the flames was the father he never knew. The two embraced and shed many tears, recounting stories told to them about their parents.
Questions29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.
29. What happened twenty-five years ago?
30. What does the speaker say about Michael’s father?
31. Why did Michael cry uncontrollably when he skimmed over the newspaper article?
Passage Three
Americans suffer from an overdose of work. Regardless of who they are or what they do. Americans spend more time at work than that any time since World War II. In 1950,the US had fewer working hours than any other industrialized country. Today, it exceeds every country but Japan where industrial employees load 2155 hours a year compared with 1951 in the US and 1603 in the former West Germany. Between 1969 and 1989, employed Americans add an average of 138 hours to their yearly work schedules. The workweek has remained above 40 hours. But people are working more weeks each year. Specifically pay time off holidays, vacations, sick leave shrank by 50% in the 1980s. As corporations have experienced stiff competitions and slow in growth of productivity, they have pressed employees to work longer. Cost-cutting lay-offs in the 1980s reduce the professional and managerial runs, leaving fewer people to get the job done. In lower paid occupations where wages have been reduced, workers have added hours in overtime or extra jobs to preserve their living standard. The government estimates that more than 7 million people hold a second job. For the first time, large numbers of people say they want to cut back on working hours even it means earning less money. But most employers are unwilling to let them do so. The government which has stepped back from its traditional role as a regulator of work time should take steps to make shorter hours possible.
Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. 32. In which country do industrial employees work the longest hours? 33. How do employed Americans manage to work more hours?
34. Why do corporations press their employees to work longer hours according to the speaker?
35. What does the speaker say many Americans prefer to do? Section C
Nursing, as a typically female profession, must deal constantly with the false impression that nurses are there to wait on the physician. As nurses, we are licensed to provide nursing care only. We do not have any legal or moral obligation to any physician. We provide health teaching, assess physical as well as emotional problems, coordinate patient-related services, and make all of our nursing decisions based upon what is best or suitable for the patient. If, in any circumstance, we feel that a physician’s order is inappropriate or unsafe, we have a legal responsibility to question that order or refuse to carry it out. Nursing is not a nine-to-five job with every weekend off. All nurses are aware of that before they enter the profession. The emotional and physical stress, however, that occurs due to odd working hours is a prime reason for a lot of the career dissatisfaction. It is sometimes required that we work overtime, and that we change shifts four or five times a month. That disturbs our personal lives, disrupts our sleeping and eating habits, and isolates us from everything except job-related friends and activities. The quality of nursing care is being affected dramatically by these situations. Most hospitals are now staffed by new graduates, as experienced nurses finally give up trying to change the system. Consumers of medically related services have evidently not been affected enough yet to demand changes in our medical system. But if trends continue as predicted, they will find that most critical hospital care will be provided by new, inexperienced, and sometimes inadequately trained nurses.
2007年12月
Section A
11. M:The biological project is now in trouble, you know my colleague and I have completely different ideas about how to proceed.
W:Why don’t you compromise? Try to make it a win-win situation for you both.
Q:What does the woman suggest the man do?
12. M:How does Nancy like the new dress she bought in Rome? W:She said she would never have bought an Italian style dress if she had known Mary had already got such a dress.
Q:What do we learn from the conversation?
13. M:You are not going to do all those dishes before we leave, are you? If we don’t pick up George and Martha in 25 minutes we will never get to the theater on time.
W:Oh, didn’t I tell you, Martha called to say her daughter was ill and they could not go tonight.
Q:What is the woman probably going to do first?
14. M:You’ve been hanging on to the phone for quite a while, who were you talking with?
W:Oh, it was Sally, you know, she always has the latest news in town and can’t wait to talk it over with me.
Q:What do we learn about Sally from the conversation?
15. W:It’s always been hard to get this car into first gear, and now the clutch seems to be slipping.
M:If you leave the car with me, I will fix it for you this afternoon. Q:Who is the woman probably speaking to?
16. M:Kate, why does the downtown area look deserted now? W:Well, there used to be some really good stores, but lots of them moved out to the mall.
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Q:What do we learn from the conversation?
17. W: I found the lounge such a cozy place to study in. I really like the feeling in sitting on the sofa and doing the reading.
M: Well, for me the hardest part about studying here is staying awake.
Q:What does the man mean?
18. W: These mosquito bites are killing me. I can’t help scratching. M: Next time you go camping, take some precaution, say wearing long sleeves.
Q: Why does the man suggest the woman wear long sleeves? Conversation One
M: Hello, and welcome to our program ―Working Abroad‖. Our guest this evening is a Londoner, who lives and works in Italy. Her name’s Susan Hill. Susan, we lcome to the program. You live in Florence, how long have you been living there?
W: Since 1982. But when I went there in 1982, I planned to stay for only 6 months.
M: Why did you change your mind?
W: Well, I’m a designer, I design leather goods, mainly sho es, and handbags. Soon after I arrived in Florence, I got a job with one of Italy’s top fashion houses, Ferregamo. So, I decided to stay.
M: How lucky! Do you still work for Ferregamo?
W: No, I’ve been a freelance designer for quite a long time now. Since 1988, in fact.
M: So does that mean you design for several different companies now?
W: Yes, that’s right. I’ve designed many fashion items for a number of Italian companies, and during the last four years, I’ve also been designing for the British company, Burberry’s.
M: What have you been designing for them?
W: Mostly handbags, and small leather goods.
M: Has the fashion industry in Italy changed since 1982?
W: Oh, yes. It’s become a lot more competitive. Because of quality of products from other countries has improved a lot. But the Italian quality and design is still world-famous.
M: And do you ever think of returning to live in England?
W: No, not really.
Working in Italy is more interesting. I also love the Mediterranean sun and the Italian life style.
M: Well, thank you for talking to us, Susan.
W: It was a pleasure.
Questions 19 to 22 are based on the Conversation you have just heard.
19. Where does this talk most probably take place.
20. What was the woman’s original plan when she went to Florence.
21. What has the woman been doing for a living since 1988.
22. What do we learn about the change in Italy’s fashion industry? Conversation Two
M: So, Claire, you’re into drama!
W: Yes, I have a master’s degree in drama and theatre. At the moment, I’m hoping t o get onto a Ph.D program.
M: What excites you about drama?
W: Well, I find it’s a communicative way to study people and you learn how to read people in drama. So usually I can understand what people are saying even though they might be lying.
M: That would be useful.
W: Yeah, it’s very useful for me as well. I’m in English lecture, so use a lot of drama in my classes such as role plays. And I ask my students to create mini-dramas. They really respond well. At the moment, I’m hoping to get onto a Ph. D cour se. I would like to concentrate on Asian drama and try to bring Asian theatre to the world’s attention. I don’t know how successful I would be, but, here’s hoping.
M: Oh, I’m sure you’ll be successful. Now, Claire, what do you do for stage fright?
W: Ah, stage fright! Well, many actors have that problem. I get stage fright every time I’m going to teach a new class. The night before, I usually can’t sleep.
M: What? For teaching?
W: Yes. I get really bad stage fright. But the minute I step into the classroom or get onto the stage, it just all falls into place. Then I just feel like: Yeah, this is what I mean to do. And I’m fine.
M: Wow, that’s cool!
Questions 23 to 25 are based on theConversation you have just heard.
23. Why does the woman find study in drama and theatre useful.
24. How did the woman’s students respond to her way of teaching English.
25. What does the woman say about her stage fright?
Section B
Passage One
In January 1989, the Community of European Railways presented their proposal for a high speed pan-European train network extending from Sweden to Sicily, and from Portugal to Poland by the year 2020. If their proposal becomes a reality, it will revolutionize train travel in Europe. Journeys between major cities will take half the time they take today. Brussels will be only one and a half hours from Paris. The quickest way to get from Paris to Frankfurt, from Barcelona to Madrid will be by train, not plane. When the network is complete, it will integrate three types of railway line: totally new high speed lines with trains operating at speeds of 300 kilometers per hour, upgraded lines which allow for speeds up to 200 to 225 kilometers per hour, and existing lines for local connections and distribution of freight. If businesspeople can choose between a three-hour train journey from city-center to city-center and a one-hour flight, they’ll choose the train, says an executive travel consultant. They won’t go by plane any more. If you calculate flight time, check-in and travel to-and-from the airport, you’ll find almost no difference. And if your plane arrives late due to bad weather or air traffic jams or strikes, then the train passengers will arrive at their destination first. Since France introduced the first 260-kilometer-per-hour high speed train service between Paris and Lyons in 1981, the trains have achieved higher and higher speeds. On many routes, airlines have lost up to 90% of their passengers to high speed trains. If people accept the Community of European Railways’plan, the 21 century wil l be the new age of the train.
Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. What is the proposal presented by the Community of European Railways.
27. What will happen when the proposal becomes a reality.
28. Why will business people prefer a three-hour train journey to a one-hour flight.
29. When did France introduce the first high speed train service? Passage Tw
Western doctors are beginning to understand what traditional healers have always known that the body and the mind are inseparable. Until recently, modern urban physicians heal the body, psychiatrist the mind, and priests the soul. However, the medical
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超详细历年六级真题听力原文至09年12月
world is now paying more attention to holistic medicine which is an approach based on the belief that people state of mind can make them sick or speed their recovery from sickness. Several study show that the effectiveness of a certain drug often depends on the patient’s expectations of it. For example, in one recent study, psychiatrist and a major hospital tried to see how patients could be made calm. They divided them into two groups. One group was given a drug while the other group received a harmless substance instead of medicine without their knowledge. Surprisingly, more patients in the second group showed the desired effect than those in the first group. In study after study, there’s a positive reaction in almost one-third of the patients taking harmless substances. How was this possible? How can such a substance have an effect on the body? Evidence from a 1997 study at the University of California shows that several patients who received such substances were able to produce their own natural drug, that is, as they took the substance their brains released natural chemicals that act like a drug. Scientists theorized that the amount of these chemicals released by a person’s brain quite possibly indicates how much faith the person has in his or her doctor.
Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you’ve just heard:
30. According to the speaker, what are western doctors beginning to understand.
31. What does the recent study at a major hospital seem to prove.
32. What evidence does the 1997 study at the University of California produce?
Passage Three
So we’ve already talked a bit about the growth of extreme sports like rock-climbing. As psychologists, we need to ask ourselves: Why is this person doing this?
Why do people take these risks and put themselves in danger when they don’t have to? One common trait among risk-takers is that they enjoy strong feelings or sensations.
We call this trait sensation-seeking. A sensation-seeker is someone who’s always looking for new sensations.
What else do we know about sensation-seekers?
Well, as I said, sensation-seekers like strong emotions. You can see this trait in many parts of a person’s life, not just in extreme sports. For example, many sensation-seekers enjoy hard rock music. They like the loud sound and strong emotion of the songs. Similarly, sensation-seekers enjoy frightening horror movies. They like the feeling of being scared and horrified while watching the movie. This feeling is even stronger for extreme sports where the person faces real danger. Sensation-seekers feel the danger is very exciting. In addition, sensation-seekers like new experiences that force them to push their personal limits. For them, repeating the same things everyday is boring.
Many sensation-seekers choose jobs that involve risk, such as starting a new business or being an emergency room doctor. These jobs are different everyday, so they never know what will happen. That’s why many sensation-seekers also like extreme sports.
When you do rock-climbing, you never know what will happen. The activity is always new and different.
Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you’ve just heard:
33. According to the speaker, what is a common trait among risk-takers.
34. What do sensation-seekers find boring.
35. What is the speaker’s profession?
Section C
If you are like most people, you’ve indulged in fake listening many times. You go to history class, sit in the third row, and look squarely at the instructor as she speaks. But your mind is far away, floating in the clouds of pleasant daydreams. Occasionally you come back to earth. The instructor writes an important term on the chalkboard, and you dutifully copy it in your notebook. Every once in a while the instructor makes a witty remark, causing others in the class to laugh. You smile politely, pretending that you’ve heard the remark and found it mildly humorous. You have a vague sense of guilt that you aren’t payin g close attention. But you tell yourself that any material you miss can be picked up from a friend’s notes. Besides, the instructor’s talking about road construction in ancient Rome, and nothing could be more boring. So back you go into your private little world, only later do you realize you’ve missed important information for a test. Fake listening may be easily exposed, since many speakers are sensitive to facial cues and can tell if you’re merely pretending to listen. Your blank expression and the faraway look in your eyes are the cues that betray you inattentiveness. Even if you are not exposed there’s another reason to avoid fakery. It’s easy for this behavior to become a habit. For some people, the habit is so deeply rooted that they automatically start daydreaming when a speaker begins talking on something complex or uninteresting. As a result, they miss lots of valuable information.
2008年06月
Section A
11. M: Good news! I'm not going to have surgery after all. The doctor says I can start working out again soon and maybe play football like before in a few weeks.
W: That's terrific. It will be great if you could get back in shape in time for the World Cup.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
12. M: I really need to make some extra money. You know, I've practically spent my entire budget for this semester.
W: Why not check out the new cafeteria at Market Street? I think there are still a few opening suitable for seniors like you.
W: What does the woman suggest the man do?
13. M: I hear John left his cat in your care while he's on vacation abroad. How are you getting along with it?
W: Well, it never comes when I call it. It spills its food and sheds all over the place. I can't wait till John gets back.
Q: How does the woman find the cat?
14. W: Hello, Professor White, I got my grade in the mail this morning, but I think there might be a mistake in my mark.
M: Yeah, I've got several calls just like yours, there must be a problem with the computing system. It should be straightened out in a couple of hours.
Q: What does the man mean?
15. M: Professor Johnson, last night when I was putting the finishing touches on my paper, a computer failure completely wiped out my files. Do you think I could have another day to retype it?
W: I'm sorry Rod. I'm leaving for a conference tomorrow and I'll be away two weeks. I suppose you could send me an e-copy.
Q: Why does the man say he can't submit his assignment on time?
16. W: I just called the travel agency. It's all set. On June 1st, we are heading for the mountains, and we'll be camping there for a whole week.
M: Have you checked the academic calendar? My classes aren't over until the 8th.
Q: What does the man imply?
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超详细历年六级真题听力原文至09年12月
17. W: I thought there were still time for me to apply for a student loan, but someone just told me that the closing date was last Tuesday.
M: Are you sure? I thought we still had another month. Wait, I got a brochure right here. Last Tuesday was the opening date.
Q: What does the man imply?
18. W: Look at all the pollutants going into the air from those factories. Do you think they'll ever get that under control?
M: Now with the new laws in effect and social awareness increasing, we are sure to turn things around.
Q: What does the man mean? Now you'll hear the two long conversations.
Conversation One
W: Tell me, Peter, what makes Harrods so famous?
M: Well, it's the biggest department store in the UK, and its Food Hall and Egyptian Hall are very famous. People come to Harrods just to see them.
W: What is special about the Food Hall?
M: It sells many different kinds of food. For example, it has 250 kinds of cheese from all over the world, and more than 180 kinds of bread. Customers also love all the different kinds of chocolate. They buy 100 tons every year.
W: That's amazing, and why is the Egyptian Hall so famous?
M: Well, when people see it, they feel they're in another world. It looks like an Egyptian building from 4 000 years ago, and it sells beautiful objects. They are not 4 000 years old, of course.
W: Is it true that Harrods produces its own electricity?
M: Yes, it does. 70%, enough for a small town. To light the outside of the building, we use 11 500 light bulbs.
W: Really? Tell me, how many customers do you have on an average day? And how much do they spend?
M: About 30 000 people come on an average day. But during the sales, the number increases to 300 000 customers a day. How much do they spend? Well, on average, customers spend about 1.5 million pounds a day. The record for one day is 9 million pounds. W: 9 million pounds in one day?
M: Yes, on the first day of the January sales.
W: Harrods says it sells everything to everybody everywhere, is that really true?
M: Oh, yes, of course. Absolutely everything.
Questions 19 to 22 are based on theConversation you have just heard.
19. What is the Food Hall of Harrods noted for?
20. What does the Egyptian Hall seem like to the customers?
21. What may customers find surprising about Harrods?
22. About how many customers come to Harrods on an average day?
Conversation Two
W: Hi, Kevin.
M: Hi, Lora, long time no see. What have you been up to lately? W: Not much, I can assure you. And you?
M: Much the same except I do have some big news.
W: Come on, this suspense is killing me.
M: No, really, what have you been doing these past few weeks? The last time I saw you, you were looking for a new job.
W: Well, that's not exactly true. I was thinking about changing jobs. Luckily, they offered me a new position in the accounting department.
M: A step up in the big business world.
W: I wouldn't exaggerate, but I'm pleased. I had been hoping to get a promotion for a while, so when it finally came through I was relieved. Actually, that's why I was looking for a new job. I just didn't want to work there anymore if they weren't going to recognize my efforts.
M: Right, sometimes you can do your best and it seems like the others don't know you exist. I hope the money is better.
W: I got a reasonable raise. Now, enough about me. I'm dying to hear your news.
M: I'm getting married.
W: No, you said you'd never get married.
M: That was then, and this is now. You've got to meet Andrea. She is great.
W: This is all news to me. I didn't even know you were dating. M: We weren't. We've just been dating for two weeks now.
W: And you are getting married?
M: I know. I can't help it. I just know she is the one.
W: Well, congratulations! That's fantastic.
M: Thanks, I'm glad to hear you feel that way.
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the Conversation you have just heard.
23. What was the woman doing when the man last saw her?
24. Why does the woman say she was relieved?
25. Why is the woman surprised at the man's news?
Section B
Passage One
Waterscooters are water vehicles that look very much like motorcycles. Nowadays,speedy colorful waterscooters are gaining in popularity. They can travel anywhere a small boat can and are typically popular with young people. The rising popularity of the craft has raised the question of waterscooter regulation. In this case, the argument for strict regulation is compelling. Waterscooters are a particularly deadly form of water recreation. For example, two women were vacationing in Longboat Key. While they were floating on a rubber boat along the shore, a waterscooter crashed into them and killed them. Also, waterscooter operators have been killed or seriously injured in collisions with other watercraft. Others have been stranded at sea when their scooters either failed or sank far from shore. Many waterscooter operators are inexperienced and ignorant of navigational rules, which increases the potential for accidents. The increasing popularity of the scooter has aggravated the problem, providing more watervehicles to compete for the same space. Crowded water ways are simply an open invitation to disaster. In addition to the inherent operational hazards of waterscooters, they are proving to be an environmental nuisance. Beach residents complain of the noise of the scooters. The Pacific Whale Foundation on the west coast expressed concern that the scooters are frightening away an endangered species of whale that migrates to Hawaii for breeding. Regulations, such as minimum operating age, restricted operating areas and compulsory classes in water safety, are essential. Without such regulations, tragedies involving waterscooters are sure to multiply, which makes many beaches unsafe for recreation.
Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.
26. What does the speaker say about waterscooters?
27. What is mentioned as one of the causes of water accidents?
28. In what way are waterscooters said to be an environmental nuisance?
29. What does the speaker propose to ensure the safety of beaches for recreation?
Passage Two
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超详细历年六级真题听力原文至09年12月
It seems to me that neighbors are going out of style in America. The friend next door from whom you borrowed four eggs or a ladder has moved and the people in there now are strangers. Some of the traditional stories of neighborliness are impractical or silly, and it may be just as well that our relations with our neighbors are changing. The saying in the Bible "Love Thy Neighbor" was probably a poor translation of what must have originally been "Respect Thy Neighbor". Love can't be called up on order. Fewer than half the people in the United States live in the same house they lived in five years ago, so there's no reason to love the people who live next door to you, just because they happened to wander into a real estate office that listed the place next door to yours. The only thing neighbors have in common, to begin with, is proximity, and unless something more develops, that isn't reason enough to be best friends. It sometimes happens naturally, but the chances are very small that your neighbors will be your choice as friends, or that you will be theirs, either. The best relationship with neighbors is one of friendly distance. You say hello, you small-talk if you see them in the yard, you discuss problems as they arise and you help each other in an emergency. The driveway or the fence between you is not really a cold shoulder, but a clear boundary. We all like clearly defined boundaries for ourselves.
Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard. 30. What does the speaker say about the relations among neighbors nowadays?
31. Why does the speaker say it may be difficult for people to love their neighbors?
32. What should neighbors do in the speaker's opinion?
Passage Three
Articles in magazines and newspapers and special reports on radio and television reflect the concern of many Americans about the increasing dropout rate in our junior and senior high schools. Coupled with this fact is the warning that soon we will no longer have a workforce to fill the many jobs that require properly educated personnel. The high student dropout rate is not a recent development. Ten years ago, many urban schools were reporting dropout rates between 35 and 50 percent. Some administrators maintain that dropouts remain the single greatest problem in their schools. Consequently, much effort has been spent on identifying students with problems in order to give them more attention before they become failures. Since the dropout problem doesn't start in senior high school, special programs in junior high school focus on students who show promise but have a record of truancy, that is, staying away from school without permission. Under the guidance of counselors, these students are placed in classes with teachers who have had success in working with similar young people. Strategies to motivate students in high school include rewarding academic excellence by designating scholars of the month, or by issuing articles of clothing, such as school letter jackets formally given only to athletes. No one working with these students claims to know how to keep all students in school. Counselors, teachers and administrators are in the frontlines of what seems at times to be a losing battle. Actually, this problem should be everyone's concern, since uneducated, unemployed citizens affect us all.
Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. 33. Why are many Americans concerned with the increasing dropout rate in school?
34. What do we learn about the student dropout problem in America?
35. What is mentioned as one of the strategies used to motivate students?
Section C
I'm interested in the criminal justice system of our country. It seems to me that something has to be done, if we're to survive as a country.
I certainly don't know what the answers to our problems are. Things certainly get complicated in a hurry when you get into them, but I wonder if something couldn't be done to deal with some of these problems. One thing I'm concerned about is our practice of putting offenders in jail who haven't harmed anyone. Why not work out some system whereby they can pay back the debts they owe society instead of incurring another debt by going to prison and,of course, coming under the influence of hardened criminals. I'm also concerned about the short prison sentences people are serving for serious crimes. Of course one alternative to this is to restore capital punishment, but I'm not sure I would be for that. I'm not sure it's right to take an eye for an eye. The alternative to capital punishment is longer sentences but they would certainly cost the tax-payers much money. I also think we must do something about the insanity plea. In my opinion, anyone who takes another person's life intentionally is insane; however, that does not mean that the person isn't guilty of the crime or that he shouldn't pay society the debt he owes. It's sad, of course, that a person may have to spend the rest of his life, or a large part of it in prison for acts that he committed while not in full control of his mind.
2008年12月
Section A
11. M: I’m asked to pick up the guest speaker Bob Russel at the airport this afternoon, do you know what he looks like?
W: Well, he’s in his sixties, he stands out, he’s bald, tall and thin and has a beard.
Q: What do we conclude from the wo man’s remarks about Bob Russel?
12. W: I’m considering dropping my dancing class. I’m not making any progress M: If I were you, I’d stick with it. It's definitely worth time and effort.
Q: What does the man suggest the woman do?
13. W: You see I still have this pain in my back, this medicine the doctor gave me was supposed to make me feel better by now. M: Maybe you should’ve taken it three times a day as you were told.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
14. M: Frankly, when I sat at the back of th e classroom, I can’t see the words on the board clearly.
W: Well, you’ve been wearing those same glasses as long as I’ve known you. Why not get a new pair, it won’t cost you too much. Q: What does the woman imply about the man’s glasses?
15. W: How come the floor is so wet? I almost slipped, what happened?
M: Oh, sorry! The phone rang the moment I got into the shower, anyway, I’ll wipe it up right now.
Q: Why was the floor wet according to the man?
16. M: The instructions on the package say that you need to do some assembly yourself. I’ve spent all afternoon trying in vain to put this bookcase together.
W: I know what you mean, last time I tried to assemble a toy train for my son and I almost gave up.
Q: What does the man find difficult?
17. M: I’m getting worried about Jenny’s school work. All she talks about these days is volleyball games and all she does is practice, training and things like that.
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超详细历年六级真题听力原文至09年12月
W: Her grades on the coming exams will fall for sure. It’s high time we talk(ed) some sense to her.
Q: What are the speakers probably going to do?
18. W: Do you understand why the local people are opposed to the new dam up the river?
M: They are worried about the potential danger if the dam should break. The river is very wide above the proposed site.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
Conversation One
W: Mr. White, what changes have you seen in the champagne market in the last ten to fifteen years?
M: Well, the biggest change has been the decrease in sales since the great boom years of the 1980s when champagne production and sales reached record levels.
W: Which was the best year?
M: Well the record was in 1989 when 249 million bottles of champagne was sold. The highest production level was reached in 1990 with a total of 293 million bottles. Of course since those boom years sales have fallen.
W: Has the market been badly hit by the recession?
M: Oh certainly, the economic problems in champagnes’ export markets that’s Europe, the United States, Japan, and of course the domestic market in France, the economic problems have certainly been one reason for the decrease in champagne sales. W: And the other reasons?
M: Another important factor has been price. In the early 90s, champagne was very overpriced, so many people stop buying it. instead they bought sparkling wines from other countries, in particular from Australia and Spain. And then there was another problem for champagne in the early 90s.
W: What was that?
M: There was a lot of rather bad champagne on the market. This meant the popularity of good sparkling wines increased even more. People were surprised by their quality and of course they were a lot cheaper than champagne.
W: Do you think the champagne market will recover in the future? M: Oh, I’m sure it will. When the economic situati on improves, I believe the market will recover.
Questions 19 to 21 are based on the Conversation you have just heard.
19: What does the man say about champagne in 1980s?
20: Why did sparkling wines become more popular than champagne in the early 90s?
21: What does the man think of the champagne market in the future?
Conversation Two
W: Right, well, in the studio this morning, for our interview spot is Peter Wilson. Peter works for Green Peace. So, Peter, welcome.
M: Thanks a lot. It’s good to be here.
W: Great! Now, Peter, perhaps you can tell us something about Green Peace and your job there.
M: Sure. Well, I’ll start by telling you roughly what Green Peace is all about. I actually work in London for the Green Peace organization. We’ve been going for a few decades and we’re a non-violent, non-political organization. We’re involved in anti-nuclear activity, conservation and protection of animals and protection and support of our eco-system. I’m the action organizer and arrange any protests.
W: Right! A pretty important role, Peter. What sort of protest would you organize?
M: Well, recently we’ve been involved in anti-nuclear campaigns. I, personally arranged for the demonstration against radioactive waste dumping in the Atlantic Ocean. We’ve got a few small Green Peace boats that we harass the dumping ship with.
W: Say? Hold on, Peter. I thought you said your organization was non-violent. What do you mean by ―harass‖?
M: Well, we circle round and round the ships and get in the way when they try to dump the drums of nuclear waste in the sea. We talk to the men and try to change, you know, yell at them to stop. We generally make ourselves as much of a nuisance as possible. W: Well, people may think differently of your methods but there’s no doubt you’re doing a great job. Keep it up and good luck. And thanks for talking with us.
M: Thanks for having me.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversations you have just heard.
22.What is the man’s chief responsibility in the Green Peace organization?
23.What has Green Peace been involved in recently?
24.How does Green Peace try to stop people from dumping nuclear waste?
25.What is the woman’s attitude towards the Green Peace’s campaigns?
Section B
Passage One
To find out what the weather is going to be, most people go straight to the radio, television, or newspaper to get an expert weather forecast. But if you know what to look for, you can use your own senses to make weather predictions. There are many signs that can help you. For example, in fair weather the air pressure is generally high, the air is still and often full of dust, and far away objects may look vague. But when the storm is brewing, the pressure drops, and you are often able to see things more clearly. Sailors took note of this l ong ago, and came up with the saying, ―The farther the sight, the nearer the rain.‖ Your sense of smell can also help you to detect the weather changes. Just before it rains, odors become stronger, this is because odors are repressed in a fair high pressure center. When a bad weather low moves in, air pressure lessens and odors are released. You can also hear an approaching storm. Sounds bounce off heavy storm clouds and return to earth with increased force. An old saying describes it this way, ―Sounds traveling far and wide a stormy day will be tied.‖ And don’t laugh at your grandmother if she says she can feel a storm coming. It is commonly known that many people feel pains in their bones or joints while the humidity rises, the pressure drops, and bad weather is on the way.
Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26: Why does the speaker say we can see far away objects more clearly as a storm is approaching?
27: What does the speaker want to show by quoting a couple of old sayings?
28: What does the passage mainly talk about?
Passage 2
Many days seem to bring numerous tasks and responsibilities, all of which apparently must be tackled right away. You spend a day putting out fires, but by the end of the day, you haven’t accomplished any of the really important things you set out to do. In desperation, you draft a ―to-do‖ list. But most days, you can make little progress with it. When you look at the list each
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超详细历年六级真题听力原文至09年12月
morning, a big fat cloud of doom is right at the top— those difficult, complex, important tasks that are so crucial to get done and so easy to avoid. Plenty of us create a ―to-do‖ list to address feelings of being overwhelmed, but we rarely use these tools to their best effect. They wind up being guilt-provoking reminders of the fact that we are over-committed, and losing control of our priorities. According to Timithy Pikyo, a professor of a psychology at Carlton University in Ottawa. People often draw up a ―to-do‖ list and then that’s it. The list itself becomes the day’s achievement, allowing us to feel we’ve done something useful without taking on any real work. In fact, drawing up the list becomes a way of avoiding the work itself. ―Too often, the list is seen as the accomplishment for the day, reducing the immediate guilt of not working on the tasks at hand by investing energy in the list,‖ says Pikyo, ―when a list is used like this, it’s simply another way in which we lie to ourselves.‖
Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard. 29. What is the problem that troubles many people nowadays according to the speaker?
30. According to the speaker, what do many people do to cope with their daily tasks?
31. According to psychologist Timithy Pikyo, what do people find by the end of the day?
Passage 3
In many stressful situations, the body’s responses can improve our performance. We become more energetic, more alert, better able to take effective action. But when stress is encountered continually, the body’s reactions are more likely to b e harmful than helpful to us. The continual speeding up of bodily reactions and the production of stress-related hormones seem to make people more susceptible to heart disease. And stress reactions can reduce the disease-fighting effectiveness of the bo dy’s immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to illnesses, ranging from colds to cancer. Stress may also contribute to disease in less direct ways by influencing moods and behavior. People, under stress, may become anxious or depressed and as a result may eat too much or too little, have sleep difficulties, or fail to exercise. These behavioral changes may in turn be harmful to their health. In addition, people are more likely to pay attention to certain bodily sensations such as aches and pains when they are under stress and to think they are sick. If the person were not under stress, the same bodily sensations might not be perceived as symptoms and the person might continue to feel well. Some researchers have suggested that assuming the role of a sick person is one way in which certain people try to cope with stress. Instead of dealing with the stressful situation directly, these people fall sick. After all, it is often more acceptable in our society to be sick and to seek medical help than it is to admit that one can not cope with the stresses of life.
Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
32. What does the speaker say about people who encounter stress once in a while?
33. What does the speaker say frequent stress reactions may lead to?
34. What are people more likely to do when they are under stress?
35. What does the passage mainly talk about?
Section C
One of the most common images of an advanced, Western-style culture is that of a busy, traffic-filled city. Since their first appearance on American roadways, automobiles have become a symbol of progress, a source of thousands of jobs and an almost inalienable right for citizens’personal freedom of movement. In recent decades, our ―love affair‖ with the car is being exported directly to the developing world, and it is increasingly apparent that this transfer is leading to disaster. America’s almost complete dependence on automobiles has been a terrible mistake. As late as the 1950s, a large percentage of the American public used mass transit. A combination of public policy decisions and corporate scheming saw to it that countless convenient and efficient urban streetcar and intra-city rail systems were dismantled. Our air quality now suffers from the effects of pollutants emitted directly from our cars. Our lives have been planned along a road grid—homes far from work, shopping far from everything, with ugly stretches of concrete and blacktop in between. Developing countries are copying Western-style transportation systems down to the last detail. The problems caused by motorized vehicles in the West are often magnified in developing nations. Pollution control measures are either not strict or nonexistent, leading to choking clouds of smog. Gasoline still contains lead, which is extremely poisonous to humans. Movement in some cities comes to a virtual standstill as motorized traffic competes with bicycles and pedestrians. In addition to pollution and traffic jams, auto safety is a critical issue in developing nations.
2009年06月
Section A
11. W: I forgot to tell you that Fred called last night to borrow your sleeping bag.
M: Oh, I saw him at the gym this morning, but he didn’t say anything. So he must have asked somebody else.
Q: What does the man imply?
12. W: These summer days are getting to be more than I can take. It was even too hot to go to the pool yesterday.
M: Hang in there. According to the weather report we should have some relief by the end of the week.
Q: What does the man mean?
13. W: Well, tonight we have Professor Brown in our studio to talk about the famous oil painting of Queen Victoria. Good evening, professor.
M: Good evening, madam, my pleasure to be here tonight.
Q: What is the woman doing?
14. M: The plants next to the window always look brown. You wouldn’t know by looking at them that I water them every week. W: Maybe they don’t like direct sunlight. I had the same problem with some of my plants. And a little shade helps them immensely. Q: What does the woman imply?
15. M: I’m really exhausted, Mary. But I don’t want to miss the Hollywood movie that comes on at 11.
W: If I were you, I’d skip it. We both have to get up early tomorrow. And anyway I’ve heard it’s not as exciting as advertised.
Q: What does the woman suggest the man do?
16. M: Those modern sculptures over there are really weird. Don’t you think so? W:Well, I couldn’t stand them either at first. But now I’ve come to like modern art, particularly those sculptures carved by Italian artists.
Q: What does the woman mean?
17. M: I’m really glad our club decided to raise money for the children’s hospital. And most of the people we phoned seemed happy to contribute.
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W: Yeah! I agree. Now that we’ve gone through all the numbers on our list, I guess we can call it a day.
Q: What do we learn about the speakers?
18. M: Have you heard of Professor Smith? I’m thinking of taking an advanced engineering course with him. What do you think?
W: Yeah! You really should. He’s published dozens of books so far. One’s been recommended as a te xtbook for postgraduates. Q: What does the woman imply?
Conversation One
W: You’re the editor of Public Eye. What kind of topics does your program cover?
M: Well, there are essentially domestic stories. We don’t cover international stories. We don’t cov er party politics or economics. We do issues of general social concern to our British audience. They can be anything from the future of the health service to the way the environment is going downhill.
W: How do you choose the topic? Do you choose one because it’s what the public wants to know about or because it’s what you feel the public ought to know about?
M: I think it’s a mixture of both. Sometimes you have a strong feeling that something is important and you want to see it examined and you want to contribute to a public debate. Sometimes people come to you with things they are worried about and they can be quite small things. They can be a story about corruption in local government, something they can’t quite understand, why it doesn’t seem to be working out properly, like they are not having their litter collected properly, or the dustbins emptied.
W: How do you know that you’ve got a really successful program? One that is just right for the time?
M: I think you get a sense about it after working in it in a number of years. You know which stories are going to get the attention. They are going to be published just the point when the public are concerned about that. Questions 19 to 22 are based on the Conversation you have just heard.
19. What kind of topics does Public Eye cover?
20. How does Public Eye choose its topics?
21. What factor plays an important role in running a successful program?
Conversation Two
W: Hi, Professor Smith. I hear you’ve written a book titled Visions.
M: Yes. It explains how science will revolutionize the 21st century.
W: Could I ask you some questions concerning the book?
M: Sure.
W: Are you optimistic about the future?
M: Generally, yeah. If we go back to the year of 1900, most Americans didn’t live beyond the age of 50. Since then, we’ve had improvements in health care and technology. There is no reason why these won’t continue far into the 21st century.
W: Are we ready for the changes that will come?
M: Changes are already happening. The future is here now. We have DNA, microchips, the Internet. Some people’s reaction is to say, we are too old; we don’t understand new technology. My reaction is to say, we must educate people to use new technology now.
W: Is world population going to be a big problem?
M: Yes, and no. I think that world population will stop increasing as we all get richer. If you are a part of the middle class, you don’t want or need 12 children.
W: Will there be a world government?
M: Very probably. We will have to manage the world and its resources on a global level because countries alone are too small. W: Will we have control of everything?
M: I think we’ll learn to control the weather, volcanoes and earthquakes. Illness won’t exist. We’ll grow new livers, kidney s, hearts, and lungs like spare parts for a car. People will live to about 130 or 150. For 2000 years, we have tried to understand our environment. Now we’ll begin to control it.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the Conversation you have just heard.
22. What does Professor Smith say about most Americans around the year of 1900?
23. What does Professor Smith advise we do?
24. When will the world population stop growing according to Professor Smith?
25. What does Professor Smith think human beings will be able to do?
Section B
Passage One
Getting behind the wheel of a car can be an exciting new step in a teen’s life. But along with that excitement comes a new responsibility—understanding the need for common sense and maturity to avoid accidents. In an effort to spread awareness to teens across the nation, the All-state Foundation sponsored a Keep-The-Drive Summit at Sunset Station on January 23rd. Students from Kennedy and Alamo Heights High schools participated in the summit, which was held here for the first time. The goal of the year-long effort is to educate teens on the rules of safe driving and the severe consequences that can result if those rules are not followed, and then have them communicate that information to their peers. The students watched videos that told them about the numbers of teenage driving injuries and deaths. They listen to the videos as students from other cities share their stories of how their reckless driving affected not only their lives but also those of their passengers. ―We are trying to create awareness in high schools across the country,‖ said Westerman, an All-state representative. ―We focus on changing how teens think behind the wheel.‖ According to the presentation, more teens die in automobile crashes in the United States each year than from drugs, violence, smoking and suicide. An average of 16 teens die every day in motor vehicle crashes and nearly forty percent of those are caused by speeding. Texas is the state with the most teen driving deaths according to the presentation. Students agreed that the statistics were amazing and made them think twice about how they drive.
Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.
26. For what purpose did the All-state Foundation sponsor the Keep-The-Drive Summit?
27. What causes the greatest number of deaths among American teens according to the presentation?
28. What can we conclude about the Keep-The-Drive Summit? Passage Two
Dr. Allen Hersh designs smells for businesses. He says that it doesn’t take a whole lot of smell to affect you. Store owners can lure you to the candy aisle, even if you don’t realize your are smelling candy. This idea scares a lot of people. Groups that protect the rights of shoppers are upset. They say the stores are
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超详细历年六级真题听力原文至09年12月
using a kind of brainwashing which they call ―smell-washing‖. ―It’s pretty dishonest,‖ says Mark Silbergeld. He runs an organization that checks out products for consumers. The scientists hired to design the scents disagree. ―There’s soft background music. There’s special lighting. There’re all sorts of bells being used,‖ says Dr. Hersh, ―why not smells?‖ ―One reason why not,‖ says Silbergeld, ―is that some people are allergic to certain scents pumped into products or stores.‖ But there is a whole other side to this debate, ―do the smells really work?‖ So far, there is little proof one way or the other. But Dr. Hersh has run some interesting experiments. In one of Hersh’s experiments, 31 volunteers were led into a shoe store that smells slightly like flowers. Later, another group shopped in the same store, but with no flower odor. Dr. Hersh found that 84% of the shoppers were more likely to buy the shoes in the flower-scented room, but Hersh found out something eve n stranger. ―Whether the volunteers like the flower scent or not didn’t matter,‖ Hersh says, ―Some reported that they hated the smell, but they still were more likely to buy the shoes in the scented room.‖
Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage y ou’ve just heard. 29. Why are some people against the use of smells to attract customers?
30. What is Dr. Hersh’s attitude to the use of smells for business?
31. What did Hersh’s experiment show?
Passage Three
This is Ray MacArthur with the news. Reports are coming in of a major train crash in Japan. A passenger train carrying hundreds of workers home from the center of Tokyo is reported to have hit an oncoming goods train. Both were traveling at high speed. Figures are not yet available but it is believed that the death toll could be as high as 300, with hundreds more injured. Emergency and rescue services rushed to the scene. But our reporter says it will take days to clear the track and to establish the numbers of the dead and injured. There was a similar accident on the same stretch of track four years ago. There was another bomb scare in a large London store last night during late night shopping. Following a telephone call to the police from an anonymous caller, hundreds of shoppers were shepherded out of the store while roads in the area were sealed off. Police dogs spent hours searching the store for a bag which the caller claimed contained 50 pounds of explosives. Nothing was found and the store was given the all-clear by opening time this morning. A police spokesman said that this was the third bomb scare within a week and that we should all be on our guard. And finally, the motoring organizations have issued a warning to drivers following the recent falls of snow in many parts of the country. Although the falls may be slight, they say extra care is needed. Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.
32. What accident happened recently in Japan?
33. What do the reports say about the recent accident in Japan?
34. Why did people have to leave the London store last night?
35. What did motoring organizations advise drivers to do? Section C
English is the leading international language. In different countries around the globe, English is acquired as the mother tongue, in others, it’s used as a second language. Some nations use English as their official language, performing the function of administration; in others, it’s used as an international language for business, commerce and industry. What factors and forces have led to the spread of English? Why is English now considered to be so prestigious that across the globe individuals and societies feel disadvantaged if they do not have competence in this language. How has English changed through 1500 years? These are some of the questions that you investigate when you study English. You also examine the immense variability of English and come to understand how it’s used as a symbol of both individual identity and social connection. You develop in depth knowledge of the intricate structure of the language. Why do some non-native speakers of English claim that it’s a difficult language to learn while infants born into English speaking communities acquire their language before they learn to use forks and knives? At the University of Sussex, you are introduced to the nature and grammar of English in all its aspects. This involves the study of sound structures, the formation of words, the sequencing of words and the construction of meaning, as well as examinations of the theories explaining these aspects of English usage. You are encouraged to develop your own individual responses to various practical and theoretical issues, which are raised by studying how speakers and writers employ English for a wide variety of purposes.
2009年12月
Section A
11. W: Did you use credit cards on your vacation last month in Europe?
M: Sure did. They certainly beat going around with a wallet full of big bills. But carrying lots of cash is still very common among some older people traveling abroad.
Q: What does the man say about some elderly people?
12. W: Rod must be in a bad mood today. What’s wrong with him?
M: He was passed over in the selection process for the dean of the Administration’s Office. He’d been hoping for the position for a long time.
Q: What does the man mean?
13. M: What a great singer Justin is. His concert is just awesome and you’ll never regret the money you paid for the ticket.
W: Yeah, judging by the amount of applause, everyone was enjoying it.
Q: What does the woman mean?
14. W: I received an email yesterday from Henry. Do you remember he was one of the chairpersons of our Students’ Union? M: Yes, but I haven’t heard from him for ages. Actually, I have been out of touch with him since our first reunion after graduation.
Q: What do we learn about the speakers?
15. M: Driving at night always makes me tired. Let’s stop for the dinner.
W: Fine, and let’s find a motel so that we can get an early start tomorrow.
Q: What will the speakers probably do?
16. W: Let’s look at the survey on consumer confidence we conducted last week. How reliable are these figures?
M: They have a five percent margin of error.
Q: What are the speakers talking about?
17. W: Look at this catalog John. I think I want to get this red blouse.
M: Eh. I think you've already had one like this in blue. Do you need every color in the rainbow?
Q: What does the man mean?
18. W: This notice says that all the introductory marketing classes
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超详细历年六级真题听力原文至09年12月
are closed.
M: T hat can’t be true. There are supposed to be thirteen of them this semester.
Q: What does the man mean?
Conversation One
M: I see your new resume that you worked as a manager of store called Computer Country, could you tell me a little more about your responsibilities there?
W: Sure. I was responsible for overseeing about 30 employees. I did all of the orderings for the store and I kept track of the inventory.
M: What was the most difficult part of your job?
W: Probably handling angry customers. We d idn’t have them very often, but when we did, I need to make sure they were well taken good care of. After all, the customer is always right.
M: That’s how we feel here, too. How long did you work there? W: I was there for three and a half years. I left the company last month.
M: And why did you leave?
W: My husband has been transferred to Boston and I understand that your company has an opening there, too.
M: Yes, that’s right. We do. But the position won’t start until early next month. Would that be a problem for you?
W: No, not at all. My husband’s new job doesn’t begin for a few weeks, so we thought we would spend some time driving to Boston and stop to see my parents.
M: That sounds nice. So, tell me, why are you interested in this particular position?
W: I know that your company has a great reputation and wonderful product. I’ve thought many times that I would like to be a part of it. When I heard about the opening in Boston, I jumped to the opportunity.
M: Well, I’m glad you did.
Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
19: What was the woman’s previous job?
20: What does the woman say with the most difficult part of her job?
21: Why is the woman looking for a job in Boston?
22: When can the woman start to work if she gets the job? Conversation Two
W: Today, in this studio, we have Alberto Cuties, the well-known Brazilian advocator of the anti-global movement. He’s here to talk about the recent report stating that by 2050, Brazil will be one of the world’s wealthiest and most successful countries. Alberto, what do you say about this report?
M: You know this isn’t the first time that people are saying Brazil will be a great economic power. The same thing was said over 100 years ago, but it didn’t happen.
W: Yes, but you must admit the world’s a very different place now.
M: Of course. In fact, I believe that there may be some truths in the predictions this time around. First of all, though, we must remember the problems facing Brazil at the moment.
W: Such as?
M: There’s an enormous gap between the rich and the poor in this country. In San Paulo, you can see shopping malls full of designer good right next door to the slum areas without proper water or electricity supplies. A lot of work needs to be done to help people in those areas improve their lives. W: What needs to be done?
M: Education, for example. For Brazil, to be successful, we need to offer education to all Brazilians. Successful countries, like South Korea and Singapore have excellent education systems. Brazil needs to learn from these countries.
W: So you’re hopeful for the future?
M: As I said earlier, I’m hopeful. This isn’t an easy job. We need to make sure that these important opportunities for Brazil aren’t wasted as they were in the past.
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
23: What does the recent report say about Brazil?
24: What problem does Alberto say Brazil faces now?
25: What does Alberto say about economically successful countries?
Section B
Passage One
Wilma Subra had no intention of becoming a public speaker. After graduating from college with degrees in chemistry and microbiology, she went to work at Gulf South Research Institute in Louisiana. As part of her job, she conducted field research on toxic substances in the environment—often in minority communities located near large industrial polluters. She found many families were being exposed to high, sometimes deadly levels of chemicals and other toxic substances. But she was not allowed to make information public. Frustrated by the restrictions, Subra left her job in 1981, created her own company, and has devoted the past two decades to helping people fight back against giant industrial polluters. She works with families and community groups to conduct environmental tests, interpret test results, and organize for change. Because of her efforts, dozens of toxic sites across the country have been cleaned up. And one chemical industry spokesperson calls her a top gun for the environmental movement. How has Subra achieved all this? Partly through her scientific training, partly through her commitment to environmental justice. But just as important is her ability to communicate with people through public speaking. "Public speaking," she says, "is the primary vehicle I use for reaching people. '' If you had asked Subra before 1981: Do you see yourself as a major public speaker? She would have laughed at the idea. Yet today, she gives more than 100 presentations a year. Along the way she’s lectured at Harvard, testified before the Congress and addressed the audiences in 40 states, as well as in Mexico, Canada and Japan.
uestions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26: What did Wilma Subra do as part of her job while working at Gulf South Research Institute?
27: Why did Wilma Subra leave her job in 1981?
28: What results have Wilma Subra’s efforts had in the past two decades?
29: What does the speaker say has contributed to Wilma Subra’s success?
Passage Two
One of the biggest challenges facing employers and educators today is the rapid advance of globalization. The marketplace is no longer national or regional, but extends to all corners of the world, and this requires a global-ready workforce. Universities have a large part to play in preparing students for the twenty-first century labor market by promoting international educational experiences. The most obvious way universities can help
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