六级考试试题

2003年12月国家英语六级考试试题

Part I Listening Comprehension (20 minutes)

Section A

Directions: In this section, you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

Example: You will hear:

You will read:

A) 2 hours.

B) 3 hours.

C) 4 hours.

D) 5 hours.

From the conversation we know that the two are talking about some work they will start at 9 o'clock in the morning and have to finish by 2 in the afternoon. Therefore, D) "5 hours" is the correct answer. You should choose [DJ on the Answer Sheet and

mark it with a single line through the centre.

Sample Answer [A] [B] [C] [4]

1.A) She knows \where\ Martha has gone.

B) Martha will go to the concert by herself.

C) It is quite possible for the man to find Martha.

D) The man is going to meet Martha at the concert.

2.A) The air pollution is caused by the development of industry.

B) The city was poor because there wasn't much industry then.

C) The woman's exaggerating the seriousness of the pollution.

D) He might move to another city very soon.

3.A) The man should work harder to improve his grades.

B) The man will benefit from the effort he's put in.

C) It serves the man right to get a poor grade.

D) It was unfair of the teacher to give the man a C.

4. A) She can make a reservation at the restaurant. B) The man should decide \where\ to eat.

C) She already has plans for Saturday night. D) The man should ask his brother for suggestions.

4.A) The man deserved the award.

B) The woman helped the man succeed.

C) The man is thankful to the woman for her assistance.

D) The woman worked hard and was given an award.

5.A) Voluntary work can help the man establish connections with the community.

B) The man's voluntary work has left him little room in his schedule.

C) Voluntary work with the environment council requires a time commitment.

D) A lot of people have signed up for voluntary work with the environment council.

6.A) The patient must receive treatment regularly.

B) The patient can't leave the hospital until the bleeding stops.

C) The patient's husband can attend to the business in her place.

D) The patient must take a good rest and forget about her business.

7.A) Alice does not know much about electronics.

B) Alice is unlikely to find a job anywhere.

C) Alice is not interested in anything but electronics.

D) Alice is likely to find a job in an electronics company.

9. A) Jimmy is going to set out tonight. B) Jimmy has not decided on his journey.

C) There is no need to have a farewell dinner. D) They may have a dinner when Jimmy's back.

10. A) The woman had been planning for the conference.

B) The woman called the man but the line was busy.

C) The woman didn't come back until midnight.

D) The woman had guests all evening.

Section B

Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices, marked A), B), C) and 1)). Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

Questions 11 to 13 are based on the passage you have just heard.

11. A) They are delighted because they can enjoy the scenery while driving.

B) They are frightened because traffic accidents are frequent.

C) They are irritated because the bridge is jammed with cars.

D) They are pleased because it saves them much time.

12. A) They don't have their own cars to drive to work.

B) Many of them are romantic by temperament.

C) Most of them enjoy the drinks on the boat.

D) They tend to be more friendly to each other.

13. A) Many welcome the idea of \having\ more bars on board.

B) Many prefer the ferry to maintain its present speed.

C) Some suggest improving the design of the deck.

D) Some object to using larger luxury boats.

Passage Two

Questions 14 to 16 are based on the passage you have just heard.

14. A) Coca Cola. B) Sausage. C) Milk. D) Fried chicken.

15. A) He has had thirteen decayed teeth.

B) He doesn't have a single decayed tooth.

C) He has fewer decayed teeth than other people of his age.

D) He never had a single tooth pulled out before he was fifty.

16. A) Brush your teeth right before you go to bed in the evening.

B) Have as few of your teeth pulled out as possible.

C) Have your teeth X-rayed at regular intervals.

D) Clean your teeth shortly after eating.

Passage Three

Questions 17 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.

17. A) A visit to a prison. B) The influence of his father.

C) A talk with some miserable slaves. D) His experience in the war between France and Austria.

18. A) He sent surgeons to serve in the army. B) He provided soldiers with medical supplies.

C) He recruited volunteers to care for the wounded. D) He helped to flee the prisoners of war.

19. A) All men are created equal.

B) The wounded and dying should be treated for free.

C) A wounded soldier should surrender before he receives any medical treatment.

D) A suffering person is entitled to help regard/ess of race, religion or political beliefs.

20. A) To honor Swiss heroes who died in the war.

B) To show Switzerland was neutral.

C) To pay tribute to Switzerland.

D) To show gratitude to the Swiss government for its financial support.

Part II Reading Comprehension (35 minutes)

Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

For years, doctors advised their patients that the only thing taking multivitamins does is give them expensive urine (男). After all, true vitamin deficiencies are practically unheard of in industrialized countries. Now it seems those doctors may have been wrong. The results of a growing number of studies suggest that even a modest vitamin shortfall can be harmful to your health. Although proof of the benefits of multivitamins is still far from certain, the few dollars you spend on them is probably a good investment.

Or at least that's the argument put forward in the New England Journal of Medicine. Ideally, say Dr. Walter Willett and Dr. Meir Stampfer of Harvard, all vitamin supplements would be evaluated in scientifically rigorous clinical trials. But those studies can take a long time and often raise more questions than they answer. At some point, while researchers work on figuring out \where\ the truth lies, it just makes sense to say the potential benefit outweighs the cost.

The best evidence to date concerns folate, one of the B vitamins. It's been proved to limit the number of defects in embryos , and a recent trial found that folate in combination with vitamin B 12 and a form of B6 also decreases the re-blockage of arteries after surgical repair.

The news on vitamin E has been more mixed. Healthy folks who take 400 international units daily for at least two years appear somewhat less likely to develop heart disease. But when doctors give vitamin E to patients who already have heart disease, the vitamin doesn't seem to help. It may turn out that vitamin E plays a role in prevention but cannot undo serious damage.

Despite vitamin C's GREat popularity, consuming large amounts of it still has not been positively linked to any great benefit. The body quickly becomes saturated with C and simply excretes ( 排旋 ) any excess.

The multivitamins question boils down to this: Do you need to wait until all the evidence is in before you take them, or are you willing to accept that there's enough evidence that they don't hurt and could help?

If the latter, there's no need to go to extremes and buy the biggest 'horse pills or the most expensive bottles. Large doses can cause trouble, including excessive bleeding and nervous system problems.

Multivitamins are no substitute for exercise and a balanced diet, of course. As long as you understand that any potential benefit is modest and subject to further refinement, taking a daily multivitamin makes a lot of sense.

21. At one time doctors discouraged taking multivitamins because they believed that multivitamins____.

A) could not easily be absorbed by the human body

B) were potentially harmful to people's health

C) were too expensive for daily consumption

D) could not provide any cure for vitamin deficiencies

22. According to the author, clinical trials of vitamin supplements____.

A) often result in misleading conclusions

B) take time and will not produce conclusive results

C) should be conducted by scientists on a larger scale

D) appear to be a sheer waste of time and resources

23. It has been found that vitamin E_____.

A) should be taken by patients regularly and persistently

B) can effectively reduce the recurrence of heart disease

C) has a preventive but not curative effect on heart disease

D) should be given to patients with heart disease as early as possible

24. It can be seen that large doses of multivitamins_____.

A) may bring about serious side effects

B) may help prevent excessive bleeding

C) are likely to induce the blockage of arteries

D) are advisable for those with vitamin deficiencies

25. The author concludes the passage with the advice that_____.

A) the benefit of daily multivitamin intake outweighs that of exercise and a balanced diet

B) it's risky to take multivitamins without knowing their specific function

C) the potential benefit of multivitamins can never be overestimated

D) it's reasonable to take a rational dose of multivitamins daily

Passage Two

Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.

Some futurologists have assumed that the vast upsurge ( 嗯 ) of women in the workforce may portend a rejection of marriage. Many women, according to this hypothesis, would rather work than marry. The converse ( 放∧ ) of this concern is that the prospects of becoming a multi-paycheck household could encourage marriages. In the past, only the earnings and financial prospects of the man counted in the marriage decision. Now, however, the earning ability of a woman can make her more attractive as a marriage partner. Data show that economic downturns tend to postpone marriage because the parties cannot afford to establish a family or are concerned about rainy days ahead. As the economy rebounds, the number of marriages also rises.

Coincident with the increase in women working outside the home is the increase in divorce rates. Yet, it may be wrong to jump to any simple cause-and-effect conclusions. The impact of a wife's work on divorce is no less cloudy than its impact on marriage decisions. The realization that she can be a good provider may increase the chances that a working wife will choose divorce over an unsatisfactory marriage. But the reverse is equally plausible. Tensions grounded in financial problems often play a key role in ending a marriage. Given high unemployment, inflationary problems, and slow growth in real earnings, a working wife can increase household income and relieve some of these pressing financial burdens. By raising a family's standard of living, a working wife may strengthen her family's financial and emotional stability.

Psychological factors also should be considered. For example, a wife blocked from a career outside the home may feel caged in the house. She may view her only choice as seeking a divorce. On the other hand, if she can find fulfillment through work outside the home, work and marriage can go together to create a stronger and more stable union.

Also, a major part of women's inequality in marriage has been due to the fact that, in most cases, men have remained the main breadwinners. With higher earning capacity and status occupations outside of the home comes the capacity to exercise power within file family. A working wife may rob a husband of being the master of the house. Depending upon how the couple reacts to these new conditions, it could create a stronger equal partnership or it could create new insecurities.

26. The word "portend" (Line 2, Para. 1) is closest in meaning to " _____" .

A) defy C) suffer from

B) signal D) result from

27. It is said in the passage that when the economy slides,_____.

A) men would choose working women as their marriage partners

B) more women would get married to seek financial security

C) even working women would worry about their marriages

D) more people would prefer to remain single for the time being

28. If women find fulfillment through work outside the home,_____.

A) they are more likely to dominate their marriage partners

B) their husbands are expected to do more housework

C) their marriage ties can be strengthened

D)they tend to put their career before marriage

29. One reason why women with no career may seek a divorce is that_____.

A) they feel that they have been robbed of their freedom

B) they are afraid of being bossed around by their husbands

C) they feel that their partners fail to live up to their expectations

D) they tend to suspect their husbands' loyalty to their marriage

30. Which of the following statements can best summarize the author's view in the passage?

A) The stability of marriage and the divorce rate may reflect the economic situation of the country.

B) Even when economically independent, most women have to struggle for real equality in marriage.

C) In order to secure their marriage women should work outside the home and remain independent

D) The impact of the growing female workforce on marriage varies from case to case.

Passage Three

Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage,

For most thinkers since the GREek philosophers, it was self-evident that there is something called human nature, something that constitutes the essence of man. There were various views about what constitutes it, but there was agreement that such an essence exists -- that is to say, that there is something by virtue of which man is man. Thus man was defined as a rational being, as a social animal, an animal that can make tools, or a symbol-making animal.

More recently, this traditional view has begun to be questioned. One reason for this change was the increasing emphasis given to the historical approach to man. An examination of the history of humanity suggested that man in our epoch is so different from man in previous times that it seemed unrealistic to assume that men in every age have had in common something that can be called "human nature." The historical approach was reinforced, particularly in the United States, by studies in the field of cultural anthropology ( 讽忄飧 ). The study of primitive peoples has discovered such a diversity of customs, values, feelings, and thoughts that many anthropologists arrived at the concept that man is born as a blank sheet of paper on which each culture writes its text. Another factor contributing to the tendency to deny the assumption of a fixed human nature was that the concept has so often been abused as a shield behind which the most inhuman acts are committed. In the name of human nature, for example, Aristotle and most thinkers up to the eighteenth century defended slavery. Or in order to prove the rationality and necessity of the capitalist form of society, scholars have tried to make a case for acquisitiveness, competitiveness, and selfishness as innate ( 榈?) human traits. Popularly, one refers cynically to "human nature" in accepting the inevitability of such undesirable human behavior as GREed, murder, cheating and lying.

Another reason for skepticism about the concept of human nature probably lies in the influence of evolutionary thinking. Once man came to be seen as developing in the process of evolution, the idea of a substance which is contained in his essence seemed untenable. Yet I believe it is precisely from an evolutionary standpoint that we can expect new insight \into\ the problem of the nature of man.

31. The traditional view of "human nature" was strongly challenged by_____.

A) the emergence of the evolutionary theory

B) the historical approach to man

C) new insight \into\ human behavior

D) the philosophical analysis of slavery

32. According to the passage, anthropologists believe that human beings_____

A) have some traits in common

B) are born with diverse cultures

C) are born without a fixed nature

D) change their characters as they grow up

33. The author mentioned Aristotle, a GREat ancient thinker, in order to_____

A) emphasize that he contributed a lot to defining the concept of "human nature"

B) show that the concept of "human nature" was used to justify social evils

C) prove that he had a profound influence on the concept of "human nature"

D) support the idea that some human traits are acquired

34. The word "untenable" (Line 3) in the last paragraph of the passage most probably means_____

A) invaluable C) changeable

B) imaginable D) indefensible

35. Most philosophers believed that human nature_____

A) is the quality distinguishing man from other animals

B) consists of competitiveness and selfishness

C) is something partly innate and partly acquired

D) consists of rationality and undesirable behavior

Passage Four

Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

Richard Satava, program manager for advanced medical technologies, has been a driving force in bringing virtual reality to medicine, \where\ computers create a "virtual" or simulated environment for surgeons and other medical practitioners.

"With virtual reality we'll be able to put a surgeon in every trench," said Satava. He envisaged a time when soldiers who are wounded fighting overseas are put in mobile surgical units equipped with computers.

The computers would transmit images of the soldiers to surgeons back in the U.S. The surgeons would look at the soldier through virtual reality helmets that contain a small screen displaying the image of the wound. The doctors would guide robotic instruments in the battlefield mobile surgical unit that operate on the soldier.

Although Satava's vision may be years away from standard operating procedure, scientists are proGREssing toward virtual reality surgery. Engineers at an international organization in California are developing a tele-operating device. As surgeons watch a three-dimensional image of the surgery, they move instruments that are connected to a computer, which passes their movements to robotic instruments that perform the surgery. The computer provides, feedback to the surgeon on force, textures, and sound.

These technological wonders may not yet be part of the community hospital setting but increasingly some of the machinery is finding its way \into\ civilian medicine. At Wayne State University Medical School, surgeon Lucia Zamorano takes images of the brain from computerized scans and uses a computer program to produce a 3-D image. She can then maneuver the 3-D image on the computer screen to map the shortest, least invasive surgical path to the rumor. Zamorano is also using technology that attaches a probe to surgical instruments so that she can track their positions. While cutting away a tumor deep in the brain, she watches the movement of her surgical tools in a computer graphics image of the patient's brain taken before surgery.

During these procedures -- operations that are done through small cuts in the body in which a miniature camera and surgical tools are maneuvered -- surgeons are wearing 3-D glasses for a better view. And they are commanding robot surgeons to cut away tissue more accurately than human surgeons can.

Satava says, "We are in the midst of a fundamental change in the field of medicine."

36. According to Richard Satava, the application of virtual reality to medicine _____

A) will enable surgeons to be physically present on every battlefield

B) can raise the spirits of soldiers wounded on the battlefield

C) will GREatly improve medical conditions on the battlefield

D) can shorten the time for operations on soldiers wounded on the battlefield

37. Richard Satava has visions of_____

A) using a remote-control technique to treat wounded soldiers fighting overseas

B) wounded soldiers being saved by doctors wearing virtual reality helmets on the battlefield

C) wounded soldiers being operated on by specially trained surgeons

D) setting up mobile surgical units overseas

38. How is virtual reality surgery performed?

A) It is performed by a computer-designed high precision device.

B) Surgeons wear virtual reality helmets to receive feedback provided by a computer.

C) Surgeons move robotic instruments by means of a computer linked to them.

D) A 3-D image records the movements of the surgeons during the operation.

39. During virtual reality operations, the surgeon can have a better view of the cuts in the body because _____.

A) he is looking at the cuts on a computer screen

B) the cuts can be examined from different angles

C) the cuts have been highly magnified

D) he is wearing 3-D glasses

40. Virtual reality operations are an improvement on conventional surgery in that they

A) cause less pain to the wounded

B) allow the patient to recover more quickly

C) will make human surgeons' work less tedious

D) are done by robot surgeons with GREater precision

Part III Vocabulary (20 minutes)

Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four

choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the ONE answer that best completes the

sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line

through the centre.

41. He suggested that we put the scheme \into\ effect, for it is quite_____.

A) probable C) feasible

B) sustainable D) eligible

42. This book is about how these basic beliefs and values affect important_____ of American life.

A) facets C) formulas

B) formats D) fashions

43. It is one thing to locate oil, but it is quite another to _____ and transport it to the industrial centers.

A) permeate C) distinguish

B) extract D) concentrate

44. Students are expected to be quiet and _____ in an Asian classroom.

A) obedient C) skeptical

B) overwhelming D) subsidiary

45. Our reporter has just called to say that rescue teams will _____ to bring out the trapped miners.

A) effect c) conceive

B) affect D) endeavour

46. The Spanish team, who are not in superb form, will be doing their best next week to_____ themselves on tile German team for last year's defeat.

A) remedy C) revive

B) reproach D) revenge

47. Creating so much confusion, Mason realized he had better make _____ what he was trying to tell the audience.

A) exclusive C) objective

B) explicit D) obscure

48. One of the examination questions_____ me completely and I couldn't answer it.

A) baffled C) provoked

B) mingled D) diverted

49. The vision of that big black car hitting the sidewalk a few feet from us will never be_____from my memory.

A) ejected C) erased

B) escaped D) omitted

50. At present, it is not possible to confirm or to refute the suggestion that there is a causal relationship between the amount of fat we eat and the_____ of heart attacks.

A) incidence C) rupture

B) impetus D) emergence

51. There are many who believe that the use of force_____ political ends can never be justified.

A) in search of C) in view of

B) in pursuit of D) in light of

52. Sometimes the bank manager himself is asked to _____ cheques if his clerks are not sure about them.

A) credit C) certify

B) assure D) access

53. It is believed that the authorities are thinking of _____ new taxes to raise extra revenue.

A) impairing C) invading

B) imposing D) integrating

54. When she heard the bad news, her eyes _____ with tears as she struggled to control her emotions.

A) sparkled C) radiated

B) twinkled D) glittered

55. There are occasions when giving a gift _____ spoken communication, since the message it offers can cut through barriers of language and cultural diversity.

A) overtakes C) surpasses

B) nourishes D) enforces

64. Astronomers at the University of California discovered one of the most distant_____.

A) paradoxes C) galaxies

B) paradises D) shuttles

65. Many GREat scientists _____ their success to hard work.

A) portray C) impart

B) ascribe D) acknowledge

66. The sign set up by the road _____ drivers to a sharp turn.

A) alerts C) pleads

B) refreshes D) diverts

67. The doctors don't_____ that the patient will live much longer.

A) monitor C) articulate

B) manifest D) anticipate

68. Call your doctor for advice if the_____ persist for more than a few days.

A) responses C) symptoms

B) signals D) reflections

69. We find it impossible to_____ with the latest safety regulations.

A) accord C) obey

B) unify D) comply

70. Professor Smith and Professor Brown will _____ in presenting the series of lectures on American literature.

A) alter C) substitute

B) alternate D) exchange

Part IV Error Correction (15 minutes)

Directions: This part consists of a short passage, hz this passage, there are altogether IO mis-takes, one in each numbered line. You may have to change ti word. add a word ordelete a word. Mark out the mistakes and put the corrections in the blanks provided.lf you change a word, cross it out and write the correct word in the corresponding blank. If you add a word, put an insertion mark ( ^ ) in the right place and write the missing word in the blank, lf you delete a word, cross Rout and put a slash (/) in tile blank.

Example:

Television is rapidly becoming the literature of our period 1. time/times/period

Many of the arguments \having\ used for the study of literature as a 2.

school subject are valid for ^ study of television. 3. the

Thomas Malthus published his "Essay on the Principle

of Population" almost 200 years ago. Ever since then,

forecasters have being warning that worldwide famine was S1_____

just around the next corner. The fast-growing population's

demand for food, they warned, would soon exceed their S2_____

supply, leading to widespread food shortages and starvation.

But in reality, the world's total grain harvest has risen

steadily over the years. Except for relative isolated trouble S3_____

spots like present-day Somalia, and occasional years of

good harvests, the world's food crisis has remained just S4_____

around the corner. Most experts believe this can continue

even as if the population doubles by the mid-21st century, S5_____

although feeding I0 billion people will not be easy for

politics, economic and environmental reasons. Optimists S6_____

point to concrete examples of continued improvements

in yield. In Africa, by instance, improved seed, more S7_____

fertilizer and advanced growing practices have more than

double corn and wheat yields in an experiment. Elsewhere, S8_____

rice experts in the Philippines are producing a plant with few S9_____

stems and more seeds. There is no guarantee that plant

breeders can continue to develop new, higher-yielding

crop, but most researchers see their success to date as reason S10_____

for hope.

Part V Writing (30 minutes)

Reduce Waste on Campus

1.有些大学校园浪费现象日益严重

2.浪费的危害

3.杜绝浪费, 从我做起