2014年全国英语六级考试真题
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2014年12月全国英语六级考试真题
Part I Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay explaining why it is unwise to judge a person by their appearance. You can give examples to illustrate your point. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.
Part II Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)
Section A
Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.
1. A) They might be stolen goods. C) They might be faulty products.
B) They might be fake products. D) They might be smuggled goods.
2. A) They are civil servants. C) They are news reporters.
B) They are job applicants. D) They are public speakers.
3. A) The man has decided to quit his computer class.
B) The woman wants to get a degree in administration.
C) A computer degree is a must for administrative work.
D) The man went to change the time of his computer class.
4. A) A lot of contestants participated in the show.
B) The fifth contestant won the biggest prize.
C) It was not as exciting as he had expected.
D) It was sponsored by a car manufacturer.
5. A) Reading a newspaper column. C) Driving from New York to Boston.
B) Looking at a railway timetable. D) Waiting for someone at the airport.
6. A) He wears a coat bought in the mall. C) He had a finger hurt last night.
B) He got a new job at the barbershop. D) He had his hair cut yesterday.
7. A) He cannot appreciate the Picasso exhibition.
B) Even his nephew can draw as well as Picasso.
C) He is not quite impressed with modern paintings.
D) Some drawings by kindergarten kids are excellent.
8. A) He should not put the cart before the horse.
B) His conduct does not square with his words.
C) His attitude to student government has changed.
D) He has long been involved in student government.
Questions 9 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
9. A) She left her own car in Manchester. C) She wants to go traveling on the weekend.
B) Something went wrong with her car. D) Her car won’t be back in a week’s time.
10. A) Safety. C) Size.
B) Comfort. D) Cost.
11. A) Third-party insurance. C) Petrol.
B) Value-added tax. D) CDW.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
12. A) How to update the basic facilities. C) Where to locate their plant.
B) What to do to enhance their position. D) How to attract investments.
13. A) Their road link to other European countries is fast.
B) They are all located in the south of France.
C) They are very close to each other.
D) Their basic facilities are good.
14. A) Try to avoid making a hasty decision. C) Talk with the local authorities.
B) Take advantage of the train links . D) Conduct field surveys first.
15. A)Future product distribution. C) Road and rail links for small towns.
B) Local employment policies. D) Skilled workforce in the hilly region.
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 D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
16. A) One fifth of them were on bad terms with their sisters and brothers.
B) About one eighth of them admitted to lingering bitter feelings.
C) More than half of them were involved in inheritance disputes.
D) Most of them had broken with their sisters and brothers.
17. A) Less concern with money matters. C) Advance in age.
B) More experience in worldly affairs. D) Freedom from work.
18. A) They have little time left to renew contact with their brothers and sisters.
B) They tend to forget past unhappy memories and focus on their present needs.
C) They are more tolerant of one another.
D) They find close relatives more reliable.
Passage Two
Questions 19 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.
19. A) They have bright colors and intricate patterns.
B) They can only survive in parts of the Americas.
C) They are the only insect that migrates along fixed routes.
D) They have strong wings capable of flying long distances.
20. A) In a Michigan mountain forest. C) In a Kentucky mountain forest.
B) In a Louisiana mountain forest. D) In a Mexican mountain forest.
21. A) Each flock of butterflies lays eggs in the same states.
B) They start to lay eggs when they are nine months old.
C) Each generation in a cycle lays eggs at a different place.
D) Only the strongest can reach their destination to lay eggs.
22. A) Evolution of monarch butterflies.
B) Living habits of monarch butterflies.
C) Migration patterns of monarch butterflies.
D) Environmental impacts on monarch butterfly life.
Passage Three
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
23. A) Time has become more limited. C) Time is money.
B) Time has become more precious. D) Time is relative.
24. A) Americans now attach more importance to the effective use of time.
B) Americans today have more free time than earlier generations.
C) The number of hours Americans work has increased steadily.
D) More and more Americans feel pressed for time nowadays.
25. A) Our interpersonal relationships improve. C) Our living habits are altered.
B) Our work efficiency increases greatly. D) Our behavior is changed.
Section C
Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks with the exact words you have just heard. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.
The first copyright law in the United States was passed by Congress in 1790. In 1976 Congress enacted the latest copyright law, (26) __________ the technological developments that had occurred since the passage of the Copyright Act of 1909. For example, in 1909, anyone who wanted to make a single copy of a (27) __________ work for personal use had to do so by hand. The very process (28) __________ a limitation on the quantity of materials copied. Today, a photocopier can do the work in seconds; the limitation has disappeared. The 1909 law did not provide full protection for films and sound recordings, nor did it (29) __________ the need to protect radio and television. As a result, (30) __________ of the law and abuses of the intent of the law have lessened the (31) __________ rewards of authors, artists, and producers. The 1976 Copyright Act has not prevented these abuses fully, but it has clarified the legal rights of the injured parties and given them an (32) __________ for remedy.
Since 1976 the Act has been (33) __________ to include computer software, and guidelines have been adopted for fair use of television broadcasts. These changes have cleared up much of the confusion and conflict that followed (34) __________ the 1976 legislation.
The fine points of the law are decided by the courts and by acceptable common practice over time. As these decisions and agreements are made, we modify our behavior accordingly. For now, we need to (35) __________ the law and its guidelines as accurately as we can and to act in a fair manner.
Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)
Section A
Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
Questions 36 to 45 are based on the following passage.
For investors who desire low risk and guaranteed income, U.S. government bonds are a secure investment because these bonds have the financial backing and full faith and credit of the federal government. Municipal bonds, also secure, are offered by local governments and often have ___36___ such as tax-free interest. Some may even be ___37___. Corporate bonds are a bit more risky.
Two questions often ___38___ first-time corporate bond investors. The first is “If I purchase a corporate bond, do I have to hold it until the maturity date?” The answer is no. Bonds are bought and sold daily on ___39___ securities exchanges. However, if you decide to sell your bond before its maturity date, you’re not guaranteed to get the face value of the bond. For example, if your bond does not have ___40___ that make it attractive to other investors, you may be forced to sell your bond at a ___41___, i.e., a price less than the bond’s face value. But if your bond is highly valued by other investors, you may be able to sell it at a premium, i.e., a price above its face value. Bond prices generally ___42___ inversely (相反地) with current market interest rates. As interest rates go up, bond prices fall, and vice versa(反之亦然). Thus, like all investments, bonds have a degree of risk.
The second question is “How can I ___43___ the investment risk of a particular bond issue?” Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service rate the level of risk of many corporate and government bonds. And ___44___, the higher the market risk of a bond, the higher the interest rate. Investors will invest in a bond considered risky only if the ___45___ return is high enough.
A) advantages I) fluctuate
B) assess J) indefinite
C) bother K) insured
D) conserved L) major
E) deduction M) naturally
F) discount N) potential
G) embarrass O) simultaneously
H) features
Section B
Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.
Lessons from a Feminist Paradise
A) On the surface, Sweden appears to be a feminist paradise. Look at any global survey of gender equality and Sweden will be near the top. Family-friendly policies are its norm—with 16 months of paid parental leave, special protections for part-time workers and state-subsidized preschools where, according to a government website, “gender-awareness education is increasingly common.” Due to an unofficial quota system, women hold 45 percent of positions in the Swedish parliament. They have enjoyed the protection of government agencies with titles like the Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality and the Secretariat of Gender Research. So why are American women so far ahead of their Swedish counterparts in breaking through the glass ceiling?
B) In a 2012 report, the World Economic Forum found that when it comes to closing the gender gap in “economic participation and opportunity,” the United States is ahead of not only Sweden but also Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Iceland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Sweden’s rank in the report can largely be explained by its political quota system. Though the United States has fewer women in the workforce (68 percent compared to Sweden’s 77 percent), American women who choose to be employed are far more likely to work full-time and to hold high-level jobs as managers or professionals. They also own more businesses, launch more start-ups(新创办的企业) and more often work in traditionally male fields. As for breaking through the glass ceiling in business, American women are well in the lead.
C) What explains the American advantage? How can it be that societies like Sweden, where gender equality is vigorously pursued and enforced, have fewer female managers, executives, professionals, and business owners than the laissez-faire (自由放任的) United States? A new study by Cornell economists Francine Blau and Lawrence Kahn gives an explanation.
D) Generous parental leave policies and readily available part-time options have unintended consequences: instead of strengthening women’s attachment to the workplace, they appear to weaken it. In addition to a 16-month leave, a Swedish parent has the right to work six hours a day (for a reduced salary) until his or her child is eight years old. Mothers are far more likely than fathers to take advantage of this law. But extended leaves and part-time employment are known to be harmful to careers—for both genders. And with women a second factor comes into play: most seem to enjoy the flexible-time arrangement (once known as the “mommy track”) and never find their way back to full-time or high-level employment. In sum: generous family-friendly policies do keep more women in the labor market, but they also tend to diminish their careers.
E) According to Blau and Kahn, Swedish-style paternal (父亲的) leave policies and flexible-time arrangements pose a second threat to women’s progress: they make employers cautious about hiring women for full-time positions at all. Offering a job to a man is the safer bet. He is far less likely to take a year of parental leave and then return on a reduced work schedule for the next eight years.
F) I became aware of the trials of career-focused European women a few years ago when I met a post-doctoral student from Germany who was then a visiting fellow at Johns Hopkins. She was astonished by the professional possibilities afforded to young American women. Her best hope in Germany was a government job—prospects for women in the private sector were dim. “In Germany,” she told me, “we have all the benefits, but employers don’t want to hire us.”
G) Swedish economists Magnus Henrekson and Mikael Stenkula addressed the following question in their 2009 study: why are there so few female top executives in the European egalitarian (平等主义的) welfare states? Their answer: “Broad-based welfare-state policies hinder women’s representation in elite competitive positions.”
H) It is tempting to declare the Swedish policies regressive (退步的) and hail the American system as superior. But that would be shortsighted. The Swedes can certainly take a lesson from the United States and look for ways to clear a path for their ambitious female careerists. But most women are not committed careerists. When the Pew Research Center recently asked American parents to identify their “ideal” life arrangement, 47 percent of mothers said they would prefer to work part-time and 20 percent said they would prefer not to work at all. Fathers answered differently: 75 percent preferred full-time work. Some version of the Swedish system might work well for a majority of American parents, but the United States is unlikely to fully embrace the Swedish model. Still, we can learn from their experience.
I) Despite its failure to shatter the glass ceiling, Sweden has one of the most powerful and innovative economies in the world. In its 2011-2012 survey, the World Economic Forum ranked Sweden as the world’s third most competitive economy; the United States came in fifth. Sweden, dubbed the “rockstar of the recovery” in the Washington Post, also leads the world in life satisfaction and happiness. It is a society well worth studying, and its efforts to conquer the gender gap impart a vital lesson—though not the lesson the Swedes had in mind.
J) Sweden has gone farther than any other nation on earth to integrate the sexes and to offer women the same opportunities and freedoms as men. For decades, these descendants of the Vikings have been trying to show the world that the right mix of enlightened policy, consciousness raising, and non-sexist child rearing would close the gender divide once and for all. Yet the divide persists.
K) A 2012 press release from Statistics Sweden bears the title “Gender Equality in Sweden Treading Water” and notes:
· The total income from employment for all ages is lower for women than for men.
· One in three employed women and one in ten employed men work part-time.
· Women’s working time is influenced by the number and age of their children, but men’s working time is not affected by these factors.
· Of all employees, only 13 percent of the women and 12 percent of the men have occupations with an even distribution of the sexes.
L) Confronted with such facts, some Swedish activists and legislators are demanding more extreme and far-reaching measures, such as replacing male and female pronouns with a neutral alternative and monitoring children more closely to correct them when they gravitate (被吸引) toward gendered play. When it came to light last year that mothers, far more than fathers, chose to stay home from work to care for their sick kids, Ulf Kristersson, minister of social security, quickly commissioned a study to determine the causes of and possible cures for this disturbing state of affairs.
M) Swedish family policies, by accommodating women’s preferences effectively, are reducing the number of women in elite competitive positions. The Swedes will find this paradoxical and try to find solutions. Let us hope these do not include banning gender pronouns, policing children’s play, implementing more gender quotas, or treating women’s special attachment to home and family as a social injustice. Most mothers do not aspire to (向往) elite, competitive full-time positions: the Swedish policies have given them the freedom and opportunity to live the lives they prefer. Americans should look past the gender rhetoric and consider what these Scandinavians have achieved. On their way to creating a feminist paradise, the Swedes have unintentionally created a haven (避风港) for normal mortals.
46. Sweden has done more than other nations to close the gender gap, but it continues to exist.
47. Sweden is one of the most competitive economies in the world and its people enjoy the greatest life satisfaction.
48. More American women hold elite job positions in business than Swedish women.
49. Swedish family-friendly policies tend to exert a negative influence on women’s careers.
50. The quota system in Sweden ensures women’s better representation in government.
51. Though the Swedish model appears workable for most American parents, it may not be accepted by them in its entirety.
52. Swedish women are allowed the freedom and opportunity to choose their own way of life.
53. Swedish employers are hesitant about hiring women for full-time positions because of the family-friendly policies.
54. Gender-awareness education is becoming more and more popular in state-subsidized preschools in Sweden.
55. Some lawmakers in Sweden propose that genderless pronouns be used in the Swedish language.
Section C
Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. 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 Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.
Texting has long been bemoaned (哀叹) as the downfall of the written word, “penmanship for illiterates,” as one critic called it. To which the proper response is LOL. Texting properly isn’t writing at all. It’s a “spoken” language that is getting richer and more complex by the year.
First, some historical perspective. Writing was only invented 5,500 years ago, whereas language probably traces back at least 80,000 years. Thus talking came first; writing is just a craft that came along later. As such, the first writing was based on the way people talk, with short sentences. However, while talking is largely subconscious and rapid, writing is deliberate and slow. Over time, writers took advantage of this and started crafting long-winded sentences such as this one: “The whole engagement lasted above 12 hours, till the gradual retreat of the Persians was changed into a disorderly flight, of which the shameful example was given by the principal leaders and...”
No one talks like that casually—or should. But it is natural to desire to do so for special occasions. In the old days, we didn’t much write like talking because there was no mechanism to reproduce the speed of conversation. But texting and instant messaging do—and a revolution has begun. It involves the crude mechanics of writing, but in its economy, spontaneity and even vulgarity, texting is actually a new kind of talking, with its own kind of grammar and conventions.
Take LOL. It doesn’t actually mean “laughing out loud” in a literal sense anymore. LOL has evolved into something much subtler and sophisticated and is used even when nothing is remotely amusing. Jocelyn texts “Where have you been?” and Annabelle texts back “LOL at the library studying for two hours.” LOL signals basic empathy (同感) between texters, easing tension and creating a sense of equality. Instead of having a literal meaning, it does something—conveying an attitude—just like the -ed ending conveys past tense rather than “meaning” anything. LOL, of all things, is grammar.
Of course no one thinks about that consciously. But then most of communication operates without being noticed. Over time, the meaning of a word or an expression drifts—meat used to mean any kind of food, silly used to mean, believe it or not, blessed.
Civilization, then, is fine—people banging away on their smartphones are fluently using a code separate from the one they use in actual writing, and there is no evidence that texting is ruining composition skills. Worldwide people speak differently from the way they write, and texting—quick, casual and only intended to be read once—is actually a way of talking with your fingers.
56. What do critics say about texting?
A) It is mainly confined to youngsters. C) It will ruin the written language.
B) It competes with traditional writing. D) It is often hard to understand.
57. In what way does the author say writing is different from talking?
A) It is crafted with specific skills. C) It does not have as long a history.
B) It expresses ideas more accurately. D) It is not as easy to comprehend.
58. Why is LOL much used in texting?
A) It brings texters closer to each other. C) It is a trendy way to communicate.
B) It shows the texter’s sophistication. D) It adds to the humor of the text.
59. Examples like meat and silly are cited to show ________.
A) the difference between writing and talking
B) how differently words are used in texting
C) why people use the words the way they do
D) the gradual change of word meaning
60. What does the author think of texting?
A) It facilitates exchange of ideas among people.
B) It is a new form of verbal communication.
C) It deteriorates people’s composition skills.
D) It hastens the decline of the written word.
Passage Two
Questions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.
It’s possible to admire Oprah Winfrey and still wish Harvard hadn’t awarded her an honorary doctor of law degree and the commencement (毕业典礼) speaker spot at yesterday’s graduation. There’s no question Oprah’s achievements place her in the temple of American success stories. Talent, charm, and an exceptional work ethic have rarely hurled anyone as far as they have this former abused teenage mother from rural Mississippi who became one of the world’s most successful entertainment icons and the first African-American female billionaire.
Honorary degrees are often conferred on non-academic leaders in the arts, business, and politics. Harvard’s list in recent years has included Kofi Annan, Bill Gates, Meryl Streep, and David Souter. But Oprah’s particular brand of celebrity is not a good fit for the values of a university whose motto (座右铭), Veritas, means truth. Oprah’s passionate advocacy extends, unfortunately, to a hearty embrace of fake science. Most notoriously, Oprah’s validation of Jenny McCarthy’s claim that vaccines cause autism (自闭症) has no doubt contributed to much harm through the foolish avoidance of vaccines.
Famous people are entitled to a few failings, like the rest of us, and the choice of commencement speakers often reflects a balance of institutional priorities and aspirations. Judging from our conversations with many students, Oprah was a widely popular choice.
But this vote of confidence in Oprah sends a troubling message at precisely the time when American universities need to do more to advance the cause of reason. As former Dean of Harvard College, Harry Lewis, noted in a blog post about his objections, “It seems very odd for Harvard to honor such a high profile popularizer of the irrational... at a time when political and religious nonsense so jeopardize the rule of reason in this allegedly enlightened democracy and around the world.”
As America’s oldest and most visible university, Harvard has a special opportunity to convey its respect for science not only through its research and teaching programs but also in its public affirmation of evidence-based inquiry.
Unfortunately, many American universities seem awfully busy protecting their brand name and not nearly busy enough protecting the pursuit of knowledge. A recent article in The Harvard Crimson noted the shocking growth of Harvard’s public relations arm in the last five years and it questioned whether a focus on risk management and avoiding controversy was really the best outward-looking face of this great institution.
As American research universities begin to resemble profit centers and entertainment complexes, it’s easy to lose sight of their primary mission: to produce and spread knowledge. This mission depends on traditions of rational discourse and vigorous defense of the scientific method. Oprah Winfrey’s honorary doctorate was a step in the wrong direction.
61. What do we learn about Oprah Winfrey from the passage?
A) She was a distinguished graduate of Harvard School of Law.
B) She worked her way to success in the entertainment industry.
C) She used to abuse her children when she was a young mother.
D) She achieved her fame through persistent advocacy of fake science.
62. Why does the author deem it inappropriate for Harvard to confer an honorary degree on Oprah Winfrey?
A) She did not specialize in the study of law.
B) She was known as a supporter of fake science.
C) She was an icon of the entertainment industry.
D) She had not distinguished herself academically.
63. How did Harry Lewis react to Harvard’s decision in his blog post?
A) He was strongly against it.
B) He considered it unpopular.
C) He thought it would help enhance Harvard’s reputation.
D) He thought it represented the will of the Harvard community.
64. What is the author’s regret about many American universities?
A) They show inadequate respect for evidence-based inquiry.
B) They fall short of expectations in teaching and research.
C) They attach too much importance to public relations.
D) They are tolerant of political and religious nonsense.
65. What does the author think a prestigious university like Harvard should focus on?
A) Cultivation of student creativity. C) Liberation of the human mind.
B) Defense of the scientific method. D) Pursuit of knowledge and truth.
Part IV Translation (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.
北京计划未来三年投资7,600亿元治理污染，从减少PM2.5排放入手。这一新公布的计划旨在减少四种主要污染源，包括500多万辆机动车的尾气(exhaust)排放、周边地区燃煤、来自北方的沙尘暴和本地的建筑灰尘。另有850亿元用于新建或升级城市垃圾处理和污水(sewage)处理设施，加上300亿元投资未来三年的植树造林(forestation)。
市政府还计划建造一批水循环利用工厂，并制止违章建筑，以改善环境。另外，北京还将更严厉地处罚违反限排规定的行为。
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