教育部最新2013年12月英语六级考试改革样题及答案

Part I

2013年12月大学英语六级考试改革样题及答案 Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting

on the remark “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” You can cite examples to illustrate your point. You should write at least words but no more than your essay on Answer Sheet 1.

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.

To understand why we should be concerned about how young people read, it helps to know something about the way the ability to read evolved. Unlike the ability to understand and produce spoken language, the ability to read must be painstakingly 36 by each individual. The “reading circuits” we construct in the brain can be 37 or they can be robust, depending on how often and how we use them. The deep reader enters a state of hypnotic trance (心醉神迷的状态). When readers are enjoying the experience the most, the pace of their reading slows. The combination of fast, fluent decoding of words and slow, unhurried progress on the page gives deep readers time to enrich their reading with reflection and analysis. It gives them time to establish an 40 relationship with the author, the two of them 41 in a long and warm conversation like people falling in love.

This is not reading as many young people know it. Their reading is instrumental: the difference between what literary critic Frank Kermode calls “carnal (肉体的) reading” and “spiritual reading.” If we allow our offspring to believe carnal reading is all there is — if we don’t open the door to spiritual reading, through an early 42 on discipline and practice — we will have 43 them of an enjoyable experience they would not otherwise encounter. Observing young people’s 44 to digital

devices, some progressive educators talk about “meeting kids where they are,” molding instruction around their onscreen habits. This is mistaken. We need, they’ve never been, a place only deep reading can take them.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 2 上作答。

H) insistence

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.

Into the Unknown

“worldageing” “Averting

alarm. They had titles like vs Old, Gray and The Generational Storm, and their message was blunt: systems heading for the young

such as the OECD and the Economic Forum plans to the of and health care at itsprestigious Davos conference next The

in countries now accept that theirpension will unaffordable, of next rush to that

[E] The outline of the is clear. To fiscal () taxes may have to go far the most method pension revenues and reduces on pensions at time. may keep AARP’s studies showing that being equal, who at have

[F] Younger people mostly accept that they will have to for and of ones choose from, partly thanks to the partly because the past few decades many more have the employers’

have emerged (and that shortage is it is a useful In it about 40% of population growth, and in about 90%.

will boost tax and keepup economic over the next immigrants would to enormously to to at least Europe’s [I] To tackle the problem of ageing populations at its root, “old” countries would numberof tried, some more successfully it is a of financial or child

[J]world, not quite a while yet, but the will a place. societies may be and 50— if in future there are many more of them they might start doing so.

children 11 European countries, Hank of University found that of them lived of and the majority of them were in touch at least once a week.

of other ways Richard Jackson and Neil Howe of in a The Graying of the Great Powersthings, the of the developed countries will have anumber of security implications.

the shortage ofyoung is to make defence America’s country that still matters geopolitically (地缘政治上).

Ask me in 2020

given the right the though needbe catastrophic. countries have recognised need to do beginning to act.

is Ronald Lee, the “We don’t like, because nobody has done it yet.”

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 2 上作答。

46. Employers should realise it is important to keep older workers in the workforce.

47. A recent study found that most old people in some European countries had

regular weekly contact with their adult children.

48. Few governments in rich countries have launched bold reforms to tackle the

problem of population ageing.

49. In a report published some 20 years ago, the sustainability of old-age pension

systems in most countries was called into doubt.

50. Countries that have a shortage of young adults will be less willing to send them to

war.

51. One-child families are more common in ageing societies due to the stress of

urban life and the difficulties of balancing family and career.

52. A series of books, mostly authored by Americans, warned of conflicts between

the older and younger generations.

53. Compared with younger ones, older societies tend to be less innovative and take

fewer risks.

54. The best solution to the pension crisis is to postpone the retirement age.

55. Immigration as a means to boost the shrinking labour force may meet with

resistance in some rich countries.

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.

For most of the 20th century, Asia asked itself what it could learn from the modern, innovating West. Now the question must be reversed: what can the West’s overly indebted and sluggish (经济滞长的) nations learn from a flourishing Asia?

Just a few decades ago, Asia’s two giants were stagnating (停滞不前) under faulty economic ideologies. However, once China began embracing free-market reforms in the 1980s, followed by India in the 1990s, both countries achieved rapid growth. Crucially, as they opened up their markets, they balanced market economy with sensible government direction. As the Indian economist Amartya Sen has wisely said, “The invisible hand of the market has often relied heavily on the visible hand of government.”

Contrast this middle path with America and Europe, which have each gone ideologically overboard in their own ways. Since the 1980s, America has been increasingly clinging to the ideology of uncontrolled free markets and dismissing the role of government—following Ronald Reagan’s idea that “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” Of course, when the markets came crashing down in 2007, it was decisive government intervention that saved the day. Despite this fact, many Americans are still strongly opposed to “big government.”

If Americans could only free themselves from their antigovernment doctrine, they would begin to see that America’s problems are not insoluble. A few sensible federal measures could put the country back on the right path. A simple consumption tax of, say, 5% would significantly reduce the country’s huge government deficit without damaging productivity. A small gasoline tax would help free America from its dependence on oil imports and create incentives for green energy development. In the same way, a significant reduction of wasteful agricultural subsidies could also lower the deficit. But in order to take advantage of these common-sense solutions, Americans will have to put aside their own attachment to the idea of smaller government and less regulation. American politicians will have to develop the courage to follow what is taught in all American public-policy schools: that there are good taxes and bad taxes. Asian countries have embraced this wisdom, and have built sound long-term fiscal (财政的) policies as a result.

Meanwhile, Europe has fallen prey to a different ideological trap: the belief that European governments would always have infinite resources and could continue borrowing as if there were no tomorrow. Unlike the Americans, who felt that the markets knew best, the Europeans failed to anticipate how the markets would react to their endless borrowing. Today, the European Union is creating a $580 billion fund to ward off sovereign collapse. This will buy the EU time, but it will not solve the bloc’s larger problem.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 2 上作答。

56. What has contributed to the rapid economic growth in China and India?

A) Free market plus government intervention.

B) Heavy reliance on the hand of government.

C) Copying western-style economic behavior.

D) Timely reform of government at all levels.

57. What does Ronald Reagan mean by saying “government is the problem” (Line 5, Para. 3)?

A) Government action is key to solving economic problems.

B) Many social problems arise from government inefficiency.

C) Many social ills are caused by wrong government policies.

D) Government regulation hinders economic development.

58. What stopped the American economy from collapsing in 2007?

A) Cooperation between the government and businesses.

B) Self-regulatory repair mechanisms of the free market.

C) Effective measures adopted by the government.

D) Abandonment of big government by the public.

59. What is the author’s suggestion to the American public in face of the government deficit?

A) They give up the idea of smaller government and less regulation.

B) They put up with the inevitable sharp increase of different taxes.

C) They urge the government to revise its existing public policies.

D) They develop green energy to avoid dependence on oil import.

60. What is the problem with the European Union?

A) Conservative ideology. C) Lack of resources.

B) Excessive borrowing. D) Shrinking market.

Passage Two

Questions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.

typicallecture theatre In it a will now see plenty more — of

It therefore, to think that the old and achieved. But, and are common

it not helped to So can be done to create more keylies intheprocess which MBA programmes their on a fairly such as that origin and sex can all becomefactors. a diversity of attitude and — the as consultancyand have backgrounds in areas suchas

to be a demand create.Astudy by Mannaz, a leadership whilethe chief of may — to isthe interest large companies in thehard of leadership and encourage

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 2 上作答。

61. What characterises the business school student population of today?

A) Greater diversity. C) Exceptional diligence.

B) Intellectual maturity. D) Higher ambition.

62. What is the author’s concern about current business school education?

A) It will arouse students’ unrealistic expectations.

B) It stresses competition rather than cooperation.

C) It focuses on theory rather than on practical skills.

D) It will produce business leaders of a uniform style.

63. What aspect of diversity does Valerie Gauthier think is most important?

A) Attitude and approach to business.

B) Social and professional experience.

C) Age and educational background.

D) Ethnic origin and gender.

64. What applicants does the author think MBA programmes should consider recruiting?

A) Applicants with prior experience in corporate activities.

B) Applicants with sound knowledge in math and statistics.

C) Applicants from less developed regions and areas.

D) Applicants from outside the traditional sectors.

65. What does Mannaz say about the current management style?

A) It is eradicating the tough aspects of management.

B) It is shifting towards more collaborative models.

C) It adopts the bully-boy chief executive model.

D) It encourages male and female executives to work side by side.

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.

，从农历（）

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 2 上作答。

参考答案

Part II

Section A

1. D

6. A

11. D

Listening Comprehension 2. A 7. D 12. C 3. C 8. C 13. B 4. B 9. C 14. A 5. D 10. A 15. B

Section B

16. B

21. B

17. C 22. C 18. D 23. A 19. C 24. B 20. D 25. C

Section C

26. intelligent

28. romantic

30. are deprived of

32. is linked to

34. statistically

27. foundations 29. profound 31. well-being 33. scores of 35. vulnerable

Part III

Section A

36. A

41. E

Reading Comprehension 37. F 42. H 38. O 43. D 39. B 44. C 40. I 45. L

Section B

46. F

51. I

47. K 52. B 48. D 53. J 49. A 54. E 50. M 55. H

Section C

56. A

61. A

57. D 62. D 58. C 63. A 59. A 64. D 60. B 65. B

Part IV

Translation

Chinese New Year is the most important traditional Chinese holiday. In China, it is also known as the Spring Festival. New Year celebrations run from Chinese New Year’s Eve, the last day of the last month of the lunar calendar, to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month. Customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese New Year vary widely from place to place. However, New Year’s Eve is usually an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean the house in order to sweep away ill fortune and to bring in good luck. And doors will be decorated with red couplets with themes of health, wealth and good luck. Other activities include lighting firecrackers, giving money in red envelopes, and visiting relatives and friends.