1995年6月大学英语六级考试试题及参考答案

时间:2008-08-12 08:46:37 来源:英语学习网站

Part I Listening Comprehension (20 minutes)

Section A

1. A) Enjoyable.

B) Inspiring.

C) Moving.

D) Dull. ( D )

2. A) It will take about one month to repair the watch.

B) The woman should have saved more money.

C) It is a good idea to keep the old watch.

D) The watch is no longer worth repairing. ( D )

3. A) Arguing.

B) Protesting.

C) Complaining.

D) Bargaining. ( C )

4. A) Families with cars.

B) American’s heavy dependence on cars.

C) Roads and highways.

D) Traffic problems in America. ( B )

5. A) The apples and pears might not be so good.

B) The apples are not as good as the pears.

C) The apples and pears are very good.

D) The apples and pears are as good as they look. ( A )

6. A) Her teaching assistant would grade the exam papers.

B) She would collect the exam papers herself.

C) She would mark the exam papers herself.

D) She would not give her students an exam. ( C )

7. A) She could help him with the problems.

B) He should go out for while.

C) She could go out together with him.

D) He should do the problems himself. ( A )

8. A) Customer and salesman.

B) Colleagues.

C) Employee and boss.

D) Classmates. ( B )

9. A) The first house they saw is too expensive.

B) They may save some money for the time being.

C) She is happy with the price set by the seller.

D) Less money will be spent in maintaining the house. ( D )

10. A) It was probably Mr. Brown’s phone number that the woman wrote down.

B) It was just an hour ago that the man met Mr. Brown.

C) The woman forgot to write down the phone number.

D) The woman needed a sheet of paper to put down the number. ( A )

Section B Passage One

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

11. A) Because they were driven by steam power.

B) Because they did the work that animals used to do.

C) Because they pulled cars full of coal.

D) Because they were made of iron. ( B )

12. A) He wanted the railroad to be successful.

B) He wanted to have a more powerful steam engine.

C) He wanted to own the land near the railroad.

D) He wanted to build his own railroads. ( A )

13. A) Because the train could not run as fast as the horse.

B) Because the engine failed to build up steam.

C) Because the engine broke down and the train stopped.

D) Because the engine broke into several parts. ( C )

Passage Two

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

14. A) Love.

B) Conflict.

C) Violence.

D) Mystery. ( B )

15. A) The main character remains the same.

B) The main character dies in the end.

C) The main character gains his ends.

D) The main character undergoes a change. ( D )

16. A) We can learn how bad persons can improve themselves.

B) We can learn how to deal with people.

C) We can understand life a little better.

D) We can find better ways to cope with conflicts. ( C )

Passage Three

Questions 17 to 24 are based on the following passage.

17. A) Because both have a limited supply of air, water, and other resources.

B) Because the Earth moves around the sun as fast as spaceship.

C) Because we can travel to outer space.

D) Because the Earth never stops moving. ( A )

18. A) About 80 miles per second.

B) About 70 miles per second.

C) About 18 miles per second.

D) About 17 miles per second. ( C )

19. A) Because the Earth is heavily polluted.

B) Because nature cannot recycle its resources.

C) Because there are more and more people living on the Earth.

D) Because no more new resources can be added. ( D )

20. A) Nature has changed our environment over the years.

B) We must avoid wasting resources and polluting our environment.

C) Our resources are nearly used up.

D) Trips to other planets will help eliminate pollution. ( B )

Part II Reading Comprehension (35 minutes)

Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

A new era is upon us. Call it what you will: the service economy, the information age, the knowledge society. It all translates to a fundamental change in the way we work. Already we’re partly there. The percentage of people who earn their living by making things has fallen dramatically in the Western World. Today the majority of jobs in America, Europe and Japan (two thirds or more in many of these countries) are in the service industry, and the number is on the rise. More women are in the work force than ever before. There are more part-time jobs. More people are self-employed. But the breadth of the economic transformation can’t be measured by numbers alone, because it also is giving rise to a radical new way of thinking about the nature of work itself. Long-held notions about jobs and careers, the skills needed to succeed, even the relation between individuals and employers—all these are being challenged.

We have only to look behind us to get some sense of what may lie ahead. No one looking ahead 20 years possibly could have foreseen the ways in which a single invention, the chip ( 集成块 ), would transform our world thanks to its applications in personal computers, digital communications and factory robots. Tomorrow’s achievements in biotechnology, artificial intelligence or even some still unimagined technology could produce a similar wave of dramatic changes. But one thing is certain: information and knowledge will become even more vital, and the people who possess it, whether they work in manufacturing or services, will have the advantage and produce the wealth. Computer knowledge will become as basic a requirement as the ability to read and write. The ability to solve problems by applying information instead of performing routine tasks will be valued above all else. If you cast your mind ahead 10 years, information services will be predominant. It will be the way you do your job.

21. A characteristic of the information age is that ________.

A) the service industry is relying more and more on the female work force

B) manufacturing industries are steadily increasing

C) people find it harder and harder to earn a living by working in factories

D) most of the job opportunities can now be found in the service industry ( D )

22. One of the great changes brought about by the knowledge society is that ________.

A) the difference between the employee and the employer has become insignificant

B) people’s traditional concepts about work no longer hold true

C) most people have to take part-time jobs

D) people have to change their jobs from time to time ( B )

23. By referring to computers and other inventions, the author means to say that ________.

A) people should be able to respond quickly to the advancement of technology

B) future achievements in technology will bring about inconceivable dramatic changes

C) the importance of high technology has been overlooked

D) computer science will play a leading role in the future information services ( B )

24. The future will probably belong to those who ________.

A) possess and know how to make use of information

B) give full play to their brain potential

C) involve themselves in service industries

D) cast their minds ahead instead of looking back ( A )

25. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A) Computers and the Knowledge Society

B) Service Industries in Modern Society

C) Features and Implications of the New Era

D) Rapid Advancement of Information Technology ( C )

Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.

Beauty has always been regarded as something praiseworthy. Almost everyone thinks attractive people are happier and healthier, have better marriages and have more respectable occupations. Personal consultants give them better advice for finding jobs. Even judges are softer on attractive defendants ( 被告 ). But in the executive circle, beauty can become a liability.

While attractiveness is a positive factor for a man on his way up the executive ladder, it is harmful to a woman.

Handsome male executives were perceived as having more integrity than plainer men; effort and ability were thought to account for their success.

Attractive female executives were considered to have less integrity than unattractive ones; their success was attributed not to ability but to factors such as luck.

All unattractive women executives were thought to have more integrity and to be more capable than the attractive female executives. Interestingly, though, the rise of the unattractive overnight successes was attributed more to personal relationships and less to ability than was that of attractive overnight successes.

Why are attractive women not thought to be able? An attractive woman is perceived to be more feminine ( 女性的 ) and an attractive man more masculine ( 男性的 ) than the less attractive ones. Thus, an attractive woman has an advantage in traditionally female jobs, but an attractive woman in a traditionally masculine position appears to lack the “masculine” qualities required.

This is true even in politics. “When the only clue is how he or she looks, people treat men and women differently,” says Ann Bowman, who recently published a study on the effects of attractiveness on political candidates. She asked 125 undergraduates to rank two groups of photographs, one of men and one of women, in order of attractiveness. The students were told the photographs were of candidates for political offices. They were asked to rank them again, in the order they would vote for them.

The results showed that attractive males utterly defeated unattractive men, but the women who had been ranked most attractive invariably received the fewest votes.

26. The word “liability” (Para. 1. Line 4) most probably means “________”.

A) misfortune

B) instability

C) disadvantage

D) burden ( C )

27. In traditionally female jobs, attractiveness ________.

A) reinforces the feminine qualities required

B) makes women look more honest and capable

C) is of primary importance to women

D) often enables women to succeed quickly ( A )

28. Bowman’s experiment reveals that when it comes to politics, attractiveness ________.

A) turns out to be an obstacle

B) affects men and women alike

C) has as little effect on men as on women

D) is more of an obstacle than a benefit to women ( D )

29. It can be inferred from the passage that people’s views on beauty are often ________.

A) practical

B) prejudiced

C) old-fashioned

D) radical ( B )

30. The author writes this passage to ________.

A) discuss the negative aspects of being attractive

B) give advice to job-seekers who are attractive

C) demand equal rights for women

D) emphasize the importance of appearance ( A )

Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

The importance and focus of the interview in the work of the print and broadcast journalist is reflected in several books that have been written on the topic. Most of these books, as well as several chapters, mainly in, but not limited to, journalism and broadcasting handbooks and reporting texts, stress the “how to” aspects of journalistic interviewing rather than the conceptual aspects of the interview, its context, and implications. Much of the “how to” material is based on personal experiences and general impressions. As we know, in journalism as in other fields, much can be learned from the systematic study of professional practice. Such study brings together evidence from which broad generalized principles can be developed.

There is, as has been suggested, a growing body of research literature in journalism and broadcasting, but very little significant attention has been devoted to the study of the interview itself. On the other hand, many general texts as well as numerous research articles on interviewing in fields other than journalism have been written. Many of these books and articles present the theoretical and empirical ( 经验的 ) aspects of the interview as well as the training of the interviewers. Unhappily, this plentiful general literature about interviewing pays little attention to the journalistic interview. The fact that the general literature on interviewing does not deal with the journalistic interview seems to be surprising for two reasons. First, it seems likely that most people in modern Western societies are more familiar, at least in a positive manner, with journalistic interviewing than with any other form of interviewing. Most of us are probably somewhat familiar with the clinical interview, such as that conducted by physicians and psychologists. In these situations the professional person or interviewer is interested in getting information necessary for the diagnosis ( 诊断 ) and treatment of the person seeking help. Another familiar situation is the job interview. However, very few of us have actually been interviewed personally by the mass media, particularly by television. And yet, we have a vivid acquaintance with the journalistic interview by virtue of our roles as readers, listeners, and viewers. Even so, true understanding of the journalistic interview, especially television interviews, requires thoughtful analyses and even study, as this book indicates.

31. The main idea of the first paragraph is that ________.

A) generalized principles for journalistic interviews are the chief concern for writers on journalism

B) importance should be attached to the systematic study of journalistic interviewing

C) concepts and contextual implications are of secondary importance to journalistic interviewing

D) personal experience and general impression should be excluded from journalistic interviews ( B )

32. Much research has been done on interviews in general ________.

A) so the training of journalistic interviewers has likewise been strengthened

B) though the study of the interviewing techniques hasn’t received much attention

C) but journalistic interviewing as a specific field has unfortunately been neglected

D) and there has also been a dramatic growth in the study of journalistic interviewing ( C )

33. Westerners are familiar with the journalistic interview, ________.

A) but most of them wish to stay away from it

B) and many of them hope to be interviewed some day

C) and many of them would like to acquire a true understanding of it

D) but most of them may not have been interviewed in person ( D )

34. Who is the interviewee in a clinical interview?

A) The patient.

B) The physician.

C) The journalist.

D) The psychologist. ( A )

35. The text is most likely a part of a ________.

A) news article

B) journalistic interview

C) research report

D) preface ( D )

Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.

The relationship between the home and market economies has gone through two distinct stages. Early industrialization began the process of transferring some production processes (e.g. clothmaking, sewing and canning foods) from the home to the marketplace. Although the home economy could still produce these goods, the processes were laborious ( 费力的 ) and the market economy was usually more efficient. Soon, the more important second stage was evident-the marketplace began producing goods and services that had never been produced by the home economy, and the home economy was unable to produce them (e.g. Electricity and electrical appliances, the automobile, advanced education, sophisticated medical care). In the second stage, the question of whether the home economy was less efficient in producing these new goods and services was irrelevant; if the family were to enjoy these fruits of industrialization, they would have to be obtained in the marketplace. The traditional ways of taking care of these needs in the home, such as in nursing the sick, became socially unacceptable (and, in most serious cases, probably less successful).

Just as the appearance of the automobile made the use of the horse-drawn carriage illegal and then impractical, and the appearance of television changed the radio from a source of entertainment to a source of background music, so most of the fruits of economic growth did not increase the options available to the home economy to either produce the goods or services or purchase them in the market. Growth brought with it increased variety in consumer goods, but not increased flexibility for the home economy in obtaining these goods and services. Instead, economic growth brought with it increased consumer reliance on the marketplace. In order to consume these new goods and services, the family had to enter the marketplace as wage earners and consumers. The neoclassical ( 新古典主义的 ) model that views the family as deciding whether to produce goods and services directly or to purchase them in the marketplace is basically a model of the first stage. It cannot accurately be applied to the second (and current) stage.

36. The reason why many production processes were taken over by the marketplace was that ________.

A) it was a necessary step in the process of industrialization

B) they depended on electricity available only to the market economy

C) it was troublesome to produce such goods in the home

D) the marketplace was more efficient with respect to these processes ( D )

37. It can be seen from the passage that in the second stage ________.

A) some traditional goods and services were not successful when provided by the home economy

B) the market economy provided new goods and services never produced by the home economy

C) producing traditional goods at home became socially unacceptable

D) whether new goods and services were produced by the home economy became irrelevant ( B )

38. During the second stage, if the family wanted to consume new goods and services, they had to enter the marketplace ________.

A) as wage earners

B) both as manufactures and consumers

C) both as workers and purchasers

D) as customers ( C )

39. Economic growth did not make it more flexible for the home economy to obtain the new goods and services because ________.

A) the family was not efficient in production

B) it was illegal for the home economy to produce them

C) it could not supply them by itself

D) the market for these goods and services was limited ( C )

40. The neoclassical model is basically a model of the first stage, because at this stage ________.

A) the family could rely either on the home economy or on the marketplace for the needed goods and services

B) many production processes were being transferred to the marketplace

C) consumers relied more and more on the market economy

D) the family could decide how to transfer production processes to the marketplace ( A )

Part III Vocabulary and Structure (20 minutes)

41. Sometimes, very young children have trouble ________ fact from fiction and may believe that such things actually exist.

A) for separating

B) to separate

C) having separated

D) separating ( D )

42. The second book was ________ by August 1952, but two years later, the end was still nowhere in sight.

A) completed

B) to have completed

C) to complete

D) to have been completed ( D )

43. Whatever the causes, English at the end of the 20th century is more widely spoken and written than any other language ________.

A) ever was

B) had ever been

C) has ever been

D) would ever be ( C )

44. In this experiment, they are wakened several times during the night and asked to report what they ________.

A) had just been dreaming

B) have just been dreaming

C) are just dreaming

D) had just dreamt ( B )

45. It is of the utmost importance that you ________ here on time.

A) be

B) shall be

C) are to be

D) must be ( A )

46. He might have been killed ________ the arrival of the police.

A) except for

B) but for

C) with

D) for ( B )

47. These figures are not consistent ________ the results obtained in previous experiments.

A) to

B) with

C) for

D) in ( B )

48. The animal has a brain which is nearest ________.

A) in man’s size

B) in size to man

C) in size to man’s

D) to the size in man ( C )

49. The problem of ________ to select as his successor was quickly disposed of.

A) what

B) whom

C) which

D) how ( B )

50. Britain’s press is unusual ________ it is divided into two very different types of newspaper: the quality press and the popular press.

A) in how

B) in what

C) in which

D) in that ( C )

51. Some companies have introduced flexible working time with less emphasis on pressure ________.

A) than more on efficiency

B) and more efficiency

C) and more on efficiency

D) than efficiency ( D )

52. He often sat in small bar drinking considerable more than ________.

A) he was in good health

B) his health was good

C) his good health was

D) was good for his health ( D )

53. All the parts of this washing machine are ________, so that it is very convenient to replace them.

A) normalized

B) modernized

C) mechanized

D) standardized ( D )

54. I was ________ by their kindness and moved to tears.

A) preoccupied

B) embarrassed

C) overwhelmed

D) counseled ( C )

55. In many cultures people who were thought to have the ability to ________ dreams were likely to be highly respected.

A) interpret

B) intervene

C) inherit

D) impart ( A )

56. The person who ________ this type of research deserves our praise.

A) originated

B) manufactured

C) generated

D) estimated ( A )

57. All students in this university are requested to ________ with the regulations.

A) yield

B) comply

C) submit

D) consent ( B )

58. My boss has always attended to the ________ of important business himself.

A) transaction

B) stimulation

C) transition

D) solution ( A )

59. When he applied for a ________ in the office of the local newspaper he was told to see the manager.

A) location

B) profession

C) career

D) position ( D )

60. Human behavior is mostly a product of learning, whereas the behavior of an animal depends mainly on ________.

A) consciousness

B) impulse

C) instinct

D) response ( C )

61. There’s a whole ________ of bills waiting to be paid.

A) stock

B) stack

C) number

D) sequence ( B )

62. To be an inventor, one needs profound knowledge as well as a very ________ imagination.

A) vivid

B) bright

C) living

D) colorful ( A )

63. In Scotland, as in the rest of the United Kingdom, ________ schooling begins at age 5 and ends at age 16.

A) compelling

B) forced

C) obliged

D) compulsory ( D )

64. It is a common theme in many science fiction stories that the world may one day be ________ by insects.

A) broken in

B) run over

C) taken over

D) filled in ( C )

65. A large part of human activity, particularly in relation to the environment, is ________ conditions or events.

A) in response to

B) in favour of

C) in contrast to

D) in excess of ( A )

66. David likes country life and has decided to ________ farming.

A) get along with

B) go back on

C) get hold of

D) go in for ( D )

67. We are ________ faced with the necessity to recognize that having more people implies a lower standard of living.

A) readily

B) smoothly

C) inevitably

D) deliberately ( C )

68. Some people criticize family doctors for ________ too many medicines for minor illnesses.

A) prescribing

B) ordering

C) advising

D) delivering ( A )

69. Communication is the process of ________ a message from a source to an audience via a channel.

A) transmitting

B) submitting

C) transforming

D) switching ( A )

70. Dogs are often praised for their ________; they almost never abandon their masters.

A) faith

B) loyalty

C) trust

D) truthfulness ( B )

Part IV Error Correction (15 minutes)

Directions: This part consists of a short passage. In this passage, there are altogether 10 mistakes, one in each numbered line. You may have to change a word, add a word or delete a word. Mark out the mistakes and put the corrections in the blanks provided. If 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. If you delete a word, cross it and put a slash (/) in the blank.

Example:

Television is rapidly becoming the literature of our periods . 1. time/times/period
Many of the arguments having used for the study of literature as 2. _______\_______
a school subject are valid for ∧ study of television. 3. ______the______

If indeed silence is golden, it is also becoming as rare as gold. It seems that the progresses of man includes a rising volume of noise. (71) In every home a stereo or television will fill the rooms sound, between (72) sunrise and sunset, streets and highways are a constant source of voice from cars, buses, and trucks. You can pass any factory or (73) construction area and the roar of their machinery will make your ears (74) ringing. Music is played in every supermarket, most restaurants, and (75) many offices, big cities of the world are well-known by their noisiness. (76)

Noise pollution is the new side effect of our technological age. Day or night, the sound of the work fills the air. It seems (77) that the smoothing effects of silence are nowhere to be found.

Even the quiet of our careful protected wilderness areas can be (78) invaded at any moment by a passed jet. (79)

We are learning, finally, that silence is a natural resource and must be protected by law. It appears that we all find company in sound, if we all demand a little quiet from time to time. (80)

Part V Writing (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic Should Firecrackers Be Banned? You should write no less than 120 words and you should base your composition on the outline (given in Chinese) below:

1. 有人认为放鞭炮是好事,为什么 ?

2. 有人认为放鞭炮是坏事, 为什么 ?

3. 我的看法。

(Suggested key words: firecrackers 鞭炮 set off/let off 放鞭炮 )

Remember to write your composition neatly.


参考答案

Part I

1. D

2. D

3. C

4. B

5. A

6. C

7. A

8. B

9. D

10. A

11. B

12. A

13. C

14. B

15. D

16. C

17. A

18. C

19. D

20. B

Part II

21. D

22. B

23. B

24. A

25. C

26. C

27. A

28. D

29. B

30. A

31. B

32. C

33. D

34. A

35. D

36. D

37. B

38. C

39. C

40. A

Part III

41. D

42. D

43. C

44. B

45. A

46. B

47. B

48. C

49. B

50. C

51. D

52. D

53. D

54. C

55. A

56. A

57. B

58. A

59. D

60. C

61. B

62. A

63. D

64. C

65. A

66. D

67. C

68. A

69. A

70. B

71. progress 表“进步”时,是不可数名词,故应去掉 es.

72. fill sth with sth 表“用…将某物装满”,是固定用法。故应在 rooms 后加上 with.

73. 根据文章此处应为噪音,故应将 voice 改成 noise.

74. factory 与 their 不对应,故应将其改成 its.

75. make, let, have 等动词只能跟不带 to 的不定式,作宾语补足语。故应将 ringing 改成 ring.

76. 根据全文,此处不应说“因他们的吵闹而闻名”,即把 by 换成 for.

77. 去掉 work 前面的定冠词 the, 因为 work 此处是泛指。

78. 修饰过去分词应该用副词,而不是形容词,故 careful 应为 carefully.

79. 本句中被分词修饰的 jet 是动作 pass 的发出者,也就是说 jet 与 pass 是主动的关系,所以 pass 后应加上 ing 。本句中的从句是一个让步状语从句。而 if 却是“如果”之意,所以最好将其换成 though 或 although.


听力原文

Section A

1. M: I have never seen such an interesting show. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

W: I must admit that I felt sleepy during the two hours.

Q: How did the woman feel about the show?

2. W: I can’t figure out what’s wrong with my watch. It was just a month ago that I had it repaired.

M: Don’t waste your time and money any more. It’s very old watch and it is quite worn out.

Q: What does the man mean?

3. M: Oh, what a morning! You know I had so much work to do and the phone just kept ringing. Three sales people called me this morning.

W: I know how it is. I get a lot of calls, too, even on weekends.

Q: What are the two speakers doing?

4. W: You Americans are funny. It seems as if you were married with cars.

M: Yeah, I guess that’s true. The country is becoming one big highway. I was reading that there are about 4 million miles of roads and highways in this country now.

Q: What are they talking about?

5. W: I intend to buy some fruit for the children. These apples and pears seem to be in season. I’ll get 2 dozen of each.

M: I hope they are as good as they look.

Q: What does the man mean?

6. M: Excuse me, but I didn’t hear clearly what you said. Did you say that your teaching assistant would mark the exam papers?

W: No. I said he would collect the papers. I’ll grade them myself.

Q: What did the woman say about the exam?

7. M: I’m getting absolutely nowhere with Physics problems.

W: How about my going through them with you?

Q: What does the woman mean?

8. W: Hi, Jack, I just came back yesterday. Anything new while I was away?

M: Congratulations, Susan! It’s said you will be promoted to manager and become my immediate boss.

Q: What’s most probably the relationship between the two speakers at the moment?

9. M: Of the two houses we have seen, which one do you think fits our needs better, the first one or the second one?

W: The second one. It seems very expensive. But in the long run, it will save up the money on the maintenance.

Q: What does the woman say about the reason for her choice?

10. W: What a memory I have! I did write down the number on a sheet of paper when I answered the phone this morning. But now the paper has disappeared without any trace.

M: Don’t worry. I’ll be seeing Mr. Brown in an hour.

Q: What do we learn from this conversation?

Section B

Passage One

In the early days of railroads horses pulled the trains. The trains had no engines and no power of their own. Richard Traversic of England invented a steam powered engine in 1840. Soon people were building railroads and steam engines all over the world. Because the steam engine did the work that animals used to do, people called them “Iron Horses”. Peter Copper was a rich American businessman. He owned a lot of land near the Bottomhal and Ohio railroad. He wanted the railroad to be successful. He built his own steam engine to drive along the railroad. Most people traveled in coaches drawn by houses. A coach line challenged Peter Copper to a race.

The day of the race came. At first, the horse was winning the race. Peter Copper’s engine needed time to build up steam. He worked hard to make the train go faster. Soon, he was catching up with the horse. He was going to win the race. Suddenly, one of the parts of the engine broke. The train stopped. The horse rushed ahead. Peter Copper lost the race. Of course, that is not the end of the story. By 1870, railroads extended all across the United States. The Iron Horse had become an important part of American life.

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

11. Why did people call steam engines Iron Horses?

12. Why did Peter Copper build his own steam engine?

13. Why did Peter Copper lose the race?

Passage Two

Hollywood produces many different kinds of films, including mysteries, musicals, love stories and horror films. Different these films may be. They generally have one thing in common conflict. The main character wants something very badly and will do anything to get it. The opponent tries to stop the main character from achieving his goal. This opposition creates conflict and conflict is the heart of drama. To give an example. Let’s say the main character is a young man of humble origin, who wants to marry the beautiful daughter of a rich banker. The father thinks the young man is unworthy of his daughter and he does not allow her to see him. The young man, who is very much in love, refuses to give up without a fight. The conflict between the young man and the girl’s father is what makes the story interesting. It forces the main characters to take action and through their action we see them as they really are. In the good story, the main character changes. He is not the same at the end of the story as he was at the beginning. He learns something from watching her. Good movies not only entertain us, they also help us understand a little more about life.

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

14. What is common to all the films produced in Hollywood?

15. What usually happens to the main character in a good story?

16. What can we learn from good movies?

Passage Three

In a way, all of us are on a spaceship-the planet Earth. We move around the sun at 18 miles per second and never stop. On our spaceship, we have 5 billion people and limited supply of air, water an land. These supplies have to be used carefully because we can’t buy new air, water or land from anywhere else. Environment on our planet is a closed system. Nothing new is ever added. Nature recycles its resources. Water, for example, evaporates and rises as visible drops to form clouds. The same water returns to the earth as rain or snow. The rain that falls today is actually the same water that fell on the land 70 million years ago. Today, the earth is in trouble. Factories pour dirty water into our rivers, many fish and water becomes unhealthy for people to get sick. People throw bottles and paper out of their car windows and roadside becomes covered with all sorts of wastes. Over the years people have changed environment and we have pollution. To continue to survive, we must learn how to use the earth resources wisely. We have to change out habits and stop dropping such enormous amounts of industrial waste into the water and air. We must cooperate with nature and learn better ways to use, not abuse our environment.

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

17. Why does the speaker compare the earth to a spaceship?

18. How fast does the planet Earth travel around the sun?

19. Why does the speaker advise us to use the earth resources wisely?

20. What message is the speaker trying to convey?

>>点击查看更多关于历年试题的文章

英语学习方法

栏目推荐