2010年12月大学英语六级考试模拟题五

2010年12月英语六级考试预测试题及答案（五）

Part I Writing (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic: Precious Water. You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below:

1. 举例说明水对人类的重要性

2. 举例说明我国所面临的水资源问题

3. 为了生存和发展人们要……

Precious Water

Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes)

Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C) and D). For question 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.

Pollution: A Life and Death Issue

One of the main themes of Planet under Pressure is the way many of the Earth's environmental crises reinforce one another. Pollution is an obvious example-we do not have the option of growing food, or finding enough water, on a squeaky-clean planet, but on one increasingly tarnished and trashed by the way we have used it so far.

Cutting waste and clearing up pollution cost money. Yet time and again it is the quest for wealth that generates much of the mess is the first place. Living in a way that is less damaging to the Earth is not easy, but it is vital, because pollution is pervasive and often life-threatening.

Air: the World Health Organization (WHO) says three million people are killed worldwide by outdoor air pollution annually from vehicles and industrial emissions, and 1.6 million indoors through using solid fuel. Most are in poor countries.

Water: diseases carried in water are responsible for 80% of illnesses and deaths in developing countries, killing a child every eight seconds. Each year 2.1 million people die from diarrhoeal (痢疾的) diseases associated with poor water.

Soil: contaminated land is a problem in industrialized countries, where former factories and power stations can leave waste like heavy metals in the soil. It can also occur in developing countries, sometimes used for dumping pesticides. Agriculture can pollute land with pesticides, nitrate-rich fertilizers and slurry from livestock. And when the contamination reaches rivers it damages life there, and can even create dead zones off the coast, as in the Gulf of Mexico.

Chronic Problem

Chemicals are a frequent pollutant. When we think of chemical contamination it is often images of events like Bhopal that come to mind. But the problem is widespread. One study says 7～20% of cancers are attributable to poor air and pollution in homes and workplaces. The WHO, concerned about chemicals that persist and build up in the body,

especially in the young, says we may "be conducting a large-scale experiment with children's health".

Some man-made chemicals, endocrine (内分泌) disruptors like phthalates (酞酸盐) and nonylphenol-a breakdown product of spermicides (杀精子剂), cosmetics and detergents-are blamed for causing changes in the genitals of some animals. Affected species include polar bears-so not even the Arctic is immune. And the chemicals climb the food chain, from fish to mammals, and to us.

About 70,000 chemicals are on the market, with around 1,500 new ones appearing annually. At least 30,000 are thought never to have been comprehensively tested for their possible risks to people.

At first glance, the plastic buckets stacked in the corner of the environmental NGO office look like any others. But the containers are an unlikely weapon in one poor community's fight against oil companies which they say are responsible for widespread

ill-health caused by years of pollution. The vessels are used by a network of local volunteers, known as the Bucket Brigade, to gather air samples in neighborhoods bordering oil refineries, as part of a campaign to monitor and document air pollution which they believe is coming from the plants.

In South Africa, as in many developing and newly industrialized countries, legislation on air pollution has failed to keep pace with mushrooming industries. So local residents, like many in poor communities around the globe, have faced the problem of investigating their claim that industries on their doorsteps are making them sick.

Trade-off

But the snag is that modern society demands many of them, and some are essential for survival. So while we invoke the precautionary principle, which always recommends erring on the side of caution, we have to recognize there will be trade-offs to be made.

The pesticide DDT does great damage to wildlife and can affect the human nervous system, but can also be effective against malaria (疟疾). Where does the priority lie?

The industrialized world has not yet cleaned up the mess it created, but it is reaping the benefits of the pollution it has caused. It can hardly tell the developing countries that they have no right to follow suit.

Another complication in tackling pollution is that it does not respect political frontiers. There is a U.N. convention on trans-boundary air pollution, but that cannot cover every problem that can arise between neighbors, or between states which do not share a border. Perhaps the best example is climate change-the countries of the world share one atmosphere, and what one does can affect everyone.

For One and All.

One of the principles that are supposed to apply here is simple-the polluter pays. Sometimes it is obvious who is to blame and who must pay the price, but it is not always straightforward to work out just who is the polluter, or whether the rest of us would be happy to pay the price of stopping the pollution.

One way of cleaning up after ourselves would be to throw less away, designing products to be recycled or even just to last longer.

Previous generations worked on the assumption that discarding our waste was a proper way to get rid of it, so we used to dump nuclear materials and other potential hazards at sea, confident they would be dispersed in the depths.

We now think that is too risky because, as one author wrote, "there's no such place as 'away', and there's no such person as the 'other'."

Irritating Air

Despite recent improvements, however, the health problems are still there. A 2002 medical study, carried out by Durban's Nelson Mandela School of Medicine and a U.S. university, found that an abnormally high 52% of students and teachers at a primary school bordering the Engen plant suffered from asthma (哮喘). It found that increases in air pollution tended to aggravate asthma symptoms in children.

The petrol producers do not dispute the findings but argue that researchers were unable to establish a causal link between air pollution and the high prevalence of asthma among the school population.

For the community, the next step is to take legal action. But, according to internationally recognized environmentalist Bobby Peek, targeting the companies would be difficult as it would be near-impossible to prove that illnesses suffered were caused by pollution coming from a particular plant.

Mr. Peek, who grew up beneath Engen's stacks, says the activists are now considering taking action against the authorities. "We are now looking at suing the government on constitutional grounds, for failing to ensure our right to protection from a harmful environment as stipulated in the constitution," he said.

Legislative Change

A new batch (批) of environmental laws, the National Air Quality Management Act, has just been passed by the South African parliament to replace outdated 1965 legislation with tighter controls and tougher sanctions.

Martinus van Schalkwyk, the minister of environmental affairs and tourism, visited the south Durban basin earlier this year and said there were measures in place to improve the situation. "I share the anger and frustration of this community. It is long overdue," he told the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

The local authorities have also established a "Multi-Point Plan" for the area. They say it is a powerful model for tackling pollution and points to a 40% reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions in recent years.

1. According to World Health Organization, how many people are killed by outdoor air pollution?

[A] 3 million

[B] 2.1 million

[C] 1.6 million

[D] 3.2 million

2. Land can be polluted by ________ from agriculture.

[A] heavy metals

[B] pesticides and nitrate-poor fertilizers

[C] slurry from livestock

[D] rubbish

3. What kind of animal affected by man-made chemicals is not referred in the passage?

[A] Polar bears.

[B] Mammals.

[C] People.

[D] Birds.

4. What do local residents claim for?

[A] They are sick because of years of pollution.

[B] They are sick because of industries on their doorsteps.

[C] They are sick because of pesticides from agriculture.

[D] They are sick because of air pollution.

5. The pesticide DDT can be effective against ________.

[A] malaria

[B] wildlife

[C] animals

[D] human nervous system

6. There is a U.N. convention that can cover ________.

[A] problem between neighbors

[B] problem between states which do not share a border

[C] problems on air pollution

[D] trans-boundary air pollution

7. What is not said to be a way of cleaning up after ourselves?

[A] Throw less away.

[B] Design recycled products.

[C] Don't use it again.

[D] Last longer.

8. It found that increases in air pollution tended to ________________________.

9. According to Bobby Peek, targeting the companies would be difficult as it would be near-impossible to prove that illnesses suffered were caused by

________________________.

10. Martinus van Schalkwyk, the minister of environmental affairs and tourism, visited the south Durban basin earlier this year and said there were measures in place to

________________________.

Part III Listening Comprehension (35 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 2 with a single line through the center.

11. [A] Mary is worthy of the prize.

[B] Mary has granted the prize.

[C] Mary fails in the speech contest.

[D] The man doesn't think Mary deserves the prize.

12. [A] Driving a car.

[B] Taking a taxi.

[C] Taking a train.

[D] Going by subway.

13. [A] He dislikes museums and galleries.

[B] He does not care about the weather.

[C] Going to the beach is the best choice.

[D] He doesn't want to go to Washington.

14. [A] She wants to live in the suburbs.

[B] She is offended by her naughty children.

[C] She disagrees with father.

[D] She turns a deaf ear to her husband's words.

15. [A] Call her after five.

[B] Make calls from her phone.

[C] Go to the meeting with her.

[D] Fix his phone.

16. [A] Husband and wife.

[B] Teacher and student.

[C] Policeman and driver.

[D] Mother and son.

17. [A] At the library.

[B] At the airport.

[C] At the post office.

[D] At the teacher's office.

18. [A] He is good at drawing pictures.

[B] He likes pictures very much.

[C] He likes visiting the art museum very much.

[D] He thinks the art museum is a very quiet place.

Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

19. [A] An alien spacecraft landing.

[B] The impact of a meteorite.

[C] A volcanic eruption.

[D] The blizzard conditions is Alaska.

20. [A] Seeing a falling round object.

[B] Hearing a bird-like sound.

[C] Observing a bright light.

[D] Witnessing the impact.

21. [A] The dinosaurs went extinct.

[B] A number of meteorites crashed into Earth.

[C] Some animal species evolved.

[D] Some plants went extinct.

22. [A] Discovering new life in space.

[B] Studying meteorites.

[C] Plotting the courses of asteroids.

[D] Developing radar telescopes.

Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

23. [A] It offers really good coffee.

[B] It has live music every Saturday night.

[C] It's near the theater.

[D] You can see a movie there.

24. [A] It's overpriced.

[B] It makes people crazy.

[C] It's different from other coffee houses' coffee.

[D] All the coffee is from Brazil.

25. [A] They are shopping.

[B] They are jogging.

[C] They are seeing a movie.

[D] They are drinking coffee.

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 2 with a single line through the center.

Passage One

Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.

26. [A] They are leading in the game.

[B] The score is really close.

[C] The Dream Team is way behind.

[D] They win the game.

27. [A] It's made up of professional athletes.

[B] It's made up of college players.

[C] It's made up of both professional and college players.

[D] It's made up of young athletes.

28. [A] He was injured in a fight and had to leave the game.

[B] He fought with another player.

[C] He got in a fight with a fan and was thrown out of the game.

[D] He led his team to success.

29. [A] They drank a special beverage made from Japanese herbs.

[B] They had uncooked fish the night before the game.

[C] They had a massage from head to foot to relax their muscles.

[D] Some players were injured before the game.

Passage Two

Questions 30 to 32 are based on the passage you have just heard.

30. [A] The weather will be clear and fine.

[B] Rain will probably come.

[C] There will be a fog.

[D] Fine weather will continue.

31. [A] The following day will be fine.

[B] Fine weather will continue.

[C] Rainy weather will probably come.

[D] The rain will stop.

32. [A] By studying the signs around them with eyes and brains.

[B] By changing the weather.

[C] By controlling the weather.

[D] By listening to others' advice.

Passage Three

Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.

33. [A] To develop a savings plan.

[B] To set up a bank account.

[C] To set clear investing goals.

[D] To work out the budget.

34. [A] A wide selection of investments.

[B] A limited range of stocks.

[C] A group of low risk bonds and cash.

[D] A variety of funds.

35. [A] Because the market has both up and down years.

[B] Because you can get bigger guaranteed returns.

[C] Because 30% returns can be achieved with the right stocks.

[D] Because you have to weather the storm.

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 numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written.

A few years ago it was (36) ________ to speak of a generation gap, a division between young people and their elders. Parents (37) ________ that children did not show them proper respect and (38) ________, while children complained that their parents did not understand them at all. What had gone wrong? Why had the generation gap suddenly appeared? (39) ________, the generation gap has been around for a long time. Many (40) ________ argue that it is built into the fabric of our society.

One important cause of the generation gap is the (41) ________ that young people have to choose their own life styles. In more (42) ________ societies, when children grow up, they are expected to live in the same area as their parents, to marry people that their parents know and (43) ________ of, and often to continue the family occupation. In our

society, young people often travel great distances for their education, move out of the family home at an early age, marry or live with (44) ________________________.

In our upwardly mobile society, parents often expect their children to do better than they did: to make more money, and to do all the things that they were unable to do. Often, however, (45) ________________________. Often, they discover that they have very little in common with each other.

Finally, the speed at which changes take place in our society is another cause of the gap between the generations. In a traditional culture, (46) ________________________. The young and the old seem to live in two very different worlds, separated by different skills and abilities.

Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)

Section A

Directions: In this section, there is a short passage with 5 questions or incomplete statements. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest possible words on Answer Sheet 2.

Questions 47 to 51 are based on the following passage.

The bacteria that cause a common food-borne illness show low drug resistance in Australia, unlike similar strains from the United States and Europe, a study has found. Scientists behind the finding say Australia's de facto ban on certain antibiotics in poultry (家禽) and other livestock helps explain why.

In the study, researchers analyzed samples of Campylobacter jejuni (空肠弯曲杆菌) bacteria from 585 patients in five Australian states.

Scientists found that only 2 percent of the samples were resistant to ciprofloxacin (环丙沙星), one of the group of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolonones. By contrast, 18 percent of Campylobacter (弧形杆菌) samples in U.S. patients are immune to fluoroquinolonones, which have been used in the U.S. to prevent or treat respiratory (呼吸的) disease in poultry for a decade.

The study, led by Leanne Unicomb, a graduate student at Australian National University in Canberra, was published in the May issue of the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

"The findings add to the growing body of evidence suggestive of the problems of using fluoroquinolonones in food-producing animals," Unicomb wrote in an email.

Campylobacter is the most common food-borne disease in the U.S. and many other industrialized countries.

People can contract the pathogen (病原体) by consuming undercooked poultry or meat, raw milk, or contaminated (被污染的) water.

Symptoms include fever, vomiting, and diarrhea (腹泻). In rare cases, the disease can trigger paralysis or death.

"In most industrial countries Campylobacter is more commonly reported than Salmonella (沙门氏菌), a better-known cause of food poisoning," Unicomb said.

"The number of cases of Campylobacter has been on the rise in Australia since the early 90's."

In the U.S., about 1.4 million people contracted Campylobacter infections last year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.

While the infection rate in the U.S. has dropped over the last decade, the bacteria have grown more drug-resistant.

According to the CDC, surveys between 1986 and 1990 found no signs of resistance to the antibiotics in U.S. Campylobacter infections. But by 1997, strains resistant to the antibiotics accounted for 12 percent of human cases. In 2001 the figure climbed to 18 percent.

Public health experts say many factors contribute to Campylobacter's drug resistance; the widespread use of fluoroquinolonones by U.S. poultry farmers over the past decade is one of them.

Fluoroquinolones were first approved for use in humans by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1986. In 1995 the FDA granted poultry farmers permission to the use the drugs in livestock. Last year the FDA banned the antibiotic from food-producing animals, citing the concerns raised by public health experts over drug-resistant bacteria.

Frederick Angulo, an epidemiologist with the CDC, monitors the drug resistance of food-borne pathogens in the U.S. food supply. "The people who are most likely to get infected with food-borne diseases include the most vulnerable people in the

population-infants and young children and also the elderly," he said. He says that

Campylobacter infections are entirely preventable, as is the bacteria's antibiotic resistance. "In many ways what's occurring with Campylobacter is an indicator for a broader issue, which is...antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the food supply," he said.

47. Why do food-borne pathogens in Australia show low drug resistance?

48. In many industrialized countries, the most common food-borne disease is

________.

49. The food-borne disease may cause fever, vomiting, diarrhea and even ________.

50. The FDA banned the use of antibiotic from food-producing animals because public health

experts were concerned about ________.

51. What does Angulo say about the bacteria's antibiotic resistance?

Section B

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 center.

Passage One

Questions 52 to 56 are based on the following passage.