英语六级听力试题答案原文

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2023年12月英语六级听力原文含翻译第二套

2023年12月英语六级听力原文含翻译第二套

翻译在最终Conversation OneM: Guess what? The worst food I've ever had was in France.W.Really.That'.odd..though.th.Frenc.wer.al.goo.cooks.M.Yes.That'.right..suppos.it'.reall.lik.anywher.else.though.Yo.kno w.som.place.ar.good.Som.bad.Bu.it'.reall.al.ou.ow.fault.W: What do you mean?M.Well.i.wa.th.firs.tim.I'.bee.t.France.Thi.wa.year.ag.whe..wa.a.sc hool..wen.ther.wit.m.parents.friends.fro.m.father'.school.They'.hire..c oac.t.tak.the.t.Switzerland.W: A school trip?M.Right.Mos.o.the.ha.neve.bee.abroa.before.We'.crosse.th.Englis. Channe.a.night.an.w.se.of.throug.France.an.breakfas.tim.arrived.an.t h.coac.drive.ha.arrange.fo.u.t.sto.a.thi.littl.café.Ther.w.al.were.tire.an.hungry.an.the.w.mad.th.grea.discovery.W: What was that?M: Bacon and eggs.W: Fantastic! The real English breakfast.M.Yes.Anyway.w.didn'.kno.an.better.s.w.ha.it.an.ugh...!W: What was it like? Disgusting?M.Oh.i.wa.incredible.The.jus.go..bow.an.pu.som.fa.i.it.An.the.the.pu.som.baco.i.th.fat.brok.a.eg.ove.th.to.an.pu.th.whol.lo.i.th.ove.fo.a bou.te.minutes.W.I.th.oven.You'r.joking.Yo.can'.coo.baco.an.egg.i.th.oven!M.Well.The.mus.hav.don.i.tha.way.I.wa.hot.bu.i.wasn'.cooked.The r.wa.jus.thi.eg.floatin.abou.i.gallon.o.fa.an.ra.bacon.W: Did you actually eat it?M.No.Nobod.did.The.al.wante.t.tur.roun.an.g.home.Yo.know.bac.t. teabag.an.fis.an.chips.Yo.can'.blam.the.really.Anyway.th.nex.nigh.w. wer.al.give.anothe.foreig.speciality.W: What was that?M.Snails.Tha.reall.finishe.the.off.Lovel.holida.tha.was!Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Questio.1.Wha.di.th.woma.thin.o.th.French?Questio.2.Wh.di.th.ma.trave.wit.o.hi.firs.tri.t.Switzerland?Questio.3.Wha.doe.th.ma.sa.abou.th.breakfas.a.th.littl.Frenc.café?Questio.4.Wha.di.th.ma.thin.o.hi.holida.i.France?Conversation TwoM.Yo.sa.you.sho.ha.bee.doin.well.Coul.yo.giv.m.som.ide.o.wha.“doin.well.mean.i.fact.an.figures?W.Well.“doin.well.mean.averagin.£1,lio.pounds.An.“s.year.w.di.slightl.ove.50,00.an.thi.y ear.w.hop.t.d.mor.tha.60,000.So.that'.goo.i.w.continu.t.rise.M.Now.that'.gros.earnings..assume.Wha.abou.you.expenses?W.Yes.that'.gross.Th.expenses.o.course.g.u.steadily.An.sinc.we'v.move.t.t hi.ne.shop.th.expense.hav.increase.greatly.becaus.it'..muc.bigge.shop.S..coul dn'.sa.exactl.wha.ou.expense.are.The.ar.somethin.i.th.regio.o.si.o.seve.thous merciall.speaking.it'.fairl.low.an.w.tr.t.kee. ou.expense.a.lo.a.w.can.M.An.you.price.ar.muc.lowe.tha.th.sam.good.i.shop.roun.about.Ho.d.th.lo ca.shopkeeper.fee.abou.havin..sho.doin.s.wel.i.thei.midst?W.Perhap..lo.o.the.don'.realiz.ho.wel.w.ar.doing.becaus.w.don'.mak..poin. o.publicizing.Tha.wa..lesso.w.learne.ver.earl.on.W.wer.ver.friendl.wit.al.loca.sh opkeeper.an.w.happene.t.mentio.t..loca.shopkeepe.ho.muc.w.ha.mad.tha.wee k.H.wa.ver.unhapp.an.neve.a.friendl.again.S.w.mak..poin.o.neve.publicizin.th. amoun.o.mone.w.make.Bu.w.ar.o.ver.goo.term.wit.al.th.shops.Non.o.the.hav. plaine.tha.w.ar.puttin.the.ou.o.busines.o.anythin.lik.that..thin.it'..nic.f riendl.relationship.Mayb.i.the.di.kno.wha.w.made.perhap.the.wouldn'.b.s.frien dly.Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Questio.5.Wha.ar.th.speaker.mainl.talkin.about?Questio.6.Wha.doe.th.woma.sa.he.sho.trie.t.do?Questio.7.Wha.d.w.lear.abou.th.good.sol.a.th.woman'.shop?Questio.8.Wh.doesn'.th.woma.wan.t.mak.know.thei.earning.anymore?Passage OneBirds are famous for carrying things around.Some, like homing pigeons, can be trained to deliver messages and packages.Other birds unknowingly carry seeds that cling to them for the ride.Canadian scientists have found a worrisome, new example of the power that birds have to spread stuff around.Way up north in the Canadian Arctic, seabirds are picking up dangerous chemicals in the ocean and delivering them to ponds near where the birds live.Some 10,000 pairs of the birds, called fulmars, a kind of Arctic seabird, make their nests on Devon Island, north of the Arctic Circle.The fulmars travel some 400 kilometers over the sea to find food.When they return home, their droppings end up all around their nesting sites, including in nearby ponds.Previously, scientists noticed pollutants arriving in the Arctic with the wind.Salmon also carry dangerous chemicals as the fish migrate between rivers and the sea.The bodies of fish and other meat-eaters can build up high levels of the chemicals.To test the polluting power of fulmars, researchers collected samples of deposit from 11 ponds on Devon Island.In ponds closest to the colony, the results showed there were far more pollutants than in ponds less affected by the birds.The pollutants in the ponds appear to come from fish that fulmars eat when they're out on the ocean.People who live, hunt, or fish near bird colonies need to be careful, the researchers say.The birds don't mean to cause harm, but the chemicals they carry can cause major problems.Questions 9 to 12 are based on the passage you have just heard.Questio.9.Wha.hav.Canadia.scientist.foun.abou.som.seabirds?Questio.10.Wha.doe.th.speake.sa.abou.th.seabird.calle.fulmars?Questio.11.Wha.di.scientist.previousl.notic.abou.pollutant.i.th.Arctic?Questio.12.Wha.doe.th.speake.war.abou.a.th.en.o.th.talk?Passage TwoIn recent years, the death rate among American centenarians—people who have lived to age 100 or older— has decreased, dropping 14 percent for women and 20 percent for men from 2023 to 2023.The leading causes of death in this age group are also changing.In 2023, the top five causes of death for centenarians were heart disease, stroke, flu, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.But by 2023, the death rate from Alzheimer's disease for this age group had more than doubled—increasing from 3.8 percent to 8.5 percent—making the progressive brain disease the second leading cause of death for centenarians.One reason for the rise in deaths from Alzheimer's disease in this group may be that developing this condition remains possible even after people beat the odds of dying from other diseases such as cancer.People physically fit enough to survive over 100 years ultimately give in to diseases such as Alzheimer's which affects the mind and cognitive function.In other words, it appears that their minds give out before their bodies do.On the other hand, the death rate from flu dropped from 7.4 percent in 2023 to 4.1 percent in 2023.That pushed flu from the third leading cause of death to the fifth.Overall, the total number of centenarians is going up.In 2023, there were 72,197 centenarians, compared to 50,281 in 2023.But because this population is getting larger, the number of deaths in this group is also increasing— 18,434 centenarians died in 2023, whereas 25,914 died in 2023.Questions 13 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.Questio.13.Wha.doe.th.speake.sa.abou.th.ris.o.dyin.fo.America.centenari an.i.recen.years?Questio.14.Wha.doe.th.speake.sa.abou.Alzheimer'.disease?Questio.15.Wha.i.characteristi.o.peopl.wh.liv.u.t.10.year.an.beyond?Recording OneOkay.S.let'.ge.started.And to start things off I think what we need to do is consider a definition.I'm going to define what love is but then most of the experiments I'm going to talk about are really focused more on attraction than love.And I'm going to pick a definition from a former colleague, Robert Sternberg, who is now the dean at Tufts University but was here on our faculty at Yale for nearly thirty years.And he has a theory of love that argues that it's made up of three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment, or what is sometimes called decision commitment.And these are relatively straightforward.He argued that you don't have love if you don't have all three of these elements.Intimacy is the feeling of closeness, of connectedness with someone, of bonding.Operationally, you could think of intimacy as you share secrets, you share information with this person that you don't share with anybody else.Okay.That'rmatio.tha.i sn'.share.wit.othe.people.The second element is passion.Passion is the drive that leads to romance.You can think of it as physical attraction.And Sternberg argues that this is a required component of a love relationship.The third element of love in Sternberg's theory is what he calls decision commitment, the decision that one is in a love relationship, the willingness to label it as such, and a commitment to maintain that relationship at least for some period of time.Sternberg would argue it's not love if you don't call it love and if you don't have some desire to maintain the relationship.So if you have all three of these, intimacy, passion and commitment, in Sternberg's theory you have love.Now what's interesting about the theory is what do you have if you only have one out of three or two out of three.What do you have and how is it different if you have a different two out of three?What's interesting about this kind of theorizing is it gives rise to many different combinations that can be quite interesting when you break them down and start to look them carefully.So what I've done is I've taken Sternberg's three elements of love, intimacy, passion and commitment, and I've listed out the different kinds of relationships you would have if you had zero, one, two or three out of the three elements.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the recording you have just heard.Questio.16.Wha.doe.th.speake.sa.abou.mos.o.th.experiment.mentione.i.h i.talk?Questio.17.Wha.doe.Rober.Sternber.argu.abou.love?Questio.18.Wha.questio.doe.th.speake.thin.i.interestin.abou.Sternberg'.th re.element.o.love?Recording TwoHi! I am Elizabeth Hoffler, Master of Social Work.I am a social worker, a lobbyist, and a special assistant to the executive director at the National Association of Social Workers.Today we are going to be talking about becoming a social worker.Social work is the helping profession.Its primary mission is to enhance human well-being and help meet thebasic needs of all people, with a particular focus on those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.We often deal with complex human needs.Social work is different from other professions, because we focus on the person and environment.We deal with the external factors that impact a person's situation and outlook.And we create opportunity for assessment and intervention, to help clients and communities cope effectively with their reality and change that reality when necessary.In thousands of ways social workers help other people, people from every age, every background, across the country.Wherever needed, social workers come to help.The most well-known aspect of the profession is that of a social safety net.We help guide people to critical resources and counsel them on life-changing decisions.There are more than 600,000 professional social workers in the country, and we all either have a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, or a PhD in Social Work.There are more clinically trained social workers than clinically trained psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses combined.Throughout this series you will learn more about the profession, the necessary steps to get a social work degree, the rich history of social work, and the many ways that social workers help others.Later in this series, you will hear from Stacy Collins and Mel Wilson, fellow social workers at the National Association of Social Workers.Stacy is going to walk you through the step-by-step process of becoming a social worker, and Mel will tell you about the range of options you have once you get your social work degree, as well as the high standards of responsibility he social workers must adhere to.The National Association of Social Workers represents nearly 145,000 social workers across the country.Our mission is to promote, protect, and advance the social work profession.We hope you enjoy this series about how you can make a difference by becoming a social worker.Next, we are going to talk about choosing social work.Questions 19 to 22 are based on the recording you have just heard.Questio.19.Wha.doe.th.speake.mainl.tal.about?Questio.20.Wha.d.socia.worker.mainl.do?mon.accordin.t.th.speaker?Questio.22.Wha.i.Me.Wilso.goin.t.tal.abou.i.th.series?Recording ThreeToday, I'd like to talk about what happens when celebrity role models get behind healthy habits, but at the same time, promote junk food.Currently, there's mounting criticism of Michelle Obama's “Let's Move!”campaign, which fights childhood obesity by encouraging youngsters to become more physically active, and has signed on singer Beyoncéand basketball player Shaquille O'Neal, both of whom also endorse sodas, which are a major contributor to the obesity epidemic.Now there's a lot more evidence of how powerful a celebrity— especially a professional athlete— can be in influencing children's behavior.In a report published by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, researchers studied 100 professional athletes and their endorsement contracts.The team focused on athletes since they are theoretically the best role models for active, healthy lifestyles for children.After sorting the deals by category, they determined that among the 512 brands associated with the athletes, most involved sporting goods, followed closely by food and beverage brands.Sports drinks, which are often high in sugar and calories made up most ofthe food and drink deals, with soft drinks and fast food filling out the remainder.Of the 46 beverages endorsed by professional athletes, 93% relied exclusively on sugar for all of their calories.It's no surprise that high-profile athletes can influence children's eating behaviors, but the scientists were able to quantify how prevalent these endorsements are in the children's environment.Advertisements featuring professional athletes and their endorsed products tend to get impressive exposure on TV, radio, in print and online.And in 2023, the researchers reported that children ages 12 to 17 saw more athlete-endorsed food and beverage brand commercials than adults.One reason any campaign wants a popular celebrity spokesperson is because kids are attracted to them no matter what they are doing.We can't expect kids to turn off that admiration when the same person is selling sugar.At best, kids might be confused.At worst, they'll think the messages about soda are the same as the messages about water, but those two beverages aren't the same.If children are turning to athletes as role models, it's in their best interest if their idols are consistent.Consistent messaging of positive behaviors will show healthier lifestylesfor kids to follow.Questions 23 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.Questio.23.Wha.i.th.ai.o.Michell.Obama'.campaign?Questio.24.Wha.doe.researc.fin.abou.advertisement.featurin.professiona. athletes?Questio.25.Wha.doe.th.speake.thin.kids.idol.shoul.do?对话一男: 你猜怎么着?我吃过旳最难吃旳食物是在法国吃旳。

2023年6月英语六级听力真题(第一套)题目,原文与答案

2023年6月英语六级听力真题(第一套)题目,原文与答案

2023年6月英语六级听力真题(第一套)【四六级试卷采用花卷形式,核对答案时请找准具体选项内容,忽略套数和选项符号】Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.1. A) It was spacious and tranquil.B) It was warm and comfortable.C) It was shabby and solitary.D) It was tiny and noisy.2. A) She no longer hates people talking loudly in the dorm.B) She misses her roommates she used to complain about.C) She begins to enjoy the movies she once found irritating.D) She finds the crowded dorm as cozy as her new apartment.3. A) He found the apartment perfectly furnished.B) He had a feeling of despair and frustration.C) He had a similar feeling to the woman’s.D) He felt the new place was like paradise.4. A) Go to see the woman’s apartment.B) Make a phone call to his parents.C) Buy some furniture for the woman.D) Decorate the woman’s apartment.Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard.5. A) He works as a literary critic.B) He hosts an educational program.C) He has initiated a university reform.D) He has published a book recently.6. A) It fails to keep up with the radical changes of society.B) It fails to ensure universities get sufficient resources.C) It has not prepared young people for the job market.D) It has not fostered the growth of the arts disciplines.7. A) More of the budget should go to science and technology.B) The underfunded music discipline should be prioritized.C) Subdisciplines like sculpture should get more funding.D) Literature should get as much funding as engineering.8. A) Build a prosperous nation.B) Make skilled professionals.C) Create ingenious artists.D) Cultivate better citizens.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the passage you have just heard.9. A) It is quite common.B) It is rarely noticed.C) It seldom annoys people.D) It occurs when one is alone.10. A) Seeing things in black and white.B) Engaging in regular contemplation.C) Having a special understanding of creativity.D) Knowing how to make their mental batteries work.11. A) Engaging in intense activity.B) Fantasizing in one’s down time.C) Working on a particular project.D) Reflecting during one’s relaxation.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.12. A) Farmers helped Native Americans grow crops.B) There were expansive university campuses.C) There existed post offices.D) Migrants found gold there.13. A) It helped to boost the economy in the American West.B) It provided job opportunities for many gold seekers.C) It extended the influence of the federal government.D) It kept people in the deserts and plains connected.14. A) It employed Native Americans to work as postmen.B) It commissioned private wagons to carry the mail.C) It subsidized the locals who acted as postmasters.D) It centralized postal services in its remote areas.15. A) He analyzed interactive maps of mail routes.B) He read a large collection of books on the topic.C) He examined its historical trends with data science.D) He collected data about its impact on local business.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the recording you have just heard.16. A) Higher levels of anxiety may improve people’s memory.B) Some experiences are easier to remember than others.C) Most people tend to remember things selectively.D) Simple things may leave a deep impression on one’s memory.17. A) They classified the participants’ mindset.B) They showed some photos to the participants.C) They measured the participants’ anxiety levels.D) They tested the size of the participants’ vocabulary.18. A) Anxiety has become a serious problem for an increasing number of people.B) Extreme levels of anxiety can adversely affect cognitive performance.C) People diagnosed with anxiety disorder may forget things selectively.D) There is no direct correlation between memory and levels of anxiety. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the recording you have just heard.19. A) They compare products from different companies before making a choice.B) They get information from other consumers’ postings and comments.C) They lose patience when their phone call is not promptly answered.D) They expect to get instantaneous responses to their inquiry.20. A) Giving them rewards on the spot.B) Broadening their scope of interest.C) Speaking directly to their emotions.D) Focusing on the details of the product.21. A) Change the rules of the game in the market every year.B) Keep up with the latest technological developments.C) Learn from technological innovators to do business.D) Make greater efforts to build up consumers’ confidence. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.22. A) People have only one social engagement per week.B) Working together enhances friendship.C) Few people have devoted friends.D) Friendships benefit work.23. A) The impact of friends on people’s self-esteem.B) How supportive friends can be in the workplace.C) How to boost one’s sense of value and worthiness.D) The role of family ties in people’s mental well-being.24. A) They show little interest in their friends’ work.B) They tend to be much more difficult to make.C) They are more trustworthy and reliable.D) They increase people’s job satisfaction.25. A) Allow employees to have a flexible work schedule.B) Encourage employees to be friends with colleagues.C) Help employees balance work and family responsibilities.D) Organize activities to nourish friendships outside of work.答案速查Conversation One1. B) It was warm and comfortable.2. B) She misses her roommates she used to complain about.3. C) He had a similar feeling to the woman’s.4. A) Go to see the woman’s apartment.Conversation Two5. D) He has published a book recently.6. C) It has not prepared young people for the job market.7. A) More of the budget should go to science and technology.8. D) Cultivate better citizens.Passage One9. A) It is quite common.10. B) Engaging in regular contemplation.11. D) Reflecting during one’s relaxation.Passage Two12. C) There existed post offices.13. D) It kept people in the deserts and plains connected.14. B) It commissioned private wagons to carry the mail.15. C) He examined its historical trends with data science. Recording One16. A) Higher levels of anxiety may improve people’s memory.17. C) They measured the participants’ anxiety levels.18. B) Extreme levels of anxiety can adversely affect cognitive performance.Recording Two19. D) They expect to get instantaneous responses to their inquiry.20. C) Speaking directly to their emotions.21. B) Keep up with the latest technological developments.Recording Three22. D) Friendships benefit work.23. A) The impact of friends on people’s self-esteem.24. D) They increase people’s job satisfaction.25. A) Allow employees to have a flexible work schedule.听力原文与答案Conversation OneM: Hi Lily, how’s the new apartment?W: It’s okay.M: What? How can it be just okay when last week you were thrilled about the place and kept posting photos of it online?W: (1) Well, last week when I moved in, the apartment seemed cozy, just the right size for one person. But now it just seems tiny, shabby and solitary.M: Ah, that’s the problem. You miss your roommates from university, don’t you?W:(2) I’m going to sound like an idiot, because I used to complain to you all the time about how crowded our dormitory room was, and about all the things they did to irritate me, like watching movies late at night without headphones, or talking loudly early in the morning. But now I miss them terribly. M: Of course, you do. That’s perfectly normal. (3) When I got my first place, I remember thinking I couldn’t wait to live by myself and get away from my juvenile roommates and all their annoying habits. But then I began missing them and feeling lonely and thinking that our dormitory was like paradise. Even though there were six of us guys in one small room.W: I thought it was just me who felt like that.M:Look, you lived at home with us, and then you had three roommates, and this is your first time living alone, so it’s hard. But your first apartment is a milestone in your life. And you should celebrate it. Tell me about the apartment.W: Actually, it’s not bad. In fact, it’s pretty adorable now that I have decorated it and it has everything I need. I have a kitchen to cook in and a bathroom all to myself, and then another room with my bed at one end and a sofa, a small table and chairs at the other end.M: That does sound adorable, and (4) I can’t wait to see it. And neither can mom and dad.Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Q1. What was the woman’s first impression of the apartment? 答案: B)Q2. Why does the woman say she’s going to sound like an idiot? 答案: B)Q3. What do we learn about the man when he left the dormitory to live on his own? 答案: C)Q4. What does the man say he can’t wait to do? 答案: A)Conversation TwoW: Welcome to our program book talk. (5) Our guest today is Frank Jones, a critic of our education system and the author of a new book, How to Reform Our Universities.M: Hello, Susan.W: Frank, you support radically changing universities in America.M:Yes. (6) I believe that the purpose of higher education is to prepare young people to enter the workforce and that our current system fails to do this. We’re allocating too many resources to disciplines that don’t match the needs of employers.W:I think your attitude to education is a bit cynical, Frank. Surely the purpose of university is to prepare young people to participate fully in civic life rather than just to find well paid jobs.M: Susan, many young graduates struggle to find any job, let alone a good one. The job market is grim, particularly for students who study the arts.W:I agree that it isn’t easy for young people to find work, but you propose closing down all departments that aren’t directly related to science and technology. Is that really the solution?M: You’re overstating my point. (7) My argument is that we need to use more of our budget on areas like science and engineering. To do that, we need to take money from subjects like literature and music.W: (8) But the arts have value. They’re an important part of our culture. Studying literature or music or sculpture might not result in a job in that area, but it helps young people to think about the world in a deeper way, which makes them better citizens and makes for a better society.M: l agree that the arts are valuable to society, but it’s naive to think that not only the most talented, but all students should study them at university level. The odds are very competitive, and most graduates will end up with a great deal of debt obtaining a degree that has little value on the job market. Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Q5. What do we learn from the conversation about the man? 答案: D)Q6. What does the man believe is the problem with the current American system of higher education? 答案: C)Q7. How should the education budget be allocated according to the man? 答案: A)Q8. What does the woman say the arts can do? 答案: D)Passage One(9) Do you ever have the annoying feeling that you don’t have time to really think anymore? You’re not alone. A variety of factors have conspired to rob us of time for reflection about ourselves and our lives. Today our preoccupied minds are rarely silent. The average person receives hundreds of texts and voice messages a day. And holidays for many of us are action packed weeks more likely full of family activities than opportunities for tranquility and contemplation.(10) Regular reflection, however, underlies all great professionals. It’s a prerequisite for you to recharge your mental batteries, see things in a new light and tap into your creativity. Almost all of the great advisors that I have studied have found ways to get away from it all and contemplate their life and work. Some researchers in the field of creativity, in fact, believe that insight occurs during the reflection and relaxation that follows a period of intense activity. Schedule your time for reflection about your work, or a particular project you’re engaged in.I usually block out half an hour. Don’t answer the phone. Push your papers to the side. Sketch, make lists, draw mind maps of ideas that come to you. At the end, write down any emerging ideas.When you’re alone, stop worrying and think. A lot of our downtime is spent worrying about troublesome things in our lives or fantasizing about how we’d like our lives to be. (11) Revisit things during moments of relaxation after a period of intense work. This is when we are the most creative. Questions 9 to 11 are based on the passage you have just heard.Q9. What do we learn about the feeling that one doesn’t have time to think anymore? 答案: A)Q10. What trait do all great professionals share? 答案: B)Q11. What do some researchers believe is conducive to creative ideas? 答案: D)Passage Two(12) Even before Colorado was a state, it had post offices. The first opened in 1859 in a settlement founded by migrants searching for gold. Life could be unpredictable out west. Gold failed to appear,drought ruined farmers, and settlers clashed with Native Americans.On the settlement’s location, now stands a sprawling university campus. Amid all the changes, one feature remained constant: the postal service. The maps tracing America’s westward expansion are telling. In 1864 there were few postal branches on land controlled by Native Americans, which still accounted for most of the West. Over the next 25 years, post offices grew quickly. Colonization of the West could be regarded as a result of big government rather than pioneers. (13) As federal subsidies and land grants tempted people into the deserts and plains, the post kept them connected.In the mid-19th century, the Post Office Department was far from a centralized bureaucracy. To keep up with migration patterns, postal services were added to existing businesses. (14) The federal government commissioned private wagons to carry the mail. Short-term contracts were granted to local businessmen to act as postmasters. These partnerships enabled the mail to quickly follow migrants, helping knit together remote parts of the country.Mr. Blevins, a digital historian, wrote a book on the history of the US postal service. (15) He used data science to analyze historical trends. Most strikingly, he built an accompanying website complete with interactive maps. They show readers how, within a generation, the postal service helped colonize a continent. These online interactive maps illustrate the formative power of snail mail.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.Q12. What does the passage say about Colorado before it became a state? 答案: C)Q13. How did the postal service contribute to America’s westward expansion? 答案: D)Q14. What did the federal government do to meet the increasing demand for the postal service in the West? 答案: B)Q15. What did Mr. Blevins do to study the history of the US postal service? 答案: C)Recording OneIn last week’s lecture, we discussed reasons why people forget things. This week, we will discuss a surprising reason why we might remember some things: anxiety. Think about something as simple as buying a coffee. That may not seem like an experience that would make a deep impression on your memory. But anxiety could change that. (16) In fact, a new study suggests that people with higher anxiety levels might remember certain information better than people with lower anxiety levels. That’s because higher levels of anxiety may make people more susceptible to negative feelings. Putting them in a more negative state of mind, that in turn, may make them able to better remember some events. Let’s take a closer look at that new study now. (17) In the study, the researchers started by giving 80 undergraduate students an anxiety test. The test measured the participants’anxiety levels over the proceeding two weeks.Then, to test memory, the participants were shown a series of neutral words one at a time. Some of the words were printed onto photos of negative scenes, meaning images that could affect their emotions negatively, such as a photo of a car accident, or a cemetery. The rest of the words were printed onto photos of neutral scenes, such as a photo of a lake or trees. Neutral words included words like table or desk that don’t elicit emotion.Later, the participants were asked to think back to the words they were shown earlier, which caused them to reenter either a negative or neutral mindset. The participants were then presented with another set of neutral words, and their memory of these new words was tested.The researchers found that the new words presented to people in a negative mindset were better remembered by people with higher levels of anxiety than those with lower levels of anxiety.In other words, when highly anxious individuals took in otherwise emotionally neutral information that was presented to them, it became colored by their negative mindset, making them remember the information better. But these same effects were not seen in people with low levels of anxiety.(18) Previous studies have found that extreme levels of anxiety such as those experienced by people diagnosed with an anxiety disorder can be quite detrimental to memory and cognitive performance. But the highly anxious people in this study represent individuals who are managing their anxiety and for whom anxiety is not a serious problem.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the recording you have just heard.Q16. What does the speaker say the new study suggests? 答案: A)Q17. What did researchers do first in the new study? 答案: C)Q18. What do we learn from previous studies about anxiety? 答案: B)Recording TwoOver the past 20 years, the internet has gradually become a dominant feature of our lives. It has changed how we communicate with each other. And it has definitely transformed the way we do business with each other. Marketing has also changed in a number of ways.For instance, in the past, consumers had to call a phone number and patiently wait on hold in order to get the information they wanted. (19) Today, they want the information immediately. They’ll go to the company’s social media page and post comments and questions, expecting to receive an immediate response. If they don’t get their questions answered soon, they’ll move on to another company that will answer them quickly.Marketing departments today need to follow technological development. For example, this year’s smartphone is smarter than last year’s; self-driving cars are now on the road. Marketers have to do research on which technologies are coming into being. Otherwise, they risk being left behind in the virtual dust.Marketing has also changed due to the importance of video. People don’t just want to read text; they want to watch things happening. Companies now have to explore how they can use video on a consistent basis to share information about their businesses. Fortunately, it’s extremely easy to shoot something these days. All you need is a smartphone.But what’s the result of all this? Shorter attention spans. We are n’t the same people that we were 20 years ago. Not only have we grown accustomed to getting the information we want instantaneously, our attention spans are much shorter. If something doesn’t capture our attention within a few seconds, we’re on to the next piece of content. (20) Marketers need to figure out ways to speak directly to the customer’s emotions, and they need to figure out how to do that as quickly as possible. Once people are emotionally engaged, they’ll stick with you.If marketing has changed this much in the past 20 years, imagine what the next 20 years will bring. In a recent survey, only nine percent of marketers could say with confidence that their marketing efforts were actually working. Their confidence is being shaken because the rules of the game change every year. That’s why (21) it’s important for marketers to pay attention to the latest technologicaldevelopments and consider collaborating with technological innovators. That way, they’ll be moving at the same pace as the tech industry.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the recording you have just heard.Q19. What does the speaker say about today’s consumers? 答案: D)Q20. How do marketers capture consumers’ attention as quickly as possible? 答案: C)Q21. What does the speaker suggest marketers do to meet future challenges? 答案: B)Recording ThreeYou might be surprised to learn that (22) the benefits of friendships extend beyond people’s social life and into their work, which is interesting when considering the extent to which people sacrifice friendships, or at least the time they spend with friends because of the extended hours they’re devoting to work. Just last week, I was remarking to a colleague that I’m content with only one social engagement per week. But according to recent research, that’s evidently not enough.(23) In an initial study of more than 700 respondents, scholars from an American university analyzed the impact that friends, as opposed to family, have on self-esteem and well-being. Friends came out substantially on top. That’s because to be someone’s mate is a voluntary act, unlike family who people rarely get to choose. The researchers found that when people choose to cultivate and maintain supportive friendships with an individual, it means that the person is valued and worthy of their limited time. Such sentiments of value and worthiness boost our self-esteem.The second study comprised more than 300 participants. It proved that the better we feel about ourselves, the more likely we will perform our job confidently and competently. (24) This follow-up study found that non-work friends even improved people’s job satisfaction. They have as much of an impact on how much they love their jobs, as do the friends they have at work, despite not actually being at our place of work. These types of friends tend to be our preferred outlet for venting about work-related matters. This is an avenue that may not be available at the office.So even though friendships can be easy to neglect when confronted by pressures at work, or even pressures at home, neglecting our friends can turn out to be harmful and counterproductive. That’s why when determining how to create a better work life balance, we need to consider not only how to balance work and family demands, but also how to cultivate and sustain supportive friendships. It’s for this reason that (25) managers should never discriminate when it comes to requests from employees for flexible work arrangements. It’s irrelevant whether their need for a desired schedule is due to, say, parenting responsibilities, or a craving to hang out with their best mate. What matters is the opportunity to engage in a nourishing activity outside of work. That will definitely have a follow-on effect at work. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.Q22. What does the speaker say is interesting? 答案: D)Q23. What did researchers from an American university analyze in their initial study? 答案: A)Q24. What did the second study find about non-work friends? 答案: D)Q25. What does the speaker suggest managers do? 答案: A)。

2023年12月英语六级听力答案

2023年12月英语六级听力答案

12月英语六级听力答案【篇一:2023年12月英语六级听力真题原文及答案】p> w: what a wonderful performance! your rockband hasnever sounded better.m: many thanks. i guess all those hours ofpractice in the past month are finally paying off.q:what does the man mean?2.m: i cant decide what to do for my summer vacation. i either want to go on a bike tour ofeurope or go diving in mexico.w: well, were offering an all-inclusive two-week trip to mexico for only 300 dollars.q:what does the woman suggest the man do for his vacation?3.w: how long do you think this project might take?m: id say about three months, but it could take longer if something unexpectedhappened. maybe wed better allow an extra month, so we won’t have to worry about beinglate.q: why does the man say extra time should be allowed for the project?4.m: im thinking about becoming a member here, and id like some information.w: sure. a three-month membership costs 150 dollars, and that includes use of the wait-room, sauna and pool. ill give you a free path so that you can try out the facilities before youdecide.q: what do we learn from the conversation?5.w: im sorry to hear that you failed the physics course, ted.m: lets face it. im just not cut out to be a scientist.q: what does the man mean?6.m: gary insisted on buying the food for the picnic.w: thats pretty generous of him. but shouldnt we at least offer to share the expenses?he has a big family to support.q: what does the woman suggest they do?7.w: did you see the headlines in the paper this morning?m: year. apparently the bus company will be laying off its employees if they cant reach anagreement on wages by midnight.q: what did the man read about?8.w: have we received payment for the overseas order we delivered last month?m: yes. the cheque came in yesterday afternoon. ill be depositing it when i go the banktoday.q: what is the woman concerned about?w: ok, thats it. now we have to make adecision. we might as well do that now, dont youthink?m: sure, lets see. first we saw frank brisenski.what did you think of him?w: well, hes certainly a very polite young man. m: and very relaxed, too.w: but his appearance…m: en… he wasnt well dressed. he wasnt even wearing a tie. w: but he did have a nice voice. he sounded good on the telephone.m: true. and i thought he seemed very intelligent. he answered donas questions verywell.m: en… she did look very neat, very nicely dressed, but…w: but so shy. she wouldnt be very good at talking to peopleat the front desk.m: en…ok. now who was the next? ar…yes, david wallace. i thought he was very good,had a lot of potential. what do you think?w: en… he seemed like a very bright guy. he d ressed very nicely, too. and he had a reallynice appearance.m: he seemed relaxed to me, the type of person people feel comfortable with right away.w: he was polite, but also very friendly and relaxed as you say.i think hell be good withthe guests at the front desk.m: he had a very pleasant voice, too.w: thats right. ok, good! i guess we have our receptionist then, dont you?m: yes, i think so. well just offer the job to…question 9: what are the speakers looking for?question 10: what is frank brisenskis weakness?question 11: what do the speakers decide to do?【六级听力长对话原文2】w: hello.m: hello. is that the reference library?w: yes, can i help you?m: i hope so. i ran earlier and asked for some information about dennis hutton, thescientist. you asked me to ring back. w: oh, yes. i have found something.m: good. ive got a pencil and paper. perhaps you could read out what it says.w: certainly. hutton dennis, born darlington, 1836, died new york, 1920.m: yes, got that.w: inventer and physicist, the son of a farmworker. he was admitted to the university oflondon at the age of 15.m: yes.w: he graduated at 17 with the first class degree in physics and mathematics. all right?m: yes, all right.w: he made his first notable achievement at the age of 18. it was a method ofrefrigeration which rolls from his work in lowtemperature physics. he became professor ofmathematics at the university of manchester at 24, where he remained for twelve years. duringthat time, he married one of his students, natasha willoughbym: yes, go on.w: later working together in london, they laid the foundations of modern physics byshowing that normal laws of cause and effect do not apply at the level of subatomic particles.for thishe and his wife received the nobel prize for physics in 1910, and did so again in 1912for their work on very high frequency radio waves. in his lifetime, hutton patented 244inventions. do you want any more?m: yes, when did he go to america?w: let me see. in 1920 he went to teach in new york and died there suddenly after onlythree weeks. still he was a good age.m: yes, i suppose so. well, thanks.question 12: what do we learn about dennis hutton when he was 15?question 13: what did dennis hutton do at the age of 24? question 14: for what were dennis hutton and his wife awarded the nobel prize a secondtime?question 15: why did dennis hutton go to new york?in america, white tailed deer are morenumerous than ever before, so abundant in factthat theyve become a suburban nuisance and ahealth hazard.why cant the herd be thinned the old-fashionedway? the small community of north haven on longisland is home to some six hundred to sevenhundred deer. the department of environmental conservation estimates the optimumpopulation at 60. the town has been browsed bare of vegetation except where gardens andshrubs are protected by high fences.drivers routinely collide with deer and there are so many dead bodies left by the side of theroad that the town has made it a deal with a local pet cemetery to collect and dispose of thebodies. some people in the town have become ill from deer transmitted diseases. on theoccasions when hunting has been tried, local animal rights people have worked to secure courtorders against the hunts. and when that is failed, they stop the hunters, banging on pots andpans to alert the deer. town meetings called to discuss the problem inevitably dissolved intoconfrontations.the activists believe simply that the deer are not the problem. some communities have evendiscussed the possibility of bringing wolves back into the ecological mix. that means wolves inthe suburbs of new york. it is almost too wonderfulnot to try it. the wolves would kill deer ofcourse. they would also terrorize and kill dogs and cats which is not what the suburbandwellers have in mind.questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heardq16. what do we learn about white-tailed deer in north haven?q17. why do local animal rights people bang on pots and pans?q18. what would happen if wolves were brought back into the ecological mix?六级短文2原文and now, if youll walk this way, ladies and gentlemen, the next room were going to see isthe room in which the family used to hold their formal dinner parties and even occasionallyentertain heads of state and royalty. however, they managed to keep this room friendly andintimate. and i think youll agree. it has a very informal atmosphere, quite unlike some grandhouses you visit. the curtains were never drawn, even at night, so guests got a view of the lakeand fountains outside which were lit up at night – a very attractive sight. as you can see,ladies and gentlemen, the guests were seated very informally around this oval table, whichwould add to the relaxed atmosphere. the table dates from the 18th century andis made fromspanish oak. its rather remarkable for the fact that although its extremely big, itssupported by just six rather slim legs. however, it seems to have survived like that for 200years. so its probably going to last a bit longer. the chairs which go with the table are not acomplete set. there were originally six of them. they are interesting for the fact that they arevery plain and undecorated for the time, with only one plain central panel at the back and noarmrests. i myself find them rather uncomfortable to sit in for very long, but people wereused to more discomfort in the past. and now, ladies and gentlemen, if youd like to follow mein to the great hall…q19. what do we learn about the speaker?q20. what does the speaker say about the room they are visiting?【篇二:2023年12月英语六级听力原文】语六级听力原文。

2022年大学六级真题听力原文答案详解

2022年大学六级真题听力原文答案详解

12月大学英语六级真题Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled The Way to Success bycommenting on Abraham Lincoln's famous remark,"Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I willspend, the first four sharpening the axe." You shouldwrite at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.The Way to Success注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

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 thequestions on AnswerSheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answerfrom the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Forquestions 8-10, complete the sentences with theinformation given in the passage.Google's Plan for World's Biggest Online Library: PhilanthropyOr Act of Piracy?In recent years, teams of workers dispatched by Google have been working hard to make digital copies of books. So far, Google has scanned more than 10 million titles from libraries in America and Europe - including half a million volumes held by the Bodleian in Oxford. The exact method it uses is unclear; the company does not allow outsiders to observe the process.Why is Google undertaking such a venture? Why is it even interested in all those out-of-printlibrary books, most of which have been gathering dust on forgotten shelves for decades? Thecompany claims its motives are essentially public-spirited. Its overall mission, after all, is to "organise the world's information", so it would be odd if that information did not include books.The company likes to present itself as having lofty aspirations. "This really isn't about making money. We are doing this for the good of society." As Santiago de la Mora, head of Google Books for Europe, puts it: "By making it possible to search the millions of books that exist today, we hope to expand the frontiers of human knowledge."Dan Clancy, the chief architect of Google Books, does seem genuine in his conviction that thisis primarilya philanthropic (慈善旳) exercise. "Google's core business issearch and find, soobviously what helps improve Google's search engine is good for Google," he says. "But we havenever built a spreadsheet (电子数据表) outlining the financial benefits of this, and I have neverhad to justify the amount I am spending to the company's founders."It is easy, talking to Clancy and his colleagues, to be swept along by their missionary passion. But Google's book-scanning project is proving controversial. Several opponents have recently emerged, ranging from rival tech giants such as Microsoft and Amazon to small bodies representing authors and publishers across the world. In broad terms, these opponents have levelled two sets of criticisms at Google.First, they have questioned whether the primary responsibility for digitally archiving the world's books should be allowed to fall to a commercial company. In a recent essay in the New YorkReview of Books, Robert Darnton, the head of Harvard University's library, argued that because such books are a common resource – the possession of us all – only public,not-for-profit bodiesshould be given the power to control them.The second related criticism is that Google's scanning of books is actually illegal. This allegation has led to Googlebecoming mired in (陷入) a legal battle whose scope and complexity makes the Jarndyce and Jarndyce case in Charles Dickens' Bleak House look straightforward.At its centre, however, is one simple issue: that of copyright. The inconvenient fact about most books, to which Google has arguably paid insufficient attention, is that they are protected by copyright. Copyright laws differ from country to country, but in general protection extends for the duration of an author's life and for a substantial period afterwards, thus allowing the author's heirs to benefit. (In Britain and America, this post-death period is 70 years.) This means, of course, that almost all of the books published in the 20th century are still undercopyright – and the last century saw more books published than in all previous centuries combined. Of the roughly 40 million books in US libraries, for example, an estimated 32 million are in copyright. Of these, some 27 million are out of print.Outside the US, Google has made sure only to scan books that are out of copyright and thus in the "public domain" (works such as the Bodleian's first edition of Middlemarch, which anyone canread for free on Google Books Search).But, within the US, the company has scanned bothin-copyright and out-of-copyright works. Inits defence, Google points out that it displays only small segments of books that are in copyright– arguing that such displays are "fair use". But critics allege that by making electronic copies of these books without first seeking the permission of copyright holders, Google has committed piracy."The key principle of copyright law has always been that works can be copied only once authors have expressly given their permission," says Piers Blofeld, of the Sheil Land literary agency in London. "Google has reversed this – it has simply copied all these works without bothering toask."In , the Authors Guild of America, together with a group of US publishers, launched a class action suit (集团诉讼) against Google that, after more than two years of negotiation, endedwith an announcement last October that Google and the claimants had reached an out-of-courtsettlement. The full details are complicated - the text alone runs to 385pages– and trying tosummarise it is no easy task. "Part of the problem is that it is basically incomprehensible," saysBlofeld, one of the settlement's most vocal British critics.Broadly, the deal provides a mechanism for Google to compensate authors and publishers whose rights it has breached (including giving them a share of any future revenue it generates fromtheir works). In exchange for this, the rights holders agree not to sue Google in future.This settlement hands Google the power - but only with the agreement of individual rights holders – to exploit its database of out-of-print books. It can include them in subscription deals sold to libraries or sell them individually under a consumer licence. It is these commercial provisions that are proving the settlement's most controversial aspect.Critics point out that, by giving Google the right to commercially exploit its database, thesettlement paves the way for a subtle shift in the company's role from provider of information to seller. "Google's business model has always been to provide information for free, and sell advertising on the basis of the traffic this generates," points out James Grimmelmann, associate professor at New York Law School. Now, he says, because of the settlement's provisions, Google could become a significant force in bookselling.Interest in this aspect of the settlement has focused on "orphan" works, where there is noknown copyrightholder – these make up an estimated 5-10% of the books Google has scanned. Under the settlement, when no rights holders come forward and register their interest in a work, commercial control automatically reverts to Google. Google will be able to display up to 20% oforphan works for free, include them in its subscription deals to libraries and sell them to individual buyers under the consumer licence.It is by no means certain that the settlement willbe enacted (执行) – it is the subject of afairness hearing in the US courts. But if it is enacted, Google will in effect be off the hook as far as copyright violations in the US are concerned. Many people are seriously concerned by this - and the company is likely to face challenges in other courts around the world.No one knows the precise use Google will make of the intellectual property it has gained byscanning the world's library books, and the truth, as Gleick, an American science writer and member of the Authors Guild, points out, is that the company probably doesn't even know itself. But what is certain is that, in some way or other, Google's entrance into digital bookselling will have a significant impact on the book world in the years to come.注意:此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

2023年12月英语六级听力原文及参考答案

2023年12月英语六级听力原文及参考答案

2023年12月英语六级听力原文及参考答案听力稿原文section AConversation 1气候变化和全球经济发展W: Professor Henderson could you give us a brief overview of what you do, where you work and your main area of research?M: Well the Center for Climate Research where I work links the science of climate change to issues around economics and policy。

Some of our research is to do with the likely impacts of climate change and all of the associated risks。

W: And how strong is the evidence that climate change is happening that it‘s really something we need to be worried about。

M: Well most of the science of climate change particularly that to do with global warming is simply fact。

But other aspects of the science are less certain or at least more disputed。

And so we‘re really talking about risk what the economics tells us is thatit’s probably cheaper to avoid climate change to avoid the risk than it has to deal with the likely consequences。

2023年6月六级听力原文及答案解析

2023年6月六级听力原文及答案解析

2023年6月六级听力原文及答案解析Part III Listening ComprehensionSection ADirections: 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 centre.11.W: Did you hear that Anna needs to stay in bed for 4 weeks?M: Yeah. She injured her spine in a fall and a doctor told her to lie flat on her back for a month so it can mend.Q: What can we learn from the conversation?【答案】A) The injury will confine Anna to bed for quite a while.【解析】细节题。

2020年12月英语六级听力原文(第一套)

2020年12月英语六级听力原文(第一套)

2020年12月英语六级听力原文(第一套)Section AConversation1Paul:Good morning,Safehouse Insurance.My name is Paul.How can I help you today?May:Morning.I wouldn’t say that it’s good from where I’m standing.This is Miss Wilson and this is the third time I’ve called this week since receiving your letter about our insurance claim.[1]I’m getting a little fed up with my calls about my claim being completely disregarded.Paul:Miss Wilson,thank you for calling back.Can I take some details to help me look at your claim?May:It’s Miss May Wilson of15South Sea Road in Cornwall.[2]And the details are that our village was extensively flooded2months ago. The entire ground floor of our cottage was submerged in water and five of us have been living in a caravan ever since.You people are still withholding the money we are entitled to over a bizarre technical detail. And it’s not acceptable,Paul!Paul:Miss Wilson,[3]according to the notes on your account,the bizarre technical detail that you mentioned refers to the fact that you hadn’t paid house insurance the month before the incident.May:That money left our account,and now that you should bepaying now,you’re suddenly saying that you didn’t receive it on time. I’m really skeptical about this claim.Paul:The contract does say that any missed payment in a year will affect the terms and conditions of the insurance contract and may affect claims.Of course,I can pass you on to my manager to talk to you more about this.May:I’ve already spoken to him and you can tell him[4]I’m furious now and that your company has a lawsuit on its hands.You will be hearing from my lawyer.Goodbye.Q1:What is the woman complaining about?Q2:What is the problem the woman’s family encountered?Q3:What has caused the so-called“bizarre technical detail”according to the man?Q4:What did the woman say she would do at the end of the conversation?Conversation TwoW:How do you feel about the future of artificial intelligence? Personally,I feel quite optimistic about it.M:[5]AI?I’m not so optimistic,actually.In fact,it’s something we should be concerned about.W:Well,it will help us humans understand ourselves better.And, when we have a better understanding of ourselves,we can improve theworld.M:Well,one thing is for sure:Technology is evolving faster than our ability to understand it.And in the future,AI will make jobs kind of pointless.W:[6]I think artificial intelligence will actually help create new kinds of jobs which would require less of our time and allow us to be centered on creative tasks.M:I doubt that very much.Probably the last job that will remain will be writing AI software.And then eventually,AI will just write its own software.W:At that time,we’re going to have a lot of jobs which nobody would want to do,so we’ll need artificial intelligence for the robots to take care of the old guys like us.M:I don’t know.[7]There’s a risk that human civilization could be replaced by a superior type of digital life.AI will be able to completely simulate a person in every way possible.In fact,some people think we’re in the simulation,right now.W:That’s impossible.Humans can’t even make a mosquito. Computers only have chips.People have brains and that’s where the wisdom comes from.M:[8]Once it’s fully developed,AI will become tired of trying to communicate with humans.As we would be much slower thinkers incomparison.W:I’m not so sure.A computer is a computer and a computer is just a toy.M:[8]Computers can easily communicate incredibly fast,so the computer will just get impatient talking to humans.It will be barely getting any information out.W:Well,I believe there’s a benevolent future with AI.I also think you watch too many science fiction films.Q5:What do we learn about the speakers from the conversation?Q6:What will new kinds of jobs be like,according to the woman?Q7:What is the risk the man anticipates?Q8:What is the man’s concern about AI technology?Section BPassage1To achieve financial security,how much you save is always more important than the amount you earn or how shrewdly you invest.[9]If you are under30years old,your goal should be to save20%of your monthly income after tax deductions.This is irrespective of how much you earn.Approximately50%should be reserved for the essential like food and accommodation.Through mainly30%is for recreation and entertainment.[10]But for many young people,it’ll be difficult to designate such a large proportion of their income for savings.[10]If you find it hard to save any money at all,start up by cutting all unnecessary spending,allocate at a tiny amount of1or2percent for savings,and gradually increase that amount.Always keep that20%goal in mind for prevent yourself from becoming complacent.It can be challenging to stick to such a strict plan.But if you adopt the right mindset,you should be able to make it work for you.[11]So,what should you be doing with the money that you saving? Some must be kept easily accessible in case you need some cash in emergency.The largest proportion should be invested retirement plans. Either for the young employer or privately.[11]And you can keep some money for high risk but potentially lucrative investments.Dividends can be re-invested or used to purchase something you like.By following this plan,you should hopefully be able to enjoy your life now,and still be financially secure in future.Q9What are people under30advised to do to achieve financial security?Q10What should people do if they find difficult to follow this speakers’advice on their financial plan?Q11What does the speaker think is important for achieving financial security?Passage2I work in advertising and I like to keep up with current trends,mainlybecause I’m aware that we live in an image-obsessed world.[12]However,when I first started my job,occasionally I’d catch a glimpse of myself in the lifts,and find myself thinking that I looked a total mess. Was I being held back by my choice of clothing?The sure answer is yes, especially when clients are quick to judge you on your style rather than your work.[13]But no one can be unique with their outfit every day.I mean that’s why uniforms were invented.So,here’s what I did.I created my own uniform.To do this,I chose an appropriate outfit.Then I bought multiple items of the same style in different shades.Now,I never worry about what I’m wearing in the morning even if I do get a bit tired of just wearing the same classic pieces.[14]Overall,when it comes to work,you have to ask yourself:will looking smarter enhance my ability to do my job?For some,this question may not be an issue at all.Especially if you work remotely and rarely see your colleagues or clients face to face.[14]But if your job involves interacting with other people,the answer to this is often yes.[15]So rather than finding a system,I think we should just do whatever help us to achieve our goals that work.If that means playing a safe with your image,then let’s face it.It’s probably worth it.Q12:What do we learn about the speaker when she first started her job?Q13:Why were uniforms are invented according to the speaker?Q14:What does the speaker say about looking smarter?Q15:What does the speaker advise people do in an image obsessed world?Recording1Did you know that Americans have approximately three times the amount of space we had50years ago?Therefore,you'd think we'd have sufficient room for all of our possessions.On the contrary,the personal storage business is now a growing industry.We've got triple the space, [16]but we've become such enthusiastic consumers that we require even more.This phenomenon has resulted in significant credit card debt, enormous environmental footprints,and perhaps not coincidentally,our happiness levels have failed to increase over the same half century.I'm here to suggest an alternative–that having less,might actually be a preferable decision.Many of us have experienced,at some stage, the pleasure of possessing less.I propose that less stuff and less space can not only help you economize,but also simplify your life.I recently started an innovative project to discover some creative solutions that offered me everything I required.By purchasing an apartment that was 40square meters instead of60,I admittedly saved$200,000.Smaller space leads to reduce utility bills,and also a smaller carbon footprint. Because it is designed around an edited collection of possessions, limited to my favorite stuff,I'm really excited to live there.How can we live more basically?Firstly,we must ruthlessly cut theunnecessary objects out of our lives.To extend consumption,we should think before we buy,and ask yourselves,"will it truly make me happier?"[17]Obviously,we should possess some great stuff,but we want belongings that we're going to love for years.[18]Secondly,we require space efficiency.We want appliances that are designed for use most of the time,not for occasional use.Why own a six-burner stove when you rarely use even three burners?Finally,we need multifunctional spaces and housewares.I combined a movable wall with transforming furniture to get more out of my limited space.Consider my coffee table.It increases in size to accommodate ten.My office is tugged away,easily hidden.My bed simply pops out the wall.For gas,I can relocate the movable wall and utilize the foldable guest beds I installed.I'm not saying that we should all live in tinier apartments,but consider the benefits of an edited life.When you return home and walk through your front door,take a moment to ask yourselves,"could I do with a little life editing?Will that give me more freedom and more time? Q16:What has prevented Americans happiness levels from increasing? Q17:What things should we possess according to the speaker?Q18:What do we learn about the items in the speaker's home? Recording2Now,believe it or not.People sometimes lie in order to maintain agood honest reputation,--even if it hurts them to do so.At least,this is what a team of scientists is suggesting,with evidence to prove it.Picture this scenario:You often drive for work and can be compensated for up to400miles per month.Most people at your company drive about300miles each month.But this month,you drove 400miles.How many miles do you think you'd claim in your expense report?[19]The scientist asked this exact question as part of the study we’re discussing today.With surprising results,they found that12%of respondents reported the distance they drove as less than the actual figure,giving an average answer of384miles.In other words,they lied about their number of miles,even though they would forfeit money they were owed.The researchers believe this was to seem honest,with the assumption being that others would be suspicious of a high expense claim.[20]But why would people fabricate numbers to their own detriment?The researchers explained that many people carry a great deal about their reputation and how they’ll be judged by others.If they care enough,they concerned about appearing honest and not losing their respect of others.Maybe greater than their desire to actually be honest.The researchers assert that they find a new suggest that whenpeople obtain very favorable outcomes.They anticipate other people's suspicious reactions and prefer lying and appearing honest to telling the truth and appearing as selfish liars.So why is this research important?Well,experts generally agreed there are two main types of lie,selfish liars and liars that are meant to benefit others.The first,as you may predict,is for selfish gain,such as submitting a fraudulent claim to an insurance company,while the second involves lying to help others or not offend others.For example,telling a friend whose outfit you don’t like that they look great.But the researchers are suggesting a third type of lying,lying to maintain a good reputation.Now this hypothesis is new and some skeptics argue that this isn’t a whole new category of lie.[21]The findings seem intuitive to me.After all,one of the main motivations for lying is to increase our worth in the eyes of others,so it seems highly likely that people will lie to seem honest.Q19:What did the team of scientist find in their study?Q20:Why would people fabricate numbers to their own detriment according to the researchers?Q21:What does the speaker think of the researchers’findings? Recording3[22]Why do old people dislike new music?As I’ve grown older,I often hear people my age say things like they just don’t make goodmusic like they used to.Why does this happen?Luckily,psychology can give us some insights into this puzzle.Musical tastes begin to crystallize as early as age13or14.By the time we’re in our early20s,these tastes get locked into place pretty firmly.[23]In fact,studies have found that by the time we turn33,most of us have stopped listening to new music.Meanwhile,popular songs released when you’re in your early teens are likely to remain quite popular among your age group for the rest of your life.(23) There could be a biological explanation for this,as there’s evidence that the brain’s ability to make subtle distinctions between different chords,rhythms,and melodies deteriorates with age.So to older people, newer,less familiar songs might all“sound the same.”But there’re maybe some simpler reasons for older people’s aversion to newer music.[24]One of the most researched laws of social psychology is something called the“mere exposure effect.”,which in essence means that the more we’re exposed to something,the more we tend to like it.This happens with people we know,the advertisements we see and, the songs we listen to.When you’re in your early teens,you probably spend a fair amount of time listening to music or watching music videos.Your favorite songs and artists become familiar,comforting parts of your routine.For many people over30,job and family obligations increase,so there’s less time to spend discovering new music.Instead,many will simply listen to old,familiar favorites from that period of their lives when they had more free time.Of course,those teen years weren’t necessarily carefree.They’re famously confusing,which is why so many TV shows and movies revolve around the high school turmoil.[25]Psychology research has shown that the emotions that we experience as teens seem more intense than those that come later.And we also know that intense emotions are associated with stronger memories and preferences.Both of these might explain why the songs we listen to during this period become so memorable and beloved.So there’s nothing wrong with your pare nts because they don’t like your music.Rather it’s all part of the natural order of things.Q22.What does the speaker mainly discuss in this talk?Q23.What have studies found about most people by the time they turned33?Q24.What do we learn from one of the most researched laws of social psychology?Q25.What might explain the fact that songs people listen to in their teen years are memorable and beloved?【答案】:C)Her claim has been completely disregarded.【解析】:考察视听一致,选项核心词与文本内容一致,且第一组问答出题,符合顺序原则。

2024年6月大学英语六级听力原文(第2套)

2024年6月大学英语六级听力原文(第2套)

2024年6月大学英语六级听力原文(第2套)Conversation OneI've just bought a new blender.What's that?A blender, you know, a machine that blends food.Uh, yes, of course, the electric kitchen appliance.Exactly, this one is state-of-the-art. I've been meaning to buy one for a while, and I did thorough research on which specific model to get.I read through maybe hundreds of online user reviews. Anyway, it's amazing.Really? What could be so special about it? I mean it's just a blender.Well, basically, it's just a very good one. It feels heavy and sturdy and well made. It also has lots of power and can easily cut and crush practically anything. This way, the soups and juices I make come out really fine and smooth, with no lumpy bits.Um, I see. I have never thought of getting one myself. It sounds like the kind of thing that, for me personally, I would rarely use.I've never had one before, and now that I do. I use it all the time.I make a fresh fruit juice in the morning, maybe not every morning, but3 or4 times a week, and it feels fantastic. It's a really healthy habit.I can imagine that must feel quite satisfying. I can picture you getting all creative in the kitchen and trying out a multitude of different ingredients, and it's obviously going to be healthier than buying packaged juice from a supermarket.It's so much healthier. It's not even close. Did you know that store-bought juice is like 10% sugar?Right, so then you bought it for the health benefits?Mostly yes. Basically, it allows me to have a more varied diet with a far wider assortment of nutrients, because it's not only fruit in my morning juices you see. I can also throw in vegetables, nuts, yogurts, cereals, anything that tickled my fancy.Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Question 1. What does the man say he did before buying the blender?Question 2. What does the woman say she has never thought of doing?Question 3. What does the man say is a really healthy habit?Question 4.What do we learn about store-bought juice from the conversation?Conversation TwoToday we have a very interesting guest.Mr. Thomas Benjamin Grimm, the mayor of Berkton, is here to talk about his job and responsibilities overseeing this charming village.Mr. Grimm, thank you for being here.Thank you for having me.I'd like to start by stating the obvious.Berkton has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, and this has happened under your watch.Just how did you achieve this?The achievement belongs to all the residents of Berkton.It was a shared effort where everybody pitched in for the communal good.But how did this change happen?In about 10 years, Berkton has gone from a relatively unheard of sleepy village to a must-see destination.Yes, the change has truly been remarkable.Berkton was always fortunate to be endowed with such a beautiful natural allure.The Ambury Hills above the village remain untouched by human development, and the Sonora valley just below it is equally stunning.The transformation commenced in a town hall meeting in spring 2008 over 10 years ago now, when an overwhelming majority of neighbors voted in favor of "Motion 836".This legislative proposal essentially set out to harmonize the aesthetic appearance of all the houses in Berkton.The idea was that if all the properties looked a certain way with shared design features, then a village as a whole would look more beautiful.And it worked.It certainly did.I'm looking now at a before-and-after photo, and the change is truly remarkable.It's hard to believe it's the same place.And how do the neighbors feel now?Great pride I would say.But what about the multitudes of visitors now crowding the streets?Is everyone happy about that?The tourists we receive are a blessing, as they have completely revitalized our local economy.Every visitor is warmly welcome.Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard.Question 5.What is the question the woman asked Mr. Grimm after the introduction?Question 6. What do we learn about Berkton of 10 years ago?Question 7.What resulted from the passing of the legislative proposal"Motion 836"?“836号动议”立法提案通过的结果是什么?Question 8. Why does the man say the tourists are a blessing toBerkton?Passage OneResearchers in the US have created a remote-controlled robot that is so small it can walk on the top of a US penny.In research published in the journal Science Robotics, a team at Northwestern University said the crab-like robot is 0.5mm wide.Researchers described it as the smallest ever remote-controlled walking robot.The tiny robot can bend, twist, crawl, walk, turn, and even jump without the use of complex hardware or special power.The engineers said this is because the robot is powered by the elastic property of its body.To construct the robot, the researchers used a shape memory alloy material that transforms to its "remembered" shape when heated.Using a laser, the team is able to heat the robot at specific parts of its body, causing it to change shape.As the robot deforms and goes back to its original shape, it creates movement from one place to another."Because these structures are so tiny, the rate of cooling is very fast,"project lead Professor John A. Rogers said.In fact, reducing the sizes of these robots allows them to run faster.While the research is still in the exploratory phase, the team believes that technology could lead to micro-sized robots that can perform practical tasks in tightly confined spaces."You might imagine micro robots as agents to repair or assemble small structures or machines in industry, or as surgical assistants to clear clogged arteries, to stop internal bleeding, or to eliminate cancerous tumors, all in minimally invasive procedures,"Rogers said.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 9.What does the passage say about a team of researchers at Northwestern University?Question 10.What did the researchers say about the robot they created?Question 11.What do the researchers expect their robots to do in the future?Passage TwoI don't want to boast anything, but I have always considered myself something of an elite sleeper.Given the opportunity, I will sleep for marathon stretches, and can doze through the most extreme situations.On one very rough ferry crossing, on the route to the Isles of Scilly, for example, my traveling companion spent the entire 3-hour- ride throwingup in the bathroom, while I dozed happily on a plastic chair.Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that I am not an elite sleeper after all.It seems I am just lazy, because elite sleepers are defined as the approximately 3 percent of the population who are biologically programmed to need less sleep than the rest of us.According to a study that came out in March, elite sleepers have rare genetic changes, which means they can sleep fewer hours than mere mortals, without any risk of cognitive decline.It may not be possible to change your own genes, but can you train yourself to need less sleep?Is there a non-biological way to reach elite sleeper status?I have spent the past year trying to answer that question.Not for fun, I should add, but because having a baby has severely disrupted my sleep, for which I still have a great passion.For a while, I assumed I'd be forced to become one of those people who jump out of bed at the crack of dawn.After a year of tough scientific study, however, I have discovered being forced to get up early in the morning is very different from being an early bird.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.Question 12.What does the speaker say she did on her ride to the Isles of Scilly?Question 13.What do we learn from the passage about elite sleepers?Question 14.What has the speaker been trying to find out over the past year?Question 15.What has the speaker discovered after a year of tough scientific study?Recording OneIf you read an article about a controversial issue, do you think you'd realize if it had changed your beliefs?No one knows your own mind like you do.It seems obvious that you would know if your beliefs had shifted.And yet, a new paper in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology suggests that we actually have very poor awareness of our own belief change, meaning that we will tend to underestimate how much we've been swayed by a convincing article.The researchers recruited over 200 undergraduates across two studies and focused on their beliefs about whether physical punishment of kids is an effective form of discipline.The students reported their initial beliefs about whether physical punishment is an effective way to discipline a child on the scale from"1. Completely disbelieve" to"9. Completely believe".Several weeks later, they were given one of two research-based texts to read.Each was several pages long and either presented the arguments and data in favour of physical punishment or against it.After this, the students answered some questions to test their comprehension and memory of the text.Then, the students again scored their belief in whether physical punishment is effective or not.Finally, the researchers asked them to recall what their belief had been at the start of the study.The students' belief about physical punishment changed when they read a text that argued against their own initial position.Crucially, the memory of their initial belief was shifted in the direction of their new belief.In fact, their memory was closer to their current belief than their original belief.The more their belief had changed, the larger this memory bias tended to be, suggesting the students were relying on their current belief to deduce their initial belief.The memory bias was unrelated to the measures of how well they'd understood or recalled the text, suggesting these factors didn't play a role in memory of initial belief or awareness of belief change.The researchers concede that this research was about changes to mostly moderate beliefs.It's likely the findings would be different in the context of changes to extreme or deeply held beliefs.However, our beliefs on most topics are in the moderate range, and as we go about our daily lives reading informative material, these intriguing findings suggest we are mostly ignorant of how what we just read has updated and altered our own position.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the recording you have just heard.Question 16.What does a new paper in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology suggest?Question 17.What happened when the students read a text that argued against their own initial position?Question 18.What did the researchers concede concerning their findings?Recording TwoAs the American population grows, so does the number of American moms.But more than a century after Mother's Day became an official holiday, even as that number increases, the share of the American population who are mothers is at the lowest point in a quarter century.It's frequently noted that fertility rates are falling sharply inricher countries.But the less observed consequence of this trend is that a decline in births can also mean a decline in motherhood in general.According to my analysis of data from the Census Bureau, the decline of American motherhood is real, occurring very quickly, and may continue for some time yet.Not only are moms making up less of the population, but their characteristics are changing too and in a way that might be linked to their proportional decline.Moms today tend to be older than in the past.Just looking at recent years, the change in age-specific birth rates has been drastic.In just the past few years, the peak childbearing age range for American women has advanced from that of 25~29 to that of 30~34.Meanwhile, childbearing among women under 20 has fallen by half or more, while childbearing among women 35 and older is rising.One positive consequence of this age shift is that a larger proportion of new mothers are economically prepared to raise children.Less positively, however, many women find that, as they age, they can't have as many kids as they would like.Plus, having children later in life can increase the risk of health complications.These finer points aside, one major consequence of the older mom's trend is that fewer years of a woman's life are spent as a mother.This means that, at any given time, a larger share of women and thus of the whole population, will report not having children in government surveys.In other words, later motherhood means less motherhood.Even as motherhood rates decline, Mother's Day, of course, will endure.In fact, despite the demographic shift, retail spending on the holiday appears to be rising.It is hard to say if Mother's Day spending is rising more than one would expect, given that the American population keeps growing.But one factor might be that the proportion of women who are the mothers of adult children is rising and those adult children may spend more generously when it comes to celebrating the moms they no longer live with.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the recording you have just heard.Question 19.What does the speaker conclude from her analysis of the Census Bureau's data?Question 20.What does the speaker say is a positive consequence of the age shift in childbearing?Question 21.What might be one explanation for the rise in retailspending on Mother's Day?Recording ThreeSince NASA published a paper in 1989 claiming that house plants can soak up pollution and toxic chemicals, businesses and homeowners have increasingly invested in greenery to help clean their air.But a new analysis suggests it could actually take more than 1,000 plants per square meter to gain a benefit any greater than simply opening a couple of windows.The problem lies in the fact that NASA conducted their tests in sealed containers that do not simulate the conditions in most people's homes or offices.The space agency was primarily concerned about keeping the air fresh for astronauts cut off in biospheres or space stations, and helping to combat "sick building syndrome" which had become a problem due to the super-insulated and energy-efficient offices of the late 1970s.By the early 1980s, workers regularly complained of skin rashes, sleepiness, headaches, and allergies as they breathed in toxic chemicals from paints and plastics.NASA found that certain plants could remove chemicals from the air, and even today garden centers recommend the plants for air cleaning properties.However, a new evaluation of dozens of studies spanning 30 years found that house plants in a normal environment have little impact.In fact, natural ventilation is far better at cleaning the air.The researchers also calculated the clean air delivery rate for plants in the studies they analyzed and found that the rate at which plants disperse the compounds was well below the usual rate of air exchange in a normal building, caused by the movement of people coming and going, opening doors and windows.Many of the studies did show a reduction in the concentration of volatile organic compounds over time, which is likely why people have seized on them to praise the air purifying virtues of plants.But the researchers' calculations showed it would take 10 to 1,000 plants per square meter of floor space to compete with the air cleaning capacity of a building's air handling system or even just a couple of open windows in a house.In contrast, NASA's sealed experiment recommended one pot plant per 100 square feet.This is certainly an example of how scientific findings can be misleading or misinterpreted over time.But it's also a great example of how scientific research should continually re-examine and question findings to get closer to the ground truth of understanding what's actually happening.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.Question 22.What does NASA's 1989 paper claim house plants can do?Question 23.What is said to be the problem with NASA's study reported in its 1989 paper?Question 24.What is the finding of a new evaluation of dozens of studies spanning 30 years?Question 25.What does NASA's sealed experiment recommendation exemplify in scientists'pursuit of truth?。

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2018年12月大学生英语六级考试真题卷一(听力部分)PartⅡ Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation 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.Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.1. A) It can benefit professionals and non-professionals alike.B) It lists the various challenges physicists are confronting.C) It describes how some mysteries of physics were solved.D) It is one of the most fascinating physics books ever written.2. A) Physicists’ contribution to humanity.B) Stories about some female physicists.C) Historical evolution of modern physics.D) Women’s changing attitudes to physics.3. A)By exposing a lot of myths in physics.B) By describing her own life experiences.C) By including lots of fascinating knowledge.D) By telling anecdotes about famous professors.4. A) It avoids detailing abstract concepts of physics.B) It contains a lot of thought-provoking questions.C) It demonstrates how they can become physicists.D)It provides experiments they can do themselves.Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard.5. A) He is too busy to finish his assignment in time.B) He does not know what kid of topic to write on.C) He does not understand the professor’s instructions.D) He has no idea how to proceed with his dissertation.6. A) It is too broad.B) It is outdated.C) It is challenging.D) It is interesting.7. A) Biography.B) Nature.C) Photography.D) Beauty.8. A) Improve his cumulative grade.B) Develop his reading ability.C) Stick to the topic assigned.D) List the parameters first.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four 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 co rresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the passage you have just heard.9. A) The unprecedented high temperature in Greenland.B) The collapse of ice on the northern tip of Greenland.C) The unusual clod spell in the Arctic area in October.D) The rapid change of Arctic temperature within a day.10. A) It has created a totally new climate pattern.B) It will pose a serious threat to many species.C) It typically appears about once every ten years.D) It has puzzled the climate scientists for decades.11. A) Extinction of Arctic wildlife.B) Iceless summers in the Arctic.C) Emigration of indigenous people.D) Better understanding of ecosystems.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.12. A) A good start.B) A detailed plan.C) A strong determination.D) A scientific approach.13. A) Most people get energized after a sufficient rest.B) Most people tend to have finite source of energy.C) It is vital to take breaks between demanding mental tasks.D) It is most important to have confidence in one’s willpower.14. A) They could keep on working longer.B) They could do more challenging tasks.C) They found it easier to focus on work at hand.D) They held more positive attitudes toward life.15. A) They are part of their nature.B) They are subject to change.C) They are related to culture.D) They are beyond control.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three recordings of lectures or talks followed by three or four questions. The recordings will be played 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.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the recording you have just heard.16. A) About half of current jobs might be automated.B) The jobs of doctors and lawyers would be threatened.C) The jobs market is becoming somewhat unpredictable.D) Machine learning would prove disruptive by 2013.17. A) They are widely applicable for massive open online courses.B) They are now being used by numerous high school teachers.C) They could read as many as 10,000 essays in a single minute.D) They could grade high-school essays just like human teacher.18. A) It needs instructions throughout the process.B) It dose poorly on frequency, high-volume tasks.C) It has to rely on huge amounts of previous data.D) It is slow when it comes to tracking novel things.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the recording you have just heard.19. A) The engineering problems with solar power.B) The generation of steam with the latest technology.C) The importance of exploring new energy sources.D) The theoretical aspects of sustainable energy.20. A) Drive trains with solar energy.B) Upgrade the city’s train facilities.C) Build a new ten-kilometre railway line.D) Cut-down the city’s energy consumption.21. A) Build a tank for keeping calcium oxide.B) Find a new material for storing energy.C) Recover super-heated steam.D) Collect carbon dioxide gas.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.22. A) The lack of supervision by both the nation and local government.B) The impact of the current economics crisis at home and abroad.C) The poor management of day centres and home help services.D) The poor relation between national heath and social care services.23. A) It was mainly provided by voluntary services.B) It mainly caters to the need of privileged.C) It called for a sufficient number of volunteers.D) It has deteriorated over the past sixty years.24. A) Their longer lifespans.B) Fewer home helpers available.C) Their preference for private services.D) More of them suffering serious illness.25. A) They are unable to pay for health services.B) They have long been discriminated against.C) They are vulnerable to illness and diseases.D) They have contributed a great deal to society.参考答案1. A) It can benefit professionals and non-professionals alike.2. B) Stories about some female physicists.3. C) By including lots of fascinating knowledge.4. D) It provides experiments they can do themselves.5. D)He has not idea how to proceed with his dissertation.6. A) It is too broad.7. B) Nature.8. C) Stick to the topic assigned.9. A) The unprecedented high temperature in Greenland.10. C) It typiaclly appears about once every ten years.11. B) Iceless summers in the Arctic.12. C) A strong determination.13. D) It is most important to have confidence in one`s willpower.14. A) They could keep on working longer.15. B) They are subject to change.16. A) About half of current jobs might be automated.17. D) They could grade high-school essays just like human teachers.18. C) It has to rely on huge amounts of previous data.19. D) The theoretical aspects of sustainable energy.20. A) Drive trains with solar energy.21. B) Find a new material for storing energy.22. D) The poor relation between national health and social care services.23. A) It was mainly provided by voluntary services.24. C) Their preference for private services.25. B) They have long been discriminated against.听力原文Conversation 1A: Hey, I just read a great book about physics. I think you‘d like it. It’s called the physics ofthe world. It‘s written by a scientist named Sylvia Mendez.B: Oh, I read that book. It was great. The writer is a warm and competent guide to the mysteries of physics. I think it promises enrichment for any reader from those who know little about science to the career physicist.A: And it‘s refreshing to see a strong curious clever woman adding her voice to the scientific discourse and a field that has been traditionally dominated by men. I think she has to be commended for making an effort to include anecdotes about little known female scientists. You know they were often victims of a generation firmly convinced that the woman’s place was in the home.B: I like how the book is clearly written with each chapter brought to life by pieces of fascinating knowledge. For example in one chapter she exposes a myth that I‘ve heard taught by university physics professors. I’ve often heard that medieval glass windows are thicker at the bottom because glass flows like a fluid. This, she shows, is not true. The distortion is actually thanks to a peculiarity of the glassmakers process.A: Yeah I like how she cultivates scientific engagement by providing a host of Do It Yourself experiments that bring the same foundational principles of classical physics that govern everything from the solar system to your kitchen table. From using complex laws of physics to test whether a spinning egg is cooked to measuring atmospheric pressure by lifting a piece of cardboard. Her hands-on examples make her book a truly interactive read.B: Yes I must say this a equation-free book is an ideal read for scientists of all stripes, anyone teaching science and even people who dislike physics.Question 1. what does the woman say about the book the man recommended?A) It can benefit professionals and non-professionals alike.Question 2. what can we find in the book the man recommended?B) Stories about some female physicists.Question 3. How does the author bring her book to life?C) By including lots of fascinating knowledge.Question 4. How does the book cultivate readers interest in physics.D)It provides experiments they can do themselves.Conversation 2A: Hi professor. I was hoping I could have a moment of your time if you‘re not too busy. I’m having some problems getting started on my dissertation and I was hoping you could give me some advice on how to begin.B: Sure. I have quite a few students though. So can you remind me what your topic is?A: The general topic I chose is aesthetics, but that’s as far as I’ve got I don‘t really know where to go from there.B: Yeah,that’s much too large a topic. You really need to narrow it down in order to make it more accessible. Otherwise you’ll be writing a book.A: Exactly. That’s what I wanted to ask you about. I was hoping it would be possible for me to change topics. I’m really more interested in nature than beauty.B: I‘m afraid you have to adhere to the assigned topic. Still, If you’re interested in nature, then that certainly can be worked into your dissertation. We‘ve talked about Hume before in class right.A: Oh yeah, he’s the philosopher who wrote about where our ideas of beauty come from.B: Exactly. I suggest you go to the library and get a copy of his biography. Start from there. But remember to stick to the parameters of the assignment. This paper is a large part of your cumulative grade. So make sure to follow the instructions. If you take a look at his biography. You can get a good idea of how his life experiences manifest themselves in his theories of beauty. specifically the way he looked towards nature as the origin of what we find beautiful.A: Great. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, Professor. I‘ll let you get back to class now.B: If there’s anything else you need, please come see me in my office any time.Question 5. What is the man‘s problem?D) He has not idea how to proceed with his dissertation.Question 6. What does the professor think of the man‘s topic?A) It is too broadQuestion 7. What’s the man really more interested in?B) Nature.Question 8. What does the professor say the man has to do?C) Stick to the topic assigned.Passage 1During the arctic winter from October to March, the average temperature in the frozen north typically hovers around minus 20 degrees Celsius. But this year the Arctic is experiencing much higher temperatures. On February the 20th the temperature in Greenland climbed above freezing or zero degrees Celsius and it stayed there for over 24 hours. Then on February the 24th the temperature on Greenland’ s northern tip reached six degrees Celsius. Climate scientists describe the phenomenon as stunning. Weather conditions that drive this bizarre temperature surge havevisited the Arctic before. They typically appear about once in a decade. However, the last such increase in temperature took place two years ago. This is troubling as climbing arctic temperatures combined with rapid sea ice loss are creating a new type of climate feedback loop which could accelerate Arctic warming. Indeed, sea ice cover in the Arctic is melting faster than expected. Without those masses of cooling sea ice, warm air brought to the Arctic can penetrate further inland than it ever did before. The air can stay warmer longer too. This drives additional melting. Overall earth is warming at a rapid pace. 2014 through 2017 rank as the hottest years on record and the Arctic is warming twice as fast as any place else on earth. This raises unique challenges for Arctic wildlife and indigenous people who depend on Arctic ecosystems to survive. Previously climate forecasts predicted that Arctic summer ice would disappear entirely by around 2060, but based on what scientists are seeing now the Arctic may be facing summers without ice within 20 years.Question 9. What did climate scientists describe as stunning?A) The unprecedented high temperature in Greenland.Question 10. What does the passage say about that temperature surge in the Arctic?C) It typiaclly appears about once every ten years.Question 11. W hat may occur in 20 years according to scientists’ recent observations?B) Iceless summers in the Arctic.Passage2A good dose of willpower is often necessary to see any task through whether it’s sticking to a spending plan or finishing a great novel. And if you want to increase that willpower, a new study suggests you just simply have to believe you have it. According to this study, what matters most is what we think about our willpower. If we believe it’s a finite resource, we act that way, we feel exhausted and need breaks between demanding mental tasks. However, people who view their willpower as a limitless resource get energized instead. The researchers used a psychological assessment tool to test the validity of the study. They asked 1100 Americans and 1600 Europeans to grade different statements such as after a challenging mental activity, my energy is depleted and I must rest to get it refueled again or I can focus on a mental task for long periods without feeling tired.Although there was little difference between men and women overall. Americans were more likely to admit to needing breaks after completing mentally challenging tasks European participants on the other hand claimed they were able to keep going. Based on the findings, the researchers suggest that the key to boosting your willpower is to believe that you have an abundant supply of it. Your feelings about your willpower affect the way you behave. But these feelings are changeable, they said. Changing your beliefs about the nature of your self-control can have positive effects on character development. This leads to healthier behaviors and perceptions of other people.Question 12. What is often necessary for carrying through a task?C) A strong determination.Question 13. What is the finding of the new study?D) It is most important to have confidence in one`s willpower.Question 14. What do we learn about European participants as compared with their American counterparts?A) They could keep on working longer.Question 15. What do the research say conce rning people‘s feelings about willpower?B) They are subject to change.Lecture 1Here is my baby niece Sarah. Her mum is a doctor and her dad is a lawyer. By the time Sarah goes to college the jobs her parents do are going to look dramatically different. In 2013,researchers at Oxford University did a study on the future of work. They concluded that almost one in every two jobs has a high risk of being automated by machines. Machine learning is the technology that’s responsible for most of this disruption. It’s the most powerful branch of artificial intelligence. It allows machines to learn from data and copy some of the things that humans can do. My company, Kaggle, operates on the cutting edge of machine learning. We bring together hundreds of thousands of experts to solve important problems for industry and academia. This gives us an unique perspective on what machines can do, what they can‘t do and what jobs they might automate or threaten. Machine learning started making its way into industry in the early 90s. It started with relatively simple tasks. It started with things like assessing credit risk from loan applications, sorting the mail by reading handwritten zip codes. Over the past few years, we have made dramatic breakthroughs. Machine learning is now capable of far, far more complex tasks. In 2012, Kaggle challenged its community to build a program that could grade high school essays. The winning programs were able to match the grades given by human teachers. Now given the right data, machines are going to outperform humans at tasks like this. A teacher might read 10000 essays over a 40-year career. A machine can read millions of essays within minutes. We have no chance of competing against machines on frequent high-volume tasks, but there are things we can do that machines cannot. Where machines have made very little progress is in tackling novel situations. Machines can’t handle things they haven’t seen many times before. The fundamental limitation of machine learning is that it needs to learn from large volumes of past data. But humans don’t. We have the ability to connect seemingly different threads to solve problems we’ve never seen before.Question 16. What did the researchers at Oxford University conclude?A) About half of current jobs might be automated.Question 17. What do we learn about Kaggle companies winning programs?D) They could grade high-school essays just like human teachers.Question 18. What is the fundamental limitation on machine learning?C) It has to rely on huge amounts of previous data.Lecture 2We’ve talked recently about the importance of sustainable energy. We’ve also talked about the different theories on how that can be done. So far, our discussions have all been theoretical. Now I have a practical question for you all. Can you run a 140,000 kilogram train on just the steam generated by solar power? Well, one engineer, Tim Casselman, believes it‘s possible. And his home city of Sacramento, California s hould see the technology’s first test as part of the upgrading of its rail yard. Casselman, who is an inventor and self-proclaimed steam visionary, is campaigning for a new steam train that runs without any fire and could run on an existing 10 kilometer line drawing tourists and perhaps offering city commuters a green alternative to their cars. Casselman wants to build an array of solar magnifying mirrors at one end of the line to collect and focus heat onto water filled tubes. This would generate steam that could be used to fill tanks on a small steam train without the use of fire. Supplying power to trains in this way would offer the shortest distance from well to wheels he says with the least amount of energy lost. According to Harry Valentijn, a Canadian engineer who is researching modern steam technology, a special tank measuring 2 by 10 metres could store over 750 kilowatt hours of energy as high pressure steam enough to pull a two car train for an hour or so. Energy to drive a steam locomotive can be stored in other materials besides water for example a team at Tohoku University in Japan has studied materials that can store large amounts of heat when heated. These materials turn from a solid into a liquid absorbing energy as they change phase. The liquid is maintained above its melting point until steam is required at which point the liquid is allowed to turn back into a solid releasing its stored energy another team at Nagoya University in Japan has tested calcium compound as an energy storage material. Heating this chemical compound drives off carbon dioxide gas leaving calcium oxide the gas can be stored under pressure and attain to recover the energy the gas is fed back over the calcium oxide. In theory says Valentijn this can create a high enough temperature to generate superheated steam.Question 19. What has the speaker previously talked about?D) The theoretical aspects of sustainable energy.Question 20. What is Tim Casselman trying to do in Sacramento?A) Drive trains with solar energy.Question 21. What has a Japanese research team tried to do?B) Find a new material for storing energy.Lecture 3Today’s crisis in care for older people in England has two main causes.First,people are living longer with a lot more complex needs. Second, they rely on a system that has long been marked by a poor relation between national health and social-care services.Current services originate in two key measures. They are the National Health Service and the 1948 National Assistance Act. This required local government to provide residential accommodation for older people and supervise care homes run by independent organizations.They also provided home and community services including meals, day centers and home helpers and other subsidized services. The National Health Service was free and wholly publicly provided. It delivered the best health-care for all. No such vision guided residential and community care though. The care was substantially provided by voluntary services which worked together with local authorities as they long had with eligibility based on income. Today, life expectancy has risen from 66 for a male at birth in 1948 to around 80 now. In addition, there is better overall health and improved medical knowledge and care. This means an unprecedented number of people are surviving longer in conditions requiring expert support. Families provide at least as much care as they ever did. Even so, they can rarely without subsidised support address serious personal needs. Care for older people faced persistent criticism as these trends became apparent. From the early 1960s, local authorities were required to plan health and welfare services. The aim was to enable older people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, but this increased concern about the lack of coordination between free health and paid-for social care. Through the 1970s, a number of measures sought to improve matter. However at a time of financial crisis, funding diminished and little changed. In the 1980s, the government cut spending. Meanwhile, preference for private over public services made management even more difficult. Simultaneously, the number of sick older people grew. Governments emphasized the need to improve services. They did so though while doing little to stop the erosion of available aid. Services were irregular across authorities. Unless you were prepared to pay, they were increasingly difficult to obtain for any but the most severely disabled. Why has 60 years of criticism produced so little change. Discrimination against older people has a long history. Additionally, those affected by inadequate health and social care are too vulnerable to launch the protests that have addressed other forms of discrimination.Question 22. What is one cause of the current crisis in care for the elderly in England?D) The poor relation between national health and social care services.Question 23. What does the speaker say about residential and community care?A) It was mainly provided by voluntary services.Question 24. What made management of care for the elderly more difficult in the 1980s?C) Their preference for private services.Question 25. What does the speaker say about older people in England?B) They have long been discriminated against.。

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