大学英语六级真题,长篇阅读
英语六级阅读理解练习试题附答案.doc
英语六级阅读理解练习试题附答案英语六级阅读理解练习原文：What does the future hold for the problem of housing? A good deal depends, of course, on the meaning of “future”. If one is thinking in terms of science fiction and the space age, it is at least possible to assume that man will have solved such trivial and earthly problems as housing. Writers of science fiction, from H.G. Wells onwards, have had little to say on the subject. They have conveyed the suggestion that men will live in great comfort, with every conceivable apparatus to make life smooth, healthy and easy, if not happy. But they have not said what his house will be made of. Perhaps some new building material, as yet unimagined, will have been discovered or invented at least. One may be certain that bricks and mortar(泥灰，灰浆) will long have gone out of fashion.But the problems of the next generation or two can more readily be imagined. Scientists have already pointed out that unless something is done either to restrict the worlds rapid growth in population or to discover and develop new sources of food (or both), millions of people will be dying of starvation or at the best suffering from underfeeding before this century is out. But nobody has yet worked out any plan for housing these growing populations. Admittedly the worst situations will occur in the hottest parts of the world, where housing can be light structure or in backward areas where standards are traditionally low. Buteven the minimum shelter requires materials of some kind and in the teeming, bulging towns the low-standard “housing” of flattened petrol cans and dirty canvas is far more wasteful of ground space than can be tolerated.Since the war, Hong Kong has suffered the kind of crisis which is likely to arise in many other places during the next generation. Literally millions of refugees arrived to swell the already growing population and emergency steps had to be taken rapidly to preventsqualor(肮脏)and disease and the spread crime. The city is tackling the situation energetically and enormous blocks of tenements(贫民住宅)are rising at an astonishing aped. But Hong Kong is only one small part of what will certainly become a vast problem and not merely a housing problem, because when population grows at this rate there are accompanying problems of education, transport, hospital services, drainage, water supply and so on. Not every area may give the same resources as Hong Kong to draw upon and the search for quicker and cheaper methods of construction must never cease.英语六级阅读理解练习题目：1. What is the authors opinion of housing problems in the first paragraph?A. They may be completely solved at sometime in the future.B. They are unimportant and easily dealt with.C. They will not be solved until a new building material has been discovered.D. They have been dealt with in specific detail in books describing the future.2. The writer is sure that in the distant future ____.A. bricks and mortar will be replaced by some other building material.B. a new building material will have been invented.C. bricks and mortar will not be used by people who want their house to be fashionable.D. a new way of using bricks and mortar will have been discovered.3. The writer believes that the biggest problem likely to confront the world before the end of the century ___.A. is difficult to foresee.B. will be how to feed the ever growing population.C. will be how to provide enough houses in the hottest parts of the world.D. is the question of finding enough ground space.4. When the writer says that the worst situations will occur in the hottest parts of the world or in backward areas, he is referring to the fact that in these parts ___.A. standards of building are low.B. only minimum shelter will be possible.C. there is not enough ground space.D. the population growth will be the greatest.5. Which of the following sentences best summarizes Paragraph 3?A. Hong Kong has faced a serious crisis caused by millions of refugees.B. Hong Kong has successfully dealt with the emergency caused by millions of refugees.C. Hong Kongs crisis was not only a matter of housing but included a number of other problems of population growth.D. Many parts of the world may have to face the kind of problems encountered by Hong Kong and may find it much harder to deal with them. 英语六级阅读理解练习答案：AABDD。
大学六级真题长篇阅读及参考详解
大学六级真题长篇阅读及参考详解大学英语六级考试是中国大陆高校学生的一项重要考试。
其中长篇阅读作为考试的难点之一，需要考生对文章内容进行准确理解和深入分析。
本文将通过解析真题，为考生提供参考和指导。
1. 题目解析大学六级真题长篇阅读部分通常由一篇长文和后续的多个问题组成。
考生需要仔细阅读文章，并根据问题选择正确的答案。
在解析文章之前，我们先来看看一个典型的真题：One of the great inventions of the Industrial Revolution was the idea of separating the place of work and the place of living. Before the 18th century, most people lived where they worked. They may have had a small farm or been a tradesman, and they fit their lives around their work. The advent of factories, though, forced people to leave their homes and work in a separate place. Shanghai industry(行业) has for over a century been built on the same principle-—the separation of work and living.But now, government officials in China's financial(金融的) hub(中心) have decided that the separation of work and living no longer holds. Theyare appropriating(拨用) planned factories and turning them into ＂creative spaces“， places where people can go to live and work. The reason, they say, is that living and working apart has created a culture of consumption(消费) rather than of creation.The so-called“creative spaces“ now taking shape represent a 180°shift(转变) in thinking. For generations, people were taught that work was work. It had its place. When they weren't doing it, they would retreat to their personal lives, very often being encouraged to do so by news organizations, which were supported by consumer advertising(广告). People would read newspapers as news-readership, too, was supported by advertising. Now, however, at work people are creating things and thus building cities.The concept is old, long lost in many parts of the world. But Shanghai is reclaiming(回收) it and presents a unique opportunity for the city to become a global leader in culture and design. Schools, theaters, galleries, museums and other forms of culture and art, along with clean manufacturing, are now springing up on the banks of the Huangpu River, and the government makes it easy for people to live and work in these spaces by subsidizing a large part of the rent.从这篇文章中，我们可以看出作者主要讲述的是中国的一个城市——上海，在近年来提倡“创意空间”发展模式，以期改变人们的工作和生活方式，从而达到创造性的发展。
大学英语六级阅读理解(集锦3篇)
大学英语六级阅读理解(集锦3篇）大学英语六级阅读理解（1）"I've never met a human worth cloning," says cloning expert M ark Westhusin from the cramped confines of his lab at Texas A&M University. "It's a stupid endeavor." That's an interesting choice of a djective, coming from a man who has spent millions of dollars tryin g to clone a 13-year-old dog named Missy. So far, he and his team have not succeeded, though they have cloned two calves and expe ct to clone a cat soon. They just might succeed in cloning Missy lat er this year---or perhaps not for another five years. It seems the re productive system of man's best friend is one of the mysteries of modern science.Westhusin's experience with cloning animals leaves him vexed b y all this talk of human cloning. In three years of work on the Miss yplicity project, using hundreds upon hundreds of canine eggs, the A&M team has produced only a dozen or so embryos carrying Miss y's DNA. None have survived the transfer to a surrogate mother. Th e wastage of eggs and the many spontaneously aborted fetuses ma y be acceptable when you're dealing with cats or bulls, he argues, but not with humans. "Cloning is incredibly inefficient, and also dan gerous," he says.Even so, dog cloning is a commercial opportunity, with a nice r esearch payoff. Ever since Dolly the sheep was cloned in, 1997, Wes thusin's phone at A&M College of Veterinary Medicinehas been ringing busily. Cost is no obstacle for customers like Missy's mysterious owner, who wishes m remain unknown to protec t his privacy. He's plopped down $3.7 million so far to fund the research because he wants a twin to carry on Missy;s fine q ualities after she dies. But he knows her clone may not have her te mperament. In a statement of purpose, Missy's owners and the A& M team say they are "both looking forward to studying the ways th at her clone differ from Missy."The fate of the dog samples will depend on Westhusin's work. He knows that even if he gets a dog viably pregnant, the offspring, should they survive,大学英语六级阅读理解（2）1.大纲要求六级考试大纲对阅读理解题的要求为：既能理解个别句子的意义，也能理解上下文的逻辑关系；既能理解字面的意思，也能理解隐含的意思；既能理解事实和细节，也能理解所读材料的主旨和大意；能就文章的内容进行判断，推理和信息转换。
王长喜六级考试标准阅读60篇
王长喜-六级考试标准阅读160篇第一篇(Unit one Passage 1)I live in the land of Disney, Hollywood and year-round sun. You may think people in such a glamorous, fun-filled place are happier than others. If so, you have some mistaken ideas about the nature of happiness.Many intelligent people still equate happiness with fun. The truth is that fun and happiness have little or nothing in common. Fun is what we experience during an act. Happiness is what we experience after an act. It is a deeper, more abiding emotion.Going to an amusement park or ball game, watching a movie or television, are fun activities that help us relax, temporarily forget our problems and maybe even laugh. But they do not bring happiness, because their positive effects end when the fun ends.I have often thought that if Hollywood stars have a role to play, it is to teach us that happiness has nothing to do with fun. These rich, beautiful individuals have constant access to glamorous parties, fancy cars, expensive homes, everything that spells “happines s”. But in memoir after memoir, celebrities reveal the unhappiness hidden beneath all their fun: depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, broken marriages, troubled children and profound loneliness.Ask a bachelor why he resists marriage even though he finds dating to be less and less satisfying. If he’s honest, he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment. For commitment is in fact quite painful. The single life is filled with fun, adventure and excitement. Marriage has such moments, but they are not its most distinguishing features.Similarly, couples that choose not to have children are deciding in favor of painless fun over painful happiness. They can dine out ever they want and sleep as late as they want. Couples with infant children are luc ky to get a whole night’s sleep or a three-day vacation. I don’t know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children.Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating realizations we can ever come to. It liberates time: now we can devote more hours to activities that can genuinely increase our happiness. It liberates money: buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless. And it liberates us from envy: we now understand that all those rich and glamorous people we were so sure are happy because they are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all.1.Which of the following is true?A.Fun creates long-lasting satisfaction.B.Fun provides enjoyment while pain leads to happiness.C.Happiness is enduring whereas fun is short-lived.D.Fun that is long-standing may lead to happiness.2.To the author, Hollywood stars all have an important role to play that is to __.A.rite memoir after memoir about their happiness.B.tell the public that happiness has nothing to do with fun.C.teach people how to enjoy their lives.D.bring happiness to the public instead of going to glamorous parties.3.In the author’s opinion, marr iage___.A.affords greater fun.B.leads to raising children.C.indicates commitment.D.ends in pain.4.Couples having infant children___.A.are lucky since they can have a whole night’s sleep.B.find fun in tucking them into bed at night.C.find more time to play and joke with them.D.derive happiness from their endeavor.5.If one get the meaning of the true sense of happiness, he will__.A.stop playing games and joking with others.B.make the best use of his time increasing happiness.C.give a free hand to money.D.keep himself with his family.第一篇答案：CBCDB第二篇(Unit one Passage 2)Once it was possible to define male and female roles easily by the division of labor. Men worked outside the home and earned the income to support their families, while women cooked the meals and took care of the home and the children. These roles were firmly fixed for most people, and there was not much opportunity for women to exchange their roles. But by the middle of this century, men’s and women’s roles were becoming less firm ly fixed.In the 1950s, economic and social success was the goal of the typical American. But in the 1960s a new force developed called the counterculture. The people involved in this movement did not value the middle-class American goals. The counterculture presented men and women with new role choices. Taking more interest in childcare, men began to share child-raising tasks with their wives. In fact, some young men and women moved to communal homes or farms where the economic and childcare responsibilities were shared equally by both sexes. In addition, many Americans did not value the traditional male role of soldier. Some young men refused to be drafted as soldiers to fight in the war in Vietnam.In terms of numbers, the counterculture was not a very large group of people. But its influence spread to many parts of American society. Working men of all classes began to change their economic and social patterns. Industrial workers and business executives alike cut down on “overtime” work so that they could spend more leisure time with their families. Some doctors, lawyers, and teachers turned away from high paying situations to practice their professions in poorer neighborhoods.In the 1970s, the feminist movement, or women’s liberation, produced additional economic and social changes. Women of all ages and at all levels of society were entering the work force in greater numbers. Most of them still took traditional women’s jobs as public school teaching, nursing, and secretarial work. But some women began to enter traditionally male occupations: police work, banking, dentistry, and construction work. Women were asking for equal work, and equal opportunities for promotion.Today the experts generally agree that important changes are taking place in the roles of men and women. Naturally, there are difficulties in adjusting to these transformations.1.Which of the following best express the main idea of Paragraph 1?A.Women usually worked outside the home for wages.B.Men and women’s roles were easily exchanged in the past.C.Men’s roles at home were more firmly fixed than women’s.D.Men and women’s roles were usually quite separated in the past.2.Which sentence best expresses the main idea of Paragraph 2?A.The first sentence.B.The second and the third sentences.C.The fourth sentence.D.The last sentence.3.In the passage the author proposes that the counterculture___.A.destroyed the United States.B.transformed some American values.C.was not important in the United States.D.brought people more leisure time with their families.4.It could be inferred from the passage that___.A.men and women will never share the same goals.B.some men will be willing to exchange their traditional male roles.C.most men will be happy to share some of the household responsibilities with their wives.D.more American households are headed by women than ever before.5.The best title for the passage may be ___.A.Results of Feminist MovementsB.New influence in American LifeC.Counterculture and Its consequenceD.Traditional Division of Male and Female Roles.第二篇答案DCBCB第三篇(Unit one Passage 3)Recent research has claimed that an excess of positive ions in the air can have an ill effect on people’s physical or psychological health. What are positive ions? Well, the air is full of ion s, electrically charged particles, and generally there is a rough balance between the positive and the negative charged. But sometimes this balance becomes disturbed and a larger proportion of positive ions are found. This happens naturally before thunderstorm, earthquakes when winds such as the Mistral, Hamsin or Sharav are blowing in certain countries. Or it can be caused by a build-up of static electricity indoors from carpets or clothing made of man-made fibres, or from TV sets, duplicators or computer display screens.When a large number of positive ions are present in the air many people experience unpleasant effects such as headaches, fatigue, irritability, and some particularly sensitive people suffer nausea or even mental disturbance. Animals are also affected, particularly before earthquakes, snakes have been observed to come out of hibernation, rats to flee from their burrows, dogs howl and cats jump about unaccountably. This has led the US Geographical Survey to fund a network of volunteers to watch animals in an effort to foresee such disasters before they hit vulnerable areas such as California.Conversely, when large numbers of negative ions are present, then people have a feeling of well-being. Natural conditions that produce these large amounts are near the sea, close to waterfalls or fountains, or in any place where water is sprayed, or forms a spray. This probably accounts for the beneficial effect of a holiday by the sea, or in the mountains with tumbling streams or waterfalls.To increase the supply of negative ions indoors, some scientists recommend the use of ionisers: small portable machines, which generate negative ions. They claim that ionisers not only clean andrefresh the air but also improve the health of people sensitive to excess positive ions. Of course, there are the detractors, other scientists, who dismiss such claims and are skeptical about negative/positive ion research. Therefore people can only make up their own minds by observing the effects on themselves, or on others, of a negative rich or poor environment. After all it is debatable whether depending on seismic readings to anticipate earthquakes is more effective than watching the cat.1.What effect does exceeding positive ionization have on some people?A.They think they are insane.B.They feel rather bad-tempered and short-fussed.C.They become violently sick.D.They are too tired to do anything.2.In accordance with the passage, static electricity can be caused by___.ing home-made electrical goods.B.wearing clothes made of natural materials.C.walking on artificial floor coverings.D.copying TV programs on a computer.3.A high negative ion count is likely to be found___.A.near a pound with a water pump.B.close to a slow-flowing river.C.high in some barren mountains.D.by a rotating water sprinkler.4.What kind of machine can generate negative ions indoors?A.Ionisers.B.Air-conditioners.C.Exhaust-fansD.Vacuum pumps.5.Some scientists believe that___.A.watching animals to anticipate earthquakes is more effective than depending on seismography.B.the unusual behavior of animals cannot be trusted.C.neither watching nor using seismographs is reliable.D.earthquake第三篇答案BCDAA第四篇(Unit one Passage 4)A study of art history might be a good way to learn more about a culture than is possible to learn in general history classes. Most typical history courses concentrate on politics, economics, and war. But art history focuses on much more than this because art reflects not only the political values of a people, but also religious beliefs, emotions, and psychology. In addition, information about the daily activities of our ancestors—or of people very different from our own—can be provided by art. In short, art expresses the essential qualities of a time and a place, and a study of it clearly offer us a deeper understanding than can be found in most history books.In history books, objective information about the political life of a country is presented; that is, facts about politics are given, but opinions are not expressed. Art, on the other hand, is subjective: it reflects emotions and opinions. The great Spanish painter Francisco Goya was perhaps the first truly “political” artist. In his well-known painting The Third of May 1808, he criticized the Spanishgovernment for its misuse of power over people. Over a hundred years later, symbolic images were used in Pablo Picasso’s Guernica to express the horror of war. Meanwhile, on another continent, the powerful paintings of Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros—as well as the works of Alfredo Ramos Martines—depicted these Mexican artists’ deep anger and sadness about social problems.In the same way, art can reflect a culture’s religious beliefs. For hundreds of years in Europe, religious art was almost the only type of art that existed. Churches and other religious buildings were filled with paintings that depicted people and stories from the Bible. Although most people couldn’t read, they could still understand biblical stories in the pictures on church walls. By contrast, one of the main characteristics of art in the Middle East was (and still is) its absence of human and animal images. This reflects the Islamic belief that statues are unholy.1.More can be learned about a culture from a study of art history than general history because art history__.A.show us the religious and emotions of a people in addition to political values.B.provide us with information about the daily activities of people in the past.C.give us an insight into the essential qualities of a time and a place.D.all of the above.2.Art is subjective in that__.A.a personal and emotional view of history is presented through it.B.it can easily rouse our anger or sadness about social problems.C.it will find a ready echo in our hearts.D.both B and C.3.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?A.Unlike Francisco Goya, Pablo and several Mexican artists expressed their political opinions in their paintings.B.History books often reveal the compilers’ po litical views.C.Religious art remained in Europe for centuries the only type of art because most people regarded the Bible as the Holy Book.D.All the above mentioned.4.The passage is mainly discussing__.A.the difference between general history and art history.B.The making of art history.C.What can we learn from art.D.The influence of artists on art history.5.In may be concluded from this passage that__.A.Islamic artists have had to create architectural decorations with images of flowers or geometric forms.B.History teachers are more objective than general history.C.It is more difficult to study art history than general history.D.People and stories from the Bible were painted on churches and other buildings in order to popularize the Bible.第四篇答案：DDDCA第五篇(Unit 2 Passage 1)If the old maxim that the customer is always right still has meaning, then the airlines that ply theworld’s busiest air route between London and Paris have a flight on their hands.The Eurostar train service linking the UK and French capitals via the Channel Tunnel is winning customers in increasing numbers. In late May, it carried its one millionth passenger, having run only a limited service between London, Paris and Brussels since November 1994, starting with two trains a day in each direction to Paris and Brussels. By 1997, the company believes that it will be carrying ten million passengers a year, and continue to grow from there.From July, Eurostar steps its service to nine trains each way between London and Paris, and five between London and Brussels. Each train carries almost 800 passengers, 210 of them in first class. The airlines estimate that they will initially lose around 15%-20% of their London-Paris traffic to the railways once Eurostar starts a full service later this year (1995), with 15 trains a day each way. A similar service will start to Brussels. The damage will be limited, however, the airlines believe, with passenger numbers returning to previous levels within two to three years.In the short term, the damage caused by the 1 million people-levels traveling between London and Paris and Brussels on Eurostar trains means that some air services are already suffering. Some of the major carriers say that their passenger numbers are down by less than 5% and point to their rivals-Particularly Air France-as having suffered the problems. On the Brussels route, the railway company had less success, and the airlines report anything from around a 5% drop to no visible decline in traffic.The airlines’ optimism on retur ning traffic levels is based on historical precedent. British Midland, for example, points to its experience on Heathrow Leeds Bradford service which saw passenger numbers fold by 15% when British Rail electrified and modernized the railway line between London and Yorkshire. Two years later, travel had risen between the two destinations to the point where the airline was carrying record numbers of passengers.1.British airlines confide in the fact that__.A.they are more powerful than other European airlines.B.their total loss won’t go beyond a drop of 5% passengers.C.their traffic levels will return in 2-3 years.D.traveling by rail can never catch up with traveling by air.2.The author’s attitude towards the drop of passengers may be described as__.A.worried.B.delightedC.puzzled.D.unrivaled.3.In the passage, British Rail (Para 6) is mentioned to__.A.provide a comparison with Eurostar.B.support the airlines’ optimism.C.prove the inevitable drop of air passengers.D.call for electrification and modernization of the railway.4.The railway’s Brussels route is brought forth to show that__.A.the Eurostar train service is not doing good business.B.the airlines can well compete with the railway.C.the Eurostar train service only caused little damage.D.only some airlines, such as Air France, are suffering.5.The passage is taken from the first of an essay, from which we may well predict that in thefollowing part the author is going to__.A.praise the airlines’ clear-mindedness.B.warn the airlines of high-speed rail services.C.propose a reduction of London/Paris flights.D.advise the airlines to follow British Midland as their model.第五篇答案：CABCB第六篇(Unit 2 Passage 2)Without regular supplies of some hormones our capacity to behave would be seriously impaired; without others we would soon die. Tiny amounts of some hormones can modify moods and actions, our inclination to eat or drink, our aggressiveness or submissiveness, and our reproductive and parental behavior. And hormones do more than influence adult behavior; early in life they help to determine the development of bodily form and may even determine an individual’s behavioral capacities. Later in life the changing outputs of some endocrine glands and the body’s changing sensitivity to some hormones are essential aspects of the phenomena of aging.Communication within the body and the consequent integration of behavior were considered the exclusive province of the nervous system up to the beginning of the present century. The emergence of endocrinology as a separate discipline can probably be traced to the experiments of Bayliss and Starling on the hormone secretion. This substance is secreted from cells in the intestinal walls when food enters the stomach; it travels through the bloodstream and stimulates the pancreas to liberate pancreatic juice, which aids in digestion. By showing that special cells secret chemical agents that are conveyed by the bloodstream and regulate distant target organs or tissues. Bayliss and starling demonstrated that chemical integration could occur without participation of the nervous system. The term “hormone” was first used with reference to secretion. Starling derived the term from the Greek hormone, meaning “to excite or set in motion. The term “endocrine” was introduced s hortly thereafter “Endocrine” is used to refer to glands that secret products into the bloodstream. The term “endocrine” contrasts with “exocrine”, which is applied to glands that secret their products though ducts to the site of action. Examples of exocrine glands are the tear glands, the sweat glands, and the pancreas, which secrets pancreatic juice through a duct into the intestine. Exocrine glands are also called duct glands, while endocrine glands are called ductless.1.What is the author’s main purpos e in the passage?A.To explain the specific functions of various hormones.B.To provide general information about hormones.C.To explain how the term “hormone” evolved.D.To report on experiments in endocrinology.2.The passage supports which of the following conclusions?A.The human body requires large amounts of most hormones.B.Synthetic hormones can replace a person’s natural supply of hormones if necessary.C.The quantity of hormones produced and their effects on the body are related to a person’s age.D.The short child of tall parents very likely had a hormone deficiency early in life.3.It can be inferred from the passage that before the Bayliss and Starling experiments, most people believed that chemical integration occurred only___.A.during sleep.B.in the endocrine glands.C.under control of the nervous system.D.during strenuous exercise.4.The word “liberate” could best be replaced by which of the following?A.EmancipateB.DischargeC.SurrenderD.Save5.According to the passage another term for exocrine glands is___.A.duct glandsB.endocrine glandsC.ductless glandsD.intestinal glands.第六篇答案：BDCBA第七篇(Unit 2 Passage 3)The discovery of the Antarctic not only proved one of the most interesting of all geographical adventures, but created what mig ht be called “the heroic age of Antarctic exploration”. By their tremendous heroism, men such as Shakleton, Scott, and Amundsen caused a new continent to emerge from the shadows, and yet that heroic age, little more than a century old, is already passing. Modern science and inventions are revolutionizing the endurance, future journeys into these icy wastes will probably depend on motor vehicles equipped with caterpillar traction rather than on the dogs that earlier discoverers found so invaluable and hardly comparable.Few realize that this Antarctic continent is almost equal in size to South America, and enormous field of work awaits geographers and prospectors. The coasts of this continent remain to be accurately charted, and the maping of the whole of the interior presents a formidable task to the cartographers who undertake the work. Once their labors are completed, it will be possible to prospect the vast natural resources which scientists believe will furnish one of the largest treasure hoards of metals and minerals the world has yet known, and almost inexhaustible sources of copper, coal, uranium, and many other ores will become available to man. Such discoveries will usher in an era of practical exploitation of the Antarctic wastes.The polar darkness which hides this continent for the six winter months will be defeated by huge batteries of light, and make possible the establishing of air-fields for the future inter-continental air services by making these areas as light as day. Present flying routes will be completely changed, for the Antarctic refueling bases will make flights from Australia to South America comparatively easy over the 5,000 miles journey.The climate is not likely to offer an insuperable problem, for the explorer Admiral Byrd has shown that the climate is possible even for men completely untrained for expeditions into those frozen wastes. Some of his parties were men who had never seen snow before, and yet he records that they survived the rigors of the Antarctic climate comfortably, so that, provided that the appropriate installations are made, we may assume that human beings from all countries could live there safely. Byrd even affirms that it is probably the most healthy climate in the world, for the intense cold of thousands of years has sterilize this continent, and rendered it absolutely germfree, with the consequences that ordinary and extraordinary sickness and diseases from which man suffers in other zones with different climates are here utterly unknown. There exist no problems of conservation and preservation of food supplies, for the latter keep indefinitely without any signs of deterioration; it may even be that later generations will come to regard the Antarctic as the natural storehouse for thewhole world.Plans are already on foot to set up permanent bases on the shores of this continent, and what so few years ago was regarded as a “dead continent” now promises to be a most active center of human life and endeavor.1.When did man begin to explore the Antarctic?A.About 100years ago.B.In this century.C.At the beginning of the 19th century.D.In 1798.2.What must the explorers be, even though they have modern equipment and techniques?A.Brave and toughB.Stubborn and arrogant.C.Well-liked and humorous.D.Stout and smart.3.The most healthy climate in the world is___.A.in South America.B.in the Arctic Region.C.in the Antarctic Continent.D.in the Atlantic Ocean.4.What kind of metals and minerals can we find in the Antarctic?A.Magnetite, coal and ores.B.Copper, coal and uranium.C.Silver, natural gas and uranium.D.Aluminum, copper and natural gas.5.What is planned for the continent?A.Building dams along the coasts.B.Setting up several summer resorts along the coasts.C.Mapping the coast and whole territory.D.Setting up permanent bases on the coasts.第六篇答案：BDCBA第七篇(Unit 2 Passage 3)The discovery of the Antarctic not only proved one of the most interesting of all geographical advent ures, but created what might be called “the heroic age of Antarctic exploration”. By their tremendou s heroism, men such as Shakleton, Scott, and Amundsen caused a new continent to emerge from the shadows, and yet that heroic age, little more than a century old, is already passing. Modern scienc e and inventions are revolutionizing the endurance, future journeys into these icy wastes will probabl y depend on motor vehicles equipped with caterpillar traction rather than on the dogs that earlier disc overers found so invaluable and hardly comparable.Few realize that this Antarctic continent is almost equal in size to South America, and enormous fiel d of work awaits geographers and prospectors. The coasts of this continent remain to be accurately c harted, and the maping of the whole of the interior presents a formidable task to the cartographers who undertake the work. Once their labors are completed, it will be possible to prospect the vast natur al resources which scientists believe will furnish one of the largest treasure hoards of metals and min erals the world has yet known, and almost inexhaustible sources of copper, coal, uranium, and man y other ores will become available to man. Such discoveries will usher in an era of practical exploitat ion of the Antarctic wastes.The polar darkness which hides this continent for the six winter months will be defeated by huge batt eries of light, and make possible the establishing of air-fields for the future inter-continental air servi ces by making these areas as light as day. Present flying routes will be completely changed, for the A ntarctic refueling bases will make flights from Australia to South America comparatively easy over t he 5,000 miles journey.The climate is not likely to offer an insuperable problem, for the explorer Admiral Byrd has shown t hat the climate is possible even for men completely untrained for expeditions into those frozen waste s. Some of his parties were men who had never seen snow before, and yet he records that they surviv ed the rigors of the Antarctic climate comfortably, so that, provided that the appropriate installation s are made, we may assume that human beings from all countries could live there safely. Byrd even a ffirms that it is probably the most healthy climate in the world, for the intense cold of thousands of y ears has sterilize this continent, and rendered it absolutely germfree, with the consequences that ordi nary and extraordinary sickness and diseases from which man suffers in other zones with different cl imates are here utterly unknown. There exist no problems of conservation and preservation of food s upplies, for the latter keep indefinitely without any signs of deterioration; it may even be that later ge nerations will come to regard the Antarctic as the natural storehouse for the whole world.Plans are already on foot to set up permanent bases on the shores of this continent, and what so few years ago was regarded as a “dead continent” now promises to be a most active center of human li fe and endeavor.1.When did man begin to explore the Antarctic?A.About 100years ago.B.In this century.C.At the beginning of the 19th century.D.In 1798.2.What must the explorers be, even though they have modern equipment and techniques?A.Brave and toughB.Stubborn and arrogant.C.Well-liked and humorous.D.Stout and smart.3.The most healthy climate in the world is___.A.in South America.B.in the Arctic Region.C.in the Antarctic Continent.D.in the Atlantic Ocean.。
大学英语六级阅读理解题目及答案
大学英语六级阅读理解题目及答案Part Ⅰ Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 1 to 10 are based on the following passage.Music and LanguageMusic and language are two different ---1--- that are often linked together. For example, they both involve a type of communication and have a ---2--- impact on our emotions. However, music and language are fundamentally different in a number of ways.Unlike language, which is composed of words and grammar, music is a ---3--- art form. It uses tones, melodies, rhythms, and harmonies to create emotional ---4---. Language, on the other hand, mainly conveys meaning through the use of words and sentences.Another difference between music and language is their development in humans. ---5--- learn language through exposure to conversations and practice, while music seems to be ---6---. We all have the ability torecognize and appreciate music, even without any formal training. This suggests that our musical abilities may be innate.Furthermore, music and language are processed in different areas of the brain. Language is mainly processed in the left hemisphere, whereas music is ---7--- in both the left and right hemispheres. Evidence has shown that certain ---8--- patients who have lost their ability to speak can still sing, indicating that music may be connected to different neural pathways (神经通路) than language.Despite their differences, music and language are closely related in some ways. Studies have shown that music can assist with language ---9---. For example, listening to music can help ESL students improve their pronunciation and intonation. Similarly, playing a musical instrument can enhance the linguistic abilities of children.In conclusion, while music and language share certain similarities in terms of communication and emotional impact, they also have distinct characteristics. Understanding the differences and connections between music and language can help us appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of each art form.1. [A] skills [B] forms [C] techniques [D] systems2. [A] significant [B] flexible [C] optional [D] limited3. [A] controversial [B] visual [C] sensory [D] practical4. [A] reactions [B] viewpoints [C] expectations [D] contributions5. [A] Babies [B] Adults [C] Animals [D] Artists6. [A] inherited [B] acquired [C] displayed [D] distributed7. [A] analyzed [B] noted [C] localized [D] bypassed8. [A] music-loving [B] language-deficient [C] brain-damaged [D] memory-impaired9. [A] practice [B] revision [C] acquisition [D] retentionSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage.Do You Prefer to Stay Single?A. It’s often said that a woman who puts a high priority on her career ends up lying alone on a Saturday night. However, my research on this subject shows that it is basically a myth. In fact, in my surveys I found that highly educated career women are just as likely to form successful marriages as other women, and actually more likely to make a good choice the second time around. By contrast, women who don’t care quite so much about their career and are more willing to settle for less than Mr. Right are more likely to end up single.B. Is marrying for love a good or bad thing? Most of us, it seems, would say, “Good, of course!” But are we really thinking? In reality, marrying purely for love may be less likely to lead to a satisfying marriage. Many psychologists now believe that people who expect marriage to provide happiness are often disappointed. Marrying who we fall in love with is a romantic idea. But psychologists have found it often means falling in love with someone like ourselves and who is familiar to us. Love and passion are often considered separate from friendship and companionship (交往、友谊).C. According to the latest research, newlyweds who feel good abouttheir marriage are healthier than those who don’t. The work is one of thefirst of its kind to show how much influence someone’s thoughts can haveon their health. Researchers measured the heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol (胆固醇) levels of 28 married women as they argued with their husbands and measured the levels of a chemical (化学物质) linked to heart disease. The women were asked before having a disagreement if they were happy in their marriages. When the researchers reviewed the results, they discovered that the women who said they had happier marriages also had lower levels of the chemical than those who said their marriages weren’t going well.D. It is a cultural stereotype that young women like to date older men. In a study of 18 to 24-year-old college students, researchers found that about 80% of men were interested in dating women who were significantly younger, while 85% of women were keen on dating older men. Many participants explained this interest in terms of desire for maturity, not money.E. In the past, people routinely built relationships with neighbors, families, and communities. Now, however, only two in 10 Americans indicate that they regularly spend time with their neighbors, and only one-third of Americans report regularly spending time with their families. Loneliness, experts now suggest, is twice as deadly as obesity (肥胖) and is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Additionally, loneliness can have a long-term impact on both physical and emotional health, increasing the risk for heart disease, depression, and premature death.F. In a research team studying married couples, researchers asked couples whether they felt close to their partners and if they had thought about separating from them. When the researchers reviewed the magnetic resonance imaging (磁共振成像) scans of the participants’ brains, they found that those who had thought about leaving their partners showed activity in the brain regions associated with a variety of negative emotions, such as anger and sadness. On the other hand, couples who felt close and secure with their partners showed greater activation in areas of the brain associated with reward and attachment.11. Couples who feel happy about their marriage have better health.12. Men tend to be interested in dating younger women, while women prefer older men.13. Good family relationships are becoming less common nowadays.14. Love marriages may not always lead to satisfactory marriages.15. People who put a high priority on their careers are less likely to end up single.答案1. B2. A3. C4. A5. D6. B7. C8. C9. A10. B11. C12. D13. E14. B15. A以上是关于大学英语六级阅读理解题目及答案的内容。
大学英语六级长篇阅读练习(5套)
大学英语六级考试阅读要求考生能顺利读懂语言难度中等的一般性题材的文章、掌握中心大意以及说明中心大意的事实和细节，并能进行一定的分析、推理和判断。
下面小编为大家整理了六级长篇阅读练习题及答案解析，希望对您有所帮助，祝大家备考顺利！大学英语六级改革新题型长篇阅读练习（一）英语六级新题型练习之长篇阅读：段落匹配题。
Paper--More than Meets the EyeA） We are surrounded by so much paper and card that it is eas y to forget just how complex it is. There are many varieties and grades of paper materials， and whilst it is fairly easy to spot the variet ies， it is far more difficult to spot the grades.B） It needs to be understood that most paper and card is manu factured for a specific purpose， so that whilst the corn-flake packetmay look smart， it is clearly not something destined for the archives. It is made to look good， but only needs a limited life span. It isalso much cheaper to manufacture than high grade card.C） Paper can be made from an almost endless variety of cellulo se-based material which will include many woods， cottons and grass es or which papyrus is an example and from where we get the word "paper". Many of these are very specialized， but the preponderance of paper making has been from soft wood and cotton or rags， with the bulk being wood-based.Paper from WoodD） In order to make wood into paper it needs to be broken do wn into fine strands. Firstly by powerful machinery and then boiled with strong alkalies such as caustic soda， until a fine pulp of cellulo se fibers is produced. It is from this pulp that the final product is m ade， relying on the bonding together of the cellulose into layers. Th at， in a very small nutshell， is the essence of paper making from wood. However， the reality is rather more complicated. In order to give us our white paper and card， the makers will add bleach and other materials such as china clay and additional chemicals.E） A further problem with wood is that it contains a material th at is not cellulose. Something called lignin. This is essential for the t ree since it holds the cellulose fibres together， but if it is incorporat ed into the manufactured paper it presents archivists with a proble m. Lignin eventually breaks down and releases acid products into th e paper. This will weaken the bond between the cellulose fibers and the paper will become brittle and look rather brown and careworn. We have all seen this in old newspapers and cheap paperback book s. It has been estimated that most paper back books will have a lif e of not greater than fifty years. Not what we need for our archive s.F） Since the lignin can be removed from the paper pulp during manufacture， the obvious question is "why is it left in the paper?" T he answer lies in the fact that lignin makes up a considerable part of the tree. By leaving the lignin in the pulp a papermaker can incr ease his paper yield from a tree to some 95%. Removing it means a yield of only 35%. It is clearly uneconomic to remove the lignin f or many paper and card applications.G） It also means， of course， that lignin-free paper is going to be more expensive， but that is nevertheless what the archivist must look for in his supplies. There is no point whatsoever in carefully pl acing our valuable artifacts in paper or card that is going to hastentheir demise. Acid is particularly harmful to photographic material s， causing them to fade and is some cases simply vanish！H） So， how do we tell a piece of suitable paper or card from o ne that is unsuitable? You cannot do it by simply looking， and rathe r disappointingly， you cannot always rely on the label. "Acid-free" might be true inasmuch as a test on the paper may indicate that it is a neutral material at this time. But lignin can take years before it starts the inevitable process of breaking down， and in the right co nditions it will speed up enormously.I） Added to this， as I have indicated earlier， paper may also c ontain other materials added during manufacture such as bleach， ch ina clay， chemical whiteners and size. This looks like a bleak pictur e， and it would be but for the fact that there are suppliers who will guarantee the material that they sell. If you want to be absolutely sure that you are storing in， or printing on， the correct material th en this is probably the only way.J） Incidentally， acids can migrate from material to material. Lin ing old shoe boxes with good quality acid-free paper will do little to guard the contents. The acid will get there in the end.Paper from RagK） Paper is also commonly made from cotton and rag waste. Th is has the advantage of being lignin-free， but because there is muc h less cotton and rag than trees， it also tends to be much more ex pensive than wood pulp paper. You will still need to purchase from a reliable source though， since even rag paper and card can contai n undesirable additives.L） A reliable source for quality rag papers is a recognized art st ockiest. Many water color artists insist on using only fine quality rag paper and board.M） The main lesson to learn from this information is that you c annot rely on purchasing archival materials from the high street. Th e only safe solution is to purchase from specialist suppliers. It may cost rather more， but in the end you will know that your important and valuable data and images have the best home possible.1. The corn-flake packet is cheaper than high grade card.2. There are a lot of materials which can be used for making pa per， but the superiority ones are soft wood， cotton and rags.3. During the whole manufacturing process， the final product is made from a pulp of cellulose fibres.4. In order to make white paper and card， the makers will add bleach.5. Liguin is essential for the tree but it will make paper easy to break.6. Many paper producers will preserve lignin during manufactur e， because leaving the lignin will make more paper from a tree.7. Acid is particularly harmful to photographic materials.8. If the lignin is removed from the paper， the paper will be mo re expensive.9. Although free of lignin， paper made from cotton and rag was te can also cost more money than wood pulp paper because there i s much less cotton and rag than trees.10. What we can learn from "Paper from Rag" is that you had b etter buy archival materials from specialist suppliers.文章精要本文主要介绍了我们平常所见所用的纸的复杂性，通过介绍用木头和破布料造纸的过程，使我们对纸的类别、属性有了更深入的了解。
英语六级阅读理解真题卷及答案-3
英语六级阅读理解真题卷及答案-3因考试政策、内容不断变化与调整，下面是给大家供应的阅读理解范文供参考，以下是我给大家整理的英语六级长篇阅读真题-3，期望可以帮到大家whos really addicting you to Technology?A.Nearly everyone i know is addicted in some measure to the internet, wrote tony Schwartz in The New York Times. its a common complaint these days. A steady stream of similar headlines accuse the net and its offspring apps, social media sites and online games of addicting us to distractionB. Theres little doubt that nearly everyone who comes in contact with the net has difficulty concentration than it takes to post a status update. as one person ironically put it in the comments section of Schwartzs online article, As I was reading this very excellent article.I stopped at least half a dozen times to cheek my email.C.Theres something different about this technology: it is both invasive and persuasive. but whos at fault for its overuse? To find solutions, its important to understand what were dealing with.There are four parties conspiring to keep you connected the tech, your boss, your friends and you.D.The technologies themselves and their makers, are the easiest suspects to blame for our diminishing attention spans. Nicholas Carr,author of The Shallows： what the internet isdoing Our brains, wrote, The net is designed to be an interruption system, a machine geared to dividing attention.E.Online services like Facebook, twitter and the like, are called out of manipula-tion--making，products so good that people cant stop using them. after studying these products for several years, I wrote a book about how they do it. I learned it all starts with the business model. since these services rely on advertising revenue, The more frequently you use money they make.Its no winder these companies employ teams of people focused on engineering their services to be as engaging as possible. these products arent habit-forming by chance; its by design. they have an incentive to keep us hooked.F.However, as good as these services are, there are simple steps we can take to keep them at bay.For example, we can change how often we receive the distracting notifications that trigger our urge to check.According to adam marchick, ceo of mobile marketing company kahuna, less than 15 percent of smartphone users ever bother to adjust their notificationsetlings--meaning the remaining 85 percent of us default to the app makers every preset trigger.Google and Apple have made it far too difficult to adjust these settings so its up to us to take steps ensure we set these triggers to suit our own needs, not the needs of the app makers.G.While companies like Facebook harvest attention to generate revenue from advertisers, other technologies have no such agenda. take email, for example. this system couldnt care less how often you use it. Yet to many, email is the most habit-forming medium of all.We check email at all hours of theday--were obsessed, but why? Because thats what the boss wants.For almost all white-collar jobs, A slowResponse to a message could hurt not only your reputation but also your livelihood.H.Your friends are also responsible.Think about this familiar scene.People gathered around a table, enjoying food and each others company. theres laughter and a bit of kidding. Then, during an interval in the conversation, someone takes out their phone to check who knows what.Barely anyone notices and no one says a thing.I.Now imagine the same dinner,but instead of checking their phone, the person belches(打嗝)-loudly.Everyone notices. unless the meal takes place in a beer house, this is considered bad manners. The impolite act violates the basic rules of etiquette. one has to wonder why dont we apply the same social norms to checking phones during meals, meetings and conversations as we do to other antisocial behaviors somehow, we accept it and say nothing when someone offends.J.The reality is taking ones phone out at the wrong time is worse than belching because, unlike other minor offense, checking tech is contagious. once one person looks at their phone,other people feel compelled to do the same, starting a chain reaction. the more people are on their phones, the fewer people are talking until finally you are the only one left not reading email or checking twitter. from a societal perspective, phone checking is less like belching in public and more like another bad habit. our phones are like cigarettes-something todo when were bored or when our fingers need something to toy with seeing others enjoy a smoke,or sneak a quick glance, is too tempting to resist and soon everyone is doing it.K.The technology, your boss, and your friends, all influence how often you find yourself using (oroverusing )these gadgets. but theres still someone who deserves scrutiny--the person holding the phone.L. I have a confession. even though i study habit-forming technology for a living, disconnecting is not easy for me.Im online far more than Id like like Schwartz and so many others, I often find myself distracted and off tack.I wanted to know why so i began self-monitoring to try to understand my behavior. thats when i discovered an uncomfortable truth. i use technology as an escape. when Im doing something Id rather not do, or when Im someplace Id rather not attention was often a good thing, like when passing time on public transportation, but frequently my tech use was not so benign. when i faced difficult work, like thinking through an article idea or editing the same draft for the hundredth time, for example, a more sinister screen would draw me in. i could easily escape discomfort.temporarlly.by answering email or browsing ing the web under the pretense of so-calledresearch. though I desperately wanted to lay blame elsewhere, i finally had to admit that my bad habits had less to do with new-age.technology and more to do with old-fashioned procrastination(拖延)M.its easy to blame technology for being so distracting, but distraction is nothing new. Aristotle and Socrates dehated nature of “akrasia”--our tendency to do things agninst ourinterests. If were honest with ourselves, tech is just another way to occupy our time and minds,if we werent on our devices. Wed likely do similarly unproductive.N.personal technology is indeed more engaging than ever, and theres no doubt companies are engineering their products and services to be more compelling and attractive but would want it any other way the intended result of making something better is that people use it more. thats not necessarily a problem, thats progress.O.These improvements dont mean we shouldnt attempt to control our use of technology. In order to make sure it doesnt control us, we should come to terms with the fact that its more than the technology itself thats responsible for our habits. our workplace culture, social norns and individual behaviors all play a part to put technology in its place, we must be conscious not only of how technology is changing, but also of how it is changing us.36.Online services are so designed that the more they are used, the more profit they generate.37. The author admits using technology as an escape from the task at hand.38. Checking phones at dinners is now accepted as normal but not belching39. To make proper use of technology, we should not only increase our awareness of how it is changing but also how itis impacting us.40. Most of us find it hard to focus on our immediate tasks because of internet distractions41. when one person starts checking their phone, the others will follow suit.42.The great majority of smartphone users don t take the trouble to adjust their settings to suit their own purposes.43.The internet is regarded by some as designed to distract our attention.44. The author attributes his tech addiction chiefly to his habit of putting off doing what he should45.White-collar workers check email round the clock because it is required by their employers42.The great majority of smartphone users don t take the trouble to adjust their settings to suit their own purposes.43.The internet is regarded by some as designed to distract our attention.44. The author attributes his tech addiction chiefly to his habit of putting off doing what he should45.White-collar workers check email round the clock because it is required by their employers文档内容到此结束，欢迎大家下载、修改、丰富并分享给更多有需要的人。
英语6级阅读试题及答案
英语6级阅读试题及答案试题一：阅读理解Passage 1In recent years, the popularity of online courses has surged, with millions of students around the world taking advantage of the convenience and flexibility they offer. However, despite their growing popularity, there are concerns about the quality of education provided by these platforms.Questions:56. What is the main idea of the passage?A) The convenience of online courses is unmatched.B) Online courses are becoming increasingly popular.C) There are doubts about the quality of online education.D) The number of students taking online courses is declining.57. According to the passage, what is one of the reasons for the surge in online courses?A) They are more affordable than traditional courses.B) They offer a more personalized learning experience.C) They are more widely available than ever before.D) They are endorsed by many educational institutions.Passage 2The concept of a "smart city" has been gaining traction inurban planning circles. A smart city utilizes information and communication technology to enhance the quality and performance of urban services, to reduce costs and resource consumption, and to improve the quality of life for its citizens.Questions:58. What is the primary goal of a smart city?A) To increase the use of technology in everyday life.B) To improve the efficiency of urban services.C) To reduce the cost of living for its residents.D) To promote the use of renewable energy sources.59. What is one of the benefits of a smart city mentioned in the passage?A) It can provide better healthcare services.B) It can offer more job opportunities.C) It can enhance the quality of life for its citizens.D) It can increase the city's economic growth.试题二：快速阅读Passage 3The rise of social media has had a profound impact on society, changing the way we communicate, share information, and even do business. While social media platforms offer many benefits, they also present new challenges, such as privacy concernsand the spread of misinformation.Questions:60. What is the main topic of the passage?A) The benefits of social media.B) The impact of social media on society.C) The challenges posed by social media.D) The history of social media platforms.61. What is one of the challenges mentioned in the passage?A) The difficulty in regulating social media content.B) The increase in cyberbullying incidents.C) The potential for privacy breaches.D) The decline in face-to-face communication.答案56. B) Online courses are becoming increasingly popular.57. C) They are more widely available than ever before.58. B) To improve the efficiency of urban services.59. C) It can enhance the quality of life for its citizens.60. B) The impact of social media on society.61. C) The potential for privacy breaches.。
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大学英语六级真题,长篇阅读【A】Water is a key ingredient in a healthy diet and lifestyle. There are many health benefits of drinking water. It helps flush impurities and toxins out of our systems. It aids in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. In fact, nearly every system in our bodies relies on water for proper functioning. But what if your water is unhealthy?【B】In past decades, concerns about tap water and its impact on overall health led some people to turn to bottled drinking water instead. In those days, there were few choices. You could pay to have a company deliver large bulky plastic bottles of water for the water cooler. Or you could purchase gallon jugs of distilled or "drinking water" at the grocery store.【C】In recent years, there has been an explosion in the number of different bottled waters available, with big distributors such as Coke and Pepsi jumping on the bandwagon. But are bottled drinking waters like Coke's Dasani brand, Pepsi's Aquafina, or Wal-Mart's store brand really any healthier than your tap water? Or would you be better off with a drinking water filtration system?As we've learned more about the water we drink, the technology behind drinking water filters and purification systems has improved dramatically. There are filters to remove impurities, chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria and most every contaminant you can think of. With the right size and filter combination for your specific home, your water can be exceptionally pure and healthy.Cost ComparisonDrinking water filtration systems have also become moreaffordable and easy to use. Although the initial cost of a whole house system usually runs several hundred dollars, that cost is often less than $100 each year if spread out over the life of the system.There may be additional expenses to replace carbon filters, membranes in reverse osmosis drinking water filtration system, or lamps in an ultraviolet light water treatment device. These expenses can add another $100 or so to the annual costs of operating drinking water filters and purification systems.While some people may hesitate to spend two or three hundred dollars each year for clean, safe drinking water, they are probably paying more for bottled drinking water. Calculations show that at a price of $1 to $4 per gallon, bottled or delivered water costs an average of $400 each year, especially if you purchase individual bottles. And that doesn't take into consideration the gas needed to drive to the store or the environmental impact of all the empty plastic bottles. Health AspectsMany people who choose bottled drinking water understand that it is more expensive, but are willing to pay the extra money because they feel bottled water is safer and healthier than filtered drinking water. After all, bottled water is often marketed as "natural spring water" or "pure glacier water."In reality, few bottled waters come from natural springs, and most of them use municipal tap water. The companies are able to get away with this false marketing because the regulations and standards for bottle drinking water are less stringent than those for residential drinking sources. Bottled water quality is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while drinking water systems are typically regulated by State regulations or theEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA). This doesn't mean that the FDA isn't doing their job. It's just that the rules for bottled water only require it to be as good as tap water, not better.In addition, the FDA regulations only apply to bottled drinking water that is transported acrossstate lines. If a company sells their bottled drinking water in the same state where it was bottled, the federal regulations don't apply. The result is that many bottled waters are not any healthier than filtered water, and in fact some are less pure.This was demonstrated in a study conducted in 1999 by the Natural Resources Defense Council. They tested over 100 brands of bottled drinking water and found that about 1/3 of the waters contained contamination in the form of chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic. The study also found that up to 40% of bottled drinking waters come from a city water system.How To Tell If Your Water Is HealthySo how do you tell if the water you're drinking is healthy? With tap water, it's relatively easy. If you water comes from a municipal source, the suppliers are required by law to provide annual water quality reports. If you have a well, you can have an authorized lab test your water. It may cost $100 or more, but it's a small price to pay for peace of mind. Or you can purchase a kit and test it yourself, although the results are not as conclusive or reliable.When it comes to bottled drinking water, it can be more difficult to know what you're getting. Start by checking the label or the bottle cap. Some may tell you that the water comes from a municipal source or "community water system," which means tap water.If the label doesn't give any information, you can call thebottler and ask. But don't be surprised if you get the run around and are transferred to several different departments. Some states have a bottled water program that tracks bottled drinking water and can tell you the origin of the source water as well as other information.Safe and healthy drinking water has become big business. Thousands of companies are vying for your hard earned cash, and some are not always honest about what their products offer. The initial investment for a home drinking water filtration system can seem expensive at first, but over time, it is usually less expensive than bottled drinking water. And with a water filter, you at least know where the water you drink came from and how it was treated.Before going out and spending your hard earned money for bottled drinking water that may be no better than your own tap water, it's a good idea to do some research. You're likely to decide that a drinking water filtration system and/or purifier is the healthier choice and provides the best value as well.。