英语六级练习题

阅读理解 1·　Analysis and Interpretation of the News 　　The newspaper must provide for the reader the facts, unalloyed, unslanted, objectively selected facts. But in these days of complex news it must provide more; it must supply interpretation, the meaning of the facts. This is the most important assignment confronting American journalism—to make clear to the reader the problems of the day, to make international news as understandable as community news, to recognize that there is no longer any such thing (with the possible exception of such scribbling as society and club news) as “local” news, because any event in the international area has a local reaction in manpower draft, in economic strain, in terms, indeed, of our very way of life. 　　There is in journalism a widespread view that when you embark on interpretation, you are entering choppy and dangerous waters, the swirling tides of opinion. This is nonsense. 　　The opponents of interpretation insist that the writer and the editor shall confine himself to the “facts”. This insistence raises two questions: What are the facts? And: Are the bare facts enough? 　　As to the first query. Consider how a so-called “factual” story cones about. The reporter collects, say, fifty facts; out of these fifty, his space allotment being necessarily restricted, he selects the ten, which he considers most important. This is Judgment Number One. Then he or his editor decides which of these ten facts shall constitute the lead of the piece (This is important decision because many readers do not proceed beyond the first paragraph.) This is Judgment Number Two. Then the night editor determines whether the article shall be presented on page one, where it has a large impact, or on page twenty-four, where it has little. Judgment Number Three. 　　Thus, in the presentation of a so-called “factual” or “objective” story, at least three judgments are involved. And they are judgments not at all unlike those involved in interpretation, in which reporter and editor, calling upon their general background, and their “news neutralism,” arrive at a conclusion as to the significance of the news. 　　The two areas of judgment, presentation of the news and its interpretation, are both objective rather then subjective processes—as objective, that is, as any human being can be. (Note in passing: even though complete objectivity can never be achieved, nevertheless the ideal must always be the beacon on the murky news channels.) Of an editor is intent on slanting the news, he can do it in other ways and more effectively than by interpretation. He can do it by the selection of those facts that prop up his particular plea. Or he can do it by the pay he gives a story—promoting it to page one or demoting it to page thirty. 　　1. The title that best expresses the ideas of this passage is 　　[A]. Interpreting the News. [B]. Choosing Facts. 　　[C]. Subjective versus Objective Processes. [D]. Everything Counts. 　　2. Why does the writer of an article select ten out of 50 available facts? 　　[A]. Space is limited. [B]. His editor is prejudiced. 　　[C]. The subject is not important. [D]. He is entering choppy and dangerous. 　　3. What is the least effective way of “slanting” news/ 　　[A]. Interpretation. [B]. His editor is prejudiced. 　　[C]. Placement. [D]. Concentration. 　　4. Why should the lead sentence present the most important fact? 　　[A]. It will influence the reader to continue. 　　[B]. It will be the best way to write. 　　[C]. Some readers do not read beyond the first paragraph. 　　[D]. It will gratify the editor.　　 　 [词汇] 　　1. unalloyed 纯粹的，没有杂物的　2. unslanted 无偏见的，不歪曲的 　　3. scribble 胡写，乱写;粗制滥造的文章　　4. manpower draft 人力征用，券集 　　5. economic strain 经济紧张，压力　6. embark on 开始，从事 　　7. choppy 波浪滔滔的，变动频繁，紊乱　8. query 疑问，质问 　　9. come about 发生　10. allotment 分配 　　11. beacon 信标，灯塔，烽火　12. murky 阴暗的，(雾等)浓的 　　13. prop up 给……撑腰，支持　　14. demote 使降级。相应词 promote 　　15. news neutralism 无倾向性新闻，新闻中立主义　　16. lead (新闻等)导语，提要 　　[难句] 　　1. This is the most important assignment confronting American journalism—to make clear to the reader the problems of the day, to make international news as understandable as community news, to recognize that there is no longer any such thing (with the possible exception of such scribbling as society and club news) as “local” news, because any event in the international area has a local reaction in manpower draft, in economic strain, in terms, indeed, of our very way of life. 　　[结构简析] 主从句，句中连用三个不定式，是实际的主语，也就是this 的内容。后跟宾语或宾语从句。 　　[参考译文] 美国报界面临最重要的儿女物是向读者讲清今日存在的问，使国际新闻像地区社区新闻一样明白易懂，使他们认识到不再有什么“本地”新闻这类事情(社团或俱乐部粗制滥造的文章可能要除外)，因为国际上任何新闻在人力征用，募集，经济负担，事实上在生活的各方面都会引起地区反应。 　　2. There is in journalism a widespread view that when you embark on interpretation, you are entering choppy and dangerous waters, the swirling tides of opinion. 　　[结构简析] the swirling…是说明语。 　　[参考译文] 报界有一种普遍存在的观点：当你从事解释新闻的工作(对新闻进行解释时)，你就进入了波浪滔天，险情还生的水域，意见漩掀的浪潮。 　　3. And they are judgments not at all unlike those involved in interpretation, in which reporter and editor, calling upon their general background, and their “news neutralism,” arrive at a conclusion as to the significance of the news. 　　[结构简析] 句中有定语从句in which 修饰interpretation. 定从中calling on 分词短语作伴随状态，修饰reporter and editor。 　　[参考译文] 这些判断评价就像解释新闻多涉及的判断一样。在这里，记者和编辑要动用他们的新闻调查研究资源，他们一般的背景材料以及新闻“中立”态度来得出有关新闻意义的结论。 　　4. The two areas of judgment, presentation of the news and its interpretation, are both objective rather then subjective processes—as objective, that is, as any human being can be. (Note in passing: even though complete objectivity can never be achieved, nevertheless the ideal must always be the beacon on the murky news channels.) 　　[结构简析] a note in passing 义;顺便说一句，附带的谈一下。 　　[参考译文] 这两个判断领域：提供新闻内容和解说新闻领域可不是主观过程，而是客观过程——也就是说，要像任何人能做到的那样客观。顺便说一句，就算达不到绝对的客观，那客观的理想必须始终如一的是迷雾漫漫新航道上的信标。 　　写作方法与文章大意 　　文章论及“新闻评价”问题。采用一般到具体手法。文章一开始就提出新闻要客观，真实的事实，解释要清楚，使读者明白今日世界的问题。国内外大事和我们生活休戚相关。然后讲述选材过程，版面布置。最后谈到提供和解说新闻中评价要客观。 　　【】 　　1. A. 解释新闻。文章虽提及两个领域(见难句译注4)，但重点在解释(见难句译注2)。提供是“解说”的前提，但作为标题不合适，因为它是作为“解释”的对比而写的。(见难句译注3 not at all unlike…及难句译注4 are both objective rather than…) 　　B. 选择事实。这只是提供新闻中一个具体步骤。 C. 主观对客观过程。也是一个具体方面(见难句译注4)。 D. 一切都要算在内。涉及面太广，文内没提及。 　　2. A. 版面空间有限。第四段三句：“举例说，记者收集50条新闻事实。他从50条中选出10条他认为是最重要的新闻，因为他的版面空间分配必定有所限制。” 　　B. 他的编辑有偏见。不对。 C. 他的文章主题不重要。 不对。 D. 他进到了波浪滔天的危险水域(见难句译注2)。这是讲新闻解释。 　　3. A. 解说。最后一段最后三句：“如果编辑想要歪曲新闻，他可以采用其他办法，远比解说要有效的多。他可以通过选择支持他的观点的才，或通过他给每条新闻所定的位置达到歪曲的目的——提升到头版，或者降低到三十版。”这段话说明其它办法歪曲新闻比解说新闻来歪曲有效的多。 　　B. 选材。 C. 定位。 D. 集中。 　　4. C. 有些读者不读一段以下的问心，这是常识。有的读者就读大标题。 　　A. 它将影响读者继续读下去。 B. 这是最佳的写作方法。 D. 这会使编辑高兴。 8· 　For as long as humans have raised crops as a source of food and other products, insects have damaged them. Between 1870 and 1880, locusts ate millions of dollars' worth of crops in the Mississippi Valley. Today in the United States the cotton boll weevil damages about 300 million dollars' worth of crops each year. Additional millions are lost each year to the appetites of other plant-eating insects. Some of these are corn borers, gypsy moths, potato beetles, and Japanese beetles. 　　In modern times, many powerful insecticides(杀虫剂) have been used in an attempt to destroy insects that damage crops and trees. Some kinds of insecticides, when carefully used, have worked well. Yet the same insecticides have caused some unexpected problems. In one large area, an insecticide was used against Japanese beetles, which eat almost any kind of flower or leaf. Shortly afterward, the number of corn borers almost doubled. As intended, the insecticide had killed many Japanese beetles. But it had killed many of the insect enemies of the corn borer as well. 　　In another case, an insecticide was used in Louisiana to kill the troublesome fire ant. The insecticide did not kill many fire ants. It did kill several small animals. It also killed some insect enemies of the sugarcane borer, a much more destructive pest than the fire ants. As a result, the number of sugarcane borers increased and severely damaged the sugarcane crop. 　　To be sure that one insect pest will not be traded for another when an insecticide is used, scientists must perform careful experiments and do wide research. The experiments and research provide knowledge of the possible hazards an insecticide may bring to plant and animal communities. Without such knowledge, we have found that nature sometimes responds to insecticides in unexpected ways. 　　1. An insecticide was used in Louisiana to kill the troublesome______. 　　A. corn borer B. Japanese beetle 　　B. gypsy moth D. fire ant 　　2. While it is not directly stated, the article suggests that______. 　　A. insecticides are not dangerous to any small animals 　　B. insecticides do not always accomplish their purposes 　　C. insecticides are no longer being used to kill insects 　　D. insecticides do no harm to people 　　3. On the whole, the article tells about______. 　　A. the appetites of plant-eating insects B. the best way to kill boll weevils C. the dangers in using insecticides D. the best way to grow crops 　　4. Which statement does this article lead you to believe? 　　A. All changes are predictable. B. Nothing ever changes in nature. 　　C. Nature is not always predictable. D. Nature always serves man well. 　　5. Scientists perform careful experiments and do wide research because______. 　　A. they must learn to destroy all the insects that we need 　　B. they must be sure one insect pest is not traded for another 　　C. research keeps them from inventing new insecticide for the crops 　　D. research helps them find a way to kill all insects 【答案见下页】 　　1. D 2. B 3. C 4. C 5. B 本文转载自:[url=http://www.cet6.net]英语六级考试网[/url] 2· According to the latest research in the' United States of America, men and women talk such different languages that it is like people from two different cultures trying to communicate. Professor Deborah Tannen of Georgetown University, has noticed the difference in the style of boy's and girl's conversations from an early age. She says that little girls' conversation is less definite than boys' and expresses more doubts. Little boys use conversation to establish status with their listeners. 　　These differences continue into adult life, she says. In public conversations, men talk most and interrupt other speakers more. In private conversations, men and women speak in equal amounts—although they say things in a different style. Professor Tannen believes that, for woman, private talking is a way to establish and test intimacy. For men, private talking is a way to explore the power structure of a relationship. 　　Teaching is one job where the differences between men's and women's ways of talking show. When a man teaches a woman, says Professor Tannen, he wants to show that he has more knowledge, and hence more power in conversation. When a woman teaches another woman, however, she is more likely to take a sharing approach and to encourage her student to join in. 　　But Professor Tannen does not believe that women are naturally more helpful. She says women feel they achieve power by being able to help others. Although the research suggests men talk and interrupt people more than women, Professor Tannen says, women actually encourage this to happen because they believe it will lead to more intimacy and help to establish a relationship. 　　Some scientists who are studying speech think that the brain is pre¬programmed for language. As we are usually taught to speak by women, it seems likely that the brain must have a sexual bias(倾向性) in its programming, 　　otherwise male speech patterns would not arise at all. 　　1. In the opinion of the writer, women encourage men to talk because 　　A. it will lead to more intimacy and help to establish a relationship 　　B. it will help to establish status with their listeners 　　C. it will help to express more clearly 　　D. it will help to communicate better 　　2. There are_______in little girls' conversation than in boys'. 　　A. fewer doubts B. more demands 　　C. more doubts D. fewer uncertainties 　　3. Some scientists believe that brain is pre-programmed for language. The word "pre programmed" means_______. 　　A. programmed already B. programmed before one is born 　　C. programmed early D. programmed by women 　　4. In private conversation, women speak 　　A. the same things as men B. less than men 　　C. more than men D. as much as men 　　5. The theme of this article is _______. 　　A. women are naturally more helpful 　　B. men and women talk different languages 　　C. men talk most and interrupt other speakers more 　　D. little girls' conversation is less definite 1. A 2. C 3. B 4. D 5. B 本文转载自:[url=http://www.cet6.net]英语六级考试网[/url] 3· In the last two hundred years there have been great changes in the method of production of goods. This is now also true of the building industry; for mechanization has been introduced. System building can save both time and money. The principle of system building is that the building is made from a set of standard units. These are either made at the building-site or at a factory. Some designers, in fact, are standardizing the dimensions of rooms. They are made in multiples of a single fixed length, usually ten centimeters. This is called a modular (件的) system, and it means that manufactures can produce standardized fittings at a lower cost. The most important fact about system building is its speed. A ten-storey flat, for example, can be completed in four months. 　　There are several new methods of system building. One is the panel method. In this case, the construction company sometimes erects a factory on the site. The walls and floors of the building, called panels, are cast in a horizontal or vertical position. Conduits for electrical wires and sleeves for pipes are cast in the panels when they are being made. The moulds for making these castings are situated all around the building. 　　After the concrete panels are cast, they are allowed to set and harden for a week. Next they are lifted by a tower crane on to any section of the building. There the panels are cemented together at their joints and the floor covering is laid. 　　After the panels have been cemented together, the crane lifts a case into the area. It contains all the fittings to be installed, such as wash-basins, radiators and pipes. Finishing tradesmen, such as plumbers, plasterers, painters and electricians, follow behind to complete the work. 　　In some building developments, in some countries, whole flats with internal features like their bathrooms, bedrooms and connecting stairs, and weighing as much as twenty tons, are carried to the building-site ready-made. A giant overhead crane is used to lift them into position. In the future, this method may become more widespread. 　　1. The main difference between panel method and the method discussed in the last paragraph is_______. 　　A. the latter uses ready-made internal features 　　B. panels are cast in a level position 　　C. the former is used to build walls and floors while the latter to construct bathrooms or bedrooms 　　D. the former is more expensive than the latter 　　2. Which of these statements is TRUE of system building? 　　A. It employs more men. B. It is difficult and dangerous. 　　C. It can save both time and money. D. It means less mechanization. 　　3. According to the passage, the principle of system building is that_______. 　　A. construction methods are safer 　　B. buildings are made from a set of standardized units 　　C. similar buildings can be produced 　　D. all units are produced on the site 　　4. The usual fixed length in the modular system is_______. 　　A. twenty centimeters B. ten millimeters 　　C. fifty centimeters D. ten centimeters 　　5. What lifts the concrete panels onto the building? 　　A. Cranes. B. Man-power. 　　C. Pulleys. D. Hydraulic jacks. 本文转载自:[url=http://www.cet6.net]英语六级考试网[/url] 1. A 2. C 3. B 4. D 5. A 本文转载自:[url=http://www.cet6.net]英语六级考试网[/url] Every day 25 million U. S. children ride school buses. The safety record for these buses is much better than for passenger cars; but nevertheless, about 10 children are killed each year riding on large school buses, and nearly four times that number are killed outside buses in the loading zones. By and large, however, the nation's school children are transported to and from school safely. 　　Even though the number of school bus casualties(死亡人数) is not large, the safety of children is always of intense public concern. While everyone wants to see children transported safely, people are divided about what needs to be done—particularly whether seat belts should be mandatory (强制性的)• 　　Supporters of seat belts on school buses argue that seat belts are necessary not only to reduce death and injury, but also to teach children lessons about the importance of using them routinely in any moving vehicle. A side benefit, they point out, is that seat belts help keep children in their seats, away from the bus driver. 　　Opponents of seat belt installation suggest that children are already well protected by the school buses that follow the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) safety requirement set in 1977. They also believe that many children won't wear seat belts anyway, and that they may damage the belts or use them as weapons to hurt other children. 　　A new Research Council report on school bus safety suggests that there are alternate safety devices and procedures that may be more effective and less expensive. For example, the study committee suggested that raising seat backs four inches may have the same safety effectiveness as seat belts. 　　The report sponsored by the Department of Transportation at the request of Congress, reviews seat belts extensively while taking a broader look at safety in and around school buses. 　　1. Each year, children killed outside buses in the loading zones are about_______. 　　A. 10 B. 40　C. 30 D. 50 　　2. Which of these words is nearest in meaning to the words "are divided" in Paragraph 　　A. disagree B. separate 　　C. arrange D. concern 　　3. According to the passage, who has the greatest degree of control of the school buses' "safety"? 　　A. A New Research Council. 　　B. The Department of Transportation. 　　C. The Medical Organizations. 　　D. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 　　4. It may be inferred from this passage that_______. 　　A. many of the opponents of seat belt installation are parents and officials of the Department of Transportation 　　B. proposal of seat belts on school buses would be seriously considered 　　C. an alternate safety device (raising seat backs four inches) may be taken into 　　consideration 　　D. The Department of Transportation may either take the idea of seat belts or other measures when it reviews the whole situation 　　5. The best title which expresses the idea of the passage is_______. 　　A. Making School Buses Even Safer for Children 　　B. Seat Belts Needed on School Buses 　　C. Alternate Safety Devices and Procedures 　　D. Safety in and around School Buses 【答案见下页】 　　1. B 2. A 3. D 4. D 5. A 本文转载自:[url=http://www.cet6.net]英语六级考试网[/url] 　　8. avoiders, deniers 9. denial is not the best approach 10. signs of illness 本文转载自:[url=http://www.cet6.net]英语六级考试网[/url] 　Like most parents, geologist Brain Atwater worries about his daughter's safety. But these days, he has an unusual concern; The public school she___1___ in Seattle has unreinforced brick walls, a ___2___being easy to collapse during earthquakes. The same___3___of walls crushed hundreds of thousands of people during the 1976 Tangshan quake in China. 　　A decade ago, Atwater would have paid little notice to schoolroom walls. But over the last several years, he and other scientists have found ___4___signs that the Pacific Northwest has experienced giant quakes in the distant past and that the area may be headed for a destructive shock in the near future. 　　At a meeting of the American Geophysical Union in December, researchers discussed the___5___uncovered evidence of quake potential in the Pacific Northwest. While some remain unconvinced that huge earthquakes—with mag