大学英语六级2008年12月试卷.doc

2008年12月大学英语六级考试题PartIWriting （30minutes）Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteashortessayentitledHowtoImproveStudentsMentalHealth? Youshouldwriteatleast150wordsfollowingtheoutlinegivenbelow.1.大学生的心理健康十分重要2.因此，学校可以3.我们自己应当HowToImproveStudentsMentalHealth?_PartII ReadingComprehension(SkimmingandScanning) (15minutes)Directions:Inthispart,youwillhave15minutestogooverthepassagequicklyandanswerthequestionsonAnswerSheet1.Forquestions1-7,choosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Forquestions8-10,completethesentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.SupersizeSurpriseAskanyonewhythereisanobesityepidemicandtheywilltellyouthatitsaldowntoeatingtoomuchandburningtoofewcalories.Thatexplanationappealstocommonsenseandhasdominatedeffortstogettotherootoftheobesityepidemicandreverseit.Yetobesityresearchersareincreasinglydissatisfiedwithit.Manynowbelievethatsomethingelsemusthavechangedinourenvironmenttoprecipitatesuchdramaticrisesinobesityoverthepast40yearsorso.Nobodyissayingthatthe“bigtwo”reducedphysicalactivityandincreasedavailabilityoffoodarenotimportantcontributorstotheepidemic,buttheycannotexplainitall.Earlierthisyearareviewpaperby20obesityexpertssetoutthe7mostplausiblealternativeexplanationsfortheepidemic.Heretheyare.1. NotenoughsleepItiswidelybelievedthatsleepisforthebrain,notthebody.Couldashortageofshut-eyealsobehelpingtomakeusfat?Severallarge-scalestudiessuggesttheremaybealink.Peoplewhosleeplessthan7hoursanighttendtohaveahigherbodymassindexthanpeoplewhosleepmore,accordingtodatagatheredbytheUSNationalHealthandNutritionExaminationSurvey.Similarly,theUSNursesHealthStudy,whichtracked68,000womenfor16years,foundthatthosewhosleptanaverageof5hoursanightgainedmoreweightduringthestudyperiodthanwomenwhoslept6hours,whointurngainedmorethanwhosewhoslept7.Itswellknownthatobesityimpairssleep,soperhapspeoplegetfatfirstandsleeplessafterwards.Butthenursesstudysuggeststhatitcanworkintheotherdirectiontoo:sleeplossmayprecipitateweightgain.Althoughgettingfiguresisdifficult,itappearsthatwereallyaresleepingless.In1960peopleintheUSsleptanaverageof8.5hourspernight.A2002pollbytheNationalSleepFoundationsuggeststhattheaveragehasfallentounder7hours,andthedeclineismirroredbytheincreaseinobesity.2.ClimatecontrolWehumans,likeallwarm-bloodedanimals,cankeepourcorebodytemperaturesprettymuchconstantregardlessofwhatsgoingonintheworldaroundus.Wedothisbyalteringourmetabolic rate,shiveringorsweating.Keepingwarmandstayingcooltakeenergyunlessweareinthe“thermo-neutralzone”,whichisincreasinglywherewechoosetoliveandwork. Between1970and2000,theaverageBritishhomewarmedfromachilly13Cto18C.IntheUS,thechangeshavebeenattheotherendofthethermometerastheproportionofhomeswithairconditioningrosefrom23%to47%between1978and1997.Inthesouthernstateswhereobesityratestendtobehighestthenumberofhouseswithairconditioninghasshotupto71%from37%in1978.Couldairconditioninginsummerandheatinginwinterreallymakeadifferencetoourweight?Sadly, thereissomeevidencethatitdoes-atleastwithregardtoheating.Studiesshowthatincomfortabletemperaturesweuselessenergy.3.LesssmokingBadnews:smokersreallydotendtobethinnerthantherestofus,andquittingreallydoespackonthepounds,thoughnooneissurewhy.Itprobablyhassomethingtodowiththefactthatnicotineisanappetitesuppressantandappearstoupyourmetabolicrate. KatherineFlegalandcolleaguesattheUSNationalCenterforHealthStatisticsinHyattsville,Maryland,havecalculatedthatpeoplekickingthehabithavebeenresponsibleforasmallbutsignificantportionoftheUSepidemicoffatness.Fromdatacollectedaround1991bytheUSNationalHealthandNutritionExaminationSurvey,theyworkedoutthatpeoplewhohadquitinthepreviousdecadeweremuchmorelikelytobeoverweightthansmokersandpeoplewhohadneversmoked.Amongmen,forexample,nearlyhalfofquitterswereoverweightcomparedwith37%ofnon-smokersandonly28%ofsmokers.4.GeneticeffectsYourschancesofbecomingfatmaybeset,atleastinpart,beforeyouwereevenborn.Childrenofobesemothersaremuchmorelikelytobecomeobesethemselveslaterinlife.Offspringofmicefedahigh-fatdietduringpregnancyaremuchmorelikelytobecomefatthantheoffspringofidenticalmicefedanormaldiet.Intriguingly,theeffectpersistsfortwoorthreegenerations.Grandchildrenofmicefedahigh-fatdietgrowupfateveniftheirownmotherisfednormally-soyoufatemayhavebeensealedevenbeforeyouwereconceived.5.AlittleolderSomegroupsofpeoplejusthappentobefatterthanothers.SurveyscarriedoutbytheUSnationalcenterforhealthstatisticsfoundthatadultsaged40to79werearoundthreetimesaslikelytobeobeseasyoungerpeople.Non-whitefemalesalsotendtofallatthefatterendofthespectrum:Mexican-Americanwomenare30%morelikelythanwhitewomentobeobsess,andblackwomenhavetwicetherisk.IntheUS,thesegroupsaccountforanincreasingpercentageofthepopulation.Between1970and2000theUSpopulationaged35to44grewby43%.theproportionofHispanic-Americansalsogrew,fromunder5%to12.5%ofthepopulation,whiletheproportionofblackAmericansincreasedfrom11%to12.3%.thesechangesmayaccountinpartfortheincreasedprevalenceofobesity.6.MaturemumsMheUK,themeanageforhavingafirstchildis27.3,comparedwith23.7in1970.meanageatfirstbirthintheUShasalsoincreased,risingfrom21.4in1970to24.9in2000.Thiswouldbeneitherherenorthereifitwerentfortheobservationthathavinganoldermotherseemstobeanindependentriskfactorforobesity.ResultsfromtheUSnationalheart,lungandbloodinstitutesstudyfoundthattheoddsofachildbeingobeseincrease14%foreveryfiveextrayearsoftheirmothersage,thoughwhythisshouldbesoisnotentirelyclear.MichaelSymondsattheUniversityofNottingham,UK,foundthatfirst-bornchildrenhavemorefatthanyoungerones.Asfamilysizedecreases,firstbornsaccountforagreatershareofthepopulation.In1964,Britishwomengavebirthtoanaverageof2.95children;by2005thatfigurehadfallento1.79.IntheUSin1976,9.6%ofwomanintheir40shadonlyonechild;in2004itwas17.4%.Thiscombinationofoldermothersandmoresinglechildrencouldbecontributingtotheobesityepidemic.7.Likemarryinglike Justaspeoplepairoffaccordingtolooks,sotheydoforsize.Leanpeoplearemorelikelytomarryleanandfatmorelikelytomarryfat.Onitsown,likemarryinglikecannotaccountforanyincreaseinobesity.Butcombinedwithothersparticularlythefactthatobesityispartlygenetic,andthatheavierpeoplehavemorechildrenitamplifiestheincreaseformothercauses.1.Whatisthepassagemainlyabout?A)Effectsofobesityonpeopleshealth B)Thelinkbetweenlifestyleandobesity C)Newexplanationsfortheobesityepidemic D)Possiblewaystocombattheobesityepidemic2.IntheUSNurseHealthStudy,womenwhosleptanaverageof7hoursanight_.A)gainedtheleastweight B)wereinclinedtoeatlessC)foundtheirvigorenhanced D)werelesssusceptibletoillness3.Thepopularbeliefaboutobesityisthat_.A)itmakesussleepy B)itcausessleeplossC)itincreasesourappetite D)itresultsfromlackofsleep4.Howdoesindoorheatingaffectourlife?A)itmakesusstayindoorsmoreB)itacceleratesourmetabolicrateC)itmakesusfeelmoreenergeticD)itcontributestoourweightgain5.Whatdoestheauthorsayabouttheeffectofnicotineonsmokers?A)itthreatenstheirhealth B)itheightenstheirspiritsC)itsuppressestheirappetite D)itslowsdowntheirmetabolism6.WhoaremostlikelytobeoverweightaccordingtoKatherineFergalsstudy?A)heavysmokers B)passivesmokersC)thosewhoneversmoke D)thosewhoquitsmoking7.AccordingtotheUSNationalCenterforHealthStatistics,theincreasedobesityintheUSisaresultof_.A)thegrowingnumberofsmokersamongyoungpeopleB)therisingproportionofminoritiesinitspopulationC)theincreasingconsumptionofhigh-caloriefoodsD)theimprovinglivingstandardsofthepoorpeople8.AccordingtotheUSNationalHeart,LungandBloodInstitute,thereasonwhyoldermotherschildrentendtobeobeseremains_.9.AccordingtoMichaelSymonds,onefactorcontributingtotheobesityepidemicisdecreaseof_.10.Whentwoheavypeoplegetmarried,chancesoftheirchildrengettingfatincrease,becauseobesityis_.PartIIIListeningComprehension (35minutes)SectionA11.A)Heisquiteeasytorecognize B)HeisanoutstandingspeakerC)Helookslikeamoviestar D)Helooksyoungforhisage12.A)consultherdancingteacher B)takeamoreinterestingclassC)continueherdancingclass D)improveherdancingskills13.A)themandidnotbelievewhatthewomansaidB)themanaccompaniedthewomantothehospitalC)thewomanmaybesufferingfromrepetitivestraininjuryD)thewomanmaynotfollowedthedoctorsinstructions14.A)theyarenotinstyleanymore B)theyhavecosthimfartoomuchC)theynolongersuithiseyesight D)theyshouldbecleanedregularly15.A)hespilledhisdrinkontothefloor B)hehasjustfinishedwipingthefloorC)hewascaughtinashoweronhiswayhome D)herushedoutofthebathtoanswerthephone16.A)fixingsomefurniture B)repairingthetoytrainC)readingtheinstructions D)assemblingthebookcase17.A)urgeJennytospendmoretimeonstudyB)helpJennytoprepareforthecomingexamsC)acttowardsJennyinamoresensibleway D)sendJennytoavolleyballtrainingcenter18A) ThebuildingofthedamneedsalargebudgetB)TheproposedsiteisneartheresidentialareaC)ThelocalpeoplefeelinsecureaboutthedamD)ThedamposesathreattothelocalenvironmentQuestions19to21arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.19.A.ItsawtheendofitsboomingyearsworldwideB.Itsproductionandsalesreachedrecordlevels. C.Itbecamepopularinsomeforeigncountries D.Itsdomesticmarketstartedtoshrinkrapidly.20.A.Theycostless. B.Theytastedbetter. C.Theywereinfashion. D.Theywerewidelyadvertised.21.A.Itissuretofluctuate. B.Itisboundtorevive. C.Itwillremainbasicallystable. D.ItwillseenomoremonopolyQuestions22to25arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.22.A.Organizingprotests B.RecruitingmembersC.Actingasitsspokesman. D.Savingendangeredanimals.23.A.Anti-animal-abusedemonstrations B.Anti-nuclearcampaignsC.SurveyingtheAtlanticOceanfloor D.Removingindustrialwaste.24.A.Byharassingthem. B.ByappealingtothepublicC.Bytakinglegalaction. D.Byresortingtoforce.25.A.Doubtful B.ReservedC.Indifferent. D.SupportiveSectionBPassageOneQuestions26to28arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.26.A.Theairbecomesstill. B.Theairpressureislow.C.Thecloudsblockthesun. D.Theskyappearsbrighter.27.A.Ancientpeoplewerebetteratforetellingtheweather.B.Sailorssayingabouttheweatherareunreliable.C.Peopleknewlongagohowtopredicttheweather.D.Itwaseasiertoforecasttheweatherintheolddays.28.A.Weatherforecastisgettingmoreaccuratetoday.B.PeoplecanpredicttheweatherbytheirsensesC.Whoaretherealexpertsinweatherforecast.D.WeatherchangesaffectpeoplesliferemarkablyPassageTwoQuestions29to31arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.29.A.Theyoftenfeelinsecureabouttheirjobs.B.Theyareunabletodecidewhattodofirst.C.Theyfeelburdenedwithnumeroustaskseveryday.Dtheyfeelburdenedwithnumeroustaskseveryday30.A.Analyzethemrationally. B.Drawadetailedto-dolist.C.Turntoothersforhelp. D.Handlethemonebyone.31.A.Theyhaveaccomplishedlittle. B.Theyfeelutterlyexhausted.C.Theyhaveworkedoutawaytorelax. D.Theynolongerfeelanysenseofguilt.PassageThreeQuestions32to35arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.32.A.Theirperformancemayimprove. B.TheirimmunesystemmaybereinforcedC.TheirbloodpressuremayriseallofasuddenD.Theirphysicaldevelopmentmaybeenhanced.33.A.Improvedmentalfunctioning B.IncreasedsusceptibilitytodiseaseC.Speedingupofbloodcirculation D.Reductionofstress-relatedhormones34.A.Pretendtobeinbettershape. B.Havemorephysicalexercise.C.Turnmoreoftentofriendsforhelp D.Paymoreattentiontobodilysensations.35.A.Differentapproachestocopingwithstress.B.Variouscausesforserioushealthproblems. C.Therelationshipbetweenstressandillness.D.Newfindingofmedicalresearchonstress.SectionC Oneofthemostcommonimagesofanadvanced,Western-stylecultureisthatofabusy,traffic-filledcity.Sincetheirfirst(36)_onAmericanroadways,automobileshavebecomea(37)_ofprogress,asourceofthousandsofjobsandanalmostinalienablerightforcitizenspersonalfreedomofmovement.Inrecent(38)_,our“loveaffair”withthecarisbeing(39)_directlytothedevelopingworld,anditisincreasingly(40)_thatthistransferisleadingtodisaster.Americansalmostcompletedependenceonautomobileshasbeenaterriblemistake.Aslateasthe1950s,alarge(41)_oftheAmericanpublicusedmasstransit.A(42)_ofpublicpolicydecisionsandcorporateschemingsawtoitthatcountless(43)_andefficienturbanstreetcarandintra-cityrailsystemsweredismantled.(44)_.Ourliveshavebeenplannedalongaroadgridhomesfarfromwork,shoppingfarfromeverything,withuglystretchesofconcreteandblacktopinbetween.DevelopingcountriesarecopyingWestern-styletransportationsystemsdowntothelastdetail.(45)_.Pollutioncontrolmeasuresareeithernotstrictornonexistent,leadingtochokingcloudsofsmog.Gasolinestillcontainslead,whichisextremelypoisonoustohumans.(46)_.Inadditiontopollutionandtrafficjams,autosafetyisacriticalissueindevelopingnations.PartIVReadingComprehension（ReadinginDepth） （25minutes）SectionAQuestions47to51arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Oneofthemajorproducersofathleticfootwear,with2002salesofover$10billion,isacompanycalledNike,withcorporateheadquartersinBeaverton,Oregon.ForbesmagazineidentifiedNikespresident,PhilipKnight,asthe53rd-richestmanintheworldin2004.ButNikehasnotalwaysbeenalargemultimillion-dollarorganization.Infact,Knightstartedthecompanybysellingshoesfromthebackofhiscarattrackmeets.Inthelate1950sPhilipKnightwasamiddle-distancerunnerontheUniversityofOregontrackteam,coachedbyBillBowerman.OneofthetoptrackcoachesintheU.S.,Bowermanwasalsoknownforexperimentingwiththedesignofrunningshoesinanattempttomakethemlighterandmoreshock-absorbent.AfterattendingOregon,KnightmovedontodograduateworkatStanfordUniversity;hisMBAthesiswasonmarketingathleticshoes.Oncehereceivedhisdegree,KnighttraveledtoJapantocontacttheOnitsukaTigerCompany,amanufacturerofathleticshoes.KnightconvincedthecompanysofficialsofthepotentialforitsproductintheU.S.In1963hereceivedhisfirstshipmentofTigershoes,200pairsintotal.In1964,KnightandBowermancontributed$500eachtofromBlueRibbonSports,thepredecess