2012英语四六级真题.doc

Part II Reading Comprehension(Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C), and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage. How Marketers Target Kids Kids represent an important demographic to marketers because they have their own purchasing power, they influence their parents buying decisions and they are the adult consumers of the future. Industry spending on advertising to children has exploded in the past decade, increasing from a mere $100 million in 1990 to more than $2 billion in 2000. Parents today are willing to buy more for their kids because trends such as smaller family size, dual incomes and postponing children until later in life mean that families have more disposable income.As well, guilt can play a role in spending decisions as time-stressed parents substitute material goods for time spent with their kids. Here are some of the strategies marketers employ to target kids: Pester(纠缠)Power Todays kids have more autonomy and decision-making power within the family than in previous generations, so it follows that kids are vocal about what they want their parents to buy. “Pester power” refers to childrens ability to nag their parents into purchasing items they may not otherwise buy. Marketing to children is all about creating pester power, because advertisers know what a powerful force it can be. According to the 2001 marketing industry book Kidfluence, pestering or nagging can be divided into two categories“persistence” and “importance.” Persistence nagging (a plea,that is repeated over and over again) is not as effective as the more sophisticated “importance nagging.” This latter method appeals to parents desire to provide the best for their children, and plays on any guilt they may have about not having enough time for their kids. The Marriage of Psychology and Marketing To effectively market to children, advertisers need to know what makes kids tick. With the help of well-paid researchers and psychologists, advertisers now have access to in-depth knowledge about childrens developmental, emotional and social needs at different ages. Using research that analyzes childrens behaviour, fantasy lives, art work, even their dreams, companies are able to craft sophisticated marketing strategies to reach young people. The issue of using child psychologists to help marketers target kids gained widespread public attention in 1999, when a group of U.S. mental health professionals issued a public letter to the American Psychological Association (APA) urging them to declare the practice unethical. The APA is currently studying the issue. Building Brand Name Loyalty Canadian author Naomi Klein tracks the birth of “brand” marketing in her 2000 book No Logo.According to Klein, the mid-1980s saw the birth of a new kind of corporationNike, Calvin Klein,Tommy Hilfiger, to name a fewwhich changed their primary corporate focus from producing products to creating an image for their brand name. By moving their manufacturing operations to countries with cheap labour, they freed up money to create their powerful marketing messages. It has been a tremendously profitable formula, and has led to the creation of some of the most wealthy and powerful multi-national corporations the world has seen. Marketers plant the seeds of brand recognition in very young children, in the hopes that the seeds will grow into lifetime relationships. According to the Center for a New American Dream, babies as young as six months of age can form mental images of corporate logos and mascots. Brand loyalties can be established as early as age two, and by the time children head off to school most can recognize hundreds of brand logos. While fast food, toy and clothing companies have been cultivating brand recognition in children for years, adult-oriented businesses such as banks and automakers are now getting in on the act. Buzz or Street Marketing The challenge for marketers is to cut through the intense advertising clutter ( 杂乱) in young peoples lives. Many companies are using “buzz marketing” a new twist on the tried-and-true “word of mouth” method. The idea is to find the coolest kids in a community and have them use or wear your product in order to create a buzz around it. Buzz, or “street marketing,” as its also called, can help a company to successfully connect with the elusive ( 难找的) teen market by using trendsetters to give them products “cool” status. Buzz marketing is particularly well-suited to the Internet, where young “Net promoters” use chat rooms and blogs to spread the word about music, clothes and other products among unsuspecting users. Commercialization in Education School used to be a place where children were protected from the advertising and consumer messages that permeated their worldbut not anymore. Budget shortfalls ( 亏空，差额) are forcing school boards to allow corporations access to students in exchange for badly needed cash, computers and educational materials. Corporations realize the power of the school environment for promoting their name and products.A school setting delivers a captive youth audience and implies the endorsement of teachers and the educational system. Marketers are eagerly exploiting this medium in a number of ways, including: Sponsored educational materials. Supplying schools with technology in exchange for high company visibility. Advertising posted in classrooms, school buses, on computers in exchange for funds. Contests and incentive programs: for example, the Pizza Hut reading incentives program in which children receive certificates for free pizza if they achieve a monthly reading goal. Sponsoring school events. The Internet The Internet is an extremely desirable medium for marketers wanting to target children. Its part of youth culture. This generation of young people is growing up with the Internet as a daily and routine part of their lives. Kids are often online alone, without parental supervision. Unlike broadcasting media, which have codes regarding advertising to kids, the Internet is unregulated. Sophisticated technologies make it easy to collect information from young people for marketing research, and to target individual children with personalized advertising. Marketing Adult Entertainment to Kids Children are often aware of and want to see entertainment meant for older audiences because it is actively marketed to them. In a report released in 2000, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) revealed how the movie, music and video games industries routinely market violent entertainment to young children. The FTC studied 44 films rated “Restricted,” and discovered that 80 per cent were targeted to children under 17. Marketing plans included TV commercials run during hours when young viewers were most likely to be watching. The FTC report also highlighted the fact that toys based on characters from mature entertainment are often marketed to young children. Mature rated video games are advertised in youth magazines; and toys based on “Restricted” movies and M-rated video games are marketed to children as young as four. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1 上作答。 1. Guilt can play a role in parents spending decisions because _. A) they dont earn as much money as before B) they dont have enough time for their kids C) they postpone children until later in life D) they think time is more precious than money 2. According to Kidfluence, persistence nagging is _. A) as effective as importance nagging B) more effective than importance nagging C) more sophisticated than importance nagging D) less effective than importance nagging 3. A group of U.S. mental health professionals think that _. A) it is unethical to use child psychologists to help marketers target kids B) it is wise for marketers to use knowledge about children psychology for marketing C) childrens behavior, fantasy lives, and even their dreams should be analyzed D) APA should punish marketers for the marriage of psychology and marketing 4. According to the Center for a New American Dream, brand loyalties can be established as early as _. A) six months of age C) age two B) eighteen months of age D) age three 5. Buzz marketing is well-suited to the Internet because _. A) the Internet is an unregulated medium B) the interactive environment can spread messages effectively C) kids can get access to up-dated information from the Internet D) kids are always online without parental supervision 6. School boards allow corporations access to students because _. A) they take bribes from the corporations B) they need money and educational materials C) the corporations help to increase reputation of the schools D) the corporations are concerned about education 7. According to the Pizza Hut reading incentives program, children receive certificates for free pizza if they _. A) achieve a monthly reading goal B) like reading books at the Pizza Hut C) win the reading contest organized by the Pizza Hut D) eat out frequently at the Pizza Hut 8. For this generation of young people, the Internet is a _ part of their lives. 9. According to a report released by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the movie, music and video games industries routinely market _ to young children. 10. The FTC report also highlighted the fact that toys based on _ are often marketed to young children. Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes) Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2 上作答。 11. A) The woman should have studied French in Paris. B) The woman didnt study French in high school. C) Living in Paris helped improve the womans language skills. D) The woman must have had a good French teacher. 12. A) Phone the Triumph for a reservation. B) Ask her parents to come a different weekend. C) Call local hotels again in a few days. D) Find a hotel again in a few days. 13. A) He decided not to sell the piano. B) Hes looking for a place to store the piano. C) No one has bought the piano. D) He hasnt been able to find an inexpensive piano yet. 14. A) It took two months to finish the hotel building. B) He was too busy to notice the opening of the hotel. C) He did not know the hotel had a restaurant. D) He would like to meet the woman for brunch next Sunday. 15. A) She has decided not to go to Florida. B) Her plans arent definite. C) Her friend just returned from Florida. D) She prefers to travel without her friend. 16. A) Leave the package for him to mail later. B) Find another person to send the package. C) Proofread the report for him. D) Finish the report before Wednesdays meeting. 17. A) Form a new committee, C) Work out the details for the conference. B) Join her committee. D) Schedule a committee meeting. 18. A) He is looking for a better employment on the West Coast. B) Hes looking forward to working on the West Coast. C) He hopes to keep working where he now lives. D) He expects his company to move to the West Coast. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 19. A) In a factory. C) In a department store. B) On a cattle farm. D) At a restaurant. 20. A) To entertain the workers. B) To improve the relationship between the employer and employees. C) To keep the workers calm and relaxed. D) To increase production. 21. A) Background music was originally played live during World War II. B) People might get fed up with hearing background music all day long. C) People in Los Angeles love selling background music. D) Background music is only played in public places. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 22. A) Economics C) Business Writing B) Business and Marketing D) Marketing Skills 23. A) Business Writing and Social English. B) Writing and Social English. C) Projects and Academic Writing. D) Writing, Study Skills and Social English. 24. A) Every morning and afternoon C) Five mornings and four afternoons. B) Every afternoon except Wednesday D) Everyday of the week. 25. A) Social English. C) Business English. B) Study Skills. D) Academic Writing. Section B Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once.After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡 2 上作答。 Passage One Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. A) Automobile safety. B) Increasing fuel efficiency. C) Californias pollution laws. D) Electric-powered cars. 27. A) They are cheaper. B) They dont pollute as much. C) They are simpler to drive. D) They are faster. 28. A) Its not comfortable. B) It is difficult to steer. C) It cant go long distances without recharging. D) Its engine easily overheats. Passage Two Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard. 29. A) Three C) Five. B) Two. D) Four. 30. A) Talk to other people who rent apartments in the same building. B) Make sure there are good locks on all the windows and doors. C) Check the water and electricity to see if they are working properly. D) Walk around the apartment building for dangerous signs. 31. A) Deposit some money in a bank. B) Read the lease carefully and sign it. C) Ask the landlord for a damage deposit. D) Sign the contract and pay a security deposit. Passage Three Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. 32. A) When they are three years old. B) Before the age of six. C) After they are six years old. D) Between three and six years old. 33. A) They are much wiser than the left-handed persons. B) They are as clever as the left-handed persons. C) There are not as creative as lefties. D) They are more athletic. 34. A) Computer. C) Architecture. B) Calculation. D) Literature. 35 A) Because they have a quicker response. B) Because they are usually more strongly built. C) Because they seem to be men of greater endurance. D) Because they have a better sense of space. Section C Directions: In this section, you will hear a passage three times. When the passage is read for the first time, you should listen carefully for its general idea. When the passage is read for the second time, you are required to fill in the blanks numbered from 36 to 43 with the exact words you have just heard. For blanks numbered from 44 to 46 you are required to fill in the missing information. For these blanks, you can either use the exact words you have just heard or write down the main points in your own words. Finally, when the passage is read for the third time, you should check what you have written. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2 上作答。 Belgium has three main (36) regions: the coastal plain, the central plateau and the highlands. The coastal plain extends (37) 16 to 48 kilometers on the northwest. Along the north sea is a low-lying area (38) _ mainly of sandy hills and sections of land (39) _ from the sea. The coastal plains elevation ranges from sea level to 20 meters. The central plateau is a (40) _ rolling, slightly elevated area, (41) _ by many waterways and containing a number of wide, (42) _ valleys with a rich soil. The highlands, a densely-wooded plateau, (43) _ 460 meters in elevation, extend across southeastern Belgium and into northeastern France. Located here is the highest peak in Belgium with an elevation of 694 meters. (44) _ _. In the highlands, hot summers alternate with cold winters. Heavy rains are confined almost exclusively to the highlands. (45)_. In Brussels, the average temperatures range from zero to 5 degrees Centigrade in January and from 13 to 22 degrees Centigrade in July. (46)_ _.Part IV Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth) (25 minutes) Section A Directions: In this section, there is a short passage with 5 questions or incomplete statements. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete statements in the fewest possible words. Please write your answers on Answer Sheet 2. Questions 47 to 51 are based on the following passage. Severe winter storms have worsened the nations usual post-holiday blood shortage, prompting an urgent call today for people to