2024年月大学英语六级阅读考前习题及参考答案

2024年月大学英语六级阅读考前习题及参考答案

12月大学英语六级阅读考前习题及参考答案1

Egypt

EversinceHerodotus2,theancientGreekhistorianandtraveler,firstdescribed

Egyptas“thegiftoftheNile3〃,shehasbeencapturingtheimaginationofallwhovisit

her.

Theawe-inspiringmonuments,leftbythePharaohs,GreeksandRomansaswellas

bytheearlyChristiansandMuslims,attractthousandsofvisitorseveryyear—butthe

pyramids,temples,tombs,monasteriesandmosquesarejustpartofthiscountryzs

fascination.

ModernEgypt—wheremud-brickvillagesstandbesidePharaonicruins

surroundedbytoweringsteel,stoneandglassbuildings——isattheculturalcrossroads

ofEastandWest,ancientandmodern.WhileTVantennaedecoraterooftops

everywhere,fromthecrowdedapartmentblocksofCairotothemudhomesoffarming

villagesandthegoatskintentsoftheBedouins4,thefellahinthroughouttheNile's

fertilevalleystilltendtheirfieldswiththearchaictoolsoftheirancestors.

Inthegargantuan5cityofCairothesoundofthemuezzin6summoningthefaithful

toprayercompeteswiththepopmusicofghettoblasters?andthescreechofcarhorns.

Andeverywheretherearepeople:swathedinlongflowingrobesorwestern-style

clothes,hangingfrombuses,weavingthroughanobstaclecourseofanimalsand

exhaust-spewingtrafficorspillingfromhivelikebuildings.

Spectacularedificesaside,theattractionofthiscountryliesinitsincrediblenatural

beautyandintheoverwhelminghospitalityoftheEgyptianpeople.

ThrougheverythingtheNileRiverflowssereneandmajestic,thelifebloodofEgypt

asithasbeensincethebeginningofhistory.

阅读自测

I.Givethesynonymstothefollowingwords:

1.archaic2.swathe3.incredible4.screech5.serene6.gargantuan

n.TranslatethesentencesintoEnglishwiththewordsinparentheses:

1.她的精彩表演使观众为之神往。（capture）

2.她初见长城时，敬畏之感油然而生。（awe）

3.他被召进宫里。（summon）

4.消除紧张的方法在于学会放松。（lie）

1.1.ancient/antique2.wrap/clothe3.unbelievable/inconceivable4.shriek/

scream5.quiet/tranquil/peaceful6.giant/huge/tremendous

n.1.Herbrilliantperformancecapturedtheaudience/simagination.2.Herfirst

viewoftheGreatWallfilledherwithawe.3.Hewassummonedtothepalace.4.Thecure

forstressliesinlearningtorelax.

Australia

Anislandcountry,awholecontinent,Australiahasaremarkablycohesive

personalityandonewhich,muchtooursurprise,ismarkedlyforeign.Itisnolongerthe

infantcolony,peopledbyBritishconvicts2andpioneers,butamaturing,perhaps

stillsomewhatadolescentindividual,ruggedlysteeringavitalnewcourseinlife.

Australiaisasprawlofrockanddesert,fringedwithlushvalleys,snowfields,

coralspectaculars,storm-stabbedcliffsandrollingbeaches,alandrichinminerals,

colors,curiousflora3,230speciesofmammals4,700ofbirds,400ofreptiles,70of

amphibia,2,200offishand50,000speciesofinsects—andseeminglyinfinitespace.

Australiaisbecomingtherichestcountryintheworld,materially.

TotalareaofthecontinentisabouthalfasbigasEurope,or25timesthesizeof

Britainandlreland.Populationisbunchedmainlyincoastalcities,thebiggestofwhich

arecapitalsofthecountry'sstatesandthefederalcapitalCanberra5.Canberraisa

modelofaplannedgardencityandistheseatofamajoruniversity.Itissmallishinsize,

butbiginimportance.Sydneyisthelargestcity,andcommercialcapitalofthecountry.

Throughoutthecountry,thebasicaccommodationunitisthemotel,aflat

prefabricated6sprawlofbedrooms.Butpricesarereasonableand,mostimportant,the

roomsareexcellentandequippedusuallywithair-conditioning,arefrigeratorandtea

andcoffeemakingfacilities.Bathtubsarerare,asAustraliansprefertheconvenience

andhygieneofashower.Porterageandotherservicesarerare,asAustraliansdon't

likedoingajobwhichsmacksof7servility.Afterall,thisisthelandofequalityand

opportunity.

阅读自测

I.ArethesestatementsTrueorFalseaccordingtothearticle?

n.Matchthefollowingcountrieswiththeircorrespondingcapitals:

1.AustraliaisasbigasEurope,or25timesthesizeofBritainandIreland.2.

CanberraisnotonlythecapitalbutalsothebiggestcityofAustralia.3.Motelisvery

popularforaccommodationinAustralia.

1.EgyptWellington2.AustraliaAthens3.NewZealandSeoul4.CanadaCairo5.

GreeceOttawa6.SouthKoreaCanberra

Brazil

NocountryignitestheWesternimaginationasBrazildoes.Forhundredsofyearsit

hassymbolizedaprimordial,tropicalparadise.FromthemadpassionofCarnival2tothe

vastnessofthedarkAmazon3,Brazilisacountryofmythicalproportions.

RoughlythesizeoftheUS(excludingAlaska),Brazilisahugecountry

encompassingnearlyhalfofSouthAmerica,andborderingonmostofthecontinents

othernations—EcuadorandChilearetheexceptions.After40yearsofinternal

migrationandpopulationgrowth,Brazilisalsoanurbancountry;fouroutofeveryfive

Braziliansliveinacity.SaoPaulo,withmorethan17millioninhabitants,istheworld's

secondmostpopulouscity.Brazil'spopulationisclusteredalongtheAtlanticcoast,

andmuchofthecountry,includingthemassiveAmazonBasin,remainsscarcely

populatedandhardtoaccess.

Formost,theBrazilianjourneybeginsinRiodeJaneiro4.Oneoftheworld7sgreat

cities,Riohasdevelopedahighlyadvancedcultureofpleasure.Itrevolvesaroundthe

famousbeachesofCopacabana,andisfueledbythemusicofsamba5andthe

athleticismofsoccer.ThishedonismreachesitsclimaxeveryFebruaryorMarch,during

theCarnival—fivedaysofrevelry,unrivaledbyanyotherpartyontheglobe.Riode

Janeirostateisblessedwithsomeofthecountry'sbestbeaches.Inland,thecoastal

mountainsriserapidlyfromlush,green,tropicalforest,culminatinginspectacularpeaks.

ThemountainsarepunctuatedbynationalparkswhereyoucanenjoyBrazil'sbest

hikingandclimbing.

TheAmazonjunglesaretheworld'slargesttropicalrainforest,fedbytheworld's

largestriver,andhometotherichestandmostdiverseecosystemonearth—anature

lover7sultimatefantasy!Thoughthreatenedbyrapiddeforestation,therainforeststill

offersyearsofexplorationfortheadventuroustraveler.

WhereveryougoinBrazil,you'IIseeBraziliansattheirbeachesplaying.Thebeach

isthenationalpassion.Fortunately,withover8,000kmofcoastline,therearean

incrediblenumberofsuperbbeaches,soyoushouldhavelittleproblemfindingyour

owntropicalhideaway.

BrazilmaynotbetheparadiseonEarththatmanytravelersonceimagined,butitis

alandofoftenunimaginablebeauty.Therearestillstretchesofunexploredrainforest,

islandswithpristinetropicalbeaches,andendlessrivers.Andtherearethepeople

themselves,whodelightthevisitorwiththeirenergy,fantasyandjoy.

阅读自测

I.Fillintheblankswithproperprepositions:

1.Hiswordsborderedrudeness.

2.Thefemininetalkrevolvedmostlyclothes,bargainsandsmallscandals.

3.Heisblessedgoodhealth.

4.Thesciencefairculminatedtheawardingofprizes.

5.Hedelightedtheaudiencehisperformance.

n.Answerthequestioninyourownwords:

WhyisRiodeJaneirosoattractivetotravelers?

1.1.on2.around3.with4.in5.with

n.Becauseithasdevelopedahighlyadvancedcultureofpleasure,withbeautiful

beaches,samba,soccer,annualcarnivalsandnationalparks.

12月大学英语六级阅读考前习题及参考答案2

TheHistoryofChineseAmericans

ChinesehavebeenintheUnitedStatesforalmosttwohundredyears.Infact,the

ChinesehadbusinessrelationswithHawaiipriortorelationswiththemainlandwhen

HawaiiwasnotyetpartoftheUnitedStates.ButUnitedStatesinvestmentscontrolled

thecapitalofHawaiiatthattime.In1788,ashipsailedfromGuangzhoutoHawaii.Most

ofthecrewmenwereChinese.TheywereconsideredthepioneersofHawaii.The

ImmigrationCommissionreportedthatthefirstChinesearrivedintheUnitedStatesin

1820.eightin1830andsevenhundredandeightyin1850.TheChinesepopulation

graduallyincreasedandreached64,199in1870.

FormanyyearsitwascommonintheUnitedStatestoassociateChineseAmericans

withrestaurantsandlaundries.PeopledidnotrealizethattheChinesehadbeendriven

intotheseoccupationsbytheprejudiceanddiscriminationthatfacedtheminthis

country.

TheFirstChinesetoreachthemainlandUnitedStatescameduringtheCalifornia

GoldRushof1849.Likemostoftheotherpeoplethere,theyhadcometosearchfor

gold.Inthatlargelyunoccupiedland,themenstakedaclaimforthemselvesbyplacing

markersintheground.However,eitherbecausetheChineseweresodifferentfromthe

othersorbecausetheyworkedsopatientlythattheysometimessucceededinturninga

seeminglyworthlessminingclaimintoaprofitableone,theybecamechescapegoatsof

theirenviouscompetitors.Theywereharassedinmanyways.Oftentheywere

preventedfromworkingtheirclaims;somelocalitiesevenpassedregulations

forbiddingthemtoownclaims.TheChinesethereforestartedtoseekoutotherwaysof

earningaliving.Someofthembegantodochelaundryforthewhiteminers;othersset

upsmallrestaurants.(TherewerealmostnowomeninCaliforniainthosedays,andthe

Chinesefilledarealneedbydoingthis“womanswork".)Somewenttoworkas

farmhandsorasfishermen.

Intheearly1860smanymoreChinesearrivedinCalifornia.Thistimethemenwere

importedasworkcrewstoconstructthefirsttranscontinentalrailroad.Theyweresorely

neededbecausetheworkwassostrenuousanddangerous,anditwascarriedonin

sucharemotepartofthecountrythattherailroadcompanycouldnotfindother

laborersforthejob.Asinthecaseoftheirpredecessors,theseChinesewerealmostall

males;andlikethem,too,theyencounteredagreatdealofprejudice.Thehostilitygrew

especiallystrongafrertherailroadprojectwascomplete,andtheimportedlaborers

returnedtoCalifornia-thousandsofthem,alloutofwork.Becausethereweresomany

moreofthemthistime,theseChinesedrewevenmoreattentionthantheearliergroup

did.Theyweresoverydifferentineveryrespect:intheirphysicalappearance,including

along“pigtail“atthebackoftheirotherwiseshavedheads;inthestrange,

non-Westernclothestheywore;intheirspeech(fewhadlearnedEnglishsincethey

plannedtogobacktoChina);andintheirreligion.Theywerecontemptuouslycalled

“heathenChinese"becausethereweremanysacredimagesintheirhousesof

worship.

Whentimeswerehard,theywereblamedforworkingforlowerwagesandtaking

jobsawayfromwhitemen.whowereinmanycasesrecentimmigrantsthemselves.

Anti-Chineseriotsbrokeoutinseveralcities,culminatinginarsonandbloodshed.

ChinesewerebarredfromusingthecourtsandalsofrombecomingAmericancitizens.

CaliforniansbegantodemandthatnomoreChinesebepermittedtoentertheirstate.

Finally,in1882.theypersuadedCongresstopasstheChineseExclusionAct,which

stoppedtheimmigrationofChineselaborers.ManyChinesererurnedtotheir

homeland,andtheirnumbersdeclinedsharplyintheearlypartofthiscentury.However,

duringtheWorldWarII,whenChinawasanallyoftheUnitedStates,theExclusionlaws

wereended;asmallnumberofChinesewereallowedtoimmigrateeachyear,and

ChinesecouldbecomeAmericancitizens.In1965,inageneralrevisionofour

immigrationlaws,maymoreChinesewerepermittedtosettlehere,asdiscrimination

againstAsianimmigrationwasabolished.

Fromthestart,theChinesehadlivedapartintheirownseparateneighborhoods,

whichcametobeknownas“Chinatowns”.Ineachofthemtheresidentsorganized

anunofficialgovernmenttomakerulesforthecommunityandtosettledisputes.

Unabletofindjobsontheoutside,manywentintobusinessforthemselves-primarilyto

servetheirownneighborhood.Asforlaundriesandrestaurants.someofthemsoon

spreadtootherpartsofthecity,sincesuchservicescontinuedtobeindemandamong

non-Chinese,too.Tothisday.certainChinatowns,especiallythoseofSanFranciscoand

NewYork,arebusy,thrivingcommunities,whichhavebecomegreatattractionsfor

touristsandforthosewhoenjoyChinesefood.

MostoftodaysChineseAmericansarethedescendantsofsomeoftheearlyminers

andrailroadworkers.ThoseimmigrantshadcomefromthevicinityofCantonin

SoutheastChina,wheretheyhadbeenuneducatedfarmlaborers.Thesamekindof

youngmen,fromthesameareaandfromsimilarhumbleorigins,migratedtoHawaiiin

thosedays.Theretheyfaredfarbetter,mainlybecausetheydidnotencounterhostility.

SomemarriednativeHawaiians,andotherbroughttheirwivesandchildrenover.They

werenotrestrictedtoChinatownandmanyofthemsoonbecamesuccessfulmerchants

andactiveparticipantsingeneralcommunityaffairs.

ChineseAmericansretainmanyaspectsoftheirancientculture,evenafterhaving

livedhereforseveralgenerations.ForExample,theirfamilytiescontinuetobe

remarkablyscrong（encompassinggrandparents,uncles,aunts,cousins,andothers）.

Membersofthefamilylendeachothermoralsupportandalsopracticalhelpwhen

necessary.Fromaveryyoungagechildrenareimbuedwiththeoldvaluesandattitudes,

includingrespectfortheireldersandafeelingofresponsibilitytothefamily.Thishelps

coexplainwhythereissolittlejuveniledelinquency（少年）巳罪）amongthem.

ThehighregardforeducationwhichisdeeplyimbeddedinChineseculture.andthe

willingnesstoworkveryhardtogainadvancement,areothernoteworthycharacteristics

oftheirs.Thisexplainswhysomanydescendantsofuneducatedlaborershave

succeededinbecomingdoctors.lawyers,andotherprofessionals.(Manyofthemost

outstandingChineseAmericanscholars,scientists,andartistsaremorerecentarrivals,

whocomefromChinasformerupperclassandwhorepresentitshighcultural

traditions.)

ChineseAmericansmakeuponlyatinyfractionofourpopulation;therearefewer

thanhalfamiilion,livingchieflyinCalifornia.NewYork,andHawaii.AsAmerican

attitudestowardminoritiesandtowardethnicdifferenceshavechangedinrecentyears,

thelong-reviledChinesehavegainedwideacceptance.Today,theyaregenerally

admiredfortheirmanyremarkablecharacteristics,andareoftenheldupasanexample

worthfollowing.Andtheirnumerouscontributionstotheiradoptedlandaremuch

appreciated.

l.MostChineseAmericansworkedinrestaurantsandlaundriesbecause

of.

A)theskillstheyacquiredatthemotherland

B)localpeoplesdiscriminationagainstthem

Qtheirhighemploymentrates

D)theircomparativelyhighpay

2.DuringtheCaliforniaGoldRush.restaurantandlaundrywereregarded

as.

A)unprofitablework

B)comfortablework

Qwomanswork

D)Chinesework

3.1ntheearly1860s,moreChinesewereshippedtoCaliforniatowork

as.

A)goldminers

B)railroadbuilders

Qsteelworkers

D)farmhands

4.FewChineselearnedEnglishatthattimebecause.

A)theyseldomusedEnglishinChinatown

B)theyweretoooldtolearnanewtongue

QtheycouldntfindgoodEnglishteachers

D)theywouldntstayinAmericaforlong

5.TheChineseExclusionActcametoanend.

A)bytheCaliforniagovernorthen

B)afteramassivebloodshed

QduringWWII

D)in1965

6.0neoftheChinatownsasabusyandthrivingcommunitynowislocated

in.

A)Florida

B)Hawaii

C)NewJersey

D)NewYork

7.ChineseimmigrantstoHawaiifoundthatthey.

A)weretreatedwithoutdiscrimination

B)wereprovidedwithfewerjobchoices

QcouldnttraveltomainlandAmerica

D)couldonlyliveorworkinChinatown

8.TheoldvaluesandattitudesimpartedintotheyoungChineseAmericans

effectivelyhelpprevent.

9.ChinashighculturaltraditionsarerepresentedbytheChinese

American.

lO.ThecontributionsmadebyChinesetoAmericahadgainedmuch.

答案解析：

l.[B][定位根据题干中的restaurantsandlaundries定位到第2段。

解析:第2段首句提到了中国移民被迫到餐厅和洗衣房打工，第2句则揭示了个中的原因，

B的内容在第2句中提及，为本题答案。

2.[C][定位]根据题干中的CaliforniaGoldRush,restaurant和laundry定位到第3段倒

数第2、3句。

解析：原文该句中的this"womanswork〃指的就是前一句提到的laundry和restaurant

的工作，可见本题应选

Co

3.[B][定位根据题干中的Intheearly1860s定位到第4段开头两句。

解析：原文该段第2句中的workcrewstoconstructthefirsttranscontinentalrailroad

表明那时候华人到美国是为了修建铁路，可见本题应选

Bo

4.［D］［定位］根据题干中的Few和learnedEnglish定位到第4段倒数第2句。

解析：原文该句中括号里的内容明确表明很少华人学习英语的原因是他们都计划要回中国，

也就是他们没想过要长久留在美国，因此本题应选D。

54C］［定位］根据题干中的TheChineseExclusionAct定位到第5段倒数第2句。

解析：原文该句中的duringtheWorldWarII...theExclusionlawswereended明确表

明本题应选干扰项中的在原文该段末句提及，但与无关，

CoD1965ChineseExclusionAct

故不能选。

6.［D］［定位］根据题干中的Chinatowns和busyandthrivingcommunity定位到第6段末

句。

解析：原文该段提到繁荣的Chinatown时，只提到了SanFrancisco和NewYork,D正

是其中一个，其他选项均未提及。

7.［A］［定位］根据题干中的immigrants和Hawaii定位到第7段第3、4句。

解析：原文该段第4句中because引出的原因从句表明华人在夏威夷"没有遭到敌视"，

A"没有受到歧视"与原文该句意思一致。所以本题应选A。

8.［juveniledelinquency］

［定位］根据题干中的oldvaluesandattitudes定位到第8段最后两句。

解析：空白处应为名词（词组）。原文该段最后两句表明孩子们从小就被灌输古代的价值观与

看问题的方法，这使他们在青少年时期很少犯罪，也就是说，这些价值观与看问题的方法可有助

于减少"青少年犯罪”，即juveniledelinquency。

9.［scholars,scientists,andartists］

［定位］根据题干中的highculturaltraditions和represented定位到第9段末句。

解析：空白处应为名词（词组）。原文该段末尾的whorepresentitshighculturaltraditions

中的who指的'是末句开头提到的ManyofthemostoutstandingChineseAmerican

题目将段末的定语从句改写为被动语态，所以所指的

scholars,scientists,andartistsowho

内容就是本题答案，即

scholars,scientistsandartistso

10.[appreciation]

[定位]根据题干中的contributions定位到末段末句。

解析：空白处应为不可数名词。题目是对原文该句的同义改写，所不同的是，原文的谓语部

分是aremuchappreciated.而题目的是hadgainedmuch…，作答时要将appreciated改为

其名词形式叩predation,才可作题目中gained的宾语。

12月大学英语六级阅读考前习题及参考答案3

PassageOne

Questions46to50arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Economicallyspeaking,are

webetteroffthanweweretenyearsago?Twentyyearsago?Intheirthirstforevidence

onthisissue,commentatorsseizedontherecentreportbytheCensusBureau,which

foundthataveragehouseholdincomeroseby5.2%in2023.Unfortunately,that

conclusionputstoomuchweightonauseful,butflawedandincomplete,statistic.

AmongthemoresignificantproblemswiththeCensussmeasurearethat:1)itexcludes

taxes,transfers,andcompensationlikeemployer-providedhealthinsurance;and2)itis

basedonsurveysratherthandata.Evenifpreciselymeasured,incomedataexclude

importantdeterminantsofeconomicwell-being,suchasthehoursofworkneededto

earnthatincome.Whilethinkingaboutthequestion,wecameacrossarecently

publishedarticlebyCharlesJonesandPeterKlenow,whichproposesaninterestingnew

measureofeconomicwelfare.

Whilebynomeansperfect,itisconsiderablymorecomprehensivethanaverage

income,takingintoaccountnotonlygrowthinconsumptionperpersonbutalso

changesinworkingtime,lifeexpectancy,andinequality.Moreover,itcanbeusedto

assesseconomicperformancebothacrosscountriesandovertime.TheJones-Klenow

methodcanbeillustratedbyacross-countryexample.Supposewewanttocompare

theeconomicwelfareofcitizensoftheU.S.andFrancein2005.In2005,astheauthors

observe:realconsumptionperpersoninFrancewasonly60%ashighastheU.S.,

makingitappearthatAmericanswereeconomicallymuchbetteroffthantheFrenchon

average.However,thatcomparisonomitsotherrelevantfactors:leisuretime,life

expectancy,andeconomicinequality.TheFrenchtakelongervacationsandretire

earlier,sotypicallyworkfewerhours;theyenjoyahigherlifeexpectancy,presumably

reflectingadvantageswithrespecttohealthcare,diet,lifestyle,andthelike;and

incomeandconsumptionaresomewhatmoreequallydistributedtherethanintheU.S.

Becauseofthesedifferences,comparingFrancesconsumptionwiththeU.S.soverstates

thegapineconomicwelfare.

SimilarcalculationscanbeusedtocomparetheU.S.andothercountries.For

example,thiscalculationputseconomicwelfareintheUnitedKingdomat97%ofU.S.

levels,butestimatesMexicanwell-beingat22%.TheJones-Klenowmeasurecanalso

assessaneconomysperformanceovertime.Accordingtothismeasure,asofthe

early-to-mid-2000s,theU.S.hadthehighesteconomicwelfareofanylargecountry.

Since2023,economicwelfareintheU.S.hascontinuedtoimprove.However,thepace

ofimprovementhasslowedmarkedly.Methodologically,thelessonfromthe

Jones-Klenowresearchisthateconomicwelfareismulti-dimensional.Theirapproachis

flexibleenoughthatinprincipleotherimportantquality-of-lifechangescouldbe

incorporated-forexample,decreasesintotalemissionsofpollutantsanddeclinesin

crimerates.46.Whatdoestheauthorthinkofthe2023reportbytheCensusBureau?

A.Itisbasedonquestionablestatistics.B.Itreflectstheeconomicchanges.C.It

evidencestheimproved-welfare.D.Itprovidesmuchfoodforthought.

47,WhatdoestheauthorsayabouttheJones-Klenowmethod?A.Itiswidelyused

tocomparetheeconomicgrowthacrosscountries.B.Itrevolutionizesthewayof

measuringordinarypeopleslivelihood.C.Itfocusesonpeoplesconsumptionrather

thantheiraverageincome.D.Itisamorecomprehensivemeasureofpeopleseconomic

well-being.48.WhatdoJonesandKlenowthinkofthecomparisonbetweenFranceand

theU.S.intermsofrealconsumptionperperson?A.Itreflectedtheexistingbiggap

betweenthetwoeconomies.B.Itneglectedmanyimportantindicatorsofpeoples

welfare.C.Itcoveredupthedifferencesbetweenindividualcitizens.D.Itfailedtocount

intheirdifferenceinnaturalresources.49,WhatisanadvantageoftheJones-Klenow

method?A.Itcanaccuratelypinpointacountryscurrenteconomicproblems.

B.Itcanhelptoraisepeoplesawarenessoftheireconomicwell-being.C.Itcan

diagnosethecausesofacountrysslowingpaceofeconomicimprovement.D.Itcan

compareacountryseconomicconditionsbetweendifferentperiodsoftime.5O.What

canweinferfromthepassageaboutAmericanpeopleseconomicwell-being?A.Itis

muchbetterthanthatoftheirEuropeancounterparts.B.Ithasbeenonthedeclineever

sincetheturnofthecentury.C.IthasnotimprovedasmuchasreportedbytheCensus

Bureau.D.Ithasnotbeenaccuratelyassessedandreportedsincemid-2000s.Passage

Two

Questions51to55arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Ifyouveeverstarteda

sentencewith,"IfIwereyou...."orfoundyourselfscratchingyourheadatacolleagues

agonyoveradecisionwhentheansweriscrystal-clear,theresascientificreasonbehind

it.Ourowndecision-makingabilities

12月大学英语六级阅读考前习题及参考答案4

Recentresearchhasclaimedthatanexcessofpositiveionsintheaircanhaveanill

effectonpeople'sphysicalorpsychologicalhealth.Whatarepositiveions?Wellzthe

airisfullofions,electricallychargedparticles，andgenerallythereisaroughbalance

betweenthepositiveandthenegativecharged.Butsometimesthisbalancebecomes

disturbedandalargerproportionofpositiveionsarefound.Thishappensnaturally

beforethunderstorm,earthquakeswhenwindssuchastheMistral,HamsinorSharav

areblowingincertaincountries.Oritcanbecausedbyabuild-upofstaticelectricity

indoorsfromcarpetsorclothingmadeofman-madefibres,orfromTVsets,

duplicatorsorcomputerdisplayscreens.

Whenalargenumberofpositiveionsarepresentintheairmanypeople

experienceunpleasanteffectssuchasheadaches,fatigue,irritability,andsome

particularlysensitivepeoplesuffernauseaorevenmentaldisturbance.Animalsarealso

affected,particularlybeforeearthquakes,snakeshavebeenobservedtocomeoutof

hibernation,ratstofleefromtheirburrows,dogshowlandcatsjumpabout

unaccountably.ThishasledtheUSGeographicalSurveytofundanetworkof

volunteerstowatchanimalsinanefforttoforeseesuchdisastersbeforetheyhit

vulnerableareassuchasCalifornia.

Conversely,whenlargenumbersofnegativeionsarepresent,thenpeoplehave

afeelingofwell-being.Naturalconditionsthatproducetheselargeamountsarenear

thesea,closetowaterfallsorfountains,orinanyplacewherewaterissprayed,or

formsaspray.Thisprobablyaccountsforthebeneficialeffectofaholidaybythesea,

orinthemountainswithtumblingstreamsorwaterfalls.

Toincreasethesupplyofnegativeionsindoors,somescientistsrecommendthe

useofionisers:smallportablemachines,whichgeneratenegativeions.Theyclaim

thationisersnotonlycleanandrefreshtheairbutalsoimprovethehealthofpeople

sensitivetoexcesspositiveions.Ofcourse,therearethedetractors,otherscienti