2024年12月(下半年)英语六级真题及答案完整版精编2篇
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英语六级应试技巧1
我们在听英语六级听力之前，我们可以先浏览一遍听力问题，要大概清楚知道听力的注意的问题，在听力播放的时候，要根据题目上的主要内容吗，抓住重点关键词汇去听，因为不是所有词你都需要听懂，你需要有选择抓住重点内容去听。
英语六级听力我们需要边听边涂卡，因为听力试卷是自己单独一张卷的，听力考试结束后老师就会立刻把试卷收走，所有你需要在听完一道题后就立刻涂在答题卡上，以防止最后没有时间涂卡。
2023年12月(下半年)英语六级真题及答案完整版2
写作部分
写作(第1套) Recognizing the Significance of Elderly People
Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes towrite an essay that begins with the sentence"With their valuable skills and experience,elderly people can continue to make significant contributions to society.”You can make comments,cite examples or useyour personal experiences to develop your write at least 150 words but no more than 200words(not including the sentence given)
范文
Along with the development of society, more and more problems are brought to our attention, one of the most serious issue is the gray population. Nevertheless, the significance of elderly people in society cannot be overstated. As the population ages, it is imperative that we acknowledge and appreciate the contributions and wisdom of our elderly citizens.
Firstly, elderly people possess a wealth of knowledge and life experience that are invaluable to the younger generations. Their wisdom, acquired through years of living and learning, provides a unique perspective on life and offers guidance to the younger members of society. By recognizing and appreciating the significance of elderly people, we can tap into their extensive expertise and experience ,and benefit from their insights, thus enriching our whole communities.
Secondly, elderly people have made significant contributions to society throughout their lives, and it is fair and just that we honor and respect their efforts. Many elderly citizens have dedicated their time and energy to building and shaping the world we live in today, whether through their work, their families, or their community involvement. By recognizing and appreciating the significance of elderly people, we acknowledge and show gratitude for their past contributions, to guarantee that they are not marginalized or forgotten in their later years.
In addition, recognizing the significance of elderly people helps to combat ageism and promote a culture of inclusiveness and respect. Too often, elderly individuals are subjected to discrimination, neglect, and social isolation, which can have detrimental effects on their well-being and mental health. By valuing and honoring the elderly, we can create a more compassionate and supportive society that values the dignity and worth of all its members, regardless of age.
In conclusion, recognizing the significance of elderly people is essential for building a harmonious and just society. By acknowledging their wisdom, honoring their contributions, and combating ageism, we can create a more inclusive and respectful community that benefits every generation in our society.
译文
随着社会的发展，越来越多的问题引起了我们的关注，其中最严重的问题之一是老龄人口。然而，老年人在社会中的重要性是不可低估的。随着人口的老龄化，我们必须承认并珍视老年公民的贡献和智慧。
首先，老年人拥有丰富的知识和人生经验，这对年轻一代来说是无价的。他们通过多年的生活和学习积累的智慧，为生活提供了独特的视角，并为社会年轻成员提供指导。通过认识和珍视老年人的重要性，我们可以利用他们丰富的专业知识和经验，从而受益于他们的见解，从而丰富整个社区。
其次，老年人在他们的一生中对社会做出了重大贡献，公正地尊重他们的努力是理所当然的。许多老年公民在工作、家庭或社区参与中奉献了他们的时间和精力，为塑造今天我们所生活的世界做出了重要贡献。通过认识并珍视老年人的重要性，我们承认并感激他们过去的贡献，以确保他们在晚年不会被边缘化或被遗忘。
此外，认识老年人的重要性有助于抵制年龄歧视，促进一个包容和尊重的文化。老年人经常遭受歧视、忽视和社会孤立，这可能对他们的健康和心理健康产生不利影响。通过珍视和尊重老年人，我们可以创建一个更有同情心和支持性的社会，重视所有社会成员的尊严和价值，不论年龄大小。
总之，认识老年人的重要性对于建设和谐公正的社会至关重要。通过承认他们的智慧，尊重他们的贡献，并抵制年龄歧视，我们可以创建一个更具包容性和尊重的社区，使我们社会的每一代人都受益。
写作(第2套) The Importance of Independence in Childhood Development
Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes towrite an essay that begins with the sentence "Nowadays parents are increasingly aware that allowing kids more freedom to explore and learn on their own helps foster their independence and boost their confidence.”You can make comments,cite examples oruse your personal experiences to develop your should write at least 150 words but no more than 200words(not including the sentence given)
范文
Recently, parents in mounting numbers tend to pay much attention to independence in children’s development, which has aroused much interest in the society. Independence in childhood development can significantly contribute to a child’s growth, confidence, and overall well-being. Encouraging children to become independent from an early age is crucial for their personal and social development.
Firstly, independence fosters self-confidence. When children are given the opportunity to take on tasks and responsibilities independently, they develop a sense of accomplishment and pride in their abilities. This confidence can enable them to face challenges with a positive mindset. Secondly, independence improves decision-making skills and problem-solving abilities. Allowing children to make choices and decisions for themselves helps them develop critical thinking skills and learn from their own experiences. This equips them with essential life skills that will serve them well into adulthood. Moreover, independence contributes to the development of a child’s identity. This enables them to understand their strengths, interests, and values, fostering a positive and healthy sense of identity.
In conclusion, fostering independence in childhood development is essential for a child’s overall growth and well-being. Parents, educators, and society as a whole should support the cultivation of independence in children.
译文
最近，越来越多的家长开始关注儿童独立发展，这引起了社会的广泛关注。儿童独立发展对孩子的成长、自信心和整体幸福感都有显著贡献。从小鼓励孩子独立至关重要，对于他们的个人和社会发展都至关重要。
首先，独立培养自信心。当孩子们有机会独立承担任务和责任时，他们会对自己的能力产生成就感和自豪感。这种自信心可以让他们以积极的心态面对挑战。其次，独立提高了决策能力和解决问题的能力。让孩子们自己做选择和决定有助于他们培养批判性思维能力，并从自己的经验中学习。这使他们具备了成年后会派上用场的基本生活技能。此外，独立有助于孩子身份认同的发展。这使他们能够了解自己的优势、兴趣和价值观，培养积极健康的身份认同感。
总之，培养儿童的独立发展对于他们的整体成长和幸福感至关重要。家长、教育者和整个社会都应该支持孩子独立能力的培养。
写作(第3套) The Importance of Acquiring Basic Knowledge
Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay that begins with the sentence“As is known to all,gaining a sound knowledge of the basics is of vital importance for students to masteran academic subject.” You can make comments,citeexamples or use your personal experiences to developyour should write at least 150 words but nomore than 200 words (not including the sentence given)
范文
It has been widely noted that basic knowledge plays a fundamental role in one s cultivation and provides a platform for higher education. Whether it is in academics, career development, or other aspects, having a strong base of basic knowledge is always essential.
Firstly, basic knowledge provides us with a solid framework for further learning and growth. Just like a building needs a strong foundation, our minds require a solid base of fundamental knowledge to comprehend and explore more complex concepts. Without this foundation, it becomes difficult to grasp deeper ideas and apply them effectively. Secondly, basic knowledge equips us with necessary tools to adapt to a rapidly changing world. With the fast development of society, new technologies and ideas emerge at a rapid pace. Having a strong grasp of basic knowledge allows us to understand and adapt to these changes more efficiently. Lastly, basic knowledge lays foundation for our personal and professional development. Employers often prioritize candidates with a strong foundation of basic knowledge, as it demonstrates their ability to learn and adapt to new challenges in the workplace.
In conclusion, acquiring basic knowledge is of utmost importance in today’s society. It is essential for us to attach great importance to acquiring basic knowledge.
译文
广泛认为，基础知识在一个人的修养中起着根本作用，并为进一步的教育提供了平台。无论是在学术、职业发展还是其他方面，拥有坚实的基础知识始终至关重要。
首先，基础知识为我们提供了进一步学习和成长的坚实框架。就像建筑物需要坚固的基础一样，我们的头脑需要坚实的基础知识来理解和探索更复杂的概念。没有这个基础，理解更深层次的思想并有效应用它们变得困难。其次，基础知识为我们提供了适应快速变化世界的必要工具。随着社会的快速发展，新技术和新思想以惊人的速度涌现。具备扎实的基础知识使我们更有效地理解和适应这些变化。最后，基础知识为我们的个人和职业发展奠定了基础。雇主通常会优先考虑具有坚实基础知识的候选人，因为这表明他们有能力在工作场所学习和适应新的挑战。
总之，获取基础知识在当今社会至关重要。我们有必要高度重视获取基础知识。
听力部分(2套)
(注：四六级考试是花卷，大家对答案时要看选项内容，不要只核对ABCD。)
第1套：
)There is nothing wrong with his digestive system.
)Being unaware of the stress they are under.
)Prescribe some medication for him.
)It is full of competition.
)To avoid being in the limelight.
)It does not last long.
)He was back in the news.
)Alleviate the obesity problem.
)After winning the 1986 Woman s Own Short StoryCompetition.
)The themes of love and loss.
)They often get rewarded instead of beingpunished,
)It is what employers are increasingly seeking after.
)Make better choices.
)People often work in teams.
)Decide on new priorities speedily.
)What differentiates people from animals.
)It is something every human being can do.
)It uses existing ideas to create new ones.
)Dogs know when their owners are not feeling well.
)They have an extremely powerful sense of smell.
)It can benefit owners both physically and mentally.
)Restrict the ability of creative arts courses to recruitnew students.
)Seemingly reasonable.
)Forty percent of them earn less than E25,000 ayear.
)Britain s economy as a whole.
第2套
1. A ) Spending their holidays in a novel way.
2. D ) He once owned a van.
3. A) Generate their own electricity.
4. C ) Enjoying the freedom to choose where to go and work.
5. C ) Her job performance has worsened over the past month.
6. B ) Some problems at home.
7. B ) The woman s work proficiency.
8. C ) The woman will be off work on the next two Mondays.
9. D ) It can enable us to live a healthier and longer life.
10. B) The spouse s level of education can impact one s health.
11. A) They had more education than their spouses.
12. C) Forecasting flood risks accurately.
13. D) To improve his mathematical flooding model.
14. A) To forecast rapid floods in real time.
15. B) They set up Internet-connected water-level sensors.
16. B) To argue about the value of a college degree.
17. D) The factor of wages.
18. A) The sharp decline in marriage among men with no college degrees.
19. C) More and more people prioritize animal welfare when buying things to wear.
20. D) Avoided the use of leather and fur.
21. A) Whether they can be regarded as ethical.
22. D) The era we live in is the most peaceful in history.
23. C) They believed the world was deteriorating.
24. B) Our psychological biases.
25. A) Paying attention to negative information.
(听力原文在文末)
阅读部分(3套)
01
第一套
Section A选词填空
题目
Modern cities were designed to make...
参考答案
impose
sprawl
Section B段落匹配
答案
Exploration of ....updating
Quite a number of majestic...
Pritchett suffered a havey loss ...
Recently, people ....sued over
Pritchett claims ... from inverstors...
One pioneer marine scientist...
With technology... man-made...
According to a lawer,... in court
Salvors of treasures ...hostile to ...
Archaeologists ... instead of...
Section C仔细阅读
Passage 1
答案
) She has refrained from using social media
) Most people can hardly get by without the internet due to growing digitization.
) Most families in the uiedo not have stable broadband connections
) They help many people feel connected with others.
)Having access to the internet.
Passage 2
答案
51. D) The impact of competition.
52. D) Satisfy their own desires while observing social conventions.
53. C) It is free from the rational intervention of humans.
54. B) Struggles for survival do not exclude mutual support.
55. D) People s attitude towards competition is actually culture-bound.
02
第二套
Section A选词填空
题目
开头：The desert is deceiving.
参考答案
flat
apt
overflowing
extremes
burning
synonymous
stimulate
probably
sturdy
unique
Section B段落匹配
题目
African counthies must get smarter with their agriculture
答案
36. E It is said that agricultural productivity in many African countries has remained low for a century.
37. H One way of spreading knowledge is to link farms to big buyers ..., it wanted to use local crops to make a beer cheap enough to compete with illicit home brew.
38. B Parts of the continent are already warming much more quickly than the average:temperatures in southern Africa...over the past 50 years.
39. G Better techniques help, too. Small coffee farmers in Kenya are able to increase their incomes by 40% by following...of their stems.
40. C Africa is particularly vulnerable,... put food on the plates of a fast-growing population, even without climate change.
41. F Much of the focus has been on...impressive.
42. I An even more important change...investment to small farms.
43. A Climate change is an issue that will affect everyone ... Africans its consequences will be particularly bitter.
44. D And although output per worker has improved by...30 years in Africa, that is still far behind the times improvement in Asia.
45. J ...But over the longer run small- scale farming can go only so far, especially in the face of climate change and population pressure.
Section C仔细阅读
Passage 1
答案
) There seem to be no other options available to replace it.
) Increasing the compensation for labor
) The growth of workers’paychecks ultimately boosts the nation s economy.
) Increase in productivity.
) People have failed to see a corresponding increase in wages and in productivity.
Passage 2
答案
) Diversity
) The editorial boards of the most important journals
) The number of female editors was simply disproportionate to
) Women s views are underrepresented in the editorial boards of top psychology
) Implement overall structural reforms.
翻译部分3套
第1套随着经济与社会的发展，中国人口结构发生了显著变化，逐渐步入老龄化社会。中国老年人口将继续增加，人口老龄化趋势将更加明显。为了应对人口老龄化带来的种种挑战，国家正积极采取措施，加大对养老的支持。通过改革社会保障制度，政府不断增加社会保障经费，逐步扩大社会保障覆盖范围，使更多老年人受益。政府还鼓励各种社会团体为老年人提供服务。在政府和社会团体的共同努力下，老年人将生活得更加幸福。With the development of economy and society, there has been a significant change in the population structure in China, gradually transitioning into an aging society. It is expected that China s elderly population will continue to increase, and the trend of population aging will become more obvious. To cope with various challenges brought about by population aging, the country is actively taking measures to strengthen support for elderly care. Through the reform of the social security system, the government has continuously increased social security funds and gradually expanded the coverage of social security in order to benefit more elderly people. Furthermore, the government encourages various social organizations to provide services for the elderly. Through the collaborative efforts of the government and social organizations, the elderly will live a happier life.第2套在中国，随着老龄化社会的到来，养老受到普遍关注。人们谈论最多的是应当采取什么样的养老模式。多数人认为，养老模式需要多元化。可以通过政府引导和社会参与，建立更多更好的养老服务机构，改进社区服务中心，鼓励居家自助养老，还可以推行家庭养老与社会养老相结合的模式。随着政府和社会对养老服务事业投入的持续增加，养老设施将不断升级，服务质量逐步改进，老年人的生活将会更加方便舒适、健康快乐。As China is facing an ageing society, there is a widespread concern over the issue of elderly care. What kind of care model for the elderly should be adopted is the most debated topic. The majority of people believe that the care model for the elderly should be diversified. More and better elderly service institutions can be established, community service centres can be improved, and self-care for the elderly at home can be encouraged through government guidance and social participation. It is also possible to promote a model of the elderly that combines family and social care. The continuous increase in government and social investment in services for the elderly will bring further improvements in care facilities, gradual enhancements in the quality of services and a more convenient and comfortable life with health and happiness for the elderly.第3套近年来，中国老龄人口持续增长。中国政府正采取各种措施，推进养老服务体系建设，使老年人晚年生活健康幸福。全国兴建了各类养老服务机构，为了提升养老机构的服务质量，政府颁布了一系列标准，加强对养老机构的监管。许多城市为方便老年人用餐，开设了社区食堂，为他们提供价格实惠的饭菜。行动不便的老年人还能享受上门送餐服务。同时，中国还在积极探索居家和社区养老等其他养老模式，以确保所有老年人老有所养。In recent years, China s elderly population has continued to grow. The Chinese government is taking various measures to promote the construction of a service system for the elderly, so that the elderly can live a healthy and happy life in their later years. Various service institutions for the elderly have been built across the country. In order to improve the service quality of elderly care institutions, the government has issued a series of standards to strengthen the supervision of elderly care institutions. In order to make it easier for the elderly to eat, many cities have opened community canteens to provide them with affordable meals. Me als on wheels are also available for the elderly with limited mobility. At the same time, China is also actively exploring other old-age care models, such as home-based and community old-age care, to ensure that all elderly people have adequate old-age support.
听力原文(共2套)
Section A
Conversation 1
音频原文
M: Hello, Doctor.
W: Hello, please take a seat. I have your test results here, and it s good news. The blood test came back clear. There is no indication of any digestive issues.
M: So then, why do I feel so poorly all the time?
W: It s probably due to overwork and stress.
M: No, it can t be. I ve always been working hard, but I ve never felt stress. Other people suffer and complain about that, but I don t. It must be something else.
W: What you have just described is a common sentiment. Many people who suffer from stress fail to recognize it. You told me you often work long into the night, right?
M: Yes, most days in fact. But I ve been doing that for about 20 years now.
W: That doesn t matter. You could have been suffering from stress for 20 years without knowing it. And now it s catching up to you.
M: But what about my feeling tired all the time, and not being able to sleep well at night?
W: Those are common consequences of stress. And if you don t sleep well, then of course you will feel fatigued. I m going to prescribe some special sleeping pills for you. They have a soft, gentle effect, and are made from natural ingredients. So your stomach should tolerate them fine, and there shouldn t be any negative side effects. Take one with your dinner, and come see me after a month. If there is no improvement, I ll give you something stronger.
M: Thank you, Doctor.
W: That s not all. You should try and work less. Is there any way you can decrease your workload?
M: Um, I d have to think about it. I m a restaurant manager, and this industry is very competitive. There are many things to keep track of and stay on top of.
W: I recommend you think about delegating some responsibilities to someone else. I m not asking you to retire, just to slow down a bit. It s for your own health.
题目
Q1: What do we learn about the man from his test results?
Q2: What does the woman think is a common phenomenon among many people?
Q3: What does the woman say she will do for the man?
Q4: What does the man say about the industry he is engaged in?
Conversation 2
音频原文
W: Today on People in the News, our guest is John Williams. The name may not sound familiar to you, but John was once an acclaimed basketball player. John, you stunned fans by leaving the sport at just 25. Why did you retire so early?
M: Meg, I loved being an athlete, but I didn t love being a celebrity. I was in the limelight when I was still a high school student, and went professional right after high school graduation, which was a mistake. I was a shy kid, and I wasn t ready for all the media attention.
W: But walking away from millions of dollars at the height of your career? Most people wouldn t be able to resist the lure of such a high salary. When you left the sport, there was speculation that you were having issues with your teammates, or even an injury.
M: Not at all. It was hard to quit. I was tempted to stay in the game, because I loved basketball, and I loved my team. As for money, I turned professional at 18, so I d actually earned a lot and saved most of it, because I had great financial advisors. I knew basketball wasn t a career with a lot of longevity for most players. So I wanted to change careers while I was still young.
W: Okay, that was 20 years ago, and you re back in the news. You ve created a foundation that works to get more kids playing team sports. Why?
M: I went to university, and I studied public health and learned about the seriousness of the obesity epidemic, particularly among kids and adolescents in poor communities. I ve spent the last two decades trying to alleviate the problem. The Foundation is just the latest attempt.
W: The Foundation uses private donations to support basketball teams for girls and boys in primary school, right?
M: Actually, we support teams for secondary school students, too. And also has some public funding.
题目
Q5: Why did John Williams leave the sport of basketball at just 25?
Q6: What does the man say about basketball as a career for most players?
Q7: What do we learn from the woman about John Williams 20 years later?
Q8: What has the man spent the last two decades trying to do?
Section B
Passage 1
音频原文
Kate Atkinson was born in York, England in 1951. She worked hard to gain her credentials as an author. She studied English literature at University in Scotland. After graduating in 1974, she researched a doctorate on American literature. Later, she taught at the university she graduated from, and began writing short stories in 1981. She began writing for women s magazines after winning the 1986 Women s Own Short Story Competition. Her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the 1995 UK Book of the Year award. The book is set in Yorkshire and has been adapted for radio, theatre, and TV. She has written two plays for a theatre in Edinburgh. The first was called Nice and the second, Abandonment, performed as part of the Edinburgh Festival in August 2000. Whatever genre Atkinson writes in, her books touch on the themes of love and loss and how to carry on. They are always presented with ingenuity and a wicked sense of humor. Her books tend to be populated by odd, sometimes sinful, and generally flawed eccentrics who become credible by virtue of being so fully realized. Her books have frequently been described as comedies of manners. That is to say, comedies that represent the complex and sophisticated code of behavior current in fashionable circles of society. Where appearances count more than true moral character. A comedy of manners tends to reward its clever and deceitful characters, rather than punish their bad deeds. The humor of a comedy of manners relies on verbal wit and playful teasing.
题目
Q9: When did Kate Atkinson begin to write for women s magazines?
Q10: What did Kate Atkinson s books touch on?
Q11: What do we learn about the clever and deceitful characters in a comedy of manners?
Passage 2
音频原文
Why is adaptability an important skill to exercise in the workplace? Simply put, adaptability is a skill employers are increasingly looking for. When you spend time learning a new task rather than resisting it, your productivity goes up. You can also serve as an example to your co-workers who may be having trouble adapting, and can help lead your team forward. Strategy consultant, Dori Clark, explains it to us this way. I d say that adaptability is an important skill in the workplace because, frankly, circumstances change. Competitors introduce new products, the economy might enter a recession, customer preferences differ over time, and more. If you shake your fist at the sky and say why can t it stay the same, that s not going to do very much good. Instead, you need to recognize when circumstances have changed. So you can take appropriate action based on what is, rather than how you wish the world would be. That enables you to make more accurate inform and effective choices. Also, the workplace itself has been evolving. Today s work culture and management style is often based on teamwork, rather than a rigid hierarchy. Brainstorming, which requires creativity, flexibility, and emotional intelligence, is a typical problem solving technique. Employees who are unable or unwilling to participate will not easily move forward in the company. Employees who are flexible demonstrate other skills too. They can reprioritize quickly when changes occur and suggest additional modifications when something is not working. They can also regroup quickly when a setback occurs, adapting to the new situation confidently and without overreacting.
题目
Q12: Why does the speaker say adaptability is an important skill to exercise in the workplace?
Q13: What does adaptability enable us to do according to strategy consultant Dory Clark?
Q14: What do we learn about today s work culture from the passage?
Q15: What are employees with adaptability able to do when changes occur?
Section C
Lecture 1
音频原文
What makes humans different from other species? Some philosophers argue it s morals or ethics. While some scientists assert it s our greater cognitive development, but I argue that the main difference is our desire to combat routine. This makes being creative a biological mandate, as what we seek in art and technology is surprise, not simply a fulfillment of expectations. As a result, a wild imagination has characterized the history of our species. We build intricate habitats, devise complex recipes for our food, wear clothes that reflect constant changes in fashion, communicate with elaborate signs, symbols, and sounds, and travel between habitats on wings and wheels of our own design. To satisfy our appetite for novelty, innovation is key. But who innovates? Now, many people, both laymen and experts, believe that only geniuses innovate. But I believe that innovation is not something that only a few people do. The innovative drive lives in every human brain, and the resulting war against the repetitive is what powers the massive changes that distinguish one generation from the next. The drive to create the new is a trait of being human. We build cultures by the hundreds and tell new stories by the millions. We create and surround ourselves with things that have never existed before, while animals do not. But where do our new ideas come from? According to many, new ideas come from seemingly nowhere, to great minds. From this perspective, new ideas are almost like magic. They come in a flash of inspiration to a select few. However, the reality is that, across the spectrum of human activities, Prior work propels the creative process. We may think of innovation as being the result of inspiration or genius, but it s really the result of developing the ideas of others further. This happens in technology, where one invention enables or inspires further inventions. And it happens in the arts, as writers, composers, and painters. Use the work of previous artists in their own work. The human brain works from precedent. We take the ideas we ve inherited and put them together into some new shape. What is a true creator? Is a creator a genius who makes something out of nothing? No. Creators are simply humans who use what they inherit who absorb the past and manipulate it to create possible futures. Thus, humans are creators as a rule rather than as an exception.
题目
Q16: What question does the speaker address in this talk?
Q17: What does the speaker believe about innovation?
Q18: How does the human brain work according to the speaker?
Lecture 2
音频原文
[inaudible] tell you that their dog somehow knows when they re ill or upset, and, according to researchers who study dog cognition, those pet owners are right. Dogs do know when their human companions are having a rough time. Not only can your dog sense when you have a cold, but domestic dogs have shown an aptitude for detecting both much smaller mood fluctuations and far more serious physical conditions.
This is because dogs are extremely sensitive to changes in the people they re familiar with, and illness causes change. If a person is infected with a virus or bacteria, for example, their odour will be abnormal, and dogs are able to smell that change even if a human can t, because dogs have a much more powerful sense of smell than humans.
Researchers have also found that a person s mood, which can be an indicator of a larger illness, triggers a dog s sense of smell. Human emotions manifest physically in chemical signals that are emitted by the body, and dogs are able to smell those as well. Beyond smell, dogs gather information from a person s voice in order to sense changes.
In 2014, Researchers discovered that dogs have an area of the brain similar to one in humans that allows them to understand emotional cues in the tone of a speaker s voice, beyond what they d be able to pick up from familiar words alone. A person s voice can also carry indicators of illness. What s not understood quite so well is what dogs understand about these changes.
Humans send out lots of cues, but whether dogs know some of these cues mean illness isn t clear. What we perceive as concern on a dog s part might be more like increased curiosity or suspicion that something is wrong with us, and sticking close by is a great way to gather more information about the situation.
Some researchers assert dogs will one day help doctors diagnose diseases. As some dogs have already demonstrated the ability to detect an assortment of ailments, including diabetes and certain types of cancer. But those researchers concede that s probably in the distant future. For now, research suggests dog ownership can have an array of benefits in and of itself.
Keeping a pet dog has been shown to bolster health and boost mood. Dogs also help people relax, and they can be a particular comfort to those with chronic diseases.
题目
Q19: What view of many dog owners wins support from researchers studying dog cognition?
Q20: Why can dogs detect their owner s abnormal odor, according to the speaker?
Q21: What does research suggest, for now, about dog ownership?
Lecture 3
音频原文
Earlier this month, the think tank called Onward published a report A Question of Degree, which argues that degrees in the creative arts are not good value for money. Ministers, according to Onward, should crack down on courses that offer extremely limited value for money to students ten years after graduation, restricting the ability of such courses to recruit new students, if the average graduate earns below the student loans payment threshold.
Courses like science, technology, engineering, and math, and economics, where the average graduate earns a lot, should be favored.
The report provides insight into a government review which looks at how to reform technical education and how to ensure students get good value for money.
At first glance, it might even seem like Onward have a point. According to their data, the majority of creative arts students earn less than 25,000 pounds a year, ten years after graduation.
The average male creative arts students, indeed, apparently earn much less than they would had they simply never gone to university.
This isn t really good for anyone, and it s certainly no good for graduates, who are forced to endure a lifestyle where they can never save up, never buy a house, never hope to retire. Onward have identified a real problem. Creative arts graduates from top universities like Oxford, with a high proportion of privately educated students, have fairly good work prospects.
Well, 40 percent of all graduates, regardless of their degree, are on less than 25,000 pounds a year, 5 years after graduation.
This suggests that the problem isn t really to do with specific students studying specific degrees, but really with the economy as a whole. Regardless of what they ve studied, young people find it hard to get ahead, unless they re lucky enough to be born with successful parents.
If ministers want to make education pay for young people, they need to look beyond the higher education sector, towards the wider world. The rewards that education gives us are not measurable. They are not always instantly obvious, and certainly not always direct. An education makes you a different person from the one you would have been if you hadn t received it. We need to look at the value of education, not in the context of a bank balance, but of a life. If we continue to allow ourselves to be distracted with talk of value for money, we will all be made poorer as a result.
题目
Q22: What does Onward s report propose ministers should do?
Q23: What does the speaker think of Onward s arguments?
Q24: What do we learn about British college graduates five years after graduation?
Q25: What does the speaker say actually accounts for the problem identified by Onward?
第二套
Section A
Conversation 1
音频原文
W: So, I ve been thinking, this summer, instead of our usual holiday rental, I d [1] like to try renting a camper van and exploring a bit more.
M: A camper van? You mean to spend the summer living out of a car?
W: Yes, a camper van. And no, it s nothing like living out of a car. These are proper vans with full size beds to sleep in. Some even have kitchens. This way, we wouldn t have to be locked into one place during our holiday. We d be able to visit so many more places and travel at our own pace. The rates of most hotels and holiday homes really soar in the summer anyway. We d probably save a lot of money as well.
M: [2] I think my grandfather had a van like that. It doesn t sound that appealing to me.
W: Today s camper vans are completely different. These days, they re equipped with all the modern comforts. I ve seen quite a few with solar panels that provide electricity for when you re stopped. This way, [3] you can still use your computer or charge your phone. And most even have Wi-Fi, so if the weather s not great, you could stream videos.
M: I m warming up to the idea. Keep talking.
W: Loads of people are committing to this trend full time. Check it out online. Lots of people stream videos of their alternative lifestyles and actually earn a salary. [4] Imagine having that kind of freedom to go anywhere you want and work from anywhere in the world.
M: Okay, we can consider it. As long as the basic needs like toilet and showers are covered, I m definitely in. Do you think there will be enough room for my mountain bike? What about food delivery? Will we be able to order to the van? Will there be enough space for the dog? We wouldn t want to leave him behind.
W: Slow down. Glad you re excited about it. Let s start by looking at what s available first.
题目
Q1: What has the woman been thinking of doing for this summer?
Q2: What do we learn about the man s grandfather from the conversation?
Q3: What can many camper vans do nowadays according to the woman?
Q4: What idea does the woman find attractive?
Conversation 2
音频原文
W: You wanted to see me?
M: Yes, I ll get straight to the point. [5] Over the past month or so, it has become apparent that your performance has dipped. You ve been late to work several times these past few weeks, which is very uncharacteristic of you. But what really concerns me is your curtailed output.
Lately, you seem to be constantly one step behind. What s going on?
W: I m sorry, [6] I m going through some unfortunate family issues at the moment. It s a personal matter, so if you don t mind, I much prefer we don t get into it. Nevertheless, I expect it to have all blown over in another month or so.
M: Do you need some time off?
W: Actually, yes. Would it be possible to take the next two Mondays off? I was deliberating whether I should ask for this, but now that we re here.
M: Sure thing. But if you needed some leave, why didn t you ask for it earlier?
W: I m not sure why. I guess I kind of felt bad asking for it.
M: You shouldn t feel bad asking for leave, especially if you need it.
W: I know. You re right. I m sorry.
M: You ve been with us almost five years, [7] and I personally really value your proficiency at your job. It makes my job far easier. In addition, I can assure you that management as a whole also holds you in high regard.
W: Thank you.
M: [8] What I need is for you to be back at your 100%. Are you sure taking two Mondays off will suffice?
W: It ll be enough. I m sure of it.
M: Okay, good. So this is what we re going to do. You will take those days off, and I expect that you will gradually come back to your usual self. Then, in two months time, we will catch up again to see how you are faring.
W: Sounds good. Thank you for your understanding.
题目
Q5: What do we learn about the woman from the man s description?
Q6: What does the woman say she s experiencing at the moment?
Q7: What does the man say makes his job far easier?
Q8: What agreement have the speakers reached by the end of the conversation?
Section B
Passage 1
音频原文
There are many factors that impact our health. These include our finances, our emotions, and the way we work. Education is one such factor. [9] Research suggests that higher levels of education can lead to better health and even greater longevity. But what about the education of your partner? New research seeks to answer this question. Researchers use data from a longitudinal study. The data came from surveys first administered to high school seniors in 1957. The surveys ended in 2011. The team found that a person whose spouse had a higher level of education tended to report better health. This remained the case when adjusting for other factors, such as participants own education, social background, and health status before and after marriage. The authors suggest that high levels of education provide shared social, intellectual, emotional, and financial resources. These include things like higher levels of emotional intelligence, particular skills or knowledge, or more money. [10] The researchers concede that an individual s own level of education is clearly important for their health, but they assert that individuals also can reap the benefits of their partner s education. It is noteworthy that the effects varied by gender. For women, health was more closely correlated to their spouse s education than for men. The team suggests this may be related to the time period of the study. [11] Women in this sample had lower levels of education and lower occupational achievements than the men. The researcher s hypothesis is that this made the husband s resources more likely to have a shared impact.
题目
Q9: What does research suggest about a higher level of education?
Q10: What do we learn from the finding of the new research?
Q11: What does the passage say about the men in the sample of the new research?
Passage 2
音频原文
Climate scientists predict that many parts of the world will be increasingly prone to floods. [12] This is a serious risk to human lives and property, so understanding and accurately forecasting flood risks is a key challenge for vulnerable cities around the globe. In 2017, Derek Roloftis of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science started a project called Catch the King.
It uses a smartphone app. to collect the data of ordinary citizens during high tides. [13] He ll use those data to validate and improve his mathematical flooding model called Tide Watch. Loftus mission is to know where the water goes before it goes there. But collecting necessary data and then processing that information quickly enough to make usable forecasts is anything but easy.
Accurate flood forecasts require an understanding of the situation on the ground. By the early 2000s, supercomputing had advanced enough that scientists could integrate weather forecasting models with such measurements. [14] But they still didn t have the critically important ability to forecast fast moving floods in real time.
[15] So, in 2017, Loftis and colleagues set up a group of 28 internet connected water level sensors throughout the flood risk community of Norfolk, Virginia. The new sensors relay rough measurements about water height and movement to a computer at the Virginia Institute. Along with those sensors, hundreds of local citizens take photos of rising tides and transmit them real time to the Institute.
Scientists hope that the data collected by these citizens can help sharpen the ability to forecast exactly when and where damaging floods will occur.
题目
Q12: What is said to be a key challenge for cities prone to floods?
Q13: For what purpose does Derek Loftus collect the data of ordinary citizens during high tides?
Q14: What does the passage say is Derek Loftus mission?
Q15: What did Loftus and his colleagues do to obtain data about water height and movement?
Section C
Lecture 1
音频原文
[16] Now, it s become something of a ritual to debate the value of a college degree, but as current population survey data show, there has been a sharp decline in employment among men without college degrees compared with those who have them. This decline began in the 1960s and has become more serious over time.
What has actually caused this decline? Well, economists have been working to ascertain the roots of the decline for decades and have come up with several theories. One popular theory is that it s a case of too low wages for jobs that don t require a degree. An alternate theory is that there were more jobs not requiring a college degree in the past than now.
A recent working paper from the Natio Bureau of Economic Research reviewed those theories and put forward additional hypotheses about the causes of the problem. Let s look at that paper now. [17] First, the researchers considered the issue of wages. As the wage gap has grown between those with college degrees and those without, economists have suggested that men aren t as interested in taking some of the less lucrative jobs. While the authors of the paper found truth in this explanation, they assert that low wages can t be the only factor, as wages for men without college degrees, adjusting for inflation, haven t changed much since the 1960s, making it hard to see why fewer men seem willing to accept those wages.
This leads to the second theory, that more jobs require a college degree today than in the past. Indeed, that theory seems valid, because in America today, 2/3 of jobs are filled by workers with at least some college education. However, the authors of the paper argue that there are other factors amplifying the problem. They identified two new potential explanations. [18] The first being the tremendous decline in marriage among men without college degrees since the 1960s.
And the second, being the increase in women participating in the workforce that was concurrent with the decline in marriage. These two changes mean that men might not have families to support, or if they do, their wives might be doing more of the providing, both of which might remove the financial incentive to work. The authors of the paper concede that research on the subject isn t complete, but they argue that their work supports the value of a college education.
题目
Q16: What does the speaker say has become something of a ritual?
Q17: What did the researchers of a recent working paper consider first?
Q18: What did the recent paper identify as a new potential explanation of the problem concerning men s employment?
Lecture 2
音频原文
While an increasing number of people are trying to eat less meat, a market research team has found in its latest fashion and sustainability report that the trend is now spreading from kitchen to closet.[19] It found animal welfare came top of a list of issues that people considered before buying clothes, with 42% saying it was important to them. The researchers of the team predicted that the next year would see a boom in animal free shoe collections, since they heard shoppers of all ages say they would buy footwear designated as vegan, meaning the goods were produced without using any animal or animal part. As well as being on trend, and with a much better ring to it than synthetic leather, the vegan label does convey an important extra distinction. If you label something as vegan, then the whole product needs to be animal free. That means checking things like the glue that holds the shoe together, for example, and the chemicals used for finishing them. [20] At the top end, some of the world renowned fashion designers have avoided leather and fur for some fact, some of the companies are now exploring a leather substitute and a silk replacement made from mushrooms. The Animal Free Product Society says they ve seen a boom in products registered with the vegan trademark. In 2018, there were 119. So far this year, it says, an unprecedented 1, 956 have been registered. New products are being added daily. There are fur coats that are vegan. Plastic vegan belts and shoes made from tree bark or natural rubber labelled vegan. These new products aren t coming at an extra cost to consumers though. Vegan boots cost the same as the leather originals. New Look, one of the first reputable store chains to use the vegan trademark, prices ballet shoes at and the vegan laptop handbag at , comparable with its other products. This signifies a change. In the past, ethical products, whether they were fair trade or organic, came at a premium. [21] However, it is unclear whether these new products can be considered ethical. The debate over durability, crop growing impacts, pollution and recyclability is a complicated one. Not to mention the ethics around the working conditions for people making the products, whatever the component materials. Environmental campaigners advise that the best approach is to buy less, never mind what the item is made of.
题目
Q19: What has a market research team found in its latest fashion and sustainability report?
Q20: What have some world renowned fashion designers done for some time?
Q21: What does the speaker say is unclear concerning vegan products?
Lecture 3
音频原文
By the end of 2016, anyone who had been paying even passing attention to the news headlines was highly likely to conclude that everything was terrible, and that the world was going to hell.
It was easy to feel depressed by the wars in different parts of the world, the spread of deadly viruses, or terror attacks. Yet, 2016 was the best year in the history of humanity. Child mortality was roughly half what it was as recently as 1990. And 300,000 more people gained access to electricity each single measure of material and environmental welfare in America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the world as a whole has improved rather than deteriorated.
[22] We are living in history s most peaceful era, with violence of all kinds in steep decline. Those are the facts. So why aren t we all optimists?
In a 2015 survey for YouGov, 65% of British people and 81 % of the French [23] said they thought the world was getting worse. However, according to numerous sensible statistics, these people are simply wrong. Nobody in their right mind should wish to have lived in a previous century. Yet people do. Why?
Our prevailing mood of despair is irrational. It says more about us than it does about how things really are. [24] It is best explained as the result of various psychological biases that served a purpose for our evolutionary ancestors.
But now, in a media saturated era, constantly mislead us. Once upon a time, it was of great survival value to be worried about everything that could go wrong. This is what makes bad news especially compelling. In our evolutionary past,[25] it was a very good thing that our attention could be easily seized by negative information, since it might well indicate a dangerous risk to our own survival.
The caveman who always assumed there was a lion behind the next rock would usually be wrong, but he d be much more likely to survive and reproduce than one who always assumed the opposite. But that was all before newspapers, television and the internet. In today s hyper connected times, our addiction to bad news just leads us to vacuum up depressing or enraging stories from across the globe. Whether these news stories threaten us or not, we conclude that things are much worse than they actually are. Really good news, on the other hand, can be a lot harder to spot in a newspaper because predictable daily events by definition aren t news.
题目
Q22: What is one of the facts stated by the speaker?
Q23: What do we learn about most British and French people in a 2015 survey for YouGov?
Q24: What does our prevailing mood of despair indicate?
Q25: What was a very good thing in our evolutionary past?
答案
1. A ) Spending their holidays in a novel way.
2. D ) He once owned a van.
3. A) Generate their own electricity.
4. C ) Enjoying the freedom to choose where to go and work.
5. C ) Her job performance has worsened over the past month.
6. B ) Some problems at home.
7. B ) The woman s work proficiency.
8. C ) The woman will be off work on the next two Mondays.
9. D ) It can enable us to live a healthier and longer life.
10. B) The spouse s level of education can impact one s health.
11. A) They had more education than their spouses.
12. C) Forecasting flood risks accurately.
13. D) To improve his mathematical flooding model.
14. A) To forecast rapid floods in real time.
15. B) They set up Internet-connected water-level sensors.
16. B) To argue about the value of a college degree.
17. D) The factor of wages.
18. A) The sharp decline in marriage among men with no college degrees.
19. C) More and more people prioritize animal welfare when buying things to wear.
20. D) Avoided the use of leather and fur.
21. A) Whether they can be regarded as ethical.
22. D) The era we live in is the most peaceful in history.
23. C) They believed the world was deteriorating.
24. B) Our psychological biases.
25. A) Paying attention to negative information.
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