2008年12月全国大学英语六级考试真题

Dictions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled How To Improve Student's Mental Health?. You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below.
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……

How to Improve Student's Mental Health?

Supersize Surprise

Ask anyone why there is an obesity epidemic and they will tell you that it's all down to eating too much and burning too few calories. That explanation appeals to common sense and has dominated efforts to get to the root of the obesity epidemic and reverse it. Yet obesity researchers are increasingly dissatisfied with it. Many now believe that something else must have changed in our environment to precipitate (促成) such dramatic rises in obesity over the past 40 years or so. Nobody is saying that the "big two" —reduced physical activity and increased availability of food—are not important contributors to the epidemic, but they cannot explain it all.

Earlier this year a review paper by 20 obesity experts set out the 7 most plausible alternative explanations for the epidemic. Here they are.

1. Not enough sleep

It is widely believed that sleep is for the brain, not the body. Could a shortage of shut-eye also be helping to make us fat?

Getting your own children to play nice is difficult enough. Dealing with other people's children has become a minefield.

Several large-scale studies suggest there may be a link. People who sleep less than 7 hours a night tend to have a higher body mass index than people who sleep more, according to data gathered by the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Similarly, the US Nurses' Health Study, which tracked 68,000 women for 16 years, found that those who slept an average of 5 hours a night gained more weight during the study period than women who slept 6 hours, who in turn gained more than those who slept 7.

It's well known that obesity impairs sleep, so perhaps people get fat first and sleep less afterwards. But the nurses' study suggests that it can work in the other direction too: sleep loss may precipitate weight gain.

Although getting figures is difficult, it appears that we really are sleeping less. In 1960 people in the US slept an average of 8.5 hours per night. A 2002 poll by the National Sleep Foundation suggests that the average has fallen to under 7 hours, and the decline is mirrored by the increase in obesity.

2. Climate control

We humans, like all warm-blooded animals, can keep our core body temperatures pretty much constant regardless of what's going on in the world around us. We do this by altering our metabolic (新陈代谢的) rate, shivering or sweating. Keeping warm and staying cool take energy unless we are in the "thermo-neutral zone", which is increasingly where we choose to live and work.

There is no denying that ambient temperatures (环境温度) have changed in the past few decades. Between 1970 and 2000, the average British home warmed from a chilly 13C to 18C. In the US, the changes have been at the other end of the thermometer as the proportion of homes with air conditioning rose from 23% to 47% between 1978 and 1997. In the southern states—where obesity rates tend to be highest—the number of houses with air conditioning has shot up to 71% from 37% in 1978."

Could air conditioning in summer and heating in winter really make a difference to our weight? Sadly, there is some evidence that it does——at least with regard to heating. Studies show that in comfortable temperatures we use less energy.

3. Less smoking

Bad news: smokers really do tend to be thinner than the rest of us, and quitting really does pack on the pounds, though no one is sure why. It probably has something to do with the fact that nicotine is an appetite suppressant and appears to up your metabolic rate.

Katherine Flegal and colleagues at the US National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, have calculated that people kicking the habit have been responsible for a small but significant portion of the US epidemic of fatness. From data collected around 1991 by the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, they worked out that people who had quit in the previous decade were much more likely to be overweight than smokers and people who had never smoked. Among men, for example, nearly half of quitters were overweight compared with 37% of non-smokers and only 28% of smokers.

4. Genetic effects

Your chances of becoming fat may be set, at least in part, before you were even born. Children of obese mothers are much more likely to become obese themselves later in life. Offspring of mice fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy are much more likely to become fat than the offspring of identical mice fed a normal diet. Intriguingly, the effect persists for two or three generations. Grand-children of mice fed a high-fat diet grow up fat even if their own mother is fed normally——so your fate may have been sealed even before you were conceived.

5. A little older…

Some groups of people just happen to be fatter than others. Surveys carried out by the US National Center for Health Statistics found that adults aged 40 to 79 were around three times as likely to be obese as younger people. Non-white females also tend to fall at the fatter end of the spectrum: Mexican-American women are 30% more likely than white women to be obsess, and black women have twice the risk.

In the US, these groups account for an increasing percentage of the population. Between 1970 and 2000 the US population aged 35 to 44 grew by 43%. The proportion of Hispanic-Americans also grew, from under 5% to 12.5% of the population, while the proportion of black Americans increased from 11% to12.3%. These changes may account in part for the increased prevalence of obesity.

6. Mature mums

Mothers around the world are getting older. In the UK, the mean age for having a first child is 27.3, compared with 23.7 in 1970. Mean age at first birth in the US has also increased, rising from 21.4 in 1970 to 24.9 in 2000.

This would be neither here nor there if it weren't for the observation that having an older mother seems to be an independent risk factor for obesity. Results from the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's study found that the odds of a child being obese increase 14% for every five extra years of their mother's age, though why this should be so is not entirely clear.

Michael Symonds at the University of Nottingham, UK, found that first-born children have more fat than younger ones. As family size decreases, firstborns account for a greater share of the population. In 1964, British women gave birth to an average of 2.95 children; by 2005 that figure had fallen to 1.79. In the US in 1976, 9.6% of women in their 40s had had only one child; in 2004 it was 17.4%. This combination of older mothers and more single children could be contributing to the obesity epidemic.

7. Like marrying like

Just as people pair off according to looks, so they do for size. Lean people are more likely to marry lean and fat more likely to marry fat. On its own, like marrying like cannot account for any increase in obesity. But combined with others—particularly the fact that obesity is partly genetic, and that heavier people have more children—it amplifies the increase from other causes.

1. What is the passage mainly about?
[A] Effects of obesity on people's health.
[B] The link between lifestyle and obesity.
[C] New explanations for the obesity epidemic.
[D] Possible ways to combat the obesity epidemic.

2. In the US Nurses' Health Study, women who slept an average of 7 hours a night _______.
[A] gained the least weight
[B] were inclined to eat less
[C] found their vigor enhanced
[D] were less susceptible to illness

3. The popular belief about obesity is that _______.
[A] it makes us sleepy
[B] it causes sleep loss
[C] it increases our appetite
[D] it results from lack of sleep

4. How does indoor heating affect our life?
[A] It makes us stay indoors more.
[B] It accelerates our metabolic rate.
[C] It makes us feel more energetic.
[D] It contributes to our weight gain.

5. What does the author say about the effect of nicotine on smokers?
[A] It threatens their health.
[B] It heightens their spirits.
[C] It suppresses their appetite.
[D] It slows down their metabolism.

6. Who are most likely to be overweight according to Katherine Flegal's study?
[A] Heavy smokers.
[B] Passive smokers.
[C] Those who never smoke.
[D] Those who quit smoking.

7. According to the US National Center for Health Statistics, the increased obesity in the US is a result of _______.
[A] the growing number of smokers among young people
[B] the rising proportion of minorities in its population
[C] the increasing consumption of high-calorie foods
[D] the improving living standards of the poor people

8. According to the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the reason why older mothers' children tend to be obese remains .

9. According to Michael Symonds, one factor of contributing to the obesity epidemic is decrease of .

10. When two heavy people get married, chances of their children getting fat increase, because obesity is .

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.

11.
[A] He is quite easy to recognize.
[B] He is an outstanding speaker.
[C] He looks like a movie star.
[D] He looks young for his age.

12.
[A] Consult her dancing teacher.
[B] Take a more interesting class.
[C] Continue her dancing class.
[D] Improve her dancing skills.

13.
[A] The man did not believe what the woman said.
[B] The man accompanied the woman to the hospital.
[C] The woman may be suffering from repetitive strain injury.
[D] The woman may not have followed the doctor's instructions.

14.
[A] They are not in style any more.
[B] They have cost him far too much.
[C] They no longer suit his eyesight.
[D] They should be cleaned regularly.

15.
[A] He spilled his drink onto the floor.
[B] He has just finished wiping the floor.
[C] He was caught in a shower on his way home.
[D] He rushed out of the bath to answer the phone.

16.
[A] Fixing some furniture.
[B] Repairing the toy train.
[C] Reading the instructions.
[D] Assembling the bookcase.

17.
[A] Urge Jenny to spend more time on study.
[B] Help Jenny to prepare for the coming exams.
[C] Act towards Jenny in a more sensible way.
[D] Send Jenny to a volleyball training center.

18.
[A] The building of the dam needs a large budget.
[B] The proposed site is near the residential area.
[C] The local people feel insecure about the dam.
[D] The dam poses a threat to the local environment.

Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

19.
[A] It saw the end of its booming years worldwide.
[B] Its production and sales reached record levels.
[C] It became popular in some foreign countries.
[D] Its domestic market started to shrink rapidly.

20.
[A] They cost less.
[B] They tasted better.
[C] They were in fashion.
[D] They were widely advertised.

21.
[A] It is sure to fluctuate.
[B] It is bound to revive.
[C] It will remain basically stable.
[D] It will see no more monopoly.

Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.

22.
[A] Organising protests.
[B] Recruiting members.
[C] Acting as its spokesman.
[D] Saving endangered animals.

23.
[A] Anti-animal-abuse demonstrations.
[B] Surveying the Atlantic Ocean floor.
[C] Anti-nuclear campaigns.
[D] Removing industrial waste.

24.
[A] By harassing them.
[B] By appealing to the public.
[C] By taking legal action.
[D] By resorting to force.

25.
[A] Doubtful.
[B] Reserved.
[C] Indifferent.
[D] Supportive.

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 centre.

Passage One
Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.

26.
[A] The air becomes still.
[B] The air pressure is low.
[C] The clouds block the sun.
[D] The sky appears brighter.

27.
[A] Ancient people were better at foretelling the weather.
[B] Sailors' sayings about the weather are unreliable.
[C] People knew long ago how to predict the weather.
[D] It was easier to forecast the weather in the old days.

28.
[A] Weather forecast is getting more accurate today.
[B] People can predict the weather by their senses.
[C] Who are the real experts in weather forecast.
[D] Weather changes affect people's life remarkably.

Passage Two
Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.

29.
[A] They often feel insecure about their jobs.
[B] They are unable to decide what to do first.
[C] They are incompetent to fulfill their responsibilities.
[D] They feel burdened with numerous tasks every day.

30.
[A] Analyze them rationally.
[B] Draw a detailed to-do list.
[C] Turn to others for help.
[D] Handle them one by one.

31.
[A] They have accomplished little.
[B] They feel utterly exhausted.
[C] They have worked out a way to relax.
[D] They no longer feel any sense of guilt.

Passage Three
Questions 32 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard.

32.
[A] Their performance may improve.
[B] Their immune system may be reinforced.
[C] Their blood pressure may rise all of a sudden.
[D] Their physical development may be enhanced.

33.
[A] Improved mental functioning.
[B] Increased susceptibility to disease.
[C] Speeding up of blood circulation.
[D] Reduction of stress-related hormones.

34.
[A] Pretend to be in better shape.
[B] Have more physical exercise.
[C] Turn more often to friends for help.
[D] Pay more attention to bodily sensations.

35.
[A] Different approaches to coping with stress.
[B] Various causes for serious health problems.
[C] The relationship between stress and illness.
[D] New finding of medical research on stress.

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.

One of the most common images of an advanced, Western-style culture is that of a busy, traffic-filled city. Since their first (36) on American roadways, automobiles have become a (37) of progress, a source of thousands of jobs and an almost inalienable right for citizens' personal freedom of movement. In recent (38), our "love affair" with the car is being (39) directly to the developing world, and it is increasingly (40) that this transfer is leading to disaster.

American's almost complete dependence on automobiles has been a terrible mistake. As late as the 1950s, a large (41) of the American public used mass transit. A (42) of public policy decisions and corporate scheming saw to it that countless (43) and efficient urban streetcar and intra-city rail systems were dismantled (排除). (44). Our lives have been planned along a road grid—homes far from work, shopping far from everything, with ugly stretches of concrete and blacktop in between.

Developing countries are copying Western-style transportation systems down to the last detail. (45). Pollution control measures are either not strict or nonexistent, leading to choking clouds of smog. Gasoline still contains lead, which is extremely poisonous to humans. (46).

In addition to pollution and traffic jams, auto safety is a critical issue in developing nations.

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 the statements in the fewest possible words. Please write your answers on Answer sheet 2.

Questions 47 to 51 are based on the following passage.

One of the major producers of athletic footwear, with 2002 sales of over $10 billion, is a company called Nike, with corporate headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Forbes magazine identified Nike's president, Philip Knight, as the 53rd-richest man in the world in 2004. But Nike has not always been a large multimillion-dollar organization. In fact, Knight started the company by selling shoes from the back of his car at track meets.

In 1964, Knight and Bowerman contributed $500 each to form Blue Ribbon Sports, the predecessor of Nike. In the first few years, Knight distributed shoes out of his car at local track meets. The first employees hired by Knight were former college athletes. The company did not have the money to hire "experts", and there was no established athletic footwear industry in North America from which to recruit those knowledgeable in the field. In its early years the organization operated in an unconventional manner that characterized its innovative and entrepreneurial approach to the industry. Communication was informal; people discussed ideas and issues in the hallways, on a run, or over a beer. There was little task differentiation. There were no job descriptions, rigid reporting systems, or detailed rules and regulations. The team spirit and shared values of the athletes on Bowerman's teams carried over and provided the basis for the collegial style of management that characterized the early years of Nikes.

47. While serving as a track coach, Bowerman tried to design running shoes that were .

48. During his visit to Japan, Knight convinced the officials of the Onitsuka Tiger Company that its product would have
.

49. Blue Ribbon Sports was unable to hire experts due to the absence of in North America.

50. In the early years of Nike, communication within the company was usually carried out .

51. What qualities of Bowerman's teams formed the basis of Nike's early management style?
.

Section B
Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D]. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

Passage One
Questions 52 to 56 are based on the following passage.

Sustainable development is applied to just about everything from energy to clean water and economic growth, and as a result it has become difficult to question either the basic assumptions behind it or the way the concept is put to use. This is especially true in agriculture, where sustainable development is often taken as the sole measure of progress without a proper appreciation of historical and cultural perspectives.

To start with, it is important to remember that the nature of agriculture has changed markedly throughout history, and will continue to do so. Medieval agriculture in northern Europe fed, clothed and sheltered a predominantly rural society with a much lower population density than it is today. It had minimal effect on biodiversity, and any pollution it caused was typically localised. In terms of energy use and the nutrients (营养成分) captured in the product it was relatively inefficient.

Contrast this with farming since the start of the industrial revolution. Competition from overseas led farmers to specialise and increase yields. Throughout this period food became cheaper, safer and more reliable. However, these changes have also led to habitat (栖息地) loss and to diminishing biodiversity.

What's more, demand for animal products in developing countries is growing so fast that meeting it will require an extra 300 million tons of grain a year by 2050. Yet the growth of cities and industry is reducing the amount of water available for agriculture in many regions.

All this means that agriculture in the 21st century will have to be very different from how it was in the 20th. This will require radical thinking. For example, we need to move away from the idea that traditional practices are inevitably more sustainable than new ones. We also need to abandon the notion that agriculture can be "zero impact". The key will be to abandon the rather simple and static measures of sustainability, which centre on the need to maintain production without increasing damage.

Instead we need a more dynamic interpretation, one that looks at the pros and cons (正反两方面) of all the various ways land is used. There are many different ways to measure agricultural performance besides food yield: energy use, environmental costs, water purity, carbon footprint and biodiversity. It is clear, for example, that the carbon of transporting tomatoes from Spain to the UK is less than that of producing them in the UK with additional heating and lighting. But we do not know whether lower carbon footprints will always be better for biodiversity.

What is crucial is recognizing that sustainable agriculture is not just about sustainable food production.

52. How do people often measure progress in agriculture?
[A] Different approaches to coping with stress.
[B] Various causes for serious health problems.
[C] The relationship between stress and illness.
[D] New finding of medical research on stress.

53. Specialisation and the effort to increase yields have resulted in ________.
[A] localised pollution
[B] the shrinking of farmland
[C] competition from overseas
[D] the decrease of biodiversity

54. What does the author think of traditional farming practices?
[A] They have remained the same over the centuries.
[B] They have not kept pace with population growth.
[C] They are not necessarily sustainable.
[D] They are environmentally friendly.

55. Specialisation and the effort to increase yields have resulted in ________.
[A] It will go through radical changes.
[B] It will supply more animal products.
[C] It will abandon traditional farming practices.
[D] It will cause zero damage to the environment.

56. What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?
[A] To remind people of the need of sustainable development.
[B] To suggest ways of ensuring sustainable food production.
[C] To advance new criteria for measuring farming progress.
[D] To urge people to rethink what sustainable agriculture is.

Passage Two
Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.

The percentage of immigrants (including those unlawfully present) in the United States has been creeping upward for years. At 12.6 percent, it is now higher than at any point since the mid-1920s.

We are not about to go back to the days when Congress openly worried about inferior races polluting America's bloodstream. But once again we are wondering whether we have too many of the wrong sort newcomers. Their loudest critics argue that the new wave of immigrants cannot, and indeed do not want to, fit in as previous generations did.

We now know that these racist views were wrong. In time, Italians, Romanians and members of other so-called inferior races became exemplary Americans and contributed greatly, in ways too numerous to detail, to the building of this magnificent nation. There is no reason why these new immigrants should not have the same success.

Although children of Mexican immigrants do better, in terms of educational and professional attainment, than their parents UCLA sociologist Edward Telles has found that the gains don't continue. Indeed, the fourth generation is marginally worse off than the third. James Jackson, of the University of Michigan, has found a similar trend among black Caribbean immigrants, Tells fears that Mexican-Americans may be fated to follow in the footsteps of American blacks—that large parts of the community may become mired (陷入) in a seemingly permanent state of poverty and underachievement. Like African-Americans, Mexican-Americans are increasingly relegated to (降入) segregated, substandard schools, and their dropout rate is the highest for any ethnic group in the country.

We have learned much about the foolish idea of excluding people on the presumption of the ethnic/racial inferiority. But what we have not yet learned is how to make the process of Americanization work for all. I am not talking about requiring people to learn English or to adopt American ways; those things happen pretty much on their own. But as arguments about immigration hear up the campaign trail, we also ought to ask some broader questions about assimilation, about how to ensure that people, once outsiders, don't forever remain marginalized within these shores.

That is a much larger question than what should happen with undocumented workers, or how best to secure the border, and it is one that affects not only newcomers but groups that have been here for generations. It will have more impact on our future than where we decide to set the admissions bar for the latest ware of would-be Americans. And it would be nice if we finally got the answer right.

57. How were immigrants viewed by U.S. Congress in early days?
[A] They were of inferior races.
[B] They were a source of political corruption.
[C] They were a threat to the nation's security.
[D] They were part of the nation's bloodstream.

58. What does the author think of the new immigrants?
[A] They will be a dynamic workforce in the U.S.
[B] They can do just as well as their predecessors.
[C] They will be very disappointed on the new land.
[D] They may find it hard to fit into the mainstream.

59. What does Edward Telles' research say about Mexican-Americans?
[A] They may slowly improve from generation to generation.
[B] They will do better in terms of educational attainment.
[C] They will melt into the African-American community.
[D] They may forever remain poor and underachieving.

60. What should be done to help the new immigrants?
[A] Rid them of their inferiority complex.
[B] Urge them to adopt American customs.
[C] Prevent them from being marginalized.
[D] Teach them standard American English.

61. According to the author, the burning issue concerning immigration is_______.
[A] how to deal with people entering the U.S. without documents
[B] how to help immigrants to better fit into American society
[C] how to stop illegal immigrants from crossing the border
[D] how to limit the number of immigrants to enter the U.S.

Individuals and businesses have legal protection for intellectual property they create and own. Intellectual property   62   from creative thinking and may include products,   63  , processes, and ideas. Intellectual property is protected   64   misappropriation (盗用). Misappropriation is taking the intellectual property of others without   65   compensation and using it for monetary gain.

Patents provide exclusive use of inventions. If the US Patent Office   67   a patent, it is confirming that the intellectual property is   68  . The patent prevents others from making, using, or selling the invention without the owner's   69   for a period of 20 years.

Copyrights are similar to patents   70   that they are applied to artistic works. A copyright protects the creator of an   72   artistic or intellectual work, such as a song or a novel. A copyright gives the owner exclusive rights to copy,   72   display, or perform the work. The copyright prevents others from using and selling the work. The   73   of a copyright is typically the lifetime of the author   74   an additional 70 years.

"Storytelling hurts retailers and entertains consumers," said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group." The store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement."

Trademarks are words, names, or symbols that identify the manufacturer of a product and   75   it from similar goods of others. A servicemark is similar to a trademark   76   is used to identify services. A trademark prevents others from using the   77   or a similar word, name, or symbol to take advantage of the recognition and   78   of the brand or to create confusion in the marketplace.   79   registration, a trademark is usually granted for a period of ten years. It can be   80   for additional ten-year periods indefinitely as   81   as the mark's use continues.

62.	[A] retrieves	[B] deviates	[C] results	[D] departs
63.	[A] services	[B] reserves	[C] assumptions	[D] motions
64.	[A] for	[B] with	[C] by	[D] from
65.	[A] sound	[B] partial	[C] due	[D] random
66.	[A] users	[B] owners	[C] masters	[D] executives
67.	[A] affords	[B] affiliates	[C] funds	[D] grants
68.	[A] solemn	[B] sober	[C] unique	[D] universal
69.	[A] perspective	[B] permission	[C] conformity	[D] consensus
70.	[A] except	[B] besides	[C] beyond	[D] despite
71.	[A] absolute	[B] alternative	[C] original	[D] orthodox
72.	[A] presume	[B] stimulate	[C] nominate	[D] distribute
73.	[A] range	[B] length	[C] scale	[D] extent
74.	[A] plus	[B] versus	[C] via	[D] until
75.	[A] distract	[B] differ	[C] distinguish	[D] disconnect
76.	[A] or	[B] but	[C] so	[D] whereas
77.	[A] identical	[B] analogical	[C] literal	[D] parallel
78.	[A] ambiguity	[B] utility	[C] popularity	[D] proximity
79.	[A] From	[B] Over	[C] Before	[D] Upon
80.	[A] recurred	[B] renewed	[C] recalled	[D] recovered
81.	[A] long	[B] soon	[C] far	[D] well

Directions: Complete the sentences on Answer Sheet 2 by translating into English the Chinese given in brackets.

82. He designed the first suspension bridge, which (把美观与功能完美地结合起来).

83. It was very dark, but Mary seemed to (本能地知道该走哪条路).

84. I don't think it advisable that parents (剥夺孩子们的自由) to spend their spare time as they wish.

85. Older adults who have a high level of daily activities have more energy and (与不那么活跃的人相比死亡率要低).

86. Your resume should attract a would-be boss's attention by demonstrating (为什么你是某个特定职位的最佳人选).