2017年6月英语六级阅读真题及答案第1套选词填空

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2017年6月英语六级阅读真题及答案第1套选词填空

After becoming president of Purdue University in2013, Mitch Daniels asked the faculty to prove that their students have actually achieved

one of higher education’s most important goals: critical thinking skills. Two years before, a nationwide study of college graduates had shown

that more than a third had made no 26 gains in such mental abilities

all, the during their school years. Mr. Daniels needed to__27__ the high cost of attending Purdue to its students and their families. After

percentage of Americans who say a college degree is "very important" has fallen 28 in the last 5-6 years.

Purdue now has a pilot test to assess students' critical thinking skills. Yet like many college

teachers around the U.S., the faculty remain __29__ that their work as educators can be

showed that professors

measured by "learning

can

30 _

use

" such as a graduate's ability to investigate and reason. However, the professors need not worry so much. The results of a recent experiment

__31__ metrics to measure how well students do in three key areas: critical thinking, written communication, and quantitative literacy.

Despite the success of the experiment, the actual results are worrisome, and mostly __32__ earlier studies. The organizers of the experiment

concluded that far fewer students were achieving high levels on critical thinking than they were doing for written communication or

quantitative literacy. And that conclusion is based only on students nearing graduation.

American universities, despite their global 33__ for excellence in teaching, have only

begun to demonstrate what they can produce in real-world learning. Knowledge-based degrees are still important, but employers are

still important, but employers are __34__ advanced thinking skills from college graduates. If the intellectual worth of a college degree can

be __35__ measured, more people will seek higher education—and come out better thinkers.

A. accurately B. confirm C. demanding D. doubtful E. drastically F. justify

G. monopolized H. outcome I. predominance J. presuming K. reputation L. significant

M. signify N. simultaneously O. standardized

答案：(26)L. significant

(27)F. justify

(28)E. drastically

(29)D. doubtful

(30)H. outcome

(31)O. standardized

(32)B. confirm

(33)K. reputation

(34)C. demanding

(35)A. accurately

2017年6月英语六级阅读真题及答案第1套仔细阅读2篇

Open data sharers are still in the minority in many fields. Although many researchers broadly

agree that public access to raw data would accelerate science, most are reluctant to post the results of their own labors online.

Some communities have agreed to share online—geneticists, for example, post DNA sequence

sat the GenBank repository (

on, not the rule. Historically, scientists have

库) , and astronomers are accustomed to accessing images of

galaxies and stars from, say, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, a telescope that has observed some500 million objects—but these remain the excepti

objected to sharing for many reasons: it is a lot of work; until recently, good databases did not

exist; grant funders were not pushing for sharing; it has been difficult to agree on standards

for formatting data; and there is no agreed way to assign credit for data.

But the barriers are disappearing, in part because journals and funding agencies worldwide are

encouraging scientists to make their data public. Last year, the Royal Society in London said in

its report that scientists need to "shift away from a research culture where data is viewed as a

private preserve". Funding agencies note that data paid for with public money should be public

information, and the scientific community is recognizing that data can now be shared digitally

in ways that were not possible before. To match the growing demand, services are springing up

to make it easier to publish research products online and enable other researchers to discover and cite them.

Although calls to share data often concentrate on the moral advantages of sharing, the

ns. The

practice is not purely altruistic (利他

的). Researchers who share get plenty of personal benefits, including more connections with colleagues, improved visibility and increased citatio

most successful sharers—those whose data are downloaded and cited the most often---get

noticed, and their work gets used. For example, one of the most popular data sets on

multidisciplinary repository Dryad is about wood density around the world; it has been

downloaded 5,700 times. Co-author Amy Zanne thinks that users probably range from climate-change researchers wanting to estimate how muc

h carbon is stored in biomass, to foresters looking for information on different grades of timber. "I'd much prefer to have my data used by

"It's important to allow the maximum number of people to ask their own questions," she says.

Even people whose data are less popular can benefit. By making the effort to organize and

label files so others can understand them, scientists become more organized and better disciplined themselves, thus avoiding confusion later on.

46. What do many researchers generally accept?

A. It is imperative to protect scientists' patents.

B. Repositories are essential to scientific research.

C. Open data sharing is most important to medical science.

D. Open data sharing is conducive to scientific advancement.

47. What is the attitude of most researchers towards making their own data public?

A. Opposed.

B. Ambiguous.

C. Liberal.

D. Neutral.

48. According to the passage, what might hinder open data sharing?

A. The fear of massive copying.

B. The lack of a research culture.

C. The belief that research data is private intellectual property.

D. The concern that certain agencies may make a profit out of it.

49. What helps lift some of the barriers to open data sharing?

A. The ever-growing demand for big data.

B. The advancement of digital technology.

C. The changing attitude of journals and funders.

D. The trend of social and economic development.

50. Dryad serves as an example to show how open data sharing ________.

A. is becoming increasingly popular

B. benefits sharers and users alike

C. makes researchers successful

D. saves both money and labor

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

Macy's reported its sales plunged 5.2% in November and December at stores open more than a year, a disappointing holiday season

performance that capped a difficult year for a department store chain facing wide-ranging challenges. Its flagship stores in major U.S. cities

depend heavily on international tourist spending, which shrank at many retailers due to a strong dollar. Meanwhile, Macy's has simply struggled

to lure consumers who are more interested in spending on travel or dining out than on new clothes or accessories.

The company blamed much of the poor performance in November and December on unseasonably warm weather. "About 80% of our

company's year-over-year declines in comparable sales can be attributed to shortfalls (短缺) in cold-weather goods," said chief executive Teny

Lundgren in a press release. This prompted the company to cut its forecasts for the full fourth quarter.

However, it's clear that Macy's believes its troubles run deeper than a temporary aberration (偏离) off the thermometer. The retail giant said

the poor financial performance this year has pushed it to begin implementing $400 million in cost-cutting measures. The company pledged to cut

600 back-office positions, though some 150 workers in those roles would be reassigned to other jobs. It also plans to offer "voluntary separation"

packages to 165 senior executives. It will slash staffing at its fleet of 770 stores, a move affecting some 3,000 employees.

readers and reviewers to see exactly how you arrive at your results. Publishing data and code allows your science to be reproducible."

The retailer also announced the locations of 36 stores it will close in early 2016. The company had previously announced the planned

closures, but had not said which locations would be affected. None of the chain's stores in the Washington metropolitan area are to be closed.

Macy's has been moving aggressively to try to remake itself for a new era of shopping. It has plans to open more locations of Macy's

Backstage, a newly-developed off-price concept which might help it better compete with ambitious T. J. Maxx. It's also pushing ahead in 2016

with an expansion of Bluemercury, the beauty chain it bought last year. At a time when young beauty shoppers are often turning to Sephora or

Ulta instead of department store beauty counters, Macy's hopes Bluemercury will help strengthen its position in the category.

One relative bright spot for Macy's during the holiday season was the online channel, where it rang up "double-digit" increases in sales and

a 25% increase in the number of orders it filled. That relative strength would be consistent with what was seen in the wilder retail industry

during the early part of the holiday season. While Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday all saw record spending online, in-store sales

plunged over the holiday weekend.

51. What does the author say about the shrinking spending of international tourists in the U.S.?

A. It is attributable to the rising value of the U.S. dollar.

B. It is a direct result of the global economic recession.

C. It reflects a shift of their interest in consumer goods.

D. It poses a potential threat to the retail business in the U.S.

52. What does Macy's believe about its problems?

A. They can be solved with better management.

B. They cannot be attributed to weather only.

C. They are not as serious in its online stores.

D. They call for increased investments.

53. In order to cut costs, Macy's decided to ________.

A. cut the salary of senior executives

B. relocate some of its chain stores

C. adjust its promotion strategies

D. reduce the size of its staff

54. Why does Macy's plan to expand Bluemercury in 2016?

A. To experiment on its new business concept.

B. To focus more on beauty products than clothing.

C. To promote sales of its products by lowering prices.

D. To be more competitive in sales of beauty products.

55. What can we learn about Macy's during the holiday season?

A. Sales dropped sharply in its physical stores.

B. Its retail sales exceeded those of T. J. Maxx.

C. It helped Bluemercury establish its position worldwide.

D. It filled its stores with abundant supply of merchandise.

Passage one

46.D

47.A

48.C

49.C

50.B

Passage two

51.A

52.B

53.D

54.D

55.A

2017年6月英语六级阅读真题及答案第2套选词填空

Half of your brain stays alert and prepared for danger when you sleep in a new place, a study has revealed. This phenomenon is often

__26__ to as the "first-night-effect". Researchers from Brown University found that a network in the left hemisphere of the brain "remained

more active" than the network in the right side of the brain. Playing sounds into the right ears (stimulating the left hemisphere) of __27__ was

more likely to wake them up than if the noises were played into their left ear.

It was __28__ observed that the left side of the brain was more active during deep sleep. When the researchers repeated the laboratory

experiment on the second and third nights they found the left hemisphere could not be stimulated in the same way during deep sleep. The

researchers explained that the study demonstrated when we are in a __29__ environment the brain partly remains alert so that humans can

defend themselves against any __30__ danger.

The researchers believe this is the first time that the "first-night-effect" of different brain states has been __31__ in humans. It isn't,

however, the first time it has ever been seen. Some animal __32__ also display this phenomenon. For example, dolphins, as well as other __33__

animals, shut down one hemisphere of the brain when they go to sleep. A previous study noted that dolphins always __34__ control their

breathing. Without keeping the brain active while sleeping, they would probably drown. But, as the human study suggest, another reason for

dolphins keeping their eyes open during sleep is that they can look out for __35__ while asleep. It also keeps their physiological processes

working.

A. Classified B. consciously C. dramatically D. exotic E. identified F. inherent G. marine H.

novel

I. potential J. predators K. referred L. species M. specifically N. varieties O. volunteers

答案 (26)K. referred

(27)O. volunteers

(28)M. specifically

(29)H. novel

(30)I. potential

(31)E. identified

(32)L. species

(33)G. marine

(34)B. consciously

(35)J. predators

2017年6月英语六级阅读真题及答案第2套仔细阅读2篇

Passage One Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

We live today indebted to McCardell, Cashin, Hawes, Wilkins, and Maxwell, and other women who liberated American fashion from the

confines of Parisian design. Independence came in tying, wrapping, storing, harmonizing, and rationalizing that wardrobe. These designers

established the modem dress code, letting playsuits and other active wear outfits suffice for casual clothing, allowing pants to enter the wardrobe,

and prizing rationalism and versatility in dress, in contradiction to dressing for an occasion or allotment of the day. Fashion in America was

logical and answerable to the will of the women who wore it. Implicitly or explicitly, American fashion addressed a democracy, whereas

traditional Paris-based fashion was prescriptive and imposed on women, willing or not.

In an earlier time, American fashion had also followed the dictates of Paris, or even copied and pirated specific French designs. Designer

sportswear was not modeled on that of Europe, as "modem art" would later be; it was genuinely invented and developed in America. Its

designers were not high-end with supplementary lines. The design objective and the business commitment were to sportswear, and the

distinctive traits were problem-solving ingenuity and realistic lifestyle applications. Ease of care was most important: summer dresses and outfits,

in particular, were chiefly cotton, readily capable of being washed and pressed at home. Closings were simple, practical, and accessible, as the

modem woman depended on no personal maid to dress her. American designers prized resourcefulness and the freedom of women who wore the

clothing.

Many have argued that the women designers of this time were able to project their own clothing values into a new style. Of course, much of

this argument in the 1930s-40s was advanced because there was little or no experience in justifying apparel (服装) on the basis of utility. If Paris

was cast aside, the tradition of beauty was also to some degree slighted. Designer sportswear would have to be verified by a standard other than

that of pure beauty; the emulation of a designer's life in designer sportswear was a crude version of this relationship. The consumer was

ultimately to be mentioned as well, especially by the likes of Dorothy Shaver, who could point to the sales figures at Lord & Taylor.

Could utility alone justify the new ideas of the American designers? Fashion is often regarded as a pursuit of beauty, and some cherished

fashion's trivial relationship to the fine arts. What the designers of the American sportswear proved was that fashion is a genuine design art,

answering to the demanding needs of service. Of course these practical, insightful designers have determined the course of late twentieth-century

fashion. They were the pioneers of gender equity, in their useful, adaptable clothing, which was both made for the masses and capable of

self-expression.

46. What contribution did the women designers make to American fashion?

A. They made some improvements on the traditional Parisian design. B. They formulated a dress code with distinctive American features.

C. They came up with a brand new set of design procedures. D. They made originality a top priority in their fashion design.

47. What do we learn about American designer sportswear?

A. It imitated the European model. B. It laid emphasis on women's beauty.

C. It represented genuine American art. D. It was a completely new invention.

48. What characterized American designer sportswear?

A. Pursuit of beauty. B. Decorative closings. C. Ease of care. D. Fabric quality.

49. What occurred in the design of women's apparel in America during the 1930s-40s?

A. A shift of emphasis from beauty to utility. B. The emulation of traditional Parisian design.

C. A search for balance between tradition and novelty. D. The involvement of more women in fashion design.

50. What do we learn about designers of American sportswear?

A. They catered to the taste of the younger generation. B. They radically changed people's concept of beauty.

C. They advocated equity between men and women. D. They became rivals of their Parisian counterparts.

Passage Two Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

Massive rubbish dumps and sprawling landfills

that humans have on wildlife. They have led some birds to give up on migration. Instead off

lying thousands of miles in search of food, they make the waste sites their winter feeding grounds.

Researchers in Germany used miniature GPS tags to track the migrations of 70 white storks(鹳) from different sites across Europe and Asi

a during the first five months of their lives. While many birds travelled along well-known routes to warmer climates, others stopped short and

spent the winter on landfills, feeding on food waste, and the multitudes of insects that thrive on the dumps.

In the short-term, the birds seem to benefit from overwintering (

冬

routes were more likely to die than German storks that flew only as far as northern Morocco, and spent the winter there on rubbish dumps.

"For the birds it's a very convenient way to get food. There are huge clusters of organic waste they can feed on," said Flack. The meals are

not particularly appetising, or even safe. Much of the waste is discarded rotten meat, mixed in

with other human debris such as plastic bags and old toys.

"It's very risky. The birds can easily eat pieces of plastic or rubber bands and they can die," said Flack.

"And we don't know about the long-term consequences. They might eat something toxic and damage their health. We cannot estimate that yet."

The scientists tracked white storks from different colonies in Europe and Africa. The Russian, Greek and Polish storks flew as far as South

Africa, while those from Spain, Tunisia and Germany flew only as far as the Sahel.

Landfill sites on the Iberian peninsula have long attracted local white storks, but all of the

Spanish birds tagged in the study flew across the Sahara desert to the western Sahel. Writing in

the journal, the scientists describe how the storks from Germany were clearly affected by the

presence of waste sites, with four out of six birds that survived for at least five months

wintering on rubbish dumps in northern Morocco, instead of migrating to the Sahel.

over

过

constitute one of the more uncomfortable impacts

) on rubbish dumps. Andrea Flack of the Max Planck Institute found that birds following traditional migration

Flack said it was too early to know whether the benefits of plentiful food outweighed the risks

of feeding on landfills. But that's not the only uncertainty. Migrating birds affect eco

both at home and at their winter destinations, and disrupting the traditional routes could have

unexpected side effects. White storks feed on locusts (

"They provide a useful service," said Flack.

51. What is the impact of rubbish dumps on wildlife?

A. They have forced white storks to search for safer winter shelters. B. They have seriously polluted the places where birds spend winter.

C. They have accelerated the reproduction of some harmful insects. D. They have changed the previous migration habits of certain birds.

52. What do we learn about birds following the traditional migration routes?

A. They can multiply at an accelerating rate. B. They can better pull through the winter.

C. They help humans kill harmful insects. D. They are more likely to be at risk of dying.

53. What does Andrea Flack say about the birds overwintering on rubbish dumps?

A. They may end up staying there permanently. B. They may eat something harmful.

C. They may evolve new feeding habits. D. They may have trouble getting adequate food.

54. What can be inferred about the Spanish birds tagged in the study?

A. They gradually lose the habit of migrating in winter.

B. They prefer rubbish dumps far away to those at home.

C. They are not attracted to the rubbish dumps on their migration routes.

D. They join the storks from Germany on rubbish dumps in Morocco.

55. What is scientists' other concern about white storks feeding on landfills?

A. The potential harm to the ecosystem. B. The genetic change in the stork species.

C. The spread of epidemics to their homeland. D. The damaging effect on bio-diversity.

Passage one

46.B

47.D

48.C

49.A

50.C

Passage two

51.D

52.D

53.B

54.C

55.A

2017年6月英语六级阅读真题及答案第3套选词填空

Let's all stop judging people who talk to themselves. New research says that those who can't seem to

白) in are actually more likely to stay on task, remain __26__ better

bad, really, for some extra muttering.

According to a series of experiments published in the

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology by professors Gary Lupyan and Daniel Swignley, the act of using verbal clues to __27__ mental

pictures helps people function quicker.

In one experiment, they showed pictures of various objects to twenty __28__ and asked them

to find just one of those, a banana. Half were __29__ to repeat out loud what they were looking

for and the other half kept their lips __30__. Those who talked to themselves found the bananas

lightly faster than those who didn't, the researchers say. In other experiments, Lupyan and

keep their inner monologues (独

蝗虫) and other insects that can become pests if their numbers get out of hand.

systems

and show improved perception capabilities. Not

Swignley found that __31__ the name of a common product when on the hunt for it helped

quicken someone's pace, but talking about uncommon items showed no advantage and slowed you down.

Common research has long held that talking themselves through a task helps children learn, although doing so when you've __32__ matured

is not a great sign of __33__. The two professors hope to refute that idea, __34__ that just as when kids walk themselves through a

process, adults can benefit from using language not just to communicate, but also to help"augment thinking".

Of course, you are still encouraged to keep the talking at library tones and, whatever you do, keep the information you share simple, like a g

rocery list. At any __35__, there's still such a thing as too much information.

A. apparently B. arrogance C. brilliance D. claiming E. dedicated F. focused G. incur H. instructed

I. obscurely J. sealed K. spectators L. trigger M. uttering N. volume O. volunteers

(26)F. focused

(27)L. trigger

(28)O. volunteers

(29)H. instructed

(30)J. sealed

(31)M. uttering

(32)A. apparently

(33)C. brilliance

(34)D. claiming

(35)N. volume

2017年6月英语六级阅读真题及答案第3套仔细阅读2篇

Passage One Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

Tennessee's technical and community colleges will not outsource (外包) management of their facilities to a private company, a decision one

leader said was bolstered by an analysis of spending at each campus.

In an email sent Monday to college presidents in the Tennessee Board of Regents system, outgoing Chancellor John Morgan said an

internal analysis showed that each campus' spending on facilities management fell well below the industry standards identified by the state.

Morgan said those findings—which included data from the system's 13 community colleges, 27 technical colleges and six universities—were

part of the decision not to move forward with Governor Bill Haslam's proposal to privatize management of state buildings in an effort to save

money.

"While these numbers are still being validated by the state, we feel any adjustments they might suggest will be immaterial," Morgan wrote

to the presidents. "System institutions are operating very efficiently based on this analysis, raising the question of the value of pursuing a broad

scale outsourcing initiative."

Worker's advocates have criticized Haslam's plan, saying it would mean some campus workers would lose their jobs or benefits. Haslam

has said colleges would be free to opt in or out of the out souring plan, which has not been finalized.

Morgan notified the Haslam administration of his decision to opt out in a letter sent last week. That letter, which includes several concerns

Morgan has with the plan, was originally obtained by The Commercial Appeal in Memphis.

In an email statement from the state's Office of Customer Focused Government, which is examining the possibility of outsourcing,

spokeswoman Michelle R. Martin said officials were still working to analyze the data from the Board of Regents. Data on management expenses

at the college system and in other state departments will be part of a "business justification" the state will use as officials deliberate the specifics

of an outsourcing plan.

"The state's facilities management project team is still in the process of developing its business justification and expects to have that

completed and available to the public at the end of February," Martin said. "At this time there is nothing to take action on since the analysis has

yet to be completed."

Morgan's comments on outsourcing mark the second time this month that he has come out against one of Haslam's plans for higher

education in Tennessee. Morgan said last week that he would retire at the end of January because of the governor's proposal to split off six

universities of the Board of Regents system and create separate governing boards for each of them. In his resignation letter, Morgan called the

reorganization "unworkable".

46. What do we learn about the decision of technical and community colleges in Tennessee?

A. It is backed by a campus spending analysis. B. It has been flatly rejected by the governor.

C. It has neglected their faculty's demands. D. It will improve their financial situation.

47. What does the campus spending analysis reveal?

A. Private companies play a big role in campus management. B. Facilities management by colleges is more cost-effective.

C. Facilities management has greatly improved in recent years. D. Colleges exercise foil control over their own financial affairs.

48. Workers' supporters argue that Bill Haslam's proposal would _________.

A. deprive colleges of the right to manage their facilities B. make workers less motivated in performing duties

C. render a number of campus workers jobless D. lead to the privatization of campus facilities

49. What do we learn from the state spokeswoman's response to John Morgan's decision?

A. The outsourcing plan is not yet finalized. B. The outsourcing plan will be implemented.

C. The state officials are confident about the outsourcing plan. D. The college spending analysis justifies the outsourcing plan.

50. Why did John Morgan decide to resign?

A. He had lost confidence in the Tennessee state government.

B. He disagreed with the governor on higher education policies.

C. He thought the state's outsourcing proposal was simply unworkable.

D. He opposed the governor's plan to reconstruct the college board system.

Passage Two Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

Beginning in the late sixteenth century, it became fashionable for young aristocrats to visit Paris, Venice, Florence, and above all, Rome, as

the culmination (终极) of their classical education. Thus was born the idea of the Grand Tour, a practice which introduced Englishmen, Germans,

Scandinavians, and also Americans to the art and culture of France and Italy for the next 300 years. Travel was arduous and costly throughout

the period, possible only for a privileged class—the same that produced gentlemen scientists, authors, antique experts, and patrons of the arts.

The Grand Tourist was typically a young man with a thorough grounding in Greek and Latin literature as well as some leisure time, some

means, and some interest in art. The German traveler Johann Winckelmann pioneered the field of art history with his comprehensive study of

Greek and Roman sculpture; he was portrayed by his friend Anton Raphael Mengs at the beginning of his long residence in Rome. Most Grand

Tourists, however, stayed for briefer periods and set out with less scholarly intentions, accompanied by a teacher or guardian, and expected to

return home with souvenirs of their travels as well as an understanding of art and architecture formed by exposure to great masterpieces.

London was a frequent starting point for Grand Tourists, and Paris a compulsory destination; many traveled to the Netherlands, some to

Switzerland and Germany, and a very few adventurers to Spain, Greece, or Turkey. The essential place to visit, however, was Italy. The British

traveler Charles Thompson spoke for many Grand Tourists when in 1744 he described himself as "being impatiently desirous of viewing a

country so famous in history, a country which once gave laws to the world, and which is at present the greatest school of music and painting,

contains the noblest productions of sculpture and architecture, and is filled with cabinets of rarities, and collections of all kinds of historical

relics". Within Italy, the great focus was Rome, whose ancient ruins and more recent achievements were shown to every Grand Tourist. Panini's

Ancient Rome and Modem Rome represent the sights most prized, including celebrated Greco-Roman statues and views of famous ruins,

fountains, and churches. Since there were few museums anywhere in Europe before the close of the eighteenth century, Grand Tourists often

saw paintings and sculptures by gaining admission to private collections, and many were eager to acquire examples of Greco-Roman and Italian

art for their own collections. In England, where architecture was increasingly seen as an aristocratic pursuit, noblemen often applied what they

learned from the villas of Palladio in the Veneto and the evocative (唤起回忆的) ruins of Rome to their own country houses and gardens.

51. What is said about the Grand Tour?

A. It was fashionable among young people of the time. B. It was unaffordable for ordinary people.

C. It produced some famous European artists. D. It made a compulsory part of college education.

52. What did Grand Tourists have in common?

A. They had much geographic knowledge. B. They were courageous and venturesome.

C. They were versed in literature and interested in art. D. They had enough travel and outdoor-life experience.

53. How did Grand Tourists benefit from their travel?

A. They found inspiration in the world's greatest masterpieces. B. They got a better understanding of early human civilization.

C. They developed an interest in the origin of modem art forms. D. They gained some knowledge of classical art and architecture.

54. Why did many Grand Tourists visit the private collections?

A. They could buy unique souvenirs there to take back home. B. Europe hardly had any museums before the 19th century.

C. They found the antiques there more valuable. D. Private collections were of greater variety.

55. How did the Grand Tour influence the architecture in England?

A. There appeared more and more Roman-style buildings. B. Many aristocrats began to move into Roman-style villas.

C. Aristocrats' country houses all had Roman-style gardens. D. Italian architects were hired to design houses and gardens.

Passage one

46.A

47.B

48.C

49.A

50.D

Passage two

51.B

52.C

53.D

54.B

55.A

2017年12月英语六级阅读真题及答案第1套选词填空

In the past 12 months, Nigeria has suffered from a shrinking economy, a sliding currency, and a prolonged fuel shortage. Now, Africa's

largest economy in facing a food crisis as major tomato fields have been destroyed by an insect, leading to a nationwide shortage and escalating

prices.

The insect, Tutaabsoluta, has destroyed 80% of farms in Kaduna, Nigeria's largest tomato-producing state, leading the government there to

declare a state of __26__. The insect, also known as the tomato leaf miner, devastates crops by __27__ on fruits and digging into and moving

through stalks. It __28__incredibly quickly, breeding up to 12 generations per year if conditions are favorable. It is believed to have __29__ in

South America in the early 1900s, and later spread to Europe before crossing over to sub-Saharan Africa.

In Nigeria, where tomatoes are a staple of local diets, the insect's effects are devastating. Retail prices for a __30__ of tomatoes at local

markets have risen from $0.50 to $2.50. Farmers are reporting steep losses and a new $20 million tomato-paste factory has __31__ production

due to the shortages.

Given the moth's ability also to attack crops like pepper and potatoes, Audu Ogbeh, Nigeria's minister of agriculture, has warned that the

pest may "create serious problems for food __32__" in the country. Ogbeh says experts are investigating how to control the pest's damage and

prevent its spread, which has gone largely __33__ until now.

Despite being the continent's second-largest producer of tomatoes, Nigeria is __34__ on $1 billion worth of tomato-paste imports every

year, as around 75% of the local harvest goes to waste thanks to a lack of proper storage facilities. A further __35__ in local supplies is yet

another unwelcome setback to the industry.

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2017年12月英语六级阅读真题及答案第1套仔细阅读2篇

Passage One Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

You may have heard that Coca-Cola once contained an ingredient capable of sparking particular devotion in consumers: cocaine. The

"Coca" in the name referred to the extracts of coca leaf that the drink's originator, chemist John Pemberton, mixed with his sugary syrup (浆汁).

At the time, coca leaf extract mixed with wine was a common tonic (滋补品), and Pemberton's sweet brew was a way to get around local laws

prohibiting the sale of alcohol. But the other half of the name presents another ingredient, less infamous (名声不好的), perhaps, but also

strangely potent: the kola nut.

In West Africa, people have long chewed kola nuts as stimulants, because they contain caffeine that also occurs naturally in tea, coffee, and

chocolate. They also have heart stimulants.

Historian Paul Love joy relates that the cultivation of kola nuts in West Africa is hundreds of years old. The leafy, spreading trees were

planted on graves and as part of traditional rituals. Even though the nuts, which need to stay moist, can be somewhat delicate to transport, traders

carried them hundreds of miles throughout the forests and grasslands.

Europeans did not know of them until the 1500s, when Portuguese ships arrived on the coast of what is now Sierra Leone. And while the

Portuguese took part in the trade, ferrying nuts down the coast along with other goods, by 1620, when English explorer Richard Jobson made his

way up the Gambia, the nuts were still peculiar to his eyes.

By the late 19th century, kola nuts were being shipped by the tonne to Europe and the US. Many made their way into medicines, intended

as a kind of energy boost. One such popular medicinal drink was Vin Mariani, a French product consisting of coca extract mixed with red wine.

It was created by a French chemist, Angelo Mariani, in 1863. So when Pemberton created his drink, it represented an ongoing trend. When

cocaine eventually fell from grace as a beverage ingredient, kola-extract colas became popular.

The first year it was available, Coca-Cola averaged nine servings a day across all the Atlanta soda fountains where it was sold. As it grew

more popular, the company sold rights to bottle the soda, so it could travel easily. Today about 1.9 billion Cokes are purchased daily. It's become

so iconic that attempts to change its taste in 1985—sweetening it in a move projected to boost sales—proved disastrous, with widespread anger

from consumers. "Coca-Cola Classic" returned to store shelves just three months after the "New Coke" was released.

These days, the Coca-Cola recipe is a closely guarded secret. But it's said to no longer contain kola nut extract, relying instead on artificial

imitations to achieve the flavour.

46. What do we learn about chemist John Pemberton?

A) He used a strangely potent ingredient in a food supplement. B) He created a drink containing alcohol without breaking law.

C) He became notorious because of the coca drink he developed. D) He risked breaking local law to make a drink with coca leaves.

47. What does the passage say about kola nuts?

A) Their commercial value was first discovered by Portuguese settlers.

B) They contain some kind of energy boost not found in any other food.

C) Many were shipped to Europe in the late 19th century for medicinal use.

D) They were strange to the Europeans when first imported from West Africa.

48. How come kola-extract colas became popular?

A) Cocaine had become notorious. B) Alcoholic drinks were prohibited.

C) Fountains were set up to sell them. D) Rights were sold to bottle the soda.

49. What is known about the taste of Coca-Cola?

A) It was so designed as to create addiction in consumers. B) It still relies on traditional kola nut extract.

C) It has become more popular among the old. D) It has remained virtually unchanged since its creation.

50. What is the passage mainly about?

A) The evolution of Coca-Cola. B) The success story of Coca-Cola.

C) The medicinal value of Coca-Cola. D) The business strategy of Coca-Cola.

Passage Two Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

Twenty years ago, the Urban Land Institute defined the two types of cities that dominated the US landscape: smaller cities that operated

around standard 9-5 business hours and large metropolitan areas that ran all 24 hours of the day. Analyzing and comparing cities using the lens

of this basic divide gives interesting context to how investment capital flows and housing prices have shifted.

In recent years, many mid-sized cities have begun to adopt a middle-of-the-road approach incorporating the excitement and opportunity of

large cities with small cities' quiet after midnight. These 18-hour cities are beginning to make waves in real estate rankings and attract more real

estate investment. What is underlying this new movement in real estate, and why do these cities have so much appeal?

18-hour cities combine the best of 24-hour and 9-5 cities, which contributes to downtown revitalization. For decades, many downtown

cores in small to mid-sized cities were abandoned after work hours by workers who lived in the suburbs. Movement out of city centers was

widespread, and downtown tenants were predominantly made up of the working poor. This generated little commerce for downtown businesses

in the evenings, which made business and generating tax revenue for municipal upkeep difficult. With the rise of a new concept in urban

planning that aims to make life easier and more convenient, however, increasing popularity for urban areas that cased the real estate pushes, in

major cities like San Francisco or New York, has inspired a type of forward thinking urbanity and in smaller cities.

Transforming downtown areas so that they incorporate modern housing and improved walkability to local restaurants, retail, and

entertainment—especially when combined with improved infrastructure for cyclists and public transit—makes them appeal to a more affluent

demographic. These adjustments encourage employers in the knowledge and talent industries to keep their offices downtown. Access to foot

traffic and proximity to transit allow the type of entertainment-oriented businesses such as bars and restaurants to stay open later, which attracts

both younger, creative workers and baby boomers nearing retirement alike. Because of their smaller size, most keep hours that allow people to

enjoy themselves, then have some quiet after midnight, as opposed to large major cities like New York, where the buzz of activity is ongoing.

These 18-hour cities are rapidly on the rise and offer great opportunities for homeowner investment. In many of these cities such as Denver, a

diverse and vigorous economy attracted to the urban core has offered stable employment for residents. The right urban mix has propped up home

occupancy, increased property values, and attracted significant investment capital.

51. What do we learn about American cities twenty years ago?

A) They were divided into residential and business areas. B) Their housing prices were linked with their prosperity.

C) There was a clear divide between large and small cities. D) They were places where large investment capital flowed.

52. What can be inferred from the passage about 18-hour cities?

A) They especially appeal to small businesses. B) They have seen a rise in property prices.

C) They have replaced quiet with excitement. D) They have changed America's landscape.

53. Years ago, many downtown cores in small to mid-sized cities .

A) had hardly any business activity B) were crowded in business hours

C) exhibited no signs of prosperity D) looked deserted in the evenings

54. What characterizes the new downtown areas in 18-hour cities?

A) A sudden emergence of the knowledge industry. B) Flooding in of large crowds of migrant workers.

C) Modernized housing and improved infrastructure. D) More comfortable life and greater upward mobility.

55. What have 18-hour cities brought to the local residents?

A) More chances for promotion. B) Healthier living environment.

C) Greater cultural diversity. D) Better job opportunities.

Passage one

46.D

47.C

48.A

49.D

50.A

Passage two

51.C

52.B

53.D

54.C

55.D

2017年12月英语六级阅读真题及答案第2套选词填空

The Pacific island nation of Palau has become home to the sixth largest marine sanctuary in the world. The new marine reserve, now the largest

in the Pacific, will __26__ no fishing or mining. Palau also established the world's first shark sanctuary in 2009.

The tiny island nation has set aside 500,000 square kilometres—80 percent—of its maritime __27__ , for full protection. That's the highest

percentage of an __28__ economic zone devoted to marine conservation by any country in the world. The remaining 20 percent of the Palau seas

will be reserved for local fishing by individuals and small-scale __29__ fishing businesses with limited exports.

"Island __30__ have been among the hardest hit by the threats facing the ocean," said President Tommy Remengesau Jr. in a statement.

"Creating this sanctuary is a bold move that the people of Palau recognise as __31__ to our survival. We want to lead the way in restoring the

health of the ocean for future generations."

Palau has only been an __32__ nation for twenty years and has a strong history of environmental protection. It is home to one of the world's

finest marine ecosystems, with more than 1,300 species of fish and 700 species of coral.

Senator Hokkons Baules, lead __33__ of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary Act, said the sanctuary will "help build a __34__ future for the

Palauan people by honoring the conservation traditions of our past". These include the centuries-old custom of "bul", where leaders would call a

temporary stop to fishing for key species in order to give fish __35__ an opportunity to replenish (补充).

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2017年12月英语六级阅读真题及答案第2套仔细阅读2篇

Passage One Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

In the beginning of the movie I, Robot, a robot has to decide whom to save after two cars plunge into the water—Del Spooner or a child.

Even though Spooner screams "Save her! Save her!" the robot rescues him because it calculates that he has a 45 percent chance of survival

compared to Sarah's 11 percent. The robot's decision and its calculated approach raise an important question: would humans make the same

choice? And which choice would we want our robotic counterparts to make?

Isaac Asimov evaded the whole notion of morality in devising his three laws of robotics, which hold that 1. Robots cannot harm humans or

allow humans to come to harm; 2. Robots must obey humans, except where the order would conflict with law 1; and 3. Robots must act in

self-preservation, unless doing so conflicts with laws 1 or 2. These laws are programmed into Asimov's robots—they don't have to think, judge,

or value. They don't have to like humans or believe that hurting them is wrong or bad. They simply don't do it.

The robot who rescues Spooner's life in I, Robot follows Asimov's zeroth law: robots cannot harm humanity (as opposed to individual

humans) or allow humanity to come to harm—an expansion of the first law that allows robots to determine what's in the greater good. Under the

first law, a robot could not harm a dangerous gunman, but under the zeroth law, a robot could kill the gunman to save others.

Whether it's possible to program a robot with safeguards such as Asimov's laws is debatable. A word such as "harm" is vague (what about

emotional harm? Is replacing a human employee harm?), and abstract concepts present coding problems. The robots in Asimov's fiction expose

complications and loopholes in the three laws, and even when the laws work, robots still have to assess situations.

Assessing situations can be complicated. A robot has to identify the players, conditions, and possible outcomes for various scenarios. It's

doubtful that a computer program can do that—at least, not without some undesirable results. A roboticist at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory

programmed a robot to save human proxies (替身) called "H-bots" from danger. When one H-bot headed for danger, the robot successfully

pushed it out of the way. But when two H-bots became imperiled, the robot chocked 42 percent of the time, unable to decide which to save and

letting them both "die." The experiment highlights the importance of morality: without it, how can a robot decide whom to save or what's best

for humanity, especially if it can't calculate survival odds?

46. What question does the example in the movie raise?

A) Whether robots can reach better decisions. B) Whether robots follow Asimov's zeroth law.

C) How robots may make bad judgments. D) How robots should be programmed.

47. What does the author think of Asimov's three laws of robotics?

A) They are apparently divorced from reality. B) They did not follow the coding system of robotics.

C) They laid a solid foundation for robotics. D) They did not take moral issues into consideration.

48. What does the author say about Asimov's robots?

A) They know what is good or bad for human beings. B) They are programmed not to hurt human beings.

C) They perform duties in their owners' best interest. D) They stop working when a moral issue is involved.

49. What does the author want to say by mentioning the word "harm" in Asimov's laws?

A) Abstract concepts are hard to program. B) It is hard for robots to make decisions.

C) Robots may do harm in certain situations. D) Asimov's laws use too many vague terms.

50. What has the roboticist at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory found in his experiment?

A) Robots can be made as intelligent as human beings some day. B) Robots can have moral issues encoded into their programs.

C) Robots can have trouble making decisions in complex scenarios. D) Robots can be programmed to perceive potential perils.

Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

Our world now moves so fast that we seldom stop to see just how far we have come in just a few years. The latest iPhone 6s, for example,

has a dual-core processor and fits nicely into your pocket. By comparison, you would expect to find a technological specification like this on

your standard laptop in an office anywhere in the world.

It's no wonder that new applications for the Internet of Things are moving ahead fast when almost every new device we buy has a plug on the

end of it or a wireless connection to the internet. Soon, our current smartphone lifestyle will expand to create our own smart home lifestyle too.

All researches agree that close to 25 billion devices, things and sensors will be connected by 2020 which incidentally is also the moment

that Millennials (千禧一代) are expected to make up 75 percent of our overall workforce, and the fully connected home will become a reality for

large numbers of people worldwide.

However, this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg as smart buildings and even cities increasingly become the norm as leaders and

business owners begin to wake up to the massive savings that technology can deliver through connected sensors and new forms of automation

coupled with intelligent energy and facilities management.

Online security cameras, intelligent lighting and a wealth of sensors that control both temperature and air quality are offering an

unprecedented level of control, efficiency, and improvements to what were once classed necessary costs when running a business or managing a

large building.

We can expect that the ever-growing list of devices, systems and environments remain connected, always online and talking to each other.

The big benefit will not only be in the housing of this enormous and rapidly growing amount of data, but will also be in the ability to run real

time data analytics to extract actionable and ongoing knowledge.

The biggest and most exciting challenge of this technology is how to creatively leverage this ever-growing amount of data to deliver cost

savings, improvements and tangible benefits to both businesses and citizens of these smart cities.

The good news is that most of this technology is already invented. Let's face it, it wasn't too long ago that the idea of working from

anywhere and at anytime was some form of a distant Utopian (乌托邦式的) dream, and yet now we can perform almost any office-based task

from any location in the world as long as we have access to the internet.

It's time to wake up to the fact that making smart buildings, cities and homes will dramatically improve our quality of life in the years ahead.

51. What does the example of iPhone 6s serve to show?

A) The huge capacity of the smartphones people now use. B) The widespread use of smartphones all over the world.

C) The huge impact of new technology on people's everyday life. D) The rapid technological progress in a very short period of time.

52. What can we expect to see by the year 2020?

A) Apps for the Internet of Things. B) The popularization of smart homes.

C) The emergence of Millennials. D) Total globalization of the world.

53. What will business owners do when they become aware of the benefits of the Internet of Things?

A) Employ fewer workers in their operations. B) Gain automatic control of their businesses.

C) Invest in more smart buildings and cities. D) Embrace whatever new technology there is.

54. What is the most exciting challenge when we possess more and more data?

A) How to turn it to profitable use. B) How to do real time data analysis.

C) How to link the actionable systems. D) How to devise new ways to store it.

55. What does the author think about working from anywhere and at anytime?

A) It is feasible with a connection to the internet. B) It will thrive in smart buildings, cities and homes.

C) It is still a distant Utopian dream for ordinary workers. D) It will deliver tangible benefits to both boss and worker.

Passage one

46.D

47.D

48.B

49.A

50.C

Passage two

51.D

52.B

53.C

54.A

55.A

2017年12月英语六级阅读真题及答案第3套选词填空

Many European countries have been making the shift to electric vehicles and Germany has just stated that they plan to ban the sale of

vehicles using gasoline and diesel as fuel by 2030. The country is also planning to reduce its carbon footprint by 80-95% by 2050, __26__ a shift

to green energy in the country. Effectively, the ban will include the registration of new cars in the country as they will not allow any gasoline

__27__ vehicle to be registered after 2030.

Part of the reason this ban is being discussed and __28__ is because energy officials see that they will not reach their emissions goals by

2050 if they do not __29__ a large portion of vehicle emissions. The country is still __30__ that it will meet its emissions goals, like reducing

emissions by 40% by 2020, but the __31__ of electric cars in the country has not occurred as fast as ejected.

Other efforts to increase the use of electric vehicles include plans to build over 1 million hybrid and electric car battery changing stations

across the country. By 2030, Germany plans on having over 6 million charging stations __32__. According to the International Business Times,

electric car sales are expected to increase as Volkswagen is still recovering from its emissions scandal.

There are __33__ around 155,000 registered hybrid and electric vehicles on German roads, dwarfed by the 45 million gasoline and diesel

cars driving there now. As countries continue setting goals of reducing emissions, greater steps need to be taken to have a __34__ effect on the

surrounding environment. While the efforts are certainly not __35__, the results of such bans will likely only start to be seen by generations

down the line, bettering the world for the future.

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2017年12月英语六级阅读真题及答案第3套仔细阅读2篇

Passage One Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

At the base of a mountain in Tanzania's Gregory Rift, Lake Natron burns bright red, surrounded by the remains of animals that were

unfortunate enough to fall into the salty water. Bats, swallows and more are chemically preserved in the pose in which they perished, sealed in

the deposits of sodium carbonate in the water. The lake's landscape is bizarre and deadly—and made even more so by the fact that it's the place

where nearly 75 percent of the world's flamingos (火烈鸟）are born.

The water is so corrosive that it can burn the skin and eyes of unadapted animals. Flamingos, however, are the only species that actually

makes life in the midst of all that death. Once every three or four years, when conditions are right, the lake is covered with the pink birds as they

stop flight to breed. Three-quarters of the world's flamingos fly over from other salt lakes in the Rift Valley and nest on salt-crystal islands that

appear when the water is at a specific level—too high and the birds can't build their nests, too low and predators can move briskly across the lake

bed and attack. When the water hits the right level, the baby birds are kept safe from predators by a corrosive ditch.

"Flamingos have evolved very leathery skin on their legs so they can tolerate the salt water," says David Harper, a professor at the

University of Leicester. "Humans cannot, and would die if their legs were exposed for any length of time." So far this year, water levels have

been too high for the flamingos to nest.

Some fish, too, have had limited success vacationing at the lake as less salty lagoons (泻湖) form on the outer edges from hot springs

flowing into Lake Natron. Three species of tilapia (罗非鱼) thrive there part-time. "Fish have a refuge in the streams and can expand into the

lagoons when the lake is low and the lagoons are separate," Harper said. "All the lagoons join when the lake is high and fish must retreat to their

stream refuges or die." Otherwise, no fish are able to survive in the naturally toxic lake.

This unique ecosystem may soon be under pressure. The Tanzanian government has once again started mining the lake for soda ash, used

for making chemicals, glass and detergents. Although the planned operation will be located more than 40 miles away, drawing the soda ash in

through pipelines, conservationists worry it could still upset the natural water cycle and breeding grounds. For now, though, life prevails—even

in a lake that kills almost everything it touches.

46. What can we learn about Lake Natron?

A) It is simply uninhabitable for most animals. B) It remains little known to the outside world.

C) It is a breeding ground for a variety of birds. D) It makes an ideal habitat for lots of predators.

47. Flamingos nest only when the lake water is at a specific level so that their babies can .

A) find safe shelter more easily B) grow thick feathers on their feet

C) stay away from predators D) get accustomed to the salty water

48. Flamingos in the Rift Valley are unique in that .

A) they can move swiftly across lagoons B) they can survive well in salty water

C) they breed naturally in corrosive ditches D) they know where and when to nest

49. Why can certain species of tilapia sometimes survive around Lake Natron?

A) They can take refuge in the less salty waters. B) They can flee quick enough from predators.

C) They can move freely from lagoon to lagoon. D) They can stand the heat of the spring water.

50. What may be the consequence of Tanzanian government's planned operation?

A) The accelerated extinction of flamingos. B) The change of flamingos' migration route.

C) The overmining of Lake Natron's soda ash. D) The disruption of Lake Natron's ecosystem.

Passage Two Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

It is the season for some frantic last-minute math—across the country, employees of all stripes are counting backward in an attempt to

figure out just how much paid time-off they have left in their reserves. More of them, though, will skip those calculations altogether and just

power through the holidays into 2017: More than half of American workers don't use up all of their allotted vacation days each year.

Not so long ago, people would have turned up their noses at that kind of dedication to the job. As marketing professors Silvia Bellezza,

Neeru Paharia, and Anat Keinan recently explained in Harvard Business Review (HBR), leisure time was once seen as an indicator of high

social status, something attainable only for those at the top. Since the middle of the 20th century, though, things have turned the opposite

way—these days, punishing hours at your desk, rather than days off, are seen as the mark of someone important.

In a series of several experiments, the researchers illustrated just how much we've come to admire busyness, or at least the appearance of it.

Volunteers read two passages, one about a man who led a life of leisure and another about a man who was over-worked and over-scheduled;

when asked to determine which of the two had a higher social status, the majority of the participants said the latter. The same held true for

people who used products that implied they were short on time: In one experiment, for example, customers of the grocery-delivery service

Peapod were seen as of higher status than people who shopped at grocery stores that were equally expensive; in another, people wearing wireless

headphones were considered further up on the social ladder than those wearing regular headphones, even when both were just used to listen to

music.

In part, the authors wrote in HBR, this pattern may have to do with the way work itself has changed over the past several decades.

We think that the shift from leisure-as-status to busyness-as-status may be linked to the development of knowledge-intensive economics. In such

economies, individuals who possess the human capital characteristics that employers or clients value (e. g. , competence and ambition) are

expected to be in high demand and short supply on the job market. Thus, by telling others that we are busy and working all the time, we are

implicitly suggesting that we are sought after, which enhances our perceived status.

Even if you feel tempted to sacrifice your own vacation days for fake busyness, though, at least consider leaving your weekends

unscheduled. It's for your own good.

51. What do most employees plan to do towards the end of the year?

A) Go for a vacation. B) Keep on working.

C) Set an objective for next year. D) Review the year's achievements.

52. How would people view dedication to work in the past?

A) They would regard it as a matter of course. B) They would consider it a must for success.

C) They would look upon it with contempt. D) They would deem it a trick of businessmen.

53. What did the researchers find through a series of experiments?

A) The busier one appears, the more respect one earns. B) The more one works, the more one feels exploited.

C) The more knowledge one has, the more competent one will be. D) The higher one's status, the more vacation time one will enjoy.

54. What may account for the change of people's attitude towards being busy?

A) The fast pace of life in modern society. B) The fierce competition in the job market.

C) The widespread use of computer technology. D) The role of knowledge in modern economy.

55. What does the author advise us to do at the end of the passage?

A) Schedule our time properly for efficiency. B) Plan our weekends in a meaningful way.

C) Find time to relax however busy we are. D) Avoid appearing busy when we are not.

Passage one

46.A

47.C

48.B

49.A

50.D

Passage two

51.B

52.C

53.A

54.D

55.C

2018年6月英语六级阅读真题及答案第1套选词填空

Scientists scanning and mapping the Giza pyramids say they've discovered that the Great Pyramid of Giza is not exactly even. But really

not by much. This pyramid is the oldest of the world's Seven Wonders. The pyramid's exact size has __26__ experts for centuries, as the "more

than 21 acres of hard, white casing stones" that originally covered it were __27__ long ago. Reporting in the most recent issue of the newsletter

"AERAGRAM," which __28__ the work of the Ancient Egypt Research Associates, engineer Glen Dash says his team used a new measuring

approach that involved finding any surviving __29__ of the casing in order to determine where the original edge was. They found the east side of

the pyramid to be a __30__ of 5.5 inches shorter than the west side.

The question that most __31__ him，however, isn't how the Egyptians who designed and built the pyramid got it wrong 4,500 years ago,but

how they got it so close to __32__ "We can only speculate as to how the Egyptians could have laid out these lines with such __33__ using only

the tools they had," Dash writes. He says his __34__ is that the Egyptians laid out their design on a grid, noting that the great pyramid is oriented

only __35__ away from the cardinal directions (its north-south axis runs 3 minutes 54 seconds west of due north, while its east-west axis runs 3

minutes 51 seconds north of due east) —an amount that's "tiny, but similar," archeologist Atlas Obscura points out.

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2018年6月英语六级阅读真题及答案第1套仔细阅读2篇

Passage One Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

The Ebro Delta, in Spain, famous as a battleground during the Spanish Civil War, is now the setting for a different contest, one that is

pitting rice farmers against two enemies: the rice-eating giant apple snail, and rising sea levels. What happens here will have a bearing on the

future of European rice production and the overall health of southern European wetlands.

Located on the Mediterranean just two hours south of Barcelona, the Ebro Delta produces 120 million kilograms of rice a year, making it

one of the continent's most important rice-growing areas. As the sea creeps into these fresh-water marshes, however, rising salinity (盐分) is

hampering rice production. At the same time, this sea-water also kills off the greedy giant apple snail, an introduced pest that feeds on young rice

plants. The most promising strategy has become to harness one foe against the other.

The battle is currently being waged on land, in greenhouses at the University of Barcelona. Scientists working under the banner "Project

Neurice" are seeking varieties of rice that can withstand the increasing salinity without losing the absorbency that makes European rice ideal for

traditional Spanish and Italian dishes.

"The project has two sides," says Xavier Serrat, Neurice project manager and researcher at the University of Barcelona, "the short-term

fight against the snail, and a mid- to long-term fight against climate change. But the snail has given the project greater urgency."

Originally from South America, the snails were accidentally introduced into the Ebro Delta by Global Aquatic Technologies, a company

that raised the snails for fresh-water aquariums (水族馆), but failed to prevent their escape. For now, the giant apple snail's presence in Europe is

limited to the Ebro Delta. But the snail continues its march to new territory, says Serrat. "The question is not whether it will reach other

rice-growing areas of Europe, but when."

Over the next year and a half investigators will test the various strains of salt-tolerant rice they've bred. In 2018, farmers will plant the

varieties with the most promise in the Ebro Delta and Europe's other two main rice-growing regions—along the Po in Italy, and France's Rhone.

A season in the field will help determine which, if any, of the varieties are ready for commercialization.

As an EU-funded effort, the search for salt-tolerant varieties of rice is taking place in all three countries. Each team is crossbreeding a local

European short-grain rice with a long-grain Asian variety that carries the salt-resistant gene. The scientists are breeding successive generations to

arrive at varieties that incorporate salt tolerance but retain about 97 percent of the European rice genome (基因组).

46. Why does the author mention the Spanish Civil War at the beginning of the passage?

A) It had great impact on the life of Spanish rice farmers.

B) It is of great significance in the records of Spanish history.

C) Rice farmers in the Ebro Delta are waging a battle of similar importance.

D) Rice farmers in the Ebro Delta are experiencing as hard a time as in the war.

47. What may be the most effective strategy for rice farmers to employ in fighting their enemies?

A) Striking the weaker enemy first. B) Killing two birds with one stone.

C) Eliminating the enemy one by one. D) Using one evil to combat the other.

48. What do we learn about "Project Neurice"?

A) Its goals will have to be realized at a cost. B) It aims to increase the yield of Spanish rice.

C) Its immediate priority is to bring the pest under control. D) It tries to kill the snails with the help of climate change.

49. What does Neurice project manager say about the giant apple snail?

A) It can survive only on southern European wetlands. B) It will invade other rice-growing regions of Europe.

C) It multiplies at a speed beyond human imagination. D) It was introduced into the rice fields on purpose.

50. What is the ultimate goal of the EU-funded program?

A) Cultivating ideal salt-resistant rice varieties. B) Increasing the absorbency of the Spanish rice.

C) Introducing Spanish rice to the rest of Europe. D) Popularizing the rice crossbreeding technology.