2012年12月英语六级真题(3).doc

2012年12月大学英语六级(CET-6)真题试卷 Part I Writing (30 minutes) Direction: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay entitled Man and Computer by commenting on the saying, “The real danger is not that the computer will begin to think like man, but that man will begin to think like the computer.” You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. Man and Computer Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C) and D).For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage. In a Digital Age, Students Still Cling to Paper Textbooks They text their friends all day long. At night, they do research for their term papers on laptops and commune with their parents on Skype. But as they walk the paths of Hamilton College, a poster-perfect liberal arts school in this upstate village, students are still hauling around bulky, old-fashioned textbooks-and loving it. "The screen won't go blank," said Faton Begolli, a junior from Boston. "There can't be a virus. It wouldn't be the same without books. They've defined 'academia' (学术) for a thousand years." Though the world of print is receding before a tide of digital books, blogs and other Web sites, a generation of college students growing up with technology appears to be holding fast to traditional textbooks. That loyalty comes at a price. Textbooks are expensive-a year's worth can cost$700 to$900-and students' frustrations with the expense, as well as the emergence of new technology, have produced a perplexing array of options for obtaining them. Internet retailers like Amazon and T are selling new and used books. They have been joined by several Web services that rent textbooks to students by the semester. Some 1 500 college bookstores are also offering rentals this fall, up from 300 last year. Here at Hamilton, students this year have a new way to avoid the middleman: a nonprofit Web site, created by the college's Entrepreneur Club, that lets them sell used books directly to one another. The explosion of outlets and formats-including digital books, which are rapidly becoming more sophisticated- has left some students bewildered. After completing the difficult job of course selection, they are forced to weigh cost versus convenience, analyze their own study habits and guess which texts they will want for years to come and which they will not miss. "It depends on the course," said Victoria Adesoba, a student at New York University who was standing outside that school's bookstore, a powder-blue book bag slung over her shoulder “Last semester, I rented for psychology, and it was cheaper. But for something like organic chemistry, I need to keep the book. E-textbooks are good, but it's tempting to go on Facebook, and it can strain your eyes." For all the talk that her generation is the most technologically knowledgeable in history, paper-and-ink textbooks do not seem destined to disappear anytime soon According to the National Association of College Stores, digital books make up just under 3% of textbook sales, although the association expects that share to grow to 10-15% by 2012 as more titles are made available as e-books. In two recent studies-one by the association and another by the Student Public Interest Research Groups-three- quarters of the students surveyed said they still preferred a bound book to a digital version. Many students are reluctant to give up the ability to flip quickly between chapters, write in the margins and highlight passages, although new software applications are beginning to allow students to use e-textbooks that way. "Students grew up learning from print books." said Nicole Allen. the textbooks campaign director for the research groups, "so as they transition to higher education, it's not surprising that they prefer a format that they are most accustomed to." Indeed, many Hamilton students grow passionate about the weighty volumes they still carry from dorm room to lecture hall to library, even as they compulsively(克制不住地)check their smartphones for text messages and c-mails. "I believe that the codex is one of mankind's best inventions," said Jonathan Piskor, a junior from North Carolina, using the Latin term for book. That passion may be one reason that Barnes & Noble College Booksellers is working so hard to market its new software application, NOOKstudy, which allows students to navigate c-textbooks on Macs and PCs. The company, which operates 636 campus bookstores nationwide, introduced the free application last summer in hopes of luring more students to buy its electronic textbooks. "The real obstacle is getting them to try it," said Tracey Weber, the company's executive vicepresident. The company is giving away "College Kick-Start Kits" to students who download NOOKstudy in the fall semester, with a dozen classic c-books like The Canterbury Tales and The Scarlet Letter. CourseSrnart is letting students try any c-textbook free for two weeks. But not every textbook is available in digital or rental format. At Hamilton, for instance, only about one-fifth of the titles are sold as c-textbooks this fall. A stroll through the campus store revealed the price difference. A book on constitutional law,for instance, was$189.85 new $142.40 used and$85.45 for rent. (Typically, an e-textbook is cheaper than a used book, though more expensive than a rental.) The expense of college textbooks, which is estimated to have risen four times the inflation rate in recent years, has become such a concern that some politicians are taking up the cause. Last month, Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York urged more college stores to rent books, after a survey of 38 campus bookstores in New York City and on Long Island by his office found that 16 did not offer the option. On Thursday, students at more than 40 colleges nationwide are planning an Affordable Textbooks Day of Action to encourage faculty members to assign texts that are less expensive, or offered free online. For now, buying books the old-fashioned way-new or used-prevails. Charles Schmidt, the spokesman for the National Association of College Stores, said that if a campus store sold a new book for$100, it would typically buy the book back for$50 at semester's end and sell it to the next student for$75. The buy-back price plunges, however, if the professor drops the book from the syllabus or if the bookstore has bought enough books to meet demand. When Louis Boguchwal, majoring in economics and math, tried to sell a$100 linear algebra(线性代数)textbook back to the college bookstore, he was offered$15. "It was insulting," he said. "They give you next to nothing." Thus, the creation of Hamilton's new nonprofit Web site, get my textbooks. org. So far, traffic has been light: only about 70 books have been sold this fall. But Jason Mariasis, president of the Entrepreneur Club, said he expected sales to pick up as word spread. Mr. Begolli. a member of the club, recently sold three German novels for$17 on the site. "If I had sold them back to the bookstore, I would have gotten$7 or$8,"he said. "The bookstore is king when it comes to textbook sales. We felt there should be something for students, by students." Yet some students have to go it alone. Rosemary Rocha, an N.Y.U. student pursuing a degree in hospitality and tourism management, added up her required reading for the semester: $600. "It's harsh," she said. "I'm currently collecting unemployment, so that's not going to happen." Instead, she waits to borrow the few copies her professors leave on reserve at the library, or relies on the kindness of classmates. "My friends will let me borrow their books in exchange for coffee or a slice of pizza," she said. "I very seldom buy the textbooks, but I'm always like a chicken without a head." 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。 1. How do students view paper textbooks in this digital age? A) They are indispensable to writing term papers. B) They play an irreplaceable role in their study. C) They are inferior to c-books in many ways. D) They will be replaced by c-books some day. 2. In what way are printed books frustrating to students? A) They are too heavy to carry. C) They cost too much money. C) They take up too much space. D) They often go out of print. 3. What can students do with the creation of the nonprofit Web site at Hamilton? A) They can rent new books for a nominal fee. B) They can buy books, both used and new, at a lower price. C) They can read online by paying a small fee. D) They can sell books to each other without a middleman 4. What can we learn about textbooks from Victoria Adesoba's case? A) Printed textbooks will not disappear any time soon. B) Their cost is students' chief consideration C) E-books are the first choice of low-income students. D) Science students prefer printed textbooks. 5. Why do most students still prefer the traditional paper-and-ink textbooks? A) They can form good learning habits with printed textbooks. B) They have been used to their format ever since childhood. C) They can protect their eyesight using printed textbooks. D) They are passionate about their physical presence. 6. What does Tracey Weber think is the best way to expand c-textbook sales? A) Invite students to try c-book applications for free. B) Update c-book software to meet students' needs. C) Open more c-book stores on university campuses. D) Make the price of e-textbooks more attractive. 7. To combat the soaring price of textbooks, Senator Charles E.Schumer suggests that __________. A) publishers offer more textbooks online B) college stores rent books to students C) college stores rent books to students D) students buy cheaper used books 8. Louis Boguchwal thought the money he was offered for his linear algebra textbook was ________________________________. 9. Despite the light traffic on Hamilton's nonprofit Web site, Jason Mariasis was confident that its book business would________________________________. 10. Living on unemployment benefits. Rosemary Rocha cannot but borrow textbooks from________________________________. Part III            Listening Comprehension      （35 minutes） Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear 8 short conversations and 2 long conversations. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A）, B）, C） and D）, and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. 11. A) She can count on the man for help. C) She can lend the man a sleeping bag. B) She has other plans for this weekend. D) She has got camping gear for rent. 12. A) The man should keep his words. C) Karen always supports her at work. B) She regrets asking the man for help. D) Karen can take her to the airport 13. A) He can't afford to go traveling yet. C) He usually checks his brakes before a trip B) His trip to Hawaii was not enjoyable. D) His trip to Hawaii has used up all his money. 14. A) There was nothing left except some pie. C) The woman is going to prepare the dinner. B) The man has to find something else to eat. D) Julie has been invited for dinner. 15. A) Submit no more than three letters. C) Apply to three graduate schools. B) Present a new letter of reference. D) Send Professor Smith a letter. 16. A) He declines to join the gardening club. B) He is a professional gardener in town. C) He prefers to keep his gardening skills to himself. D) He wishes to receive formal training in gardening. 17. A) Sculpture is not a typical form of modern art. B) Modern art cannot express people's true feelings. C) The recent sculpture exhibit was not well organized. D) Many people do not appreciate modern art. 18.A) Bob does not have much chance to win. C) Bob cannot count on her vote. B) She will vote for another candidate. D) She knows the right person for the position  Questions 19 to 22 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 19. A) Poor management of the hospital. C) Decisions made by the head technician. B) The health hazard at her work place. D) The outdated medical testing procedures. 20. A) Transfer her to another department. C) Cut down her workload. B) Repair the X-ray equipment. D) Allow her to go on leave for two months. 21 .A) They are virtually impossible to enforce. C) Both of them have been subject to criticism. B) Neither is applicable to the woman's case. D) Their requirements may be difficult to meet. 22. A) Organize a mass strike. C) Try to help her get it back. B) Compensate for her loss. D) Find her a better paying job. Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 23. A) In giving concessions. C) In stating your terms. B) In the concluding part. D) In the preparatory phase. 24. A) He behaves in a way contrary to his real intention. B) He presents his arguments in a straightforward way. C) He responds readily to the other party's proposals. D) He uses lots of gestures to help make his points clear. 25. A) Both may fail when confronting experienced rivals. B) The honest type is more effective than the actor type. C) Both can succeed depending on the specific situation. D) The actor type works better in tough negotiations.  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 29 are based on the passage you have just heard. 26. A) The shape of the cubes used. C) The number of times of repeating t