1、大学英语六级综合-阅读(二十三)及答案解析(总分：100.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：0，分数：0.00)二、Section A(总题数：0，分数：0.00)三、Passage One(总题数：1，分数：10.00)The U.S. dollar was supposed to be at the end of its rope. Kicking the bucket. A dying symbol of a dying empire. Well, maybe not. The dollar continues to (1) gloom-a
2、nd-doom predictions. After a swoon (低迷) last year, the dollar is again enjoying a major (2) . The U.S. dollar index, which measures the dollars value against other major currencies, is just off an eight-month high.The main reason behind the dollars recovery is actually no real surprise at all. There
3、 is no (3) able to replace the dollar as the worlds No.1 currency. What makes currencies so fascinating is that their perceived value is always relative to other currencies. Sure, the U.S. budget deficit is (4) , the governments debt is increasing, and Wall Street is still repairing itself. But the
4、dollar remains the prettiest of a flock of ugly ducklings. Is any other major industrialized economy (5) better off than the U.S. ? Not really. Just about the (6) developed world is suffering with the same problems. Thats why when investors get nervous, they still rush to the good old dollar. The do
5、llar wins because no one else is really in the game.The euro has been exposed as a (7) . Only a few months ago, economists truly believed the euro could (8) the dollar as the top reserve currency. Now experts are questioning if the euro has a future at all. The Greek debt crisis has (9) that the eur
6、o is only as strong as its weakest link.Maybe over the next 20 or 30 years, the dollar will slowly lose the (10) status it holds today. That process, however, could well be driven by the appearance of new rivals.A. fraud B. consistently C. dominant D. expanding E. entireF. incentive G. rival H. alle
7、ged I. defy J. particularlyK. alternative L. relative M. revealed N. intriguing O. rally（分数：10.00）填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_四、Passage Two(总题数：1，分数：10.00)Are smarter kids smart enough to avoid alcohol and drugs? For decades, scientists had documented that t
8、hose with lower IQ and less education were more likely to become addicted to alcohol or other drugs, probably because lower levels of education and lower IQ are associated with the (1) effects of poverty and because having less intelligence offers fewer mental resources to allow users to moderate an
9、d avoid problems.The latest data, published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, doesnt (2) those findings. Drug use is not the same as drug addictionhigher intelligence is a protective factor against alcoholism and addictions; (3) , smarter people are more likely to drink or try drugs
10、. Social drinking in many countries and non-problematic drinking is more (4) and common among people with higher education. But why? What protects them from (5) into addiction?Intelligence can serve as a vehicle for (6) when it comes to alcohol or drug usethe more educated people are, the more they
11、internalize and appreciate the dangers and risks of (7) Intelligence can also (8) more curiosity and openness to new experiences. And that includes experimenting with alcohol and drugs. People have the impression that intelligence is somehow related to being (9) and bookwormish, but large studies de
12、finitely find that intelligence is associated with sensation-seeking and seeking different kinds of experiences, including learning new things. It could be related to the nature of intelligence. Such experimentation doesnt always lead to addiction or problematic behavior because this type of exposur
13、e often involves a few experiences before the person moves on to the next (10) .A. execution B. moderation C. compelling D. indulgence E. nonethelessF. decent G. frequent H. novelty I. spur J. damagingK. deviate L. sliding M. exceptionally N. introverted O. contradict（分数：10.00）填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填
14、空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_五、Section B(总题数：0，分数：0.00)六、Passage One(总题数：1，分数：20.00)The Health Benefits of Drinking WaterIs bottled drinking water healthier than filtered tap water?AWater is a key ingredient in a healthy diet and lifestyle. There are many health benefits of drinki
15、ng water. It helps flush impurities and toxins out of our systems. It aids in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. In fact, nearly every system in our bodies relies on water for proper functioning. But what will happen if the water you drink every day is unhealthy?BIn past decades, concerns about t
16、ap water and its impact on overall health led some people to turn to bottled drinking water instead. However, in those days, there were few choices of bottled waters. You could pay to have a company deliver large bulky plastic bottles of water for the water cooler. Or you could purchase gallon jugs
17、of distilled or “drinking water“ at the grocery store.CIn recent years, there has been an explosion in the number of different bottled waters available, with big distributors such as Coke and Pepsi jumping on the bandwagon. But are bottled drinking waters like Cokes Dasani brand, Pepsis Aquafina, or
18、 Wal-Marts store brand really any healthier than your tap water? Or would you be better off with a drinking water filtration system?DAs we have learned more about the water we drink, the technology behind drinking water filters and purification systems has improved dramatically. There are filters to
19、 remove impurities, chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria and most every contaminant you can think of. With the right size and filter combination for your specific home, your tap water can be exceptionally pure and healthy.EDrinking water filtration systems have also become more affordable and easy to u
20、se. Although the initial cost of a whole house system usually amounts to several hundred dollars, that cost is often less than 100 each year if spread out over the life of the system.FThere may be additional expenses to replace carbon filters, membranes in reverse osmosis drinking water filtration s
21、ystem, or lamps in an ultraviolet light water treatment device. These expenses can add another 100 or so to the annual costs of operating drinking water filters and purification systems.GWhile some people may hesitate to spend so much each year for clean, safe drinking water, they are probably payin
22、g more for bottled drinking water. Calculations show that at a price of 1 to 4 per gallon, bottled or delivered water costs an average of 400 each year, especially if you purchase individual bottles. And that doesnt take into consideration the gas needed to drive to the store or the environmental im
23、pact of all the empty plastic bottles.HMany people who choose bottled drinking water understand that it is more expensive, but they are still willing to pay the extra money because bottled water is thought to be safer and healthier than filtered drinking water. After all, bottled water is often mark
24、eted as “natural spring water“ or “pure glacier water.“IIn reality, few bottled waters come from natural springs, and most of them use municipal tap water. The companies are able to get away with this false marketing because the regulations and standards for bottled drinking water are less stringent
25、 than those for residential drinking sources.J The quality of bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while drinking water systems are typically regulated by State regulations or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This doesnt mean that the FDA isnt doing their j
26、ob. Its just that the rules for bottled water only require it to be as good as tap water, not better.KIn addition, the FDA regulations only apply to bottled drinking water that is transported across state lines. If a company sells their bottled drinking water in the same state where it was bottled,
27、the federal regulations dont apply. The result is that many bottled waters are not any healthier than filtered water, and in fact some are less pure.LThis was demonstrated in a study which was conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council. They tested over 100 brands of bottled drinking water a
28、nd found that about one third of the waters contained contamination in the form of chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic. The study also found that up to forty percent of bottled drinking waters come from a city water system.MSo how do you tell if the water you are drinking is healthy? With tap water, it
29、 is relatively easy. If your water comes from a municipal source, the suppliers are required by law to provide annual water quality reports. If you have a well, you can have an authorized lab test your water. It may cost 100 or more, but its a small price to pay for peace of mind. Or you can purchas
30、e a kit and test it yourself, but naturally the results may not be as conclusive or reliable as those produced by authorized labs.NWhen it comes to bottled drinking water, it can be more difficult to know what you are getting. Start by checking the label or the bottle cap. Some may tell you that the
31、 water comes from a municipal source or “community water system,“ which means tap water.OIf the label doesnt give any information, you can call the bottler and ask. But dont be surprised if you get the run around and are transferred to several different departments. Some states have a bottled water
32、program that tracks bottled drinking water and can tell you the origin of the source water as well as other information.PSafe and healthy drinking water has become big business. Thousands of companies are vying for your hard earned cash, and some are not always honest about what their products offer
33、. The initial investment for a home drinking water filtration system can seem expensive at first, but over time, it is usually less expensive than bottled drinking water. And with a water filter, you at least know where the water you drink came from and how it was treated.QBefore going out and spend
34、ing your hard earned money for bottled drinking water that may be no better than your own tap water, it is obviously a good idea to do some research. You are likely to decide that a drinking water filtration system and/or purifier is the healthier choice and provides the best value as well.（分数：20.00
35、）(1).For some reasons companies that use municipal tap water as bottled water can usually escape punishment by law.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(2).If you need to know any information about bottled water, you can either ask the bottler for it or get it from the states bottled water program.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(3).It
36、 is required that suppliers should give yearly water quality reports for water from a municipal source.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(4).In past decades, bottled drinking water was restricted to few choices.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(5).A study found that many bottled drinking water was not as healthy as expected.（分数：2.00）
37、填空项 1:_(6).Now, tap water can also become especially pure and healthy if a right filtration system is installed in your home.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(7).One of the disadvantages of bottled water is that the plastic bottles would do harm to the environment.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(8).The cost of drinking water filtr
38、ation system is no more than one hundred dollar each year if we allocate the total expenses equally over the life span of the system.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(9).As time goes by, home drinking water filtration system, which may seem expensive at the very beginning, is actually cheaper than bottled drinking w
39、ater.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_(10).When the bottled water is claimed to come from a “community water system,“ it is actually tap water.（分数：2.00）填空项 1:_七、Passage Two(总题数：1，分数：20.00)Baby-Naming TrendsAOver the last fifty years, American parents have radically increased the variety of names they give their chil
40、dren. In the 1950s, the 50 most popular names accounted for 63.4 percent of all boys born, and 52.1 percent of all girls. But by 2004, the top 50 names covered only 34.6 percent of the boys and 24.4 percent of the girls. As more people move to the United States and use popular or traditional cultura
41、l names, the variety of names increases. Also, parents from all ethnic backgrounds are now more likely to search out less common names for their children.Common and Unusual Baby NamesBIs it better to have a name common to your age group, one that everyone has heard, or an unusual name, one that may
42、cause comment when people first hear it? Psychologists and sociologists have studied this question for years and still cannot agree on the answer.COn the one hand, a great deal of evidence shows that when people hear a particular name, they have strong and specific stereotypes about what sort of per
43、son bears that name. For example, most Americans expect a woman named Courtney to be attractive and successful but one named Bertha to be loud and obese. Research has found that teachers may give a higher grade to a school paper by a student named Michael than to one by Hubert, even though the paper
44、s are identical.DOn the other hand, research that compares actual people with common first names to those with unusual names often shows the latter having an advantage. People with unusual first names are more likely to be listed in Whos Who and are more successful as psychologists. College women wi
45、th uncommon first names score higher on scales of sociability and self-acceptance; they are also more likely to have a positive sense of individuality, which helps them to resist peer pressure.EWhy do these different studies seem contradictory? Part of the answer is that the first set of studies for
46、ced people to form impressions based on the name alone. In contrast, recent research shows that if a name includes information about an actual person, then it will compensate for most of the negative effects of stereotypes, and creates a different context in which to view a name.FAnother reason for
47、the conflicting results from this research is that uncommon names and names with negative images are not necessarily the same. Boys called Derry or Quinlan and girls called Cosima or Prairie will have a chance to create their own first impressions, free from established stereotypes. They can develop
48、 a positive, individual self-concept unhampered by the negative images that go along with names such as Adolf, Ethel, Myrtle, or Elmer.GIn the final analysis, of course, your choice of a common or unusual name depends on what you believe is best for your child. After all, there are many occasions in life, such as submitting a job appli
