1、大学英语六级综合-阅读(八)及答案解析(总分：60.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Unit 3(总题数：0，分数：0.00)二、Passage One(总题数：1，分数：5.00)Many objects in daily use have clearly been influenced by science, but their form and function, their dimensions and appearance were determined by technologists, artisans, designers, inventors, and engineers-u
2、sing nonscientific modes of thought. Many features and qualities of the objects that a technologist thinks about cannot be reduced to unambiguous verbal descriptions; they are dealt with in the mind by a visual, nonverbal process. In the development of Western technology, it has he en nonverbal thin
3、king, by and large, that has fixed the outlines and filled in the details; and rockets exist not because of geometry or thermodynamics (热力学), but because they were first a picture in the minds of those who built them.The creative shaping process of a technologists mind can be seen in nearly every ar
4、tifact that exists. For example, in designing a diesel engine, a technologist might impress individual ways of nonverbal thinking on the machine by continually using an intuitive sense of rightness and fitness. What would be the shape of the combustion chamber? Where should the valves be placed? Sho
5、uld it have a long or short piston? Such questions have a range of answers that are supplied by experience, by physical requirements, by limitations of available space, and not least by a sense of form. Some decisions, such as wall thickness and pin diameter, may depend on scientific calculations, b
6、ut the nonscientific component of design remains primary.Design courses, then, should be an essential element in engineering curricula. Nonverbal thinking, a central mechanism in engineering design, involves perceptions, the stock in trade of the artist, not the scientist. Because perceptive process
7、es are not assumed to entail. “hard thinking“, nonverbal thought is sometimes seen as a primitive stage in the development of cognitive processes and infeiror to verbal or mathematical thought, But it is paradoxical that when the staff of the Historic American Engineering Record wished to have drawi
8、ngs made of machines and isometric(等比例 的)views of industrial processes for its historical record of American engineering, the only college students with the requisite abilities were not engineering students, but rather students attending architectural schools.If courses in design, which in a strongy
9、 analytial engineering curriculum provide the backgound required“ for practical problem solving, are not provided, we can expect to encounter silly but costly enors gccurring in advanced engineering systems. For example, early models of high-speed railroad cars loaded with high-tech controls were un
10、able to operate in a snowstorm because the fan sucked snow into the electrical system. Absurd random failures that plague automatic control systems are not merely trivital aberrations(失常); they are a reflection of the chaos that results when design is assumed to be primarily a prgblem in mathematics
11、:（分数：5.00）(1).In the passage, the author is primarily concerned with _.（分数：1.00）A.identifying the kinds of thinking that are used by technologistsB.stressing the importance of nonverbal thinking in engineering designC.proposing a new role for nonscientific thinking in the development of technologyD.
12、criticizing engineering schools for emphasizing science in engineering curricula(2).What can we infer from the first two paragraphs?（分数：1.00）A.When a machine like a rotary engine malfunctions, it is the best equipped technologist who repairs it.B.A telephone is a complex instrument designed by techn
13、ologists, using only nonverbal thought.C.The designer of a new refrigerator should consider the designs of other refrigerators before deciding on its final form.D.The distinctive features of a suspension bridge reflect its designers nonscientific modes of thought.(3).It can be inferred that the auth
14、or thinks engineering curricula are _.（分数：1.00）A.strengthened when they include courses in designB.strong because nonverbal thinking is still emphasized by most of the coursesC.strong despite the errors made in the development of automatic control systemsD.strong despite the absence of nonscientific
15、 modes of thinking(4).Which of the following does the author seem to be in agreement with?（分数：1.00）A.Mathematical thinking is essential to any design course.B.Nonverbal thinking has its advantage over other perceptive processes.C.Engineering design demands scientific thought.D.Artists play a primiti
16、ve role in engineering design.(5).The example of the early models of high-speed railroad cars is used to _.（分数：1.00）A.weaken the point that math is a necessary part of the study of designB.support the idea that errors in modem engineering systems are likely to increaseC.illustrate the topic that cou
17、rses in design are the most effective cost-reducing meansD.exemplify the thesis that inadequate attention to nonscientific design may result in poor design三、Passage Two(总题数：1，分数：5.00)European farm ministers have ended three weeks of negotiations with a deal which they claim represents genuine reform
18、 of the common agricultural policy (CAP). Will it be enough to kick start the Doha world trade negotiations?On the face of it, the deal agreed in the early hours of Thursday June 26th looks promising. Most subsidies linked to specific farm products are, at last, to be broken- the idea is to replace
19、these with a direct payment to farmers, unconnected to particular products. Support prices for several key products, including milk and butter, are to be cut-that should mean European prices eventually falling towards the world market level. Cutting the link between subsidy and production was the ma
20、in objective of proposals put forward by Mr. Fischler, which had formed the starting point for the negotiations.The CAP is hugely unpopular around the world. It subsidizes European farmers to such an extent that they can undercut farmers from poor countries, who also face trade barriers that largely
21、 exclude them from the potentially lucrative European market. Farm trade is also a key feature of the Doha round of trade talks, launched under the auspices (主办) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2001. Developing countries have lined up alongside a number of industrial countries to d
22、emand an end to the massive subsidies Europe pays its farmers. Several Doha deadlines have already been missed because of the EUs intransigence(不让步), and the survival of the talks will be at risk if no progress is made by September. when the worlds trade ministers meet in Cancn, Mexico.But now even
23、the French seem to have gone along with the deal hammered out in Luxembourg-up to a point, anyway. The package of measures gives the green light to the most eager reformers to move fast to implement the changes within their own countries. But there is an escape clause of sorts for the French and oth
24、er reform-averse nations. They can delay implementation for up to two years. There is also a suggestion that the reforms might not apply where there is a chance that they would lead to a reduction in land under cultivation.These let-outs are potentially damaging for Europes negotiators in the Doha r
25、ound. They could significantly reduce the cost savings that the reforms might otherwise generate and, in turn, keep European expenditure on farm support unacceptably high by world standards. More generally, the escape clauses could undermine the reforms by encouraging the suspicion that the new pack
26、age will not deliver the changes that its supporters claim. Close analysis of what is inevitably a very complicated package might confirm the skeptics fears.（分数：5.00）(1).The deal agreed on Thursday looks promising in that _.（分数：1.00）A.European farm ministers finally reached a consensusB.the link bet
27、ween farm products and subsidies is removedC.farmers would definitely accept the direct payment to themD.European farm products will reach a lower price level than the world average(2).It can be inferred from the third paragraph that _.（分数：1.00）A.farmers from poor countries were put at an advantage
28、by CAPB.the deal will be a key subject of debate in Doha round of trade talksC.the deal was probably a result of pressure from other countriesD.the worlds trade ministers will resist the new deal reached recently(3).In what case might the escape clauses apply in reform-averse nations.?（分数：1.00）A.Far
29、mers lose their interest in farming.B.Reforms have to be delayed for up to two years.C.Implementation of the measures goes too eagerly.D.The measures damage the reformers confidenc(4).The new package of measures is inevitably a complicated one due to _.（分数：1.00）A.European negotiators loss of confide
30、nceB.high expenditure on farm supportC.escape clauses for some European countriesD.suspicion of the new package(5).What is the passage mainly about?（分数：1.00）A.A promising new deal.B.Doha world trade negotiationsC.Worlds anger against Europe.D.Doomed reforms of CAP.四、Passage Three(总题数：1，分数：5.00)A sig
31、n that Hispanics will dominate Californias future is that a university study has found the ethnic accounted for nearly half of all births in the state by the end of the last decade. Hispanic mothers had 247,796 of the 521,265 children born in California in 1998, or 47.5 percent, according to the Uni
32、versity of California at Los Angeles study released in December 2001. Non-Hispanic Whites had 33.9 percent, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders with 10.7 percent. Blacks represented 6.8 percent of births and American Indians had 0.5 percent of all births. Californias future economic health depe
33、nds upon those Hispanics, who soon will be the majority of young adults and hence the working force, says David Hayes-Bautista, director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at UCLA.The study, based on state health department statistics, confirms the ethnic shift that made 2001 t
34、he year California officially lost its White majority. The U.S. Census showed that Hispanics made up nearly a third while non-Hispanic Whites slipped to less than half of the states total population of 33.9 million. Californias experience is part of a “sea change“ in the United States, where 23 stat
35、es already have Hispanics as their largest ethnic minority. Dr. Harry Pachon says, “Hispanics are becoming more prominent in everything from movies to politics, and that is good for the state. If there was no penetration of social and political institutions, then you would have an isolated minority
36、and thats a recipe for social unrest. On the other hand, by the third generation, one of every two Hispanics have married outside of their ethnic group. Theres a Latinization of America but theres also an Americanization of Latinos. By third generation, a lot of them are losing their Spanish; they p
37、refer American NFL to soccer.“Overall, nearly 65 percent of all Hispanic mothers were immigrants, ranking them second to Asian and Pacific Islanders at more than 84 percent. The babies tend to grow up healthy as well. Studies have shown that at virtually all stages of life, Hispanics, at least in Ca
38、lifornia, Arizona and Texas, tended to suffer fewer major health problems, such as heart attacks, cancer and strokes, than other ethnic groups, Hayes-Bautista noted. Only about 15 percent of Hispanic mothers were 19 years old or younger. By comparison, nearly 17 percent of Blacks and 19 percent of A
39、merican Indians were teenagers. Non-Hispanic Whites had a figure of nearly 7 percent.（分数：5.00）(1).How many percent of babies were born by Hispanic mothers in California in 1998?（分数：1.00）A.50%.B.47.5%.C.33.9%.D.10.7%.(2).David Hayes-Bautista believes that _.（分数：1.00）A.Hispanics will become the backbo
40、ne of future Californian economyB.the White culture will dominate Californias futureC.the state government should keep control on the population growthD.the population distribution should be somehow re-arranged(3).In California before 2001, _.（分数：1.00）A.Hispanics were fewer than any other ethnic gro
41、upB.non-Hispanic Whites gradually became minorityC.non-Hispanic Whites were the largest group by numberD.one third of the population was Asian(4).Which of the following statements is Dr. Harry Pachon most likely to agree with?（分数：1.00）A.Its good that Hispanics are more involved in politics.B.Social
42、unrest is more likely to occur when one ethnic group becomes overpowering.C.Hispanics are more likely to marry within their own ethnic group.D.Latinization of America is taking place faster than the Americanization of Latinos.(5).What can be inferred from the last paragraph?（分数：1.00）A.Nearly all His
43、panic mothers were immigrants.B.Hispanic babies all over the U.S. were typically healthier than other babies.C.Non-Hispanic white mothers were least likely to be teenagers.D.Nearly 19 percent of black mothers were teenagers.五、Passage Four(总题数：1，分数：5.00)It is all very well to blame traffic congestion
44、, the cost of petrol and the hectic pace of modem life, but manners on the roads are becoming deplorable. Everybody knows that the nicest men become monsters behind the wheel. It is all very well again to have a tiger in the tank, but to have one in the drivers seat is another kettle of fish altoget
45、her. You might tolerate the odd road hog, but nowadays the well-mannered motorist is the exception to the rule. Perhaps the situation calls for a “Be Kind to Other Drivers“ campaign, otherwise it may get completely out of hand.Road courtesy is not only good manners, but good sense too. It takes the
46、most levelheaded and good-tempered of drivers to resist the temptation to retaliate when subjected to uncivilized behavior. On the other hand, a little courtesy goes a long way towards relieving the tensions and frustrations of motoring. A friendly nod or a wave of acknowledgement in response to an
47、act of courtesy helps to create an atmosphere of goodwill and tolerance so necessary in modern traffic conditions. But such acknowledgements of courtesy are all too rare today. Many drivers nowadays dont even seem able to recognize courtesy when they see it.Contrary to general opinion, young drivers
48、 (especially sports-car owners, who take pride in their driving) have better manners than their seniors. But this attitude is short- lived in the world of modem driving where many drivers neither expect nor give any quarter. This may be a commendable trait on the battlefield but is out of place on t
49、he roads.Lorry drivers say they have almost abandoned the practice of signaling cars to overtake when the road is clear, because many of the cars took too long to pass. Their drivers couldnt be bothered to select a lower gear. Others, after overtaking, slowed down again and hogged the road. Again, a motoring magazine has recently drawn attention to the increasing number of drivers who never wait for gaps.“They manufacture them by force, using their direction indicators as a threat rather than a warning.“ Slanting matches
