1、大学英语六级模拟试卷 30及答案与解析 一、 Part I Writing (30 minutes) 1 For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic A Boom in Continuing Education. You should write at least 150 words according to the outline given below in Chinese: 1图中 所示为某城市 1989、 1994、 1999、 2004年参加成人教育 (或继续教育 )的人数
2、情况，请描述其变化 2请说明发生这些变化的原因 (可从社会发展及竞争能力方面加以说明 ) 3请预测我国成人教育 (或继续教育 )的前景二、 Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) (15 minutes) Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions attached to the passage. For questions 1-4, mark： Y (for
3、 YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage; N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage; NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage. 2 Organic Food Organic farming was among the fastest growing segments of U.S. agri
4、culture during the 1990s. The value of retail sales of organic food was estimated to be $16 billion in 2004. According to the Food Marketing Institute, more than half of Americans now buy organic food at least once a month. Why is organic food becoming so popular? What is Organic Food? In December 2
5、000, the National Organic Standards Board of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established a national standard for the term “organic“. Organic food, defined by how it cannot be made rather than how it can be made, must be produced without the use of sewer-sludge fertilizers, most synthetic f
6、ertilizers and pesticides, genetic engineering (biotechnology), growth hormones, irradiation and antibiotics. A variety of agricultural products can be produced organically, including produce, grains, meat, dairy, eggs, and processed food products. “Organic“ does not mean “natural“. There is no lega
7、l definition as to what constitutes a “natural“ food. However, the food industry uses the term “natural“ to indicate that a food has been minimally processed and is preservative-free. Natural foods can include organic foods, but not all natural foods are organic. Only foods labeled “organic“ have be
8、en certified as meeting USDA organic standards. Organic Farming The phrase “organic farming“ first appeared in Lord Northbournes book Look to the Land, published in 1940. But the truth is, organic farming is the oldest form of agriculture. Be- fore the end of World War , farming without the use of p
9、etroleum-based chemicals (synthetic fertilizers and pesticides) was the only option for farmers, Technologies developed during the war were found to be useful for agricultural production. For example, the chemical ammonium nitrate(硝酸铵 ), which was used as munitions(军需品 ), became useful as fertilizer
10、, and organophosphates(有机磷酸盐 ) used for nerve gas were later used as insecticide. These days, farmers are switching to organic agriculture once again, but now with an eco- logically based, systematic approach that includes long-term planning, detailed record keeping and major investment in equipment
11、 and supplies. Although it is still only a small industry, the number of organic farmers is growing by about 12 percent per year and now stands at more than 12,000 nationwide. Organic Farming in the U.S. Today The USDAs Economic Research Service reports that in 1997, the latest year for which data a
12、re available, farmers in 49 states used organic production methods and third-party organic certification services on 1.35 million acres out of a total of 828 million acres of farmland. Approximately two-thirds of the certified U.S. organic farmland was used for crops, and one-third was used as pastu
13、re. Large farms, mostly located in the Midwest and West, produced processed tomatoes, organic wine grapes and other high-value crops on a commercial scale, whereas numerous small farms, concentrated in the Northeast, specialized in mixed vegetable production for direct marketing to consumers and res
14、taurants. While organic food can be found throughout the country, California was the leader in production of organic fruits and vegetables in 1997, followed closely by Arizona, Florida, Texas, and Washington in decreasing order of total yield. Farmers and ranchers in 23 states raised a small number
15、of certified organic cows, hogs and sheep. New York, Wisconsin and Minnesota were the top producers of organic dairy cows. Production: Organic vs. Conventional As you can imagine, organic agricultural practices are quite distinct from those of “conventional” farming. Conventional farmers: apply chem
16、ical, fertilizers to the soil to grow their crops spray with insecticides to protect crops from pests and disease use synthetic herbicides to control weed growth Organic farmers: feed soil and build soil matter with natural fertilizer to grow their crops use insect predators, mating disruption, trap
17、s and barriers to protect crops from pests and disease make use of crop rotation, mechanical tillage and hand weeding, as well as cover crops, mulches, flame weeding and other management methods to control weed growth As a last res. ort, organic farmers may apply certain botanical or other non-synth
18、etic pesticides. How Do I Know if a Food is Organic? Look for the word “organic“ on vegetables or pieces of fruit, or on the sign above the organic produce display. The word “organic“ may also appear on packages of meat, cartons of milk or eggs, cheese and other single- ingredient foods. Foods label
19、ed “100 percent organic“ must contain only organic ingredients. Products containing at least 70 percent organic content can be labeled “made with organic ingredients“. Those foods labeled simply “organic“ must have at least 95 percent organic ingredients, by weight or fluid volume, excluding water a
20、nd salt. Anyone who knowingly sells or labels a product “organic“ that is not produced and handled in accordance with these regulations can face a civil penalty of up to $10,000. Foods grown and processed according to the federal standards will in most cases bear the seal “USDA Organic“. As its use
21、is voluntary, companies may choose not to display the seal. Why Should I Care if a Food is Organic? According to the USDA, organic food production allows farmers to lower input costs, decrease reliance on nonrenewable resources, capture high-value markets and premium prices, and boost farm income. O
22、rganic agriculture also has many important environmental benefits: It promotes sustainability by establishing an ecological balance to prevent soil fertility or pest problems. In the long run, organic farms tend to conserve energy and protect the environment by maintaining ecological harmony. It enh
23、ances biodiversity, or the presence of multiple plant and animal species. Having a highly diverse genetic pool becomes useful in the future when beneficial characteristics can be tapped. Because organic agriculture utilizes practices such as crop rotations, inter-cropping, symbiotic associations, co
24、ver crops and minimum tillage, the length of time that the soil is exposed to erosive forces is decreased, which minimizes nutrient losses and boosts soil productivity. By not using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic agriculture reduces pollution of groundwater. Organic agriculture helps
25、to minimize the greenhouse effect and global warming through its ability to keep carbon in the soil. Why is Organic Food So Expensive? Prices tend to be higher for organic than conventional products. As stated on the Web site of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations(UN),
26、Certified organic products are generally more expensive than their conventional counterparts because: The organic food supply is limited as compared to demand. Production costs for organic foods are typically higher because of greater labor input and because farmers dont produce enough of a single p
27、roduct to lower the overall cost. Post-harvest handling of relatively small quantities of organic foods results in higher costs because organic and conventional produce must be separated for processing and transportation. Marketing and the distribution chain for organic products are relatively ineff
28、icient, and costs are higher because of relatively small volumes. The FAO also notes that as the demand for organic food and products increases, technological innovations and economies of scale should reduce costs of, production, processing, distribution and marketing for organic produce. Is Organic
29、 Food Better than Conventional Food? Organic and conventional food must meet the same quality and safety standards. Organic food differs from conventionally produced food simply in the way it is grown, handled and processed. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that it is more nutritious or sa
30、fer than conventional food. A recently published report indicates that organic food is less likely to contain pesticide residues than conventional food. Yet, according to the National Research Council, the traces of pesticides left on conventionally grown products are unlikely to cause an increased
31、cancer risk. Also, if fruits and vegetables are properly washed, most of the chemicals can be removed. As for taste, thats up to you to decide what you like best. In general, people tend to find that the fresher a food is, the better it tastes, regardless of how it was produced. 2 The passage is mai
32、nly about the differences between conventional and organic farming. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 3 Organic agriculture has become a big industry as more and more farmers are switching to it. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 4 Organic food is not necessarily better than conventional food in terms of nutrition, safety
33、or taste. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 5 According to the FAO, as the demand for organic food and products increases, prices will be lower for organic products than conventional products. （ A） Y （ B） N （ C） NG 6 Organic agriculture contributes to slowing down the global temperature increase through its abi
34、lity to _. 7 Most of the foods grown and processed according to the federal standards will bear the seal _. 8 _ are applied in conventional farming for weed control. 9 According to the USDA, _ tend to be reduced in Organic food production. 10 The first use of the term “organic farming“ is usually cr
35、edited to _ in his 1940 book, Look to the Land. 11 Different from large organic farms, small organic farms were mainly engaged in _. 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 ask
36、ed 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. （ A） The latest nurse is the best one. （ B） The latest nurs
37、e was ill for two times last month. （ C） The latest nurse is the worst one. （ D） In the past five months, the man has introduced the woman quite a few nurses. （ A） Light rain. （ B） Heavy rain. （ C） Lightning. （ D） Heavy snow （ A） Tiananmen Square. （ B） The Temple of Heaven. （ C） Leopard Hill. （ D） T
38、he Imperial Palace. （ A） 3 pills. （ B） 4 pills. （ C） 9 pills. （ D） 12 pills. （ A） They usually go jogging. （ B） They usually go to the parks to do their exercises. （ C） They usually do Taijiquan. （ D） They are still asleep. （ A） He was afraid he might be kept too late. （ B） He would have something m
39、ore important to do. （ C） He was not in the mood to attend the excursion. （ D） He had to make an appointment with a friend. （ A） He will go to instead of his wife. （ B） He will go to when he finishes his report. （ C） He will ask his boss for a leave. （ D） It would be better for her wife to go to. （
40、A） Took many photos of her. （ B） Bought her an album. （ C） Held a birthday party. （ D） Bought her a picture. （ A） Admission standards at the University of Michigan. （ B） The use of standardized tests for college admissions. （ C） The TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language). （ D） Evaluation witho
41、ut standardized tests. （ A） He believes that the tests are good. （ B） He believes that the required test scores are too low. （ C） He believes that they are more important than academic preparation. （ D） He believes that the tests should not be used correctly. （ A） That they dont always use the TOEFL
42、 and the Michigan Test scores correctly. （ B） That they look at transcripts instead of scores. （ C） That they should insist on a rigid cut-off score. （ D） That they are looking for an appropriate alternative. （ A） Its crowded with people. （ B） Its full of computers. （ C） Lunch is being Served there.
43、 （ D） Only few people in there. （ A） Trying to telephone someone. （ B） Attending a concert. （ C） Waiting in line. （ D） Canceling reservations. （ A） Before breakfast. （ B） Late morning. （ C） Mid-afternoon. （ D） Late evening. （ A） Looking at some photographs. （ B） Selling cameras. （ C） Teaching a phot
44、ography class （ D） Repairing camera equipment. 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
45、 the four choices marked A, B, C and D. （ A） It tries to categorize the different kinds of sharks throughout the world. （ B） It tries to warn humans of the dangers posed by sharks. （ C） It tries to describe the characteristics of shark teeth. （ D） It tries to clear up misconceptions about sharks. （
46、A） All sharks have teeth. （ B） A shark can have six rows of teeth. （ C） A shark can have hundreds of teeth. （ D） All sharks have extremely sharp teeth. （ A） person should probably be the least afraid of a dwarf shark. （ B） A person should probably be the least afraid of a tiger shark. （ C） A person
47、should probably be the least afraid of a bull shark. （ D） A person should probably be the least afraid of a great white shark. （ A） Because future shock is caused by greatly accelerated rate of change. （ B） Because future shock can not be predicated. （ C） Because future shock prevent people from ret
48、urning to a more familiar culture. （ D） Because future shock cant be explained in words. （ A） The shock a business man feel when there is no room for bargaining. （ B） The shock Peace Corp volunteers suffered from in Borneo. （ C） The shock a traveler feels in a strange environment. （ D） The shock Mar
49、co Polo felt in China. （ A） The frustration bought on by inability of people. （ B） The earlier arrival of the future. （ C） The disorientation caused by reality. （ D） The widespread disease prevailing in the world. （ A） Neither of the two types of rockets is very economical. （ B） The liquid-fuel rocket is best. （ C） Each type of rocket has certain advantages. （ D） The solid-fuel rocket is best. （ A） The rocket should be inexpensive to construct. （ B） The rocket is capable of lifting heavy spacecraft into orb
