1997年1月大学英语六级考试试题
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Part Ⅰ Listening Comprehension (20 minutes)
Section A
Directions: In this section you will hear 10 short conversations. A
t the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what
was s aid. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken
only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the
pause， you must read the four suggested answers marked A)，B)，C)and
D) and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding
letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
Example: You will hear:
You will read: A)2 hours. B)3 hours.
C)4 hours. D)5 hours.
From the conversation we know that the two are talking about some
work they will start at 9 o'clock in the morning and have to finish
at 2 in the afternoon. Therefore, D)"5 hours" is the correct answer.
You should choose ［D］ on the Answer Sheet and mark it with a single
line through the centre.
Sample Answer ［A］［B］［C］［D］
1. A) Their parents cut back the loan.
B) The woman doesn't want Frank to take another English course
C) They can't pay the rent this month.
D) The woman's boss refused to give her a raise.
2. A) Ask Dr. Smith to alter his decision. B) Ask Dr. Smith to call
the library.
C) Get the book directly from Dr. Smith. D) Get Dr. Smith's written
permission.
3. A) $120 B) $108 C) $90 D) $40
4. A) He feels unsympathetic. B) He feels it's a pity.
C) He feels it's unfair. D) He feels glad.
5. A) Doing business. B) Taking pictures.
C) Buying cameras. D) Making movies.
6. A) Looking for an apartment. B) Looking for a job.
C) Taking a suburban excursion. D) Asking the man for his opinions.
7. A) She'll go to her uncle's.
B) She has an appointment with her friend.
C) She'll have an appointment with her friend.
D) She'll have a visitor.
8. A) He made a sudden turn. B) He drove the bus over a bicycle.
C) He tried to avoid hitting the truck. D) He was driving too fast.
9. A) He is curious. B) He is impatient.
C) He is exhausted. D) He is satisfied.
10. A) She didn't know how to use the new oven.
B) She wanted her refrigerator to be fixed.
C) There is something wrong with the oven.
D) There is something wrong with the food.
Section B
Directions: In this section， you will hear 3 short passages. At t he
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). The mark the corresponding letter on the
Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
Passage One
Questions 11 to l3 are based on the passage you have just heard.
11. A) Because he led his teams to many championships.
B) Because he set as many as 65 different records.
C) Because he still played the game after he retired.
D) Because he didn't stop playing even when he was seriously
injured.
12. A) He lost the final chance to win a championship.
B) He was knocked out during one contest.
C) He broke a bone in the wrist during a match.
D) He was awarded with a $1.5 million house.
13. A) To break the previous records.
B) To buy a luxury house.
C) To win one more championship for his team.
D) To play against the New York team once again.
Passage Two
Questions 14 to l6 are based on the passage you have just heard.
14. A) To enjoy a good story. B) To see the actors and actresses.
C) To experience an exciting life. D) To escape their everyday life.
15. A) They feel that everything on the screen is familiar to them.
B) They are touched by the lifestories of the actors and actresses.
C) They try to turn their dreams into reality.
D) They become so involved that they forget their own problems.
16. A) Because they are wellmade and the stories are interesting.
B) Because the heroes have to cope with many problems and
frustrations.
C) Because the characters in the movies are free to do whatever they
like.
D) Because good guys in the movies always win in the end.
Passage Three
Questions 17 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.
17. A) Because the bottle was empty and useless.
B) Because he wanted to lighten the load of his small plane.
C) Because the bottle might be useful to the native Africans.
D) Because he wanted to amuse the local tribespeople.
18. A) A message from the outside world. B) A warning from the gods.
C) A symbol of misfortune. D) A gift from the gods.
19. A) The local Africans are peaceloving people.
B) Soda bottles are very precious in some remote areas.
C) A trivial thing may sometimes bring about undesirable
consequences.
D) Caution must be taken in introducing new technology.
20. A) They thought that the gods were all crazy.
B) They were isolated from the outside world.
C) They enjoyed living in the peaceful desert.
D) They worshipped the gods all the more after the incident.
Part Ⅱ Reading Comprehension (35 minutes )
Directions: There are 4 reading passages in this part. Each passage
is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of
them the re are four choices marked A)，B)，C) and D). you should
dicide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the
Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage:
More and more, the operations of our businesses, governments, and
financial insitutions are controlled by information that exists only
inside computer memories. Anyone clever enough to modify this
information for his own purposes can reap substanitial rewards. Even
worse, a number of people who have done this and been caught at it
have managed to get away without punishment.
It's easy for computer crimes to go undetected if no one checks up
on what the computer is doing. But even if the crime is detected,
the criminal may walk away not only unpunished but with a glowing
recommendation from his former employers.
Of course, we have no statistics on crimes that go undetected. But
it's disturbing to note how many of the crimes we do know about were
detected by accident, no t by systematic inspections or other
security procedures. The computer criminals who have been caught may
been the victims of uncommonly bad luck.
For example, a certain keypunch(键盘打孔) operator complained of having
to stay overtime to punch extra cards. Investigation revealed that
the extra cards s he was being asked to punch were for dishonest
transactions. In another case, dissatisfied employees of the thief
tipped off(向……透露) the company that was being robbed.
Unlike other lawbreakers, who must leave the country, commit
suicide, or go to jail, computer criminals sometimes escape
punishment, demanding not only that they not be charged but that
they be given good recommendations and perhaps other benefits. All
too often, their demands have been met.
Why? Because company executives are afraid of the bad publicity that
would result if the public found out that their computer had been
misused. They hesitate at the thought of a criminal boasting in open
court of how he juggled(耍弄 ) the most confidential records right
under the noses of the company's executives, a ccountants , and
security staff. And so another computer criminal departs with just
the recommendations he needs to continue his crimes elsewhere.
21. It can be concluded from the passage that __________.
A) it is still impossible to detect computer crimes today
B) computer crimes are the most serious problem in the operation of
financial in
stitutions
C) computer criminals can escape punishment because they can't be
detected
D) people commit computer crimes at the request their company
22. It is implied in the third paragraph that __________.
A) many more computer crimes go undetected than are discovered
B) the rapid increase of computer crimes is a troublesome problem
C) most computer criminals are smart enough to cover up their crimes
D) most computer criminals are smart enough to cover up their bad
luck
23. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?
A) A strict law against computer crimes must be enforced.
B) Companies need to impose restrictions on confidential
information.
C) Companies will guard against computer crimes to protect their
reputation
D) Companies usually hesitate to uncover computer crimes.
24. What may happen to computer criminals once they are caught?
A) With a bad reputation they can hardly find another job.
B) They will be denied access to confidential records.
C) They may walk away and easily find another job.
D) They must leave the country or go to jail.
25. The passage is mainly about __________.
A) why computer crimes are difficult to detect by systematic
inspections.
B) why computer criminals are often able to escape punishment
C) how computer criminals manage to get good recommendation from
their former
employers
D) why computer crimes can't be eliminated
Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage:
It is often claimed that nuclear energy is something we cannot do
without. W e live in a consumer society where there is an enormous
demand for commercial products of all kinds. Moreover, an increase
in industrial production is considered to be one solution to the
problem of mass unemployment. Such an increase presumes an abundant
and cheap energy supply. Many people believe that nuclear energy
provides an inexhaustible and economical source of power and that it
is therefore essential for an industrially developing society. There
are a number of other advantages in the use of nuclear energy.
Firstly, nuclear power, except for accidents, is clean. A further
advantage is that a nuclear power station can be run and maintained
by relatively few technical and administrative staff. The nuclear
reactor represents an enormous step in our scientific evolution and,
whatever the antinuclear group says, it is wrong to expect a return
to more primitive sources of fuel. However, opponents of nuclear
energy point out that nuclear power stations bring a direct threat
not only to the environment but also to civil liberties.
Furthermore, it is questionable whether ultimately nuclear power is
a cheap source of energy. There have, for example, been very costly
accidents in America , in Britain and, of course, in Russia. The
possibility of increases in the cost of uranium(铀) in addition to
the cost of greater safety provisions could p rice nuclear power out
of the market. In the long run, environmentalists argue, nuclear
energy wastes valuable resources and disturbs the ecology to an
extent which could bring about the destruction of the human race.
Thus, if we wish to survive, we cannot afford nuclear energy. In
spite of the case against nuclear energy outlined above, nuclear
energy programmes are expanding. Such an expansion assumes a
continual growth in industrial production and consumer demands.
However, it is doubtful whether this growth will or can continue.
Having weighed up the arguments on both sides, it seems there are
good economic and ecological reasons for sources of energy other
than nuclear power.
26. The writer's attitude toward nuclear energy is __________.
A) indifferent B) favorable C) tolerant D) negative
27. According to the opponents of nuclear energy, which of the
following is true of
nuclear energy?
A) Primitive B) Exhaustible C) Cheap D) Unsafe
28. Some people claim that nuclear energy is essential because
__________ .
A) it provides a perfect solution to mass unemployment
B) it represents an enormous step forward in our scientific
evolution
C) it can meet the growing demand of an industrially developing
society
D) nuclear power stations can be run and maintained by relatively
few technical and
administrative staff
29. Which of the following statements does the writer support?
A) The demand for commercial products will not necessarily keep
increasing.
B) Nuclear energy is something we cannot do without.
C) Uranium is a good source of energy for economic and ecological
reasons.
D) Greater safety provisions can bring about the expansion of
nuclear energy
programmes.
30. The function of the last sentence is to __________.
A) advance the final argument.
B) reflect the writer's attitude.
C) reverse previously expressed thoughts.
D) show the disadvantages of nuclear power.
Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage:
Clothes play a critical part in the conclusions we reach by
providing clues to who people are, who they are not, and who they
would like to be. They tell us a good deal about the wearer's
background, personality, status, mood, and social outlook.
Since clothes are such an important source of social information, we
can use them to manipulate people's impression of us. Our appearance
assumes particular significance in the initial phases of interaction
that is likely to occur. An elderly middleclass man or woman may be
alienated(疏远……) by a young adult who is dressed in an unconventional
manner, regardless of the person's education, background, or
interests.
People tend to agree on what certain types of clothes mean.
Adolescent girls can easily agree on the lifestyles of girls who
wear certain outfits(套装), including the number of boyfriends they
likely have had and whether they smoke or d rink. Newscasters, or
the announcers who read the news on TV, are considered to be more
convincing, honest, and competent when they are dressed
conservatively. And collage students who view themselves as taking
an active role in their inter personal relationships say they are
concerned about the costumes they must wear to play these roles
successfully. Moreover, many of us can relate instances in which the
clothing we wore changed the way we felt about ourselves and how we
act ed. Perhaps you have used clothing to gain confidence when you
anticipated a stressful situation, such as a job interview, or a
court appearance.
In the workplace, men have long had welldefined precedents and role
models for achieving success. It has been otherwise for women. A
good many women in the business world are uncertain about the
appropriate mixture of "masculine" an d "feminine" attributes they
should convey by their professional clothing. The variety of
clothing alternatives to women has also been greater than that avail
able for men. Male administrators tend to judge women more favorably
for managerial positions when the women display less "feminine"
grooming(打扮)-shorter hair, moderate use of makeup, and plain
tailored clothing. As one male administrator confessed, "An
attractive woman is definitely going to get a longer interview, but
she won't get a job."
31. According to the passage, the way we dress __________.
A) provides clues for people who are critical of us
B) indicates our likes and dislikes in choosing a career
C) has a direct influence on the way people regard us
D) is of particular importance when we get on in age
32. From the third paragraph of the passage, we can conclude that
young adults t end to
believe that certain types of clothing can __________.
A) change people's conservative attitudes toward their lifestyle
B) help young people make friends with the opposite sex
C) make them competitive in the job market
D) help them achieve success in their interpersonal relationships
33. The word "precedent" (Line 1, Para.4) probably refers to
__________ .
A) early acts for men to follow as examples
B) particular places for men to occupy especially because of their
importance
C) things that men should agree upon
D) men's beliefs that everything in the world has already been
decided
34. According to the passage, many career women find themselves in
difficult situations
because __________.
A) the variety of professional clothing is too wide for them to
choose
B) women are generally thought to be only good at being fashion
models
C) men are more favorably judged for managerial positions
D) they are not sure to what extent they should display their
feminine qualities
through clothing
35. What is the passage mainly about?
A) Dressing for effect. B) How to dress appropriately.
C) Managerial positions and clothing. D) Dressing for the occasion.
Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:
The more women and minorities make their way into the ranks of
management, t he more they seem to want to talk about things
formerly judged to be best left unsaid. The newcomers also tend to
see office matters with a fresh eye, in the process sometimes coming
up with critical analyses of the forces that shape everyones
experience in the organization.
Consider the novel views of Harvey Coleman of Atlanta on the subject
of getting ahead. Coleman is black. He spent 11 years with IBM, half
of them working in management development, and now serves as a
consultant to the likes of AT&T, Co caCola, Prudential, and Merch.
Coleman says that based on what he's seen at bi g companies, he
weighs the different elements that make for longterm career success
as follows: performance counts a mere 10%, image, 30%; and exposure,
a full 60%. Coleman concludes that excellent job performance is so
common these days that while doing your work well may win you pay
increases, it won't secure you the big promotion. He finds that
advancement more often depends on how many people know you and your
work, and how high up they are.
Ridiculous beliefs? Not to many people, especially many women and
members of minority races who, like Coleman, feel that the
scales(障眼物) have dropped fro m their eyes. "Women and blacks in
organizations work under false beliefs," says Kaleel Jamison, a New
Yorkbased management consultant who helps corporation s deal with
these issues. "They think that if you work hard, you'll get ahead-t
hat someone in authority will reach down and give you a promotion."
She adds, "Most women and blacks are so frightened that people will
think they've gotten ahead because of their sex or color that they
play down(使不突出) their visibility." Her advice to those folks: learn
the ways that white males have traditionally used to find their way
into the spotlight.
36. According to the passage, "things formerly judged to be best
left un said" (Line 2,
Para.1) probably refers to "__________".
A) criticisms that shape everyone's experience
B) the opinions which contradict the established beliefs
C) the tendencies that help the newcomers to see office matters with
a fresh eye
D) the ideas which usually come up with usually come up with new
ways of management
in the organization
37. To achieve success in your career, the most important factor,
accordi ng to the
passage, is to __________.
A) let your superiors know how good you are
B) project a favorable image to the people around you
C) work as a consultant to your superiors
D) perform well your tasks given by your superiors
38. The reason why women and blacks play down their visibility is
that th ey __________.
A) know that someone in authority will reach down and give them a
promotion
B) want to give people the impression that they work under false
beliefs
C) don't want people to think that their promotions were due to sex
or color
D) believe they can get promoted by reason of their sex or color
39. The author is of the opinion that Coleman's beliefs are
__________ .
A) biased B) popular C) insightful D) superficial
40. The best title for this passage would be __________.
A) Role of Women and Minorities in Management
B) The Importance of Being Visible
C) Job Performance and Advancement
D) Sex and Career Success
Part Ⅲ Vocabulary and Structure (20 minutes)
Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each
sentence there are four choices marked A)，B)，C) and D). Choose the
ONE that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding
letter on the Answer She et with a single line through the centre.
41. As a _____ actor, he can perform, sing, dance and play several
kinds of musical
instruments.
A) flexible B) versatile C) sophisticated D) productive
42. There are not many teachers who are strong ______ of traditional
methods in English
teaching.
A) sponsors B) contributors C) advocates D) performers
43. We managed to reach the top of the mountain, and half an hour
later we began to ___.
A) ascend B) descend C) decline D) plunge
44. Competition, they believe, __________ the national character
than corrupt it.
A) enforces B) confirms C) intensifies D) strengthens
45. The accident __________ him of his sight and the use of hi s
legs.
A) excluded B) disabled C) deprived D) gripped
46. On weekends my grandma usually __________ a glass of wine.
A) subscribes to B) engages in C) hangs on D) indulges in
47. The people living in these apartments have free _______ to that
swimming pool.
A) access B) excess C) excursion D) recreation
48. At the party we found that shy girl __________ her mother all
the time.
A) depending on B) coinciding with C) adhering to D) clinging to
49. When a psychologist does a general experiment about the human
mind, h e selects
people __________ and ask them questions.
A) at length B) at random C) in essence D) in bulk
50. I think she hurt my feelings __________ rather than by accident
as she claimed.
A) virtually B) deliberately C) literally D) appropriately
51. Even though he was guilty, the __________ judge did not send him
to prison.
A) merciful B) impartial C) conscientious D) conspicuous
52. The education ______ for the coming year is about $4 billion,
which is much more
than what people expected.
A) allowance B) reservation C) budget D) finance
53. They had fierce __________ as to whether their company should
restore the trade
relationship which was broken year ago.
A) debate B) clash C) disagreement D) context
54. They tossed your thoughts back and forth for over an hour, but
still could not make
__________ of them.
A) impression B) comprehension C) meaning D) sense
55. The politician says he will __________ the welfare of the
people.
A) prey on B) take on C) get at D) see to
56. If you __________ the bottle and cigarettes, you'll be much
healthier.
A) take off B) keep off C) get off D) set off
57. He was __________ to steal the money when he saw it lying on the
table.
A) dragged B) tempted C) elicited D) attracted
58. Beijing somewhat shortsighted, she had the habit of __________
at people.
A) glancing B) peering C) gazing D) scanning
59. Of the thousands of known volcanoes in the world, the _______
majority are inactive.
A) tremendous B) demanding C) intensive D) overwhelming
60. In general, matters which lie entirely within state borders are
the______ concern
of state governments.
A) extinct B) excluding C) excessive D) exclusive
61. The poetry of Ezra Pound is sometimes difficult to understand
because it contains
so many __________ references.
A) obscure B) acute C) notable D) objective
62. The mayor was asked to __________ his speech in order to allow
his audience to
raise questions.
A) constrain B) conduct C) condense D) converge
63. The morning news says a school bus __________ with a train at
the junction and a
group of policemen were sent there immediately.
A) bumped B) collided C) crashed D) struck
64. Sometimes patients suffering from severe pain can be helped by
"drug s" that aren't
really drugs at all ________ sugar pills that contain no a ctive
chemical elements.
A) or rather B) rather than C) but rather D) other than
65. We are writing to the manager ____ the repairs recently carried
out at the above
address.
A) with the exception of B) with the purpose of
C) with reference to D) with a view to
66. When I said goodbye to her, she __________ the door.
A) saw me at B) set me off C) sent me to D) showed me to
67. In the meantime,the question facing business is whether such
research is _____ the
costs.
A) worth B) worth of C) worthy D) worthwhile
68. During the nineteen years of his career, France Batiste has won
the ____ of a wide
audience outside Italy.
A) enjoyment B) appreciation C) evaluation D) reputation
69. Although most dreams apparently happen __________, dream
activity may be provoked
by external influences.
A) spontaneously B) simultaneously C) homogeneously D)
instantaneously
70. He is holding a ______ position in the company and expects to be
promoted soon.
A) subordinate B) succeeding C) successive D) subsequent
Part Ⅳ Short Answer Questions (15 minutes )
Directions: In this part there is a short passage with five
questions or incomplete statements. Read the passage carefully. Then
answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest
possible words.
Joe Templer should have known better: after all, he works for a
large auto insurance company. It won't hurt to leave the key in the
truck this once, he thought, as he filled his gas tank at a
selfservice gas station. But moments latte r as he was paying the
money he saw the truck being driven away.
In 1987,1.6 million motor vehicles were stolen in the United
States-one every 20 seconds. If current trends continue, experts
predict annual vehicle thefts could exceed two million by the end of
the decade.
Vehicle theft is a common phenomenon, which has a direct impact on
over four million victims a year. The cost is astonishing.
Many police officials blame professional thieves for the high volume
of thefts. It is a major moneymaker for organized crime. Typically,
stolen cars are taken to pieces and the parts sold to individuals.
But as many as 200,000 cars a re smuggled out of the country every
year. Most go to Latin America, the Middle East and Europe.
Only about 15 percent car thefts result in an arrest, because few
police departments routinely conduct indepth autoinvestigations.
When thieves are arrested, judges will often sentence them to
probation(缓刑), not immediately put them in prison because the
prisons are overcrowded with violent criminals.
One exception is a Michigan program that assigns 92 police officers
to work fulltime on the state's 65,000 car theft cases a year.
Since 1986, when the effort began, the state's autotheft rate has
fallen from second in the nation to ninth.
How can you protect your car? If you live in a hightheft area or
drive an expensive model, consider a security system. It may cost
anywhere from $25 to $1, 000. Some systems engage
automaticallysimply removing the key disables the fuel pump and the
starter. When cars are equipped with such systems, t hefts may drop
by onethird. In some states, you may be able to use a device that
transmits radio signals, allowing stolen cars to be tracked by
police.
Questions:
71. What is the passage mainly about?
_______________________________________________.
72. What does the author think Joe Templer should be blamed for?
_______________________________________________.
73. How serious did the author predict the annual vehicle theft
could in the United
States in 1989?
_______________________________________________.
74. What are the two ways thieves sell the stolen cars?
_______________________________________________.
75. What type of security system can help the police track down a
stolen car?
_______________________________________________.
Part Ⅴ Writing (30 minutes)
Directions: For this part, you are allowed thirty minutes t o write
a composition on the topic Haste Makes Waste. You should write at
least 120 words and you should base your composition on the outline
(given in Chinese) below:
1. 为什么说"欲速则不达"。
2. 试举例说明。
附:1997年1月大学英语六级考试参考答案
Part Ⅰ Listening Comprehension
1-10 C D B A D A D A B C
11-20 B C C D D A A D C B
Part Ⅱ Reading Comprehension
21.C 22.A 23.D 24.C 25.C 26.D 27.D 28.C 29.A 30.B
31.C 32.D 33.A 34.D 35.A 36.B 37.A 38.C 39.B 40.B
Part Ⅲ Vocabulary Structure
41.B 42.C 43.B 44.D 45.C 46.D 47.A 48.D 49.B 50.D
51.A 52.C 53.A 54.D 55.D 56.B 57.B 58.C 59.D 60.D
61.A 62.C 63.B 64.C 65.C 66.D 67.A 68.B 69.A 70.A
Part Ⅳ Short Answer Questions
S1.Vehicle theft and security system in U.S.
S2.Having left his key in the truck.
S3.Over 2 million vehicles will be stolen.
S4.Selling by parts and smuggling into other countries.
S5.The type transmitting radio signals.
Part Ⅴ Writing(略)
