英語(yǔ)六級(jí)真題試卷

英語(yǔ)六級(jí)真題試卷完整版Writing(30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteashortessayoninnovation.Youressayshouldincludetheimportanceofinnovationandmeasurestobetakentoencourageinnovation.Youarerequiredtowriteatleast150wordsbutnomorethan200words.ListeningComprehension(30minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillheartwolongconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,youwillhearfourquestions.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions1to4arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard..A)Ittriestopredictthepossibletrendsofglobalclimatechange.Itstudiestheimpactsofglobalclimatechangeonpeople'slives.Itlinksthescienceofclimatechangetoeconomicandpolicyissues.Itfocusesontheeffortscountriescanmaketodealwithglobalwarming.2.A)Itwilltakealongtimebeforeaconsensusisreachedonitsimpact.Itwouldbemorecostlytodealwithitsconsequencesthantoavoidit.Itisthemostpressingissueconfrontingallcountries.Itisboundtocauseendlessdisputesamongnations.3.A)Thetransitiontolow-carbonenergysystems.Thecooperationamongworldmajorpowers.Thesigningofaglobalagreement.Theraisingofpeople'sawareness.4.A)Carryoutmoreresearchonit.Planwellinadvance.Cutdownenergyconsumption.Adoptnewtechnology.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD),YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageoneQuestions46to50arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Anyveterannicotineaddictwilltestifythatfancypackagingplaysnoroleinthedecisiontokeepsmoking,So,itisargued,strippingcartonsoftheirbrandingwilltriggernomassmovementtoquit.Butthatisn'twhythegovernment—underpressurefromcancercharities,healthworkersandtheLabourparty—hasagreedtolegislateforstandardizedpackaging.Thetheoryisthatsmokingshouldbestrippedofanyappealtodiscouragenewgenerationsfromstartinginthefirstplace.Plainpackagingwouldbeanotherstepinthereclassificationofcigarettesfrominvitingconsumerproductstonarcotics(麻醉劑).Naturally,thetobaccoindustryisviolentlyopposed.Nobusinesslikestoadmitthatitsellsaddictivepoisonasalifestylechoice.Thatiswhygovernmenthashistoricallyintervened,banningadvertising,imposinghealthwarningsandpunitive(懲罰性的)duties.Thisapproachhasledovertimetoafallinsmokingwithnumbershavingroughlyhalvedsincethe1970s.EvidencefromAustraliasuggestsplainpackagingpushessocietyfurtheralongthatroad.SincetobaccoasoneofthebiggestcausesofprematuredeathintheUK,ameasurethattamesthehabitevenbyafractionisworthtrying.Sowhyhasittakensolong?TheDepartmentofHealthdeclareditsintentiontoconsiderthemoveinNovember2010andconsultedthrough2012.ButtheplanwassuspendedinJuly2013.ItdidnotescapenoticethatalobbyingfirmsetupbyLyntonCrosby,DavidCameron'selectioncampaigndirector,hadpreviouslyactedforPhilipMorrisInternational.(Theprimeministerdeniedtherewasaconnectionbetweenhisnewsadviser'soutsideinterestsandthechangeinlegislativeprogramme.)InNovember2013,afteranunnecessaryroundofadditionalconsultation,healthministerJaneEllisonsaidthegovernmentwasmindedtoproceedafterall.NowwearetoldMembersofParliament[MPs]willhaveafreevoicebeforeparliamentisdissolvedinMarch.Parliamenthasinfactalreadyauthorisedthegovernmenttotamethetobaccotrade.MPsvotedoverwhelminglyinfavourofLabouramendmentstothechildrenandfamiliesbilllastFebruarythatincludedthepowertoregulateforplainpackaging.WithsufficientwillinDowningStreetthiswouldhavebeendonealready.ButstrengthofwillisthemissingingredientwhereMr.Cameronandpublichealthareconcerned.Hisattitudetostateinterventionhaslookedconfusedeversincehisbizarre20061ament(嘆息)thatchocolateorangesplacedseductivelyatsupermarketcheck-outsfueledobesity.Thegovernmenthasmovedreluctantlyintoasensiblepublichealthpolicy,butwithsuchobviousover-cautiousnessthatanypoliticalcreditduebelongstotheopposition.WithoutsustainedexternalpressureitseemscertainMr.Cameronwouldstillbehookedontheinterestsofbigtobaccocompanies.Whatdochainsmokersthinkofcigarettepackaging?Fancypackagingcanhelptoengagenewsmokers.Ithaslittletodowiththequalityortasteofcigarettes.Plainpackagingdiscouragesnon-smokersfromtakingupsmoking.Ithaslittleimpactontheirdecisionwhetherornottoquitsmoking.WhathastheUKgovernmentagreedtodoconcerningtobaccopackaging?Passalawtostandardisecigarettepackaging.Ridcigarettecartonsofalladvertisements.Subsidisecompaniestoadoptplainpackaging.Reclassifycigarettesaccordingtopackaging.WhathashappenedinAustraliawhereplainpackagingisimplemented?Prematuredeathratesresultingfromsmokinghavedeclined.ThenumberofsmokershasdroppedmoresharplythanintheUK.Thesalesoftobaccosubstituteshaveincreasedconsiderably.CigarettesaleshavebeenfallingfarmorequicklythanintheUK.WhyittakensolongfortheUKgovernmenttoconsiderplainpackaging?PrimeMinisterCameronhasbeenreluctanttotakeaction.Thereisstrongoppositionfromveterannicotineaddicts.ManyMembersofParliamentareaddictedtosmoking.Pressurefromtobaccomanufacturersremainsstrong.WhatdidCameronsayaboutchocolateorangesatsupermarketcheckouts?Theyfueledalotofcontroversy.TheymademoreBritishpeopleobese.Theyattractedalotofsmokers.Theyhadcertainingredientsmissing.PassageTwoQuestions51to55arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Whatawasteofmoney!Inreturnforanaverageof￡44,000ofdebt,studentsgetanaverageofonly14hoursoflectureandtutorialtimeaweekinBritain.Annualfeeshaverisenfrom￡l,000to$9,000inthelastdecade.Butcontacttimeatuniversityhasbarelyrisenatall.Andgraduatingdoesn'tevenprovideanyguaranteeofadecentjob:sixintengraduatestodayareinnon-graduatejobs.Nowonderithasbecomefashionabletodenouncemanyuniversitiesaslittlemorethatelaboratecom-tricks（騙術(shù)）.There'salotforstudentstocomplainabouttherepaymentthresholdforpayingbackloanswillbefrozenforfiveyears,meaningthatlower-paidgradualshavetostartrepayingtheirloans,andmaintenancegrantshavebeenreplacedbyloansmeaningthatstudentsfrompoorerbackgroundsfacehigherdebtthanthosewithwealthierparents.Yetitstillpaystogotouniversity.Ifgoingtouniversitydoesn'tworkout,studentspayverylittle—ifany—oftheirtuitionfeesback,youonlystartrepayingwhenyouareearning￡21,000ayear.Almosthalfofgraduates—thosewhogoontoearnless—willhaveaportionoftheirdebtwrittenoff.Itsnotjustthelecturesandtutorialsthatareimportant.Educationisthesumofwhatstudentsteacheachotherinbetweenlecturesandseminars.Studentsdonotmerelybenefitwhileatuniversity,studiesshowtheygoontobehealthierandhappierthannon-graduates,andalsofarmorelikelytovote.Whateveryourtalents,itisextraordinarilydifficulttogetaleadingjobinmostfieldswithouthavingbeentouniversity.Recruiterscircleeliteuniversitieslikevulturous（兀鷹）.Manytopfirmswillnotevenlookatapplicationsfromthosewholacka2.1,i.e.,anupper-secondclassdegree,fromaneliteuniversity.Studentsatuniversityalsomeetthoselikelytobeinleadingjobsinthefuture,formingcontactsforlife.Thismightnotberight,butschool-leaverswhofailtoacknowledgeasmuchriskmakingthewrongdecisionaboutgoingtouniversity.Perhapsthereasonwhysomanyuniversitiesoffertheirstudentssolittleistheyknowstudyingatatopuniversityremainsabrilliantinvestmentevenifyoudon'tlearnanything.Studyingatuniversitywillonlybecomelessattractiveifemployersshifttheirfocusawayfromwheresomeonewenttouniversity—andthereisnosignofthathappeninganytimesoon.School-leaversmaymoan,buttheyhavelittlechoicebuttoembraceuniversityandthestudentdebtthatcomeswithit.Whatistheauthor'sopinionofgoingtouniversity?Itisworthwhileafterall.Itissimplyawasteoftime.Itishardtosaywhetheritisgoodorbad.Itistooexpensiveformostyoungpeople.WhatdoestheauthorsayabouttheemploymentsituationofBritishuniversitygraduates?Fewofthemaresatisfiedwiththejobstheyareoffered.Itusuallytakesalongtimeforthemtofindadecentjob.Graduatesfromeliteuniversitiesusuallycangetdecentjobs.Mostofthemtakejobswhichdon'trequireacollegedegree.Whatdoestheauthorsayisimportantforuniversitystudentsbesidesclassroominstruction?Makingsuretoobtainanupper-secondclassdegree.Practicalskillstheywillneedintheirfuturecareers.Interactionsamongthemselvesoutsidetheclassroom.Developingindependentandcreativethinkingabilities.Whatissaidtobeanadvantageofgoingtouniversity?Learninghowtotakerisksinanever-changingworld.Meetingpeoplewhowillbehelpfultoyouinthefuture.Havingopportunitiesofplayingaleadingroleinsociety.Gainingup-to-dateknowledgeinscienceandtechnology.Whatcanweinferfromthelastparagraph?Itisnaturalforstudentstomakecomplaintsaboutuniversityeducation.Fewstudentsarewillingtobeartheburdenofdebtincurredatuniversity.Universityeducationisbecomingattractivetostudentswhocanaffordit.Theprestigeoftheuniversityinfluencesemployers,recruitmentdecisions.PartIVTranslation(30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestotranslateapassagefromChineseintoEnglish.YoushouldwriteyouransweronAnswerSheet2.隨著生活水平的提高，度假在中國(guó)人生活中的作用越來(lái)越重要。過(guò)去，中國(guó)人的時(shí)間主要花在謀生上，很少有機(jī)會(huì)外出旅行。然而，近年來(lái)中國(guó)旅游業(yè)發(fā)展迅速。經(jīng)濟(jì)的繁榮和富裕中產(chǎn)階級(jí)的出現(xiàn)，引發(fā)了一個(gè)前所未有的旅游熱潮。中國(guó)人不僅在國(guó)內(nèi)旅游，出國(guó)旅游也越來(lái)越普遍。2016年國(guó)慶節(jié)假日期間，旅游消費(fèi)總計(jì)超過(guò)4000億元。據(jù)世界貿(mào)易組織估計(jì)，2020年中國(guó)將成為世界上最大的旅游國(guó)，在未來(lái)幾年里將成為處境旅游支出增長(zhǎng)最快的國(guó)家。Questions5to8arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.5.A)Whenluckplaysarole.Whatdeterminessuccess.Whetherpracticemakesperfect.Howimportantnaturaltalentis..A)Itknocksatyourdooronlyonceinawhile.Itissomethingthatnoonecanpossiblycreate.Itcomesnaturallyoutofone'sself-confidence.Itmeansbeinggoodatseizingopportunities..A)Luckrarelycontributestoaperson'ssuccess.)Onemusthavenaturaltalenttobesuccessful.)Oneshouldalwaysbereadytoseizeopportunities.Practiceisessentialtobecominggoodatsomething.8.A)Puttingtimeandeffortintofunthingsisprofitable.Peoplewholovewhattheydocarelittleaboutmoney.Beingpassionateaboutworkcanmakeonewealthy.Peopleinneedofmoneyworkhardautomatically.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillheartwopassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearthreeorfourquestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD),ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions9to12arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.9.A)Thestumpofagianttree.Ahugepieceofrock.Thepeakofamountain.Atallchimney.10.A)Humanactivity.Windandwater.Chemicalprocesses.Fireandfury..A)Itisahistoricalmonument.Itwasbuiltinancienttimes.ItisIndians'sacredplaceforworship.Itwascreatedbysupernaturalpowers..A)Byshelteringtheminacave.Bykillingtheattackingbears.Byliftingthemwellabovetheground.Bytakingthemtothetopofamountain.Questions13to15arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard..A)Theywillbuysomethingfromtheconveniencestores.Theywilltakeadvantageofthetimetorestawhile.Theywillhavetheirvehicleswashedorserviced.Theywillpickupsomesouvenirsorgiftitems..A)Theycanbringonlytemporarypleasures.Theyaremeantfortheextremelywealthy.Theyshouldbedoneawaywithaltogether.Theymayeventuallydriveonetobankruptcy.15.A)Agoodwaytosocializeistohavedailylunchwithone'scolleagues.Retirementsavingsshouldcomefirstinone'sfamilybudgeting.Avacationwillbeaffordableifonesaves20dollarsaweek.Smalldailysavingscanmakeabigdifferenceinone'slife.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreerecordingsoflecturesortalksfollowedbythreeorfourquestions.Therecordingswillbeplayedonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions16to18arebasedontherecordingyouhavejustheard.16.A)Theyshouldbedoneawaywith.Theyarenecessaryinourlives.Theyenrichourexperience.Theyareharmfultohealth..A)Theyfeelstressedoutevenwithoutanychallengesinlife.Theyfeeltoooverwhelmedtodealwithlife'sproblems.Theyareanxioustofreethemselvesfromlife'stroubles.Theyareexhaustedevenwithoutdoinganyheavywork..A)Theyexpandourmind.Theyprolongourlives.Theynarrowourfocus.Theylessenourburdens.Questions19to22arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.19.A)Itisnoteasilybreakable.Itcamefroma3Dprinter.Itrepresentsthelateststyle.Itwasmadebyafashiondesigner.20.A)Whenshehadjustgraduatedfromhercollege.WhensheattendedaconferenceinNewYorkWhenshewasstudyingatafashiondesignschool.Whensheattendedafashionshowninemonthsago.21.A)Itwasdifficulttoprint.Itwashardtocomeby.Itwashardandbreakable.Itwasextremelyexpensive..A)Itisthelatestmodelofa3Dprinter.B)Itisaplasticwidelyusedin3Dprinting.C)ltgivesfashiondesignersroomforimagination.D)Itmarksabreakthroughinprintingmaterial.Questions23to25arebasedontherecordingyouhavejustheard..A)Theyarisefromtheadvancesintechnology.BJTheyhavenotbeenexaminedindetailsofar.CJTheyareeasytosolvewithmoderntechnology.D)Theycan'tbesolvedwithoutgovernmentsupport..A)Itisattractivetoentrepreneurs.B)Itdemandshugeinvestment.C)Itfocusesonnewproducts.D)Itisintenselycompetitive..A)Cooperationwithbigcompanies.BJRecruitingmorequalifiedstaff.C)In-servicetrainingofITpersonnel.DJSharingofcostswitheachother.PartHIReadingComprehension(40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectoutonewordforeachblankfromalotofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.PleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemonAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Smallcommunities,withtheirdistinctivecharacter—wherelifeisstableandintenselyhuman—aredisappearing.Somehave_26fromthefaceoftheearth,othersaredyingslowly,butallhave_27_changesastheyhavecomeintocontactwithan_28—machinecivilization.Themergingofdiversepeoplesintoacommonmasshasproducedtensionamongmembersoftheminoritiesandthemajorityalike.TheOldOrderAmish,whoarrivedonAmericanshoresincolonialtimes,have―29―inthemodernworldindistinctive,smallcommunities.Theyhaveresistedthehomogenization_30—moresuccessfullythanothers.Inplantingandharvesttimesonecanseetheirbeardedmenworkingthefieldswithhorsesandtheirwomenhangingoutthelaundryinneatrowstodry.ManyAmericanpeoplehaveseenAmishfamilieswiththemenwearingbroad-brimmedblackhatsandthewomeninlongdresses.Inrailwayorbus_31—.AlthoughtheAmishhavelivedwith_32—Americaforovertwoandahalfcenturies.Theyhavemoderateditsinfluenceontheirpersonallives,theirfamilies,communities,andtheirvalues.TheAmishareoften_33—byotherAmericanstoberelicsofthepastwholiveasimple,inflexiblelifededicatedtoinconvenientout-datedcustoms.Theyareseenasabandoningbothmodem_34_andtheAmericandreamofsuccessandprogress,ButmostpeoplehavenoquarrelwiththeAmishfordoingthingstheold-fashionedway.Theirconscientiousobjectionwastoleratedinwartime.Forafterall.Theyaregoodfarmerswho_35_thevirtuesofworkandthrift.AJaccessingI)progressBjconveniencesJ)respectiveCJdestinedKjsurvivedD)expandingLjterminalsEjindustrializedMJundergoneFjperceivedNJuniversalGJpracticeOjvanishedHjprocessSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.AnswerthequestionsbymarkingthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2.CountriesRushforUpperHandinAntarcticaOnaglacier-filledislandwithfjords(峽*彎)andelephantseals,RussiahasbuiltAntarctica'sfirstOrthodoxchurchonabilloverlookingitsresearchbase.Lessthananhourawaybysnowmobile.ChineselaborershaveupdatedtheGreatWallStation,avitalpartofChina'splantooperatefivebassesonAntarctica,completewithanindoorbadmintoncourtandsleepingquartersfor150people.Nottobeoutdone,India'sfuturisticnewBharathibase,builtonstills(樁子)using134interlockingshippingcontainers,resemblesaspaceship.TurkeyandIranhaveannouncedplanstobuildbases,too.Morethanacenturyhaspassedsinceexplorersracedtoplanttheirflagsatthebottomoftheworld,andfordecadestocomethiscontinentissupposedtobeprotectedasascientificpreserve,shieldedfromintrusionslikemilitaryactivitiesandmining.Butanarrayofcountriesarerushingtoassertgreaterinfluencehere,withaneyenotjusttowardsthedaythoseprotectivetreatiesexpire,butalsoforthestrategicandcommercialthatalreadyexist.Thenewerplayersaresteppingintowhattheyviewasatreasurehouseofresources.SomeoftheventuresfocusontheAntarcticresourcesthatarealreadyupforgrabs,likeabundantsealife.SouthKorea,whichoperatesstate-of-the-artbaseshere,isincreasingitsfishingofkrill(磷蝦)，foundinabundanceintheSouthernOcean,whileRussiarecentlyfrustratedeffortstocreateoneoftheworld'slargestoceansanctuarieshere.SomescientistsareexaminingthepotentialforharvestingicebergsformAntarctica,whichisestimatedtohavethebiggestreservesoffreshwaterontheplanet.Nationsarealsopressingaheadwithspaceresearchandsatelliteprojectstoexpandtheirglobalnavigationabilities.BuildingonaSoviet-erafoothold,RussiaisexpandingitsmonitoringstationsforGlonass,itsversionoftheGlobalPositioningSystem(GPS).AtleastthreeRussianstationsarealreadyoperatinginAntarctica,partofitsefforttochallengethedominanceoftheAmericanGPS,andnewstationsareplannedforsitesliketheRussianbase,intheshadowoftheOrthodoxChurchoftheHolyTrinity.ElsewhereinAntarctica,RussianresearchersboastoftheirrecentdiscoveryofafreshwaterreservethesizeofLakeOntarioafterdrillingthroughmilesofsolidice.“Youcanseethatwe'reheretostay/*saidVladimirCheberdak,57,chiefoftheBellingshausenStation,ashesippedteaunderaportraitofFabianGottliebvonBellingshausen,ahigh-rankingofficerintheImperialRussianNavywhoexploredtheAntarcticcoastin1820.Antarctica'smineral,oilandgaswealtharealonger-termprize.Thetreatybanningmininghere,shieldingcoveted(令人垂誕的)reservesofironore,coalandchromium,comesupforreviewin2048.Researchersrecentlyfoundkimberlite(金伯利巖)depositshintingattheexistenceofdiamonds.Andwhileassessmentsvarywidely,geologistsestimatethatAntarcticaholdsatleast36billionbarrelsofoilandnaturalgas.BeyondtheAntarctictreaties,hugeobstaclespersisttotappingtheseresources,likedriftingicebergsthatcouldjeopardizeoffshoreplatforms.ThenthereisAntarctic'sremoteness,withsomemineraldepositsfoundinwindsweptlocationsonacontinentthatislargertheEuropeandwherewintertemperatureshoveraroundminus55degreesCelsius.ButadvancesintechnologymightmakeAntarcticaalotmoreaccessiblethreedecadesfromnow.Andevenbeforethen,scholarswarn,thedemandforresourcesinanenergy-hungryworldcouldraisepressuretorenegotiateAntarctica^treaties,possiblyallowingmorecommercialendeavoursherewellbeforetheprohibitionsagainstthemexpire.TheresearchstationsonKingGeorgeIslandofferaglimpseintothelonggameonthisice-blanketedcontinentasnationsassertthemselves,erodingtheswaylongheldbycountriesliketheUnitedStates,Britain.AustraliaandNewZealand.BeingstationedinAntarcticainvolvesadaptingtolifeontheplanetsdriest,windiestandcoldestcontinent,yeteachnationmanagestomakeitselfathome.BeardedRussianpriestsofferregularservicesattheOrthodoxchurchforthe16orsoRussianspeakerswhospendthewinteratthebase,largelypolarscientistsinfieldslikeglaciologyandmeteorology.Theirnumberclimbstoabout40inthewarmersummermonths.ChinahasarguablythefastestgrowingoperationsinAntarctica.Itopeneditsfourthstationlastyearandispressingaheadwithplanstobuildafifth.Itisbuildingitssecondice-breakingshipandsettingupresearchdrillingoperationsonanicedome13,422feetabovesealevelthatisonetheplanet'scoldestplaces.ChineseofficialssaytheexpansioninAntarcticaprioritisesscientificresearch.Buttheyalsoacknowledgethatconcernsabout“resourcesecurity>,influencetheirmoves.China'snewlyrenovatedGreatWallStationonKingGeorgeIslandmakestheRussianandChileanbaseshereseemoutdated.^Wedoweathermonitoringhereandotherresearch."NingXu,53,thechiefoftheChinesebase,saidoverteaduringafierceblizzard(暴風(fēng)雪)inlateNovember.Thelargebaseheleadsresemblesasnowed-incollegecampusonholidaybreak,withthecapacitytosleepmorethan10timesthe13peoplewhowerestayingonthroughtheAntarcticwinter.YongYu,aChinesemicrobiologist,showedoffthespaciousbuilding,withemptydesksunderanillustratedtimelinedetailingtherapidgrowthofChina'sAntarcticoperationssincethe1980s"Wenowfeelequippedtogrow/*hesaid.AssomecountriesexpandoperationsinAntarctica,theUnitedStatesmaintainsthreeyear-roundstationsonthecontinentwithmorethan1,000peopleduringthesouthernhemisphere'ssummer,includingthoseattheAmundsenScottstation,builtin1956atanelevationof9,301feetonaplateauattheSouthPole.ButUSresearchersquietlycomplainaboutbudgetrestraintsandhavingfarfewericebreakerstheRussia,limitingthereachoftheUnitedStatesinAntarctica.ScholarswarnthatAntarctica'spoliticaldriftcouldblurthedistinctionbetweenmilitary