2022-2023年四川省內(nèi)江市大學(xué)英語6級(jí)大學(xué)英語六級(jí)

2022-2023年四川省內(nèi)江市大學(xué)英語6級(jí)大學(xué)英語六級(jí)學(xué)校:________班級(jí):________姓名:________考號(hào):________

一、2.ReadingComprehension(SkimmingandScanning)(20題)1.

Mostpartiesofferfingerfood,butthereare______.

2.

Thecellphoneindustrysaysthatfuturecellphonescanprovide______basedonitsabilitytodetectitsexactlocationanywhereintheworld.

3.

Inpublic-relationssector,thejobtitlethatreflectsthedualityoftherequiredskillsetsis______.

A.computer-networkadministrator

B.interactivecreativedirector

C.chiefexecutiveofficer

D.e-commercespecialist

4.Themisunderstandingofawordcouldevenaffectthewayawarended.

5.

Assoonastheearthquakeended,peoplecangobackhomeimmediately.

A.YB.NC.NG

6.GiantPanda

CharacteristicsofGiantPandas

ThescientificnameofGiantPandaisAiluropodamelanoleuca,whichmeans"cat-footedanimalsinblackandwhitecolor".Anadultpandacanbeastallas1.6to1.8meterswithbodyweightrangingfrom60to160kg.MaleGiantPandasarelargerthanfemales,andtheyweighaboutl0to20%heavier.TheheadoftheGiantPandaislarge,withabroadroundface,flatnoseandroundprotrudingears.Surroundingtheeyesarethecharacteristicblackpatches.Theears,limbsandshouldersarecoveredwithblackfurwhilethefurontheotherpartsofthebodyiswhite.ScientistsbelievethattheblackandwhitecolorationhelpsGiantPandasavoidcontactwitheachother.However,atthesametime,thisdistinctivecolorationcanhelpthemfindeachothereasilyduringmatingseasons.ThefuroftheGiantPandaisactuallyrough,shortandverydense.Theoilynatureofthefurcanpreventpenetrationofmoisture,whichisanimportantadaptationtolivinginhumidenvironment.GiantPandas'abilitytoseefarisweak.However,theirauditoryandolfactory(嗅覺)sensesareverystrong.

HabitatofGiantPandas

TheyaresolelyfoundinSichuan,andthesouthwesternpartsofGansuandShanxiprovinces.TheGiantPandasliveinbambooforestsrangingfrom4,000to11,000feetabovesealevel,whereitishumid.Inwinter,theymigratelowerdownthemountains,whileinsummertheystayinthehigherreaches.Themale'shomerangeislargerthanthatofthefemale.Amale'shomerangecanbeupto30squarekilometers.

Behavior.ofGiantPandas

GiantPandasaremostactiveinthemorningandatdusk.GiantPandassleephiddenawayinsidecavesanddenswhichmaybeahollowatthebottomofalargetreetruck.GiantPandasaresolitaryanimals.Theyspendtheirlivesalone,exceptduringmatingseasonsorwhenfemalesreartheiryoung.GiantPandasliveinwell-definedterritories.GiantPandasurinate(小便)orscentontreestowarnothersoftheirpresenceintheterritory.Theyalsovocalize,producingsoundssuchasroaringorbleating(similartothatofadomesticgoat),toconveytotheotherstheirintentions.GiantPandasdefecate(排便)about48timesaday.Inthewild,defecatesareusefulresearchmaterialsforscientists,fromtheminformationregardingtheindividualpandas,suchashealthconditions,andthesizeofthepopulationinthearea,canbegained.

DietofGiantPandas

TheGiantPandas'dietisveryspecific,consistingentirelyofbamboo.Aspandascanonlyabsorbabout10-18%ofnutrientsavailableinthebambootheyeat,itisnecessaryforthemtocatmorethan10kgofbambooadaytomeettheirdailyrequirement.Wildpandasonlyeat40speciesofbamboo,andonly2-6aretheirfavorites.Theleavesofthebambooaremostnutritiousandbalancedinnutrients.However,thenutritionalvalueofdifferentpartsofthebamboochangesaccordingtoseasons.Seasonalchangesaffectthepanda'spreferenceofwhichpartofthebambootoeat.Forexample,beforewinterarrives,pandapreferstoeattherootsofthebamboobecausetheycontainmorewaterandprotein.

ReproductionofGiantPandas

ThematingseasonofGiantPandasrangesfromJanuarytoJune.Thefemalepandasmaymatewithmorethanonemaleinasinglematingseasontoensuresuccessfulfertilization.Thegestation(妊娠)periodrangesfrom83to163days,and135daysistheaverage.Itiscommontohave1to2cubs(幼崽)inalitter(窩).However,onlyonecubwillreceiveenoughcarefromthemothertosurvive.Apandacubisbornblind,andcompletelyhelpless,therefore,itdemandsundividedattention,leavingthemotherlittleornotimeandenergytocareforasecondcub.Tohavethreecubsinalitterisveryrare.Anewly-borncubweighsabout90gto130g(3-5oz),intheorderof1/900thoftheadult'sweight.AGi

A.YB.NC.NG

7.

WhenMoss-Tuckerbegansnoring。shewasabout______.

A.56yearsoldB.46yearsoldC.36yearsoldD.26yearsold

8.

Thewriterproposestousethesamerateforalltypesofmaterialandforallreadingpurposes.

A.YB.NC.NG

9.

Ifyoucanmakereadjustmentsinyourfitnessplanasyouage,youcanstaystrongandflexibleand______.

10.EndYourBackPain

Likeanexpensivebuttemperamentalsportscar,thehumanspinisbeautifullydesignedandmaddeninglyunreliable.Ifyouarealiving,breathinghumanbeing,youhaveprobablysufferedtheagonyofbackpain.Andaslongaspeoplecontinuetoleadoverweight,sedentaryandstressfullives,thenumberofsufferersisunlikelytogoanywhereotherthanup.

Asitdoes,armiesofnewback-painsufferers,manydesperateandevendisabled,willseekrelief.Whentheydo,they'llquicklydiscoverjusthowcomplicatedtheirproblemreallyis,withitsmystifyingmixofphysicalsymptomsandpsychologicalunderpinnings.Therealityisthattheagonywilloftengoawayonitsown—impossibleasthatmayseemwhenyouarewrithing(痛苦扭曲)onthekitchenfloor.TheGreatPainMystery

Backpaincanoriginateanywhereintheelaboratespinalarchitecture.Degenerateddiscs(椎間盤),whichmanyleadtoherniation(突出)andcompressednerves,areacommonproblem.Thentherethosewrenchingpainprovokedbymuscleinjuries,whichcandropgrownmentothefloor.What'smostmysteriousaboutbackproblemsisthefrequentdisconnectbetweenanatomicaldefectsandpain.Unlikebloodpressureandcholesterol(膽固醇),whichcouldbemeasuredwitharmcuffsandbloodtests,lower-backpainhasnoobjectiveway—thevolumeoftears?theintensityofagrimace?—tobegauged.

Manytimes,theprecisecauseofpainremainsunknown.Imagingtestsfoundthattwopeoplewithherniateddiscscanleadradicallydifferentlives:Onespendshisdayspoppingpainkillers,theotherwaltzesthroughlife.Inawell-knownstudy,researcherschecked98healthypeople:Two-thirdshadabnormaldiscseventhoughnonecomplainedofpain.Therealissueiswhysomepeoplehaveamildbackacheandsomehavereallycripplingpain.Inanotherresearch,expertscomparedagroupofpatientswhoreportedbackpainwithacontrolgroupwhodidnot.Closetotwo-thirdsifthepainpatientshadcracksintheirdiscs,so-calledhigh-intensityzones,orHIZs.Butsodid24percentofthenon-complainers.

Theanswerhasasmuchtodowiththemindaswiththebody.IntheHIZstudy,thebestpredictorofpainwasnothowbadthedefectlooked,butthepatient'spsychologicaldistress.Depressionandanxietyhavelongbeenlinkedtopain;arecentCanadianstudyfoundthatpeoplewhosufferfromseveredepressionarefourtimesmorelikelytodevelopintenseordisablingneckorlow-backpain.AtNewYork'sHospitalforSpecialSurgery,psychiatristGregoryLutzsaysheoftenseesmenwhohavetwothingsincommon:cripplingsciatica(坐骨神經(jīng)痛)andanupcomingweddingdate.Theproblemintheirback,possiblyadegeneratedorherniateddisc,likelyalreadyexisted,saysDr.Lutz,butwasintensifiedbythepre-marriagejitters.

SpineSurgeryBreakthrough

Painispain,andmanywantaquickfixandthatmeanssurgery.Spinal-fusionsurgery,oneofthemostinvasiveandcostlyformsoftherapy(about＄42,000)hasmorethandoubledintheUSsince1993,toabout350,000in2003.Discectomy,whichisdonelessinvasively,hasalsospikedto342,000surgeriesperyear.Buttheseproceduresdon'tworkforeveryone.

Theincreaseinallspinalsurgeryhasbeenpromotedinpartbytechnicaladvancespromisingbetteroutcomes.Perhapsthemostintriguingnewdevelopmentistheartificialcobalt-chromedisc.InOctober2004,theUSFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)approvedthefirstsuchdisc,theCharite,forpatientswithdegenerativediscdisease.Thethree-piecedevicehasaslidingmedical-gradeplasticcoresandwichedbetweentwometalplates,whichallowsthespinetomove.Itisbelievedthat,suchdiscs,likekneereplacements,willgivepatientsmoremobilitythantraditionalfusionsurgery.Andtheywillgetoutofbedalotsoonertoo.Thekeyistobev

A.plainageing

B.spinedefects

C.surgicalfailures

D.mentalstress

11.OlympicTorches

Everytwoyears,peoplearoundtheworldwaitinanticipationasatorch-beatingrunnerenterstheOlympicarenaandlightsthecauldron(主火炬).ThesymboliclightingoftheOlympicflamemarksthebeginningofanotherhistoricOlympicGames.

TheopeningceremonyistheendofalongjourneyfortheOlympictorah.Bythetimeitarrivesinthestadium,ithastraveledthousandsofmiles.Itmayhavecrossedoceansanddesertsandtraversedmountains.Itmayhavebeencarriedonplanes,trains,bicycles,boats,andevendogsleds.Anditwillhavepassedthroughthehandsofthousandsofdifferentpeoplearoundtheglobe.ThisarticlechroniclesthehistoryoftheOlympictorch,revealshowitisdesignedtostaylitthrougheventheharshestweatherconditions,andfollowsitspathfromOlympia,Greece,totheOlympicGames.

HistoryoftheTorch

Fireisalwaysheldgreatpowerforhumans.Itcooksourfood,keepsuswarm,andlightsourwaythroughthedark.

TheancientGreeksreveredthepowerandfire.InGreekmythology,thegodPrometheusstolefirefromZeusandgaveittohumans.TocelebratethepassingoffirefromPrometheustoman,theGreekswouldholdrelayraces.Athleteswouldpassalittorchtooneanotheruntilthewinnerreachedthefinishline.

TheGreeksheldtheirfirstOlympicGamesin776B.C.TheGames,heldeveryfouryearsatOlympia,honoredZeusandotherGreekgods.TheOlympicsalsomarkedthebeginningofaperiodofpeacefortheoftenwarringGreeks.AtthestartoftheGames,runnerscalled"heraldsofpeace"wouldtravelthroughoutGreece,declaringa"sacredtruce(休戰(zhàn))"toallwarsbetweenrivalcity-states.Thetrucewouldremaininplaceforthedurationofthegames,sothatspectatorscouldsafelytraveltotheOlympics.

AconstantlyburningflamewasaregularfixturethroughoutGreece.Itusuallygracedthealters(祭壇)oftheGreekgods.InOlympia,therewasanaltardedicatedtoHera,goddessofbirthandmarriage.AtthestartoftheOlympicGames,theGreekswouldigniteacauldronofflamesuponHera'saltar.Theylittheflameusingahollowdiscormirrorcalledaskaphia,which,muchlikethemodernovalmirror,focusedthesun'sraysintoasinglepointtolighttheflame.TheflamewouldburnthroughouttheGamesasasignofpurity,reason,andpeace.

TheGreeksstoppedholdingtheirOlympicGamesafteraboutathousandyears,andthetorch,relaysandlightingoftheflamealsostopped.TheOlympicGamesdidnotreemergeuntil1896,whenthefirstmodernGameswereheldinAthens.Thetorchrelaytookabitlongertoreemerge.

TheBirthoftheModernTorchRelay

TheflamewasreintroducedtotheOlympicsatthe1928AmsterdamGames.Acauldronwaslit,buttherewasnotorchrelay.

ThefirstOlympictorchrelaywasatthe1936BerlinSummerGames.CarlDiem,aGermanhistoryprofessorandSecretaryGeneraloftheOrganizingCommitteeoftheGamesinn,educedtherelayasawayofreconnectingthemodernOlympicswiththeGames'historicalroots.TheflamewaslitinOlympia,Greece,justasithadbeencenturiesbefore.ThenitwascarriedtoBerlin,Germany,forthestartoftheOlympics.

ThetorchrelaywasnotintroducedtotheWinterOlympicsuntilthe1952Games.ItwaslitthatyearnotinOlympia,Greece,butinNorway,whichwaschosenbecauseitwasthebirthplaceofskiing.Butsincethe1964OlympicsatInnsbruck,Austria,everyOlympicGames—WinterandSummer—hasbegunwithatorch-lightingceremonyinOlympia,Greece,followedbyatorchrelaytotheOlympicstadium.

TheLightingoftheOlympicTorch

TheOlympictorchislitseveralmonthsbeforethestartoftheactualGames.TheflamebeginsitsjourneyatthesiteoftheoriginalOlympicGames—Olympia,Greece.Itislit,just

A.YB.NC.NG

12.(10)

13.

Bywayofconclusiontheauthoremphasizesthatindesigningadvertisements,themostimportantfactorthathastobeconsideredis

14.

Globalwarmingcancausehurricanetotakeplace.

A.YB.NC.NG

15.

Retailersandmarketingfirmshavefoundthat______withpeopleinthevirtualworld.

16.Whendohighheadpowerplantsusesurpluselectricitytotransferwatertoasecondreservoir?

A.Inthemorning.B.Atnoon.C.Intheafternoon.D.Atnight.

17.Thecasesofthestudentsmentionedatthethreeschoolssuggestthattheywere______oftheirplagiarismmistakes.

A.innocentB.ignorantC.defensiveD.regretted

18.

Sincerainforestbacteriaandtreesdependoneachotherforlife,therelationshiptheyfromistermed______.

19.WhatmaybethereasonwhysomeHispanicshavejobsbutuninsured?

A.Theyarenotinterestedinhealthinsurance.

B.Theydonotbelieveintheinsurancesystem.

C.Theiremployersrefusetoenrolltheminthewelfaresystem.

D.Theirincomeisnotenoughfortheirshareofthepremium.

20.

RosaParkssaidthatsherefusedtoleaveherseatbecauseshewasfiredof______.

二、3.ListeningComprehension(20題)21.

【B6】

22.(31)

A.Openstoresinbusyareasofcities.

B.Createspeciallanguage.

C.Provideacomfortableenvironment.

D.Sellavarietyofproducts.

23.(39)

24.(19)

A.Heshouldhavereadthebookinsteadofgoingtothemovie.

B.Heshouldhavegonetothemovieinsteadofreadingthebook.

C.Readingthebookwillhelpthemanunderstandthemoviebetter.

D.Shethinksthebookiseasiertounderstandthanthemovie.

25.【B8】

26.聽力原文：M:Thatoperawasawful.Andyetitgotagreatreview.

W:Itwashardlyworththepriceofadmission.

Q:Whatdoesthewomanthinkoftheopera?

(19)

A.Shethinkstheticketpriceistoohigh.

B.Sheagreeswiththemanabouttheopera.

C.Shethinkstheoperawasworthseeing.

D.Shedoesn'tagreewiththemanabouttheopera.

27.聽力原文：M:Goodnews.Iamnotgoingtoneedsurgeryafterall.ThedoctorsaysIcanstartworkingoutagainsoon.Andmaybeplaysocceragaininafewweeks.

W:That'ssogreat.Itwouldbeniceifyoucouldgetbackinshapeintimeforthestatetournament.

Q:Whatdoesthewomanmean?

(13)

A.Thetournamentbeginsnextweek.

B.Shehopesthemanwillbeabletoplayinthetournament.

C.Shewantsthemantoattendthetournamentwithher.

D.Themanshouldcheckwithhisdoctoragain.

28.SectionB

Directions:Inthissection,youwillhear3shortpassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearsomequestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.

聽力原文：Manyscientiststodayareconvincedthatlifeexistselsewhereintheuniverse.Lifeprobablymuchlikethatonourownplanet.Asfarasastronomerscandetermine,theentireuniverseisbuiltofthesamematter.(26)Theyhavenoreasontodoubtthatmatterobeysthesamelawsineverypartoftheuniverse.Therefore,itisreasonabletoguessthatotherstars,withtheirownplanets,wereborninthesamewayasourownsolarsystem.Whatweknowoflifeonearthsuggeststhatlifewillarisewherevertheproperconditionsexist.

Ifwesupposethateverystarintheuniversehasafamilyofplanets,thenhowmanyplanetsmightsupportlife?(27)First,eliminatethosestarsthatarenotlikeoursun.Next.eliminatemostoftheirplanets;theyareeithertoofarfromortooclosetotheirsuns.Theneliminateallthoseplanetswhicharenotthesamesizeandweightastheearth.Finally,rememberthattheproperconditionsdonotnecessarilymeanthatlifeactuallydoesexistonaplanet.Itmaynothavebegunyet,oritmayhavealreadydiedout.

Thisprocessofeliminationseemstoleaveveryfewplanetsonwhichearthlikelifemightbefound.However.eveniflifecouldexistononlyoneplanetinamillion,(28)therearesomanybillionsofplanetsthatthiswouldstillleaveavastnumberonwhichlifecouldexist.

(27)

A.Matterhasdifferentlaws.

B.Matterhasonecommonlaw.

C.Mattersharesthesamelaws.

D.Mattersharesnocommonlaw.

29.聽力原文：W:Hello,Steve?

M:Hi,Veronica.What'sgoingon?

W:Oh,mycar'shavingproblemsagain,butIdon'thavethetimeorthemoneytogetitfixed.

M:Isitreallybad?

W:It'sstartingtooverheatwheneverI'midlingorinheavytraffic,andtwodaysagoIhadtopullofftheexpresswayandwaituntiltheenginecooleddown.

M:Haveyoutakenitintoashop?

W:Wall,IwenttotwodifferentPlacesyesterday;onemechanicsaidhe'dcheckthecoolantlevelandlookforfluidleaks;theotherguysaidhethoughtitwasthethermostat.Ididn'tleavethecarwitheitherofthem,though,becauseIdidn'thavearideback.

M:Whatareyougoingtodo?

W:Ireallydon'tknow.I'llhavetofigureoutsomething;thebusserviceisterriblearoundwhereIlive.Anyway,couldIaskyouforafavor?

M:Ofcourse,whatisit'?

W:Youknow,tomorrow'sMondayandwe'resupposedtoturninourhomeworkinEnglish,butI'veonlygottenhalfwaythroughitI'vejustbeentoobusy.IfIcameover,wouldyouhelpmefinishit?

M:Sure,I'llbehereallevening.AndactuallyIhaven'tfinishedthehomeworkeither;I'vejustbeenputtingitoff,soit'sgoodyou'recomingover—Ineedsomeonetomotivateme.

W:Thankyousomuch,Steve.It'ssoniceofyou.Seeyoulater.

(20)

A.Shedecidedtothrowitawayandbuyanewone.

B.Shetookittotherepairshopbutrefusedtohaveitrepaired.

C.Shedidn'ttakeittotherepairshopatall.

D.Sheturnedtomechanicsforhelpbuttheycoulddonothingwithit.

30.聽力原文：W:Ifwehurrywecantaketheexpresstrainandsaveanhour.

M:Yes.TheexpresstakesonlytwohourstogettoTokyo.

Q:HowlongdoesittakethelocaltraintoTokyo?

(17)

A.Onehour.B.Threehours.C.Twohours.D.Fourhours.

31.(32)

A.Thebillbecomeslawimmediately.

B.Thebillcan'tbecomelawunlessthewholeprocessbeginsagain.

C.Lawmakersmustreviewthebillwithintendays.

D.ThePresidentmustsignthebillifit'spassedagain.

32.

【B2】

33.(25)

A.TeachDavid'sclasswhileheisabsent.

B.GiveProfessorWinstonthekeytoDavid'soffice.

C.LeaveamessageontheboardinDavid'sclassroom.

D.BringDavidthehomeworkthatwasduetoday.

34.(36)

A.France.B.Russia.C.Poland.D.Germany.

35.

【B8】

36.聽力原文：W:HowcomeJimlosthisjob?

M:Ididn'tsayhehadlostit.AllIsaidwasifhedidn'tgetoutandstartedsellingafewcarsinsteadofidlingaroundallday,hemightnotrindhimselflookingforanewjob.

Q:WhatdoesthemansayaboutJim?

(18)

A.Hehasmanagedtosellanumberofcars.

B.Heiscontentedwithhiscurrentposition.

C.Hemightgetfired.

D.Hehaslosthisjob

37.

【B4】

38.(17)

A.Theyhavetobuysomeumbrellas.

B.Theyshouldgobackandgettheumbrella.

C.Theyshouldstoptraveling.

D.Theycangoontraveling.

39.(22)

A.ByMay29th.

B.ByJune29th.

C.ByJuly29th.

D.ByApril29th.

40.(26)

A.Heansweredallherquestionscorrectly.

B.Hereceivedagoodgradeincookingclass.

C.Shelikeswhathehasjustcooked.

D.She'simpressedwithhisknowledge.

三、4.ReadingComprehension(ReadinginDepth)(20題)41.SectionA

Directions:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.Pleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemwithasinglelinethroughthecenter.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.

In1791,theFrenchnation,inthemidstofarevolution,wishedtobreakwiththepast,especiallywiththoseaspectsofitwhichtheyconsideredillogicalanduseless.Oneofthesewasthetraditionalsystemofweightsandmeasurestheninuse.Notonlywasthesystemoverlycomplicate,butitalsovaried(47)______fromplacetoplace.

Inconstructingthenewsystem,theFrenchbeganbysettingupaUnitofdistance(48)______tooneforty-millionthpartoftheearth'scircumference.Unfortunately,latermeasurementsshowedthattheunitdesignatedwasnotexactlythatfraction,butthey(49)______touseit.(Todaytheunitisdefinedsimply(50)______thedistancebetweentwomarksonaplatinum-iridiumbarkeptinasuburbof(51)______).Theunitisthemeter,andthesystemofmeasurements(52)______onthisuntilisthemetricsystem,thesystem(53)______usedbyscientistsovertheworld.

Themetricsystemisbuiltinunitsof(54)______,GreekprefixedshowingmultiplesandLatinprefixedshowingfractions.TheGreekshadnowordforanumberlargerthantenthousandandtheRomanshadnone(55)______anumberlargerthanonethousand,butthesystemwasextendedbyusingless(56)______words;forinstance,megameter(onemillionmeters)isderivedfromaGreekwordthatmeanssimply"large".

WordBank:

A.widelyI.specific

B.equalJ.based

C.continuedK.divided

D.todayL.calculated

E.tenM.to

F.asN.London

G.forO.opposed

H.Paris

42.

Whenthegrandchildrencame,whatisthefirstthingthatmyparentsdo?

43.

Fromthethirdparagraph,wecanknowthat______.

A.therehasnotbeenatruehumanlikerobotyet

B.computersintherobotsareexpensive

C.robotsmaydowhattheyaretold

D.robotshavebeendesignedtoworkindependently

44.

HowdoesProfessorBhattfeelaboutmanyleadersincompanies?

A.TheydonotunderstandapossiblesecondproductivityrevolutioninBritain.

B.Theyareexcitedaboutchange.

C.Theyarereadyfore-business.

D.Theysometimesareagainstthechangeresultedfromnewtechnologies.

45.

IntheviewofNetpurists,______.

A.thereshouldbenomarketingmessagesinonlineculture

B.moneymakingshouldbegivenprioritytoontheWeb

C.theWebshouldbeabletofunctionasTelevisionset

D.thereshouldbenoonlinecommercialinformationwithoutrequests

46.SectionB

Directions:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Youshoulddecideonthebestchoice.

Inrecentyears,railroadshavebeencombiningwitheachyear,mergingintosupersystems,causingheightenedconcernsaboutmonopoly.Asrecentlyas1995,thetopfourrailroadsaccountedforunder70%ofthetotalton-milesmovedbyrails.Nextyear,afteraseriesofmergersiscompleted,justfourrailroadswillcontrolwellover90%ofallthefreightmovedbymajorrailcarriers.

Supportersofthenewsupersystemsarguethatthesemergerswillallowforsubstantialcostreductionsandbettercoordinatedservice.Anythreatofmonopoly,theyargue,isremovedbyfiercecompetitionfromtrucks.Butmanyshipperscomplainthatforheavybulkcommoditiestravelinglongdistances,truckingistoocostlyandtherailroads

Thevastconsolidationwithintherailindustrymeansthatmostshippersareservedbyonlyonerailcompany.Railroadstypicallychargesuch"captive"shippers20to30percentmorethantheydowhenanotherrailroadiscompetingforthebusiness.Shipperswhofeelthattheyarebeingoverchargedhavetherighttoappealtothefederalgovernment'sSurfaceTransportationBoardforratebelief,buttheprocessisexpensive,timeconsuming,andwillworkonlyintrulyextremecases.

Railroadsjustifyratediscriminationagainstcaptiveshippersonthegroundsthatinthelongrunitreduceseveryone'scost.Ifrailroadschargedallcustomersthesameaveragerate,theyargue,shipperswhohavetheoptionofswitchingtotrucksorotherformsoftransportationwoulddoso,leavingremainingcustomerstoshoulderthecostofkeepinguptheline.It'satheorytowhichmanyeconomistssubscribe,butinpracticeitoftenleavesrailroadsinthepositionofdeterminingwhichcompanieswillflourishandwhichwillfail."Dowereallywantrailroadstobethearbitersofwhowinsandwholosesinthemarketplace?"asksMartinBercovici,aWashingtonlawyerwhofrequentlyrepresentsshippers.

Manycaptiveshippersalsoworrytheywillsoonbehitwitharoundofhugerateincreases.Therailroadindustryasawhole,despiteitsbrighteningfortunes,stilldoesnotearnenoughtocoverthecostofthecapitalitmustinvesttokeepupwithitssurgingtraffic.Yetrailroadscontinuetoborrowbillionsmacquireoneanother,withWallStreetcheeringthemon.Considerthe$10.2billionbidbyNorfolkSouthernandCSXtoacquireConrailthisyear.Conrail'snetrailwayoperatingincomein1996wasjust$427million,lessthanhalfofthecarryingcostofthetransaction.Who'sgoingtopayfortherestofthebill?Manycaptiveshippersfearthattheywill,asNorfolkSouthernandCSXincreasetheirgriponthemarket.

Accordingtothosewhosupportmergers,railwaymonopolyisunlikelybecause______.

A.costreductionisbasedoncompetition

B.servicescallforcross-tradecoordination

C.outsidecompetitorswillcontinuetoexist

D.shipperswillhavetherailwaybythethroat

47.What'sthemainpurposeofthispassage?

A.Tomakepeoplepaymoreattentiontolibraries.

B.TointroducetheWorldDigitalLibraryclearly.

C.Toarousepeople'sawarenessofprotectingourculture.

D.Totellpeoplehowtotakeadvantageofdigitallibraries.

48.

Whyisa"secondarysuccession"quicker?

A.Thegroundismoresuitable.

B.Thereismorespacefornewplants.

C.Birdsandanimalsbringnewseeds.

D.Itissupportedbytheforest.

49.

【C6】

50.(57)

51.

Howcanyoufindoutwhethertwopersonsareinagreementornot?

52.SectionA

Directions:Inthissection,thereisashortpassagewith5questionsorincompletestatements.Readthepassagecarefully.Thenanswerthequestionsorcompletethestatementsinthefewestpossiblewords.

ItseemslikeAmericansusecreditca