2023年六级真题和答案

2023年12月大学英语六级考试真题（附听力原文）PartIWriting(30minutes)Direction:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteashortessayentitledMyViewsonUniversityRanking.Youshouldwriteatleast150wordsfollowingtheoutlinegivenbelow.1.目前高校排名相称盛行;2.对于这种做法人们见解不一;3.在我看来……MyViewsonUniversityRankingPartIIReadingComprehension(SkimmingandScanning)(15minutes)Directions:Inthispart,youwillhave15minutestogooverthepassagequicklyandanswerthequestionsonAnswerSheet1.Forquestions1-7,choosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D].Forquestions8-10,completethesentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.IntotheUnknownTheworldhasneverseenpopulationageingbefore.Canitcope?Untiltheearly1990snobodymuchthoughtaboutwholepopulationsgettingolder.TheUNhadtheforesighttoconvenea“worldassemblyonageing”backin1982,butthatcameandwent.By1994theWorldBankhadnoticedthatsomethingbigwashappening.Inareportentitled“AvertingtheOldAgeCrisis”,itarguedthatpensionarrangementsinmostcountrieswereunsustainable.Forthenexttenyearsasuccessionofbooks,mainlybyAmericans,soundedthealarm.TheyhadtitleslikeYoungvsOld,GrayDawnandTheComingGenerationalStorm,andtheirmessagewasblunt:health-caresystemswereheadingfortherocks,pensionersweretakingyoungpeopletothecleaners,andsoontherewouldbeintergenerationalwarfare.Sincethenthedebatehasbecomelessemotional,notleastbecausealotmoreisknownaboutthesubject.Books,conferencesandresearchpapershavemultiplied.InternationalorganisationssuchastheOECDandtheEUissueregularreports.Populationageingisoneveryagenda,fromG8economicconferencestoNATOsummits.TheWorldEconomicForumplanstoconsiderthefutureofpensionsandhealthcareatitsprestigiousDavosconferenceearlynextyear.Themedia,includingthisnewspaper,aregivingthesubjectextensivecoverage.Whetherallthatattentionhastranslatedintosufficientactionisanotherquestion.Governmentsinrichcountriesnowacceptthattheirpensionandhealth-carepromiseswillsoonbecomeunaffordable,andmanyofthemhaveembarkedonreforms,butsofaronlytimidly.Thatisnotsurprising:politicianswithaneyeonthenextelectionwillhardlyrushtointroduceunpopularmeasuresthatmaynotbearfruitforyears,perhapsdecades.Theoutlineofthechangesneededisclear.Toavoidfiscal(财政)meltdown,publicpensionsandhealth-careprovisionwillhavetobereinedbackseverelyandtaxesmayhavetogoup.Byfarthemosteffectivemethodtorestrainpensionspendingistogivepeopletheopportunitytoworklonger,becauseitincreasestaxrevenuesandreducesspendingonpensionsatthesametime.Itmayevenkeepthemalivelonger.JohnRother,theAARP’sheadofpolicyandstrategy,pointstostudiesshowingthatotherthingsbeingequal,peoplewhoremainatworkhavelowerdeathratesthantheirretiredpeers.Youngerpeopletodaymostlyacceptthattheywillhavetoworkforlongerandthattheirpensionswillbelessgenerous.Employersstillneedtobepersuadedthatolderworkersareworthholdingonto.Thatmaybebecausetheyhavehadplentyofyoungeronestochoosefrom,partlythankstothepost-warbaby-boomandpartlybecauseoverthepastfewdecadesmanymorewomenhaveenteredthelabourforce,increasingemployers’choice.Butthereservoirofwomenableandwillingtotakeuppaidworkisrunninglow,andthebaby-boomersaregoinggrey.Inmanycountriesimmigrantshavebeenfillingsuchgapsinthelabourforceashavealreadyemerged(andrememberthattherealshortageisstillaroundtenyearsoff).Immigrationinthedevelopedworldisthehighestithaseverbeen,anditismakingausefuldifference.Instill-fertileAmericaitcurrentlyaccountsforabout40%oftotalpopulationgrowth,andinfast-ageingwesternEuropeforabout90%.Onthefaceofit,itseemstheperfectsolution.Manydevelopingcountrieshavelotsofyoungpeopleinneedofjobs;manyrichcountriesneedhelpinghandsthatwillboosttaxrevenuesandkeepupeconomicgrowth.Butoverthenextfewdecadeslabourforcesinrichcountriesaresettoshrinksomuchthatinflowsofimmigrantswouldhavetoincreaseenormouslytocompensate:toatleasttwicetheircurrentsizeinwesternEurope’smostyouthfulcountries,andthreetimesintheolderones.Japanwouldneedalargemultipleofthefewimmigrantsithasatpresent.Publicopinionpollsshowthatpeopleinmostrichcountriesalreadythinkthatimmigrationistoohigh.Furtherbigincreaseswouldbepoliticallyunfeasible.Totackletheproblemofageingpopulationsatitsroot,“old”countrieswouldhavetorejuvenate(使年轻)themselvesbyhavingmoreoftheirownchildren.Anumberofthemhavetried,somemoresuccessfullythanothers.Butitisnotasimplematterofofferingfinancialincentivesorprovidingmorechildcare.Modernurbanlifeinrichcountriesisnotwelladaptedtolargefamilies.Womenfindithardtocombinefamilyandcareer.Theyoftencompromisebyhavingjustonechild.Andiffertilityinageingcountriesdoesnotpickup?Itwillnotbetheendoftheworld,atleastnotforquiteawhileyet,buttheworldwillslowlybecomeadifferentplace.Oldersocietiesmaybelessinnovativeandmorestronglydisinclinedtotakerisksthanyoungerones.By2025atthelatest,abouthalfthevotersinAmericaandmostofthoseinwesternEuropeancountrieswillbeover50—andolderpeopleturnouttovoteinmuchgreaternumberthanyoungerones.Academicstudieshavefoundnoevidencesofarthatoldervotershaveusedtheirpowerattheballotboxtopushforpoliciesthatspecificallybenefitthem,thoughifinfuturetherearemanymoreofthemtheymightstartdoingso.Noristhereanysignoftheintergenerationalwarfarepredictedinthe1990s.Afterall,olderpeoplethemselvesmostlyhavefamilies.Inarecentstudyofparentsandgrown-upchildrenin11Europeancountries,KarstenHankofMannheimUniversityfoundthat85%ofthemlivedwithin25kmofeachotherandthemajorityofthemwereintouchatleastonceaweek.Evenso,theshiftinthecentreofgravitytoolderagegroupsisboundtohaveaprofoundeffectonsocieties,notjusteconomicallyandpoliticallybutinallsortsofotherwaystoo.RichardJacksonandNeilHoweofAmerica’sCSIS,inathoughtfulbookcalledTheGrayingoftheGreatPowers,arguethat,amongotherthings,theageingofthedevelopedcountrieswillhaveanumberofserioussecurityimplications.Forexample,theshortageofyoungadultsislikelytomakecountriesmorereluctanttocommitthefewtheyhavetomilitaryservice.Inthedecadesto2050,Americawillfinditselfplayinganever-increasingroleinthedevelopedworld’sdefenceeffort.BecauseAmerica’spopulationwillstillbegrowingwhenthatofmostotherdevelopedcountriesisshrinking,Americawillbetheonlydevelopedcountrythatstillmattersgeopolitically(地缘政治上).Askmein2023Thereislittlethatcanbedonetostoppopulationageing,sotheworldwillhavetolivewithit.Butsomeoftheconsequencescanbealleviated.Manyexpertsnowbelievethatgiventherightpolicies,theeffects,thoughgrave,neednotbecatastrophic.Mostcountrieshaverecognisedtheneedtodosomethingandarebeginningtoact.Buteventhenthereisnoguaranteethattheireffortswillwork.Whatishappeningnowishistoricallyunprecedented.RonaldLee,directoroftheCentreontheEconomicsandDemographyofAgeingattheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley,putsitbrieflyandclearly:“Wedon’treallyknowwhatpopulationageingwillbelike,becausenobodyhasdoneityet.“注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。1.Inits1994report,theWorldBankarguedthatthecurrentpensionsysteminmostcountriescould______.[A]notbesustainedinthelongterm[B]furtheracceleratetheageingprocess[C]hardlyhaltthegrowthofpopulation[D]helptideoverthecurrentageingcrisis2.WhatmessageisconveyedinbookslikeYoungvsOld?[A]Thegenerationgapisboundtonarrow.[B]Intergenerationalconflictswillintensify.[C]Theyoungergenerationwillbeattheold.[D]Oldpeopleshouldgivewaytotheyoung.3.Onereasonwhypensionandhealthcarereformsareslowincomingisthat______.[A]nobodyiswillingtosacrificetheirownintereststotackletheproblem[B]mostpeopleareagainstmeasuresthatwillnotbearfruitimmediately[C]theproposedreformswillaffecttoomanypeople’sinterests[D]politiciansareafraidoflosingvotesinthenextelection4.Theauthorbelievesthemosteffectivemethodtosolvethepensioncrisisisto______.[A]allowpeopletoworklonger[C]cutbackonhealthcareprovisions[B]increasetaxrevenues[D]startreformsrightaway5.Thereasonwhyemployersareunwillingtokeepolderworkersisthat______.[A]theyaregenerallydifficulttomanage[B]thelongertheywork,thehighertheirpension[C]theirpayishigherthanthatofyoungerones[D]youngerworkersarereadilyavailable6.Tocompensateforthefast-shrinkinglabourforce,Japanwouldneed______.[A]toreviseitscurrentpopulationcontrolpolicy[B]largenumbersofimmigrantsfromoverseas[C]toautomateitsmanufacturingandserviceindustries[D]apoliticallyfeasiblepolicyconcerningpopulation7.Whydomanywomeninrichcountriescompromisebyhavingonlyonechild?[A]Smallfamiliesarebecomingmorefashionable.[B]Theyfindithardtobalancecareerandfamily.[C]Itistooexpensivetosupportalargefamily.[D]Childcareistoobigaproblemforthem.8.Comparedwithyoungerones,oldersocietiesarelessinclinedto______________________________.9.Thepredictedintergenerationalwarfareisunlikelybecausemostoftheolderpeoplethemselves_________________________.10.Countriesthathaveashortageofyoungadultswillbelesswillingtocommitthemto____________________________.PartIIIListeningComprehension(35minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillhear8shortconversationsand2longconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,oneormorequestionswillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Aftereachquestiontherewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D],anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。11.[A]Themanisthemanageroftheapartmentbuilding.[B]Thewomanisverygoodatbargaining.[C]Thewomanwillgettheapartmentrefurnished.[D]Themanislookingforanapartment.12.[A]Howthepictureswillturnout.[C]Whatthemanthinksoftheshots.[B]Wherethebotanicalgardenis.[D]Whythepicturesarenotready.13.[A]Thereisnoreplacementforthehandle.[B]Thereisnomatchforthesuitcase.[C]Thesuitcaseisnotworthfixing.[D]Thesuitcasecanbefixedintime.14.[A]Heneedsavehicletobeusedinharshweather.[B]Hehasafairlylargecollectionofqualitytrucks.[C]Hehashadhistruckadaptedforcoldtemperatures.[D]Hedoesroutinetruckmaintenanceforthewoman.15.[A]Shecannotstandherboss’sbadtemper.[B]Shehasoftenbeencriticizedbyherboss.[C]Shehasmadeuphermindtoresign.[D]Sheneverregretsanydecisionsshemakes.16.[A]Lookforashirtofamoresuitablecolorandsize.[B]Replacetheshirtwithoneofsomeothermaterial.[C]Visitadifferentstoreforasilkorcottonshirt.[D]Getadiscountontheshirtsheisgoingtobuy.17.[A]Ata“LostandFound”.[C]Atatradefair.[B]Atareceptiondesk.[D]Atanexhibition.18.[A]Repairitandmovein.[C]Convertitintoahotel.[B]Passitontohisgrandson.[D]Sellitforagoodprice.Questions19to21arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.19.[A]Uniquedescriptiveskills.[C]Colourfulworldexperiences.[B]Goodknowledgeofreaders’tastes.[D]Carefulplottingandclueing.20.[A]Apeacefulsetting.[C]Tobeintherightmood.[B]Aspaciousroom.[D]Tobeentirelyalone.21.[A]Theyrelyheavilyontheirownimagination.[B]Theyhaveexperiencessimilartothecharacters’.[C]Theylookattheworldinadetachedmanner.[D]Theyareoverwhelmedbytheirownprejudices.Questions22to25arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.22.[A]Goodorbad,theyaretheretostay.[B]Likeitornot,youhavetousethem.[C]Believeitornot,theyhavesurvived.[D]Gainorlose,theyshouldbemodernised.23.[A]Thefrequenttraindelays.[C]Thefoodsoldonthetrains.[B]Thehightrainticketfares.[D]ThemonopolyofBritishRailways.24.[A]Thelowefficiencyoftheiroperation.[B]Competitionfromothermodesoftransport.[C]Constantcomplaintsfrompassengers.[D]Thepassingofthenewtransportact.25.[A]Theywillbede-nationalised.[C]Theyarefastdisappearing.[B]Theyprovideworseservice.[D]Theylosealotofmoney.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillhear3shortpassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearsomequestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D].ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。PassageOneQuestions26to29arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.26.[A]ThewholeAntarcticregionwillbesubmerged.[B]Somepolaranimalswillsoonbecomeextinct.[C]Manycoastalcitieswillbecoveredwithwater.[D]Theearthwillexperienceextremeweathers.27.[A]Howhumansaretocopewithglobalwarming.[B]HowunstabletheWestAntarcticicesheetis.[C]Howvulnerablethecoastalcitiesare.[D]Howpolariceimpactsglobalweather.28.[A]Itcollapsedatleastonceinthepast1.3millionyears.[B]Itsitsfirmlyonsolidrockatthebottomoftheocean.[C]Itmeltedattemperaturesabithigherthanthoseoftoday.[D]Itwillhavelittleimpactonsealevelwhenitbreaksup.29.[A]TheWestAntarcticregionwasonceanopenocean.[B]TheWestAntarcticicesheetwasabout7,000feetthick.[C]TheWestAntarcticicesheetwasoncefloatingice.[D]TheWestAntarcticregionusedtobewarmerthantoday.PassageTwoQuestions30to32arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.30.[A]WhetherwecandevelopsocialtiesontheInternet.[B]Whetheradeletedphotoisimmediatelyremovedfromtheweb.[C]Whetherourblogscanbereneweddaily.[D]Whetherwecansetupourownwebsites.31.[A]Thenumberofvisitstheyreceive.[C]Thefilestheyhavecollected.[B]Thewaytheystoredata.[D]Themeanstheyusetogetinformation.32.[A]Whenthesystemisdown.[C]WhentheURLisreused.[B]Whennewlinksaresetup.[D]Whentheserverisrestarted.PassageThreeQuestions33to35arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.33.[A]Someicedcoffeeshaveasmanycaloriesasahotdinner.[B]Icedcoffeessoldbysomepopularchainsarecontaminated.[C]Drinkingcoffeeafteramealismorelikelytocauseobesity.[D]Somebrand-namecoffeescontainharmfulsubstances.34.[A]Havesomefreshfruit.[C]Takeahotshower.[B]Exerciseatthegym.[D]Eatahotdinner.35.[A]Theycouldenjoyahappierfamilylife.[B]Theycouldgreatlyimprovetheirworkefficiency.[C]Manycancercasescouldbeprevented.[D]Manyembarrassingsituationscouldbeavoided.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom36to43withtheexactwordsyouhavejustheard.Forblanksnumberedfrom44to46youarerequiredtofillinthemissinginformation.Fortheseblanks,youcaneitherusetheexactwordsyouhavejustheardorwritedownthemainpointsinyourownwords.Finally,whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.注意：此部分试题在答题卡2上作答。Psychologistsarefindingthathopeplaysasurprisinglyvitalroleingivingpeopleameasurableadvantageinrealmsas(36)_____________asacademicachievement,bearingupintoughjobsandcopingwith(37)______________illness.And,bycontrast,thelossofhopeisturningouttobeastrongersignthatapersonmay(38)______________suicidethanotherfactorslongthoughttobemorelikelyrisks.“Hopehasprovenapowerfulpredictorof(39)______________ineverystudywe’vedonesofar,”saidDr.CharlesR.Snyder,apsychologistwhohasdeviseda(40)______________toassesshowmuchhopeapersonhas.Forexample,inresearchwith3,920collegestudents,Dr.Snyderandhis(41)______________foundthatthelevelofhopeamongfreshmenatthebeginningoftheirfirstsemesterwasamore(42)______________predictoroftheircollegegradesthanweretheirS.A.T.scoresortheirgradepoint(43)______________inhighschool,thetwomeasuresmostcommonlyusedtopredictcollegeperformance.(44)”___________________________________________________________________________________________,”Dr.Snydersaid.“Whenyoucomparestudentsofequivalentintelligenceandpastacademicachievements,whatsetsthemapartishope.”Indevisingawaytoassesshopescientifically,Dr.Snyder(45)_______________________________________________________.“Thatnotionisnotconcreteenough,anditblurstwokeycomponentsofhope,”Dr.Snydersaid.(46)”_____________________________________________________________________.”PartIVReadingComprehension(ReadinginDepth)(25minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisashortpassagewith5questionsorincompletestatements.Readthepassagecarefully.Thenanswerthequestionsorcompletethestatementsinthefewestpossiblewords.PleasewriteyouranswersonAnswerSheet2.Questions47to51arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Mostyoungboysaretrainedtobelievethatmenshouldbestrong,tough,cool,anddetached.Thus,theylearnearlytohidevulnerableemotionssuchaslove,joy,andsadnessbecausetheybelievethatsuchfeelingsarefeminineandimplyweakness.Overtime,somemenbecomestrangerstotheirownemotionallives.Itseemsthatmenwithtraditionalviewsofmasculinityaremorelikelytosuppressoutwardemotionsandtofearemotions,supposedlybecausesuchfeelingsmayleadtoalossofcomposure(镇静).Keepinmind,however,thatthisviewischallengedbysomeresearchers.Aswithmanygendergaps,differencesinemotionalitytendtobesmall,inconsistent,anddependentonthesituation.Forinstance,Robertsonandcolleaguesfoundthatmaleswhoweremoretraditionallymasculineweremoreemotionallyexpressiveinastructuredexercisethanwhentheyweresimplyaskedtotalkabouttheiremotions.Males’difficultywith“tender”emotionshasseriousconsequences.First,suppressedemotionscancontributetostress-relateddisorders.Andworse,menarelesslikelythanwomentoseekhelpfromhealthprofessionals.Second,men’semotionalinexpressivenesscancauseproblemsintheirrelationshipswithpartnersandchildren.Forexample,menwhoendorsetraditionalmasculinenormsreportlowerrelationshipsatisfaction,asdotheirfemalepartners.Further,childrenwhosefathersarewarm,loving,andacceptingtowardthemhavehigherself-esteemandlowerratesofaggressionandbehaviorproblems.Onapositivenote,fathersareincreasinglyinvolvingthemselveswiththeirchildren.And30percentoffathersreportthattheytakeequalorgreaterresponsibilityfortheirchildrenthantheirworkingwivesdo.Oneemotionmalesareallowedtoexpressisanger.Sometimesthisangertranslatesintophysicalaggressionorviolence.Mencommitnearly90percentofviolentcrimesintheUnitedStatesandalmostallsexualassaults.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。47.Mostyoungboyshavebeentrainedtobelievethatmenwhoshowtenderfeelingsareconsideredtobe______________.48.Somemenbelievethatiftheyexpressedtheiremotionsopenlytheymight______________.49.Accordingtotheauthor,menwhosuppresstheiremotionsmaydevelop______________.50.Menwhoobservetraditionalmasculinenormsaresaidtoderivelesssatisfactionfrom______________.51.Whenmalesgetangry,theycanbecome______________orevencommitviolence.SectionBDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.Foreachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D]YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions52to56arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Intheearly20thcentury,fewthingsweremoreappealingthanthepromiseofscientificknowledge.Inaworldstrugglingwithrapidindustrialization,scienceandtechnologyseemedtooffersolutionstoalmosteveryproblem.Newlycreatedstatecollegesanduniversitiesdevotedthemselvesalmostentirelytoscientific,technological,andengineeringfields.ManyAmericanscametobelievethatscientificcertaintycouldnotonlysolvescientificproblems,butalsoreformpolitics,government,andbusiness.TwoworldwarsandaGreatDepressionrockedtheconfidenceofmanypeoplethatscientificexpertisealonecouldcreateaprosperousandorderedworld.AfterWorldWarⅡ,theacademicworldturnedwithnewenthusiasmtohumanisticstudies,whichseemedtomanyscholarsthebestwaytoensurethesurvivalofdemocracy.Americanscholarsfannedoutacrossmuchoftheworld—withsupportfromtheFordFoundation,theFulbrightprogram,etc.—topromotetheteachingofliteratureandtheartsinanefforttomakethecasefordemocraticfreedoms.IntheAmericaofourowntime,thegreateducationalchallengehasbecomeanefforttostrengthentheteachingofwhatisnowknownastheSTEMdisciplines(science,technology,engineering,andmath).ThereisconsiderableandjustifiedconcernthattheUnitedStatesisfallingbehindmuchoftherestofthedevelopedworldintheseessentialdisciplines.India,China,Japan,andotherregionsseemtobeseizingtechnologicalleadership.Atthesametime,perhapsinevitably,thehumanities—whilestillpopularinelitecollegesanduniversities—haveexperiencedasignificantdecline.Humanisticdisciplinesareseriouslyunderfunded,notjustbythegovernmentandthefoundationsbutbyacademicinstitutionsthemselves.Humanistsareusuallyamongthelowest-paidfacultymembersatmostinstitutionsandareoftenlightlyregardedbecausetheydonotgenerategrantincomeandbecausetheyprovidenoobviouscredentials(资质)formostnonacademiccareers.UndoubtedlyAmericaneducationshouldtrainmorescientistsandengineers.MuchoftheconcernamongpoliticiansaboutthestateofAmericanuniversitiestodayisfocusedontheabsenceof“realworld”education—whichmeanspreparationforprofessionalandscientificcareers.Buttheideathatinstitutionsortheirstudentsmustdecidebetweenhumanitiesandscienceisfalse.Oursocietycouldnotsurvivewithoutscientificandtechnologicalknowledge.Butwewouldbeequallyimpoverished(贫困旳)withouthumanisticknowledgeaswell.Scienceandtechnologyteachuswhatwecando.Humanisticthinkinghelpsusunderstandwhatweshoulddo.Itisalmostimpossibletoimagineoursocietywithoutthinkingoftheextraordinaryachievementsofscientistsandengineersinbuildingourcomplicatedworld.Buttrytoimagineourworldaswellwithouttheremarkableworksthathavedefinedourcultureandvalues.Wehavealwaysneeded,andwestillneed,both.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。52.Intheearly20thcenturyAmericansbelievedscienceandtechnologycould_______.[A]solvevirtuallyallexistingproblems[C]helpraisepeople’slivingstandards[B]quickenthepaceofindustrialization[D]promotethenation’ssocialprogress53.WhydidmanyAmericanscholarsbecomeenthusiasticabouthumanisticstudiesafterWorldWarⅡ?[A]Theywantedtoimprovetheirownstatuswithinthecurrenteducationsystem.[B]Theybelievedthestabilityofasocietydependedheavilyonhumanisticstudies.[C]Theycouldgetfinancialsupportfromvariousfoundationsforhumanisticstudies.[D]Theyrealizedscienceandtechnologyalonewerenoguaranteeforabetterworld.54.WhyareAmericanscholarsworriedabouteducationtoday?[A]TheSTEMsubjectsaretoochallengingforstudentstolearn.[B]SomeAsiancountrieshaveovertakenAmericainbasicsciences.[C]AmericaislaggingbehindintheSTEMdisciplines.[D]Therearenotenoughscholarsinhumanisticstudies.55.Whataccountsforthesignificantdeclineinhumanisticstudiestoday?[A]Insufficientfunding.[C]Shortageofdevotedfaculty.[B]Shrinkingenrollment.[D]Dimprospectsforgraduates.56.Whydoestheauthorattachsomuchimportancetohumanisticstudies?[A]Theypromotethedevelopmentofscienceandtechnology.[B]Theyhelppreparestudentsfortheirprofessionalcareers.[C]Humanisticthinkinghelpsdefineourcultureandvalues.[D]Humanisticthinkinghelpscultivatestudents’creativity.PassageTwoQuestions57to61arebasedonthefollowingpassage.WillthereeverbeanotherEinstein?ThisistheundercurrentofconversationatEinsteinmemorialmeetingsthroughouttheyear.AnewEinsteinwillemerge,scientistssay.Butitmaytakealongtime.Afterall,morethan200yearsseparatedEinsteinfromhisnearestrival,IsaacNewton.ManyphysicistssaythenextEinsteinhasn’tbeenbornyet,orisababynow.That’sbecausethequestforaunifiedtheorythatwouldaccountforalltheforcesofnaturehaspushedcurrentmathematicstoitslimits.Newmathmustbecreatedbeforetheproblemcanbesolved.ButresearcherssaytherearemanyotherfactorsworkingagainstanotherEinsteinemerginganytimesoon.Foronething,physicsisamuchdifferentfieldtoday.InEinstein’sday,therewereonlyafewthousandphysicistsworldwide,andthetheoreticianswhocouldintellectuallyrivalEinsteinprobablyw