2023年12月大学英语六级真题

12月大学英语六级真题PartⅠ Writing (30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteashortessayentitledTheWaytoSuccessbycommentingonAbrahamLincoln'sfamousremark,"Givemesixhourstochopdownatree,andIwillspend,thefirstfoursharpeningtheaxe."Youshouldwriteatleast150wordsbutnomorethan200wordsTheWaytoSuccessPartIIReadingComprehension(SkimmingandScanning)(15minutes)Directions:Inthispart,youwillhave15minutestogooverthepassagequicklyandanswerthequestionsonAnswerSheet1.Forquestions1-7,choosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).Forquestions8-10,completethesentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.Google'sPlanforWorld'sBiggestOnlineLibrary:PhilanthropyOrActofPiracy?Inrecentyears,teamsofworkersdispatchedbyGooglehavebeenworkinghardtomakedigitalcopiesofbooks.Sofar,Googlehasscannedmorethan10milliontitlesfromlibrariesinAmericaandEurope-includinghalfamillionvolumesheldbytheBodleianinOxford.Theexactmethoditusesisunclear;thecompanydoesnotallowoutsiderstoobservetheprocess.WhyisGoogleundertakingsuchaventure?Whyisiteveninterestedinallthoseout-of-printlibrarybooks,mostofwhichhavebeengatheringdustonforgottenshelvesfordecades?Thecompanyclaimsitsmotivesareessentiallypublic-spirited.Itsoverallmission,afterall,isto"organizetheworld'sinformation",soitwouldbeoddifthatinformationdidnotincludebooks.Thecompanylikestopresentitselfashavingloftyaspirations."Thisreallyisn'taboutmakingmoney.Wearedoingthisforthegoodofsociety."AsSantiagodelaMora,headofGoogleBooksforEurope,putsit:"Bymakingitpossibletosearchthemillionsofbooksthatexisttoday,wehopetoexpandthefrontiersofhumanknowledge."DanClancy,thechiefarchitectofGoogleBooks,doesseemgenuineinhisconvictionthatthisisprimarilyaphilanthropic(慈善旳)exercise."Google'scorebusinessissearchandfind,soobviouslywhathelpsimproveGoogle'ssearchengineisgoodforGoogle,"hesays."Butwehaveneverbuiltaspreadsheet(电子数据表)outliningthefinancialbenefitsofthis,andIhaveneverhadtojustifytheamountIamspendingtothecompany'sfounders."Itiseasy,talkingtoClancyandhiscolleagues,tobesweptalongbytheirmissionarypassion.ButGoogle'sbook-scanningprojectisprovingcontroversial.Severalopponentshaverecentlyemerged,rangingfromrivaltechgiantssuchasMicrosoftandAmazontosmallbodiesrepresentingauthorsandpublishersacrosstheworld.Inbroadterms,theseopponentshavelevelledtwosetsofcriticismsatGoogle.First,theyhavequestionedwhethertheprimaryresponsibilityfordigitallyarchivingtheworld'sbooksshouldbeallowedtofalltoacommercialcompany.InarecentessayintheNewYorkReviewofBooks,RobertDanton,theheadofHarvardUniversity'slibrary,arguedthatbecausesuchbooksareacommonresource–thepossessionofusall–onlypublic,not-for-profitbodiesshouldbegiventhepowertocontrolthem.ThesecondrelatedcriticismisthatGoogle'sscanningofbooksisactuallyillegal.ThisallegationhasledtoGooglebecomingmiredin(陷入)alegalbattlewhosescopeandcomplexitymakestheJaundiceandJaundicecaseinCharlesDickens'BleakHouselookstraightforward.Atitscentre,however,isonesimpleissue:thatofcopyright.Theinconvenientfactaboutmostbooks,towhichGooglehasarguablypaidinsufficientattention,isthattheyareprotectedbycopyright.Copyrightlawsdifferfromcountrytocountry,butingeneralprotectionextendsforthedurationofanauthor'slifeandforasubstantialperiodafterwards,thusallowingtheauthor'sheirstobenefit.(InBritainandAmerica,thispost-deathperiodis70years.)Thismeans,ofcourse,thatalmostallofthebookspublishedinthe20thcenturyarestillundercopyright–andthelastcenturysawmorebookspublishedthaninallpreviouscenturiescombined.Oftheroughly40millionbooksinUSlibraries,forexample,anestimated32millionareincopyright.Ofthese,some27millionareoutofprint.OutsidetheUS,Googlehasmadesureonlytoscanbooksthatareoutofcopyrightandthusinthe"publicdomain"(workssuchastheBodleian'sfirsteditionofMiddlemarch,whichanyonecanreadforfreeonGoogleBooksSearch).But,withintheUS,thecompanyhasscannedbothin-copyrightandout-of-copyrightworks.Initsdefense,Googlepointsoutthatitdisplaysonlysmallsegmentsofbooksthatareincopyright–arguingthatsuchdisplaysare"fairuse".Butcriticsallegethatbymakingelectroniccopiesofthesebookswithoutfirstseekingthepermissionofcopyrightholders,Googlehascommittedpiracy."Thekeyprincipleofcopyrightlawhasalwaysbeenthatworkscanbecopiedonlyonceauthorshaveexpresslygiventheirpermission,"saysPiersBluffed,oftheSheilaLandliteraryagencyinLondon."Googlehasreversedthis–ithassimplycopiedalltheseworkswithoutbotheringtask."In,theAuthorsGuildofAmerica,togetherwithagroupofUSpublishers,launchedaclassactionsuit(集团诉讼)againstGooglethat,aftermorethantwoyearsofnegotiation,endedwithanannouncementlastOctoberthatGoogleandtheclaimantshadreachedanout-of-courtsettlement.Thefulldetailsarecomplicated-thetextalonerunsto385pages–andtryingtosummariseitisnoeasytask."Partoftheproblemisthatitisbasicallyincomprehensible,"saysBlofeld,oneofthesettlement'smostvocalBritishcritics.Broadly,thedealprovidesamechanismforGoogletocompensateauthorsandpublisherswhoserightsithasbreached(includinggivingthemashareofanyfuturerevenueitgeneratesfromtheirworks).Inexchangeforthis,therightsholdersagreenottosueGoogleinfuture.ThissettlementhandsGooglethepower-butonlywiththeagreementofindividualrightsholders–toexploititsdatabaseofout-of-printbooks.Itcanincludetheminsubscriptiondealssoldtolibrariesorsellthemindividuallyunderaconsumerlicence.Itisthesecommercialprovisionsthatareprovingthesettlement'smostcontroversialaspect.Criticspointoutthat,bygivingGoogletherighttocommerciallyexploititsdatabase,thesettlementpavesthewayforasubtleshiftinthecompany'srolefromproviderofinformationtoseller."Google'sbusinessmodelhasalwaysbeentoprovideinformationforfree,andselladvertisingonthebasisofthetrafficthisgenerates,"pointsoutJamesGrimmelmann,associateprofessoratNewYorkLawSchool.Now,hesays,becauseofthesettlement'sprovisions,Googlecouldbecomeasignificantforceinbookselling.Interestinthisaspectofthesettlementhasfocusedon"orphan"works,wherethereisnoknowncopyrightholder–thesemakeupanestimated5-10%ofthebooksGooglehasscanned.Underthesettlement,whennorightsholderscomeforwardandregistertheirinterestinawork,commercialcontrolautomaticallyrevertstoGoogle.Googlewillbeabletodisplayupto20%oforphanworksforfree,includetheminitssubscriptiondealstolibrariesandsellthemtoindividualbuyersundertheconsumerlicence.Itisbynomeanscertainthatthesettlementwillbeenacted(执行)–itisthesubjectoffairnesshearingintheUScourts.Butifitisenacted,GooglewillineffectbeoffthehookasfarascopyrightviolationsintheUSareconcerned.Manypeopleareseriouslyconcernedbythis-andthecompanyislikelytofacechallengesinothercourtsaroundtheworld.NooneknowsthepreciseuseGooglewillmakeoftheintellectualpropertyithasgainedbyscanningtheworld'slibrarybooks,andthetruth,asGleick,anAmericansciencewriterandmemberoftheAuthorsGuild,pointsout,isthatthecompanyprobablydoesn'tevenknowitself.Butwhatiscertainisthat,insomewayorother,Google'sentranceintodigitalbooksellingwillhaveasignificantimpactonthebookworldintheyearstocome.PartIII ListeningComprehension (35minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillhear8shortconversationsand2longconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,oneormorequestionswillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Aftereachquestiontherewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD),anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.A)Cancelthetriptoprepareforthetest.B)

ReviewhisnotesoncehearrivesinChicago.C)

Listentotherecordednoteswhiledriving.D)

Prepareforthetestafterthewedding.

A)Thewomanwillhelpthemanrememberthelines.

Themanlacksconfidenceinplayingthepart.C)

Themanhopestochangehisroleintheplay.D)

Thewomanwillpromptthemanduringtheshow.13.A)Preparationsforanoperation.

C)Arrangingabedforapatient.B)Acomplicatedsurgicalcase.

D)Rescuingthewoman'suncle.14.A)Heisinterestedinimprovinghiseditingskills.

Heiseagertobenominatedtheneweditor.

HeissuretodoabetterjobthanSimon.

Heistoobusytoacceptmoreresponsibility.

A)Hehaslefthispositioninthegovernment.B)

Hehasalreadyreachedtheretirementage.C)

Hemadeastupiddecisionatthecabinetmeeting.D)

HehasbeensuccessfullyelectedPrimeMinister.

A)Thisyear'sshuttlemissionisabigstepinspaceexploration.B)

Themaniswellinformedaboutthespaceshuttlemissions.

Theshuttleflightwillbebroadcastliveworldwide.

Themanisexcitedatthenewsoftheshuttleflight.

A)Atanautorescuecenter.

C)Atasuburbangarage.

B)Atacarrentingcompany.

D)Atamountaincamp.

SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillhear3shortpassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearsomequestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。PassageOne

PassageTwo

PassageThree

SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom36to43withtheexactwordsyouhavejustheard.Forblanksnumberedfrom44to46youarerequiredtofillinthemissinginformation.Fortheseblanks,youcaneitherusetheexactwordsyouhavejustheardorwritedownthemainpointsinyourownwords.Finally,whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。Inthepast,oneofthebiggestdisadvantagesofmachineshasbeentheirinabilitytoworkonamicro-scale.Forexample,doctorsdidnothavedevicesallowingthemtogoinsidethehumanbodyto(36)_____healthproblemsortoperform(37)_____surgery.Repaircrewsdidnothaveawayof(38)_____brokenpipeslocateddeepwithinahigh-rise(39)_____building.However,that'sabouttochange.Advancesincomputersandbiophysicshavestartedamicrominiature(超微)(40)_____thatallowsscientiststoenvision–andinsomecasesactuallybuild–microscopicmachines.Thesedevicespromiseto(41)_____changethewayweliveandwork.Micromachinesalreadyaremakinganimpact.AtCaseWesternReserveUniversityinCleveland,Ohio,researchscientistshavedesigneda4-inchsiliconchipthatholds700tiny(42)_____motors.AtLucasNovaSensorinFremont,California,scientistshaveperfectedtheworld'sfirstmicroscopicblood-pressuresensor.Threadedthroughaperson'sblood(43)_____,thesensorcanprovidebloodpressurereadingsatthevalveoftheheartitself.(44)______________________________________________________________________.Automanufacturers,forexample,aretryingtousetinydevices_____________________________(45)_________________________________________________________________________.Somefuturistsenvisionnanotechnology(纳米技术)alsobeingusedtoexplorethedeepseainsmallsubmarines,oreventolaunchfinger-sizedrocketspackedwithmicrominiatureinstruments.Thereisanexplosionofnewideasandapplications.So,(46)________________________________________________________________________________________.PartIVReadingComprehension(ReadinginDepth)(25minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisashortpassagewith5questionsorincompletestatements.Readthepassagecarefully.Thenanswerthequestionsorcompletethestatementsinthefewestpossiblewords.PleasewriteyouranswersonAnswerSheet2.Questions47to51arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Leadershipisthemostsignificantwordintoday'scompetitivebusinessenvironmentbecauseitdirectsthemanagerofabusinesstofocusinwardontheirpersonalcapabilitiesandstyle.Expertsonleadershipwillquicklypointoutthat"howthingsgetdone"influencesthesuccessoftheoutcomesandindicatesarightwayandawrongwaytodothings.Whenanotedleaderontheartofmanagement,PeterDucker,coinedthephrase"Managementisdoingthingsright;leadershipisdoingtherightthings,"hewasseekingtoclarifythedistinctionsheassociateswiththeterms.WhenStephenCovey,founderanddirectoroftheLeadershipInstitute,exploredleadershipstylesinthepastdecade,hefocusedonthehabitsofagreatnumberofhighlyeffectiveindividuals.HisSevenHabitsofHighlyEffectivePeoplebecameapopularbestsellerveryquickly.Hisideasforcedareexaminationoftheearlyleadershipparadigm(范例),whichheobservedcenteredontraitsfoundinthecharacterethicandthepersonalityethic.Theformerethicsuggestedsuccesswasfoundedonintegrity,modesty,loyalty,courage,patience,andsoforth.Thepersonalityethicsuggesteditwasone'sattitude,notbehavior,thatinspiredsuccess,andthisethicwasfoundedonabeliefofpositivementalattitude.Incontrasttoeachoftheseideas,Coveyadvocatesthatleadersneedtounderstanduniversalprinciplesofeffectiveness,andhehighlightshowvitalitisforleaderstofirstpersonallymanagethemselvesiftheyaretoenjoyanyhopeofoutstandingsuccessintheirworkenvironments.Toachieveadesiredvisionforyourbusiness,itisvitalthatyouhaveapersonalvisionofwhereyouareheadedandwhatyouvalue.Businessleadershipmeansthatmanagersneedto"putfirstthingsfirst,"whichimpliesthatbeforeleadingothers,youneedtobeclearonyourownvalues,abilities,andstrengthsandbeseenastrustworthy.47.Tobegoodleaders,managersmustpaycloseattentiontotheirown_________________.48.AccordingtoPeterDucker,leadersshouldbegoodat__________________.49.Thepersonalityethicsuggeststhatpeoplearelikelytosucceediftheyhave_________.50.AccordingtoStephenCovey,leaderswhohopetoachieveoutstandingsuccessneedfirstofallto_________.51.Goodleadershiprequiresonetoknowone'sownstrengthsandbeabletowinpeople's___________.SectionBDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions52to56arebasedonthefollowingpassage.What'stheonewordofadviceawell-meaningprofessionalwouldgivetoarecentcollegegraduate?

China"}India!Brazil!

Howabout

trade!WhentheCommerceDepartmentreportedlastweekthatthetradedeficitinJuneapproached$50billion,itsetoffanewroundofeconomicdoomsaying.Imports,whichsoaredto$200.3billioninthemonth,aresubtractedinthecalculationofgrossdomesticproduct.Thelargerthetradedeficit,thesmallertheGDP.Shouldsuchimbalancescontinue,pessimistssay,theycouldcontributetoslowergrowth.Butthere'sanotherwayoflookingatthetradedata.Overthepasttwoyears,thefiguresonimportsandexportsseemnottosignaladouble-diprecession–

areneweddeclineinthebroadlevelofeconomicactivityintheUnitedStates

–

butaneconomicexpansion.Therisingvolumeoftrade–

moregoodsandservicesshuttlinginandoutoftheUnitedStates

–

isgoodnewsformanysectors.Companiesengagedinshipping,trucking,railfreight,delivery,

and

logistics

(物流)

haveallbeenreportingbetterthanexpectedresults.Therisingnumberssignifygrowingvitalityinforeignmarkets–

whenweimportmorestuff,itputsmorecashinthehandsofpeoplearoundtheworld,andU.S.exportsarerisingbecausemoreforeignershavetheabilitytobuythethingsweproduceandmarket.Therisingtideoftradeisalsogoodnewsforpeoplewhoworkintrade-sensitivebusinesses,especiallythosethatproducecommoditiesforwhichglobaldemandsetstheprice

–

agriculturalgoods,mining,metals,oil.Andwhileexportsalwaysseemtolag,U.S.companiesarebecomingmoreinvolvedintheglobaleconomywitheachpassingmonth.GeneralMotorssellsasmanycarsinChinaasinAmericaeachmonth.Whilethatmaynotdomuchforimports,itdoeshelpGM'sbalancesheet–

andhencemakesthejobsofU.S.-basedexecutivesmorestable.OnegreatchallengefortheU.S.economyisslackdomesticconsumerdemand.Americansare

payingdowndebt,savingmore,andspendingmorecarefully.That'stobeexpected,givenwhatwe'vebeenthrough.Butthere'sabiggerchallenge.CanU.S.-basedbusinesses,largeandsmall,figureouthowtogetapieceofgrowingglobaldemand?UnlessyouwanttopickupandmovetoIndia,orBrazil,orChina,thebestwaytodothatisthroughtrade.Itmayseemobvious,butit'snolongerenoughsimplytodobusinesswithourfriendsandneighborshereathome.Companiesandindividualswhodon'thaveastrategytoexportmore,ortogetmoreinvolvedinforeignmarkets,ortoplayaroleinglobaltrade,areshuttingthemselvesoutofthelion'sshareofeconomicopportunityinourworld.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。52.HowdopessimistsinterprettheU.S.tradedeficitinJune?A)

ItreflectsAmericans'preferenceforimportedgoods.B)

ItsignifiesachangeinAmericaneconomicstructure.C)

ItistheresultofAmerica'sgrowingfocusondomesticmarket.D)

Itcouldleadtoslowergrowthofthenationaleconomy.53.

Whatdoestheauthorsayaboutthetradedataofthepasttwoyears?A)

ItindicatesthateconomicactivitiesintheU.S.haveincreased.B)

ItshowsthatU.S.economyisslipping