六级历年真题07

2007年6月23日大学英语六级(CET-6)真题试卷(A卷)

PartIWriting(30minutes)

Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteashortessayentitledShould

OneExpectaRewardWhenDoingaGoodDeed?Youshouldwriteatleast150

wordsfollowingtheoutlinegivenbelow.

1.有人做好事期望得到回报；

2.有人认为应该像雷锋那样做好事不图回报；

3.我的观点。

ShouldOneExpectaRewardWhenDoingaGoodDeed?

PartIIReadingComprehension(SkimmingandScanning)(15minutes)

Directions:Inthispart,youwillhave15minutestogooverthepassagequicklyandanswer

thequestionsonAnswerSheet1.

Forquestions1-4,mark

Y(forYES)ifthestatementagreeswiththeinformationgiveninthe

passage;

N(forNO)ifstatementcontradictstheinformationgiveninthepassage;

NG(forNOTGIVEN)iftheinformationisnotgiveninthepassage.

Forquestions5-10,completethesentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.

SevenStepstoaMoreFulfillingJob

Manypeopletodayfindthemselvesinunfulfillingworksituations.Infact,oneinfour

workersisdissatisfiedwiththeircurrentjob,accordingtotherecent"Plansfor2004"survey.

Theircareerpathmaybefinanciallyrewarding,butitdoesn'tmeettheiremotional,socialor

creativeneeds.They'restuck,unhappy,andhavenoideawhattodoaboutit,exceptmoveto

anotherjob.

MaryLynMiller,veterancareerconsultantandfounderoftheLifeandCareerClinic,says

thatwhenmostpeopleareunhappyabouttheirwork,theirfirstthoughtistogetadifferentjob.

Instead,Millersuggestslookingatthepossibilityofadifferentlife.Throughherbook,8Myths

ofMakingaLiving,aswellasworkshops,seminarsandpersonalcoachingandconsulting,she

hashelpedthousandsofdissatisfiedworkersreassesslifeandwork.

LikethewayofZen,whichincludesunderstandingofoneselfasonereallyis,Miller

encouragesjobseekersandthosedissatisfiedwithworkorlifetoexaminetheirbeliefsabout

workandrecognizethat“inmanycasesyourbeliefsarewhatbroughtyoutowhereyouare

today.^^Youmayhavebeenraisedtothinkthatwomenwerebestatnurturingandcaringand,

therefore,shouldbeteachersandnurses.Sothafswhatyoudid.Or,perhapsyouwerebrought

uptobelievethatyoushoulddowhatyourfatherdid,soyouhavetakenoverthefamilybusiness,

orbecomeadentistc<justlikedad."Ifthissoundsfamiliar,ifsprobablytimetolookatthenew

possibilitiesforyourfuture.

Millerdevelopeda7-stepprocesstohelppotentialjobseekersassesstheircurrentsituation

andbeliefs,identifytheirrealpassion,andstartonajourneythatallowsthemtopursuetheir

passionthroughwork.

Step1:Willingnesstodosomethingdifferent.

Breakingthecycleofdoingwhatyouhavealwaysdoneisoneofthemostdifficulttasksfor

jobseekers.Manyfinditdifficulttosteerawayfromacareerpathormakeachange,evenifit

doesn'tfeelright.Millerurgesjobseekerstoopentheirmindstootherpossibilitiesbeyondwhat

theyarecurrentlydoing.

Step2:Commitmenttobeingwhoyouare,notwhoorwhatsomeonewantsyoutobe.

Lookatthe\giftsandtalentsyouhaveandmakeacommitmenttopursuethosethingsthat

youlovemost.Ifyoulovethesocialaspectsofyourjob,butarestuckinsideanofficeor

“chainedtoyourdesk“mostofthetime,vowtofollowyourinstinctandinvestigatealternative

careersandworkthatallowyoumoretimetointeractwithothers.Dawnworkedasamanager

foralargeretailclothingstoreforseveralyears.Thoughshehadadvancedwithinthecompany,

shefeltfrustratedandlongedtobeinvolvedwithnatureandtheoutdoors.Shedecidedtogoto

schoolnightsandweekendstopursuehertruepassionbyearninghermaster'sdegreeinforestry.

Shenowworksinthebiotechforestrydivisionofamajorpapercompany.

Step3:Self-definition

Millersuggeststhatoncejobseekersknowwhotheyare,theyneedtoknowhowtosell

themselves."'Inthejobmarket,youareaproduct.Andjustlikeaproduct,youmostknowthe

featuresandbenefitsthatyouhavetoofferapotentialclient,oremployer.^^Examinetheskills

andknowledgethatyouhaveidentifyhowtheycanapplytoyourdesiredoccupation.Your

qualitieswillexhibittoemployerswhytheyshouldhireyouoverothercandidates.

Step4:Attainalevelofself-honoring.

Self^honoringorself-lovemayseemlikeanoddstepforjobhunters,butbeingableto

acceptyourselfwithoutjudgment,helpseliminateinsecuritiesandwillmakeyoumore

self-assured.Byacceptingwhoyouare-allyouremotions,hopesanddreams,yourpersonality,

andyouruniquewayofbeing-you'llprojectmoreconfidencewhennetworkingandtalking

withpotentialemployers.Thepowerofself^honoringcanhelptobreakallthefalsehoodsyou

wereprogrammedtobelieve-thosethatmadeyoufeelthatyouwerenotgoodenough,orstrong

enough,orintelligentenoughtodowhatyoutrulydesire.

Step5:Vision.

Millersuggeststhatjobseekersdevelopavisionthatembracestheanswerto“WhatdoI

reallywanttodo?”oneshouldcreateasolidstatementinadozenorsosentencesthatdescribein

detailhowtheyseetheirliferelatedtowork.Forinstance,thesecretarywholongstobean

actressdescribesalifethatallowshertoexpressherloveofShakespeareonstage.Arealestate

agent,attractedtohiscurrentjobbecauseherlovesfixingupoldhomes,describesbuying

propertiesthatneedalittletenderlovingcaretomakethemmoresaleable.

Step6:Appropriaterisk.

Somephilosophersbelievethatthewaytoenlightenmentcomesthroughfacingobstacles

anddifficulties.Oncepeoplediscovertheirpassion,manyaretooscaredtodoanythingaboutit.

Instead,theydonothing.Withthisstep,jobseekersshouldassesswhattheyarewillingtogive

up,orrisk,inpursuitoftheirdream.Foroneworkingmom,thatmeanttakingnightclassesto

learnnewcomputer-aideddesignskills,whilestillearningasalaryandkeepingherdayjob.For

someoneelse,itmaymeanquittinghisorherjob,takingoutloanandgoingbacktoschoolfull

time.You'llmoveonestepclosertoyouridealworklifeifyouidentifyhowmuchriskyouare

willingtotakeandthesacrificesyouarewillingtomake.

Step7:Action.

Someteachersofphilosophydescribeactioninthisway,"Ifonewantstogettothetopofa

mountain,justsittingatthefootthinkingaboutitwillnotbringonethere.Itisbymakingthe

effortofclimbingupthemountain,stepbystep,thateventuallythesummitisreached.^^Alltoo

often,itisthelackofactionthatultimatelyholdspeoplebackfromattainingtheirideals.

Creatingaplanandtakingitonestepatatimecanleadtonewanddifferentjobopportunities.

Job-huntingtasksgainaddedmeaningasyousensetheirimportanceinyourquestforamore

meaningfulworklife.Theplancanincluderesearchingindustriesandoccupations,talkingto

peoplewhoareinyourdesiredareaofwork,takingclasses,oracceptingvolunteerworkinyour

targetedfield.

Eachofthesestepswillleadyouonajourneytoahappierandmorerewardingworklife.

Afterall,itisthejourney,notthedestination,thatismostimportant.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。

1.Accordingtotherecent"Plansfor2004"survey,mostpeopleareunhappywiththeircurrent

jobs.

2.MaryLynMiller'sjobistoadvisepeopleontheirlifeandcareer.

3.MaryLynMillerherselfwasoncequitedissatisfiedwithherownwork.

4.Manypeoplefinditdifficulttomakeuptheirmindswhethertochangetheircareerpath.

5.AccordingtoMaryLynMiller,peopleconsideringchangingtheircareersshouldcommit

themselvestothepursuitof.

6.Inthejobmarket,jobseekersneedtoknowhowtosellthemselveslike.

7.Duringaninterviewwithpotentialemployers,self^honoringorself-lovemayhelpajob

seekertoshow.

8.MaryLynMillersuggeststhatajobseekerdevelopavisionthatanswersthequestion

9.Manypeoplearetooscaredtopursuetheirdreamsbecausetheyareunwillingto.

10.Whatultimatelyholdspeoplebackfromattainingtheiridealsis.

PartIIIListeningComprehension(35minutes)

SectionA

Directions:Inthissection,youwillhear8shortconversationsand2longconversations.Atthe

endofeachconversation,oneormorequestionswillbeaskedaboutwhatsaid.

Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Aftereach

questiontherewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthefourchoices

markedA)B)C)andD),anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.Thenmarkthe

correspondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

11.A)Surfingthenet.

B)Watchingatalkshow.

C)Packingabirthdaygift.

D)Shoppingatajewelrystore.

12.A)Heenjoysfindingfaultwithexams.

B)Heissureofhissuccessintheexam.

C)Hedoesn'tknowifhecandowellintheexam.

D)HeusedtogetstraightA'sintheexamshetook.

13.A)Themanisgenerouswithhisgoodcommentsonpeople.

B)Thewomanisunsureiftherewillbepeaceintheworld.

C)Thewomanisdoubtfulaboutnewspaperstories.

D)Themanisquiteoptimisticabouthumannature.

14.A)Studyfbrsomeprofession.

B)Attendamedicalschool.

C)Stayinbusiness.

D)Sellhisshop.

15.A)Moremoney.

B)Fairtreatment.

C)Acollegeeducation.

D)Shorterworkhours.

16.A)Shewasexhaustedfromhertrip.

B)Shemissedthecomfortsofhome.

C)ShewasimpressedbyMexicanfood.

D)ShewillnotgotoMexicoagain.

17.A)Cheerherselfupabit.

B)Findamoresuitablejob.

C)Seekprofessionaladvice.

D)Takeapsychologycourse.

18.A)Hedressesmoreformallynow.

B)Whathewearsdoesnotmatchhisposition.

C)Hehasignoredhisfriendssincegraduation.

D)Hefailedtodowellatcollege.

Questions19to22arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.

19.A)Togosightseeing.

B)Tohavemeetings.

C)Topromoteanewchampagne.

D)Tojoininatrainingprogram.

20.A)Itcanreducethenumberofpassengercomplaints.

B)Itcanmakeairtravelmoreentertaining.

C)Itcancutdowntheexpensesforairtravel.

D)Itcanlessenthediscomfortcausedbyairtravel.

21.A)Tookbalancedmealswithchampagne.

B)Atevegetablesandfruitonly.

C)Refrainedfromfishormeat.

D)Avoidedeatingrichfood.

22.A)Manyofthemfounditdifficulttoexerciseonaplane.

B)Manyofthemwereconcernedwiththeirwell-being.

C)Notmanyofthemchosetodowhatshedid.

D)Notmanyofthemunderstoodtheprogram.

Questions23to25arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.

23.A)Atafair.

B)Atacafeteria.

C)Inacomputerlab.

D)Inashoppingmall.

24.A)Thelatestcomputertechnology.

B)Theorganizingofanexhibition.

C)Thepurchasingofsomeequipment.

D)Thedramaticchangesinthejobmarket.

25.A)Datacollection.

B)Trainingconsultancy.

C)Corporatemanagement.

D)Informationprocessing.

SectionB

Directions:Inthissection,youwillhear3shortpassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwill

hearsomequestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.

Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoice

markedA)B)C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2

withasinglelinethroughthecentre.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

PassageOne

Questions26to28arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.

26.A)Improvethemselves.

B)Getridofemptydreams.

C)Followtheculturaltradition.

D)Attemptsomethingimpossible.

27.A)Byfindingsufficientsupportforimplementation.

B)Bytakingintoaccounttheirownabilitytochange.

C)Byconstantlykeepinginmindtheirultimategoals.

D)Bymakingdetailedplansandcarryingthemout.

28.A)Toshowpeoplehowtogettheirlivesbacktonormal.

B)Toshowhowdifficultitisforpeopletoloseweight.

C)Toremindpeopletocheckthecaloriesonfoodbags.

D)Toillustratehoweasilypeopleabandontheirgoals.

PassageTwo

Questions29to31arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.

29.A)MichaeFsparentsgotdivorced.

B)KarenwasadoptedbyRayAnderson.

C)Karen?smotherdiedinacaraccident.

D)Atruckdriverlosthislifeinacollision.

30.A)Heranaredlightandcollidedwithatruck.

B)Hesacrificedhislifetosaveababygirl.

C)Hewaskilledinstantlyinaburningcar.

D)HegotmarriedtoKaren'smother.

31.A)Thereportedheroturnedouttobehisfather.

B)Hedidnotunderstandhisfathertilltoolate.

C)Suchmisfortuneshouldhavefallenonhim.

D)Itremindedhimofhismiserablechildhood.

PassageThree

Questions32to35arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.

32.A)Germany.

B)Japan.

C)TheU.S.

D)TheU.K.

33.A)Bydoingoddjobsatweekends.

B)Byworkinglonghourseveryday.

C)Byputtinginmorehourseachweek.

D)Bytakingshortervacationseachyear.

34.A)Tocombatcompetitionandraiseproductivity.

B)Toprovidethemwithmorejobopportunities.

C)Tohelpthemmaintaintheirlivingstandard.

D)Topreventthemfromholdingasecondjob.

35.A)Changetheirjobs.

B)Earnmoremoney.

C)Reducetheirworkinghours.

D)Strengthenthegovemmenfsrole.

SectionC

Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadfor

thefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageis

readforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom36to

43withtheexactwordsyouhavejustheard.Forblanksnumberedfrom44to46

youarerequiredtofillinthemissinginformation.Fortheseblanks,youcaneither

usetheexactwordsyouhavejustheardorwritedownthemainpointsinyourown

words.Finally,whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhat

youhavewritten.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

Nursing,asatypicallyfemaleprofession,mustdealconstantlywiththefalseimpression

thatnursesaretheretowaitonthephysician.Asnurses,weare(36)toprovide

nursingcareonly.Wedonothaveanylegalormoral(37)toanyphysician.We

providehealthteaching,(38)physicalaswellasemotionalproblems,(39)

patient-relatedservices,andmakeallofournursingdecisionsbaseduponwhatisbestorsuitable

fbrthepatient.If,inany(40),wefeelthataphysician'sorderis(41)or

unsafe,wehavealegal(42)toquestionthatorderorrefusetocarryitout.

Nursingisnotanine-to-fivejobwitheveryweekendoff.Allnursesareawareofthatbefore

theyentertheprofession.Theemotionalandphysicalstress.However,thatoccursduetoodd

workinghoursisa(43)reasonforalotofthecareerdissatisfaction.(44)

.Thatdisturbsourpersonallives,disruptsoursleeping

andeatinghabits,andisolatesusfromeverythingexceptjob-relatedfriendsandactivities.

Thequalityofnursingcareisbeingaffecteddramaticallybythesesituations.(45)

.Consumersofmedicallyrelatedserviceshaveevidently

notbeenaffectedenoughyettodemandchangesinourmedicalsystem.Butiftrendscontinueas

predicted,(46).

PartIVReadingComprehension(ReadinginDepth)(25minutes)

SectionA

Directions:Inthissection,thereisashortpassagewith5questionsorincompletestatements.

Readthepassagecarefully.Thenanswerthequestionsorcompletestatementsin

thefewestpossiblewords.PleasewriteyouranswersonAnswerSheet2.

Questions47to51arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

Googleisaworld-famouscompany,withitsheadquartersinMountainView,California.It

wassetupinaSiliconValleygaragein1998,andinflated(膨胀)withtheInternetbubble.

Evenwheneverythingarounditcollapsedthecompanykeptoninflating.Google'ssearchengine

issowidespreadacrosstheworldthatsearchbecameGoogle,andgooglebecameaverb.The

worldfellinlovewiththeeffective,fascinatinglyfasttechnology.

GoogleowesmuchofitssuccesstothebrillianceofS.BrinandL.Page,butalsotoaseries

offortunateevents.ItwasPagewho,atStanfordin1996,initiatedtheacademicprojectthat

eventuallybecameGoogle'ssearchengine.Brin,whohadmetPageatastudentorientationa

yearearlier,joinedtheprojectearlyon.TheywerebothPh.D.candidateswhentheydevisedthe

searchenginewhichwasbetterthantherestand,withoutanymarketing,spreadbywordof

mouthfromearlyadoptersto,eventually,yourgrandmother.

Theirbreakthrough,simplyput,wasthatwhentheirsearchenginecrawledtheWeb,itdid

morethanjustlookforwordmatches,italsotallied(统计)andrankedahostofothercritical

factorslikehowwebsiteslinktooneanother.Thatdeliveredfarbetterresultsthananythingelse.

BrinandPagemeanttonametheircreationGoogol(themathematicaltermforthenumber1

followedby100zeroes),butsomeonemisspelledthewordsoitstuckasGoogle.Theyraised

moneyfromprescient(有先见之明的)professorsandventurecapitalists,andmovedoffcampus

toturnGoogleintobusiness.Perhapstheirbiggeststrokeofluckcameearlyonwhentheytried

toselltheirtechnologytoothersearchengines,butnoonemettheirprice,andtheybuiltitupon

theirown.

Thenextbreakthroughcamein2000,whenGooglefiguredouthowtomakemoneywithits

invention.Ithadlotsofusers,butalmostnoonewaspaying.Thesolutionturnedouttobe

advertising,andifsnotanexaggerationtosaythatGoogleisnowessentiallyanadvertising

company,giventhatthafsthesourceofnearlyallitsrevenue.Todayitisagiantadvertising

company,worth$100billion.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

47.Apartfromaseriesoffortunateevents,whatisitthathasmadeGooglesosuccessful?

48.Google'ssearchengineoriginatedfromstartedbyL.Page.

49.HowdidGoogle'ssearchenginespreadallovertheworld?

50.BrinandPagedecidedtosetuptheirownbusinessbecausenoonewould.

51.TherevenueoftheGooglecompanyislargelygeneratedfrom.

SectionB

Directions:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestions

orunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),

C),andD).Youshoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletter

onAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.

PassageOne

Questions52to56arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

Youheartherefrainallthetime:theU.S.economylooksgoodstatistically,butitdoesn't

feelgood.Whydoesn'tever-greaterwealthpromoteever-greaterhappiness?Itisaquestionthat

datesatleasttotheappearancein1958ofTheAffluent（富裕的）SocietybyJohnKenneth

Galbraith,whodiedrecentlyat97.

TheAffluentSocietyisamodemclassicbecauseithelpeddefineanewmomentinthe

humancondition.Formostofhistory,"'hunger,sickness,andcold^^threatenednearlyeveryone,

Galbraithwrote.'"Povertywasfoundeverywhereinthatworld.Obviouslyitisnotofours.^^After

WorldWarII,thedreadofanotherGreatDepressiongavewaytoaneconomicboom.Inthe

1930sunemploymenthadaveraged18.2percent;inthe1950sitwas4.5percent.

ToGalbraith,materialismhadgonemadandwouldbreeddiscontent.Throughadvertising,

companiesconditionedconsumerstobuythingstheydidn'treallywantorneed.Becauseso

muchspendingwasartificial,itwouldbeunfiilfilling.Meanwhile,governmentspendingthat

wouldmakeeveryonebetteroffwasbeingcutdownbecausepeopleinstinctively-and

wrongly-labeledgovernmentonlyas"anecessaryevil.^^

Ifsoftensaidthatonlythericharegettingahead;everyoneelseisstandingstillorfalling

behind.Well,therearemanyundeservingrichoverpaidchiefexecutives,forinstance.Butover

anymeaningfulperiod,mostpeople'sincomesareincreasing.From1995to2004,

inflation-adjustedaveragefamilyincomerose14.3percent,to$43,200.peoplefeel“squeezed”

becausetheirrisingincomesoftendon'tsatisfytheirrisingwants-forbiggerhomes,more

healthcare,moreeducation,fasterInternetconnections.

Theothergreatfrustrationisthatithasnoteliminatedinsecurity.Peopleregardjobstability

aspartoftheirstandardofliving.Ascorporatelayoffsincreased,thatparthaseroded.More

workersfearthey'vebecome"thedisposableAmerican,,9asLouisUchitelleputsitinhisbook

bythesamename.

Becausesomuchprevioussufferingandsocialconflictstemmedfrompoverty,thearrival

ofwidespreadaffluencesuggestedutopian（乌托邦式的）possibilities.Uptoapoint,affluence

succeeds.Thereismuchlessphysicalmiserythanbefore.Peoplearebetteroff.Unfortunately,

affluencealsocreatesnewcomplaintsandcontradictions.

Advancedsocietiesneedeconomicgrowthtosatisfythemultiplyingwantsoftheircitizens.

Butthequestforgrowthletsloosenewanxietiesandeconomicconflictsthatdisturbthesocial

order.Affluenceliberatestheindividual,promisingthateveryonecanchooseauniquewayto

self-fulfillment.Butthepromiseissoextravagantthatitpredestinesmanydisappointmentsand

sometimesinspireschoicesthathaveanti-socialconsequences,includingfamilybreakdownand

obesity（月巴胖症）.Statisticalindicatorsofhappinesshavenotrisenwithincomes.

Shouldwebesurprised?Notreally.We'vesimplyreaffirmedanoldtruth:thepursuitof

affluencedoesnotalwaysendwithhappiness.

注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。

52.WhatquestiondoesJohnKennethGalbraithraiseinhisbookTheAffluentSociety?

A)Whystatisticsdon'ttellthetruthabouttheeconomy.

B)Whyaffluencedoesn'tguaranteehappiness.

C)Howhappinesscanbepromotedtoday.

D)Whatliesbehindaneconomicboom.

53.AccordingtoGalbraith,peoplefeeldiscontentedbecause.

A)publicspendinghasn'tbeencutdownasexpected

B)thegovernmenthasprovedtobeanecessaryevil

C)theyareinfearofanotherGreatDepression

D)materialismhasrunwildinmodemsociety

54.Whydopeoplefeelsqueezedwhentheiraverageincomerisesconsiderably?

A)Theirmaterialpursuitshavegonefaraheadoftheirearnings.

B)Theirpurchasingpowerhasdroppedmarkedlywithinflation.

C)Thedistributionofwealthisunevenbetweenther5ichandthepoor.

D)Healthcareandeducationalcosthavesomehowgoneoutofcontrol.

55.WhatdoesLouisUchitellemeanby“thedisposableAmerican^^(Line3,Para.5)?

A)Thosewhoseejobstabilityaspartoftheirlivingstandard.

B)Peoplefullofutopianideasresultingfromaffluence.

C)PeoplewhohavelittlesayinAmericanpolitics.

D)Workerswhonolongerhavesecurejobs.

56.WhathasaffluencebroughttoAmericansociety?

A)Renewedeconomicsecurity.

B)Asenseofself-fulfillment.

C)Newconflictsandcomplaints.

D)Miseryandanti-socialbehavior.

PassageTwo

Questions57to61arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

Theuseofdeferential(敬重的)languageissymbolicoftheConfucianidealofthewoman,

whichdominatesconservativegendernormsinJapan.Thisidealpresentsawomanwho

withdrawsquietlytothebackground,subordinatingherlifeandneedstothoseofherfamilyand

itsmalehead.Sheisadutifuldaughter,wife,andmother,masterofthedomesticarts.The

typicalrefinedJapanesewomanexcelsinmodestyanddelicacy;she“treadssoftly(谨言慎行)in

theworld/9elevatingfemininebeautyandgracetoanartform.

Nowadays,itiscommonlyobservedthatyoungwomenarenotconformingtothefeminine

linguistic(语言的)ideal.Theyareusingfeweroftheverydeferential“women's"forms,and

evenusingthefewstrongformsthatareknowas"men's."This,ofcourse,attractsconsiderable

attentionandhasledtoanoutcryintheJapanesemediaagainstthedefeminizationofwomen's

language.Indeed,wedidn'thearabout"men'slanguage^^untilpeoplebegantorespondtogirls'

appropriationofformsnormallyreservedforboysandmen.Thereisconsiderablesentiment

aboutthe“corruption“ofwomen'slanguage——whichofcourseisviewedaspartofthelossof

feminineidealsandmorality-andthissentimentiscrystallizedbynationwideopinionpollsthat

areregularlycarriedoutbythemedia.

YoshikoMatsumotohasarguedthatyoungwomenprobablyneverusedasmanyofthe

highlydeferentialformsasolderwomen.Thishighlypolitestyleisnodoubtsomethingthat

youngwomenhavebeenexpectedto“growinto^^一afterall,itisassignnotsimplyoffemininity,

butofmaturityandrefinement,anditsusecouldbetakentoindicateachangeinthenatureof

one'ssocialrelationsaswell.Onemightwellimaginelittlegirlsusingexceedinglypoliteforms

whenplayinghouseorimitatingolderwomeninafashionanalogoustolittlegirls'useofa

high-pitchedvoicetodo“teachertalk"or"mothertalk"inroleplay.

ThefactthatyoungJapanesewomenareusinglessdeferentiallanguageisasuresignof

change-ofsocialchangeandoflinguisticchange.Butitismostcertainlynotasignofthe

“masculizatiorTofgirls.Insomeinstances,itmaybeasignthatgirlsaremakingthesameclaim

toauthorityasboysandmen,butthatis