大學英語六級考試真題匯總

2009年6月大學英語六級考試真題及答案Writing (30minutes)注意：此部分試題在答題卡1上ReadingComprehension(SkimmingandScanning)(15minutes)Directions:Inthispart,youwillhave15minutestogooverthepassagequicklyandanswerthequestionsonAnswerSheet1Forquestions1-7,choosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD.Forquestions8-10,completethesentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.Whatwilltheworldbelikeinfiftyyears?Thisweeksometopscientists,includingNobelPrizewinners,gavetheirvisionofhowtheworldwilllookin2056,frongas-poweredcarstoextraordinaryhealthadvances,JohnInghamreportsonwhattheworld'sfinestmindsbelieveourfutureswillbe.Forthoseofusluckyenoughtolivethatlong,2056willbeaworldofalmostperpetualyouth,whereobesityisaremotememoryandrobotsbecomeourcompanions.Wewillberubbingshoulderswithaliensandcolonizingouterspace.Betterstill,ourdescendantsmightatlastliveinaworldatpeacewithitself.Thepredictionisthatwewillhavefoundasourceofinexhaustible,safe,greenenergy,andthatsciencewillhavekilledoffreligion.Iftheyarerightwewillhaveremovedtwoofthemaincausesofwar-ourdependenceonoilandreligiousprejudice.Willwereally,astoday'sscientistsclaim,beabletoliveforeveroratleastcheattheageingprocesssothattheaveragepersonlivesto150?Ofcourse,al1thesepredictionscomewithascientifichealthwarning.HarvardprofessorStevenPinkersays:"Thisisaninvitationtolookfoolish,aswiththepredictionsofdomedcitiesandnuclear-poweredvacuumcleanersthatweremade50yearago.”LivinglongerAnthonyAtala,directoroftheWakeForestInstituteinNorthCarolina,belivesfailingorganswillberepairedbyinjectingcellsintothebody.Theywillnaturallytostraighttotheinjuryandhelphealit.Asystemofinjectionswithoutneedlescouldalsoslowtheageingprocessbyusingthesameprocessto"tune"cells.BruceLahn,professorofhumangeneticsattheUniversityofChicago,anticipatestheabilitytoproduceunlimitedsupplies,,oftransplantablehumanorganswithouttheneededaneworgan,suchaskidney,thesurgeonwouldcontactacommercialorganproducer,givehimthepatientrsimmuno-logicalprofileandwouldthenbesentakidneywiththecorrecttissuetype.Theseorganswouldbeentirelycomposedofhumancells,grownbyintroducingthemintoanimalhosts,andalloweingthemtodeveoopintoandorganinplaceoftheanimalfsown.ButProf.Lahnbelievesthatfarmedbrainswouldbe“offlimits”.Hesays:uVeryfewpeoplewouldwanttohavetheirbrainsreplacedbysomeoneelse'sandweprobablydon'twanttoputahumanbrainingananimalbody.”RichardMiller,aprofessorattheUniversityofMichigan,thinksscientistcoulddevelop“anthenticanti-ageingdrugs"byworkingouthowcellsinlargeranimalssuchaswhalesandhumanresistmanyformsofinjuries.Hesays:"It'sisnowroutine,inlaboratorymammals,toextendlifespanbyabout40%.Turningonthesameprotectivesystemsinpeopleshould,by2056,createthefirstclassof100-year-oldswhoareasvigorousandproductiveastoday'speopleintheir60s”AliensConlinPillinger,professorofplanerarysciencesattheOpenUniversity,says:vIfancythatatleastwewillbeabletoshowthat1ifedidistarttoevolveonMarswellasEarth."Within50yearshehopesscientistswillprovethatalienlifecamehereinMartianmeteorites（隕石）.ChrisMcKay,aplanetaryscientistatNASA'sAmesResearchCenter,believesthatin50yearswemayfindevidenceofalienlifeinancientpermanentforstofMarsoronotherplaners.Headds:"ThereisevenachancewewillfindalienlifeformshereonEarth.ItmightbeasdifferentasEnglishistoChinese.PricetonprofessorFreemanDysonthinksit“l(fā)ikely“thatlifeformouterspacewillbediscovereddefore2056becausethetoolsforfindingit,suchasopticalandradiodetectionanddataprocessing,areimproving.Heays:"Assoonasthefirstevidenceisfound,wewillknowwhattolookforandadditionaldiscoveriesare1ikelytofollowquickly.Suchdiscoveriesarelikelytohaverevolutionaryconsequencesforbiology,astronomyandphilosophy.Theymaychangethewaywelookatourselvesandourplaceintheuniverse.ColoniesinspaceRichardGottprofessorofastrophysicsatPrinceton,hopesmanwillsetupaself-sufficientcolonyonMars,whichwouldbea”lifeinsurancepolicyagainstwhatevercatastrophes,naturalorotherwise,mightoccuronEarth.“TherealspaceraceiswhetherwewillcoloniseoffEarthontootherworldsbeforemoneyforthespaceprogrammerunsout.”SpinalinjuriesEllenHeber-Katz,aprofessorattheWistarInstitudeinPhiladelphia,foreseescuresforinijuriescausingparalysissuchastheonethatafflicatedSupermanstarChristopherReeve.Shesays:"Ibelievethatthedayisnotfaroffwhenwewillbeabletoprofescribedrugsthatcauseseveres（斷裂的）spinalcordstoheal,heartstoregenerateandlostlimbstoregrow.uPeoplewillcometoexpectthatinjuredordiseasedorgansaremeanttoberepairedfromwithin,inmuchthesamewaythatwefixanapplianceorautomobile:byreplancingthedamagedpartwithamanufacturer-certifiednewpart."Shepredictthatwithin5to10yearsfingersandtoeswillberegrownand1imbswillstarttoberegrownafewyearslater.Repariestothenervoussystemwillstartwithopticnervesand,intime,thespinalcord."Within50yearswholebodyreplacementwillberoutine,"Prof.Heber-Katzadds.ObesitySydneyBrenner,seniordistinguishedfellowoftheCrick-JacobsCenterinCalifornia,wonthe2002NoblelPrizeforMedicineandsaysthatifthereisaglobaldisastersomehumanswillsurvive-andevolitionwillfavoursmallpeoplewithbodieslargeenoughtosupporttherequiredamountofbrainpower."Obesity,“hesays."willhavebeensolved.”RobotsRodneyBrooks,professorofroboticeatMIT,saystheproblemsofdevelopingartificialintelligenceforrobotswillbeatleastpartlyovercome.Asaresult,“thepossibilitiesforrobotsworkingwithpeoplewillopenupimmenselyvEnergyBillJoy,greentechnologyexpertinCalifornia,says:nThemostsignificantbreakthroughtwouldbetohaveaninexhaustiblesourceofsafe,greenenergythatissubstantiallycheaperthananyexistingenergysource.”Ideally,suchasourcewouldbesafeinthatitcouldnotbemadeintoweaponsandwouldnotmakehazardousortoxicwasteorcarbondioxide,themaingreenhousegasblamedforglobalwarming.SocietyGeoffreyMiller,evolutionarypsychologistattheUniversityofNewMexico,says:"TheUSwillfollowtheUKinrealizingthatreligionisnoraprerequisite（前提）forordinaryhumandecency.<4This,sciencewillkillreligion-notbyreasonchallengingfaithbutbyofferingamorepractical,uniwersalandrewardingmoralframeworkforhumaninteraction.”Healsopredictsthatuabsurdlywasteful"displaysofwealthwillbecomeumfashionablewhiletheimportanceofclose-knitcommunitiesandfamilieswillbecomeclearer.Thesetherechanger,hesays,willhelpmakeusall"brighe\ter,wiser,happierandkinder”.注意：此部分試題請在答題卡1上作答。WhatisjohnIngham?sreportabout?A）AsolutiontotheglobalenergycrisisB)Extraordinaryadvancesintechnology.C)ThelatestdevelopmentsofmedicalscienceD)Scientists,visionoftheworldinhalfacenturyAccordingtoHarvardprofessorStevenPinker,predictionsaboutthefuture.A)mayinvitetroubleB)maynotcometrueC)willfoolthepublicD)domoreharmthangoodProfessorBruceLahnoftheUniversityofChicagopredictsthat.A)humanswon,thavetodonateorgansfortransplantationB)morepeoplewilldonatetheirorgansfortransplantationC)animalorganscouldbetransplantedintohumanbodiesD)organtransplantationwon,tbeasscaryasitistodayAccordingtoprofessorRichardMilleroftheUniversityofMichigarr,proplewill.A)lifeforaslongastheywishB)berelievedfromallsufferingsC)lifeto100andmorewithvitalityD)beabletolivelongerthanwhalesPricetonprofessorFreemanSysonthinksthat.A)scientistswillfindalienlifesimilartooursB)humanswillbeabletosettleonMarsC)alienlifewilllikelybediscoveredD)lifewillstarttoevolveonMarsAccordingtoPrincetonprofessorRichardGott,bysettingupaself-sufficientcolonyonMars,Humans.MightsurvieallcatastrophesonearthMightacquireamplenaturalresourcesWillbeabletotraveltoMarsfreelyWillmo\vetheretoliveabetterlifeEllenHeber-Katz,professorattheWistarInstitueinPhiladelpia,predictsthat.A)humanorganscanbumanufacturedlikeappliancesB)peoplewillbeasstronganddymamicassupermenC)humannervescanbereplancedbyopticfibersD)lostfingersandlimbswillbeabletoregrowrodneyBrookssaysthatitwillbepossibleforrobotstoworkwithhumansasaresultorthedevelopmentof_artificaialintelligenceforrobotsThemostsignificantbreakthroughpredictedbyBilljoywillbeaninexhaustiblegreenenergysourcethatcan'tbeusedtomake_pollutionsAccordingtoGeoffreyMiller,sciencewillofferamorepractical,universalandrewardingmoralframeworkinplaceof religionPartHIListeningPartHIComprehension (35minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillhear8shortconversationsand2longconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,oneormorequestionswillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Aftereachquestiontherewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C),angD),anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswersheet2withasingle1inethroughthecentre.注意：此部分試題請在答題卡2上作答A)ThemanmightbeabletoplayintheWorldCup.Theman'sfootballcareerseemstobeatanend.Themanwasoperatedonafewweeksago.Themanisafanofworld-famousfootballplayers.A)WorkoutaplantotightenhisbudgetFindouttheopeninghoursofthecafeteria.

Applyforaseniorpositionintherestaurant.Solvehisproblembydoingapart-timejob.C)Arealnuisance.B)AgoodcompanionD)Awell-trainedpet.A)Afinancialburden.C)Arealnuisance.B)AgoodcompanionD)Awell-trainedpet.ThecomputingHehascalledtheA)Theerrorswillbecorrectedsoon.ThecomputingHehascalledthesystemistoocomplex.Thewomanwasmistakenherself.womanseveraltimes.A)Heneedshelptoretrievehisfiles.C)Heneedssometimetopolishhispaper.Hehastotypehispaperoncemore.D)Hewillbeawayforatwo-weekconference.A)Theymighthavetochangetheirplan.Hehasgoteverythingsetfortheirtrip.Hehasaheavierworkloadthanthewoman.TheycouldstayinthemountainsuntilJune8.A)Theyhavewaitamonthtoapplyforastudentloan.

B)Theycanfindtheapplicationformsinthebrochure.0Theyarenoteligibleforastudentloan.D)Theyarenotlateforaloanapplication.A)Newlawsareyettobemadetoreducepollutantrelease.Pollutionhasattractedlittleattentionfromthepublic.Thequalityofairwillsurelychangeforthebetter.It'11takeyearstobringairpollutionundercontrol.Questions19to22arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.A)Enormoussizeofitsstores.C)Itsappealingsurroundings.B)Numerousvarietiesoffood.D)ItsrichandB)Theycanfindtheapplicationformsinthebrochure.0Theyarenoteligibleforastudentloan.D)Theyarenotlateforaloanapplication.A)Newlawsareyettobemadetoreducepollutantrelease.Pollutionhasattractedlittleattentionfromthepublic.Thequalityofairwillsurelychangeforthebetter.It'11takeyearstobringairpollutionundercontrol.Questions19to22arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.A)Enormoussizeofitsstores.C)Itsappealingsurroundings.B)Numerousvarietiesoffood.D)Itsrichandcolorfulhistory.A)Anancientbuilding.C)AnEgyptianmuseum.B)Aworldofantiques.D)AnEgyptianMemorial.A)Itspowerbillreaches$9millionayear.Itsellsthousandsoflightbulbsaday.Itsuppliespowertoanearbytown.Itgenerates70%oftheelectricityituses.A)11,500 C)250,00030,000 D)300,000Questions23to25arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.A)Transferringtoanotherdepartment.C)Thinkingaboutdoingadifferentjob.StudyingaccountingatauniversityD)Makingpreparationforherwedding.A)Shehasfinallygotapromotionandapayraise.Shehasgotasatisfactoryjobinanothercompany.Shecouldatlastleavetheaccountingdepartment.Shemanagedtokeepherpositioninthecompany.A)HeandAndreahaveprovedtobeaperfectmatch.Hechangedhismindaboutmarriageunexpectedly.Hedeclaredthathewouldremainsingleallhislife.HewouldmarryAndreaevenwithoutmeetingher.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillhear3shortpassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearsomequestion.Boththepassageandthequestionwillbespokenonlyonce..Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.注意：此部分試題請在答題卡2上作答。PassageOneQuestions26to29arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.A)Theyaremotorcyclesdesignatedforwatersports.Theyarespeedyboatsrestrictedinnarrowwaterways.Theyarebecominganefficientformofwatertransportation.Theyaregettingmorepopularasameansorwaterrecreation.A)Waterscooteroperatorsflackofexperience.

VacationersJdisregardofwatersafetyrules.Overloadingofsmallboatsandothercraft.Carelessnessofpeopleboatingalongtheshore.A)Theyscarewhalestodeath.C)Theydischargetoxicemissions.B)Theyproducetoomuchnoise.D)Theyendangerlotsofwater1ife.LimittheuseofEnforcenecessaryA)Expandoperatingareas,waterscooters.LimittheuseofEnforcenecessaryRestrictoperatinghours,regulations.PassageTwoQuestions30to32arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.A) They are stable. C) Theyarestrained.C) They are close. D) Theyarechanging.A) They are fullyoccupied with their ownbusiness.Notmanyofthemstayinthesameplaceforlong.Notmanyofthemcanwintrustfromtheirneighbors.Theyattachlessimportancetointerpersonalrelations.A)Countoneachotherforhelp.C)Keepafriendlydistance.Giveeachotheracoldshoulder.D)Buildafencebetweenthem.PassageThreeQuestions33 to35arebasedon the passageyouhavejustheard.A) It may producean increasing number ofidleyoungsters.It may affectthe quality of higher educationinAmerica.It may causemany schools to goout ofoperation.Itmayleadtoalackofproperlyeducatedworkers.A)Itislessseriousincitiesthaninruralareas.B)Itaffectsbothjuniorandseniorhighschools.C)Itresultsfromaworseningeconomicclimate.D)ItisanewchailengefacingAmericaneducators.A)Allowingthemtochoosetheirfavoriteteachers.B)Creatingamorerelaxedlearningenvironment.C)Rewardingexcellentacademicperformance.D)Helpingthemtodevelopbetterstudyhabits.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanknumberedfrom36to43withtheexactwordsyouhavejustheard.Forblanksnumberedfrom44to46youarerequiredtofillinthemissinginformation.Fortheseblanks,youcaneitherusetheexactwordsyouhavejustheardorwritedownthemainpointsinyourownword.Finally,whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.注意：此部分試題請在答題卡2上作答。CompoundDictationI'minterestedinthecriminaljusticesystemofourcountry.Itseemstomethatsomethinghastobedoneifwearetosurviveasacountry.Icertainlydon'tknowwhattheanswerstoourproblemsare.Thingscertainlygetcomplicatedinahurrywhenyougetintothem.ButIwonderifsomethingcouldn'tbedonetodealwithsomeoftheseproblems.OnethingI'mconcernedaboutisourpracticeofputtingoffendersinjailwhohaven'tharmedanyone.Whynotworkoutsomesystemwherebytheycanpaybackthedebtstheyowesocietyinsteadofincurringanotherdebtbygoingtoprison,andofcourse,comingundertheinfluenceofhardenedcriminals?I'malsoconcernedabouttheshortprisonsentencespeopleareservingforseriouscrimes.Ofcourse,onealternativetothisistorestorecapitalpunishment,butI'mnotsureIwouldbeforthat.I'mnotsureit'srighttotakeaneyeforeye.PartIVReadingComprehension(ReadinginDepth)(25minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisashortpassagewith5questionsorincompletestatements.Readthepassagecarefully.Thenanswerthequestionsorcompletethestatementsinthefewestpossiblewords.PleasewriteouranswersonAnswerSheet2Questions47to51arebasedonthefollowingpassage.ifmovietrailers（預告片）aresupposedtocauseareaction,thepreviewfor"United93'morethansucceeds.Featuringnofamousactors,itbeginswithimagesofabeautifulmorningandpassengersboardinganairplane.Ittakesyouaminutetorealizewhatthemovie'sevenabout.ThatfswhenaplanehitstheWorldTradeCenter,theeffectisvisceral（震撼心靈的）.Whenthetrailerplayedbefore"InsideMan”lastweekataHollywoodtheater,audiencemembersbegancallingout,“Toosoon!”InNewYorkCity,theresponsewasevenmoredramatic.TheLoewstheaterinManhattantooktherarestepofpullingthetrailerfromitsscreensafterseveralcomplaints."United93”isthefirstfeaturefilmtodealexplicitlywiththeeventsofSeptember11,2001,andiscertaintoigniteanemotionaldebate.Isittoosoon?Shouldthefilmhavebeenmadeatall?Moretothepoint,willanyonewanttoseeit?Other9/11projectsareonthewayasthefifthanniversaryoftheattacksapproaches,mostnotablyOliverStone's"WorldTradeCenter.butastheforerunner,“United93'willtakemostoftheheat,whetheritdeservesitornot.TherealUnited93crashedinaPennsylvaniafieldafter40passengersandcrewfoughtbackagainsttheterrorists.Writer-directorPaulGreengrasshasgonetogreatlengthstoberespectfulinhisdepictionofwhatoccurred,proceedingwiththefilmonlyaftersecuringtheapprovalofeveryvictim,sfamily."WasIsurprisedattheagreement?Yes.Very.Usuallythere'reoneortwofamilieswho'remorereluctant,“Greengrasswritesinane-mail."IwassurprisedattheextraordinarywaytheUnited93familieshavewelcomedusintotheirlivesandsharedtheirexperienceswithus.”Carole0)Hare,afamilymember,says,“Theywereveryopenandhonestwithus,andtheymadeusapartofthiswholeproject."Universal,whichisreleasingthefilm,planstodonate10%ofitsopeningweekendgrosstotheFlight93NationalMemorialFund.Thathasn'tstoppedcriticismthatthestudioisexploitinganationaltragedy.0)Harethinksthat*sunfair."Thisstoryhastobetoldtohonorthepassengersandcrewforwhattheydid,“shesays."Butmorethanthat,itraisesawareness.Ourportsaren'tsecure.Ourbordersaren'tsecure.Ourairlinesstillaren,tsecure,andthisiswhathappenswhenyou'renotsecure.ThatfsthemessageIwantpeopletohear.”注意：此部分試題請在答題卡2上作答Thetrailerfor"United93'succeededincausingareactionwhenitplayedinthetheatersinHollywoodandNewYorkCity.Themovie"United93'issuretogiverisetoanemotionaldebate.Whatdidwriter-directorPaulGreengrassobtainbeforeheproceededwiththemovie?theapprovalofeveryvictim,sfamilyUniversal,whichisreleasing“United93",hasbeencriticizedforexploitinganationaltragedy.Carole01Harethinksthatbesideshonoringthepassengersandcrewforwhattheydid,thepurposeoftellingthestoryistoraisetheawarenessaboutsecurity.SectionBDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethoughtthecentre.PassageOneQuestions52to56arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Imaginewakingupandfindingthevalueofyourassetshasbeenhalved.No,you'renotaninvestorinoneofthosehedgefundsthatfailedcompletely.Withthedollarslumpingtoa26-yearlowagainstthepound,already-expensiveLondonhasbecomequiteunaffordable.AcoffeeatStarbucks,justasunavoidableinEnglandasitisintheUnitedStates,runsabout$8.Theonceall-powerfuldollarisn'tdoingaTitanicagainstjustthepound.Itissittingatarecordlowagainsttheeuroandata30-yearlowagainsttheCanadiandollar.EventheArgentinepesoandBrazilianrealarethrivingagainstthedollar.Theweakdollarisasourceofhumiliation,foranation'sself-esteemrestsinpartonthestrengthofitscurrency.It'salsoapotentialeconomicproblem,sinceadecliningdollarmakesimportedfoodmoreexpensiveandexertsupwardpressureoninterestrates.AndyettherearesubstantialsectorsofthevastU.S.economy-fromgiantcompanieslikeCoca-Colatomom-and-poprestaurantoperatorsinMiami-forwhichtheweakdollarismostexcellentnews.ManyEuropeansmayviewtheU.S.asanarrogantsuperpowerthathasbecomehostiletoforeigners.ButnothingmakespeoplethinkmorewarmlyoftheU.S.thanaweakdollar.ThroughApril,thetotalnumberofvisitorsfromabroadwasup6.8percentfromlastyear.Shouldthetrendcontinue,thenumberoftouriststhisyearwillfinallytopthe2000peak?ManyEuropeansnowapparentlyviewtheU.S.thewaymanyAmericansviewMexico-asacheapplacetovacation,shopandparty,allwhileignoringthefactthatthepoorerlocalscan,taffordtojointhemerrymaking.Themoneytouristsspendhelpsdecreaseourchronictradedeficit.Sodoexports,whichthanksinparttotheweakdollar,soared11percentbetweenMay2006andMay2007.Forfirstfivemonthsof2007,thetradedeficitactuallyfell7percentfrom2006.IfyouownsharesinlargeAmericancorporations,you'reawinnerintheweak-dollargamble.LastweekCoca-Cola'sstickbubbledtoafive-yearhighafteritreportedafantasticquarter.Foreignsalesaccountedfor65percentofCoke'sbeveragebusiness.OtherAmericancompaniesprofitingfromthistrendincludeMcDonaldJsandIBM.Americantourists,however,shouldn,texpectanyreliefsoon.Thedollarloststrengththewaymanymarriagesbreakup-slowly,andthenallatonce.Andcurrenciesdon,tturnonadime.Soifyouwanttoavoidthepaininflictedbytheincreasinglypatheticdollar,cancelthatsummervacationtoEnglandandlooktoNewEngland.There,thedollarisstilltreatedwithalittlerespect.注意：此部分試題請在答題卡2上作答。WhydoAmericansfeelhumiliated?A)Theireconomyisplunging B)Theycan,taffordtripstoEuropeC)Theircurrencyhasslumped D)Theyhavelosthalfoftheirassets.HowdoesthecurrentdollaraffectthelifeofordinaryAmericans?TheyhavetocanceltheirvacationsinNewEngland.Theyfinditunaffordabletodineinmom-and-poprestaurants.Theyhavetospendmoremoneywhenbuyingimportedgoods.Theymightlosetheirjobsduetopotentialeconomicproblems.HowdomanyEuropeansfeelabouttheU.Swiththedevalueddollar?TheyfeelcontemptuousofitTheyaresympatheticwithit.Theyregarditasasuperpoweronthedecline.Theythinkofitasagoodtouristdestination.55whatistheauthorfsadvicetoAmericans?TheytreatthedollarwithalittlerespectTheytrytowinintheweak-dollargambleTheyvacationathomeratherthanabroadTheytreasuretheirmarriagesallthemore.56Whatdoestheauthorimplybysayingucurrenciesdon'tturnonadime”(Line2,Para7)?Thedollar*svaluewillnotincreaseintheshortterm.ThevalueofadollarwillnotbereducedtoadimeThedollarJsvaluewilldrop,butwithinasmallmargin.FewAmericanswillchangedollarsintoothercurrencies.PassageTwoQuestions57to61arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Inthecollege-admissionswars,weparentsarethetruefights.Wearepushingourkidstogetgoodgrades,takeSATpreparatorycoursesandbuildresumessotheycangetintothecollegeofourfirstchoice.I'vetwicebeentothewars,andasIsurveythebattlefield,somethingdifferentishappening.Weseeourkids'collegebackgroundaseprizedemonstratinghowwellwe'veraisedthem.Butwecan,tacknowledgethatourobsession（癡迷）ismoreaboutusthanthem.Sowe'vecontrivedvariousjustificationsthatturnouttobehalf-truths,prejudicesormyths.Itactuallydoesn'tmattermuchwhetherAaronandNicolegotoStanford.Wehaveafull-blownprestigepanic;weworrythattherewon,tbeenoughprizestogoaround.Fearfulparentsurgetheirchildrentoapplytomoreschoolsthanever.Underlyingthehysteria（歇斯底里）isthebeliefthatscarceelitedegreesmustbehighlyvaluable.Theirgraduatesmustenjoymoresuccessbecausetheygetabettereducationanddevelopbettercontacts.Allthatisplausible andmostlywrong.Wehaven'tfoundanyconvincingevidencethatselectivityorprestigematters.Selectiveschoolsdon,tsystematicallyemploybetterinstructionalapproachesthanlessselectiveschools.Ontwomeasures professors?feedbackandthenumberofessayexams selectiveschoolsdoslightlyworse.Bysomestudies,selectiveschoolsdoenhancetheirgraduatesJlifetimeearnings.Thegainisreckonedat2-4%forevery100-poinntincreaseinaschoolJsaverageSATscores.Buteventhisadvantageisprobablyastatisticalfluke（偶然）.Awell-knownstudyexaminedstudentswhogotintohighlyselectiveschoolsandthenwentelsewhere.Theyearnedjustasmuchasgraduatesfromhigher-statusschools.Kidscountmorethantheircolleges.Gettingintoyalemaysignifyintellgence,talentandAmbition.Butit'snottheonlyindicatorand,paradoxically,itssignificanceisdeclining.Thereason:somanysimilarpeoplegoelsewhere.Gettingintocollegeisnotlifeonlycompetitor).Old-boynetworksarebreakingdown,princetoneconomistAlanKruegerstudiedadmissionstoonetopPh.D.program.HighscoresontheGREhelpdexplainwhogotin;degreesofprestigiousuniversitiesdidn't.So,parents,lightenup.thestakeshavebeenvastlyexaggerated,uptoapoint,wecanrationalizeourpushiness.Americaisacompetitivesociety;ourkidsneedtoadjusttothat,buttoomuchpushinesscanbedestructive.theveryambitionweimposeonourchildrenmaygetsomeintoHarvardb