2015年6月英语六级考前模拟试卷8

　　Part Ⅱ

　　Reading Comprehension(35 minutes)

　　Directions:There are 4 reading passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C), and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.

　　Passage One

　　Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage:

　　Many of the most damaging and life threatening types of weather torrential rains, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes(龙卷风)- begin quickly, strike suddenly, and disappear rapidly, destroying small regions while leaving neighbouring areas untouched. Such event as a tornado struck the northeastern section of Edmonton, Alberta, in July 1987. Total damages from the tornado exceeded $250 million, the highest ever for any Canadian storm.

　　Conventional computer models of the atmosphere have limited value in predicting short lived local storms like the Edmonton tornado, because the available weather data are generally not detailed enough to allow computers to study carefully the subtle(微妙的)atmospheric changes that come before these storms. In most nations, for example, weather-balloon observations are taken just once every twelve hours at locations typically separated by hundreds of miles. With such limited data, conventional forecasting models do a much better job predicting general weather conditions over large regions than they do forecasting specific local events.

　　Until recently, the observation intensive approach needed for accurate, very short-range forecasts, or "Nowcasts," was not feasible. The cost of equipping and operating many thousands of conventional weather stations was extremely high, and the difficulties involved in rapidly collecting and processing the raw weather data from such a network were hard to overcome. Fortunately, scientific and technological advances have overcome most of these problems. Radar systems, automated weather instruments, and satellites are all capable of making detailed, nearly continuous observation over large regions at a relatively low cost. Communications satellites can transmit data around the world cheaply and instantaneously, and modern computers can quickly compile and analyze this large volume of weather information. Meteorologists(气象学者)and computer scientists now work together to design computer programs and video equipment capable of transforming raw weather data into words, symbols, and vivid graphic displays that forecasters can interpret easily and quickly. As meteorologists have begun using these new technologies in weather forecasting offices, Nowcasting is becoming a reality.

　　21.The word "exceeded" in paragraph 1 most probably means ____.

　　A) added up to B) were more than

　　C) were about D) were less than

　　22.Conventional computer models of the atmosphere fails to predict such a short-lived tornado because____.

　　A) the computer is not used to forecast specific local events

　　B) the computers are not advanced enough to predict it

　　C) the weather data people collect are often wrong

　　D) weather conditions in some small regions are not available

　　23.According to the passage, the word "Nowcast" (paragraph 3) means ____.

　　A) a way of collecting raw weather data

　　B) a forecast which can predict the weather conditions in the small area in an accurate way

　　C) a network to collect instant weather data

　　D) a more advanced system of weather observation

　　24.According to the passage, ____ is the key factor to making "Nowcasts" a reality.

　　A) scientific and technological advances such as radar, or satellites

　　B) computer scientist

　　C) meteorologists

　　D) advanced computer programs

　　25.According to the author, the passage mainly deals with ____.

　　A) a tornado in Edmonton, Alberta

　　B) what's a "Nowcast"

　　C) the disadvantage of conventional computer models of the weather forecast

　　D) a breakthrough in weather forecast

　　Passage Two

　　Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage:

　　Bringing up children is a hard work, and you are often to blame for any bad behavior of your children. If so, Judith Rich Harris has good news for you. Parents, she argues, have no important long-term effects on the development of the personality of their children. Far more important are their playground friends and neighborhood. Ms. Harris takes to hitting the assumption, which has dominated developmental psychology for almost half a century.

　　Ms. Harris's attack on the developmentalists' "nature" argument looks likely to reinforce doubts that the profession was already having. If parents matter, why is it that two adopted children, reared in the same home, are no more similar in personality than two adopted children reared in separate homes? Or that a pair of identical twins, reared in the same home, are no more alike than a pair of identical twins reared in different homes?

　　Difficult as it is to track the precise effects of parental upbringing, it may be harder to measure the exact influence of the peer(同龄人)group in childhood and adolescence. Ms. Harris points to how children from immigrant homes soon learn not to speak at school in the way their parents speak. But acquiring a language is surely a skill, rather than a characteristic of the sort developmental psychologists hunt for. Certainly it is different from growing up tensely or relaxed, or from learning to be honest or hard-working or generous. Easy though it may be to prove that parents have little impact on those qualities, it will be hard to prove that peers have vastly more.

　　Moreover, mum and dad surely cannot be ditched completely. Young adults may, as Ms. Harris argues, be keen to appear like their peers. But even in those early years, parents have the power to open doors: they may initially choose the peers with whom their young associate, and pick that influential neighborhood. Moreover, most people suspect that they come to resemble their parents more in middle age, and that people's child bearing habits may be formed partly by what their parents did. So the balance of influences is probably complicated, as most parents already suspected without being able to demonstrate it scientifically. Even if it turns out that the genes they pass on and the friends their children play with matter as much as affection, discipline and good example, parents are not completely off the hook.

　　26. According to Ms. Harris, ____.

　　A) parents are to blame for any bad behavior of their children

　　B) parents will affect greatly the children's life in the long run

　　C) nature rather than nurture has a significant effect on children's personality development

　　D) children's personality is shaped by their friends and neighbors

　　27.Which of the following views is consistent with what the developmentalists hold?

　　A) Children are more influenced by their peers than by their parents.

　　B) Twins are quite different if they are reared in two separate families.

　　C) Identical twins reared in the same home are different in personality.

　　D) Nurture has a less significant effect on children's personality development.

　　28.According to Para. 3, which of the following statements is TRUE?

　　A) It is harder to track the precise effects of parental upbringing than the exact influence of the peer group in children.

　　B) Immigrant children tend to discard the way their parents speak quickly when they go to school.

　　C) It has been proved that peers have more impact on children's qualities such as to be honest or hard-working or generous.

　　D) It is easier for children to acquire a language at school than at home.

　　29.The word "ditched" ( Line 1,Para. 4) could best be replaced by ____.

　　A) proved B) emphasized

　　C) compared D) ignored

　　30. What is the author's main purpose?

　　A) To highly praise Ms. Harris's work.

　　B) To counter Ms. Harris's work.

　　C) To objectively report on Ms. Harris's work.

　　D) To critically comment on Ms. Harris's work.

　　Passage Three

　　Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage:

　　Microsoft is no longer the world's biggest company by market capitalization. Three other U.S. companies have overtaken the software giant in terms of stock market value. The firm's value has gone down sharply by 41% so far this year, from nearly $600 billion to $358 billion. Much of the reason for the fall has been the uncertainty prompted by the on-going anti-trust case. It has been overtaken by General Electric, now worth $506 bn, Intel, worth $441 bn and Cisco Systems, $436 bn.

　　Over the past year Microsoft shares have moved downwards from a high of $120 to $68 in early trading on 7 June. Meanwhile rival Cisco has seen its share price rise by $25 to more than $60 as the company has gained its role in providing the hardware for the Internet. And for most of the year it has been competing with computer chip maker Intel for the second place. Intel's Pentium chips are widely used in personal computers worldwide.

　　The company that now holds the title of the world's biggest company is an industrial giant which makes everything from toasters to jet engines. GE has sales of $110 bn-nearly ten times that of Microsoft and 340,000 employees worldwide. It has seen its profits grow by 15% a year to $11 bn. GE Capital Services, its financial subsidiary, make up nearly half its sales. GE produces power generation systems, locomotive, medical imaging equipment and electrical appliances. It also owns the U.S. television network NBC and its financial news subsidiary, CNBC, and ironically, a joint venture with Microsoft to provide news on the Internet.

　　Microsoft's shares now face a further period of uncertainty as the company's legal battle continues. It could also face difficulty in recruiting and retaining employees whose pay has been boosted by their share options. The Seattle based firm is likely to go to an appeals court on any rulings. It could suffer further losses from lawsuits brought by competitors, who would be able to claim triple(三倍)damages for any losses suffered. And with its energy and resources tied up in the lawsuits, the company may find it difficult to continue to innovate in the future, or move so aggressively to buy up competitors.

　　31.Microsoft's shares are devalued drastically owing to ____.

　　A) fierce competition from rivals

　　B) its involvement in a lawsuit(诉讼)

　　C) the court rulings

　　D) the decrease in sales volume

　　32.Cisco Systems' share price has risen considerably ____.

　　A) after it has overtaken part of Microsoft's shares

　　B) after it has beaten Intel and risen to the second place

　　C) since it has gained a firm footing in the market

　　D) because it is developing jointly with Microsoft

　　33.Which is now the second biggest company in the United States?

　　A) General Electric. B) Intel.

　　C) Cisco Systems.D) GE Capital Services.

　　34.Which of the following companies is owned by General Electric and Microsoft together?

　　A) GE Capital Services.B) NBC.

　　C) CNBC.D) MSNBC.

　　35.Why is it difficult for Microsoft to retain employees?

　　A)Because it faces an uncertain future.

　　B)Because it will have problem innovating itself.

　　C)Because it will have problem paying them.

　　D)Because it may be bought up by its competitors one day.

　　Passage Four

　　Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:

　　Paradise Lost is Milton's masterpiece. Its story is taken from the Bible, about "the fall of man", that is, how Adam and Eve are tempted by Satan to disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, and how they are punished by God and driven out of Paradise. In Milton's words, the purpose of writing the epic is to "justify the ways of God to men", but apparently, Milton is uttering his intense hatred of cruelness of the ruler in the poem. By depicting Satan and his followers as well as their fiery utterance and brave actions, Milton is showing a Puritan's(清教徒的)revolt against the dictator and against the established Catholics and the Anglican Church.

　　In the poem God is no better than a cruel and selfish ruler, seated on a throne with a group of angels about him singing songs to praise him. His long speeches are not pleasing at all. He is cruel and unjust in punishing Satan. His angels are stupid. But Satan is by far the most striking character in the poem, who rises against God and, though defeated, still persists in his fighting.

　　Adam and Eve shows Milton's belief in the power of man. God denies them a chance to pursue for knowledge. It is this longing for knowledge that opens before mankind a wide road to intelligent and active life. It has been noted by many critics that Milton's revolutionary feelings makes him forget religious doctrines(教条). The angels who surround the God never think of expressing any opinions of their own, and they never seem to have any opinions of their own. The image of God surrounded by such angels resembles the court of an absolute monarch(君主). But Satan and his followers, who freely discuss all issues in council, remind us of a Republican Parliament.

　　36.This passage is most probably ____.

　　A) a review of Milton's Paradise Lost

　　B) an introduction of what Paradise Lost is about

　　C) a depiction of the cruelness of the British ruler

　　D) part of an introduction to English literature

　　37.According to the passage, Milton ____.

　　A) describes Satan as a Puritan

　　B) doesn't believe in God

　　C) is satisfied with the British ruler

　　D) calls on people to fight against the dictator

　　38.In the poem, Satan is described as ____.

　　A) an evil person

　　B) contrary to what is depicted in the Bible

　　C) selfish and cruel devil

　　D) a stupid ghost

　　39.Which of the following can NOT be inferred from this passage?

　　A) If Adam and Eve had not eaten the forbidden fruit, human being would be ignorant until now.

　　B) God acts like a dictator.

　　C) Satan and his followers are parliament members in the poem.

　　D) The angels are depicted as stupid in the poem.

　　40.According to this passage, Paradise Lost is written for the purpose of ____.

　　A) praising God for the creation of the world

　　B) criticizing the cruelness of British ruler

　　C) changing people's unfavourable impression of Satan

　　D) expressing his support for the fight of Satan

　　Part Ⅲ

　　Vocabulary (20 minutes)

　　Directions:There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A), B), C), and D). Choose the ONE that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.

　　41.It is common knowledge that soldiers have to endure the ____ during a war.

　　A) relaxation B) reliability

　　C) reluctanceD) inconvenience

　　42. They ____ those who didn't conform to their ideas, and made advantage of those who agreed with them.

　　A) exploredB) persecuted

　　C) extendedD) pinched

　　43.In an attempt to duplicate the painting style of the late 1800's, amateur photographer Julia Margaret Cameron ____ blurred her images to achieve a softer line.

　　A) occasionallyB) deliberately

　　C) abnormallyD) timidly

　　44.To my great surprise, the sweater I bought last week ____ a great deal after it was washed in hot water.

　　A) shrankB) decreased

　　C) lessenedD) reduced

　　45.Among the deaf and dumb ____ may be carried on by means of the finger alphabet.A) communicationB) calculation

　　C) transportationD) vision

　　46.The meeting was ____ over by the mayor to discuss the tax raise in the city.A) presumedB) propelled

　　C) presidedD) pricked

　　47.____ of accusing his neighbor of dishonesty, the man hoped that he could avoid blame by apologizing.

　　A) SureB) Guilty

　　C) JustifiedD) Pitiful

　　48.The author of the report is well ____ with the problems in the hospital because he has been working there for many years.

　　A) informedB) acquainted

　　C) enlightenedD) advertised

　　49.At post offices one buys stamps, leaves ____ letters, sends parcels or money orders, etc.

　　A) registeredB) rejected

　　C) regulatedD) reflected

　　50.In this workshop they ____ a vehicle in less than half an hour.

　　A) ejectB) fabricate

　　C) assembleD) resemble

　　51.No matter how little money we have, we should get into the habit of ____some in the bank regularly.

　　A) layingB) withdrawing

　　C) puttingD) depositing

　　52.The lovely picture ____ me of my happy childhood.

　　A) retainedB) refreshed

　　C) recollectedD) reminded

　　53.I couldn't finish my paper because the computer ____.

　　A) took downB) broke down

　　C) tore downD) fell down

　　54.During the next few weeks the scientists will be discussing the problem of how to ____ and control earthquakes.

　　A) foretellB) foresee

　　C) forecastD) forenotice

　　55. You can't smoke here; it's ____.

　　A) preventedB) ceased

　　C) prohibitedD) stopped

　　56.It is useless to attempt to ____ from every danger: some risks must be taken.

　　A) fleeB) hide

　　C) hesitateD) run

　　57.The newly-formed United States took as its emblem a bald eagle with ____ wings.

　　A) gracefulB) colorful

　　C) grandD) outspread

　　58.From the cheers and shouts of ____, I guessed that she was winning the race.

　　A) stimulusB) heartening

　　C) encouragementD) urging

　　59.Only guests of the hotel enjoy the ____ of using the private beach.

　　A) privilegeB) possibility

　　C) favorD) advantage

　　60.Mary usually does things with little care, she is ____.

　　A) rareB) cautious

　　C) recklessD) rapt

　　61. Heavy fog made the morning light ____.

　　A) brightB) distorted

　　C) dimD) filthy

　　62.The travel industry plays a major role in the ____ of business, recreation, and family life.

　　A) sphereB) scales

　　C) surplusD) surveys

　　63.He was dismissed for failing to ____ with the school regulations.

　　A) accommodateB) comply

　　C) competeD) apply

　　64.Some science students reach a high ____of English competence in communication.

　　A) levelB) plane

　　C) surfaceD) live

　　65.Everyone should be ____ innocent until it is proved that he is guilty.

　　A) presumedB) assumed

　　C) resumedD) consumed

　　66.The sick person has taken a ____ for the better.

　　A) coverB) recover

　　C) changeD) turn

　　67.Unfortunately he couldn't ____ for the loss.

　　A) explainB) call

　　C) accountD) take

　　68.Most science-fiction writers seek to persuade readers that the world they have created is ____ and is derived from scientific principles.

　　A) possibleB) impossible

　　C) certainlyD) unlikely

　　69.A guided missile consists basically of a warhead attached to a tube like body. A rocket or a jet engine may ____ the missile.

　　A) powerB) pull

　　C) compelD) expel

　　70.In judging his behavior, I hope that he committee will ____ his stage performance into account.

　　A) putB) let

　　C) takeD) make

　　Part Ⅳ

　　Short Answer Questions (15 minutes)

　　Directions: In this part there is a short passage with five questions or incomplete statements. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the fewest possible words (not exceeding 10 words).

　　The communications explosion is on the scale of the rail, automobile or telephone revolution. Very soon you'll be able to record your entire life electronically-anything a microphone or a camera can sense you'll be able to store. In particular, the number of images a person captures in a lifetime is set to rise exponentially. The thousand images a year I take of my children on a digital camera are all precious to me. In a generation's time, my children's children will have total image documentation of their entire lives - a visual log of tremendous personal value. By then we'll be wrestling with another question: how we control all the electronic devices connected to the Internet: trillions of PCs, laptops, palm pilots, cell phones and other gadgets. In Cambridge, we're already working on millimeter-square computing and sensing devices that can be linked to the Internet through the radio network. This sort of connectivity will expand dramatically as microscopic communications devices become dirt-cheap and multiple. Just imagine what the paint on the wall could do if it had this sort of communications dust in it: change colour, play music, show movies or even speak to you.

　　Falling costs raise other possibilities too. Because launching space vehicles is about to become very much cheaper, the number of satellites is likely to go up exponentially. There's lots of space up there so we could have millions of them. And if you have millions of low-orbit satellites you can establish a global communications network that completely does away with towers and masts. If the satellites worked on the cellular principle so you got spatial reuse of frequencies, system capacity would be amazing.

　　71.How do you characterize the future development of communications?

　　72.What does the word "images" most probably refer to?

　　73.What's the tone of this passage?

　　74.What will be the price of communications devices like?

　　75.What will happen to the current towers and masts of future global communications network?

　　Part Ⅴ

　　Writing (30 minutes)

　　Directions: For this part, you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic:"What Do You Think of Challenge?".

　　You should write at least 150 words and you should base your composition on the outline (given in Chinese) below:

　　1.挑战的意义

　　2.如何迎接挑战

　　3.我的看法

编辑推荐：

　　 2015年6月英语六级听力预热练习汇总

　　 2015年6月英语六级复习备考指导汇总

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