1、大学英语六级-169 及答案解析(总分：100.00，做题时间：90 分钟)Live long and prosper was Mr Spock“s salute, but the interesting thing about Americans is that, prosperous as they may be, they do not live as long as many other nations. Males live around four years less than their Swiss counterparts, and females 5.5 years behi
2、nd the Japanese. And the gap is widening. British females had a lower life expectancy than Americans in 1980; now they can expect to live 1.6 years longer. British males have gone from being roughly level to being more than two years ahead. The above is the data from some but not all of the OECD (Or
3、ganization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries. If we rank OECD nations by the improvement in female life expectancy at birth between 1980 and 2009, the difference is particularly striking. America ranks equal bottom, having seen female life expectancy increase just 3.5 years. The m
4、edian OECD country has enjoyed a 6 year gain for females, or around two years per decade. Again, this is not just a question of other countries catching up; Japanese females were already living longer than Americans in 1980 and have gained another 7.6 years since then. An equally telling statistic e
5、merges from a look at life expectancy at age 65. Life expectancy at birth has been given a boost by the reduction of childhood diseases, but what is interesting is that more people in the rich world are living into their 90s and beyond. The gains for American female retirees between 1980 and 2009 we
6、re just two years, placing the US 26th out of 29. American 65 year old women had the third longest life expectancy in the OECD in 1980; not any more, they are below the halfway mark. At least American male retirees have done slightly better. The gain in their life expectancy since 1980 has been 3.5
7、years, just below the 3.9 year median, and they are still in the top half of the OECD table. What might be the reasons? It is hard not to lead to the conclusion that the huge US expenditure on healthcare has been wasted. Perhaps the difference is in primary care; the benefit of a free health service
8、 is that no-one is discouraged from visiting the doctor. One of the key factors in the European longevity improvement has been lifestyle changes. British 65-year olds now live 5. 5 years more than their 1980 counterparts, the second best improvement in the OECD, and that seems to be down to a very s
9、harp fall in smoking rates, encouraged by public health campaigns. Americans have given up smoking too, but as is well known, their obesity rate has soared. Among the least obese Europeans are the Swiss and the Italians, and they are near the top of the post-65 longevity league. As the saying goes,
10、there are old people and fat people but few old, fat people. The Swiss have listened to Mr Spock“s advice.（分数：25.00）(1).What can we learn from the data of some OECD countries?（分数：5.00）A.Americans have realized their goal of living long and prosper.B.Americans have a short longevity compared with peo
11、ple in many other countries.C.American females have the shortest life expectancy in 1980.D.There is a wider gap in life expectancy between American males and females.(2).What can we learn about female life expectancy of the OECD nations?（分数：5.00）A.The life expectancy of American females has exceeded
12、 the average.B.The increase of life expectancy of American females equals that of other OECD countries.C.The improvement in American female life expectancy ranks the lowest in the OECD countries.D.The life expectancy of Japanese females has taken the first place in the OECD nations.(3).What is the p
13、resent condition of the life expectancy of American males?（分数：5.00）A.It increases a lot as childhood diseases become less fatal.B.American males no longer have the long life expectancy as they used to.C.It ranks below the halfway mark in the OECD countries.D.Though growing slowly, it remains in the
14、top half of the OECD countries.(4).What can we learn about the British longevity improvement?（分数：5.00）A.British people have the best improvement in the OECD nations.B.British 65-year olds now live 5.5 years less than their 1980 counterparts.C.The never-changing lifestyle is the key of British longev
15、ity improvement.D.It possibly benefits from public health campaigns.(5).What can be inferred from the last paragraph?（分数：5.00）A.The Swiss enjoy both a greater longevity and a lower obesity rate.B.Elderly Swiss and Italians enjoy a high-quality life.C.Smoking is less harmful than obesity to people“s
16、health.D.The Swiss and Italians are more conscious of their health.Britain faces increasingly extreme weather conditions and urgently needs to improve its anti-flood defences and preparations for severe drought, says the Environment Agency. Its stark conclusion follows detailed analysis of weather p
17、atterns, river levels and flooding events in 2012, which revealed that some areas suffered record levels of drought before facing some of the worst flooding ever. “It was an extraordinary year and it serves as a warning for the country that we face a future in which there are likely to be more and m
18、ore extreme weather events,“ said Chris Smith, the agency“s chairman. “We need, very urgently, to prepare plans to deal with these extremes.“ In early 2012, the Environment Agency issued a series of warnings about desperately low levels in rivers, reservoirs and groundwater aquifers (蓄水层). The previ
19、ous year was one of the driest on record, and reservoirs and boreholes were at record lows for that time of year. In winter, they should have been full and the agency warned that only a downpour lasting weeks could avert a serious summer drought. Britain got its downpour, but it lasted months, with
20、previously parched fields turned into swamps and more than 8000 homes flooded. “We saw environmental damage caused by rivers with significantly reduced flows, hosepipe bans affecting millions and farmers and businesses left unable to take water from rivers,“ said Smith. “But we also saw the wettest
21、year on record in England.“ A dramatic illustration of the extraordinary changes in weather is revealed by water flow measurements in the Tyne. In March, flow was 28% of its long-term average for that time of year. By June, after months of heavy rain, the flow hit 406%. Smith said such wildly fluctu
22、ating figures indicated the desperate need to plan for feast and famine over water levels. In the case of drought management, more farmers needed to be encouraged to build small reservoirs, while agreements allowing some companies to abstract water from rivers indefinitely would have to be changed.
23、“We simply cannot have those types of agreements any more, and we are now pressing to limit them,“ said Smith. New figures from the Met Office suggest that Britain could experience a severe short-term droughtsuch as the one in 1976every 10 years. Previous estimates put this figure at one in 50 years
24、. With the population of London and the already water-stressed south-east of England set to grow by 23% by 2035, the problem of a serious lack of water is becoming acute. Although anti-flooding defences were installed last year in Nottingham and Keswick and 93 defences are due to start construction
25、this year, Smith said far more measures would be needed. “It is money well spent. For every pound you spend on defences, you save 8 in damage caused by flooding.“（分数：25.00）(1).What can we learn from the detailed analysis of weather events in Britain?（分数：5.00）A.Some areas suffered both severe drought
26、 and terrible flooding.B.The worst flooding contributed to the appearance of drought.C.The extreme weather events in 2012 set a historical record.D.Britain had prepared well for the flood and drought in 2012.(2).Why did the Environment Agency issue the warnings?（分数：5.00）A.Because the water system wa
27、s at great risk.B.Because the water level was too low.C.Because all boreholes and reservoirs were too full.D.Because a long-term downpour was to come in summer.(3).What was the consequence of the downpour in Britain?（分数：5.00）A.The downpour averted the drought and lasted for a month.B.Farmers and bus
28、inesses couldn“t take water from rivers.C.It made an accurate water flow measurement more difficult.D.More than 8000 homes were flooded.(4).What is Smith“s suggestion on dealing with future extreme weather events?（分数：5.00）A.Keeping a detailed record of the weather to help make forecasts.B.Prohibitin
29、g people from abstracting free water from rivers.C.Preparing for the possible famine caused by the flooding.D.Making farmers construct more small reservoirs.(5).What does Smith think of anti-flooding defences?（分数：5.00）A.Their benefit will start to show in 2035.B.They will reduce the loss caused by f
30、loods.C.They can help lower the frequency of floods.D.They are the most effective measure against floods.In today“s economy, it“s tough enough being a restaurant owner, but now you have to safeguard your garbage, too. From California to Maine, thefts of used cooking oil are on the risedriven by the
31、rising price of oil that makes biofuels more cost competitive with fossil fuels. Like thieves who ransack (洗劫) foreclosed homes for copper wire, higher prices for used cooking oil can attract people with a hunger for crime as well as dinner. The old cooking oil, which has been used for decades in th
32、e chemical and animal feed industries, is now a hot commodity, as biodiesel (生物柴油) manufacturers fight for raw materials. Biodiesel is gaining in popularity as a transportation fuel. The largest consumers are fleet operators, including municipal buses and courier firms like FedEx. In many restaurant
33、s, cooking oil and other trash is often stowed away from the restaurant, for the most part, unguarded. Like at Essex“s Windward Grille. It“s in the open because it“s picked up with the rest of the recyclables, such as cardboard, glass and aluminum. Waste companies are currently selling the used oil
34、for 15 cents per pound, vs. 5 cents per pound in 2005. All of this means security has become an issue for restaurant owners. The irony: Despite having to pay more to secure their trash, restaurant owners don“t get paid for the old oil. Instead, they receive rebates off future oil purchases or waste
35、removal. Often, the only benefit to recycling the oil is being a good citizen, helping to reduce the amount of waste in their communities, said Chris Moyer, senior program manager for environmental initiatives at NRA (the National Restaurant Association). But good intentions are costing restaurants.
36、 Moyer has heard stories about restaurants having cooking oil stolen, and said the solution is to keep recyclables like cooking oil, “under lock and key, inside if possible.“ This means restaurant owners will need to spend more in a tight economy. Indeed, restaurant suppliers say theft-proof lids fo
37、r grease containers and locks for recycling bins have become popular items in the past year. Restaurant owners could avoid all this trouble and just pour the oil down the drain, but that wouldn“t be good for the environment, or the plumbing. So safe, responsible disposal of used cooking oil has beco
38、me one more cost of doing business. For the most part, thieves are not big processors, but smaller producers. In fact, the oil collection and biodiesel refining sectors are still dominated by small operators, and this fragmentation could be spurring more thefts. And because biodiesel recipes are rea
39、dily available online, do-it-yourselfers who“ve converted their cars to biodiesel are often on the prowl (四处搜寻) for used cooking oil. While used oil may be the hot new thing for crooks, NRA“s Moyer said these crimes of opportunity “will always be with us.“（分数：25.00）(1).Why does the used cooking oil
40、become a lure to thieves?（分数：5.00）A.Because the high living cost leads to the shortage of food.B.Because thieves want to save the cost of their food.C.Because the used cooking oil is a good source of biodiesel.D.Because it is a good raw material for chemical industries.(2).How do the restaurants usu
41、ally deal with the used cooking oil?（分数：5.00）A.Putting it outside the restaurant and leaving it unguarded.B.Selling it to small biodiesel refining sectors in the community.C.Pouring it into the drainage and flushing it away.D.Storing it inside the restaurant in locked containers.(3).How can restaura
42、nt owners make up for their extra expenditure on trash security?（分数：5.00）A.By selling the recyclables at a high price.B.By receiving payment from the waste company.C.By being supported by the local government.D.By getting a discount on their future oil purchases or waste removal.(4).What does recycl
43、ing the oil mean to restaurant owners?（分数：5.00）A.Having a bad image in the community.B.Meeting requirements of the NRA.C.Bearing more financial pressure.D.Finding suitable tools to guard against thefts.(5).What can be learned from the last paragraph?（分数：5.00）A.It is the owners“ right as how to deal
44、with the used cooking oil.B.Thefts of used cooking oil can hardly be avoided.C.The Internet makes stealing the used cooking oil easier.D.There should be a second thought on biodiesel making.Thousands of people in the UK are using “GPS jammers“ that plug into car cigarette lighters and can stop track
45、ing systems used to detect stolen cars, monitor vehicle use or stop drivers working overlong hours, according to new findings from experts. That could lead to the danger of overtired lorry drivers staying on the roads despite the presence of monitoring equipment, and could also pose a threat if vehi
46、cles equipped with the jammers were to go on to airport areas near aircraft which rely on GPS (global positioning system) for navigation. The growing use of the devices could also torpedo (破坏) any plans to introduce “pay as you drive“ insurance or road toll systems if the vehicle owner was able to b
47、lock communications with monitoring systems. “When people use these, it creates a bubble around their vehicle for about 500 metres that jams any GPS receiver or transmitter,“ Prof Charles Curry of Chronos Technology told The Guardian . “It stops any tracking system the owner might have put on the ca
48、r.“ It means that for anyone trying to track the vehicle, it just vanishes off the mapit“s as though it were in an underground car park, Curry added. Bob Cockshott, of the ICT Knowledge Transfer Network, said, “People are using these because they don“t want to be detected. It“s very easy to drown ou
49、t the signal from a GPS satellitewhich at ground level puts out as much power as a 20-watt light bulb 12000 miles away.“ When engineers began monitoring traffic on a dual carriageway outside London, and compared it with traffic on roads inside the City of London, they discovered regular use of jammers, with 10 incidents per day by some roads. That would translate to thousands of users around the country, given the amount of traffic on the road. “It may be truck drivers making deliveries outside hours, or taxi drivers who are working for a company and want to keep all the payments for the
