1、大学英语六级真题 2011年 12月及答案解析(总分：710.00，做题时间：120 分钟)一、Part Writing(总题数：1，分数：142.00)1.Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled The Way to Success by commenting on Abraham Lincolns famous remark ,“ Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first
2、four sharpening the axe.“ You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words. The Way to Success _ _ _ （分数：142.00）_二、Part Reading Compr(总题数：1，分数：71.00)Googles Plan for Worlds Biggest Online Library: Philanthropy Or Act of Piracy? In recent years, teams of workers dispatched by Google hav
3、e been working hard to make digital copies of books. So far,Google has scanned more than 10 million titles from libraries in America and Europeincluding half a million volumes held by the Bodleian in Oxford. The exact method it uses is unclear: the company does not allow outsiders to observe the pro
4、cess. Why is Google undertaking such a venture? Why is it even interested in all those out-of-print library books, most of which have been gathering dust on forgotten shelves for decades? The company claims its motives are essentially public-spirited. Its overall mission, after all, is to “organise
5、the worlds information“, so it would be odd if that information did not include books. The company likes to present itself as having lofty aspirations. “This really isnt about making money. We are doing this for the good of society.“ As Santiago de la Mora, head of Google Books for Europe, puts it:
6、“By making it possible to search the millions of books that exist today,we hope to expand the frontiers of human knowledge.“ Dan Clancy,the chief architect of Google Books, does seem genuine in his conviction that this is primarily a philanthropic(慈善的)exercise. “Googles core business is search and f
7、ind,so obviously what helps improve Googles search engine is good for Google,“ he says, “But we have never built a spreadsheet (电子数据表)outlining the financial benefits of this,and I have never had to justify the amount l am spending to the companys founders.“ It is easy,talking to Clancy and his coll
8、eagues, to be swept along by their missionary passion. But Googles book-scanning project is proving controversial. Several opponents have recently emerged, ranging from rival tech giants such as Microsoft and Amazon to small bodies representing authors and publishers across the world. In broad terms
9、, these opponents have levelled two sets of criticisms at Google. First, they have questioned whether the primary responsibility for digitally archiving the worlds books should be allowed to fall to a commercial company. In a recent essay in the New York Review of Books, Robert Darnton, the head of
10、Harvard Universitys library, argued that because such books are a common resourcethe possession of us allonly public, not-for-profit bodies should be given the power to control them. The second related criticism is that Googles scanning of books is actually illegal. This allegation has led to Google
11、 becoming mired in (陷入)a legal battle whose scope and complexity makes the Jarndyce and Jarndyce case in Charles Dickens Bleak House look straightforward. At its centre,however, is one simple issue: that of copyright. The inconvenient fact about most books, to which Google has arguably paid insuffic
12、ient attention,is that they are protected by copyright. Copyright laws differ from country to country,but in general protection extends for the duration of an authors life and for a substantial period afterwards,thus allowing the authors heirs to benefit. (In Britain and America, this post-death per
13、iod is 70 years.) This means,of course, that almost all of the books published in the 20th century are still under copyrightand last century saw more books published than in all previous centuries combined. Of the roughly 40 million books in US libraries,for example,an estimated 32 million are in co
14、pyright. Of these,some 27 million are out of print. Outside the us, Google has made sure only to scan books that are out of copyright and thus in the “public domain“ (works such as the Bodleians first edition of Middlemarch, which anyone can read for free on Google Books Search). But,within the US,
15、the company has scanned both in-copyright and out-of-copyright works. In its defence, Google points out that it displays only small segments of books that are in copyrightarguing that such displays are “fair use“. But critics allege that by making electronic copies of these books without first seeki
16、ng the permission of copyright holders,Google has committed piracy. “The key principle of copyright law has always been that works can be copied only once authors have expressly given their permission,“ says Piers Blofeld,of the Sheil Land literary agency in London. “Google has reversed this-it has
17、simply copied all these works without bothering to ask,“ In 2005, the Authors Guild of America, together with a group of US publishers,launched a class action suit (集团诉讼 )against Google that,after more than two years of negotiation,ended with an announcement last October that Google and the claimant
18、s had reached an out-of-court settlement. The full details are complicated the text alone runs to 385 pagesand trying to summarise it is no easy task. “Part of the problem is that it is basically incomprehensible,“ says Blofeld,one of the settlements most vocal British critics. Broadly,the deal prov
19、ides a mechanism for Google to compensate authors and publishers whose rights it has breached (including giving them a share of any future revenue it generates from their works). In exchange for this, the rights holders agree not to sue Google in future. This settlement hands Google the powerbut onl
20、y with the agreement of individual rights holdersto exploit its database of out-of-print books. It can include them in subscription deals sold to libraries or sell them individually under a consumer licence. It is these commercial provisions that are proving the settlements most controversial aspect
21、. Critics point out that, by giving Google the right to commercially exploit its database, the settlement paves the way for a subtle shift in the companys role from provider of information to seller. “Googles business model has always been to provide information for free, and sell advertising on the
22、 basis of the traffic this generates,“ points out James Grimmelmann, associate professor at New York Law School. Now, he says, because of the settlements provisions,Google could become a significant force in bookselling. Interest in this aspect of the settlement has focused on “orphan“ works, where
23、there is no known copyright holderthese make up an estimated 5-10% of the books Google has scanned. Under the settlement, when no rights holders come forward and register their interest in a work, commercial control automatically reverts to Google. Google will be able to display up to 20% of orphan
24、works for free,include them in its subscription deals to libraries and sell them to individual buyers under the consumer licence. It is by no means certain that the settlement will be enacted (执行)it is the subject of a fairness hearing in the US courts. But if it is enacted, Google will in effect be
25、 off the hook as far as copyright violations in the US are concerned. Many people are seriously concerned by thisand the company is likely to face challenges in other courts around the world. No one knows the precise use Google will make of the intellectual property it has gained by scanning the wor
26、lds library books, and the truth, as Gleick, an American science writer and member of the Authors Guild, points out, is that the company probably doesnt even know itself. But what is certain is that, in some way or other,Googles entrance into digital bookselling will have a significant impact on the
27、 book world in years to come. （分数：71.00）(1).Google claims its plan for the worlds biggest online library is -|_|-. （分数：7.10）A.to save out-of-print books in librariesB.to encourage reading around the worldC.to promote its core business of searchingD.to serve the interest of the general public(2). Acc
28、ording to Santiago de la Mora, Googles book-scanning project will -|_|-. （分数：7.10）A.make full use of the power of its search engineB.help the broad masses of readersC.revolutionise the entire book industryD.broaden humanitys intellectual horizons(3).Opponents of Google Books believe that digitally a
29、rchiving the worlds books should be controlled by -|_|-. （分数：7.10）A.non-profit organisationsB.the worlds tech giantsC.multinational companiesD.the worlds leading libraries(4). Google has involved itself in a legal battle as it ignored -|_|-. （分数：7.10）A.the copyright of the books it scannedB.the inte
30、rest of traditional booksellersC.the differences of in-print and out-of-print booksD.the copyright of authors of out-of-print books(5). Google defends its scanning in-copyright books by saying that -|_|-. （分数：7.10）A.making electronic copies of books is not a violation of copyrightB.it displays only
31、a small part of their contentC.it is willing to compensate the copyright holdersD.the online display of in-copyright books is not for commercial use(6).What do we learn about the class action suit against Google? （分数：7.10）A.It ended in a victory for the Authors Guild of America.B.It could lead to mo
32、re out-of-court settlements of such disputes.C.It failed to protect the interests of American publishers.D.It was settled after more than two years of negotiation.(7). What remained controversial after the class action suit ended? （分数：7.10）A.The change in Googles business model,B.The compensation fo
33、r copyright holders.C.The commercial provisions of the settlement.D.Googles further exploitation of its database.(8).While 1,Google makes money by selling advertising.（分数：7.10）填空项 1:_(9).Books whose copyright holders are not known are called 1.（分数：7.10）填空项 1:_(10).Googles entrance into digital books
34、elling will tremendously 1in the future.（分数：7.10）填空项 1:_三、Part Listening Com(总题数：1，分数：56.80)A.Listen to the recorded notes while driving.B.Cancel the trip to prepare for the test.C.Prepare for the test after the wedding.D.Review his notes once he arrives in Chicago.A.The woman will help the man reme
35、mber the lines.B.The woman will prompt the man during the show.C.The man lacks confidence in playing the partD.The man hopes to change his role in the play.A.Arranging a bed for a patientB.Rescuing the womans uncle.C.A complicated surgical case.D.Preparations for an operation.A.He is too busy to acc
36、ept more responsibility.B.He is interested in improving his editing skills.C.He is eager to be nominated the new editor.D.He is sure to do a better job than Simon.A.He has been successfully elected Prime Minister.B.He has already reached the retirement age.C.He has left his position in the governmen
37、t.D.He made a stupid decision at the cabinet meeting.A.This years shuttle mission is a big step in space exploration.B.The shuttle flight will be broadcast live worldwide.C.The man is excited at the news of the shuttle flight.D.The man is well informed about the space shuttle missions.A.At an auto r
38、escue centerB.At a car renting company.C.At a mountain camp.D.At a suburban garage.A.He listened to some serious music.B.He bought a stereo system.C.He got his speakers fixed.D.He went shopping with the woman.四、Section A(总题数：2，分数：49.70)Questions 19 to 21 are based on the conversation you have just h
39、eard.（分数：21.30）A.Providing aid to the disabledB.Selling products made for left-handers.C.Promoting products for manufacturersD.Printing labels for manufactured goods.A.About half of them are unavailable on the marketB.The kitchenware in his shop is of unique design.C.All of them are manufactured in
40、his own plant.D.Most of them are especially made for his shop.A.They specialise in one product only.B.They have outlets throughout Britain.C.They run chain stores in central London.D.They sell by mail order only.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.（分数：28.40）A.It publ
41、ishes magazinesB.It is engaged in product design.C.It sponsors trade fairs.D.It runs sales promotion campaigns.A.The womans company failed to make payments in time.B.The ad specifications had not been given in detail.C.The womans company made last-minute changes.D.Organising the promotion was really
42、 time-consuming.A.Run another four-week campaignB.Give her a 10 percent discount.C.Extend the campaign to next year.D.Cut the fee by half for this year.A.Calm down and make peace.B.Improve their promotion plans.C.Stop negotiating for the time being.D.Reflect on their respective mistakes.五、Section B(
43、总题数：3，分数：71.00)Questions 26 to 29 are based on the passage you have just heard.（分数：28.40）A.They are looked after by animal-care organizations.B.They sacrifice their lives for the benefit of humans.C.They look spotlessly clean throughout their lives.D.They are labeled pet animals by the researchers.A
44、.They may breed out of control.B.They may cause damage to the environment.C.They may behave abnormallyD.They may affect the results of experiments.A.When they are no longer useful.B.When they become ill.C.When they become escapeesD.When they get too old.A.While calling for animal rights, they allowe
45、d their kids to keep pet animals.B.While holding a burial ceremony for a pet mouse,they were killing pest mice.C.While launching animal protection campaigns, they were trapping kitchen mice.D.While advocating freedom for animals,they kept their pet mouse in a cage.Passage Two Questions 30 to 32 are
46、based on the passage you have just heard. （分数：21.30）A.They contribute most to it.B.They often find fault with it.C.They take it for granted.D.They are crazy about it.A.Tidal restlessnessB.Historical continuity.C.Heat and lightD.Economic prosperity.A.They are adventurers from all over the world.B.The
47、y lack knowledge of the culture of the city.C.They find the city alien to themD.They have difficulty surviving.Passage Three Questions 33 to 35 are based on the passage you have just heard. （分数：21.30）A.A murder mystery.B.A football game.C.A political debateD.A documentary.A.It helps broaden ones hor
48、izons.B.It enhances family relationships.C.It is a sheer waste of time.D.It is unhealthy for the viewers.A.He watches T.V. programs only selectively.B.He doesnt like watching sports programs.C.He cant resist the temptation of T. V. either.D.He is not a man who can keep his promise.六、Section C(总题数：1，分数：71.50)In the past,one of the biggest disadvantages of machines has been their inability to work on a micro-scale. For example,doctors did not have devices allowing them to go inside the human body to (
