1999年6月大学英语六级考试试题(2)

　　Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage:

　　The destruction of our natural resources and contamination ofourfood supply continue to occur, largely because of theextremedifficulty in affixing (把…固定) legal responsibility on thosewhocontinue to treat our environment with reckless abandon(放任).Attempts to prevent pollution by legislation, economicincentivesand friendly persuasion have been met by lawsuits,personal andindustrial denial and long delays - not only inacceptingresponsibility, but more importantly, in doing somethingaboutit.

　　It seems that only when government decides it can affordtaxincentives or production sacrifices is there any initiativeforchange. Where is industry s and our recognition thatprotectingmankind s great treasure is the single mostimportantresponsibility? If ever there will be time forenvironmental healthprofessionals to come to the frontlines andprovide leadership tosolve environmental problems, that time isnow.

　　We are being asked, and, in fact, the public is demanding thatwetake positive action. It is our responsibility as professionalsinenvironmental health to make the difference. Yes, theecologists,the environmental activists and the conservationistsserve tocommunicate, stimulate thinking and promote behavioralchange.However, it is those of us who are paid to make thedecisions todevelop, improve and enforce environmental standards, Isubmit, whomust lead the charge.

　　We must recognize that environmental health issues do not stopatcity limits, county lines, state or even federal boundaries. Wecanno longer afford to be tunnel-visioned in our approach. Wemustvisualize issues from every perspective to make the tivedecisions.We must express our views clearly to prevent mediadistortion andpublic confusion.

　　I believe we have a three-part mission for the present. First,wemust continue to press for improvements in the quality of lifethatpeople can make for themselves. Second, we must investigateandunderstand the link between environment and health. Third, wemustbe able to communicate technical information in a formthatcitizens can understand. If we can accomplish these three goalsinthis decade, maybe we can finally stop environmentaldegradation,and not merely hold it back. We will then be able tospendpollution dollars truly on prevention rather than onbandages.

　　16. We can infer from the first two graphs that theindustrialistsdisregard environmental protection chiefly because.

　　A) they are unaware of the consequences of what they aredoing

　　B) they are reluctant to sacrifice their owneconomicinterests

　　C) time has not yet come for them to put due emphasis on it

　　D) it is difficult for them to take effective measures

　　17. The main task now facing ecologists, environmentalactivistsand conservationists is . A) to prevent pollution bylegislation,economic incentives and persuasion

　　B) to arouse public awareness of the importance ofenvironmentalprotection

　　C) to take radical measures to control environmentalpollution

　　D) to improve the quality of life by enforcingenvironmentalstandards

　　18. The word tunnel-visioned (Line 2, . 4) most probablymeans .

　　A) narrow-minded C) short-sighted B) blind to the facts

　　D) able to see only one aspect

　　19. Which of the following, according to the author, shouldplaythe leading role in the solution of environmental problems?

　　A) Legislation and government intervention.

　　B) The industry s understanding and support.

　　C) The efforts of environmental health professionals.

　　D) The cooperation of ecologists, environmental activistsandconservationists.

　　20. Which of the following is true according to thelastgraph?

　　A) Efforts should be exerted on pollution prevention instead ofonremedial measures.

　　B) More money should be spent in order to stop pollution.

　　C) Ordinary citizens have no access to technical informationonpollution.

　　D) Environmental degradation will be stopped by the end ofthisdecade.Questions 21 to 25 are based on the followingpassage:

　　British universities, groaning under the burden of a hugeincreasein student numbers, are warning that the tradition of afreeeducation is at risk. The universities have threatened toimpose anadmission fee on students to plug a gap in revenue if thegovernmentdoes not act to improve their finances and scrap somepublicspending cutbacks.

　　The government responded to the universities threat by settingupthe most fundamental review of higher education for ageneration,under a non-party troubleshooter (调停人), Sir RonDearing.

　　One in three school-leavers enters higher education, fivetimesthe number when the last review took place thirty yearsago

　　Everyone agrees a system that is feeling the strain afterrapidexpansion needs a lot more money - but there is little hopeofgetting it from the taxpayer and not much scope for attractingmorefinance from business.

　　Most colleges believe students should contribute to tuitioncosts,something that is common elsewhere in the world but wouldmark arevolutionary change in Britain. Universities want thegovernment tointroduce a loan scheme for tuition fees and havesuspended theirown threatened action for now. They await Dearing sadvice, hopingit will not be too late - some are already reportedto be infinancial difficulty.

　　As the century nears its end, the whole concept of whatauniversity should be is under the microscope. Experts ponderhowmuch they can use computers instead of classrooms, talk of theneedfor lifelong learning and refer to students asconsumers.

　　The Confederation (联盟) of British Industry, the keyemployersorganization, wants even more expansion in highereducation to helpfight competition on world markets from boomingAsian economies.But the government has doubts about more expansion.The Timesnewspaper agrees, complaining that quality has suffered asstudentnumbers soared, with close tutorial supervision giving wayto assproduction methods more typical of Europeanuniversities.

　　21. The chief concern of British universities is .

　　A) how to tackle their present financial difficulty

　　B) how to expand the enrollment to meet the needsofenterprises

　　C) how to improve their educational technology

　　D) how to put an end to the current tendency ofqualitydeterioration

　　22. We can learn from the passage that in Britain .

　　A) the government pays dearly for its financial policy

　　B) universities are mainly funded by businesses

　　C) higher education is provided free of charge

　　D) students are ready to accept loan schemes for tuition

　　23. What was the percentage of high school graduates admittedtouniversities in Britain thirty years ago?

　　A) 20% or so. C) Above 30%.

　　B) About 15%. D) Below 10%.

　　24. It can be inferred from the passage that .

　　A) the British government will be forced to increase itsspendingon higher education

　　B) British employers demand an expansion in enrollment attheexpense of quality

　　C) the best way out for British universities is to followtheirEuropean counterparts

　　D) British students will probably have to pay for theirhighereducation in the near future

　　25. Which of the following is the viewpoint of theTimesnewspaper?

　　A) Expansion in enrollment is bound to affect the qualityofBritish higher education.

　　B) British universities should expand their enrollment to meettheneeds of industry.

　　C) European universities can better meet the needs of themodernworld.

　　D) British universities should help fight competition onworldmarkets.【1】 【2】 【3】 【4】