【正文】 our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption. ... We need things consumed, burned up, worn out, replaced and discarded at an ever increasing rate.” Americans have responded to Lebow’s call, and much of the world has followed. Consumption has bee a central pillar of life in industrial lands and is even embedded in social values. Opinion surveys in the world’s two largest economies—Japan and the United Sates—show consumerist definitions of success being ever more prevalent. Overconsumption by the world’s fortunate is an environmental problem unmatched in severity by anything but perhaps population growth. Their surging exploitation of resources threatens to exhaust or unalterably spoil forests, soils, water, air and climate. Ironically, high consumption may be a mixed blessing in human terms, too. The timehonored values of integrity of character, good work, friendship, family and munity have often been sacrificed in the rush to riches. Thus many in the industrial lands have a sense that their world of plenty is somehow hollow—that, misled by a consumerist culture, they have been fruitlessly attempting to satisfy what are essentially social, psychological and spiritual needs with material things. Of course, the opposite of overconsumption—poverty—is no solution to either environmental or human problems. It is infinitely worse for people and bad for the natural world too. Dispossessed (被剝奪得一無(wú)所有的) peasants slashandburn their way into the rain forests of Latin America, and hungry nomads (游牧民族) turn their herds out onto fragile African grassland, reducing it to desert. If environmental destruction results when people have either too little or too much, we are left to wonder how much is enough. What level of consumption can the earth support? When does having more cease to add noticeably to human satisfaction?36. The emergence of the affluent society after World War II ________. A) gave birth to a new generation of upper class consumers B) gave rise to the dominance of the new egoism C) led to the reform of the retailing system D) resulted in the worship of consumerism37. Apart from enormous productivity, another important impetus to high consumption is _______. A) the conversion of the sale of goods into rituals B) the people’s desire for a rise in their living standards C) the imbalance that has existed between production and consumption D) the concept that one’s success is measured by how much they consume38. Why does the author say high consumption is a mixed blessing? A) Because poverty still exists in an affluent society. B) Because moral values are sacrificed in pursuit of material satisfaction. C) Because overconsumption won’t last long due to unrestricted population growth. D) Because traditional rituals are often neglected in the process of modernization.39. According to the passage, consumerist culture ________. A) cannot thrive on a fragile economy B) will not aggravate environmental problems C) cannot satisfy human spiritual needs D) will not alleviate poverty in wealthy countries40. It can be inferred from the passage that _______. A) human spiritual needs should match material affluence B) there is never an end to satisfying people’s material needs C) whether high consumption should be encouraged is still an issue D) how to keep consumption at a reasonable level remains a problemPart III Vocabulary and Structure (20 minutes)Directions: There are 30 inplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the ONE that best pletes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.41. I have had my eyes tested and the report says that my _______ is perfect. A) outlook C) horizon B) vision D) perspective42 He was looking admiringly at the photograph published by Collins in _______ with the Imperial Museum. A) collection C) collaboration B) connection D) bination43. In those days, executives expected to spend most of their lives in the same firm and, unless they were dismissed for _______, to retire at the age of 65. A) integrity C) inpetence B) denial D) deduction44. Others viewed the findings with _______, noting that a causeandeffect relationship between passive smoking and cancer remains to be shown. A) optimism C) caution B) passion D) deliberation45. The 1986 Challenger spaceshuttle _______ was caused by unusually low temperatures immediately before the launch. A) expedition C) dismay B) controversy D) disaster46. When supply exceeds demand for any product, prices are _______ to fall. A) timely C) subject B) simultaneous D) liable47. The music aroused an _______ feeling of homesickness in him. A) intentional C) intense B) intermittent D) intrinsic48. I bought an alarm clock with a(n) _______ dial, which can be seen clearly in the dark. A) supersonic C) audible B) luminous D) amplified49. The results are hardly _______。2003年1月英語(yǔ)六級(jí)真題Part I Listening Comprehension (20 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear 10 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, a question will be asked about what was said. Both the conversation and the question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A), B), C) and D), and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.Example: You will hear: You will read:A) 2 hours.B) 3 hours.C) 4 hours.D) 5 hours.From the conversation we know