2014年6月大学英语六级考试真题及答案（第一套）

　　Passage Two

　　Questions 61 to 65 are based on the following passage.

　　It’s possible to admire Oprah Winfrey and still wish Harvard hadn’t awarded her an honorary doctor of law degree and the commencement (毕业典礼) speaker spot at yesterday’s graduation. There’s no question Oprah’s achievements place her in the temple of American success stories. Talent, charm, and an exceptional work ethic have rarely hurled anyone as far as they have this former abused teenage mother from rural Mississippi who became one of the world’s most successful entertainment icons and the first African-American female billionaire.

　　Honorary degrees are often conferred on non-academic leaders in the arts, business, and politics. Harvard’s list in recent years has included Kofi Annan, Bill Gates, Meryl Streep, and David Souter. But Oprah’s particular brand of celebrity is not a good fit for the values of a university whose motto (座右铭), Veritas, means truth. Oprah’s passionate advocacy extends, unfortunately, to a hearty embrace of fake science. Most notoriously, Oprah’s validation of Jenny McCarthy’s claim that vaccines cause autism (自闭症) has no doubt contributed to much harm through the foolish avoidance of vaccines.

　　Famous people are entitled to a few failings, like the rest of us, and the choice of commencement speakers often reflects a balance of institutional priorities and aspirations. Judging from our conversations with many students, Oprah was a widely popular choice.

　　But this vote of confidence in Oprah sends a troubling message at precisely the time when American universities need to do more to advance the cause of reason. As former Dean of Harvard College, Harry Lewis, noted in a blog post about his objections, “It seems very odd for Harvard to honor such a high profile popularizer of the irrational... at a time when political and religious nonsense so jeopardize the rule of reason in this allegedly enlightened democracy and around the world.”

　　As America’s oldest and most visible university, Harvard has a special opportunity to convey its respect for science not only through its research and teaching programs but also in its public affirmation of evidence-based inquiry.

　　Unfortunately, many American universities seem awfully busy protecting their brand name and not nearly busy enough protecting the pursuit of knowledge. A recent article in The Harvard Crimson noted the shocking growth of Harvard’s public relations arm in the last five years and it questioned whether a focus on risk management and avoiding controversy was really the best outward-looking face of this great institution.

　　As American research universities begin to resemble profit centers and entertainment complexes, it’s easy to lose sight of their primary mission: to produce and spread knowledge. This mission depends on traditions of rational discourse and vigorous defense of the scientific method. Oprah Winfrey’s honorary doctorate was a step in the wrong direction.

　　61. What do we learn about Oprah Winfrey from the passage?

　　A) She was a distinguished graduate of Harvard School of Law.

　　B) She worked her way to success in the entertainment industry.

　　C) She used to abuse her children when she was a young mother.

　　D) She achieved her fame through persistent advocacy of fake science.

　　62. Why does the author deem it inappropriate for Harvard to confer an honorary degree on Oprah Winfrey?

　　A) She did not specialize in the study of law.

　　B) She was known as a supporter of fake science.

　　C) She was an icon of the entertainment industry.

　　D) She had not distinguished herself academically.

　　63. How did Harry Lewis react to Harvard’s decision in his blog post?

　　A) He was strongly against it.

　　B) He considered it unpopular.

　　C) He thought it would help enhance Harvard’s reputation.

　　D) He thought it represented the will of the Harvard community.

　　64. What is the author’s regret about many American universities?

　　A) They show inadequate respect for evidence-based inquiry.

　　B) They fall short of expectations in teaching and research.

　　C) They attach too much importance to public relations.

　　D) They are tolerant of political and religious nonsense.

　　65. What does the author think a prestigious university like Harvard should focus on?

　　A) Cultivation of student creativity. C) Liberation of the human mind.

　　B) Defense of the scientific method. D) Pursuit of knowledge and truth.

　　Part IV Translation (30 minutes)

　　Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.

　　北京计划未来三年投资7,600亿元治理污染，从减少PM2.5排放入手。这一新公布的计划旨在减少四种主要污染源，包括500多万辆机动车的尾气(exhaust)排放、周边地区燃煤、来自北方的沙尘暴和本地的建筑灰尘。另有850亿元用于新建或升级城市垃圾处理和污水(sewage)处理设施，加上300亿元投资未来三年的植树造林(forestation)。

　　市政府还计划建造一批水循环利用工厂，并制止违章建筑，以改善环境。另外，北京还将更严厉地处罚违反限排规定的行为。