2014年全国英语六级考试真题

49. Swedish family-friendly policies tend to exert a negative influence on women’s careers.

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50. The quota system in Sweden ensures women’s better representation in government.

51. Though the Swedish model appears workable for most American parents, it may not be accepted by them in its entirety.

52. Swedish women are allowed the freedom and opportunity to choose their own way of life.

53. Swedish employers are hesitant about hiring women for full-time positions because of the family-friendly policies.

54. Gender-awareness education is becoming more and more popular in state-subsidized preschools in Sweden.

55. Some lawmakers in Sweden propose that genderless pronouns be used in the Swedish language.

Section C

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

Questions 56 to 60 are based on the following passage.

Texting has long been bemoaned (哀叹) as the downfall of the written word, “penmanship for illiterates,” as one critic called it. To which the proper response is LOL. Texting properly isn’t writing at all. It’s a “spoken” language that is getting richer and more complex by the year.

First, some historical perspective. Writing was only invented 5,500 years ago, whereas language probably traces back at least 80,000 years. Thus talking came first; writing is just a craft that came along later. As such, the first writing was based on the way people talk, with short sentences. However, while talking is largely subconscious and rapid, writing is deliberate and slow. Over time, writers took advantage of this and started crafting long-winded sentences such as this one: “The whole engagement lasted above 12 hours, till the gradual retreat of the Persians was changed into a disorderly flight, of which the shameful example was given by the principal leaders and...”

No one talks like that casually—or should. But it is natural to desire to do so for special occasions. In the old days, we didn’t much write like talking because there was no mechanism to reproduce the speed of conversation. But texting and instant messaging do—and a revolution has begun. It involves the crude mechanics of writing, but in its economy, spontaneity and even vulgarity, texting is actually a new kind of talking, with its own kind of grammar and conventions.

Take LOL. It doesn’t actually mean “laughing out loud” in a literal sense anymore. LOL has evolved into something much subtler and sophisticated and is used even when nothing is remotely amusing. Jocelyn texts “Where have you been?” and Annabelle texts back “LOL at the library studying for two hours.” LOL signals basic empathy (同感) between texters, easing tension and creating a sense of equality. Instead of having a literal meaning, it does something—conveying an attitude—just like the -ed ending conveys past tense rather than “meaning” anything. LOL, of all things, is grammar.

Of course no one thinks about that consciously. But then most of communication operates without being noticed. Over time, the meaning of a word or an expression drifts—meat used to mean any kind of food, silly used to mean, believe it or not, blessed.

Civilization, then, is fine—people banging away on their smartphones are fluently using a code separate from the one they use in actual writing, and there is no evidence that texting is ruining composition skills. Worldwide people speak differently from the way they write, and texting—quick, casual and only intended to be read once—is actually a way of talking with your fingers.

56. What do critics say about texting?

A) It is mainly confined to youngsters. C) It will ruin the written language.

B) It competes with traditional writing. D) It is often hard to understand.

57. In what way does the author say writing is different from talking?

A) It is crafted with specific skills. C) It does not have as long a history.

B) It expresses ideas more accurately. D) It is not as easy to comprehend.

58. Why is LOL much used in texting?

A) It brings texters closer to each other. C) It is a trendy way to communicate.

B) It shows the texter’s sophistication. D) It adds to the humor of the text.

59. Examples like meat and silly are cited to show ________.

A) the difference between writing and talking

B) how differently words are used in texting