20 10 12 CET-6.
The first part of writing (30 minutes)
In this section, you have 30 minutes to write a short article entitled "My Views on University Ranking". According to the outline given below, you should write at least 150 words.
1. At present, university rankings are quite popular;
2. People have different views on this practice;
3. In my opinion.
My view on university rankings
Part II Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Browsing) (15min)
In this section, you will have 15 minutes to read the article quickly and answer the questions on the answer sheet 1. For the question 1-7, choose the best answer from the four options marked [A], [B], [C] and [D]. For question 8- 10, complete the sentence with the information given in the article.
Go unknown
The world has never experienced an aging population. Can it handle it?
Until1early 1990s, no one thought much about the aging of the whole population. The United Nations had the foresight to convene a meeting? World Assembly on Ageing? As early as 1982, but that came and went. By the time of 1994, the World Bank had noticed that a major event was taking place. In a paper called. Avoid the crisis of old age? It believes that pension arrangements in most countries are unsustainable.
In the next decade, a series of books written mainly by Americans sounded the alarm. Their titles are Young and Old, Gray Dawn and Coming Intergenerational Storm. Their messages are straightforward: the medical care system is going to collapse, pensioners are putting young people into bankruptcy, and there will soon be a modern international war.
Since then, the debate has become less emotional, not only because of a better understanding of the subject. Books, conferences and research papers have multiplied. International organizations such as the OECD and the European Union regularly publish reports. From the G8 Economic Conference to the NATO Summit, the problem of population aging has been put on every agenda. The World Economic Forum plans to consider the future of pensions and health care at the famous Davos meeting early next year. The media, including this newspaper, have made extensive reports on this issue.
Whether all the concerns are translated into enough actions is another question. Governments in rich countries now admit that their pension and health care commitments will soon become unaffordable, and many of them have embarked on reforms, but so far they have only been cautious. This is not surprising: politicians with their eyes on the next election will not rush to introduce unpopular measures, which may not bear fruit for years or even decades.
The outline of the required changes is clear. In order to avoid financial collapse, public pensions and medical insurance will have to be cut sharply, and taxes may have to be increased. So far, the most effective way to limit pension expenditure is to give people the opportunity to work longer hours, because it increases taxes and reduces pension expenditure. This may even make them live longer. John rozelle, AARP? He pointed out that research shows that, other things being equal, people who are still working have a lower mortality rate than their retired peers.
Most young people today accept that they will have to work longer hours and their pensions will be less. Employers still need to be convinced that older employees are worth keeping. This may be because they have many younger people to choose from, partly because of the postwar baby boom, and partly because more women have entered the labor market in the past few decades, increasing the number of employers? choose However, fewer and fewer women are able and willing to take paid jobs, and the baby boomers are getting older.
In many countries, immigrants have filled the existing labor gap (remember, it will take 10 years for the real shortage). The number of immigrants in developed countries has reached the highest level in history and is having a beneficial impact. In the United States, which is still rich, it currently accounts for 40% of the total population growth and 90% in the rapidly aging Western Europe.
On the surface, this seems to be the perfect solution. Many young people in many developing countries need to work; Many rich countries need help to increase taxes and maintain economic growth. But in the next few decades, the labor force in rich countries will shrink so much that the inflow of immigrants will have to increase greatly to make up for it: at least twice as much as that in western Europe at present? The United States is the youngest country, which is three times that of the older countries. Japan will need many more immigrants than at present. Opinion polls show that people in most rich countries already think that there are too many immigrants. It is politically infeasible to raise prices further by a large margin.
Fundamentally solve the problem of population aging? Old? The country must make itself young by having more children. Some of them have tried, and some are more successful than others. However, this is not simply a question of providing economic incentives or providing more child care. Modern city life in rich countries is not suitable for large families. Women find it difficult to balance family and career. They often compromise and have only one child.
What if the fertility rate in aging countries has not increased? It won't be the end of the world, at least not for quite some time, but the world will gradually become a different place. The old society may be less innovative and less willing to take risks than the young society. By 2025 at the latest, about half of American voters and voters in most western European countries will be over 50 years old? The number of old people voting is much higher than that of young people. So far, academic research has found no evidence that elderly voters use their power in the ballot box to promote policies that are particularly beneficial to them, although if there are more elderly voters in the future, they may start to do so.
There is no sign of the intergenerational war predicted by1990s. After all, most of the elderly themselves have families. Carsten Hank of Mannheim University recently conducted a study on parents and adult children in 1 1 European countries. He found that 85% of parents live within 25 kilometers, and most people contact each other at least once a week.
Even so, the shift of focus to the elderly group will inevitably have a far-reaching impact on society, not only in economy and politics, but also in other aspects. Richard Jackson and Neil Howe in the United States? CSIS pointed out in an insightful book entitled "Aging of Great Powers" that the aging of developed countries will bring a series of serious security problems.
For example, the shortage of young adults may make the country more reluctant to let a small number of young people perform military service. In the decades to 2050, the United States will find itself playing an increasingly important role in developed countries? American national defense efforts. Because of America? When the population of most developed countries decreases, the population of the United States will still increase, and the United States will be the only developed country that remains important in geopolitics.
Ask me in 2020
People can hardly stop the aging of the population, so the world will have to accept this fact. But some consequences can be mitigated. Many experts now believe that if the policy is proper, the impact is serious, but it is not necessarily catastrophic. Most countries have recognized the necessity of taking action and started to take action.
But even so, there is no guarantee that their efforts will work. What is happening now is unprecedented. Ronald Lee, director of the Center for Aging Economics and Demography at the University of California, Berkeley, said simply: We don't know. T really know what an aging population will look like, because no one has done it yet. ?
Note: Please answer this part of the question on the answer sheet 1
1. In its report 1994, the World Bank believes that the current pension system in most countries may be _ _ _ _ _.
[A] Not sustainable for a long time
(b) further accelerate the aging process.
C. It is difficult to stop the population growth
Help tide over the current crisis of aging.
2. What message does a book like Teenager vs Old Age convey?
The generation gap is bound to narrow.
[B] Intergenerational conflicts will intensify.
[C] The younger generation will beat the older generation.
[D] Old people should make way for young people.
3. One reason for the slow progress of pension and health care reform is _ _ _ _ _.
No one wants to solve this problem at the expense of their own interests.
Most people are opposed to measures that will not have immediate effect.
C. Will the proposed reform affect too many people? The interests of
D. politicians are afraid of losing votes in the next election
4. The author thinks that the most effective way to solve the pension crisis is _ _ _ _ _.
(a) Allow people to work longer hours; (c) Cut the cost of medical care.
(b) Increase taxes [D] Start reform immediately.
5. The reason why employers are unwilling to keep old employees is _ _ _ _ _.
[A] They are usually difficult to manage.
[B] The longer they work, the higher their pension.
C.their salary is higher than that of young people.
D. young workers are easy to find
6. In order to make up for the rapidly shrinking labor force, Japan needs _ _ _ _.
(a) Revise the current population control policy.
B. A large number of immigrants from overseas
(c) Automation of manufacturing and service industries
D. A politically feasible population policy
7. Why do women in many rich countries compromise to have only one child?
[A] Small families are becoming more and more popular.
They find it difficult to balance career and family.
C.it's too expensive to support a large family.
D. looking after children is too big a problem for them.
8. Compared with the young society, the old society is less inclined to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
9. The predicted intergenerational war is unlikely to happen, because most of the elderly themselves are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
10. Countries with a shortage of young people are reluctant to let them engage in _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
Part III Listening Comprehension (35 minutes)
first segment
In this part, you will hear 8 short dialogues and 2 long dialogues. At the end of each conversation, one or more questions will be asked about the conversation. Conversations and questions are only said once. There will be a pause after each question. During the pause, you must read the four options marked [A], [B], [C] and [D] and decide which is the best answer. Then mark the corresponding letters on the answer sheet 2 with a line passing through the middle.
Note: Please answer this part of the question on the answer sheet 2.
1 1. This man is the manager of the apartment building.
This woman is good at bargaining.
C.this woman will get a redecorated apartment.
D. This man is looking for an apartment.
12.[A] What will these photos become? C.what does this person think of these photos?
Where is the botanical garden? [D] Why aren't the photos ready?
13.[A] There is no substitute for the handle.
[B] There is nothing to match the suitcase.
C.this suitcase is not worth repairing.
D. the suitcase can be repaired in time.
14.[A] He needs a car that can be used in bad weather.
[B] He has collected quite a few quality trucks.
[C] He adapted his truck to the cold temperature.
[D] He does routine truck maintenance for that woman.
15. She can't stand her boss? S a bad temper.
She is often criticized by her boss.
C.she has decided to resign.
She never regrets any decision she has made.
16.[A] Find a shirt with a more suitable color and size.
B. replace this shirt with other materials.
C. go to different stores to buy a silk or cotton shirt.
D. get a discount on the shirt she will buy.
17. in a? Lost and found? . C. at the fair.
At the reception desk. D. at the exhibition.
18.[A] Repair it and move in. C. transform it into a hotel.
[B] Pass it on to his grandson. [D] fetch a good price.
Questions 19 to 2 1 are based on the conversation you just heard.
19.[A] Unique description skills. C. colorful world experiences.
[B] Have a good understanding of readers? Taste. Careful planning and clues.
20. Quiet environment. C. be in a good mood.
A spacious room. Totally lonely.
2 1.[A] They are very dependent on their own imagination.
[B] They have similar experiences to the characters? .
C. they look at the world with a detached attitude.
D. They are overwhelmed by their own prejudices.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the conversation you just heard.
22.[A] Whether it is good or bad, they will exist.
You must use them whether you like it or not.
Believe it or not, they survived.
Regardless of gains or losses, they should be modernized.
23.[A] Trains are often late. C. food sold on the train.
[B] High train fare. D. British railway monopoly.
24.[A] They operate inefficiently.
B. competition from other modes of transportation.
C. passengers keep complaining.
D. adoption of the new transport bill.
25.[A] They will be nationalized. C.they are disappearing rapidly.
[B] They provide worse service. D. They lost a lot of money.
Section b
In this part, you will hear three short passages. At the end of each article, you will hear some questions. This article and the question are only said once. After hearing the question, you must choose the best answer from the four options marked [A], [B], [C] and [D]. Then mark the corresponding letters on the answer sheet 2 with a line passing through the middle.
Note: Please answer this part of the question on the answer sheet 2.
the first paragraph
Questions 26 to 29 are based on the article you have just heard.
26. The whole Antarctic region will be submerged.
[B] Some polar animals will be extinct soon.
Many coastal cities will be covered by water.
D. the earth will experience extreme weather.
27.[A] How does mankind cope with global warming?
[B] How unstable the western Antarctic ice sheet is.
C. how fragile coastal cities are.
[D] How polar ice affects global weather.
28.[A] In the past 1.3 million years, it collapsed at least once.
It sits firmly on the hard rock at the bottom of the sea.
C.it melts at a slightly higher temperature than today.
D. when it disintegrates, it has little impact on sea level.
29.[A] The western part of Antarctica used to be an open ocean.
[B] The ice sheet in the western Antarctic is about 7000 feet thick.
C. the west Antarctic ice sheet used to be ice floes.
[D] The western Antarctic was warmer than it is today.