2023年3月六級真題第一套

2023-03-CET6(第1套)112023年3月大學英語六級考試真題(第1套)PartI Writing (30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteanessaythatbeginswiththesentence“Peoplearenowincreasinglyawareofthedangerof‘appearanceanxiety’orbeingobsessedwithone’slooks.”Youcanmakecomments,citeexamplesoruseyourpersonalexperiencestodevelopyouressay.Youshouldwriteatleast150wordsbutnomorethan200words._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________PartII ListeningComprehension (30minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillheartwolongconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,youwillhearfourquestions.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C),andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions1to4arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.1. A.Inakitchen. B.Inarestaurant.C.Inafoodstore. D.Inasupermarket.2. A.Sheeatsmeatoccasionally. B.Sheenjoyscheeseburgers.C.Sheisapartialvegetarian. D.Sheisallergictoseafood. 3. A.Changingone’seatinghabit. B.Dealingwithone’scolleagues. C.Followingthesamedietforyears. D.Keepingawakeatmorningmeetings.4. A. Theyarebothanimallovers. B.Theyenjoyperfecthealth. C.Theyonlyeatorganicfood. D.Theyarecuttingbackoncoffee.Questions5to8arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.5. A.Themanhadanattitudeproblem.B.Themanmadelittlecontributiontothecompany.C.Themanpaidattentiontotrivialthings.D.Themangotapoorevaluationfromhiscolleagues.6. A.Theymakeunhelpfuldecisionsforsolvingproblems.B.Theyfavorsomeemployees’suggestionsoverothers’.C.Theyrejectemployees’reasonableargumentsforworkefficiency.D.Theyusemanipulativelanguagetomasktheirirrationalchoices.7. A.Itisamustforrationaljudgment. B.Itismoreimportantnowthanever.C.Itisagoodqualityintheworkplace. D.Itismoreofasinthanavirtue.8. A.Smoothingrelationshipsintheworkplace.B.Makingrationalandproductivedecisions.C.Preservingtheirpowerandprestige.D.Focusingonemployees’carcergrowth.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillheartwopassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearthreeorfourquestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions9to11arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.9. A.Theyshowgeniuswhichdefiesdescription.B.Theycreateveryhighcommercialvalue.C.Theyaccomplishfeatsmanyofuscannot.D.Theybringgreathonortotheircountry.10. A.Theytrytobepositiverolemodelstochildren.B.Theyworkinsparetimetoteachchildrensports.C.Theytakepartinkids’extra-curricularactivities.D.Theyserveasspokespersonsforluxurygoods.11. A.Beingsupersportsstarswithoutappearingarrogant.B.Preventingcertainathletesfromgettingintroublewiththelaw.C.Keepingathletesawayfromdrugoralcoholproblems.D.Separatinganathlete’sprofessionallifefromtheirpersonallife.Questions12to15arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.12. A.Theyaredreamscomingtruetothebrides.B.Theyarejoyousandexcitingoccasions.C.Theyshouldbepaidupbytheattendees.D.Theyalwayscostmorethanexpected.13.A.Itwascancelled. B.Itcost$60,000. C.Ithadeightguestsonly. D.ItwasheldinLasVegas.14.A.Postponeherwedding. B.Askherfriendsforhelp.C.Keeptoherbudget. D.Invitemoreguests.15.A.Shecalleditromantic. B.Sherejecteditflatly.C.Shesaidshewouldthinkaboutit. D.Shewelcomeditwithopenarms.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearthreerecordingsoflecturesortalksfollowedbythreeorfourquestions.Therecordingswillbeplayedonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet1withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions16to18arebasedontherecordingyouhavejustheard.16. A.Itdeterminespeople’smoods.B.Itcanimpactpeople’swellbeing.C.Itcaninfluencepeople’spersonalities.D.Itiscloselyrelatedtopeople’semotions.17. A.Theymakepeoplemorereproductive. B.Theytendtoproducepositivefeelings.C. Theyincreasepeople’slifeexpectancy. D.Theymayalterpeople’sgenesgradually.18. A.TheAmericansareapparentlymoreoutgoingthantheChinese.B.Peoplesharemanypersonalitytraitsdespitetheirnationalities.C.Peopleinthesamegeographicalareamaydifferinpersonality.D.Thelinkbetweentemperatureandpersonalityisfairlyweak.Questions19to21arebasedontherecordingyouhavejustheard.19. A.ThenumberofolderAmericanslivingaloneisontherise.B.Correlationshavebeenfoundbetweenlonelinessandillhealth.C.Chroniclonelinessdoesharmtoseniorcitizensinparticular.D.AgrowingnumberofUSseniorsfacetheriskofearlymortality.20. A.Lonelinessisprobablyreversible.B.Lonelinessrarelyresultsfromlivingalone.C.Beingbusyhelpsfightloneliness.D.Medicationisavailablefortreatingloneliness.21. A.Livingwithone’schildren. B.Meaningfulsocialcontact.C. Meetingsocialexpectations. D.Timelymedicalintervention.Questions22to25arebasedontherecordingyouhavejustheard.22. A.Shehadasuccessfulcareerinfinance.B.Shewrotestoriesaboutwomentravelers.C.ShemaderegulartripstoAsiancountries.D.Sheinvestedinseveralprivatecompanies.23. A.Buyaranch. B.Setupatravelagency.C.Travelroundtheworld. D.Startablog.24. A.Createsomethinguniquetoentertheindustry.B.Gainsupportfromtraveladvertisingcompanies.C.Trytofindafull-timejobinthetravelbusiness.D.Workhardtoattractattentionfrompublishers.25. A.Attractingsufficientinvestment. B.Avoidingtoomuchadvertisingearlyon.C. Creatinganexoticcorporateculture. D.Refrainingfrompromotingsimilarproducts.PartIII ReadingComprehension (40minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection,thereisapassagewithtenblanks.Youarerequiredtoselectonewordforeachblankfromalistofchoicesgiveninawordbankfollowingthepassage.Readthepassagethroughcarefullybeforemakingyourchoices.Eachchoiceinthebankisidentifiedbyaletter.PleasemarkthecorrespondingletterforeachitemonAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.Youmaynotuseanyofthewordsinthebankmorethanonce.Questions26to35arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Unthinkableasitmaybe,humanity,everylastperson,couldsomedaybewipedfromthefaceoftheEarth.We’velearnedtoworryaboutasteroids(小行星)andsupervolcanoes,butthemorelikely26,accordingtoNickBostrom,aprofessorofphilosophyatOxford,isthatwehumanswilldestroyourselves.ProfessorBostrom,whodirectsOxford’sFutureofHumanityInstitute,hasarguedoverthecourseofseveralpapersthathuman27risksarepoorlyunderstoodand,worsesill,28underestimatedbysociety.Someoftheseexistentialrisksarefairlywellknown,especiallythenaturalones.Butothersare29orevenexotic.MostworryingtoBostromisthesubsetofexistentialrisksthat30fromhumantechnology,asubsetthatheexpectstogrowinnumberandpotencyoverthenextcentury.Despitehisconcernsabouttherisks31tohumansbytechnologicalprogress,Bostromisnoluddite(科技進步反對者).Infact,heisalongtime32oftranshumanism—theefforttoimprovethehumancondition,andevenhumannatureitself,throughtechnologicalmeans.Inthelongrunheseestechnologyasabridge,abridgewehumansmustcrosswithgreatcare,inordertoreachnewandbettermodesofbeing.Inhiswork,Bostromusesthetoolsofphilosophyandmathematics,in33,probabilitytheory,totryanddeterminehowweasa34mightachievethissafepassage.WhatfollowsismyconversationwithBostromaboutsomeofthemostinterestingandworryingexistentialrisksthathumanitymight35inthedecadesandcenturiestocome,andaboutwhatwecandotomakesureweoutlastthem.A.A.advocate I.particularB.arise J.posedC.shrewdly K.scenarioD.encounter L.severelyE.essential M.emphasizedF.evaporation N.speciesG.extinction O.varietyH.obscureSectionBDirections:Inthissection,youaregoingtoreadapassagewithtenstatementsattachedtoit.Eachstatementcontainsinformationgiveninoneoftheparagraphs.Identifytheparagraphfromwhichtheinformationisderived.Youmaychooseaparagraphmorethanonce.Eachparagraphismarkedwithaletter.AnswerthequestionbymarkingthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2.SanFranciscoHasBecomeOneHugeMetaphorforEconomicInequalityinAmericaA) Thefogstillchillsthemorningairandthecablecarsstillclimbhalfwaytothestars.Yetontheground,theBayAreahaschangedgreatlysinceTonyBennettlefthishearthere.SiliconValleyandthetechindustryhaveledtheregionintoaperiodofunprecedentedwealthandinnovation.Butexistingpoliticalandlandlimitshavecausedanalarminghousingcrisisandastronomicalriseinsocialandeconomicdifference.B) Whiletheresidentsofmostcitiesdisplayprideandsupportfortheirhomeindustries,drasticmarketdistortionsintheSanFranciscoBayAreahavecreatedaboilingresentmentintheregiontowardsthetechindustry.Avocalminorityisevencallingonofficialstopunishthosewhoarebenefittingfromtheeconomicandhousingboom.Ifthisboomanditsconsequencesarenotresolved,adrasticincreaseinsocialandeconomicdifferencemayhaveaprofoundimpactontheregionforgenerations.Ahistoryandanalysisofthistransformationmayholdinvaluableinsightsabouttheopportunities.PerilsoftechcitiesarecurrentlybeingcultivatedacrosstheUS,andindeedaroundtheworld.C) Accordingtoarecentstudy,SanFranciscoranksfirstinCaliforniaforeconomicdifference.Theaverageincomeofthetop1%ofhouseholdsinthecityaverages$3.6million.Thisis44timestheaverageincomeofthoseatthebottom,whichstandsat$81,094.Thetop1%oftheSanFranciscopeninsula’sshareoftotalincomenowextendsto30.8%oftheregion’sincome.Thiswasadramaticjumpfrom1989,whereitstoodat15.8%.D) Theregion’seconomyhasbeenfundamentallytransformedbythetechnologyindustryspringingfromSiliconValley.PoliciespushedbyMayorEdLeeprovidedtaxbreaksfortechcompaniestosetupshopalongthecity’slong-neglectedMid-Marketarea.ThecityisnowhometoTwitter,Uber,Airbnb,Pinterest,Dropboxandothers.Inshort,theBayAreahasbecomeaglobalmagnetforthosewithspecializedskills,whichhasinturnhelpedfueleconomicenthusiasm,andthiseconomicgrowthhasreducedunemploymentto3.4%,anadmirablefeat.E) Inspiteofallthat,thestrengthofrecentjobgrowth,combinedwithpoliciesthathavetraditionallylimitedhousingdevelopmentinthecityandthroughoutthepeninsula,didnothelpeasetheaffordabilitycrisis.In2015alone,theBayAreaadded64,000injobs.Inthesameyear,only5,000newhomeswerebuilt.F) Withtheaveragehouseinthecitycostingover$1.25millionandaverageflatpricesover$1.11million,theminimumqualifyingincometopurchaseahousehasincreasedto$254,000.Consideringthattheaveragehouseholdincomeinthecitycurrentlystandsataround$80,000,itisnotanexaggerationtosaythatthedreamofhomeownershipisnowbeyondthegraspofthevastmajorityoftoday’speoplewhorent.G) Forgenerations,thestabilityandprosperityoftheAmericanmiddleclasshasbeenanchoredbyhomeownership.Studieshaveconsistentlyshownthatthevalueoflandhasovertakenoverallincomegrowth,thusprovidingahugeadvantagetopropertyownersasavehicleofwealthbuilding.Whenhomepricessoarabovethereachofmosthouseholds,thegapbetweentherichandthepoordramaticallyincreases.H) Ifcontributingfactorsleadingtohousingbecominglessthanaffordablearenotresolvedovermultiplegenerations,asmallelitecontrolavastshareofthecountry’stotalwealth.Theresult?Asocietywherethethreatofclasswarfarewouldloomlarge.Asociety’slevelofhappinessistiedlesstomeasuresofquantitativewealthandmoretomeasuresofqualitativewealth.Thismeansthathowapersonjudgestheirsecurityincomparisontotheirneighbors’hasmoreofanimpactontheirhappinessthantheirobjectivestandardofliving.Atthesametime,whenasystemnolongerprovidesopportunitiesforthemajoritytoparticipateinwealthbuilding,itnotonlyrobsthosewhoareexcludedfromopportunities,butalsodeprivesthemoftheirdignity.I) SanFranciscoandtheBayAreahavelongbeencommittedtovalueswhichembraceinclusionandrejectionofmainstreamculture.Toseethesevaluescomingapartsopubliclyaddsinsulttoinjuryforaregiononcedefinedbyitsprogressivesocialfabric.Inthefaceofresentment,itishumantowantrevenge.Butdeterioratingpoliciessuchasheavilytaxingtechnologycompaniesorrealestatedevelopersarenotlikelytoshiftthebalance.J) Thehousingcrisisiscausedbytwoprimaryfactors:thegrowingdesirabilityoftheBayAreaasaplacetoliveduetoitsexcellenteconomy,andourlimitedhousingstock.Althoughthecityisexperiencinganunprecedentedboominnewhousing,moreunitsaresorelyneeded.Protectionpolicieswereoriginallydesignedtosuppressbaddevelopmentandboosthistoricpreservationinoururbanareas.Nowtoomanydevelopersareexperiencingexcessivedelays.Meanwhile,therearethelandlimitationsoftheBayAreatoconsider.Theregionissurroundedbywaterandmountains.Localgovernmentsneedtoaiddevelopmentaswell.Thismeansincreasinghousingdensitythroughouttheregionandbuildingupwardswhilestreamliningtheapprovalprocess.K) Realestatealonewillnotsolvetheproblem,ofcourse.Transportation,too,needstobeupdatedandinfrastructureextendedtolinkdistantregionstoSiliconValleyandthecity.Weneedtobuildaneffectivehigh-speedcommutingsystemlinkingthehigh-pricedandcrowedBayAreawiththelow-pricedandlow-densityCentralValley.Thiswoulddramaticallyreducetraveltimes.AndbasedontheoperatingspeedsofhoveringtrainsusedincountriessuchasJapanorSpain,high-speedrailcouldshortenthetimetotravelbetweenSanFranciscoandCalifornia’scapitol,Sacramento,orfromStocktontoSanJose,tounder30minutes.Thissystemwouldbringoncedistantregionswithinreasonablecommutetoheavyjobcenters.Thecityalsoneedstoupdateexistingtransportationroutescombinedwithsmarthome-buildingpoliciesthatdramaticallyincreasehousingdensityinareassurroundinghigh-speedrailstations.Bydoingso,wewillbeabletobuildaffordablehousingwithinacceptablecommutingdistancesforasignificantbulkoftheworkforce.L) Ourthreateninghousingcrisisforcesthedifficultquestionofwhattypeofsocietywewouldliketobe.Willitbeonewhereelitescommandthevastbulkofwealthandregionalcultureisdefinedbyaaggressivebusinessworld?Wewererecentlytreatedtoatasteofthelatter,whenlocaltechemployeeJustinKellerwroteanopenlettertothecitycomplainingabouthavingtoseehomelesspeopleonhiswaytowork.M) Itdoesn’thavetobethisway.Butsolutionsneedtobeimplementednow,beforeangrycrowdsgrowfromanuisancetoseriousconcern.Itmaytakelessthanyoumightthink.Andinfact,thesolutionstoourhousingcrisisarealreadyfairlyclear.Weneedtoincreasethedensityofhousingunits.Weneedtouseexistingtechnologytoshortentraveltimesandbreakthelandlimits.Thereisawaytosolvecomplexsocialandeconomicproblemswithoutabandoningsocialresponsibility.ThisistheBayArea’sopportunitytoprovethatitcaninnovatemorethanjusttechnology.36. SanFranciscocitygovernmentofferedtaxbenefitstoattracttechcompaniestoestablishoperationsinalessdevelopedarea.37. Thefastriseinthepricesoflandandhousesincreasestheeconomicinequalityamongpeople.38. SanFranciscohasbeenfoundtohavethebiggestincomegapinCaliforniabetweentherichandthepoor.39. Thehigherrateofemployment,combinedwithlimitedhousingsupply,didnotmakeitanyeasiertobuyahouse.40. Whenpeoplecomparetheirownlivingstandardwithothers’,ithasagreaterimpactontheirsenseofcontentment.41. Improvedtransportnetworksconnectingthecitytodistantoutlyingareaswillalsohelpsolvethehousingcrisis.42. AverageincomesintheBayAreamakeitvirtuallyimpossibleformosttenantfamiliestobuyahome.43. Innovativesolutionstosocialandeconomicproblemsshouldbeintroducedbeforeitistoolate.44. ResidentsoftheSanFranciscoBayAreastronglyresentthetechindustrybecauseoftheeconomicinequalityithascontributedto.45. Onewaytodealwiththehousingcrisisisforthegovernmenttosimplifytheapprovalproceduresforhousingprojects.SectionCDirections:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions46to50arebasedonthefollowingpassage.ThesuggestionthatpeopleshouldaimfordietarydiversitybytryingtoeatavarietyoffoodshasbeenabasicpublichealthrecommendationfordecadesintheUnitedStateseverywhere.Now,however,expertsarewarningthataimingforadiversedietmayactuallyleadtojusteatingmorecalories,and,thus,toobesity.Oneissueisthatpeoplemaynotinterpret"variety”thewaynutritionistsintend.ThisproblemishighlightedbynewresearchconductedbytheAmericanHeartAssociation.Researchersreviewedalltheevidencepublishedrelatedtodietarydiversityandsawacorrelationbetweendietarydiversityandagreaterintakeofbothhealthyandunhealthyfoods.Thishadimplicationsforobesity,asresearchersfoundagreaterprevalenceofobesityamongstpeoplewithagreaterdietarydiversity.Oneauthorofthenewstudyexplainedthattheirfindingscontradictstandarddietaryadvice,asmostdietaryguidelinesaroundtheworldincludeastatementofeatingavarietyoffoods.Butthisadvicedoesnotseemtobesupportedbyscience,possiblybecausethereislittleagreementaboutthemeaningof“dietarydiversity,”whichisnotclearlyandconsistentlydefined.Someexpertsmeasuredietarydiversitybycountingthenumberoffoodgroupseaten,whileotherslookatthedistributionofcaloriesacrossindividualfoods,andstillothersmeasurehowdifferentfoodseatenarefromeachother.Althoughthefindingsofthisnewstudycontradictstandarddietaryadvice,theydonotcomeasasurprisetoalloftheresearchersinvolved.Dr.Rao,oneofthestudyauthors,notedthatafter20yearsofexperienceinthefieldofobesity,hehasobservedthatpeoplewhohavearegimentedlifestyleanddiettendtobethinnerandhealthierthanpeoplewithawidevarietyofconsumption.Thisanecdotalevidencematchestheconclusionsofthestudy,whichfoundnoevidencethatdietarydiversitypromoteshealthybodyweightoroptimaleatingpatterns,andlimitedevidenceshowsthateatingavarietyoffoodsisactuallyassociatedwithconsumingmorecalories,pooreatingpatternsandweightgain.Further,thereissomeevidencethatagreatervarietyoffoodoptionsinasinglemealmaydelaypeople’sfeelingoffullnessandactuallyincreasehowmuchtheyeat.Basedontheirfindings,theresearchersendorseadietconsistingofalimitednumberofhealthyfoodssuchasvegetables,fruits,grains,andpoultry.Theyalsorecommendthatpeoplesimultaneouslyendeavortorestrictconsumptionofsweets,sugarandredmeat.Theresearchersstress,however,thattheirdietaryrecommendationsdonotimplydietarydiversityisneverpositive,andthat,inthepast,diversityindietsofwhole,unprocessedfoodmayhaveactuallybeenverybeneficial.46. Whathasbeenastandardpieceofdietaryadvicefordecades?A.Peopleshoulddiversifywhattheyeat.B.Peopleshouldhaveawell-balanceddiet.C.Peopleshouldcultivateahealthyeatinghabit.D.Peopleshouldlimitcalorieintaketoavoidobesity.47. WhatdidthenewresearchbytheAmericanHeartAssociationfind?A.Unhealthyfoodmakespeoplegainweightmoreeasily.B.Dietarydiversityispositivelyrelatedtogoodhealth.C.Peopleseekingdietarydiversitytendtoeatmore.D.Bigeatersaremorelikelytobecomeoverweight.48. Whatcouldhelptoexplainthecontradictionbetweenthenewfindingsandthecommonpublichealthrecommendation?A.Thereislittleconsensusonthedefinitionofdietarydiversity.B.Themethodsresearchersusetomeasurenutritionvarygreatly.C.Conventionalwisdomaboutdietisseldomsupportedbyscience.D.Mostdietaryguidelinesaroundtheworldcontradictoneanother.49. WhatdidDr.Raofindafter20yearsofresearchonobesity?A.Thereisnocleardefinitionofoptimaleatingpatterns.B.Diversifiedfoodintakemaynotcontributetohealth.C.Eatingpatternsandweightgaingohandinhand.D.Dietarydiversitypromoteshealthybodyweight.50. Whatdoesthepassagesayaboutpeoplewhoeatagreatvarietyoffood?A.Theyaremorelikelytoeatfoodsbeneficialtotheirhealth.B.Theydon’thaveanyproblemsgettingsufficientnutrition.C.Theydon’tfeeltheyhavehadenoughuntiltheyovereat.D.Theytendtoconsumemoresweets,sugarandredmeat.PassageTwoQuestions51to55arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Theabilitytomakeinferencesfromsameanddifferent,oncethoughttobeuniquetohumans,isviewedasacornerstoneofabstractintelligentthought.Anewstudy,however,hasshownthatwhatpsychologistscallsame-differentdiscriminationispresentincreaturesgenerallyseenasunintelligent:newbornducklings(小鴨).Thestudy,publishedThursdayinScience,challengesourideaofwhatitmeanstohaveabirdbrain,saidEdwardWasserman,anexperimentalpsychologistattheUniversityofIowawhowroteanindependentreviewofthestudy.“Infact,birdsareextremelyintelligentandourproblemprettymuchliesinfiguringouthowtogetthemto‘talk’tous,ortellushowsmarttheyreallyare,”hesaid.AntoneMartinhoandAlexKacelnik,co-authorsofthenewpaper,devisedacleverexperimenttobettertestbirdintelligence.First,theytook1-day-oldducklingsandexposedthemtoapairofmovingobjects.Thetwoobjectswereeitherthesameordifferentinshapeorcolor.Thentheyexposedeachducklingtotwoentirelynewpairsofmovingobjects.Theresearchersfoundthatabout70percentoftheducklingspreferredtomovetowardthepairofobjectsthathadthesameshapeorcolorrelationshipasthefirstobjectstheysaw.Aducklingthatwasfirstshowntwogreenspheres,inotherwords,wasmorelikelytomovetowardapairofbluespheresthanamismatchedpairoforangeandpurplespheres.Ducklingsgothrougharapidlearningprocesscalledimprintingshortlyafterbirth—it’swhatallowsthemtoidentifyandfollowtheirmothers.Thesefindingssuggestthatducklingsuseabstractrelationshipsbetweensensoryinputslikecolor,shape,soundsandodortorecognizetheirmothers,saidDr.Kacelnik.Bystudyingimprinting,theauthorsofthisstudyhaveshownforthefirsttimethatananimalcanlearnrelationshipsbetweenconceptswithouttraining,saidJeffreyKatz,anexperimentalpsychologistatAuburnUniversitywhowasnotinvolvedinthestudy.Previousstudieshavesuggestedthatotheranimals,includingpigeons,dolphins,honeybeesandsomeprimates(靈長類動物),candiscernsamefromdifferent,butonlyafterextensivetraining.Addingducklingstothelist—particularlyuntrainednewbornducklings—suggeststhattheabilitytocompareabstractconcepts“isfarmorenecessarytoawidervarietyofanimals’survivalthanwepreviouslythought,”DrMartinhosaid.Hebelievestheabilityissocrucialbecauseithelpsanimalsconsidercontextwhenidentifyingobjectsintheirenvironment.It’sclearfromthisstudyandotherslikeitthat“animalsprocessandappreciatefarmoreoftheintricaciesintheirworldthanwe’veeverunderstood,”Dr.Wassermansaid.“Weareinarevolutionaryphaseintermsofourabilitytounderstandthemindsofotheranimals.”51. Inwhatwaywerehumansthoughttobeunique?A.Beingcapableofsame-d