六級(jí)閱讀答案

六級(jí)閱讀答案六級(jí)閱讀答案篇一：Climatechangemaybereal，butitsstillnoteasybeinggreenHowdoweconvinceourinnercavemantobegreener?Weasksomeoutstandingsocialscientists。A)Theroadtoclimatehellispavedwithourgoodintentions。Politiciansmaytacklepolluterswhilescientistsdobattlewithcarbonemissions。Butthemostpervasiveproblemislessobvious：ourownbehaviour。Wegetdistractedbeforewecanturndowntheheating。WebreakourpromisenottoflyafterhearingaboutaneighborsriptoIndia。Ultimately，wecantbebotheredtochangeourattitude。Fortunatelyfortheplanet，socialscienceandbehavioraleconomicsmaybeabletodothatforus。B)Despitemournfulpolarbearsandcartsshowingcarbonemissionssoaring，motpeoplefindithardtobelievethatglobalwarmingwillaffectthempersonally。RecentpollsbythePewResearchCentreinWashington，DC，foundthat75-80percentofparticipantsregardedclimatechangeasanimportantissue。Butrespondentsrankeditlastonalistofpriorities。C)Thisinconsistencylargelystemsfromafeelingofpowerlessness。"Whenwecantactuallyremovethesourceofourfear，wetendtoadaptpsychologicallybyadoptingarangeofdefensemechanisms，'saysTomCrompton，changestrategistfortheenvironmentalorganizationWorldWideFundforNature。D)Partofthefaultlieswithourinnercaveman。Evolutionhasprogrammedhumanstopaymostattentiontoissuesthatwillhaveanimmediateimpact。"Weworrymostaboutnowbecauseifwedontsurviveforthenextminute，werenotgoingtobearoundintenyearstime，'saysProfessorElkeWeberoftheCentreforResearchonEnvironmentalDecisionsatColumbiaUniversityinNewYork。IftheThameswerelappingaroundBigBen，Londonerswouldfaceuptotheproblemofemissionsprettyquickly。Butinpractice，ourbraindiscountstherisksandbenefitsassociatedwithissuesthatliesomewayahead。E)MatthewRushworth，oftheDepartmentofExperimentalPsychologyattheUniversityofOxford，seesthisinhislabeveryday。"Oneofthewaysinwhichallagentsseemtomakedecisionsisthattheyassignalowerweightingtooutcomesthataregoingtobefurtherawayinthefuture，'hesays。"Thisisaverysensiblewayforananimaltomakedecisionsinthewildandwouldhavebeenveryhelpfulforhumansforthousandsofyears。'F)Notanylonger。Bythetimewewakeuptothethreatposedbyclimatechange，itcouldwellbetoolate。Andifwerenotgoingtomakenationaldecisionsaboutthefuture，othersmayhavetohelpustodoso。G)FewpoliticallibrariesarewithoutacopyofNudge：ImprovingDecisionsAboutHealth，WealthandHappiness，byRichardThalerandCassSunstein。Theyarguethatgovernmentsshouldpersuadeusintomakingbetterdecisionssuchassavingmoreinourpensionplansbychangingthedefaultoptions。ProfessorWeberbelievesthatenvironmentalpolicycanmakeuseofsimilartactics。If，forexample，buildingcodesincludedgreenconstructionguidelines，mostdeveloperswouldbetoolazytochallengethem。H)Defaultsarecertainlypartofthesolution。Butsocialscientistsaremostconcernedaboutcraftingmessagesthatexploitourgroupmentality(心態(tài))。'Weneedtounderstandwhatmotivatespeople，whatitisthatallowsthemtomakechange，'saysProfessorNeilAdger，oftheTyndallCentreforClimateChangeResearchinNorwich。'Itisactuallyaboutwhattheirpeersthinkofthem，whattheirsocialnormsare，whatisseenasdesirableinsociety。'Inotherwords，ourinnercavemaniscontinuallylookingoverhisshouldertoseewhattherestofthetribeareupto。I)Thepassiveattitudewehavetoclimatechangeasindividualscanbealteredbycountingusinandmeasuringusagainstourpeergroup。"Socialnormsareprimitiveandelemental，'saysDr。RobertCialdini，authorofInfluence：ThePsychologyofPersuasion。"Birdsflocktogether，fishschooltogether，cattleherdtogetherjustperceivingnormsisenoughtocausepeopletoadjusttheirbehaviorinthedirectionofthecrowd。'J)Thesenormscantakeusbeyondgoodintentions。CialdiniconductedastudyinSanDiegoinwhichcoathangersbearingmessagesaboutsavingenergywerehungonpeoplesdoors。Someofthemessagesmentionedtheenvironment，somefinancialsavings，otherssocialresponsibility。Butitwastheonethatmentionedtheactionsofneighboursthatdrovedownpoweruse。K)Otherstudiesshowthatsimplyprovidingthefacilityforpeopletocomparetheirenergyusewiththelocalaverageisenoughtocausethemtomodifytheirbehaviour。TheConservativesplantoadoptthisstrategybymakingutilitycompaniesprinttheaveragelocalelectricityandgasusageonpeoplesbills。L)Socialsciencecanalsoteachpoliticianshowtoavoidourcollectivecapacityforself-destructivebehaviour。EnvironmentalcampaignsthattellushowmanypeopledriveSUVsunwittingly(不經(jīng)意地)implythatthisbehaviouriswidespreadandthuspermissible。Cialdinirecommendssomecarefulframingofthemessage。"Insteadofnormalisingtheundesirablebehaviour，themessageneedstomarginaliseit，forexample，bystatingthatifevenonepersonbuysyetanotherSUV，itreducesourabilitytobeenergy-independent。'M)Tappingintohowwealreadyseeourselvesiscrucial。Themostsuccessfulenvironmentalstrategywillmarrythegreenmessagetoourownsenseofidentity。Takeyouraveragetradeunionmember，chancesaretheywillbepoliticallymotivatedandbeusedtocollectiveactionmuchlikeEricaGregory。AretiredmemberofthePublicandCommercialServicesUnion，sheissettinguponeof1，100actiongroupswiththesupportofClimateSolidarity，atwo-yearenvironmentalcampaignaimedattradeunionists。N)Ericaisproofthatagreat-grandmothercanhelptoleadtherevolutionifyourgetthepsychologyrightinthiscase，bymatchingherenthusiasmfortheenvironmentwithafondnessfororganisinggroups。"Ithinktheremustbesomethinginit。'Sheisexpectingupto20peopleatthefirstmeetingshehascalled，atherlocalpubintheCornishvillageofPolperro。O)NickPerks，projectdirectorforClimateSolidarity，believesthissortofactivityiswherethefutureofenvironmentalactionlies。"UsingexistingcivilsocietystructuresornetworksisamoreeffectivewayofcreatingchangeandobviouslytradeunionsareoneofthebiggestcivilsocietynetworksintheUK，'hesays。The"LoveFood，HasteWaste'campaignenteredintoacollaborationlastyearwithanothersuchnetworktheWomensInstitute。LondonerRachelTalorjoinedthecampaignwiththeaimofmakingnewfriends。Ayearon，themeetingshavemadelastingchangestowhatshethrowsawayinherkitchen。"Itsalwaysmoreofanincentiveifyouredoingitwithotherpeople，'shesays。"Itmotivatesyoumoreifyouknowthatyouvegottoprovidefeedbacktoagroup。'P)Thepowerofsuchsimplepsychologyinfightingclimatechangeisattractingattentionacrossthepoliticalestablishment。IntheUS，theHouseofRepresentativesScienceCommitteehasapprovedabillallocating$10millionayeartostudyingenergy-relatedbehaviour。IntheUK，newstudiesareindevelopmentandsocialscientistsareregularlyspottedinBritishgovernmentoffices。Withthehelpofpsychologists，thereisfreshhopethatwemightgogreenafterall。46.Whenpeoplefindtheyarepowerlesstochangeasituation，theytendtolivewithit。47.Tobeeffective，environmentalmessagesshouldbecarefullyframed。48.Itisthegovernmentsresponsibilitytopersuadepeopleintomakingenvironment-friendlydecisions。49.Politiciansarebeginningtorealizetheimportanceofenlistingpsychologistshelpinfightingclimatechange。50.Tofindeffectivesolutionstoclimatechange，itisnecessarytounderstandwhatmotivatespeopletomakechange。51.Intheirevolution，humanshavelearnedtopayattentiontothemosturgentissuesinsteadoflong-termconcerns。52.Onestudyshowsthatourneighborsactionsareinfluentialunchangingourbehavior。53.Despiteclearsignsofglobalwarming，itisnoteasyformostpeopletobelieveclimatechangewillaffecttheirownlives。54.Wewouldtakeourfutureintoconsiderationinmakingdecisionsconcerningclimatechangebeforeitistoolate。55.Existingsocialnetworkscanbemoreeffectiveincreatingchangeinpeoplesbehaviour。參照答案：CLGPHDJBFO篇二：Inthe1962movieLawrenceofArabia,onesceneshowsanAmericannewspaperreportereagerlysnappingphotosofmenlootingasabotagedtrain.Oneofthelooters,ChiefAudaabuTayioftheHoweitatclan,suddenlynoticesthecameraandsnatchesit.AmIinthis?heasks,beforesmashingitopen.Tothedismayedreporter,Lawrenceexplains,Hethinksthesethingswillstealhisvirtue.Hethinksyoureakindofthief.Assoonascolonizersandexplorersbegantakingcamerasintodistantlands,storiesbegancirculatingabouthowindigenouspeoplessawthemastoolsforblackmagic.Theignorantnativesmayhavehadapoint.Whenphotographyfirstbecameavailable,scientistswelcomeditasamoreobjectivewayofrecordingfarawaysocietiesthanearlytravelersexaggeratedaccounts.Butinsomeways,anthropologicalphotographsrevealmoreabouttheculturethatholdsthecamerathantheonethatstaresback.Upintothe1950sand1960s,manyethnographerssoughtpurepicturesofprimitivecultures,routinelydeletingmodernaccoutrementssuchasclocksandWesterndress.Theypaidmenandwomentore-enactritualsortoposeasmembersofwarorhuntingparties,oftenwithlittleregardforveracity.EdwardCurtis,thelegendaryphotographerofNorthAmericanIndians,forexample,gotoneMakahmantoposeasawhalerwithaspearin1915--eventhoughtheMakahhadnothuntedwhalesinageneration.Thesephotographsreinforcedwidelyacceptedstereotypesthatindigenouscultureswereisolated,primitive,andunchanging.Forinstance,NationalGeographicmagazinesphotographshavetaughtmillionsofAmericansaboutothercultures.AsCatherineLutzandJaneCollinspointoutintheir1993bookReadingNationalGeographic,themagazinesinceitsfoundingin1888haskeptatraditionofpresentingbeautifulphotosthatdontchallengewhite,middle-classAmericanconventions.Whiledark-skinnedwomencanbeshownwithouttops,forexample,whitewomensbreastsaretaboo.Photosthatcouldunsettleordisturb,suchasareasoftheworldtornasunderbywarorfamine,arediscardedinfavorofthosethatreassure,toconformwiththesocietysstatedpledgetopresentonlykindlyvisionsofforeignsocieties.Theresult,LutzandCollinssay,isthedepictionofanidealizedandexoticworldrelativelyfreeofpainorclassconflict.LutzactuallylikesNationalGeographicalot.Shereadthemagazineasachild,anditslushimageryinfluencedhereventualchoiceofanthropologyasacareer.Shejustthinksthataspeoplelookatthephotographsofothercultures,theyshouldbealerttothechoiceofcompositionandimages.1.Themainideaofthepassageis______________.[A]PhotographstakenbyWesternexplorersreflectmoreWesternersperceptionoftheindigenousculturesandtheWesternvalues.[B]ThereisacomplicatedrelationshipbetweentheWesternexplorersandtheprimitivepeoples.[C]PopularmagazinessuchasNationalGeographicshouldshowpicturesoftheexoticandidealizedworldstomaintainhighsales.[D]Anthropologistsaskthenativestoposefortheirpictures,compromisingthetruthfulnessoftheirpictures.2.Wecaninferfromthepassagethatearlytravelerstothenativelandsoften_________.[A]tookpictureswiththenatives[B]gaveexaggeratedaccountsofthenativelands[C]askforpicturesfromthenatives[D]gavethenativesclocksandWesterndresses3.TheauthormentionsthemovieLawrenceofArabiato___________.[A]showhowpeopleintheindigenoussocietiesareportrayedbyWesterners.[B]illustratehowpeoplefromprimitivesocietiesseecamerasastoolsofblackmagicthatstealtheirvirtues.[C]showhowanthropologistsportrayuntruthfulpicturesofnativepeople.[D]showthecruelandbarbariansideofthenativepeople.4."Butinsomeways,anthropologicalphotographsrevealmoreabouttheculturethatholdsthecamerathantheonethatstaresback.'Inthissentence,the"one[culture]thatstaresback'refersto_______.[A]theindigenousculture[B]theWesternculture[C]theacademicculture[D]thenewsbusinessculture5.WithwhichofthefollowingstatementswouldCatherineLutzmostprobablyagree?[A]ReportersfromtheWesternsocietiesshouldroutinelydeletemodernelementsinpicturestakenoftheindigenoussocieties.[B]TheprimitiveculturesareinferiortothemoreadvancedWesternculture.[C]Thewesternmediaarenotpresentingarealisticpictureofthefarawaysocieties.[D]PeopleintheWesternnewsbusinessshouldtrynottochallengethewell-establishedwhitemiddle-classvalues.答案及解析1.答案是[A]PhotographstakenbyWesternexplorersreflectmoreWesternersperceptionoftheindigenousculturesandtheWesternvalues.解析：本文的主題是，西方的媒體，為了迎合西方讀者獵奇的心理，同時(shí)，為了不與西方讀者的中產(chǎn)階級(jí)價(jià)值觀發(fā)生沖突，在他們拍攝的照片中，并不是真正客觀公正地反映經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展水平較為落后的社會(huì)中人們的生活。他們經(jīng)常有意刪除照片中反映西方文明烙印的成分，甚至擺布照片中的主人公，以描述出一個(gè)西方讀者想象中的，經(jīng)濟(jì)不發(fā)達(dá)的，有異域風(fēng)情的，沒(méi)有痛苦和階級(jí)斗爭(zhēng)的經(jīng)濟(jì)落后社會(huì)的畫(huà)面。他們甚至避免刊載那些反映饑荒，戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)，災(zāi)害的照片，以滿足西方媒體"只刊載外國(guó)社會(huì)美好一面的照片'的默契。2.答案是[B]gaveexaggeratedaccountsofthenativelands解析：文章第二段說(shuō)，Whenphotographyfirstbecameavailable,scientistswelcomeditasamoreobjectivewayofrecordingfarawaysocietiesthanearlytravelersexaggeratedaccounts.可見(jiàn)早期到原始社會(huì)旅行回來(lái)的人往往對(duì)當(dāng)?shù)氐臓顩r夸大其詞。在照相機(jī)發(fā)明之后，科學(xué)家能更好地客觀反映那些遠(yuǎn)方地區(qū)的真實(shí)狀況。3.答案是[B]illustratehowpeoplefromprimitivesocietiesseecamerasastoolsofblackmagicthatstealtheirvirtues.解析：文章的第一段介紹的是著名的1962年獲得7項(xiàng)奧斯卡大獎(jiǎng)的電影《阿拉伯的勞倫斯》(導(dǎo)演：DAVIDLEAN)中的一個(gè)片段。該電影本來(lái)與要講的題目并無(wú)直接關(guān)系。僅僅通過(guò)一個(gè)電影中描述的場(chǎng)景來(lái)說(shuō)明一個(gè)論點(diǎn)。那就是比較原始，開(kāi)化較晚的社會(huì)，那里的人們對(duì)現(xiàn)代的文明，和從沒(méi)見(jiàn)過(guò)的現(xiàn)代文明的產(chǎn)物容易產(chǎn)生誤解。電影中的土著搶走了LAWRENCE的照相機(jī)，因?yàn)樗麘岩?，那從未?jiàn)過(guò)的玩意兒會(huì)偷走他的"美好品德(VIRTUE)'。但是，在下文說(shuō)，那些土著居民的擔(dān)心并非全無(wú)道理。因?yàn)槲鞣降挠浾吆蛯W(xué)者們，為了描述一個(gè)西方人心目中固有的土著社會(huì)(或者經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展欠發(fā)達(dá)社會(huì))的.形象，有意竄改照片，滿足西方讀者的好奇心，并且有意迎合西方中產(chǎn)階級(jí)的趣味。在短文中，有時(shí)候并不開(kāi)宗明義，直奔主題，而是利用人們都熟悉的文化元素，例如詩(shī)歌，書(shū)籍，電影，歌曲等，引起讀者對(duì)其討論話題的興趣，然后再引入主題。并不是每一篇文章都會(huì)開(kāi)門(mén)見(jiàn)山，讀者不應(yīng)該把每篇文章的首尾句都當(dāng)成對(duì)文章大意的總結(jié)。4.答案是[A]theindigenousculture解析：Butinsomeways,anthropologicalphotographsrevealmoreabouttheculturethatholdsthecamerathantheonethatstaresback.本句是文章切入主題的重點(diǎn)句。考生應(yīng)該格外注意在閱讀文章靠前部分出現(xiàn)的，以轉(zhuǎn)折詞(例如，HOWEVER，BUT，NEVERTHELESS，NONETHELESS等)開(kāi)頭的句子。那往往是表達(dá)傳統(tǒng)論點(diǎn)，或者普遍看法的關(guān)鍵地方。本句可以理解為：但是，在某些方面，人類(lèi)學(xué)家拍攝的照片展現(xiàn)的與其說(shuō)是那個(gè)盯視著照相機(jī)的(被拍攝的)文化，不如說(shuō)是反映了拿著照相機(jī)的(西方)文化。暗示，照片反映了西方攝影者的偏見(jiàn)和對(duì)落后文化固有的看法，反映的是西方的價(jià)值觀，并不是完全真實(shí)客觀的那些不發(fā)達(dá)社會(huì)的寫(xiě)照。這句話基本上是對(duì)文章中心意思的總結(jié)。如果對(duì)文章的主題有大致的熟悉，就不會(huì)將本題選錯(cuò)。5.答案是[C]Thewesternmediaarenotpresentingarealisticpictureofthefarawaysocieties.解析：CatherineLutz是文章中提到的1993年出版的READINGNATIONALGEOGRAPHIC的之一。她們?cè)跁?shū)中寫(xiě)道，《國(guó)家地理》雜志自從1888年創(chuàng)刊以來(lái)，就一直刊載那些不和美國(guó)中產(chǎn)階級(jí)白人的價(jià)值觀發(fā)生沖突的照片。照片中可以表現(xiàn)袒露胸部的黑色皮膚的婦女，但是白人婦女的胸部就是禁止刊載的對(duì)象。她們認(rèn)為，這樣做的后果就是，在那些西方主流雜志中展現(xiàn)的，似乎是相對(duì)而言沒(méi)有痛苦的，也不存在階級(jí)斗爭(zhēng)的社會(huì)。因此答案CThewesternmediaarenotpresentingarealisticpictureofthefarawaysocieties(西方媒體并沒(méi)有展現(xiàn)落后地區(qū)的真實(shí)畫(huà)面)最能表現(xiàn)該的觀點(diǎn)。Notes生詞解釋?zhuān)簊napv.按動(dòng)快門(mén)lootv.掠奪，搶劫sabotagev./n.(從事)破壞活動(dòng)indigenousadj.本土的exaggeratedadj.夸張的anthropologicaladj.人類(lèi)學(xué)的ethnographern.民族志學(xué)者，人種學(xué)者accoutrementn.穿著，配備enactv.(本文)扮演ritualn.典禮，(宗教)儀式，禮節(jié)veracityn.真實(shí)性legendaryadj.傳說(shuō)中的，傳奇般的reinforcev.強(qiáng)化stereotypen.陳腔濫調(diào);老套taboon.禁忌，避諱unsettlev.令人不安depictionn.描述lushadj.青蔥的，味美的，繁榮的2021六級(jí)閱讀答案2021年12月六級(jí)閱讀答案Itiseasytomissamidtheday-to-dayheadlinesofglobaleconomicrecession,butthereisalessconspicuouskindofsocialupheaval(劇變)underwaythatisfastalteringboththefaceoftheplanetandthewayhumanbeingslive.Thatchangeistherapidaccelerationofurbanization.In2008,forthefirsttimeinhumanhistory,morethanhalftheworldspopulationwaslivingintownsandcities.Andasarecentlypublishedpapershows,theprocessofurbanizationwillonlyaccelerateinthedecadestocomewithanenormousimpactonbiodiversityandpotentiallyonclimatechange.AsKarenSeto,theledauthorofthepaper,pointsout,thewaveofurbanizationisntjustaboutthemigrationofpeopleintourbanenvironments,butabouttheenvironmentsthemselvesbecomingbiggertoaccommodateallthosepeople.Therapidexpansionofurbanareaswillhaveahugeimpactonbiodiversityhotspotsandoncarbonemissionsinthoseurbanareas.Humansaretheultimateinvasivespecieswhenthemoveintonewterritory,theoftendisplacethewildlifethatwasalreadylivingthere.Andaslandisclearedforthosenewcitiesespeciallyinthedensetropicalforestscarbonwillbereleasedintotheatmosphereaswell.Itstruethataspeopleindevelopingnationsmovefromthecountrysidetothecity,theshiftmayreducethepressureonland,whichcouldinturnbegoodfortheenvironment.Thisisespeciallysoindesperatelypoorcountries,whereresidentsinthecountrysideslashandburnforestseachgrowingseasontoclearspaceforfarming.Buttherealdifferenceisthatindevelopingnations,themovefromruralareastocitiesoftenleadstoanaccompanyingincreaseinincomeandthatincreaseleadstoanincreaseintheconsumptionoffoodandenergy,whichinturncausesariseincarbonemissions.Gettingenoughtoeatandenjoyingthesafetyandcomfortoflivingfullyonthegridiscertainlyagoodthingbutitdoescarryanenvironmentalprice.Theurbanizationwavecantbestoppedanditshouldntbe.ButSetospaperdoesunderscoretheimportanceofmanagingthattransition.Ifwedoittherightway,wecanreduceurbanizationsimpactontheenvironment."Theresanenormousopportunityhere,andalotofpressureandresponsibilitytothinkabouthowweurbanize,'saysSeto."Onethingthatsclearisthatwecantbuildcitiesthewaywehaveoverthelastcoupleofhundredyears.Thescaleofthistransitionwontallowthat.'Wereheadedtowardsanurbanplanetnomatterwhat,butwhetheritbecomesheavenorhellisuptous.56.Whatissuedoestheauthortrytodrawpeoplesattentionto?A.Theshrinkingbiodiversityworldwide.B.Therapidincreaseofworldpopulation.C.Theongoingglobaleconomicrecession.D.Theimpactofacceleratingurbanization.【答案】D57.Inwhatsensearehumanstheultimateinvasivespecies?A.Theyaremuchgreedierthanotherspecies.B.Theyareauniquespeciesborntoconquer.C.Theyforceotherspeciesoutoftheirterritories.D.Theyhaveanurgetoexpandtheirlivingspace.【答案】C58.Inwhatwayisurbanizationinpoorcountriesgoodfortheenvironment?A.Morelandwillbepreservedforwildlife.B.Thepressureonfarmlandwillbelessened.C.Carbonemissionswillbeconsiderablyreduced.D.Naturalresourceswillbeusedmoreeffectively.【答案】B59.Whatdoestheauthorsayaboutlivingcomfortablyinthecity?A.Itincursahighenvironmentalprice.B.Itbringspovertyandinsecuritytoanend.C.Itcausesabigchangeinpeopleslifestyle.D.Itnarrowsthegapbetweencityandcountry.【答案】A60.WhatcanbedonetominimizethenegativeimpactofurbanizationaccordingtoSeto?A.Slowingdownthespeedoftransition.B.Innovativeuseofadvancedtechnology.C.Appropriatemanagementoftheprocess.D.Enhancingpeoplessenseofresponsibility.【答案】C2021年6月英語(yǔ)六級(jí)模擬試題及答案：Questions61to65arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Yetwitheconomiesinfreefail,managersalsoneedup-to-dateinformationaboutwhatishappeningtotheirbusinesses,sothattheycanchangecourserapidlyifnecessary.Cisco,anAmericannetwork-equipmentgiant,hasinvestedovermanyyearsinthetechnologyneededtogeneratesuchdata.FrankCaideroni,thefirmsCFO,saysthateverydayitsseniorexecutivescantrackexactlywhatordersarecominginfromsalesteamsaroundtheworld,andidentifyemergingtrendsineachregionandmarketsegment.Andattheendofeachmonth,thefirmcangetreliablefinancialresultswithinfourhoursofclosingitsbooks.Mostfirmshavetowaitdaysorevenweeksforsuchcertainty.Admittedly,Ciscosfinancialresultshavenotmadehappyreadingrecentlybecause,incommonwithmanyotherlargetechnologycompanies,ithasseendemandforitsproductsdeclineinthedownturn.InearlyFebruaryitannouncedthatitsfiscalsecond-quarterrevenuesof$9.1billionwere7.5%lowerthanthesameperiodin2008andthatitsprofithadfallenby27%,to$1.5billion.Inresponsetohardtimes,Ciscoplanstocut$1billionofcoststhisyearby,amongotherthings,makinguseofitsownvideo-conferencingandothercommunicationstechnologiestoreducetheamountitsexecutivestravel.Itisalsousingthesefacilitiestorelayinformationfromemployeesonthegroundtoitsseniormanagers,andtogetinstructionsfromCiscosleadersbackouttoits67,000staff.Arapidexchangeofinformationandinstructionsisespeciallyvaluableifthecompanywantstoaltercourseinstormytimes.Ifeverybodyinacompanycanrapidlygraspwhattheyhavetodoandhowitischanging,theyaremorelikelytogetthejobdone.Butsomefirmsarereluctanttosharetheirgoalswiththewiderworld.Unilever,abigAnglo-Dutchconsumer-goodsgroup,hasdecidedagainstissuinga2009financialforecasttoinvestors,arguingthatitisdifficulttopredictwhatisgoingtohappen,giventhedangerousstateoftheworldeconomy.Werenotjustgoingtoprovidenumbersforthesakeofit,explainsJamesAllison,thecompanysheadofinvestorrelations.Othercompaniesthathavedecidednottoprovideannualearningsestimatesfor2009includeCostco,abigAmericanretailer,andUnionPacific,anAmericanrailwaycompany.Somefirms,suchasIntel,seemtohavechosentotakethingsquarterbyquarter.Thegiantchipmaker(芯片制造商)saidinJanuarythatitwouldnotissueanofficialforecastforthefirstquarterof2009afteritsfourth-quarter2008profitdecreasedby90%.Severalretailchainshavealsostoppedprovidingmonthlysalesestimatesbecausetheycannotseewhatthefutureholds.Retailers,chipmakersandfirmsinmanyotherindustriesmayhavealongwaitbeforetheeconomicfogfinallylifts.61.WhatcanwelearnaboutCiscofromthepassage?A)Itwillkeeparecordoftheordersfromsalesteams.B)Itcuts$1billioncostbysolelyrelyingonitsowntechnologies.C)Unlikeothertechnologycompanies,itsfinancialreportsareencouraging.D)Onlyemployeescanusethevideo-conferencingtopassinformation.62.Accordingtotheauthor,thestaffcanperformbetterby__________.A)gettinginstructionsfromtheirseniormanagersB)seizingwhattodoathandandwhattodonextC)havingafinancialforecastasagoalD)sharingtheirgoalswithothers63.Whatisimportantintheunstabletimeffacompanywantstochangestrategies?A)Toissuecompanysfinancialreportsfaster.B)Toobtaintheup-to-dateinformationofcompanysbusiness.C)Topredictwhatisgoingtohappeninthefuture.D)Towaituntiltheeconomicfogfinallylifts.64.ThereasonUnileverplansnottoissuefinancialforecastin2009liesin__________.A)itsreluctancetoshareitsgoalwithothersB)itsrapidgraspofchangesinthemarketsC)theunstableeconomicsituationD)itsreductioninthecostofprediction65.Whatcanweknowaboutthegiantchipmaker,Intelinthepassage?A)Itdidnotissuefirst-quarterforecastforgreatdecreaseinJanuary.B)Interschainstoreusedtoreportsalesestimatesbyyear.C)Onlyretailersandchipmakersaregreatlyinfluenced.D)Intelsprofitwasgreatlydecreasedin2008slastquarter.答案：61.A)。定位由題干中的Cisco定位到文章第一段第二、三句：Cisco，allAmericannetwork-equipmentgiantitsseniorexecuti