2017年12月大学英语六级真题（第3套）及答案解析

M: And now, for the lighter side of the news, Europe is setting an example for the rest of the world when it comes to food waste. W: That's right, John. This week, the Italian government passed legislation that aims to dramatically reduce the amount of food wasted in the country. New laws have been put into place that would make it easier for farms and supermarkets to donate unsold foods to those who are in need. M: Yes, in addition to this, businesses will now be rewarded for successful efforts to cut food waste. W: Italy is not the only country to focus on reducing food waste. Just earlier this year, the European Parliament voted in favor of legislation that would stop grocery giants from unfair trading practices that result in overproduction, thus creating waste. M: In France, the government has banned supermarkets from throwing away edible foods and imposed harsh penalties on businesses that fail to comply with the regulations. W: While there is still much progress to be made, other countries could learn a thing or two from the example set by France and Italy. In the United States, up to 40% of all food goes uneaten, despite the fact that one in seven American households lacks regular access to good food. One major cause of this problem is the confusion over food expiration labels, which are currently not regulated by the government. M: All this could change soon. This wave of new laws in Europe will definitely put more pressure on lawmakers to reduce food waste here. We turn now to a spokesperson from Harvard University's Food Law and Policy Clinic for more on the story. And now, let's welcome Professor Edward Baker to speak to us. donate unsold foods to those who are in need.

M: Thank you for calling Saks Fifth Avenue Department Store. How can I be of assistance to you today? W: Hello, I was in your store this past weekend and bought a few items. Yesterday, my friend told me that the annual anniversary sales had begun. It turned out she bought the same sweater as I did, but for a much lower price. M: Yes. Our anniversary sales started on Monday. We do offer price adjustments within 7 days of purchase to ensure our customers' satisfaction. You said you did the purchase here this past weekend? W: Yes. I was shopping in your store last Sunday afternoon. M: That would definitely fall within the price adjustment window. Do you have an account with us? We can credit your account directly with the difference if you wish. Otherwise, we can send a gift card by mail if you prefer. W: Crediting my account would be wonderful. Thank you. Now that you mention there is a sale going on, I do remember a dress I quite liked when I was in the shop on Sunday. Is it on offer as well? M: Yes, ma'am. All the new arrivals are fifteen to twenty percent off. In addition to the sale, we are running a promotion for complimentary tailoring if you need it. W: That's good news. The dress really caught my eye but I did have some concerns about the length. How long will the alterations take? M: Our tailoring department guarantees alterations to be completed within 5 working days. If you'd like, I can set one aside for you. If you are able to come this afternoon, you can give your name to the sales manager and they will be able to assist you.

Barbie dolls have a particular look to them. They're thin, tall, long-legged ... and virtually unlike any real human being. Although over the years Barbie has had more than 180 different careers—including football coach, sign language teacher, ambassador, president and astronaut—her body shape hasn't changed much. Last year Mattel, the company that makes Barbie dolls, added some Barbies to its line that have different skin tones and hair textures. There are now Barbies with one of seven skin tones, 22 eye colours and 24 hair styles to choose from. Last year Mattel also gave Barbie a flat foot, rather than forcing her to be "in heels" all the time like the original Barbie is. Now they are introducing new Barbies with three slightly different body shapes, while the original, tall and thin Barbies will continue to be sold. In a statement on its website, the company says it wants Barbies to look more like real people, and to give "girls everywhere ... infinitely more ways to spark their imagination and play out their stories." Although many people say the new Barbies are a step in the right direction, some people say they don't go far enough. They say that the new body shapes could be even more different from the original, tall, thin Barbies. Sales of Barbie dolls have been falling "every year since 2012," according to CBC News. The toys aren't in stores yet but they will be sold online at the Barbie website, starting this week, for $9.99. long-legged ...

The earliest printed book we know today appeared in China in the year 868, and metal type was in use in Korea at the beginning of the fifteenth century, but it was in Germany around the year 1450 that a printing press using movable metal type was invented. Capitalism turned printing from an invention into an industry. Right from the start, book printing and publishing were organized on capitalist lines. The biggest sixteenth-century printer, Plantin of Antwerp, had twenty-four printing presses and employed more than a hundred workers. Only a small fraction of the population was literate, but the production of books grew at an extraordinary speed. By 1500 some twenty million volumes had already been printed. The immediate effect of printing was to increase the circulation of works that were already popular in a handwritten form, while less popular works went out of circulation. Publishers were interested only in books that would sell fairly quickly in sufficient numbers to cover the costs of production and make a profit. Thus, while printing enormously increased access to books by making cheap, high-volume production possible, it also reduced choice. The great cultural impact of printing was that it facilitated the growth of national languages. Most early books were printed in Latin, but the market for Latin was limited, and in its pursuit of larger markets the book trade soon produced translations into the national languages emerging at the time. Printing indeed played a key role in standardizing and stabilizing these languages by fixing them in print, and producing dictionaries and grammar books. was invented.

You dream about being a movie star. You'll live in a big house in Hollywood, go to the Oscars every year—and win! You'll be rich and famous. Wait a minute, you also hate having your photo taken, and you're very shy, so how could you ever become a movie star? Choosing the right career can be hard. Many people graduate from school or college not knowing what to do with their lives, and get a job without really thinking about it. For some, things work out fine, but others often find themselves stuck in a job they hate. Your working life lasts an average of forty years, so it's important to find a job you like and feel enthusiastic about. Luckily, there are many ways you can get help to do this. The Australian website, www.careersonline.com, compares choosing a career with going to the movies. Before you see a movie, you find out what films are showing. The site suggests you should do the same with your career—find out what jobs are available and what your options are. Next, decide which movie you like best. If you're not a romantic person, you won't want to see a love story. In other words, with your career, you should decide which job will suit your personality. Finally, decide how to get movie tickets, and find out where the theater is before you go. With your career, you need to find information about where you can work, and how to get a job in that profession. So, how do you start? Begin by asking yourself some questions. Some jobs require you to have certain life experiences: Have you traveled overseas? Do you have any extra certificates besides your degree, such as a first aid license, for example? Your physical state and build can also affect which jobs you can do. A person, for example, who is allergic to cats would probably never become an animal doctor. Flight attendants, firefighters, and police officers have to be over a certain height, and be physically fit. Your personality matters, too. Are you outgoing or shy? If you like working alone, a job that requires lots of teamwork might not suit you. Choosing a career can take time and a lot of thought. However, when you know you can look forward to working in your dream job, you'll be glad you thought it through. a job without really thinking about it.

Kwanzaa is a cultural festival during which African-Americans celebrate and reflect upon their rich heritage as the products of two worlds. It begins December 26th and lasts for seven days.

The Mediterranean diet is based upon the eating patterns of traditional cultures in the Mediterranean region. Several noted nutritionists and research projects have concluded that this diet is one of the most healthful in the world in terms of preventing such illnesses as heart disease and cancer, and increasing life expectancy. The countries that have inspired the Mediterranean diet all surround the Mediterranean Sea. These cultures have eating habits that developed over thousands of years. In Europe, parts of Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and southern France adhere to principles of the Mediterranean diet, as do Morocco and Tunisia in North Africa. Parts of the Balkan region and Turkey follow the diet, as well as Middle Eastern countries like Lebanon and Syria. The Mediterranean region is warm and sunny, and produces large supplies of fresh fruits and vegetables almost year round that people eat many times a day. Wine, bread, olive oil, and nuts are other staples of the region, and the Mediterranean Sea has historically yielded abundant quantities of fish. International interest in the therapeutic qualities of the Mediterranean diet began back in the late 1950s, when medical researchers started to link the occurrence of heart disease with diet. Dr. Ancel Keys performed an epidemiological analysis of diets around the world. Entitled the Seven Countries Study, it is considered one of the greatest studies of its kind ever performed. In it, Keys gathered data on heart disease and its potential causes from nearly 13,000 men in Greece, Italy, Croatia, Serbia, Japan, Finland, the Netherlands, and the United States. The study was conducted over a period of decades. It concluded that the Mediterranean people in the study enjoyed some significant health advantages. The Mediterranean groups had lower mortality rates in all age brackets and from all causes, particularly from heart disease. The study also showed that the Mediterranean diet is as high or higher in fat than other diets, obtaining up to 40% of all its calories from fat. It has, however, different patterns of fat intake. Mediterranean cooking uses smaller amounts of saturated fat and higher amounts of unsaturated fat, mostly in the form of olive oil. Saturated fats are fats that are found principally in meat and dairy products, although some nuts and vegetable oils also contain them. Saturated fats are used by the body to make cholesterol, and high levels of cholesterol have since been directly related to heart disease. most healthful in the world in terms of preventing such illnesses as heart disease and cancer, and increasing life expectancy.