1993年6月大学英语六级(CET-6)真题试卷

Part I Listening Comprehension (20 minutes)
Section A
1. A) No, it’s open only to teachers and postgraduates.
B) Yes, he can study there if he is writing a research paper.
C) Yes, because he is a senior student.
D) Yes, but he needs the approval by his professor.
2. A) It was pretty good.
B) It was rather dull.
C) It was not well organized.
D) It was attended by many people.
3. A) The effects of the flood.
B) The heroic fight against a flood.
C) The cause of the flood.
D) Floods of the past twenty years.
4. A) They were both busy doing their own work.
B) They waited for each other at different places.
C) They went to the street corner at different times.
D) The man went to the concert but the woman didn’t.
5. A) The air is polluted.
B) The people there are terrible.
C) It’s too windy.
D) The beaches are dirty.
6. A) In Mexico.
B) In California.
C) In the city.
D) In New Mexico.
7. A) The woman blames the man for his absence.
B) The woman thinks that everything was all right.
C) The woman thanks the man for his efforts.
D) The woman doesn’t think it was the man’s fault.
8. A) He has too many dreams.
B) He likes to sleep.
C) He doesn’t put his ideas into practice.
D) He doesn’t have many good ideas.
9. A) Getting extra credits.
B) The requirements of an M. A. degree.
C) The credit hours required for an M. A. degree.
D) Taking more optional courses.
10. A) They get a bargain right away.
B) They have a look at the advertisement.
C) They sell their TV set.
D) They go and buy a big TV set.
Section B
Passage One
Questions 11 to 13 are based on the passage you have just heard.
11. A) Because many people don’t know how to behave in social situations.
B) Because most people are shy by nature.
C) Nobody will laugh at you for being shy.
D) Shyness is difficult to overcome.
12. A) By prediction.
B) By recording.
C) Through observation.
D) Through interviewing.
13. A) To observe people’s attitude towards strangers.
B) To see how people get along with their friends.
C) To change people’s behaviour in social life.
D) To find out how shy people are.
Passage Two
Questions 14 to 17 are based on the passage you have just heard.
14. A) A housewife.
B) A singer.
C) A teacher.
D) A musician.
15. A) The violin was too expensive.
B) She was too young to play the violin.
C) The violin was too big for her.
D) Her mother wanted her to play the piano.
16. A) To play the violin once again.
B) To go to the United States.
C) To apply for a scholarship.
D) To have her performance taped.
17. A) To live a more comfortable life.
B) To give performances.
C) To be a pupil of a famous violinist.
D) To enter a famous university.
Passage Three
Questions 18 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.
18. A) Because they have had little exposure to high level of sounds.
B) Because they suffer from hearing loss.
C) Because they don’t know how to operate stereo systems.
D) Because they are not qualified engineers.
19. A) A year ago.
B) A decade ago.
C) Three years ago.
D) Five years ago.
20. A) Providing a warning light when the sound is too loud.
B) Producing more personal stereo systems.
C) Restricting the use of personal stereos.
D) Setting up a standardized hearing test.

Part II Reading Comprehension (35 minutes)
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.
“There is a senseless notion that children grow up and leave home when they’re 18, and the truth is far from that,” says sociologist Larry Bumpass of the University of Wisconsin. Today, unexpected numbers of young adults are living with their parents, “There is a major shift in the middle class,” declares sociologist Allan Schnaiberg of Northwester University, whose son, 19, moved back in after an absence of eight months.
Analysts cite a variety of reasons for this return to the nest. The marriage age is rising, a condition that makes home and its pleasantness particularly attractive to young people. A high divorce rate and a declining remarriage rate are sending economically pressed and emotionally hurt survivors back to parental shelters. For some, the expense of an away-from-home college education has become so excessively great that many students now attend local schools. Even after graduation, young people find their wings clipped by skyrocketing housing costs.
Living at home, says Knighton, a school teacher, continues to give her security and moral support. Her mother agreed, “It’s ridiculous for the kids to pay all that money for rent. It makes sense for kids to stay at home.” But sharing the family home requires adjustments for all. There are the hassles over bathrooms, telephones and privacy (不受干扰的生活). Some families, however, manage the delicate balancing act. But for others, it proves too difficult. Michelle Del Turco, 24, has been home three times-and left three times. “What I considered a social drink, my dad considered an alcohol problem,” she explains. “He never liked anyone I dated (约会), so I either had to hide away or meet them at friends’ house.”
Just how long should adult children live with their parents before moving on? Most psychologists feel lengthy homecomings are a mistake. Children, struggling to establish separate identities, can end up with “a sense of inadequacy, defeat and failure.” And aging parents, who should be enjoying some financial and personal freedom, find themselves stuck with responsibilities. Many agree that brief visits, however, can work beneficially.
21. According to the author, there was once a trend in the U.S. ________.
A) for young adults to leave their parents and live independently
B) for middle class young adults to stay with their parents
C) for married young adults to move back home after a lengthy absence
D) for young adults to get jobs nearby in order to live with their parents
22. Which of the following does not account for young adults returning to the nest?
A) Young adults find housing costs too high.
B) Young adults are psychologically and intellectually immature.
C) Young adults seek parental comfort and moral support.
D) Quite a number of young adults attend local schools.
23. One of the disadvantages of young adults returning to stay with their parents is that ________.
A) there will inevitably be inconveniences in every day life
B) most parents find it difficult to keep
C) the young adults tend to be overprotected by their parents
D) public opinion is against young adults staying with their parents
24. The word “hassles” in the passage (Line 3, Para. 3) probably means ________.
A) agreements
B) worries
C) disadvantages
D) quarrels
25. According to the passage what is the best for both parents and children?
A) They should adjust themselves to sharing the family expenses.
B) Children should leave their parents when they are grown-up.
C) Adult children should visit their parents from time to time.
D) Parents should support their adult children when they are in trouble.

Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.
The word conservation has a thrifty (节俭) meaning. To conserve is to save and protect, to leave what we ourselves enjoy in such good condition that others may also share the enjoyment. Our forefathers had no idea that human population would increase faster than the supplies of raw materials; most of them, even until very recently, had the foolish idea that the treasures were “limitless” and “inexhaustible”. Most of the citizens of earlier generations knew little or nothing about the complicated and delicate system that runs all through nature, and which means that, as in a living body, an unhealthy condition of one part will sooner or later be harmful to all the others.
Fifty years ago nature study was not part of the school work; scientific forestry was a new idea; timber was still cheap because it could be brought in any quantity from distant woodlands; soil destruction and river floods were not national problems; nobody had yet studied long-terms climatic cycles in relation to proper land use; even the word “conservation” had nothing of the meaning that it has for us today.
For the sake of ourselves and those who will come after us, we must now set about repairing the mistakes of our forefathers. Conservation should, therefore, be made a part of everyone’s daily life. To know about the water table (水位) in the ground is just as important to us as a knowledge of the basic arithmetic formulas. We need to know why all watersheds (上游源头森林地带集水区) need the protection of plant life and why the running current of streams and rivers must be made to yield their full benefit to the soil before they finally escape to the sea. We need to be taught the duty of planting trees as well as of cutting them. We need to know the importance of big, mature trees, because living space for most of man’s fellow creatures on this planet is figured not only in square measure of surface but also in cubic volume above the earth. In brief, it should be our goal to restore as much of the original beauty of nature as we can.
26. The author’s attitude towards the current situation in the exploitation of natural resources is ________.
A) positive
B) neutral
C) suspicious
D) critical
27. According to the author, the greatest mistake of our forefathers was that ________.
A) they had no idea about scientific forestry
B) they had little or no sense of environmental protection
C) they were not aware of the significance of nature study
D) they had no idea of how to make good use of raw materials
28. It can be inferred from the third paragraph that earlier generations didn’t realize ________.
A) the interdependence of water, soil, and living things
B) the importance of the proper use of land
C) the harmfulness of soil destruction and river floods
D) the value of the beauty of nature
29. To avoid correcting the mistake of our forefathers, the author suggests that ________.
A) we plant more trees
B) natural science be taught to everybody
C) environmental education be directed toward everyone
D) we return to nature
30. What does the author imply by saying “living space... is figured... also in cubic volume above the earth” (Lines 7-8, Para. 3)?
A) Our living space on the earth is getting smaller and smaller.
B) Our living space should be measured in cubic volume.
C) We need to take some measure to protect space.
D) We must preserve good living conditions for both birds and animals.

Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.
Judging from recent surveys, most experts in sleep behavior agree that there is virtually an epidemic (流行病) of sleepiness in the nation. “I can’t think of a single study that hasn’t found Americans getting less sleep than they ought to,” says Dr. David. Even people who think they are sleeping enough would probably be better off with more rest.
The beginning of our sleep-deficit (睡眠不足) crisis can be traced to the invention of the light bulb a century ago. From diary entries and other personal accounts from the 18th and 19th centuries, sleep scientists have reached the conclusion that the average person used to sleep about 9.5 hours a night. “The best sleep habits once were forced on us, when we had nothing to do in the evening down on the farm, and it was dark.” By the 1950s and 1960s, the sleep schedule had been reduced dramatically, to between 7.5 and eight hours, and most people had to wake to an alarm clock. “People cheat on their sleep, and they don’t even realize they’re doing it,” says Dr. David. “They think they’re okay because they can get by on 6.5 hours, when they really need 7.5, eight or even more to feel ideally vigorous.”
Perhaps the most merciless robber of sleep, researchers say is the complexity of the day. Whenever pressures from work, family, friends and community mount, many people consider sleep the least expensive item on his programme. “In our society, you’re considered dynamic if you say you only need 5.5 hours’ sleep. If you’re got to get 8.5 hours, people think you lack drive and ambition.”
To determine the consequences of sleep deficit, researchers have put subjects through a set of psychological and performance tests requiring them, for instance, to add columns of numbers or recall a passage read to them only minutes earlier. “We’ve found that if you’re in sleep deficit, performance suffers,” says Dr. David. “Short-term memory is weakened, as are abilities to make decisions and to concentrate.”
31. People in the 18th and 19th centuries used to sleep about 9.5 hours a night because they had ________.
A) no drive and ambition
B) no electric lighting
C) the best sleep habits
D) nothing to do in the evening
32. According to Dr. David, Americans ________.
A) are ideally vigorous even under the pressure of life
B) often neglect the consequences of sleep deficit
C) do not know how to relax themselves properly
D) can get by on 6.5 hours of sleep
33. Many Americans believe that ________.
A) sleep is the first thing that can be sacrificed when one is busy
B) they need more sleep to cope with the complexities of everyday life
C) to sleep is something one can do at any time of the day
D) enough sleep promotes people’s drive and ambition
34. The word “subjects” (Line 1, Para. 4) refers to ________.
A) the performance tests used in the study of sleep deficit
B) special branches of knowledge that are being studied
C) people whose behavior or reactions are being studied
D) the psychological consequences of sleep deficit
35. It can be concluded from the passage that one should sleep as many hours as is necessary to ________.
A) improve one’s memory dramatically
B) be considered dynamic by other people
C) maintain one’s daily schedule
D) feel energetic and perform adequately

Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage.
The concept of personal choice in relation to health behaviors is an important one. An estimated 90 percent of all illness may be preventable if individuals would make sound personal health choices based upon current medical knowledge. We all enjoy our freedom of choice and do not like to see it restricted when it is within the legal and moral boundaries of society. The structure of American society allows us to make almost all our own personal decisions that may concern our health. If we so desire, we can smoke, drink excessively, refuse to wear seat belts, eat whatever food we want, and live a completely sedentary life-style without any exercise. The freedom to make such personal decisions is a fundamental aspect of our society, although the wisdom of these decisions can be questioned. Personal choices relative to health often cause a difficulty. As one example, a teenager may know the facts relative to smoking cigarettes and health but may be pressured by friends into believing it is the socially accepted thing to do.
A multitude of factors, both inherited and environmental, influence the development of health-related behaviors, and it is beyond the scope of this text to discuss all these factors as they may affect any given individual. However, the decision to adopt a particular health-related behavior is usually one of personal choice. There are healthy choices and there are unhealthy choices. In discussing the morals of personal choice, Fries and Crapo drew a comparison. They suggest that to knowingly give oneself over to a behavior that has a statistical probability of shortening life is similar to attempting suicide. Thus, for those individuals who are interested in preserving both the quality and quantity of life, personal health choices should reflect those behaviors that are associated with a statistical probability of increased vitality and longevity.
36. The concept of personal choice concerning health is important because ________.
A) personal health choices help cure most illness
B) it helps raise the level of our medical knowledge
C) it is essential to personal freedom in American society
D) wrong decisions could lead to poor health
37. To “live a completely sedentary life-style” (Line 7, Para. 1) in the passage means ________.
A) to “live an inactive life”
B) to “live a decent life”
C) to “live a life with complete freedom”
D) to “live a life of vice”
38. Sound personal health choice is often difficult to make because ________.
A) current medical knowledge is still insufficient
B) there are many factors influencing our decisions
C) few people are willing to trade the quality of life
D) people are usually influenced by the behavior of their friends
39. To knowingly allow oneself to purse unhealthy habits is compared by Fried and Crapo to ________.
A) improving the quality of one’s life
B) limiting one’s personal health choice
C) deliberately ending one’s life
D) breaking the rules of social behavior
40. According to Fries and Crapo sound health choices should be based on ________.
A) personal decisions
B) society’s laws
C) statistical evidence
D) friends’ opinions

Part III Vocabulary and Structure (20 minutes)
41. The company ________ a rise in salary for ages, but nothing has happened yet.
A) is promised
B) has been promising
C) is promising
D) promised
42. The doctor was asked to go back to the hospital because of ________ case.
A) an operation
B) an emergency
C) a treatment
D) an incident
43. Life is a candle ________ to burn ever brighter.
A) being meant
B) meaning
C) to mean
D) meant
44. Mrs. Lackey was awakened by the ringing of the bedside phone 12 hours after her husband’s boat had been ________.
A) wrecked
B) collapsed
C) decayed
D) fired
45. No one needs to feel awkward in ________ his own customs.
A) pursuing
B) following
C) chasing
D) seeking
46. It’s time ________ about the traffic problem downtown.
A) something was done
B) everything is done
C) anything will be done
D) nothing to be done
47. When they had finished playing, the children were made to ________ all the toys they had taken out.
A) put off
B) put out
C) put up
D) put away
48. There is an undesirable ________ nowadays to make films showing violence.
A) direction
B) tradition
C) phenomenon
D) trend
49. My father did not go to New York; the doctor suggested that he ________ there.
A) not to go
B) hadn’t gone
C) not go
D) wouldn’t go
50. Most people who travel in the course of their work are given travelling ________.
A) income
B) allowances
C) wages
D) pay
51. He failed to supply the facts relevant ________ the case in question.
A) for
B) with
C) to
D) of
52. Young people’s social environment has a ________ effect on their academic progress.
A) gross
B) solid
C) complete
D) profound
53. In Britain, and on the Continent too, the Japanese are sometimes viewed ________ a threat to domestic industries.
A) like
B) with
C) for
D) as
54. The service operates 36 libraries throughout the country, while six ________ libraries specially serve the countryside.
A) mobile
B) drifting
C) shifting
D) rotating
55. Physics is the present-day equivalent of ________ used to be called natural philosophy, from which most of present-day science arose.
A) that
B) all
C) which
D) what
56. Before he started work, I asked the builder to give me an ________ of the cost of repairing the roof.
A) assessment
B) estimate
C) announcement
D) evaluation
57. We often advise him not to drink more wine ________ is good for his health.
A) as
B) than
C) that
D) but
58. When Jack was eighteen he ________ going around with a strange set of people and staying out very late.
A) took to
B) took for
C) took up
D) took on
59. Although not an economist himself, Dr. Smith has long been a severe critic of the government’s ________ policies.
A) economical
B) economy
C) economic
D) economics
60. We grow all our own fruit and vegetables, ________ saves money, of course.
A) which
B) as
C) that
D) what
61. It is rather ________ that we still do not know how many species there are in the world today.
A) misleading
B) embarrassing
C) boring
D) demanding
62. ________ is the center of our planetary system was a difficult concept to grasp in the Middle Ages.
A) It is the sun and not the earth
B) Being the sun and not the earth
C) The sun and not the earth
D) That the sun and not the earth
63. A friendship may be ________, casual, situational or deep and lasting.
A) identical
B) original
C) superficial
D) critical
64. Just as the builder is skilled in the handling of his bricks, ________ the experienced writer is skilled in the handling of his words.
A) as
B) thus
C) so
D) like
65. A good teacher must know how to ________ his ideas.
A) convey
B) display
C) consult
D) confront
66. I’d rather you ________ those important documents with you.
A) don’t take
B) didn’t take
C) won’t take
D) not take
67. To call the music of another music-culture “primitive” is ________ one’s own standards on a group that does not recognize them.
A) putting
B) emphasizing
C) forcing
D) imposing
68. The prisoner has been ________ of many privileges that average citizens enjoy.
A) ensured
B) informed
C) deprived
D) convinced
69. Every camera we sell comes with a two-year ________.
A) guarantee
B) safety
C) confirmation
D) conservation
70. While in London, we paid a visit to the hospital founded ________ the nurse Florence Nightingale.
A) in line with
B) in favour of
C) in honour of
D) in place of

Part IV Error Correction (15 minutes)
Directions: This part consists of a short passage. In this passage, there are altogether 10 mistakes, one in each numbered line. You may have to change a word, add a word or delete a word. Mark out the mistakes and put the corrections in the blanks provided. If you change a word, cross it out and write the correct word in the corresponding blank. If you add a word, put an insertion mark (∧) in the right place and write the missing word in the blank. If you delete a word, cross it and put a slash (/) in the blank.

Example:

Television is rapidly becoming the literature of our periods╱. 1. time/times/period
Many of the arguments having╱ used for the study of literature as2. _______\_____
a school subject are valid for ∧ study of television. 3. ______the______

Living is risky. Crossing the road, driving a car, flying, swallowing an aspirin tablet or eating a chicken sandwich they can all be fatal. Clearly (71) some risks worth taking, especially when the rewards are high: a man surrounded by flames and smoke generally considers that jumping out of a second-floor window is an acceptable risk to save its life. But in medicine (72) a few procedures, drugs, operations or tests are really a matter of life and (73) death. There may be sound medicine reasons for accepting electrical (74) shock treatment, but such reasons are totally dependent in the balance of (75) risks and benefits for the patients.

Surgery for cancer may cure or prolong a life, but the removal of tonsils (扁桃体) cannot save anything a sore throat. Blood pressure drugs (76) definitely help some people live after a heart attack, but these same drugs may be both necessary and harmful for those with only mild blood pressure (77) problems.

Deciding how much discomfort and risk we are preparing to put up (78) with in the name of better health is a high personal matter, not a decision (79) we should remain to doctors alone. (80)

Part V Writing (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic My View on Opportunity. You must base your composition on the following instructions (given in Chinese):
有些人认为机会是极少的，另一些人则认为人人都有某种机会。你的看法如何?写出你的观点，说明你的理由并举例。在你的文章结尾处不要忘记写出你的结论。
Your composition should be no less than 120 words. Remember to write it neatly.

1993年6月六级参考答案

Part I

Part II

Part III

11. 本题测试点是worth的用法，worth本身是形容词“值得的”，可构成be worth doing 或be worth + n 二种形式。由此可看出此处缺一系动词are.
12. a man 与its 不对应，将its 改成his.
13. 将a few 改成few. 因为这里应为“有一些”。
14. medicine reasons 不通，可将medicine 改成形容词medical.
15. Dependent on 是固定用法，故将in 改成on.
16. 根据句意，此是一转折句。故在a sore throat 前应加上but 或except.
17. 根据上下文，应将necessary 改成unnecessary.
18. 根据上下文，我们应为被动者，故preparing应改成prepared.
19. High personal 不对，形容词不能修饰形容词。将high改成highly.
20. leave alone 是惯用法，表示“不管，不干涉”，所以应在to 后加上leave.

1993年6月听力原文

1. M: Hello, I’m a senior student. Could you tell me whether this reference room is only for faculty members?
W: No, it’s a also open to the postgraduates; and undergraduates can come too if they’re got professors’ written permission.
Q: Can the man study in the reference room?
2. W: Let’s talk about the preparations for the party.
M: Right. We really need to plan better this time. Remember what a mess it was at the last party!
Q: What do we know about the last party?
3. W: This has been the worst flood for the past 20 years. It has caused much damage and destruction.
M: Look at the prices of fruits and vegetables. No wonder they are so expensive.
Q: What are they talking about?
4. W: George. Where were you yesterday evening? I expected to see you at the concert.
M: Oh, I waited for you at the corner of your street. Then I looked for you at your flat, but the housekeeper said you were out.
Q: Why didn’t they meet that evening?
5. W: The place I’ve heard so much about is Los Angeles. The climate is pretty good. Year-round flowers, Year-round swimming. How do like it?
M: Well, the beaches are beautiful. But people there are terribly annoyed by the dirty air. I mean, the combination of fog, smoke and automobile exhaust. There is not enough wind to blow it away.
Q: What does the man think of Los Angeles?
6. M: I’d like to make an appointment to see Dr. Smith tomorrow.
W: I’m sorry. Dr. Smith went on a week vacation in Mexico, and on his way back he’ll be staying in California for 5 days. Let me see. He’ll probably be back the day after tomorrow.
Q: Where is Dr. Smith now?
7. M: Look, I’m sorry I didn’t turn up for the match yesterday, but it wasn’t really my fault, you know.
W: It’s all very well saying it wasn’t your fault, but thanks to you we lost 10 to 1.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
8. M: You call Henry a dreamer, but I think he’s got a lot of good ideas.
W: Good ideas are only useful if you make something out of them.
Q: Why does the woman think that Henry is a dreamer?
9. M: You’ll need 36 credit hours to get an M. A. degree. Fifteen must be from the English Department and fifteen from the Education Department. For the remaining six credit hours, you can either write a thesis or take two more selected courses.
W: Right now, this is very confusing to me, but I’m sure I’ll know what to do as I learn more about it.
Q: What are they talking about?
10. M: This TV set is getting worse and worse. Now it doesn’t work at all.
W: Here’s an advertisement about a big TV sale. There might be some good bargains in it.
Q: What does the woman suggest?

Passage One
Are you afraid to raise your hand in class, even when you know the answer? If you are, most people would say that you’re shy.
If you feel shy, you’re not alone. Nine out of ten people are at least a little shy. But however shy you are, scientific evidence seems to show that it isn’t your fault. You may have been born that way.
How do psychologists measure shyness? One way is by observation. They keep detailed records of people’s actions-like how often these people speak to others, or how long it takes someone to say hello to a stranger.
Another way to measure shyness is to ask people questions. The test only takes about 10 minutes. It asks questions like “Do you like going out a lot?” and “Do you have many friends?” People must answer either yes or no. These questions can predict how people actually behave in social situations. Suppose the test tells you that someone is shy. Chances are good that that person will act shy.
When scientists measure shyness, they’re really comparing degrees of shyness. In other words, when researchers say people are shy, they really mean they are more shy than others.
Questions 11 to 13 are based on the passage you have just heard.
11. Why does the speaker say that it isn’t a fault to be shy?
12. What is one of the ways suggested by psychologists for measuring shyness?
13. What is the purpose of the psychologists in asking questions?

Passage Two
When Midori was two years old, she often climbed onto the piano bench and reached for the violin that belonged to her mother, a 38-year-old professional musician.
“Please don’t touch, Midori,” her mother scolded. The violin was, after all, worth more than $20,000.
But Midori persisted, she longed to handle the graceful instrument that made beautiful sounds. Finally, on her third birthday, Midori was handed a package: a tiny violin, about half the normal size.
Almost from the moment Midori was born, her mother knew she was sensitive to music. For several years mother and daughter practised together day after day. She was eager to learn. Failure often led to tears, though she never once turned from the instrument. Instead, she persisted until the problem was overcome.
One day Johnston, an American musician, heard Midori playing the violin. He couldn’t believe she was just eight years old. “She must make a tape and I will take it to the United States.” the musician said.
A famous American violin teacher heard the tape. He, too, had difficulty believing his ears. The playing was absolutely astonishing. He immediately accepted her as a pupil and recommended her for a full scholarship. In 1982, Midori and her mother moved to New York City, leaving behind a comfortable life in Japan.

Questions 14 to 17 based on the passage you have just heard.
14. What was Midori’s mother?
15. Why was Midori not allowed to touch her mother’s violin when she was only two years old?
16. What did Johnston, the American, ask Midori to do?
17. Why did Midori move to the United States?

Passage Three
The British Broadcasting Corporation is rejecting more and more candidates applying for jobs, because they suffer from hearing loss. And this is due to a wide use of personal stereo systems. According to officials at the corporation, about three per cent of them fail to win jobs for this reason. The figure indicates that people suffering from hearing defects are more common that a decade age.
Candidates applying for jobs at the British Broadcasting Corporation have always had hearing tests, but the techniques for such tests were not standardized until five years ago. The corporation says officially that there is no proof to link personal stereos with hearing disabilities, but frequent exposure to high level of sounds can diminish a person’s understanding of speech. That will rule out his chances of being a engineer taking care of sound quality in recording.
So exerts are now calling for manufactures of personal stereos to provide a warning light. It flashes when the sound is too loud. One British manufacturer accepted this suggestion. And this manufacturer has made a device which switches itself off when the level of sound is too high.

Questions 18 to 20 are based on the passage you have just heard.
18. Why do more and more candidates fail to get jobs at the British Broadcasting Corporation?
19. When did the hearing test techniques become standardized?
20. What suggestions did the experts make to stereo manufacturers.