Y2K 
     The sudden emergence of Y2K in headlines around the world is no algebraic code, nor mysterious symbol of doom. It is, very simply, shortened for the coming transition to the year 2000 in the western calendar and the problems that might and/or are likely to occur as a result of the data change. Virtually all computers and automated systems were formulated using the solar-based calendar, as opposed to the Chinese lunar calendar or other eastern calendars.
Computers and automated systems around the world have only been using two digits in the year field in the computer code that tells the computer or automated system what to do. When there is a four-digit change in the calendar at mid-might on December 31, 1999, many computers and automated systems may malfunction unless the year field is fixed. The thinking the year is 1900. this could cause a lot of problems if electrical power grids(电极), water systems, energy supply systems, medical devices, shipping ports and airports fail or have to be closed. 
     No one knows what is going to happen, but no one is immune 
     No one really knows what is going to happen down to the last detail when the clock strikes the mid-night around the world on January 1,2000. the situation changes daily as more and more people learn about the problem and work hard to do something about it. The world had never experienced a millennium change with automated system and computers.
The effects will be serious if action is not taken 
     We do know this year 200 date change is serious and no family, business, community or country is immune to the Y2K problems. Virtually everyone will see some type of disruption-only the scope and impact are in question. Some, in countries where much Y2K repair work has already been done, may only see a harmless service warning light come on in their cars. others in more remote or less developed areas could be without food, water, telecommunications and/or electricity for hours, days, weeks or months. It is in everyone’s interest, around the world, to avoid serious long-term disruption that could affect the global economy and strain humanitarian efforts. But Y2K knows no national or political boundaries.
The problem is bigger than most people around the world think it is. Most people don’t sit around thinking about or where their electricity, water and other basic supplies come from. Most people don’t really think about how telephones, medical equipment or home appliances work. Microchips are embedded in just about every automated device or system we use today. Not all will be affected by Y2K, but many will and it is important to know which devices and systems are vulnerable, fix the problem and test it again and again to make sure it will work.
     We see that computers and automated systems can do so much, and come to rely on them for the most basic services. Most of us have probably never thought about how a computer can not think on its own like a human and what that means. Many computers and automated systems are programmed to only recognize 99 years. Unless these Y2K problems are repaired, some systems will malfunction because the computer is not intelligent enough to know what year “00” stands for. Those computers and systems have to be told not to shut down, but keep working onto 2000.
6.According to the passage, which of the following statement is true?
A.The Y2K problem is so serious that it means the end of the world.
B.The Y2K problem is just as simple as an algebraic code.
C.The Y2K problem is a likely occurrence as a result of the date change.
D.The Y2K problem is nothing to worry about.
7.The reason for the Y2K problem to happen is that____.
A.computer and automated system can only read two digit in the year field
B.computers and automated systems do not recognize four digits in the year field
C.the year field is fixed, so computers and automated systems will be out of order
D.all of the above reasons are possible reasons for the Y2K problem to occur
8.The sentence “But the Y2K knows no national or political boundaries” means that ____.
A.virtually no country can be immune to the Y2K problem
B.the Y2K problem does not consider any country as an independent country
C.the Y2K problem considers the whole world as one country
D.the Y2K problem can not tell national boundaries from political boundaries
9.We can infer from the passage that ____.
A.Y2K problems will be only damage our computers
B.some people may be immune to Y2K problem if their computer are more advanced
C.some people in more remote or less developed areas can be less affected by it
D. the occurrence of Y2K is not a matter of possibility, but a matter of scope and impact.
10. Most people around the world do not take Y2K problem seriously enough because____.
A.most people just use electricity, telephones , medical equipment, and home appliances but do not know how they work
B.some devices and systems are not vulnerable to Y2K problem
C.some people d not rely on computers and automated systems at all
D.they believe that the future computer will be more intelligent

解析：
6.C
这道题要求考生从给出的四个选项中选出一个于原文内容相符的选项，所以对各个选项分别考察即可。
7.D
通过第二段的叙述，计算机和自动系统只能识别年份域中的两位。当年分域中的四位发生了变化时，计算机和自动系统就无法识别了。另一方面，如果为了避免这一问题而使年份域固定不变，计算机和自动系统的时间会固定不变，或停止工作，或者不能正确处理日期。可见A，B，C都是问题发生的原因。
8.A
此题考察我们对于句子the Y2K knows no national or political boundaries的理解。它的意思是：千年虫问题没有国家和政治的界限。在文章的第三和第四段中，作者指出没有人可以不受千年虫问题的影响，这一问题带给人们的影响无处不在。所以，千年虫问题可以传播于各个国家，没有任何一个国家可以免受千年虫问题的影响。
9.D
通过文章第四段的叙述，我们可以知道：没有任何一个家庭，社会或个人可以免受千年虫问题的影响，每个人都将看到千年虫问题引发的某些类型的破坏，而只有影响的范围和影响带来的冲击是未知的。可见，千年虫问题的发生并不是可能性的问题，而是范围和影响力的问题。
10.A
作者在文章的第五段指出：许多人对于千年虫问题还没有给予足够的重视，因为微型芯片被嵌入了我们使用锝大多数自动装置和系统中，这些人实际上并不知道电话机，医疗设备或家用电器是怎样工作的。因此他们还没有意识到其实自己的生活也将受到千年虫问题的影响。