2025 年 12 月大学英语六级考试真题（第 2 套）

We humans love to believe we are special, but science and technology have repeatedly proved this conviction wrong. People __26__ thought that humans were the only animals to use tools, to form teams or to propagate culture, but science has shown that other animals do each of these things.

Meanwhile, technology has quashed, one by one, claims that __27__ tasks require a human brain. The first adding machine was invented in 1623. This past year, a computer-generated work won an art contest. I believe the moment when computers meet and __28__ human intelligence is on the horizon.

How will human intelligence and creativity be valued when machines become smarter and more creative than the brightest people? There will likely be a spectrum. In some __29__, people still value humans doing things, even if a computer can do it better. It's been a quarter of a century since a computer beat world champion Garry Kasparov, but human chess hasn't gone away.

In other fields, human skill will seem costly and __30__. Take illustration for example: most readers don't care whether the graphic __31__ a magazine article was drawn by a person or a computer — they just want it to be relevant, new and perhaps __32__.

And, of course, this question isn't black or white. Many fields will be a __33__, where some humans find a lucky place, but most of the work is done by computers, like in manufacturing today, where, much of the work is accomplished by robots, but some humans must be there to __34__ the machines.

If history is any guide, it's almost certain that advances in AI will cause more jobs to __35__, that creative workers with human-only skills will become richer but fewer in number, and that those who own creative technology will become the new ultra-rich.

As interdependent beings we cannot thrive independent of others. We like to work with people who are like-minded, with whom we share a common interest, or who also believe in a cause we are serious about. This is evident in how we have organised ourselves into various collective groups such as nations, regions, communities, organisations, and families.

Does the group you belong to have a strong collective consciousness or shared beliefs? Is there interdependence among its members? Do you consider this group a significant part of your existence? If your answers are affirmative, then you are experiencing a micro version of solidarity.

What is solidarity? Its simplest definition in the dictionary is: "...a unifying opinion, feeling, purpose or interest among a group of people."

In this increasingly diverse society we live in, solidarity takes on a complex and multifaceted character as it forms bonds of interdependence among unique individuals living in a fast-changing environment and working within a complex division of labour.

One facet of solidarity fits well with the principles of communitarianism. In this setting, individuals give up their own interests to serve the common good. However, its strict adherence to social cohesiveness and exclusiveness restricts expression and practice of individual differences and preferences. Consequently, individuality and autonomy is sacrificed to maintain the unity of the group.

Solidarity is also viewed as a reaction to the extreme emphasis on individualism and freedom of choice. It goes against the liberal idea of unrestricted individuals who see society as a hindrance to their freedom to make choices and to act according to what is good for them regardless of how these will affect others.

But despite its many facets, social theorists have viewed solidarity as a key factor in bringing about order and progress in society. They believe that for human society to survive as it becomes more diverse, more new bonds need to be formed based on the differences. In the light of this, they regard a genuine solidarity as more than just shallow relationships based on common interests. Solidarity is not just a product of strategic calculations of how much it will benefit the self. It is not an exclusive class founded on the you-and-me-against-the-world principle. Rather, it is inclusive and is not forced. Acting out of solidarity means supporting and standing up for each other — in recognition that one's fate is in the fate of the other. It is a bond characterised by cooperative practices and strengthened by the concern for the well-being of others or the common good. It fights for the protection of human dignity and listens to and acts on the cries of the most vulnerable.

People who repeatedly give unwanted advice can be well-meaning and genuinely want to help. Others might do this out of a sense of self-worth around the ability to influence others. One study found that people with a high tendency to seek power were more likely to give advice than those with an opposite tendency.

Under the guise of unselfishness, people may be driven to give you unwanted advice because it makes them feel powerful or in control. They may not be fully aware of this drive, however.

These people may also display a problematic degree of emotional vulnerability, becoming upset very quickly, and taking a long time to calm down. It is possible that their emotions were only validated in childhood when they were at their loudest, encouraging them to adopt responses to discomfort that are excessive in most situations.

When someone is giving advice in order to make themselves feel more powerful, there is underlying anxiety to their behavior that recipients of the advice tend to notice. It can be tempting in this situation to react harshly to the advice giver and to accuse them of being manipulative, but this approach might produce an undesirable result.

If the act of giving advice is contributing actively to someone's feelings of self-worth, an outright rejection may be perceived as a threat, activating their fight-or-flight response, possibly causing them to double down on their validation-seeking behavior, or leading to a larger conflict.

The key is to validate without over-identifying. You can let them know that you have heard them and appreciate where they are coming from without taking on the potentially damaging narrative that you could not have gotten by without their help. You had better say something like, "Thanks for the idea. I have my own plan for handling this, but I really appreciate your perspective and will take it into consideration. Can I let you know when I need help in the future?"

If you have trouble setting boundaries tactfully, prioritize working on your own ability to self-regulate. As uncomfortable as it may make you continuously receiving unwanted advice, if you can respond with compassion, the situation will likely diffuse much faster.

Though it is usually not the intended outcome of giving unsolicited advice, many who receive it often feel stressed, offended, or simply annoyed by unwanted suggestions. Setting a boundary in this regard, if you feel you need one, is perfectly reasonable and something that can bring you increased emotional safety.

It is best to set boundaries in a way that takes into account the individual's underlying reasons for doing what they are doing to avoid unnecessary conflict and more stress.