The day before the deadline for this article,I had no clue what I was going to write about. I took my problem to the editor-in-chief, and.he said to me:“Don’t worry; you’re creative. ”
I’m not sure where the editor-in-chief reached the conclusion that I was “creative”. Maybe it was through the poems I wrote. Personally, I simply enjoy writing because it’s fun. There’s also the fact that I can’t draw or do anything else creatively, I’m equally sure that there are people in the boat on the other side who can make things look excellent, but can’t write a poem.
At this point you probably want to ask me what poetry and art have to do with engineering. For one, it makes you a more rounded person, making you a better engineer. More importantly, as an engineer, you will be faced with many problems every day. There are some that can be solved by consulting a textbook, but more often than not, you will need that thing in your brain to put together things in a completely original combination to solve the problem at hand.
Think of the wonderful things that creative engineers have done. Civil engineers have made the road more long-lasting so we don’t have to close them for repairs as often. Coming up with a new innovation (创新) is similar to writing a good poem. It’s not some-thing you plan to do. The critical moment comes unexpectedly in the middle of nowhere. You don’t think about what you’re doing, you simply do. After some mad struggling you take a look at the end product and say to yourself, “This is a masterpiece . ” This is perhaps the greatest personal satisfaction one can experience.
So all you engineers out there get out and do something creative. I don’t care if it’s writing a poem or a computer program, just be natural and do something creative.This passage mainly deals with .
| A．the creativity of engineers | B．the power of editor-in-chief |
| C．engineering in general | D．a way of thinking |
In the author’s opinion, writing poems can
.
| A．show one is creative | B．make him happy |
| C．bring him in lots of money | D．have an effect on one’s mental health |
According to the author, art can help an engineer to .
| A．find the solutions to problems | B．learn to write poetry |
| C．be courageous in face of challenges | D．get along well with others |
Coming up with a new innovation is similar to writing a good poem in that both are .
| A．logically developed | B．strictly planned |
| C．experience- based | D．naturally creative |
The greatest personal satisfaction of an engineer comes from .
| A．planning his work successfully | B．building things quickly |
| C．finishing his work innovatively | D．writing good poems naturally |
Taking the train is a wonderful way to see America.In the 19th century,train routes appeared from coast to coast,carrying both people and goods Today,a long-distance Amtrak train trip is a different way to experience the United States.
The long-distance Amtrak trains have lots of room.Coach seats have lots of leg room and wide aisles(走
廊),sightseeing lounges(休闲室) have large windows,and sleeping areas can provide a good night’s rest.On a train trip,there’s time to talk,play cards or board games,and read to one another.On a car trip,parents have to drive while on a train,parents can sit back and watch the scenery go by.Unlike an a
irplane,traveling by train is not the quickest way to arrive at your destination;the train is the destination in itself.
Amtrak manages long-distance trains that run through the United States.Routes have different names,such as Empire Builder,California Zephyr,Sunset Limited and Southwest Chief.The long-distance trains have double-decker cars(Superliners), sightseeing lounges, and a real dining car.On shorter trains,such as from New York to Washington.DC,the cars are single level and only have a snack bar.In the Superliner trains,the sightseeing lounge is lined with windows on the second level while on the lower level a snack bar and tables can be found.In the evening,videos are shown in the lounge car—either entertaining movies or documentaries.
Tip:As delays are common on Amtrak trains,always call the station before you go there.Otherwise,you may be cooling your heels(脚后跟) for hours.What’s the advantage of seeing America by train?
| A．There are more services on the train than any other |
| B．Traveling by train is the quickest way to reach your destination. |
| C．Traveling by train gives people more time to see and do things. |
| D．The trains like Amtrak allow people to enjoy the journey cheaply. |
Which of the following can be found on short-distance Amtrak trains?
| A．Sleeping areas. | B．Snack bars. |
| C．Sightseeing lounges. | D．Coach seats. |
.What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?
| A．You will have to wait. | B．You make your heel cool. |
| C．You will have no place to stand on the train. | D．Your feet will be hurt on the train. |
.Which of the following about Superliners is true?
| A．There are lines of windows on the lower level. | B．The snack bar is on the higher level. |
| C．A sightseeing lounge is on the upper level. | D．Both levels are equipped with videos. |
As we all know sewing-machine(缝纫机) repair is one of the fastest growing businesses in the world today.Newspapers,women’s magazines,high schools and colleges are all encouraging millions of American women to do their own sewing,not only to make their
own shirts and sweaters,but also to make nice clothes for their husbands,sons,or boyfriends.The lates figures(数字) show that over 89 million American women,because of the high costs of ready-to-wear clothing are now making almost all of their families’ clothes.Most of these women 
get great satisfaction from making the family clothes on their own sewing machines.So it is natural that the demand(要求) for excellent service of sewing machines is growing.
Think of it! 89 million or more sewing machines,not including another 10 million sewing machines in schools of all kinds,need service at least once a year,and quite possibly four or more times each year.I know some women who return their sewing machines to repairmen time after time to get them fixed properly.I’ve seen sewing machines come out of repair shops in worse condition than they were when they went in.
So I’ve decided to write an introduction book to sewing-machine repair and teach people how to repair their own sewing machines at home.It’s not that difficult.In the book,I will teach you everything you need to know about how to repair your sewing machine.The author wrote the passage to.
| A．teach women to repair their sewing machines. |
| B．explain his or her purpose in writing the book |
| C．introduce the reasons for doing one’s own sewing |
| D．tell us that sewing-machine repair is a fast-growing business |
American women make clothes by themselves because.
| A．they cannot buy the clothes they see in magazines |
| B．their husbands or boyfriends want them to do so |
| C．ready-to-wear clothes cost a great deal of money |
| D．they can’t get great satisfaction from buying clothes |
We learn from the passage that sewing machines.
| A．aren’t very difficult to be repaired |
| B．cannot work well after one year |
| C．don’t easily get broken |
| D．need service 4 times a month |
It can be inferred from the passage that.
| A．the book will also show you how to make nice clothes |
| B．there are not enough sewing-machine-repair shops in America |
| C．over 99 million sewing machines need service at least once a year |
| D．the demand for excellent service of sewing machines grows the fastest in America |
Can you imagine exchanging the pleasure of city life for a quiet life in the countryside?
Many people want to move from the country to the city because they think that life in the city is more exciting and better than that in countryside,especially young people
wh
o like new,modern things.People like popular things and feel that they can only find the latest styles in the city.
However,it 
is possible to enjoy the higher quality of country life and still enjoy some o
f the advantages of living in the city.
Nowadays,traveling is fast and easy,and information can be found on the Internet,so many people are able to do their work in home offices.Because they have e-mail and personal computers,they don’t have to be in big cities to manage their businesses.It is not important where they actually work because the results of their work can be sent everywhere with e-mails.Therefore,there is no need to put up with all of the disadvantages of the city.Now they can escape busy city life to enjoy the quiet country life and still be able to have successful jobs.
Other people are interested in technological things and high-tech jobs and think they can only find them in big cities.If they want to find a job,especially a good position in a company,they think that they have to live in a
city.For these jobs,they are willing to put up with many of the disadvantages of city life,such as crime,heavy traffic,and pollution.The main idea of this passage is that.
| A．life in the city is different from life in the countryside |
B．people prefer living in the city to l iving in the countryside |
| C．cities have more disadvantages than the countryside |
| D．more and more people like living in the city |
With the development of,people can enjoy life in the countryside as comfortably as they can in the city.
| A．e-mail technology | B．personal computers |
| C．transportation and computers | D．business |
According to the passage,what does the countryside have but cit
ies don’t have?
| A．Technology. | B．Traffic. | C．Education. | D．Natural environment. |
What is the author’s attitude towards city life?
| A．He is for it. | B．He is against it. |
C．He likes neither. | D．He shows no opinion. |
Alaskan black bears hibernate for up to seven months a year, during which time they do not eat or drink, before waking up in virtually the same physical state they fell asleep in．
Now experts hope to develop methods of putting humans into a similar state which could help astronauts survive long missions and lead to new ways of treating severely ill patients．
While many studies have examined hibernation in mice and hedgehogs, little research has been done into the same condition in larger mammals such as bears．
But new research conducted at the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska monitored the animals' body temperature, heart rate and muscle movements while they slept.
The research results showed that during a five-month hibernation the bears’ body temeratures varied between 30℃ and 36℃ in cycles that lasted between two and seven days—a pattern that was previously unknown in hibernating animals.
The research project leader said, "If our research could help by showing how to reduce metabolic(新陈代谢的) rates and oxygen demands in human tissues, one could possibly save severely ill patients. We simply need to know how to turn things on and off to take advantage of the different levels of hibernation."
Craig Heller, of Stanford University, who contributed to the study, added: "There has always been a thought that, if there is ever long-distance space travel, it would be good to be able to put people into a state of lower metabolism or a state of hibernation. That's almost science fiction but you can see the logical basis."We know from the text that .
A．during winter Alaskan black bears sleep for more than half a yea r |
| B．researchers have examined hibernation in humans |
| C．experts have got no results from their research |
| D．Craig Heller is a leader from the Institute of Arctic Biology |
The best topic of the text should be ．
．
| A．The Latest Research Results |
| B．New Methods of Putting Humans into Hibernation |
| C．Alaskan Black Bears Hibernate |
| D．Astronauts Could Hibernate Like Bears |
According to the text, we can infer that.
| A．many studies have examined hibernation in mice and bears as well |
| B．humans' body temperatures vary between 30℃ and 36℃ while they sleep |
| C．research into hibernation in animals may help deadly patients stay longer |
| D．scientists have already take advantage of the different levels of hibernation in space missions |
What kind of life do you seek for? One that is frustrating and full of complaints every day? Or one that is filled with thankfulness, gratefulness and a positive mind?
The moment we open our eyes each day, we should be grateful that we are still alive．We are given a brand-new day．We are given another day to love．We are given another day of hope．We are given another chance to do whatever we have failed to accomplish．Those who have chosen to leave this place do not have any second chance．
We should be grateful every day．By being grateful, we will treasure the things around us．We will learn to
appreciate life in a better way．Treat others better and f
ind ourselves in a better mood every day．When we are thankful and grateful for the things we have, the universe tends to give us more．
By being thankful and grateful for our personal health, we will focus our attention on it and we would want to have a better well-being for our health．We will want to eat healthier food to nourish our body．After all, the body is the temple of our soul．We have to treat it well so that it can carry us a longer journey in life．
When we face problems in life, be thankful and grateful too．They are designed specifically for us so that we will be stronger and wiser．We are like a strong oak tree, facing the harsh weathers time to time．After each storm, we will grow stronger and strengthen our foundations for the next harsh weather．
The year 2010 has come to an end．Have you achieved what you aimed for in the past year? Be grateful for those you have achieved and especially for those you have not—both successes and failures．Failures and mistakes will give you valuable lessons．So, pick yourself up and try again this year．Good luck！ According to the text, how many kinds of life are mentioned?
| A．One． | B．Two． | C．Three． | D．Four． |
What does the word "harsh" underlined in the text refer to?
| A．severe | B．pleasant | C．fine |
D．mild |
According to the text, the life filled with thankfulness should be the following except that we.
| A．learn to enjoy our life in a better way |
| B．face problems in life and choose to leave |
| C．focus our attention on our health |
| D．treat others better and find ourselves in a better mood |
The sentence "We are like a strong oak tree…" in the fifth paragraph, we can see that the author used the writing technique of ____．
| A．telling a fairy story | B．stating facts |
| C．discussing matters | D．imitating things |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Kinds of Life | B．Be Positive |
| C．Be Grateful Every Day | D．Pick Yourself Up |