20xx年12月英语四级阅读备考试题：真题汇合

20xx年12月英语四级阅读备考试题:真题汇合20xx年12月英语四级阅读备考试题：真题汇合Unit16PassageOneInterestinpursuinginternationalcareershassoaredinrecentyears,enhancedbychronic（长期的）personnelshortagesthatarecausingcompaniestosearchbeyondtheirhomebordersfortalent.Professionalsseekcareerexperienceoutsideoftheirhomecountriesforavarietyofreasons.Theymayfeeltheneedtorechargetheirbatterieswithanewchallenge.Theymaywantapositionwithmoreresponsibilitythatencouragescreativityandinitiative.Ortheymaywishtoexposetheirchildrentoanotherculture,andtheopportunitytolearnasecondapersonhowtostealacar,usingabareminimumoftools.Butonlyifthecarismorethan10yearsold.Moderncarsarefartoughertosteal,astheirenginemanagementcomputerwon'tallowthemtostartunlesstheyreceiveauniqueIDcodebeamedoutbytheignition（点火）key.IntheUK,technologieslikethishavehelpedachievea31%dropinvehicle-relatedcrimesince1997.Butdeterminedcriminalsarestillmanagingtofindotherwaystostealcars,oftenbygettingboldoftheowner'skeys.Andkeytheftisresponsiblefor40%ofthetheftsofvehiclesfittedwithatrackingsystem.Ifthecartravels100metreswithoutthedriverconfirmingtheirID,thesystemwillsendasignaltoanoperationscentrethatithasbeenstolen.ThehundredmetresminimumavoidsfalsealarmsduetoinaccuraciesintheGPSsignal.Staffatthecentrewillthencontacttheownertoconfirmthatthecarreallyismissing,andkeeppoliceinformedofthevehicle'smovementsviathecar'sGPSunit.31.Whatzsthefunctionoftheremoteimmobilizerfittedtoacar?Tohelpthepolicemakeasurpriseattackonthecarthief.Toallowthecartolockautomaticallywhenstolen.Topreventthecarthieffromrestartingitonceitstops.Topreventcartheftbysendingaradiosignaltothecarowner.32.Bysaying“Thepatternofvehiclecrimehaschanged”(Lines1-2.Para.3),MartynRandallsuggeststhat・ittakesalongertimeforthecarthieftodothestealingself-preparedtoolsarenolongerenoughforcartheftthethiefhastomakeuseofcomputertechnologythethiefhaslostinterestinstealingcarsover10yearsold33.Whatisessentialinmakingamodemcartoughertosteal?Acodedignitionkey.AuniqueIDcard.Aspecialcellphonesignal.AGPSsatellitepositioningreceiver.34.Whydoesthetrackingsystemseta100-metreminimumbeforesendinganalarmtotheoperationscentre?Toleavetimefortheoperationscentretogiveanalarm.Tokeeppoliceinformedofthecar'smovements.Togivethedrivertimetocontacttheoperationscentre.ToallowforpossibleerrorsintheGPSsystem..Whatwilltheoperationscentredofirstafterreceivinganalarm?Startthetrackingsystem.Contactthecarowner.Blockthecarengine.Locatethemissingcar.PassageFourPsychiatrists（精神病专家）whoworkwitholderparentssaythatmaturitycanbeanassetinchildrearing-olderparentsaremorethoughtful,uselessphysicaldisciplineandspendmoretimewiththeirchildren.utraisingkidstakesmoneyandenergy.children.Manyolderparentsfindthemselvesbalancingtheirlimitedfinancialresources,decliningenergyandfailinghealthagainstthegrowingdemandsofanactivechild.Dyingandleavingyoungchildrenisprobablytheolderparents'biggest,andoftenunspoken,fear.Havinglate-lifechildren,saysaneconomicsprofessor,oftenmeansparents,particularlyfathers,z/endupretiringmuchlater."Formany,retirementbecomesanunobtainabledream.HenryMetcalf,a54-year-oldjournalist,knowsittakesmoneytoraisekids.Buthe'salsoworriedthathisenergywillgiveoutfirst.Sure,hecanstillridebikeswithhisathleticfifthgrader,buthe'slearnedthatyoungatheartdoesn'tmeanyoung.Latelyhe'sbeentakingafternoonnaps（午睡）tokeepuphisenergy.“Mybodyisaging,"saysMetcalf."Youcan'tgetawayfromthat.”Often,olderparentshearthetickingofanotherkindofbiologicalclock.Therapistswhoworkwithmiddle-agedandolderparentssayfearsaboutagingarenothingtolaughat."Theyworrythey'llbemistakenforgrandparents,orthatthey/llneedhelpgettingupoutofthoselittlechairsinnurseryschool,''saysJoannGalst,aNewYorkpsychologist.Butatthecoreofthoselittlefearsthereisoftenamuchbiggerone:z/thattheywon'tbealivelongenoughtosupportandprotecttheirchild,“shesays.Manylate-lifeparents,though,saytheirchildrencameatjusttherighttime.Aftermarryinglateandundergoingyearsoffertility（受孕）treatment,MarilynNolenandherhusband.Randy,hadtwins./zWebothwantedchildren,/zsaysMarilyn,whowas55whenshegavebirth.Thetwinshavegiventhecouplewhattheydesiredforyears,“asenseoffamily./zKidsofolderdadsareoftensmarter,happierandmoresociablebecausetheirfathersaremoreinvolvedintheirlives.“Thedadsareolder,moremature,''saysDr.Silber,“andmorereadytofocusonparenting..Whydopsychiatristsregardmaturityasanassetinchildrearing?Olderparentsareoftenbetterpreparedfinancially.Olderparentscantakebettercareoftheirchildren.Olderparentsareusuallymoreexperiencedinbringinguptheirchildren.Olderparentscanbetterbalancetheirresourcesagainstchildren'sdemands..Whatdoestheauthormeanbysaying”Formany,retirementbecomesanunobtainabledreamz/(Lines7-8,Para.1)?Theyarereluctanttoretirewhentheyreachtheirretirementage.Theycan/tobtaintheretirementbenefitstheyhavedreamedof.Theycan'tgetfullpensionunlesstheyworksomeextrayears.Theyhavetogoonworkingbeyondtheirretirementage..TheauthorgivestheexampleofHenryMetcalftoshowthatolderparentsshouldexercisemoretokeepupwiththeirathleticchildrenmanypeopleareyounginspiritdespitetheiradvancedageolderparentstendtobeconcernedabouttheiragingbodiestakingafternoonnapsisagoodwaytomaintainenergy.WhatzsthebiggestfearofolderparentsaccordingtoNewYorkpsychologistJoanGalst?Approachingofdeath.Slowingdownoftheirpaceoflife.Beinglaughedatbyotherpeople.Beingmistakenforgrandparents..WhatdowelearnaboutMarilynandRandyNolen?Theythoughttheywereanexampleofsuccessfulfertilitytreatment.Notuntiltheyreachedmiddleagedidtheythinkofhavingchildren.Notuntiltheyhadthetwinsdidtheyfeeltheyhadformedafamily.Theybelievedthatchildrenbornofolderparentswouldbesmarter.Unit1621.D22.D23.A24.C25.B26.C27.A28.B29.C30.D31.C32.B33.A34.D35.B36.C37.D38.C39.A40.C20xx年12月英语四级阅读备考：全真试题⑸Unit5PassageOnePeoplelivingonpartsofthesouthcoastofEnglandfaceaseriousproblem.In1993,theownersofalargehotelandofseveralhousesdiscovered,totheirhorror,thattheirgardenshaddisappearedovernight.Theseahadeatenintothesoftlimestonecliffsonwhichtheyhadbeenbuilt.Whileexpertswerestudyingtheproblem,thehotelandseveralhousesdisappearedaltogether,slidingdownthecliffandintothesea.Erosion（侵蚀）ofthewhitecliffsalongthesouthcoastofEnglandhasalwaysbeenaproblembutithasbecomemoreseriousinrecentyears.Dozensofhomeshavehadtobeabandonedastheseahascreptfartherandfartherinland.Expertshavestudiedtheareasmostaffectedandhavedrawnupamapforlocalpeople,forecastingtheyearinwhichtheirhomeswillbeswallowedupbythehungrysea.AngryownershavecalledontheGovernmenttoerectseadefensestoprotecttheirhomes.Governmentsurveyorshavepointedoutthatinmostcases,thisisimpossible.Newseawallswouldcosthundredsofmillionsofpoundsandwouldmerelymakethewavesandcurrentsgofurtheralongthecoast,shiftingtheproblemfromoneareatoanother.Thedangerislikelytocontinue,theysay,untilthewavesreachaninlandareaofhardrockwhichwillnotbeeatenaslimestoneis.Meanwhile,ifyouwanttobuyacheaphousewithanuncertainfuture,applytoahouseagentinoneofthethreatenedareasonthesouthcoastofEngland.Youcangetahouseforaknockdownpricebutitmayturnouttobeaknockdownhome..WhatisthecauseoftheproblemthatpeoplelivingonpartsofthesouthcoastofEnglandface?Thedisappearanceofhotels,housesandgardens.Theexperts'lackofknowledge.Therisingofthesealevel.Thewashing-awayoflimestonecliffs..TheerosionofthewhitecliffsinthesouthofEngland.willsoonbecomeaproblemforpeoplelivingincentralEnglandhasnowbecomeathreattothelocalresidentsisquicklychangingthemapofEnglandcanbestoppedifpropermeasuresaretaken.Theexperts'studyontheproblemoferosioncan■leadtoitseventualsolutionprovideaneffectivewaytoslowitdownhelptopreventitfromworseningwarnpeoplewhosehomesareindangertisnotfeasibletobuildseadefensestoprotectagainsterosionbecause.itistoocostlyandwillendangerneighbouringareasthegovernmentistooslowintakingactiontheywillbeeasilyknockeddownbywavesandcurrentslanguage.Whenapplyingforajob,oneusuallyhastosubmitaresumeorcurriculumvitae(CV).Thetwotermsgenerallymeanthesamething:aone-ortwodocumentdescribingone/seducationalqualificationsandprofessionalexperience.However,guidelinesforpreparingaresumeareconstantlychanging.Thebestadviceistofindoutwhatisappropriateregardingthecorporate(公司)culture,thecountryculture,andthecultureofthepersonmakingthehiringdecision.Thechallengewillbetoembracetwoormoreculturesinonedocument.Thefollowinglistisagoodplacetostart.•''Educationalrequirementsdifferfromcountrytocountry.Inalmosteverycaseof'cross-border'jobhunting,juststatingthetitleofyourdegreewillnotbeanadequatedescription.Providethereaderwithdetailsaboutyourstudiesandanyrelatedexperience.•Payattentiontotheresumeformatyouuse-chronologicalorreverse-chronologicalorder.Chronologicalordermeanslistingyour/oldest'workexperiencefirst.Reverse-chronologicalordermeanshouseagentsalongthecoastdonotsupporttheidea15.Accordingtotheauthor,whenbuyingahousealongthesouthcoastofEngland,peopleshouldbeawareofthepotentialdangerinvolvedguardagainstbeingcheatedbythehouseagentC)takethequalityofthehouseintoconsiderationD)examinethehousecarefullybeforemakingadecisionPassageTwoSportisnotonlyphysicallychallenging,butitcanalsobementallychallenging.Criticismfromcoaches,parents,andotherteammates,aswellaspressuretowincancreateanexcessiveamountofanxietyorstressforyoungathletes(运动员).Stresscanbephysical,emotional,orpsychological,andresearchhasindicatedthatitcanleadtoburnout.Burnouthasbeendescribedasdroppingorquittingofanactivitythatwasatonetimeenjoyable.Theearlyyearsofdevelopmentarecriticalyearsforlearningabutoneself.Thesportsettingisonewherevaluableexperiencescantakeplace.Youngathletescan,forexample,learnhowtocooperatewithothers,makefriends,andgainothersocialskillsthatwillbeusedthroughouttheirlives.Coachesandparentsshouldbeaware,atalltimes,thattheirfeedbacktoyoungsterscangreatlyaffecttheirchildren.Youngstersmaytaketheirparents'andcoaches'criticismstoheartandfindaflaw（缺陷）inthemselves.Coachesandparentsshouldalsobecautiousthatyouthsportparticipationdoesnotbecomeworkforchildren.Theoutcomeofthegameshouldnotbemoreimportantthantheprocessoflearningthesportandotherlifelessons.Intoday'syouthsportsetting,youngathletesmaybeworryingmoreaboutwhowillwininsteadofenjoyingthemselvesandthesport.Followingagame,manyparentsandcoachesfocusontheoutcomeandfindfaultwithyoungsters'performances.Positivereinforcementshouldbeprovidedregardlessoftheoutcome.Researchindicatesthatpositivereinforcementmotivatesandhasagreatereffectonlearningthancriticism.Again,criticismcancreatehighlevelsofstress,whichcanleadtoburnout..Aneffectivewaytopreventtheburnoutofyoungathletesis.tomakesportslesscompetitivetomakesportsmorechallengingtoreducetheirmentalstresstoincreasetheirsenseofsuccess.Accordingtothepassagesportispositiveforyoungpeopleinthat.itcanhelpthemlearnmoreaboutsocietyitteachesthemhowtosetrealisticgoalsforthemselvesitenablesthemtofindflawsinthemselvesitcanprovidethemwithvaluableexperiences.Manycoachesandparentsareinthehabitofcriticizingyoungathletes.withoutrealizingcriticismmaydestroytheirselfconfidenceinordertomakethemrememberlife'slessonsbelievingthatcriticismisbeneficialfortheirearlydevelopmentsoastoputmorepressureonthem.Accordingtothepassageparentsandcoachesshould■helpchildrentowineverygamepaymoreattentiontolettingchildrenenjoysportsenablechildrentounderstandthepositiveaspectofsportstrainchildrentocopewithstress.Theauthor'spurposeinwritingthepassageistopersuadeyoungchildrennottoworryaboutcriticismtostresstheimportanceofpositivereinforcementtochildrentodiscusstheskillofcombiningcriticismwithencouragementtoteachyoungathleteshowtoavoidburnoutPassageThreeHumanityusesalittlelessthanhalfthewateravailableworldwide.Yetoccurrencesofshortagesanddroughts(干旱)arecausingfamineanddistressinsomeareas,andindustrialandagriculturalby-productsarepollutingwatersupplies.Sincetheworld'populationisexpectedtodoubleinthenext50years,manyexpertsthinkweareontheedgeofawidespreadwatercrisis.Butthatdoesn'thavetobetheoutcome.Watershortagesdonothavetotroubletheworld—ifwestartvaluingwatermorethanwehaveinthepast.Justaswebegantoappreciatepetroleummoreafterthe1970soilcrises,todaywemuststartlookingatwaterfromafresheconomicperspective.Wecannolongeraffordtoconsiderwateravirtuallyfreeresourceofwhichwecanuseasmuchaswelikeinanywaywewant.Instead,forallusesexceptthedomesticdemandofthepoor,governmentsshouldpricewatertoreflectitsactualvalue.Thismeanschargingafeeforthewateritselfaswellasforthesupplycosts.Governmentsshouldalsoprotectthisresourcebyprovidingwaterinmoreeconomicallyandenvironmentallysoundways.Forexample,oftenthecheapestwaytoprovideirrigation（浇灌）waterinthedrytropicsisthroughsmall-scaleprojects,suchasgatheringrainfallindepressions(凹地)andpumpingittonearbycropland.Nomatterwhatstepsgovernmentstaketoprovidewatermoreefficiently,theymustchangetheirinstitutionalandlegalapproachestowatersue.Ratherthanspreadcontrolamonghundredsoreventhousandsoflocal,regional,andnationalagenciesthatwatchvariousaspectsofwateruse,countriesshouldsetupcentralauthoritiestocoordinatewaterpolicy..Whatistherealcauseofthepotentialwatercrisis?Theworldpopulationisincreasingfasterandfaster.Halfoftheworld'swaterresourceshavebeenseriouslypolluted.Humanityhasnotplacedsufficientvalueonwaterresources.Onlyhalfoftheworld'swatercanbeused..Asindicatedinthepassage,thewaterproblemhasbeenexaggeratedbysomeexpertsinthefieldisunderestimatedbygovernmentorganizationsatdifferentlevelsposesachallengetothetechnologyofbuildingreservoirsisalreadyseriousincertainpartsoftheworld.Accordingtotheauthor,thewaterpriceshouldcorrespondtoitsrealvaluebereducedtotheminimumstimulatedomesticdemandtakeintoaccounttheoccurrencesofdroughts.Theauthorsaysthatinsomehotanddryareasitisadvisableto.buildbiglakestostorewaterconstructbigpumpingstationschannelwaterfromnearbyriverstocroplandbuildsmallandcheapirrigationsystemsInordertoraisetheefficiencyofthewatersupply,measuresshouldbetakento.centralizethemanagementofwaterresourcesincreasethesenseofresponsibilityofagenciesatalllevelsguaranteefullprotectionoftheenvironmentD)encouragelocalandregionalcontrolofwaterresourcesPassageFourWecanseehowtheproductlifecycleworksbylookingattheintroductionofinstantcoffee.Whenitwasintroduced,mostpeopledidnotlikeitaswellas“regula「"coffee,andittookseveralyearstogaingeneralacceptance(introductionstage).Atonepoint,though,instantcoffeegrewrapidlyinpopularity,andmanybrandswereintroduced(stageofrapidgrowth).Afterawhile,peoplebecameattachedtoonebrandandsalesleveledoff(stageofmaturity).Saleswentintoaslightdecline(衰退)whenfreeze-driedcoffeeswereintroduced(stageofdecline).Theimportanceoftheproductlifecycletomarketersisthis:Differentstagesintheproductlifecyclecallfordifferentstrategies.Thegoalistoextendproductlifesothatsalesandprofitsdonotdecline.Onestrategyiscalledmarketmodification.Itmeansthatmarketingmanagerslookfornewusersandmarketsections.Didyouknow,forexample,thatthebackpacksthatsomanystudentscarrytodaywereoriginallydesignedforthemilitary?Marketmodificationalsomeanssearchingforincreasedusageamongpresentcustomersorgoingforadifferentmarket,suchasseniorcitizens.Amarketermayre-positiontheproducttoappealtonewmarketsections.Anotherproductextensionstrategyiscalledproductmodification.Itinvolveschangingproductquality,features,orstyletoattractnewusersormoreusagefrompresentusers.Americanautomanufacturersareusingqualityimprovementasonewaytorecaptureworldmarkets.Note,also,howautomanufacturersoncechangedstylesdramaticallyfromyeartoyeartokeepdemandfromfalling..Accordingtothepassage,whenpeoplegrowfondofoneparticularbrandofaproduct,itssaleswilldecreasegraduallyremainatthesamelevelbecomeunstableimproveenormously.Thefirstparagraphtellsusthatanewproductis■noteasilyacceptedbythepublicofteninferiortooldonesatfirstoftenmoreexpensivethanoldonesusuallyintroducedtosatisfydifferenttastes.Marketersneedtoknowwhichofthefourstagesaproductisinsoasmoteitsproductionworkoutmarketingpoliciesspeedupitslifecycleincreaseitspopularity.Theauthormentionstheexampleof“backpacks”(Line4,Para.2)toshowtheimportanceofpleasingtheyoungaswellastheoldincreasingusageamongstudentsexploringnewmarketsectionsservingbothmilitaryandcivilneedsnordertorecovertheirshareoftheworldmarket,U.S.automakersare.improvingproductqualitylistingyourcurrentormostrecentexperiencefirst.Mostcountrieshavepreferencesaboutwhichformatismostacceptable.Ifyoufindnospecificguidelines,thegeneralpreferenceisforthereverse-chronologicalformat.”•IfyouaresubmittingyourresumeinEnglish,findoutiftherecipient(收件人)usesBritishEnglishorAmericanEnglishbecausetherearevariationsbetweenthetwoversions.Forexample,universityeducationisoftenreferredtoas/tertiaryeducation'intheUnitedKingdom,butthistermisalmostneverusedintheUnitedStates.Areaderwhoisunfamiliarwiththesevariationsmayassumethatyourresumecontainserrors.21.Companiesarehiringmoreforeignemployeesbecause.theyfindforeignemployeesareusuallymoretalentedtheyneedoriginalideasfromemployeeshiredoverseastheywanttoexpandtheirbusinessbeyondhomebordersincreasingproductfeaturesmodernizingproductstylere-positioningtheirproductinthemarketUnit5ll.C12.B13.A14.B15.D16.A17.C18.B19.A20.C21.D22.A23.C24.C25.B26.D27.D28.A29.B30.A20xx年12月英语四级阅读备考：全真试题⑷Unit4PassageOneDogsaresocialanimalsandwithoutpropertraining,theywillbehavelikewildanimals.Theywillsoilyourhouse,destroyyourbelongings,barkexcessively,fightotherdogsandevenbiteyou.Nearlyallbehaviorproblemsareperfectlynormaldogactivitiesthatoccuratthewrongtimeorplaceoraredirectedatthewrongthing.Thekeytopreventingortreatingbehaviorproblemsislearningtoteachthedogtoredirectitsnormalbehaviortooutletsthatareacceptableinthedomesticsetting.Oneofthebestthingsyoucandoforyourdogandyourselfistoobediencetrainit.Obediencetrainingdoesn'tsolveallbehaviorproblems,butitisthefoundationforsolvingjustaboutanyproblem.Trainingpensupalineofcommunicationbetweenyouandyourdog.Effectivecommunicationisnecessarytoinstructyourdogaboutwhatyouwantittodo.Trainingisalsoaneasywaytoestablishthesocialrankorder.Whenyourdogobeysasimplerequestof“comehere,sit,"itisshowingobedienceandrespectforyou.Itisnotnecessarytoestablishyourselfastopdogorleaderofthepack（群）byusingextrememeasure.Youcanteachyourdogitssubordinate（从属的）rolebyteachingittoshowsubmissiontoyou.Mostdogsloveperformingtricksforyoutopleasantlyacceptthatyouareincharge.Trainingshouldbefunandrewardingforyouandyourdog.Itcanenrichyourrelationshipandmakelivingtogethermoreenjoyable.Awell-traineddogismoreconfidentandcanmoresafelybeallowedagreateramountoffreedomthananuntrainedanimal.21.Behaviorproblemsofdogsarebelievetobejustpartoftheirnatureworseninmodernsocietyoccurwhentheygowildpresentathreattothecommunity.Theprimarypurposeofobediencetrainingistoteachthedogtoperformclevertricksmakethedogawareofitsowner'sauthorityprovidethedogwithoutletsforitswildbehaviorenablethedogtoregainitsnormalbehavior.Effectivecommunicationbetweenadoganditsowneris.essentialtosolvingthedog'sbehaviorproblemsthefoundationfordogstoperformtasksagoodwaytoteachthedognewtricksanextrememeasureinobediencetraining.Whydopetdogsloveperformingtricksfortheirmasters?Toavoidbeingpunished.Toshowtheiraffectionfortheirmasters.Towinleadershipofthedogpack.Toshowtheirwillingnesstoobey..Whenadoghasreceivedeffectiveobediencetraining,itsowner.cangivethedogmorerewardswillenjoyabetterfamilylifecangivethedogmorefreedomwillhavemoreconfidenceinhimselfPassageTwoEngineeringstudentsaresupposedtobeexamplesofpracticalityandrationality,butwhenitcomestomycollegeeducationIamanidealistandafool.InhighschoolIwantedtobeanelectricalengineerand,ofcourse,anysensiblestudentwithmyaimswouldhavechosenacollegewithalargeengineeringdepartment,famousreputationandlotsofgoodlabsandresearchequipment.Butthat'snotwhatIdid.Ichosetostudyengineeringatasmallliberal-arts(文科)universitythatdoesn'tevenofferamajorinelectricalengineering.Obviously,thiswasnotapracticalchoice;!camehereformorenoblereasons.Iwantedabroadeducationthatwouldprovidemewithflexibilityandavaluesystemtoguidemeinmycareer.Iwantedtoopenmyeyesandexpandmyvisionbyinteractingwithpeoplewhoweren'tstudyingscienceorengineering.Myparents,teachersandotheradultspraisedmeforsuchasensiblechoice.TheytoldmeIwaswiseandmaturebeyondmy18years,andIbelievedthem.IheadedofftocollegesureIwasgoingtohaveanadvantageoverthosestudentswhowenttobigengineering^factories^wheretheydidn'tcareifyouhavevaluesorwereflexible.Iwasgoingtobeacompleteengineer:technicalgeniusandsensitivehumanist（人文学者）allinone.NowI'mnotsosure.Somewherealongthewaymynobleidealscrashedintoreality,asallnobleidealseventuallydo.Afterthreeyearsofstrugglingtobalancemath,physicsandengineeringcourseswithliberal-artscourses,Ihavelearnedtherearereasonswhyfewengineeringstudentstrytoreconcile（协调）engineeringwithliberal-artscoursesincollege.Therealitythathasblockedmypathtobecomethetypicalsuccessfulstudentisthatengineeringandtheliberalartssimplydon't'mixaseasilyasIassumedinhighschool.Individuallytheyshapeapersoninverydifferentways;togethertheythreatentoconfuse.Thestruggletoreconcilethetwofieldsofstudyisdifficult..Theauthorchosetostudyengineeringatasmallliberal-artsuniversitybecausehe.wantedtobeanexampleofpracticalityandrationalityintendedtobeacombinationofengineerandhumanistwantedtocoordinateengineeringwithliberal-artscoursesincollegeintendedtobeasensiblestudentwithnobleideals.Accordingtotheauthor,byinteractingwithpeoplewhostudyliberalarts,engineeringstudentscanbalanceengineeringandtheliberalartsreceiveguidanceintheircareersbecomenobleidealistsbroadentheirhorizons28.lntheeyesoftheauthor,asuccessfulengineeringstudentisexpected.tohaveanexcellentacademicrecordtobewiseandmaturetobeimaginativewithavaluesystemtoguidehimtobeatechnicalgeniuswithawidevision.Theauthor'sexperienceshowsthathewascreativeambitiousunrealisticirrational.Theword"they"inr/...togethertheythreatentoconfuse.”(Line3,Para.5)refersto•engineeringandtheliberalartsrealityandnobleidealsflexibilityandavaluesystempracticalityandrationalityPassageThreePriscillaOuchida's^energy-efficient'houseturnedouttobeahorribledream.Whensheandherengineerhusbandmarriedafewyearsago,theybuilta$100,000,three-bedroomhomeinCalifornia.Tightlysealedtopreventairleaks,thehousewasequippedwithsmalldouble-paned（双层玻璃的）windowsandseveralotherenergy-savingfeatures.Problemsbeganassoonasthecouplemovedin,however.Priscilla/seyesburned.Herthroatwasconstantlydry.Shesufferedfromheadachesandcouldhardlysleep.Itwasasthoughshehadsuddenlydevelopedastrangeillness.Expertsfinallytracedthecauseofherillness.Thelevelofformaldehyde（甲醛）gasinherkitchenwastwicethemaximumallowedbyfederalstandardsforchemicalworkers.Thesourceofthegas?Hernewkitchencabinetsandwall-to-wallcarpeting.TheOuchidasarevictimsofindoorairpollution,whichisnotgivensufficientattentionpartlybecauseofthenation'sdrivetosaveenergy.Theproblemitselfisn'tnew."Theindoorenvironmentwasdirtylongbeforeenergyconservationcamealong,“saysMoschandreas,apollutionscientistatGeometTechnologiesinMaryland.“Energyconservationhastendedtoaccentuatethesituationinsomecases./zTheproblemappearstobemoretroublesomeinnewlyconstructedhomesratherthanoldones.Backinthedayswhenenergywascheap,homebuildersdidn'tworrymuchaboutunsealedcracks.Becauseofsuchleaks,theairinanaveragehomewasreplacedbyfreshoutdoorairaboutonceanhour.Asaresult,the