Reading Assignment 12

College English Reading Practice 12Passage 1Engineering students are supposed to be examples of practicality and rationality, but when it comes to my college education I am an idealist and a fool. In high school I wanted to be an electrical engineer and, of course, any sensible student with my aims would have chosen a college with a large engineering department, famous reputation and lots of good labs and research equipment. But that’s not what I did.I chose to study engineering at a small liberal-arts (文科) university that doesn’t even offer a major in electrical engineering. Obviously, this was not a practical choice; I came here for more noble reasons. I wanted a broad education that would provide me with flexibility and a value system to guide me in my career. I wanted to open my eyes and expand my vision by interacting with people who weren’t studying science or engineering. My parents, teachers and other adults praised me for such a sensible choice. They told me I was wise and mature beyond my 18 years, and I believed them.I headed off to college sure I was going to have an advantage over those students who went to big engineering “factories” where they didn’t care if you have values or were flexible. I was going to be a complete engineer: technical genius and sensitive humanist (人文学者) all in one.Now I’m not so sure. Somewhere along the way my noble ideals crashed into reality, as all noble ideals eventually do. After three years of struggling to balance math, physics and engineering courses with liberal-arts courses, I have learned there are reasons why few engineering students try to reconcile (协调) engineering with liberal-arts courses in college.The reality that has blocked my path to become the typical successful student is that engineering and the liberal arts simply don’t’ mix as easily as I assumed in high school. Individually they shape a person in very different ways; together they threaten to confuse. The struggle to reconcile the two fields of study is difficult.(1) The author chose to study engineering at a small liberal-arts university because he ________.A.wanted to be an example of practicality and rationalityB.intended to be a combination of engineer and humanistC.wanted to coordinate engineering with liberal-arts courses in collegeD.intended to be a sensible student with noble ideals(2) According to the author, by interacting with people who study liberal arts,engineering students can ________.A.balance engineering and the liberal artsB.receive guidance in their careersC.become noble idealistsD.broaden their horizons(3) In the eyes of the author, a successful engineering student is expected ________.A.to have an excellent academic recordB.to be wise and matureC.to be imaginative with a value system to guide himD.to be a technical genius with a wide vision(4) The author’s experience shows that he was ________.A.creativeB.ambitiousC.unrealisticD.irrational(5) The word “they” in “... together they threaten to confuse.” (Line 3, Para. 5) refers to ________.A.engineering and the liberal artsB.reality and noble idealsC.flexibility and a value systemD.practicality and rationalityPassage 2Rae Armantrout, who has been a poetry professor at the University of California San Diego(UCSD) for two decades, has won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for her most recent book, “Versed”.“I’m delighted and amazed at how much media recognition that the Pulitzer brings, as compared to even the National Book Critics Award, which I was also surprised and delighted to win,” said Armantrout.“For a long time, my writing has been just below the media radar, and to have this kind of attention, suddenly, with my 10th book, is really s urprising.”Armantrout, a native Californian, received her bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley, where she studied with noted poet Denise Levertov, and her master’s in creative writing from San Francisco State University. She is a founding member of Language Poets, a group in American poetry that analyzes the way language is used and raises questions to make the reader think.In March, she won the National Book Critics Circle Award for “Versed.”“This book has gotten more attention,” Armantrout said, “but I don’t feel as if it’s better.”The first half of “Versed” focuses on the dark forces taking hold of the United States as it fought the war against Iraq. The second half looks at the dark forces casting a shadow over her own life after Armantrout was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.Armantrout was shocked to learn she had won the Pulitzer but many of her colleagues were not. “Rae Armantrout is a unique voice in American poetry,” said Seth Lerer, head of Arts and Humanities at UCSD.“Versed”, published by the Wesleyan University Press, did appear in a larger printing than her earlier works, which is about 2,700 copies. The new edition is scheduled to appear in May.(1) According to Rae Armantrout, ____________.A.her 10th book is much betterB.her winning the Pulitzer is unexpectedC.the media is surprised at her worksD.she likes being recognized by her readers(2) Which of the following is true of Rae Armantrout?A.She published a poetry textbook.B.She used to teach Denise Levertov.C.She started a poets’ group with others.D.She taught creative writing at UC Berkeley.(3) What can we learn about “Versed”?A.It consists of three parts.B.It is mainly about the American army.C.It is a book published two decades ago.D.It partly concerns the poet’s own life.(4) Rae Armantrout’s colleagues think that she ____________.A.should write moreB.has a sweet voiceC.deserves the prizeD.is a strange professor(5) What can we learn from the text?A.About 2,700 cop ies of “Versed” will be printed.B.Cancer made Armantrout stop writing.C.Armantrout got her degrees at UCSD.D.“Versed” has been awarded twice.。