2014年职称英语试题(理工A)
主讲人：王霞
词汇选项
1. This was disaster on cosmic scale.
A. modest
B. commercial
C. huge
D. national
cosmic：极其广阔的
2. New secretaries came and went with monotonous regularity.
A. amazing
B. depressing
C. predictable
D. dull
monotonous：单调的，枯燥乏味的
词汇选项
3. A person’s wealth is often in inverse proportion to their happiness.
A. equal
B. certain
C. large
D. opposite
inverse：相反的
4. His professional career spanned 16 years.
A. started
B. changed
C. lasted
D. moved
spanned：跨越[时间]
词汇选项
5. The symptoms of the disease manifested themselves ten days later.
A. eased
B. improved
C. relieved
D. appeared
提示：该题出现出题错误
原题：
The symptoms of the disease manifested themselves ten years later.
A. eased (减轻，缓解)
B. improved（提高改进）
B. relieved（减轻，缓解） D. appeared（出现）
解析：答案选项D是不及物动词，后面不能带宾语。
词汇选项
6. The group does not advocate the use of violence.
A. limit
B. support
C. regulate
D. oppose
advocate：提倡，拥护
7. She felt that she had done her good deed for the day.
A. act
B. homework
C. justice
D. model
词汇选项
8. Some of the larger birds can remain stationary in the air for several minutes.
A. motionless
B. silent
C. seated
D. true
stationary：静止的，固定的
9. There was an inclination to treat geography as a less important subject.
A. point
B. result
C. finding
D. tendency
inclination：倾向
词汇选项
10. His stomach felt hollow with fear.
A. sincere
B. respectful
C. empty
D. terrible
hollow：空的
11. The committee was asked to render a report on the housing situation.
A. copy
B. publish
C. summarize
D. furnish
render：提供
词汇选项
12. That uniform makes the guards look absurd.
A. serious
B. beautiful
C. impressive
D. ridiculous
absurd：荒谬的，荒唐的
13. The department deferred the decision for six months.
A. put off
B. arrived at
C. abided by
D. protested against
deferred：推迟
词汇选项
14. The original experiment cannot be exactly duplicated .
A. invented
B. reproduced
C. designed
D. reported
duplicated：复制
15. The country was torn apart by strife.
A. conflict
B. poverty
C. war
D. economy
strife：冲突
阅读判断——Experience the world in 3D game
16. The game developed by Dassault Systemes is the first 3D game
recreating（再现） the vision（视觉） of different species.
答案为：A
文章中相关句:Now you can look through their eyes with the first
3D game that recreates the vision of different species …. The
online simulation, created by the French 3D design company
Daasault, with the guidance of …. mimics (模仿) the vision of
five animals --- cats,…
阅读判断——Experience the world in 3D game 17. Dassult’s 3D software takes different perspective like color
perception and angle of vision into account.
答案为：A
文章中的相关句：due to differences in field of view, color perception and night vision, for example, … be drastically
different from species to species….. Dassault’s 3 D allows …
be modified by adding blur(模糊区域) or changing the colors,
angle of vision and depth of…
阅读判断——Experience the world in 3D game
18. The animals’ views in the software are the same as those in reality.
答案为：B
文章中的相关句：“We used virtual cameras to precisely
simulate larger viewing angles but the result made people
nauseous（令人作呕的）,” says Schmidt-Morand. “So we
tweaked（微调） the model to give a sense of the wider view
without sticking to(忠于) reality.”
阅读判断——Experience the world in 3D game
19. Dogs have larger viewing angles than humans.
答案为A
文章中的相关句：Haws have more detailed vision than ours, whereas dogs are better at seeing movement and have a wider field of view.
阅读判断——Experience the world in 3D game
20. It takes the team the longest time to recreate the rat’s view because
they’re near sighted.
答案为C
阅读判断——Experience the world in 3D game
21. The team is working on recreating the vision of more animals. 答案为B.
答案相关句：If there is interest from schools and zoos， the
team hopes to recreate the vision of more animals.
阅读判断——Experience the world in 3D game
22. Schmidt-Morand’s favorite animal is cat.
答案为C
概括大意与完成句子（暂缺）
阅读理解——A new strategy to overcome breast cancer 31. All of the following factors relating to cancer risk were mentioned in
the passage EXCEPT ______.
答案为A
B. regular walking
C. recreational activity
D．lifestyle choices
阅读理解——A new strategy to overcome breast cancer
32. It can be inferred from Dr. Alpa Patel’s study that ___.
B. daily walk could cut the chance of breast cancer.
文章中的相关句：We were pleased to find that without any
other recreational activity, just walking one hour a day was
associated with a lower risk of breast cancer in these women.
阅读理解——A new strategy to overcome breast cancer
33. Dr. Alpa Patel was ___.
A. head of the survey study
文章中的相关句：Dr. Alpa Patel, a senior epidemiologist(流行病
学家) at the American Cancer Society is Atlanta, Georgia, who
led the study,….
2015职称英语综合类B级真题及答案 第1部分词汇选项(第1-15题，每题1分，共15分) 下面每个句子中均有1个词或短语划有底横线，请为每处划线部分确定一个意义最为接近的选项。 1. The organization was bold enough to face the press. A. pleased B. powerful C. brave D .sensible 2. I will not tolerate that sort of behavior in my class. A. accept B. control C. observe D. regulate 3. I realized to my horror that I had forgotten the present. A limit B. fear C. power D. fool 4. Most people find rejection hard to accept. A. excuse B. client C. destiny D. refusal 5. She's extremely competent and industrious. A. hardworking B. honest C. objective D. independent 6. The doctors did not reveal the truth to him. A. hide B .handle C. disclose D. establish 7. He tried to assemble his thoughts. A. clear B. share C. gather D. spare 8. The law carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. A. message B. punishment C. guilt D. obligation 9. Prisoners were kept in the most appalling conditions. A. flexible B. terrible C. reasonable D. serious 10. These products are inferior to those we brought last year. A. poorer than B. narrower than C. larger than D. richer than 11. The political situation in the region has deteriorated rapidly. A. improved B. changed C. worsened D. developed 12. There was a simultaneous trial taking place in the next building. A. coexisting B. fair C. full D .pubic 13. They're petitioning for better facilities for the disabled on public transport. A. requesting B.planning C. preparing D. looking 14. He said some harsh words about his brother. A. unkind B. proper C. normal D. unclear 15. We were attracted by the lure of quick money. A. amount B. supply C. sum D. temp 第2部分: 阅读判断(第16-22题,每题1分,共7分) 下面的短文后列出了7个句子，请根据短文的内容对每个句子做出判断：如果该句提供的是正确信息，请选择A: 如果该句提供的是错误信息，请选择B; 如果该句的信息问中没有提及，请选择C。 Living History at Jamestown Settlement A woman in Native American clothes is sitting in the sun, sewing a dress from skin. Inside a building, a colonist is making a wooden chair, using very simple tools. And all around, tourists are taking pictures with their digital (数码的) cameras. This is Jamestown Settlement today.
职称英语查词典的技巧 职称英语是闭卷考，但允许考生携带词典进入考场。关于词典，国家有明确的规定，以下词典不允许带入考场： 有职称字样的词典不要带入考场; 针对职称英语考试编写的词典不能带入考场; 电子出版物，即电子词典不能带入考场。 其它的词典国家没有明确的规定。因此建议尽量选择具备同义词、收词量相对较大的词典。 此外，能否取胜职称英语，掌握查词典的技巧，尤其是合理分配查词典的时间也是很关键的。 在以往的`考试中，很多考生把词典当成“救命稻草”，抱着一大堆各种类型的词典进考场。但往往不是多数词典派不上用场，就是因为翻词典而浪费了大量的时间无法做完 ___，因此，建议:要有针对性地带词典。例如针对英语考试中的第一部分词汇题，老师建议考生带一本同义词词典或双解词典，这类词典的特点是用几个同义词注解某一英文单词，考生可以非常方便地在注解中找到答案。
其次，为了节省时间，考生最好是带自己经常使用、习惯了其编排规律的词典。在以往的考试中，甚至有少数考生对英语词典中字母表排列顺序的规律都不了解，这等于把这一得力工具浪费了。 综上所述，带一本自己常用的，正规的双解词典就好了，因为是去参加考试，不是去翻字典。 对于词汇选择题，最好从B、C两个选项查起。根据美国权威机构通过对标准化考试的研究与分析，选择题的4个选项中，B、C两个选项是正确答案的可能性更高。从这2个选项查起，更能节约考试时间。 重点查阅单词的常用解释。单词与汉语一样，一个单词可能同时有好几个解释，但是职称英语考试中一般都只会考察单词的常用意思，因此有多个解释的单词只需查阅其前三个解释即可。 一旦将答案确定，不要再查询其它单词，以免浪费时间。有些考生希望能确认或是不太肯定所选择答案，往往就把4个选项均查询了一遍，不仅浪费了时间，也可能将原本的正确答案修改了，第一感觉是很重要的!
2015年职称英语理工类B级考试真题 第一部分：词汇选项 1.The organization was bold enough to face the press. A.pleased B.powerful C.brave D.sensible 参考答案：C 2.I will not tolerate that sort of behavior in my class. A.accept B.control C.observe D.regulate 参考答案：A 3.I realized to my horror that I had forgotten the present. A.limit B.fear C.power D.fool 参考答案：B 4.Most people find rejection hard to accept. A.excuse B.client C.destiny D.refusal 参考答案：D 5.She's extremely competent and industrious. A.hardworking B.honest C.objective D.independent 参考答案：A 6.The doctors did not reveal the truth to him. A.hide B.handle C.disclose D.establish 参考答案：C 7.He tried to assemble his thoughts. A.clear B.share C.gather D.spare 参考答案：C
8.The law carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. A.message B.punishment C.guilt D.obligation 参考答案：B 9.Prisoners were kept in the most appalling conditions. A.flexible B.terrible C.reasonable D.serious 参考答案：B 10.These products are inferior to those we brought last year. A.poorer than B.narrower than https://www.doczj.com/doc/9f3139350.html,rger than D.richer than 参考答案：A 11.The political situation in the region has deteriorated rapidly. A.improved B.changed C.worsened D.developed 参考答案：C 12.There was a simultaneous trial taking place in the next building. A.coexisting B.fair C.full D.pubic 参考答案：A 13.They're petitioning for better facilities for the disabled on public transport. A.requesting B.planning C.preparing D.looking 参考答案：A 14.He said some harsh words about his brother. A.unkind B.proper C.normal D.unclear 参考答案：A 15.We were attracted by the lure of quick money. A.amount
2013年职称英语考试理工类复习笔记 一、动词 从一定意义上讲，英语语法就是动词的语法，因此，掌握动词的特性、变化、句型是学习英语语法的重中之重。为了能更好地理解下面的讲课内容，首先要搞清动词的几个基本概念。 1) be 动词和do动词：be动词也称状态动词，用于说明状态或性质，主要用于构成英语的主系表句型;do动词也称为行为动词，分及物动词和不及物动词; 2) 及物动词和不及物动词：不及物动词后面不跟宾语, 也没有被动语态; 及物动词后面一定要有宾语; 3) 双宾语(直接宾语和间接宾语)结构和复合宾语(宾语+ 宾语补足语)结构：比较下面两个句子： My mother made me a cake.(母亲给我做了块蛋糕。) My father made me a doctor. (父亲把我培养成一名医生。) 第一句是双宾语结构，即My mother made a cake for me. 第二句是复合宾语结构，其句法功能为：My father made me (to) be a doctor (I am a doctor). 说明复合宾语结构中，宾语和宾语补足语之间有"主谓关系".
4) 情态动词：must, should, ought to, can, may, need, used to 等动词称为情态动词，有三大特征：A. 不受主语人称和数的影响，如：He may go now. / May I go now? 句中may的形式不变;B. 否定时在后面加not, 如：You ought not to have cheated her. C. 与另一动词连用，中间不用+ " to ", 如上举例。 请根据上述原则，(从语法角度)说出以下那种表达方式是对的： A. She needs to see a doctor. B. She doesn't need to see a doctor. C. Does she need to see a doctor? D. She needs not see a doctor. E. She needn't see a doctor. F. She doesn't need see a doctor. G. She needs see a doctor. 从语法角度看，A、B、C、E是对的。 5) 助动词：帮助实意动词构成某种结构的词，如: He did come yesterday; I saw him in the office.(他昨天确实来了;我在办公室见到他的。——表示强调) 五个基本句型 考研网校医药网校外语网校公务员网校网络课堂网上学习建筑网校
2015职称英语综合类B级真题答案(词汇选项) 第1部分词汇选项(第1~15题，每题1分，共15分) 下面每个句子中均有1个词或短语划有底横线，请为每处划线部分确定一个意义最为接近的选项。 1. The organization was bold enough to face the press. A. pleased B. powerful C. brave D .sensible 2. I will not tolerate that sort of behavior in my class. A. accept B. control C. observe D. regulate 3. I realized to my horror that I had forgotten the present. A limit B. fear C. power D. fool 4. Most people find rejection hard to accept. A. excuse B. client C. destiny D. refusal 5. She's extremely competent and industrious. A. hardworking B. honest C. objective D. independent 6. The doctors did not reveal the truth to him. A. hide B .handle C. disclose D. establish 7. He tried to assemble his thoughts. A. clear B. share C. gather D. spare 8. The law carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. A. message B. punishment C. guilt D. obligation 9. Prisoners were kept in the most appalling conditions. A. flexible B. terrible C. reasonable D. serious
职称英语核心词汇汇总
职称英语考试备考技巧 一、词汇： 需要考生在最后阶段练习查字典，建议一天练习查60对，而且一个词汇题要反、正查，同时也要进行职称考试中常考词汇的记忆，这样可以在考试时提高速度，节省时间。 词汇题一般情况下仅凭字典一般也能做对，因此考生对自己不认识、不熟悉或没有绝对把握的题一定要通过字典来确认，从而确保词汇题100%的正确率。特别提醒考生，考试时要带上一本带有同义词的词典。且词典不能含有职称、考试等字样，更不能带电子词典。 二、阅读判断： 答题时需掌握一条原则，就是在文章中有明确提出的才能确定为对。题目中若出现must、only、all、always等时，答案一般不会是对的。 除上面的原则外，一般根据下列原则和规律也可以确定正确答案。选择A、B或C的三种情况： 选A的情况：如果某题干与原文信息完全一致或基本一致 选B的情况：如果某题干与原文信息完全相反 选C的情况：如果某题干部分或局部信息在原文中未提到 三、概括大意和完成句子： 概括大意要先看选项，寻找关键词，确定所考段落。完成句子则要根据所给的短句进行选择，比较好的方法是找同类动词。 同时读每段话时，要抓住该段话的主题句和核心词汇，正确答案常常是主题句的改写。读每段话时，并不是该段话全要仔细阅读。这样，既浪费时间，也不容易抓住重点。应该抓住该段话的主题句。 四、阅读理解： 首先要重点掌握教材上的阅读理解的重点文章的背诵，来抓住出自教材上的分数，这是顺利通过考试很关键的一步。
同时充分利用老师在课上讲的解题技巧，如大标题做题法、红花绿叶原则、顺序出题原则、关键词回归定位法通过做模拟试题来进行解题技巧的演练和应用。 在做题时要注意：搞清主旨题、细节题、推理题、逻辑关系题、观点态度题。注意标题、首尾段、首尾句、逻辑关系处、细节处等出题点；在阅读时见到日期、数量等要先做好标记，这样有重点有理有节的解题，才有可能取得满意的成绩。 五、补全短文： 要先看标题定文体，再看选项，观察选项时应注意抓主干，猜大意，弄清选项大意是表示定义、因果、例子还是措施；不要放过代词、专用名字、连接词、数字等特征词；然后回头再去看课文，明确1-5的位置。 解每道题时只需要阅读该题所在段落，不需要阅读其他段落。往往通过阅读该题目的前后句就能够确定答案，在考试时，应该注意利用以下前后句子存在的关系来做题： (1)利用转折关系 (2)利用归纳总结关系 (3)利用总分关系 (4)利用并列关系 六、完形填空： (1)掌握教材上的文章内容，尤其是2013年新增文章。把这些文章在考前一个月内，争取背到“滚瓜烂熟”，这样，就算考试时怎样变化都可以应付。 (2)语法知识的总结和固定搭配、词组的记忆。这样在做题时，阅读整篇文章，考生才能从头判断每个空所缺的词的语言形式，如词类、时态、语态，并判断该词应具有的符合文章上下文的词义，最后从给出的四个选项中，选出在语法与词义上均与原文相符合的一个。除掌握以上解题技巧外，考生最好配合在模拟真实的考试时间进行模拟试题的演练，这样不但可以直接掌握复习效果，还可以迅速找到自己的薄弱环节，通过单项训练，逐一提高成绩。最后，提醒考生，在抓紧时间复习的同时要放松心情，以轻松的心态迎接考试。预祝顺利通过考试！ 全国职称英语考试必过秘籍（免背单词+免读全文版） 1、试题概况及答题顺序 1.1、必杀技：见下表中“答题顺序”：
2013年职称英语真题理工C（含答案解析） 第1部分：词汇选项（第1～15题，每题1分，共15分） 下面每个句子中均有1个词或短语划有横线，请为每处划线部分确定1个意义最为接近的选项。 1. I tried to detach myself from the reality of these terrible events. A. bring B. separate C. put D. set 2. The odd thing was that he didn’t recognize me. A. real B. whole C. same D. strange 3. That performance was pretty impressive. A. completely B. very C. Beautifully D. equally 4. I grabbed his arm and made him turn to look at me. A. throw B. seized C. broke D. stretched 5. The frame needs to be strong enough to support the engine. A. structure B. bottom C. Surface D. top 6. We found shelter from the rain under the trees. A. defense B. protection C standing D. room 7. “There is no other choice.” She sa id in a harsh voice. A. firm B. soft C. deep D. unkind 8. Traffic reaches its rush hour between 8:00 and 9:00 in the morning. A. border B. goal C. level D. peak 9. We have to change the public’s perception that money is everything. A. sight B. belief C. interest D. pressure 10. This was an unexceptionally brutal attack.
2015职称英语综合类C真题及答案(完整版)第1部分：词汇选项(第1-15题，每题1分，共15分) 下面每个句子中均有1个词语或短语画有底横线，请为每处划线部分确定1个意义最为接近的选项。 1 Railways are the most important mode of transport for the economy. A way B factor C objective D source 2 The law carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. A message B punishment C guilt D obligation 3 He said some harsh words about his brother. A proper B normal C unclear D unkind 4 I am going as a favor to Ann because I have to. A partner B help C drive D guide 5 We need to identify the potential problem. A man B possible C immediate D common 6 When did you first encounter these difficulties? A create B experience C present D resolve 7 Don’ｔ tempt thieves by leaving valuable clearly visible. A attract B alarm C catch D spot 8 There is a need for radical changes in education.
2015年职称英语理工类C级考试真题及答案第一部分：词汇选项 1. The weather last summer was awful. A. bad B. fair C. dry D. hot 参考答案：A 2. The law carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. A. message B. guilt C. obligation D. punishment 参考答案：D 3. My piano playing has improved significantly since I had a new teacher. A. definitely B. generally C. certainly D. greatly 参考答案：D 4. There is a need for radical changes in education.
A. revolutionary B. long-term C. short-term D. systematic 参考答案：A 5. It frustrates me that I‘m not able to put any of my ideas into practice. A. discourages B. shows C. surprises D. frightens 参考答案：A 6. I realized to my horror that I had forgotten the present. A. limit B. fear C. power D. fool 参考答案：B 7. He tried to assemble his thoughts. A. gather B. clear C. share D. spare
2013年度全国职称英语等级考试理工类（B级）试题及参考答案 职称英语考试历年真题汇总>>https://www.doczj.com/doc/9f3139350.html,/zZnTL （复制链接，点击“打开链接”即可访问） 更多精品备考资料在职称英语考试交流群：151033695 第1部分：词汇选项(第1～15题，每题1分，共15分) 下面每个句子中均有1个词或短语划有横线，请为每处划线部分确定1个意义最为接近的选项。 1. Come out, or I’ll bust the door down. A shut B break C set D beat 2. The police will need to keep a wary eye on this area of town. A naked B blind C cautious D private 3. The rules are too rigid to allow for human error. A general B inflexible C complex D direct 4. It seemed incredible that he had been there a week already. A right B unbelievable C obvious D unclear 5. These animals migrate south annually in search of food. A explore B inhabit C prefer D travel 6. Rumors began to circulate about his financial problems. A send B hear C confirm D spread 7. She came across three children sleeping under a bridge. A found by chance B passed by C took a notice of D woke up 8. I have little information as regards her fitness for the post. A about B at C with D from 9. As a politician, he knows how to manipulate public opinion. A express B divide C influence D voice 10. He was tempted by the high salary offered by the company. A taught B kept C changed D attracted 11. He paused, waiting for her to digest the information. A withhold B exchange C understand D contact 12. Make sure the table is securely anchored. A repaired B cleared C booked D fixed 13. She gets aggressive when she is drunk.
2015年职称英语考试综合类B 级试题及参考答案
2015职称英语综合类B级真题答案(词汇选项) 第1部分词汇选项(第1~15题，每题1分，共15分) 下面每个句子中均有1个词或短语划有底横线，请为每处划线部分确定一个意义最为接近的选项。 1. The organization was bold enough to face the press. A. pleased B. powerful C. brave D .sensible 2. I will not tolerate that sort of behavior in my class. A. accept B. control C. observe D. regulate 3. I realized to my horror that I had forgotten the present. A limit B. fear C. power D. fool 4. Most people find rejection hard to accept. A. excuse B. client C. destiny D. refusal 5. She's extremely competent and industrious. A. hardworking B. honest C. objective D. independent 6. The doctors did not reveal the truth to him. A. hide B .handle C. disclose D. establish 7. He tried to assemble his thoughts. A. clear B. share C. gather D. spare 8. The law carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. A. message B. punishment C. guilt D. obligation 9. Prisoners were kept in the most appalling conditions. A. flexible B. terrible C. reasonable D. serious
https://www.doczj.com/doc/9f3139350.html,/ .375. School Lunch Research has shown that over half the children in Britain who take their own lunches to school do not eat properly in the middle of the day.In Britain schools have to provide meals at lunchtime.Children can choose to bring their own food or have lunch at the school canteen. One shocking finding of this research is that school meals are much healthier than lunches prepared by parents.There are strict standards for the preparation of school meals,which have to include one portion of fruit and one of vegetables,as well as meat,a dairy item and starchy food like bread or pasta.Lunchboxes examined by researchers contained sweet drinks,crisps and chocolate bars.Children consume twice as much sugar as they should at lunch time. The research will provide a better understanding of why the percentage of overweight students in Britain has increased in the last decade.Unfortunately,the government cannot criticise parents,but it can remind them of the nutritional value of milk,fruit and vegetables.Small changes in their children’s diet can_affect their future health.Children can easily develop bad eating_habits at this age,and parents are the only ones who can prevent it.A Powerful Influence There can be no doubt at all that the Internet has made a huge difference1to our lives.Parents are worried that children spend too much time playing on the Internet,hardly ever doing anything else in their spare time.Naturally,parents are curious to find out why the Internet is so attractive,and they want to know if it can be harmful for their children.Should parents worry if their children are spending that much time staring at their computers? Obviously,if children are bent over their computers for hours,absorbed in some game,instead of doing their homework,then something is wrong.Parents and children could decide how much use the child should_make of the Internet,and the child should give his or her word that it won’t interfere with homework.If the child is not holding to this arrangement,the parent can take more drastic steps dealing with a child’s use of the Internet is not much different from negotiating any other sort of bargain about behaviour.Any parent who is_seriously alarmed about a child’s behaviour should make an appointment to discuss the matter with a teacher.Spending time in front of the screen does not necessarily affect a child’s performance at school.Even if a child is absolutely crazy about using the Internet,he or she is probably just going through a phase,and in a few months there will be something else to worry about!The Old Gate In the Middle Ages the vast majority of European cities had walls around them.This was partly for defensive reasons but another factor was the need to keep out anyone regarded as undesirable,like people with contagious diseases.The Old City of London gates were all demolished by the end of the 18th century.The last of London’s gates was removed a century ago,but by a stroke of luck,it was never destroyed. This gate is,in actual fact,not called a gate at all;its name is Temple Bar,and it marked the boundary between the Old City of London and Westminster.In 1878the Council of London took the Bar down,numbered the stones and put the gate in storage because its design was unfashionable it was expensive to maintain and it was blocking the traffic. The Temple Bar Trust was set up in the 1970’s with the intention of returning the gate home.The aim of the Trust is the preservation of the nation’s architectural heritage.Transporting the gate will mean physically pulling it down,stone by stone,removing and rebuilding it near St Paul’s Cathedral.Most of the facade of the gate will probably be replaced,though there is a good chance that the basic structure will be sound.The hardest job of all,however,will be to recreate the statues of the monarchs that once stood on top of the gate.Family History In an age when technology is developing faster than ever before,many people are being attracted to the idea of looking back into the past.One way they can do this is by investigating their own family history.They can try to find out more about where their families came from and what they did.This is now a fast-growing hobby,especially in countries with a fairly short history,like Australia and the United States. It is one thing to spend some time going through a book on family history and to take the decision to investigate your own family’s past.It is quite another to carry out the research work successfully.It is easy to set about it in a disorganized way and_cause yourself many problems which could have been avoided with a little forward planning. If your own family stories tell you that you are connected with a famous character,whether hero or criminal,do not let this idea take over your research.Just treat it as an interesting possibility.A simple system for collecting and storing your information will be adequate to start with;a more complex one may only get in your way.The most important thing,though,is to get started.Who knows what you might find? Helen and Martin With a thoughtful sigh,Helen turned away from the window and walked back to her favourite armchair.Would her brother never arrive?For a brief moment,she wondered if she really cared that much. Over the years Helen had given up waiting for Martin to take an interest in her.Her feelings for him had gradually weakened until now,as she sat waiting for him,she experienced no more than a sister’s curiosity to see what had become of her brother. Almost without warning,Martin had lost his job with a busy publishing company after spending the last eight years in New York as a key figure in the US office.Somehow the two of them hadn’t bothered to keep in touch and,left alone,Helen had slowly found