文章大意:本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了作者是一位大学教授,他意识到自己沉浸在理论中太久,无法胜任能产生实际成果的工作,非常羡慕能熟练地运用技能的工匠,于是他参加了成人晚间课程学习基础电学和布线技能。在学习过程中,他重新体验到了当学生的感受,克服自我怀疑,并发现学习新技能的意义。最终,在完成一个布线任务后,他体会到了不断学习的重要性,以及拓展视野带来的学习机会。
As a university professor, I have been buried in theory for so long that it recently struck me: I don’t know how to do anything. By “do” I mean something concrete, something done with my hands that produces an actual product.
The trades come to mind. Whenever I call an electrician, or a mason, or a carpenter, I look on in wonder as they smoothly employ their skills. For example, I recently had a new kitchen sink fixed by a young man. He hummed (哼曲子) as he worked at the pipes, with every confidence in his abilities. When he was done, he turned on the water and it flowed forth without any leak. Is this not a minor wonder?
All of this brought me to a decision: I signed up for an adult evening course at a local technical school. The title: Basic Electricity and Wiring. When we began, I felt immediately at a loss. In an instant I was a student again in all respects: The anxiety, the self-doubt, the wondering if I had made a mistake. So I worked my way through my basic wiring course. My initial impulse (冲动) to jump ship gradually disappeared, because I came to realize that I was, indeed, acquiring a useful new skill.
Later, each student would be offered a switch and a lighting fixture (固定装置). The task was to fix them in a door frame and wire them, but not turn on the switch until the instructor was present. There I was, a professor, standing like a fresh-faced schoolboy before my setup. When I was done, I raised my hand. The instructor, a master electrician, came over to look over my job and glanced at me. “Hit the switch,” he said.
It’s hard to describe that moment. But I did feel that something bigger than myself was at risk — I’m sure that learning is not something that is completed early in life, from which point we simply move on, constantly recycling what we already know. The horizon is broader than that, and the broader the horizon, the more opportunities there are to learn something new.
4. Why did the author attend an adult evening course?
A.He was frequently troubled by the repair work. |
B.He needed to strengthen his theoretical knowledge. |
C.He was very eager to improve his hands-on abilities. |
D.He wanted to learn the secrets of working wonders. |
5. What does the underlined phrase “jump ship” in paragraph 3 probably mean?
A.Work hard. | B.Drop out. | C.Calm down. | D.Give in. |
6. When the author hit the switch, he felt ________.
A.nervous and uncertain | B.frightened and excited |
C.confident and relaxed | D.annoyed and depressed |
7. What does the story intend to tell us?
A.All roads lead to Rome. | B.It’s never too late to learn. |
C.Many hands make light work. | D.The early bird catches the worm. |