2015年职称英语考试理工类教材对比
中石油职称英语考试模拟试题(五) I. Vocabulary 1. He is a man you can rely on. He never goes back on his __. A. word B. words C. permission D. saying 2. After second thought, she ___a better solution. A. came up with B. added up to C. put up with D. made up for 3. The club has___ a new rule allowing women to join. A. brought forth B. associated with C. turned over D. laid down 4. The performance will begin __ at eight thirty. A. precisely B. consequently C. accordingly D. exceedingly 5. It's very discourteous to __ during some one's conversation. A. inspect B. interrupt C. interfere D. instruct 6. His joke went too far. It was more than 1 could __. A. get rid of B. put up with C. keep up with D. do away with 7. Will all those ___the proposal raise their hands? A. in relation to B. in excess of C. in contrast to D. in favor of 8. At the gathering, he talked __ about the matter, dampening everyone’s spirits. A. in detail B. with ease C. on end D. in a confusing way 9. We cannot always ___the wind, so new windmills should be so designed that they can also be driven by water. A. hang on B. count on C. hold on D. come on 10. I don't want to___ you in if you are what you say.
I ideal[]adj.①理想的，完美的‖②空想的，观念的 n.理想 【例句】She is a woman of ideals.她是个有理想的人。 【派生】ideally adv.理想地；观念上地 idealism n.唯心主义，理想主义；理念论 identical[]adj.相同的，同一的 【例句】We are identical in our views of what should be done.我们双方对应当怎么办的看法是一致的。 【词组】be identical to/with和…的一模一样 【助记】ident(同一性)+ical(形容词后缀)→同一的 identity[]n.①身份，本体，特征‖②同一(性)，一致 【例句】I wanted a sense of my own identity.我需要确立自身的个性意识。 【助记】联想：请输入您的ID；i+dent(牙齿)+ity(表性质)→通过牙齿来确定身份 【派生】identical adj.同一的；完全相同的 identical n.完全相同的事物 identification n.鉴定，识别；认同；身份证明
【例句】Men are left idle when machines break down.机器坏了时，工人们便无事可做了。 【词组】idle away浪费光阴，虚度时间 【助记】i(爱)+d(谐音：逗)+le(拼音：乐)→空闲的人爱逗乐 ignorant[]adj.①不知道的‖②无知的，愚昧的 【例句】They are not so ignorant as you might suppose.他们并不像你认为的那么无知。 【词组】be ignorant of不了解，不知道 【助记】ignore(忽视)+an(形容词后缀)→所有事情都忽视→无知 【派生】ignorance n.无知，愚昧；不知，不懂 illegal[]adj.不合法的，非法的，犯法的 【例句】It’s illegal to park your car here.把车停在这儿是违法的。 【助记】il+legal。不合法的，违法的 illustrate[]vt.①举例说明，阐明‖②加插图于 【例句】His story illustrates her true generosity very clearly.他所说的事很清楚地说明了她确实慷慨大方。 【词组】illustrate with用…来说明；给…加(插图) 【助记】il+lust(光，照亮)+rate→用图说明
2015综合A真题及答案 第一部分词汇选项 1. I will not tolerate that sort of behavior in my class a. control b. observe c. regulate d. accept 2 .she showed a natural aptitude for the work. a. sense b. talent c. flavor d. taste 3. most people find rejection hard to accept. a. Excuse b. client c. refusal d. destiny 4. The organization was bold enough to face the press. a. Pleased b. powerful c. brave d. sensible 5. They were locked in mortal combat. a. Deadly b. open c. actual d. active 6. We were attracted by the lure of quick money. a. Amount b. supply c. tempt d. sum 7. The procedures were perceived as complex and less transparent. a. Clear b. necessary c. special d. correct 8. The stock exchange is in turmoil following a huge wave of selling. a. Service b. danger c. disorder d. threat 9 .He believed that Europe must change or it will perish. A. Survive b. last c. die d. move 10. There was a simultaneous trial taking place in the next building. a. Fair b. full c. coexisting d. public 11. They promote assimilation of ethnic groups into the main-stream culture. a. Policy b. value c. equality d. integration 12. A salesman’s cardinal rule is to satisfy customers. a. Principal b. official c. simple d. legal 13. I must compliment you on your handling of a very difficult situation. a. Silence b. praise c. assure d. complain 14. We lived for years in a perpetual state of fear. a. Emotional b. nervous c. terrible d. continuous 15. The starving children were a pathetic sight. a. Common b. unexpected c. unforgettable d. pitiful
一、职称英语阅读理解文章（理工类）译文(参加理工A、B、C级考试需要掌握文章) (3) 第一篇福特放弃电动汽车 (3) Ford Abandons Electric Vehicles (3) 第二篇世界原油产量可能提前十年达到峰值 (4) World Crude Oil Production May Peak a Decade Earlier Than Some Predict (5) 第三篇公民科学家 (5) Citizen Scientists (6) 第四篇汽车技术 (6) Motoring Technology (7) 第五篇深夜喝咖啡 (7) Late-night Drinking (8) 第六篇编制灯光 (8) Weaving with Light (9) 第七篇用糖为手机发电 (9) Sugar Power for Cell Phones (10) 第八篇引人注目的埃菲尔铁塔 (10) Eiffel Is an Eyeful (11) 第九篇埃及饱受饥饿折磨 (11) Egypt felled by famine (12) 第十篇年轻雌猩猩学习优于她们的弟兄 (12) Young Female Chimps Outlearn Their Brothers (13) 第十一篇申请个人域名的网上费用 (14) The Net Cost of Making a Name for Yourself (14) 第十二篇纳佛罗里达遭受冷气团袭击 (15) Florida Hit by Cold Air Mass (15) 第十三篇隐形环 (15) Invisibility Ring (16) 第十四篇日本用来监视醉酒司机的新型概念车 (17) Japanese Car Keeps Watch for Drunk Drivers (17) 第十五篇肋生双翅机器人学飞行 (18) Winged Robot Learns to Fly (18) 第十六篇日本人的地心旅行 (19) Japanese Drilling into Core of Earth (19) 第十七篇地球防晒霜 (20) A Sunshade for the Planet (20) 第十八篇石油匮乏 (21) Thirst for Oil (21) 第十九篇延长人类寿命 (22) Prolonging Human Life (22) 第二十篇深海探索器 (23) Explorer of the Extreme Deep (23) 第二十一篇植物，沼气的又一来源 (24) Plant Gas (24) 第二十二篇雪花 (25)
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/e118319370.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
2019年全国职称英语等级考试大纲 2017年全国职称英语等级考试大纲 一、概述 全国专业技术人员职称英语等级考试是由国家人事部组织实施的 一项外语考试。本考试遵循“严格要求、实事求是、区别对待、逐步 提升”的原则，根据英语在不同专业领域活动中的应用特点，结合专 业技术人员掌握和使用英语的实际情况，对申报不同级别专业技术职 务的人员的英语水平提出了不同的要求。 全国专业技术人员职称英语等级考试共分三个专业类别：综合类、理工类和卫生类，每个专业类别的考试各分A、B、C三个等级。 全国专业技术人员职称英语等级考试于每年4月份举行。A、B、 C三个等级考试的总分各为100分，考试时间均为2小时。 二、评价目标 全国专业技术人员职称英语等级考试重点考查应试者的阅读理解 水平。考试总的评价目标是：申报A级的人员在2小时内应完成3000 词左右的阅读任务，并能准确理解所读材料的内容;申报B级的人员在 2小时内应完成2600词左右的阅读任务，并能准确理解所读材料的内容;申报C级的人员在2小时内应完成2200词左右的阅读任务，并能 准确理解所读材料的内容。
为达到上述目标，考试对应试者的英语汇量、语法知识和阅读理 解水平分别提出如下要求： (一)词汇量 考试所涉及的词汇和短语主要依据本大纲所附词汇表。对申报不 同级别的应试者 要求认知的词汇量不等： 1. 申报A级的人员应认知6000个左右的单词和一定数量的短语; 2. 申报B级的人员应认知5000个左右的单词和一定数量的短语; 3. 申报C级的人员应认知4000个左右的单词和一定数量的短语。 (二)语法知识 考试不直接对应试者所掌握的语法知识实行考查，但应试者必须 掌握基本的语法 知识，主要包括： 1. 英语句子的基本语序及其意义; 2. 英语句子的结构和常用句型; 3. 各种时、体的形式及其意义; 4. 各种从句的构成及其意义; 5. 句子中词语的所指、省略、替代、重复，以及句子之间的意 义关系等。 (三)阅读理解水平
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”：
M Climate Change Poses Major Risks for Unprepared Cities A new examination of urban policies has been carried out recently by Patricia Romero Lankao. She is a sociologist specializing in climate change and urban development. She warns that many of the world’s fast -growing urban areas, especially in developing countries, will likely1 suffer from the impacts of changing climate. Her work also concludes that most cities are failing to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. These gases are known to affect the atmosphere. “Climate change is a deeply local issue and poses profound threats to the growing cities of the world,” says Romero Lankao. “But too few cities are developing effective strategies to protect their residents. ” Cities are major sources of greenhouse gases. And urban populations are likely to be among those most severely affected by future climate change. Lankao’s findings3 highlight ways in which city-residents are particularly vulnerable, and suggest policy interventions that could offer immediate and longer-term benefits The locations and dense construction patterns of cities often place their populations at greater risk for natural disasters. Potential threats associated with climate include storm surges and prolonged hot weather. Storm surges can flood coastal areas and prolonged hot weather can heat heavily paved cities more than surrounding areas. The impacts of such natural events can be more serious in an urban environment. For example, a prolonged heat wave can increase existing levels of air pollution, causing widespread health problems. Poorer neighborhoods that may lack basic facilities such as drinking water or a dependable network of roads, are especially vulnerable to natural disasters. Many residents in poorer countries live in substandard housing without access to reliable drinking water, roads and basic services. Local governments,therefore,should take measures to protect their residents. “Unfortunately, they tend to move towards rhetoric rather than meaningful responses,” Romero Lankao writes. “They don’t impose construction standards that could reduce heating and air conditioning needs. They don’t emphasize mass transit and reduce automobile, use. In fact, many local governments are taking a hands-off approach.” Thus, she urges them to change their idle policies and to take strong steps to prevent the harmful effects of’ climate change on cities. Free Statins With Fast Food Could Neutralize Heart Risk Fast food outlets could provide statin drugs free of charge so that customers can reduce the heart disease dangers of fatty food, researchers at Imperial College London suggest in a new study. Statins reduce the amount of unhealthy “LDL ” cholesterol in the blood. A wealth of trial data4 has proven them to be highly effective at lowering a person ’s heart attack risk In a paper published in the American Journal of Cardiology, Dr Darrel Francis and colleagues calculate that the reduction in heart attack risk offered by a statin is enough to offset the increase in heart attack risk from eating a cheeseburger and drinking a milkshake. Dr Francis, from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London, who is the senior author of the study, said: “Statins don ’t cut out all of the unhealthy effects of cheeseburgers and French fries. It ’s better to avoid fatty food altogeth er. But we’ve worked out that in terms of your possibility of having a heart attack, taking a statin can reduce your risk to more or less the same degree as a fast food meal increases it. ” It ’s ironic that people are free to take as many unhealthy condiments in fast food outlets as they like, but statins, which are beneficial to heart health, have to be prescribed. It makes sense to make risk-reducing statins available just as easily as the unhealthy condiments that are provided free of charge. It would cost less than 5 pence per customer —— not much different to a sachet of sugar, “ Dr Francis said. When people engage in risky behaviours like driving or smoking, they ’re encouraged to take measures that lower their risk, like wearing a seatbelt or choosing cigarettes with filters. Taking a stain is a rational way of lowering some of the risks of eating a fatty meal. Better Solar Energy Systems: More Heat, More Light Solar photovoltaic thermal energy systems, or PVTs, generate both heat and electricity, but until now they haven’t been very good at the heat-generating part compared to a stand-alone solar thermal collector. That’s because they operate at low temperatures to cool crystalline silicon solar cells, which lets the silicon generate more electricity but isn’t a very efficient way to gather heat. That ’s a problem of economics. Good solar hot-water systems can harvest much more energy than a solar-electric system at a substantially lower cost. And it ，s also a space problem ：photovoltaic cells can take up all the space on the roof, leaving little room for thermal applications. In a pair of studies, Joshua Pearce, an associate professor of materials science and engineering, has devised a solution in the form of a better PVT made with a different kind of silicon. His research collaborators are Kunal Girotra from ThinSilicon in California and Michael Pathak and Stephen Harrison from Queen’s Universi ty, Canada." Most solar panels are made with crystalline silicon ， but you can also make solar cells out of amorphous silicon,commonly known as thin-film silicon. They don ’t create as much electricity, but they are lighter, flexible, and cheaper. And, because they require much less silicon, they have a greener footprint. Unfortunately ，thin-film silicon solar cells are vulnerable to some bad-news physics in the form of the Staebler-Wronski effect.
2012年度全国职称英语等级考试 理工类（A级）全真模拟试题二 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个词或短语画有底横线，请为每处画线部分确定1个意义最为接近的选项 1. He was unable to give a credible explanation for his behavior. A. workable B. convincing C. practical D. reliable 2. Smoking is banned in the building. A. listed B. forbidden C. handled D. investigated 3. I want a job with good prospects for promotion. A. advancement B. replacement C. retirement D. advertisement 4. The report was compiled from a survey of 5000 households. A. printed B. attached C. written D. sent 5. The patient showed a marked improvement in her condition after changing medication. A. great B. clear C. quick D. regular 6. Actors dressed in authentic costumes re-enact the battle. A. faithful B. royal C. genuine D. sincere 7. People who travel by rail still read an immense amount. A. immediate B. enormous C. equal D. moderate 8. He demolished my argument in minutes. A. disapproved B. disputed C. accepted D. supported 9. Polluted water sources are a hazard to wildlife. A. evidence B. danger C. case D. picture 10. Ashley gazed at him, her thoughts in turmoil. A. failure B. doubt C. confusion D. relief 11. It was an article in the local newspaper which finally spurred him into action .
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
历年职称英语考试高频词汇(六) 375．in one's honour (or in honour of)祝贺，纪念 376．on one's honour以某人的名誉担保 377．hope for希望（某事发生），希望有 378．to one's horror令某人感到恐惧的是 379．in a hurry (=hastily)匆忙地 380．be identical with (=exactly alike)和完全相同 381．be identified with被视为与……等同 382．in ignorance of不知道…… 383．be ignorant of (=lacking knowledge）对……不了解，不知道 384．(an) impact (on)对……的强烈影响 385．impose……on把……强加给 386．impress……on给……留下印象 387．make (leave) an impression on sb. =give sb. an impression给……留下印象 388．under the impression that有……的印象，认为 389．improve sth. (make sth. better)把原物改进 improve on (=produce or be sth. better than……)另做一物比原物更好390．improve in (=get better)有改进，好些 391．improvement in表示原物有改进，好转 392．include……in把……列在……里面 393．inclusive of把……包括在内 394．independent of独立的，不受约束的 395．indicative of表明，说明 396．be indifferent to (=not interested in)对……漠不关心，冷淡，不在乎 397．(be) inferior to (=less good in quality or value)比……差；superior to比……好 398．inform sb. of sth.通知，告诉 399．be innocent of无罪的，无辜的 400．insist on (=order sth. to happen)坚持要 401．instead of (in place of)代替，而不是…… 402．instruct……in (=teach)教，指导，训练某人…… 403．insure…… for把……保险（多少钱）；ensure使安全；assure……(of)使……确信，保证 404．insure……against保险……以防 405．intend……for打算把……给 406．(be) intent on专心致志，坚决 407．in the interests of符合……的利益 be interested in对……感兴趣 408．interfere in干涉，interfere with打搅，干扰 409．at intervals每隔一会儿，每隔一段距离 410．intervene in干预
https://www.doczj.com/doc/e118319370.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