Ask most American children what they want to be when they grow up, and they probably will say “doctor” or “lawyer.”
Though our culture, our economy, indeed our very security are heavily dependent on science and engineering, only 12 percent of American high school students graduate with the prerequisites (必要条件) for a career in science or engineering. Worse yet, only 6 percent of minority children are said to be so prepared.
Don’t be too surprised. If you ask further why the majority of the high school students would choose a career in medicine or law, the answers will be straight out of some popular TV shows.
“Doctors help people. They save lives.” “Lawyers beat the bad guys.” Most students would say.
Now, how about science or engineering as a career choice? The answers will be just as predictable: “Get real! Who wants to be a geek? They all are nerds (书呆子). Besides, I hate math.”
In our media, scientists and engineers typically are portrayed as introverted (内向的) and humorless. They always wear white lab coats, with a collection of pencils in their pocket protectors. They wear glasses with black plastic frames.
If more students are to choose technical careers, they must have a better view presented to them.
They need to be told, for instance, that the invention of lifesaving equipment saves lives just as surely as the application of it in the hospital.
It also might help if someone emphasized to students that the lawyer who saved the defendant (被告) by introducing the DNA evidence would have seen him hanged had it not been for the scientists who discovered DNA.
Whatever we do, until students stop thinking of the term “engineer” as a synonym (同义词) for “geek,” it is impossible to expect our children to change their views towards scientists and engineers.
8. What is the problem with most American children when they choose their careers?
A. They are not sure what career suits them best.
B. They have a very low opinion of science and engineering.
C. They are too anxious to succeed in different fields.
D. They do not have enough confidence in themselves.
9. Which of the following has influenced American students greatly in their choice of their careers?
A. Parents’ and teachers’ opinions.
B. Culture, security and economy.
C. Great discoveries made by doctors and lawyers.
D. TV shows and various publications.
10. In order to change the students’ view towards scientists and engineers, the writer suggests that ______.
A. teachers reconsider their way of teaching mathematics
B. scientists and engineers change their images a little bit
C. the media stop praising doctors and lawyers excessively
D. students be told about the wonders of science and engineering
11. Which of the following statements best expresses the main idea of the passage?
A. Science and engineering have been dangerously ignored as a result of TV shows and other medias.
B. Scientists and engineers are not as important as doctors and lawyers.
C. Scientists and engineers are more important than doctors and lawyers.
8. C。细节理解题。根据第一段和第二段中的only 12 percent of American high school students graduate with the prerequisites for a career in science or engineering. Worse yet, only 6 percent of minority children are said to be so prepared.可知，选取从事科技职业的学生所占的比例太小，文中的only也提示了这一答案。
9. D。细节理解题。根据文章第三段得知，学生的职业取向直接来自于电视节目和各种出版物等媒体。
10. B。推理判断题。短文最后三段作者建议应该向学生灌输科技知识，意指科技给日常生活带来了巨大的变化。
11.A。推理判断题。短文最后一段Whatever we do, ------ it is impossible to expect our children to change their views towards scientists and engineers. 得知，科技被孩子们严重忽视了。