The basics of infrastructure design

It is rightly pointed out various intellectuals that the lifestyle of today is vastly different from that of the earlier times especially in terms of its pace. Lifestyle of today is remarkably fast paced and so in order to catch up with such a pace of life, the adoption of smart and time saving methods is of real significance. Well, the highways have certainly contributed in this direction and have made our lives a lot easier. Thanks to the modern flyovers and expressways, a single route can be accessed by twice the number of vehicles at the same time.

These facilities and supplies have made our lives double free but it needs to be realized that designing and constructing it is a very complex and a long process. You have to hold fast to the various rules of designing, government standards and most importantly, their safety and usability for the people. In the end it is a joint effort of a number of skilled engineers, scientists and statisticians. The material that is used in the construction is finalized after it undergoes certain tests for evaluating their qualities like hardness, roughness, thickness and all that is required. 

Some of the points you have to take care of while laying an infrastructure design are as follows:

The basic layout (布局) of the road — At this level of planning, various civil engineers have meetings to figure out the basic requirements of the road like thickness of the asphalt (沥青), the size of lanes, distance to be covered, degree of curves and much more. These fundamental points help them decide the further line of action.

The prior steps — Before any work is stated over the basic plan layout, there are various preparations to be made like placing road signs, the removal of trees that may prove to be dangerous in the event of a storm or other natural causes, the positioning of fire hydrants (消防栓) based on special designs to be useful when required, etc.

Inclusion of safety barriers — The safety barriers are placed on almost all roads and highways that are made over or near to rivers and cliffs. These barriers keep the vehicles from moving into the traffic in instances of accidents. These should also be designed in advance of placing them on a road and the design should be such that it makes minimum impact upon the people sitting in the car. These include supplies like side rails and light poles.

Asphalt pavement marking — It is the process of using a reflective material to indicate various important points on the road like lanes, turns, passing areas, two way and one way roads.

Though the smooth and wide highways constructed in big cities seem to be very attractive for the drivers, the ease of use is also the cause of accidents. Cars rushing at extremely high speeds and insecure change of lanes are a common sight on the highways. With the help of novel infrastructure design engineers, we can make the best possible use of highways. If these are designed properly and sign boards are placed at the required points, a number of road accidents can be avoided.

  The questions of what children learn, and how they should learn it, is continually being debated and reheated. Nobody dares any longer to defend the old system, the parrot – fashion (way of learning by repeating what others say) of learning lessons, the grammar with a whip system，which was good enough for our grandparents．The theories of modern psychology have stepped into argue that we must understand the needs of children．Children are not just small adults；they are children who must be respected as such．

Well，you may say，this is as it should be，and a good idea．But think further．What happens?

‘Education’ becomes the responsibility not of teachers, but of psychologists．What happens then? Teachers worry too much about the psychological implications of their lessons，and forget about the subjects themselves．If a child dislikes a lesson，the teacher feels that it is his fault，not the child’s. So teachers worry whether history is ‘relevant’ to modem young children．And do they dare to recount stories about violent battles? Or will this make the children themselves violent? Can they tell their classes about children of different races，or will this encourage racial hatred? Why teach children to write grammatical sentences? Verbal expression is better．Sums? Arithmetic? No：real—life mathematical situations are more understandable．

    You see．you can go too far．Influenced by educational theorists，who have nothing better to do than write books about their ideas，teachers leave their teacher—training colleges filled with grand，psychological ideas about children and their needs. They make complicated preparations and try out their ‘modern methods’ on the long – suffering children. Since one ‘modern method’ rapidly replaces another, the poor kids will have well been fed up by the time they leave school. frequently the modern methods are so complicated that they fail to be understood by the teachers, let alone the children; even more often, the relaxed discipline so necessary for the ‘informal’ feeling the class must have, prevents all but a handful of children from learning anything.

63．Under the old system, children were           .

      A．made to learn passively   B．good enough to their grandparents

       C．made to learn actively     D．understood and respected by teachers

64．What happens when teachers pay too much attention to the psychological implications during a lesson?

       A．They find that children dislike the lessons.

       B．They worry too much about history, stories, racial hatred, grammar and arithmetic.

       C．They don’t pay enough attention to what students are learning.

       D．They tend to blame students for their failure in teaching.

65．How do you understand the underlined sentence at the end of the passage?

       A．Children will learn well in a relaxed classroom atmosphere.

       B．Few children will actually learn when there is no discipline.

       C．Relaxed discipline is necessary for children to develop.

       D．No children will learn anything without strict discipline.

66．What is the author’s attitude toward the theories of modern psychology?

       A．Indifferent (不关心的).  B．Tolerant (容忍的).

       C．Supportive (支持的).      D．Critical (批评的).

C
The questions of what children learn, and how they should learn it, is continually being debated and reheated. Nobody dares any longer to defend the old system, the parrot – fashion (way of learning by repeating what others say) of learning lessons, the grammar with a whip system，which was good enough for our grandparents．The theories of modern psychology have stepped into argue that we must understand the needs of children．Children are not just small adults；they are children who must be respected as such．
Well，you may say，this is as it should be，and a good idea．But think further．What happens?
‘Education’ becomes the responsibility not of teachers, but of psychologists．What happens then? Teachers worry too much about the psychological implications of their lessons，and forget about the subjects themselves．If a child dislikes a lesson，the teacher feels that it is his fault，not the child’s. So teachers worry whether history is ‘relevant’ to modem young children．And do they dare to recount stories about violent battles? Or will this make the children themselves violent? Can they tell their classes about children of different races，or will this encourage racial hatred? Why teach children to write grammatical sentences? Verbal expression is better．Sums? Arithmetic? No：real—life mathematical situations are more understandable．
You see．you can go too far．Influenced by educational theorists，who have nothing better to do than write books about their ideas，teachers leave their teacher—training colleges filled with grand，psychological ideas about children and their needs. They make complicated preparations and try out their ‘modern methods’ on the long – suffering children. Since one ‘modern method’ rapidly replaces another, the poor kids will have well been fed up by the time they leave school. frequently the modern methods are so complicated that they fail to be understood by the teachers, let alone the children; even more often, the relaxed discipline so necessary for the ‘informal’ feeling the class must have, prevents all but a handful of children from learning anything.
63．Under the old system, children were           .
A．made to learn passively                        B．good enough to their grandparents
C．made to learn actively                          D．understood and respected by teachers
64．What happens when teachers pay too much attention to the psychological implications during a lesson?
A．They find that children dislike the lessons.
B．They worry too much about history, stories, racial hatred, grammar and arithmetic.
C．They don’t pay enough attention to what students are learning.
D．They tend to blame students for their failure in teaching.
65．How do you understand the underlined sentence at the end of the passage?
A．Children will learn well in a relaxed classroom atmosphere.
B．Few children will actually learn when there is no discipline.
C．Relaxed discipline is necessary for children to develop.
D．No children will learn anything without strict discipline.
66．What is the author’s attitude toward the theories of modern psychology?
A．Indifferent (不关心的).                       B．Tolerant (容忍的).
C．Supportive (支持的).                           D．Critical (批评的).

E

       The question of what children learn, and how they should learn it, is continually being debated and redebated. Nobody dares any longer to defend the old system, the parrot-fashion (way of learning by repeating what others say) of learning lessons, the grammar-with-a-whip (鞭子) system, which was good enough for our grandparents. The theories of modern psychology have stepped in to argue that we must understand the needs of our children. Children are not just small adults; they are children who must be respected as such.

       Well, you may say, this is as it should be, and a good idea. But think further. What happens? “Education” becomes the responsibility not of teachers, but of psychologists. What happens then? Teachers worry too much about the psychological implications(暗示) of their lessons, and forget about the subjects themselves. If a child dislikes a lesson, the teacher feels that it is his fault, not the child's. So teachers worry whether history is “relevant'' to modem young children. And do they dare to recount stories about violent battles? Or will this make the children themselves violent? Can they tell their classes about children of different races, or will this encourage racial hatred7 Why teach children to write grammatical sentences? Oral expression is better. Sums? Arithmetic? No: real-life mathematical situations are more understandable.

       You see, you can go too far. Influenced by educational theorists, who have nothing better to do than write books about their ideas, teachers leave their teaching-training colleges filled with grand, psychological ideas about children and their needs. They make complicated preparations and try out their “modern methods” on the long-suffering children. Since one “modern method” rapidly replaces another, the poor kids will have well been fed up by the time they leave school. Frequently the modern methods are so complicated that they fail to be understood by the teachers, let alone the children; even more often, the relaxed discipline which is so necessary for the “informal” class prevents all but a handful of children from learning anything.

75. Under the old system, children were _______.

    A. made to learn passively.                            B. spoiled by their parents.

    C. treated equally as adults.                      D. were forced to become parrots.

76. Modern psychologists hold the view that _______.

    A. children are better off without learning lessons.

    B. children must be understood and respected.

    C. children are small adults and they know what they need.

    D. education of children is the responsibility of psychologists.

77. What happens when teachers give lessons with the theories of modern psychology?

    A. They find that more and more children like their lessons.

    B. They don't pay enough attention to students' actual lessons.

    C. They must make full preparations and try out modern methods.

    D. They find that the relaxed discipline is so necessary for children.

78. What is the author's attitude toward the theories of modern psychology?

A. Uninterested.     B. Acceptable.           C. Satisfied.            D. Critical.

C

    The questions of what children learn, and how they should learn it, is continually being debated and reheated. Nobody dares any longer to defend the old system, the parrot – fashion (way of learning by repeating what others say) of learning lessons, the grammar with a whip system，which was good enough for our grandparents．The theories of modern psychology have stepped into argue that we must understand the needs of children．Children are not just small adults；they are children who must be respected as such．

Well，you may say，this is as it should be，and a good idea．But think further．What happens?

‘Education’ becomes the responsibility not of teachers, but of psychologists．What happens then? Teachers worry too much about the psychological implications of their lessons，and forget about the subjects themselves．If a child dislikes a lesson，the teacher feels that it is his fault，not the child’s. So teachers worry whether history is ‘relevant’ to modem young children．And do they dare to recount stories about violent battles? Or will this make the children themselves violent? Can they tell their classes about children of different races，or will this encourage racial hatred? Why teach children to write grammatical sentences? Verbal expression is better．Sums? Arithmetic? No：real—life mathematical situations are more understandable．

    You see．you can go too far．Influenced by educational theorists，who have nothing better to do than write books about their ideas，teachers leave their teacher—training colleges filled with grand，psychological ideas about children and their needs. They make complicated preparations and try out their ‘modern methods’ on the long – suffering children. Since one ‘modern method’ rapidly replaces another, the poor kids will have well been fed up by the time they leave school. frequently the modern methods are so complicated that they fail to be understood by the teachers, let alone the children; even more often, the relaxed discipline so necessary for the ‘informal’ feeling the class must have, prevents all but a handful of children from learning anything.

63．Under the old system, children were           .

      A．made to learn passively   B．good enough to their grandparents

       C．made to learn actively     D．understood and respected by teachers

64．What happens when teachers pay too much attention to the psychological implications during a lesson?

       A．They find that children dislike the lessons.

       B．They worry too much about history, stories, racial hatred, grammar and arithmetic.

       C．They don’t pay enough attention to what students are learning.

       D．They tend to blame students for their failure in teaching.

65．How do you understand the underlined sentence at the end of the passage?

       A．Children will learn well in a relaxed classroom atmosphere.

       B．Few children will actually learn when there is no discipline.

       C．Relaxed discipline is necessary for children to develop.

       D．No children will learn anything without strict discipline.

66．What is the author’s attitude toward the theories of modern psychology?

       A．Indifferent (不关心的).  B．Tolerant (容忍的).

       C．Supportive (支持的).      D．Critical (批评的).