Half a century ago, during the Sino-Japanese War, I was a student at National Southwest Associated University at Kunming in southern China, Lectures were often accompanied by the pitter-patter of rain on the tin roofs of the classrooms; that mud floors were full of holes; and wind blew through paneless windows. As for the library, it was a bare skeleton. A good reference
book was used for years and journals usually arrived after a couple of years’ delay.
But despite such hardship, I had the best of my student days in Kunming. Although we were short of research materials, we were uncompromising（坚定的）in our pursue of knowledge and truth. I spent six years at Southwest and obtained my first and second degrees in physics here. I still value those days fervently. In fact it was at Southwest that I first came across Reader’s Digest. To me, the magazine’s insistence on perfection both in style and accuracy—as well as its celebration of life even in the face of hardship—is similar to the values I learned at Southwest.
Later, I went to the United States to study under Enrich Ferimi, the famous physicist who directed the world’s first nuclear chain reaction. One of the first things Ferimi emphasized to me was that physics shouldn’t be so overwhelming（压倒性的）that it is beyond the average man. Physics research, he said, should be connected with our daily lives and physicists should devote most of their efforts to solving practical problems. I couldn’t agree more. Indeed, I think this simple, close-to-life.
Approach applies other attempts too. Reader’s Digest is highly informative, but it is easy to read, and easy to understand, never exaggerating or mystifying. This truthful, down-to earth quality is what I treasure now.
小题1:What is the author?
| A．A soldier | B．A teacher | C．An editor | D．A physicist |
小题2: Which of the following is NOT true of the National Southwest Associated University?
| A．The mud floors of the classrooms were uneven. | B．Its classroom windows had no glass. |
| C．The only thing its library had was a skeleton. |
| D．It was short of research materials. |
小题3: What was the first thing Ferimi emphasized to the author?
| A．Physics research should be related to daily lives. |
| B．Physics should not be considered as the most important course. |
| C． Theoretical problems need solving first. |
| D．The results of physics research could be used in the national defense. |
小题4: What does the author think of Reader’s Digest?
| A．It is far from perfect in style or accuracy. |
| B．It devotes its efforts to solving practical problems. |
| C．It gives much information. |
| D．Its language is simple, but beautifully written. |
