Welding is a skill used by many trades: sheet metal workers, ironworkers, diesel mechanics, boilermakers, carpenters, marine construction, steamfitters, glaziers, repair and maintenance personnel in applications ranging from the home hobbyist to heavy fabrication of bridges, ships and many other projects. A variety of welding processes are used to join units of metal. As a welder, you may work for shipyards, manufacturers, contractors, federal, state, county, and city governments, firms requiring maintenance mechanics, and repair shops. Welding, while very physically demanding, can be very rewarding for those who enjoy working with their hands. Welders need good eyesight, manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination. They should also be able to concentrate for long periods of time on very detailed work, as well as be in good enough physical shape to bend and stoop, often holding awkward positions for long periods of time. Welders work in a variety of environments, both indoors and out, using heat to melt and fuse separate pieces of metal together. Training and skill levels can vary, with a few weeks of school or on-the-job training for the lowest level job and several years of school and experience for the more skilled welding positions. Skilled welders often select and set up the welding equipment, execute the weld, and then examine the welds in order to make sure they meet the appropriate specifications. They may also be trained to work in a variety of materials, such as plastic, titanium or aluminum. Those with less training perform more routine tasks, such as the welds on jobs that have already been laid out, and are not able to work with as many different materials. While the need for welders as a whole should continue to grow about as fast as average, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for low-skilled welders should decrease dramatically, as many companies 3/ Answer the following questions on the text. 1. What are the trades where welding skills are used? 2. Where can welders work? 3. What personal characteristics should welders have? 4. How does the environment in which welders work vary? 5. What does it take to be s low-skilled/skilled welder? 6. What are welders able to do in terms of complexity of tasks and variety of materials? 7. What are the job opportunities for low-skilled/skilled welders for the nearest future as specified by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics? 8. What are the advantages of having formal training for making a welding career? 9. As you see, welding includes various professional specialties and levels. What is yours?