Passage Three Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage:
For about three centuries we have been doing science, trying science out, using science for the construction of what we call modern civilization. Every dispensable item of contemporary technology, from canal locks to dial telephones to penicillin1, was pieced together from the analysis of data provided by one or another series of scientific experiments. Three hundred years seems a long time for testing a new approach to human interliving, long enough to settle back for critical appraisal2 of the scientific method, maybe even long enough to vote on whether to go on with it or not. There is an argument.
Voices have been raised in protest since the beginning, rising in pitch and violence in the nineteenth century during the early stages of the industrial revolution, summoning urgent crowds into the streets on the issue of nuclear energy. Give it back, say some of the voices, it doesn’t really work, we’ve tried it and it doesn’t work, go back three hundred years and start again on something else less chancy for the race of man.
The principle discoveries in this century, taking all in all, are the glimpses of the depth of our ignorance about nature. Things that used to seem clear and rational, matters of absolute certainty-Newtonian mechanics, for example-have slipped through our fingers, and we are left with a new set of gigantic puzzles, cosmic uncertainties3, ambiguities4; some of the laws of physics are amended5 every few years, some are canceled outright6, some undergo revised versions of legislative7 intent as if they were acts of Congress.
Just thirty years ago we call it a biological revolution when the fantastic geometry of the DNA8 molecule9 was exposed to public view and the linear language of genetics was decoded10. For a while, things seemed simple and clear, the cell was a neat little machine, a mechanical device ready for taking to pieces and reassembling, like a tiny watch. But just in the last few years it has become complex, filled with strange parts whose functions are beyond today’s imagining.
It is not just that there is more to do, there is everything to do. What lies ahead, or what can lie ahead if the efforts in basic research are continued, is much more than the conquest of human disease or the improvement of agricultural technology or the cultivation11 of nutrients12 in the sea. As we learn more about fundamental processes of living things in general we will learn more about ourselves.
31.What can’ t be inferred from the 1st paragraph?
A) Scientific experiments in the past three hundred years have produced many valuable items.
B) For three hundred years there have been people holding hostile attitude toward science.
C) Modern civilization depends on science so man supports scientific progress unanimously.
D) Three hundred years is not long enough to settle back critical appraisal of scientific method.
32.The principle discovery in this century shows .
A) man has overthrown13 Newton’ s laws of physics
B) man has solved a new set of gigantic puzzles
C) man has lost many scientific discoveries
D) man has given up some of the once accepted theories
33.Now scientists have found in the past few years.
A) the exposure of DNA to the public is unnecessary
B) the tiny cell in DNA is a neat little machine
C) man knows nothing about DNA
D) man has much to learn about DNA
34.The writer’s main purpose in writing the passage is to say that .
A) science is just at its beginning
B) science has greatly improved man’s life
C) science has made profound progress
D) science has done too little to human beings
35.The writer’s attitude towards science is .
A) critical B) approving C) neutral D) regretful
内容概要:本文讨论的是科学的进步与人类的发展。三百年以来,我们一直在从事各种科学活动,试图利用科学,揭开科学的神秘面纱,从而构建现代文明。但是,科学发展到现在还只是个开端,人类在各项研究方面都需要继续探索和努力,只有这样,人类才能不断提高对自身的认识。
31.【答案】C。
【译文】与第一段内容相悖的是:现代文明依赖科学的发展,因此所有的人都毫无异议地支持科技的进步。
【试题分析】细节辨析题,通过理解原文即可推理得知答案。
【详细解答】文章第一段提到:…maybe even long enough to vote on whether to go on with it or not. There is an argument.也就是说,对于将科学继续进行下去,人们观点不一。并且下文就不同的观点进行了详细的阐述,因此答案C是正确的。与之相比较,其他三个选项均是错误的。
32.【答案】D。
【译文】本世纪的主要发现表明,人类已经放弃了某些曾经接受的理论。
【试题分析】细节辨析题,通过理解原文即可推理得知答案。
【详细解答】见文章第3段,尤其是最后几句话,…some of the laws of physics are amended every few years, some are canceled outright, some undergo revised versions of legislative intent as if they were acts of Congress. 得知人类对理论所采取的做法是修正,摈弃,甚至采取立法手段等,因此正确答案是D。
33.【答案】D。
【译文】在过去的几年里,科学家发现人们对DNA尚需进行继续深入研究。
【试题分析】细节辨析题,通过理解原文即可推理得知答案。
【详细解答】承接第4段末尾人们对DNA的再认识(But just in the last few years it has become complex, filled with strange parts whose functions are beyond today’s imagining.),作者在第5段指出了对DNA研究的态度:继续深入地开展下去。由此确定答案为D。
34.【答案】A。
【译文】作者写作此文的目的是说明科学才刚刚起步。
【试题分析】总结归纳题,通过理解全文归纳出答案。
【详细解答】文章的最后一段明确指出,It is not just that there is more to do, there is everything to do.从而清楚地将作者的观点公之于众,那就是说,科学刚刚起步,面前的路还很长很长。因此答案应是A。虽然科学取得了很大进展(C),大大改善了人们的生活(B),但这都不是本文的写作目的。
35.【答案】B。
【译文】作者对待科学的态度是满意的。
【试题分析】综合归纳题,在理解文章主题思想的基础上推理得知答案。
【详细解答】根据全文的主题,作者对待科学的态度不是挑剔(A),中立(C)也不是遗憾(D),而是满意的积极的态度,所以应选择答案B。