单选题 Most of us grow up taking certain things for granted. We tend to assume that experts and religious leaders tell us "the truth". We tend to believe that things advertised on television or in newspapers can"t be bad for us.
However, encouragement of critical thinking in students is one of the goals of most colleges and universities. Few professors require students to share the professors" own beliefs. In general, professors are more concerned that students learn to question and critically examine the arguments of others, including some of their own beliefs or values. This does not mean that professors insist that you change your beliefs, either. It does mean, however, that professors will usually ask you to support the views you express in class or in your writing.
If your premises (前提) are shaky, or if your arguments are not logical, professors personally point out the false reasoning in your arguments. Most professors want you to learn to recognize the premises of your arguments, to examine whether you really accept these premises, and to understand whether or not you draw logical conclusions. Put it this way: Professors don"t tell you what to think; they try to teach you how to think.
On the other hand, if you intend to disagree with your professors in class, you should be prepared to offer a strong argument in support of your ideas. Arguing just for the sake of arguing usually does not promote a critical examination of ideas. Many professors interpret it as rudeness.
单选题 In the first paragraph, the writer tries to tell us that people ______.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 文章第一段开头表示“我们大部分人成长过程中会理所当然地接受特定的事物”。随后举例“我们会相信专家、宗教人上,以及电视、报纸广告等等”。推断出选A项“人们很容易不假思索地接受特定事物”。
单选题 Nowadays, most colleges and universities encourage students to ______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 根据第二段开头“However, encouragement of critical thinking in students is one of the goals of most colleges and universities.”得知,现在大多数学院和大学鼓励学生批判性思维。再根据第二段第三句“In general, professors are more concerned that students learn to question and critically examine the arguments of others, including sonic of their own beliefs or values.”所以选C。A项曲解文章含义;B项与本段第二句相悖;D项与本段第四句相悖。
单选题 The word "shaky" (Line 1, Para. 3) most probably means ______.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 根据上下文猜测词义。此处的shaky与下文的not logical形成并列,所以D项“weak”最为合适。
单选题 To help students develop their critical thinking, professors mainly teach them ______.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 文章第三段具体讲述了教授们如何指导学生思考问题。本段最后一句“Put it this way: Professors don"t tell you what to think; they try to teach you how to think.”推断出选B项“独立思考的方式”。
单选题 According to the writer, the right way to argue is to ______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 根据最后一段第一句“...if you intend to disagree with your professors in class, you should be prepared to offer a strong argument in support of your ideas”推断出最好的辩论就是用强有力的论据来支持自己的观点。