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, 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:根据题目要求直接定位到第一段。该段第一句是主题句,表明许多人在成长的过程中总认为有些事情是理所当然的(take…for granted);然后作者举出人们总是倾向于相信权威和广告宣传的例子来证明这种说法。由此可见,人们会不假思索地接受一些事情,A项的表述正确。
单选题 Nowadays, most colleges and universities encourage students to ______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:根据题目中的most colleges and universities定位到第二段第一句。该句谈到,大部分的大专院校都鼓励学生进行批判性思考(critical thinking)。其后谈到的教授希望学生学着对他人的意见进行质疑和以批判性的眼光来看待也反映出批判性思考的重要性。换句话说,大多数的大专院校都鼓励学生有自己的观点,不盲目跟从,即C项。
单选题 The word "shaky" (Line 1, Para. 3) most probably means " ______".
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】解析:这句话有两个假设条件状语从句:如果premises(前提)are shaky,或者arguments(论据)are not logical(不符合逻辑),那么就会出现false reasoning(错误推理)。or连接两个条件从句表示它们是一种或然关系,即两者可以替换而结果是相同的,所以可知shaky作形容词用,其意思应该是消极的、不好的。另外从词形上看,shaky的动词形式是shake(动摇)的意思,所以最终推理出shaky应是指“摇晃的,不可靠的”。只有D项与其意思最相近。
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:第三段第二句说明,大多数教授希望学生们学会识别自己论述的前提,检查自己是否真正同意这些前提,以及了解自己是否能够得出合理的结论;最后一句是总结,告诉我们教授教的不是思考的内容而是思考的方式(how to think)。B项的think independently(独立思考)能与文章的表述相呼应,为正确答案。
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:最后一段第一句表明,如果学生与老师的观点不一致(disagree with your professors),就应该用强有力的论据来支持自己的观点(a strong argument in support of your ideas)。所以正确的辩论方法是用合理的论据支持自己的观点,答案为C项。