单选题
Opinion poll surveys show that the public see scientists in a rather unflattering light. They are seen as cold, humorless, remote and unwilling (or unable) to communicate their specialized knowledge to ordinary people. Commonly, the scientist is also seen as being male: the characteristics listed above are popularly associated with "maleness". It is true that most scientists are male, but the picture of science as male activity may be a major reason why fewer girls than boys opt for science, except when it comes to biology, which is seen as "female". The image most people have of science and scientists comes from their own experience of school science, and from the mass media. Science teachers themselves see it as a problem that so many school pupils find school science and unsatisfying experience, though over the last few years more and more pupils, including girls, have opted for science subjects. In spite of excellent documentaries, and some good popular science magazines, scientific stories in the media still usually alternate between miracle and scientific threat. The popular stereotype of science is like the magic of fairy tales: it has potential for enormous good or awful hen. Popular fiction is full of "good" scientists saving the world, and "mad" scientists trying to destroy it. From all the many scientific stories which might be given media treatment, those which are chosen are usually those which can be framed in terms of the usual news angles: novelty, threat, conflict or the bizarre. The routine and often tedious work of the scientist slips from view, to be replaced with a picture of scientists forever offending public moral sensibilities (as in embryo research), threatening public health (as in weapons research), or fighting it out with each other (in giving evidence at public enquiries such as those held on the issues connected with nuclear power). The mass media also tend to over-personalize scientific work, depicting it as the product of individual genius, while neglecting the social organization which makes scientific work possible. A further effect of this is that science comes to be seen as a thing in itself: a kind of unpredictable force; a tide of scientific progress. It is no such thing, of course. Science is what scientists do; what they do is what a particular kind of society facilitates, and what is done with their work depends very much on who has the power to turn their discoveries into technology, and what their interests are.
单选题
According to the passage, ordinary people have a poor opinion of science and scientists because ______. A. opinion polls are unflattering B. science is badly taught in schools C. scientists are shown negatively in the media D. science is considered to be dangerous
单选题
Fewer girls than boys study science because ______. A. they think that science is too difficult B. science is seen as a man's job C. they are often unsuccessful in science at school D. science teachers do not encourage girls
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】第二段中说明科学被通常认为是男性的活动。
单选题
Media treatment of science tends to concentrate on ______. A. the routine, everyday work of scientists B. discoveries that the public will understand C. the satisfactions of scientific work D. the more sensational aspects of science