Einstein"s connection with the politics of the nuclear bomb is well known: he signed the famous letter to President Franklin Roosevelt that persuaded the United States to take the idea seriously, and he engaged in postwar efforts to prevent nuclear war. But these were not just the isolated actions of a scientist dragged into the world of politics. Einstein"s life was, in fact, to use his own words, "divided between politics and equations." Einstein"s earliest political activity came during the First World War, when he was a professor in Berlin. Sickened by what he saw as the waste of human lives, he became involved in anti-war demonstrations. His advocacy of civil disobedience and public encouragement of people? to refuse conscription did little to endear him to his colleagues. Then following the war, he directed his efforts toward reconciliation and improving international relations. This, too, did not make him popular, and soon his politics were making it difficult for him to visit the United States, even "to give lectures. Einstein"s second great cause was Zionism. Although he was Jewish by descent, Einstein rejected the biblical idea of God. However, a growing awareness of anti-Semitism, both before and during the First World War, led him gradually to identify with the Jewish community, and later to become an outspoken supporter of Zionism. Once more unpopularity did not stop him from speaking his mind. His theories came under attack; an anti-Einstein organization was even set up. One man was convicted of inciting others to murder Einstein (and fined a mere six dollars). But Einstein was phlegmatic: when a book was published entitled 100 Authors Against Einstein, he retorted, "If I were wrong, then one would have been enough!" In 1933, Hitler came to power. Einstein was in America, and declared he would not return to Germany. Then, while Nazi militia raided his house and confiscated his bank account, a Berlin newspaper displayed the headline "Good News from Einstein—He"s Not Coming Back." In the face of the Nazi threat, Einstein renounced pacifism, and eventually, fearing that German scientists would build a nuclear bomb, proposed that the United States should develop its own. But even before the first atomic bomb had been detonated, he was publicly warning of the dangers of nuclear war and proposing international control of nuclear weaponry. Throughout his life, Einstein"s efforts toward peace probably achieved little that would last—and certainly won him few friends. His vocal support of the Zionist cause, however, was duly recognized in 1952, when he was offered the presidency of Israel. He declined, saying he thought he was too naive in politics. But perhaps his real reason was different: to quote him again, "Equations are more important to me, because politics is for the present, but an equation is something for eternity."
单选题 What does the writer mean by saying "But these were not just the isolated actions of a scientist"?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:本题为语义题。问作者说"但这并非一位科学家被卷入政治世界的唯一的一次事件"是什么意思。答案项与本信息一致,故正确。
单选题 Which of the following is not listed as one of Einstein"s activities?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:本题为正误判断题。问以下哪项未被列为爱因斯坦的政治活动。他不承认《圣经》上关于上帝的说法,这是爱因斯坦的宗教信仰问题,而不是政治活动,故为正确选项。
单选题 ______ led Einstein gradually to identify with the Jewish community.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:本题为细节题。第三段说,虽然在血统上他是犹太人,但他不承认《圣经》上关于上帝的说话。然而,在第一次世界大战前和大战中,他对反犹太主义越来越有了认识,这使他逐渐站在犹太团体一边。答案选项与该信息一致,故为正确选项。
单选题 The writer wants to tell us that ______.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】解析:本题为态度题。问本文作者想讲的是什么。纵观全文,作者主要讲的是爱因斯坦作为一位伟大的科学家其不为人知的政治轶事。爱因斯坦是世界上的最伟大的科学家之一;爱因斯坦在政治上太天真;爱因斯坦同样是一位伟大的科学家,均不符合短文大意。而答案项:作为一名伟大的科学家爱因斯坦在其一生中也被卷入了政治,符合短文大意,故为正确选项。
单选题 What"s the main reason Einstein declined the presidency of Israel?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析:本题为推理题。问爱因斯坦谢绝了做以色列的总统的主要原因是什么。短文最后一段说,他被推荐做以色列的总统,但他谢绝了。他说他认为自己在政治上太天真。但也许真正的原因并非如此,还是引用他的话吧:"方程对我来说更重要…"。注意But转折连词之后的内容才是作者想表达的主要意思:方程此处指代科学。