阅读理解 Public distrust of scientists stems in part from the blurring of boundaries between science and technology, between discovery and manufacture. Most government, perhaps all governments, justify public expenditure on scientific research in terms of the economic benefits the scientific enterprise ha brought in the past and will bring in the future. Politicians remind their voters of the splendid machines ‘our scientists’ have invented, the new drugs to relieve old ailments (病痛), and the new surgical equipment and techniques by which previously intractable (难治疗的) conditions may now be treated and lives saved. At the same time, the politicians demand of scientists that they tailor their research to ‘economics needs’, that they award a higher priority to research proposals that are ‘near the market’ and can be translated into the greatest return on investment in the shortest time. Dependent, as they are, on politicians for much of their funding, scientists have little choice but to comply. Like the rest of us, they are members of a society that rates the creation of wealth as the greatest possible good. Many have reservations, but keep them to themselves in what they perceive as a climate hostile to the pursuit of understanding for its own sake and the idea of an inquiring, creative spirit. In such circumstances no one should be too hard on people who are suspicious of conflicts of interest. When we learn that the distinguished professor assuring us of the safety of a particular product holds a consultancy with the company making it, we cannot be blamed for wondering whether his fee might conceivably cloud his professional judgment. Even if the professor holds no consultancy with any firm, some people many still distrust him because of his association with those who do, or at least wonder about the source of some his research funding. This attitude can have damaging effects. It questions the integrity of individuals working in a profession that prizes intellectual honesty as the supreme virtue, and plays into the hands of those who would like to discredit scientists by representing then a venal (可以收买的). This makes it easier to dismiss all scientific pronouncements, but especially those made by the scientists who present themselves as ‘experts’. The scientist most likely to understand the safety of a nuclear reactor, for example, is a nuclear engineer declares that a reactor is unsafe, we believe him, because clearly it is not to his advantage to lie about it. If he tells us it is safe, on the other hand, we distrust him, because he may well be protecting the employer who pays his salary. Public distrust of scientists stems in part from the blurring of boundaries between science and technology, between discovery and manufacture. Most government, perhaps all governments, justify public expenditure on scientific research in terms of the economic benefits the scientific enterprise ha brought in the past and will bring in the future. Politicians remind their voters of the splendid machines ‘our scientists’ have invented, the new drugs to relieve old ailments (病痛), and the new surgical equipment and techniques by which previously intractable (难治疗的) conditions may now be treated and lives saved. At the same time, the politicians demand of scientists that they tailor their research to ‘economics needs’, that they award a higher priority to research proposals that are ‘near the market’ and can be translated into the greatest return on investment in the shortest time. Dependent, as they are, on politicians for much of their funding, scientists have little choice but to comply. Like the rest of us, they are members of a society that rates the creation of wealth as the greatest possible good. Many have reservations, but keep them to themselves in what they perceive as a climate hostile to the pursuit of understanding for its own sake and the idea of an inquiring, creative spirit. In such circumstances no one should be too hard on people who are suspicious of conflicts of interest. When we learn that the distinguished professor assuring us of the safety of a particular product holds a consultancy with the company making it, we cannot be blamed for wondering whether his fee might conceivably cloud his professional judgment. Even if the professor holds no consultancy with any firm, some people many still distrust him because of his association with those who do, or at least wonder about the source of some his research funding. This attitude can have damaging effects. It questions the integrity of individuals working in a profession that prizes intellectual honesty as the supreme virtue, and plays into the hands of those who would like to discredit scientists by representing then a venal (可以收买的). This makes it easier to dismiss all scientific pronouncements, but especially those made by the scientists who present themselves as ‘experts’. The scientist most likely to understand the safety of a nuclear reactor, for example, is a nuclear engineer declares that a reactor is unsafe, we believe him, because clearly it is not to his advantage to lie about it. If he tells us it is safe, on the other hand, we distrust him, because he may well be protecting the employer who pays his salary.
文章大意:议论文。本文首段提出中心论点,公众开始不相信科学家了。造成这一现象的原因是政府把科研和经济效益挂钩,使得科学家们不得不按照经济需求来进行研究。第二段是说公众怀疑科学家的论断是情有可原的,因为他们的论断可能受到为他们提供科研经费的单位的影响。第三段说公众的这种态度会产生非常不好的后果,即很容易使公众不相信科学家的所有论断。
单选题 What is the chief concern of most governments when it comes to scientific research?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】事实细节题。许多国家的政府都会根据科研项目是否能带来economic benefits而调整科研方面的公共开支。下文再次提到,政府要求科学家们根据经济需要进行研究,要在最短的时间收到最大的回报。由以上可以看出,在科研方面,政府关心的是其能否带来快速的经济回报。
单选题 Scientist have to adapt their research to ‘economic needs'' in order to ________ .
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】事实细节题。文中提到科学家没有选择的余地而只能comply,也就是说只能根据“经济需要”tailor/adapt their research。这样做的原因是他们要依靠政府提供much of their funding。
单选题 Why won''t scientists complain about the government''s policy concerning scientific research?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】事实细节题。这句话说许多科学家都have reservations,也就是题干所说的won''t complain,原因是他们把这种情况看作是不提倡追求真知的环境。句中的perceive和答案中的think对应,climate和environment对应,understand和knowledge对应。
单选题 According to the author, people are suspicious of the professional judgment of scientists because ________ .
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】推理判断题。本段是说人们通常会对科学家的论断产生怀疑。原因有二:首先,如果一个科学家给制造公司提供咨询,那么他的professional judgment可能会受到该公司给他提供的经费的影响;进一步讲,即使他没有给任何公司提供咨询,但是他可能和那些提供咨询的科学家有联系。无论是制造公司还是其他提供咨询的科学家都是答案中的association with the project concerned,而且文中的cloud和答案中的influence在本文语境中具有相同的含义。
单选题 Why does the author say that public distrust of scientists can have damaging effects?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】推理判断题。本段是说,公众对科学家抱有这种想法是有危害的,因为这很容易使公众不接受all scientific pronouncements,也就是说这些pronouncements即使是真的,也一概不信。下文接着举了一个关于核反应堆安全性的例子来形象说明这一点。