Francois Jacob wrote that "an age or culture is characterized less by the extent of its knowledge than by the nature of the questions it puts forward." {{U}}(66) {{/U}}.
Admittedly, the most brilliant cultures are developed during the days of knowledge acquirement. {{U}}(67) {{/U}}. Many convincing examples can be given when looking back to. the cultural development of these countries. The most influential Chinese culture flourished during Tang Dynasty, which was established a thousand years ago. This influence can be traced by the word "Tang Street", another name for Chinatown. And it was during the same time that the Chinese acquired more knowledge than they had before.
{{U}} (68) {{/U}}. However, when compared with the knowledge people have acquired and are acquiring today, the knowledge of the ancient Tangs and Arabs is unquestionably limited. But in all history books, the cultures of the Tang Dynasty and the ancient Arabs are introduced in detail, while the cultures of the People's Republic of China and the Arab League are seldom mentioned.
{{U}} (69) {{/U}}. For instance, the ancient Greeks and Romans' knowledge about nature was definitely insufficient, but they are still recognized as the founders of the most magnificent ages and cultures in human history because the questions put forward and thought about by them were profound and meaningful. In the works of the Greeks and Romans represented by The Iliad, The Odyssey and The Aeneid, the questions concerning life and death, love and hatred, benevolence and malevolence and individual and society are raised. People can always draw inspirations from Achilles' different attitudes towards death in The Iliad and The Odyssey and Aeneas' choice from love and glory. {{U}}(70) {{/U}}.
The importance of an era or civilization can never be diminished because of its lack of knowledge. The essence of an age or culture should be the exploration in the spiritual world and the thoughtful questions posed.
A. The Arabian culture thrived when the Arabians learnt the application of arithmetic and created Arabic numbers.
B. These remain the questions people face, contemplate and discuss till today.
C. In general, cultures are developed during the time of knowledge acquirement.
D. This statement reveals that the nature of an epoch or civilization is decided by the things that are thought about, rather than the things that are already known.
E. This is probably a universal truth for all countries and nations that boast impressive histories.
F. Compared with knowledge, the questions put forward are more significant in an age or culture.