The word science is heard so often in modern times that almost everybody has some notion of its meaning. On the other hand, its definition is difficult for many people. The meaning of the term is confused, but everyone should understand its meaning and objectives. Just to make the explanation as simple as possible, suppose science is defined as classified knowledge(facts). Even in the true sciences distinguishing fact from fiction is not always easy. For this reason great care should be taken to distinguish between beliefs and truths. There is no danger as long as a clear difference is made between temporary and proved explanations. For example, hypotheses(假设)and theories are attempts to explain natural phenomena. From these positions the scientist continues to experiment and observe until they are proved or discredited(使不相信). The exact status of any explanation should be clearly labeled to avoid confusion. The objectives of science are primarily the discovery and the subsequent understanding of the unknown. Man cannot be satisfied with recognizing that secrets exist in nature or that questions are unanswerable; he must solve them. Toward that end specialists in the field of biology and related fields of interest are directing much of their time and energy. Actually, two basic approaches lead to the discovery of new information. One, aimed at satisfying curiosity, is referred to as pure science. The other is aimed at using knowledge for specific purposes—for instance, improving health, raising standards of living, or creating new consumer products. In this case knowledge is put to economic use. Such an approach is referred to as applied science. Sometimes practical-minded people miss the point of pure science in thinking only of its immediate application for economic rewards. Chemists responsible for many of the discoveries could hardly have anticipated that their findings would one day result in applications of such a practical nature as those directly related to life and death. The discovery of one bit of information opens the door to the discovery of another. Some discoveries seem so simple that one is amazed they were not made years ago; however, one should remember that the construction of the microscope had to precede the discovery of the cell. The host of scientists dedicating their lives to pure science are not apologetic(抱歉)about ignoring the practical side of their discoveries; they know from experience that most knowledge is eventually applied.
单选题
To define science we may simply call it______.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】解析：文章第一段最后一句讲到“Just to make the explanation as simple as possible，suppose science is defined as classified knowledge(facts)．”正是为了使解释尽可能地简单，假设科学被定义为“分类知识(事实)”。所以D项正确。A项的内容文章没有提到，所以它不是科学的定义。B项的内容在文中只是为了解释科学而列举的自然科学的例子。通过阅读文章可知，C项也不是科学的定义。所以本题的正确答案为D。
单选题
Pure science, leading to the construction of a microscope, ______.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】解析：文章最后一段中讲到“The discovery of one bit of information opens the door to the discovery of another．Some discoveries seem so simple that one is amazed they were not made years ago；however，one should remember that the construction of the microscope had to precede the discovery of the cell．”可见，纯科学比应用科学出现得早，正是有了纯科学才使很多发现变得简单，应用它去发现更多的东西，显微镜的发明早于细胞的发现就是一个例子。B项与文章的意思相符。所以应该选B。
单选题
A scientist interested in adding to our general knowledge about oxygen would probably call his approach______.
单选题
Which of the following statements does the author imply?
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】解析：文章最后一段讲到“The host of scientists dedicating their lives to pure science are not apologetic about ignoring the practical side of their discoveries．”可见A项与文章的意思相符，即是说致力于理论研究的科学家不应该因为忽视其发现的实用性而受到责备。第一段中讲到，“科学”这个词经常被人们听到，而且几乎每个人都明白它的概念。所以B项不对；第二段讲到，“即使在真正的科学领域，要区分事实与虚构也并不总是那么容易”，可见C项也不对；文章最后一段中提到了实用主义者利用纯科学为了获取经济回报，往往忽视了纯科学的目的，所以D项也不对。因此本题的正确答案应为A。