2015年考研英语阅读理解考前专项训练（128）
发布时间：2012/11/7 15:07:34 来源：城市网学院 编辑：admin
To the public.calling something a“theory”means that it is not supported by tested，proven evidence. Whereas a scientist understands a theory to be a well—grounded explanation for a given henomenon，the general public understands it as just a theory‘，no more valid than any other opinion onthe matter.①
When this confusion over“theory”bumps up against media imperatives，the result ls often a distorting effort to tell“both sides”of the story. In practice，this means that even when there ls overwhelming consensus in the scientific #munity（as in the case of global warming），experts all too often find themselves pitted in the media against some rival，crank，or shill who is on hand to provide“proper balance”。②The resulting arguments actively hinder people's ability to reach sound understandin9：Not only do they muddy the public's already shaky grasp of scientific fundamentals，they lcave people confused and disoriented.④
When faced with the gap between science and society，scientists assume that the solution is to make the Dublic more science—literate—to do a better job at science education and so bring nonscientists around to a more scientiffc mindset.This assumption conveniently absolves science of the need to examine the way in which its own practices contribute to the gap and allows science to maintain its position of intellectual and moral superiority.④In addition，on a purely practical level a superficial smattering of scientific knowledge might cause more problems than it solves.
The Dublic and policymakers crave a level of certainty that the language and metrics of science cannot orovide. For example，when the public is alarmed by something like the anthrax scare or some future act of small—scale biological or chemical terrorism，science will assess the threat in the language of probabilities.But this metric neither reassures the public nor permits it to make realistic #parisons to other threats。such as nuclear terrorism.Science's frame of reference does not #municate well to the public.
The timetables of science（which operates in a framework of decades or longer）are #pletely out of synch with the timetables of public policy（which operates in a framework of months and years）。It has taken nearly 30 years for the National Academy of Sciences to #plete its study of the consequences of oil drilling in Alaska's North Slope；in that time，a great deal of environmental damage has been done， and political pressure for further exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has gained momentum.At this stage，the academy's scientific report stands to be#e little more than a political football.Vaccine research is another example：Political demands for prompt action on high-profile diseases do not jibe well with the painstaking process of research and trial.Political pressures push resources toward popular or expedient solutions，not necessarily those with the greatest chance for long- term Success.[473 words]
1.The first paragraph is written to tell us______.
A.the gap between science and the public
B.the definition and validity of a theory
C.what theory means to the public
D.what theory means to scientists
2.It can be inferred from the text that the media is______.
A.generally on the side of the public
B.1ikely to start arguments to attract audience
C.in sympathy with the opinions of scientists
D.more interested in the opinions of non-scientists
3.The author believes that______may help narrow the divide between science and society.
A.to do a better job at science education
B.to make nonscientists be#e more science literate
C.to examine the way science is practiced
D.to maintain the superior position of science
4.The public thinks that______.
A.science is incapable of assessing the threat of terrorism
B.the threat assessment given by science is.of little practical value
C.there is no way to #pare anthrax scare with nuclear terrorism
D.anthrax scare is not so threatening as nuclear terrorism
5.The example of oil drilling in Alaska's North Slope is used to illustrate that______.
A.further exploration of oil there has been justified
B.oil drilling is sure to cause a lot of environmental damage
C.it is not necessary for policymakers to wait for science in important issues
D.policymakers demand prompt action，while science demands long-term painful study [NextPage] 难句透析
①Whereas a scientist understands a theory tO be a well—grounded explanation for a given phenomenon，the general public understands it as“just a theory”。no more valid than any other opinion on the matter.
【结构】本句是由放在句首的并列连词“whereas”连接的两个分句组成并列句。
【释义】科学家认为理论是对于一个特定现象的有充分根据的解释，而一般公众认为理论不过是“理论”而已，并不比对一件事的任何其他看法来得更正确。
⑦In practice，this means[that（even when there is overwhelming consensus in the scientific #munity（as in the case of global warming）），experts all too often find themselves pitted in the media against some rival，crank，or shill（who is on hand tO provide“proper balance”）].
【结构】 方括号所标示的部分是动词“means”的宾语从句。
【释义】实际上，这意味着，甚至当科学界的看法广泛一致时（如全球变暖的问题），专家们往往发现自己却陷身于传媒之中，要去面对为了保持所谓“适当平衡”而随时可能出现的对手、怪人或骗子。
③The resulting arguments actively hinder people's ability to reach sound understandin9：—Not—only do they muddy the public'S already shaky grasp of scientific fundamentals，they leave people confused and disoriented.
【结构】本句中的“they”指“arguments”。“Not only”放在句首时，句子的主谓部分倒装，“do”放在主语“they”之前。
【释义】由此而导致的争论卓有成效地抑制了人们对事物正确理解的能力。这些争论不仅动摇了公众对科学基础知识的脆弱了解，而且使公众变得困惑，不知所措。
④This assumption conveniently labsolves science of the need to examine the way[in which its own practices contribute to the gap]and allows science tO maintain its position of intellectual and moral superiority.
【结构】本句有两个并列的谓语动词“absolve”和“allow”。方括号所标示的部分是“the way”的后置定语从句。
【释义】这种看法轻而易举地使科学免除了自身的责任，无需检查自身的活动对于造成这种隔阂所起的影响，同时使得科学得以保持其在知识和道德领域的优势地位。
⑤The timetables of science（which operates in a framework of decades or longer）are #pletely out of synch with the timetables of public policy（which operates in a framework of months and years）。
【结构】本句的表语“0ut of synch”的意思是：不同步的，不协调的。
【释义】科学与公共政策的时间表全然不同步。科学要经历数10年或更长的时间才能见成效，而公共政策在几个月或几年内就要见分晓。 [NextPage] 全文翻译
对公众来说，被称为“理论”的东西就是得不到经过实证检验的证据支持的。科学家认为理论是对于一个特定现象的有充分根据的解释，而一般公众认为理论不过是“理论”而已，并不比对一件事的任何其他看法来得更正确。①
当这种对“理论”的混乱认识在媒体的武断论述下产生时，我们通常不得不以扭曲的方式来从“双方面”讲述这个问题。实际上，这意味着，甚至当科学界的看法广泛一致时（如全球变暖的问题），专家们往往发现自己却陷身于传媒之中，要去面对为了保持所谓“适当平衡”而随时可能出现的对手、怪人或骗子。由此而导致的争论卓有成效地抑制了人们对事物正确理解的能力。这些争论不仅动摇了公众对科学基础知识的脆弱了解，而且使公众变得困惑，不知所措。
当面临科学与社会现实之间的代沟时，科学家们所设想的解决方案就是让公众的科学文化水平进一步提高——也就是要在科学教育方面进一步努力并使得非科学家也能有科学性的思维模式。这种看法轻而易举地使科学免除了自身的责任，无需检查自身的活动对于造成这种隔阂所起的影响，同时使得科学得以保持其在知识和道德领域的优势地位。④除此之外，一个肤浅的对科学知识一知半解的知识构成有可能造成比其能解决的问题更大的麻烦。
公众和决策者们总是期望科学所用的语言和度量能达到一定的确切程度，而这恰恰是科学无法提供的。比如说，当公众收到像炭疽病和未来一些小范围内的生物或化学恐怖袭击的预警的时候，科学对这些威胁的估计只能用可能性这样的话语来表示。但是这样的标准并不能起到让公众放心的作用，甚至使公众无法将这种威胁和诸如核恐怖袭击的威胁进行比照。科学的参照框架无法与公众建立起良好的沟通机制。
科学与公共政策的时闯表全然不同步。科学要经历数10年或更长的时间才能见成效，而公共政策在几个月或几年内就要见分晓。国家科学院花了30年才完成了在阿拉斯加北坡地带进行石油钻井的后果的研究；但在这个时期内大量环境破坏已经发生了，并且政治上要求在北极圈国家野生动物栖息地进行深入勘探的势力也逐渐获得了认同。到了这一步，学院的科学报告已经和一个政治皮球没有什么两样了。对疫苗的研究又是另外一个例证：政府要求对高危疾病立即作出反映，但这并不能很好地指导需要付出艰苦努力的研究和试验工作。政府的压力使得资源都流向流行的或有利的方案上，而并非那些在远期可能获得更大成功的方案。
超纲词汇
Absolve 宣布免除
Crank n.怪人，脾气坏的人
Expedient adj.有用的，有利的
imperative n.命令，规则，强制
jibe v.与…一致，使转向
Mindset n.精神状态，思想倾向，气质
muddy vt.使浑浊，使显得难以理解
Pit vt.使凹下，使竞争
Shill n.雇用骗子，“托”
Smattering n.浅薄的知识，一知半解
synch n.同时，同步
参考答案：1.A 2.B 3.C 4.B 5.D
