答案和解析见第二页

Science is a dominant theme in our culture. Since it touches almost every facet of our life, educated people need at least some acquaintance with its structure and operation. They should also have an understanding of the subculture in which scientists live and the kinds of people they are. An understanding of general characteristics of science as well as specific scientific concepts is easier to attain if one knows something about the things that excite and frustrate the scientist.

This book is written for the intelligent student or lay person whose acquaintance with science is superficial; for the person who has been presented with science as a musty storehouse of dried facts; for the person who sees the chief objective of science as the production of gadgets; and for the person who views the scientists as some sort of magician. The book can be used to supplement a course in any science, to accompany any course that attempts to give an understanding of the modern world, or - independently of any course - simply to provide a better understanding of science. We hope this book will lead readers to a broader perspective on scientific attitudes and a more realistic view of what science is, who scientists are, and what they do. It will give them an awareness and understanding of the relationship between science and our culture and an appreciation of the roles science may play in our culture. In addition, readers may learn to appreciate the relationship between scientific views and some of the values and philosophies that are pervasive in our culture.

We have tried to present in this book an accurate and up-to-date picture of the scientific community and the people who populate it. That population has in recent years come to comprise more and more women. This increasing role of women in the scientific subculture is not an unique incident but, rather, part of the trend evident in all segments of society as more women enter traditionally male-dominated fields and make significant contributions. In discussing these changes and contribution, however, we are faced with a language that is implicitly sexist, one that uses male nouns or pronouns in referring to unspecified individuals. To offset this built-in bias, we have adopted the policy of using plural nouns and pronouns whenever possible and, when absolutely necessary, alternating he and she. This policy is far form being ideal, but it is at least an acknowledgment of the inadequacy of our language in treating half of the human race equally.

We have also tried to make the book entertaining as well as informative. Our approach is usually informal. We feel, as do many other scientists, that we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously. As the reader may observe, we see science as a delightful pastime rather than as a grim and dreary way to earn a living.

1. According to the passage, ’scientific subculture’ means

[A] cultural groups that are formed by scientists.

[B] people whose knowledge of science is very limited.

[C] the scientific community.

[D] people who make good contribution to science.

2. We need to know something about the structure and operation of science because

[A] it is not easy to understand the things that excite and frustrate scientists.

[B] Science affects almost every aspect of our life.

[C] Scientists live in a specific subculture.

[D] It is easier to understand general characteristics of science.

3. The book mentioned in this passage is written for readers who

[A] are intelligent college students and lay person who do not know much about science.

[B] are good at producing various gadgets.

[C] work in a storehouse of dried facts.

[D] want to have a superficial understanding of science.

4. According to this passage,

[A] English is a sexist language.

[B] only in the scientific world is the role of women increasing rapidly.

[C] women are making significant contributions to eliminating the inadequacy of our language.

[D] male nouns or pronouns should not be used to refer to scientists.

5. This passage most probably is

[A] a book review.

[B] the preface of a book.

[C] the postscript of a book.

[D] the concluding part of a book.

[答案与考点解析]

1. 【答案】A

【考点解析】本题是一道标点符号题。通过本题题干中的“solitary”一词可将本题的答案信息中心确定在第一段第十行即第一段第四句话，通过仔细阅读和理解本句话以及本句前后的两句话，可以得出本题的正确选项A。其实美国的女权主义运动者并不“孤单”(solitary)，因为她们的思想和行动是和欧洲大陆的女权主义者有着千丝万缕的联系，是国际女权运动的一部分。考生在解题时要善于理解标点符号，更要善于对原文的细节进行推导。

2. 【答案】B

【考点解析】本题是一道细节推导题。根据本题题干中的“European historians”可将本题的答案信息来源迅速确定在第二段第四句，通过阅读本句分号前后的内容，可以推导出作者的态度是否定的，其否定原因是第二段第四句分号前半部分所表达的内容。本题的正确答案应该是B。考生在解题时一定要注意原文细节的推导，尤其是分句之间存在因果关系的时候。

3. 【答案】D

【考点解析】这是一道归纳推导题。但是本题的题干确没有明确给出本题在原文中的准确信息来源。这时考生就会迷失答题思路。请同学们一定要记住：每当自己迷失答题思路时，一定要多想一想全文的中心主旨句和每段的主题句，这会帮助考生寻找到解题的思路。本题的正确答案应该是D，因为选项D所表达的内容和本文尾段第一、二句所表达的内容相反。选项A、B、C的内容分别在第三段第一句、第三段第二句以及第二段首句涉及。考生在解题时一定要牢记段落主题句。

4. 【答案】A

【考点解析】这是一道审题定位题。从本题题干中的“envisioned”(设想，预想)一词可将本题的答案信息来源迅速确定在倒数第二段第一句和第二句，因为倒数第二段第一句含有“project”(计划，规划)一词，倒数第二段第二句含有表示未来的“would”一词。通过仔细阅读倒数第二段的第一、二句话，发现这两句话都包含“globe”或“world”，可见本题的正确选项应该是A。考生在解题时一定要善于利用题干中的词语迅速而准确地进行审题定位。

5. 【答案】B

【考点解析】这是一道反推题。通过本题题干中的“most Saint-Simonians”可将本题的答案信息来源迅速确定在尾段的第一句。根据尾段第一句进行反推即逆向思维，可得出本题的正确答案是B。考生在解题时一定要时时牢记反推题型，并且经常利用自己的逆向思维能力。