考研英語(yǔ)歷年閱讀理解真題精析--1999年part5

字號(hào):

Part Five
    Science, in practice, depends far less on the experiments it prepares than on the preparedness of the minds of the men who watch the experiments. Sir Isaac Newton supposedly discovered gravity through the fall of an apple. Apples had been falling in many places for centuries and thousands of people had seen them fall. But Newton for years had been curious about the cause of the orbital motion of the moon and planets. What kept them in place? Why didn't they fall out of the sky? The fact that the apple fell down toward the earth and not up into the tree answered the question he had been asking himself about those larger fruits of the heavens, the moon and the planets.
    How many men would have considered the possibility of an apple falling up into the tree? Newton did because he was not trying to predict anything. He was just wondering. His mind was ready for the unpredictable. Unpredictability is part of the essential nature of research. If you don't have unpredictable things, you don't have research. Scientists tend to forget this when writing their cut and dried reports for the technical journals, but history is filled with examples of it.
    In talking to some scientists, particularly younger ones, you might gather the impression that they find the "scientific method" a substitute for imaginative thought. I've attended research conferences where a scientist has been asked what he thinks about the advisability of continuing a certain experiment. The scientist has frowned, looked at the graphs, and said "the data are still inconclusive." "We know that," the men from the budget office have said, "but what do you think? Is it worthwhile going on? What do you think we might expect?" The scientist has been shocked at having even been asked to speculate.
    What this amounts to, of course, is that the scientist has become the victim of his own writings. He has put forward unquestioned claims so consistently that he not only believes them himself, but has convinced industrial and business management that they are true. If experiments are planned and carried out according to plan as faithfully as the reports in the science journals indicate, then it is perfectly logical for management to expect research to produce results measurable in dollars and cents. It is entirely reasonable for auditors to believe that scientists who know exactly where they are going and how they will get there should not be distracted by the necessity of keeping one eye on the cash register while the other eye is on the microscope. Nor, if regularity and conformity to a standard pattern are as desirable to the scientist as the writing of his papers would appear to reflect, is management to be blamed for discriminating against the "odd balls" among researchers in favor of more conventional t
    inkers who "work well with the team."
    17. The author wants to prove with the example of Isaac Newton that ________.
    [A] inquiring minds are more important than scientific experiments
    [B] science advances when fruitful researches are conducted
    [C] scientists seldom forget the essential nature of research
    [D] unpredictability weighs less than prediction in scientific research
    18. The author asserts that scientists ________.
    [A] shouldn't replace "scientific method" with imaginative thought
    [B] shouldn't neglect to speculate on unpredictable things
    [C] should write more concise reports for technical journals
    [D] should be confident about their research findings
    19. It seems that some young scientists ________.
    [A] have a keen interest in prediction[B] often speculate on the future
    [C] think highly of creative thinking[D] stick to "scientific method"
    20. The author implies that the results of scientific research ________.
    [A] may not be as profitable as they are expected
    [B] can be measured in dollars and cents
    [C] rely on conformity to a standard pattern
    [D] are mostly underestimated by management
    Unit 6(1999)Part 5
    重點(diǎn)詞匯:
    1.supposedly(大概;據(jù)推測(cè))即suppose+(e)d+ly,suppose(猜想;假設(shè)),-ed形容詞后綴,-ly副詞后綴。
    2.Particularly(特別地;顯著地)即Particul+ar+ly,Particul(=Particle)微粒,-ar形容詞后綴,-ly副詞后綴, substitute (v.替代n.替代物)即sub+stitute,sub-“在下”,stitute詞根“放置”,于是“在下面放置的”→“準(zhǔn)備用作替換的”→替代或替代物。
    3.imaginative (富想象力的)即imagin(e)+ative,imagine(v.想象),-ative“多……的”。Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real.一個(gè)人能夠想象出的任何東西都會(huì)有別人把它變?yōu)楝F(xiàn)實(shí)。
    4.conference (會(huì)議;協(xié)商)即con+fer+ence,con-一起,fer詞根“拿來(lái)”=bring,-ence名詞后綴,“把意見拿到一起來(lái)協(xié)商”→會(huì)議。
    5.budget(v.n.預(yù)算)看作bud+get。The only good budget is a balanced budget.只有平衡的預(yù)算才是好的預(yù)算。
    6.worthwhile (值得的)←worth+while。Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.愛(ài)情并不推動(dòng)世界,它只是使人生值得。
    7.speculate(推測(cè);投機(jī))即specul+ate,specul詞根“看”=spect,-ate動(dòng)詞后綴,聯(lián)想:考研閱讀題每個(gè)都不會(huì)做,對(duì)四個(gè)選項(xiàng)“看”來(lái)“看”去,希望看(推測(cè))出答案,未果,最后只能看天由命(投機(jī))了,于是悄悄拿出兩枚硬幣…
    8.victim(受害者,犧牲品)。
    9.consistently(始終如一地)即con+sist+ent+ly,con-一直,sist詞根“站”,-ent形容詞后綴,-ly副詞后綴,“一直站在那里地”→始終如一地;形容詞形式為consistent←con+sist+ent;名詞形式為consistency←con+sist+ency名詞后綴。
    10.convince?(使信服)。The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his own way.使愚人認(rèn)識(shí)錯(cuò)誤的辦法,是讓他走自己的路。
    11.faithfully(忠實(shí)地;守信地)←faithful+ly。Books are those faithful mirrors that reflect to our minds thoughts of sages and heroes.書籍是忠實(shí)的鏡子,把圣賢英杰的思想反映到我們的頭腦中。
    12.auditor ?(審計(jì)員)用熟詞editor(編者)記:auditor與editor的工作都是審查,但auditor審查的是錢,故以au開頭←金的化學(xué)符號(hào)即Au。
    13.distract?(v.分散;擾亂)即dis+tract,dis-(=away),tract詞根“拉”,“把注意力拉出去”→分散注意力。
    14.register (注冊(cè);自動(dòng)計(jì)數(shù)器)。History, which is, indeed, little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind.歷史實(shí)在不過(guò)是人類的罪行、蠢事與不幸的記錄。
    15.conformity (遵守;順從)←conform+ity名詞后綴。conformity — the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth 順從——自由的獄卒,成長(zhǎng)的大敵。
    16.inquire (v.調(diào)查;詢問(wèn))=enquire。Luck stops at the door and inquires whether prudence is within.好運(yùn)在節(jié)儉的門前止步,問(wèn)訊它是否在家。
    17.profitable ?(有益的,有利可圖的)即profit+able,profit(v.n.收益;利潤(rùn)),-able可……的。Genuine ignorance is… profitable because it is likely to be accompanied by humility, curiosity, and open-mindedness.真正的無(wú)知……不無(wú)益處,因?yàn)樗芸赡馨橛兄t虛、好奇、及思想開放。
    18.underestimate (v.n.低估)←under+estimate估計(jì);反義詞為overestimate→over+estimate→高估。Never underestimate a man who overestimates himself.切勿低估一個(gè)過(guò)高估計(jì)他自己的人。
    19.cut and dried 千篇一律;odd ball 古怪的人。
    難句解析:
    ① The fact that the apple fell down toward the earth and not up into the tree answered the question he had been asking himself about those larger fruits of the heavens, the moon and the planets.
    這個(gè)句子的主干是The fact answered the question。復(fù)雜之處在于主語(yǔ)fact跟了一個(gè)同位語(yǔ)從句,解釋的是fact的內(nèi)容,注意這個(gè)從句中and省略了與前面相同的主語(yǔ)謂語(yǔ)the apple fell;后面的賓語(yǔ)帶了一個(gè)定語(yǔ)從句,這個(gè)從句的引導(dǎo)詞that或者which省略了,about短語(yǔ)是對(duì)question的解釋,those larger fruits of the heavens指的就是the moon and the planets。
    找出這個(gè)句子的主干,再看主語(yǔ)和賓語(yǔ)的修飾性短語(yǔ),再一個(gè)需要注意的是larger fruits of the heavens和后面the moon and the planets的復(fù)指關(guān)系。
    ② In talking to scientists, Particularly younger ones, you might gather the impression that they find the "scientific method" a substitute for imaginative thought.
    這個(gè)句子的主干是you... gather the impression...,但是它的主要內(nèi)容集中在impression后面的同位語(yǔ)從句中。在這個(gè)解釋impression的從句中有一個(gè)動(dòng)詞結(jié)構(gòu)find+n.+n.,意思是“覺(jué)得……是……”,在本句中是“覺(jué)得科學(xué)方法是一種替代品”,for后面的短語(yǔ)解釋了是什么的替代品。句子開始的介詞短語(yǔ)充當(dāng)?shù)氖菭钫Z(yǔ),表示的是這種形象形成的時(shí)刻。
    可以撇開前面的狀語(yǔ)短語(yǔ),只看主干,重要的是理解that從句中find后面跟兩個(gè)名詞的用法。
    ③ If experiments are planned and carried out according to plan as faithfully as the reports in the science journals indicate, then it is perfectly logical for management to expect research to produce results measurable in dollars and cents.
    這個(gè)主從復(fù)合句中的前半部分是if引導(dǎo)的條件從句,這個(gè)從句中有一個(gè)as... as...的結(jié)構(gòu),比較施行中的和書面所說(shuō)的試驗(yàn)的真實(shí)度(faithfully),注意后一個(gè)as后面跟的是一個(gè)句子,其中the report謂語(yǔ)是indicate;后半部分是主句,句中的it是形式主語(yǔ),代替的是后面for... to...的結(jié)構(gòu),這是真正的主語(yǔ)。還需要注意的是results后面跟的形容詞短語(yǔ)說(shuō)明的是results的衡量方式。
    準(zhǔn)確理解as... as...結(jié)構(gòu),弄清faithfully這個(gè)副詞修飾的是動(dòng)詞planned and carried out,再就是主句中形式主語(yǔ)的用法,要找到作為真正主語(yǔ)的不定式短語(yǔ)。
    ④ It is entirely reasonable for auditors to believe that scientists who know exactly where they are going and how they will get there should not be distracted by the necessity of keeping one eye on the cash register while the other eye is on the microscope.
    這個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單句的主語(yǔ)用的是形式主語(yǔ)it,真正的主語(yǔ)是for后面的部分。believe后面跟的是一個(gè)that引導(dǎo)的賓語(yǔ)從句,主干是scientists... should not be distracted by...,其中的主語(yǔ)scientists跟了一個(gè)who引導(dǎo)的定語(yǔ)從句,這個(gè)定語(yǔ)從句的賓語(yǔ)分別是where和how引導(dǎo)的兩個(gè)從句。by后面名詞跟了一個(gè)of前導(dǎo)的動(dòng)名詞短語(yǔ),后面還有一個(gè)while引導(dǎo)的伴隨狀語(yǔ),表示同時(shí)發(fā)生的動(dòng)作。注意動(dòng)詞詞組keep an eye on的用法。
    抓住believe后面賓語(yǔ)從句的意義,尤其是主語(yǔ)scientists的限定性從句以及by后面名詞短語(yǔ)的修飾作用。
    ⑤ Nor, if regularity and conformity to a standard pattern are as desirable to the scientist as the writing of his papers would appear to reflect, is management to be blamed for discriminating against the "odd balls" among researchers in favor of more conventional thinkers who "work well with the team."
    首先注意這個(gè)句子是個(gè)倒裝句,原因是否定詞nor在句首,后面緊跟的是if引導(dǎo)的條件從句,注意其中有一個(gè)as... as...的用法,中間跟的是形容詞desirable,比較的是科學(xué)家對(duì)regularity and conformity的希望和他們論文所反映的要求;這樣的構(gòu)成使得主句的主語(yǔ)和謂語(yǔ)is發(fā)生了倒裝,介詞for后面跟動(dòng)名詞短語(yǔ)的是blamed的理由,注意against和in favor of后面各跟了一種不同類型的researchers,最后需要注意的是thinkers后面跟的是who引導(dǎo)的定語(yǔ)從句,起修飾作用。
    理解主句的倒裝結(jié)構(gòu)是理解這句話的關(guān)鍵,在看這個(gè)句子的時(shí)候不要忽略了句首的nor,這個(gè)單詞否定了整個(gè)主句。此句的主干是Nor is management to be blamed。
    試題解析:
    17. 【正確答案】[A]
    意為:好奇心比科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)更重要。第一段第一句指出,在實(shí)踐中,科學(xué)(的進(jìn)步)更多地依賴于實(shí)驗(yàn)的觀察者(指做實(shí)驗(yàn)的人)的心理準(zhǔn)備狀況,而更少地依賴于科學(xué)所設(shè)置的實(shí)驗(yàn)。本段其他部分所舉的牛頓的例子用于說(shuō)明這一句闡明的道理;第二段又對(duì)這一個(gè)例子進(jìn)行了更具體的總結(jié)概括,指出了為捕捉未預(yù)料到的現(xiàn)象而做好心理準(zhǔn)備的重要性。
    B意為:當(dāng)進(jìn)行有成果的研究時(shí),科學(xué)就會(huì)進(jìn)步。C意為:很少有科學(xué)家忘記研究的本質(zhì)內(nèi)容。D意為:在科學(xué)研究中,不可預(yù)測(cè)性不如預(yù)測(cè)重要。根據(jù)第二段第五、六句,不可預(yù)測(cè)性是科學(xué)研究的本質(zhì)內(nèi)容(不可缺少)的一部分。如果沒(méi)有不可預(yù)測(cè)性,就無(wú)所謂研究。
    18. 【正確答案】[B]
    意為:不應(yīng)該忽視對(duì)不可預(yù)測(cè)現(xiàn)象的推測(cè)。第二段指出,不可預(yù)測(cè)性是科學(xué)研究的本質(zhì)內(nèi)容(不可缺少)的一部分。如果沒(méi)有不可預(yù)測(cè)性,就無(wú)所謂研究??茖W(xué)家們?cè)跒榭茖W(xué)雜志寫作千篇一律的報(bào)告時(shí)往往忘記這一點(diǎn),但是歷充滿了這樣的例子(指像牛頓一樣通過(guò)預(yù)測(cè)沒(méi)有預(yù)料到的現(xiàn)象獲得重大發(fā)現(xiàn)的例子)。
    A意為:不應(yīng)該用想像思維代替“科學(xué)方法”。第三段指出,在與某些科學(xué)家——特別是年輕一點(diǎn)的科學(xué)家交談時(shí),你也許會(huì)得到達(dá)樣一個(gè)印象:他們認(rèn)為“科學(xué)方法”可以代替想象思維。可見,有些科學(xué)家是遵循“科學(xué)方法”的,但是,在他們寫作論文時(shí)卻經(jīng)常忽視了。C意為:應(yīng)該為科學(xué)雜志撰寫更簡(jiǎn)明的報(bào)告。根據(jù)文章第三、四段,科學(xué)家在撰寫論文時(shí)經(jīng)常忽視科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)中的不可預(yù)測(cè)性因素,寫出的論文給人以錯(cuò)誤的印象,似乎科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)總是能取得預(yù)期的結(jié)果??梢姡@里不是一個(gè)簡(jiǎn)明不簡(jiǎn)明的問(wèn)題。D意為:應(yīng)該對(duì)自己的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)有信心。第三段舉的例子旨在說(shuō)明:科學(xué)家對(duì)待科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)的態(tài)度和他們寫作論文的方式很不一致,因此容易引起其他人的誤解。
    19. 【正確答案】 [D]
    意為:堅(jiān)持“科學(xué)方法”。參考第18題對(duì)選擇項(xiàng)A的解釋。
    A意為:對(duì)預(yù)測(cè)很感興趣。B意為;經(jīng)常預(yù)測(cè)未來(lái)。C意為:崇尚創(chuàng)造性思維。文章只在第三段第一句提到了年輕科學(xué)家的態(tài)度。
    20. 【正確答案】[A]
    意為:可能不像預(yù)料的那樣有利可圖。第四段第三句指出,假如科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)像科學(xué)雜志登載的論文所顯示的那樣完全按事先的計(jì)劃設(shè)計(jì)完成,那么,管理者如果期望實(shí)驗(yàn)會(huì)產(chǎn)生可以用美元和美分測(cè)量的結(jié)果就會(huì)是完全符合邏輯的。言外之意,科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)中總是會(huì)存在一些難以預(yù)測(cè)的現(xiàn)象,因此所產(chǎn)生的結(jié)果有時(shí)難以預(yù)測(cè)到,因此,不能肯定地說(shuō)某項(xiàng)實(shí)驗(yàn)必定會(huì)產(chǎn)生經(jīng)濟(jì)效益。
    B意為:可以用美元和美分測(cè)量。C意為:依賴于與標(biāo)準(zhǔn)模式的一致性。第四段最后一句話的意思是:假如像他們的論文所反映的那樣科學(xué)家們也想看到規(guī)律性和與某種標(biāo)準(zhǔn)模式的一致性,那么,如果管理者們歧視研究者中的“怪人”,而喜歡善于合作的、具有傳統(tǒng)思維模式的人,這也是無(wú)可指責(zé)的。言外之意,科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)中可能存在很多不可預(yù)測(cè)現(xiàn)象,如果實(shí)驗(yàn)者有充分的心理準(zhǔn)備,及時(shí)把握住這些現(xiàn)象,突破傳統(tǒng)的思維方式,就可能獲得更有價(jià)值的發(fā)明。D意為:大都被管理者低估了。
    全文翻譯:
    在實(shí)踐中,科學(xué)的進(jìn)步依賴于做實(shí)驗(yàn),但更依賴于實(shí)驗(yàn)的觀察者(即做實(shí)驗(yàn)的人)的心理是否有足夠的準(zhǔn)備。艾薩克?牛頓爵士通過(guò)蘋果落地發(fā)現(xiàn)了萬(wàn)有引力。多少個(gè)世紀(jì)以來(lái),蘋果一直在許多地方落到地面,也有成千上萬(wàn)的人看到過(guò)蘋果落地。多年來(lái)牛頓一直對(duì)月球和行星繞軌道運(yùn)行的起因好奇不已。是什么使它們處于現(xiàn)在的位置呢?它們?yōu)槭裁床宦涞教炜罩饽??蘋果向下落到地面不是向上飛到樹上,這一事實(shí)回答了他長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)一直對(duì)天空中更大果實(shí)——月球和行星所存有的疑問(wèn)。
    多少人會(huì)考慮過(guò)蘋果向上飛到樹上的可能性呢?牛頓考慮過(guò),因?yàn)樗幌雽?duì)任何事情進(jìn)行預(yù)測(cè)。他只是懷有好奇心。他的思想在準(zhǔn)備思考不可預(yù)測(cè)的事。不可預(yù)測(cè)性是科學(xué)研究不可或缺的一個(gè)重要特征。如果沒(méi)有不可預(yù)測(cè)現(xiàn)象的產(chǎn)生就無(wú)所謂科學(xué)研究了??茖W(xué)家們?cè)跒榭茖W(xué)雜志撰寫千篇一律的報(bào)告時(shí)常常忘記這一點(diǎn),而歷這樣的例子卻比比皆是。
    在和一些科學(xué)家,特別是年輕科學(xué)家交談時(shí),你可能會(huì)有這樣一種印象:他們認(rèn)為“科學(xué)方法”可以代替創(chuàng)造性思維。我出席過(guò)一些科研會(huì)議,會(huì)上有人問(wèn)一位科學(xué)家繼續(xù)某項(xiàng)實(shí)驗(yàn)是否是明智之舉。那位科學(xué)家皺了皺眉,又看了看圖表,然后說(shuō):“數(shù)據(jù)還是不夠充分?!鳖A(yù)算部門的人說(shuō):“這點(diǎn)我們知道,但你的意見如何?你覺(jué)得值得做下去嗎?你覺(jué)得我們可以期待什么呢?”這位科學(xué)家感到很震驚,他沒(méi)有料到人們會(huì)讓他做出預(yù)測(cè)。
    當(dāng)然,這幾乎等于說(shuō):那位科學(xué)家成了他自己論文的受害者。他所提出的種種論斷是如此不容置疑、如此一致,以至于不僅他自己相信了,而且也說(shuō)服了工商界的管理者相信其正確性。假如科學(xué)實(shí)驗(yàn)像科學(xué)雜志登載的科學(xué)報(bào)告顯示的那樣完全按事先的計(jì)劃去規(guī)劃和實(shí)施,那么,對(duì)管理層來(lái)說(shuō),期待研究能夠產(chǎn)生可以用金錢衡量的結(jié)果是完全合理的。審計(jì)人員也完全有理由相信,確切知道自己的目標(biāo)并知道如何實(shí)現(xiàn)這一目標(biāo)的科學(xué)家們根本沒(méi)必要用一只眼盯著現(xiàn)金計(jì)數(shù)器的同時(shí),還要用另一只眼睛盯著顯微鏡。如果像他們的論文所反映的那樣,科學(xué)家也想看到規(guī)律性和與某種標(biāo)準(zhǔn)模式的一致性,那么如果管理人員歧視研究人員中的“標(biāo)新立異者”,而贊賞“善于合作”的具有傳統(tǒng)思維模式的人,那也是無(wú)可指摘的。