Part II Reading Comprehension (35 minutes)
Passage One
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage:
What do Charles Darwin, Nicholas Copernicus and Frank J. Sulloway have in common?
The first two, of course, were revolutionary scientific thinkers: Copernicus established that
the Earth revolves around the sun;Darwin discovered natural selection. And Sulloway? He's a
historian of science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology who has discovered something else
these two men - and, indeed, most of the major pioneers in science over the last 400 years- have
in common: they were, like Sulloway himself, preceded in birth by at least one other brother or
sister. Birth order, he found, is the most reliable indicator of whether a scientist will embrace or
attack radical new ideas.
The third of four children, Sulloway has spent 20 years searching out the birth order of 2,
784 scientists who were on one side or the other of 28 scientific revolutions since the 16th century. He discovered that 23 of the 28 revolutions were led by later - borns.
Sulloway focused on the male - dominated world of science and the sole issue he measured
was willingness to challenge established opinions. Those least likely to accept new theories were
firstborns with younger brothers or sisters. The most radical were younger sons with at least one
older brother.
According to Sulloway' s theory, firstborn children identify more readily with parental au-
thority because, among other things, they are often put in charge of younger brothers or sisters.
Through this identification, firstborns absorb the norms (規(guī)范,準(zhǔn)則) and values of society in
ways that subsequent children do not. The older child gets responsibility. They younger one
tests the limits, tries to see what he can get away with.
21. What is the main idea of the passage?
A) Later- borns are more intelligent than firstborns.
B) Revolutionary thinkers tend to recognize the influence of birth order.
C) Major scientists always have something in common in their way of thinking.
D) One's behaviour is often determined by birth order
22. The historian of science mentioned in the passage is of the family.
A) the youngest child
B) neither the eldest nor the youngest child
C) the only child
D) the eldest child
23. The 2,784 scientists Sulloway studied
A) had led 23 of the 28 scientific revolutions
B) were preceded in birth by at least one brother or sister
C) had either supported or opposed revolutionary ideas
D) had dominated the world of science for 400 years
Passage One
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage:
What do Charles Darwin, Nicholas Copernicus and Frank J. Sulloway have in common?
The first two, of course, were revolutionary scientific thinkers: Copernicus established that
the Earth revolves around the sun;Darwin discovered natural selection. And Sulloway? He's a
historian of science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology who has discovered something else
these two men - and, indeed, most of the major pioneers in science over the last 400 years- have
in common: they were, like Sulloway himself, preceded in birth by at least one other brother or
sister. Birth order, he found, is the most reliable indicator of whether a scientist will embrace or
attack radical new ideas.
The third of four children, Sulloway has spent 20 years searching out the birth order of 2,
784 scientists who were on one side or the other of 28 scientific revolutions since the 16th century. He discovered that 23 of the 28 revolutions were led by later - borns.
Sulloway focused on the male - dominated world of science and the sole issue he measured
was willingness to challenge established opinions. Those least likely to accept new theories were
firstborns with younger brothers or sisters. The most radical were younger sons with at least one
older brother.
According to Sulloway' s theory, firstborn children identify more readily with parental au-
thority because, among other things, they are often put in charge of younger brothers or sisters.
Through this identification, firstborns absorb the norms (規(guī)范,準(zhǔn)則) and values of society in
ways that subsequent children do not. The older child gets responsibility. They younger one
tests the limits, tries to see what he can get away with.
21. What is the main idea of the passage?
A) Later- borns are more intelligent than firstborns.
B) Revolutionary thinkers tend to recognize the influence of birth order.
C) Major scientists always have something in common in their way of thinking.
D) One's behaviour is often determined by birth order
22. The historian of science mentioned in the passage is of the family.
A) the youngest child
B) neither the eldest nor the youngest child
C) the only child
D) the eldest child
23. The 2,784 scientists Sulloway studied
A) had led 23 of the 28 scientific revolutions
B) were preceded in birth by at least one brother or sister
C) had either supported or opposed revolutionary ideas
D) had dominated the world of science for 400 years