2017英语专八阅读100篇高级篇附答案解析（85）

2017英语专八阅读100篇高级篇附答案解析（85）

　　Computer programmers often remark that computing machines, with aperfect lack of discrimination, will do any foolish thing they are told to do.The reason for this lies, of course, in the narrow fixation of the computingmachine’s “intelligence” on the details of its own perceptions — itsinability to be guided by any large context. In a psychological description ofthe computer intelligence, three related adjectives come to mind:single-minded, literal-minded, and simple-minded. Recognizing this, we shouldat the same time recognize that this single-mindedness, literal-mindedness, andsimple-mindedness also characterizes theoretical mathematics, though to alesser extent.

　　Since science tries to deal with reality, even the most precisesciences normally work with more or less imperfectly understood approximationstoward which scientists must maintain an appropriate skepticism. Thus, forinstance, it may come as a shock to mathematicians to learn that theSchrodinger equation for the hydrogen atom is not a literally correctdescription of this atom, but only an approximation to a somewhat more correctequation taking account of spin, magnetic dipole, and relativistic effects; andthat this corrected equation is itself only an imperfect approximation to an infiniteset of quantum field-theoretical equations. Physicists, looking at the originalSchrodinger equation, learn to sense in it the presence of many invisible termsin addition to the differential terms visible, and this sense inspires anentirely appropriate disregard for the purely technical features of theequation. This very healthy skepticism is foreign to the mathematical approach.

　　Mathematics must deal with well-defined situations. Thus,mathematicians depend on an intellectual effort outside of mathematics for thecrucial specification of the approximation that mathematics is to takeliterally. Give mathematicians a situation that is the least bit ill-defined,and they will make it well-defined, perhaps appropriately, but perhapsinappropriately. In some cases, the mathematicians literal-mindedness may haveunfortunate consequences. The mathematicians turn the scientists’ theoreticalassumptions that is, their convenient points of analytical emphasis, intoaxioms, and then take these axioms literally. This brings the danger that theymay also persuade the scientists to take these axioms literally. The question,central to the scientific investigation but intensely disturbing in themathematical context — what happens if the axioms are relaxed? —is therebyignored.

　　The physicist rightly dreads precise argument, since an argumentthat is convincing only if it is precise loses all its force if the assumptionson which it is based are slightly changed, whereas an argument that isconvincing though imprecise may well be stable under small perturbations of itsunderlying assumptions.

　　1. The author discusses computing machines in the first paragraphprimarily in order to do which of the following?

　　[A] Indicate the dangers inherent in relying to a great extent onmachines.

　　[B] Illustrate his views about the approach of mathematicians toproblem solving.

　　[C] Compare the work of mathematicians with that of computerprogrammers.

　　[D] Provide one definition of intelligence.

　　2. It can be inferred form the text that scientists make which ofthe following assumptions about scientific arguments?

　　[A] The literal truth of the arguments can be made clear only in amathematical context.

　　[B] The arguments necessarily ignore the central question of scientificinvestigation.

　　[C] The arguments probably will be convincing only to otherscientists.

　　[D] The premises on which the arguments are based may change.

　　3. According to the text, mathematicians present a risk to scientistfor which of the following reasons?

　　[A] Mathematicians may provide theories that are incompatible withthose already developed by scientists.

　　[B] Mathematicians may define situations in a way that isincomprehensible to scientists.

　　[C] Mathematicians may convince scientists that theoreticalassumptions are facts.

　　[D] Scientists may come to believe that axiomatic statements areuntrue.

　　4. The author suggests that the approach of physicists to solvingscientific problem is which of the following?

　　[A] Practical for scientific purposes.

　　[B] Detrimental to scientific progress.

　　[C] Unimportant in most situations.

　　[D] Expedient, but of little long-term value.

　　5. The author implies that scientists develop a healthy skepticism becausethey are aware that

　　[A] mathematicians are better able to solve problems than arescientists.

　　[B] changes in axiomatic propositions will inevitably underminescientific arguments.

　　[C] well-defined situations are necessary for the design of reliableexperiments.

　　[D] some factors in most situations must remain unknown.

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