2024年专四阅读练习：序言

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　　序言

　　Science is a dominant theme in our culture. Since it touches almost every facet of our life, educated people need at least some acquaintancewith its structure and operation. They should alsohave an understanding of the subculture in whichscientists live and the kinds of people they are. Anunderstanding of general characteristics of scienceas well as specific scientific concepts is easier to attain if one knows something about thethings that excite and frustrate the scientist.

　　This book is written for the intelligent student or lay person whose acquaintance withscience is superficial; for the person who has been presented with science as a mustystorehouse of dried facts; for the person who sees the chief objective of science as theproduction 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 thatattempts 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 abroader perspective on scientific attitudes and a more realistic view of what science is, whoscientists are, and what they do. It will give them an awareness and understanding of therelationship between science and our culture and an appreciation of the roles science mayplay in our culture. In addition, readers may learn to appreciate the relationship betweenscientific 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 scientificcommunity and the people who populate it. That population has in recent years come tocomprise more and more women. This increasing role of women in the scientific subculture isnot an unique incident but, rather, part of the trend evident in all segments of society asmore women enter traditionally male-dominated fields and make significant contributions. Indiscussing these changes and contribution, however, we are faced with a language that isimplicitly 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 pronounswhenever possible and, when absolutely necessary, alternating he and she. This policy is farform being ideal, but it is at least an acknowledgment of the inadequacy of our language intreating half of the human race equally.

　　We have also tried to make the book entertaining as well as informative. Our approach isusually informal. We feel, as do many other scientists, that we shouldn’t take ourselves tooseriously. As the reader may observe, we see science as a delightful pastime rather than as agrim 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 sciencebecause_____.

　　[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 ourlanguage.

　　[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.

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