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The physicist investigating the relationship between time and space, the chemist is exploring the properties of a new substance, the biologist probing the mysteries of the continuity of life, and the anthropologist（人类学家）searching for human origins share a common trait（特征）—curiosity. Not that non-scientists are not curious; most people possess this characteristic. The scientist, however, uses a specific method to make researches into these enigmatic problems—the scientific method.

Unfortunately, science and its method are misunderstood. The multiplication of our knowledge in medicine and technology has led to the idea that science can cure all and explain all and that only enough time, money and intelligence are needed. In truth, science cannot provide all answers. In fact, many phenomena are not even subject to scientific explanations.

On the other side of the coin, science has been attacked as a cause of most contemporary problems. It is said to be responsible for the depersonalization（使失去个性）of the individual, for stripping（夺去）creativity from human behavior, and for creating massive threats to the species through the development of nuclear power, insecticide, and polluting machinery. If we analyze the situation, we can see that it was not the original intent of the people who developed computers to debase humankind, nor was mass production proposed as a method to crush creativity. It is what society, policymakers especially, does with scientific achievements that makes them social or antisocial. There is nothing inherently good or bad about science.

1．Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?

A．Scientists and their curiosity.

B．Science and scientific method.

C．Understandings of science.

D．Misunderstandings of science.

2．The last sentence of Para. 2 could be explained as which of the following?

A．Many phenomena can be subjects of scientific explanations.

B．Many phenomena can find answers in scientific explanations.

C．Scientific explanations cannot provide answers to many phenomena.

D．Scientific explanations are not related to many phenomena.

3．The expression “to debase humankind” （Lines 5-6, Para. 3）could be explained as____.

A．to provide base to humankind

B．to reduce the value of humankind

C．to get rid of humankind

D．to compete with humankind

4．According to the last paragraph, which of the following will be accepted by the author?

A．Science is the cause of modern problems.

B．Science itself is neither good nor bad.

C．Science leads to environmental pollution.

D．Science causes many antisocial acts.

5．In the expression “On the other side of the coin” （Line 1, Para. 3）, “the coin” is used to refer to____.

A．the misunderstanding of science

B．the scientific explanation

C．the money needed in scientific research

D．the curiosity of scientists and non-scientists

1．【答案】D

【精析】由文章第二段第一句话“Unfortunately, science and its method are misunderstood.”可知，D项为正确答案。

2．【答案】C

【精析】由文章第二段最后两句话“In truth, science cannot provide all answers. In fact, many phenomena are not even subject to scientific explanations.”可知，C项句子与其相对应，故选C项。

3．【答案】B

【精析】文章第三段第三句话是：“If we analyze the situation, we can see that it was not the original intent of the people who developed computers to debase humankind, nor was mass production proposed as a method to crush creativity.”其中debase意为“降低……的价值；败坏……的名誉”，故B项为正确答案。

4．【答案】B

【精析】由文章最后一句话“It is what society, policymakers especially, does with scientific achievements that makes them social or antisocial. There is nothing inherently good or bad about science.”可知，B项为正确答案。

5．【答案】A

【精析】由“On the other side of the coin”所在句子可知，科学是造成当前大多数问题的原因。这里讲的是科学的另一方面（不好的方面），故A项为正确答案。