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Public distrust of scientists stems in part from the blurring of boundaries between science and technology, between discovery and manufacture. Most governments, perhaps all governments, justify public expenditure on scientific research in terms of the economic benefits the scientific enterprise has brought in the past and will bring in the future. Politicians remind their voters of the splendid machines \new drugs to relieve old ailments (病痛), and the new surgical equipment and techniques by which previously intractable (难治疗的) conditions may now be treated and lives saved. At the same time, the politicians demand of scientists that they tailor their research to \the market\time. Dependent, as they are, on politicians for much of their funding, scientists have little choice but to comply. Like the rest of us, they are members of a society that rates the creation of wealth as the greatest possible good. Many have reservations, but keep them to themselves in what they perceive as a climate hostile to the pursuit of understanding for its own sake and the idea of an inquiring, creative spirit.

In such circumstances no one should be too hard on people who are suspicious of conflicts of interest. When we learn that the distinguished professor assuring us of the safety of a particular product holds a consultancy with the company making it, we cannot be blamed for wondering whether his fee might conceivably cloud his professional judgment. Even if the professor holds no consultancy with any firm, some people may still distrust him because of his association with those who do, or at least wonder about the source of some his research funding.

This attitude can have damaging effects. It questions the integrity of individuals working in a profession that prizes intellectual honesty as the supreme virtue, and plays into the hands of those who would like to discredit scientists by representing them as venal (可以收买的). This makes it easier to dismiss all scientific pronouncements, but especially those made by the scientists who present themselves as %understand the safety of a nuclear reactor, for example, is a nuclear engineer, and a nuclear engineer is most likely to be employed by the nuclear industry. If a nuclear engineer declares that a reactor is unsafe, we believe him, because clearly it is not to his advantage to lie about it. If he tells us it is safe, on the other hand, we distrust him, because he may well be protecting the employer who pays his salary.

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1. What is the chief concern of most governments when it comes to scientific research? A . The reduction of public expenditure. B . Quick economics returns.

C . The budget for a research project. D . Support from the voters.

正确答案:Quick economics returns.

题目详解:由文章第一段第四句话“At the same time, the politicians demand of scientists

that they tailor their research to 'economics needs', that they award a higher priority to research proposals that are 'near the market' and can be translated into the greatest return on investment in the shortest time. ”可知，政府要求科学家的研究工作必须适应经济的需求，对于与市场接轨，投资回报快的项目给予优先考虑，因此Quick economics returns.项的内容符合题意。其余选项与原文不符。

2. Scientists have to adapt their research to \A . translate knowledge into wealth B . obtain funding from the government C . pursue knowledge for knowledge's sake D . impress the public with their achievements

正确答案:obtain funding from the government

题目详解:文章首段第五句话“Dependent , as they are , on politicians for much of their funding , scientists have little choice but to comply . ”指出，由于科学家的经费依靠政客的资助，那么科学家们只能满足政治家们的需求，也就是说，为了获得经费他们的研究必须满足“经济的需求”，故obtain funding from the government项的说法符合文义。

3. Why won't scientists complain about the government's policy concerning scientific research?

A . They know it takes patience to win support from the public.

B . They think they work in an environment hostile to the free pursuit of knowledge. C . They think compliance with government policy is in the interests of the public. D . They are accustomed to keeping their opinions to themselves.

正确答案:They think they work in an environment hostile to the free pursuit of knowledge. 题目详解:由首段末句话“Many have reservations, but keep them to themselves in what they perceive as a climate hostile to the pursuit of understanding for its own sake and the idea of an inquiring , creative spirit .”可知科学家们不抱怨的原因能是他们处于一种追求理解，追求创新充满敌意的氛围中，因此，他们只能保持沉默，故选项[They think they work in an environment hostile to the free pursuit of knowledge.]的内容符合文义。

4. According to the author, people are suspicious of the professional judgment of scientists because ______.

A . some of them do not give priority to intellectual honesty B . sometimes they hide the source of their research funding

C . they could be influenced by their association with the project concerned D . their pronouncements often turn out to be wrong

正确答案:they could be influenced by their association with the project concerned

题目详解:由第二段的内容可以推知科学家会受到科研资金来源的影响，故 they could be

influenced by their association with the project concerned项正确。干扰项some of them do not give priority to intellectual honesty项之所以不正确是因为原文提到的原因是科学家会受到资金来源的影响，而不是说科学家不诚实。他们也为生活所迫，也是生活的一分子，因此，他们势必会受到项目组织机构的左右，但不能说他们不诚实，故some of them do not give priority to intellectual honesty项不正确。

5. Why does the author say that public distrust of scientists can have damaging effects? A . Scientists themselves may doubt the value of their research findings. B . People would not believe scientists even when they tell the truth. C . It makes things difficult for scientists seeking research funds.

D . It may dampen the enthusiasm of scientists for independent research.

正确答案:People would not believe scientists even when they tell the truth.

题目详解:第三段内容以核技术人员的工作举例说明，即使科学家有时说实话，我们也不会信。故选项People would not believe scientists even when they tell the truth.概括了此段内容。因此People would not believe scientists even when they tell the truth.项正确。

Science writer Tom Standage draws apt parallels between the telegraph and the gem of late 20th century technology, the Internet. Both systems grew out of the cutting edge science of their time. The telegraph's land lines, underwater cables, and clicking gadgets reflected the 19th century's research in electromagnetism. The Internet's computers and high-speed connections reflect 20th century computer science, information theory, and materials technology. But, while inventions make a global network possible, it takes human cooperation to make it happen. Standage's insight in this regard adds depth to his technological history. It underscores the relevance to our own time of the struggles of Samuel Morse in America. William Cooke in England, and other telegraph pioneers. They made the technology work efficiently, sold it to a skeptical public, and overcame national and international bureaucratic obstacles. The solutions they found smooth the Internet's way today. Consider a couple of technical parallels. Telegrams were sent from one station to the next, where they were received and retransmitted until they reached their destination. Stations along the way were owned by different entities, including national governments. Internet data is sent from one server computer to another that receives and retransmits it until it reaches its destination. Again the computers have a variety of owners. Then there is the social impact. The Internet is changing the way we do business and communicate. It makes possible virtual communities for individuals scattered around the planet who share mutual interests. Yet important as this may turn out to be, it is affecting a world that was already well connected by radio, television, and other telecommunications. The Associated Press, Reuters, and other news services would have spread the Star report quickly without the Internet. In this respect, the global telegraph network was truly revolutionary. The unprecedented availability of global news in real time gave birth to the Associated Press and Reuters news services. It gave a global perspective to newspapers

that had focused on local affairs. A provincialism that geographical isolation had forced on people for millennia was gone forever. Some seers naively hailed this as a force for world peace. They predicted that tensions over cultural and ethnic differences would relax as people interacted in real time. Visionaries say the same about the Internet. While communications can smooth this process, they do not automatically make it happen. As the experience of the past century and a half has shown, peace takes the will to make it work and sustained effort by all parties.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. What does \A . The Internet. B . The telegraph.

C . Materials technology. D . Information theory.

正确答案:The Internet.

题目详解:题干引号里的短语出现在文章第一段开头，接着原文提到了互联网“the Internet”；根据语法结构，“the Internet”是“the gem Of late 20th century technology”的同位语，即将“互联网”比喻为“二十世纪末科技上一颗璀璨的宝石”，因此答案为“The Internet.”。

2. What is the relevance to our own time of the struggles of telegraph pioneers? A . They smooth the way for the popularity of today's technology. B . They made the Internet a global network.

C . They overcame national and international bureaucratic obstacles. D . They made today's technology work efficiently.

正确答案:They smooth the way for the popularity of today's technology.

题目详解:定位于文章第二段，要准确区分论点和论据．掌握本段的中心思想，即虽然这些科技发明使全球网络成为可能，但是仍然需要人类的合作才能使其成为现实。而电报先驱们为推广他们的发明而做出的努力为互联网的发展铺平了道路。“They made today's technology work efficiently.”、“They made the Internet a global network.”、“They overcame national and international bureaucratic obstacles.”是具体的论据，而“They smooth the way for the popularity of today's technology.”则概括了本段的论点，因此答案为“They smooth the way for the popularity of today's technology.”。

3. Why is it that the global telegraph network was truly revolutionary? A . It makes virtual communities possible.

B . It has changed the way we do business and communicate. C . It makes world peace.

D . It makes real-time global news service available.

正确答案:It makes real-time global news service available.

题目详解:定位于文章第四段的开头部分，本段总结了两种技术对社会的影响。虽然文章先肯定了互联网对人类社会的影响，但侧重说明了全球电报网络对人类社会的深刻影响，并且进一步表明自己的观点“全球电报网的形成和发展带来真正意义上的社会革命——前所未有地使人类能够及时获得世界新闻报道”。因此答案为“It makes real-time global news service available.”，而其他选项并不能准确表达作者的观点，不是答案。

4. The Associated Press and Reuters came into being thanks to ______. A . the well connected radio and TV system B . the breakup of provincialism

C . the development of global telegraph network D . the popularity of the Internet

正确答案:the development of global telegraph network

题目详解:题中问及美联社、路透社等新闻机构产生的原因，对于这一点，可定位于第四段的第六、七句话。由此可以推断出电报网络的发展使即时新闻传播成为可能，而后者促使各种新闻社的产生，故答案为“the development of global telegraph network”。“the popularity of the Internet”、“the well connected radio and TV system”与问题无关，而“the breakup of provincialism”是新闻机构产生后所带来的结果。

5. All of the following facts about the telegraph and the Internet are true EXCEPT the fact that ______.

A . both develop from the most advanced science of their time B . they are operated similarly in technical terms

C . both help to change the way we do business and communicate

D . both facilitate the communication between cultures and ethnic groups

正确答案:both help to change the way we do business and communicate

题目详解:本文讨论了电报和互联网在发展基础、发展过程、技术基础、社会影响等方面的相似之处(parallels)。文章第一段提到了“both develop from the most advanced science of their time”(发展基础)；文章第三段提到了“they are operated similarly in technical terms”(技术基础)以及“both facilitate the communication between cultures and ethnic groups”中提及的新技术为不同文化和种族的交流提供了便利，在文章最后一段的结尾部分也得到了印证。但文章中第四段第二句只提到了互联网改变了人们经商和交流的方式，而并未提到电报技术的运用改变了人们经商和交流的方式，因此答案为“both help to change the way we do business and communicate”。

As the great low ebb of high tech sweeps through the world of online commerce, two kinds of sites are weathering the storm. The first group is often referred to as \mortar\

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