S3 WB Unit 6 Critical Reading

S3 WB Unit 6 Critical Reading

by Jefferey Tan

Multiple Choice

Science since the time of Galileo seems to play the role of ending superstitious迷信 and baseless prejudices or old wives tales. It brings enlightenment启示 to humankind based on disinterested and methodical有方法的 investigation of matter. Human beings everywhere seem to look to science as a miracle problem-solver in a world beset with problems and therefore science is placed on a high, unquestionable pedestal基础. Perhaps we have placed too much faith in the limitless capacity of science to offer solutions to our problems.

The effect that Galileo brought to the people is that ___

•   people started to believe in scientific evidences.

• miracles were fashionable and widely accepted by the people.

• people did not believe in many elderly wives’ stories anymore.

• people started believing in religion and believed it would solve many     problems.  

Multiple Choice

This faith has in turn made scientists arrogant and so gone beyond the limit of its domain. For example, can science really answer questions pertaining有关 to paranormal phenomena? Can science really explain fully the wide range of human behaviours? Can human engineering bring about peace and harmony? Can it produce filial亲情 behaviour? Is scientific knowledge adequate to deal with spiritual issues? Even closer to the scientific field like finding a cure for cancer or dengue fever, science does not seem adequate足够的. Many diseases have been with us for a long time and yet science has not found a final answer to their treatment.

The questions that the writer asks indicates that he or she is ___

• merely asking questions.

• asking questions on the readers’ behalf.

• doubtful about the unlimited pursuit of science.

• showing his or her ability in using a different style of writing to present 

       his or her stand.

Multiple Choice

So when science sets foot on other areas and claims to have the truth, it probably has gone too far. Take the case of cloning for example, has science gone too far? In 1997, a sheep named Dolly was successfully cloned. This opened up the possibility that exact copies of animals and plants can be made through cloning technology. Many moral issues are, however, involved in cloning. First of all, should human beings play God? Following closely is how sure are we that the results are exactly what we want? If we clone an Einstein are we certain the cloned Einstein will think, feel and act like the original scientist? Furthermore, will Albert Einstein himself allow a copy of him to be made? Such questions are unanswerable actually. Another concern is that cloning is not a natural reproductive process and it results in lesser genetic diversity that has been a factor of survival and adaptation. It becomes more mind–boggling难以想象 if people or countries begin to order clones of say Miss Universe 2012 or Usain Bolt, will that be legal or morally right? Science should not tamper with creation and go against the natural order of things.

According to the paragraph, the writer is uncomfortable with one claim made by the scientists. The statement is that ___

• science is a natural progress.

•  the contribution of science is small.

•  human beings could be the God and creator.

• human beings do not have the ability to create.

Multiple Choice

Science, technology and business are three fields which are closely linked. Scientific breakthroughs eventually end up in the production lines of factories. Science, on one hand, solves a problem but on the other hand, throws up a new problem. The case of pesticide-resistant insects is a good example. How about new strains of viruses which are resistant to certain antibiotics? This seems to give people the impression of a vicious circle恶性循环 in which a problem is solved but a new one created and the problem-solving process has no end in view. Genetically modified foods may help to boost the yield of crops and tackle the problem of hunger to some extent, but it also brings a host of other problems about safety, possible allergic reactions to GM foods, and hazards to the environment. Perhaps the root cause of famines饥荒 is not so much in food production but more in human selfishness which brings about uneven sharing of wealth. When we tackle not the root cause, then the effect will continue to resurface再次浮出.

One of the major weaknesses of science is _________

• that it creates only problems.

• that it helps solve the basic problem.

•  a result of human being’s selfishness.

• its involvement with technology and money making.

Multiple Choice

We can see from the problems created by science and technology, human selfishness and greed play a central role. But genetic engineering probably cannot solve the problem of greed and selfishness or throw light on the question of altruistic无私心的 love. We can therefore conclude that despite the advance of science and its widespread practice, the human mind is still stuck in the Stone Age where jealousy, selfishness, violence and craving渴望 still rule.

The stand which the writer takes in this passage is he or she is___

• agreeable to scientific development.

• against extreme scientific development.

• unsure of the effect of scientific development.

• still questioning all scientific and technological development.

​Practice B Vocabulary

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Multiple Choice

Science since the time of Galileo seems to play the role of ending

      superstitious and baseless prejudices or old wives tales.    

•  twists

•  lies

• biases

• injustice

Multiple Choice

For example, can science really answer questions pertaining to 

paranormal  phenomena?

• untrue

• supernatural

•  invisible

•  dark

Multiple Choice

Is scientific knowledge adequate to deal with spiritual 

     issues?

• fit

• suitable

• sufficient 

• necessary

Multiple Choice

Another concern is that cloning is not a natural reproductive process

     and it results in lesser genetic diversity that has been a factor of

     survival and adaptation.

• difference

• variety

•  separateness

• abundance

Multiple Choice

Another concern is that cloning is not a natural reproductive process

     and it results in lesser genetic diversity that has been a factor of

     survival and adaptation.

• transformation

• shift

• variation

• adjustment

Multiple Choice

Science should not tamper干预 with creation and go against the

     natural order of things.

• falsify伪造

• block

• meddle干涉

• break

Multiple Choice

Science, technology and business are three fields which are closely linked.

• existed

• glued

• touched

• connected

Multiple Choice

This seems to give people the impression of a vicious circle in

     which a problem is solved but a new one created and the problem-solving process has no end in view.

• image

• appearance

• look

• view

Multiple Choice

This seems to give people the impression of a vicious circle in

      which a problem is solved but a new one created and the

      problem-solving process has no end in view.

• breaking

• discontinued

• damaging

• malicious恶意的

Multiple Choice

 Perhaps the root cause of famine is not so much in food production

       but more in human selfishness which brings about uneven sharing of

       wealth. When we tackle not the root cause, then the effect will 

       continue to resurface.

• come again

• appear repeatedly

• change again

• do it repeatedly