If there is one thing scientists have to hear, it is that game is over. Raised on the belief of an endless voyage of discovery, they recoil(畏缩)from the suggestion that most of the best things have already been located. If they have, today's scientists can hope to contribute no more than a few grace notes to the symphony(交响乐)of science.
A book to be published in Britain this week, The End of Science, argues persuasively that this is the case. Its author, John Horgan, is a senior writer for Scientific American magazine, who has interviewed many of today's leading scientists and science philosophers(哲学家). The shock of realizing that science might be over came to him, he says, when he was talking to Oxford mathematician and physicist Sir Roger Penrose.
The End of Science provoked(激怒)a wave of denunciation(谴责)in the United States last year. “The reaction(反应)has been one of complete shock and disbelief，” Mr. Horgan says.
The real question is whether any remaining unsolved problems, of which there are plenty, lead themselves to universal solutions. If they do not, then the focus of scientific discovery is already narrowing. Since the triumphs(胜利)of the 1960s—the genetic code, plate tectonics(板块构造说), and the microwave background radiation that went a long way towards proving the_Big_Bang—genuine(真正的)scientific revolutions have been scarce. More scientists are now alive, spending more money on research, than ever. Yet most of the great discoveries of the 19th and 20th centuries were made before the appearance of state sponsorship, when the scientific enterprise was a fraction(小部分)of its present size.
Were the scientists who made these discoveries brighter than today's? That seems unlikely. A far more reasonable explanation is that fundamental(基础的)science has already entered a period of diminished returns. “Look, don't get me wrong，” says Mr. Horgan, “There are lots of important things still to study, and applied(应用的)science and engineering can go on forever. I hope we get a cure for cancer, and for mental disease, though there are few real signs of progress.”The sentence “most of the best things have already been located” could mean________.
| A．most of the best things have already been changed |
| B．most of the best things remain to be changed |
| C．there have never been so many best things waiting to be discovered |
| D．most secrets of the world have already been discovered |
John Horgan ________.
Ⅰ. has written a book entitled The End of Science
Ⅱ. has been working as an editor of Scientific American
Ⅲ. has been working many years as a literary critic
Ⅳ. is working as a science writer
| A．Ⅰand Ⅱ | B．Ⅰ only |
| C．Ⅰand Ⅳ | D．Ⅰ，Ⅱand Ⅳ |
There have not been many genuine scientific revolutions in the past few decades because________.
| A．there have been decreased returns in the research of fundamental science |
| B．there are too many important things for scientists to study |
| C．applied science and engineering take up too much time and energy |
| D．today's scientists are not as intelligent as those in the past |
The term “the Big Bang” probably refers to________.
| A．the genetic code theory |
| B．a theory of the origin(起源)of the universe |
| C．a geological theory |
| D．the origin and the power of atomic energy |
Rent（出租）a room
Spare room? Not only will a lodger（房客）earn you an income, but also, thanks to the government-backed “rent a room” program, you won’t have to pay any tax on the first ￡4500 you make per year. Try advertising your room on Roomspare or Roommateeasy.
Make money during special events
Don’t want a full-time lodger ? Then rent on a short-term basis. If you live in the capital, renting a room out during the Olympics or other big events could bring in money. Grashpadder can advertise your space.
Live on set
Renting your home out as a “film set” could earn you hundreds of pounds a day, depending on the film production company and how long your home is needed. A quick search on the Internet will bring up dozens of online companies that allow you to register your home for free—but you will be charged if your home gets picked.
Use your roof
You need the right kind of roof, but some energy companies pay the cost of fixing solar equipment (around ￡14,000), and let you use the energy produced for nothing. In return, they get paid for unused energy fed back into the National Grid. However, you have to sign a 25-year agreement with the supplier, which could prevent you from changing the roof. Where can you put an advertisement to rent out a room during a big event?
| A．On Letpark. | B．On Roomspare. |
| C．On Grashpadder. | D．On Roommateeasy. |
If you want to use energy for free, you have to_____.
| A．sign an agreement with the government |
| B．pay around ￡14,000 for the equipment |
| C．sell the roof to some energy companies |
| D．keep the roof unchanged for within 25 years |
For whom the text most probably written?
| A．Lodgers. | B．Advertisers. |
| C．House owners. | D．Online companies |
Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.
Born in September, 1897, Irene Curie was the first of the Curies’ two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sévigné in Paris.
Irene entered the University of Paris in 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgrum. Her services were recognised in the form of a Military’s Medal by the French government. In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later.
Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity（辐射能）. Irene Joliot-Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956. Why was Irene Curie awarded a Military Medal?
| A．Because she received a degree in mathematics. |
| B．Because she contributed to saving the wounded. |
| C．Because she won the Nobel Prize with Frederic. |
| D．Because she worked as a helper to her mother. |
Where did Irene Curie meet her husband Frederio joliot?
| A．At the Curie Institute. |
| B．At the university of Paris |
| C．At a military hospital. |
| D．At the College of Sevigne. |
In which of the following aspects was Irene Cuire different from her mother?
| A．Irene worked with radioactivity. |
| B．Irene combined family and career. |
| C．Irene won the Nobel Prize once. |
| D．Irene died from leukemia. |
What will man be like in the future——in 5000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make guesses, of course, but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today, for man is slowly changing all the time.
Let us take an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average, men are about three inches taller. Five hundred years is relatively short period of time, so we may assume that man will continue to grow taller. Again, in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the brain’s capacity. As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more, and eventually we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring about a physical change to the head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger.
Nowadays our eyes are in constant use. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we have to wear glasses. But over very long period of time it is likely that man’s eyes will grow stronger.
On the other hand, we tend to make less use of our arms and legs. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time, however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a great deal in modern life.
But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald.
Perhaps all this gives the impression that future man will not be a very attractive creature to look at! This may well be true. All the same, in spite of all these changes, future man will still have a lot in common with us. He will still be a human being, with thoughts and emotions similar to our own. The passage mainly tells us that____.
| A．man’s life will be different in the future |
| B．future man will look quite different from us |
| C．man is growing taller and uglier as time passes |
| D．the functions of man’s organs(器官) will function as well as today |
Which of the following serves as the evidence that man is changing?
| A．Man’s hair is getting thinner and thinner. |
| B．Man has got stronger eyes now than he ever had. |
| C．Man has been growing taller over the past 500 years. |
| D．Man’s arms and legs have become lighter and weaker. |
The change in man’s size of forehead is probably because__________
| A．he makes use of only 20 % of the brain’s capacity. |
| B．the other 80% of his brain will grow in due（预定的） time. |
| C．his brain has grown larger over the past centuries. |
| D．he will use his brain more and more as time goes on. |
Which of the following is true about a human being in the future?
| A．He thinks and feels in different way. |
| B．He has smaller eyes and wears better glasses. |
| C．He is hairless because hair is no longer useful. |
| D．His fingers grow weaker because he doesn’t use them. |
It can be inferred from the passage that __________.
| A．future life is always predictable（可预测的） |
| B．human beings hope for a change in the future life |
| C．human beings will become less attractive in the future |
| D．Less use of a bodily organ may lead to its degeneration（衰退） |
Elizabeth Blackwell was born in England in 1821, and moved to New York City when she was ten years old. One day she decided that she wanted to become a doctor. That was nearly impossible for a woman in the middle of the nineteenth century. After writing many letters asking for admission(录取) to medical schools, she was finally accepted by a doctor in Philadelphia. She was so determined that she taught school and gave music lessons to get money for the cost of schooling.
In 1849, after graduation from medical school, she decided to further her education in Paris. She wanted to be a surgeon(外科医师) , but a serious eye problem forced her to give up the idea.
Upon returning to the United States, she found it difficult to start her own practice because she was a woman. By 1857 Elizabeth and her sister, also a doctor, along with another woman doctor, managed to open a new hospital, the first for women and children Besides being the first woman physician and founding her own hospital , she also set up the first medical school for women. Why couldn’t Elizabeth Blackwell realize her dream of becoming a surgeon?
| A．She couldn’t get admitted to medical school |
| B．She decided to further her education in Paris |
| C．A serious eye problem stopped her |
| D．It was difficult for her to start a practice in the United States |
What main obstacle(障碍) almost destroyed Elizabeth’s chances for becoming a doctor?
| A．She was a woman. |
| B．She wrote too many letters. |
| C．She couldn’t graduate from medical school. |
| D．She couldn’t set up her hospital. |
How many years passed between her graduation from medical school and the opening of her hospital?
| A．Eight years | B．Ten years |
| C．Nineteen years | D．Thirty-six years |
According to the passage, all of the following are “firsts” in the life of Elizabeth Blackwell, except that she ______.
| A．became the first woman physician |
| B．was the first woman doctor |
| C．and several other women founded the first hospital for women and children |
| D．set up the first medical school for women |
Elizabeth Blackwell spent most of her life in _______.
| A．England | B．Paris |
| C．the United States | D．New York City |
Last year more than 13 Korean TV series were introduced in China. Turn on the TV, and Korean beauties are appearing during peak viewing times(黄金时段). Some of the dramas are being repeated, but audiences continue to watch them. Why are the South Korean TV series loved by so many Chinese people? Cheng Yiting, a student from East China Normal University, gives us her reasons. She thinks that the good-looking actors with cool clothes and the beautiful sight in the dramas are the selling points for South Korean TV dramas. But what attracted the young audiences most is the pure and moving love stories.
And it seems that South Korean TV series have also won the hearts of middle-aged people. They are touched by the morals in the shows. These include the importance of respecting elders and social order. Though some people think South Korean TV series are too slow and too long, most of the Chinese audiences like them. Maybe we are really tired of Western TV series. Compared with that, South Korean TV series are not bad.What does the underlined word "moral" in the third line mean?
| A．志向 | B．情节 | C．道德 | D．垃圾 |
Which of the following is not mentioned about South Korean TV?
| A．Love | B．Morals |
| C．Social order | D．Self-respect |
What is the most important reason why South Korean TV series are popular with the young audiences?
| A．The series are slow and long. |
| B．The actors wear cool clothes. |
| C．The stories are pure and moving. |
| D．The actors are good-looking. |
What do you know about South Korean TV series from the passage?
| A．Thirteen more South Korean TV series will be introduced to China. |
| B．Young audiences like South Korean TV series better than middle aged people. |
| C．All the South Korean TV series will be repeated this year. |
| D．Some Chinese think part of South Korean TV series are worth watching twice. |
What does the writer want to tell us?
| A．We are tired of South Korean TV series. |
| B．South Korean TV series are a great success and popular in China. |
| C．South Korean TV series are better than Chinese TV series. |
| D．We can learn a lot from Korean TV series so we need to watch them again and again. |