Question

【題目】Science has a lot of uses. It can uncover laws of nature, cure diseases, make bombs, and help bridges to stand up. Indeed science is so good at what it does that there’s always a temptation(誘惑) to drag it into problems where it may not be helpful. David Brooks, author of The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement, appears to be the latest in a long line of writers who have failed to go against the temptation.

Brooks gained fame for several books. His latest book The Social Animal, however, is more ambitious and serious than his earlier books. It is an attempt to deal with a set of weighty topics. The book focuses on big questions: What has science uncovered about human nature? What are the sources of character? And why are some people happy and successful while others aren’t?

To answer these questions, Brooks studies a wide range of disciplines（學(xué)科）. Considering this, you might expect the book to be a simple description of facts. But Brooks has formed his book in an unusual, and perhaps unfortunate way. Instead of introducing scientific theories, he tells a story, within which he tries to make his points, perhaps in order to keep the reader’s attention. So as Harold and Erica, the hero and heroine in his story, live through childhood, we hear about the science of child development and as they begin to date we hear about the theory of sexual attraction. Brooks carries this through to the death of one of his characters.

On the whole, Brooks’ story is acceptable if uninspired. As one would expect, his writing is mostly clear and, to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest. I enjoyed, for instance, the chapter in which Harold discovers how to think on his own. While Harold and Erica are certainly not strong or memorable characters, the more serious problems with The Social Animal lie elsewhere. These problems partly involve Brooks’ attempt to translate his tale into science.

【1】The author mentions the functions of science at the beginning of the passage to__________.

A. explain where science can be applied

B. show the value of Brooks’ new book

C. remind the reader of the importance of science

D. explain why many writers use science in their works

【2】According to the author, which of the following could be a strength of the book?

A. Its strong basis.

B. Its clear writing.

C. Its convincing points.

D. Its memorable characters.

【3】What is the author’s general attitude towards the book?

A. Contradictory. B. Supportive.

C . Cautious. D. Critical.

【4】What is the author likely to write about after the last paragraph?

A. Death of the characters.

B. Brooks’ life experience.

C. Problems with the book.

D. Brooks’ translation skills.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】B

【3】D

【4】C

【解析】

試題分析：本文是一篇議論文。文章先列舉出科學(xué)的許多功能，接著指出科學(xué)有巨大的誘惑力，以致許多作家抵擋不住這種誘惑，在文學(xué)作品中運用到科學(xué)。并以Brooks的新書The social animal為例，批判地分析這本書的優(yōu)勢和不足。

【1】D寫作用意題。首段第一、二句首先列舉出科學(xué)的許多功能，接著指出科學(xué)有巨大的誘惑力。再根據(jù)最后一句根據(jù)第一段最后一句David Brooks, author of The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement, appears to be the latest in a long line of writers who have failed to resist the temptation.以致許多作家抵擋不住這種誘惑，在文學(xué)作品中運用到科學(xué)。故選D項。

【2】B推理判斷題。根據(jù)最后一段中“…, his writing is mostly clear and , to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest. I enjoyed,… ”可知作者認(rèn)為寫作思路清晰是這本書的一大優(yōu)勢。故選B項。

【3】D觀點態(tài)度題。最后一段While Harold and Erica are certainly not strong or memorable characters, the more serious problems with The Social Animal lie elsewhere. These problems partly involve Brooks’s attempt to translate his tale into science中的鏈接詞“while”之前是這本書的優(yōu)勢，其后作者指出了其不足。因此作者對這部書持批判的態(tài)度。故選D項。

【4】C 篇章結(jié)構(gòu)題。文章最后一段While Harold and Erica are certainly not strong or memorable characters, the more serious problems with The Social Animal lie elsewhere. 中“while”后面部分開始談?wù)撨@本書存在的問題。因此緊接著作者應(yīng)該還是在寫這本的不足。故選C項。