Unpopular Subjects?
Is there a place in todays society for the study of useless subjects in our universities? Just over 100 years ago Fitzgerald argued in a well-written letter______ Nature that Universities must be allowed to study useless subjects-______ they dont，who will? He went 0n to use the ______ of Maxwells electrodynamics_as one case where a useless subject has been transformed to a useful subject. Nowadays this argument is again very much______ in many universities.Indeed one suspects that it is one of those arguments that must be______ anewby each generation.But now there is an added twist )--subjects must not only be useful，they must also be______ enough that students will flockto d0 them，and even flock to pay to do them.
As universities become commercial operations，the pressure to______ subjects or departments that are less popular will become stronger and stronger, Perhaps this is most strongly______ at the moment by physics.There has been much______ in the press of universities that are closing down physics departments and incorporate them with mathematics or engineering departments.
Many scientists think otherwise.They see physics as a______ science，which must be kept alive if only to______ a base for other sciences and engineering.It is of their great personal concern that physics teaching and research is under______ in many universities.How Can it be preserved in the rush towards commercial competition? A major turnaroundin student popularity may have to______ until the industrial world discovers that it needs physicists and starts paying them well.
Physics is now not only unpopular;it is also hard.We can do more about the latter by ______ teaching in our schools and universities.We can also______ cooperative arrangements to ensure that physicists keep their research and teaching up to date
1 A about B of C to D on
2 A if B as C because D since
3 A question B example C design D device
4 A powerful B terrible C difficult D active
5 A fought B weighted C respected D selected
6 A clear B popular C indefinite D available
7 A choose B strengthen C eliminate D identify
8 A recommended B opposed C suspected D felt
9 A discussion B fancy C evidence D influence
10 A precise B noble C new D fundamental
11 A install B provide C reach D cover
12 A agreement B construction C threat D consideration
13 A wait B move C progress D increase
14 A running B improving C learning D dropping
15 A fix B modify C review D develop
答案解析：
1.答案为C。lette~-to：写给的信。空格后是一学术杂志《自然》的名称，故选C。
2.答案为A。虽然这几个连词放到空白处词句形式上都成立，但只有选项A放进去后意思才讲得通，故选A。
3.答案为B。example和后面的case在这里意思一样，其他几个选项放在句子中意思不通。
4.答案为D。此题必须看懂前面的意思才能选对。active在这里表示热烈的，激烈的意思。形容争论或讨论热烈，用active。
5.答案为A。这里要看搭配，fight可以和argument搭配，其他不可以。
6.答案为B。popular的意思是时髦的，热门的。一些专业只有成为热门，选的学生才多。根据上下文只能选B。
7.答案为C。eliminate的意思是：to completely get rid of something$that.is unnecessary orunwanted，此词放入原句中意思讲得通。
8.答案为D。本段前面两句主要谈人们想把一些不时髦的专业和系砍掉。本题所在的句子的意思是物理系感慨尤深。
9.答案为A。此题必须从上下文的意思上来考虑，因为其他几个词放到句子中去也可以说得通，但结合上下文只有选项A合适，其他的选项都不合适。
10.答案为D。fundamental：基础的。fundamental science：基础科学。
11.答案为B。provide a base for other science：为其他科学打基础。其他几个选项不能和base搭配，意思上也讲不通。
12.答案为C。under threat：面临危险。选项A一般不可与under搭配使用。选项B和D虽然可以和under搭配使用，但根据上下文在这里意思讲不通。
13.答案为A。该旬的意思是：只有等到工业界的人们发现，他们需要物理学家，而且开始高薪聘用他们时，更多的学生才会对物理学感爱好。wait until：等到^时候。其他几个选项意思讲不通。
14.答案为B。如何使物理不难学呢?那就是要改进教学方法。improve：改进，提高。
15.答案为D。此题亦需从上下文的意思上来考虑，fix，modify，review虽然可以和arrangement搭配，但这里只有develop arrangement符合原文的意思，所以选D。