It is a curious paradox that we think of the physical sciences as hard, the social sciences as soft, and the biological sciences as somewhere in between. This is interpreted to mean that our knowledge of physical system is more certain than our knowledge of biological systems, and these in turn are more certain than our knowledge of social systems. In terms of our capacity of sample the relevant universes, however, and the probability that our images of these universes are at least approximately correct, one suspects that a reverse order is more reasonable. We are able to sample earths social systems with some degree of confidence that we have a reasonable sample of the total universe being investigated. Our knowledge of social systems, therefore, while it is in many ways extremely inaccurate, is not likely to be seriously overturned by new discoveries. Even the folk knowledge in social systems on which ordinary life is based in earning, spending, organizing, marrying, taking part in political activities, fighting and so on, is not very dissimilar from the more sophisticated images of the social system derived form the social sciences, even though it is built upon the very imperfect samples of personal experience.
In contrast, our image of the astronomical universe, or even if earths geological history, ca easily be subject to revolutionary changes as new data come in and new theories are worked out. If we define the security of our image of various parts of the total system as the probability of their suffering significant changes, then we would reverse the order for hardness and as the most secure, the physical sciences as the least secure, and again the biological sciences as somewhere in between. Our image of the astronomical universe is the least secure of all simply because we observe such a fantastically small sample of it and its record-keeping is trivial records of biological systems. Records of the astronomical universe, despite the fact that we learnt things as they were long age, are limited in the extreme.
Even in regard to such a close neighbor as the moon, which we have actually visited, theories about its origin and history are extremely different, contradictory, and hard to choose among. Our knowledge of physical evolution is incomplete and insecure.
1. The word paradox means _____.
A. implication B. contradiction
C. interpretation D. confusion
2. Accroding to the author, we should reverse our classification of the physical sciences as hard and the social sciences as soft because _______.
A. a reverse ordering will help promote the development of the physical sciences
B. our knowledge of physical systems is more reliable than that of social systems
C. our understanding of the social systems is approximately correct
D. we are better able to investigate social phenomena than physical phenomena
3. The author believes that our knowledge of social systems is more secure than that of physical systems because______.
A. it is not based on personal experience
B. new discoveries are less likely to occur in social sciences
C. it is based on a fairly representative quantity of data
D. the records of social systems are more reliable
4. The chances of the physical sciences being subject to great changes are the biggest because _____.
A. contradictory theories keep emerging all the time
B. new information is constantly coming in
C. the direction of their development is difficult to predict
D. our knowledge of the physical world is inaccurate
5. We know less about the astronomical universe than we don about any social system because ______.
A. theories of its origin and history are varied
B. our knowledge of it is highly insecure
C. only a very small sample of it has been observed
D. few scientists are involved in the study of astronomy
答案:ACDAD
上一篇: 英语六级阅读主旨题答题技巧及实战(3)
下一篇: 大学英语六级考试阅读练习题(9)
国内英语资讯:Economic Watch: Chinas tourism market has big potential for intl travel agents
国际英语资讯:News Analysis: Delay in govt formation to lead Lebanon onto dangerous path
比利时9岁神童将从大学毕业
国内英语资讯:Commentary: Pompeos hypocritical face on Hong Kong
北京贵族学校造“空气穹顶”供孩子户外活动
体坛英语资讯:Philippines holds China to draw at FIFA World Cup qualifier
非球迷扫盲:世界杯比赛分几个阶段
国内英语资讯:China, Netherlands poised to strengthen bilateral relations: senior legislators
乔治小王子开展“尿布外交”
Will Beijing Be the Next Foggy City? 北京会是下一个雾都吗?
2019年12月英语四级作文范文:按时出勤
高检将加强“追逃追赃”
新型神经网络可以用快1亿倍速度解决"三体问题"
体坛英语资讯:Albanian team leaves for China to attend Military World Games 2019
国内英语资讯:Chinas top discipline watchdog makes headway in protecting peoples interests
中纪委揭“道德败坏”含义:至少三个情妇
The Advantages of Student-centered Class 以学生为中心课堂的好处
印度首都德里雾霾爆表
体坛英语资讯:Brazil crowned at FIVB mens World Cup with 11 straight wins
“婴幼儿奶瓶”安全标准发布
卫冕冠军西班牙率先“出局”
体坛英语资讯:Guangzhou R&F striker Zahavi extends lead in top scorers of Euro 2020 qualifiers
国际英语资讯:Sri Lankan opposition candidate wins presidential polls: elections chief
伊万卡•特朗普的真名并不是伊万卡
幼儿园给孩子集体服用“病毒灵”
湖北人大代表呼吁加快建立“生态补偿机制”
国际英语资讯:UK PM says every Conservative election candidate vows to back Brexit deal
Long Vacations or Short Vacations?长假还是短假?
“弃婴岛”试点工作将继续推行
剑桥词典2019年度词汇出炉 “升级回收”体现环保关切