Science and Truth
FINAGLE is not a word that most people associate with science. One reason is that the image of the scientist is of one who always data in an impartial search for truth. In any debate - intelligence, schooling, energy-the phrase science says usually disarms opposition.
But scientists have long acknowledged the existence of a finagle factor-a tendency by many scientists to give a helpful change to the data to desired results. The latest of the finagle factor in action comes from Stephen Jay Gould, a Harvard biologist, who has the important 19th century work of Dr. Samuel George Morton. Morton was famous in his time for analysing the brain of the skulls as a measure of intelligence. He concluded that whites had the largest brains, that the brains of Indians and blacks were smaller,and , that whites constitute a superior race.
Gould went back to Mortons original data and concluded that the were an example of the finagle at work. He found that Mortons discovery was made by leaving out embarrassing data, incorrect procedures, and changing his criteria - again, always in favour of his argument. Morton has been thoroughly discredited by now and scientists do not believe that brain size reflects .
But Gould went on to say Mortons story is only an example of a common problem in work. Some of the leading figures in science are to have used the finagle factor. Gould says that Isaac Newton fudged out to support at least three central statements that he could not prove. And so Laudius Ptolemy, the Greek astronomer, whose master work, Almagest, summed up the case for a solar system that had the earth as its centre. Recent indicate that Ptolemy either faked some key data or resorted heavily to the finagle factor.
All this is important because the finagle factor is still at work. For example, in the artificial sweetener controversy, for example, it is that all the studies sponsored by the sugar industry find that the artificial sweetener is unsafe, all the studies sponsored by the diet food industry find nothing wrong with it.
1 A collects B invents C misuses D enables
2 A of B over C in D with
3 A convey B destroy C modify D acquire
4 A created B written C examined D produced
5 A size B shape C tissue D cell
6 A however B then C though D therefore
7 A results B experiments C ideas D suggestions
8 A planning B making C using D searching
9 A creativity B reliability C intelligence D originality
10 A unusual B mental C scientific D manual
11 A taught B believed C tried D allowed
12 A was B had C could D did
13 A studies B events C developments D decisions
14 A feared B said C suggested D expected
15 A if B while C because D although
参考答案:
1. A 2. B 3. D 4. C 5. A
6. D 7. A 8. C 9. C 10. C
11. B 12. D 13. A 14. B 15. B
老师提醒:中考英语最后阶段的"专项突破"
评析09中考英语武汉试卷
中考英语书面表达如何得满分
从08年中考英语考题看09中考英语复习策略
初中英语语法梳理和提高 练习讲解系列
讲座:从09中考看初二、初三英语学习
中考英语冲刺需把四道关
09中考英语作文最新预测9个话题及练习
英美留学视角:全球让你汗颜的神童
2009年中考英语上海试卷评析
中考英语语法与词汇满分练习和答案
中考英语同义句九种类型
2009年中考英语作文出题趋势及应对策略
09中考英语介词知识点精讲大全
名师提醒中考英语考试注意事项
09年中考英语单项选择题答题技巧附答案
中考英语5种题型答题技巧 熟悉英语思维
09成都中考英语“一元公交”甲型流感登试卷
空间里的中考英语备考好文一览
2009中考英语各部分应试技巧解题策略
初中英语句型转换四大诀窍归纳
哪类初中生适合出国留学?留学的几种途径介绍
重庆中考英语贴近生活《长江7号》NBA入考题
中考英语介词知识点精讲大全
09年高考英语真题与专家点评
中考英语作文必备的10个"万金油"句型
初中英语常用交际用语归纳
中考英语:把握技巧突破得分点
2009中考英语42个预测话题作文汇编
初一英语期末试题复习题精选集锦
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |