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
英语听力:奥巴马在巴纳德学院毕业典礼上的讲话
新东方杯口语大赛武汉赛区海选正式拉开帷幕
英语听力:中国南方多地遭遇强降雨袭击
联合国秘书长潘基文2012年国际和平日致辞(视频)
世界经济论坛东亚峰会即将在泰国举行
英语听力视频:印度尼西亚学校致力于机器人技术教学
英语听力视频:现代版风马车远帆起航
英语听力:雷霆大胜湖人4-1进西区决赛
TED艺术类:从达尔文进化论解释美的体验
英语听力:美国19岁男生为同性恋婚姻的辩护(视频)
英语视频听力:黄河壶口瀑布吸引游客前往
英语听力:美国熊孩子如何看热门视频:桂肉粉挑战
柴静首次英语采访献给卡梅隆 被赞"强悍的访问者"
可口可乐含氯门曝光18天后道歉(视频)
英语听力视频:"最美女教师"张丽莉术后恢复
英语听力:奥巴马Facebook座谈会,扎克伯格当主持
英国公开大学:10分钟了解英国史(双语字幕)
听力练习:考古学家在安阳古墓中发现完好无损壁画
双语视频:美国90后MM教你追女孩五大要点
这就是新东方英语篮球营的魅力
英语听力视频:俄罗斯的艺术工艺品中心
英语听力:马来西亚巧克力糖果乐园 陪孩子们过假期
英语听力:第21届国际木偶节于成都开幕
英语听力视频:法国准备第65届戛纳国际电影节
英语听力视频:防晒产品超高SPF是骗局?
英语视频听力:微博给中国带来的变化
英语视频听力:艺术家用咖啡豆画创造世界之最
英语听力视频:美国小朋友怎么看哈利·波特
英语听力:从A到Z解读英国女王伊莉莎白二世
英语演讲:卓别林有史以来最伟大的演讲(双语视频)
| 不限 |
| 英语教案 |
| 英语课件 |
| 英语试题 |
| 不限 |
| 不限 |
| 上册 |
| 下册 |
| 不限 |