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 systems 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 bur capacity to 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 earth's 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 from the social sciences, even though it is built upon the very imperfect samples of personal experience. In contrast, our image of the astronomical universe, of even of earth's geological history, can easily be subject to revolutionary changes as new data comes 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 of hardness and see the social sciences 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 as compared with the rich records of the social systems, or even the limited records of biological systems. Records of the astronomical universe, despite the fact that we see distant things as they were long ago, 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 highly insecure.The word "paradox"(Para. 1) means "（）".

第1题

The testimony was（)with the known facts.

A.consistent

B.curious

C.overstrict

D.sacred

点击查看答案

第2题

Thismanhasbeenproved_______ofmurder.

A.guilty

B.spoil

C.flash

D.curious

点击查看答案

第3题

Bar friends are companions, not intimates. They are friends but not intimate enough to be curious about each other's private life and thoughts.（)

点击查看答案

第4题

The shy girl felt ________ and uncomfortable

when she could not answer her teacher’s questions.

A) amazed B) awkward C) curious D) amused

点击查看答案

第5题

We didn’t know how to reply to such a curious question. We turned around and asked wh

y. (simple sentence)

点击查看答案

第6题

The idea of a fish being able to generate electricity strong enough to light lamp bulbs--or even to run a small electric motor--is almost unbelievable, but several kinds of fish are able to do this. Even more strangely, this curious power has been acquired in different ways by fish belonging to very different families.

Perhaps the best known are the electric rays, or torpedoes(电鳐), of which several kinds live in warm seas. They possess on each side of the head, behind the eyes, a large organ consisting of a number of hexagonal shaped cells rather like a honeycomb. The cells are filled with a jelly-like substance, and contain a series of flat electric plates. One side, the negative side, of each plate, is supplied with very fine nerves, connected with a main nerve coming from a special part of the brain. Current passes from the upper, positive side of the organ downwards, to the negative, lower side. Generally it is necessary to touch the fish in two places, completing the circuit, in order to receive a shock.

The strength of this shock depends on the size of the fish, but newly born ones only about 5 centime-tres across can be made to light the bulb of a pocket flashlight for a few moments, while a fully grown torpedo gives a shock capable of knocking a man down, and, if suitable wires are connected, will operate a small electric motor for several minutes.

Another famous example is the electric eel. This fish gives an even more powerful shock. The system is different from that of the torpedo in that the electric plates run longitudinally(纵向) and are supplied with nerves from the spinal(脊骨) cord. Consequently, the current passes along the fish from head to tail. The electric organs of these fish are really altered muscles and like all muscles are apt (likely) to tire, so they are not able to produce electricity for very long.

The power of producing electricity may serve these fish both for defence and attack.

It can be seen from the passage that（）.

A.the capacity to generate electricity is the distinctive characteristic of the fish

B.the current travels in an upward direction from the positive side to negative side in torpedo's electric cells

C.some fish can produce enough electricity to drive a number of electric motors

D.the torpedo' s electric cells have a shape with six sides

点击查看答案

第7题

Between the innocence of babyhood and the seriousness of manhood we find a delightful

creature called a“ boy ” . Boys come in different sizes, weights, and colors, but all boys have the same belief: to enjoy every second of every minute of every hour of every day and to fill the air with noise until the adult males pack them off to bed at night. Boy are found everywhere – on top of, under, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around, or jumping to. Mothers spoil them, little girls hate them, older sisters and brothers love them, and God protects them. A boy is TRUTH with dirt on its face. BEAUTY with a cut on its finger, WISDOM with chocalate in its hair, and the HOPE of the future with a snake in its pocket.

When you are busy, a boy is a trouble – maker and a noise. When you want him to make a good impression, his brain turns to jelly or else he becomes a wild creature bent on destroying the world and himself with it.

A boy is a mixture – he has the stomach of a horse, the digestion (消化力 ) of stones and sand,the energy of an atomic bomb, the curiosity of a cat, the imagination of a superman, the shyness of a sweet girl, the brave nature of a bull, the violence of a firecracker, but when you ask him to make something, he has five thumbs (拇指 ) on each hand.

He likes ice cream, knives, saws, Christmas, comic books, woods, water (in its natural habitat), large animals, Dad, trains, Saturday mornings, and fire engines. He is not much for Sunday schools, company, schools, books without pictures, music lessons, neckties, barbers, girls, overcoats, adults, or bedtime.

Nobody else is so early to rise, or so late to supper. Nobody else gets so much fun out of trees, dogs, and breezes. Nobody else can put into one pocket a rusty knife, a half eaten apple, a three-feet rope, six cents and some unknown things.

A boy is a magical creature – he is your headache but when you come home at night with only shattered pieces of your hopes and dreams, he can mend them like new with two magic words, “ Hi, Dad! ”

1.The whole passage is in a tone(调子 ) of ().

A.humor and affection

B.respect and harmony

C.ambition and expectation

D.confidence and imagination

2.Could you figure out the meaning of the underlined sentence？()

A.He has altogether five fingers.

B.He is slow, foolish and clumsy.

C.He becomes clever and smart.

D.He cuts his hand with a knife.

3.According to the writer, boys appreciate everything in the following except .()

A.ice cream

B.comic books

C.Saturday mornings

D.Sunday schools

4.What does the writer feel about boys？()

A.He feels curious about their noise

B.He is fed up with these creatures

C.He is amazed by their naughtiness

D.He feels unsafe staying with them

点击查看答案

第8题

A 10-year old boy decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm i

n a devastating car accident.

The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy did well, so he couldn’t understand why, after 3 months of trains, the master had taught him only one move.“Master,” the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves？” “This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll need to know,” the master replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the master took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy skillfully used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, strong, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be outmatched. Concerned about the boy, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the master came forward.

“No,” the master insisted, “Let him continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a fatal mistake. He dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy won the match. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy and his master reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.

“Master, how did I win the tournament with only one move？”

“You won for two reasons,” the master answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.

16. Judging from the context, what happens when a referee calls a “time-out”(Line2, Para 7)？

A. The time for the game has run out

B. The game stops for a short time

C. Either side can claim victory

D. The game ends in a tie

17. Why did the master insist on continuing the match？

A. Because the time-out would give the opponent an advantage

B. Because the boy was confident of winning

C. Because he had confidence in the boy’s skill

D. Because all he cared about is winning the final

18. What caused the defeat of the boy’s opponent in the final？

A. Over-confidence

B. Impatience

C. Inexperience

D. The time-out

19. Why did the master only teach the boy one move？

A. The boy could not do other moves with only one arm

B. It was the only move the master knew well

C. It was the move his opponents were not good at

D. His opponent would be helpless when he made this move

20. What does the story show？

A. One can turn his weakness into an advantage

B. It is very important to have a good teacher

C. Even a disabled person can win in a judo match

D. To master judo one only needs to learn one difficult move

点击查看答案