E
Science has a lot of uses. It can uncover laws of nature, cure diseases, make bombs, and help bridges to stand up. Indeed science is so good at what it does that there’s always a temptation(诱惑) to drag it into problems where it may not be helpful. David Brooks, author of The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character,and Achievement, appears to be the latest in a long line of writers who have failed to resist the temptation.
Brooks gained fame for several books. His latest book The Social Animal, however, is more ambitious and serious than his earlier books. It is an attempt to deal with a set of weighty topics. The book focuses on big questions: What has science revealed about human nature? What are the sources of character? And why are some people happy and successful while others aren’t?
To answer these questions, Brooks surveys a wide range of disciplines（学科）. Considering this, you might expect the book to be a dry recitation of facts. But Brooks has structured his book in an unorthodox(非常规的), and perhaps unfortunate, way. Instead of introducing scientific theories, he tells a story, within which he tries to make his points, perhaps in order to keep the reader’s attention.So as Harold and Erica, the hero and heroine in his story, live through childhood, we hear about the science of child development and as they begin to date we hear about the theory of sexual attraction. Brooks carries this through to the death of one of his characters.
On the whole,Brooks’ story is acceptable if uninspired. As one would expect, his writing is mostly clear and, to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest. I enjoyed, for instance, the chapter in which Harold discovers how to think on his own. While Harold and Erica are certainly not strong or memorable characters, the more serious problems with The Social Animal lie elsewhere. These problems partly involve Brooks’ attempt to translate his tale into science.
1.The author mentions the functions of science at the beginning of the passage to__________.
A.illustrate where science can be applied
B.demonstrate the value of Brooks’ new book
C.remind the reader of the importance of science
D.explain why many writers use science in their works
2.According to the author, which of the following could be a strength of the book?
A.Its strong basis.
B.Its convincing points.
C.Its clear writing.
D.Its memorable characters.
3.What is the author’s general attitude towards the book?
A.Contradictory.
B.Supportive.
C.Cautious.
D.Critical.
4.What is the author likely to write about after the last paragraph?
A.Problems with the book.
B.Brooks’s life experience.
C.Death of the characters.
D.Brooks’s translation skills.
请认真阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Canadian smart－phone maker Research In Motion(RIM), which makes the BlackBerry, says it's back. The company is _______ to reclaim a market it once dominated by _______ two new devices. The last few years have been a painful time for the company as customers deserted its platform in _______ of newer and more _______ devices. This may be the company's last chance to _______ a vital player in an increasingly crowded market place.
Two brand new devices are perhaps a fresh _______ for a company that has seen its global market share _______ from 20 percent three years ago to just over 3 percent today.
For BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins, it's another chance to remake a faded _______. “We have _______ been on a journey of transformation, not only a journey to transform our business and our brand, ________ one that I truly ________ transforms mobile communications into true mobile computing，” he said.
The company promises the same ________ level of network security the BlackBerry is known for, ________ a fast new browser and a more intuitive operating system. The Z10 ________ much like the touch－screen phones popularized by its competitors(竞争者), but the Q10 maintains the “qwerty” keyboard that has become BlackBerry's trademark.
Besides the technical and cosmetic(外观上的) updates, Heins says the company will no longer be called RIM or Research In Motion.
“Our customers use a BlackBerry, our ________ work for BlackBerry and our shareholders are owners of BlackBerry. From today on, we are BlackBerry ________ in the world，” he said.
Shareholders will be watching if customers ________ the new devices. The company's stock has dropped as much as 90 percent in the last four years as it lost ________ to competitors. But company shares have doubled in the last four months as anticipation(预期) ________ for the new models.
Analysts say the new devices could make or ________ a company, which many people praise for starting the technological revolution in smart－phones.
1.A.refusing B.trying C.urging D.pretending
2.A.introducing B.reviewing C.rejecting D.discovering
3.A.favor B.charge C.honor D.defense
4.A.popular B.expensive C.complicated D.familiar
5.A.replace B.react C.remain D.reset
6.A.record B.dilemma C.end D.start
7.A.lose B.increase C.rise D.fall
8.A.brand B.trade C.technique D.phone
9.A.specially B.definitely C.doubtfully D.essentially
10.A.and B.or C.but D.so
11.A.agree B.believe C.suspect D.deny
12.A.high B.average C.backward D.normal
13.A.except for B.regardless of C.despite D.along with
14.A.sounds B.smells C.looks D.finds
15.A.employees B.consumers C.relatives D.competitors
16.A.however B.whenever C.nowhere D.everywhere
17.A.adapt B.adjust C.adopt D.advocate
18.A.land B.ground C.soil D.earth
19.A.dropped B.changed C.remained D.grew
20.A.desert B.abandon C.break D.deny
The sun is bigger than the moon , ___ we all know it.
A.and B.as C.which D.it
—Lydia, what did our head-teacher say just now?
—Every boy and every girl as well as the teachers who _____ to lead the group _____ asked to be at the
school gate before 6:30 in the morning.
A.is; is B.are; are C.are; is D.is; are
I am looking forward to the day ________ my daughter can read this book and know my feelings for her.
A.as B.why C.when D.where
(2014·江西)It was the middle of the night my father woke me up and told me to watch the football game.
A.that B.as
C.which D.when
