Science is a major topic in our culture. Since it touches almost every field of our life, educated people need at least some knowledge with its structure and operation. They should also have an understanding of the scientific subculture in which scientists live and the kinds of people they are. An understanding of general characteristics of science as well as specific scientific ideas is easier to obtain if one knows something about the things that excite and discourage the scientist.
This book is written for the person whose knowledge with science is not complete; for the person who has been presented with science as a musty（发霉的）storehouse of dried facts; for the person who sees the chief objective of science as the production of tricks; and for the person who views the scientists as some sort of magician. The book can be used to add to a course in any science, to come with any course that attempts to give an understanding of the modern world, or simply to provide a better understanding of science. We hope this book will lead readers to a broader view on scientific attitudes and a more realistic view of what science is, who scientists are, and what they do. It will give them an idea and understanding of the relationship between science and our culture and an appreciation of the roles science may play in our culture. Besides, readers may learn to appreciate the relationship between scientific views and some of the values and philosophies（哲学）that are deep in our culture.
We have tried to present in this book a correct and up-to-date picture of the scientific world and the people who populate it. That population has in recent years come to include more and more women. This increasing role of women is not just the only event but, rather, part of the trend obvious in all parts of society, as more women enter traditionally male-controlled fields and make influential contributions.
We have also tried to make the book entertaining as well as informative. Our method is usually informal. We feel, as do many other scientists, that we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously. As the reader may observe, we see science as a delightful pastime rather than as a cruel and unpleasant way to earn a living.
1. According to the passage, ‘scientific subculture’ means __________.
A. scientific society B. technical groups
C. complex situation D. knowledge system
2. We need to know something about science because __________.
A. scientists have specific scientific ideas
B. science affects almost every field of our life
C. it is easier to understand general characteristics of science
D. it is not easy to understand the things that excite and discourage scientists
3. The book mentioned in this passage is written for readers who __________.
A. are scientists making influential contributions
B. want to have a little understanding of science
C. want to break the male-controlled world
D. have a misunderstanding about science
4 This passage most probably is __________.
A. the review of a book B. the concluding part of a book
C. the information added to a book D. the introduction of a book
5. According to the passage, we can infer that the book probably is __________.
A. interesting B. serious C. realistic D. humorous
We still don’t understand the influence of the mind’s power over the body, nor do we understand why there should be such power. All we can say for certain is that the mind does have power over the body in very many different ways.
If a man is told that he is at the North Pole and he believes what he is told, he’ll show physical signs which suggest that his body is reacting as though he were at the North Pole. He’ll go pale and shiver. When the film Lawrence of Arabia was shown, cinema managers around the world reported that the sales of ice cream rocketed. The endless desert scenes had made the moviegoers feel uncomfortably hot.
Hypnotists use the power of the mind over the body in order to use their influence. The hypnotist must only convince the patient that something is true, and the patient will act accordingly. If he convinces the patient that his arms are as heavy as lead, then the patient will be unable to lift his arms. If he convinces the patient that a piece of ice is a hot iron and he then touches the patient’s skin with the ice, a blister（水泡）will develop. The body will react to the suggestion and not to the reality, and signs of a real burn will appear.
1 From the passage, we can imagine that people watching a film about the North Pole would probably want __________.
A. an ice cream B. a cold shower C. a hot drink D. a hot iron
2. A hypnotist is supposed to be able to control __________.
A. patients’ bodies B. people’s minds
C. patients’ diseases D. people’s movements
3. The phrase “the reality” refers to __________.
A. a real burn B. a hot iron C. the touch of ice D. the body’s reaction
4. A good title for this passage would be __________.
A. Mind and Body B. Physical Signs
C. Research on Mind D. The Power of the Mind
三：阅读理解（共25小题；每小题2分，满分50分）
Eye Facts
There are many commonly held beliefs about eyesight that are not proven facts. For example, some people believe that wearing glasses too soon weakens the eyes. But there is no evidence to show that the structure（结构）of eyes is changed by wearing glasses at young age. Wearing the wrong glasses, however, can prove harmful. Studies show that for adults there is no danger, but children can develop loss of sight if they have glasses unsuitable for their eyes.
We have all heard some of the common myths about how eyesight gets bad. Most people believe that reading in weak light causes poor eyesight, but that is untrue. Too little light makes the eyes work harder, so they do get tired and strained. Eyestrain also results from reading a lot, reading in bed, and watching too much television. However, although eyestrain may cause some pain or headaches, it does not damage eyesight in the long term.
Another myth about eyes is that they can be replaced, or transplanted from one person to another. There are close to one million nerve fibers（神经纤维）that connect the eyeball to the brain; as of yet, it is impossible to connect them all in a new person. Only certain parts of the eye can be replaced. But if we keep clearing up the myths and learning more about the eyes, someday a full transplant may be possible!
1. This passage is mostly about __________.
A. different types of eye problems B. myths about eyesight
C. beliefs of eye doctors D. eye transplants
2. One cause of eyestrain mentioned in the passage is __________.
A. wearing glasses too long B. suffering from pain or headaches
C. reading in poor light D. reading before going to bed
3. From the passage we can conclude that __________.
A. doctors are still learning things about eyesight
B. wearing wrong glasses is less harmful to adults
C. eye transplants have been performed successfully
D. people should not wear glasses at young age
二 完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
The Parking-Lot（停车场）Sweeper
Both my parents came from towns in Mexico. I was born in E1 Paso, Texas, and when I was four, my family moved to a housing project in East Los Angeles.
Even though we struggled to make ends meet, my parents stressed to me and my four brothers and sisters how 21 we were to live in a great country with limitless opportunities. They 22 us with the ideas of family, faith and love.
I got my first 23 job when I was ten. My dad injured his back working in a cardboard-box factory and was retrained as a hairstylist. He 24 space in a little shopping center and gave his shop the flowery name of Mr. Ben’s Coiffure.
The owner of the shopping center 25 my Dad’s payment for cleaning the parking lot three 26 a week, which 27 getting up at 3 a.m. Mom and I helped 28
dustbin and pick up rubbish by hand. It took two to three hours to clean the lot. I 29 sleep in the car on the way home.
I did this for two years, but the lessons I learned have 30 a lifetime. I obtained discipline（自律）and the importance of work, and learned at a(n) 31 age the importance of balancing life’s competing interests——in my 32 , school, homework and a job. This
33 helped during my school years, when I worked 40 hours at a fast-food restaurant while taking a full 34 of college preparation courses.
The hard work 35 off. I attended the U.S. Military Academy and went on to 36
graduate degrees in law and business from Harvard. 37 , I joined a big Los Angeles law firm and was elected to the California state assembly（州议会）. In these jobs and in everything else I’ve done, I have 38 forgotten those nights in the parking lot. The experience taught me that there is value in all work and that if people are working to 39 for themselves and their families, that is 40 we should honor.
21. A. important B. different C. competitive D. fortunate
22. A. mixed B. filled C. piled D. left
23. A. true B. new C. real D. good
24. A. hired B. bought C. cleaned D. created
25. A. reduced B. afforded C. collected D. charged
26. A. mornings B. evenings C. dawns D. nights
27. A. meant B. overcame C. admitted D. allowed
28. A. lift B. empty C. throw D. hold
29. A. must B. need C. would D. should
30. A. existed B. lasted C. kept D. stayed
31. A. small B. exact C. early D. golden
32. A. mind B. way C. part D. case
33. A. really B. nearly C. simply D. merely
34. A. piece B. length C. mass D. load
35. A. made B. took C. paid D. started
36. A. receive B. offer C. require D. study
37. A. Thus B. Later C. Again D. Instead
38. A. seldom B. just C. even D. never
39. A. account B. enter C. provide D. call
40. A. everything B. something C. nothing D. anything
My goodness, look at the time! It’s nine o’clock already and I’m _____ at breakfast.
A. still B. yet C. ever D. only
. I feel it an honour __________ to speak here.
A. to ask B. asking C. to be asked D. asked
