学位英语

Science and Truth

"FINAGLE" (欺骗) is not a word that most people associate with science. One reason is that the image of the scientist is of one who always (1) data in an impartial (不偏不倚) search for truth. In any debate - (2) 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 (3) desired results. The latest of the finagle factor in action comes from Stephen Jay Gould, a Harvard biologist, who has (4) the important 19th century work of Dr. Samuel George Morton. Morton was famous in his time for analysing the brain (5) 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 (6), that whites constitute a superior race.

Gould went back to Morton's original data and concluded that the (7) were an example of the finagle at work. He found that Morton's "discovery" was made by leaving out embarrassing data, (8) 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 (9).

But Gould went on to say Morton's story is only an example of a common problem in (10) work. Some of the leading figures in science are (11) to have used the finagle factor. Gould says that Isaac Newton fudged out (捏造) to support at least three central statements that he could not prove. And so(12) 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 (13) 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 (14) that all the studies sponsored by the sugar industry find that the artificial sweetener is unsafe, (15) 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

相关推荐：2017年职称英语报名时间及入口

报考条件：综合类，理工类，卫生类考试原则上没有严格的界限。职称英语考试报名可在单位报，评职称与户口无关，主要看你的工作单位，所以你可以直接咨询单位的人事部门，如果他们说可以就行，每个省规定不大一样。【查看详情】

报考选择：职称英语报考科目|级别选择|报名条件及相关问题解答

免考规定：取得外语(从事翻译工作人员及外语教师第二外语)专业专科及以上学历的人员申报中、高级职称评审……。【查看详情】

（责任编辑：hbz）

共2页,当前第1页  第一页  前一页  下一页