Test Yourself 2 Passage One

In 1665, an apple fell from a tree and landed near young Isaac Newton. Untold numbers of people had seen apples fall and hadn’t given the matter a second thought. But Newton thought about it carefully and developed a cornerstone of modern science—the theory of gravity.

The ability to ask deep questions and look for answers lies at the heart of science. So it stands to reason that educators would want to bottle Newton’s brand of thinking and serve it to their students.

Common sense might argue that the best means to that end is to cram future scientists with chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics. After all, Newton had an enormous appetite(胃口；兴趣) for science.

But Newton owned more books in the humanities(文科) than he did in the sciences, and his interest included subjects such an history, philosophy, and Greek mythology.

Could it be that thinking deeply about subjects such as history, philosophy, and religion makes one a better scientist? Many top American schools think so.

The liberal arts education is a diversified(多样化的) toolbox. If you have only one way of looking at things, you will get stuck in the same place everybody else got stuck. If you’ve got different experiences, you may find other ways of solving the problem.‖

It’s well known that the more we think, the better our neural(神经的) connections. But

liberal arts colleges go one step further. They argue that learning to think in one field may sharpen the ability to solve complex problems in a seemingly unrelated area. It may be a while before scientists establish the truth or falsity of this idea. In the meantime, some of the best minds in science are betting that it’s true.

―Learning about the great books and the humanities can stimulate the sort of brain waves that serve a scientist pretty well,‖ says Nobel Prize winner Tom Cech ―The more types of thinking you have to do, the more skills you can bring to a scientific problem."

26. We learn from the first paragraph that ________. B. nobody noticed apples falling from trees to the ground before Newton

C. Newton developed the theory of gravity by watching a falling apple

D. modern science is related to the falling of an apple to the ground

27. According to the passage, to help students become scientists, educators________.

A. should cram them with lots of science courses

C. should ask them deep questions and look for answers

D. should give them an enormous appetite for science

28. We learn from the passage that students who study science in a liberal arts college ________. B. are free to take whatever courses they like best

C. have a wide range of interests in history, philosophy and religion

D. spend more time studying arts and the humanities than the sciences

29. The idea that learning to think in one field may sharpen the ability to solve complex problems in a seemingly unrelated area is ________.

A. already proved to be true by scientists

B. accepted by the best people in science

D. gaining worldwide acceptance

30. In liberal arts colleges students are _______.

A. asked to bring a diversified toolbox to school

B. trained to think differently from everybody else

C. required to learn different kinds of skills

Test Yourself 2 Passage Two

Fresh out of residency, I took a job in a small community hospital’s emergency department. As the newest member of the group, I got last dibs on shifts. No one wanted to work on Christmas Eve, so the shift went to me. I kiss my family goodbye and went off to spend the night in the hospital.

At 9 pm, the ambulance brought in a man in his 60s who was having a heart attack. His face was pale, and he was frightened. I did my best and he hung in there. Eventually we were able to move him out of the emergency room and into the intensive care unit.

Before I left in the morning to spend Christmas with my family, I stopped by to see how he was doing. It was still touch-and-go, but he had survived the night and was sleeping.

Emergency physicians don’t have continuing relationships with patients like other doctors. We get the suddenly sick. Often they are frightened. Sometimes they are angry at us just because we were there. They pass through our hands and out the door. We rarely see them again. I thought no more about my heart patient.

The following year, still the newest member of the group, I got Christmas Eve duty again and dragged myself off to work. At 9 pm sharp, the hospital clerk told me there was a couple in the hall who wanted to speak to me.

When I approached them, the man introduced himself as Mr. Lee and said, ―You probably don’t remember me but last Christmas you saved my life. Thank you for the year you gave me.‖ He and his wife hugged me, handed me a small gift, and left. I was more than a surprised — and touched.

The following year a new doctor had joined the group, and my family was delighted that I could stay home Christmas Eve. But I wanted to see if Mr. and Mrs. Lee would return. This time I volunteered for the shift.

I kept an eye on the door. Once again, at exactly 9 pm, the Lees appeared, carry their new grandchild. We all embraced, and Mr. Lee said he’d come see me every Christmas Eve.

I worked the emergency department for the next ten Christmas Eves. Each year at exactly 9 pm, he’d appear, twice with new grandchildren. One year he came with a great-grandchild.

The last year I saw him, he brought me a gift. It was a golden bell engraved with a single word : Friendship.

Mr. Lee died the next year. Now my family, friends and I ring that bel …… 此处隐藏：11452字，全部文档内容请下载后查看。喜欢就下载吧 ……