Question

Looking back on my childhood,I am convinced that naturalists are born and not made.Although we were all brought up in the same way,my brothers and sisters soon abandoned their pressed flowers and insects.Unlike them,I had no ear for music and languages.I was not an early reader and I could not do mental arithmetic.

Before World War Ⅰ we spent our summer holidays in Hungary.I have only the dim memory of the house we lived in,of my room and my toys.Nor do I recall clearly the large family of grandparents,aunts,uncles and cousins who gathered next door.But I do have a clear memory of the dogs,the farm animals,the local birds,and above all,the insects.

I am a naturalist,not a scientist.I have a strong love of the natural world and my enthusiasm led me into varied investigations.I love discussing my favorite topics and enjoy burning the midnight oil while reading about other people’s observations and discoveries.Then something happens that brings these observations together in my conscious mind.

Suddenly you fancy you see the answer to the riddle,because it all seems to fit together.This has resulted in my publishing 300 papers and books,which some might honor with the title of scientific research.

But curiosity,a keen eye,a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant world do not make a scientist:one of the outstanding and essential qualities required is self-discipline,a quality I lack.A scientist requires not only self-discipline,but hard training,determination and a goal.A scientist,up to a certain point,can be made.A naturalist is born.If you can combine the two,you get the best of both worlds.

1.The first paragraph tells us the author    .

A.was interested in flowers and insects in his childhood

B.lost his hearing when he was a child

C.didn’t like his brothers and sisters

D.was born to a naturalist’s family

2.The author can’t remember his relatives clearly because    .

A.he didn’t live very long with them

B.the family was extremely large

C.he was too young when he lived with them

D.he was fully occupied with observing nature

3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?( )

A.The author is a naturalist,but not a scientist.

B.The author is a scientist as well as a naturalist.

C.The author is first of all a scientist.

D.The author is neither a naturalist nor a scientist.

4.The author says that he is a naturalist rather than a scientist probably because he thinks he    .

A.has a great deal of trouble doing mental arithmetic

B.lacks some of the qualities required of a scientist

C.just reads about other people’s observations and discoveries

D.comes up with solutions in a most natural way

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.A

4.B

【解析】

1.1】推理判断题。根据第一段中的第二至第四句可知,在少年时代,作者与兄弟姐妹们不同,一直对昆虫和花草情有独钟。

2.2】细节理解题。根据第二段中的最后一句可知,作者之所以对亲戚们的记忆很模糊,是因为他更关注家畜、小鸟和昆虫。换言之,他忙于观察大自然。

3.3】正误判断题。由文章第三段第一句及第五段第一句内容可知,作者认为自己是一个自然学家,而非一个科学家,因为自己缺乏成为科学家的一种素质:自律。

4.4】推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“But curiosity,a keen eye,a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant world do not make a scientist:one of the outstanding and essential qualities required is self-discipline,a quality I lack”一句可推断作者认为自己缺乏成为科学家的一种素质:自律。