Question

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’s 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’s 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’s 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.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.D

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文属于文化类阅读中的书评，介绍了David Brooks的书The Social Animal，并告诉我们在这本书中他运用了科学方面的知识来阐述他的故事。

1.D 推理判断题。根据第一段最后一句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.可知著名的作家David Brooks也无法抵制科学的诱惑，在他的书中也使用了科学方面的知识。所以在第一段前面两中叙述科学的功能主要是因为科学的巨大作用。故D正确。

2.C 细节理解题。根据最后一段第二句As one would expect, his writing is mostly clear and, to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest.可知做的作品叙述得很清楚。故C项说法是正确的。

3.D 推理判断题。根据文章最后两句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’s attempt to translate his tale into science.可知虽然作品中的人物并不是给人留下深刻印象的角色，但是这本书还有其他的问题，它试图把他的故事用科学知识进行说明。对此作者是持有批评的态度的。故D正确。

4.A 推理判断题。根据文章最后一句These problems partly involve Brooks’s attempt to translate his tale into science.可知这些问题涉及到Brooks试图把他的故事用科学知识说明出来。那么接下来就应该具体解释这本书中存在的这方面的问题。故A正确。

【名师点睛】

本文5.阅读时我们要考虑作者可能的态度，我们就要对态度进行分析：

1．可能的态度：高考阅读考的的态度有两种，一种是作者，另一是非作者的其它人。就作者而言，主要是表明对事物的观点看法，于是有：正面的各种支持，负面的各种反对；说到两种观点时还有很可能是客观中立；还有少量的惊奇、担心等。而非作者的其它人，对某事物还可能是某种情绪，如愤怒、轻视等。

2．不可能的态度：

Subjective: 说一个人的态度是主观的，如同说一个人的历史是“已经过去的”——废话。态度不可能是“客观的”，注意objective作为正确答案时的“客观”实际意思是“不偏不倚”，而不是与“主观“相对的“客观”。总之，subjective不可能正确。

Indifferent: 如果作者对某事物漠不关心，哪来这么多废话？以下是就作者而言不可能的态度，因为作者的态度就是文章的观点，而文章的观点显然在选到考试里的时候会经过过滤：有问题的文章不会入选。

所以会有下面的技巧：

作者态度永不错误：也就是说作者的态度不可能是明显错误的。如果作者的观点明显partial或者incorrect, 这篇文章不会入选社会主义制度下的考研或任何一种考试。因为作者的态度就是文章的观点。激烈的enthusiastic, strongly等：观点比较温和，才符合我们的价值取向，不走极端。与之相对应，如reserved, cautiously存活率才更高。应当容易理解。作者对事不对人：情绪化的东西如对人的愤怒、轻视等也不会是作者的态度。

考点：考查文化生活类阅读