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 go against 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 uncovered 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 studies a wide range of disciplines（学科）. Considering this, you might expect the book to be a simple description of facts. But Brooks has formed his book in an unusual, 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’ 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’ attempt to translate his tale into science.

1.The author mentions the functions of science at the beginning of the passage to__________.

A. explain where science can be applied

B. show the value of Brooks’ 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 clear writing.

C. Its convincing points.

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. Death of the characters.

B. Brooks’ life experience.

C. Problems with the book.

D. Brooks’ translation skills.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.D

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文是一篇议论文。文章先列举出科学的许多功能，接着指出科学有巨大的诱惑力，以致许多作家抵挡不住这种诱惑，在文学作品中运用到科学。并以Brooks的新书The social animal为例，批判地分析这本书的优势和不足。

1.D写作用意题。首段第一、二句首先列举出科学的许多功能，接着指出科学有巨大的诱惑力。再根据最后一句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.以致许多作家抵挡不住这种诱惑，在文学作品中运用到科学。故选D项。

2.B推理判断题。根据最后一段中“…, his writing is mostly clear and , to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest. I enjoyed,… ”可知作者认为写作思路清晰是这本书的一大优势。故选B项。

3.D观点态度题。最后一段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中的链接词“while”之前是这本书的优势，其后作者指出了其不足。因此作者对这部书持批判的态度。故选D项。

4.C 篇章结构题。文章最后一段While Harold and Erica are certainly not strong or memorable characters, the more serious problems with The Social Animal lie elsewhere. 中“while”后面部分开始谈论这本书存在的问题。因此紧接着作者应该还是在写这本的不足。故选C项。

【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：考查议论文阅读