1999考研英語(yǔ)一真題研料庫(kù)料福利年

1999年入學(xué)統(tǒng)一考試英語(yǔ)試題

SectionI StructureandVocabulary

PartADirections:

Beneatheachofthefollowingsentences,therearefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D].Choosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentence.MarkyouransweronANSWERSHEET1byblackeningthecorrespondingletterinthebracketswithapencil.(5points)

Anyonewithhalfaneyeontheunemploymentfiguresknewthattheassertionabouteconomicrecovery justaroundthecornerwasuntrue.

wouldbe

tobe

was

being

Smokingissoharmfultoalhealththatitkills peopleeachyearthanauto accidents.

sevenmoretimes

seventimesmore

overseventimes

seventimes

It’seasytoblamethedeclineofconversationonthepaceofmodernlifeandonthe

vaguechanges ceinourever-changingworld.

taking

totake

take

taken

Thisisanexcitingareaofstudy,andone whichnewapplicationsarebeingdiscoveredalmostdaily.

from

by

in

through

canbeseenfromthecomparisonofthesefigures,theprincipleinvolvestheactiveparticipationofthepatientinthemodificationofhiscondition.

As

What

That

Iwasunabletoattend

It

AlthoughIhadbeeninvitedtotheopeningceremony,

suchshortnotice.

to

in

with

on

Californiahasmorelightthanitknows todowithbuteverythingelseisexpensive.

how

what

which

where

Thesolutionworksonlyforcoupleswhoareself-employed,don’thavesmallchildren

andgetalong tospendmostoftheirtimetogether.

sowell

toowell

wellas

wellenough

Marlinisayoungmanofindependentthinkingwhoisnotabout complimentstohispoliticalleaders.

paying

havingpaid

topay

tohavepaid

Theseproposalssoughtto cegreaterrestrictionsontheuseandcopyingofdigitalinformationthan intraditionalmedia.

exist

exists

existing

toexist

PartB

Directions:

Eachofthefollowingsentenceshasfourunderlinedpartsmarked[A],[B],[C],and[D].IdentifythepartofthesentencethatisincorrectandmarkyouransweronANSWERSHEET1byblackeningthecorrespondingletterinthebracketswithapencil.(5points)

Yourmathinstructorwouldhavebeen

A

happytogiveyouamakeupexamination

hadyougoneB

andexinedC

thatyourparentshadbeen

D

illatthetime.

Asthechildren efinancially

A

independentof

B

thefamily,theemphasison

C

family

financialsecuritywillshiftfromprotectiontosave

D

fortheretirementyears.

Were

A

theTimesCo.topurchaseanothermajormedia ,thereisnodoubtthatit

couldB

dramaticallytransformafamily-ran

C

enterprisethatstillgets90%ofits

D

revenues

fromnewspapers.

Symposiumtalkswillcoverawiderange

A

ofsubjectsfrom

B

over-fishingtophysicaland

environmentC

factorsthataffectthepopulations

D

ofdifferentspecies.

Conversationcallsfora

A

willingnesstoalternatetheroleofspeakerwithoneof

B

listener,anditcallsforoccasional‘digestivepauses’byboth.

C D

Iftwotheoriesareequalto

A

theirabilitytoaccountfor

B

abodyofdata,thetheorythat

doessoC

withthesmallernumberofassumptionsistobepreferred.

D

TheCommitteeadoptedaresolutionrequiring

A

thesevenautomakersselling

B

themost

carsinthestatemaking

C

2percentofthosevehiclesemissions-

D

by1998.

Aslongas

A

poorpeople,whoingeneralarecolored,areinwith

B

richerpeople,

whoingeneralarelighter

C

skin,there’sgoingtobeaconstantracialintheD

world.

Allthoseleftundone

A

greatdifficultywhen

D

maysoundgreatly

B

itcomestospecifics.

intheory,buteventhetruestbeliever

C

has

Evenif

A

automakersmodifycommerciallyproducedcarstorunon

B

alternativefuels,the

C

carswon’tcatchoninabigwaywhen

D

driverscanfillthemupatthegasstation.

PartCDirections:

Beneatheachofthefollowingsentences,therearefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D].Choosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentence.MarkyouransweronANSWERSHEET1byblackeningthecorrespondingletterinthebracketswithapencil.(10points)

Animportantpropertyofascientifictheoryisitsabilityto furtherresearchandfurtherthinkingaboutaparticulartopic.

stimulate

renovate

arouse

advocate

Althougharchitecturehasicqualities,itmustalsosatisfyanumberofimportantpractical .

obligations

regulations

observations

considerations

Lifeinsuranceisfinancialprotectionfordependentsagainstloss thebread-winner’sdeath.

atthecostof

onthevergeof

asaresultof

forthesakeof

Ineducationthereshouldbeagood amongthebranchesofknowledgethatcontributetoeffectivethinkingandwisejudgment.

distribution

balance

combination

assignment

TheAmericandreamismost duringtheperiodsofproductivityandwealthgeneratedbyAmericancapitalism.

[A]usible

patriotic

primitive

partial

Povertyisnot inmostcitiesalthough,perhapsbecauseofthecrowdedconditionsincertainareas,itismorevisiblethere.

rare

temporary

prevalent

segmental

Peoplewholiveinsmalltownsoftenseemmorefriendlythanthoselivinginpopulatedareas.

densely

intensely

abundantly

highly

Asawayof themailswhiletheywereaway,theJohnsonsaskedthecleaningladytosendlittleprintedslipsaskingthesenderstowriteagainlater.

pickingup

cowith

passingout

fromhisintentiontoinvesthis

gettingacross

Tom’smothertriedhardtopersuadehimto

savingsinstockmarket.

pullout

giveup

drawin

backdown

Anincreasingproportionofourpopulation,unabletolivewithoutadvancedmedical

,will eprogressivelymorereliantonexpensivetechnology.

interference

interruption

intervention

in ction

Thesecausesproducedthegreatchangeinthecountrythatmodernizedthe ofhighereducationfromthemid-1860’stothemid-1880’s.

branch

inthefinancialsystemwill

category[C]

[D]scope

Nobodyyetknowshowlongandhowseriouslythedragdowntheeconomy.

shallowness

shakiness

sc ss

stiffness

Crisiswouldbetherighttermtodescribethe inmanyanimalspecies.

minimization

restriction

descent

decline

Thecityisanimportantrailroad andindustrialandconventioncenter.

conjunction

network

junction

link

Prof.White,myrespectedtutor,frequentlyremindsmeto myselfofeverychancetoimprovemyEnglish.

assure

inform

avail

notify

Researchersdiscoveredthat ntsinfectedwitha giveoffagasthatdisease inneighboring nts.

contracts

activates

maintains

prescribes

Corporationsandlaborunionshave greatbenefitsupontheiremployeesandmembersaswellasuponthegeneralpublic.

conferred

granted

flung

submitted

Themovementofthemoonconvenientlyprovidedtheunitofmonth,whichwasfromonenewmoontothenext.

measured

reckoned

judged

assessed

Thejudgeruledthattheevidencewasinadmissibleonthegroundsthatitwas totheissueathand.

irrational

unreasonable

invalid

irrelevant

Fuelscarcitiesandpriceincreases autodesignerstoscaledownthe

largestmodelsandtodevelopcompleynewlinesofsmallcarsandtrucks.

persuaded

prompted

imposed

enlightened

SectionII ClozeTest

Directions:

Foreachnumberedblankinthefollowingpassage,therearefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D].ChoosethebestoneandmarkyouransweronANSWERSHEET1byblackeningthecorrespondingletterinthebracketswithapencil.(10points)

Industrialsafetydoesnotjusthappen.Companies 41 lowaccidentratesntheirsafetyprograms,workhardtoorganizethem,andcontinueworkingtokeepthem 42andactive.Whentheworkiswelldone,a 43 ofaccident- operationsisestablished

44 timelostduetoinjuriesiskeptataminimum.

Successfulsafetyprogramsmay45greatlyintheemphasiscedoncertainaspectsoftheprogram.Somecegreatemphasisonmechanicalguarding.Othersstresssafeworkpracticesby46rulesorregulations.47othersdependonanemotionalappealtotheworker.But,therearecertainbasicideasthatmustbeusedineveryprogramifumresultsaretobeobtained.

Therecanbenoquestionaboutthevalueofasafetyprogram.Fromafinancialstandpointalone,safety48.Thefewertheinjury49,thebettertheworkman’sinsurancerate.Thismaymeanthedifferencebetweenoperatingat50orataloss.

[A]at [B]in [C]on [D]with

[A]alive [B]vivid[C][D]diverse

[A]regulation [B]climate [C]circumstance [D]requirement

[A]where [B]how [C]what [D]unless

[A]alter [B]differ [C]shift [D]distinguish

[A]constituting[B]aggravating[C]observing [D]justifying

[A]Some [B]Many [C]Even [D]Still

[A]comesoff [B]turnsup [C]paysoff [D]holdsup

[A]claims [B]reports [C]declarations[D]proclamations

[A]anadvantage[B]abenefit [C]aninterest [D]aprofit

SectionIIIReadingComprehension

Directions:

Eachofthepassagesbelowisfollowedbysomequestions.Foreachquestiontherearefouranswersmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D].Readthepassagescarefullyandchoosethebestanswertoeachofthequestions.ThenmarkyouransweronANSWERSHEET1byblackeningthecorrespondingletterinthebracketswithapencil.(40points)

Text1

It’saroughworldoutthere.Stepoutsideandyoucouldbreakalegsliponyourdoormat.Lightupthestoveandyoucouldburndownthehouse.Luckily,ifthedoormatorstovefailedtowarnofcomingdisaster,asuccessfullawsuitmightcompensateyouforyourtroubles.Orsothethinkinghasgonesincetheearly1980s,whenjuriesbeganholdingmorecompaniesliablefortheircustomers’misfortunes.

Feelingthreatened,companiesrespondedbywritingever-longerwarninglabels,tryingtoanticipateeverypossibleaccident.Today,stedderscarrylabelsseveralincheslongthatwarn,amongotherthings,thatyoumight--surprise!--falloff.Thelabelonachild’sBatmancapecautionsthatthetoy“doesnotenableusertofly.”

Whilewarningsareoftenappropriateandnecessary--thedangersofdruginctions,forexample--andmanyarerequiredbystateorfederalregulations,itisn’tclearthattheyactuallyprotectthemanufacturersandsellersfromliabilityifacustomerisinjured.About50percentofthecompanieslosewheninjuredcustomerstakethemtocourt.

Nowthetideappearstobeturning.Asalinjuryclaimscontinueasbefore,some

courtsarebeginningtosidewithdefendants,especiallyincaseswhereawarninglabelprobablywouldn’thavechangedanything.InMay,JulieNimmons,ofSchuttSportsinIllinois,successfullyfoughtalawsuitinvolvingafootballyerwhowasparalyzedinagamewhilewearingaSchutthelmet.“We’rereallysorryhehas eparalyzed,buthelmetsaren’tdesignedtopreventthosekindsofinjuries,”saysNimmons.Thejuryagreedthatthenatureofthegame,notthehelmet,wasthereasonfortheathlete’sinjury.Atthesametime,theAmericanLawInstitute--agroupofjudges,lawyers,andacademicswhosemendationscarrysubstantialweight--issuednewguidelinesfortortlawstatingthatcompaniesneednotwarncustomersofobviousdangersorbombardthemwithalengthylistofpossibleones.“Importantinformationcangetburiedinaseaoftrivialities,”saysalawprofessoratCornelllawSchoolwhohelpeddraftthenewguidelines.Ifthemoderateendofthelegalcommunityhasitsway,theinformationonproductsmightactuallybe

providedforthebenefitofcustomersandnotasprotectionagainstlegalliability.

Whatwerethingslikein1980swhenaccidentshappened?

Customersmightberelievedoftheirdisastersthroughlawsuits.

Injuredcustomerscouldexpectprotectionfromthelegalsystem.

Companieswouldavoidbeingsuedbyprovidingnewwarnings.

Juriestendedtofindfaultwiththecompensationscompaniespromised.

Manufacturersasmentionedinthepassagetendto .

satisfycustomersbywritinglongwarningsonproducts

ehonestindescribingtheinadequaciesoftheirproducts

makethebestuseoflabelstoavoidlegalliability

feelobligedtoviewcustomers’safetyastheirfirstconcern

ThecaseofSchutthelmetdemonstratedthat .

someinjuryclaimswerenolongersupportedbylaw

helmetswerenotdesignedtopreventinjuries

[D]somesportsgamesmightlosepopularitywithathletes

Theauthor’sattitudetowardstheissueseemstobe

biased

indifferent

puzzling

objective

Text2

productlabelswouldeventuallybediscarded

.

InthefirstyearorsoofWebbusiness,mostoftheactionhasrevolvedaroundeffortstotaptheconsumermarket.Morerecently,astheWebprovedtobemorethanafashion,

companieshavestartedtobuyandsellproductsandserviceswithoneanother.Suchbusiness-to-businesssalesmakesensebecausebusinesspeopletypicallyknowwhatproductthey’relookingfor.

Nonetheless,manycompaniesstillhesitatetousetheWebbecauseofdoubtsaboutitsreliability.“Businessesneedtofeeltheycantrustthepathwaybetweenthemandther,”saysseniorystBlaneErwinofForresterResearch.Somecompaniesarelimitingtheriskbyconductingonlinetransactionsonlywithestablishedbusinesspartners

whoaregivenaccesstothe’sprivateintranet.

AnothermajorshiftinthemodelforInternetcommerceconcernsthetechnologyavailableformarketing.Untilrecently,Internetmarketingactivitieshavefocusedonstrategiesto“pull”customersintosites.Inthepastyear,however,softwarecompanieshavedevelopedtoolsthatallowcompaniesto“push”informationdirectlyouttoconsumers,transmittingmarketingmessagesdirectlytotargetedcustomers.Mostnotably,thePointcastNetworkusesascreensavertodeliveracontinuallyupdatedstreamofnewsandadvertisementstosubscribers’computermonitors.Subscriberscancustomizetheinformationtheywanttoreceiveandproceeddirectlytoa’sWebsite.CompaniessuchasVirtualVineyardsarealreadystartingtousesimilartopushmessagestocustomersaboutspecialsales,productofferings,orotherevents.ButpushtechnologyhasearnedthecontemptofmanyWebusers.Onlineculturethinkshighlyofthenotionthattheinformationflowingontothescreencomestherebyspecificrequest.Oncecommercial

promotionbeginstofillthescreenuninvited,thedistinctionbetweentheWebandevision

fades.That’saprospectthathorrifiesNetpurists.

ButitishardlyinevitablethatcompaniesontheWebwillneedtoresorttopushstrategiestomakemoney.TheexamplesofVirtualVineyards, ,andotherpioneersshowthataWebsitesellingtherightkindofproductswiththerightmixofinctivity,hospitality,andsecuritywillattractonlinecustomers.Andthecostofcomputingpowercontinuestofall,whichisagoodsignforanyenterprisesettingupshopinsilicon.Peoplelookingback5or10yearsfromnowmaywellwonderwhysofewcompaniestooktheonlineplunge.

WelearnfromthebeginningofthepassagethatWebbusiness .

hasbeenstrivingtoexpanditsmarket

intendedtofollowafancifulfashion

triedbutinvaintocontrolthemarket

hasbeenboomingforoneyearorso

Speakingoftheonlinetechnologyavailableformarketing,theauthorimpliesthat

.

thetechnologyispopularwithmanyWebusers

businesseshavefaithinthereliabilityofonlinetransactions

thereisaradicalchangeinstrategy

itisaccessiblelimitedlytoestablishedpartners

IntheviewofNetpurists, .

thereshouldbenomarketingmessagesinonlineculture

moneymakingshouldbegivenprioritytoontheWeb

theWebshouldbeabletofunctionastheevisionset

thereshouldbenoonlinecommercialinformationwithoutrequests

Welearnfromthelastparagraphthat .

pushinginformationontheWebisessentialtoInternetcommerce

in ctivity,hospitalityandsecurityareimportanttoonlinecustomers

leadingcompaniesbegantotaketheonlineplungedecadesago

settingupshopsinsiliconisindependentofthecostofcomputingpower

Text3

Aninvisibleborderdividesthosearguingforcomputersintheclassroomonthebehalfofstudents’careerprospectsandthosearguingforcomputersintheclassroomforbroaderreasonsofradicaleducationalreform.Veryfewwritersonthesubjecthaveexploredthisdistinction--indeed,contradiction--whichgoestotheheartofwhatiswrongwiththentoputcomputersintheclassroom.

Aneducationthataimsatgettingastudentacertainkindofjobisatechnicaleducation,justifiedforreasonsradicallydifferentfromwhyeducationisuniversallyrequiredbylaw.Itisnotsimplytoraiseeveryone’sjobprospectsthatallchildrenarelegallyrequiredtoattendschoolintotheirteens.Rather,wehaveacertainconceptionoftheAmericancitizen,acharacterwhois pleteifhecannotcompetentlyassesshowhislivelihoodandhappinessareaffectedbythingsoutsideofhimself.Butthiswasnotalwaysthecase;beforeitwaslegallyrequiredforallchildrentoattendschooluntilacertainage,itwaswidelyacceptedthatsomewerejustnotequippedbynaturetopursuethiskindofeducation.Withoptimismcharacteristicofallindustrializedcountries,wecametoacceptthateveryoneisfittobeeducated.Computer-educationadvocatesforsakethisoptimisticnotionforapessimismthatbetraystheirotherwisecheeryoutlook.Bankingontheconfusionbetweeneducationalandvocationalreasonsforbringingcomputersintoschools,computeredadvocatesoftenemphasizethejobprospectsofgraduatesovertheireducationalachievement.

Therearesomegoodargumentsforatechnicaleducationgiventherightkindofstudent.ManyEuropeanschoolsintroducetheconceptofprofessionaltrainingearlyoninordertomakesurechildrenareproperlyequippedfortheprofessionstheywanttojoin.Itis,however,presumptuoustoinsistthattherewillonlybesomanyjobsforsomanyscientists,somanybusinessmen,somanyaccountants.Besides,thisisunlikelytoproducetheneedednumberofeverykindofprofessionalinacountryaslargeasoursandwheretheeconomyis

spreadoversomanystatesandinvolvessomanyinternationalcorporations.

But,forasmallgroupofstudents,professionaltrainingmightbethewaytogosincewell-developedskills,allotherfactorsbeingequal,canbethedifferencebetweenhavingajobandnot.Ofcourse,thebasicsofusinganycomputerthesedaysareverysimple.Itdoesnottakealifelongacquaintancetopickupvarioussoftwareprograms.Ifonewantedtoeacomputerengineer,thatis,ofcourse,anentirelydifferentstory.Basiccomputer

skillstake--attheverylongest--acoupleofmonthstolearn.Inanycase,basiccomputerskillsareonlycomplementarytothehostofrealskillsthatarenecessaryto inganykindofprofessional.Itshouldbeobserved,ofcourse,thatnoschool,vocationalornot,ishelpedbyaconfusionoveritspurpose.

Theauthorthinksthepresentrushtoputcomputersintheclassroomis .

far-reaching

dubiouslyoriented

self-contradictory

radicallyreformatory

Thebeliefthateducationisindispensabletoallchildren .

isindicativeofapessimismindisguise

cameintobeingalongwiththearrivalofcomputers

isdeeplyrootedinthemindsofcomputeredadvocates

originatedfromtheoptimisticattitudeofindustrializedcountries

Itcouldbeinferredfromthepassagethatintheauthor’scountrytheEuropeanmodelofprofessionaltrainingis .

dependentuponthestartingageofcandidates

worthtryinginvarioussocialsections

oflittlepracticalvalue

attractivetoeverykindofprofessional

Accordingtotheauthor,basiccomputerskillsshouldbe .

includedasanauxiliarycourseinschool

highlightedinacquisitionofprofessionalqualifications

masteredthroughalife-longcourse

equallyemphasizedbyanyschool,vocationalorotherwise

Text4

WhenaScottishresearchteamstartledtheworldbyrevealing3monthsagothatithadclonedanadultsheep,Clintonmovedswiftly.Declaringthathewasopposedtousingthisunusualanimalhusbandrytechniquetoclonehumans,heorderedthatfederalfundsnotbeusedforsuchanexperiment--althoughnoonehadproposedtodoso--and

askedanindependentpanelofexpertschairedbyPrincetonHaroldShapirotoreportbacktotheWhiteHousein90dayswith mendationsforanationalonhumancloning.Thatgroup--theNationalBioethicsAdvisoryCommission(NBAC)--hasbeenworkingfeverishlytoputitswisdomonpaper,andatameetingon17May,membersagreedonanear-finaldraftoftheir mendations.

NBACwillaskthatClinton’s90-daybanonfederalfundsforhumancloningbeextendedindefiniy,andpossiblythatitbemadelaw.ButNBACmembersarenningtowordthe mendationnarrowlytoavoidnewrestrictionsonresearchthatinvolvesthecloningofhumanDNAorcells--routineinmolecularbiology.Thepanelhasnotyetreachedagreementonacrucialquestion,however,whetherto mendlegislationthatwouldmakeitacrimeforprivatefundingtobeusedforhumancloning.

Inadraftprefacetothe mendations,discussedatthe17Maymeeting,Shapirosuggestedthatthepanelhadfoundabroadconsensusthatitwouldbe“morallyunacceptabletoattempttocreateahumanchildbyadultnuclearcloning.”Shapiroexinedduringthemeetingthatthemoraldoubtstemsmainlyfromfearsabouttherisktothehealthofthechild.Thepaneltheninformallyacceptedseveralgeneralconclusions,althoughsomedetailshavenotbeensettled.

NBACnstocallfora banonfederalernmentfundingforanyattempttoclonebodycellnucleitocreateachild.Becausecurrentfederallawalreadyforbidstheuseoffederalfundstocreateembryos(theearlieststageofhumanoffspringbeforebirth)for

researchortoknowinglyendangeranembryo’slife,NBACwillremainsilentonembryoresearch.

NBACmembersalsoindicatedthattheywillappealtoprivayfundedresearchersandclinicsnottotrytoclonehumansbybodycellnucleartransfer.Buttheyweredividedonwhethertogofurtherbycallingforafederallawthatwouldimposeacompletebanonhumancloning.Shapiroandmostmembersfavoredanappealforsuchlegislation,butinaphoneinterview,hesaidthisissuewasstill“upintheair.”

Wecanlearnfromthefirstparagraphthat .

federalfundshavebeenusedinaprojecttoclonehumans

theWhiteHouserespondedstronglytothenewsofcloning

NBACwasauthorizedtocontrolthemisuseofcloningtechnique

theWhiteHousehasgotthepanel’s mendationsoncloning

Thepanelagreedonallofthefollowingexceptthat .

thebanonfederalfundsforhumancloningshouldbemadealaw

thecloningofhumanDNAisnottobeputundermorecontrol

itiscriminaltouseprivatefundingforhumancloning

itwouldbeagainstethicalvaluestocloneahumanbeing

NBACwillleavetheissueofembryoresearchundiscussedbecause .

embryoresearchisjustacurrentdevelopmentofcloning

thehealthofthechildisnotthemainconcernofembryoresearch

anembryo’slifewillnotbeendangeredinembryoresearch

theissueisexplicitlystatedandsettledinthelaw

Itcanbeinferredfromthelastparagraphthat .

someNBACmembershesitatetobanhumancloningcomple y

alawbanninghumancloningistobepassedinnotime

privayfundedresearcherswillrespondpositivelytoNBAC’sappeal

theissueofhumancloningwillsoonbesettled

Text5

Science,inpractice,dependsfarlessontheexperimentsitpreparesthanonthepreparednessofthemindsofthemenwhowatchtheexperiments.SirIsaacNewtonsupposedlydiscoveredgravitythroughthefallofanapple.Appleshadbeenfallinginmanycesforcenturiesandthousandsofpeoplehadseenthemfall.ButNewtonforyearshadbeencuriousaboutthecauseoftheorbitalmotionofthemoonandnets.Whatkeptthemin ce?Whydidn’ttheyfalloutofthesky?Thefactthattheapplefelldowntowardtheearthandnotupintothetreeansweredthequestionhehadbeenaskinghimselfabout

thoselargerfruitsoftheheavens,themoonandthenets.

Howmanymenwouldhaveconsideredthepossibilityofanapplefallingupintothetree?Newtondidbecausehewasnottryingtopredictanything.Hewasjustwondering.Hismindwasreadyfortheunpredictable.Unpredictabilityispartoftheessentialnatureofresearch.Ifyoudon’thaveunpredictablethings,youdon’thaveresearch.Scientiststendtoforgetthiswhenwritingtheircutanddriedreportsforthetechnicaljournals,buthistoryisfilledwithexamplesofit.

Intalkingtosomescientists,particularlyyoungerones,youmightgathertheimpressionthattheyfindthe“scientificmethod”asubstituteforimaginativethought.I’veattendedresearchconferenceswhereascientisthasbeenaskedwhathethinksabouttheadvisabilityofcontinuingacertainexperiment.Thescientisthasfrowned,lookedatthegraphs,andsaid“thedataarestillinconclusive.”“Weknowthat,”themenfromthebudgetofficehavesaid,“butwhatdoyouthink?Isitworthwhilegoingon?Whatdoyouthinkwemightexpect?”Thescientisthasbeenshockedathavingevenbeenaskedtospeculate.

Whatthisamountsto,ofcourse,isthatthescientisthas ethevictimofhisownwritings.Hehasputforwardunquestionedclaimssoconsistentlythathenotonlybelievesthemhimself,buthasconvincedindustrialandbusinessmanagementthattheyaretrue.Ifexperimentsarennedandcarriedoutaccordingtonasfaithfullyasthereportsinthesciencejournalsindicate,thenitisperfectlylogicalformanagementtoexpectresearchtoproduceresultsmeasurableindollarsandcents.Itisentirelyreasonableforauditorstobelievethatscientistswhoknowexactlywheretheyaregoingandhowtheywillgetthere

shouldnotbedistractedbythenecessityofkeeoneeyeonthecashregisterwhiletheothereyeisonthemicroscope.Nor,ifregularityandconformitytoastandardpatternareasdesirabletothescientistasthewritingofhispaperswouldappeartoreflect,ismanagementtobeblamedfordiscriminatingagainstthe“oddballs”amongresearchersinfavorofmoreconventionalthinkerswho“workwellwiththeteam.”

TheauthorwantstoprovewiththeexampleofIsaacNewtonthat .

inquiringmindsaremoreimportantthanscientificexperiments

scienceadvanceswhenfruitfulresearchesareconducted

scientistsseldomforgettheessentialnatureofresearch

unpredictabilityweighslessthanpredictioninscientificresearch

Theauthorassertsthatscientists .

shouldn’tre ce“scientificmethod”withimaginativethought

shouldn’tneglecttospeculateonunpredictablethings

shouldwritemoreconcisereportsfortechnicaljournals

shouldbeconfidentabouttheirresearchfindings

Itseemsthatsomeyoungscientists .

haveakeeninterestinprediction

oftenspeculateonthefuture

thinkhighlyofcreat