Narrator Listen to a conversation between two students after a science

游客2024-01-04  6

问题     Narrator
    Listen to a conversation between two students after a science class.
    Now get ready to answer the questions. You may use your notes to help you answer. [br] What does Student B mean when she says this?
Student A  Hi, Nicolas!
Student B  Hi, Peter! Today’s science class, by the way, how do you like it?
Student A  it’s really interesting. Professor Smith defines science as knowledge of facts, laws and relationships that is obtained through systematic observation and experimentation. This is really an accurate definition.
Student B  Yeah. When we think of science, we normally think of exact sciences like biology, chemistry and physics. But many other branches of science have developed over the past century.
Student A  What’s more, science is always attached to technology.
Student B  Professor Smith also gives a definition of technology.
Student A  Yeah. Professor Smith says that scientific knowledge applied to practical uses is normally referred to as technology. What a simple concept!
Student B  But it’s concise and exact. Robotics, for instance, is a branch of technology involving the study and production of manlike machines capable of performing human tasks. You know, some people even predict that, in the not so distant future, robots will be capable of feeling the same emotions as humans.
Student A  Wow, it’s hard to imagine an emotionally independent machine, but many of the things we take for granted now were once considered ridiculous dreams.
Student B  Yeah. Like computers and robots.
Student A  The technological changes that took place in the 20th century revolutionized virtually every aspect of our life from communication to material comfort.
Student B  That’s quite true. In the space of two or three generations, people witnessed major advances in medical research, nuclear energy and space exploration. Space exploration, for example, seeks to use space travel to discover the nature of the universe beyond Earth. Since ancient times, people have dreamed of leaving their home planet and exploring other worlds. In the latter half of the 20th century, that dream became reality. The space age began with the launch of the first artificial satellites in 1957. The first human went into space in 1961.
Student A  That’s right. And we will surely experience more benefits of science and technology in our daily life, such as more sophisticated communication systems, more advanced facilities and equipment, and improved modes of transportation. This will bring us a greater variety of food, a higher standard of living and a more prosperous and stronger nation.
Student B  But we cannot always be so optimistic. The consequences of technological innovations have not always been positive and the moral and political issues regarding new inventions have often been questionable.
Student A  Really? In what ways?
Student B  We have to admit that developments in science and technology have also brought about some disasters. Wars, pollution and new diseases have undermined our confidence in technology. There is less communication and thus greater social distance between people. More people are suffering from mental problems and unemployment is rising.
Student A  Oh, really a nasty picture, isn’t it? So, in your opinion, is science a monster or an angel?
Student B  Uh, I think science is mainly an angel. Science enables us to experience and enjoy many things that our forefathers couldn’t even dream of.
Student A  Just like a miracle, isn’t it?
Student B  Yeah. Because of science, we can know what is happening all over the world without leaving home. We can order food and other things at home. We can even receive education at home. It is science that has enriched our lives and improved our standard of living.
Student A  Yeah, I fully agree with you. I think it’s really nice to live in this modern world.
Student B  So we’re really lucky to enjoy all those modern things in today’s world, aren’t we?
Student A  Yeah. In this modern world, there are so many things that were not available in the past, like television, refrigeration, digital entertainment and computers. They make our life so colorful and enjoyable. I can’t imagine a life without all these things. The modern world provides us with so many wonderful objects that our ancestors couldn’t even dream of.
Student B  Right because of all these wonderful things, our life becomes more and more convenient, and we reach higher and higher standards of living.

选项 A、It’s hard to imagine an emotionally independent machine.
B、Many new things nowadays were once ridiculous dreams.
C、The technological changes have greatly influenced our life.
D、People communicate better and live a more comfortable life.

答案 C

解析 本题是语用理解题中的立场题,要求考生根据上下文理解讲话者所表达的态度。这里要求考生理解说话人说“That’s quite true”时所表达的立场和态度。A项的意思是:很难设想具有独立情感的机器是什么样子;B项的意思是:现今的很多新东西都曾被认为是荒谬的梦想;C项说指技术上的变化给我们的生活带来了巨大的影响;D项说人们的交流更加顺畅,生活更加舒适。此处不难听出“That’s quite true”是对对方所说话语“The technological changes that took place in the 20th century revolutionized virtually every aspect of our life from communication to material comfort(20世纪所发生的技术变革,从信息交流到舒适的物质生活,彻底改变了人们生活的方方面面)”的肯定。因此,选项C为正确答案。
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