Comprehension 理解
Answer these questions:
1 How does the author define the word‘progress’?
2 How was the spread of knowledge affected by the coming of science?
3 What problem has the spread of knowledge given rise to?
Vocabulary 词汇
Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: loom so large (1.1); manifest (1.2); accumulation(1.4); enhanced (1.8); indifferently (1.15); spectacle (1.15); grimly whimsical (1.15); twofold (1.17)
The paragraph 段落
A Drawing your information from lines 4-13 (‘Knowledge began … practical life.’) write a list of points in note form to answer the following question: How did the growth of knowledge follow‘a kind of compound interest law’?
B Read lines 13-18 again．(‘The problem … continues.’) Then, using the list of points given below, reconstruct the author's argument in your own words as far as possible．Do not refer to the passage untilyou have finished the exercise.
1 Problem facing humanity: what to do with knowledge.
2 Two-edged weapon: good and evil.
3 Used for both.
4 Ironical use of science．E.g．gunner----wounded men----surgeons.
5 Where will this twofold use lead?
C Write a paragraph of about 200 words on one of the following subjects:
1 Support the author's view that mankind has undergone no general improvement in intelligence or morality.
2 Support the author's view that knowledge is a two-edged weapon.
Key structures 关键句型
A Supply the correct form of the verbs in parentheses in these sentences．Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:
1 Knowledge began to increase as soon as the thoughts of one individual ____ (can communicate) to another by means of speech．With the invention of writing, a great advance ____ (make), for knowledge then not only ____ (can communicate) but also ____ (store)．(11.4-6)
2 The growth of knowledge followed a kind of compound interest law, which greatly ____ (enhance) by the invention of printing．All this was comparatively slow until, with the coming of science, the tempo suddenly ____ (raise)．Then knowledge began to ____ (accumulate) according to a systematic plan．(11.7-10)
3 Moreover, as soon as new knowledge ____ (acquire), it now ____ (turn) to practical account.(11.10-11)
4 As so often ____ (point) out, knowledge is a two-edged weapon which ____ (can use) equally for good or evil．It now ____ (use) indifferently for good or evil, (11.13-14)
B Study this sentence pattern:
Libraries made education possible．(1.6)
Write sentences using make in the same pattern with the following words: unnecessary; desirable;unrecognizable.
C Compare these two sentences:
Instead of saying: The problem which now faces humanity …
We can say: The problem now facing humanity … (1.13)
Complete the following sentences:
1 People emigrating long dashes,____
2 All aeroplanes arriving long dashes, ____
3 Ships sailing long dashes,____
D Compare the expressions in italics in these two sentences:
Instead of saying: What is called‘modern civilization’is not the result of a balanced development of all man's nature, but of accumulated knowledge which has been applied to practical life.
We can say: What is called‘modern civilization’is not the result of a balanced development of all man's nature, but of accumulated knowledge applied to practical life．(11.11-13)
Complete the following sentences:
1 Photographs taken ____
2 Passports issued ____
3 Passengers delayed ____
Special difficulties 难点
A Study the following pairs of words and then write sentences of your own to bring out the difference.
1 surely (1.1)----certainly
Surely you can ride a bike!
I don't know how far it is to Edinburgh, but it's certainly a long way.
2 extraordinary (1.3)----outstanding
Fancy meeting you here! What an extraordinary coincidence! (=unusual, surprising)
Sarah is a woman of extraordinary ability.
Sarah's ability is quite outstanding．(=exceptional, possibly unique)
3 spectacle (1.15)----view
The National Day parade was a magnificent spectacle.
We had a really good view of the beach from where we stayed．
B Write sentences using the following words and phrases:
more and more (1.2); by means of (1.5); in its turn (1.7); a kind of (1.7); comparatively (1.8); according to (1.9);at hand (1.16).
C What do you understand by the following metaphor:
The trickle became a stream; the stream has now become a torrent．(1.10)
D Note the use of ever-in this phrase: its ever-increasing power．(1.17)
Write sentences using the following expressions:
ever-expanding; ever-changing; ever-diminishing.
Multiple choice questions 多项选择题
Choose the correct answers to the following questions.
Comprehension 理解
1 One of these statements is true．Which one?
a．Humans today have greatly improved in moral behaviour.
b．Advances in human intelligence have made progress possible.
c．The body of knowledge available to humans becomes greater and greater.
d．Knowledge increases, morality declines.
2 One of the greatest advances humans have made is in their ability ____.
a．to learn about things
b．to tell other people what they have learned
c．to think about what they have learned
d．to keep records of things they have learned
3 One of these statements is true．Which one?
a．The rate of growth of knowledge becomes faster and faster.
b．Libraries increase with amazing speed．
c．The invention of printing had a minor effect on the growth of knowledge.
d．The compound interest law is the basis of everything.
4 As soon as human beings learn something new, they ____.
a．find out more about‘modern civilization’
b．use it for the benefit of mankind
c．make it work for them
d．create a systematic plan
Structure 句型
5 Knowledge began to increase as soon as humans could ____ with each other．(11.4-5)
a．communicating
b．communicate
c．to communicate
d．be communicate
6 Knowledge could not only be communicated but stored ____．(1.6)
a．as well
b．together
c．both
d．either
7 Knowledge began ____ accumulated according to a systematic plan．(11.9-10)
a．to
b．was
c．to being
d．being
8 What are they going ____ with all this knowledge? (1.13)
a．to be done
b．to do
c．do
d．doing
Vocabulary 词汇
9 Progress of a particular kind is actually ____ around us．(11.1-2)
a．doing
b．making
c．occurring
d．taking part
10 The growth of knowledge was greatly ____ by the invention of printing．(11.7-8)
a．reduced
b．applied
c．renewed
d．improved
11 As soon as new knowledge is ____, it is turned to practical account．(11.10-11)
a．obtained
b．acknowledged
c．accepted
d．recorded
12 Could any ____ be more grimly whimsical-(1.15)
a．landscape
b．sight
c．scene
d．view