Children live in a world in which science has tremendous importance. During their lifetimes, it will affect them more and more. In time, many of them will work at jobs that depend heavily on science — for example, concerning energy sources, pollution control, highway safety, wilderness conservation, and population growth. As taxpayers, they will pay for scientific research and exploration. And, as consumers, they will be bombarded(受到轰击)by advertising, much of which is said to be based on science.
Therefore, it is important that children, the citizens of the future, become functionally acquainted with science — with the process and spirit of science, as well as with its facts and principles. Fortunately, science has a natural appeal for youngsters. They can relate it to so many things that they encounter — flashlights, tools, echoes and rainbows.
Besides, science is an excellent medium for teaching far more than content. It can help pupils learn to think logically, to organize and analyse ideas. It can provide practice in communication skills and mathematics. In fact, there is no area of the curriculum to which science cannot contribute, whether it is geography, history, language arts, music, or art!
Above all, good science teaching leads to what might be called a “scientific attitude”. Those who possess it seek answers through observing, experimenting, and reasoning, rather than blindly accepting the pronouncements of others. They weigh evidence carefully and reach conclusions with caution. While respecting the opinions of others, they expect honesty, accuracy, and objectivity and are on guard against hasty judgments and sweeping generalizations. All children should be developing this approach to solving problems, but it cannot be expected to appear automatically with the mere acquisition of information. Continual practice, through guided participation, is needed.
1. One of the reasons why science is important for children is that many of them will .
A.work in scientific research institutions
B.work at jobs closely related to science
C.make the final decision in matters concerning science
D.be fund-raisers for scientific research and exploration
2. There is no doubt that children like learning science because .
A.science is linked with many of the things they meet
B.science is a very easy subject for them to learn
C.they encounter the facts and principles of science daily
D.they are familiar with the process and spirit of science
3. Pupils can learn logical thinking while_______.
A.practicing communication skills B.studying geography
C.taking art courses D.learning science
4. People with a scientific attitude__________.
A.are ready to accept the pronouncements of others
B.tend to reach conclusions with certainty
C.are aware that others are likely to make hasty judgments
D.seek truth through observation, experimentation and reasoning
5. In the passage, the writer seems to___________.
A.prove that science is a successful course in school
B.point out that science as a course is now poorly taught in school
C.suggest that science should be included in the school curriculum
D.predict that children who learn science will be good scientists
答案解析：
1.B。根据文章第一段中“In time, many of them will work at jobs that depend heavily on science …”可知，孩子们将来的工作都会和科学紧密相连。故答案是B。
2. A。文章第二段最后一句讲到：“They can relate it to so many things that they encounter — flashlights, tools, echoes, and rainbows.”可知他们遇到的好多事情都是和科学有联系的。故答案为A。
3. D。根据文章第三段中“…science is an excellent medium for teaching far more than content. It can help pupils learn to think logically…”可知，学习科学可以培养孩子们的逻辑思考能力。故答案为D。
4. D。根据文章第四段中“Those who possess it(scientific attitude) seek answers through observing, experimenting, and reasoning…”可知，有科学态度的人通过观察、实验和推理来寻求真题。故答案为D。
5. C。这篇短文从一开始就在论证科学对孩子的重要性，文章最后指出“All children should be developing this approach to solving problems…”可以推断出，作者希望将科学知识纳入教学计划。故答案为C。
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