Question

【题目】B

There is something very wrong with the system of values in a society that has only unkind terms like nerd and geek for the intellectually curious and academically serious.

We all know what a nerd is: someone who wears thick glasses and ugly clothes; someone who knows all the answers to the chemistry or math homework but can never get a date on a Saturday night. And a geek, according to Webster’s New World Dictionary, is a street performer who shocks the public by biting off heads of live chickens. It is an obvious fact about our language and our culture that someone devoted to the pursuit (追求) of knowledge is compared to such a strange person.

Even at a famous educational institution like Harvard, anti-intellectualism is widespread: Many students are ashamed to admit how much they study. The same thing happens in US primary and high schools.

Enough is enough. The anti-intellectual values that have spread throughout American society must be fought. There are very few countries in the world where anti-intellectualism runs as high in popular culture as it does in the US. In most industrialized nations, especially in East Asia, a kid who studies hard is praised. But in America, average professional ballplayers are much more respected and better paid than professors of the best universities.

How can a country where typical parents are ashamed of their children studying mathematics instead of going dancing be expected to compete in the technology race with Japan? How long can America remain a world-class power if we constantly put social skills and physical strength over academic achievement and intellectual ability?

Do we really expect to take the lead largely by bringing in our scientists and intellectuals from abroad, as we have done for a major portion of this century without making an effort to also cultivate (培养) a pro-intellectual culture at home?

【1】The definition from the Webster’s New World Dictionary is quoted to __________.

A. show that vocabulary use is always up-to-date

B. prove that words used in this article are accurate

C. convince readers with reference from a dictionary

D. show that people look down upon those studying hard

【2】What can be learned from Paragraph 3 and Paragraph 4?

A. The US government doesn’t mean to spend much money on education.

B. Anti-intellectualism is not popular in industrialized countries in East Asia.

C. Few students work hard for their grade in famous universities like Harvard.

D. Professors earn more than professional basketball players on average in the US.

【3】 What is probably the author’s attitude towards the anti-intellectual values?

A. Skeptical. B. Supportive. C. Concerned. D. Objective.

【4】 What can be a suitable title for the text?

A. America needs its nerds. B. Don’t laugh at nerds.

C. What is anti-intellectualism? D. Why does society avoid nerds?

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】B

【3】C

【4】A

【解析】

【语篇解读】文章介绍了美国大众文化的反智主义思想，人们瞧不起那些努力学习的人，但是作者担心这样的文化氛围会影响美国的人才培养。

【1】判断推理题。由第二段可知，作者引用《韦氏新世界词典》中关于 “geek”的解释：geek指那 种以表演撕咬活鸡的头耳使观众震惊的街头艺人。而作者又在下一句中提到，我们的语言和文化把那 些孜孜不倦追求知识的人比喻成这样的怪胎，这说明人们瞧不起那些努力学习的人。故选D。

【2】判断推理题。由第四段中的 “In most industrialized nations, especially in East Asia, a kid who studies hard is praised”可知，在东亚的大部分工业化国家中，人们会称赞努力学习的孩子。因此在这些国家， 反智主义并不是主流文化。故答案选B。

【3】观点态度题。文章介绍了美国大众文化中的反智主义思想。许多学生都因怕被嘲笑为书呆子 而羞于承认自己努力学习、积极上进，而作者担心这样的文化氛围会使美国的人才培养陷入窘境。故 答案选C。

【4】标题判断题。文章介绍了美国大众文化的反智主义思想，作者担心这样的文化氛围会使美国 的人才培养陷入窘境，因此“美国需要书呆子”最适合作本文的标题。故选A。