The US $3-million Fundamental Physics Prize is indeed an interesting experiment, as Alexander Polyakov said when he accepted this year’s award in March. And it is far from the only one of its type. As a News Feature article in Nature discusses, a string of lucrative awards for researchers have joined the Nobel Prizes in recent years. Many, like the Fundamental Physics Prize, are funded from the telephone-number-sized bank accounts of Internet entrepreneurs. These benefactors have succeeded in their chosen fields, they say, and they want to use their wealth to draw attention to those who have succeeded in science.
What’s not to like? Quite a lot, according to a handful of scientists quoted in the News Feature. You cannot buy class, as the old saying goes, and these upstart entrepreneurs cannot buy their prizes the prestige of the Nobels. The new awards are an exercise in self-promotion for those behind them, say scientists. They could distort the achievement-based system of peer-review-led research. They could cement the status quo of peer-reviewed research. They do not fund peer-reviewed research. They perpetuate the myth of the lone genius.
The goals of the prize-givers seem as scattered as the criticism. Some want to shock, others to draw people into science, or to better reward those who have made their careers in research.
As Nature has pointed out before, there are some legitimate concerns about how science prizes—both new and old—are distributed. The Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, launched this year, takes an unrepresentative view of what the life sciences include. But the Nobel Foundation’s limit of three recipients per prize, each of whom must still be living, has long been outgrown by the collaborative nature of modern research—as will be demonstrated by the inevitable row over who is ignored when it comes to acknowledging the discovery of the Higgs boson. The Nobels were, of course, themselves set up by a very rich individual who had decided what he wanted to do with his own money. Time, rather than intention, has given them legitimacy.
As much as some scientists may complain about the new awards, two things seem clear. First, most researchers would accept such a prize if they were offered one. Second, it is surely a good thing that the money and attention come to science rather than go elsewhere. It is fair to criticize and question the mechanism—that is the culture of research, after all—but it is the prize-givers’ money to do with as they please. It is wise to take such gifts with gratitude and grace.
1. The Fundamental Physical Prize is seen as ________.
2. The critics think that the new awards will most benefit ________.
3. The discovery of the Higgs boson is a typical case which involves ________.
4. According to Paragraph 4, which of the following is true of the Nobels?
5. The author believes that the new awards are ________.
问题1选项
A.a symbol of the entrepreneurs’ wealth
B.a possible replacement of the Nobel Prize
C.an example of bankers’ investment
D.a handsome reward for researchers
问题2选项
A.the profit-oriented scientists
B.the founders of the new award
C.the achievement-based system
D.peer-review-led research
问题3选项
A.controversies over the recipients’ status
B.the joint effort of modern researchers
C.legitimate concerns over the new prize
D.the demonstration of research findings
问题4选项
A.Their endurance has done justice to them.
B.Their legitimacy has long been in dispute.
C.They are the most representative honor.
D.History has never cast doubt on them.
问题5选项
A.acceptable despite the criticism
B.harmful to the culture of research
C.subject to undesirable changes
D.unworthy of public attention
第1题:D
第2题:B
第3题:B
第4题:A
第5题:A
第1题:
【整体分析】
来源:Nature《自然》于2013年6月12日刊登的文章Young Upstarts(年轻的新贵)。
主题:本文主要探讨了近年来新设立的科学奖项,它们由富有的互联网企业家资助,旨在吸引人们对科学领域成功者的兴趣。然而,这些新奖项也受到了一些科学家的批评,认为它们可能扭曲以学术成就为基础、以同行评议为导向的研究体系。文章还指出,尽管有些科学家可能会抱怨这些新奖项,但大多数研究人员仍会接受这样的奖项,而且这笔钱和关注都投入到科学领域是一件好事。
结构:

【试题解析】
【选项释义】
The Fundamental Physical Prize is seen as ________. 基础物理学奖被看作是________。
A. a symbol of the entrepreneurs’ wealth A. 企业家财富的象征
B. a possible replacement of the Nobel Prize B. 诺贝尔奖的一个可能的替代品
C. an example of bankers’ investment C. 银行家投资的一个例子
D. a handsome reward for researchers D. 对研究人员的丰厚奖励
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词The Fundamental Physical Prize可以定位到文章第一段第一句“美国300万美元的基础物理学奖(The US $3-million Fundamental Physics Prize)”和第三句“近年来,在诺贝尔奖之外,一系列对研究人员的丰厚奖项(a string of lucrative awards for researchers)增加了”,说明基础物理学奖是对研究人员的丰厚奖励,因此D选项“对研究人员的丰厚奖励”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“企业家财富的象征”,由they want to use their wealth to draw attention to those who have succeeded in science(他们希望用自己的财富来引起人们对科学领域成功者的关注)可知,企业家的目的是引起人们对科学领域成功者的关注,而不是标榜自己的财富,属于曲解原文;
B选项“诺贝尔奖的一个可能的替代品”,由a string of lucrative awards for researchers have joined the Nobel Prizes in recent years(近年来,在诺贝尔奖之外,一系列对研究人员的丰厚奖项增加了)可知,文章只是说除了诺贝尔奖之外的其他奖项增加,并不代表这些奖项能替代诺贝尔奖,属于过度推断;
C选项“银行家投资的一个例子”在文中没有提及,属于无中生有。
第2题:
【选项释义】
The critics think that the new awards will most benefit ________. 评论家认为,新奖项将使________受益最多。
A. the profit-oriented scientists A. 以盈利为目的的科学家
B. the founders of the new award B. 新奖项的创办者
C. the achievement-based system C. 基于学术成就的体系
D. peer-review-led research D. 以同行评议为导向的研究
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词the new awards可以定位到文章第二段第四句“科学家们说,这些新奖项是那些背后设立者自我推销的一种行为(an exercise in self-promotion for those behind them)”,说明新奖项能让背后的设立者实现自我推销,因此B选项“新奖项的创办者”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“以盈利为目的的科学家”在文中没有提及,属于无中生有;
C选项“基于学术成就的体系”和D选项“以同行评议为导向的研究”,由They could cement the status quo of peer-reviewed research. They do not fund peer-reviewed research.(它们可能扭曲以学术成就为基础、以同行评议为导向的研究体系。)可知,新奖项对以学术成就为基础、以同行评议为导向的研究体系没有好处,属于反向干扰。
第3题:
【选项释义】
The discovery of the Higgs boson is a typical case which involves ________. 希格斯玻色子的发现是一个典型的案例,它涉及________。
A. controversies over the recipients’ status A. 对获奖者地位的争议
B. the joint effort of modern researchers B. 现代研究人员的共同努力
C. legitimate concerns over the new prize C. 对新奖项的合理担忧
D. the demonstration of research findings D. 研究成果的展示
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词Higgs boson可以定位到文章第四段第三句“但是诺贝尔基金会规定每个奖项最多只能有三名获奖者,而且每个人都必须在世,这一限制早已不适用现代研究的协作性(the collaborative nature of modern research)——这一点会在认定希格斯玻色子的发现时得到证明,因为届时不可避免地会出现谁被忽略了的争议(the inevitable row over who is ignored)”,说明希格斯玻色子的发现体现了现代研究的协作性。因此B选项“现代研究人员的共同努力”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“对获奖者地位的争议”和D选项“研究成果的展示”在文中没有提及,属于无中生有;
C选项“对新奖项的合理担忧”,由has long been outgrown by the collaborative nature of modern research—as will be demonstrated by the inevitable row over who is ignored when it comes to acknowledging the discovery of the Higgs boson(这一限制早已不适用现代研究的协作性——这一点会在认定希格斯玻色子的发现时得到证明,因为届时不可避免地会出现谁被忽略了的争议)可知,希格斯玻色子的发现体现的是诺贝尔奖的局限性,而不是新奖项,属于曲解原文。
第4题:
【选项释义】
According to Paragraph 4, which of the following is true of the Nobels? 根据第4段,以下哪项是诺贝尔奖的真实情况?
A. Their endurance has done justice to them. A. 它们的持续存在证明了它们的合理性。
B. Their legitimacy has long been in dispute. B. 它们的合理性长期以来一直存在争议。
C. They are the most representative honor. C. 它们是最具代表性的荣誉。
D. History has never cast doubt on them. D. 历史从未对它们产生过怀疑。
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词Paragraph 4可以定位到文章第四段第五句“赋予诺贝尔奖项合理性(has given them legitimacy)的是时间(Time),而不是目的”,说明诺贝尔奖的长时间存在赋予了它们合理性。因此A选项“它们的持续存在证明了它们的合理性。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
B选项“它们的合理性长期以来一直存在争议。”,C选项“它们是最具代表性的荣誉。”和D选项“历史从未对它们产生过怀疑。”在文中均无法体现,属于无中生有。
第5题:
【选项释义】
The author believes that the new awards are ________. 作者认为,新奖项________。
A. acceptable despite the criticism A. 尽管受到批评,但可以接受
B. harmful to the culture of research B. 对研究文化有害
C. subject to undesirable changes C. 受制于不理想的变化
D. unworthy of public attention D. 不值得公众关注
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词The author believes可以定位到文章第五段倒数第一、二句“批评和质疑这种机制是合理的(It is fair to criticize and question the mechanism)——毕竟这就是科研文化——但这是颁奖者的钱,他们可以随心所欲地使用。明智的做法是带着感激和风度接受这样的礼物(It is wise to take such gifts with gratitude and grace)”,说明作者认为新奖项虽然受到批评,但还是可以接受,因此A选项“尽管受到批评,但可以接受”正确。
【干扰项排除】
B选项“对研究文化有害”,C选项“受制于不理想的变化”和D选项“不值得公众关注”在文中均无法体现,属于无中生有。
【重点词汇】
lucrative /ˈluːkrətɪv/ adj. 获利丰厚的
entrepreneur /ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː/ n. 企业家
benefactor /ˈbenɪfæktə/ n. 恩人;捐助者
prestige /preˈstiːʒ/ n. 声望;威信
upstart /ˈʌpstɑːt/ n. 暴发户;新贵
perpetuate /pəˈpɛtjʊeɪt/ v. 使永存;使持续
scattered /ˈskætəd/ adj. 分散的;散乱的
unrepresentative /ˌʌnrɛprɪˈzɛntətɪv/ adj. 不具代表性的
collaborative /kəˈlæb(ə)rətɪv/ adj. 合作的;协作的
legitimacy /lɛdʒɪˈtɪməsi/ n. 合法性;正当性
complain /kəmˈpleɪn/ v. 抱怨;诉苦
mechanism /ˈmɛkənɪz(ə)m/ n. 机制;机械装置
gratitude /ˈɡratɪtjuːd/ n. 感激之情;感谢
self-promotion 自我推销;自我宣传
peer-review-led 由同行评审主导的
achievement-based 基于成就的
【长难句分析】
1. The Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, launched this year, takes an unrepresentative view of what the life sciences include.
【结构分析】

【补充分析】
① launched this year是过去分词作后置定语,修饰The Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences,说明该奖项是今年设立的;
② what引导宾语从句,作介词of的宾语,表明该奖项的界定并不代表生命科学所包含的内容。
【参考译文】今年设立的生命科学突破奖对生命科学包含内容的界定就不具有代表性。
2. The Nobels were, of course, themselves set up by a very rich individual who had decided what he wanted to do with his own money.
【结构分析】

【补充分析】
① themselves是一个反身代词,表示“它们本身”,用来强调主语“诺贝尔奖”;
② who引导定语从句,修饰a very rich individual,表明这个人已经做出了决定;
③ what引导宾语从句,作had decided的宾语,表明他已经决定的内容是用自己的钱做什么。
【参考译文】当然,诺贝尔奖本身就是由一位非常富有的人设立的,他决定了如何使用自己的钱。
【全文翻译】
美国300万美元的基础物理学奖确实是一个有趣的实验,正如今年3月获奖者亚历山大•波利亚科夫所说,而且它远不是唯一的。正如《自然》杂志中的一篇新闻专题文章所讨论的那样,近年来,在诺贝尔奖之外,一系列对研究人员的丰厚奖项增加了。许多奖项,如基础物理学奖,都是由互联网企业家如电话号码般的巨额银行账户资助的。这些捐助者在他们从事的领域取得了成功,他们说,他们希望用自己的财富来引起人们对科学领域成功者的关注。
有什么不好的呢?根据新闻专题中引用的少数几位科学家的话,不好的理由相当多。正如老话所说,金钱买不到地位,这些新贵企业家也不能为他们的奖项买到诺贝尔奖的声望。科学家们说,这些新奖项是那些背后设立者自我推销的一种行为。它们可能扭曲以学术成就为基础、以同行评议为导向的研究体系。它们可能会让同行评议研究的现状停滞不前。它们不资助同行评议研究。它们延续了孤独天才的神话。
颁奖者的目标似乎和批评一样各不相同。有些人想要震撼世人,有些人想要吸引人们进入科学领域,或者更好地奖励那些在研究领域中有所建树的人。
正如《自然》杂志以前指出的那样,关于科学奖项(新旧皆然)的分配方式,存在一些合理的担忧。今年设立的生命科学突破奖对生命科学包含内容的界定就不具有代表性。但是诺贝尔基金会规定每个奖项最多只能有三名获奖者,而且每个人都必须在世,这一限制早已不适用现代研究的协作性——这一点会在认定希格斯玻色子的发现时得到证明,因为届时不可避免地会出现谁被忽略了的争议。当然,诺贝尔奖本身就是由一位非常富有的人设立的,他决定了如何使用自己的钱。赋予诺贝尔奖项合理性的是时间,而不是目的。
尽管有些科学家可能会抱怨这些新奖项,但有两点似乎很清楚。首先,如果被颁发了这样的奖项,大多数研究人员都会接受。其次,这笔钱和关注都投入到科学领域而不是流向其他地方,这无疑是一件好事。批评和质疑这种机制是合理的——毕竟这就是科研文化——但这是颁奖者的钱,他们可以随心所欲地使用。明智的做法是带着感激和风度接受这样的礼物。