2010年12月六级真题答案解析

2010年12月18日英语六级考试真题word大学英语六级考试COLLEGEENGLISHTEST—BandSix—(6YSH1)试题册注意事项一、将自己的校名、姓名、准考证号写在答题卡1和答题卡2上。二、试题册、答题卡1和答题卡2均不得带出考场。考试结束，监考员收卷后考生才可离开。三、仔细读懂题目的说明。四、在30分钟内做完答题卡1上的作文题。30分钟后，考生按指令启封试题册，在接着的15分钟内完成快速阅读理解部分的试题。然后监考员收取答题卡1，考生在答题卡2上完成其余部分的试题。全部答题时间为125分钟，不得拖延时间。五、考生必须在答题卡上作答，凡是写在试题册上的答案一律无效。六、多项选择题每题只能选一个答案 ;如多选，则该题无分。选定答案后，用 HB-2B浓度的铅笔在相应字母的中部划一条横线。正确方法是：[A][B][C][D]使用其他符号答题者不给分。划线要有一定粗度，浓度要盖过字母底色。七、如果要改动答案，必须先用橡皮擦净原来选定的答案，然后再按规定重新答题。八、在考试过程中要注意对自己的答案保密。若被他人抄袭，一经发现，后果自负。全国大学英语四、六级考试委员会PartIWriting(30minutes)注意：此部分试题在答题卡1上目前高校排名相当盛行对于这种做法，人们看法不一我认为 Partn ReadingComprehension(SkimmingandScanning)(15minutes)Directions:Inthispart,youwillhave15minutes togooverthepassagequicklyandanswerthequestionsonAnswerSheet1.Forquestions1-7,choosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).Forquestions8-10,completethesentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.IntotheUnknownTheworldhasneverseenpopulationageingbefore.Canitcope?Untiltheearly1990snobodymuchthoughtaboutwholepopulationsgettingolder.TheUNhadtheforesighttoconvenea —worldassemblyonageingIIbackin1982,butthatcameandwent.By1991,heWorldBankhadnoticedthatsomethingbigwashappening.Inareportentered —AvertingtheOldAgeCr，isisItarguedtIhatpensionarrangementsinmostcountrieswereunsustainable.Forthenexttenyearsasuccessionofbooks,mainlybyAmericans,soundedthealarm.TheyhadtitleslikeYoungvsold,GrayDawnandTheComingGenerationalStorm,andtheirmessagewasblunt:health-caresystemswereheadingfortherocks,pensionersweretakingyoungpeopletothecleaners,andsoontherewouldbeintergenerationalwarfare.Sincethenthedebatehasbecomelessemotional,notleastbecausealotmoreisknownaboutthesubject.Books,conferencesandresearchpapershavemultiplied.InternationalorganizationssuchastheOECDandtheEUissueregularreports.Populationageingisoneveryagenda,fromG8economicconferencestoNATOsummits,TheWorldEconomicForumPlanstoconsiderthefutureofpensionsandhealthcareatitsprestigiousDavosconferenceearlynextyear.Themedia,includingthisnewspaper,aregivingthesubjectextensivecoverage.Whetherallthatattritionhastranslatedintosufficientactionisanotherquestion.Governmentsinrichcountriesnowacceptthattheirpensionandhealth-carepromiseswillsoonbecomeunaffordable,andmanyofthemhaveembarkedonreforms,butsofaronlytimidly.Thatisnotsurprising:politicianswithaneyeonthenextelectionwillhardlyrushtointroduceunpopularmeasuresthatmaynotbearfruitforyears,perhapsdecades.Theoutlineofthechangesneededisclear.Toavoidfiscal（财政的）meltdown,publicpensionsandhealth-careprovisionwillhavetobereinedbackseverelyandtaxesmayhavetogoup-Byfarthemosteffectivemethodtorestrainpensionspendingistogivepeopletheopportunitytoworklonger,becauseitincreasestaxrevenuesandreducesspendingonpensionsatthesametime.Itmayovenkeepthemalivelonger.JohnRother,theAARP'sheadofpolicyandstrategy,pointstostudiesshowingthatotherthingsbeingequal,peoplewhoremainatworkhavelowerdeathratesthantheirretiredpeers.Youngerpeopletodaymostlyacceptthattheywillhavetoworkforlongerandthattheirpensionswillbelessgenerous.Employersstillneedtobepersuadedthatolderworkersareworthholdingonto.Thatmaybebecausetheyhavehadplentyofyoungeronestochoosefrom,partlythankstothepost-warbaby-boomandpartlybecauseoverthepastfewdecadesmanymorewomenhaveenteredthelabourforce,increasingemployers'choice.Butthereservoirofwomenableandwillingtotakeuppaidwordisrunninglow,andthebaby-boomersaregoinggrey.Inmanycountriesimmigrantshavebeentillingsuchgapsinthelabourforceashavealreadyemerged（andrememberthattherealshortageisstillaroundtenyearsoff）.Immigrationinthedevelopedworldisthehighestithaseverbeen,anditismakingausefuldifference.Instill-fertileAmericaitcurrentlyaccountsforabout40%oftotalpopulationgrowth,andinfast-ageingwesternEuropeforabout90%.Onthefaceofit,itseemstheperfectsolution.Manydevelopingcountrieshavelotsofyoungpeopleinneedhelping.Handsthatwillboosttaxrevenuesandkeepupeconomicgrowth.Butoverthenextfewdecadeslabourforcesinrichcountriesaresettoshrinksomuchthatinflowsofimmigrantswouldhavetoincreaseenormouslytocompensate:toatleasttwicetheircurrentsizeinwesternEurope'softhefewimmigrantsithasatpresent.PublicopinionpollsshowthatpeopleinmostrichcountriesalreadythinkthatImmigrationistoohigh.Furtherbigincreaseswouldbepoliticallyunfeasible.Totackletheproblemofageingpopulationsatitsroot, ——oldIIcountrieswouldhavetorejuvenate（使年轻）themselvesbyhavingmoreoftheirownchildren.Anumberofthemhavetried,somemoresuccessfullythanothers.Butitisnotasimplematterofoff eringfinancialincentivesorprovidingmorechildcare.Modernurbanlifeinrichcountriesisnotwelladaptedtolargefamilies.Womenfindithardtocombinefamilyandcareer.Theyoftencompromisebyhavingjustonechild.Andiffertilityinageingcountriesdoesnotpickup?Itwillnotbetheendoftheworld,atleastnotforquiteawhileyet,buttheworldwillslowlybecomeadifferentplace.Oldersocietiesmaybelessinnovativeandmorestronglydisinclinedtotakerisksthanyoungerones.By2025atthelatest,abouthalfthevotersinAmericaandmostofthoseinwesternEuropeancountrieswillbeover50—andolderpeopleturnouttovoteinmuchgreaternumberthanyoungerones.Academicstudieshavefoundnoevidencesofarthatoldervotershaveusedtheirpowerattheballotboxtopushforpoliciesthatspecificallybenefitthem,thoughifinfuturetherearemanymoreofthemtheymightstartdoingso.Noristhereanysignoftheintergenerationalwarfarepredictedinthe1990s.Afterall,olderpeoplethemselvesmostlyhavefamilies.Inarecentstudyofparentsandgrown-upchildrenin11Europeancountries,KarstenHankofMannheimUniversityfoundthat85ofthemlivedwithin25kmofeachotherandthemajorityofthemwereintouchatleastonceaweek.Evenso,theshiftinthecentreofgravitytoolderagegroupsisboundtohaveaprofoundeffectonsocieties,notjusteconomicallyandpoliticallybutinallsortsofotherwaystoo,RichardJacksonandNeilHoweofAmerica 'sCSIS,inathoughtofuklcbaolledtheGrayingoftheGreatpowers,arguethat,amongotherthings,theageingofthedevelopedcountrieswillhaveanumberofserioussecurityimplications.Forexample,theshortageofyoungadultsiflikelytomakecountriesmorereluctanttocommitthefewtheyhavetomilitaryservice.Inthedecadesto2050,Americawillfinditselfplayinganever-increasingroleinthedevelopedworld'sdefenceeffort.BecauseAmerica'spopulationwillstillbegrowingwhenthatofmostotherdevelopedcountriesisshrinking,Americawillbetheonlydevelopedcountrythatstillmattersgeopolitically(地缘政治上).Askmein2020Thereislittlethatcanbedonetostoppopulationageing,sotheworldwillhavetolivewithit.Butsomeoftheconsequencescanbealleviated.Manyexpertsnowbelievethatgiventherightpolicies,theeffects,thoughgrave,neednotbecatastrophicMostcountrieshaverecognizedtheneedtodosomethingandarebeginningtoact.Buteventhenthereisnoguaranteethattheireffortswillwork.Whatishappeningnowishistoricallyunprecedented.RonaldLee,directoroftheCentreontheEconomicsandDemographyofAgeingattheUniversityofCalifornia.Berkeley,putsisbrieflyandclearly:―Wedonre'alltyknowwhatpopulationageingwillbelike,becausenobodyhasdoneityet.IIInits1994report,theWorldBankarguedthatthecurrentpensionsysteminmostcountriescould .notbesustainedinthelongtermfurtheracceleratetheageingprocesshardlyhaltthegrowthofpopulationhelptideoverthecurrentageingcrisisWhatmessageisconveyedinbookslikeyoungvsold?Thegenerationgapisboundtonarrow.Intergenerationalconflictswillintensify.Theyoungergenerationwillbeattheold.Oldpeopleshouldgivewaytotheyoung.Onereasonwhypensionandhealthcarereformsareslowincomingisthat.nobodyiswillingtosacrificetheirownintereststotackletheproblemmostpeopleareagainstmeasuresthatwillnotbearfruitimmediatelytheproposedreformswillaffecttoomanypeople 'sinterestspoliticiansareafraidoflosingvotesinthenextelectionTheauthorbelievesthemosteffectivemethodtosolvethepensioncrisisisto.allowpeopletoworklongerB)increasetaxrevenuesC)cutbackonhealthcareprovisionsD)startreformsrightawayThereasonwhyemployyearsareunwillingtokeepolderworkersisthat .theyaregenerallydifficulttomanagethelongertheywork,thehighertheirpensiontheirpayishigherthanthatofyoungeronesyoungerworkersarereadilyavailableTocompensateforthefast-shrinkinglabourforce,Japanwouldneed .toreviseitscurrentpopulationcontrolpolicylargenumbersofimmigrantsfromoverseastoautomateitsmanufacturingandserviceindustriesD)apoliticallyfeasiblepolicyconcerningpopulationWhydomanywomeninrichcountriescompromisebyhavingonlyonechild?Smallfamiliesarebecomingmorefashionable.Theyfindithardtobalancecareerandfamily.Itistooexpensivetosupportalargefamily.Childcareistoobigaproblemforthem.Comparedwithyoungerones,oldersocietiesarelessinclinedto .Thepredictedintergenerationalwarfareisunlikelybecausemostoftheolderpeoplethemselves.Countriesthathaveashortageofyoungadultswillbelesswillingtocommitthemto.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。A)TheA)Repairitandmovein.B)Passitontohisgrandson.C)Convertitintoahotel.D)Sellitforagoodprice.Questions19to21arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.A)Uniquedescriptiveskills.B)Goodknowledgeofreaders 'tastes.C)Colourfulworldexperiences.D)Carefulplottingandclueing.A)Apeacefulsetting.B)Aspaciousroom.C)Tobeintherightmood.D)Tobeentirelyalone.A)Theyrelyheavilyontheirownimagination.Theyhaveexperiencessimilartothecharacters.Theylookattheworldinadetachedmanner.Theyareoverwhelmedbytheirownprejudices.Questions22to25arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.A)Goodorbad,theyaretheretostay .B)Likeitornot,youhavetousethem.C)Believeitornot,theyhavesurvived.D)Gainorlosetheyshouldbemodernized.A)Thefrequenttraindelays.B)Thehightrainticketfares.C)Thefoodsoldonthetrains.D)ThemonopolyofBritishRailways.A)Thelowefficiencyoftheiroperation.Competitionfromothermodesoftransport.Constantcomplaintsfrompassengers.Thepassingofthenewtransportact.A)Theywillbede-nationalised.B)Theyprovideworseservice.C)Theyarefastdisappearing.D)Theylosealotofmoney.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillhear3shortpassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearsomequestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。PassageOneQuestions26to29arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.A)ThewholeAntarcticregionwillbesubmerged.Somepolaranimalswillsoonbecomeextinct.Manycoastalcitieswillbecoveredwithwater.D)Theearthwillexperienceextremeweathers.A)Howhumansaretocopewithglobalwarming.HowunstabletheWestAntarcticicesheetis.Howvulnerablethecoastalcitiesare.D)Howpolariceimpactsglobalweather.A)Itcollapsedatleastonceinthepast1.3millionyears.Itsitsfirmlyonsolidrockatthebottomoftheocean.Itmeltedattemperaturesabithigherthanthoseoftoday .D)Itwillhavelittleimpactonsealevelwhenitbreaksup.A)TheWestAntarcticregionwasonceanopenocean.TheWestAntarcticicesheetwasabout7,000feetthick.TheWestAntarcticicesheetwasoncefloatingice.D)TheWestAntarcticregionusedtobewarmerthantoday .PassageTwoQuestions30to32arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.A)WhetherwecandevelopsocialtiesontheInternet.Whetheradeletedphotoisimmediatelyremovedfromtheweb.Whetherourblogscanbereneweddaily.D)Whetherwecansetupourownwebsites.A)Thenumberofvisitstheyreceive.B)Thewaytheystoredata.C)Thefilestheyhavecollected.D)Themeanstheyusetogetinformation.A)Whenthesystemisdown.B)Whennewlinksaresetup.C)WhentheURLisreused.D)Whentheserverisrestarted.PassageThreeQuestions33to35arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.A)Someicedcoffeeshaveasmanycaloriesasahotdinner.Icedcoffeessoldbysomepopularchainsarecontaminated.Drinkingcoffeeafteramealismorelikelytocauseobesity.Somebrand-namecoffeescontainharmfulsubstances.A)Havesomefreshfruit.B)Exerciseatthegym.C)Takeahotshower.D)Eatahotdinner.A)Theycouldenjoyahappierfamilylife.B)Theycouldgreatlyimprovetheirworkefficiency.C)Manycancercasescouldbeprevented.D)Manyembarrassingsituationscouldbeavoided.SectionCDirections:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagesthreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom36to43withtheexactwordsyouhavejustheard.Forblanksnumberedfrom44to46youarerequiredtofillinthemissinginformation.Fortheseblanks,youcaneitherusetheexactwordsyouhavejustheardorwritedownthemainpointsinyourownwords.Finally,whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。Psychologistsarefindingthathopeplaysasurprisinglyvitalroleingivingpeopleameasurableadvantageinrealmsas(36)asacademicachievement,bearingupintoughjobsandcopingwith(37)illness.And,bycontrast,thelossofhopeisturningouttobeastrongersignthatapersonmay(38)suicidethanotherfactorslongthoughttobemorelikelyrisks.—Hopehasprovenapowerfulpredictorof(39) ineverystudywe'vedonesofar,IIsaidDr.CharleR.Snyder,apsychologistwhohasdeviseda(40) toassesshowmuchhopeapersonhas.Forexample,inresearchwith3,920collegestudents,Dr.Snyderandhis(41)foundthatthelevelofhopeamongfreshmenatthebeginningoftheirfirstsemesterwasamore(42)predictoroftheircollegegradesthanweretheirS.A.T.scoresortheirgradepoint(43)inhighschool,thetwomeasuresmostcommonlyusedtopredictcollegeperformance.— IIDr.Snydersaid.—Whenyoucomparestudentsofequivalentintelligenceandpastacademicachievements,whatsetsthemapartishope. IIndevising awaytoassesshope scientifically, Dr.Snyder.—Thatnotionisnotconcreteenough,and it blurs two keycomponents ofhope,IDr. Snydersaid.―•HPartIVReadingComprehension(ReadinginDepth)(25minutes)SectionADirections:Inthissection.Thereisashortpassagewith5questionsorincompletestatements. Readthepassagecarefully.Theanswerthequestionsorcompletethestatementsinthefewestpossiblewords.PleasewriteyouranswersonAnswerSheet2.Questions47to51arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Mostyoungboysaretrainedtobelievethatmenshouldbestrong,tough,cool,anddetached.Thus,theylearnearlytohidevulnerableemotionssuchaslove,joy,andsadnessbecausetheybelievethatsuchfeelingsarefeminineandimplyweakness.Overtime,somemenbecomestrangerstotheirownemotionallives.Itseemsthatmen withtraditionalviewsofmasculinityaremorelikelytosuppressoutwardemotionsandtofearemotions,supposedlybecausesuchfeelingsmayleadtoalossofcomposure(镇定).Keepinmind,however,thatthisviewischallengedbysomeresearchers.Aswithmanygendergaps,differencesinemotionalitytendtobesmall,inconsistent,anddependentonthesituation.Forinstance,Robertsonandcolleaguesfoundthatmaleswho weremoretraditionallymasculineweremoreemotionallyexpressiveinastructuredexercisethanwhentheyweresimplyaskedtotalkabouttheiremotions.Males'difficultywith —tenderIIemotionshasseriousconsequences.First,suppressedemotionscancontributetostress-relateddisorders.Andworse,menarelesslikelythanwomentoseekhelpfromhealthprofessionals.Second,men'semotionalinexpressivenesscancauseproblemsintheirrelationshipswithpartnersandchildren.Forexample,menwhoendorsetraditionalmasculinenormsreportlowerrelationshipsatisfaction,asdotheirfemalepartners.Further,childrenwhosefathersarewarm,loving,andacceptingtowardthemhavehigherself-esteemandlowerratesofaggressionandbehaviorproblems.Onapositivenote,fathersareincreasinglyinvolvingthemselveswiththeirchildren.And30percentoffathersreportthattheytakeequalorgreaterresponsibilityfortheirchildrenthantheirworkingwivesdo.Oneemotionmalesareallowedtoexpressisanger,Sometimesthisangertranslatesintophysicalaggressionorviolence.Mencommitnearly90percentofviolentcrimesintheUnitedStatesandalmostallsexualassaults.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。TOC\o"1-5"\h\zMostyoungboyshavebeentrainedtobelievethatmenwhoshowtenderfeelingsareconsideredtobe .Somemenbelievethatiftheyexpressedtheiremotionsopenlytheymight .Accordingtotheauthor,menwhosuppresstheiremotionsmaydevelop .Menwhoobservetraditionalmasculinenormsaresaidderivelesssatisfactionfrom. .Whenmalesgetangry,theycanbecome orevencommitviolence.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillhear3shortpassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearsomequestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarkedA),B),C)andD).ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestion52to56arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Intheearly20thcentury,fewthingsweremoreappealingthanthepromiseofscientificknowledge.Inaworldstrugglingwithrapidindustrialization,scienceandtechnologyseemedtooffersolutionstoalmosteveryproblem.Newlycreatedstalecollegesanduniversitiesdevotedthemselvesalmostentirelytoscientific,technological,andengineeringfields.ManyAmericanscametobelievethatscientificcertaintycouldnotonlysolvescientificproblems,butalsoreformpolitics,government,andbusiness.TwoworldwarsandaGreatDepressionrockedtheconfidenceofmanypeoplethatscientificexpertisealonecouldcreateaprosperousandorderedworld.AfterWorldWarII,theacademicworldturnedwithnewenthusiasmtohumanisticstudies,whichseemedtomanyscholarsthebestwaytoensurethesurvivalofdemocracy.Americanscholarsfannedoutacrossmuchoftheworld-withsupportfromtheFordFoundation,theFulbrightprogram,etc.—topromotetheteachingofliteratureandtheartsinanefforttomakethecasefordemocraticfreedoms.IntheAmericaofourowntime,thegreateducationalchallengehasbecomeanefforttostrengthentheteachingofwhatisnowknownastheSTEMdisciplines(science,technology,engineering,andmath).ThereisconsiderableandjustifiedconcernthattheUnitedStatesisfallingbehindmuchoftherestofthedevelopedworldintheseessentialdisciplines.India,China,Japan,andotherregionsseemtobeseizingtechnologicalleadership.Atthesametime,perhapsinevitably,thehumanities—whilestillpopularinelitecollegesanduniversities—haveexperiencedasignificantdecline.Humanisticdisciplinesareseriouslyunderfunded,notjustbythegovernmentthefoundationsbutacademicinstitutionsthemselves.Humanistsareusuallyamongthelowest-paidfacultymembersatmostinstitutionsandareoftenlightlyregardedbecausetheydonotgenerategrantincomeandbecausetheyprovidenoobviouscredentials(资质)formostnonacademiccareers.UndoubtedlyAmericaneducationshouldtrainmorescientistsandengineers.MuchoftheconcernamongpoliticiansaboutthestateofAmericanuniversitiestodayisfocusedontheabseneeof—realworldbducation—whichmeanspreparationforprofessionalandscientificcareers.Buttheideathatinstitutionsortheirstudentsmustdecidebetweenhumanitiesandscienceisfalse.Oursocietycouldnotsurvivewithoutscientificandtechnologicalknowledge.Butwewouldbeequallyimpoverished(贫困的)withouthumanisticknowledgeaswell.Scienceandtechnologyteachuswhatwecando.Humanisticthinkinghelpsusunderstandwhatweshoulddo.Itisalmostimpossibletoimagineoursocietywithoutthinkingoftheextraordinaryachievementsofscientistsandengineersinbuildingourcomplicatedworld.Buttrytoimagineourworldaswellwithouttheremarkableworksthathavedefinedourcultureandvalues.Wehavealwaysneededandwestillneed,both.Intheearly20thcenturyAmericansbelievedscienceandtechnologycould .solvevirtuallyallexistingproblemsquickenthepaceofindustrializationhelpraisepeople 'slivingstandardspromotethenation'ssocialprogressWhydidmanAmericanscholarsbecomeenthusiasticabouthumanisticstudiesafterWorldWarII?Theywantedtoimprovetheirownstatuswithinthecurrenteducationsystem.Theybelievedthestabilityofasocietydependedheavilyonhumanisticstudies.Theycouldgetfinancialsupportfromvariousfoundationsforhumanisticstudies.Theyrealizedscienceandtechnologyalonewerenoguaranteeforabetterworld.WhyareAmericanscholarsworriedabouteducationtoday?TheSTEMsubjectsaretoochallengingforstudentstolearn.SomeAsiancountrieshaveovertakenAmericainbasicsciences.AmericaislaggingbehindintheSTEMdisciplines.Therearenotenoughscholarsinhumanisticstudies.Whataccountsforthesignificantdeclineinhumanisticstudiestoday?Insufficientfunding.Shrinkingenrollment.Shortageofdevotedfaculty.Dimprospectsforgraduates.Whydoestheauthorattachsomuchimportancetohumanisticstudies?Theypromotethedevelopmentofscienceandtechnology.Theyhelppreparestudentfortheirprofessionalcareers.Humanisticthinkinghelpsdefineourcultureandvalues.Humanisticthinkinghelpscultivatestudent 'screativity.PassageTwoQuestion57to61arebasedonthefollowingpassageWillthereeverbeanotherEinstein?ThisistheundercurrentofconversationatEinsteinmemorialmeetingsthroughouttheyear.AnewEinsteinwillemerge,scientists.say.Butitmaytakealongtime.Afterall.morethan200yearseparatedEinsteinfromhisnearestrival,IsaacNewton.ManyphysicistssaythenextEinsteinhasn 'tbeenbornyet,orisababynow.Thatbecausethequestforaunifiedtheorythatwouldaccountforalltheforcesofnaturehaspushedcurrentmathematicstoitslimits.Newmathmustbecreatedbeforetheproblemcanbesolved.ButresearcherssaytherearemanyotherfactorsworkingagainstEinsteinemerginganytimesoon.Foronethingphysicsisamuchdifferentfieldtoday.InEinstein ,the'reswdaeyreonlyafewthousandphysicistsworldwide,andthetheoreticianswhocouldintellectuallyrivalEinsteinprobablywouldfitinfoastreetcarwithseatstospare.Educationisdifferent,too.OnecrucialaspectofEinstein 'strainingthatisoverlookedistheyearsofphilosophyhereadasateenager -Kant,SchopenhauerandSpinoza.amongothers,Ittaughthimhowtothinkindependentlyandabstractlyaboutspaceandtime,anditwasn 'tlongbeforehebecameaphilosopherhimself.—Theindependencecreatedbyphilosophicalinsightis -nmaopinion—themarkofdistinction betweenamereartisan(工匠)orspecialistandarealseekeraftertruthIIEinsteinwrotein1944.Andhewasanaccomplishedmusician.Theinterplaybetweenmusicandmathiswellknown.Einsteinwouldfuriouslyplayhisviolinasawaytothinkthroughaknottyphysicsproblem.Today,universitieshaveproducedmillionsofphysicists.Therearen'tmanyjobsinscienceforthem,sotheygotowallStreetandSiliconValleytoapplytheiranalyticalskillstomorepractical—andrewarding—efforts.—MaybethereisanEinsteinouttheretoday IsaidColumbiaUniversityphysicistBrianGreene,—butitwouldbealotharderforhimtobeheard. IEspeciallyconsideringwhatEinsteinwasproposing.—Theactualfabricofspaceandtimecurving?MyGodwhatanidea! IGreenesaidatarecentgatheringattheAspenInstitute. —Ittakesacertaintypeofpersonwhowillbanghisheadagainstthewallbecauseyoubelieveyou 'llfindthesolution. IPerhapsthebestexamplesarethefivescientificpapersEinsteinwroteinhis —miracleyearIof1905.These—thoughtexperimentsIwerepagesofcalculationssignedandsubmittedtotheprestigiousjournalAnnalenderPhysikbyavirtualunknown.Therewerenofootnotesorcitations.Whatmighthappentosuchasubmissiontoday?—Weallgetpaperslikethoseinthemail, IGreenesaid.—Weputtheminthejunkfile. IWhatdoscientistsseemtoagreeupon,judgingfromthefirsttwoparagraphs?Einsteinpushedmathematicsalmosttoitslimits.ItwilltakeanotherEinsteintobuildaunifiedtheory.NophysicistislikelytosurpassEinsteininthenext200years.ItwillbesometimebeforeanewEinsteinemerges.WhatwascriticaltoEinstein'ssuccess?Histalentasanaccomplishedmusician.Hisindependentandabstractthinking.Hisuntiringefforttofulfillhispotential.Hissolidfoundationinmaththeory.Whatdoestheauthortellusaboutphysictoday?Theytendtoneglecttraininginanalyticalskills.Theyareverygoodatsolvingpracticalproblems.Theyattachgreatimportancetopublishingacademicpapers.Theyoftengointofieldsyieldinggreaterfinancialbenefits.WhatdoesBrianGreeneimplybysaying itwouldbealotharderforhimtobeheardI(Line2,Para.9)?Peoplehavetocompeteinordertogettheirpaperspublished.Itishardforascientisttohavehispaperspublishedtoday.PaperslikeEinstein'swouldunlikelygetpublishedtoday.Nobodywillrealpapersonapparentlyridiculous