unit8knowledgeandwisdom练习答案综合教程三

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Unit 8 Knowledge and Wisdom

Key to the Exercises

Text comprehension

I. Decide which of the following best states the author's argument.

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II. Judge, according to the text, whether the following statements are true or false. >

1. F (Refer to Paragraph

2. The study of the composition of atoms, or the development of the atom bomb, for example, has placed in the hands of powerful lunatics the means to destroy the human race.)

2. T (Refer to Paragraph 2. This has become more difficult than it used to be owing to the extent and complexity of the specialized knowledge required of various kinds of technicians.)

3. T (Refer to Paragraph 3. Although he had a comprehensive knowledge of history, he was still partial as the chief lesson of history which he sought to inculcate was that from the year 400AD down to his own time Germany had been the most important nation and the standard-bearer of progress in the world.)

4. F (Refer to Paragraph 4. It is true that both Mr. A and Mr. B possess some vices of their respective kinds, but the fact does not prove that they are wise or unwise.)

5. F (Refer to paragraph 5. The mistake lies in the extremity of the statement. According to Russell, man cannot free himself entirely from the physical and emotional need, so one can only grow in wisdom, which itself is a matter of degree.)

III. Answer the following questions.

1. Refer to Paragraph

2. A sense of proportion could be seen as the ability to take into full consideration all important factors in an issue and attach due weight to each factor.

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2. Refer to Paragraphs 1 and 2. In the first place, they are examples of the idea raised at the very beginning of the text: "although our age far surpasses all previous ages in knowledge, there has been no correlative increase in wisdom." The problem, according to the essay, is partly due to the fact that it is now more difficult to acquire a sense of proportion, or the ability to assign appropriate weights to various factors, thus achieving balance. In consequence, breakthroughs in science are likely to bring about harms if humankind fails to see the end of science and

consider everything in a comprehensive manner.

3. Refer to Paragraphs 1 to

4. According to Russell, the vices of the lack of wisdom are obvious and palpable, ranging from disturbance to public life, most notably the upset of world peace, to unpleasant incidents in private life. Meanwhile, there seems to be an imbalance in the growth of knowledge and wisdom, which is very likely to make things even worse. So, wisdom is necessary for both personal and cultural developments.

4. Refer to Paragraph

5. According to Russell, the essence of wisdom is impartiality, or emancipation from egoistic or temporal concerns. It is naturally difficult for man to attain impartiality, as man is naturally bound up by his own physical states from his birth. As he grows up, however, his horizon widens, his concerns get beyond the limits of time and space, and his feelings become more impersonal, hence the growth of impartiality and wisdom.

5. Apart from the fact that it is one of the ingredients of wisdom, impartiality is also the basis of rationality, for irrationality is normally based on partiality.

IV. Explain in your own words the following sentences.

1. It would be unwise to pursue a goal that is bound to fail, although it might be noble to do so.

2. I think the essence of wisdom is to get one's horizon free from the confinement of time and space.

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Structural analysis of the text

Paragraph 2: Of these I should put first a sense of proportion: the capacity to take account of all the important factors in a problem and to attach to each its due weight. Paragraph 3: There must be, also, a certain awareness of the ends of human life. Paragraph 4: It is needed in the choice of ends to be pursued and in emancipation from personal prejudice.

Paragraph 5: I think the essence of wisdom is emancipation, as far as possible, from the tyranny of the here and now.

Four factors that constitute wisdom: comprehensiveness mixed with a sense of proportion; a full awareness of the goals of human life; avoidance of blindness and prejudice in private life; impartiality.

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Rhetorical features of the text

The capacity to take account of all the important factors in a problem and to attach to each its due weight. (Paragraph 2)