Looking back on my childhood. I am convinced that naturalists are born and not made. Although we were brought up in the same way, my brothers and sisters soon abandoned their pressed flowers and insects. Unlike them, I had no ear for music and languages. I was not an early reader and I could not do mental arithmetic.
Before Word War I we spent our summer holidays in Hungary. I have only the dim memory of the house we lived in, of my room and my toys. Nor do I recall clearly the large family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who gathered next door. But I do have a crystal clear memory of dogs, the farm animals, the local birds and above all, the insects.
I am a naturalist, not a scientist. I have a strong love of the natural world, and my enthusiasm has led me into varied investigations. I love discussing my favorite topics and enjoy burning the midnight oil reading about other people’s observations and discoveries. Then something happens that brings these observations together in my conscious mind. Suddenly you fancy you see the answer to the riddle. Because it all seems to fit together .This has resulted in my publishing 300 papers and books. Which some may light honor, with the title of scientific research.
But curiosity a keen eye, a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant world do not make a scientist? One of the outstanding and essential qualities required is self-discipline, a quality I lack. A scientist can be made a naturalist. If you can bine the two, you get the best of both worlds.
【小题1】According to the author, a born naturalist should first of all be A．full of ambitionB．self-disciplinedC．full of enthusiasmD．knowledgeable【小题2】The first paragraph tells us that the author A．lost his hearing when he was a childB．didn’t like his brothers and sistersC．was interested in flowers and insects in his childhoodD．was born to a naturalist’s family【小题3】The author says that he is a naturalist rather than a scientist probably because he thinks he .A．just rends about other peoples observations and discoveries.B．Lacks some of the qualities required of scientist. C．Has a great deal of trouble doing mental arithmetic.D．Come up with solutions in most natural ways.【小题4】The author can’t remember him relatives clearly because A．He didn’t live very long with themB．He was too young when he lived with them. C．The family was extremely largeD．He was fully occupied with observing nature.【小题5】Which of the following statements is true? A．The author believes that a born naturalist can not be scientist. B．The author read a lot of books about the natural world and oil industry C．The author’s brothers and sisters were good at music and languages.D．The author spent a lot of time working on riddles.C
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(答案→)C
解析：文章大意：作者认为自然主义者是天生的，不是后天造就的。而一个科学家应具备自我约束、刻苦训练，坚定的信念和明确的目标，从作者童年的经历和后来的成长，作者认为自己是天然主义者不是科学家。
【小题1】细节题：作者认为一个科学家应具备自我约束、刻苦训练，坚定的信念和明确的目标，而他自认为不具备B项中的 self-disciplined ，从第三段，第一、二两句I am a naturalist, not a scientist. I have a strong love of the natural world, and my enthusiasm has led me into varied investigations.中我们得知答案为 C项。
【小题2】推理题：第一段中的 convinced that naturalists are born and not made.告诉我们自然主义者是天生的，不是后天造就的。他的姐妹兄弟对于花、虫等不感兴趣，但作者 unlike them.所以作者在童年对花草是感兴趣的，答案为C项。
【小题3】细节题：最后一段中，One of the outstanding and essential qualities required is self-discipline, a quality I lack.作者明白自己缺少科学家的素质，因为一个科学家的基本素质就是“self-discipline”可知选B
【小题4】细节题：第二段作者回忆了在农场度过的日子，那里的狗、鸟、动物至今仍历历在目，但对那里的亲戚、房子、玩具已记不住了，可见他从小就被自然吸引住了。答案为 D项。
【小题5】推理题：从第一段的句子：my brothers and sisters soon abandoned their pressed flowers and insects. Unlike them, I had no ear for music and languages.可知作者不象他的兄弟姐妹，他不喜欢音乐和语言，也就是作者的兄弟姐妹是擅长音乐和语言的，选C