2009年职称英语等级考试理工C级模拟试题(一)

　　25、
　　Unpopular Subjects
　　Is there a place in today's society for the study of useless subjects in our universities? Just over 100 years ago Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Contraction Fame argued in well-written letter to Nature that "Universities must be allowed to study useless subjects -- if __1__ don't, who will?" He went on to use the example of Maxwell's electrodynamics as one case where a "useless subject" has been transformed to a __2__ subject.
　　Nowadays this argument is again very much active in many __3__. Indeed one suspects that it is one of those arguments that must be found anew by each generation. But now there is an __4__ twist -- subjects must not only be useful, they __5__ also be popular enough that students will flock to do them, and even flock to __6__ to do them.
　　As universities become commercial operations, the pressure to eliminate subjects or departments that are less popular will become __7__. Perhaps this is most acutely felt at the moment by physics. There has been much discussion in the press of universities that are __8__ physics departments and incorporate them with mathematics or engineering departments.
　　Many scientists think otherwise. They see physics as a __9__ science, which must be kept alive if only to provide a __10__ for other sciences and engineering. It is of their great personal concern that physics teaching and research is __11__ in many universities. How can it be preserved in the rush towards commercial __12__? A major turnaround in students popularity may have to wait __13__ the industrial world discovers that it needs physics and starts paying then well.
　　Physics is now not only unpopular; it is also "hard". We can do more about the latter by __14__ teaching in our schools and universities. We can also develop cooperative arraignments to ensure that physics __15__ their research and teaching up to date.
　　6. A order B collect C pay D change
　　7. A lighter and lighter B stronger and stronger
　　C larger and larger D smaller and smaller
　　8. A setting up B closing down C financing D upgrading
　　9. A profitable B reliable C fundamental D usable
　　10. A port B station C base D knowledge
　　标准答案： C,B,B,C,C