B
Science isn’t something mysterious, only for the few. Every one of us—whether a poet, worker, or physicist has to be able to think scientifically, and to understand some science, such as whether to smoke, what to eat, and what protection to use. Even for decisions that don’t depend on some scientific facts, science remains the proven set of best methods for getting exact information about the world.
Some people will end up as policy-makers in government or business. People such as these make decisions that affect the life of everyone, and most of them know no more about science than does the rest of the general public. Yet they are called upon to decide what to do about nuclear reactors(核反应堆), global warming, environmental toxins(环境霉素), expensive space programs, and biomedical research. It’s nonscientists, not scientists, who have the last word on whether the milk we drink can safely come from cows treated with medicine. To make such decisions wisely, the decision makers have to be drawn from a scientifically educated public.
Even if science is irrelevant（不相干的） to the lives of ordinary Americans, a strong scientific spirit is basic to our economy, educational system, and society. This requires lots of young people to become excited enough by science that they decide to become professional scientists. This also requires, to some degree, the support and understanding of the general public.
Scientists are not always able to communicate their findings in an easy-to-understand manner. Although the scientists should do a better job of explaining what they have discovered, members of the general public have to make efforts to understand what is being said.
46．What does the author mean by saying that “a strong scientific spirit is basic to the economy, educational system and society”?
A．School and society should encourage young people to become professional scientists.
B．The school should only teach lessons of economy and education·
C．A scientifically educated public is basic to the economy，educational system and society.
D．More scientists work in our economy, educational system and society.
47．The general public is required to _______.
A．support and understand the need of scientific education
B．check what the scientists are saying
C．give help to the policy-makers
D．become professional scientists
48．The main idea of this passage is _________.
A．policy—makers must be science professionals
B．science is not far from everyone’s life
C．science has nothing to do with ordinary Americans
D．science professionals make decisions that affect the life of everyone
49．According to the passage, who can decide whether the milk we drink can safely come from
cows treated with medicine?
A．Scientists B．Young people C．The public D．Policy-makers