In a sense the university has failed. It has stored great quantities of knowledge; it teaches more people; and despite its failu

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问题     In a sense the university has failed. It has stored great quantities of knowledge; it teaches more people; and despite its failures, it teaches them better. It is in the application of this knowledge that the failure has come. Of the great branches of knowledge—he sciences, the social sciences and humanities—he sciences are applied. Strenuous and occasionally successful efforts are made to apply the social sciences, but almost never are the humanities well applied. We do not use philosophy in defining our conduct. We do not use literature as a source of real and vicarious (通过他人而间接获得的) experience. The great task of the university in the next generation is to learn to use the knowledge we have for the questions that come before us. The university should organize courses around primary problems. The difference between a primary problem and a secondary or even tertiary (第三级即高等教育的) problem is that primary problems tend to be around for a long time, whereas the less important ones get solved.
     One primary problem is that of interfering with biological development. The next generation, and perhaps this one, will be able to interfere chemically with the actual development of an individual and perhaps biologically by interfering with an individual’s genes. Obviously, there are benefits both to individuals and to society from eliminating, or at least improving mentally and physically deformed persons. On the other hand, there could be very serious consequences if this knowledge were used with premeditation to produce superior and subordinate classes, each genetically prepared to carry out a predetermined mission. This can be done, but what happens to free will and the rights of the individual? Here we have a primary problem that will still exist when we are all dead. Of course, the traditional faculty members would say, "But the students won’t learn enough to go to graduate school." And certainly they would not learn everything we are in the habit of making them learn, but they would learn some other things.
In this passage, what does the author mention as an example of the possible misuse of scientific knowledge with serious consequences?

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答案Interfering with individuals’ genes to produce superior and subordinate classes.

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