The season of "capital P" politics is upon us in the United States. To most scientists and engineers, the vapid debates and tawd

admin2015-03-25  35

问题     The season of "capital P" politics is upon us in the United States. To most scientists and engineers, the vapid debates and tawdry verbal tit for tat from the candidates define politics and politicians.【F1】When empty slogans and tricky statistics win out over sound analysis and quantitative reasoning, many members of the scientific community retreat to the comfort of their laboratories or lecture halls.
    "Little P" politics is also a derisive term to many scientists. It is used to describe a process that operates on influence, opinion, and conflicted interest rather than merit, honesty, integrity— and data. Many scientists and engineers believe life in academia is rife with "politics," especially when decisions are made that they disagree with!
    Science is about building intellectual consensus. In this respect, it is politics. Understanding how to connect with and influence others is a critical skill in science, especially in an environment of scarce resources.
    In science, making decisions about how to allocate finite resources(research and development dollars, journal pages, tenure-track positions)inevitably involve dialog, consensus building, and compromise—the fundamental tools of politics.【F2】The culture of science is rooted in the belief that data, rational argument, and logic constitute the foundation upon which all decisions should be based. But scientists would be the first to admit that it is rare that a set of data is so complete and compelling that all counter-arguments can be laid to rest. Most of the time, scientists are working on subjects for which the answers remain unclear—that’s why they are investigating them in the first place! So the need for persuasion lies even within the heart of scientific inquiry.
    【F3】Scientists believe that they are, collectively and individually, engaged in an endeavor that merits public support. In the extreme, there is bred in our culture of science a level of entitlement to public financial support for research. When members of Congress fail to pass funding increase upon funding increase, year after year, the scientific community reacts with disbelief and indignation.
    First—and most central to their career—is the political process of doing science and influencing the opinions of their scientific peers.【F4】The foundation of this political process is good scientific work—but to ensure that their science flourishes, they have to engage the scientific community smartly and effectively, with honor and integrity.
    But being at their most effective as a scientist also requires constant engagement in a broader sense, not just with the politicians in Washington, D. C. , but with the people around them who vote them into office. Given the intense and busy nature of most scientific careers, it is easy to feel that one simply has no time for such constructive engagement. Furthermore, most scientists are given no guidance about the most effective and time-efficient methods of civic engagement.【F5】But rather than look down on the process of politics, the successful scientists and engineers of the future will find ways of understanding and participating in "politics" while not losing sight of the higher ideals of their scientific community.
【F2】

选项

答案科学的文化根植于这种信仰,即所有决定必须建立在由数据、理性的辩论和逻辑组成的基础之上。

解析 本句由一个主句和两个定语从句构成,其中第一个定语从句中又套了一个定语从句。翻译时,主句单独成句,可以把两个定语从句合并成一个句子翻译,但是要根据逻辑关系和表达的意思重新排序。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/0Q74777K
0

随机试题
最新回复(0)