首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
In no small measure, the epidemic of paranormal beliefs--beliefs beyond the range of scientific explanation--is due to the rapid
In no small measure, the epidemic of paranormal beliefs--beliefs beyond the range of scientific explanation--is due to the rapid
admin
2010-01-15
62
问题
In no small measure, the epidemic of paranormal beliefs--beliefs beyond the range of scientific explanation--is due to the rapid emergence of the mass media on a global scale. These media have virtually replaced the schools, colleges and universities as the chief conveyors of information. The days of the lone scientist conducting research in the lab or of the isolated scholar writing a paper or book for a limited audience have been bypassed. Today new ideas are popularized--whether half or fully baked--and they are broadcast far and wide even if they have not been sufficiently tested. Apparently the chief interests of most media corporations are entertainment rather than information, profit rather than truth, selling products rather than contributing to the sum of human knowledge. Accordingly, paranormal ideas are pandered to a gullible public and the line between fiction and reality is blurred. The public is often confronted with sensational accounts of hidden realms, and pseudoscience is mistaken for genuine existence. Even reputable publishers prefer to publish books touting paranormal claims rather than dispassionate scientific critiques. Why is it that of the thousands of proastrology, pro-psychic, or pro-UFO books published, very few are sceptical7 "They don’t sell," is the response of the hallelujah choir within the publishing industry--a sad commentary on our times.
The skeptics thus have a vital role to play: to educate the public about the nature of science and to attempt to persuade media producers and directors that they have some responsibility to develop an appreciation for scientific rationality. One of the roles of CSICOP is to challenge the views of pseudoscience pouring forth daily from the media. It is clear that we cannot operate within the cloistered confines of the academy, but need to enter into the public arena. In monitoring the media, we surely have not sought to center producers or publishers; we only wish for some balance on their part in presenting paranormal claims, and for some role for scepticism about theses claims. Largely because of the media, large sectors of public opinion simply assume that psychic powers are real, that it is possible to modify material objects merely by the mind, that psychics can help detectives solve mysteries, and that we can abandon the clinical tests of medical science and heal patients by miraculous means. The number of paranormal, occult, and sci-fi television programs is increasing. Our objection is that "docudramas" are not labelled as fictionalized accounts but touted as fact. In regard to the many talk shows that constantly deal with paranormal topics, the skeptical viewpoint is rarely heard; and when it is permitted to be expressed, it is usually sandbagged by the host or other guests.
Scientifically unexplained ideas are accepted widely because ______.
选项
A、they have overwhelmed the world through media
B、mass media have in fact functioned as schools
C、scientists do not write papers or books for a limited audience
D、the public are interested in ideas which are not fully tested
答案
A
解析
本题为推论题,根据原文第一段第四句“Today new ideas...”意为“当今新的思想无论是否经过考证,都会在媒体上广泛播出”。这表明媒体传播是造成科学上尚未作出解释的思想被接受的原因,所以选项A正确。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/8mnK777K
0
专业英语四级
相关试题推荐
A、Becausesomeofthemarenotusedtosomekindsofalcohol.B、Becausemostofthemdrinkfewertimesthanpeopleofothercont
Duringtheearlyyearsofthiscentury,wheatwasseenastheverylifebloodofWesternCanadaPeopleoncitystreetswatched
Tohelp,ornottohelp?ThathasbecomeadilemmainmodernChina.AccordingtoarecentsurveybyChinaYouthDaily,76.1pe
Usually,therearetworeasonstopursuescientificknowledge:forthesakeoftheknowledgeitself,andforthepracticalus
TheCloningTechnologyI.Thedifferencebetweena【T1】________colonyandcloningamammalA.Clarifytheillusion:scientis
ShortStoryI.Threeformsoffiction—shortstory,novella,andnovel.II.【T1】___________oftheshortstory:A.Setting-
A、Summervacation.B、Wintervacation.C、Academicyear.D、Preschoolprogram.A细节题Malcolm先生在提到要区分academicyear和calendaryear时说:All
Itisaknownfactthatphysicalactivityimprovesoverallhealth.Notonlydoesitimprovecirculation,increasebloodflowto
Foxesandfarmershavenevergotonwell.Thesesmalldog-likeanimalshavelongbeenaccusedofkillingfarmanimals.Theyare
Weshouldmakementalpreparationforfailure,becausethereisonlya(n)______numberofpossibilitiesofsuccess.
随机试题
国库券是以贴现方式发行的
下列选项中属于行政行为的是()。
下列说法错误的是()
ModernAmericanUniversitiesBeforethe1850’s,theUnitedStateshadanumberofsmallcolleges,mostofthemdatingfrom
下列哪项不是青枝骨折的特征
CT最早用于颅脑检查,对颅脑疾病具有很高诊断价值。适用于颅脑外伤、脑血管意外、脑肿瘤、新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病、颅内炎症、脑实质变性、脑萎缩、术后和放疗后复查以及先天性颅脑畸形等。扫描基线有听眦线、听眉线和听眶线。颅脑增强扫描分为平扫后增强扫描和直接增强扫描两
冬季来临,流行性感冒病毒正席卷着小赵所在的整个工厂车间,为了不延误工期,小赵就近在诊所里买了抗感冒的药物,吃过之后,非但感冒症状没有消除,小赵的身体却感觉到了不适,出现了恶心、呕吐、胃出血等不良反应。小赵不得不来到了医院,经医生的询问得知小赵服用的是阿司匹
“水飞”属于炮制方法中的哪种制法
某市为创建文明城市,取缔了三轮车运营,导致大批三轮车主到市政府门前上访。最终,为缓和矛盾,市政府又决定暂时取消这一政策。问题:提出解决这一问题的政策措施。
Astimewenton,Susan____________(发现自己落入陷阱)fromwhichshecouldnotescape.
最新回复
(
0
)