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
For the first two-thirds of the 20th century, chemistry was seen by many as the science of the future. The potential of chemical
For the first two-thirds of the 20th century, chemistry was seen by many as the science of the future. The potential of chemical
admin
2011-01-02
57
问题
For the first two-thirds of the 20th century, chemistry was seen by many as the science of the future. The potential of chemical products for enriching society appeared to be unlimited. Increasingly, however, and especially in the public mind, the negative aspects of chemistry have come to the fore, Disposal of chemical by- products at waste-disposal sites of limited capacity has resulted in environmental and health problems of enormous concern. The legitimate use of drugs for the medically supervised treatment of diseases has been tainted by the growing misuse of mood-altering drugs. The very word chemicals has come to be used all too frequently in a pejorative sense. There is, as a result, a danger that the pursuit and application of chemical knowledge may be seen as bearing risks that outweigh the benefits.
It is easy to underestimate the central role of chemistry in modern society, but chemical products are essential if the world’s population is to be clothed, housed, and fed. The world’s reserves of fossil fuels (e. g. oil, natural gas, and coal) will eventually be exhausted, some as soon as the 21st century, and new chemical processes and materials will provide a crucial alternative energy source. The conversion of solar energy to more concentrated, useful forms, for example, will rely heavily on discoveries in chemistry. Long-term, environmentally acceptable solutions to pollution problems are not attainable without chemical knowledge. There is much truth in the aphorism that "chemical problems require chemical solutions". Chemical inquiry will lead to a better understanding of the behaviour of both natural and synthetic materials and to the discovery of new substances that will help future generations better supply their needs and deal with their problems.
Progress in chemistry can no longer be measured only in terms of economics and utility. The discovery and manufacture of new chemical goods must continue to be economically feasible but must be environmentally acceptable as well. The impact or new substances on the environment can now be assessed before large-scale production begins, and environmental compatibility has become a valued property of new materials. For example, compounds consisting of carbon fully bonded to chlorine and fluorine, called chlorofluorocarbons (or Freons), were believed to be ideal for their intended use when they were first discovered. They are nontoxic, nonflammable gases and volatile liquids that are very stable. These properties led to their widespread use as solvents, refrigerants, and propellants in aerosol containers. Time has shown, however, that these compounds decompose in the upper regions of the atmosphere and that the decomposition products act to destroy stratospheric ozone. Limits have now been placed on the use of chlorofluorocarbons, but it is impossible to recover the amounts already dispersed into the atmosphere.
The chlorofluorocarbon problem illustrates how difficult it is to anticipate the overall impact that new materials can have on the environment. Chemists are working to develop methods of assessment, and prevailing chemical theory provides the working tools. Once a substance has been identified as hazardous to the existing ecological balance, it is the responsibility of chemists to locate that substance and neutralize it, limiting the damage it can do or removing if from the environment entirely. The last years of the 20th century will see many new, exciting discoveries in the processes and products of chemistry, Inevitably, the harmful effects of some substances will outweigh their benefits, and their use will have to be limited. Yet, the positive impact of chemistry on society as a whole seems beyond doubt.
The underlined word "tainted" in the first paragraph most probably means ______.
选项
A、abandoned
B、limited
C、secured
D、spoiled
答案
D
解析
该题问:第一段中划线单词“tainted”最可能是什么意思?第一段的主题句是第三行的Increasingly,however and especially in the public mind,the negative aspects of chemistry have come to the fore(但是,化学的不利方面已越来越多地显现出来,在公众的心目中尤其如此)。可见,该段主要谈化学物品造成的问题。该段第五行 The legitimate use of drugs for the medically supervised treatment of diseases has been tainted by the growing misuse of mood-altering drugs的意思是“一些药物本应当在有医疗监督的条件下合法用于治疗疾病,却由于越来越多地滥用于调节情绪而tainted”。此外,“tainted”的意思,从上下文考虑,应该是“涂上污点”。D项spoiled(损害,搞糟)意思与其相近,应为正确答案。其他三个选项的意思分别为:被抛弃的、有限的、安全的。均与上下文不符,不是正确答案。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/DWeO777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
A、multibillion-dollarbidB、athlete-orientedfocusC、plansforanOlympicparkD、diversityofculturalbackgroundBA数十亿美元的申办
LearningforItsOwnSakeForme,scientificknowledgeisdividedintomathematicalsciences,naturalsciencesorsciencesde
Neartheendofafive-daytourofhighlyautomated,high-techJapanesefactories,theAmericanvisitorwasoverwhelmedandfeel
WhatIsAnAmerican?"Ican’tmakeyouout,"HerryJameshasMrs.TristramsaytotheAmeri-can,"whetheryouareverysimpl
A、shouldbebannedinordertosaveenergyB、bringssomesideeffectsC、causestheearth‘stemperatureriseD、shouldnotbebla
SomerecenthistorianshavearguedthatlifeintheBritishcoloniesinAmericafromapproximately1763to1789wasmarkedbyin
Specializationcanbeseenasaresponsetotheproblemofanincreasingaccumulationofscientificknowledge.Bysplittingupt
Specializationcanbeseenasaresponsetotheproblemofanincreasingaccumulationofscientificknowledge.Bysplittingupt
1ThiscalmingdownisperhapsthemainreasonwhyIkeepadiary.Itisincrediblehowthewrittensentencecancalmandta
Thescienceofwildlifemanagementisactuallyquitenew.Itisthethirdmajorphaseoftheoriginalconservationmovement.The
随机试题
蛋白质在烹饪中的变化有_______。
女,35岁。昨日因头痛、发热、鼻塞、流涕、服用感冒药物,今晨突然呕吐咖啡样液体及黑便,总量约500ml来急诊。体检;BP90/60mmHg,脉搏100次/分,肝脾无肿大。最可能的诊断是
下列软膏基质哪一种吸水性最好( )。
婴幼儿期引起的热性惊厥最常见病因是低钙血症。()
热拌沥青混合料的配合比设计采用马歇尔试验设计方法,同时还要进行的试验或检验是()。
华联商厦有一客货两用汽车,为顾客送货,乘客座位4人,载货净吨位2吨。当地省政府规定,乘客座位4人客车年税额为200元/辆,载货汽车为40元/吨,该车每年应缴纳车船使用税为( )元。
下列情形中,用人单位可以单方面与劳动者解除劳动合同的有()。
最近关于电视卫星发射和运营中发生的大量事故导致相应的向承担卫星保险的公司提出索赔的大幅增加。结果保险费大幅上升,使得发射和运营卫星更加昂贵。反过来,这又增加了从目前仍在运行的卫星榨取更多工作负荷的压力。以下哪一项如果是正确的,同以上信息结合在一起,能最好地
他们是一对新婚夫妇。
Modernlifeisstressful.Thenoiseandthefastpaceofthecitytaketheir【B1】______onthespirit.Everybodyknowsthis,but
最新回复
(
0
)