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①　Humans are fascinated by the source of their failings and virtues. This preoccupation inevitably leads to an old debate: whether nature or nurture moulds us more. A revolution in genetics has poised this as a modern political question about the character of our society: if personalities are hard-wired into our genes,what can governments do to help us? It feels morally questionable, yet claims of genetic selection by intelligence are making headlines.

②　This is down to“hereditarian”(遗传论的) science and a recent paper claimed “differences in exam performance between pupils attending selective and non-selective schools mirror the genetic differences between them”. With such an assertion, the work was predictably greeted by a lot of absurd claims about “genetics determining academic success”. What the research revealed was the rather less surprising result: the educational benefits of selective schools largely disappear once pupils’ inborn ability and socio-economic background were taken into account. It is a glimpse of the blindingly obvious—and there’s nothing to back strongly either a hereditary or environmental argument.

③　Yet the paper does say children are “unintentionally genetically selected” by the school system. Central to hereditarian science is a tall claim: that identifiable variations in genetic sequences can predict an individual’s aptness to learn, reason and solve problems. This is problematic on many levels. A teacher could not seriously tell a parent their child has a low genetic tendency to study when external factors clearly exist. Unlike-minded academics say the inheritability of human traits is scientifically unsound. At best there is a weak statistical association and not a causal link between DNA and intelligence. Yet sophisticated statistics are used to create an intimidatory atmosphere of scientific certainty.

④　While there’s an undoubted genetic basis to individual difference, it is wrong to think that socially defined groups can be genetically accounted for.The fixation on genes as destiny is surely false too. Medical predictability can rarely be based on DNA alone; the environment matters too. Something as complex as intellect is likely to be affected by many factors beyond genes. If hereditarians want to advance their cause it will require more balanced interpretation and not just acts of advocacy.

⑤　Genetic selection is a way of exerting influence over others, “the ultimate collective control of humandestinies,” as writer H.G.Wells put it. Knowledge becomes power and power requires a sense of responsibility. In understanding cognitive ability, we must not elevate discrimination to a science: allowing people to climb the ladder of life only as far as their cells might suggest. This will need a more sceptical eye on the science.As technology progresses, we all have a duty to make sure that we shape a future that we would want to find ourselves in.

1.1. What did a recent research paper claim?

A The type of school students attend makes a difference to their future.

B Genetic differences between students are far greater than supposed.

C The advantages of selective schools are too obvious to ignore.

D Students’ academic performance is determined by their genes.

解析：选D。D细节理解题。由题干 a recent research paper 定位至第二段①句(a recent paper claimed...)。该段①句指出论文观点“学生的考试成绩差异反映出他们的基因差异”,②句进而描述其引发的类似言论“遗传特征决定学业成功”,可见D项正确。

2.2. What does the author think of the recent research?

A Its result was questionable.

B Its implication was positive.

C Its influence was rather negligible.

D Its conclusions were enlightening.

解析：选A。A推理判断题。本题考查作者对新近研究的看法。由题干中 What...the author think 定位至第二段②③④句(the rather less surprising result, greeted by a lot of absurd claims,a glimpse of the blindingly obvious,there's nothing to back strongly... a hereditary... argument)。第二段①句首先指出新近研究的观点:基因决定学生成绩。②③④句分析作者对此的看法:招致了大量荒谬言论,所揭示的结果也并不出奇,透露的是极为明显的事实,遗传决定论并无有力证据支持。由此可见,作者认为这项新近研究的结果有问题。故A项正确。

3.3. What does the author say about the relationship between DNA and intelligence?

A It is one of scientific certainty.

B It is not one of cause and effect.

C It is subject to interpretation of statistics.

D It is not fully examined by gene scientists.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。结合题干关键词 the relationship between DNA and intelligence 可快速定位至第三段倒数第二句(association...link between DNAand intelligence)。第三段倒数第二句指出“DNA 和智力只有以统计数据表明的微弱关联,并无因果关系”B项中 cause and effect 意为“原因和结果”,是对⑥句a causal link的同义改写,故正确。

4.4. What do hereditarians need to do to make their claims convincing?

A Take all relevant factors into account in interpreting their data.

B Conduct their research using more sophisticated technology.

C Gather gene data from people of all social classes.

D Cooperate with social scientists in their research.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。由hereditarians、make their claims convincing可定位至第四段末句(If hereditarians want to advance their cause)。末句指出“遗传论者若想推进其事业,就要考量影响智力的各种因素,做出更为全面公正的解读,而不应利用统计数据一味鼓吹夸大基因的作用”。A项 Take all relevant factors into account 体现末句 more balanced传递的“综合平衡各种因素,全面解读数据”之意。

5.5. What does the author warn against in the passage?

A Exaggerating the power of technology in shaping the world.

B Losing sight of professional ethics in conducting research.

C Misunderstanding the findings of human cognition research.

D Promoting discrimination in the name of science.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。由题干中 warn against 可定位至末段③句(we must not...)。③句明确指出:切勿将歧视抬升为科学。言外之意即为,不要以科学为名助长歧视,D项是对句中elevate discrimination to ascience 的同义改写。