Page 146 - GMAT 2017b_Neatb

Reading Comprehension Test

of seeing and comparing, it is obvious that the greatest talent (D) is that its main function is to collect bits of
cannot carry us very far as long as observation and knowledge from natural phenomena which are
experiment are applied only to random experience. It is the not repeatable.
discovery of natural science that experience can be
simplified so that on the one hand resemblances and 76. We acquire knowledge about anything in the world :
recurrences in events can be more easily seen, and on the (A) from the observation of randomly occurring
other hand the conditions which they occur can be natural phenomena.
completely specified. Thus, using the terms in the broadest (B) through the quick and accurate observation of
sense, is the experimental method. In one aspect it may be talented persons.
regarded as a mere refinement of the rough and ready trial ( C) from the resemblances and recurrences in the
and error of the craftsman and the common man. In another event around us.
aspect, however, the change is so great as to be virtually a (D) from the unnatural events that occur in nature
qualitative one and to make eh method distinct from all occasionally.
others. It is not necessary to dilate here on the power it has
displayed in advancing knowledge or the huge acceleration 77. A fact may be said to be verifiable when :
it has imparted to that process. It is more relevant to note that (A) it seems to be true according to our reason.
limits to which its application is subject. The scientific (B) it is occasionally repeated though the line of
method is unfit to tackle directly the turbulent stream of occurrence cannot be forecasted.
everyday experience and common affairs; it must run off ( C) it has shown to have a relation to certain definable
minute fractions of it into carefully specified and engineered conditions such that whenever the conditions are
channels before it can bring its power to bear. Thus, for reproduced the fact would accompany.
example, the work of social government is not as such (D) None of the above is true.
directly accessible to it on account of the jumbled miscellany
of the matters involved. 78. The scientific method :
(A) is applicable every aspect of life and its effect is of
In saying this I must guard myself against being thought to
immense value to the progress of society and
pronounce on a wholly different questions which might be
supposed to be similar. It is, of course, obvious that social government.
government now existing fail to make use of much (B) is applicable when all the required conditions are
knowledge already established by science and capable of roughly satisfied.
immediate application. Even, however, if this deplorable ( C) is not always applicable to the situation where
lag could be abolished, the direct application of scientific jumbled miscellany of the matters in involved.
method to government itself as a whole would, with our (D) is not deliberately applied by some government to
present powers, be impossible. the fields when it can bring improvement.
After what has been to some extent a digression we pick up 79. According to the author the triumph of human reason :
the line of our argument again when we ask ourselves what (A) is supposed to be wonderfully displayed in the
part in the scientific method is taken by what I have called history of science.
the extended reasoning process. This history of science is (B) is observed only in political field.
generally supposed to furnish a wonderful display of ( C) is displayed wonderfully in the foreign policy of
triumphs of human reason. I must confess that the reading of different governments.
it does not induce me any such grandiose conception of the (D) is observed in none of the above occasions.
mind. The separate steps of progress have really been much
prepared for by long flights of rational forecast. Great 80. The direct application of the scientific method to
investigators seem mostly to have led from fact to fact; to government itself.
have depended on a kind of intuitive flair for the behaviour (A) is usually done by all socialist governments.
of their material, and to have used reasoning rather than for (B) is never done by any government which aims at
elaborate structures of argument. Although rational and people’s welfare.
imaginative speculation is of the greatest general value to ( C) is not done by any government as it cannot bring
science in keeping it from going dry and orthodox, as an improvement to the public.
actual implement of research it has not very much to its (D) would be impossible on account of the jumbled
credit. miscellany of the matter involved.
75. According to the author, a complete practical definition Passage 10
of natural science :
(A) cannot be formulated accurately. Progress in life depends a good deal on crossing one
(B) is that its main function is to acquire verifiable threshold after another. Some time ago a man watched his
knowledge. little nephew trying to write his name.
( C) is that its main function is to conduct accurate
experiments.

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