Children live in a world in which science has tremendous importance. During their lifetimes, it will affect them more and more. In time, many of them will work at jobs that depend heavily on science. As voters, they will have a voice in making many decisions that involve science-for example, concerning energy sources, pollution control, highway safety, wilderness conservation, and population growth. As taxpayers, they will pay for scientific research and exploration. And, as consumers, they will be bombarded (受到轟擊)by advertising，much of which is said to be based on science.

    Therefore, it is important that children, the citizens of the future, become functionally acquainted with science-with the process and spirit of science, as well as with its facts and principles. Fortunately, science has a natural appeal for youngsters. They can relate it to so many things that they encounter-flashlights, toots, echoes, and rainbows.

    Besides, science is an excellent medium for teaching far more than content. It can help pupils learn to think logically, to organize and analyze ideas. It can provide practice in communication skills and mathematics. In fact, there is no area of the curriculum to which science cannot contribute, whether it is geography, history, language arts, music, or art!

    Above all, good science teaching leads to what might be called a "scientific attitude". Those who possess it seek answer through observing, experimenting, and reasoning, rather than blindly accepting the pronouncements of others. They weigh evidence carefully and reach conclusions with caution. While respecting the opinions of others. They weigh evidence carefully and reach conclusions with caution. While respecting the opinions of other，they expect honesty, accuracy, and objectivity and are on guard against hasty judgments and sweeping generalizations. All children should be developing this approach to solving problems, but it cannot be expected to appear automatically with the mere acquisition of information. Continual practice，through guided participation, is needed.

    附：passage4譯文與重點(diǎn)詞匯

[FS:PAGE]    孩子們生活在一個(gè)科學(xué)極其(tremendous: enormous, great, magnificent)重要(importance: significance)的世界里。在他們的一生(lifetime: lifelong)中，科學(xué)對(duì)他們的影響(affect: effect, impact, influence)將會(huì)越來越大。他們中的許多人遲早會(huì)從事主要( heavily: largely, mainly)依靠(depend on: count on, rest on, rely on)科學(xué)的T作。作為有投票權(quán)者( voter).在制定許多涉及(involve: concern, include, occupy)科學(xué)的決定(decision)時(shí)，他們將擁有發(fā)言權(quán)(voice: expression, say),比如有關(guān)( concerning: involving, relating)能源(energy: force, power, strength),污染( pollution)控制(control: dominate, grasp, hold)、公路安全(safety: security),荒地保護(hù)(conservation: protection, safeguarding)以及人口增長(zhǎng)(growth: climb, increase, rise)方面的決定。作為納稅人(taxpayer)，他們將支付(pay: compensate, cost, offer)科學(xué)(scientific)研究(research: investigation, search,study)與科學(xué)探索( exploration: examination, investigation, study)所需的費(fèi)用。作為消費(fèi)者( consumer: customer, client)，他們將會(huì)受到廣告(advertise)的反復(fù)騷擾7而掘說大部分的廣告是依據(jù)( base on: depend on, rely on)科學(xué)制作的。

    因此，重要的(important: essential, influential, significant)是，作為未來公民( citizen: inhabitant, resident)的孩子們應(yīng)該從機(jī)能上(functionally)了解(acquainted: aware, enlightened, informed)科學(xué)——了解科學(xué)的過程(process：course，procedure，way)與科學(xué)的精髓(spirit: core, heart, soul)，也要了解科學(xué)事實(shí)(fact: reality, truth)與科學(xué)原理( principle: doctrine, rule, standard)。幸運(yùn)地是(fortunately: happily, luckily)，科學(xué)對(duì)年輕人(youngster: youth)有自然的(natural: automatical )吸引力。他們能夠把科學(xué)與他們遇到( encounter: confront，face，meet)的許多東西聯(lián)系(relate：tie，unite)起來——手電筒、工具(tool：device，instrument)、回聲(echo：reflect)以及彩虹。

    此外，科學(xué)是一種極好的( excellent: admirable，wonderful)教學(xué)媒介(medium: agent)，其意義遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超過教學(xué)內(nèi)容(content)本身?？茖W(xué)能夠幫助學(xué)生(pupil: student)學(xué)會(huì)邏輯( logically)思維(think: consider. reason)，幫助學(xué)生使自己的思想有條理( organize: arrange. classify)，幫助學(xué)生分析(analyze)自己的想法?？茖W(xué)可以為學(xué)生提供( provide: give. offer. supply)思想交流(communication)技能(skill：ability. talent, technique)和數(shù)學(xué)能力的實(shí)踐(practice: exercise，training)機(jī)會(huì)。實(shí)際上，沒有任何一門課程( curriculum: course. lesson)是科學(xué)不能為之做出貢獻(xiàn)(contribute: dedicate. donate)的，無論是地理、歷史、語言藝術(shù)、音樂(music)或是藝術(shù)!

    最重要的是.好的科學(xué)教學(xué)有助于(lead to: bring about. result in)養(yǎng)成所謂(call: name)的科學(xué)態(tài)度(attitude: manner, position, viewpoint)。那些擁有(possess: hold, own)科學(xué)態(tài)度的人通過觀察(observe: inspect. notice)、實(shí)驗(yàn)(experiment: examine. test)以及推理(reason deduce. infer)來尋求(seek: hunt. pursue. quest)答案，而不是盲目(blindly)接受(accept; adopt approve. receive)別人的看仔細(xì)考慮(weigh: assess，measure. regard)證據(jù)(evidence: data，proof)，小心謹(jǐn)慎( caution: care)得出結(jié)論(reach conclusion: arrive at/come to conclusion)。在尊重(respect; appreciate. honor. value)其他人的觀點(diǎn)(opinion: idea，outlook. viewpoint)的同時(shí)，他們期待(expect: anticipate，hope. suppose)誠(chéng)實(shí)(honesty: sincerity)、準(zhǔn)確(accuracy：correctness, precision)和客觀objectivity的結(jié)果，他們反對(duì)(on guard against ：oppose )草率的(hasty：hurried, rough)判斷(judgment)以及籠統(tǒng)的概括(generaliazation：summarization)。所有孩子都應(yīng)該培養(yǎng)這種解決(solve：handle, settle)問題的方法(approach: means, method, way)，但是不能期望這種方法在獲取(acquisition：gain)信息(information：data)的過程中自動(dòng)出現(xiàn)(appear: emerge， occur)。在有引導(dǎo)的(guide：led)參與(participation：join)過程中，持續(xù)不斷的(continual：constant，continuous，lasting)實(shí)踐是必要(need：demand，require)的。