单项选择题

“Science” is a lofty term. The word suggests a process of uncommon rationality, inspired observation, and near-saintly tolerance (1)________failure. (2)________often than not, that‘s (3)________we get from science. The term “science”also (4)________people aiming high. Science has traditionally accepted the smartest students, the most (5)________and self-sacrificing researchers, and the (6)________money—that is, money with the fewest political strings (7)________. In both theory and practice, science in this century has been perceived (8)________a noble endeavor.

Yet science has always been a bit outside society‘s inner circle. The cultural center of Western civilization has (9)________around the arts, with science (10)________at a safe distance. When we say “culture,” we think of books, music,or painting. Since 1937 the United States has anointed a national poet laureate but (11)________a scientist laureate.Popular opinion has (12)________that our era will be remembered for great art, such as jazz. Therefore, musicians are esteemed. Novelists are hip. Film directors are cool. Scientists, (13)________, are nerds.

How (14)________. then, that while science sat in the cultural backseat, its steady output of wonderful products—radio, TV， and computer chips—furiously bred a pop culture (15)________on the arts. The more science succeeded in creating an intensely mediated environment, the (16)________it receded culturally.

The only reason to drag up this old (17)________between the two cultures is that recently something (18)________happened: A third culture emerged. It‘s hard to pinpoint exactly when it happened, but it‘s clear that computers had a lot to do (19)________it. What‘s not clear yet is what this new culture (20)________to the original two.