Since science tries to deal with reality, even the most
precise sciences normally work with more or less
imperfectly understood approximations toward which
scientists must maintain an appropriate skepticism. Thus,
5 for instance, it may come as a shock to mathematicians
to learn that the Schrodinger equation for the hydrogen
atom is not a literally correct description of this atom,
but only an approximation to a somewhat more correct
equation taking account of spin, magnetic dipole, and relativistic
10 effects; and that this corrected equation is itself only an
imperfect approximation to an infinite set of quantum
field-theoretical equations. Physicists, looking at the original
Schrodinger equation, learn to sense in it the
presence of many invisible terms in addition to the
15 differential terms visible, and this sense inspires an entirely
appropriate disregard for the purely technical features of the
equation. This very healthy skepticism is foreign to the
mathematical approach. Mathematics must deal with
well-defined situations. Thus, mathematicians
20 depend on an intellectual effort outside of mathematics for
the crucial specification of the approximation that mathematics is to take literally.
(177 words)
11. According to the passage, scientists are skeptical toward their equations because scientists
(A) work to explain real, rather than theoretical or simplified, situations
(B) know that well-defined problems are often the most difficult to solve
(C) are unable to express their data in terms of multiple variables
(D) are unwilling to relax the axioms they have developed
(E) are unable to accept mathematical explanations of natural phenomena
12. The author implies that scientists develop a healthy skepticism because they are aware that
(A) mathematicians are better able to solve problems than are scientists
(B) changes in axiomatic propositions will inevitably undermine scientific arguments
(C) well-defined situations are necessary for the design of reliable experiments
(D) mathematical solutions can rarely be applied to real problems
(E) some factors in most situations must remain unknown
答案:A/E
以上即是阅读练习题,对于新gre考试逻辑阅读,考生除了采取题海战术,其实更应该做的就是总结。如果能从平日的练习中找到解新gre考试逻辑阅读题的思路,那么,要比采取题海战术更好。