Looking back on my childhood, I am quite sure that naturalists are born and not made. Although we were all brought up in the same way, my brothers and sisters soon left their pressed flowers and insects completely forever. Unlike them, I had no ear for music and languages. I was not an early reader and I could not do mental mathematics.
Before World War I, we spent our summer holidays in Hungary. I have only the dim memory of the house we lived in, of my room and of my toys. Nor do I remember clearly the large family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who gathered next door. But I do have a clear memory of the dogs, the farm animals, the local birds, and above all, the insects
I am a naturalist, not a scientist. I have a strong love of the natural world and my interest had led me into varied investigations. I love discussing my favorite subjects and enjoy burning the midnight oil reading about other people’s discoveries. Then something happens that brings these discoveries together in my mind. Suddenly you imagine you see the answer to the question, because it all seems to fit together. This has resulted in my publishing 300 papers and books, which some might honor with the title of scientific research.
But interest, a good eye, a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant world do not make a scientist: one of the outstanding and necessary qualities required is self-discipline(自我修养), a quality I lack. A scientist, up to point, can be made. A naturalist is born. If you can combine the two, you get the best of both worlds.
The first paragraph tells us the author __________.
A.was interested in flowers and insects in his childhood |
B.lost his hearing when he was a child |
C.didn’t like his brothers and sisters |
D.was born to a naturalist’s family |
The author can’t remember his relatives clearly because __________.
A.he didn’t live very long with them |
B.the family was extremely large |
C.he was too young when he lived with them |
D.he paid more attention to nature |
The author says that he is a naturalist rather than a scientist probably because he thinks he __________.
A.has a great deal of trouble doing mental mathematics |
B.lacks some of the qualities required of s scientist |
C.just reads about other people’s discoveries |
D.comes up with solutions in a most natural way |