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譯文與重點詞匯

[FS:PAGE]    孩子們生活在一個科學極其(tremendous: enormous, great, magnificent)重要(importance: significance)的世界里。在他們的一生(lifetime: lifelong)中，科學對他們的影響(affect: effect, impact, influence)將會越來越大。他們中的許多人遲早會從事主要( heavily: largely, mainly)依靠(depend on: count on, rest on, rely on)科學的T作。作為有投票權者( voter).在制定許多涉及(involve: concern, include, occupy)科學的決定(decision)時，他們將擁有發言權(voice: expression, say),比如有關( 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(conservation: protection, safeguarding)以及人口增長(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(scientific)研究(research: investigation, search,study)與科學探索( exploration: examination, investigation, study)所需的費用。作為消費者( consumer: customer, client)，他們將會受到廣告(advertise)的反復騷擾7而掘說大部分的廣告是依據( base on: depend on, rely on)科學制作的。

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

    此外，科學是一種極好的( excellent: admirable，wonderful)教學媒介(medium: agent)，其意義遠遠超過教學內容(content)本身。科學能夠幫助學生(pupil: student)學會邏輯( logically)思維(think: consider. reason)，幫助學生使自己的思想有條理( organize: arrange. classify)，幫助學生分析(analyze)自己的想法。科學可以為學生提供( provide: give. offer. supply)思想交流(communication)技能(skill：ability. talent, technique)和數學能力的實踐(practice: exercise，training)機會。實際上，沒有任何一門課程( curriculum: course. lesson)是科學不能為之做出貢獻(contribute: dedicate. donate)的，無論是地理、歷史、語言藝術、音樂(music)或是藝術!

    最重要的是.好的科學教學有助于(lead to: bring about. result in)養成所謂(call: name)的科學態度(attitude: manner, position, viewpoint)。那些擁有(possess: hold, own)科學態度的人通過觀察(observe: inspect. notice)、實驗(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)別人的看仔細考慮(weigh: assess，measure. regard)證據(evidence: data，proof)，小心謹慎( caution: care)得出結論(reach conclusion: arrive at/come to conclusion)。在尊重(respect; appreciate. honor. value)其他人的觀點(opinion: idea，outlook. viewpoint)的同時，他們期待(expect: anticipate，hope. suppose)誠實(honesty: sincerity)、準確(accuracy：correctness, precision)和客觀objectivity的結果，他們反對(on guard against ：oppose )草率的(hasty：hurried, rough)判斷(judgment)以及籠統的概括(generaliazation：summarization)。所有孩子都應該培養這種解決(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)的過程中自動出現(appear: emerge， occur)。在有引導的(guide：led)參與(participation：join)過程中，持續不斷的(continual：constant，continuous，lasting)實踐是必要(need：demand，require)的。