Many matters,however,are le88 easily brought to the test of experience.If,like most of mankind,youhave passionate convictions on many such matters.there are ways in which you can make yourself aware 0fyour own bias.If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry,that is a sign that you are subconsciouslyaware of having,no good reason for thinking as you do.If someone maintains that two and two are five,orthatIcelandis onthe equator,youfeelpity ratherthan anger,unlessyou know SOlittleof arithmetic or geo-graphy that his opinion shakes your own contrary conviction.The most savage controversies are those:aboutmatters as to which there is no good evidence either way.Persecution is used in theology,not in arithmetic,because in arithmetic there is knowledge,but in theology there is only opinion.So whenever you findyourself getting angry about a difference of opinion,be on your guard;you will probably find,onexamination。that your belief is going beyond what the evidence warrants.
A good way of riding yourself of certain kinds of dogmatis mis to become aware of opinions held in socialcircles different from your Own.When 1 was young。I lived much outside my own country--in France Germany,Italy,and the United States.I found this very profitable in diminis hing the intensity of insularpreiudice.If you cannot travel,seek out people with whom you dis agree,and read a newspaper belonging toa party that is not yours.If the people and the newspaper seem mad,perverse,and wicked,remind yourselfthat you seem so to them.In this opinion beth parties may be right,but they cannot both be wrong.This reflection should generate a certain caution. 英语专业八级考试是目前我国衡量大学英语专业学生语言水平的层次*高、规模*大、科学性*强的英语测试。顺利通过专业八级考试是学生语言综合运用能力的重要标志。它现在已经成为我国各用人单位了解应聘人员英语语言技能的重要参考因素。从某种意义上讲,通过八级考试便取得了谋职的一张通行证。
八级考试为什么在社会上赢得这么高的信誉而且还在不断升温呢?这与考试本身的内容设置及考核方式有密切关系。八级考试涉及听力、阅读、人文知识、改错、翻译、写作共六大方面,而且每一项都有它区别于其他英语考试的重要形式。听力部分不仅涉及常见的A、B、C、D选琐,而且还要求学生具备听懂录音、快速记录、处理加工英语声音信息的能力;阅读部分不仅难度高于我国目前组织的其他英语考试,而且对阅读理解力和阅读策略有很高的要求;人文知识部分要求学生不能只是语言形式的使用者,还要掌握基本的人文常识,如主要英语**的地理、历史以及英语文学、语言学等方面的知识;改错要求考生具备正确理解文章内容,准确把握句子结构、时态、语态、语汇等多方面的语言能力;翻译部分要求考生具备准确理解英语与汉语、恰当准确表达自己的英汉双语运用能力;写作要具备理解作文要求,根据文体要求合理组织材料,得体运用英语的能力。应付这样高难度的考试,必须具备一定的语言基础,即使具备了一定的语言基础还需要进行足够的训练,提高解题的速度及准确性,在考卷上充分体现出自己的语言运用能力。