60秒科学:Science, Though Beneficial, Losing Importance

The results are in, and, Americans pretty much like science. Eighty-four percent of those polled think that “science’s effect on society” is mostly positive. That’s the result of two phone surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center and the American Association for the Advancement¹ of Science, released on July 9th.

Seventy-three percent believe that federal funding of basic research pays off in the long run. But the public’s rating of the overall significance of science seems to have dropped in the last 10 years. In 1999, 47 percent of those polled said that scientific advances were among the most important U.S. achievements. Today, only 27 percent think so.

And Americans are aware of scientific info much more when it’s related to their daily lives and health. For example, 91 percent know that aspirin’s an over-the-counter drug sometimes used to prevent heart attacks; only 46 percent can tell you which are bigger, electrons or atoms.

To gauge² your general basic science knowledge, including on the atom/electron question, take the test at pewresearch.org/sciencequiz

Conduct: to organize and/or do a particular activity 实施，执行

The negotiations³ have been conducted in a positive manner.
已积极进行过谈判。

Pay off: if something you do pays off, it is successful or has a good result取得成功;得到好结果

Two years of business school really paid off.
在商业学校就读两年真是很合算。
Did his plan pay off?
他的计划成功了吗?

In the long run: 最终,从长远观点看

It'll be cheaper in the long run to use real leather.
使用真正的皮革最终还是便宜合算的。

1 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

2 gauge   

v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器

参考例句：

• Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗？
• It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。