Scientific Research is a Token of
Humankind’s Survival
Vladimir Keili
Summary:
Although scientists have low
earnings in comparison to businessmen, doctors, lawyers etc., some people
decide to be scientists because they cannot live without science. It’s an
exciting adventure where the major reward comes from the discovery itself. In
that way, scientists get honors and promotions and they enjoy freedom,
camaraderie and independence.
Next, the writer talks about his
experience during the cold war. During 1960, he was invited to Geneva to attend
a discussion about nuclear weapons. At that time, people were worried of
destructive nuclear weapons of Russia, America and England. The three nuclear
powers were willing to come to an agreement putting a ban on new nuclear test.
However, they faced a problem that if anyone violated the agreement by secret
underground testing of nuclear weapons, how they could detect that test. For
that, the technical experts including the writer were called to solve that
problem. As a seismologist, the writer had theoretical knowledge in seismic
waves that could easily detect underground nuclear explosions as well as tremors
produced by earthquakes. Here, his knowledge had a direct application in the
survival of the humankind. That episode taught the writer that science is the
hope of survival and well-being of all.
Scientists are the most practical
people in the world. This could be seen in new technologies, new brands of the
industry from defense to entertainment. The scientists invent antibiotics,
electronics, biotechnology, synthetic fibers, the green revolution, and genetic
forensic diagnosis etc. The basic knowledge of science always supports people
in their lives.
The survival of our civilization
is threatened by natural and manmade disasters. Among them, the natural
disasters are earthquakes, a self-inflicted destruction of megacities,
environmental catastrophes, economic and social crises. A massive release of
radioactivity from nuclear waste disposal and an outburst of mass violence etc.
are man-made disasters.
Science is our indispensable
guardian and caretaker because it is the only science that can ensure that we
move with time safely. For the survival of humankind, countries had signed
treaty of not testing the nuclear weapons secretly. But science and its
scientists ensured about humankind’s survival. It is the only science that can
differentiate between the tremors caused by nuclear explosions and natural
earthquakes. It is science that can give us new sources of energy, new mineral
deposits, and efficient defense from terrorism.
The hope of science for the
survival of mankind has larger significance. In the present scenario the safety
of mankind is threatened by both natural and manmade disasters. Be it a
tsunami, be it terrorism, money alone cannot tackle the problem. Scientific
solutions are the only hope. Thus, the writer has numerous reasons to conclude
that science is the hope of survival.
Exercise
Understanding the text:
Answer the following
questions.
a.
What does a scientist get instead of big
money?
Answer: A scientist gets
freedom, camaraderie and independence instead of big money.
b.
What was the problem that the nuclear
powers had faced?
Answer: The nuclear powers
had agreed to a moratorium to stop the test of nuclear weapons. But they had
faced the problem that if anyone violated the agreement by secret underground
testing of nuclear weapons, they would not be able to detect it.
c.
In which area did Keilis Borok’s
theoretical knowledge have a direct application?
Answer: As a seismologist,
he had theoretical knowledge in seismic waves that could easily detect
underground nuclear explosions as well as tremors produced by earthquakes. His
knowledge could easily detect secret underground nuclear test. Here, his
knowledge had a direct application in the survival of the humankind.
d.
What was the important decision that the
politicians took before Geneva Summit?
Answer: The important
decision that the politicians took before Geneva Summit was to ban nuclear
weapons text for the shake of survival of humanity. According to them, after
banning nuclear tests, there would be no competition for developing nuclear
weapons.
e.
What are the natural and man-made
disasters as mentioned by the author?
Answer: The natural
disasters mentioned by the author are earthquakes, self-inflicted destruction
of megacities, environmental catastrophes, economic and social crises, and so
on. The manmade disasters mentioned include a massive release of radioactivity
from nuclear waste disposal, an outburst of mass violence, war, and so on.
Reference to the context:
a. The
professional addressed as ‘you’ in the sentence “If you are clever, why are you
so poor?” refers to a: i. lawyer ii. doctor iii. scientist iv. businessman.
Justify your choice.
Answer: Here the ‘you’
refers to a scientist. The author wants to know why some people with clever and
brilliant mind want to be scientists though other professionals like lawyers,
doctors and businessmen earn much more. The author intends to show that
although scientists are very wise, their wisdom does not generally help them in
generating wealth. Thus, scientists are generally wise but not wealthy.
b.
The writer says, “I found myself in
Geneva.” What does it express?
Answer: It expresses the
surprise of the writer. He says the above line because he was summoned all of a
sudden to attend the meeting related to nuclear weapons in Geneva.
c. Are the following
statements true? Why or why not? Discuss with your partner.
i. Money is more powerful than
intellectual resources.
Answer: This statement is
not true. Money can give us the power to make a difference in the lives of
others, but not the desire to do so. It can give us the time to develop and
nurture our relationships, but not the love and caring necessary to do so. It
can just as easily make us jaded, escapist, selfish, and lonely. How much do you
need? What is it going to cost you to get it? It is keeping these two questions
in mind that gives us a true sense of money’s relationship to happiness. If we
have less than what we need, or if what we have is costing us too much, we can
never be happy.
ii. Intellectual resources
help survival of the mankind.
Answer: This statement is
true. It is because of the intellectual resources that we have combated many
diseases. Though man is not the fittest among all the creations of God, he is
able to ensure his safety against the other powerful creatures of nature
because of his intellectual resources. Basic research can help our survival by
giving us new sources of energy and new mineral deposits. Basic research can
also protect us against terrorism.
iii. Basic research is a way
of stalling disasters.
Answer: This statement is
true. People in the world are living their life securely believing in
scientific researches. Scientists keep on studying the ecological changes and
forewarn people about natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, storms etc.
People can be evacuated from the area posed with danger.
d.
How does the essayist justify that
scientific research is the humankind’s survival?
Answer: The essayist
justifies that scientific research is the humankind’s survival by presenting
his opinions in favour of science and its research-based inventions. As a
seismologist, he had theoretical knowledge in seismic waves that could easily
detect underground nuclear explosions as well as tremors produced by earthquakes.
His knowledge could easily detect secret underground nuclear test. Here, his
knowledge had a direct application in the survival of the humankind. According
to him, science is the indispensable guardian and caretaker of humankind’s
survival. Scientific researchers have found the solutions to the problems of
human beings. It has given us new sources of energy, new mineral deposits,
medicines and efficient defense from terrorism. Scientific researches can
easily predict the upcoming disasters ecological changes and forewarn people.
People can be evacuated from the area posed with danger. Thus, the writer has
numerous reasons to conclude that scientific research is the hope of
humankind’s survival.
e.
What can be the purpose of the essayist
of using quotations in the essay?
Answer: The purpose of the
essayist’s use of quotations in the essay is to support the ideas and arguments
presented in the essay. He wants to get all of his readers aware to the main
points that he wishes to convey. People have many misconceptions about science
and scientists so he compares public understanding and the reality of a
scientist’s life. So, in order to support his ideas, the writer uses
quotations. f. Discuss and illustrate the writer’s stand that scientists are
the most practical people in the world. Answer: The writer’s stand here in this
essay is that scientists are the most practical people in the world. According
to him, all new technologies and new brands of industry from defense to
entertainment are the result of scientists’ research. The scientists invent
antibiotics, electronics, biotechnology, synthetic fibers, modes of transport,
the green revolution, and genetic forensic diagnosis etc. Only the scientific
research can provide us new sources of energy and new minerals, efficient
defense from terrorism, cure from cancer and new forms of transportation. By
this we can say that scientists are the most practical people in the world.
Reference beyond the text:
a.
Everyone lives under the fear of
annihilation by nuclear weapons. Explain this statement.
Answer: Nuclear
weapons are the most terrifying weapon ever invented: no weapon is more
destructive; no weapon causes such unspeakable human suffering; and there is no
way to control how far the radioactive fallout will spread or how long the
effects will last. Although the superpowers have already reached an agreement
to stop nuclear test, the growing competition for power has increased fear and
uncertainty about our future. It is a truth that Soviet Union, the United
States and the United Kingdom have more than enough nuclear bombs to destroy
the other nations in their first strike. A nuclear bomb detonated in a city
would immediately kill tens of thousands of people, and tens of thousands more
would suffer horrific injuries and later die from radiation exposure. Hiroshima
and Nagasaki always remind people of the bitter truth. Anytime, the global
politics can deteriorate and crazy rulers like that of North Korea can forget
humanity and the world population can suffer. Therefore, every man, woman, and
child on the earth is living under the threat of annihilation by nuclear
weapons.
b.
The essayist says ‘While there is
science, there is hope of survival and wellbeing for all of us.’ Explain it.
Answer:
According to the essayist, science is our indispensable guardian and caretaker
because it is the only science that can ensure that we are moving with time
safely. For the survival of humankind, countries have signed the treaty of not
testing nuclear weapons secretly. Specialists can invigilate the moves of
different countries and make us alert on time. Science can differentiate
between the tremors caused by nuclear explosions and natural earthquakes. It
gives us new sources of energy, new mineral deposits, efficient defense from
terrorism, antibiotics and cure for human diseases. Besides that, science
teaches us how to preserve our ecosystem and biosphere correcting our past
mistakes. At present, the safety of mankind is threatened by both natural and
man-made disasters. Be it a tsunami, be it terrorism, money alone cannot tackle
the problem. Scientific solutions are the only hope. Therefore, while there is
science, there is hope of survival and wellbeing for all of us.
c.
Is science a blessing or a curse? Write
an essay on it.
Answer:
Science – A Blessing or A Curse
Science has benefited man in
several ways. It has made man’s life more comfortable, more secure and more
powerful. But it is not an unmixed blessing. There are several disadvantages of
science. However, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
Science has revolutionized the
human existence. Take, for instance, electricity which is one of the many gifts
of science. All one has to do is to press a button. The room is flooded with
light, the fan begins to whirr and give refreshing air, or still more, a desert
cooler or an air conditioner turns the room into a hill resort. Thousand types
of machines are run by electricity. Room heaters, electric ovens and cooking
ranges and several other household appliances are operated by electricity. It
runs factories which produce innumerable things of our daily use.
Science has also relieved to a
great extent human suffering. Advance in the field of medicine and surgery have
reduced the rate of infant mortality. The average life span of man has
increased. Today, many the dreaded diseases like cholera, small-pox and even Science
has also relieved to a great extent human suffering. Advance in the field of
medicine and surgery have reduced the rate of infant mortality. The average
life span of man has increased. Today, many the dreaded diseases like cholera,
small-pox and even.
In the light of all these grave
dangers, it is imperative that man tries to make judicious use of machines.
After all, man had applied his mind to invent new things not to make his life
miserable, but to make it more comfortable and better. Machines should serve
mankind. Man should ensure that he does not allow them to destroy his
environment and health and put the life of all living things in grave danger
beyond a point of no return.