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There is a difference between science and technology. Science is a method of answering theoretical questions; technology is a method of solving practical problems. (1) Science has to do with discovering the facts and relationships between observable phenomena in nature and with establishing theories that serve to organize these facts and relationships. Technology has to do with tools, techniques, and procedures for implementing the findings of science.
Another distinction between science and technology has to do with the progress in each. Progress in science excludes the human factor. (2) Scientists, who seek to comprehend the universe and know the truth with the highest degree of accuracy and certainty, cannot pay attention to their own or other people’s likes or dislikes, or to popular ideas about the fitness of things. What scientists discover may shock or anger people---as did Darvin’s theory of evolution. But even an unpleasant truth is more than likely to be useful; besides, we have the option of refusing to believe it! (3) But hardly so with technology; we do not have the option of refusing to hear the sonic boom produced by a supersonic aircraft flying overhead; we do not have the option of refusing to breathe polluted air. (4) The legitimate purpose of technology is to serve people---people in general, not merely some people; and future generation, not merely those who presently wish to gain advantage for themselves.
We are all familiar with the abuses of technology. (5) Many people blame technology itself for widespread pollution, and even social decay---so much so that the promise of technology is obscured. That promise is a cleaner and healthier world. If wise applications of science and technology do not lead to a better world, what else will?
——选自《考研英语第一时间——翻译与写作双向突破》
参考译文
1. 科学关注的是发现事实，找出自然界可观察的各种现象之间的关系，并建立起一些理论，将这些事实与关系组织起来。
2. 科学家在试图最精确、最可靠的理解宇宙、了解真相时，不能够顾及他们本人或他人的好恶以及关于事物合理性的普遍看法。
3. 不过，技术就不同了。我们无法不去听在头顶掠过的超音速飞机发出的轰鸣，也无法拒绝呼吸被污染了的空气。
4. 技术的正当目的就是服务于人——是服务于所有人，而不仅仅是某些人；是服务于未来一代又一代的人，而不仅仅是那些希望马上从中获益的人。
5. 许多人责怪技术是因为它引起了大规模的污染，甚至社会腐败；人们对技术的指责如此之多，以至于科技发展的前景也模糊不清了。
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