Passage Two

Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

A few weeks ago, a well-meaning professor tried to explain the physiological process

behind viruses and the human body in a tweet and was immediately criticized for a mistake

in his information. He then issued an apology and deleted his erroneous tweet.

Communicating science beyond the academic bubble is necessary to augmenting

public understanding of health and environmental issues and helping individuals make

well-informed personal decisions.

However, scientists who engage in science communication must acknowledge that

even in their area, their expertise is deep but narrow. They need to recognize the constraints

in their own knowledge. That is not to suggest that they only write or present on their own

research, but rather, that they consult with an expert if the topic is outside of their discipline.

Fact-checking with a scientist who works in the specialty will prevent the unintentional

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spread of misinformation, and the process of doing so may yield tiny pieces of interesting

new information that can be incorporated.

Some have argued that the public is not educated enough to understand scientific

information, especially for any complex phenomena, but this is absurd. Science instruction

can be found at all levels of public education with most secondary schools offering classes

on biology, physics, and chemistry. If anything, social media has shown that the public

craves knowledge based on a solid scientific foundation. Even the public discourse that

follows most scientific articles shows that online readers can understand even the most

baffling of scientific principles.

It is equally imperative to emphasize that being an expert on a topic does not

automatically make a scholar qualified to communicate it to a nonscientific audience. A

number of scientists recently have been offering public-aimed explanations of scientific

phenomena. Even though they have appropriate credentials, they often do very little in the

way of explaining. One biologist shared an intricate analogy involving a library, books,

paper, a recipe, ingredients, and a cake to explain the process behind vaccines. Any

explanation that requires a written key to keep track of what each item represents is not a

clear example for public consumption.

Science communication is a science in and of itself. It requires rigorous training and

instruction. A scientist should take communication courses that can teach a person how to

identify and eliminate jargon and how to develop effective analogies to explain complex

concepts. One cannot assume communication expertise-imagine if someone just decided

that they were a physicist and started trying to contribute to the field without the necessary

background. Doing a poor job communicating science to the public will only create

confusion and widen the gap between science and society, a gap that scientists are trying to

close.

51. What does the author say about communicating science to the general public?

A) It will help them to keep abreast of the latest scientific developments.

B) It is a necessary means to improve their understanding of scientific issues.

C) It will get them more involved in academic debates on environmental problems.

D) It is an effective way to augment scientists' influence beyond the academic circle.

52. What does the author advise scientists do to deal with topics outside of their specialty?

A) Write or present on them from new angles.

B) Utilize information from diverse sources.

C)Turn to a specialist for professional help.

D)Fact-check with colleagues in their field.

53. What does the author say we can learn from social media?

A)A solid academic foundation is essential to understanding baffling scientific principles.

B) Modern technology has facilitated communication between scientists and the public.

C)Scientific articles have gained increasing popularity among the general public.

D) The public's understanding of science is much better than some have claimed.

54. What does the example of the biologist who shared an intricate analogy show?

A) It is helpful to use illustrations in explaining scientific phenomena.

B) It is imperative to have appropriate titles to explain scientific issues.

C) A learned scholar is not necessarily a qualified science communicator.

D)A nonscientific audience cannot duly understand principles of science.

55. What does the author suggest scientists do to close the gap between science and society?

A)Explain complex concepts scientifically.

B) Make appropriate use of scientific terms.

C)Take courses in public speaking.

D) Develop communication skills.al.