A
(2020·沈阳高三质检)Looking back on my childhood, I am convinced that naturalists are born and not made.
Although we were all brought up in the same way, my brothers and sisters soon abandoned their pressed flowers and insects. Unlike them, I had no ear for music and languages. I was not an early reader and I could not do mental maths.
I have only the unmemorable memory of the house we lived in, of my room and my toys. Nor do I recall clearly the large family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who gathered next door. But I do have a crystal clear memory of the dogs, the farm animals, the local birds, and almost all the insects.
I am a naturalist, not a scientist. I have a strong love of the natural world, and my enthusiasm has led me into varied investigations. I love discussing my favorite topics and enjoy burning the midnight oil while reading about other people’s observations and discoveries. Then something happens that brings these observations together in my conscious mind. This has resulted in my publishing 300 papers and books，which some might honour with the title of scientific research.
But curiosity, a keen eye, a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant world do not make a scientist：One of the outstanding and essential qualities required is selfdiscipline, a quality I lack. A scientist requires not only selfdiscipline but all training, determination and a goal. A scientist, up to a point, can be made. A naturalist is born. If you can combine the two, you get the best of both worlds.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇夹叙夹议文，作者通过自身的经历明白了一个道理：博物学家是天生的，而科学家则是可以后天培养的。
1．What impressed the author deeply during his childhood?
A．Wildlife. B．Music.
C．Languages. D．Literature.
A 解析：细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句“But I do have a crystal clear memory of the dogs, the farm animals, the local birds, and almost all the insects.”可知，作者在童年时，印象深刻的是那些野生生物，故选A。
2．Why can’t the author remember his relatives clearly?
A．He didn’t live with them for long.
B．The family was extremely large.
C．He was fully occupied with observing nature.
D．He was too young when he lived with them.
C 解析：推理判断题。根据第三段最后一句“But I do have a crystal clear memory of the dogs, the farm animals, the local birds, and almost all the insects.”可推知，作者童年时期过于专注自然界而对周围的亲戚并不是很在意，所以没有深刻的印象，这与第四段第二句中的“I have a strong love of the natural world”呼应，故选C。
3．According to the author, what personality should a born naturalist have first of all?
A．Being knowledgeable.
B．Being selfdiscipline.
C．Being full of ambition.
D．Being full of enthusiasm.
D 解析：推理判断题。根据第四段前两句“I am a naturalist, not a scientist. I have a strong love of the natural world, and my enthusiasm has led me into varied investigations.”可知，作者从小热爱自然界，而且这种热情使作者做了很多不同的调查，成了一个博物学家。由此可推知，一个天生的博物学家首先要充满热情，故选D。
4．Why does the author say he is a naturalist, not a scientist?
A．He thinks he lacks some quality required of a scientist.
B．He thinks he has much trouble doing mental arithmetic.
C．He thinks he comes up with solutions in a most natural way.
D．He thinks he just reads about other people’s observations.
A 解析：细节理解题。根据最后一段第一句“But curiosity, a keen eye, a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant world do not make a scientist：One of the outstanding and essential qualities required is selfdiscipline, a quality I lack.”可知，作者认为自己只是一个博物学家而不是一个科学家是因为自己缺乏成为科学家的某种必备的素质，故选A。
