What Is Science?
A
Science is built of facts the way a house is built of bricks①; but an accumulation of facts is no more science than②a pile of bricks is a house．
—Jules H．Poincaré
B
The higher③ascends freely investigating science，the wider③its horizons，the more③abundant the possibilities of the practical application of scientific knowledge to the conditions of life．In nature，as we know，there is nothing more marvellous than the human brain，there is nothing more wonderful than the process of thought，nothing more precious than the results of scientific research．
—Maxim Gorky
C
Science requires the effort of a lifetime and even if④you had two lives to give，it would still not be enough．
—Ivan Pavlov
accumulation n积聚 horizon n眼界
中译 何谓科学?
A
宛如房子用砖砌成一般，科学是用事实建成的;但正像一堆砖不是房子一样，把事实积累起来也不是科学。
——朱莉·H·普安卡雷
B
自由探索的科学升得愈高，其视野就愈宽广，将科学知识应用于生活实际的可能性就愈大。众所周知，在自然界，没有什么东西比人脑更奇妙，没有什么东西比思维更神奇，没有什么东西比科研的成果更珍贵。
——马克西姆·高尔基
C
科学要求毕生的精力，即使你付出两倍的寿命，还是不够的。
——伊凡·巴甫洛夫
原来如此！
A段以房子与砖块的关系作比喻说明尽管科学是用事实建成的，它并非事实的积累，而是事实的关联、互动，是各种事实的有机组合。
B段指出科学研究的珍贵，而科学研究能进步有赖自由探索。
C段反映科学家穷一生精力做研究工作，但时间仍然很不足够，可谓“学海无涯;人生短暂”(Art is long;life is short．)。
增值英语
①Science is built of facts the way a house is built of bricks…
句式 此句有省略，全句写出来就是Science is built of facts(in)the way(in which)a house is built of bricks．John does not bother about the children(in)the way(in which)his wife does．约翰没有为儿女操心，他的妻子则不一样。
②an accumulation of facts is no more science than…
句式 no more…than…(不…，正如…不…一样):
A student can no moreobtain knowledge without studying thana farmer can get harvest without ploughing．学生不学习不能获得知识，正如农民不耕种不能有所收获一样。
A nation can no moreexist without its people thana tree can grow without roots．国家不能离开人民而存在，正如树没有根不能生长一样。
③The higher ascends investigating science，the wider its horizon，the more…
句式 the more…，the more…，(the more…)，“愈…愈…(愈…)”这是表示比例增减的句型。句式倒装，谓语动词is/be等经常省略:
The higherthe mountain(is)，the colderthe air(is)．山愈高，空气愈冷。
The morebooks you read，the wideryour knowledge(is/will be)，and the wiseryou become/will become．读书愈多，知识就愈博，人就变得更有智慧。
④even if you had two lives to give，it would…
句式 even if可改写为even though。
Even ifyou disagree with her，her advice is worth considering．
尽管你不同意她，她的忠告是值得考虑的。
He does not give up the plan even thoughhe is facing many obstacles．他虽然面对很多困难，但却没有放弃该计划。