Download Critical Thinking (1)

播出日期：103.09.25 Unit (二)334
Topic: Freshman Zit Girl (4)
單字
1. land (v.) 降落; 抵達
(if a plane, bird, or insect lands, it moves safely down onto the ground)
The pilot landed the helicopter in a rice field.
The bee landed on a beautiful flower.
The bird landed gracefully on the water.
Peter's going to land himself in big trouble if he keeps arriving late for work.
land (n.) 陸地；國土；田園
Most mammals live on land.
After 21 days at sea, we sighted land.
He has visited many distant lands.
*the land of milk and honey
(an imaginary place where life is easy and pleasant)
EMW: Critical Thinking (1)
Hello, greetings, and welcome to Magic English!
I am L. J. Lamb, your host for this segment.
Recently, I listened to a speech in our Toastmasters Club about global
warming - the usual information about the ice sheets melting, the Pacific
Islands being flooded, and the polar bears drowning. After the speech, I
asked the speaker if he had gathered and confirmed the information from
the Internet. Unfortunately, the speaker had simply repeated what he had
heard on the TV and read some time ago in an article.
We often encounter such situations, where a person takes fiction as fact.
Such a person may act impulsively and make decisions based on rumor,
gossip, or prejudices. It will not be long before that person will make a
serious mistake, which will have far-reaching effects on his studies, job,
or life.
To avoid these traps, we need to improve our critical thinking facilities.
Critical thinking is defined as the process of actively and skillfully
conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating
information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience,
reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.
Critical thinkers question what they read and hear. Then, they determine
the quality, value, and faults of an idea or piece of information. The
critical thinker must distinguish between fact and opinion, by using
logical reasoning and analysis to reach conclusions. So, how can we
enhance our critical thinking skills?
Critical thinking indicates that any particular situation can be interpreted
in many different ways, so critical thinking involves questioning
assumptions and evidence. Each day, we assume many things in order to
live. We assume that the sun will rise in the morning and set in the
evening. Centuries ago, astronomers questioned whether the sun moved
around the earth or the earth rotated on its axis. Now, science has proved
that the sun's rising and setting is only figurative.
Whenever you analyze information, you should question the validity of
the evidence. Is the evidence correct? What reasons do we have for
trusting the evidence? Are the claims backed up with evidence that can
stand up to skepticism.
Let's take a global warming example of the polar bears. One scientist
questioned the idea that the polar bears were drowning because of global
warming. His investigation indicated that 4 polar bears had drowned,
because they were caught in a severe storm, not because the ice caps were
melting. Some estimates show that the polar bear population actually
increased from 5,000 in the 1950s to as much as 25,000 today.
Furthermore, recent satellite data shows that Arctic sea ice was 50 per
cent thicker in the autumn of 2013 than it was in the autumn of 2012,
according to the US National Snow and Ice Data Center. So, are the ice
caps really melting and endangering the polar bears?
In 2009, several weeks before the Copenhagen Summit on climate change,
hackers got into the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit's
server and copied thousands of emails and computer files. Based on the
contents of the information, climate change critics argued that the emails
showed that global warming was a scientific conspiracy, in which
scientists manipulated climate data and attempted to suppress critics.
One US Congressman said: "These e-mails show a pattern of suppression,
manipulation, and secrecy that was inspired by ideology, condescension,
and profit". Of course, the people whose jobs depend on proving that
global warming is real defended their data as real.
So which information is correct? You can see how important questioning
is, especially when the data is collected and conclusions are reached by
people who have an economic interest the outcome.
Having the ability to think critically is an important skill that can be
developed. Critical thinking is the best way to solve problems, since it
requires looking at an issue from several standpoints before reaching a
final decision.
Next time we will talk more about critical thinking. Until then, this is L. J.
wishing you a thoughtful English study.
Song: Graceland
The Mississippi Delta was shining
Like a National guitar
I am following the river
Down the highway
Through the cradle of the civil war
I'm going to Graceland
Graceland
In Memphis Tennessee
I'm going to Graceland
Poor boys and Pilgrims with families
And we are going to Graceland
My traveling companion is nine years old
He is the child of my first marriage
But I've reason to believe
We both will be received
In Graceland