托福作文范文：政府应该支付即使没有实际用途的科学研究

　　托福独立作文范文之政府应该支付即使没有实际用途的科学研究，20100130NA题目，英文题目The government should support scientific research even if there’s no practical use.

　　100130NA： Do you agree with the following statement? The government should support scientific research even if there’s no practical use.

　　Sample answer

　　It is generally believed that scientific research should enhance our overall quality of life. Meanwhile, there is almost universal agreement that the government should provide financial and political support to any research that is likely to result in immediate and significant benefits for the majority of people. However, when it comes to whether the government should support scientific research with no practical use, people’s notions vary. I agree with the statement that the government should allocate adequate funds to any scientific research that aims to improve the wellbeing of people, even if it is of no practical use in the short run.

　　Scientific research whose societal benefits are immediate, predictable, and profound should continue to be a high priority. For example, biotechnology research has been proven to help cure and prevent diseases; advances in medical technology make it possible to offer safer, less invasive diagnoses and treatments; advances in genetics help prevent birth defects; advances in engineering and chemistry improve the structural integrity of facilities such as buildings, roads, bridges, and vehicles; information technology enables education to be more accessible; and communication technology facilitates global peace and participation in the democratic process. To demote any of these research areas to a lower priority would be patently foolhardy, given their demonstrable benefits for many people.

　　However, this is not to say that research whose benefits are less immediate or clear should be given lower priority. It is difficult to predict which research will ultimately lead to the greatest contributions to society. Research whose benefits are certain often breaks little new ground, while so-called “cutting-edge” research whose potential benefits are unknown may prove most useful to society. One compelling example involves controversial space research. This research area does not immediately address society’s pressing social problems. Yet in the longer term, it might be necessary to colonize other planets in order to ensure the survival of the human race. Indeed, the prevention of mankind’s extinction is the most significant contribution to society.

　　Reluctance to finance less practical scientific research could have a harmful chilling effect on efforts to explore new knowledge and pursue innovation. This is particularly true in the physical sciences, as is discussed below. More often than not, scientific advances are derived from bold attempts or cutting-edge ideas. Were there not any seemingly useless research and experiments, science would be stagnant. For example, when the first computer was about to be developed, public opinion went against it, as most people saw nothing practical in computer research. However, computers transformed the way human society evolved and proved to be of great avail in the long run, especially in terms of scientific development in fields such as the military, medicine, aviation, and education.

　　In sum, never should we imply that research whose benefits are unknown is not worth pursuing. After all, any research worth doing delves into the unknown. In the final analysis, the only objective of research should be to discover truths, whatever they might be—not to implement social policy.