The word science is heard so often in modern times that almost everybody has some notion o

f its meaning. The meaning of the term is confusing, but everyone should understand its meaning and objectives. Just to make the explanation as simple as possible, suppose science is defined as classified knowledge.

Even in true sciences, distinguishing tact from fiction is not always easy. For this reason great care should be taken to distinguish between beliefs and truths. For example, hypotheses and theories are attempts to explain natural phenomena. From these positions scientists continue to experiment and observe until they are proved. The exact status of any explanation should be clearly labeled to avoid confusion.

The objectives of science are primarily the discovery and the subsequent understanding of the unknown. Man cannot be satisfied with recognizing that secrets exist in nature or that questions are unanswerable; he must solve them. Toward that end specialists in the field of biology and related fields of interest are directing much of their time and energy.

Actually, two basic approaches lead to the discovery of new information. One, aimed at satisfying curiosity, is referred to as pure science. The other is aimed at using knowledge for specific purposes such as improving health, or creating new consumer products. In this case knowledge is put to economic use. Such an approach is referred to as applied science.

Sometimes practical-minded people miss the point of pure science in thinking only of its immediate application for economic reward. Chemists responsible for discoveries could hardly anticipated that their findings would one day result in applications of such a practical nature as those directly related to life and death. The discovery of one bit of information opens the door to the discovery of another. However, one should remember that the construction of the microscope had to precede the discovery of the cell. Many scientists dedicating their lives to pure science are not apologetic about ignoring the practical side of their discoveries; they know from experience that most knowledge is eventually applied.

To define science, we can simply name it as ______.

A．the study of nature and mankind

B．an attempt to pose and prove hypotheses and theories

C．categorized knowledge

D．the study of unrelated natural phenomena