Question 14
ComprehensionJAMB 1978 Passage C
So far I have been speaking of science in its universality, viewed from the perspective of the world at large. For in the context of our own country and our sister developing countries, many of the factors mentioned earlier are not very important. For example, pollution, deterioration of the environment and population explosion are not yet serious problems for us in this country.
Let me now turn to a more specific area, namely the question of scientific choice for developing countries. There is no doubt that the role which science and technology have played in the upliftment of the material and economic well-being of the developed nations will, and does, influence the criteria that the Third World nations must choose in order to establish their science policies and priorities.
But the criteria to be used by these nations do not have to be the same as those which have brought the developed countries to their present stage of evolution. For while human beings have the same problems, their solutions, to be meaningful will have to be sought within some relevant frame of reference, such as the available resources and expertise, social values, place and time in the historical scale.
Let me now turn to a more specific area, namely the question of scientific choice for developing countries. There is no doubt that the role which science and technology have played in the upliftment of the material and economic well-being of the developed nations will, and does, influence the criteria that the Third World nations must choose in order to establish their science policies and priorities.
But the criteria to be used by these nations do not have to be the same as those which have brought the developed countries to their present stage of evolution. For while human beings have the same problems, their solutions, to be meaningful will have to be sought within some relevant frame of reference, such as the available resources and expertise, social values, place and time in the historical scale.
The main idea of this passage is that
- A.there is a yawning gap between the haves and the have-nots
- B.there is need to rid his countrymen from the scourges of hunger, disease, ignorance and want
- C.there could be atmospheric pollution and population explosion
- D.the concerns of science and technology are the same in all countries
- E.each nation must plan its development according to its needs and resources.
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: E (each nation must plan its development according to its needs and resources.)
Explanation
The writer says developing countries need not copy the developed ones; their solutions must suit their own resources, values, place and time. Each nation must plan by its own needs.