Einstein's Opinions on Creative Thinking

“The greatest scientists are artists as well,” said Albert Einstein, one of the greatest physicists and an amateur pianist and violinist.

For Einstein, insight did not come from logic or mathematics. 【1】 As he told one friend, “When I examine myself and my methods of thought. I find that the gift of imagination has meant more to me than any talent for absorbing absolute knowledge. All great achievements of science must start from intuitive knowledge. Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

But how did art differ from science for Einstein? Surprisingly, it wasn't the content of an idea, or its subject, that determined whether something was art or science, but how the idea was expressed. If what is seen and experienced is described in the language of logic, then it is science. If it is communicated and recognized intuitively, then it is art. 【2】 That's why he said that great scientists were also artists. Einstein first described his intuitive thought processes at a physics conference in Kyoto in 1922 when he indicated that he used images and feelings to solve his problems and found words, logical symbols or mathematical equations later.

【3】 “If I were not a physicist,” he once said, “I would probably be a musician. I often think in music and I see my life in terms of music. I get most joy in life out of music. Whenever I feel that I have come to the end of the road or into a difficult situation in my work. I would bury myself in music, and that would usually solve all my difficulties.”

Music provided Einstein with a connection between time and space which both combine spatial and structural aspects. “The theory of relativity occurred to me my intuition and music is the driving force behind this intuition”, said Einstein. “My parents had me study the violin from the time I was six. 【4】.”

A.There is no doubt that my theory was a great breakthrough then.

B.Instead, it came from intuition and inspiration

C.For Einstein, it was the humanities that mainly contributed to his achieve-ments.

D.Einstein also owed his scientific insight and intuition mainly to music.

E.My new discovery is the result of musical perception.

F.Einstein himself worked intuitively and expressed himself logically.

【答案】

【1】B

【2】F

【3】D

【4】E

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了爱因斯坦关于创造性思维的观点，对爱因斯坦来说，洞察力来自直觉和灵感，爱因斯坦本人是用直觉工作，用逻辑表达的。所以他说伟大的科学家也是艺术家。爱因斯坦还把他的科学洞察力和直觉主要归功于音乐。音乐为爱因斯坦提供了时间和空间之间的联系，它结合了空间和结构方面。

【1】

根据上文For Einstein, insight did not come from logic or mathematics.可知对爱因斯坦来说，洞察力不是来自逻辑或数学。以及后文I find that the gift of imagination has meant more to me than any talent for absorbing absolute knowledge. All great achievements of science must start from intuitive knowledge. Imagination is more important than knowledge.可知我发现，对我来说，想象力的天赋比吸收绝对知识的天赋更重要。一切伟大的科学成就都必须从直觉知识开始。想象力比知识更重要。由此可知，对爱因斯坦来说，洞察力是来自直觉和灵感的。故B选项“相反，它来自直觉和灵感”符合上下文语境，故选B。

【2】

根据上文Surprisingly, it wasn't the content of an idea, or its subject, that determined whether something was art or science, but how the idea was expressed. If what is seen and experienced is described in the language of logic, then it is science. If it is communicated and recognized intuitively, then it is art.可知令人惊讶的是，决定一件事是艺术还是科学的，不是理念的内容或主题，而是理念如何被表达。如何用逻辑的语言来描述所见所闻，那么这就是科学。如果它被直观地传达和认可，那么它就是艺术。以及后文That's why he said that great scientists were also artists.可知这就是为什么他说伟大的科学家也是艺术家。由此可知，本句承接上文说明，爱因斯坦本人就是用直觉工作，用逻辑表达的。所以他说伟大的科学家也是艺术家。故F选项“爱因斯坦本人就是用直觉工作，用逻辑表达的”符合上下文语境，故选F。

【3】

结合后文I would probably be a musician. I often think in music and I see my life in terms of music. I get most joy in life out of music. Whenever I feel that I have come to the end of the road or into a difficult situation in my work. I would bury myself in music, and that would usually solve all my difficulties.可知我可能会成为一名音乐家。我经常用音乐思考，我从音乐的角度看待我的生活。我生活中最大的乐趣来自音乐。每当我觉得我已经走到了路的尽头或在工作中遇到困难的时候。我会沉浸在音乐中，这通常会解决我所有的困难。由此可知，爱因斯坦认为音乐会解决自己的困难，他将自己科学洞察力和直觉主要归功于音乐。故D选项“爱因斯坦还把他的科学洞察力和直觉主要归功于音乐”符合上下文语境，故选D。

【4】

根据上文 “The theory of relativity occurred to me my intuition and music is the driving force behind this intuition", said Einstein.”可知爱因斯坦说:“我的直觉产生了相对论，音乐是这一直觉背后的驱动力。”由此可知，本句承接上文说明，爱因斯坦认为自己的新发现是音乐在背后驱动，是音乐感知的结果。故E选项“我的新发现是音乐感知的结果”符合上下文语境，故选E。