【单选题】

Knowledge and Progress

Why does the idea of progress loom so large in the modern world Surely because progress of a particular kind is actually (36) place around us and is becoming (37) manifest.
(38) mankind has undergone no general improvement in intelligence or morality, it has made (39) progress in the accumulation of knowledge. Knowledge began (40) as soon as the thoughts of one individual could be communicated (41) another by (42) of speech.
(43) the invention of writing, a great advance was made, for knowledge could then be not only communicated but also (44) . Libraries made education (45) , and education in its turn added (46) libraries: the growth of knowledge followed a kind of compound interest law, (47) was greatly enhanced by the invention of (48) All this was comparatively slow until, with the coming of science, the tempo (速率) was suddenly (49) . Then knowledge began to be accumulated according to a systematic plan. The trickle became a stream; the stream has now (50) a torrent. Moreover, (51) soon as new knowledge is acquired, it is now turned (52) practical account. What is called modern civilization is not the result of a (53) development of all men’s nature, (54) of accumulated knowledge applied (55) practical life.
A．normal
B．common
C．ordinary
D．extraordinary