Research is commonly divided into "applied" and "pure". This classification is arbitrary a

nd loose, but what is usually meant is that applied research is a deliberate investigation of a problem of practical importance, in contradistinction to pure research done to gain knowledge for its own sake. The pure scientist may be said to accept as an act of faith that any scientific knowledge is worth a pursuing for its own sake, and, if pressed, he usually claims that in most instance it is eventually found to be useful. Most of the greatest discoveries, such as the discovery of electricity, X-rays, radium and atomic energy, originated from pure research, which allows the worker to follow unexpected, interesting clues without the intention of achieving results of practical value. In applied research

it is the project which is given support, whereas in pure research it is the man. However, often the distinction between pure and applied research is a superficial one as it may merely depend on whether or not the subject investigated is one of practical importance. For example, the investigation of the life cycle of a protozoon (原生动物) in a pond is pure research, but if the protozoon studied is a parasite of man or domestic animal the research would be termed applied. A more fundamental differentiation, which corresponds only very roughly with the applied and pure classification is (a) that in which the objective is given and the means of obtaining it are sought, and (b) that in which the discovery is first made and then a use for it is sought.

There exists in some circles a certain amount of intellectual snobbery (势利) and tendency to look disdainfully on applied investigation. This attitude is based on the following two false ideas: that new knowledge is only discovered by pure research while applied research merely seeks to apply knowledge already available, and that pure research is a higher intellectual activity because is re- quires greater scientific ability and is more difficult. Both theses ideas are quite wrong. Important new knowledge has frequents, arisen from applied investigations. Usually it is more difficult to get results in applied research than in pure research, because the worker has to stick to and solve a given problem instead of following any promising clue that may turn up. Also in applied research most fields have already been well worked over and many of the easy and obvious things shave been done. Applied research should not be confused with the routine practice of some branch of science where only the application of existing knowledge is attempted. There is need for both pure and applied re- search for they tend to be complementary.

In applied investigation, ______.

A．research workers are allowed to follow unexpected, interesting clues

B．scientists make a discovery first, and then try to use it

C．it is the man who is given support

D．results of practical value are to be achieved