Traditionally, universities have carried out two main activities: research and teaching. M

any experts would argue that both these activities play a critical role in serving the community. The fundamental question, however, is: how does the community want or need to be served？

In recent years universities have been coming under increasing pressure from both the governments, and the public to ensure that they do not remain "ivory towers"(象牙塔) of study separated from the realities of everyday life. University teachers have been encouraged, and in some cases constrained(强逼), to provide more courses which produce graduates with the technical skills required for the commercially useful purpose. If Aristotle wanted to work in university in the UK today, he would have a good chance of teaching computer science but would not be so readily employable as a philosopher.

A postindustrial society requires large numbers of computer programmers, engineers, managers and technicians to maintain and develop its economic growth but "man", as the Bible says, "does not live by bread alone." Apart from requiring medical and social services, which do not directly contribute to economic growth, the society should also value and enjoy literature, music and the arts. A successful musical play, for instance, can contribute as much to the Gross National Product through tourist dollars as any other things.

The main idea of the first paragraph is that ______.

A．universities must meet the needs of the society

B．universities play an important role in our society

C．research and teaching are of great importance in universities

D．traditional universities do a good job serving the society