Many have reservations,but keep them to themselves .主句
in what they perceive as a climate hostile to the pursuit of understanding for its own sake and the idea of an inquring,creative spirit.
是由名词性从句做介词in宾语.这个部分在句子中当方面状语.
as a climate hostile 是关系代词what的补语,按照中文可以理解为 they perceive what as a climate hostile
to the pursuit of understanding for its own sake and the idea of an inquring,creative spirit.
这里的to the pursuit of ,应该是a climate hostile 的定语.to the pursuit of understanding,and to the pursuit the idea of 的定语
在追求过程中的恶劣环境.
for its own sake 是一个词组.
应该修饰to the pursuit of understanding ,and the idea of an inquring,creative spirit.两个并列成份
不知道是不是这样,我个人的理解.