Passage APassage A
• Think About It
• Read About It
• Talk About It
• Write About It
1. What kind of people favor the cloning science to proceed?
Reference:Reference:
Infertile people who cannot have babies otherwise, people Infertile people who cannot have babies otherwise, people suffering fatal diseases, and some religious people suffering fatal diseases, and some religious people seeking immortality.seeking immortality.
2. For what reasons do most governments prohibit cloning?
Reference:Reference:
Most governments prohibit cloning mainly because it is Most governments prohibit cloning mainly because it is against nature and causes ethical problems. Besides, the against nature and causes ethical problems. Besides, the failure rate of cloning is very high.failure rate of cloning is very high.
Read About ItRead About It
• Language Points
• Content Awareness
• Language Focus
Not Now, Dr. Not Now, Dr. Miracle
Severino Antinori is a rich Italian do
ctor with a string of private fertility clinic
s to his name. He likes watching footbal
l and claims the Catholic faith.
Yet the Vatican is no fan of his science.
In his clinics, Antinori already
offers every IVF treatment under the Sun, but still there are couples he
cannot help. So now the man Italians call Dr Miracle is offering to clone
his patients to create the babies they so desperately want.
And of course it’s created quite a stir, with other scientists rounding on Antinori as religious leaders line up to attack his cloning plan as an insult to human dignity. Yet it’s an ambition Antinori has expressed many times before. What’s new is that finally it seems to be building a head of steam. Like-minded scientists from the US have joined Antinori in his cloning adventure. At a conference in Rome last week they claimed hundreds of couples have already volunteered for the experiments.
Antinori shot to fame seven years ago helping grandmothers give birth using donor eggs. Later he pioneered the use of mice to nurture the sperm of men with poor fertility. He is clearly no ordinary scientist but a showman who thrives on controversy and pushing reproductive biology to the limits. And that of course is one reason why he’s seen as being so dangerous.
However, his idea of using cloning to combat infertility is not as mad as it sounds. Many people have a hard job seeing the point of reproductive cloning. But for some couples, cloning represents the only hope of having a child carrying their genes, and scientists like Antinori are probably right to say that much of our opposition to cloning as a fertility treatment is irrational. In future we may want to change our minds and allow it in special circumstances.
But only when the science is ready. And that’s the real problem. Five years on from Dolly, the science of cloning is still stuck in the dark ages. The failure rate is a shocking 97 per cent and deformed babies all too common. Even when cloning works, nobody understands why. So forget the complex moral arguments. To begin cloning people now, before even the most basic questions have been answered, is simply a waste of time and energy.
This is not to say that Antinori will f
ail, only that if he succeeds it is likely to
be at an unacceptably high price. Hundr
eds of eggs and embryos will be wasted
and lots of women will go
through difficult pregnancies resulting in miscarriages or abortions.
A few years from now techniques will have improved and the wastefu
l loss won’t be as excessive. But right now there seems to be little an
yone can do to keep the cloners at bay.
And it’s not just Antinori and his team who are eager to go. A reli
gious group called the Raelians believes cloning is the key to achievin
g immortality, and it, too, claims to have the necessary egg donors an
d volunteers willing to be implanted with cloned embryos.
So what about tougher laws? Implanting cloned human embryos i
s already illegal in many countries but it will never be prohibited every
where. In any case, the prohibition of cloning is more likely to drive it
underground than stamp it out. Secrecy is already a problem. Antinori
and his team are refusing to name the country they’ll be using as thei
r base. Like it or not, the research is going ahead. Sooner or later we ar
e going to have to decide whether regulation is safer than prohibition.
Antinori would go for regulation, of course. He believes it is only a
matter of time before we lose our hang-ups about reproductive clonin
g and accept it as just another IVF technique. Once the first baby is b
orn and it cries, he said last week, the world will embrace it.
But the world will never embrace the first cloned baby if it is unhe
althy or deformed or the sole survivor of hundreds of pregnancies. In
jumping the gun, Dr Miracle and his colleagues are taking one hell of a
risk. If their instincts are wrong, the backlash against cloning — and in
deed science as a whole — could be catastrophic.
(704 words)
ExamplesExamples
• The Great Wall is a The Great Wall is a miraclemiracle of architecture. of architecture.
• A car ran over the child, but by a A car ran over the child, but by a miraclemiracle, he was , he was unhurt.unhurt.
miraclemiracle nn. .
—— an unusual and mysterious event that cannot be an unusual and mysterious event that cannot be explained by the laws of nature explained by the laws of nature
stringstring nn. .
—— 1)1) a series of related or similar eventsa series of related or similar events2)2) (a) narrow cord used to tie, fasten, etc.(a) narrow cord used to tie, fasten, etc.
ExamplesExamples
• The curious boy asked a The curious boy asked a stringstring of questions. of questions.
• The red peppers were all threaded on The red peppers were all threaded on stringsstrings and and hung over the door of the house.hung over the door of the house.
Yet the Yet the VaticanVatican is no fan of his science is no fan of his science
More to learnMore to learn
Vatican is the residence of Vatican is the residence of the pope at Rome. Since 1929, the pope at Rome. Since 1929, the Vatican City has been an the Vatican City has been an independent state (108.7 independent state (108.7 acres/44 hectares), with the acres/44 hectares), with the pope as its absolute ruler. pope as its absolute ruler.
VaticanVatican
Yet the Vatican is no fan of his scienceYet the Vatican is no fan of his science
Yet the Roman Catholic Church opposes his practice.Yet the Roman Catholic Church opposes his practice.
ExamplesExamples
• The boy seems to have an opinion on every subject The boy seems to have an opinion on every subject under the sununder the sun..
• You cannot detect all the sins You cannot detect all the sins under the sununder the sun..
under the sununder the sun
—— (used for giving force to an expression) (used for giving force to an expression) on the earth; on the earth; in in the world the world
TranslateTranslate
她是我在那里最最没有预料会见到的人。她是我在那里最最没有预料会见到的人。KeyKey
She is the last person She is the last person under the sununder the sun I expected to see I expected to see there.there.
stirstir n.n.
— — (public) excitement(public) excitement
ExamplesExamples
• The coming of the queen caused a great The coming of the queen caused a great stirstir in the city. in the city.
• The news caused a The news caused a stirstir of interest on the Stock of interest on the Stock Exchange. Exchange.
line upline up
—— to (cause to) move into a row, side by side or one to (cause to) move into a row, side by side or one behind the other behind the other
ExamplesExamples
• The photographer The photographer lined uplined up the family members for a the family members for a picture.picture.
• People were People were lining uplining up there to get a sample of the new there to get a sample of the new product.product.
conferenceconference n.n.
—— a meeting for consultation or discussiona meeting for consultation or discussion
ExamplesExamples
• I’m attending a I’m attending a conferenceconference the whole next week. the whole next week.
• The press The press conferencesconferences was immediately held after the was immediately held after the peace talk.peace talk.
famefame n.n.
—— the condition of being well known and talked about; the condition of being well known and talked about; renownrenown
ExamplesExamples
• The writer’s third novel was a hit and his The writer’s third novel was a hit and his famefame soon soon spread all over the world.spread all over the world.
• The young politician is anxious for The young politician is anxious for famefame, not for the , not for the benefits of those people he represents.benefits of those people he represents.
controversycontroversy n.n.
—— (a) fierce argument or disagreement about something, (a) fierce argument or disagreement about something, esp. one that is carried on in publicesp. one that is carried on in public
ExamplesExamples
• The first cloned sheep gives rise to much The first cloned sheep gives rise to much controversycontroversy..
• It’s beyond It’s beyond controversycontroversy that the computers can’t that the computers can’t really think.really think.
TranslateTranslate
The lie detector tests have been the subject of much The lie detector tests have been the subject of much controversy.controversy.
KeyKey
测谎试验一直是人颇有争议的题目。测谎试验一直是人颇有争议的题目。
More to learnMore to learn
controversycontroversy n.n.
—— (a) fierce argument or disagreement about something, (a) fierce argument or disagreement about something, esp. one that is carried on in publicesp. one that is carried on in public
controversialcontroversial a.a.
—— causing much argument or disagreement causing much argument or disagreement
ExampleExample
• This is a controversial book.This is a controversial book.
Many people have a hard job seeing the point of reproductive Many people have a hard job seeing the point of reproductive cloning.cloning.
TranslateTranslate
很多人还难以理解利用克隆进行生育的意义很多人还难以理解利用克隆进行生育的意义。。
representrepresent v.v.
—— to act or speak officially for (another person or group to act or speak officially for (another person or group of people)of people)
ExamplesExamples
• The stars in the flag of the United States The stars in the flag of the United States representrepresent the the States.States.
• Women were poorly Women were poorly representedrepresented in the new in the new government.government.
More to learnMore to learn
Fill in the blankFill in the blank
• A person who has been chosen to act in place of one or A person who has been chosen to act in place of one or more others is called ________________.more others is called ________________.
representrepresent v.v.
—— to act or speak officially for (another person or group to act or speak officially for (another person or group of people)of people)
representativerepresentative
treatmenttreatment n.n.
—— 1)1) medical attention; curemedical attention; cure
2)2) behavior towards somebodybehavior towards somebody
ExamplesExamples
• No effective No effective treatmenttreatment can cure AIDS so far. can cure AIDS so far.
• The old lady’s The old lady’s treatmenttreatment to her pet cat is just like the to her pet cat is just like the one to her family members.one to her family members.
ExamplesExamples
• The The irrationalirrational reaction to the loss of the football game reaction to the loss of the football game caused serious consequences.caused serious consequences.
• My wife is an My wife is an irrationalirrational consumer — she cannot resist consumer — she cannot resist cheap prices and always buys goods we do not need.cheap prices and always buys goods we do not need.
irrationalirrational a.a. —— contrary or opposed to reasoncontrary or opposed to reason
Five years on from Dolly, the science of cloning is still stuck in Five years on from Dolly, the science of cloning is still stuck in the dark ages.the dark ages.
TranslateTranslate
克隆羊多利出生五年了,克隆技术却一直见不到曙光。克隆羊多利出生五年了,克隆技术却一直见不到曙光。
deformdeform v.v.
— — to spoil the form or appearance ofto spoil the form or appearance of
ExamplesExamples
• If the shoes are too tight, they will If the shoes are too tight, they will deformdeform your feet. your feet.
• Sitting incorrectly for long periods of time can Sitting incorrectly for long periods of time can deformdeform your spine.your spine.
Can you translate the following words into Chinese?Can you translate the following words into Chinese?
formform
reformreform
transformtransform
v. 形成;组成 v. 形状;形式n. v. 改革n. v. 转换
ExamplesExamples
• He got into an He got into an argumentargument with Jeff in the pub last with Jeff in the pub last night.night.
• A careful A careful argumentargument for extraterrestrial life has been for extraterrestrial life has been presented.presented.
argumentargument n.n.
— — disagreement; quarreldisagreement; quarrel
excessiveexcessive a.a.
—— too much; too great; going beyond what is reasonable too much; too great; going beyond what is reasonable or rightor right
ExamplesExamples
• ExcessiveExcessive drinking may cause damage on the brain. drinking may cause damage on the brain.
• An An excessiveexcessive price may affect our market share. price may affect our market share.
TranslateTranslate
他对服装的兴趣太过分。他对服装的兴趣太过分。KeyKey
He takes an excessive interest in clothes.He takes an excessive interest in clothes.
keep … at bay keep … at bay
—— to prevent from coming nearto prevent from coming near
ExampleExample
• I’m trying to keep my creditors at bay.I’m trying to keep my creditors at bay.
Raelian Raelian
—— The Raelian Religion, founded by Rael (a French The Raelian Religion, founded by Rael (a French jourjournalist formerly called Claude Vorilhon) in 1973, nalist formerly called Claude Vorilhon) in 1973, believes believes that life on earth was created by that life on earth was created by extraterrestrials, and extraterrestrials, and supports human cloning. supports human cloning.
implantimplant v.v.
—— to put something into a living body in a medical to put something into a living body in a medical operation operation
ExamplesExamples
• It can help a lot for the patients with heart disease to It can help a lot for the patients with heart disease to implantimplant a pacemaker. a pacemaker.
• An animal organ was An animal organ was implantedimplanted into the patient’s into the patient’s body.body.
illegalillegal a.a.
—— prohibited by lawprohibited by law
ExamplesExamples
• Some Some illegalillegal immigrants risk their lives to get into immigrants risk their lives to get into developed countries.developed countries.
• It’s It’s illegalillegal for teenagers to drink in pubs. for teenagers to drink in pubs.
Can you find a word with the prefix “Can you find a word with the prefix “il-il-”?”?
??ReferencesReferences
illiterateilliterate illogicalillogical
prohibitprohibit v.v.
— — to forbid, to issue a law against somethingto forbid, to issue a law against something
ExamplesExamples
• Smoking is strictly Smoking is strictly prohibitedprohibited in public buildings. in public buildings.
• Children under 18 are Children under 18 are prohibitedprohibited from buying from buying cigarettes.cigarettes.
ExamplesExamples
• Do you think this new law will Do you think this new law will stamp outstamp out the illegal the illegal drugs trade?drugs trade?
• This country is making great efforts to This country is making great efforts to stamp outstamp out terrorism. terrorism.
stamp out stamp out
—— to put an end to (usu. something bad) completelyto put an end to (usu. something bad) completely
sooner or later sooner or later
—— at some time certainly; one day whether soon or at some time certainly; one day whether soon or (much) later (much) later
TranslateTranslate
你如果作弊,迟早总会被发现的。你如果作弊,迟早总会被发现的。KeyKey
If you cheat, you’ll be found out sooner or later.If you cheat, you’ll be found out sooner or later.
go forgo for
— — to like or be attracted byto like or be attracted by
ExamplesExamples
• Many of her readers Many of her readers go forgo for romance and mystery. romance and mystery.
• The young tend to The young tend to go forgo for adventures while the elderly adventures while the elderly prefer security.prefer security.
TranslateTranslate
你喜欢现代音乐吗?你喜欢现代音乐吗?KeyKey
Do you go for modern music?Do you go for modern music?
More to learnMore to learn
go forgo for
— — to like or be attracted byto like or be attracted by
ExampleExample
• All my hard work All my hard work went for nothingwent for nothing..
go for nothinggo for nothing
— — to be wasted; have no resultto be wasted; have no result
More to learnMore to learn
go forgo for
— — to like or be attracted byto like or be attracted by
ExampleExample
• Several people Several people went in forwent in for the race. the race.
go for nothinggo for nothing
— — to be wasted; have no resultto be wasted; have no result
go in for go in for
— — to take part in; enterto take part in; enter
embraceembrace v.v.
— — to accept (an idea); make use ofto accept (an idea); make use of
ExamplesExamples
• Nowadays more and more Westerners Nowadays more and more Westerners embrace embrace oriental culture.oriental culture.
• The child is encouraged to The child is encouraged to embraceembrace every opportunity. every opportunity.
solesole a.a.
— — being the only one; onlybeing the only one; only
ExamplesExamples
• He is the He is the solesole owner of the basketball club. owner of the basketball club.
• The The solesole survivor of the accident was found in the survivor of the accident was found in the water six hours later.water six hours later.
jump the gunjump the gun
— — to take action too soon or before the proper timeto take action too soon or before the proper time
ExamplesExamples
• I know he’s a suspect, but isn’t it I know he’s a suspect, but isn’t it jumping the gunjumping the gun a a bit to arrest him immediately?bit to arrest him immediately?
• They They jumped the gunjumped the gun by rushing out of the classroom by rushing out of the classroom before permission had been given.before permission had been given.
instinctinstinct a.a.
—— (a) natural ability or tendency to act in a certain way, (a) natural ability or tendency to act in a certain way, without having to learn or think about itwithout having to learn or think about it
ExamplesExamples
• Birds learn to fly by Birds learn to fly by instinctinstinct..
• Crying is an Crying is an instinctinstinct in humans. in humans.