Cloning (克隆): Future Perfect?

1 A clone is an exact copy of a plant or animal produced from any one cell. Since Scottish scientists reported that they had managed to clone a sheep named Dolly in 1997, research into cloning has grown rapidly. In May 1998, scientists in Massachusetts managed to create two identical calves (牛犊) using cloning technology. A mouse has also been cloned successfully. But the debate over cloning humans really started when Chicago physicist Richard Seed made a surprising announcement: "We will have managed to clone a human being within the next two years," he told the world.

2 Seed's announcement provoked a lot of media attention, most of it negative. In Europe, nineteen nations have already signed an agreement banning human cloning and in the US the President announced: 'We will be introducing a law to ban all human cloning and many states in the US will have passed anti-cloning laws by the end of the year."

3 Many researchers are not so negative about cloning. They are worried that laws banning human cloning will threaten important research. In March, The New England Journal of Medicine called any plan to ban research on cloning humans seriously mistaken. Many researchers also believe that in spite of attempts to ban it, human cloning will have become routine by 2010 because it is impossible to stop the progress of science.

4 Is there reason to fear that cloning will lead to a nightmare world? The public has been bombarded (轰炸) with newspaper articles, television shows and films, as well as cartoons. Such information is often misleading, and makes people wonder what on earth the scientists will be doing next.

5 Within the next five to ten years scientists will probably have found a way of cloning humans, it could be that pretty soon we will be able to choose the person that we want our child to look like. But how would it feel to be a clone among hundreds, the anti-cloners ask. Pretty cool, answer the pro-cloners (赞成克隆的人).

1 Paragraph 1　　　　　 .

2 Paragraph 2 　　　　　.

3 Paragraph 3　　　　　 .

4 Paragraph 4 　　　　　.

A Strong reactions

B Anxiety about the future of cloning

C The right to choose

D What is cloning?

E Arguments in favor of cloning

F A common sight

5 Richard Seed claimed to be able to clone　　　　　 .

6 Richard Seed's announcement received 　　　　　.

7 The United States will introduce　　　　　 .

8 Within ten years scientists will probably have　　　　　 .

A the nucleus of a cell

B cloned human beings

C a human being in two years

D a law to ban human cloning

E a report on human cloning

F heavy media coverage

【参考答案】

1. D 2. A 3. E 4. B

5. C 6. F 7. D 8. B

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