Nowadays more and more people are talking about genetically modified foods(GM foods).GM foods develop from genetically modified organisms(有机体), which have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques.These techniques are much more precise where an organis m is exposed to chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change.For many people, the high-tech production raises all kinds of environmental, ethical(伦理的), health and safety problems.Particularly in countries with long farming traditions, the idea seems against nature.
In fact, GM foods are already very much a part of our lives.They were first put on the market in 1996.A third of the corn and more than half the cotton grown in the U.S.last year was the product of biotechnology, according to the Department of Agriculture.More than 65 million acres of genetically modified crops will be planted in the U.S.this year.The genetic genie is out of the bottle.
However, like any new product entering the food chain, GM foods must be subjected to careful testing.In wealthy countries, the debate about biotech is not so fierce by the fact that they have a large number of foods to choose from, and a supply that goes beyond the needs.In developing countries desperate to feed fast-growing and underfed populations, the matter is simpler and much more urgent:do the benefits of biotech outweigh the risks?
The statistics on population growth and hunger are disturbing.Last year the world ' s population reached 6 billion.The U.N.states that nearly 800 million people around the world are unhealthy.About 400 million women of childbearing age don' t have enough iron, which means their babies are exposed to various birth defeats.As many as 100 million children suffer from vitamin A deficiency, a leading cause of blindness.
How can biotech help? Genetic engineering is widely used to produce plants and animals with better nutritional values.Biotechnologists have developed genetically modified rice and they are working on other kinds of nutritionally improved crops.Biotech can also improve farming productivity in places where food shortages are caused by prop damage attributable to drought, poor soil and crop viruses.
(1)
The passage mainly talks about ________.
[ ]
A.
the world' s food problem
B.
the development in biotech
C.
the genetically modified foods
D.
the way to solve food shortages
(2)
According to the passage, GM foods ________.
[ ]
A.
will replace naturally grown foods
B.
are far better than naturally grown foods
C.
may help to solve the problem of poor nutrition
D.
can cause serious trouble in developing countries
(3)
The underlined sentence "The genetic genie is out of the bottle." in Paragraph 2 probably means that ________.
[ ]
A.
GM foods are available everywhere
B.
the technology in producing GM foods is advanced
C.
genetic technology may have uncontrollable powers
D.
genetic technology has come out of laboratories into markets
Watching 3D films such as Avatar could give some viewers headaches, experts have warned.
The success of James Cameron's science-fiction blockbuster(卖座的大片), which has already taken more than $1 billion(£600 million)at the box office, is fuelling a surge in popularity for three-dimensional movies and new 3D television sets.
But prolonged viewing may result in an aching head, according to Dr Michael Rosenberg, an ophthalmology(眼科学)professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
He said:"There are a lot of people walking around with very minor eye problems, for example a minor muscle imbalance, which under normal circumstances the brain deals with naturally."
Watching a 3D movie confronts viewers with an entirely new sensory experience."That translates into greater mental effort, making it easier to get a headache," he said.
Dr Deborah Friedman, a professor of ophthalmology and neurology(神经学)at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, said:"If your eyes are a little off to begin with then it's really throwing a whole degree of effort that your brain now needs to exert.This disparity for some people will give them a headache."
Experts say there are no studies tracking how common it is to get a headache after watching a 3D film.
Rick Heineman, a spokesman for RealD, which provides 3D equipment to cinemas, said headaches and nausea were the main reasons 3D technology never took off before.
But he said new digital technology addresses many of the problems that had previously caused sore heads.
(1)
What can we learn from what Dr Michael Rosenberg said?
[ ]
A.
A lot of people prefer walking around with very minor eye problems to sitting silently watching 3D films.
B.
The brain can deal with very minor eye problems under normal circumstances naturally.
C.
A lot of people haven’t got very minor eye problems when viewing films under normal circumstances.
D.
People come into very minor eye problems and a minor muscle imbalance when watching 3D films.
(2)
What does the underlined word “prolonged” in the 3rd paragraph mean?
[ ]
A.
continuous
B.
constant
C.
regular
D.
long-time
(3)
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
[ ]
A.
It has taken less than $1 billion to make the popularity of three-dimensional movies and new 3D television sets.
B.
Watching a 3D movie leaves viewers confronted with an entirely new sensory experience.
C.
There are studies tracking how common it is to get a headache after watching a 3D film.
D.
Rick Heineman said that 3D technology would never take off headaches and nausea in future.
(4)
What’s the main idea of the passage?
[ ]
A.
The expert warns the readers not to watch 3D films because of resulting in an aching head.
B.
New digital technology gives viewers headaches and eye problems.
C.
The experts are studying how to get rid of many of the problems that have previously caused sore heads.
D.
Viewing 3D films may result in some side-effect problems such as headaches.
阅读理解
Below is a web page from http://www.tvguide.com/.
Tonight's TV Hot List:Sunday January 31, 2010
Grammy Awards 8/7c CBS
Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are ready to take home a lot of hardware tonight as they lead all artists with 10 and eight nominations.The ladies also perform, along with fellow Album of the Year nominees the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga and the Dave Matthews Band.In addition, Bon Jovi, Green Day, Lady Antebellum, Maxwell, Pink and Zac Brown Band will also take the stage.But perhaps the most expected moment is the Michael Jackson tribute(吊唁礼物), which features the 3-D mini-movie "Earth Song" and will be highlighted by performers Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood and Usher.
Maurer 9/8c NBC
A mysterious company named Sabre, headed by an attractive, stubborn CEO(Kathy Bates), appears out of nowhere and buys out(买断股份)Dunder Mifflin.As Michael is unwilling to follow Sabre's new policies, Andy and Erin write a welcome song to greet the company.Meanwhile, Pam and Jim hope to get accepted into a desired local day-care center.
Surviving Survivor 8/7c CBS
It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the first season of Survivor.But tonight ten of the game's most iconic players, including previous winners Richard Hatch, Parvati Shallow and Tom Westman, discuss the series in detail and provide insights into how the game is actually played and the impact it's had on their lives.In addition, updates on beloved former castaways, like Ethan Zohn, Rupert Boneham and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, are given.
Private Practice 10∶01/9∶01c ABC
So Maya's pregnant and wants to have the baby.What to do now? Dink(Stephen Lunsford), the boy who did his part to get her into this mess, has a solution:He wants to marry her.You can imagine how Sam and Naomi will feel about that.And if that won't raise the histrionic level enough for you, how about this:A couple has two dying daughters, and only one can be saved.Their choice.And Brian Benben is back, so expect more Pete-Violet- Sheldon angst.
(1)
Edna is crazy about pop stars, so she will most likely choose ________ to enjoy.
[ ]
A.
Grammy Awards
B.
Maurer
C.
Surviving Survivor
D.
Private Practice
(2)
From the passage, we can learn that Dunder Mifflin is ________.
[ ]
A.
a CEO
B.
a company
C.
an employee in the company
D.
a piece of office equipment
(3)
According to the passage, Surviving Survivor is most probably ________.