Every pet owner loves his pet.There is no argument here.
But when we asked our readers whether they would clone(克隆,复制)their beloved animals, the responses(反应)were split almost down the middle.Of the 228 readers who answered it, 108 would clone, 111 would not and nine weighed each side without offering an opinion.
Clearly, from readers’ response, this is an issue that reaches deeply into both the joy and final sadness of owning a pet.It speaks, as well, to people’s widely differing expectations over the developing scientific procedure.
Most of the respondents who favored the idea strongly believed it would produce at least a close copy of the original; many felt the process would actually return an exact copy.Those on the other side, however, held little hope a clone could never truly recreate a pet, many simply didn’t wish to go against the natural law of life and death.
Both sides expressed equal love for their animals.More than a few respondents owned “the best dog/cat in the world”.They thought of their pets as their “best friend”, “a member of the family,” “the light of my life.” They told moving stories of pets’ heroism, intelligence and selfless devotion.
Then the loss is so disturbing---and the cloning so attractive.“People become very close to their animals, and the loss can be just as hard to bear as when a friend or family member dies,” says Gary Kowalski, author of Goodbye, Friend:Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet.“For me, cloning feels like an attempt to turn death away…It’s understandable.Death is always painful.It’s difficult to deal with.It’s hard to accept.”
But would cloning reduce the blow? This question seemed to be at the heart of this problem.
(1)
So far as the cloning of pets is concerned, a recent survey shows that, of all pet owners, ________.
[ ]
A.
a lot more of them are for it
B.
a lot more of them are against it
C.
very few of them are willing to tell their opinions
D.
about half of them are for it and the other half against it
(2)
While talking about the respondents from the readers, the expression “final sadness of owning a pet” refers to ________.
[ ]
A.
the death of one’s pet
B.
the high cost of owning a pet
C.
the troubles one has to deal with in keeping a pet
D.
the dangers about the cloning of a pet
(3)
From what Gary Kowalski says, we can know that he ________.
[ ]
A.
has never thought about the problem of cloning
B.
is going to write another book on pets
C.
is in favor of the idea of cloning pets
D.
is all against the cloning of pets
(4)
What is the key question at the heart of the problem of cloning pets?
[ ]
A.
Can cloning make the pain one suffers less when a pet dies?
B.
Can pet owners afford the cost of cloning?
C.
Does cloning go against the law of nature?
D.
How reliably does cloning produce an exact copy of one’s pet?
The China National Opera(CNO)will give a concert to celebrate its 50th birthday.
Different generations of CNO vocalists, like Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei, will present the concert which will feature both songs from famous Chinese operas like “The White-haired Girl” and “The Hundredth Bride”, as well as, arias of such Western opera classics as “Madame Butterfly”, “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto”.
Time/date:7∶30 pm, September 7, 8
Location:Tianqiao Theatre
Tel:6551-4787, 8315-6170
Tickets:60-500 yuan(US $7.2-60.2)
Folk music
A concert will be held to feature some recently composed traditional Chinese music works.
The concert, given by the Folk Orchestra of the China Opera and Ballet Theatre, will include such pieces as “Memory of Childhood ”, “Memorial Ceremony for God ”and “Wine Song”.
Time/date:7∶30pm, September 13
Location:Concert hall at the National Library of China
Tel:6848 –5462, 6841-9220
Tickets:30-200 yuan(US$3.6-24.1)
Moon music
A concert of traditional Chinese music will be given on the eve of the Moon Festival which falls on September 21st this year.
The concert will feature a number of famous pieces centred on the theme of the moon, such as “Moonlight”, “Spring night on a Moonlit River” and “Lofty Mountain and Flowing River.”
A number of established traditional Chinese music performers like Zhou Yaokun and Fan Weiqing, will play solos as well as collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
Time/date:7∶30 pm, September 21st
Location:Grand Theatre of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities
Tel:6606-8888, 6606-9999
(1)
If you want to buy tickets for listening to the music “Memory of Childhood”, you will dial _________.
[ ]
A.
6551-4787
B.
6848-5462
C.
8315-6170
D.
6606-9999
(2)
Which statement is right according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei stand for the same generation of CNO vocalists.
B.
“Rigoletto” is a famous piece on the theme of the moon.
C.
“Lofty Mountain and Flowing River” is a traditional Chinese music.
D.
Zhou Yaokun will play solos and Fan Weiqing will collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
(3)
“Madame Butterfly” is ________.
[ ]
A.
a Chinese opera
B.
a Western opera
C.
a piece of music
D.
a song
(4)
In which column of a newspaper will the article be published?