We hear a lot about ten pregnancies and abortions. The word “abortion” brings varied images but the word “pregnancy” paints a baby. Everyone knows what a baby is but the difficult question is, when is a baby a baby?

In the first months of pregnancy, called the first trimester, vital organs are being formed. Three months after fertilization, the egg has already divided and is securely attached to the mother. Two weeks later, a simple brain, spine, nervous system and the beginning of some major organs are formed. By week seven, the face and other organs are forming and the heart starts to pump blood. A week later, the face is recognizable, and all the major internal organs are developed in their simple forms. The tongue is formed and fingers are distinct. It moves a lot but many women may not even know they are pregnant. By week twelve, all the internal organs are formed and most are working. Tiny little fingernails and toenails are growing and the baby can curl his toes, make a fist, frown, purse his lips, open and close his mouth, suck, swallow and urinate. Most abortion occurs during this stage of pregnancy.

In the second three months, the second trimester, eyebrows, eyelashes and hair are growing. The heart can be heard with a special device. Arms and legs are well developed. The baby is very active and can respond to noises outside the womb. By the end of this trimester, the limbs are well-developed and the baby tries them out regularly. He can also cough and hiccup. Some abortion are still performed at this stage of pregnancy.

In the final stretch before birth, the third trimester, the baby can already feel and respond very much like a full term baby. Born now, it can survive with special care. In some cases, abortions are still performed at this stage. In fact, in certain countries, partial birth aborted is practiced in which the baby is aborted prior to birth.

Killing a baby outside a mother’s womb, newborn or older, healthy or sickly, is a crime called infanticide. Thus arises the question of when does a baby’s life begin? When is abortion the scraping away of unwanted cells and when is it the snuffing out the flame of life? Is there a magical point somewhere in which a mass of cells becomes a rightful individual? Does birthing somehow mysteriously and instantly confer personhood to a fetus? Moreover, on whose definition and authority does a baby receive the right to complete its quest for life outside the womb? Truly, these are heart questions that each must answer.

The word “pregnancy”         .

is a painting of a baby.            B. brings to mind the image of a baby.

C. is a famous painting of a baby.        D. is the art of drawing a baby.

Which of the following is true within the first months of pregnancy?         .

A. All the vital organs are formed.

B. The egg becomes fertilized.

C. The egg becomes securely attached to the womb.

D. The egg has become more than one egg.

The first trimester of pregnancy represents         .

A. the final preparation for the birth of the baby.

B. the most important stage for developing al the vital organs.

C. the determining of whether the baby will be a boy girl.

D. the addition of details and refinement to the baby.

The second trimester of pregnancy represents         .

the final preparation for the birth of the baby.

the most important stage for developing all the vital organs.

the determining of whether the baby will be a boy or a girl.

the addition of details and refinement to the baby.

The third trimester of pregnancy represents         .

the final preparation for the birth of the baby.

the most important stage for developing all the vital organs.

the determining of whether the baby will be a boy or girl.

the addition of details and refinement to the baby.

In 1977, a dead author of detective stories saved the life of a 19-month-old baby in a most unusual way. The author was Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of detective stories in the world.

In June 1977, a baby girl became seriously ill in Qatar, near Saudi Arabia. Doctors were unable to find out the cause of her illness with confidence, so she was sent to Hammersmith Hospital in London. She was then only semi-conscious and on the "Dangerously Ill" list. A team of doctors hurried to examine the baby only to discover that they, too, were confused by the very unusual symptoms (症状). While they were discussing the baby's case, a nurse asked to speak to them. "Excuse me," said Nurse Marsha Maitlan, "but I think the baby is suffering from thallium (铊) poisoning."

"What makes you think that?" Dr. Brown asked. "Thallium poisoning is extremely rare."

"A few days ago, I was reading a novel called A Pale Horse by Agatha Christie," Nurse Maitlan explained. "In the book, somebody uses thallium poison, and all the symptoms are described. They're exactly the same as the baby's."

"You're very thoughtful and you may be right," another doctor said. "We'll carry out some tests and find out whether it's thallium or not."

Tests showed that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium, a rare metallic substance used in making special glass. Once they knew the cause of the illness, the doctors were able to give the baby the correct treatment. She soon recovered and was sent back to Qatar. Later it was reported that the poison might have come from an insecticide (杀虫剂) used in Qatar.

1.The one who first suggested the correct cause of the baby's illness was _____.

2.As far as we can tell from the passage, Agatha Christie _____.

3.It seems likely from the passage that the baby's illness had something to do with _____.

In 1977, a dead author of detective stories saved the life of a 19-month-old baby in a most unusual way. The author was Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of detective stories in the world.
In June 1977, a baby girl became seriously ill in Qatar, near Saudi Arabia. Doctors were unable to find out the cause of her illness with confidence, so she was sent to Hammersmith Hospital in London. She was then only semi-conscious (半清醒状态) and on the "Dangerously Ill" list. A team of doctors hurried to examine the baby only to discover that they, too, were confused by the very unusual symptoms (症状). While they were discussing the baby's case, a nurse asked to speak to them.
"Excuse me," said Nurse Marsha Maitlan, "but I think the baby is suffering from thallium poisoning. (铊中毒)"
"What makes you think that?" Dr. Brown asked. "Thallium poisoning is extremely rare."
"A few days ago, I was reading a novel called A Pale Horse by Agatha Christie," Nurse Maitlan explained. "In the book, somebody uses thallium poison, and all the symptoms are described. They're exactly the same as the baby's."
"You're very thoughtful and you may be right," another doctor said. "We'll carry out some tests and find out whether it's thallium or not."
Tests showed that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium, a rare metallic substance used in making special glass. Once they knew the cause of the illness, the doctors were able to give the baby the correct treatment. She soon recovered and was sent back to Qatar. Later it was reported that the poison might have come from an insecticide (杀虫剂) used in Qatar.
【小题1】The one who first suggested the correct cause of the baby's illness was _____.

In 1977, a dead author of detective stories saved the life of a 19-month-old baby in a most unusual way. The author was Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of detective stories in the world.

In June 1977, a baby girl became seriously ill in Qatar, near Saudi Arabia. Doctors were unable to find out the cause of her illness with confidence, so she was sent to Hammersmith Hospital in London. She was then only semi-conscious (半清醒状态) and on the "Dangerously Ill" list. A team of doctors hurried to examine the baby only to discover that they, too, were confused by the very unusual symptoms (症状). While they were discussing the baby's case, a nurse asked to speak to them.

"Excuse me," said Nurse Marsha Maitlan, "but I think the baby is suffering from thallium poisoning. (铊中毒)"

"What makes you think that?" Dr. Brown asked. "Thallium poisoning is extremely rare."

"A few days ago, I was reading a novel called A Pale Horse by Agatha Christie," Nurse Maitlan explained. "In the book, somebody uses thallium poison, and all the symptoms are described. They're exactly the same as the baby's."

"You're very thoughtful and you may be right," another doctor said. "We'll carry out some tests and find out whether it's thallium or not."

Tests showed that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium, a rare metallic substance used in making special glass. Once they knew the cause of the illness, the doctors were able to give the baby the correct treatment. She soon recovered and was sent back to Qatar. Later it was reported that the poison might have come from an insecticide (杀虫剂) used in Qatar.

The one who first suggested the correct cause of the baby's illness was _____.

A. a doctor in Qatar               B. Nurse Maitlan

C. Dr. Brown                    D. Agatha Christie

The baby was sent to London because _____.

A. she was born there

B. the hospitals in Qatar were full at that time

C. she was the daughter of a doctor in London

D. the Qatar doctors were not sure whether they could cure her

As far as we can tell from the passage, Agatha Christie _____.

A. had never met this baby

B. had spent a long time studying the baby's case

C. visited the baby in the hospital at Hammersmith

D. gave Nurse Maitlan some advice on the phone

It seems likely from the passage that the baby's illness had something to do with _____.

A. a dangerous pair of glasses

B. the water in Qatar

C. a harmful substance used to kill insects

D. a dead writer

When the baby was sent to the hospital in London, her case was considered to be _____.

A. an urgent one               B. quite a simple one

C. a usual one                 D. the result of thallium poisoning

In 1977, a dead author of detective stories saved the life of a 19-month-old baby in a most unusual way. The author was Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of detective stories in the world.

In June 1977, a baby girl became seriously ill in Qatar, near Saudi Arabia. Doctors were unable to find out the cause of her illness with confidence, so she was sent to Hammersmith Hospital in London. She was then only semi-conscious (半清醒状态) and on the "Dangerously Ill" list. A team of doctors hurried to examine the baby only to discover that they, too, were confused by the very unusual symptoms (症状). While they were discussing the baby's case, a nurse asked to speak to them.

"Excuse me," said Nurse Marsha Maitlan, "but I think the baby is suffering from thallium poisoning. (铊中毒)"

"What makes you think that?" Dr. Brown asked. "Thallium poisoning is extremely rare."

"A few days ago, I was reading a novel called A Pale Horse by Agatha Christie," Nurse Maitlan explained. "In the book, somebody uses thallium poison, and all the symptoms are described. They're exactly the same as the baby's."

"You're very thoughtful and you may be right," another doctor said. "We'll carry out some tests and find out whether it's thallium or not."

Tests showed that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium, a rare metallic substance used in making special glass. Once they knew the cause of the illness, the doctors were able to give the baby the correct treatment. She soon recovered and was sent back to Qatar. Later it was reported that the poison might have come from an insecticide (杀虫剂) used in Qatar.

1.The one who first suggested the correct cause of the baby's illness was _____.

2.The baby was sent to London because _____.

3.As far as we can tell from the passage, Agatha Christie _____.

4.It seems likely from the passage that the baby's illness had something to do with _____.

5.When the baby was sent to the hospital in London, her case was considered to be _____.