Cats have a long and interesting history．In fact, the cat was probably the first animal kept as a pet．The Egyptians worshiped cats．In Europe cats were praised for their ability to catch rats and mice．They were much in demand during the Black Plague illnesses of the 11th century．In the Middle Ages cats lost much of their appeal because they became connected with devil worship．Many cats lost their lives and gave rise to superstition(迷信)still held by some people today．The American Indian did not appear to keep cats as pets, so it wasn’t until the white settlers came from Europe that cats were kept as pets in America．The colonists, like the Europeans, found cats helpful in controlling rats and mice．
(1)
Through the ages, the cat ________．
[ ]
A．
has been a favorite cat
B．
has been both prized and hated
C．
has been valued for its intelligence
D．
has been kept by all races of people
(2)
Which sentence best expresses the main idea?
[ ]
A．
Cats have a long and interesting history．
B．
In fact, the cat was probably the first animal kept as a pet．
C．
The Egyptians worshiped cats．
D．
Many cats lost their lives and gave rise to superstition still held by some people today．
(3)
In this paragraph the writer ________．
[ ]
A．
explains why the cat was the first animal kept by man
B．
defends the importance of cats in the home
C．
compares the cat with other animals
D．
traces(追溯)man’s attitudes about cats to the present time
Rome－Doctors and medical groups around the world last weekend reacted with strong opposition(反对)to the news that an Italian specialist is on the brink of cloning the first human baby．
Dr．Severino Antinori, who is the head of a hospital in Rome, has been referred to in an Arab newspaper as claiming(声称)that one of his patients is eight weeks pregnant(怀孕)with a cloned baby．
Antinori refused to comment on the reports, but in March 2001 he said he hoped to produce a cloned embryo(卵)for implantation within two years．So far seven different kinds of mammals have already successfully cloned, including sheep, cats and most recently rabbits．
Doctors showed their doubt and were strongly opposed although they admitted that human cloning would finally come true unless there was a worldwide ban on the practice．
Professor Rudolf Janise, head of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said：“I find it astonishing that people do this where the result can be foretold that it will not be a normal baby．It is using humans as guinea pigs．It makes people feel sick．”
But Ronald Green, director of the Ethics Institute at Darmouth College in the US, said it is unlikely that an eight-week-old pregnancy would lead to a birth．
So far all cloned animals have suffered from some different serious disorders, many of them dying soon after their births．
Doctors are opposed to human cloning because they are worried about the welfare of the cloned child if there is one．
“There are no benefits of cloned human beings, just harm, ”said Dr Michael Wilks of the UK．
(1)
What do the underlined words “on the brink of” in the first paragraph most probably mean?
[ ]
A．
On the side of．
B．
On the point of．
C．
In search of．
D．
In favor of．
(2)
What is the doctors’ general attitude to cloning of humans according to the passage?
[ ]
A．
They are against it．
B．
They support it．
C．
They welcome it．
D．
They pay no attention to it．
(3)
What does the underlined word “ban” in the fourth paragraph most probably mean?
[ ]
A．
Order that forbids cloning．
B．
Suggestion to carrying on cloning．
C．
Anger at cloning．
D．
Cheer for cloning．
(4)
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
[ ]
A．
Doctor Severion Antinori is strongly opposed to cloning human beings．
B．
Up to now, seven kinds of animals have been cloned, including sheep, cats, humans and rabbits．
C．
Professor Rudolf Jaenisch carrying on an experiment on cloning an eight-week-old embryo．
D．
Ronald Green doubts about the future successful birth of the so-called cloned embryo．
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