研究生科技英语阅读答案

Unit 1

Genetically Modified Foods—Feed the World?

I. Comprehension and Appreciation

1. What is the author’s overall position on this issue? Is he for or against genetically modified foods?

He is on the side of GM foods, and he thinks that fears that genetically modified, pest-resistant crops might kill good insects as well as bad appear unfounded.

2. Do you know GM foods are already part of our lives? What kind of GM foods have you had? How does the author support the fact that the genetic is out of the bottle? Have you got any clue of allusion and parody used in the expression ―the genetic is out of the bottle‖?

The author uses the fact that a third of the corn and more than half the soybeans and cotton grown in the US last year were the product of biotechnology and more than 65 million acres of genetically modified crops will be planted in the US this year to show the genetic is out of the bottle.

It is frome Genie in a Bottle, the first hit single and signature song from Christina Aguilera’s debut album.

3. The entry of GM foods into the food chain raises the debate about biotech in many countries, what is the general attitude of wealthy countries toward this issue? What about the developing countries on this issue?

In wealthy countries, the debate about biotech is tempered by the fact that we have a rich array of foods to choose from -- and a supply that far exceeds our needs. In developing countries desperate to feed fast-growing and underfed populations; the issue is simpler and much more urgent: Do the benefits of biotech outweigh the risks? 4. What are the effects of the fact that nearly 800 million people around the world are undernourished?

The effects are devastating. About 400 million women of childbearing age are iron deficient, which means their babies are exposed to various birth defects. As many as 100 million children suffer from vitamin A deficiency, a leading cause of blindness. Tens of millions of people suffer from other major ailments and nutritional deficiencies caused by lack of food.

5. How can biotech help to cure the children with vitamin A deficiency?

Biotechnologists have developed genetically modified rice that is fortified with beta-carotene -- which the body converts into vitamin A -- and additional iron. 6. How do you like the GM, pest-resistant crops? How does the author support the idea that fears that GM, pest-resistant crops might kill good insects as well as bad appear groundless?

The GM, pest-resistant crops can improve farming productivity in places where food shortages are caused by crop damage attribution to pests, drought, poor soil and crop viruses, bacteria or fungi. They are quite amazing and seemingly a mircle.

The author uses 2 examples to support his idea that fears that GM, pest-resistant crops might kill good insects as well as bad appear groundless:

(1). The European corn borer, for example, destroys 40 million tons of the world's corn crop annually, about 7% of the total. Incorporating pest-resistant genes into seeds can help restore the balance.

(2). In trials of pest-resistant cotton in Africa, yields have increased significantly.

7. How does biotech help to solve the problem of crop failures due to viruses, droughts and soils with excess aluminum?

By incorporating varieties of genes into the seeds, biotech can help to create virus-resistant crops, which can reduce that damage, as can drought-tolerant seeds in regions where water shortages limit the amount of land under cultivation. Biotech can also help solve the problem of soil that contains excess aluminum, which can damage roots and cause many staple-crop failures. A gene that helps neutralize aluminum toxicity in rice has been identified.

8. Is biotech the only chance for developing countries to overcome hunger?

Biotech is far from being the whole answer. In developing countries, lost crops are only one cause of hunger. Poverty plays the largest role.

9. What problems is biotech confronted with? Are there some companies responding to the needs of poor countries? How did they help the poor countries?

Biotech has its own \rich countries carry out much of the leading-edge research on genetically modified crops. Their products are often too costly for poor farmers in the developing world, and many of those products won't even reach the regions where they are most needed. To our great joy and ease, there are some of these companies responding to needs of poor countries. A London-based company, for example, has announced that it will share with developing countries technology needed to produce vitamin-enriched \

10. If GM foods fail to transform agriculture in many developing countries, what is the daunting question the author visualizes for the developing countries? Why is it daunting?

Biotech is not a panacea, but it does promise to transform agriculture in many developing countries. If that promise is not fulfilled, the real losers will be their people, who could suffer for years to come. II. Vocabulary

1. alternative 2. modification 3. devastating 4. rigorous 5. collaborate

6. recoup 7. incentive 8. restriction 9. subjected to 10. array of 11. attribute … to 12. being exposed…to 13. incorporate… into 14. fortified with 15. suffers from

III. Translation

(1) vocal green lobbies 主张环保的游说集团

arable land 耕地面积 vitamin A deficiency 缺乏维生素A

nutritionally improved crops 增进营养成分的农作物 restore the balance 避免这一损失 staple crops主要粮食作物

neutralize aluminum toxicity中和铝的毒性 overall crop productivity农业总产量 transport infrastructures运输基础设施

target rich markets把富裕国家的市场作为目标

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