WHY GM IS GOOD FOR US
(The philosophy that ‘natural’ is good and ‘synthetic’ is bad is overly simplistic.
Genetically modified foods may be greener than organic ones.
Philosophy [iQtpFkQia] n.哲學[U]
Synthetic [kantZUfah] a.綜合(性)的; 合成的,人造的
Genetically [gYQtnUfahxa] ad.從基因方面;從遺傳學角度
Organic [Oqtv@nah] a.器官的[B];有機體的,生物的[B]
(1~7)習題範圍
March 20, 2006 issue – . Farm-raised pigs are dirty, smelly animals that get no respect. They're also an environmental hazard. Their manure contains phosphorus, which, when it rains, runs off into lakes and estuaries, depleting oxygen, killing fish, stimulating algae overgrowth and emitting greenhouse gases. During the 1980s, phosphorus pollution killed all aquatic life in the 42km-long Mariager Fjord of Denmark—an ecological disaster that prompted European governments to impose strict regulations on pig farming. It didn't solve the problem.
smelly [tkmUpa] a.【口】有使人難受的氣味的;臭的
manure [mQtnsNq] n.糞肥;肥料[U] vt. 給...施肥
phosphorus [tiFkiQqQk] n.磷[U]
run off 使流出
estuary [tUkfXNuUqa] n.河口;海口灣[C]
deplete [gatdp`f] vt.用盡;使減少 耗盡...的資源;使空虛[(+of)]
algae [t@pgY`] (alga的複數) [t@pgY`]n.(常用複)水藻,海藻
aquatic [Qthr@fah] a.水生的;水棲的 n.水生植物;水生動物[C]
ecological [uUhQtpFgYahQp] a.生態(學)的
(8~10)習題範圍
Doing away with the pig is not an option. Pigs provide more dietary protein, more cheaply, to more people than any other animal. Northern Europe still maintains the highest pig-to-human ratio in the world (2-1 in Denmark), but East Asia is catching up. During the 1990s, pork production doubled in Vietnam and grew by 70 percent in China—along densely populated coastlines, pig density exceeds 100 animals per square kilometer. The resulting pollution is "threatening fragile coastal marine habitats including mangroves, coral reefs and sea grasses," according to a report released in February by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
doing away with 廢除...;停止..
dietary [tgAaQufUqa] a.飲食的 n.飲食的規定
protein [tdqcf`an] n.蛋白質 a.(含)蛋白質的
catching [th@fXaV] a.傳染性的
pork [dcqh] n.豬肉[U]
Vietnam [ujsUftn@m] n.越南
densely [tgUnkpa] ad. 濃密地,稠密地;密集地
coastlines [thckfupAan] n.海岸線
threaten [tZqUfz] vt.威脅,
fragile [tiq@gYQp] a.易碎的;脆的;易損壞的; 脆弱的;虛弱的
marine [mQtq`n] a.海的;海生的,海產的
habitat [to@eQuf@f] n.(動物的)棲息地;(植物的)產地[C]
mangroves [tm@Vvqcj] n.【植】紅樹林
coral reef [thOqQp] [q`i]ph.珊瑚礁
(11~13)習題範圍
As it turns out, there is a solution to the pig problem, but it requires a change of mind-set among environmentalists and the public. Two Canadian scientists have created a pig whose manure doesn't contain very much phosphorus at all. If this variety of pig were adopted widely, it could greatly reduce a major source of pollution. But the Enviropig, as they call it, is the product of genetic modification—which is anathema to many Westerners.
adopted [QtgFdfag] a.被收養的;有收養關係的; 被採用的
genetic [gYQtnUfah] a.起源的,發生的;【生】基因的;遺傳(學)的
anathema [Qtn@ZQmQ] n.詛咒;令人厭惡 vt.vi.詛咒;宣告
(14~24)習題範圍
The Enviropig is one of many new technologies that are putting environmentalists and organic-food proponents in a quandary: should they remain categorically opposed to genetically modified (GM) foods even at the expense of the environment? Pigs can also be modified to digest grasses and hay (as cows and sheep do), reducing the energy-intensive use of corn as pig feed. Elsewhere, trees grown for paper could be made amenable to much more efficient processing, reducing both energy usage and toxic chemical bleach in effluents from paper mills. The most significant GM applications will be ones that help alleviate the problem of agriculture, which accounts for 38 percent of the world's landmass and is crowding out natural ecosystems and species habitats. GM crops that can be produced more efficiently would allow us to return land to nature.
organic [Oqtv@nah] a.器官的[B]; 有機體的,生物的[B]
proponents [dqQtdcnQnf] n.提議人;擁護者
in a quandary 左右為難
categorically [uh@fQtvOqahpa]ad.明確地;直截了當地
genetically [gYQtnUfahxa] ad. 從基因方面;從遺傳學角度
at the expense of 由...支付費用; 以...為代價
digest [gAatgYUkf] vt.消化(食物)
hay [oT] n.[U](做飼料用)乾草vi.割草曬乾 vt.把(草)曬乾
Elsewhere [tUpkuorUq] ad.在別處;往別處;到別處
amenable [Qtm`nQex] a.肯順從的; 經得起檢驗(或考查)的
toxic [tfFhkah] a.毒(性)的,有毒的; 中毒的
bleach [ep`fX] vt.將...漂白;消除 ;vi.變白;脫色 n.漂白;漂白劑
effluents [tUipNQnf] a.流出的 n.流出物
paper mills ph.造紙廠
alleviate [Qtp`jauTf] vt.減輕;緩和
landmass [tp@ngum@k] n.大陸
crowding out 擠出
ecosystems [tUhcukakfQm] n.生態系統
habitats [to@eQuf@f] n.(動物的)棲息地;(植物的)產地
(25~26)習題範圍
Standing in opposition to these advances are advocates of an organic food philosophy that holds to the simplistic notion that "natural" is good and "synthetic" is bad. Genetic modification is unacceptable to organic farmers merely because it is performed in a laboratory. Says Charles Margulis, a spokesman for Greenpeace USA, "We think the Enviropig is a Frankenpig in disguise."
in opposition to 與...的意見相反
advocates [t@gjQhaf] n.[C]提倡者;擁護者[(+of)]
hold to 堅持
synthetic [kantZUfah] a.綜合(性)的; 合成的,人造的
disguise [gaktvAal] n.[C][U]假扮,偽裝,
(27~31)習題範圍
Technically, however, all domesticated plants and animals were created by human selection of random mutations that occur in nature. High-energy cosmic rays break chromosomes into pieces that reattach randomly; in this way, nature sometimes creates genes that didn't previously exist. Lab work, however, is more nuanced than nature: scientists can make subtle and precise changes to an organism's DNA. Canadian biologists Cecil Forsberg and John Phillips, for instance, have constructed a novel DNA molecule that, when planted in a pig embryo, imbues the Enviropig with the ability to secrete a phosphorus-extracting enzyme in its saliva. The results so far are dramatic—the new pigs can extract all the phosphorus they need from grain alone, without the phosphorus supplements that farmers now use. This reduces the phosphorus content of their manure by up to 75 percent.
Domesticated [gQtmUkfQuhTfag]a.喜歡家庭生活的; (指動物)被馴養了的
Random [tq@ngQm] a.胡亂的;隨便的
cosmic rays [thFlmah] ph.【核】宇宙射線
chromosomes [thqcmQukcm]n.【生】染色體
gene [gY`n] n.【生】基因,遺傳因子
nuanced [tnbFnkf] a. 具有細微差別的;微妙的
subtle [tkSfx] a.微妙的,難捉摸的,不可思議的
for instance 例如
novel [tnFjx] a.新的,新穎的,新奇的
molecule [tmFpQuhsbp] n.[C]【化】【物】分子
embryo [tUmeqauc] n.胚芽;胚胎
imbue [amtesb] vt.使充滿;灌輸;深深影響; 使滲透
secrete [kathq`f] vt 隱藏,藏匿; 【生理】分泌
enzyme [tUnlAam] n.【生化】酵
saliva [kQtpAajQ] n.涎,唾液[U]
supplement [tkSdpQmQnf] n.[C] 增補,補充[(+to)]
Of course, stringent testing is needed to show that a genetic modification works and that the product is not harmful to humans. Scientists can do both of these things with techniques that allow them to examine and compare the structure and activity of every one of an animal's genes. An added advantage with the Enviropig, in particular, is that the single extra enzyme in its saliva is also present naturally in billions of bacteria inhabiting the digestive tract of every normal human being, which suggests that the Enviropig will be as safe for human consumption as non-GM pigs.
stringent [tkfqangYQnf] a.迫切的
bacteria [e@htfaqaQ] bacterium的複數 [e@htfaqaQm]n.細菌
human being ph.人;人類
Organic farmers have always boasted that their approach to agriculture is, by its very nature, better for the environment than so-called conventional farming. The European Commission states that "organic farmers use a range of techniques that help sustain ecosystems and reduce pollution." But if you think that concern for the environment will ever persuade organic farmers to accept the Enviropig or any other animal modified to reduce pollution, you'd be wrong. According to self-imposed organic rules, precision genetic modification of any kind for any purpose is strictly forbidden. If conventional farmers begin to grow Enviropigs, organic pig farms will cause much more pollution per animal—unless environmental protection agencies step in and shut them down.
ecosystem [tUhcukakfQm] n.生態系統
self-imposed [ukUpiamtdclg]a.自己強加的;自願接受的
forbidden [iRteagz] (forbid的過去分詞)[iRteag] vt.禁止,不許
step in 插手干預;介入
Even in the realm of health, organic food doesn't measure up to the hype. Consumers tend to assume that all organic crops are grown as advertised without chemical pesticides. This is false. Organic farmers can spray their crops with many chemicals including pyrethrin, a highly toxic pesticide, and rotenone, a potent neurotoxin recently linked to Parkinson's disease. Because these substances occur in nature—pyrethrin is produced by chrysanthemums and rotenone comes from a native Indian vine—they are deemed acceptable for use on organic farms.
realm [qUpm] n.[C]國土,領土; 領域;範圍[(+of)]
measure up 符合標準
hype [oAad] vt.俚】人為地刺激;使增加;大肆宣傳
pesticide [tdUkfaukAag] n.殺蟲劑
spray [kdqT] n.水花,飛沫 vt.噴灑,噴塗[O][(+on/over/with)]
rotenone [tqcfQncn] n. 毒魚酮
neurotoxin [unsNqctfFhkan]n. 神經毒素
Parkinson's diseaseph. 【醫】帕金森氏病,震顫性麻痹
Chrysanthemum[hqatk@nZQmQm]n.【植】菊
Vine [jAan] n.[C] 藤,藤蔓(植物)
In fact, although all commonly used pesticides dissipate so quickly that they pose a miniscule health risk to consumers, allergic food reactions to natural products kill hundreds of children each year. Genetically modified foods could greatly reduce this risk. U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist Eliot Herman has already created a less-allergenic soybean—an important crop for baby foods. Through genetic surgery, Herman turned off the soy gene responsible for 65 percent of allergic reactions. Not only was the modified soy less allergenic in tests but, as Herman explained, "the yield looks perfectly normal, plants develop and grow at a normal rate and they seem to have the same kinds of protein, oil and other good stuff in them." Other scientists have reported promising results in shutting off allergy-causing genes in peanuts and shrimp. Should these advances be turned into products, organic soy or peanut products will be certifiably more dangerous to human health than comparable nonorganic products.
Miniscule [tmanQukhsbp]n.a. (中古時期)小寫草字體(的)
Allergic [QtpPgYah] a.【醫】過敏的
reaction [qat@hXQn] n.反應,感應[C][U][(+to)]
soybean n.大豆
surgery [tkPgYQqa] n.外科,外科醫學;(外科)手術[U]
stuff [kfSi] n.[U] 材料,原料;木料
certifiably [tkPfQuiAaQex]a.可證明的;可保證的
Unfortunately, this won't happen any time soon. Because no society has ever banned allergenic foods, conventional farmers have no incentive to plant reduced-allergy seeds. And many members of the public have been led to believe that all genetic modifications create health risks. In this climate, much of the needed research isn't being pursued. Chances are, farmers will continue to grow their polluting organic pork, their allergenic organic soy and their neurotoxin-sprayed organic apples. Worse still, they will make sure that no one else gets a choice in the matter of improving the conditions of life on earth—unless, that is, others rise up and demand an alternative.
banned [e@ng] a.被禁的,被取締的
incentive [antkUnfaj] n.刺激;鼓勵;動機[U][C][(+to)][+to-v]
Chances are 可能
in the matter of 就...而論
新聞英文練習題之五
Farm-raised pigs are dirty, smelly animals that get no respect.
(1). Smelly means (a) sweet-smelling (b) thirsting (c)stinking (d) exciting
thirst [ZPkf] n.渴,口渴 vi.口渴(+for); . 渴望[(+for/after)]
stinking [tkfaVhaV] a.發惡臭的;【口】非常討厭的;
They’re also an environmental hazard. Their manure contains phosphorous, which, when it rains, runs off into lakes and estuaries, depleting oxygen, killing fish, stimulating algae overgrowth and emitting greenhouse gases.
(2) Hazard means (a)delight (b) happening (c) danger (d) harassment
(3) Manure means (a) manners (b) tenure (c) fertilizer (d) secure
(4) Estuary means (a) delta (b) upper stream (c) river mouth (d) down stream
(5) Deplete means (a) pay off (b) set up (c) pick up (d) use up
(6) Emit means (a) embassy (b) admit (c) dispatch (d) release
Harassment [to@qQkmQnf]n.煩惱;煩擾;騷擾
tenure [tfUnsNq] n.[U](財產、職位等的)佔有;佔有權; 佔有條件
fertilizer [tiPfpuAalR] n.肥料
pay off 清償
use up 用完;耗盡
embassy [tUmeQka] n.大使館
dispatch [gatkd@fX] vt. n. 派遣;發送;快遞
During the 1980s, phosphorous pollution killed all aquatic life in the 42km-long Mariager Fjor of Denmark—an ecological disaster that prompted European governments to impose strict regulations on pig farming.
(7) Impose means (a) reinforce (b) force (c) by force (d) enforce
reinforce [uq`antiOqk] vt.增援,加強
Doing away with the pig is not an option.
(8) Do away with means (a) live without (b) live on (c) live with (d) live up to
live on ph. 靠...生活;以...為食
live with 與...住在一起
live up to 實踐;不辜負
The resulting pollution is threatening fragile coastal marine habitats including mangroves, coral reefs and sea grasses.
(9) Fragile means (a) strong (b) fresh (c) weak (d) frozen
(10) Habitat means (a) cryptology (b) ecology (c) mythology (d) biology
Cryptology [hqadtfFpQgYa]n.密碼術;密碼翻譯之程序或方法
ecology [athFpQgYa] n.【生】生態學
mythology [matZFpQgYa] n. (總稱)神話
As it turns out, there is a solution to the pig problem, but it requires a change of mind-set among environmentalists and the public.
(11) Mind-set means (a) credibility (b) mentality (c) susceptibility (d) possibility
credibility [uhqUgQteapQfa]n.可信性;確實性
susceptibility [kQukUdfQteapQfa]n.易受感動性;多情; 敏感性
possibility [udFkQteapQfa] n.可能性[U][S1][(+of)][+that]
Two Canadian scientists have created a pig whose manure doesn’t contain very much phosphorous at all. If this variety of pig were adopted widely, it could greatly reduce a major source of pollution.
(12) Variety means (a) variation (b) strain (c) specimen (d) species
variation [ujUqatTXQn] n.變化;變動;變化的程度
strain [kfqTn] vt.拉緊;拖緊;伸張
specimen [tkdUkQmQn] n.[C]樣品,樣本[(+of)]
But the Enviropig, as they call it, is the product of genetic modification—which is anathema to many Westerners.
(13) Anathema means (a) something refreshing (b) something loathing (c) something pleasing (d) something surprising.
loathing [tpc] n.嫌惡;強烈的反感a.有強烈反感的
The Enviropig is one of many new technologies that are putting environmentalists and organic-food proponents in a quandary : should they remain categorically opposed to genetically modified foods even at the expense of the environment?
(14) Proponent means (a) planner (b) manger (c) supporter (d) retailer
(15) Quandary means (a) quantity (b) quality (c) inventory (d) dilemma
(16) Categorically means (a) complacently (b) firmly (c) usually (d) particularly
(17) At the expense of means (a) sacrificing (b) advocating (c) promoting (d) diminishing
manger [tmTngYR] n.秣桶,馬槽;【海】擋水板
retailer [tq`fTpR] n.[C]零售商;零售店
inventory [tanjQnufcqa] n.存貨清單;存貨盤存(報表);財產目錄
dilemma [gQtpUmQ] n.困境,進退兩難
complacently [hQmtdpTkQnfpa]ad.滿足地;自滿地
firmly [tiPmpa] ad. 堅固地;穩固地
sacrifice [tk@hqQuiAak] n.(供奉神的)牲禮,祭品 vt.犧牲;獻出[(+for)]
promote [dqQtmcf] vt.晉升
diminish [gQtmanaX] vt.減少,減小,縮減
Pigs can also be modified to digest grasses and hay, reducing the energy-intensive use of corn as pig feed.
(18) Intensive means (a) inclusive (b) abundant (c) extensive (d) endearing
(19) Feed means (a) supplier (b) crops (c) feet (d) fodder
endearing [antgaqaV] a.可愛的,惹人喜愛的
crop [hqFd] n.[C]作物,莊稼
fodder [tiFgR] n. 飼料,秣[U]
Elsewhere, trees grown for paper could be made amenable to much more efficient processing, reducing both energy usage and toxic chemical bleach in effluents from paper mills.
(20) Amenable means (a) suitable (b) recommendable (c) invincible (d) admirable
(21) Toxic means (a) precious (b) telling (c) prosperous (d) poisonous
(22) Effluents means (a) drinking water (b) salty water(c) fresh water (d) waste water
invincible [antjankQex] a.無敵的;無法征服的;不屈不撓的
telling [tfUpaV] a.有力的;有效的;顯著的; 生動的;
prosperous [tdqFkdQqQk] a. 興旺的,繁榮的,昌盛的
poisonous [tdOalzQk] a.有毒的;有害的
The most significant GM applications will be ones that help alleviate the problem of agriculture, which accounts for 38 percent of the world’s landmass and is crowding out natural ecosystems and species habitats.
(23) Alleviate means (a) freshen (b) lighten (c) brighten (d) darken
(24) Crowd out means (a) exhume (b) seclude (c) include (d) exclude
Exhume [avtlsbm] vt.(從墳墓處)掘出(屍體);發掘
seclude [kathpbg] vt.使隔離;使孤立;使隱退,使隱居[(+from)
Standing in opposition to these advances are advocates of an organic food philosophy that holds to the simplistic notion that natural is good and synthetic is bad.
(25) Hold to means (a) hold on (b) look to (c) appear to (d) stick to
(26) Simplistic means (a) exaggerated too much (b) stated too much (c) embarrassed too much (d) simplified too much
stick to 忠於;信守
embarrassed [amte@qQkf] a. 窘的,尷尬的
Technically, however, all domesticated plants and animals were created by human selection of random mutations that occur in nature.
(27) Random means (a) without a method (b) without a point (c) without a principle (d) without a pattern
(28) Mutation means (a) generic transformation (b) genetic makeup (c) genetic engineering (d) genetic selection
generic [gYatnUqah] a.【生】屬的,類的; 一般的,總稱的
Lab work, however, is more nuanced than nature :
(29) Nuanced means (a) somewhat different (b) slightly different (c) completely different (d) exactly the same
Canadian biologists Cecil Forsberg and John Phillips, for instance, have constructed a novel DNA molecule that, when planted in a pig embryo, imbues the Enviropig with the ability to secrete a phosphorous-extracting enzyme in its saliva.
(30) Novel means (a) nova (b) novice (c) old (d) new
(31) Secrete means (a) induce (b) mingle (c) increase (d) produce
nova [tncjQ] n.【天】新星
novice [tnFjak] n.[C]新手,初學者[(+at)]
mingle [tmaVvx] vt.使混合,使相混[(+with/together)]
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11786176/site/newsweek/END
