To paraphrase 18thcentury statesman Edmund Burke, "all that is needed for the triumph of a misguided cause is that good people do nothing. " One such cause now seeks to end biomedical research because of the theory that animals have rights ruling out their use in research. Scientists need to respond forcefully to animal rights advocates, whose arguments are confusing the public and thereby threatening advances in health knowledge and care. Leaders of the animal rights movement target biomedical research because it depends on public funding, and few people understand the process of health care research. Hearing allegations of cruelty to animals in research settings, many are perplexed that anyone would deliberately harm an animal. For example, a grandmotherly woman staffing an animal rights booth at a recent street fair was distributing a brochure that encouraged readers not to use anything that comes from or is animals-no meat, no fur, no medicines, Asked if she opposed immunizations, she wanted to know if vaccines come from animal research. When assured that they do, she replied, "Then I would have to say yes. " Asked what will happen when epidemics return, she said, "Don't worry, scientists will find some way of using computers. " Such well-meaning people just don't understand. Scientists must communicate their message to the public in a compassionate, understandable way-in human terms, not in the language of molecular biology. We need to make clear the connection between animal research and a grandmother's hip replacement, a father's bypass operation, a baby's vaccinations, and even a pet's shots. To those who are unaware that animal research was needed to produce these treatments, as well as new treatments and vaccines, animal research seems wasteful at best and cruel at worst. Much can be done. Scientists could "adopt" middle school classes and present their own research. They should be quick to respond to letters to the editor, lest animal rights misinformation go unchallenged and acquire a deceptive appearance of truth. Research institutions could be opened to tours, to show that laboratory animals receive humane care. Finally, because the ultimate stakeholders are patients, the health research community should actively recruit to its cause not only well-known personalities such as Stephen Cooper, who has made courageous statements about the value of animal research, but all who receive medical treatment. If good people do nothing there is a real possibility that an uninformed citizenry will extinguish the precious embers of medical progress.
单选题
The author begins his article with Edmund Burke's words to ______.
单选题
The author believes that, in face of the challenge from animal rights advocates, scientists should ______.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 在解答这类题目的时候,考生应该按照题干关键词去寻找答案线索可能的所在地。本题关键词“challenge from animal rights advocates”,以及“scientists should”,解题线索可在最后两段中找出。作者向科学家们提出的建议都是有助于他们与公众更好的交流。答案很明显,是A。选项B、C、D貌似合理,其实文中都没有提到。
单选题
From the text we learn that Stephen Cooper is ______.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 首先根据“Stephen Cooper”定位到最后一段,我们可以找到线索“Finally, because the ultimate stakeholders are patients...Stephen Cooper, who has made courageous statements about the value of animal research...”从这句话中,我们知道“Cooper”是个名人,也是病患者,他曾经高度赞扬过动物研究的价值。所以,我们可以推断出他是支持动物研究的。正确答案是选项D。