阅读理解 The topic of cloning has been a politically and ethically controversial one since its inception. While the moral and philosophical aspects of the issues are entirely up to the interpretation of the individual, the application of cloning technology can be studied objectively. Many in the scientific community advocate the use of cloning for the preservation and support of endangered species of animals that, aside from cloning, have no other practical hope for avoiding extinction.
The goal of the use of cloning to avoid extinction is the reintroduction of new genes into the gene pool of species with few survivors, this ensuring the maintenance and expansion of genetic diversity. Likely candidates for this technique are species known to have very few surviving members, such as the African Bongo Antelope, the Sumatran Tiger, and the Chinese Giant Panda. In the case of the Giant Panda, some artificial techniques for creating offspring have already been performed, perhaps paving the way for cloning as the next step in the process.
With an estimated population of only about 1,000 Giant Pandas left in the world, the urgency of the situation has led to desperate measures. One panda was born through the technique of artificial insemination in the San Diego Zoo in the United States. "Hua Mei" was born in 1999 after her parents, Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling, had trouble conceiving naturally.
The plan to increase the Giant Panda population through the use of cloning involves the use of a species related to the Giant Panda, the American Black Bear. Egg cells will be removed from female black bears and then fertilized with Panda cells such as those from Ling-Ling or Hsing-Hsing. The fertilized embryo will then be re-implanted into the black bear, where it will grow and mature, until a new panda is delivered from the black bear host.
Critics of cloning technology argue that the emphasis on cloning as a method by which to preserve species will draw funding away from other methods, such as habitat preservation and conservation. Proponents of cloning counter that many countries in which many endangered species exist are too poor to protect and maintain the species habitats anyway, making cloning technology the only practical way to ensure that those species survive to future generations. The issue is still hotly debated, as both sides weigh the benefits that could be achieved against the risks and ethical concerns that constantly accompany any argument on the issue.

单选题 11.The author raises the issue of ethical considerations in cloning in paragraph 1 in order to

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】属信息推断题。第一段第一、二句指出：克隆这一话题从其面世的那一刻起，就是一个无论从政治角度来说，还是从伦理道德角度来看均具有争议性的课题。虽然如何诠释这方面问题的道德观以及哲学观完全取决于个人，但是对克隆技术的应用却是可以进行客观研究的。由此可知，下文将主要涉及克隆技术这一方面，而撇开道德观。这一点从下文也能获得证实。因此，选项B正确。

单选题 12.The author directs attention to "Hua Mei", the baby panda born in the San Diego Zoo, in order to______.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】属信息推断题。题目中的关键词Hua Mei出现在第三段第三句，其上文是回答本题的关键：在美国圣地亚哥动物园有一只大熊猫(Hua Mei)通过人工授精技术生产出来。由此可知，Hua Mei的例子用以说明除克隆外还有其他人工生育技术也取得了成功。这一点由上一段最后一句也可得到证实：谈到中国的大熊猫，人们已经创造出一些人工手段来帮助它繁衍后代，并且已将这些手段付诸实践，在保护大熊猫这种物种的整个过程中，这些做法为下一步采取克隆技术作了铺垫。因此，选项A正确。其他选项都与原文不符。

单选题 13.The main purpose of paragraph 4 is to______.

单选题 14.Paragraph 5 is written to______.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】属主旨思想题。第五段首先用Critics of cloning technology argue that．．．(克隆技术的批判者声辩说……)点出批评者的观点，接着用Proponents of cloning counter that．．．(克隆技术的支持者反驳道……)说出支持者的论点，最后一句做出总结：目前，人们在克隆技术这一问题上的争论仍然激烈异常，但与此同时，争论的双方也在权衡利弊——“利”指的是利用克隆技术可能得到的好处；“弊”指的是与本课题有关的任何论点密不可分的诸多风险以及伦理问题。由此可知，选项B符合文意。其他选项都概括不全。

单选题 15.Based on the information in this text, the best candidate for cloning would be______.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】属信息推断题。题目问：根据文章提供的信息，克隆的最佳对象可能是什么?第一段最后一句指出：很多科学界人士支持使用克隆技术保护及扶持濒临灭绝的动物物种，因为除此之外，这些物种实际上没有任何避免绝种的希望。第三段第一句以大熊猫为例，说明“通过使用克隆技术来增加大熊猫种群的计划涉及使用另一种与大熊猫有关的物种——美国黑熊”。由此可知，使用克隆技术来拯救的濒临灭绝的物种必须有相关物种的支持。因此，选项B正确。选项A过于片面；选项C、D都没有概括到重点。