单选题
To paraphrase 18th-century 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 tested in 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
mew 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 ac-
quire 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 com- munity 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 ______.
A. call on scientists to take some actions
B. criticize the misguided cause of animal rights
C. warn of the doom of biomedical research
D. show the triumph of the animal rights movement
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】分析推理题。作者在引用了Edmund Burke的话后,在该段第三句指出:Scientists need to respond forcefully to animal rights advocates,即是呼吁科学家采取行动,因此本题答案是[A]。
单选题
Misguided people tend to think that using an animal in research is
______.
A. cruel but natural
B. inhuman and unacceptable
C. inevitable but vicious
D. pointless and wasteful
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】第一段最后一句说:Hearing allegations...harm an animal,其中的cruelty(残忍)对应于[B]中的inhuman而第二段所举的老太太的例子又说明这些受到误导的人认为用动物进行实验是不可接受的(unacceptable),因此选[B]。本题由常识也可得出答案。
单选题
The example of the grandmotherly woman is used to show the public's
______.
A. discontent with animal research
B. ignorance about medical science
C. indifference to epidemics
D. anxiety about animal fights
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】分析推理题。第二段举了老太太的例子之后,用最后一句进行了总结:Such well-meaning people just don't understand,即这些人虽然是好意,但他们不理解。由前后文可以看出,这里的“不理解”指的就是他们对医学研究的无知,因此本题答案是[B]。
单选题
The author believes that, in face of the challenge from animal rights
advocates, scientists should ______.
A. communicate more with the public
B. employ hi-tech means in research
C. feel no shame for their cause
D. strive to develop new cures
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】细节题。答案是第三段第一句:Scientists must communicate their message to the public...” [A]项只是表达稍有区别。
单选题
From the text we learn that Stephen Cooper is ______.
A. a well-known humanist
B. a medical practitioner
C. an enthusiast in animal rights
D. a supporter of animal research
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】分析推理题。由提及Stephan Cooper这个人物那一句中对其进行说明的非限制性定语从句 (who has made...animal research)及该段的意思可知Stephen Cooper肯定是一个支持用动物进行研究的人。其余三项都无法由文意推知。