首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
"Junk science" is how Elliot Morley, Britain’s minister responsible for genetically modified farming, describes studies that cla
"Junk science" is how Elliot Morley, Britain’s minister responsible for genetically modified farming, describes studies that cla
admin
2022-09-25
83
问题
"Junk science" is how Elliot Morley, Britain’s minister responsible for genetically modified farming, describes studies that claim GM crops would be hazardous to Britain’s wildlife and consumers. This week the government granted permission for a strain of GM maize to be grown commercially as cattle feed. That has incensed environmentalists and organic farmers, who say GM is unpopular (probably correct) and based on bad science (probably not).
Three years of field testing have shown the herbicide-resistant maize, Bayer’s Chardon LL, to be safe and even kinder to the environment than non-GM maize. Two other crops on trial—a GM sugar-beet and a GM oilseed rape—will not be grown because they were worse for biodiversity (weeds) than conventional strains.
The trials have not made the worries about introducing even a safe GM crop go away, though. Opponents say GM will stealthily take over the country by cross-pollination, will damage wildlife and introduce something nasty into the human food chain. How solid is all this?
Evidence from America, which planted 105.7m acres of biotech crops in 2003, suggests concerns are overblown. In practice it is easy to separate crops and prevent them from cross-pollinating. Even oilseed rape, which is particularly promiscuous, can be kept over 99% pure if it is a hundred metres away from another plantation. Cross-pollination probably will happen, but so far it has caused no problems: genetic material in plants changes all the time through sexual reproduction anyway.
Damage to wildlife is difficult to measure, but there is evidence that GM has had a positive effect, with birds and insects returning to GM cotton plantations in America. Certainly, GM crops tend to need fewer chemicals to protect them. Monsanto says its sugarbeet, which was on trial along with the Chardon maize, requires 46% less herbicide than a conventional strain. Supposed threats to consumers, whether human or animal, are the most flaky. One recent study appeared to show that Chardon maize could be fatal to cattle, but the heifer in question in fact died from botulism. The British Medical Association now says there is "very little potential for GM foods to cause harmful health effects" in people either. People have been eating the stuff in America for years, with no ill effects so far.
The messing around with genetic material that makes some people dislike GM crops has gone on for years in conventional plant breeding, where crops are exposed to radiation and chemicals to encourage them to mutate. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, over 2,000 types of crop have been bombarded with gamma rays to produce mutants, many of which are grown by organic farmers.
"All food is frankenfood," according to Professor Howard Dalton, chief scientific adviser to the Department for Food and Rural Affairs, "but everybody’s got used to it. " Maybe everybody will get used to GM soon, too.
What is the author’s attitude towards GM crops?
选项
A、Disapproving.
B、Neutral.
C、Positive.
D、Suspicious.
答案
C
解析
推理题。题目问的是“作者本人对转基因作物持有什么态度?”。文章最后一段最后一句作者提到“Maybe everybody will get used to GM soon,too”,尽管还有人不支持转基因这种做法,但是很快大家都会习惯。再综合全文,可看出作者对转基因这件事还是持赞成态度的,故选C。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/BS0D777K
本试题收录于:
公共英语五级笔试题库公共英语(PETS)分类
0
公共英语五级笔试
公共英语(PETS)
相关试题推荐
Thebiggestsuccessofthefossilfuelindustry’sdecades-longcampaigntopushdoubtaboutclimatescienceisthatitforcedth
ThecollapseofBritain’stradewiththeEUwillcontinueintothesummerafterthefailuretorecruitupto30,000customsagen
TheWorldBank,InternationalTelecommunicationsUnion(ITU),GlobalSystemforMobileTelecommunicationsAssociation(GSMA),an
Leadingdoctorstodayweighinonthedebateoverthegovernment’sroleinpromotingpublichealthbydemandingthatministersi
Thinnerisn’talwaysbetter.Anumberofstudieshave【C1】________thatnormal-weightpeopleareinfactathigherriskofsomedi
Thinnerisn’talwaysbetter.Anumberofstudieshave【C1】________thatnormal-weightpeopleareinfactathigherriskofsomedi
Thinnerisn’talwaysbetter.Anumberofstudieshave【C1】________thatnormal-weightpeopleareinfactathigherriskofsomedi
Happypeopleworkdifferently.They’remoreproductive,morecreative,andwillingtotakegreaterrisks.Andnewresearchsugge
Happypeopleworkdifferently.They’remoreproductive,morecreative,andwillingtotakegreaterrisks.Andnewresearchsugge
Happypeopleworkdifferently.They’remoreproductive,morecreative,andwillingtotakegreaterrisks.Andnewresearchsugge
随机试题
十二经脉中,多气多血之经是()
焊后热处理工艺中,与钢的退火工艺相比,正火工艺的特点为()。
按照清单要求,砖砌地沟、明沟应()。
水泥砂浆防水层终凝后应及时进行养护,养护温度不宜低于()℃。
若发包人要求赔偿,可以选择的赔偿方式包括()。
下列属于同业拆借市场特点的是()。
2010年12月9日,世界权威市场调查机构欧睿国际发布最新的全球家用电器市场调查结果显示:海尔品牌在大型白色家用电器市场占有率为6.1%,再次蝉联全球第一,同比提升1个百分点。其中,海尔在冰箱、洗衣机、酒柜三个产品的市场占有率排名中继续蝉联全球第一。按冰
求解不定积分
架构复审是基于架构开发中一个重要的环节。以下关于架构复审的叙述中,错误的是______。
______wasgivenbythecommitteetoallofthosewhodonatedmoney.
最新回复
(
0
)