¡¡¡¡Section ¢òReading Comprehension

¡¡¡¡Part A

¡¡¡¡Directions: Reading the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (40 poin

ts)

¡¡¡¡Text 1

¡¡¡¡In the next century we¡¯ll be able to alter our DNA radically, encoding our visions and vanities while concocting new life-forms. When Dr. Frankenstein made his monster, he wrestled with the moral issue of whether he should allow it to reproduce, ¡°Had I the right, for my own benefit, to inflict the curse upon everlasting generations?¡± Will such questions require us to develop new moral philosophies?

¡¡¡¡Probably not. Instead, we¡¯ll reach again for a timeª²tested moral concept, one sometimes called the Golden Rule and which Kant, the millennium¡¯s most prudent moralist, conjured up into a categorical imperative: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; treat each person as an individual rather than as a means to some end.

¡¡¡¡Under this moral precept we should recoil at human cloning, because it inevitably entails using humans as means to other humans¡¯ ends and valuing them as copies of others we loved or as collections of body parts, not as individuals in their own right. We should also draw a line, however fuzzy, that would permit using genetic engineering to cure diseases and disabilities but not to change the personal attributes that make someone an individual (IQ, physical appearance, gender and sexuality).

¡¡¡¡The biotech age will also give us more reason to guard our personal privacy. Aldous Huxley in Brave New World, got it wrong: rather than centralizing power in the hands of the state, DNA technology has empowered individuals and families. But the state will have an important role, making sure that no one, including insurance companies, can look at our genetic data without our permission or use it to discriminate against us.

¡¡¡¡Then we can get ready for the breakthroughs that could come at the end of the next century and the technology is comparable to mapping our genes: plotting the 10 billion or more neurons of our brain. With that information we might someday be able to create artificial intelligences that think and experience consciousness in ways that are indistinguishable from a human brain. Eventually we might be able to replicate our own minds in a ¡°dryª²ware¡± machine, so that we could live on without the ¡°wetª²ware¡± of a biological brain and body. The 20th century¡¯s revolution in infotechnology will thereby merge with the 21st century¡¯s revolution in biotechnology. But this is science fiction. Let¡¯s turn the page now and get back to real science.

¡¡¡¡21.Dr. Frankenstein¡¯s remarks are mentioned in the text

¡¡¡¡[A] to give an episode of the DNA technological breakthroughs.

¡¡¡¡[B] to highlight the importance of a means to some everlasting ends.

¡¡¡¡[C] to show how he created a new form of life a thousand years ago.

¡¡¡¡[D] to introduce the topic of moral philosophies incurred in biotechnology.

¡¡¡¡22.It can be concluded from the text that the technology of human cloning should be employed

¡¡¡¡[A] excessively and extravagantly. [B] reasonably and cautiously.

¡¡¡¡[C] aggressively and indiscriminately. [D] openly and enthusiastically.

¡¡¡¡23.From the text, we learn that Aldous Huxley is of the opinion that

¡¡¡¡[A] DNA technology should be placed in the charge of individuals.

¡¡¡¡[B] government should assume less control over individuals.

¡¡¡¡[C] people need government to protect their DNA information.

¡¡¡¡[D] old moral precepts should be abolished on human cloning.

¡¡¡¡24.Judged from the information in the last paragraph, we can predict that the author is likely to write which of the following in the next section?

¡¡¡¡[A] The reflection upon biotechnological morality.

¡¡¡¡[B] The offensive invasion of our personal privacy.

¡¡¡¡[C] The inevitable change of IQs for our descendants.

¡¡¡¡[D] The present state of biotechnological research.

¡¡¡¡25.According to the last paragraph, ¡°dry-ware¡± is to ¡°wet-ware¡± as

¡¡¡¡[A] ¡°collective¡± to ¡°individual¡±. [B] ¡°fictional¡± to ¡°factual¡±.

¡¡¡¡[C] ¡°mechanical¡± to ¡°corporeal¡±. [D] ¡°temporary¡± to ¡°permanent¡±.

¡¡¡¡Text 2

¡¡¡¡Before a big exam, a sound night¡¯s sleep will do you more good than poring over textbooks. That, at least, is the folk wisdom. And science, in the form of behavioral psychology, supports that wisdom. But such behavioral studies cannot distinguish between two competing theories of why sleep is good for the memory. One says that sleep is when permanent memories form. The other says that they are actually formed during the day, but then ¡°edited¡± at night, to flush away what is superfluous.

¡¡¡¡To tell the difference, it is necessary to look into the brain of a sleeping person, and that is hard. But after a decade of painstaking work, a team led by Pierre Maquet at Liege University in Belgium has managed to do it. The particular stage of sleep in which the Belgian group is interested in is rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when brain and body are active, heart rate and blood pressure increase, the eyes move back and forth behind the eyelids as if watching a movie, and brainwave traces resemble those of wakefulness. It is during this period of sleep that people are most likely to relive events of the previous day in dreams.

¡¡¡¡Dr. Maquet used an electronic device called PET to study the brains of people as they practiced a task during the day, and as they slept during the following night. The task required them to press a button as fast as possible, in response to a light coming on in one of six positions. As they learnt how to do this, their response times got faster. What they did not know was that the appearance of the lights sometimes followed a pattern ¡ª what is referred to as ¡°artificial grammar¡±. Yet the reductions in response time showed that they learnt faster when the pattern was present than when there was not.

¡¡¡¡What is more, those with more to learn (i.e., the ¡°grammar¡±, as well as the mechanical task of pushing the button) have more active brains. The ¡°editing¡± theory would not predict that, since the number of irrelevant stimuli would be the same in each case. And to eliminate any doubts that the experimental subjects were learning as opposed to unlearning, their response times when they woke up were even quicker than when they went to sleep.

¡¡¡¡The team, therefore, concluded that the nerve connections involved in memory are reinforced through reactivation during REM sleep, particularly if the brain detects an inherent structure in the material being learnt. So now, on the eve of that crucial test, maths students can sleep soundly in the knowledge that what they will remember the next day are the basic rules of algebra and not the incoherent talk from the radio next door.

¡¡¡¡26.Researchers in behavioral psychology are divided with regard to

¡¡¡¡[A] how dreams are modified in their courses. [B] the difference between sleep and wakefulness.

¡¡¡¡[C] why sleep is of great benefit to memory. [D] the functions of a good night¡¯s sleep.

¡¡¡¡27.As manifested in the experimental study, rapid eye movement is characterized by

¡¡¡¡[A] intensely active brainwave traces. [B] subjects¡¯ quicker response times.

¡¡¡¡[C] complicated memory patterns. [D] revival of events in the previous day.

¡¡¡¡28.By referring to the artificial grammar, the author intends to show

¡¡¡¡[A] its significance in the study. [B] an inherent pattern being learnt.

¡¡¡¡[C] its resemblance to the lights. [D] the importance of night¡¯s sleep.

¡¡¡¡29.In their study, researchers led by Pierre Maquet took advantage of the technique of

¡¡¡¡[A] exposing a long-held folk wisdom. [B] clarifying the predictions on dreams.

¡¡¡¡[C] making contrasts and comparisons. [D] correlating effects with their causes.

¡¡¡¡30.What advice might Maquet give to those who have a crucial test the next day?

¡¡¡¡[A] Memorizing grammar with great efforts. [B] Study textbooks with close attention.

¡¡¡¡[C] Have their brain images recorded. [D] Enjoy their sleep at night soundly.

¡¡¡¡Text 3

¡¡¡¡This line of inquiry did not begin until earlier this month ¡ª more than three months after the accident ¡ª because there were ¡°too many emotions, too many egos,¡± said retired Adm. Harold Gehman, chairman of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

¡¡¡¡Testifying before the Senate Commerce Committee, Gehman said this part of his inquiry was in its earliest stages, starting just 10 days ago. But Gehman said he already has concluded it is ¡°inconceivable¡± that NASA would have been unable or unwilling to attempt a rescue for astronauts in orbit if senior shuttle managers and administrators had known there was fatal damage to Columbia¡¯s left wing.

¡¡¡¡Gehman told reporters after the hearing that answers to these important questions could have enormous impact, since they could place in a different context NASA¡¯s decisions against more aggressively checking possible wing damage in the days before Columbia¡¯s fatal return.

¡¡¡¡Investigators believe breakaway insulating foam damaged part of Columbia¡¯s wing shortly after liftª²off, allowing superheated air to penetrate the wing during its fiery reª²entry on Feb.1, melt it from inside.

¡¡¡¡Among those decisions was the choice by NASA¡¯s senior shuttle managers and administrators to reject offers of satellite images of possible damage to Columbia¡¯s left wing before the accident. The subject dominated the early part of Wednesday¡¯s hearing.

¡¡¡¡Gehman complained managers and administrators ¡°missed signals¡± when they rejected those offers for images, a pointedly harsh assessment of the space agency¡¯s inaction during the 16-day shuttle mission.

¡¡¡¡¡°We will attempt to pin this issue down in our report, but there were a number of bureaucratic and administrative missed signals here,¡± Gehman told senators. ¡°We¡¯re not quite so happy with the process.¡±

¡¡¡¡The investigative board already had recommended that NASA push for better coordination between the space agency and military offices in charge of satellites and telescopes. The U.S. National Imagery and Mapping Agency in March agreed to regularly capture detailed satellite images of space shuttles in orbit.

¡¡¡¡Still, Gehman said it was unclear whether even images from America¡¯s most sophisticated spy satellites might have detected on Columbia¡¯s wing any damage, which Gehman said could have been as small as two inches square. The precise capabilities of such satellites proved to be a sensitive topic during the Senate hearing.

¡¡¡¡31.This text is most probably taken from an article entitled ¡° ¡±.

¡¡¡¡[A] Gehman¡¯s Comments on Columbia Accident.

¡¡¡¡[B] An Inquiry into Columbia Accident.

¡¡¡¡[C] Shedding Light on Shuttle¡¯s Safety.[D] NASA¡¯s Problems Being Exposed.

¡¡¡¡32.The word ¡°they¡± in the sentence ¡°since they could place¡± (Para.3) denotes

¡¡¡¡[A] ¡°damages¡±. [B] ¡°answers¡±. [C] ¡°decisions¡±. [D] ¡°questions¡±.

¡¡¡¡33.According to the writer, what may chiefly be responsible for the Columbia accident?

¡¡¡¡[A] A supposed damage to the left wing of the spacecraft.

¡¡¡¡[B] The deliberate rejection of satellite images.

¡¡¡¡[C] A sense of sentiment and arrogance involved.

¡¡¡¡[D] The space agency¡¯s inaction during its mission.

¡¡¡¡34.As mentioned in the text, the Wednesday¡¯s hearing revolved around

¡¡¡¡[A] the precise capabilities of spy satellites in orbit.

¡¡¡¡[B] NASA¡¯s indecisions against checking upon the Columbia.

¡¡¡¡[C] NASA¡¯s rejection of satellite images offered.

¡¡¡¡[D] the coordination between NASA and military offices.

¡¡¡¡35.Which of the following can best describe Gehman¡¯s attitude towards satellite images?

¡¡¡¡[A] Apprehensive. [B] Credulous. [C] Indifferent. [D] Cautious.

¡¡¡¡Text 4

¡¡¡¡When a disease of epidemic proportions rips into the populace, scientists immediately get to work, trying to locate the source of the affliction and find ways to combat it. Oftentimes, success is achieved, as medical science is able to isolate the parasite, germ or cell that causes the problem and finds ways to effectively kill or contain it. In the most serious of cases, in which the entire population of a region or country may be at grave risk, it is deemed necessary to protect the entire population through vaccination, so as to safeguard lives and ensure that the disease will not spread.

¡¡¡¡The process of vaccination allows the patient¡¯s body to develop immunity to the virus or disease so that, if it is encountered, one can ward it off naturally. To accomplish this, a small weak or dead strain of the disease is actually injected into the patient in a controlled environment, so that his body¡¯s immune system can learn to fight the invader properly. Information on how to penetrate the disease¡¯s defenses is transmitted to all elements of the patient¡¯s immune system in a process that occurs naturally, in which genetic information is passed from cell to cell. This makes sure that, should the patient later come into contact with the real problem, his body is well equipped and trained to deal with it, having already done so before.

¡¡¡¡There are dangers inherent in the process, however. On occasion, even the weakened version of the disease contained in the vaccine proves too much for the body to handle, resulting in the immune system succumbing, and, therefore, the patient¡¯s death. Such is the case of the smallpox vaccine, designed to eradicate the smallpox epidemic that nearly wiped out the entire Native American population and killed massive numbers of settlers. Approximately 1 in 10,000 people who receives the vaccine contract the smallpox disease from the vaccine itself and dies from it. Thus, if the entire population of the United States were to receive the Smallpox Vaccine today, 3000 Americans would be left dead.

¡¡¡¡Fortunately, the smallpox virus was considered eradicated in the early 1970¡¯s, ending the mandatory vaccination of all babies in America. In the event of a re-introduction of the disease, however, mandatory vaccinations may resume, resulting in more unexpected deaths from vaccination. The process, which is truly a mixed blessing, may indeed hide some hidden curses.

¡¡¡¡36.The best title for the text may be

¡¡¡¡[A] ¡°Vaccinations: A Blessing or A Curse.¡± [B] ¡°Principles of Vaccinations.¡±

¡¡¡¡[C] ¡°Vaccines: Methods and Implications.¡± [D] ¡°A Miracle Cure Under Attack.¡±

¡¡¡¡37.What does the example of the Smallpox Vaccine illustrate?

¡¡¡¡[A] The possible negative outcome of administering vaccines.

¡¡¡¡[B] The practical use of a vaccine to control an epidemic disease.

¡¡¡¡[C] The effectiveness of vaccines in eradicating certain disease.

¡¡¡¡[D] The method by which vaccines are employed against the disease.

¡¡¡¡38.The phrase ¡°ward it off naturally¡± (Paragraph 2) most probably means

¡¡¡¡[A] dispose of it naturally. [B] fight it off with ease.

¡¡¡¡[C] see to it reluctantly. [D] split it up properly.

¡¡¡¡39.Which of the following is true according to the text?

¡¡¡¡[A] Saving the majority would necessarily justify the death of the minority.

¡¡¡¡[B] The immune system can be trained to fight weaker versions of a disease.

¡¡¡¡[C] Mandatory vaccinations are indispensable to the survival of the populace.

¡¡¡¡[D] The process of vaccination remains a mystery to be further resolved.

¡¡¡¡40.The purpose of the author in writing this passage is

¡¡¡¡[A] to comment and criticize. [B] to demonstrate and argue.

¡¡¡¡[C] to interest and entertain. [D] to explain and inform.

¡¡¡¡Part B

¡¡¡¡±¾²¿·ÖÄÚÈÝÇë²Î¼ûPart B(¶þ)

¡¡¡¡Part C

¡¡¡¡Directions:Read the following text carefully and then translate the underlined segments into Chinese. Your translation should be written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2. (10 points)

¡¡¡¡The old adage of the title has a parallel in the scientific world ¡°all research leads to biomedical advances¡±. The fact that research in one discipline contributes to another is well understood by the scientific community. It is not, however, so clear to the public or to public policy-makers. (46) Because public support for funding of biomedical research is strong, the scientific community could build a more effective case for public support of all science by articulating how research in other disciplines benefits biological medicine.

¡¡¡¡The time is ripe to improve public appreciation of science. A recent National Science Foundation survey suggested that Americans continue to support research expenditures. In addition, public opinion polls indicate that scientists and science leaders enjoy enviably high public esteems. (47) Instead of lamenting the lack of public understanding of science, we can work to enhance public appreciation of scientific research by showing how investigations are in many areas close-knit and contribute to biomedical advances. A crucial task is to convey to the public, in easily understood terms, the specific benefits and the overall good that result from research in all areas of science.

¡¡¡¡Take, for example, agricultural research. (48) On the surface, it may appear to have made few significant contributions to biomedical advances, except those directly related to human nutrition. This view is incorrect, however. In the case of nutrition, the connections between agricultural and biomedical research are best exemplified by the vitamin discoveries. (49) At the turn of the century, when the concept of vitamins had not yet surfaced and nutrition as a scientific discipline did not exist, it was in a department of agricultural chemistry that the first true demonstration of vitamins was made. Single-grain feeding experiments documented the roles of vitamins A and B. The essential role of some minerals (iron and copper) was shown later, and these discoveries provided the basis of modern human nutrition research.

¡¡¡¡(50) Despite such direct links, however, it is the latest discoveries that have been made in agricultural research that reveal its true importance to biomedicine. Life-saving antibiotics such as streptomycin were discovered in soil microorganisms. The first embryo transplant was made in a dairy cow, and related research led to advances in the understanding of human reproduction.