阅读训练

　　Passage Two

　　Supporters of the biotech industry have accused an American scientist of misconduct after she testified to the New Zealand government that a genetically modified(GM) bacterium could cause serious damage if released.

　　The New Zealand Life Sciences Network, an association of pro-GM scientists and organizations, says the view expressed by Elaine Ingham, a soil biologist at Oregon State University in Corvallis, was exaggerated and irresponsible. It has asked her university to discipline her.

　　But Ingham stands by her comments and says the complaints are an attempt to silence her. "They're trying to cause trouble with my university and get me fired," Ingham told New Scientist.

　　The controversy began on 1 February, when Ingham testified before New Zealand's Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, which will determine how to regulate GM organisms. Ingham claimed that a GM version of a common soil bacterium could spread and destroy plants if released into the wild. Other researchers had previously modified the bacterium to produce alcohol from organic waste. But Ingham says that when she put it in soil with wheat plants, all of the plants died within a week..

　　"We would lose terrestrial(陆生的)plants... this is an organism that is potentially deadly to the continued survival of human beings," she told the commission. She added that the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) canceled its approval for field tests using the organism once she had told them about her research in 1999.

　　But last week the New Zealand Life Sciences Network accused Ingham of "presenting inaccurate, careless and exaggerated information" and "generating speculative doomsday scenarios (世界末日的局面)that are not scientifically supportable". They say that her study doesn't even show that the bacteria would survive in the wild, much less kill massive numbers of plants. What's more, the network says that contrary to Ingham's claims, the EPA. was never asked to consider the organism for field trials.

　　The EPA has not commented on the dispute. But an e-mail to the network from Janet Anderson, director of the EPA's bio pesticides (生物杀虫剂)division, says "there is no record of a review and/or clearance to field test".

　　Ingham says EPA officials had told her that the organism was approved for field tests, but says she has few details. It's also not clear whether the organism, first engineered by a German institute for biotechnology, is still in use.

　　Whether Ingham is right or wrong, her supporters say opponents are trying unfairly to silence her.

　　"I think her concerns should be taken seriously. She shouldn't be harassed in this way," says Ann Clarke, a plant biologist at the University of Guelph in Canada who also testified before the commission. "It's an attempt to silence the opposition."

　　57. The passage centers on the controversy ______.

　　A) between American and New Zealand biologists over genetic modification

　　B) as to whether the study of genetic modification should be continued

　　C) over the possible adverse effect of a GM bacterium on plants

　　D) about whether Elaine Ingham should be fired by her university

　　58. Ingham insists that her testimony is based on ______.

　　A) evidence provided by the EPA of the United States

　　B) the results of an experiment she conducted herself

　　C) evidence from her collaborative research with German biologists

　　D) the results of extensive field tests in Corvallis, Oregon

　　59. According to Janet Anderson, the EPA ______.

　　A) has canceled its approval for field tests of the GM organism

　　B) hasn't reviewed the timings of Ingham's research

　　C) has approved field tests using the GM organism

　　D) hasn't given permission to field test the GM organism

　　60. According to Ann Clarke, the New Zealand Life Sciences Network ______.

　　A) should gather evidence to discredit Ingham's claims

　　B) should require that the research by their biologists be regulated

　　C) shouldn't demand that Ingham be disciplined for voicing her views

　　D) shouldn't appease the opposition in such a quiet way

　　61. Which of the following statements about Ingham is TRUE?

　　A) Her testimony hasn't been supported by the EPA.

　　B) Her credibility as a scientist hasn't been undermined.

　　C) She is firmly supported by her university.

　　D) She has made great contributions to the study of GM bacteria.

阅读答案及解析

　　57--61 CBDCA

　　57.主旨题.第一段提及“Supporters of the biotech industry have accused an American scientist of misconduct...genetically modified (GM) bacterium could cause serious damage if released”，即一位美国科学家认为GM细菌一旦释放即可能造成严重损害，而支持GM(pro- GM)的则认为对方发言“exaggerated and irresponsible”。第四段直接指出“The controversy began...”，由此可以推断本文主要讲述双方针对GM细菌是否会造成严重损害，各执一词。

　　58.细节推断题。根据文章第四段末“Ingham says that when she put it in soil with wheat plants，all of the plants died within a week.”以及第五段后半部分“She added that...canceled its approval for field tests...once she had told them about her research in 1999.”可推断是 Ingham自己做试验来印证她的观点。 59.细节判断题。根据第七段“The EPA has not commented on the dispute.But…Janet Anderson，director of the EPA...says‘there is no record of a review and/or clearance to field test’.”由此可以看出EPA没有field test的记录，也没有审核，消除field test的记录，意思是与该争论划清界限，表示并没有授权进行GM field test，也没有参与。

　　60.推断题。根据第十段…I think her concerns should be taken seriously.She shouldn't be harassed in this way，’says Ann Clarke...‘It's an attempt to silence the opposition.’”，Ann Clarke认为Ingham的担忧应该被慎重对待，反对她的人不应该通过起诉来骚扰她，反对者这么做是想让她对此事保持沉默。由此推断，Ann Clarke认为Ingham的观点应该被重视 (先甭管对否)，通过试验或其他方式来论证，而不是通过法律强制手段让她对此事保持沉默。

　　61.细节判断题。由第59题的详细解释可以看出EPA并不支持Ingham的观点，这一点显而易见。至于Ingham对GM细菌研究有多大贡献，Ingham的学校对此事持什么态度都没、有提及，由此排除B、C、D三项。