Question

【题目】Every day born a decade from now will have its genetic code(基因编码)mapped at birth, the head of the world’s leading genome sequencing(基因图谱)company has predicted.

A complete DNA read – out for every newborn will be technically possible and affordable in less than five years, promising a revolution in healthcare, says Jay Flatley, the chief executive of Illumina. Only social and legal problems are likely to delay the age of “genome sequences,” or genetic profiles. By 2019 it will have become routine to map infants’ genes when they are born, Dr Flatly told The Times.

This will open a new approach to medicine, by which conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease can be predicted and prevented and drugs used more safely and effectively.

A baby’s genome can be discovered at birth by a blood test. By examining a person’s genome, it is possible to identify raised risks of developing diseases such as cancers. Those at high risk can then be screened more regularly, or given drugs or dietary advice to lower their chances of becoming ill.

Personal genomes could also be used to ensure that patients get the medicine that is most likely to work for them and least likely to have side – effects.

The development, however, will raise legal concerns about privacy and access to individuals’ genetic records.

“Bad things can be done with the genome. It could predict something about someone – and you could possibly hand the information to their employer or their insurance company.” said Dr Flatley.

“People have to recognize that this horse is out of the barn, and that your genome probably can’t be protected, because everywhere you go you leave your genome behind. Complete genetic privacy, however, is unlikely to be possible”, he added.

As the benefits become clearer, however, he believes that most people will want their genomes read and interpreted. The risk is nothing compared with the gain.

【1】In the first two paragraphs, the author mainly wants to tell us about__________.

A. the significant progress in medicine

B. the promise of a leading company

C. the information of babies’ genes

D. the research of medical scientists

【2】Which of the following is a problem caused by this approach?

A. The delaying in discovering DNA.

B. The risk of developing diseases at birth.

C. The side effects of medicine on patients.

D. The letting out of personal genetic information.

【3】What does the underlined sentence “… this horse is out of the barn” mean?

A. Genetic mapping technique has been widely used.

B. people can’t stop genetic mapping technique advancing.

C. People are eager to improve genetic mapping technique.

D. Genetic mapping technique is too horrible to control.

【4】What’s Dr Flatley’s attitude towards the technology?

A. Tolerant. B. Conservative. C. Positive. D. Doubtful.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】D

【3】B

【4】C

【解析】本文介绍了一项医学上的重大进步，即DNA技术在医疗上的应用。

【1】A

目的意图题。根据前两段告诉我们在不到五年的时间里，每一个新生儿的完整的DNA解读将在技术上是可行的和担负得起的，这预示着医疗保健领域的一场革命。可知这是在告诉我们一项医学上的重大进步。故选A.

【2】D

细节理解题：根据第六段The development, however, will raise legal concerns about privacy and access to individuals’ genetic records.可知，这种方法带来的问题就是它可能会泄露个人的基因信息。故选D.

【3】B

猜测词句题：根据倒数第二段划线句所在段and that your genome probably can’t be protected, because everywhere you go you leave your genome behind. Complete genetic privacy, however, is unlikely to be possible”, he added.所说：因为无论你走到哪里，你都会留下你的基因组。因此完全的基因隐私是不可能的，这是你自己不能控制的。可知猜测出本句的意思是：人不能阻止遗传作图技术的推进。故选B.

【4】C

推理判断题。根据最后一段所说：然而，随着利益的明朗化，他相信大多数人都希望他们的基因组能够被阅读和解释。这与收益相比风险又是什么。可以推断出作者对此技术是积极的态度。故选C.