Question

With only about 1 000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone the animal and save the endangered species . That’s a move similar to what a Texas A&M University researchers have been undertaking for the past five years in a project called “Noah’s Ark”.

Noah’s Ark is aimed at collecting eggs, embryos , semen and DNA of endangered animals and storing them in liquid nitrogen. If certain species should become extinct, Dr. Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A &M’s College of Vetreinary Medicine, says there would be enough of the basic building blocks to reintroduce the species in the future.

It is estimated that as many as 2 000 species of mammals, birds and reptiles will be come extinct in over 100 years. The panda, native only to China, is in danger of becoming extinct in the next 25 years.

This week, Chinese scientists said they grew an embryo by introducing cells from a dead female panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit. They are now trying to implant the embryo into a host animal.

The entire procedure could take from three to five years to complete.

“The nuclear transfer of one species to another is not easy, and the lack of available (capable of being used) panda eggs could be a major problem,” Kraemer believes. “They will probably have to do several hundred transfers to result in one pregnancy (having a baby). It takes a long time and it’s difficult, but this could be groundbreaking science if it works. They are certainly not putting any live pandas at risk, so it is worth the effort,” adds Kraemer, who is one of the leaders of the Project at Texas A&M, the first ever attempt at cloning a dog.

“They are trying to do something that’s never been done, and this is very similar to our work in Noah’s Ark. We’re both trying to save animals that face extinction. I certainly appreciate their effort and there’s a lot we can learn from what they are attempting to do. It’s a research that is very much needed.”

1.The aim of “Noah’s Ark” project is to _____.

A. make efforts to clone the endangered pandas

B. save endangered animals from dying out

C. collect DNA of endangered animals to study

D. transfer the nuclear of one animal to another

2.According to Professor Kraemer, the major problem in cloning pandas would be the lack of _____.

A. available panda eggs B. host animals

C. qualified researchers D. enough money

3.The best title for the passage may be _____.

A. China’s Success in Pandas Cloning

B. The First Cloned Panda in the World

C. Exploring the Possibility to Clone Pandas

D. China—the Native Place of Pandas Forever

4.From the passage we know that _____.

A. Kraemer and his team have succeeded in cloning a dog

B. scientists try to implant a panda’s egg into a rabbit

C. Kraemer will work with Chinese scientists in clone researches

D. about two thousand species will probably die out in a century

Answer 1

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述了中国正在竭力克隆濒临灭绝的熊猫，而这和Texas A&M University的诺亚方舟工程极为相似，都是想拯救濒临灭绝的动物。

1.细节理解题。根据文章第二段的内容可知，“诺亚方舟”工程的目标是把濒临灭绝的动物的卵、胚胎、精液和DNA存储在液体氮中，这样，当某种动物濒临灭绝时，可以重现这一动物。故选择B，意为这一项目的目的时防止濒危灭绝的动物灭绝。

2.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段的The nuclear transfer of one species to another is not easy, and the lack of available (capable of being used) panda eggs could be a major problem,可知，选择A，缺少熊猫卵是最大的问题。故选择A。

3.主旨大意题。根据文章的内容可知，中国和世界克隆熊猫还没有成功，所以选项A、B是错误的。而选项D与文章内容不符。而根据内容可知，中国正在做该方面的努力，所以选择C，意为探索克隆熊猫的可能性。

4.细节理解题。根据第三段第一句话It is estimated that as many as 2 000 species of mammals, birds and reptiles will be come extinct in over 100 years.可知选项D是正确的。根据This week, Chinese scientists said they grew an embryo by introducing cells from a dead female panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit.可知选项B错误。选项C未提及，而根据原文的Kraemer, who is one of the leaders of the Project at Texas A&M, the first ever attempt at cloning a dog.可知选项A错误。故选择D。

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