You Are What You Eat

      Genetic engineering is the scientific change of the genetic material in a living organism. It allows scientists to identify specific genes, to remove them from an organism's chromosomes (染色体), improve them, analyze them, and possibly clone them, and to then reinsert the changed gene into the original organism, or a completely different organism．Unlike traditional breeding, where a desired quality would be bred within the same species, genetic engineering can insert desired ones into organisms of different species. Wow…Did you catch that?

     Genetic engineering creates many positive contributions to agriculture. For example, by genetically engineered（GE）foods, anti-cancer agents, minerals and vitamins can be increased. Improved taste, shelf life, and better transport are all possible. Also, GE plants can increase pest and bacterial resistance, therefore, making the food safe for consumers.

    But some argue that the possible negative effects outweigh the positives, and critics are starting to voice their concerns. Unlike Europe, in the United States labeling is not required on genetically engineered foods or on foods that contain genetically engineered products. Most Americans do not realize that they are, in fact, eating GE foods.

    The public is also concerned about the unknown health risks. With limited understanding of genes, scientists cannot predict possible effects. Because most genes introduced into GE plants come from sources not introduced into the human body, it is impossible to know if they will cause reactions. Moreover, due to the lack of labeling if allergies develop, it will be extremely difficult to find the origin of them.

    There is also a major moral question in many minds. For many, the conflict is not if it is safe or not, but it disturbs them because it is unnatural and unnecessary. We are currently producing one and a half times the amount of food needed to feed the world, yet one in seven people are starving. GE food is unnecessary, and fails to address the root of hunger. Many believe that the only people who will benefit are the corporations that produce it.

    Scientists cannot foresee the possible effects of GE foods, but we eat them every day without even knowing it. We already have enough food, so why create more that could be potentially harmful to us, to the Earth and to all wildlife? I think that the benefits are amazing, but until we know for sure how these foods will affect us, they are not worth the risk．

63. According to the passage, traditional breeding is different from genetic engineering in that_____.

A. traditional breeding changes the genes in the same species

B. traditional breeding changes the genes in different species

C. traditional breeding takes place within the same species

D. traditional breeding is more scientific

64. “The lack of labeling” in Paragraph 4 indicates_________.

A. information concerning gene sources is unavailable to customers

B. it is currently possible to find the origins of some allergies

C. scientists try to hide potential dangers from customers

D. the US government is responsible for GE food

65. According to Paragraph 5, GE food is unnecessary because________.

A. it won't help solve the problem of hunger in the world

B. there are potential dangers in producing GE food

C. we're now producing more food than before

D. customers will benefit from GE food

66. What is the author's attitude towards genetic engineering?

      A. Welcoming             B. Disapproving          C. Unconcerned          D. Optimistic

In this modern world, we rush around all day, doing things, talking, sending and reading messages. We are always on ,always conected, always thinking, always talking. There is no  36 for stillness.
And when we are  37 to be still because we’re in line for something, or waiting at a doctor’s appointment, or on a bus or train, we often  38 something to do. Some will play with mobile devices, other will read something. Being still isn’t something we’re  39 .
This comes at a   40 : we lose that time for  41 , for observing and listening. We lose peace.
And   42 yet: sometimes too much action is worse than no action at all. You can run around crarily, but get  43 done.
Take a moment to think about  44 you spend your days. Are you constantly rushing around? Are you constantly reading and answering  45 checking on the news and the latest tream of information? Are you always  46 through your schedule?
Is this how you want to spend your  47 ? If so, peace be with you. If not, take a moment to be   48 . Don’t think about what you have to do, or what you’ve done already.   49 be in the moment.
Then after a minute or two of doing that, consider your life, and how you’d  50 it to be. See your life with less moveanent, less doing, less rushing. See it with more stillness, more consideration, more  51 .
Then be that vision.
It’s prerty simple: all you have to do is sit still for a little bit each day.   52 you’re gotten used to that, try doing less each day. Breathe when you feel yourself moving too  53 . slow down. Be present. Find happiness now, in this moment, instead of   54 for it.

—Jenny,they say you have asked for a leave because of a sudden headache.I’m worried about you,and are you ________better now?

—I’m all right now,thanks for your care.

A.much                        B.a lot                          C.any                           D.quite

The afternoon on December 25 in the waiting room, I was the nurse on duty. When I felt sad about having to    1 on Christmas Day, a woman and four small children showed up at my desk.
“Are you all sick?” I asked. “Yes.” the woman said    2  and lowered her head. But when it came to telling me about their    3 , things got a little surprising. They all seemed to be well and there was nothing    4  with their body.
Why did they tell a   5  that they were all sick? I did not say anything but    6  that it might be a little time before a doctor could    7  them . The mother said, “Take your time. We can    8  here. It’s so warm.” When she finished the register chart, I noticed she didn’t write down their address----were they    9 ?
I looked at the    10  around the Christmas tree. The children were excited and    11  to be healthy. The littlest one was pointing at the Christmas tree and said something to the mother. Then I was sure that they came here not because of    12  but only for warmth.
I went back to the nurses’ station and   13  the homeless family. The nurses,    14  about working on Christmas Day like me, turned to feel sorry for the family and decided to    15 .We bought delicious food in the hospital restaurant and    16  a big dinner for our guests. We needed    17 . So we put apples in a basket and collected candies and clothes. Just as we were seriously prepared to meet the physical needs of the    18 , our team worked to meet the needs of a family who just wanted to be    19  on Christmas Day.
Later, as the family was to    20 , the youngest child ran to me and said, “Thank you very much. Good bye. ”

The teacher thought that hobbies were very important for every child. She 20  all her pupils to have one, and sometimes, arranged for their parents to come and 21 the work they had done as a result.
One Friday morning the teacher told the class that  22 of them who had a hobby could 23  a holiday that afternoon to get things they had  24  as parts of their hobbies ready for their parents to see the following afternoon.
So on Friday afternoon, 25 those of the pupils who had nothing to show did their usual lessons, the  26 ones who had made something were allowed to go home, on 27 that they returned before five o’clock to bring what they were going to 28  . When the afternoon lessons began, the teacher was   29  to see that Tommy was not there. He was the laziest boy in the class, and the teacher found it difficult to believe that he had a hobby. However, at a quarter to five, Tommy arrived with a   30 collection of butterflies in glass cases.  31  his teacher had admired them
and helped him to arrange them on a table in the   32 , she was surprised to see Tommy pick them up again and begin to   33 . “What are you doing, Tommy?” she asked. “Those things must   34  here until tomorrow afternoon. That’s   35  the parents are coming to see them.”
“I know they are coming then,” answered Tommy, “and I will   36  them back tomorrow, but my big brother doesn’t want them to be out of our house at night in case they are  37  .”
“But what has it got to do   38  your big brother?” asked the teacher. “Aren’t the butterflies yours?” “No,” answered Tommy. “They belong to him.” “But Tommy, you are   39  to show your own hobby here, not somebody else’s!” said the teacher. “I know that,” answered Tommy. “My hobby is watching my brother collecting butterflies.”