Public caught up in argument over safety of genetically modified or simply GM products, report Zhang Lei and Zhong Nan in Beijing.

More than 300 people gathered to enjoy a bowl of porridge made from genetically modified food on Saturday, an attempt to quell public fears about the safety of the product.

The first China Golden Rice Tasting Event was held at Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, Hubei province, sparking another round in the nationwide debate about the safety of GM crops, often called "Frankenfood" by opponents.

Similar events have been held in more than 28 cities since May, the university said.

Both the pro and anti camps have posted conflicting comments on the Internet, with each providing evidence to back up their beliefs, but the exchanges are becoming increasingly bitter.

Jiang Tao, a senior engineer at the Center for Agricultural Resources Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who is in favor of GM foods, was annoyed about what he called "amateurs" spreading rumors.

"Just look at the people who are opposed to GM foods; can you find anyone from a related field in the scientific community?" he asked. Jiang also accused the anti-GM lobby of repeatedly using outdated or inaccurate data to support an "incorrect" stance.

Chen Yunfa, an independent researcher into the Yangtze River Delta economy, recently wrote a commentary on the Internet news portal Eastday in which he criticized the actions of the 61 scientists, saying they had gone "beyond their proper duty". He suggested that large multinational corporations might be behind the letter and similar incidents, prompted by a desire to freeze China's patent hybrid rice technology out of the market.

To support his contentions, Chen said that GM rice, first produced by scientists in the US, still hasn't gained official approval from the US government. However, the US authorities have actually granted licenses to six varieties of GM rice. The commercial planting of two varieties - anti-herbicide (BAR) transgenic rice LL RICE 06 and LL RICE 62 - produced by the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis, was approved in 1999 and a license for cultivation for edible use was granted in 2000.

The public outcry for GM labeling and boycotting has hindered the advancement of the technology. Concern about GM foods has been fueled by studies like the one published by French professor Gilles-Eric Séralini in September 2012. Séralini claimed that his research involving rats proved that the GM corn fed to them caused tumor growth. Furthermore, there is growing concern that the pesticides(杀虫剂) used on GMOs(转基因作物)are contributing to the decline of the world’s honey bee population, leading to honey bee deaths by infecting the brains of the insects with toxins. Therefore, some experts recommend the labeling of non-GM foods so that consumers can make that decision without a regulatory burden being placed on GMOs.

However, we should be cautious about anything that may risk humans’ life. Only time will tell.

1.Why did more than 300 people enjoy porridge made from genetically modified food?

A. To show evidence that GM products are dangerous.

B. To support that the first China Golden Rice Tasting is safe.

C. To rid public of fears and worries about the safety of GM foods.

D. To draw public’s attention to nationwide planting of GM products.

2.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A. Those who are for GM products and those who are against keep arguing fiercely by holding conferences.

B. People are failing to show evidence to support their pros and cons, although they hold a firm belief of their own.

C. Some people think those against GM foods have a good knowledge of GM technology and are spreading rumors.

D. GM food may be just a way for some multinational corporations to drive China’s patent hybrid rice out of the market.

3.What can we infer from the second paragraph from bottom?

A. The public advocated that GM products should be labeled clearly.

B. Séralini claimed that his research proved the GM corn caused rats to grow faster.

C. Many honey bees have died because they were fed with GM corn.

D. There should be some restrictions on GM products’ selling.

4.What is the writer’s attitude towards GM products?

A. Supportive.                         B. Suspicious.                  C. Indifferent.               D. Critical.

 

Though he hasn’t achieved the goal, he isn’t a failure. _____ , he is a true man indeed. 

A．In particular	B．On the contrary
C．Generally speaking	D．To be honest

 

—— He promised to come to see you.

—— But he ＿＿＿＿＿. I’ve been all alone.

A.didn’t     B.wouldn’t  C.hasn’t     D.won’t

Below is a discussion on a website.

 

http://www.TalkingPoints.com/
Stuck on a desert island?
Started on 23rd April by Steve Posts 1 – 7 of 42
Post 1 Steve USA	Hi, everyone. What would you miss most and least if you were stuck on a desert island? For me, it would be the changing seasons in New England. I guess this will sound stupid but I’d probably miss the rain, too. I wouldn’t miss getting up at six every day to go to work, though! What about you?
Post 2 Tomas Germany	Good question. Steve, I think I’d miss different types of bread, and shopping at the supermarket. I’d miss the food most. What would I miss least? My mobile phone---I’d like to be completely quiet --- at least for a little while
Post 3 Paola Italy	I would miss the company of people because I know I’d like to have someone to share experiences with. I’d go mad on my own. And I sure wouldn’t miss junk mail(垃圾邮件) --- I hate coming home every evening and a pile of junk mail in my post box.
Post 4 Miko Japan	Hi, I would miss Manga cartoon, the Internet and Japanese food, like sushi. I’d also miss TV shows and shopping for clothes…
Post 5 Roger UK	I would miss my daily newspaper and listening to the news on TV and radio. I’d feel very cut off if I didn’t know what was happening in the world. What I’d miss least would be traffic jams in the city, particularly my journey to work.
Past 6 Jayne	Why hasn’t anyone mentioned their family? I’d be lost without my husband and two kids. They’re the most important for me. And I can’t get started in the morning without a cup of black coffee. I wouldn’t miss doing the housework!
Post 7 Jaime Mexico	It would have to be music. I couldn’t live without my music. I wouldn’t miss going to school at all or doing homework!

 

1.Who would miss his or her family most?

A. Jaime         B. Jayne       C. Miko        D. Paola.

2.Which of the following people would feel most uncomfortable without the news media?

A. Steve.         B. Jaime       C. Roger.       D. Tomas

3.How many of them mentioned that they would miss food or drink?

A. One           B. Two        C. Three        D. Four

 

Have you ever wished you could solve complex math problems without thinking? What about learning to play the piano in just three days? Or mastering several foreign languages within a month?

Eddie Morra, the main character in the movie Limitless can do all these things. But he isn’t Superman or Harry Potter. Eddie has taken pills called NZT.

Thriller Limitless came out in China on October 13. In the movie, Eddie is faced with “writer’s block”. He hasn’t written a single word of a novel, and his deadline has passed. And there’s more bad news: his girlfriend breaks up with him. By chance, Eddie runs into a relative who is a drug dealer. He gives Eddie some pills called NZT that allow people to make use of 100 percent of their brains. With the magic pills, Eddie’s life changes completely. He can recall everything he has ever read, seen or heard. He gains a sixth sense that allows him to predict future events. He even becomes a kungfu master by simply memorizing actions in Bruce Lee’s movie.

Before long he has finished his novel, won back his girlfriend and stepped into the financial world. He becomes rich incredibly quickly and is soon employed by a powerful Wall Street company. However, bad side effects are just around the corner. The effects of the pill last for only one or two days, and Eddie has to find more supplies of the pills. Meanwhile, the pills start to have other effects on him. Eddies’ mind loses the ability to control the actions of his body. What does destiny hold for him? Will he be able to go back to his normal life?

“Eddie’s fate turns out to be a barbed （讽刺的） joke… a sharp-eyed comic fable for an age of greed (贪婪)and speed.” writes A. O. Scott, a movie critic with the New York Times.

The drug isn’t real-----yet, some researchers say such memory-enhancing drugs might not be far off. Would you take such a pill despite its side effects? Is the ability to remember everything a blessing or a curse?

1.Which of the following happened to Eddie after he took the pill?

A．He can easily call everyone in the world.

B．He can expect what will happen next with his sixth sense.

C．He can control a powerful Wall Street company and becomes rich.

D．He can make a special pill to improve his own memory.

2.What’s A. O. Scott’s opinion of the movie?

A. The movie can help slow our pace in life.

B. The movie turned out to be only a joke.

C. The movie can help invent a memory-enhancing drug.

D. The movie aims to show something is wrong with our society.

3.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Memory-enhancing is sure to do good to us.

B．More people will take pills to enhance their memory.

C．People are soon likely to remember everything.

D．Such a pill to enhance memories may soon be invented.

4.What is writer’s purpose of writing the passage?

A．To give us the information of a new movie.

B．To inform us of a new research on a new drug.

C．To suggest a good way to improve memory.

D．To tell us something about a new drug to enhance our memory.