Question

According to the Associated Press (AP), a Chinese scientist claims he successfully created the world’s first genetically-edited babies.

Chinese researcher He Jiankui, a research professor at China’s Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, said he had edited DNA of twin girls born a few weeks ago. ①

He’s claims were immediately criticized by some scientists as unsafe and unethical. This kind of gene editing is forbidden in the United States and many other countries. ②Such changes to a person’s DNA can pass to future generations and risk harming other genes.

In interviews, He Jiankui defended his work. He said he had performed the gene editing to help protect the babies from future infection of HIV, the virus responsible for the disease AIDS. He said the process had “worked safely” and the twin girls were “as healthy as any other babies.” He told the AP he felt a strong responsibility “not just to make a first, but also to make an example” for future research. “Society will decide what to do next,” he said.

When He’s claims became public, the university made a statement saying his work had “seriously went against academic ethics and standards.” University officials said they had no knowledge of his research and had looked into the case. ③

China’s National Health Commission was “highly concerned” about the claims and ordered local health officials “to immediately look into” He’s activity. “We have to be responsible for the people’s health and will act on this according to the law,” the commission said.

Scientists discovered in recent years a new way to edit genes that make up a person’s DNA throughout the body. The tool, called CRISPR-cas9, makes it possible to change DNA to supply a needed gene or take one away that is causing problems. So far the tool has only been used on adults to treat deadly diseases, and the changes only affected that person.

④Kiran Musunuru, a scientist from University of Pennsylvania, told the AP that if such an experiment had been carried out on human beings, it could not be “morally or ethically reasonable.” Julian Savulescu, a medical ethics expert at Britain’s University of Oxford, agreed. “If true, this experiment may cause disasters,” he told Reuters.

However, one well-known geneticist, Harvard University’s George Church, defended the attempt to edit genes to prevent infections of HIV. He told the AP that since HIV is “a major and growing public health threat” he finds such experiments “valuable.”

1.What can we learn from this passage?

A. All scientists consider He’s experiment unsafe and unethical.

B. The university He works in supports his experiment.

C. Many countries don’t allow editing babies genetically.

D. China’s National Health Commission thinks highly of He’s experiment.

2.The following sentence “However, many scientists believe such experiment is dangerous.” can be placed in __________.

A. ①    B. ②

C. ③    D. ④

3.What’s the author’s attitude towards He Jiankui’s research?

A. Supportive.    B. Uninterested.

C. Doubtful.    D. Neutral.

4.What might be the best title of this passage?

A. Chinese Scientist Claims First Gene Edited Babies

B. Chinese Scientist Finds A New Cure For AIDS

C. Gene Editing Still Has A Long Way To Go

D. China Takes The Lead In Gene Editing

Answer

1. C

2. A

3. D

4. A

【解析】

这是一篇新闻报道。这篇文章主要讲了据美联社报道，一名中国科学家声称他成功地创造了世界上第一个经过基因编辑的婴儿。

1.细节理解题。答案定位在第三段This kind of gene editing is forbidden in the United States and many other countries.（这种基因编辑在美国和其他许多国家是被禁止的。）故选C。

2.推理判断题。下一段He’s claims were immediately criticized by some scientists as unsafe and unethical. This kind of gene editing is forbidden in the United States and many other countries.说他的说法立即被一些科学家批评为不安全和不道德的。这种基因编辑在美国和其他许多国家是被禁止的。上文一定会说“然而，许多科学家认为这样的实验是危险的”，故选A。

3.推理判断题。作者只是如实说出社会各界对贺建奎基因编辑婴儿的看法，所以作者对于贺建奎的研究持中立态度，故选D。

4.主旨大意题。第一段According to the Associated Press (AP), a Chinese scientist claims he successfully created the world’s first genetically-edited babies.是全文的主题句，结合全文内容，可知这篇文章主要讲了据美联社报道，一名中国科学家声称他成功地创造了世界上第一个经过基因编辑的婴儿，故选A。