Question

    Stanford University has begun an investigation following claims that some of its staff knew long ago of Chinese scientist He Jiankui’s plans to create the world’s first gene-edited babies.

A university official said a review was under way of interactions some faculty members had with He. who was educated at Stanford. Several professors including He’s former research adviser have said that they knew or strongly suspected that He wanted to try gene editing on embryos (胚胎).

The Chinese genetic scientist posted a video on You Tube in November 2018. He claimed in the video that he had used a gene-editing tool Crispr-Cas9 to modify (修改) a particular gene in two embryos before they were placed in their mother’s womb (子宫). He, who works in a lab in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, said the twin girls, known as Lulu and Nana, were born using an egg that was modified. He focused on HIV infection prevention because the father is HIV positive. “Now the father has a reason to live, a reason to work, he has a purpose,” He said.

Editing the genes of embryos, which can change other genes, is banned in many countries because DNA changes are passed to future generations and could have unforeseen effects on the entire gene pool.

China’s national health commission ordered officials to “seriously investigate” He’s claims. Shenzhen’s health and family planning commission said it was investigating the review process around He’ s work.

Research institutions connected to He have distanced themselves from him. “This research work was carried out by Professor He Jiankui outside of the school,” said the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen. It called his research a “serious violation of academic ethics (道德)”.

1.What did He Jiankui claim in the video posted on You Tube?

A. He was wrong in trying gene editing on embryos.

B. He prevented the twins from developing cancer.

C. He modified a gene in Lulu and Nana’s embryos.

D. He was influenced by his research adviser in Stanford.

2.Why is gene editing of embryos banned in many countries?

A. The effect of DNA changes on the gene pool is unforeseeable.

B. It causes disabilities to the gene-edited babies.

C. The future generations will rely on gene editing.

D. It will affect all the healthy genes of the embryos.

3.How did the university in Shenzhen react to He’s video claim?

A. It ordered investigations to be conducted.

B. It called the incident a big shame for the nation.

C. It declared not related to He’s research.

D. It kept a distance from the media.

4.Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A. The USA Bans Gene-editing

B. What are the Ethics of Medical Treatment?

C. Scientists Find the Idea of Gene-edited Babies Crazy

D. Stanford Investigates Links to Scientist in Gene Editing

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。此前有报道称，中国科学家贺建奎(He Jiankui)计划创造世界上第一个基因编辑婴儿。斯坦福大学已开始进行调查。

1.细节理解题。根据第三段第二句“He claimed in the video that he had used a gene-editing tool Crispr-Cas9 to modify (修改) a particular gene in two embryos before they were placed in their mother’s womb (子宫).”可知He Jiankui在视频中声称，他使用基因编辑工具在两个胚胎植入母亲子宫之前，修改了它们的一个特定基因。根据下文可知两个胚胎就是Lulu和Nana，故可知他在露露和娜娜的胚胎中修改了一个基因。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段“because DNA changes are passed to future generations and could have unforeseen effects on the entire gene pool”可知很多国家禁止胚胎的基因编辑的原因是DNA的变化会传递给后代，可能会对整个基因库产生无法预料的影响，故选A。

3.判断推理题。根据最后一段倒数第二句““This research work was carried out by Professor He Jiankui outside of the school,” said the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen.”可知深圳南方科技大学表示:“这项研究工作是由何建奎教授在校外完成的。”即深圳大学言下之意对于何建奎教授在校外进行研究工作的行为并不知情，是在声明与他的研究无关，故选C。

4.主旨大意题。根据第一段“Stanford University has begun an investigation following claims that some of its staff knew long ago of Chinese scientist He Jiankui’s plans to create the world’s first gene-edited babies.”可知斯坦福大学已开始进行一项有关从事基因编辑的科学家的调查，且文章就此为中心内容展开进行论述，故选D。