Question

With only about 1,000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone (克隆) the animal and save the endangered species (物种). 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(胚胎), 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 Veterinary 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 reptiles will become 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 (核子移植) 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 ifs 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 of species will probably die out in a century

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】

本文是一篇科普说明文，中国科学家一直在研究如何提高克隆技术来保护大熊猫，以及这种技术运用的可能性。文章还介绍了保护物种的“Noah’s Ark”的相关信息。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段第二句“If certain species should become extinct, Dr. Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A& M’s College of Veterinary Medicine, says there would be enough of the basic building blocks to reintroduce the species in the future.”可知当某个物种要灭绝的时候，人们就用保存好的细胞重新把这个物种生产出来。说明这个项目的目的是为了挽救濒危物种不要灭绝的。故B项正确。

2.细节理解题。根据第六段第一句““The nuclear transfer (核子移植) 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.”可知核子移植很难，但缺少panda eggs是一个主要的问题。也就是说主要的问题是缺少panda eggs。故A项正确。

3.主旨大意题。根据文章第一段可知本文主要介绍科学家如何提高克隆技术来保护大熊猫，以及这种技术运用的可能性，故C项正确。

4.细节理解题。根据第三段第一句“It is estimated that as many as 2,000 species of mammals, birds reptiles will become extinct in over 100 years.”可知据估计100年以后大约2000种物种可能会灭绝。故D项正确。