Read the following article. Five sentences have been removed from it. Choose from the sentences A-E the one which fits each gap

Choose the best answer A, B, C or D. Expand on your choice.

What is stated in the “precautionary principle” which the writer refers to?

(a) That the lack of any scientific evidence should never be a reason for politicians to do nothing.

(b) That politicians must always act if there is a threat to the environment or human health.

(c) That politicians should act even without full scientific proof if nature or humans are seriously threatened.

(d) That scientific proof need not to be the best way to judge a threat to the environment or human health.

According to the writer, using antibiotics in agriculture

(a) is clearly endangering human health.

(b) cannot be shown to threaten human health in any way.

(c) is necessary because of diseases caused by intensive stock production systems.

(d) may increase human resistance to medicines that contain them.

According to the writer, what is the problem about GM crops?

(a) Government ministers may be tampering with the data about them.

(b) Public relations departments make questionable claims about their safety.

(c) No countries in Europe believe there is sufficient scientific information to justify their use.

(d) They could interbreed with organic crops.

Why are the RSPB worried, according to the text?

(a) insect-resistant crops may kill the birds that feed on them.

(b) Farmers may grow fewer plants so there will be less food for birds.

(c) There may be less diversity of crops grown so birds will suffer.

(d) Broad spectrum weedkillers may poison the birds.

A. The experiment failed.

B. Genes carry information.

C. Some – but not all – supermarkets are telling their customers which foods are genetically engineered.

D. It may be your land they fight for – or you that they kill.

E. These new life forms have been described as a “real-life Frankenstein”.

You didn’t ask for it, you might not know about it. But you’ve probably already eaten some of it. It’s genetically engineered food.

Perfectly round tomatoes all exactly the same size. Long straight cucumbers and big fat chickens are now a normal part of our diets. They are made that way by genetic engineering – not by nature. Their geneshave been changed.

Every living thing has genes. ________They are passed on from generation to generation. They make sure that humans give birth to humans and cows give birth to cows. They also make sure that a dog cannot give birth to a frog or an elephant to a horse. Genetic engineers take genes from one species – for example, a scorpion, and transferthem to another – for example, corn. In this way a new life form is created.________

Genetic engineers put duck genes into chickens to make the chicken bigger. They put hormones into cows to make them produce more milk. They put genes from flowers into soya beans and from scorpions into corn. This does not make them cheaper, tastier or healthier. It makes them easier and faster for the farmer to grow.

The effects of genetic engineering on our health are not known. Many of the genes which are used – such as those of scorpions, rats, mice and moths – are not part of our diet so we do not know how dangerous they may be. For example, people can develop allergies to food which has been genetically engineered.

The effects of genetic engineering on the natural world may be disastrous. The engineers may create life forms – monsters – that we cannot control. The new life forms have no natural habitat or home. They will have to find one, fight for one – kill for one.

__________Moreover, the effects of these experiments can often be cruel. In America, some animals were given human genes to make them bigger and less fatty. ___________The animals became very ill and began to lose eyesight.

Greenpeace is trying to prevent all such food experiments. Some – but not all – food companies are refusing to use genetically engineered foods. _________We must all be aware of what is happening.

Some people believe, though genetic engineering could be the solution to the problem of famine. Plants which grow faster or cows which produce more milk can save the lives of starving people.

We would all like a better, healthier and longer life, and genetic engineering might give us this. On the other hand, it may be a dangerous experiment with nature. In the story, Frankenstein created such a terrible and dangerous monster that he had to destroy it. We must make sure that it remains a story – and no more than that.

What are the arguments for and against genetically engineered food?

How do you feel about it?

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