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. Dr. Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A & M's College of Veterinary Medicine and a pioneer in embryo(胚胎) transfer work and related procedures, said he salutes the Chinese effort and "I wish them all the best success possible. It's a worthwhile project, certainly not an easy one."
Noah's Ark is aimed at collecting eggs, embryos, semens (精子) and DNA of endangered animals and storing them in liquid nitrogen. If certain species should become extinct, Kraemer says there would be enough of the basie building blocks to reintroduce the species in the future.
It is estimated that as many as 2,000 species of mammals, birds and reptiles will become extinct over the next 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 of one species to another is not easy, and the lack of available panda eggs could be a major problem," Kraemer believes.
"They will probably have to do several hundred transfers to result in one pregnancy. It takes a long time and it's 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 Missyplicity 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 applaud 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."
The aim of "Noah's Ark" Project is to ______.
A. try to clone pandas
B. undergo some related procedures
C. introduce cells from a dead female panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit
D. save endangered animals from extinction
Part A
Directions: Read the following three texts. Answer the questions on each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1.
Surprisingly, no one knows how many children receive education in English hospitals, still less the content or quality of that education. Proper records are just not kept.
We know that more than 850,000 children go through hospital each year, and that every child of school age has a legal right to continue to receive education while in hospital. We also know there is only one hospital teacher to every 1,000 children in hospital.
Little wonder the latest survey concludes that the extent and type of hospital teaching available differ a great deal across the country. It is found that half the hospitals in England which admit children have no teacher. A further quarter have only a part - time teacher. The special children's hospitals in major cities do best; general hospitals in the country and holiday areas are worst off.
From this survey, one can estimate that fewer than one in five children have some contact with a hospital teacher- and that contact may be as little as two hours a day. Most children interviewed were surprised to find a teacher in hospital at all. They had not been prepared for it by parents or their own school. If there was a teacher they were much more likely to read books and do math or number work; without a teacher they would only play games.
Reasons for hospital teaching range from preventing a child falling behind and maintaining the habit of school to keeping a child occupied, and the latter is often all the teacher can do. The position and influence of many teachers was summed up when parents referred to them as "the library lady" or just "the helper".
Children tend to rely on concerned school friends to keep in touch with school work. Several parents spoke of requests for work being ignored or refused by the school. Once back at school children rarely get extra teaching, and are told to catch up as best they can.
Many short - stay child - patients catch up quickly. But schools do very little to ease the anxiety about falling behind expressed by many of the children interviewed.
The author points out at the beginning that ______.
A. every child in hospital is entitled to receive education
B. not enough is known about hospital teaching
C. hospital teaching is of unknown quality
D. the special children's hospitals are worst off
What does Dr. Cole say they might learn about the planets with the new telescope?
A. The small spots of light.
B. Their chemical composition.
C. Their temperature.
D. Their age.