biotechnology.
China is fast applying the latest life-science techniques learned from the West to aggressively pursue genome research. It's establishing its own centers of technical excellence to build a scientific base to compete directly with the United States and Europe. With a plentiful supply of smart young scientists at home and lots of interest abroad biotechnology is on the brick of a boom in China. And in the view of foreign scientists, Beijing is playing a clever hand, maximizing the opportunities open to them.
For the moment, the cooperation exists mostly with Europe and the U.S. But Asia's other biotech leaders, Japan, Singapore and Korea, also are recognizing China's potential as an attractive low-cost base to conduct research. These partnerships—and China's advancement in the field of biotechnology—could help benefit the rest of Asia: China's rapid progress in improving crop yields will address food-security concerns in the region, In addition, China is more likely to focus on developing cheap technology that its predominantly poor population—and those of other Asian countries—-can afford.
There remain, however, serious barriers to the development qf a strong biotech industry. Among them are a poor domestic legal framework, weak enforcement of intellectual-property rights and loose adherence to international standards, China is a signatory of the International Bio Safety Protocol, which should mean adherence to global standards governing the conduct of field trials. But some observers are skeptical. 'The regulations look good, but I haven't met one scientist who believes they are being fully adhered to," says a European science analyst.
If shortcuts are taken, then some of the recent scientific achievements trumpeted in the official press may never make it to market. But no matter how strict lab tests are. other problems lie in waii. For example, there is a number of tasks it would take years :o fulfill in the patents office, says one lawyer, leaving innovators with little protection if they take a product to market in China.
56, The mouse on display is most significant in that _ _.
A. it has an ear in the shape of a human ear
B. it is unusually small and ugly as a star
C. it is the focus of the media at the exhibition
D. it indicates China's progress in biotechnology
57. The phrase "on the brink of a boom" (in boldface in Paragraph 2) in the context
means .
A. having an edge in competition
B. in great demand
C. on the way to success
D. preparing for challenge
58. In the field of biotechnology China is thought to .
A. have been making an utmost effort learning from the West
B. have become a country among the advanced
C. have been able to rival the United Sates and Europe
D. have launched a biotechnological revolution
59. Japan, Singapore, and Korea will also be interested in cooperating with China in biotechnology because .
A. it has made extraordinary contributions to the world
B. it has large supplies of talents and advanced research centers
C. its research focuses on the benefits of all Asian countries
D. its cooperation with the US and Europe proves profitable
60. Science analysts are worried that China, in the course of biotech development,
A. might refuse to join efforts to adhere to global standards
B. may put too much emphasis on developing cheap technology
C. cannot afford to fulfill years of tasks in assessing patents
D. may not seriously follow the International Bio Safety Protocol
61. As implied in the context, the shortcuts that might be taken include .
A. publicizing recent achievements in the official press
B. the protection of innovators with their products
C. the violation of intellectual-property rights
D. making lab tests as strict as possible
Passage 2
The sizzling streams of sunlight were just beautifully glimmering down on the crisp green schoolyard. Such a wonderful day that was. Nothing could have ruined it.
Little Jimmy, since it was such a wonderful day, decided to go to the corner store and buy himself a little treat. As Jimmy started walking over to the store, Clouds flocked over the dazzling sun and the sudden pitch dark meant no trouble, On the other side of the road were three white boys from Jimmy's same school. Upon recognizing Jimmy, the boys ran over the street to where he was.
"Hey Negro, what's up?" one of the white boys said,
"Did your mamma pack you enough to eat today? "another hooted. "Just leave me alone," Little Jimmy said.
" Oh no, Jimmy's really getting pist off!?" the first boy retaliated. "Just shove off and let me be," Jimmy answered.
It is like this everyday, everywhere, and every time, people suffer discrimination. All because they have differences amongst each other. Different beliefs, different cultures, different skin colors, all of these act like building blocks to help construct what we know as Racism.
Racism has become one of the many burdens amongst multi-cultural worlds like Canada and the States. Racism is a part of each and every one of us. No doubt, we are all racist, but the term racism has been used too loosely. Racism has been mutated to such an extent that ii could be a reason for war, a symbol of terrorism, and even an excuse for neglecting.
Is that all there is to it? No, actually it is just the beginning. Racism is just like warfare in which there is no shelter and nobody is neutral.
Nobody is exempt from this demon. He has haunted us with a bitter curse. On one occasion I remember, nobody would play with me at school. 1 would walk around by myself and ask people if we could play together. Everywhere that 1 went, like the process of induction, everyone would avoid me. Like two inducted poles with the some polarity, they would just shimmer off into the distance and continue to do whatever they're doing. Because of racial differences, they neglect me.
People are afraid of the unknown, and it is this difference amongst people that spread rumors and distrust amongst people. Corrupting our thoughts and reasons, we get accustomed to thinking differences are omens. Amongst smaller kids, there is no difficulty in getting them to all play together, Their thoughts are not totally corrupted as others. Probably the demon has no time to bother with smaller children.