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　　The topic of cloning has been a politically and ethically controversial one since its very beginning. While the moral and philosophical aspects of the issues are entirely up to the interpretation of the individual, the application of cloning technology can be studied objectively. Many in the scientific community advocate the use of cloning for the preservation and support of endangered species of animals, which aside from cloning, have no other practical hope for avoiding extinction.

　　The goal of the use of cloning to avoid extinction is the reintroduction of new genes into the gene pool of species with few survivors, ensuring the maintenance and expansion of genetic diversity. Likely candidates for this technique are species known to have very few surviving members, such as the African Bongo Antelope, the Sumatran Tiger, and the Chinese Giant Panda. In the case of Giant Panda, some artificial techniques for creating offspring have already been performed, perhaps paving the way for cloning as the next step in the process.

　　With the estimated population of only about 1000 Giant Pandas left in the world, the urgency of the situation has led to desperate measures. One panda was born through the technique of artificial insemination in the San Diego Zoo in the United States. “Hua Mei” was born in 1999 after her parents, Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling, had trouble conceiving naturally.

　　The plan to increase the Giant Panda population through the use of cloning involves the use of a species related to the Giant Panda, the American Black Bear. Egg cells will be removed from female black bears and then fertilized with Panda cells such as those from Ling-Ling or Hsing-Hsing. The fertilized embryo will then re-implanted into the black bear, where it will grow and mature, until a new panda is delivered from the black bear host.

　　Critics of cloning technology argue that the emphasis on cloning as a method by which to preserve species will draw funding away from other methods, such as habitat preservation and conservation. Proponents of cloning counter that many countries in which many endangered species exist are too poor to protect and maintain the species' habitats anyway, making cloning technology the only practical way to ensure that those species survive to future generations. The issue is still hotly debated, as both sides weigh the benefits that could be achieved against the risks and ethical concerns that constantly accompany any argument on the issue. (402 words)

　　Notes: ethically 道德上。gene pool基因库。insemination n. 受精。fertilize 使受精。embryo 胚胎。proponent 支持者，拥护者。weigh A against B 权衡A和B的利弊。

　　26. The author raises the issue of ethical consideration in cloning in paragraph 1 in order to

　　[A] identify the issues that will not be addressed in the text.

　　[B] reveal an area of interest that will be explored later in the text.

　　[C] identify one of the main issues affecting the cloning controversy today.

　　[D] draw the reader's attention to a sensitive issue that bears consideration in the topic of cloning.

　　27. The author directs attention to “Hua Mei”, the baby panda born in the San Diego Zoo, in order to

　　[A] show that cloning as an artificial birth technique has succeeded.

　　[B] argue that pandas are a particularly likely candidate for cloning.

　　[C] show that artificial birth techniques other than cloning have succeeded.

　　[D] demonstrate the necessity of cloning and other artificial birth techniques to the survival of certain species.

　　28. Paragraph 4 is written in order to

　　[A] detail the process by which cloning in the panda population has been executed in the past.

　　[B] guide the reader to consider the possibility of cloning in restoring the panda

　　population.

　　[C] demonstrate that the use of cloning to repopulate the panda species is a feasible goal.

　　[D] inform the reader of how cloning would be carried out in the panda population.

　　29. The main purpose of the last paragraph is to

　　[A] argue in favor of one side on a particularly controversial topic of cloning.

　　[B] display both sides' arguments on another contentious issue in cloning.

　　[C] redirect the readers' attention to the previously raised issue of ethics in cloning.

　　[D] provide further relevant information to the evaluation of cloning as a preservation technique.

　　30. It can be inferred from the information given in the text that the best candidate for cloning would be

　　[A] Giant Pandas.

　　[B] an endangered species with many living related species.

　　[C] the species in which previous techniques of artificial reproduction have been

　　successfully applied.

　　[D] those for which cloning is the only feasible method by which to reproduce the species.

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