Ⅴ.Reading Comprehension(每題 2 分)The history of medicine has not been controversy-free. It was once deemed unethical to cut open adead body to examine the cause of death. The first heart transplant was considered as vicious as creating aFrankenstein monster. Today’s medical controversies include cloning, animal testing, and embryonic stemcell research. The last of the three has resulted in powerful opposition despite its potential for a truerevolution in the treatment of injury and disease.Stem cell research takes advantage of special cells within all mammals, including man. These cellsdevelop almost immediately after the creation of an embryo as well as in the adult body. Stem cellsavailable in all embryos are able to become any of the more than 200 different adult cell types found inhumans. Adult stem cells are found in adult tissues and are responsible for creating new cells, such asthose which replace blood or skin. Due to the constant debate over medical ethics, almost all currentresearch involves adult stem cells. This is because in order to use embryonic stem cells, an embryo mustbe sacrificed. Therein lies opposition to research into embryonic stem cells.Opponents of embryonic stem cell research argue that once a human egg and a sperm unite, theresulting embryo is a human with its own DNA and potential to become a human being. Destroying theembryo is the same as killing an unborn child. They also believe that approval of this kind of researchwill lead to other approaches to medical research like cloning, the reproduction of humans or their bodyparts. These activities devaluate human life, they claim, because humans will become little more than theproduct of a manufacturing process.Supporters of embryonic stem cell research argue that there are advantages over disadvantages. Thepromise of replacing damaged or diseased human organs or other tissue would bring an end to such healththreats as cancer, blindness, and diabetes. Since extra embryos are routinely produced from currentassisted-reproduction therapies, supporters believe in using these “extra” embryos that would be disposedof anyway.About one thing there is for sure: embryonic stem cell research is presenting the medicalcommunity and the general society with a significant ethical challenge.
33. What is the article mainly about?
(A) The controversy over cloning
(B) Medical techniques in stem cell research
(C) The debate over embryonic stem cell research
(D) Applications for adult stem cell research