1. Genetic modification of foods is not a new practice. It has been practiced for thousands of years under the name of "selective breeding". Animals and plants were chosen because they had traits that humans found useful. Some animals were larger and stronger than others, or they yielded more food, or they had some other trait that humans valued. Therefore, they were bred because of those traits. Individuals with those traits were brought together and allowed to breed in the hope that their offspring would have the same traits in greater measure.
2. Much the same thing was done with plants. To produce bigger or sweeter fruit, or grow more grain per unit of land, strains of plants were combined and recombined to produce hybrids, or crossbreeds that had the desired traits in the right combinations. All the while, however, biologists wondered: is there a more direct and versatile way to change the traits of plants and animals? Could we rewrite, so to speak, the heredity of organisms to make them serve our needs better?
3. In the 20th century, genetic modification made such changes possible at last. Now, it was possible to alter the genetic code without using the slow and uncertain process of selective breeding. It even became possible to blend plants and animals genetically: to insert animal genes into plants, for example, in order to give the plants a certain trait they ordinarily would lack, such as resistance to freezing. The result was a tremendous potential to change the very nature of biology.
4. Despite the remarkable potential of genetic modification, it has also sparked significant ethical, environmental, and health concerns. Critics argue that altering the genetic makeup of organisms could lead to unintended consequences, such as the disruption of ecosystems or the emergence of new allergens in food. Additionally, there are fears that genetically modified (GM) crops could crossbreed with wild plants, potentially creating invasive species or reducing biodiversity. These concerns have led to strict regulations in some countries and ongoing debates about the safety and long-term impact of GM foods on human health and the environment.
Choose an option (A, B, C, or D) that best answers each question from 46 to 52.
Câu 46:
What is the passage mainly about?
A. The arguments against genetic modification
B. The benefits brought about by genetic modification
C. The reasons behind selective breeding of plants
D. The development of genetic modification
Câu 47:
The word "them" in paragraph 2 refers to ______.
A. organisms B. traits C. animals D. plants
Câu 48:
The word "blend" in paragraph 3 mostly means ______.
A. combine B. collect C. gather D. carry
Câu 49:
In paragraph 3, which of the following is an example of genetic modification?
A. Mixing plant seeds to grow faster
B. Breeding larger animals for food production
C. Inserting animal genes into plants for frost resistance
D. Growing crops with natural fertilizers
Câu 50:
According to paragraph 4, why do critics worry about genetic modification?
A. It could slow down food production.
B. It may unintentionally harm ecosystems and biodiversity.
C. It increases the cost of farming.
D. It makes food taste unnatural.
Câu 51:
According to paragraph 4, what is one potential environmental risk of genetically modified crops?
A. They reduce the need for pesticides.
B. They may crossbreed with wild plants and disrupt ecosystems.
C. They can grow in poor soil conditions.
D. They improve biodiversity by creating new species.
Câu 52:
What can be inferred about selective breeding from the passage?
A. It was a faster method than genetic modification.
B. It could not create entirely new traits in organisms.
C. It was more effective than modern techniques.
D. It was banned due to ethical concerns.
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