87 Reading the News 1 UNIT 9 The Future of Foods 35(5($',1*7$6.6
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b. a plant, etc. that has had its genetic structure FKDQJHGDUWL¿FLDOO\ HGLEOH
c. a poor condition of health caused by a lack of
food or a lack of the right type of food PDOQXWULWLRQ
d. the activity of making an animal or
plant breed with a different type
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While it is important to keep a balanced view, some writers like to put across their own
view and build an argument in favor of something. Understanding the development of an
argument is vital in processing a text.
5HDGWKHLQWURGXFWLRQWRWKHDUWLFOHEHORZHow do you think the article is going to
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It’s human nature, it seems, to resist changes and fear the unknown. So it is no surprise
that genetic engineering of food and feed crops resulted in their resounding condemnation
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added anti-browning gene or a pink pineapple genetically enriched with the antioxidant
lycopene as I am of self-driving cars.
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By Jane E. Brody’s         April 23, 2018 
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change and fear the unknown. So it is no
are none, but as hard as opponents of the
surprise that genetic engineering of food
technology have looked, none have yet
and feed crops resulted in their resounding
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condemnation as “)UDQNHQIRRGV” by many
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or a pink pineapple genetically enriched
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than a third of consumers share this belief.
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much harder to spot the small print on many
other foods stating “Partially produced with
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federal law that mandated uniform labeling
of all food products containing genetically engineered ingredients. 
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response to public pressure and DFRQIXVLQJ
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the public’s right to know and honest 
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labeling of all products, in an important
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way it is very misleading. Farmers and
shown to exist. 7KHIHDUVRI*02VDUH
agricultural scientists have been genetically
VWLOO WKHRUHWLFDO, like the possibility that
engineering the foods we eat for centuries
insertion of one or a few genes could have
through breeding programs that result in
a negative impact on other desirable genes
large and largely uncontrolled exchanges naturally present in the crop.
of genetic material. What many consumers 7
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Meanwhile, a number of impressive
addition to traditional crossbreeding,
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agricultural scientists have used radiation )RU H[DPSOH DQ DQDO\VLV RI 
and chemicals to LQGXFH JHQH PXWDWLRQV
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found that genetically engineered corn
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lower amounts of toxins commonly
adverse health effects among consumers produced by fungi. 89 Reading the News 1 8
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Wider adoption of genetic engineering,
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insect pest, the western corn rootworm,
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which damages ears of corn and allows
increase the food supply in areas where
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climate change will increasingly require that
the change has had little or no effect on
crops can grow in dry and salty soils and other insects.
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Rice, a crop genetically engineered to supply
damage, farmers have been able to use
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fewer pesticides while increasing yields,
prevent irreversible blindness and more than
which enhances safety for farmers and the a million deaths a year.
environment while lowering the cost of
food and increasing its availability. Yields  1RQHWKHOHVV JHQH PRGL¿FDWLRQ
of corn, cotton and soybeans are said to
scientists are focusing increasingly on
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through the use of genetic engineering.
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lycopene, tomatoes are being engineered to
this country each year on feed containing
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actually improved on the genetically 
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with famine and malnutrition are likely to
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content of food crops, as well as the amount
of vitamins and minerals they provide.
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1. :RUGVDQGSKUDVHVH[SODQDWLRQ
Explain the following words and expressions, as used in the article. a. Franken foods
……………………………………………………………………………………………
b. a confusing array of state rules
……………………………………………………………………………………………
c. to induce gene mutation in edible crops
…………………………………………………………………………………………… d. a view endorsed by
…………………………………………………………………………………………… 91 Reading the News 1
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……………………………………………………………………………………………
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……………………………………………………………………………………………
2. &RPSUHKHQVLRQTXHVWLRQV
Read the article and answer the following questions.
a. Why does the author say labeling is very misleading?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
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……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
c. What results are created by using genetic engineering resistance to insect damage?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
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……………………………………………………………………………………………
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Stop Bashing G.M.O. Foods, More Than 100 Nobel Laureates Say
By Niraj Chokshi July 1, 2016 
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experiment has failed to produce results
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from methods that already work.” 
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foods are a safe way to meet the demands
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laureates wrote in a letter posted online and
effort to set the record straight.
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Opponents, they say, are standing in the
way of getting nutritious food to those who need it. 
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reduce or eliminate much of the death and
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he said. Some plant scientists have been
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they’ve gone silent, Dr. Roberts said.
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genes from corn and a bacterium, argue 
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nutrients. Opponents fear that foods whose
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genes are manipulated in ways that do not
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naturally occur might contaminate existing
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group’s efforts on Wednesday.
from the only guaranteed solution to
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around the world have repeatedly and
consistently found crops and foods 
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improved through biotechnology to be as
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safe as, if not safer than those derived from
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any other method of production,” the group
engineered crops,” Wilhelmina Pelegrina,
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outcome for humans or animals from their 93 Reading the News 1
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have been shown repeatedly to be less
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damaging to the environment, and a boon
approached the issue with caution, calling to global biodiversity.”
for labeling and federal scrutiny to better
understand foods that contain genetically 
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that genetically engineered crops appear
an enormous gap between the public and
to be generally safe to eat and safe for the
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adults in the United States said genetically
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“problematic” because of a variety of factors
88 percent of scientists connected to the that affect such an analysis.
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cuss the message of the article with their partners.
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a. :KDW¶V\RXUVWDQFHRQ*02 food?
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c. 'RHV*02 food affect the health of the environment? Why or why not?
d. ,V*02 food necessary to feed the entire world population? Why or why not?
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