申論題內容
3. 請就以下這一篇文章, 寫出一份約 250 字的 summary (15%)。然後用這篇
summary 出 5 題克漏字選擇題,每題四個選項。並將正確答案畫底線。 (10%)。 Genetically manipulated food remains generally safe for humans and the environment, a
high-powered science advisory board declared in a recnet report. The National Academies
of Science, Engineering and Medicine concluded that tinkering with the genetics of what
we eat doesn't produce the "Frankenfood" monster some opponents claim — but it isn't
feeding the world with substantially increased yields, as proponents promised. With the line between engineered and natural foods blurring thanks to newer
techniques such as gene editing, the 408-page report said, regulators need to make their
safety focus more on the end-product of the food that's made rather than the nuts and
bolts of how it's made. The report waltzed a bit around the hot political issue of whether genetically
modified food should be labeled. The study's authors said labels aren't needed for food
safety reasons but potentially could be justified because of transparency, social and
cultural factors, somewhat similar to made-in-America stickers. That stance was praised
by some environmental and consumer groups, but criticized by some scientists as
unnecessary because the food poses no unique risks. There's no evidence of environmental problems caused by genetically modified
crops, but pesticide resistance is a problem, the report said. Farms that use genetically
modified crops in general are helped, but it may be a different story for smaller farmers
and in poorer areas of the world, it said. Most of the modified plants are soybean, cotton,
corn and canola; in most cases, genetic tinkering has made them resistant to certain
herbicides and insects. When farms switched from conventional crops to the engineered
varieties, there was no substantial change in yields. While experimental results suggest
that there should be an increase in production, U.S. Department of Agriculture data
doesn't show it, the report said. The report first said it is important not to make sweeping statements on genetically
engineered foods, which it called GE. Still, "the committee concluded that no differences
have been found that implicate a higher risk to human health safety from these GE foods
than from their non-GE counterparts." Although the National Academy has issued reports
before, saying it could find no safety problem with eating genetically modified food, the
academy committee chairman Fred Gould said this report is significant because his study
team started by listening to critics of such foods, examined anew more than 1,000 studies,
and created a website that allows consumers to look at evidence and decide for
themselves. "To some extent we know more about some genetically engineered food than we do
about other food," committee member Dominique Brossard of the University of
Wisconsin said. "There are limits to what can be known about any food. That's something we're not used to hearing as consumers." Many scientists who work on the issue but weren't part of the study team lauded the
report as sensible, but not surprising. Mark Sorrells at Cornell called it "very well
balanced, accurate, and reiterates much of what has already been published many times."
"Science is science, facts are facts," emailed Bruce Chassy, an emeritus professor of
biochemistry and food science at the University of Illinois. "There's just no sound basis
for their opposition just as there was never any scientific basis to believe GM plants
should be viewed any differently than any other," One dissenter was Charles Benbrook, who used to be at Washington State University
but is now a private consultant. He said he feels the risks of genetically engineered food
are more serious than more mainstream scientists do, and that the human health
assessments aren't ample enough. Some groups critical of genetically engineering foods criticized the report. Food &
Water Watch criticized the National Academy as taking funding from biotechnology firms
and using "pro-GMO scientists" to write its reports. The report was funded by the
Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the New Venture
Fund, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with the academy itself. It was peer
reviewed by outside experts and committee members are vetted for financial conflicts of
interests, said academy spokesman William Kearney.