广东省珠海市公共英语五级(笔试)真题一卷(含答案)

广东省珠海市公共英语五级(笔试)真题一卷(含答案)学校:________班级:________姓名:________考号:________

一、1.ListeningComprehension(15题)1.Whichpowerdoesthemansuggest?

A.Waterpower.

B.Windpower.

C.Solarpower.

D.Electronicalpower.

2.Thedietsofthepeopleinthethreeregionsaretotallydifferent.

A.RightB.Wrong

3.Accordingtoanotherexplanation，wheredidthisexpressionprobablycomefrom?

A.Australia．B.Japan．C.Netherland．D.England．

4.Accordingtothespeaker,howdosomepesticidesgetintoponds?

A.Theyareappliedtoaquaticweedsbyfishfarming.

B.Amphibiansreleasethemfromtheirskin.

C.Irresponsibledisposeoftheminponds.

D.Theyarewashedintopondsbytherain.

5.HowlongdidittakeforalettersentbyapostridertoreachtheaddresseebetweenNewYorkandBoston?

6.PartC

Directions:Youwillhearatalk.Asyoulisten,answerthequestionsorcompletethenotesinyourtestbookletforQuestions21-30bywritingNOTMORETHANTHREEwordsinthespaceprovidedontheright.YouwillhearthetalkTWICE.

Younowhave1minutetoreadQuestions21-30.

听力原文：Thetenyearsofthe1960swasaperiodofprofoundchangeinmanypartsoftheworld．IntheUnitedStates，beginningwiththeCivilRightsMovementintheearly1960s，andextendingthroughtheVietnamWar，millionsofAmericansbegantochallengeestablishedauthority．Thesemovementswereinitiallypolitical．YoungAmericansdemandedthatgovernmentalpoliciesinracerelationsandinternationalrelationscorrespondtotheidealsofjusticecontainedintheDeclarationofIndependenceandtheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates．Bytheendofthedecade，however，challengestoauthoritywerecarriedfarbeyondpoliticalissuesandweredirectedatthesocialorderanddeeplyrootedculturalpatternsofthecountry．

Thegenerationthatcameofageinthe1960s，theBabyBoomgeneration，soughtchangeinalmosteveryaspectoflifeintheUnitedStates．Forexample，theyexperimentedwithcooperativeeconomicinstitutionsandcommunallivingarrangements，brokesexualtaboos，alteredtheprocessofeducation，explorednon-Westernspiritualtraditions，developedastrongrespectfortheenvironment，andtransformedpopularculture．Asawhole，thesechangesstoodforadifferentsetofculturalvaluesthatprovidedathoroughcritiqueofAmericansocietyasitexistedatthattime．Althoughmany“alternativelifestyles”wereshort-lived，culturalchangesthatbeganinthatperiodhavehadacontinuingeffectonmuchofAmericanlife，particularlyinattitudestowardmale-femalerelations．

Allculturesarecomplex．Theyareacombinationofcloselyrelatedpatternsofsocialinteraction．Asaresult，changesinanimportantaspectofaparticularculturewillusuallyproducechangesthroughoutthesociety．TheWomen'sMovementthatbeganintheUnitedStatesduringthe1960sisatypicalexampleofthisphenomenon．Fromthebeginning，theWomen'sMovementwasinfluencedbyculturalchangesthathadoccurredearlierinthedecade．TheCivilRightsMovementforracialequalityandthedevelopmentofthebirthcontrolpillwereparticularlyimportant—theCivilRightsMovementbecausewomeninvolvedintheeffortforracialjusticebegantoseethemselvesasvictimsofsocialinjustice，andthebirthcontrolpillbecauseitgavewomenreliablecontroloverreproduction．

Social，economic，andlegalequalityandreproductiverightscontinuetobethebasicprinciplesoftheWomen'sMovement．Assomeofthesegoalshavebeenachieved，majorchangeshaveoccurredinbroaderculturalpatternssuchastheeconomyandthefamily．Atthepresenttime，mostofAmericanwomenareemployed．Employmentisnolongerconfinedtosuchtraditionalfemaleoccupationsasteacher，nurse，orsecretary．Womenarenowfoundineveryoccupationandatalllevelsofresponsibilityandauthority．Participationintheeconomyhasgivenmanywomenanindependencethathasallowedthemtochoosewhether，when，andhowtoform.afamily．Workingwomenwithinfamiliesnowarepartofaneconomicpartnershipwithmeninwhichbothadultsprovidesupportforthefamilyunitandareresponsibleforthequalityoflife．

TheWomen'sMovementhasaffectedtherelationshipbetweenmenandwomeninthefamilyinotherwaysaswell．Womenhavechallengedtraditionalsexrolesinthehousehold．Menarenowexpectedtoparticipateinchild-raisinganddomesticactivitiestoamuchgreaterextentthaninthepast．Childbearingisnowamatteroffamilychoice，withwomenhavingthefinaldecisioninfamilyplanning．

Alloftheseculturalchangesarestrengthenedinboththemediaandintheeducationalsystem．Childrenaregrowingupwithself-imagesandexpectationsfar

7.A15%-20%dropinbodywatercancausethebloodsystemtofail.

A.TrueB.Fasle

8.Thepast-orientedpeopletendtolookattheworldina______.

9.听力原文：M:Haveyousettledin?

W:Yes,Ifeelmyselfquiteathomenow.Ihaven'tgotusedtothefoodyetbutI'menjoyingthelifeoncampus.

M:Good.Nowwe'dbettermakesureyouenjoyyourstudies.Weofferaverywiderangeofoptionsonthefoundationcourse,asyouknow,butyoucanonlytakesixcourses.Doyouknowwhatyouwanttodoyet?

W:Yes,moreorless;butI'mnotsurewhethertodobiologicalsciencesorGerman.

M:Well,that'squiteadifference.Let'ssee...you'veselectedtodo:physicalsciences,basicelectronics,artanddesign,CAD...that'scomputeraideddesignandEnglish.

W:Yes,fivecourses.

M:That'squitearange.Don'tyouwanttodomathsorcomputerprogram-lining,forexample?

W:Well,I'minterestedinelectronicsincomputersespeciallyinwritingcomputergames.I'dliketoproduceeducationalsoftware,educationalgames,eventually.I'vetaughtmyselfalotofprogrammingandIwasgoodatmaths.Idon'tthinkIneedeitherofthem.

M:Then,whydidyouchoosetodoartanddesign?

W:Well,thatwillbegoodformygraphics.Ineedthattoproducegames...CAD,too.I'veneverdonecomputeraideddesignbefore.

M:No...right...they'vegotsomepowerfulpackagesinthecomputergraphicsandCADoffices...you'llenjoythat.So...thatleavesEnglish.It'smostlyEnglishliterature.IknowyourEnglishisallright.Butasafirstyearstudent,you'llhavetotaketheCambridgeProficiencyTest.

W:Allright.

Whoisthemail?

A.Studentadvisor.

B.Courseteacher.

C.Admissionsofficer.

D.Departmentsecretary.

10.ThechairmanoftheBoardisappointedbytheBoard．

A.RightB.Wrong

11.Whatactiondidthetramptake?He______.

A.lootedthestore

B.madehimselfathome

C.wenttosleepfor2days

D.hadaChristmasparty

12.Accordingtothetalk,onlyrealcharactersportrayedinbooksmaybecomeourfriends.

A.RightB.Wrong

13.PartC

Directions:Youwillhearatalk.Asyoulisten,answerthequestionsorcompletethenotesinyourtestbookletforQuestions21-30bywritingNOTMORETHANTHREEwordsinthespaceprovidedontheright.YouwillhearthetalkTWICE.

Younowhave1minutetoreadQuestions21-30.

听力原文：W:Dr.Huber,whendidyoufirstbecomeinterestedinphysicsandmusic?

M:Ican'trememberatimewhenIwasn'tinterestedinphysics.WhenIwasachild,Iwasverycuriousabouttheworldaroundme.Forexample,Ialwayswonderedwhylightbehavesthewayitdoes.Ifounditmorefuntoplaywithaprismthantoplaywiththekidsintheneighborhood.Iwasn'tverysocial,butIwasreallyintofiguringouthowthingsworked.IgotmyowntelescopewhenIwaseightyearsold,andIlovedtotakeitoutatnightandgostargazing.Iwouldlookattheplanetsandstarsandwonderwhatwasoutthere.WhenIwasten,myfatherboughtmeabookontheuniverse,andIjustateitup.Infact,Istillhavethatbookrighthereinmyoffice.Itwasthesamewithmusic.I'vealwayshadanaturalearformusic,perfectpitch.Evenasayoungchild,ifIheardasongontheradio,Icouldgorighttothepianoandplayit.WhenIheardasoundliketheringofatelephone,Icouldidentifyitspitchandplaythenoteonthepiano.However,Ididn'tdevelopaseriousinterestinbecomingapianistuntilIwasincollege.Ialsoseemedtodowellinschoolinthevisualartslikepaintinganddrawing.

W:Whatcommonalitydoyouseebetweenmusicandphysics?

M:Thereisacommonmisconceptionthatartandsciencearecompletelyseparatedfromeachother.Ithinkthedistinctionisartificial.Inreality,artandsciencearenotasmutuallyexclusiveasonemightassume.Solvingacomplicatedmathematicalproblem,forexample,canrequirethesamedegreeofcreativethinkingaspaintingalandscapeorwritingapoem.IfeelanindefinabletinglewhenIplaytheSchumannConcertoordancethepasdedeuxfromRomeoandJuliet.Igetthatthesametinglefromtheoreticalphysics.Thebeautyofartisreadilyapparenttomostpeople.However,inthecaseoftheoreticalphysics,thebeautyisnotnearlyasaccessibletothegeneralpublic,butitiseverybitasexciting.Natureseemstofollowcertainprinciples,verymuchthesameasartdoes.It'snotuncommonforphysiciststobecomeaccomplishedmusicians.Musictheoryisaverymathematicaldiscipline.Relationshipsamongvariousnotesinclassicalharmonyarebasedonsimplemathematicalrelationships.

W:Youhavesaidthatphysicsisbeautiful.Whatmakesitbeautifultoyou?

M:Tome,it'sincrediblethewaynatureseemstoworksoperfectly.Ithinkitisbeautiful.Ialwaystellmystudentsonthefirstdayofclass."IfyoulikereadingSherlockHolmesdetectivestories,you'11likedoingphysicsproblems."Physicsisaboutfiguringthingsout—discoveringhowtheywork,justlikeadetective.Alotofpeoplefearphysicsbecausetheyviewitasabigcomplicatedjumbleoffactsthathavetobememorized.Butthat'snottrue.It'sanunderstandingofhownatureworks,howthevariouspartsinteract.Onecanviewartandliteratureastherelationshipsandinteractionsofideas.Inthesameway,physicsstudiestherelationshipsandinteractionsofconcepts.Inotherwords,tomeartandsciencefundamentallyattempttoachievethesameobjective—understandingoftheworldaroundus.Thewholeuniverseseemstofollowsomeverybasicprinciplesasitevolvesinwithtime,someoftheseprinciplesincludingtheConservationofEnergyandtheConservationofAngularMomentum.Theconservationlawsofphysicsarelikenon-interestbearingcheckingaccounts.Inthecaseofenergyconservation,youcanmakeenergydepositsandenergywithdrawals,butalltheenergyisaccountedfor.TherotationofobjectsisgovernedbyalawcalledtheConservationofAngularM

14.Accordingtothewoman,whyarewomenmuchbetteratdealingwithmorethanonethingatatime,butmenarenotasgood?

A.Becausewomenhavebetterabilities.

B.Becausemenarenotusedtohousework.

C.Becausemenlackpractice,

D.Becausemenfinditeasytoconcentrateononlyonething.

15.Whatistherelationshipbetweenthemanandthewomaninthedialogue?

A.Reporterandfashiondesigner.

B.Husbandandwife.

C.Shopassistantandcustomer.

D.Teacherandstudent.

二、2.UseofEnglish(10题)16.

【C16】

17.(47)

18.

【C12】

19.(34)

20.

【C7】

21.(39)

22.(32)

23.(36)

24.(35)

25.(46)

三、3.ReadingComprehension(15题)26.PartC

Directions:Answerquestions71-80byreferringtothefollowinggames.

Note:AnswereachquestionbychoosingA,BorCandmarkitonANSWERSHEET1.Somechoicesmayberequiredmorethanonce.

Note：AnswereachquestionbychoosingA，B，CorDandmarkitonANSWERSHEET1．Somechoicesmayberequiredmorethanonce．

A=WashingtonD.C.B=NewYorkCityC=ChicagoD=LosAngeles

Whichcity…

istheheadquarteroftheSupremeCourt?71．______

wasdiscoveredasearlyas1524?72．______

hasservedasthecapitalofthecountry?73．______

isnowthelargestindustrialcityinthecountry?74．______

leadsthecountryinthemanufactureofaircraftandspareparts?75．______

isthelargestcity?76．______

isthesecondlargestcityinpopulationinU.S.A.?77．______

hasbecomeoneoftheworld'sbusiestports?78．______

coversanareaofover69squaremiles?79．______

isnowconsideredthecenterofindustry，transportation，commerceandfinanceinthemid-westarea?

80．______

AWashingtonD.C.

Washington，thecapitaloftheUnitedStates，isinWashingtonD.C.andissituatedonthePotomacRiverbetweenthetwostatesofMarylandandVirginia．Thepopulationofthecityisabout800,000anditcoversanareaofover69squaremiles(including8squaremilesofwatersurface)．ThesectionwasnamedtheDistrictofColumbiaafterChristopherColumbus，whodiscoveredthecontinent．ThecityitselfwasnamedWashingtonafterGeorgeWashington，thefirstpresidentofU.S.A.

Thebuildingofthecitywasaccomplishedin1800andsincethatyear，ithasservedasthecapitalofthecountry．ThomasJeffersonwasthefirstpresidentinauguratedthere．IntheWarof1812，theBritainarmyseizedthecity．burningtheWhiteHouseandmanyotherbuildings．

WashingtonistheheadquartersofallthebranchesoftheAmericanfederalsystem：Congress，theSupremeCourtandthePresidency．

Apartfromthegovernmentbuildings，therearealsosomeotherplacesofinterestsuchastheWashingtonMonument，theLincolnMemorial，theJeffersonMemorial，theLiteraryoftheCongressandMt．Vernon，homeofGeorgeWashington．

BNewYorkCity

NewYorkCity．locatedinNewYorkState,isthelargestcityandthechiefportoftheUnitedStates．ThecityofNewYorkhasapopulationofover7million(1970)andMetropolitan，12million．

Thecitywithitsgoodharborwasdiscoveredasearlyas1524，anditwasestablishedbyDutchwhonamedthecityNewAmsterdam．In1664，thecitywastakenbytheEnglishanditgotthenameNewYorkasitbearsnow．DuringtheAmericanRevolutionin1776，GeorgeWashingtonhadhishead-quartersforatimeinNewYorkCity．TheDeclarationofIndependencewasfirstreadthereinJuly4th，1776．Thecityre

27.

Thephrase"vocal...exponent"(Line2,Para.5)mostprobablyrefersto

A.eloquentdoctor

B.articulateopponent

C.loudspeaker

D.strongadvocate

28.

Inthethirdparagraph,Dr.Laraghimpliesthat______.

A.peopleshouldnotbeafraidoftakingexcessivesalt

B.doctorsshouldnotadvisepeopletoavoidsalt

C.anadequatetoexcessivesaltintakeisrecommendedforpeopleindisease

D.excessivesaltintakehasclaimedsomevictimsinthegeneralpopulation

29.(77)

30.

Howdothepublicfeelaboutthecurrenteconomicsituation?

A.OptimisticB.ConfusedC.CarefreeD.Panicked

31.

Theword"cleared"(Line4,Paragraph3)mightmean______.

A.permittedB.removedC.provedD.produced

32.

Thegovernmentleviesdifferentkindsoftaxessothat______．

A.therichhavetopaymoreandthepoorless

B.awiderrangeoftaxpayerscanbeincluded

C.eachofthreelevelsofgovernmentcouldgettaxmoney

D.theburdenoftaxesfallsevenlyoneverybody

33.(75)

34.

______isagoodmethodofsupplyingenergytoremoteareas?

35.PartB

Directions:Inthefollowingarticlesomeparagraphshavebeenremoved.ForQuestions66-70,choosethemostsuitableparagraphfromthelistA-Ftofitintoeachofthenumberedgaps.Thereisoneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinanyofthegaps.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

Inthefollowingarticlesomeparagraphshavebeenremoved.ForQuestions66～70,choosethemostsuitableparagraphfromthelistA～Ftofitintoeachofthenumberedgaps.Thereisoneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinanyofthegaps.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

Fromhervantagepointshewatchedthemaindoorsswingopenandthefirstarrivalspourin.Thosewhohadbeenattheheadofthelinepausedmomentarilyonentry,lookedaroundcuriously,thenquicklymovedforwardasothersbehindpressedin.Withinmomentsthecentralpublicareaofthebigbranchbankwasfilledwithachattering,noisycrowd.Thebuilding,relativelyquietlessthanaminuteearlier,hadbecomeaBabel.Edwinasawatallheavysetblackmanwavesomedollarbillsandannounceloudly,"Iwanttoputmymoneyinthebank."

66.______

Itseemedasifthereportabouteveryonehavingcometoopenanaccounthadbeenaccurateafterall.

Edwinacouldseethebigmanleaningbackexpansively,stillholdinghisdollarbills.Hisvoicecutacrossthenoiseofotherconversationsandsheheardhimproclaim,"I'minnohurry.There'ssomethingI'dlikeyoutoexplain."

Twootherdeskswerequicklymannedbyotherclerks.Withequalspeed,longwidelinesofpeopleformedinfrontofthem.

Normally,threemembersofstaffwereampletohandlenewaccountbusiness,butobviouslyinadequatenow.EdwinacouldseeTottenhoeonthefarsideofthebankandcalledhimontheintercom.Sheinstructed,"Usemoredesksfornewaccountsandtakeallthestaffyoucansparetomanthem."

67.______

Tottenhoegrumbledinreply,"Yourealizewecan'tpossiblyprocessallthesepeopletoday,andhowevermanywedowilltieusupcompletely."

"I'vegotanidea,"Edwinasaid,"that'swhatsomeonehasinmind.Justhurrytheprocessingallyoucan."

68.______

First,anapplicationform.calledfordetailsofresidence,employment,socialsecurity,andfamilymatters.Aspecimensignaturewasobtained.Thenproofofidentitywasneeded.Afterthat,thenewaccountsclerkwouldtakealldocumentstoanofficerofthebankforapprovalandinitialing.Finally,asavingspassbookwasmadeoutoratemporarycheckbookissued.

Thereforethemostnewaccountsthatanybankemployeecouldopeninanhourwerefive,sothethreeclerkspresentlyworkingmighthandleasumofninetyinonebusinessday,iftheykeptgoingattopspeed,whichwasunlikely.

69.______

Stillthenoisewithinthebankincreased.Ithadbecomeanuproar.

Afurtherproblemwasthatthegrowingmassofarrivalsinthecentralpublicareaofthebankwaspreventingaccesstotellers'countersbyothercustomers.Edwinacouldseeafewofthemoutside,regardingthemillingscenewithconsternation.Whileshewatched,severalgaveupandwalkedaway.

Insidethebanksomeofthenewcomerswereengagingtellersinconversationandthetellers,havingnothingelsetodobecauseofthemelee,chattedback.Twoassistantmanagershadgonetothecentralfloorareaandweretryingtoconductthefloodofpeoplesoastoclearsomespaceatcounters.Theywerehavingsmallsuccess.

70.______

Shedecideditwastimeforherownintervention.

Edwinalefttheplatform.andafailed-offstaffareaand,withdifficulty,madeherwaythroughthemillingcrowdtothemainfrontdoor.

A.Yetsheknewhowevermuchtheyhurrieditwouldstilltaketentofifteenminutestoopenanysinglenewaccount.Italwaysdid.Thepaperwo

36.

Theauthorimpliesinthesecondparagraphthat______.

A.theproposaloftheDepartmentofJusticeisunjustified

B.surveillanceofanysuspectcommunicationisnecessary

C.civillibertiesgroupsshouldnothaveshownsuchgreatconcern

D.exceptionsshouldbemadeininterceptingcommunications

37.TheissueofonlineprivacyintheInternetagefoundnewurgencyfollowingtheSept.11terroristattacks,sparkingdebateoverstrikingthecorrectbalancebetweenprotectingcivillibertiesandattemptingtopreventanothertragicterroristact.Whilepreventingterrorismcertainlyisofparamountimportance,privacyrightsshouldnotbedeemedirrelevant.

Inresponsetotheattacks,Congressquicklypassedlegislationthatincludedprovisionsexpandingrightsofinvestigatorstointerceptwire,oralandelectroniccommunicationsofallegedhackersandterrorists.CivillibertiesgroupsexpressedconcernsovertheprovisionsandurgedcautioninensuringthateffortstoprotectournationdonotresultinbroadgovernmentauthoritytoerodeprivacyrightsofU.S.citizens.Nevertheless,causingfurtherconcerntocivillibertiesgroups,theDepartmentofJusticeproposedexceptionstotheattorney-clientprivilege.OnOct.30,AttorneyGeneralJohnAshcroftapprovedaninterimagencyrulethatwouldpermitfederalprisonauthoritiestomonitorwireandelectroniccommunicationsbetweenlawyersandtheirclientsinfederalcustody,includingthosewhohavebeendetainedbutnotchargedwithanycrime,wheneversurveillanceisdeemednecessarytopreventviolenceorterrorism.

Inlightofthisbroadeningefforttoreachintocommunicationsthatwerepreviouslybelievedtobe"off-limits",theissueofonlineprivacyisnowanevenmorepressingconcern.Congresshastakensomelegislativestepstowardensuringonlineprivacy,includingtheChildren'sOnlinePrivacyProtectionAct,andprovidedprivacyprotectionsforcertainsectorsthroughlegislationsuchastheFinancialServicesModernizationAct.Thelegislationpassedtodatedoesnot,however,provideastatutoryschemeforprotectinggeneralonlineconsumerprivacy.Lackingdefinitivefederallaw,somestatespassedtheirownmeasures.Butmuchofthislegislationisincompleteornotenforced.Moreover,itbecomesunworkablewhenstatescreatedifferentprivacystandards;theInternetdoesnotknowgeographicboundaries,andcompaniesandindividualscannotbeexpectedtocomplywithdiffering,andattimesconflicting,privacyrules.

Ananalysisearlierthisyearof751U.S.andinternationalWebsitesconductedbyConsumersInternationalfoundthatmostsitescollectpersonalinformationbutfailtotellconsumershowthatdatawillbeused,howsecurityismaintainedandwhatrightsconsumershaveovertheirowninformation.

Ataminimum,CongressshouldpasslegislationrequiringWebsitestodisplayprivacypoliciesprominently,inform.consumersofthemethodsemployedtocollectclientdata,allowcustomerstooptoutofsuchdatacollection,andprovidecustomeraccesstotheirowndatathathasalreadybeencollected.AlthoughvariousInternetprivacybillswereintroducedinthe107thCongress,thefocusshiftedtoexpandinggovernmentsurveillanceinthewakeoftheterroristattacks.Plainly,governmenteffortstopreventterrorismareappropriate.Exactlyhowtheseexigentcircumstanceschangethenatureoftheonlineprivacydebateisstilltobeseen.

Concerningtheprotectionofprivacyandincreasedsurveillanceofcommunication,theauthorseemstoinsiston______.

A.theprioriyoftheformeraction

B.theexecutionofthelatterattheexpenseoftheformer

C.tighteningbothpoliciesatthesametime

D.abalancebetweenthetwoactions

38.

Whichofthefollowingmightbetheresultfromtheuseofefficienttechnologyincorporations?

A.Thequantityofproductswillbeconsiderablyincreased.

B.Thecostofcomputerswillbedecreased.

C.Theperdocumentcostofinformationprocessingwillbereduced.

D.Thenewestinformationwillbeeasiertoobtain.

39.

______presentsanedictsignedwiththeGreatFifth'shandprint?

40.PartB

Directions:Inthefollowingarticlesomeparagraphshavebeenremoved.ForQuestions66-70,choosethemostsuitableparagraphfromthelistA-Ftofitintoeachofthenumberedgaps.Thereisoneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinanyofthegaps.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

Inthefollowingarticlesomeparagraphshavebeenremoved．ForQuestions66～70，choosethemostsuitableparagraphfromthelistA～Ftofitintoeachofthenumberedgaps．ThereisOneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinanyofthegaps．MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1．

Supermarketshoppershaveneverbeenmorespoiltforchoice．Butjustwhenwethoughttraditionalsystemsofselectivefarminghadcreatedthemosttemptingarrayoffoodsmoneycanbuy，wearenowbeingpresentedwiththeprospectofgeneticallycreatedstrainsofcabbages，onion，tomato，potatoandapple．

Itmaynotticklethefancyoffoodpuristsbutitfirestheimaginationofscientists．LastweektheydiscoveredthattheclassicParisianmushroomcontainsjustthepropertiesthat，whengeneticallymixedwithawildstrainofmushroomfromtheSonoradesertinCalifornia，couldhelpitgrowenmassewhileatthesametimeprovidingitwiththeresilienceofthewildstrain．

66．______

“Wehavefoundawayofincreasingthesuccessratefromoneto90percent．”

Thisisjustoneofthemanyproductsthat，accordingtoskeptics，arecreatingagenerationof“Frankenfoods”．Thefirstsuchfoodthatmaybeconsumedonawidescaleisatomatowhichhasbeengeneticallymanipulatedsothatitdoesnotsoftenasitripens．

67．______

Criticssaythatthenewtomato—whichcost$25milliontoresearch—isdesignedtostayonsupermarketshelvesforlonger．Ithasaten-daylifespan．

Notsurprisingly，every-hungryUSisleadingthesearchfortheseforbiddenfruit．Bychangingthegenesofagrapefruit．agrowerfromTexashascreatedasweet，red，thin-skinnedgrapefruitexpectedtosellatapremiumoveritsCaliforniaandFloridacompetitors．

Forchipfanaticswhowanttowatchtheirwaist-lines，newhigh-starch，low-moisturepotatoesthatabsorblessfatwhenfriedhavebeencreated，thankstoagenefromintestinalbacteria．

Thescientistsbehindsuchnewfoodarguethatgeneticengineeringissimplyanextensionofanimalandplantbreedingmethodsandthatbybroadeningthescopeofthegeneticchangesthatcanbemade，sourcesoffoodareincreased.Accordingly，theyargue，thisdoesnotinherentlyleadtofoodsthatarelesssafethanthosedevelopedbyconventionaltechniques．Butifdesirablegenesareswappedirrespectiveofspeciesbarriers，couldthingsspiraloutofcontrol?“Knowledgeisnottoxic，”saidMarkCantley，headofthebiotechnologyunitattheOrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment．“Ithasgivenusafargreaterunderstandingofhowlivingsystemsworkatamolecularlevelandthereisnoreasonforpeopletothinkthatscientistsandfarmersshouldusethatknowledgetodoriskythings．”

Clearly，financialincentiveliesbehindthedevelopmentofthesebigger，moreproductivefoods．Butwemayhaveonlyourselvestoblame．Intheearlyperiodofmassfoodcommerce，foodvarietiesweredevelopedbytraditionalmethodsofselectivebreedingtosuitthelocalpalate．Butassuppliersstartedtoselectandpreserveplantvariantsthathadlargerfruit，consumerexpectationsrose，leadingtothedevelopmentofthedesirableclones．Still，traditionalistsandgourmetsinEuropearefightingtheirdevelopment．

68．______

Eveninthepre-packagedUS．wheretheslow-softeningtomatowillsoonbereachingsupermarkets，1,500AmericanchefshavelenttheirsupporttothePureFoodCampaignwhichcallsfortheinternationalboycottofgenetically