Reading 3 Proponents of “genetically modified” (GM) foods argue using biotechnology in the production of
food products has many benefits. It speeds up the process of breeding plants and animals with desired
characteristics, can be used to introduce new characteristics that a product wouldn’t normally have, and
can improve the nutritional value of products.
Groups who advocate against the use of GM foods don’t see things quite the same way. They point
to studies that argue GM foods could be harmful to people’s health. To the groups on this side of the
issue, that “could” provide more than enough reason to go forward with extreme caution, something they
say isn’t currently being done. In Europe, hardly a week goes by without some headline about GM
foods or, rather, “Frankenfoods” as they’ve been called by the European media.
The World Health Organization (WHO) showed in a 1990 analysis that four major Mediterranean
countries (Spain, Greece, France, and Italy) have longer life expectancies and lower rates of heart disease
and cancer than other European countries and America. Scientists have ruled out genetic differences,
because Mediterraneans who move to other countries tend to lose their health advantages.
【題組】29. “In Europe, hardly a week goes by without some headline about GM foods….” (line 8) What can be
inferred from this sentence?
(A) The GM food issue receives wide media coverage.
(B) The media is responsible for handling the safety of GM foods.
(C) The media pays little attention to the GM food topic.
(D) The fears about GM foods have been nothing more than a media spin.