I. Look at the following pictures of animals and birds. What do they have in common? Check the correct answer below.
Dodo Bird Golden Toad
Pterodactylus
□ They are all often eaten by humans.
□ They all can be kept as pets.
Formosan Clouded Leopard
□ They all caused damage to nature.
□ They are all extinct.
II. In addition to the animals and birds above, do you know any other species that share this same feature with them? Share your answers with the class.
Reading Task: Find out the arguments for and against reviving extinct species.
Each year, an estimated ten thousand to one hundred thousand species die off . After that, they won’t be found in the wild, nor will they be seen at any zoo. They will join the countless other species that have gone extinct over the course of Earth’s history—and extinction means forever, or at least it used to .
.
.
Scientists now think it highly possible to bring extinct species back from the grave. This doesn’t mean the plot of Jurassic Park is going to become a reality, though. Researchers need
DNA to bring a species back from extinction. DNA is the chemical that contains the genetic code of organisms and carries the structure of a living thing. Dinosaurs, which disappeared sixty-five million years ago, have been gone too long for any of their DNA to remain in fossils .
But there’s a very good chance that more recent species can be made to walk in the world

again. Such animals could even include Ice Age animals like the woolly mammoth . In 2009, scientists recreated the Pyrenean ibex , which had become extinct about a decade earlier. The
“new” animal didn’t survive long—it died only seven minutes after its birth. Yet, scientists are continuing to make every effort to improve this technology, and scientific advances should increase the success rate . In 2013, Australian scientists announced that they were on their way to bringing the gastric brooding frog , a native of eastern Australia which perished in the mid­1980s, back to life.
Being able to bring species back doesn’t mean that we should do it. There may be many a benefit of reviving a species; however, we cannot accurately forecast what the results might be, nor can we deal with the possible disasters . Take passenger pigeons , for example. Living in flocks made up of billions of birds, they used to be one of the most common birds on the planet.
Flocks of migrating passenger pigeons darkened the sky, and it sounded like thunder when they flapped their wings. This species vanished a century ago because of being hunted on a massive scale . If we make it possible for passenger pigeons to exist again, there is no knowing whether they will still be able to live in their old habitats . Will they crowd out any remaining species?
Will their great consumption of seeds affect the growth of trees?
Some people believe that humans are responsible for the extinction of certain animals, which obliges us to correct the situation. As environmentalist Stewart Brand once said, “Humans have made a huge hole in nature. We have the ability now to repair some of that damage.” However, others consider it inappropriate to bring species back, since this weakens the support for traditional conservation: Why do we have to preserve a wildlife habitat or fight poachers , if we know we can just reverse our mistakes?
As technology develops, extinction now may no longer be something that lasts forever. But whether it is right to make extinct species return is still a matter for debate. In order to avoid possible disasters of reviving extinct species, we would do well to remember the lesson of
Jurassic Park : Proceed with caution—and leave the velociraptors alone.
—Adapted from “They’re Back!”
Fill in the following blanks with the items ( A-G ) in the box below. The first one has been done for you.
(A) what the results might be
(B) the genetic code of organisms
(C) repair some of that damage
(D) have made a huge hole
(E) deal with the possible disasters
(F) the structure of a living thing
(G) the support for traditional conservation
I. Introduction: Each year, many species die off.
II. Body
1. The role of DNA a. DNA makes it possible to bring extinct species back from the grave. b. DNA is the chemical that contains
1
( B ) and carries
2
_______.
2. Related research and advances a. In 2009, the Pyrenean ibex, was recreated. b. In 2013, scientists started trying to bring back the gastric brooding frog.
3. Possible threats a. There may be a lot of benefits of reviving a species, but there is no knowing 3 _______ or whether we will be able to
4
_______. b. If passenger pigeons come to life again, we may not know:

(1) whether they can live in their old habitats,
(2) whether they will crowd out any existing species,
(3) whether they will affect tree’s growth.
4. Remaining arguments
Support: Stewart Brand once said, “Humans 5
_______ in nature. We have the ability now to
6
_______.”
Against: Others think that it is inappropriate to bring species back, since this weakens
7 _______.
III. Conclusion: We should proceed with caution.
Choose the correct answer to each question or statement.
( ) 1. According to the reading, which of the following about DNA is true?
(
(B) How much effort humans have made to revive extinct species.
(C) Why passenger pigeons should be brought back to life.
(D) What human beings can do to preserve wildlife habitats.
) 4. From the reading, we can infer that __________.
(A) extinct species cannot be found in the wild but can be seen at zoos
(B) we should try our best to bring extinct species back from the grave
(C) extinct species will live in their old habitats at ease if they are brought back
(D) some extinct species are likely to be brought back due to modern science
◎
1. If you could bring back a species of your choice, which one would it be? Share your answer with the class and briefly explain your reason.
2. Woolly mammoths became extinct thousands of years ago. If scientists can successfully bring this large elephant back to life, what changes do you think it will bring to the modern world?
Share your answer with the class.
1.

n. [C] (pl. ～ ) a group of animals or plants sharing similar characteristics and can produce young animals or plants 物種
‧ Zebras and donkeys belong to two different species of the horse family.
2.

n. [C] a series of events that form the main story of a novel, play, movie, etc.
(

電影、故事等的)情節
‧
The plot of the movie was highly organized. It was easy to see how one event leads to another. n. [C] a secret plan made by two or more people to do something bad or harmful 密謀，陰
謀
‧
Before the gang could commit another murder, the police uncovered the plot and caught them. plot

vi. (plotted | plotted | plotting) 密謀，暗地策劃
‧ The general has been plotting against the government for months, waiting for his chance to rise to power.
3.

n. [C] a living thing like a human, an animal, a plant, etc.
生物
，有機體
‧
Scientists have wondered if there are any living organisms on the moon. So far, they haven’t found any proof.
4.

n. [U] the way in which the parts of something are arranged or connected to form a whole 結構，構造
‧
The fact that more and more people choose to stay single has inspired Dr. Grant to study this important change in social structure. n. [C] something large, such as a house, bridge, tower, etc., that is built by putting different parts together 建築物
‧
Many structures in the village, including this bell tower, were destroyed by the mudslide. structural

adj. 結構的，架構的
‧ The white ants have caused structural damage to the building. Thus, it is no longer safe to live there.
5.

n. [C] the remains of ancient plants or animals that have become hard and can usually be seen in a piece of rock 化石
‧
Our science teacher took us to see a dinosaur exhibition last weekend so that we could get a better understanding of what fossils are.
6.

n. [C] a period of ten years 十年
‧ Wayne hasn’t heard from his aunt for a decade. The last time he got a call from her was ten years ago.
7.

vi. to continue to live or exist in spite of challenges or difficulties 存活
，活下來
‧
Swallows have trouble surviving in cold weather, so they fly to warmer places for winter. survival

n. [U] 存活，倖存
‧ The patient has only a one-in-fifteen chance of survival. He is probably not going to make it. survivor

n. [C] 倖存者，生還者
‧ A baby girl was the only survivor of the accident. The rest of her family died in it.
8.

n. [C] a discovery, change, improvement, etc. that leads to further development or progress 發展，進步
‧
The development of this new drug is a considerable advance in cancer treatment. Many patients can be cured by taking it.

advance

vi. 發展，進步
‧ In recent years, public transportation has advanced a lot in the city, which has made life easier for its residents. advanced

adj. 先進的
‧ With the advanced weapons, the country was able to defeat its enemies easily.
9.

n. [C] the number of times that something happens or changes during a certain period of time 率，比率
‧ This treatment for hearing loss has a high success rate, and it has already benefited a number of patients. n. [C] the speed at which something happens 速度，速率
‧
The Taiwan High Speed Rail, which runs at an average rate of 300 kilometers per hour, is about four times faster than the Taipei Metro.
10.

n. [C] a person, an animal, or a plant that grows or lives in a particular place 當地土生土長的人或動植物
‧
The Formosan black bear is a native of Taiwan. It is not found anywhere else. native

adj. 原有的，土生土長的
‧
Giant pandas, which live on bamboo, are native to south central China.
11.

vi. (fml.) ( of an individual or a group ) to die or to be killed, often in a sudden way 死亡，暴斃
‧
This special kind of butterfly perished thirty years ago due to dramatic changes to the environment.
12.

vt. to make someone or something become alive, healthy, or strong again 使復活，使復原
‧ In the animated film Frankenweenie , a boy successfully used lightning to revive his pet dog, which had been killed earlier in the movie. revival

n. [C] 復興，再流行
‧
There has been a revival of high-waist jeans, which were once popular in the early 90s.
13.

adv.
in a way that is true and correct 準確地，正確無誤地
‧
Leo has such a good memory for numbers that he can accurately recall the phone numbers of all his friends. accurate

adj. 準確的，正確無誤的
‧
Make sure the account number is accurate before you wire your money. accuracy

n. [U] 準確，精確
‧
Messi kicked the ball into the goal with great accuracy, and everyone on the team cheered for him for scoring.
14.

vt. (forecast | forecast | forecasting) to predict what is likely to happen in the future 預測
‧ Snow flurries are forecast for Saturday and Sunday, so we’d better stay indoors this weekend. forecast

n. [C] 預測，預報

‧
Based on past sales performance, this year’s sales forecast says that the company should soon be able to reach a 30% worldwide market share.
15.

n. [C] a sudden event that results in great harm, damage, or suffering
災難，災害
‧ In the Pacific Rim ( 環太平洋區 ), earthquakes are common natural disasters. disastrous

adj. 災難性的，造成傷害的
‧ Recent serious shortages of water and electricity have had a disastrous effect on the island’s economy.
16.

vi. ( of birds or animals ) to move from one place to another with the seasons ( 動物或鳥類 ) 遷徙
‧
When spring comes, Canadian Geese migrate north and return to the land of their birth. vi. ( of people ) to move from one place to another to live or work 移居，遷徙
‧ In Mainland China, millions of people migrate from rural areas to big cities for better job opportunities. migrant

n. [C] 移民，移居者
‧ There are thousands of migrant workers in Taiwan, and many are working as housekeepers, laborers ( 勞工 ), and so on. migration

n. [U] ( 大群人、動物等 ) 遷徙
‧
Cathy is an expert on sea turtle migration. She studies the reasons for their migration and the routes ( 路線 ) they take to move from one place to another.
17.

vt. (flapped | flapped | flapping) to move something, such as wings, hands, or arms, quickly up and down 擺動，拍動
‧
To learn how to fly, the little bird imitated its parents and began flapping its wings. flap

n. [C] (usu. sing.) 拍打，揮動
‧
With a flap of its wings, the eagle flew into the air.
18.

vi. to stop existing 不復存在，絕跡
‧
Since they vanished in the late 17th century, the Dodo is no longer found anywhere on Earth. vi. to disappear suddenly and unexpectedly 突然消失、不見
‧ The books were on the table just a minute ago, but now I can’t find them anywhere. It seems like they have vanished without a trace.
19.

adj. very large in amount, degree, etc.
大量的， ( 規模、程度等 ) 重大
的
‧
The super-typhoon caused massive damage to the island, leaving hundreds of deaths and injuries behind it. adj. very heavy, large, and solid 巨大的，結實的
‧ The door made of stone is too massive for Jessica to push open. If no one is there to give her a hand, she can’t go out of the castle.
20.

n. sing. the size, level, or extent of something 規模，程度
‧
Elephants were once hunted on a large scale for their ivory, resulting in their smaller numbers today.

21.

n. [C] the natural environment where a particular plant or animal grows or lives ( 動植物的 ) 棲息地
‧
The natural habitat of that type of penguin is the coast of the South Pole.
22.

n. [U] the act of eating, drinking, or smoking something
吃，喝
‧ Consumption of lots of sugar and fat can lead to weight gain. consume

vt. (fml.) 吃喝，攝取
‧
Those who consume too much salt run a risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. vt. 消耗，花費
‧ This car doesn’t consume as much fuel as most other cars. It is very environmentally friendly. consumer

n. [C] 消費者，顧客
‧
In Taiwan, wine companies are required to put labels on their products to warn consumers of the danger of drinking too much.
23.

n. [U] wild plants, animals, birds, insects, etc. that grow or live in natural environments 野生生物
‧
Since the living environment of many animals is polluted and damaged, it is essential that we put more effort into wildlife conservation.
24.

n. [C] someone who hunts or catches animals, birds, fish, etc. illegally
盜獵者
‧ It is sad that there are still poachers secretly hunting endangered ( 瀕危 ) animals throughout the world. poach

vt. 非法盜獵
‧
The men who poached deer in the national park were caught in the act and fined NT$15,000.
25.

vi. to continue doing something 持續進行
‧
Mr. Freeman stopped to take a sip of water and then proceeded with his explanation of the experiment.
1.

n. a 1993 sci-fi movie directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the same name novel, about scientists bringing dinosaurs back 《侏儸紀公園》
2.

n. [U] deoxyribonucleic acid; a chemical in living cells that has genetic information of an animal or a plant 去氧核醣核酸
3.

n. [C] the pattern of genes which determines how living things develop 遺傳密碼 genetic

adj. 遺傳的，基因的 gene

n. [C] 基因 code

n. [C] 密碼，代碼
4.

n. [C] a period of time in the past when the temperature was very low and most of the land in the world was covered in ice 冰河時期
5.

n. [C] a huge, hairy elephant which became extinct thousands of years ago 真猛瑪象

6.

vt. to make something from the past exist again 使再現
7.

n. [C] (pl. ～ ) a species of wild goat in Spain that became extinct in January 2000 庇里牛斯山羊
8.

n. [C] a species of Australian frog that became extinct during the 1980s 胃育蛙
9.

n. [C] a kind of bird living mainly in North
America that went extinct in the early 20th century 旅鴿
10.

n. [C] someone who is strongly interested in the natural environment and works to protect it from damage by humans 環境保護論者
11.

n. a writer and editor who supports using new technology to bring back extinct species 史都華‧布蘭特 (1938-)
12.

n. [C] a species of small dinosaur that moves quickly, and it appears frequently in the movie
“
Jurassic Park
” 迅猛龍
1.
: ( of a member of a group ) to die one after another until no member of the group exists any longer 相繼死去
‧ The doctors in this town couldn’t find a cure for the fatal disease. In the end, the townspeople died off.
2.
: used to change something that is just mentioned or reduce the effect of a statement; not less than a particular number or amount 至少，起碼；至少，不少於
‧ Ann wasn’t sick. At least she looked fine when I saw her this morning.
‧ At least 100 million tourists flock to the Mediterranean Sea every summer to enjoy the beach and sunshine.
3.
: to make someone or something return to the previous state, condition, etc.
使…恢復
‧ With a view to increasing the sales of its fashion magazines, the publisher brought back the ex-editor-in-chief, who was known for having great taste.
4.
: (fml.) used with a singular noun and verb to describe a large number of people or things 大量，許多
‧
Taking drugs has destroyed the physical and mental health of many a young man.
5.
: to form something larger 組成…，構成…
‧ In this factory, foreign workers make up sixty percent of the employees.
6.
: to become stronger or more in number so that others can’t grow or develop
排擠…
‧ Some people think that e-books are crowding out printed books and may eventually replace them someday.
7.
: used to suggest someone should do something 建議
( 做… ) ，應該…比較好
‧ Tourists would do well to show respect for the cultures of the countries they are visiting, in order to avoid offending the locals.

The prefix
“ re-
”
is put at the beginning of a verb. It means
“ back or backward,
”
or
“ again.
” create → re create arrange → re arrange pay → re pay build → re build call → re call form → re form
beak 鳥喙 breast( 鳥的 ) 胸部 feather 羽毛 claw 爪 wing 翅膀 tail 尾巴
1
2
1
1
2
2
‧ Those species won’t
be found in the wild, nor will they be seen at any zoo.
‧ We cannot accurately forecast what the results might be, nor can we deal with the possible disasters.
‧ Helen Keller was not able to see, nor was she able to hear.
Rewrite the following sentences by using the patterns on page 253. The first one has been done for you.
1. The boy didn’t mean to be rude, and he didn’t mean to hurt his mother’s feelings.
→ The boy didn’t mean to be rude, nor did he mean to hurt his mother’s feelings.
2. These dictionaries are not expensive, and those recipe books are not either.
→ _________________________________________________________________________
3. To experience the beauty of the Taj Mahal, tourists don’t need to climb mountains, and they don’t need to cross rivers.
→ _________________________________________________________________________
4. Paula doesn’t like Thai food, and she doesn’t enjoy Sichuan food.
→ _________________________________________________________________________
5. John will not study medicine, and he won’t study economics either.
→ _________________________________________________________________________
◎
The following passage is about reviving extinct animals. Rewrite the underlined parts by using the patterns on page 253.

From the history, we can tell that many animals didn’t survive environmental changes and became extinct. For instance, the passenger pigeons didn’t survive,
1 and the woolly mammoth didn’t either. Some scientists are trying hard to bring extinct animals back into the world through biotechnology ( 生物科技 ). However, some critics don’t agree that this is a good thing. In their opinion, bringing extinct species back is not helpful in protecting animals. They believe that these
“new” animals are not likely to live for a long time, 2 and they are not likely to survive in the wild either.
According to the ecologist ( 生態學家 ) Stuart Pimm of Duke University, the revival of extinct species doesn’t do much good, 3 and it doesn’t emphasize the true value of conservation.
He also added that there are still many endangered species in tropical forests waiting for our help.
Spending money and time bringing extinct species back while humans continue to destroy their natural habitat is ridiculous, according to Pimm. Although he agrees that making extinct animals like the woolly mammoth or the Dodo come to life again is appealing. Nevertheless, it still can’t replace conservation,
4 and it can’t help the public understand how much damage has been done to
Mother Nature. Thus, there is no doubt that the issue of bringing extinct animals back to life will continue to be a matter for debate.
1. ____________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________________________________
‧ Scientists now think it highly possible to bring extinct species back from the grave.
‧ Others consider it inappropriate to bring species back.
‧ Shawn found it very embarrassing to get the lowest score in the game.
Rewrite the following sentences by using the given words and the pattern on page 255. The first one has been done for you.
1. It is exciting to play computer games. ( many teenagers/find )
→
Many teenagers find it exciting to play computer games.
2. It is difficult for the elderly lady to exercise every day. ( the elderly lady/find )
→ _________________________________________________________________________
3. It was satisfying to read interesting novels. ( the girl/consider )
→ _________________________________________________________________________
4. It was foolish to believe that the number four was an unlucky number. ( that scientist/think )
→ _________________________________________________________________________
5. It is wrong for students to cheat on tests. ( the teacher/consider )
→ _________________________________________________________________________
◎
The following passage is about the issue of cloning ( 複製 ) . Complete the passage by using the given items in the box below and the pattern on page 255. The first one has been done for you.
‧it is improper for human beings to control other creatures’ lives
‧it is important to make up for the past mistakes
‧it is possible to recreate something

‧it is cruel to do this
‧it is possible to use animals’ DNA
When the movie Jurassic Park came out, it opened the eyes of the general public to a new idea. They began to consider
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it possible to recreate something that had already vanished by using preserved DNA. In fact, scientists all over the world have been working on a related technology, known as cloning, for a long time. They have found 2 ____________________ to create copies of animals. In 1996, the first cloned mammal ( 哺乳動物 ) was born. It was a sheep named Dolly. For environmentalists and scientists worldwide, this was exciting news. Many have always thought
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____________________ which humans made by using new technology. They believed that this technology could bring back species that had become extinct due to pollution, over-hunting, and so on. However, some people don’t approve of cloning extinct animals. Some religious people believe cloning animals is actually playing God. They think
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____________________. Others believe that it is dangerous to clone animals, since the results are unpredictable. Still others consider
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____________________ because animals that are not perfect or healthy might suffer. While this technology is fascinating and exciting, these concerns mentioned above should not be ignored.
Listen carefully to the news report on the Formosan clouded leopard and choose the correct answer to each question.
( ) 1. What did the poachers pursue the Formosan clouded leopard for?
(A) They wanted to keep it as a pet.
(B) They wanted to turn it into medicine.
(C) They wanted to get its valuable fur.
(D) They wanted to use it as an ingredient.
( ) 2. Which of the following is most likely the reason for the extinction of the Formosan clouded leopard?
(A) Over-hunting.
(B) Destruction of their habitat.
(C) Loss of food.
(D) All of the above.
( ) 3. Which of the following statements about Formosan clouded leopards is true?
(A) They were killed by hunters from Taiwan and the U.S.
(B) They used to live deep in the forests.
(C) They have been extinct for less than ten years.
(D) They have not been seen since the 13th century.
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Scientists now have the ability to bring some extinct species back to life with new advances in technology. Some people are very happy to see this progress, while others are worried that something bad may happen if these animals are brought back. Work in groups of four, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of bringing extinct species back. Make a list of what you have discussed, and share it with the class.
PROS
‧By reviving extinct species, we can repair some of the damage that we have done to
CONS
‧Once the extinct species are revived, they may crowd out existing species and cause

the natural environment.
‧___________________________________
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___________________________________ extinction of other remaining species.
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Letters of apology are written to say that you are sorry and to ask for forgiveness. There are times when you hurt another person’s feelings, do something wrong, fail to keep a promise, or lose or damage another person’s belongings, etc. In these cases, writing a letter is one way to admit your mistake and express your regret. The following are some guidelines for writing letters of apology.
1. Express your apology or show your regret directly and sincerely.
2. Explain your actions and the reasons behind them.
3. Offer to make up for the damage or loss.
4. At the conclusion of the letter, ask for forgiveness and understanding and promise not to make the same mistake again.
5. Emphasize how much you hope the relationship will not be damaged.
Here are some other suggestions for letters of apology.
1. An apology letter should be sent as quickly as possible after the event you are apologizing for.
2. The tone, style, and wording depend not only on the seriousness of the situation but also on the relationship between the sender and the receiver.
3. The letter should be short and to the point.
4. Some commonly used expressions of apology are “I’m terribly/very sorry,” “Pardon me,” “It was all my fault,” “How stupid/careless of me to
.
.
.
,”“I owe you an apology,” “Please excuse/forgive my ignorance/rudeness,” “Please don’t be mad at me,” “Please accept my sincerest apology,” etc.
The following is a letter of apology written by Jimmy, who offended his mother with something he said. He wrote this letter to her to show how bad he felt.
Dec. 10, 2015
Dear Mom,
I’m sorry for what I said to you last night. I shouldn’t have talked back to you like that. I don’t know why I lost control of my temper. Maybe it is because I’ve had a heavy workload these days.
I know you and Dad care about me and have done everything you could for me. I really appreciate it. I also know that you and Dad expect a lot of me. I’ll study harder and try to live up to your expectations and realize my own dreams, too. Mom, please forgive me. I love you, and I am very grateful to you for all you have done for me. I promise never to make the same mistake again.
Your son,
Jimmy

I. Think of some phrases that can be used in making apologies and write them down. The first one has been done for you.
1. It was all my fault.
3. _________________________
2. ____________________
4. ____________________
II. If you fail to keep an appointment, what are some possible reasons or excuses you could offer?
List three of them and think of how you would use them in making an apology. Write your answers down in the boxes below.
1. The reason or excuse
2.
The way to make up for it
3.
III. Helen borrowed a camera from her best friend, Joseph, last week to take on a trip. However, on the trip she lost the camera. Write Helen’s letter of apology to Joseph.
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Is It a Good Idea to Revive Extinct Species?
We’re getting a lot better at cloning than we used to be. In 2013, Japanese scientists revealed news that they had successfully cloned 25 generations of mice from a single mouse. It wasn’t so long ago that all of our clones—like Dolly the sheep—were effectively “born old” at best. Today, it seems clear that clone perfectibility is a possibility.
Indeed, it’s hard to call the results from those Japanese experiments anything less than perfect. The 581 mouse clones—and clones of clones—all lived full, healthy lives, and could reproduce normally. It’s caused a lot of discussion. One of the more compelling ideas brought up is that cloning could be a key to saving species that are going extinct.
It’s also at least conceivable that already extinct species could be revived from just a suitable
DNA sample. But is it desirable to recreate any extinct species? Surely there’s nothing wrong with recreating, right?
Wrong, says Stuart Pimm, an ecology professor. His reasons are partly what we might call a moral argument: Concentrating our efforts on extinct species is just a sign of misplaced priorities.
De-extinction is a process that is intended to bring a single species back from extinction, yet

millions of species are still alive but at risk of extinction. De-extinction should only be a tiny part of our work to solve the crisis which is causing species of animals, plants, fungi, and microbes to go extinct at a thousand times the natural rates.
Pimm’s argument is also practical. Keeping just one dinosaur alive would require thousands of trees throughout its lifetime, a luxury the earth can’t afford today. Even in less extreme scenarios, Pimm says, “practical problems abound.” Those of us who attempt to reintroduce zoobred species that have gone extinct in the wild have one question at the top of our list: Where do we put them? Hunters ate a type of wild goat to extinction. Reintroduce a revived ibex to its original habitat, and it will just become the most expensive cabrito ever eaten. Even the passenger pigeon’s habitat is not still too damaged to make it worth bringing them back.
Well, that isn’t much fun, is it? But it’s a fair point. Pimm’s isn’t the only opinion out there, though. Some scientists who argue in favor of de-extinction say “there will be concrete benefits.”
Biological diversity is a storehouse of natural variety and invention. Most medicines we use, for example, were not invented from scratch—but were derived from natural compounds found in wild plant species, which are also vulnerable to extinction. Some extinct animals also performed vital services in their ecosystems, which might benefit from their return. Siberia, for example, was home 12,000 years ago to mammoths and other big grazing mammals. Back then, the landscape was not moss-dominated tundra but grasslands. The mammoths maintained the grassland by breaking up the soil and fertilizing it with their manure. Once they were gone, moss took over and transformed the grassland into less productive tundra.
There are other potential benefits to bringing species back, as Stewart Brand notes. He points to the possibility of restoring genetic variability in certain species that are struggling. “A species with a genetic Achilles’ heel,” he writes—like Tasmanian devils who have a transmissible cancer believed to be caused by a single gene—“might be totally cured with an adjustment introduced through cloning.”
Those arguments are certainly compelling. But the lessons of Jurassic Park , fictional as they may have been, are also relevant. It’s impossible to really conceive of what it would be like to release a mammoth back onto the tundra without the vast, vast range of other flora and fauna that constituted its original ecosystem. We might have a mini, second-around extinction on our hands.
But it would sure be cool to see a mammoth.
—Austin Considine
( ) 1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
(A) Japanese scientists successfully cloned exactly 25 mice from the same source in
2013.
(B) It is rather difficult to find appropriate places to put the revived species.
(C) If mammoths were brought back to Siberia, moss would take over and larger tundra would come into being.
(D) Through cloning genes from extinct species, people who suffer from cancer may have a chance of recovery.
( ) 2. Why is it NOT possible to bring only the mammoth back?
(A) It would need an ecosystem with the original flora and fauna, which no longer exists.
(B) It would need to eat a lot of cabrito, and that costs a great amount of money.
(C) Tasmanian devils might transmit cancer genes to the revived mammoth.
(D) It may fail to perform vital services in ecosystems, and that will cause a biological diversity crisis.
( ) 3. What can we infer from the passage?
(A) If passenger pigeons are brought back, they will have enough space to live in.

(B) It takes adequate biological diversity for a restored species animal to survive in the modern world.
(C) With more and more species brought back through de-extinction, there will be fewer species becoming extinct.
(D) The author expects to cure people of cancers by bringing Tasmanian devils back.
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1. If scientists and businessmen work together and build a theme park with proper surroundings for successfully revived animals like dinosaurs to live in, would you visit that theme park?
What do you think the advantages and disadvantages the theme park will bring? Share your answers with the class and briefly explain your reasons.
2. With the advance of biological technology, it’s more than likely that we will see the day when we are capable of cloning a human being. Would you like yourself to be cloned? Why or why not? Share your answers with the class.