酷兔英语

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To paraphrase 18th-century statesman Edmund Burke, "all that is needed for the triumph of misguided cause is that good people do nothing." One such cause now seeks to end biomedical research because of the theory that animals have rights ruling out their use in research. Scientists need to respond forcefully to animal rights advocates, whose arguments are confusing the public and thereby threatening advances in health knowledge and care. Leaders of the animal rights movement target biomedical research because it depends on public funding, and few people understand the process of health care research. Hearing allegations of cruelty to animals in research settings, many are perplexed that anyone would deliberately harm an animal.

For example, a grandmotherly woman staffing an animal rights booth at a recent street fair was distributing a brochure that encouraged readers not to use anything that comes from or is tested in animals- no meat, no fur, no medicines. Asked if she opposed immunizations, she wanted to know if vaccines come from animal research. When assured that they do, she replied, "Then I would have to say yes." Asked what will happen when epidemics return, she said, "Don't worry, scientists will find some way of using computers," Such well-meaning people just don't understand.

Scientists must communicate their message to the public in a compassionate, understandable way-in human terms, not in the language of molecular biology. We need to make clear the connection between animal research and a grandmother's hip replacement, a father's bypass operation a baby's vaccinations, and even a pet's shots. To thoes who are unaware that animal research was needed to produce these treatments, as well as new treatments and vaccines, animal research seems wasteful at best and cruel at worst.

Much can be done. Scientists could "adopt" middle school classes and present their own research. They should be quick to respond to letters to letters to the editor, lest animal rights misinformation go unchallenged and acquire a deceptive appearance of truth. Research institutions could be opened to tours, to show that laboratory animal receive humane care. Finally, because the ultimate stakeholders are patients, the health research community should activelyrecruit to its cause not only well-known personalities such as Stephen Cooper, who has made courageous statements about the value of animal research, but all who receive medical treatment. If good people do nothing there is a real possibility that an uninformed citizenry will extinguish the precious embers of medical progress.
关键字:考研英语
生词表:
  • target [´tɑ:git] 移动到这儿单词发声 n.靶子;目标;指标 四级词汇
  • assured [ə´ʃuəd] 移动到这儿单词发声 a.确实的 n.被保险人 六级词汇
  • compassionate [kəm´pæʃənit] 移动到这儿单词发声 a.有同情心的 vt.同情 六级词汇
  • biology [bai´ɔlədʒi] 移动到这儿单词发声 n.生物学,生态学 四级词汇
  • unaware [,ʌnə´weə] 移动到这儿单词发声 a.不知道的;不觉察的 四级词汇
  • wasteful [´weistfəl] 移动到这儿单词发声 a.浪费的,挥霍的 六级词汇
  • humane [hju:´mein] 移动到这儿单词发声 a.有人情的,高尚的 六级词汇
  • actively [´æktivli] 移动到这儿单词发声 ad.活跃地,积极地 四级词汇
  • cooper [´ku:pə] 移动到这儿单词发声 v.&n.制桶工人;修桶工人 六级词汇
  • courageous [kə´reidʒəs] 移动到这儿单词发声 a.勇敢的;无畏的 四级词汇
  • uninformed [,ʌnin´fɔ:md] 移动到这儿单词发声 a.未得到通知的 四级词汇
  • extinguish [ik´stiŋgwiʃ] 移动到这儿单词发声 vt.熄灭;压制(抑) 四级词汇



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