Writing test / FINAL

Genetically modified organisms have always been, and will probably stay, a part of a huge debate. The main questions that have been raised are about the effects that it may cause on the environment, on our animal and even on us, humans being. Both sides of this controversial debate are bringing convincing arguments to support their point of view. I tried to distangle everything to have my own vision on the genetically modified organisms. I'll first give my point of view on the environment side and then, I'll give it on what I think about the effects on the human system.

Firstly, everybody agrees if I say that genetically modified organism are not natural. Since the day the human started to mess around with nature, it went worse and worse and worse every time. From the beginning of our society's until a couple of decades, the destruction of nature was approxymatly going at the same rythm than the reonstruction. Their was no problem with that. but since toxic product were born, the problems are always decreasing. Their are no progress! The problem with genetically modified organism is that, the more you inject superficial products in nature, the more you destroy it. And the more you destroy it, the more you inject superficial products in it. It is a vicious circle. Nature has always shown that if you gave it some time, it will restore from itself. But because we are in a rapid consumming society, we don't want to wait after nature. If we don't stop injecting GM organim in the nature, we will no longer have nature as we knew it.

Secondly, I wanted to bring the negative aspects of genetically modified organism on the human. Since we are born, we've been eating, breathing ans consumming the types of products. The problem is that our body is starting to acclimate these GM organisms. But the more the body acclimate, the more we're going to need those things. It is the same vicious circle as the one with environment. Our body are no longer used to natural product of the earth. For sure, even if you're having you own garden, their will be GM organisms in it. But if everybody makes a step ahead and start saying no to GM products, nature will make it's work and the human body could go back at eating some real food, from a healthy nature.

Finally, I really don't think genetically modified organisms are good, neither for the environement or for the human. I also think that if every person could make an effort to try to turn their back on GM product, we could go back to a more healthy world, or at least, we would be in the right direction.

459 words

Reading Test / FINAL

Read the text: “Genetically Modified Foods.” Answer the following questions. /50

A. Match the synonym or definition below with the word from the paragraph. The (number) in
parenthesis refers to the paragraph number. / 16

(1) interfering -----meddling
(2) amount of food collected from a field-----crops
(3) person who grows plants -----plant breeders
(4) make better -----improve
(5) things that are planned-----prevents
(6) freedom from harm or danger -----safety
(7) occurring in many places-----subsequently
(8) amount by which something is deficient -----shortage

B. Comprehension / 3

1. State the thesis or main point of the text as a whole.

GM products ( food, crops, plants) are not as bad as it has always been shown. They are a lot of benefits we can take from GM products.

2. How, well in your opinion, does the author support her point of view? / 3

I think she supports her point really well by bringing a lot of scientific facts. Everytime she advances a theory or a statment, she has a fact to support it. What is also her strenght, is that she sees the other point of view. She doesn't try to destroy it, she only brings better facts.

3. How does this text relate to the readings in our textbook in the unit, GMF? / 4

These two textes bring their point of view very clearly.

4. In one or two sentences, write the main idea of each paragraph in your own words. / 24

Paragraph 1

Humans have always tend to go against the laws of nature. But it's not always as bad as it seems. For exemple, it helps prevent some allergies.

Paragraph 2

Breeding programms are always trying new ways to protect the crops as good as they could. But sometimes, even if the two different crops are strong, when they are mixed together, it gives a weakness that wasn't there in the parentals plants.

Paragraph 3

Introducing a new DNA to the crops is a very precise procedure, unlike breeding, who's more an act of nature.

Paragraph 4

The first generation of GM crops has been implanted to prevent herbicide tolerance and increase resistance to insects.

Paragraph 5

The second generation of GM crops is on her way. These crops will have effects on the consummer's health. It will prevent desease and illness.

Paragraph 6

GM food is really safe, because each crops, each product is being inspected, as if they were toxing. You're sure to have a safe product at the end of the line, in opposition to what we call safe food. This last category of food is pratically not inspected.

Paragraph 7

GM food is benefic to environment because the toxix protein contained in the plant does not affect animals, or neither the insect that don't attack the crops. It only affect the resistants insects.

Paragraph 8

GM crops could be part of solution to food shortage in Africa. The author does not say it's the only way, but it could certainly bring some major benefits to this cause.