| Test N° 4 |
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A six country scientific association revealed that it had drawn up a complete human *genome map, completing one of the most ambitious scientific projects ever, and offering a major opportunity for medical advances. The president of this association which comprises Britain, China, Germany, Japan and the United states of America, said the work had been finished two years ahead of schedule. The heads of governments of these countries said in a joint statement that now revolutionary progress will be made in biomedical sciences and in the health welfare of mankind. Scientists have predicted that major progress can now be made in many incurable and genetic diseases. The National human Genome Research Institute, the leading agency in the United States, said the work was historic. It added in a statement that the international efforts to sequence the three billion DNA letters in the human genome is considered by many to be one of the most ambitious scientific undertakings of all time, even compared to splitting the atom or going to the moon. Francis Collins, the leader of the international team said, all the projects goals have been completed successfully- well in advance of the original deadline and for a cost substantially less than the original estimates. The human genome map cost about $ 2.7 billion to draw up, about $300 million under the predicted cost, according to the US institute. Research by hundreds of experts at 20 centres in the six countries started in 1990 and a first draft of the human sequence was made public in June 2000. Scientists announced last February that they had completed a map of 95 % of the human genome. Their outstanding work will be noted in the history of science and technology, and as well in the history of humankind, as a landmark achievement. Knowledge of the human genome will enable scientists to find better ways of preventing medical problems, new drugs to treat previously untreatable disorders and medicines with fewer side effects, according to experts. The Observer, April 2003 I- COMPREHENSION A- Answer these questions. 1. What scientific achievement did the association announce? .. .. 2. How do scientists describe the human genome map? .. .. 3. How long did it take the experts to complete the genome map? .. .. B-Are these sentences True or False? Justify 1. The heads of states in the six countries reacted positively to the genome map. .. .. 2. The cot of the project was over-estimated at the beginning. .. .. 3. The research was conducted in the USA. .. .. C. What do the underlined words refer to in the text: 1. the work (paragraph 1) 2. these countries ( paragraph 1) 3. their ( paragraph 1) D- Find in the text words or expressions which mean almost the same as. 1. planned programme ( paragraph 1 ) 2. Prosperity ( paragraph 2 ) 3. approximate calculations ( paragraph 3 ) |