UNIT 1There are two factors which determine an individual's intelligence. The first is the sort of brain he is born with. Human brains differ considerably, some being more capable than others. But no matter how good a brain he has to begin with, an individual will have a low order of intelligence unless he has opportunities to learn. So the second factor is what happens to the individual—the sort of environment in which he is brought up. If an individual is handicapped environmentally, it is likely that his brain will fail to develop and he will never attain the level of intelligence of which he is capable. The importance of environment in determining an individual's intelligence can be demonstrated by the case history of the identical twins, Peter and John. When the twins were three months old, their parents died, and they were placed in separate foster homes. Peter was reared by parents of low intelligence in an isolated community with poor educational opportunities. John, however, was educated in the home of well-to-do parents who had been to college. This environmental difference continued until the twins were in their late teens, when they were given tests to measure their intelligence. John's I.Q. was 125, twenty-five points higher than the average and fully forty points higher than his identical brother.UNIT 2Recent studies of the human brain have resulted in some interesting discoveries. Scientists believe that a way to improve the power of the brain may soon be possible.Scientists have discovered that the brain can make its own drugs. The brain contains a protein substance which can act directly on the brain to change aspects of mental activity. Some may change or improve, for example, creativity, intelligence, imagination, and good memory.Chemicals found in the brain carry messages. In recent years scientists have found chemicals that affect mood, memory and other happenings of the mind. About 25 have been found so far.Today the role of chemicals and protein substance in human behaviour is creating much interest. Research seems to show that they may help control insomnia, pain, and mental illness. They have a great capacity to stimulate the brain to conquer deficiencies. They also improve the qualities of memory and learning already in the brain. They hold the secret to mood and emotion. Some day there may be a chemical way to create a better and more efficient brain.Unit 3By measuring the amount of HIV’s genetic material in various representative tissue samples from infected people, a nd extrapolating form these samples to the entire body, Haase estimates that at most 1 in 2,500 cells, maybe fewer, is infected with HIV. This is nowhere near enough for direct cell killing to account for the depletion in their numbers that le ads to AIDS.Haase says that his own work now shows that large numbers of CD4 cell are becoming trapped in lymph tissue, and he believes that HIV also disrupts the production of new cells. In common with a number of other researchers, he also believes that HIV may cause the loss of uninfected CD4 cells by triggering abnormally high levels of cell suicide,or apopt osis-a separate process that has been a subject of research throughout the 1990s .Taken together, these findings clearly suggest that HIV keeps the immune system in a state of constant activation, and unbalances it in four ways :by trapping mature cells ,by stopping the production of new cells, by triggering abnormally high rates of apoptosis and by killing a small but significant number of cells directly. Their combined impact leaves the immune system depleted and unable to cope with opportunistic infections.How will any of this affect treatments? Would better knowledge of the ways in which the virus disturbs the immune system enable researchers to rebuild it ,broadening the depleted repertoire of CD4 cells ? Roederer , at least, thinks that d rugs that directly affect the immune system will be needed.Others go further, Jay Levy at the University of California , San Francisco, worries that prolonged treatment with c ocktails of antiviral drugs might even fool the immune system and “put it to rest”, by keeping levels of HIV so low in the body that they fail to trigger any immune responses at all. This might make individuals who stop taking the drugs even more vulnerable. He argues that immune-restoring treatments should be given alongside antiviral drugs. Already, some r esearchers are working on novel approaches such as developing genetically engineered T cell to replace lose CD4 cells. UNIT 4Economic "globalization" is a historical process, the result of human innovation and technological progress. It refers to the increasing integration of economies around the world, particularly through trade and financial flows. The term sometimes also refers to the movement of people (labor) and knowledge (technology) across international borders. ThereAt its most basic, there is nothing mysterious about globalization. The term has come into common usage since the 1980s, reflecting technological advances that have make it easier and quicker to complete international transactions—both trade and financial flows. It refers to an extension beyond national borders of the same market forces that have operated for centuries at all levels of human economic activity—village markets, urban industries, or financial centers.Markets promote efficiency through competition and the division of labor—the specialization that allows people and economies to focus on what they do best. Global markets offer greater opportunity for people to tap into more and larger markets around the world. It means that they can have access to more capital flows, technology, cheaper imports, and larger export markets. But markets do not necessarily ensure that the benefits of increased efficiency are shared by all. Countries must be prepared to embrace the policies needed, and in the case of the poorest countries may need the support of the international community as they do so.UNIT 5 Spinal CordsAgricultural and public-health experts in Britain find many other serious flaws in the government's handling of the mad-cow epidemic. Officials waited 18 months after discovering the first cases of BSE to declare it a "notifiable" disease, requiring that all cases be reported to the authorities. They waited nearly three years to forbid use of cattle brains and spinal cords in food for humans. The government offered to compensate farmers for any suspected BSE cases they destroyed -- but at far less than the animal's normal value, a rate that discouraged farmers from reporting the disease in their herds, according to critics. "It could all have been over in a month," says Millstone. "It might have cost a few million pounds. But that's a fraction of what it's going to cost now."Currie argues that the government likewise fumbled when it disclosed the possible link between CJD and mad-cow disease. "If you are going to announce a health scare," she says, "you have to announce at the same time what you are going to do about it." The government has yet to announce any preventive measures beyond a few tightened restrictions, such as the ban on mammalian meat in cattle feed. Currie herself knows all too well how easy it is to start a public health panic; she left her post as health minister after helping touch off a scare in the winter of 1988-89 over the safety of British eggs and other farm products.UNIT 6Almost every American wears a watch, and, in nearly every room in an American home, there's a clock. "Be on time." "Don't waste time." "Time is money." "Time waits for no one." All of these familiar sayings reflect the American obsession with promptness and efficiency. Students and employees disappoint their teacher and bosses when they arrive late. This desire to get the most out of every minute often affects behavior, making Americans impatient when they have to wait. The pressure to make every moment count sometimes makes it difficult for Americans to relax and do nothing. The desire to save time and handle work more efficiently often leads Americans to buy many kinds of machines. These range from household appliances to equipment for the office, such as calculators, photocopy machines, and computers. One such machine is video cassette recorder (VCR), which gives Americans a new kind of control over time. Baseball fans don't have to miss the Sunday afternoon game on TV because of a family birthday party. They simply videotape it. Then, for them, the Sunday afternoon game occurs on Sunday evening.UNIT 7Intellectual property regimes coupled with trade regulations have serious implications for third world economies. Agricultural research has developed much faster on plants than animals. And there is insufficient reason to expect that if species patents on plants are upheld, the practice of granting such patents will be restricted to them. It seems from developments so far that the blitzkrieg is inching its way to higher life forms.Protection and enforcement strategies for plant-based technology are implemented through four different forms of intellectual property: utility plants, plant patents, plant variety protection certificates and trade secrets. Since patenting provides a broader range of protection and costs less, this has potential to be preferred means of protecting plant-based inventions by private companies in the US. New utility patents form more aggressive property rights than ever existed in biological material before.Utility patents can establish property right in broad classes of organisms in radically different species as long as the organisms have the same traits and functional properties. The Harvard oncomouse patent is actually an onco mammal patent. Harvard thus owns any mammal with any recombinant cancer causing gene, (and there are about forty of them known) inserted into any mammal or its ancestors at an embryonic stage. This allows biotechnicians to patent organisms they have never actually produced.Broadly worded patent rights (as in the case of cotton or soybean), or the taking out of a large number of patents effectively suppress competition through the threat of infringement suits. On a global scale this allows patent holders to exert control on the production of a variety of agricultural commodities leading to unprecedented competitive advantage. The enormity of this possibility has led to "biocolonial" concerns in the developing world.Utility patents also prohibit farmers from the common practice of saving and using seeds from previous crops or from breeding animals, as well as restricting research exemptions. This could create a barrier to further innovation. Most nations have in place a research exemption analogous to the fair use doctrine in copyright law.Unit 8Shyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are excessively concerned with their own appearance and actions. Worrisome thoughts are constantly occurring in their minds; What kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? Am I wearing unattractive clothes?It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must affect people adversely. A person's self-concept is reflected in the way he or she behaves, and the way a person behaves affects other people's reactions. In general, the way people think about themselves has a profound effect on all areas of their lives.Shy people, having low self-esteem, are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. They need reassurance that they are doing "the right thing". Shy people are very sensitive to criticism; they feel it confirms their inferiority.They also find it difficult to be pleased by compliments because they believe they are unworthy of praise. A shy person may respond to a compliment with a statement like this one; "You're just saying that to make me feel good. I know it's not true." It is clear that, while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is harmful.Can shyness be completely eliminated, or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcome shyness with determined and patient effort in building self-confidence. Since shyness goes hand in hand with lack of self-esteem, it is important for people to accept their weaknesses as well as strengths. For example, most people would like to be "A" students in every subject. It is not fair for them to label themselves inferior because they have difficulty in some areas. People's expectations of themselves must be realistic. Living on the impossible leads to a sense of inadequacy Each one of us is a unique, worthwhile individual. We are interested in our own personal ways. The better we understand ourselves, the easier it becomes to live up to our full potential. Let's not allow shyness to block our chances for a rich and fulfilling life.。
