Judith S. Weis, a biology professor who serves as ² president of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is leading a nationwide effort to “defend，，the theory of evolution. Weis leads the effort in the face of what the institute views as opposition and indifference from school boards and government entities ³.

    The Institute believes that the teaching of evolution in Americais being diminished by the teaching of creationism as well as by an overall lack of teachingDarwin"s ⁴ theory in high school. "There"s nothing that requires schools to teach evolution. Sometimes teachers in high schools just leave it out ⁵ . However, from the point of view of biologists, evolution is the central theory of biology upon which everything is based," said Weis. "Unfortunately, teaching evolution has become a political issue in many parts of the country and AIBS, as a representative of biologists, wanted to be a major force speaking out in favor of its teaching." ⁶

    Weis said the institute is working together with the American Geological Institute and the National Association of Biology Teachers and its 80-plus member organizations ⁷ to address ⁸ the political and legislative threats to teaching evolution. In states challenging its teaching, the institute responds by sending letters to school boards and state legislatures, by providing testimony at public meetings and by notifying members and affiliated organizations. AIBS, with more than 80 member societies and 250,000 members, has established an e-mail system enabling scientists and teachers in each state, and member societies, to keep each other informed about threats to the teaching of evolution.

    Darwin"s theory of evolution holds that living things change and adapt to their environment and that present-day species (including human beings) are descended from earlier species through modification by natural selection. The theory has been accepted by scientists for nearly 100 years, Weis said, and has been refined, extended and strengthened over the years by findings in paleontology and developmental biology.

    Discoveries in genetics, molecular biology ⁹ and genomics — all of which provide significant benefits for human health — would not be possible without the underlying ¹⁰ knowledge of evolution. And, Weis adds, "modern molecular biology and genomics have increased our understanding of how evolution works." Nonetheless, evolution remains a politically, if not scientifically, controversial issue.

    Weis said that this year alone, seven states have had either local or statewide efforts to water down ¹¹ the teaching of evolution, or "balance" it with the teaching of creationism 一 a religious belief that different species were created separately by a higher power, such as God. "Rarely does anyone now use the word ‘creationism，，because that"s too obvious," Weis said. "The current terminology is ‘intelligent design.

词汇：

creationism /krii"eijenizam/ n.神仓论

legislature /"ledgisleitja/ n.立法机关

affiliated organization 附属机构

refine/n"fain/v.精炼，提纯;改进

paleontology [ˌpælɪɒn"tɒlədʒɪ] n.古生物学

genetics /dji"netiks/ n.遗传

genomics [dʒə"nəʊmɪks] n.基因学 terminology [ˌtɜ:mɪ"nɒlədʒɪ]   n.术语

注释：

1.the theory of evolution:进化论

2.serve as:担任

3. Weis leads the effort in the face of what the institute views as opposition and indifference fromschool boards and govemment entities.研究所看到了来自学校董事会和政府部门的反对和冷漠，尽管如此，Weis仍然带领大家为捍卫进化论而努力。in the face of:意为“despite the opposition of”（不管，不顾）。

entity：实体。business entity:企业单位，营业单位。

4.Darwin:达尔文(1809-1882)，英国博物学家，进化论创始人。

5. leave it out:忽略，遗漏

6.speak out in favor of its teaching:为进化论教育而疾呼speak out:大胆地说，大声地说in favor of:in support of支持；赞同

7. 80-plus member organizations:80多个会员组织。plus:超过的，略大的，例如：All the children here are 10 plus.这些孩子年龄都在10岁或10岁以上。Her mark was B plus。她的分数是B+。

8.address:意为“to deal with”（处理，解决，对付）。例如：to address the issue of terrorist attack:对付__的问题

9.molecular biology:分子生物学

10. underlying:意为“basic；fundamental”（基础的；基本的）。

11. water down:冲淡，掺水，打折扣

Why do people replace the term creationism with the term intelligent design nowadays?

A:Because "intelligent design" represents the modified theory of evolution B:Because they believe God created different species C:Because the term creationism is unscientific D:Because the term creationism is too direct

Of all the problems facing modern astronomers, perhaps the most fascinating one is "can intelligent life exist elsewhere" Since the earth is a unimportant planet moving round an unimportant star, it would be a pride on our part to suppose that we are the only intelligent beings in the universe. But to obtain proof is difficult.
The main trouble is that our neighbor worlds, the bodies in the Solar System appear to be unsuitable for advanced life forms. The Moon may be ruled out at once; it has hardly any atmosphere. Venus is little better; the surface temperature is extremely high and the atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide. Mars with a very thin atmosphere and a severe shortage of water, may well support simple that life seems no hope of finding animals, while the alternative Martians of the story-tellers have since been given up.
Of course this has not stopped the flow of bright ideas of communicating with the supposed people on Mars. In the early nineteenth century the great mathematician Gauss suggested planting tree-patterns in patterns, so that the Martians would see them and replay suitably. Following up this idea, the Austrian scientist Karl Littrow proposed, digging very wide ditches in the Sahara, triangular in patterns, and then filling them with petrol or some substance so that, when lit, the ditches would present Martian observers with a "flaming triangular" which would show the existence of intelligent minds. Even better were the plans of Charles Cross, a French writer of the 1870s ,who wanted to build a large mirror to reflect the sun’s rays and concentrate, them on the surface of Mars, thereby making a vast burning-glass. By swinging the mirror round, Cross explained it would be practicable to write words in the Martion deserts simply by burning the sand. For many years, he bombarded the French government with literature about his plan and was very disappointed when no official interest was shown.

A:there may be other intelligent beings in the universe B:there are other intelligent beings in the universe C:people living on the earth are almost certainly the only intelligent beings in the universe D:people living on the earth are definitely the only intelligent beings in the universe

Of all the problems facing modern astronomers, perhaps the most fascinating one is "can intelligent life exist elsewhere" Since the earth is a unimportant planet moving round an unimportant star, it would be a pride on our part to suppose that we are the only intelligent beings in the universe. But to obtain proof is difficult.
The main trouble is that our neighbor worlds, the bodies in the Solar System appear to be unsuitable for advanced life forms. The Moon may be ruled out at once; it has hardly any atmosphere. Venus is little better; the surface temperature is extremely high and the atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide. Mars with a very thin atmosphere and a severe shortage of water, may well support simple that life seems no hope of finding animals, while the alternative Martians of the story-tellers have since been given up.
Of course this has not stopped the flow of bright ideas of communicating with the supposed people on Mars. In the early nineteenth century the great mathematician Gauss suggested planting tree-patterns in patterns, so that the Martians would see them and replay suitably. Following up this idea, the Austrian scientist Karl Littrow proposed, digging very wide ditches in the Sahara, triangular in patterns, and then filling them with petrol or some substance so that, when lit, the ditches would present Martian observers with a "flaming triangular" which would show the existence of intelligent minds. Even better were the plans of Charles Cross, a French writer of the 1870s ,who wanted to build a large mirror to reflect the sun’s rays and concentrate, them on the surface of Mars, thereby making a vast burning-glass. By swinging the mirror round, Cross explained it would be practicable to write words in the Martion deserts simply by burning the sand. For many years, he bombarded the French government with literature about his plan and was very disappointed when no official interest was shown.
The opinion of the writer is that ______ .

A:there may be other intelligent beings in the universe B:there are other intelligent beings in the universe C:people living on the earth are almost certainly the only intelligent beings in the universe D:people living on the earth are definitely the only intelligent beings in the universe

(Giving the opportunity), this (highly intelligent) child will become (whatever) his parents (wish) him to be.

A:Giving the opportunity B:highly intelligent C:whatever D:wish

John is not (enough intelligent) to (pass) (this) (economics) class without help.

A:enough intelligent B:pass C:this D:economics

John is not (enough intelligent) to (pass) (this) (economics) class without help.

A:enough intelligent B:pass C:this D:economics

(Giving the opportunity), this (highly intelligent) child will become (whatever) his parents (wish) him to be.

A:Giving the opportunity B:highly intelligent C:whatever D:wish