Read an article. Write out the arguments “for and against” genetically engineered food which the people will eat in the future Express your opinion.

Quantity or Quality?

You didn’t ask for it, and you might not know about it. But you’ve probably already eaten some of it. It’s genetically engineered food.

Perfectly round tomatoes all exactly the same size, long straight cucumbers and big fat chickens are now a normal part of our diets. They are made that way by genetic engineering – not by nature. Their genes have been changed. These new life forms have been described as a “real-life Frankenstein”

Every living thing has genes that carry information. They are passed on from generation to generation. They make sure that humans give birth to humans and cows give birth to cows. They also make sure that a dog cannot give birth to a frog or an elephant to a horse.

Genetic engineers take genes from one species – for example, a scorpion, and transfer them to another – for example, corn. In this way a new life form is created.

Genetic engineers put duck genes into chickens to make the chickens bigger. They put hormones into cows to make them produce more milk. This does not make them cheaper, tastier or healthier. It makes them easier and faster for the farmer to grow.

The effects of genetic engineering on our health are not known. Many of the genes which are used – such as those of scorpions, rats, mice and moths – are not part of our diet so we do not know how dangerous they may be. For example, people can develop allergies to food which has been genetically engineered.

The effect of genetic engineering on the natural world may be disastrous. The engineers may create life forms – monsters – that we cannot control! The new life forms have no natural habitat or home. They will have to find one, fight for one – or kill for one! It may be your land they fight for – or you that they kill!

Greenpeace is trying to prevent all such food experiments. Some – but not all – food companies are refusing to use genetically engineered foods. Some – but not all – supermarkets are telling their customers which foods are genetically engineered. We must all be aware of what is happening.

Although, some people seem to be quite optimistic about the benefits of genetic engineering and they believe it could be the solution to the problem of famine. Plants which grow faster, or cows which produce more milk, can save the lives of starving people. Moreover, they think scientists will use the benefits of genetic engineering to cure diseases like cancer or AIDS. If scientists managed to find a cure for these, the humanity would have a much healthier society.

On the other hand, it may be a dangerous experiment with nature. In the story, Frankenstein created such a terrible and dangerous monster that he had to destroy it. We must make sure that it remains a story – and no more!

Pre-writing task 2

A university magazine has asked its readers to submit articles entitled “What kind of life can people born in the year 2050 expect?” Write your article using ideas and plan below. The beginning and ending have been written for you.

Points to consider

· health (e.g. longer life – scientists find cures for many diseases)

· food (e.g. meal pills / terrible water shortages)

· jobs (e.g. more creative, better paid jobs /computers do the most boring

jobs/ more poor people/ there be fewer jobs)

· transport (e.g. environmentally- friendly flying cars)

· holidays (e.g. space travel / go on holiday to other planets)

· environment (e.g. pollution levels in cities increase/ species/ fewer endangered

wild animals/ no more rainforests / people cut them all down)

education (e.g. robot teachers / virtual communication)

· relationships (e.g. make friends through the Internet/ little real human contacts /

people become isolated)

· housing (e.g. live in cities under the sea or underground / normal cities become

overcrowded / robots keep the house)

· crime (e.g. increase / more people without work)

 

Plan

Introduction

How will people live in the year 2050? Some people worry about the future, while others are full of hope and enthusiasm.

Main Body

Para 1: state optimistic predictions and reasons

Para 2: state pessimistic predictions and reasons

Conclusion

No matter how dark or bright the future may seem, it is up to us to look after our planet and try to make it a better place to live.

Perform the following writing task:

 

Write an opinion essay “ Are YOU optimistic or pessimistic about the future?”