UNIT III

I. READING COMPREHENSION & VOCABULARY

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF VERTEBRATES

Vertebrates are animals which have backbones. There are five groups of
vertebrates: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishers. We can divide these into two
groups: those vertebrates which are warm-blooded such as mammals and birds and those
which are cold-blooded such as reptiles, amphibians and fishes.
All mammals have hair or fur on their bodies. All of them suckle their young. This
means that they feed them on milk. Also all mammals breathe air through lungs and they
have limbs. Some examples of mammals are cows, dogs, cats, rats, mice, kangaroos, and
humans.
Like mammals, birds are warm-blooded. All of them are covered in feathers and
have limbs and beaks. All birds have wings but some can not fly. Birds lay eggs with hard
shells, usually in a nest. Then, reptiles, amphibians and fishes are cold-blooded. Reptiles
have scaly skin, breathe air through lungs and lay hard – shelled eggs. Some reptiles, such
as snake, have no limbs, while lizards, crocodiles and turtle have four. Reptiles live on land
but many of them can swim. However, we classify amphibians in a separate group from
reptiles because most of them have smooth, moist skin and no claws or scales. Also, they
lay soft eggs with no shell in the water. Another difference is that amphibians have a
‘double-life’. When they are young they live in water and breathe through gills but as
adults they live on land and have lungs. Some amphibians like salamander, have four limbs
and a tail, but others, like the frog, have four limbs and no tail. Others have no limbs and no
tail. Next group is fish. Fishes can be many different colors and sizes but they all have fins,
scales and gills. They live in water and lay soft eggs.
So you can see that we classify vertebrates into mammals, birds, reptiles,
amphibians and fishes because the animals in any one group have common characteristics
which make them different to other group.
(Source : Learning English Through General Science by B. Cleland and R. Evans, 1984:35)

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A. Write T for true statement and F for wrong statement

1. Mammals and birds are warm-blooded, but reptiles and amphibians are cold-blooded.
2. Frogs are classified as reptiles.
3. Some mammals feed their young on milk.
4. Amphibians and reptiles lay different kinds of eggs.
5. All birds can fly.
6. Reptiles can swim because they live in water.
7. All fish have fins, scales and gills.
8. Amphibians have scaly skin.
9. Young amphibians and fish breathe by gills.
10. Both crocodile and turtle have limbs.

B. Based on the information in the Reading Passage, give the right answer !
1. What characteristics do mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish have in
common ?
2. Why do we put mammals and birds into one group of vertebrates and reptiles,
amphibians and fish into another group ?
3. What characteristics do mammals and birds have in common ?
4. What different characteristics do reptiles and amphibians have ?
5. Do amphibians have scales ?
6. Is monkey a mammal ? give your reason !
7. Can all birds fly ? Give examples !
8. Are all birds convered with feathers ?
9. Do snakes have limbs ? How do they move ?
10. Have crocodiles got scaly skin ?

C. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word from the option.
Options :
a. breathe b. reptiles c. nest d. suckle e. gills
f. feathers g. claws h. lungs i. Fur j. scale

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 Birds such as eagles have very sharp 1] …… on their feet.
Mammals such as the cows 2] …… their young.
While all fishes have 3] ……. and 4] …….. .
Adult amphibians 5] ….. through 6] ……. .
Snakes, lizards and crocodiles are 7] …….. .
Most birds lay eggs in their 8] …… .
Birds are covered with 9] ……
while mammals are covered with 10] ……

II. SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL:

GERUND/(the verb + ing): understanding, flying, smiling, observing, planting

The form of gerund is like the verb in present continuous tense, but the
function of gerund is as a noun. Therefore, in a sentence a gerund can be
used as a subject or an object. Study the examples given.

a) Operating computer is easy

(subject) (verb)
b) The teacher postponed operating the computer.
(subject) (verb) (object)
c) We think about operating computer. (gerund in used after a preposition)
(prep) (object)

A. Supply an appropriate preposition and change the verb into a gerund.

1. Alice isn’t interested ____ (study) _________ language.
2. They are excited _____ (leave) ________ their hometown.
3. I’m accustomed _____ (have) __________breakfast in the morning.
4. Mrs. Fardhani insists ______ (work) ______ in group.
5. Who is responsible ______ (clean) ______ the rooms of the building ?

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B. Complete the sentences with suitable gerund.
1. Do you enjoy _________ at the sea ?
2. Would you mind __________ the door ? Thanks.
3. ________ the secret is a very hard for me.
4. The police office told them to stop, but the robbers keep ______ .
5. The film told a really sad story. We couldn’t stop _________

C. Make up sentences using the given words, add suitable words

Example : keep + ask  The child keeps asking about her father.

1. go + dance 6. advise me + take

2. think about + wear 7. quit + play
3. stop + fight 8. avoid + go
4. tell me + open 9. go + fish
5. expect the students + finish 10. enjoy + eat

D. Write a short paragraph about your interesting experience using gerund in 5

sentences. Study the example given.

Before leaving our home town at seven o’clock. We phoned him about our
coming to his villa. After driving a day, almost all of us felt tired and wanted to stop.
During the rest time, I learnt the map finding the way to the mountain. At about
evening, we reached the villa at the peak of the mountain and knew him preparing
our dinner.

III. ADDITIONAL READING

ARTICLE 3
The Ethics of Human Cloning

In early 1997, a research team in Scotland cloned a sheep, Dolly, by modifying

technology developed some decades previously with amphibians. Then, in July of 1998,
researchers at the University of Hawaii produced mouse clones and developed a process by
which mass cloning could occur. The technique used in both cases, somatic cell nuclear
transfer, involves taking a nucleus from a somatic cell, placing it in an enucleated ovum,

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and implanting the ovum into a host uterus. The cloning of Dolly brought to the forefront a
longstanding debate about cloning human beings. The National Bioethics Advisory
Commission recommended a five-year moratorium on any attempts to create a child
through somatic cell nuclear transfer in the United States and urged the President to work
with all other nations to do the same. With the moratorium in place in the United States,
legislative attempts to exercise permanent control over human cloning, such as the federal
“Prohibition of Cloning of Human Beings Act of 1998,” have been introduced in Congress.
Human cloning is a matter for the medical profession’s attention since it would involve
medical procedures and technology, and it may result in the creation of new genetic and
psychological conditions that would require professional care. Therefore, the medical
profession must evaluate the ethics of human cloning, and in particular, the potential role of
physicians in the practice. The Council’s purpose here is to consider whether physicians
should participate in human cloning, not to determine whether it should be legal or illegal.
The Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs offers the following report to assess the
ethical uncertainties involved in human cloning. It will address what are currently
perceived to be the most widely discussed applications of human cloning, and it will lay the
groundwork for future reports. Issues involving embryo research, stem cell research,
embryo splitting, embryo twinning, and embryo donor organisms will be addressed in
future reports. A scientific analysis of cloning technology can be found in a companion
report issued by the Council on Scientific Affairs.
Source:
Report of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs of the American Medical Association June 1999.

A. Discuss in a group of four students about the “Prohibition of Cloning of Human

Beings ” . What is the danger of cloning human being? Find other sources to
support your arguments.
B. Write a short report of the discussion result. Complete your report with pictures
of animal cloning.