2022年自考《综合英语（一）》练习试题7.7

Passage Two

When Christian Bemard,a South African doctor,performed the first human heart exchange in 1967,the result was a worldwide moral discussion on the rights and wrongs of exchanging parts of the body.Hearts were not the first human parts to be exchanged but,in this case,if someone gave his or her heart,he or she would obviously and necessarily die(or be dead).Kidney exchanges,which were already quite common in 1967,often involved the transfer of a single kidney from a close living relative.The chances of survival of this person were slightly lowered because he or she now had only one kidney and if that kidney became diseased there would not be a healthy kidney in reserve.Nevertheless,he or she would not certainly die.

Since that time,surgical techniques and techniques to help prevent the patient’s bodies from rejecting new parts have developed very quickly.Today,not only hearts and kidneys,but also other parts,which are even more delicate,are exchanged.These developments have led to a far higher proportion of successful operations and this,in turn,has led to a greater demand for exchanges.

As a result of the heavy demand for new body parts,a new problem has appeared.For example,in the United States there are many people who would survive if lungs were available for exchange.In fact,about 80 percent of them die before lungs suitable for exchanging are found.In these circumstances who would decide,if lungs were found which were equally needed by two people.

This problem is made worse by the fact that many patients,or their families,become desperate to find parts for their bodies.Some succeed in making their situation known through newspapers,or television.Sometimes,as a result,suitable parts are found.But what would happen if another patient needed the part more than the one who got it?Who would decide if the other patient should get the part?If such a problem developed,it would be very difficult to solve—and it would be a matter of life or death to the patients involved.