第31课阅读文章.docVIP

第31课 阅读理解 第44篇： Defending the Theory of Evolution进展, 发展, 演变, 进化1 Still Seems Needed Judith S. Weis, a biology professor who serves as2 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反对 and indifference from school boards and government entities3. 实体 The Institute believes that the teaching of evolution in America is being diminished减少了的,被贬低的 by the teaching of creationism as well as by an overall lack of teaching Darwin’s4 theory in high school. “There’s nothing that requires schools to teach evolution. Sometimes teachers in high schools just leave it out5. 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 organizations7 to address8 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 theo