Non-fiction: Cloning Around
Cloning Around
Should people be allowed to clone themselves or others?
In 1997, scientists cloned a lamb named Dolly from an adult sheep. Cloning
is a process in which cells from the body of one living thing are used to
make an exact copy of it. Since Dolly, scientists have cloned cattle, pigs, and
other animals.
Some scientists would like to try to make clones of human beings. They
could create a new baby from the cells of a person, they say. Someday, just
a few of your cells could be used to make a copy of you. You could have a
younger identical twin.
Should scientists be allowed to clone humans? All over the world, people are
wrestling with that question. Read these arguments. Then decide for
yourself.
Yes! Scientists Should Clone People.
Cloning humans would help us learn. We could learn more about how people
develop. That could lead to preventing and curing diseases.
Scientists could learn how to clone parts of the human body. People who
need new body parts would be able to get them. For example, a person with
a bad heart could get a heart from a clone.
Making a clone of a person could be a wonderful thing. Parents whose child
dies could use cells to create a new baby. The baby would be like the child
they lost.
Some people aren't able to have babies. People who want to be parents
could make a clone instead. Then they would have a baby of their own.
Many people have done a lot for peace or science. A clone might be able to
continue the good work.
No! Scientists Should Not Clone People.
Making clones of people is wrong. We were not meant to make new humans
in the lab.
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Used by permission.
Non-fiction: Cloning Around
Experiments on humans are dangerous. We don't know what could happen.
Cloned babies might have problems. They might not be able to live full lives.
A person should be made from two parents. A cloned baby would have only
one parent.
A cloned person would not be exactly like the original. Many things affect
how a person is. What happens in your life affects who you are. No two
babies have the exact same experiences. Cloning a child who died would not
mean getting that same child back.
Bad people might clone for the wrong reasons. For example, they might
want to make thousands of clones of super strong people to use in armies.
Cloning is too risky.
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© 2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.
Article: Copyright © 2001 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Questions: Cloning Around
Name:
Date: ___________________________
1. According to the passage, what living beings have been cloned?
A sheep, humans, and pigs
B pigs, cows, and humans
C dogs, cats, and sheep
D sheep, cows, and pigs
2. Which of the following best describes one argument for and one argument against
cloning as presented in the passage?
A One argument for cloning is that cloning could help us learn more about how
people develop. One argument against cloning is that cloned babies might have
problems.
B One argument for cloning is that people might make clones for bad reasons.
One argument against cloning is that cloning could provide people with new
body parts.
C One argument for cloning is that Dolly the sheep lived a happy life. One
argument against cloning is that cloning is too risky.
D One argument for cloning is that a cloned baby would have one parent instead
of two. One argument against cloning is that scientists might not be allowed to
clone humans in some countries.
3. It can be inferred from the passage that
A
B
C
D
scientists will certainly clone a human being in the next few years
no human being has yet been cloned
cloning human beings is wrong and dangerous
cloning human beings is something that will never happen
4. Read the following sentence: “They could create a new baby from the cells of a
person, they say.”
In this sentence the word create means
A
B
C
D
make
love
enjoy
teach
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Questions: Cloning Around
5. What is this passage mainly about?
A
B
C
D
the science and technology involved in cloning animals and humans
reasons why scientists should not be allowed to clone humans
a debate about whether scientists should be allowed to clone humans
reasons why scientists should be allowed to clone humans
6. What is cloning?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
7. Should scientists be allowed to clone humans? Use information from the passage to
support your argument.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes
the sentence.
Some scientists would like to make clones of human beings ______________ it could
help people who can’t have babies on their own.
A
B
C
D
because
although
but
when
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9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
Questions: Cloning Around
Scientists cloned a lamb named Dolly from an adult sheep in 1997.
Who? scientists
(did) What? ____________________________________________________________
When? ________________________________________________________________
10. Read the vocabulary word and definition below, and complete questions 10a, 10b,
and 11.
Vocabulary word: identical (i · den· ti · cal): exactly the same.
10a. Read the sentences below, and underline the word identical.
1.
It was hard to tell the difference between the birthday presents because they
were the same size and wrapped in identical paper.
2.
Sometimes identical twins like to dress exactly alike.
3.
The two puppies were identical except that one had a white spot on its ear.
4.
I liked the shoes so much that I went back to buy an identical pair.
5.
As I walked down the street I noticed all the houses looked exactly the same,
so they were identical.
10b. Which of the following pictures shows people who are NOT identical?
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Questions: Cloning Around
11. If you and your best friend wear identical outfits, will people be able to tell you
apart? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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Teacher Guide & Answers
Teacher Guide & Answers: Cloning Around
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 610
Featured Text Structure: Argumentative – the writer presents evidence for both sides of an argument
Passage Summary: In the first part of the article, the author describes the issue of cloning animals and
people. In the second part, the author puts forth arguments for and against cloning people.
1. According to the passage, what living beings have been cloned?
A sheep, humans, and pigs
B pigs, cows, and humans
C dogs, cats, and sheep
D sheep, cows, and pigs
2. Which of the following best describes one argument for and one argument against cloning as presented
in the passage?
A
One argument for cloning is that cloning could help us learn more about how people
develop. One argument against cloning is that cloned babies might have problems.
B One argument for cloning is that people might make clones for bad reasons. One argument
against cloning is that cloning could provide people with new body parts.
C One argument for cloning is that Dolly the sheep lived a happy life. One argument against
cloning is that cloning is too risky.
D One argument for cloning is that a cloned baby would have one parent instead of two. One
argument against cloning is that scientists might not be allowed to clone humans in some
countries.
3. It can be inferred from the passage that
A scientists will certainly clone a human being in the next few years
B no human being has yet been cloned
C cloning human beings is wrong and dangerous
D cloning human beings is something that will never happen
4. Read the following sentence: “They could create a new baby from the cells of a person, they say.”
In this sentence the word create means
A
B
C
D
make
love
enjoy
teach
5. What is this passage mainly about?
A the science and technology involved in cloning animals and humans
B reasons why scientists should not be allowed to clone humans
C a debate about whether scientists should be allowed to clone humans
D reasons why scientists should be allowed to clone humans
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Teacher Guide & Answers: Cloning Around
6. What is cloning?
Suggested answer: Cloning is a process in which cells from the body of one living thing are used to
make an exact copy of it.
7. Should scientists be allowed to clone humans? Use information from the passage to support your
argument.
Suggested answer: Answers may vary and should be supported by the information in the passage.
Students may argue that scientists should be allowed to clone people, citing such evidence that cloning
allows us to learn more about how people develop. This information could lead to the prevention and cure
of diseases. Conversely, students may argue that scientists should not be allowed to clone people because
the risks are too high as experiments on humans can be dangerous.
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
Some scientists would like to make clones of human beings ______________ it could help people who
can’t have babies on their own.
A
B
C
D
because
although
but
when
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
Scientists cloned a lamb named Dolly from an adult sheep in 1997.
Who? scientists
(did) What? cloned a lamb named Dolly from an adult sheep
When? in 1997
ReadWorks recommends that the following vocabulary word be taught to the whole class out loud using
the steps below.
Vocabulary Word: identical
Step 1: Introduce the word
a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (i
· den· ti · cal)
b. Teacher says: “This word is identical. What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud:
“identical.”]
Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition
a. Teacher says: “Identical means exactly the same.”
b. Teacher says: “In the text the author states that the clone of a person would be a younger identical
twin. This means that the clone would be exactly the same as the original person, only younger.”
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Teacher Guide & Answers: Cloning Around
c. Teacher says: “What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud: “identical.”]
Step 3: Practice the word
Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the first sentence out
loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to the vocabulary word, prompt students
to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then finish reading the sentence out loud to your students.
10a.
1. It was hard to tell the difference between the birthday presents because they were the same
size and wrapped in identical paper.
2. Sometimes identical twins like to dress exactly alike.
3. The two puppies were identical except that one had a white spot on its ear.
4. I liked the shoes so much that I went back to buy an identical pair.
5. As I walked down the street I noticed all the houses looked exactly the same, so they were
identical.
Step 4: Check for student understanding
This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an independent practice.
10b. Which of the following pictures shows people who are NOT identical?
11. If you and your best friend wear identical outfits, will people be able to tell you apart? Why or why
not?
Suggested answer: They probably will because the difference between our features is big enough for
people to tell us apart although we are wearing identical outfits.
Suggested Additional Vocabulary: create, wrestle
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