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.
26. Why did Christian Bernard’s operation in 1967 receive much attention?
A. Because it is the first human heart exchange.
B. Because he was a South African doctor.
C. Because people began to discuss if it is humanly correct.
D. Because many people did not agree to exchange parts of human body.
27. As to the exchange of human parts, which of the following statements is not true?
A. One would be certainly to die if he/she contributed his/her heart.
B. One would not be much affected although he/she had lost one part of his/her body.
C. One’s chances of survival would become smaller if he/she gave one of his/her kidneys.
D. In 1967, the exchanged kidneys were usually taken from the patients’ relatives.
28. The greater demands for human parts are resulted from the fact that ______ .
A. the techniques of human parts exchanging operation have greatly developed
B. not only heart and kidneys, but also other parts can be exchanged
C. the chances of success of such exchange operations are greater than before
D. many people are rich enough to pay for exchanged parts
29. What is the most important idea in the third paragraph?
A. Only a small proportion of patients are saved by human part exchanging operations.
B. The problem that there aren’t enough human parts for exchanging can never be solved.
C. Most of the patients in the United States suffer from lung troubles.
D. Most of the patients died because they couldn’t exchange the needed parts.
30. If two patients need the same part, it will be very difficult to decide who should get it because ______.
A. both the patient and the doctor want to make the final decision
B. one of the patients families has made much effort in finding the part
C. both the patients and their families have become desperate
D. it is such a critical decision which saves one life while killing another
