SCIENCE 1. Would you say these are true or false... a. The universe began with a huge explosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . True!! True ?? False False!! b. Elsewhere in the universe, there are probably thousands of planets much like our own. . . . . . . . . . . . . True!! True ?? False False!! c. There is probably life on other planets elsewhere in the universe. . . . . True!! True ?? False False!! d. Modern animals and plants evolved over millions of years, through survival of the fittest. . . . . . . . . . True!! True ?? False False!! e. Mankind evolved by natural selection from lower animals, as Darwin's theory of evolution says. . . . . . . . . . . . . True!! True ?? False False!! f. The earliest humans appeared millions of years ago in Africa. . . . . . True!! True ?? False False!! g. Mankind's ancestors were apes . . . . . True!! True ?? False False!! 2a. Do you understand how a picture appears on a TV? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! b. Understand why plants are green?. . . . . . . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! c. Understand how aeroplanes fly?. . . . . . . . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! d. Understand computers? . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! 3. Australian scientists do a lot of research on food and medicine. Here are some things they could try to do, some goals for the future. How do you feel about developing... Delighted Terrible a. New medicines to cure serious diseases like cancer?. . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Frequency b. Tastier, fresher food?. . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Frequency c. Cheaper food? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Frequency d. Healthier, more nutritious foods. . . . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Frequency e. Higher yielding crops, which would increase farmers' earnings . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Frequency f. Crops that would create a new export market for Australian farmers . . . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Frequency g. Reducing the use of chemicals and pesticides in farming. . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Frequency h. Protecting the environment. . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Frequency 4. Genetic engineering is a new way to create new products. Scientists can use genetic engineering on plants or animals to change things like their size, colour, or taste. They do this by moving a gene from one kind of animal or plant to another, or by turning a gene off. Recently, scientists have made an improved variety of tomato that has a better texture, costs less, and might make a valuable export. They turned off one of its genes, which would otherwise have made the tomato go mushy. After careful study, a government regulatory committee believes that the new tomatoes are safe. Most scientists agree. But a few are worried and some nation-wide environmental groups say the tomatoes might be dangerous and should be banned. >> Most people have not heard much about genetic engineering. We just want your opinion, your best guess. a. Would you like to try eating this new tomato? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! Frequency b. Should they be clearly labeled as genetically engineered, so you can decide for yourself whether or not to eat them?. . . . . . . . . . . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! Good!! -- Very good idea Good -- Good idea ?? -- Mixed feelings, hard to say Bad -- Bad idea Bad!! -- Very bad idea Frequency c. If clearly labeled, are these new tomatoes a good idea or a bad idea?. . . . . Good!! Good ?? Bad Bad!! Frequency d. And if the genetically engineered tomatoes were not clearly labeled? . . . . . Good!! Good ?? Bad Bad!! Frequency e. Here are some other things scientists might make with genetic engineering... a. A treatment that would save the lives of people who have blood cancer . . . . . . . . Good!! Good ?? Bad Bad!! Frequency f. A genetically engineered drug that lowers blood pressure better than other drugs, reducing the risk of heart attack. . . . . . Good!! Good ?? Bad Bad!! Frequency g. Genetically engineered cotton that resists insect pests -- this could greatly reduce the use of chemical pesticides . . . . . . . Good!! Good ?? Bad Bad!! Frequency h. Genetically modified viruses to protect farm crops by attacking insect pests, such as beetles and locusts. . . . . . . . . Good!! Good ?? Bad Bad!! Frequency i. Modified viruses to control imported animal pests (such as rabbits or feral pigs) by preventing them from breeding . . . Good!! Good ?? Bad Bad!! Frequency j. Leaner, healthier pork (assuming it is clearly labeled, so you can decide for yourself whether or not to buy it) . . . Good!! Good ?? Bad Bad!! Frequency k. Healthier cooking oil and margarine, with more of the desirable unsaturated fats and fewer of the undesirable fats? . . . . . Good!! Good ?? Bad Bad!! Frequency 5. Genetic engineering might have some risks as well as benefits. Here are some possible worries, things that some people think might happen... 1 HUGE worry: terrible and very likely to happen 2 Very big worry 3 A big worry 4 A small worry 5 No worry at all Huge No a. That medical genetic engineering could worry worry accidentally create a new disease, something that might escape from the laboratory -- a worry?. . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 Frequency b. That genetically engineered plants might get out of hand and spread on their own?. . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 Frequency c. That genetically engineered food plants might be a long run danger to human health, if people ate them for years? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 Frequency d. Do you worry about chemical pesticides used in farming?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 Frequency e. Fluorides are added to the drinking water in most parts of Australia to reduce tooth decay. Do you worry that they might be dangerous to people's health in the long run? . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 Yes!! -- Yes, definitely Yes -- Yes, probably ?? -- Mixed feelings; yes and no No -- No, probably not No!! -- No, definitely not Frequency 6. How do you feel about using genetically engineered products yourself... a. Would you wear clothes made from genetically engineered cotton? . . . . . . . . . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! Frequency b. Would you eat leaner, healthier pork developed by genetic engineering?. . . . . . . . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! Frequency c. Eat healthier cooking oil or margarine made by genetic engineering? . . . . . . . . . . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! Frequency 7a. Thinking back over the good things and the bad things that might come from it, over the next 20 years, do you think the benefits of genetic engineering are likely to outweigh the risks?. . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! Frequency b. Before reading about it in this questionnaire, had you heard much about genetic engineering? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! Frequency c. Would you say you have a basic understanding of genetic engineering?. . . . . . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! Frequency d. Are you interested in genetic engineering?. . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! Frequency e. Do you have a basic understanding of science and technology generally?. . . . . . . . Yes!! Yes ?? No No!! Frequency
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