SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT FOR THE SECTION
Subject: English
Grade: 11
Section: Stem
Total Marks: 10
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- 11.4.6 Recognise the attitude, opinion and tone of the writer in extended texts on a range of more complex and abstract general and curricular topics.
- 11.3.4 Evaluate and comment on the views of others in a growing variety of talk contexts on a wide range of general and curricular topics, including some unfamiliar topics.
- 11.3.6 Navigate talk and modify language through paraphrase and correction in talk on a wide range of familiar and some unfamiliar general and curricular topics.
TASK 1. READING (5 marks)
Read the text and complete the tasks below.
The Double-Edged Sword of Genetic Engineering
The rapid advancement of genetic engineering, particularly through CRISPR technology, presents a paradigm shift in our approach to medicine, agriculture, and even human evolution. Proponents hail it as the ultimate tool for eradicating hereditary diseases, creating drought-resistant crops to combat famine, and pushing the boundaries of human longevity. The tone is often one of unbridled optimism, painting a future free from suffering.
However, a more critical perspective urges extreme caution. The author of this viewpoint argues that this power is a double-edged sword. The ability to edit the human germline—making changes heritable for all future generations—raises profound ethical questions about consent, equity, and the very definition of "normal." Will these technologies be available only to the wealthy, creating a new biological divide? The writer's attitude here is skeptical and concerned, warning against a headlong rush into application without robust societal debate. The underlying opinion is that scientific progress must be inextricably linked with ethical foresight and inclusive dialogue; otherwise, we risk solving old problems while creating far more dangerous new ones.
Navigating this debate requires not just scientific literacy but also philosophical and ethical reasoning. It is a quintessential STEM challenge where technology and humanity intersect.
1.1. Identify the author's intention in the second paragraph. (1 mark)
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